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Fairtrade Fires Back – Is A Flawed System Better Than None At All?
You may have read a blog I posted recently discussing some of the problems with the Fairtrade system; this drew directly on a Financial Times article detailing the ways coffee growers in Peru pass their products off as Fairtrade while circumventing the rules. Soon after, the Fairtrade...
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On India’s Farms, a Plague of Suicide
There is a poignant article in today’s New York Times on the alarming rate of suicides amongst India’s farmers - more than 17,000 in 2003. Tracing the causes of this epidemic, the article explores a confluence of forces from moneylenders to American multinationals selling genetically...
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Trending Towards SMEs – Do New Funds Indicate Progress?
Formal, profitable SME financing is gaining momentum in India, as two articles in last week?s Indian financial press indicate:ICICI Venture mulls 4 specialized fundsNew SME Fund to Launch in IndiaSmall and medium sized enterprise investment funds are not new; we?ve discussed the Shell...
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- Education
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- academia
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Rating Ease of Business and Economic Freedom in 2006
September is an exciting month for country ranking enthusiasts. World Bank?s 2007 Doing Business Report, and Cato/Fraser Institute?s 2006 Economic Freedom Report were released back-to-back, Sep 6 and Sep 7, respectively, begging for some compare-and-contract action. First, what are the...
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BOP Schools Provide Temporary Relief for Troubled Public Education Systems
?The accepted wisdom is wrong,? says James Tooley, winner of the FT?s recent essay contest, as he rips into the prevailing notion that developing country education problems can be solved with more aid. He continues his tirade, attacking development experts that on the one hand prioritize...
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Comments/Criticisms on Doing Biz? Air Them.
We?ve discussed the World Bank?s Doing Business report previously on this blog, and now the WB has made it so you can continue the conversation on their website. Check here for a link to the Doing Business discussion forum, open to thoughts and analysis from the general public.There is...
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The 2006 Emerging Markets Private Equity Forum
An important event is coming up for investors interested in the booming, capital-hungry markets of India, China, South Africa and other emerging economies: The Emerging Markets Private Equity Association is hosting its annual forum in London November 30th through December 1st. ...
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African Perspectives on Challenges for Growth
In its excellent ?Have Your Say? section of the site, BBC News recently wrapped up an open debate on the prospects of Africa?s enterprising youth and the obstacles that may prevent them from realizing their full creative and productive potential. The primarily African respondents had some...
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- Education
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- academia
