Business

Carlos Ghosn and the rigor of the Japanese state

China & Northeast Asia

The surprise arrest of Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is superficially a tale of personal greed and clashing corporate cultures. But drill deeper and the more significant takeaway is what the case reveals about the Japanese approach to law and the power of the state. That is why Mr. Ghosn’s fate could have an impact on Japan’s international standing and foreign investors.

El Salvador counts on international help to curb gang violence

North America

El Salvador is Central America’s most densely populated country. With six million people and a gross domestic product of $25 billion, its per capita GDP is $4,100 – not bad for a country generally considered poor by international standards. In the region, only Costa Rica does much better. El Salvador’s potential for further development is strong, but it is being he...

Japan’s closed door to immigrants heralds population decline

China & Northeast Asia

Japan faces a daunting demographic challenge. Both the general populace and the working-age population are graying and rapidly decreasing in size. In recent years, the number of deaths has outpaced the number of births by around 300,000 per year. If the country’s birth rate remains constant, this figure will continue to rise by tens of thousands annually. ...

With India ready for takeoff, Modi pauses over launch button

South & Southeast Asia

After his first 18 months in office, during which India’s economic prospects have brightened considerably, 2016 gives Prime Minister Narendra Modi a last window of opportunity for radical new policy initiatives. If he decides on a bold course, it would depart from the incremental approach that has characterized Mr. Modi’s term thus far. ...

Hollande floats Nordic-inspired model as remedy for France’s broken labour code

Europe

Unemployment in France is at a record high. Despite the creation of almost half a million subsidised jobs, the ranks of the jobless have swelled by about 1.2 million in the three years since President Francois Hollande’s election, to 6.4 million. For some time now the French public has been told the trend is about to reverse, but month after month, their hopes have...

VIDEO: Improved business climate would breathe new life into Tunisia

Maghreb & the Middle East

VIDEO: The challenges Algeria faces to reform and grow

Maghreb & the Middle East

Kazakhstan balances relations with China and Russia to secure regional stability

Russia & Central Asia

Kazakhstan has emerged as one of the leading countries in Central Asia. It has developed and maintained delicate but workable partnerships with Russia, China and the West while developing relations with international actors such as Iran, Turkey, India, Japan and South Korea. All this is now in the balance as Kazakhstan waits to see how it might be affected by Russi...

Japan's industry 'champions' defy tradition to succeed in world trade

China & Northeast Asia

Japan is still a largely inward-looking country, but 200 of its medium-size companies have become world market leaders by defying language and cultural barriers to dominate their market. Japan's industry 'champions' defy tradition to succeed in world trade ‘HIDDEN champions’ are at the vanguard of globalisation...

Economics: Japan and globalisation. How to get into the Japanese market - M&A integration

China & Northeast Asia

In the third and final part of this series of special reports, Professor Dr Stefan Lippert looks at how European countries can participate effectively in the Japanese market and how best to conclude an effective and successful mergers and acquisitions integration. HOW can European countries participate more effectively in...