Thursday, September 30, 2004

IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO)-- September 2004

IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO)-- September 2004:

"The World Economic Outlook presents the IMF staff's analysis and projections of economic developments at the global level, in major country groups (classified by region, stage of development, etc.), and in many individual countries. It focuses on major economic policy issues as well as on the analysis of economic developments and prospects. It is usually prepared twice a year, as documentation for meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, and forms the main instrument of the IMF's global surveillance activities. "

IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO)-- September 2004

IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO)-- September 2004: "The World Economic Outlook presents the IMF staff's analysis and projections of economic developments at the global level, in major country groups (classified by region, stage of development, etc.), and in many individual countries. It focuses on major economic policy issues as well as on the analysis of economic developments and prospects. It is usually prepared twice a year, as documentation for meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, and forms the main instrument of the IMF's global surveillance activities. "

Distance Communication Transfer of HIV Prevention Interventions to Service Providers

Science -- Abstracts: Kelly et al. 305 (5692): 1953:

"Most acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) service providers are in countries with little access to scientific developments relevant to their programs. It is critical to transfer advances from the scientific arena to service providers on a global scale. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention organizations in 78 countries were randomized to receive either a control condition or a technology transfer condition with an interactive distance learning computer training curriculum and individualized distance consultation. Of 42 nongovernmental organizations in the technology transfer condition, 29 adopted the science-based program in their communities or trained other agencies to also use it. Advanced communication technologies can create a cost-effective infrastructure to disseminate new intervention models to service providers worldwide. "

Battling for brains: The parlous state of European universities

Economist.com | Charlemagne:

"If America, which has traditionally had first pick of the world's top talent, is now turning much of it away, the opportunity for European institutions is clear. The number of foreign students from outside Europe rose by 60% in British universities between 1997 and 2003, driven mainly by an increase in Chinese students. Institutions in the rest of the EU are getting in on the act. An increasing number are teaching courses in English so that they can capitalise on the flow of foreign students."

The GM Maize Debate in Mexico

Economist.com | Farming in Mexico:

"The blanket ban on GM research was lifted last year. But only in theory: no permits have been issued. For the past three years, Mexico's Congress has been discussing the whole issue. A law is likely to be approved, perhaps next month, which may strike a compromise. Greens want it to reaffirm the ban on experiments with GM maize, and to order stricter labelling of imports. Supporters of GM want a green light for planting and research. "

Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: Outsourcing Drug Work -- [ BIOTECH ] -- Pharmaceuticals ship R&D and clinical trials to India

Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: Outsourcing Drug Work -- [ BIOTECH ] -- Pharmaceuticals ship R&D and clinical trials to India:

"Although pharmaceutical giants such as Novartis, Pfizer and Eli Lilly have commissioned Indian firms to manufacture compounds for years, all R&D work--drug design and preclinical testing--has been done elsewhere. But during the past year, all three have publicly stated that they are actively looking at the Indian market to perform R&D services, asserts Alok Gupta, head of life sciences and biotechnology at Rabo India Finance, an investment bank. 'This is a huge opportunity.' "

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

RAND: Shanghaied? The Economic and Political Implications of the Flow of Information Technology and Investment Across the Taiwan Strait

RAND: Shanghaied? The Economic and Political Implications of the Flow of Information Technology and Investment Across the Taiwan Strait:

Abstract: "The flows of trade and investment across the Taiwan Strait have increased dramatically in recent years, driven largely by the increasing integration of the information technology (IT) sectors of Taiwan and the People?s Republic of China. This report examines the economic and political implications of cross-Strait flows of technology and capital. The authors comprehensively analyze the investment and IT transfer dynamics between Taiwan and China and their implications for the global semiconductor industry and U.S. policymaking."

Economist.com

Economist.com:

Check out the graph attached to this story.

"More and more students are studying abroad. Foreign students are most prominent in Australian and Swiss universities, where they represent over 17% of all students. By contrast, they make up only 4% of America's students. However, the sheer scale of university education in America means that it attracts 30% of the foreign-student population. English is a lure. Half of foreign students choose America, Britain and Australia."

Economist.com | James Wolfensohn

Economist.com | James Wolfensohn:

"'The World's Banker' sets out to be a biography of Mr Wolfensohn, but it is really as much about the rich world's relations with the poor. Mr Mallaby writes about this vast topic with vigour and wit, and in a tone so reasonable it makes you want to slap the people who scale office blocks to unfurl banners proclaiming that the 'World Bank Approves China's Genocide in Tibet'. (An absurd claim about the Bank, as Mr Mallaby painstakingly documents, and an unhelpful-to Tibetans-exaggeration of China's policy.)"

Friday, September 24, 2004

Community and Quality of Life: Data Needs for Informed Decision Making

Sustainability at the National Academies:

"The successful production and use of the knowledge needed for a sustainability transition will require significant strengthening of institutional capacity. "

Monday, September 20, 2004

How Does Google Work?

Economist.com | Articles by Subject | CASE HISTORY:

"Internet searching: With all the fuss over Google's IPO, it is easy to overlook its broader social significance. For many people, Google made the internet truly useful. How did it do it?"

Chief of HHS Office of Global Health Affairs

Science -- Kaiser 305 (5690): 1552:

"William R. Steiger, the point person on international health for HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, has made a name for himself everywhere--from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the halls of academia. Then again, not many bureaucrats would want the kind of attention he's received."

Friday, September 17, 2004

Foreign Aid in Peril (washingtonpost.com)

Foreign Aid in Peril (washingtonpost.com):

"President Bush greatly expanded programs to help poor countries cope with AIDS, and he promised a 50 percent jump in other foreign assistance. However, that second achievement is in danger of being undermined. In a Senate markup yesterday, only $1.12 billion was allocated to Mr. Bush's new aid initiative, less than half of what he requested."

Thursday, September 16, 2004

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Bush and Kerry battle over science

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Bush and Kerry battle over science:

"The leading international science journal Nature has focussed the US presidential election campaign on science by asking both President George Bush and Senator John Kerry for their views on the major issues. "

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Disconnected: Life is getting harder for China's phone companies

Economist.com | Telecoms in China:

"At the end of June, China had 305m cellular subscribers and 295m fixed-line users, making it the largest market in the world for both and the fastest growing anywhere. Almost 70% of Chinese who can afford a mobile phone have one. ?No other developing country has created such penetration in so short a time."

Counting heads: A breakthrough in measuring the knowledge economy

Economist.com | Economics focus:

"TO WHAT extent is economic growth driven by the acquisition of 'human capital'? Many economists have pursued the answer over the past 20 years, but without great success. Despite building and rebuilding elaborate growth models, they have failed to prove that better education and training significantly raises a country's long-term growth. Recently, though, a Canadian team made a breakthrough. It found that, if you measure actual skills rather than educational qualifications, human capital becomes a strong predictor of economic growth."

Amazon.com: Books: Crimes Against Nature : How George W. Bush and His Corporate Pals Are Plundering the Country and Hijacking Our Democracy

Amazon.com: Books: Crimes Against Nature : How George W. Bush and His Corporate Pals Are Plundering the Country and Hijacking Our Democracy

This book is intended to encourage U.S. voters to vote against Bush in the coming election. It is a screed against the environmental and public safety record of the current administation.

For those interested in knowledge for development, the chapter dealing with the Bush administration attack on scientific knowledge, and that dealing with the failure of the media in the U.S. to provide adequate knowledge to the public are instructive.