Wednesday, January 30, 2008

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?

Monday, January 28, 2008

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?

Friday, January 25, 2008

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!

Monday, January 14, 2008

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??