Seems that Isabel Peron is in declining health, though the Argentine government hasn't given up on extraditing her for human rights crimes.
Wanted ex-Argentine president in intensive care, Spanish News, Spain, Expatica
Argentina Seeks Isabel Peron Extradition World Latest Guardian Unlimited
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Valentine's Day in China
This is the article I mentioned last night in the IB class.
China's rich spend big to celebrate Valentine's Day - Yahoo! News
China's rich spend big to celebrate Valentine's Day - Yahoo! News
Monday, February 12, 2007
Carrefour to Enter India (edited to add stuff)
Carrefour is looking to enter the Indian market:
Moneycontrol India :: News :: Carrefour to enter India soon :: :: Business :: Carrefour,Kamal Nath,Wadia,Britannia,Danone,WalMart,Bharti
This may be the deciding point for WalMart -- can they really make it in the international market. Of course, it's not only Carrefour they have to worry about; British chain Tesco is also planning on entering the Indian market.
Here's a big problem, though, for all of the Western chains. India has several big retail chains already. Also, distribution channels in India are nor the same. There seems to be much more reliance on smaller neighborhood / village stores and street vendors, something which the Indian chains seem to be able to accomodate. And, Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited has no plans to roll over and play dead !
A second issue, and one that could keep all of these companies out, is the legal / political climate. Basically, India isn't very welcoming to foreign direct investment, despite 15 years of efforts by some (but not all) Indian political groups to make foreign investors welcome. Walmart isn't giving up, though, and they may be able to bring political pressure to bear from the US government.
Added:
Lejoyi has an interesting angle here.....(as well as an extra credit point)
As we talked about with culture, there definitely does seem to be an Islamic backlash against what's perceived as the encroachment of Western secular values -- Mecca Cola, the Islamic Barbie, and any number of retailers of modest clothing styled for Western sensibilities.
And as for WalMart [and we'll talk more about this when we get to marketing], they just don't seem to have really "gotten it" when they've gone international. Especially in Germany, it was failing to understand cultural differences that sunk them.
Out of curiosity, I googled WalMart and a handful of major Islamic countries. I did come up with a recent rumor that WalMart is planning on entering Malaysia. They're also beginning to establish ties with a lot of Turkish manufacturing firms. I'd think that Turkey would be a good place for Walmart to expand their retail presence, a thought I found some confirmation for (though Carrefour has been in Turkey since 1993, with 539 stores, so maybe it isn't such a good idea...).
As for India.....
While there is a significant Muslim minority in India (13.4%), it's going to be Hindu values and Indian customs that WalMart will have trouble with. For an example of a Western company having some success in India, see McDonald's, oddly enough.
Moneycontrol India :: News :: Carrefour to enter India soon :: :: Business :: Carrefour,Kamal Nath,Wadia,Britannia,Danone,WalMart,Bharti
This may be the deciding point for WalMart -- can they really make it in the international market. Of course, it's not only Carrefour they have to worry about; British chain Tesco is also planning on entering the Indian market.
Here's a big problem, though, for all of the Western chains. India has several big retail chains already. Also, distribution channels in India are nor the same. There seems to be much more reliance on smaller neighborhood / village stores and street vendors, something which the Indian chains seem to be able to accomodate. And, Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited has no plans to roll over and play dead !
A second issue, and one that could keep all of these companies out, is the legal / political climate. Basically, India isn't very welcoming to foreign direct investment, despite 15 years of efforts by some (but not all) Indian political groups to make foreign investors welcome. Walmart isn't giving up, though, and they may be able to bring political pressure to bear from the US government.
Added:
Lejoyi has an interesting angle here.....(as well as an extra credit point)
As we talked about with culture, there definitely does seem to be an Islamic backlash against what's perceived as the encroachment of Western secular values -- Mecca Cola, the Islamic Barbie, and any number of retailers of modest clothing styled for Western sensibilities.
And as for WalMart [and we'll talk more about this when we get to marketing], they just don't seem to have really "gotten it" when they've gone international. Especially in Germany, it was failing to understand cultural differences that sunk them.
Out of curiosity, I googled WalMart and a handful of major Islamic countries. I did come up with a recent rumor that WalMart is planning on entering Malaysia. They're also beginning to establish ties with a lot of Turkish manufacturing firms. I'd think that Turkey would be a good place for Walmart to expand their retail presence, a thought I found some confirmation for (though Carrefour has been in Turkey since 1993, with 539 stores, so maybe it isn't such a good idea...).
As for India.....
While there is a significant Muslim minority in India (13.4%), it's going to be Hindu values and Indian customs that WalMart will have trouble with. For an example of a Western company having some success in India, see McDonald's, oddly enough.
Friday, February 09, 2007
An Example of Diversification
This seems to be appropriate to today's discussions.....an example of diversification. One extra credit point for a meaningful comment.
DenverPost.com - A wee distillery for Nebraska?
DenverPost.com - A wee distillery for Nebraska?
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
China's Hu promises win-win partnership in South Africa - Yahoo! News
It appears that China has developed a deep interest in Africa. According to a news story today,
And, as pointed out in an October 2006 article in the Economist, trade with China only benefits Africa's elite, who are the ones who have control over minerals and petroleum.
Is it possible that the Chinese are sincere in their interest in Africa?
However, that's what appears to have happened. China exports far more to Africa than it imports. On the other hand, China has forgiven debt and spent money on building roads and other infrastructure in several (oil -producing) Afriacan countries.
One throwaway comment in another Economist article caught my attention, though. China is beginning to import cotton from Africa. The only reason the US trade deficit with China isn't larger than it is -- US exports of cotton to China.
Your thoughts?
China's Hu promises win-win partnership in South Africa - Yahoo! News
Why is China interested in strengthening ties with Africa? According to some, it isn't altruism:"Both sides vowed to deepen the political partnership and business cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes," said [Chinese President] Hu at a joint press conference on the sixth leg of an eight-nation tour of Africa."
China is keen to tap into Africa's abundant natural resources to feed its economic growth but it has faced accusations of being too willing to turn a blind eye to the excesses of regimes, such as Sudan, as well as using Africa as a dumping ground for cheap goods, particularly textiles.
And, as pointed out in an October 2006 article in the Economist, trade with China only benefits Africa's elite, who are the ones who have control over minerals and petroleum.
Is it possible that the Chinese are sincere in their interest in Africa?
[South African President] Mbeki has previously stated that China will not "replicate the historic colonial economic relationship in terms of which Africa served as a source of raw materials and a market for goods manufactured in the countries of the colonisers."
However, that's what appears to have happened. China exports far more to Africa than it imports. On the other hand, China has forgiven debt and spent money on building roads and other infrastructure in several (oil -producing) Afriacan countries.
One throwaway comment in another Economist article caught my attention, though. China is beginning to import cotton from Africa. The only reason the US trade deficit with China isn't larger than it is -- US exports of cotton to China.
Your thoughts?
China's Hu promises win-win partnership in South Africa - Yahoo! News
Court says Wal-Mart must face bias trial
The ongoing class-action suit against WalMart, brought by women claiming they did not receive the same pay raises and priomotions as their male counterparts, is back in the news.
WalMart would really realy like for this to not be a class action suit. In a class action suit, the plaintiffs comprise all possible individuals who belong to the class -- in this case, any woman who has worked for Walmart since December 26, 1998. Class action settlements tend to be quite expensive for losing defendants; the news story is using the term "billions".
WalMart can affort the expensive lawyers, who are attempting to demolish the whole concept of class action lawsuits. however the plaintiffs appear to be in this for the long haul.
The suit is entering into its fourth year, but don't be looking for a resolution any time soon. All that's been settled here is the class action certificantion. The testimony, expert witnesses, etc. are way off in the future.
A lot of employment discriminations suits are settled out of court. But, I really don't think WalMart is likely to settle, since any settlement is going to involve some admission of guilt, as well as a financial settlement. My best guess is that we won't see any resolution for 4 to 5 years, and longer wouldn't surprise me out of a year's growth.
Do I have an opinion? Glad you asked.....of course I do. This is a classic "adverse impact" suit, meaning that discrimination is established by statistical evidence establishing that outcomes are significantly different form men and women (the dreaded "4/5 rule"). Once that's done, Walmart has to prove that their promotion and pay practices are business-related (validity). I haven't seen any of the evidence, but, first, I suspect that there'll be a lot of statistical byplay on the 4/5 rule. Also, it isn't a matter of "guilty" or "not guilty" here. I'd guess that the plaintiffs can establish that there is discrimination going on. What the plaintiffs are going to need, though, is to find something in writing (internal memos, etc.) that establishes that the discrimination is intentional. That's, strictly speaking, not necessary for this type of suit, but it would sure help.
Stay tuned for more developments.
Court says Wal-Mart must face bias trial I'll add a more permanent link later on
WalMart would really realy like for this to not be a class action suit. In a class action suit, the plaintiffs comprise all possible individuals who belong to the class -- in this case, any woman who has worked for Walmart since December 26, 1998. Class action settlements tend to be quite expensive for losing defendants; the news story is using the term "billions".
WalMart can affort the expensive lawyers, who are attempting to demolish the whole concept of class action lawsuits. however the plaintiffs appear to be in this for the long haul.
The suit is entering into its fourth year, but don't be looking for a resolution any time soon. All that's been settled here is the class action certificantion. The testimony, expert witnesses, etc. are way off in the future.
A lot of employment discriminations suits are settled out of court. But, I really don't think WalMart is likely to settle, since any settlement is going to involve some admission of guilt, as well as a financial settlement. My best guess is that we won't see any resolution for 4 to 5 years, and longer wouldn't surprise me out of a year's growth.
Do I have an opinion? Glad you asked.....of course I do. This is a classic "adverse impact" suit, meaning that discrimination is established by statistical evidence establishing that outcomes are significantly different form men and women (the dreaded "4/5 rule"). Once that's done, Walmart has to prove that their promotion and pay practices are business-related (validity). I haven't seen any of the evidence, but, first, I suspect that there'll be a lot of statistical byplay on the 4/5 rule. Also, it isn't a matter of "guilty" or "not guilty" here. I'd guess that the plaintiffs can establish that there is discrimination going on. What the plaintiffs are going to need, though, is to find something in writing (internal memos, etc.) that establishes that the discrimination is intentional. That's, strictly speaking, not necessary for this type of suit, but it would sure help.
Stay tuned for more developments.
Court says Wal-Mart must face bias trial I'll add a more permanent link later on
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