Stories about Economics & Business from April, 2007
Jamaica: Caribbean Networking
In considering the concept of regional networking, Jamaican Francis Wade thinks “it is critical that our region's professionals take the task of managing their online brand as an essential one — as essential as deciding what to wear to work each day.”
Nepal: About Mohan Gopal Khetan
Nepali Netbook on how the country has lost not only a businessman but also a nationalist. “Mohan Khetan could not have achieved his business successes without at least some of the “shadiness” ordinarily associated with entrepreneurs. Where he stood out was in his espousal of issues going to the heart...
Indonesia: Quiz
Are you a “capitalist pig”? asks Indcoup and invites the readers to take a quiz to prove or disprove it.
Japan: Why are checks not used in Japan?
Joe at Japan Law Blog explains the reasons why, unlike in many other countries, in Japan checks never caught on: “Japan has an entire legal structure for the payment systems familiar to Americans and Europeans. Yet if you live in Japan all your life, you may never write a check...
Kuwait: When Our Only Tourist Attraction is a Shopping Mall
With the summer temperatures soaring, life in Kuwait revolves around air-conditioned shopping malls, reports Abdullatif Al Omar. Follow the arrows to read bloggers' reactions to why else a foreign head of state is treated to a visit to a mall; friends meet in malls and a boat show is held there.
Kenya: Kenya Investment Forum in Toronto
Recently, Kenyan blogger and Global Voices author, Steve Ntwiga, attended the Kenya Investment Forum in Toronto, Canada: “I found it very telling that the Kenyan Government choose to present Vision 2030 to Kenyans in the diaspora at exactly the same time that the plan was being revealed to Kenyan back...
Chile: Vendors vs. Police
Chileno captures some footage of a tussle between police and street vendors, and follows up with an interview with the vendor involved. The city government of Santiago is trying to clear a popular promenade of street vendors that compete with shop owners.
Kuwait: The Truth About Franchising
Business-minded Kuwaiti blogger io81 briefs us about the difficulty of owning franchises of famous brands. “Most of you out there had thought of opening up a store that you have encountered some where around the world… The truth is its not that simple, i had my share with different franchises...
Kazakhstan: Investment & the Court
An American businessman in Kazakhstan, Marc Seidenfeld, has been arrested in what appears to be a frame-up by local business interests to retaliate against him for selling his business in an open auction, raising its final sale price. Bonnie Boyd says that this points to a serious problem with rule...
India: Folding Up
Munjal Shah, the CEO of Riya explains the decision to close their Bangalore office. “The costs of having two offices, which are twelve time zones apart, is significant. People in both offices frequently had conference calls at 10pm and midnight every night (as a result the office in the US...
Russia: Kasparov's Foreign Funding
As the Kremlin begins looking for Gary Kasparov's foreign sponsors, Sean's Russia Blog reports that a reporter for an expat paper in Moscow may have already completed the job.
China: Not to Buy Apartment Campaign Ended
Zou Tao, a Shenzhen citizen who has launched the “Not to Buy Apartment Campaign”, has sold his property in Shenzhen, returned to his homeland in Hunan and become a peasant. Although many were looking forward for a relaunch of the campaign, Zhang hua however commented that such campaign wouldn't help...
Iran:Government puts economic pressure on Iranian journals
Tirouj says[Fa] government controls 80 percent of country's economic and it uses this advantage to push some journals to shutdown.The blogger says it is easy for Iranian government to cut advertising money to targeted journals and push them to go out of business.The blogger adds it happened to Ayandeh No...
Barbados: Analysing 2007 CWC
Adrian Loveridge, guest authoring at Barbados Free Press, believes that “as the 2007 Cricket World Cup (CWC) event draws to a close, with the hosting of the final in Barbados on 28th April, it is perhaps now time to analyse in-depth, exactly what economic benefits it has brought to the...
Japan: Revision of customs and trade regulations
Japan Observer reports on plans by the Abe government to revise its rules and regulations to comply with international standards, commenting that such plans do not “much to change the structure of the Japanese economy over the long term, nor […] address the concerns of Japanese citizens about their future...
Taiwan: Taiwan needs US-TW FTA?
Michael Turton translates part of the article from Taipei Times which argued that Taiwan needs an Free trade Agreement (FTA) with the US.
Russia: More Reactions to Yeltsin's Death
What was the effect of Boris Yeltsin's policies on the people of Germany, Poland and the Baltic states, as well as on the "Russian Bride industry"? While yesterday's post reflected some of what Russian bloggers' thought of Boris Yeltsin's life and death, this one deals with the reactions of predominantly non-Russian observers.
India: On Corporate “Greed”
My Himachal on corporate play in the state. “Hydro-electric power projects of private firms in Himachal Pradesh are being pushed by local officers who have made it clear to the people that they have vested interest in these projects. Officers of the state government have tried to influence local activists...
A week goes by in Kuwait
The unpredictable weather, shoddy telecom services and the rapid surge in the stock market are just some of the topics keeping Kuwaiti bloggers entertained this week.
Iraq: Oil Law Threats
Iraq's new oil law threatens to tear apart the war-torn country even further, writes Raed Jarrar. “The law threatens Iraq unity through decentralizing the major authorities related to petroleum operations. Many Iraqis view the law as an “Iraq separation fund”. Many observers this that a number of Iraqi separatist leaders,...
Bahrain: On Poverty
Blogger Chanad Bahraini discusses poverty in Bahrain, saying: “Statements from the prime minister that “new steps are being taken to help needy families in Bahrain” are a dime a dozen. We read about them every few weeks, as the local press always makes sure to give it front page coverage....
