Instructions: Type or paste the title of the article into the screen, highlight it, then on the "EasyEdit Toolbar" click the "Link" button. Here you can copy and paste the link URL for the article.



Drew Venkatraman: Southeast Asia urges cooperation on rice crisis
Southeast Asia is urging the rest of the world to help them out as rice prices continue to rise. The price of rice has urged a meeting of the minds in Bali, all of the nations are hoping to come out ahead. To meet these ends, it said ministers recognized the need to improve productivity through technology transfers, research and development as well as making more land available for agriculture and lifting spending — both public and private."
Calvin Lu:China fund raises global spending power
China had decided to increase it's investments on forein assets to 90 billion dollars, 30% more than before. Like Mr.Welker mentioned in class, China invest its trad surplus from the states back to the states, increasing Americans' spending power and thus buying more Chinese goods.

Rebecca Sung: US Groups in China Call for Freer Trade
Groups are appealing to Washington and Beijing for freer trade. Protectionism slows US economics growth, while also increasing the trade gap with China. James Zimmerman, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, states that the goal is to keep an open trade between the US and China. China limits foreign investment and competition because the Chinese government is trying to protect Chinese industries from foreign rivals. The US trade deficit with China is in the tens of billions, some blaming the deficit on currency controls and import barriers. Some US lawmakers are even appealing for a punitive tariff on Chinese goods.

Judy Chen:High Euro/dollar Exchange Rate Is Hurting Us, Volkswagen CEO Says
As everyone has worried, the US dollar keeps depreciating, making euro becoming stronger and stronger. This strong euro has done damages to European automaker Volkswagen AG. As euro becomes more expensive to other nations’ people, less people would buy their cars. In order to rescue the falling sales of Volkswagen AG, the company plans to “produce more vehicles in dollar area”. Therefore the cost becomes relative lower and improves the growth of US economy.

Angel: Gold Investors Face Exchange Rate Risk.
Although the Yuan is rising against US Dollars, the international market for gold is backed by US Dollars; therefore, as US Dollar depreciates, gold investors holding rmb are losing money.

Jack Lo: Asia's Other Miracle
James Tsao: The uncomfortable rise of the rupee
This article from The Economist discusses some negative aspects brough forth by globalization. India's rupees have grown by 15% against the dollar in the past year. The root cause of this is the strong inflow of foreign capital into India. In this case, the shifting out of AS lowers the price level and therefore strengthens the rupees to such an extent that Indians are hurt.

Tim Chu: Beijing imposes tariffs on fertiliser
Obviously, the article is on tariffs which is related to ap econ because we are currently studying tariffs in class. Opposed to what you may think, these arent tariffs on imports, but rather export tariffs. China has recently been experiencing an inflation in food prices so as a result, beijing has placed a tariff on fertilizer in an attempt to increase the growth of food in China which will hopefully decrease prices Who ever though bags of crap would be so valued!

Tim Sun: With Slump Paramount, Fed Is Likely to Cut Rates
Two days ahead of a Federal Reserve monetary policy meeting this week, the widely shared consensus is that the Fed is likely to cut its benchmark short-term interest rate to 2 percent from 2.25 percent. The interest rates are one of the determinants of demand (SIPIT, I SPIT, whatever). Perhaps this will strengthen the dollar, counterract the recession, all that jazz! I'm kind of critical of Bernanke, since the interest rate has been successively lowered in the past three quarters seven times...

Andy Xu: Hong Kong Dollar Climbs To 17-day High Against US Currency This report discusses how the Hong Kong dollar surged to a 17-day high against the US currency; local dollar reaching a high of 7.7871. The reason for this drop of the Dollar value, not only against the Hong Kong Dollar but other currencies as well, can be explained by the high US trade deficit and the relatively flexible or floating exchange rates system adopted by the US.
Michael Chow: Why Student Loan Business Turned Bad
This article from cnn.com retrieved through "the Universe" is one that talks overall about the business in student loans. Lenders were guaranteed a minimum interest rate at a healthy margin. Few borrowers defaulted and the federal government backed the loans if they did. Investors snapped up securities based on these loans, giving lenders a steady stream of funding.

Helen Chu: Bearing Up
There has only been a small decrease in foreign demand for general European exports due to the appreciation of the euro because the demand is mostly price inelastic. Specific countries though, such as Spain, Portugal, and Greece, and hurt more by the strong currency because their limited exports to markets beyond the EU have to compete with other low-cost producers.


Jennifer Choi: China’s Trade Surplus Jumps, but Imports Are Rising
China’s trade surplus grew by 22.7 percent in January over the same month last year as foreign demand for exports stayed strong despite worries about slowing global growth, according to data reported in February, 2008. But interestingly, the data from the official Xinhua news agency showed imports to China growing faster than its exports. So basically the article reports that China is maintaining its trade surplus while it's imports are growing faster than its exports.

Howard Lin: Trade May Unite Cultures
Japan and India are very much different in the cultures but may be united by international trade. Prime Minister Shimzo Abe of Japan will meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss economic relationships that might benefit both countries. They are being brought together by the growing influence of China on the Asian economies.

Katherine Yang: Global Adjustment will be long and painful
Munchau says, the multiple crises (i.e. property, banking, food, etc.) of the world have been occuring simultaneously and it's no accident. Global macroeconomic adjustment is "the mother of all these crises". How long the financial aspect of this crisis continues will depend upon how bad the economic part of it gets. He predicts it will not be as bad as the Great Depression, but that it will last longer.

Jacques Zhang: Americans Becoming Frugal
The dollar dips further down, talk of recession continues, and people consume less. In this article, it is report that sixty percent of the American population is now less comfortable with spending their money on products they may not necessarily need. The United States' economy continues to fall...

Chan Min Park: Bush, South Korea's Lee take up North Korea and trade pact
As we have talked about the tariff placed on United States beef, the Free Trade Agreement between South Korea and United States have been struggling to get to an agreement. However the new president is willing to work with President Bush to get rid of the meat disputes and is seeking to trade with the United States to help South Korea's economy.


Kevin Chiu: Calls mount for China to temper yuan appreciation
The RMB is rapidly appreciating against the US dollar and many people now believe that China should adopt a floating-exchange system. Experts believe that by temporarily allowing the RMB's exchange rate to float completely free, they will be able to "successfully stamp out the market's one-sided expectations about the yuan's appreciation".

Jeewon Oh: New China tariffs: Are U.S. consumers at risk?
The U.S.-China trade policy seems to be changing, as the Commerce Department announced that it would begin to impose tariffs on some subsidized goods from China. This violates the 23-year old policy of not applying countervailing duties on cheap goods from non-market countries like China. China's Ministry of Commerce is "strongly dissatisfied" with this situation and wants the U.S. to reconsider the decision.


Richard Tu: Does Globalization Bring War or Peace?
This AlterNet article explores the relationship between international trade and conflict. The author finds that high levels of trade acts as an accelerator for either cooperation or conflict. Whether cooperation or conflict occurs, depends on the structure of a country’s domestic economic institutions and which domestic sectors are dominant in international exchange - primary, industrial, or even military products. The author also argues that trade can promote cooperation if the political elite are affiliated with productive and competitive industries or alternatively whether the elite are involved in industries less successful in international trade.

Nicole Wong: Singapore and South Africa to work towards closer ties
The South African and Singaporean governments are working on a contract towards free trade between the two countries. At this point, Singapore believes that free trade with South Africa would be beneficial, as it is seen as the hub between Asia and South America. The purpose of the contract is also to improve other areas of the economy, such as tourism. As we have learned, there is a winner and a loser in free trade. Will free trade between the two reap benefits for both of them, or will one of them come out the loser?

(On Behalf of) Jeff Ye: Too many babies?
This article talks about how the Philippines might be unable to acquire enough supplies (mainly rice) because of overpopulation within the country. The population according to the recent census shows that the population is now 89 million; however, many analysts believe that due to the poorer Filipino’s inability to participate, the real population might even be 94 million. Efforts to provide contraceptives to the Philippines have found resistance among the church and influential bishops. However, statistics show that countries who use more contraceptives do in fact have smaller birth rate.

Kristie Chung: Don't Get Steamed Over Stores' Rice Limits:
Restrictions are placed on specialty rice sales, but the article says that U.S. consumers should not be worried that there would be a shortage of rice in the future. The restriction was placed probably because major producers notably India banned some rice exports. Due to high global prices, India is reluctant in important rice. There is a decrease in the global rice supply, and it is making U.S. retailers nervous; they are nervous because they may not be able to get imported rice at cheap prices.

Kai Lin Fu: Antique Store Falls Victim to Exchange Rate
Anne Carlson an 81 year old antique store owner who has been running this business for 36 years has decided to close down her store. Why? Because the dollar is too weak and her once affordable antiques are now out of reach. Ever since the dollar started weakening she began to cut back on her trips to Europe to hand pick English and French antiques. Depreciation of the dollar has made it hard for importers like Anne Carlson.

Globalization:

• Smaller shares, bigger slices- Has globalisation hurt workers in rich economies? In its semi-annual World Economic Outlook, the IMF examines how trade, technology and immigration have stitched the world's labour markets together at an astonishing rate, leaving rich-country workers unsure of where they stand. posted by Alice Chen

• Nomura bank faces accusations that it acted illegally in Italy - A Japanese bank being investigated by British authorities for illegal actions committed in Italy. If this article's not an illustration of Globalization, I don't know what is! posted by Mr. Welker
• French Voters Fear Globalization - France continues to see globalization as a threat to their economy (though the nation is actually more globalized than they realize)--an issue pursued by candidates of the presidential elections, many of claim to favor a "kinder, gentler, globalization". posted by Sophie
• France Gradually Opens to Globalization - Although France does percieve globalization as a threat to its domestic market, it is starting to open up by spreading its culture, business and diplomacy. posted by Teresa
• Steelworkers and British Unions Seek Merger - United Steelworkers are looking to merge with two British Unions to defend workers' conditions. The only beneficiaries of globalization are the exploiters of working people, and the only way working people can resist this is to band together. posted by Vivian
• Globalization drives a wedge into EU - As European leaders gather in Britain to discuss about economic policies, the French disagree with other EU leaders and insists on protecting its farmers against foreign competition. posted by Nick Zhao
• Globalization can also be the cause of child labor - Although globalization is the driving force of child labor, it can also be the force that ends child labor over time while maintaining the same advantages of globalization; as long as countries where child labor is prevalent take the right governmental actions (fiscal policies and laws). posted by Roger Jin
• Eastern Europe Becomes a Center for Outsourcing - As Western Europe's labor and land costs continue to rise, Eastern Europe now becomes an increasingly attractive place for outsourcing. The appeals of Eastern Europe not only include the cheap costs of wages and land, but also a fresh supply of "high quality talents." - posted by Nelson Lee
• World Markets Open For Investors - Because of changes in the global environment, such as financial deregulations and developments in computer technology, it has become increasingly easier for people outside of the United States to invest in global brand names such as Coca-Cola and Nestle. -posted by Vincent Lin
  
• Globalisation's offspring - While globalisation has opened new markets to rich-world companies, it has also given birth to a pack of fast-moving, sharp-toothed new multinationals that is emerging from the poor world. -- Posted by Keshav Kaul
• Factory Jobs: 3 Million Lost Since 2000 - loss of jobs due to outsourcing/offshoring production of U.S. goods has become a common occurrence in the United States in recent years. This article discusses the reasons behind the change, one being a movement of the U.S. economy away from factory jobs towards service jobs, and discusses the impact of the transition. - posted by Will Moeller
• Internet censorship gathers steam - Today, unrestricted use of technology an important international trade issue. Companies like Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft are put in a difficult situation trying to gain market entry into China using U.S.-based technology and information. This article reminds us how free speech and liberalization is an important factor in globalization. - Posted by Helen Wu
• Globalization for Whom? Dani Rodick from Havard University explores how globalization of the world economy is affecting the world's developing nations and their poverty levels. He argues that while global markets are good, poorer nations can often be stifled and hurt by rapid economic globalization. - Posted by Katie Daily
• A New Fast-Food Invasion - Globalization has come full circle. Foreign fast-food chain companies inspired by their American counterparts are now invading America. Beard Papa's, Jollibee, etc. - Posted by Katharine Lau
• As Globalization's Benefits Grow, So Do Its Skeptics - As the world's economy continues to grow faster, the mounting world prosperity also creates increased skepticism. Are there too many risks that come with free trade? How should this increased amount of goods be distributed? - Posted by Tony Shao
• China's economy surges, more tightening seen - China's economy grew at a blistering 11.1 percent annual pace in the first quarter on the back of booming investment and exports, fuelling speculation that interest rates would need to rise again soon. (in relation to EU) - Posted by Laura Schaefer
• Tutto in famiglia - With the growing of China's economy and national income, more and more Chinese are able to splurge their money on luxury goods like Italian designer clothing. Many famous brands in Italy, like Armani and Versace are shifting their attention to Chinese consumers, whom are expected to make up 25% of all revenue in this industry by 2014. Will the Chinese government impose a revenue tariff on Italian clothing imports, in order to protect domestic brands? - Posted by Nancy Li
• Bernanke: Globalization complicates economic analysis - Globalization hasn't hobbled the Federal Reserve's ability to influence economic activity at home by lowering or raising interest rates - Posted by Bader Abulaban
• Benefits, flaws of globalization- To say the least, the outcomes of the recent phase of globalization have been controversial.Globalization has enhanced lives here at home and abroad in many ways, but it also has introduced many challenges that are implicit in massive changes at record speed. - Posted by Isa He
• Foreign Investment in India: To cap it all - India's strict regulations on foreign ownership in Indian firms have placed a roadblock in the way of the biggest-ever foreign direct investment deal the country has ever been offered, and are preventing the investment that is sorely needed to improve its struggling economy. - Posted by Ben Ho
• Globalization: Pros and Cons : This article is useful for those who don't have a clue about globalization, or want a few points cleared up. The author explains clearly about his points, and gives examples to back them up. - Posted by heidi chai
• Food Imports Often Escape Scrutiny: Gross! Okay, this article is about how a single meal you eat in the States these days can have food from a variety of regions... But then it goes on to describe how the food can often be substandard - the amount of people working to inspect and keep safe America's food supply isn't really enough to check the amount of food imported to the States... Mostly from China, Mexico, and Canada. Highly pertinent, and kind of disturbing! And kind of only tangentially related to globalization... Oh well. -- posted by the OTHER Chai.

Trade:

• China Manipulates its Currency- China has been manipulating their currency at an unprecedented level to gain an advantage in trade. posted by Evan
• SOUTH KOREA/US: FTA jumps major hurdles, faces others- The first-ever bilateral trade agreement between the United States an an "Asian tiger" provides potential economic benefits for both countries. However, in the short-run, the import-substituting sectors in Korea (especially that of agriculture with regards to rice and beef) are incurring severe costs, with the newly imported American goods competing the locally grown crops at the market. Meanwhile, business prospects for automobiles seem very optimistic for Korean car companies, compared to the Japanese manufacturers in the American market. posted by Chris Park
• South Africa: Customs Union Prioritises SA-Singapore Free Trade Proposal- The SACU (South Africans Custom Union) seeks for a free trade agreement with Singapore to promote national economic growth and increase net exports. This will halve poverty and unemployment by 2014 if the annual economic growth rate maintains at 6 % per year until 2010. posted by Gary
• WTO Trade Rules Benefit the US, Says New Council Report-this article talks about how trade has prevented the US from developing violent relationships with other nations and that the new policies implemented by the WTO will further help the development of international business civil societies which would aid democratization. posted by Roger
• WTO to intensify tariff talks despite impasse among main players - WTO member states have chosen to intensify talks on lowering customs tariffs and forge ahead with compromise texts on agriculture, services and non-agricultural market access without waiting for major players the U.S., the EU, India and Brazil (the G4) to pull themselves out of their gridlock. posted by Joanna
• US steps up trade pressure on China - In a significant trade move against China, the Bush administration announced. O n March 30, the Bush Administration and the Department of Commerce imposed tariffs on Chinese businesses because of supposed subsidies from the Chinses government for these exports to the US. Posted by Karen Jackson

Currency:

• Finance officials urge stronger monitoring of currency rates - Global finance officials agree that the IMF (Int'l Monetary Fund) needs to modernize its exchange rates as globalization deepens. posted by Nick
• Asian shares hit by currency, China data worries - Asian markets are doing relatively poorly as of late, especially Japan and Korea. China had postponed their new economic data because of a strong yuan. It is speculated that a stronger yuan can lead to higher interest rates. posted by Leon Zhao
• Dollar takes pounding, 26-year low - The dollar touched a 26-year low against sterling and traded near a record low versus the euro Wednesday as expectations for U.S. rate cuts contrasted with prospects for monetary tightening in Europe and Asia. Posted by Andrew
• Dollar slide spurs British invasion - As the many mourn the slide of the greenback, one industry celebrates it. Fueled by the new strength of their currency, Europeans, especially the British, have been flocking into the U.S. in numbers as great as 4.2 million (last year), pumping more and more money into the 518 billion dollar U.S. tourism industry. posted by Helen Huang
• China's Economy: Breathing Fire - To slow down the drastical economic growth in China in fear of a future meltdown, allowing appreciation of the yuan may be the most effective choice the Chinese government have. American protectionists are already frustrated by the little increase in the yuan's exchange rate since 2005, causing China to add in more foreign currencies to its reserve ($135.7 billion in the first three months of 2007 alone) than ever before. The US claim that if China does not loosen up its restriction on the yuan, it will be facing a trade sanction from the US. posted by Jacky Zou
• Yuan climbs to record as more rises seen - The yuan climbed to another record high on the last trading day before the golden week May Day holiday break on bullish sentiment and speculation the central bank will allow further rises as it tries to cool the economy. The Chinese currency settled at 7.7039 against the US dollar, the highest since China abandoned the decade-long fixed exchange rate of 8.28 to the US currency on July 21, 2005. -posted by Ashley Shen
• Dollar sinks to record low against the euro - The American dollar continues its downward spiral against the euro, where the latter currency has reached an all-time high in exchange rates. Existing fears of a growing economic disparity between European and American markets were reinforced as weak US growth was reported at only 1.3% in the first quarter of this year; these worrying figures are explained by economists as due to concerns over the housing market and the possibility that the Fed will cut interest rates later in the year. The dollar is also sinking against the British pound, the Japanese yuan, and the Chinese yuan, among other currencies. - posted by Allen
• Gold Investors Face Exchange Rate Risk:
• AP Econ 2007-2008