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Features Marco Iansiti’s business book “The Keystone Advantage”. Emphasis on innovation, competition and corporate strategy; Inclusion of a recommendation from Bill Gates of Microsoft Corp.; Arguments on antitrust policy.

Comments on the article in the Economic View column of the July 4, 2004 issue of "The New York Times," which described the role of competition in spreading unethical corporate behavior.

To the Editor: Re ''The Struggle for What We Already Have'' (Talking Business, Sept. 4): [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

During past downturns in technology spending, Dell tended to boast about its ability to weather the conditions better than competitors bogged down by higher-priced goods and cumbersome business models. In 2009, no such gloating has been heard. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Discusses ways of beating the competition through four books on business strategy.

Observes that American corporations could see an end to the price war in telephone and Internet services as a result of the sudden consolidation in telecommunications, in light of Verizon Communications' plan to acquire MCI. Details of the Verizon-MCI pact; Reference to a similar deal between SBC Communications and AT&T; Intent of the mergers to expand Verizon's and SBC's rosters of corporate customers; Potential of the deals to transform Verizon and SBC, the two largest operators of local telephone networks, into national powerhouses; Views of analysts.

Presents briefs related to world business. Increase in profits at the Mazda Motor Corporation in the first half of its fiscal year; Rise in profit at Bertelsmann's in Germany; Net profits posted by the Brazilian bank Itau Financeira; Settlement of a copyright lawsuit between Nortel Networks and Arbinet-thExchange; Increase in market share at the Brazilian budget airline Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes.

Discusses how the recall of the arthritis drug Vioxx by Merck & Co. has come at a bad time for the pharmaceutical company. Way that this will affect their competition in the pharmaceutical industry; Suggestion that the withdrawal of the drug and concerns about Merck's ability to find successor drugs to its aging top sellers could push the company into a merger, Analysis of Merck's stocks; Lawsuits against the company by individuals who took Vioxx and suffered cardiovascular injuries; Plans for the company's future.

Reports on the agreement between the Southeast Asian economic ministers and northern Asia powerhouses Japan, China, and South Korea. Creation of free trade agreement to increase business and meet global competition; Negotiations on a free trade pact; Terms of the draft agreement.

Presents world news briefs relating to business and finance. Slowdown in Indonesia's economy; Oil profits for Thailand's government-controlled oil and gas company, PTT; Competition between oil companies Royal Dutch/Shell and BP to conduct a technical assessment of Iraq's largest oil fields; Sale of three million shares in company stock by Eugene Melnyk, chairman and chief executive of Canadian drug maker Biovail; Others.

Focuses on the business opportunity for Mr. John Parker, musician and painter, with his moving van. Effect of the growing number for small-scale movers; Reliance of Mr. Parker on word-of-mouth advertising in his business; Effect of competition for small-scale movers on the growing number of in-demand service.