Currency and Olympics

For anyone interested in learning a bit more about the currency manipulation issues, the GAO put out a good report on this issue: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05351.pdf.

Also, for papers, can anyone think of a good topic related to the Olympics in China?

More Paper Ideas

I am posting them as I think of them...

Restrictions on trade in sugar: why? good? bad? what does it mean for environmental issues? can it ever change or are lobbies too strong? should it change?

More Paper Topics

OK, a few more paper ideas:

Trade with Cuba: Can we open to Cuba? Should we? Who should benefit? Who will benefit?

Microfinancing: what is it, what has it done, why is it important for women?

Powerful global companies from...the developing world. Why and how are the growing? What does this mean?


Also, please read: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2008/01/28/080128ta_talk_surowiecki/
For discussion Wednesday. Had anyone heard of Tata before reading this? What do you think?

Class One

OK, started my class this week. It went pretty well, but for the fact that the bookstore ordered the wrong book so no one did the reading (and I KNOW they would have all done it!:-))

So we went over some basics, and asked a lot of questions that we hope to examine and answer throughout the semester.

Students: start thinking about paper topics!! Some ideas:

Alleged currency manipulation by the People’s Republic of China (PRC); are new international trade rules needed to regulate currency levels? Should the U.S. press China on this issue? Can it?

The role of electronic commerce in international trade

The role of high technology in international trade

Is every trade policy decision political? Should it be? Does it have to be?

The relationship between international trade and peace, stability, security

Free traders and environmentalists: can they both achieve what they strive for in a compatible way, or does one have to lose?

The relationship between the U.S. budget deficit and the U.S. trade deficit

The agricultural issues of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations

Textiles, Apparel and Footwear: should these items still be restricted in trade?

Yahoo, Google, etc: privacy concerns, human rights, and the possible extraterritorial application and effect of U.S. laws

Accession of Russia to the World Trade Organization

Free trade in the Middle East

Role of Wal Mart in international trade

WTO Dispute Resolution: is it working? For whom? Does it need to be changed? How?

Is trade good or bad for workers?

I am open to any of your own ideas and look forward to hearing them!

Me, in the NYTs

I was in the New York Times today! Well, my name wasn't, but my college roommate wrote a story and referenced me, in cognito!!

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/travel/escapes/25ritual.html?ref=escapes

My roommate is a fabulous writer, and, of course, a fantastic skiier! She is also an amazing mom and person. I am proud and happy to know her.

Grandma at 90

I had a fabulous weekend last weekend. My entire family gathered in upstate NY to celebrate the 90th birthday of my grandmother. She has 6 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren. All were there. Her kids were there. Her siblings and their kids were there. It snowed every day. We had so much fun celebrating and playing and sledding and throwing snowballs and everything else. Everyone should go to every family gathering they can, particularly when they are honoring such a special matriarch!

More On Hillary - Economics

As I have said, when you look at substance, it is hard not to support Hillary. Check out Krugman's most recent column in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/opinion/14krugman.html?em&ex=1200459600&en=0a7286ad193e4822&ei=5087%0A. As he points out, don't we want someone who actually knows what she is talking about??

Changing the World, One Snow Ball at a Time

As you know, my inspiring daughters BOTH gave up birthday presents to raise money for the planet on their most recent birthdays. Most recently, my youngest asked party attendees to bring donations for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. http://www.pewclimate.org/. We had the party. I have to confess, I was sort of the mother of they year on this one. She really wanted a "snow" party, and to have a snow ball fight. It is not anywhere near snowing in the DC Metro area, but I had to try to deliver. So, I went to a nearby ice rink, and asked if they would fill two coolers with snow from the zamboni. They delivered! Without a thought they let me haul in my coolers, and fill them. We had an amazing snowball fight on party day!!

Thanks to Mary Smaragdis, also mother of the year, who lent me not only one of the coolers that I used, but also beautiful glass snowflakes for decorating the house, and tons of craft supplies so that we could "make" snowflakes as an activity! We were in a winter wonderland when it was 60 degrees outside!!

Changing the World, One Door at a Time

I went to New Hampshire to work hard for Hillary Clinton. In my view she will make the best next President of the United States. Her dedication to public service throughout her life is quite astounding. And, even more impressive, is that she actually gets done what she sets out to do. I knocked on a lot of doors and talked to people about supporting her. After only a few minutes of listing her accomplishments and plans, it was not too hard to get people to agree. I even convinced an Obama canvaser to re-think her support. Indeed, not one Obama supporter I spoke with could articulate clearly or substantively why he or she was supporting him. If anyone is in doubt about what Hillary can accomplish as President, read her wikipedia entry - a concise overview of what she has already done. It is incredible how many people she has already helped. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Clinton. I also met Bill - shook his hand and got his autograph!

Amazing People

I went to college with some amazing people. I am going to start highlighting some of them here. First up is Christopher Smith, who founded and runs his own design firm. Poking around his website just made me happy that there are managers and people out there who think like he does. Check him out at http://www.eastmaindesign.com/. I also am starting to check out a former classmate's blog: http://greeneconomics.blogspot.com/. He is a professor at UCLA, and so far I am liking his blog!

Equal Billing

OK, I think I short changed my OTHER child yesterday. While the upcoming birthday gift is giving up gifts to change the world by collecting donations for the Pew Center, my OTHER child has already changed the world a bit and deserves credit. This past summer, in lieu of gifts, she collected donations for the World Wildlife Fund. http://www.worldwildlife.org/. BOTH my children have already changed the world at least a bit, and have started an excellent birthday tradition in our household. They are both inspirations for me everyday.

Also, I have realized that I am BAD at remembering to include links on this blog, and have to get in that habit. To find out more about, or or to donate to, the excellent Pew Center, check it out at http://www.pewclimate.org/.

Hillary Clinton's campaign is at http://www.hillaryclinton.com/.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! This year I am going to do a lot of things, I can feel it. My class starts in a few weeks and I am preparing for that. My kids are growing up. My five year old has decided, in lieu of gifts, to collect donations for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change at her birthday party. She is my inspiration to help change the world right now! For my (first) mission, I am headed up to New Hampshire this weekend to work for Senator Clinton's presidential campaign. I am all about girl power, and making it happen. I just read a quote by Madeline Albright: "There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women." I agree with that, and I do NOT want to go to that place!:-)! I am going to help Senator Clinton as much as I can!