WASHINGTON — Since the inception of the Marshall Plan post World War II, the United States has been one of the most active and generous aid donors to the developing world. Unfortunately, over the last few decades, our aid and trade policies have become increasingly fragmented and, at times, even … Continue Reading…
This weekend, GMF is hosting with its partners the third annual Brussels Forum, a gathering of political, academic, and business leaders to debate the countless items on the transatlantic agenda. Public sessions will be streamed live in video and audio from Brussels, and transcripts and video for … Continue Reading…
WASHINGTON — Once again, this is far from my expertise, but it’s very interesting to see a New York Times blog post about a few stores in New York City starting to accept the euro for purchases. It is certainly … Continue Reading…
BALI, Indonesia (via Washington) — Slate has this dispatch from Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff at the UN Climate Change Conference.
HANOI, Vietnam — A number of the posts already on Vietnam at least mention China, if not focus on it. China is the 800-pound gorilla next door, and much of what Vietnam hopes to accomplish in the international marketplace is in spite of or in direct competition with China.
I’ve talked … Continue Reading…
WASHINGTON — This is far from my area of expertise, but I found it interesting that the FT is reporting that the dollar, widely used as the currency of international commerce and reserve holdings, should withstand a challenge by the euro to displace it in … Continue Reading…
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — Like many developing countries, Vietnam is dealing with challenges that are caused by its own success: Exponentially growing market demand and the influx of direct foreign investment - to a large degree due to Vietnam’s recent WTO accession - have caused shortages in the … Continue Reading…
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — Keeping good relations with China will certainly continue to be one of the Vietnamese government´s main priorities.
The reasons for this have been of political nature; but increasingly economic reasons take priority. While there are some success stories like Vietnamese companies winning back the local … Continue Reading…
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam — Vietnam’s history with China has been long, complicated, and difficult. Vietnam’s future with China may also be long, complicated, and difficult.
The two countries produce many of the same kinds of goods, especially textiles. But China, with its billion-plus people, dwarfs Vietnam’s 85 million. China’s factories … Continue Reading…