The United States emerged as the world's single superpower in the latter part of the 20th century. The combination of a strong industrial base, a highly-educated workforce, and wealth of natural resources has been conducive to strong growth in recent decades. The world economy is heavily tied to the United States, which acts as a hub of technology, capital investment and consumption. More recently, the emergence of low-cost producers in developing nations has facilitated the transition of the United States economy away from heavy industry towards high-tech fields such as software development.
The hot-topic in today's economy is the collapse of the housing market and subsequent decline of the banking industry. Efforts have been taken by the U.S. and foreign governments to stabilize the world economy, though it remains to be seen what affect these measures will have. The November presidential elections, a shaky economic situation, and an increasingly disputed role as the sole world superpower all indicate that the next few years will be pivotal - both for the U.S. and the rest of the world.
Learn more about the U.S. on globalEDGE.
This month's poll question is:
"Which of the following has been the most important result of the weakened U.S. Dollar?"
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Capitalism: Going, Going, Gone!
In the midst of a housing bubble, sub-prime mortgage crisis, an unpopular war, and the stock market steadily declining, it stands to reason that many Americans, nay, citizens of the world are worried about the future of the financial world. Our business world has been built on the "magic of the market" and "success of the fittest," which provided the booms throughout the century that shaped the contemporary market. However, in an article by Breitbart, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd argues, the global economic crisis is a result of the "comprehensive failure of extreme capitalism." (read more)
Learn more from the blog on globalEDGE.
This month's Featured Sites:
United States: Export-Import Bank of the United States
http://www.exim.gov/
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank's mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. It provides a broad range of financial services and helps medium and small companies by assuming credit and country risks.
Category: Trade: Trade Portals
Country: United States
United States: Business Week
http://www.businessweek.com/
This online version of the publication Business Week provides the user with news specific to the United States as well as business news on Asia and Europe. The Companies section highlights industry news and the Investing section includes a Company Insight Center for detailed information on a specific company. Business Week online offers added value through a weekly email feature.
Category: News & Periodicals: Regional News
Country: United States
OECD: Financial Markets
http://www.oecd.org/finance
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), comprised of 30 member countries, offers a wealth of information relating to global finance and investment. This site provides information relating to banking, securities and institutional investors, and the development of international financial best practices.
Category: Money: Finance
View recently added sites on globalEDGE.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: ChamberCast
http://www.uschamber.com/webcasts/default
ChamberCast is an online library of webcasts created and maintained by the United State Chamber of Commerce. Most are chamber-hosted events that feature expert panels addressing several business related issues. Topics covered range from supply chain bottlenecks and environmental sustainability, to intellectual property and matters of privacy.
Category: Video Depositories
North American Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE)
http://www.nasbite.org/
NASBITE's objective is to help the professional development of international trade educators, trainers, and service providers, as well as to promote an exchange of information and resources by those involved in international trade education and assistance.
Category: Professional Organizations
International Monetary Systems
http://globaledge.msu.edu/academy/HpgdtmLH/52NEW/International%20Monetary%20Systems/player.html
The International Monetary Systems module provides one with information concerning: the history of the International Monetary System; the importance of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, including their basic purposes and functions; what money markets and international money markets are; what international capital markets are and their function in both developing and high-income countries; international security markets; and the basics of the European Monetary System. A case study on Argentina's recent economic crisis is available.
Category: Online Course Modules
View Academy on globalEDGE.
What is Fair Trade?
By Paulette L. Stenzel (Volume 2, Number 5, pp. 1-2, 2008)
http://globaledge.msu.edu/newsAndViews/businessReviews/gBR2-5.pdf
Executive Briefing: Fair trade is a way of doing business that builds equitable, long-term partnerships between consumers in developed regions and producers in developing regions across the world. It takes steps toward a just and sustainable economic system that ensures that people get paid a fair price for their work. Fair trade is neither synonymous with nor the antithesis to free trade. Fair trade promotes environmental sustainability and bio-diversity - goals articulated by many of those who advocate free trade.
Read other gE Business Reviews on globalEDGE.
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