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You would think that California politicians have sense enough to admit that state government botched electric power deregulation. But vanity and pandering to uninformed citizens will not change 'feel good' [...]

There is an important lesson to be learned from complaints by World Trade Organization meeting protesters who recently vandalized Seattle, Washington D.C. and Montreal. What escaped my understanding was the [...]

The announced meeting topic in late February was 'What's Wrong With the Steel Industry - Again?,' a subject visited several times since this column first appeared nearly three decades ago. [...]

The era of cheap oil is gone from this planet. Changing demographics and rapid industrialization of developing-nation energy consumers means an accelerated need for fuel, and increasingly natural gas will [...]

The American public, government and industry must understand and accept the new Globalization defining the world's future, which is a term that itself needs definition. Since human endeavors are stable [...]

While manufacturing's share of gross domestic product has declined steadily from 27% in 1960 to about 13.7% today, total U.S. employment has grown with population over the same term and [...]

Get it straight and spread the word. Political and media demigods who talk about the President being responsible for employment and economic performance are liars. Government does not create jobs. [...]

My problem with this article on new technology is that it is one page instead of a few volumes. It pains me to give only a summary description of several [...]

Sometimes thoughts hang in the back of your mind as pieces of an unknown puzzle that never fit. Then they come together and reveal an image. For the two years [...]

It is unlikely that many readers of this journal ever thought about the history and world changes wrought by an invention known as 'The Company,' coincidently the title of a [...]

Last month we examined the disconnect between U.S. trade deficits and domestic employment, as flavored by the I philosophic dispositions of House and Senate Members regarding free trade juxtaposed the [...]

Countertrade is truly a ubiquitous feature of the global marketplace. It appears in many forms such as barter, the oldest form where goods are exchanged without money. Counterpurchase requires a [...]

There was some good news from the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) conference completed in early September in Johannesburg, neglected news that barely appeared in U.S. mainstream media. To [...]

Concepts of public choice are based on economic analysis of government behavior and of individual citizens with respect to government. It is evident that public choices are guided by different [...]

When created in 1934 as an independent federal agency, the Export-Import Bank was, and still is, chartered to (a) provide guarantees of working capital to U.S. exporters, (b) make loans [...]

Government accountability to the citizens is in jeopardy. Americans should fear the enemy of terrorism, which this strong nation must defeat, and also guard against the idea that successful war [...]

Eighteen months ago, this column considered problems of the U.S. Social Security system. The only thing that happened in the interim is the national pension system is a year and [...]

Two months ago, this column addressed shifts in value and valuation of industrial intellectual property (IP). This month, we examine research and development structures, the birthplace of IP, and look [...]

Last August, this column examined the future of electric power generation in the U.S. and cited both emergence of Independent Power Providers (IPPs) in the deregulated environment of the 1990s [...]

Recent news on intellectual property (IP) rights in music and entertainment (Napster) may elicit a yawn from this journals' readers, but IP savvy can be critical, according to former Xerox [...]

Economists usually describe activity in terms of what did (or is forecast to) occur, but rarely do they account for costs associated with redistribution of wealth, which appears in the [...]

Reports on the results of the study by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) which shows the need for reforms in the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Need for a statutory mission by the EPA; Need to enforce national standards; Need to support flexible accountability.

Discusses the role of the US Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration (ITA) as a business matchmaker for Eastern European nations and the Newly Independent States (NIS) with American industry. Experience of the author in doing business with Europeans; Contact information.

Reports on the opportunity opened for the paints and coatings industry to recapture a minor victory over the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) under the small businesses innovative research (SBIR) program. Deadline for the SBIR proposals; Coverage; Contracts to be awarded; Contact information.

Evaluates the marketing aspect of the shift to the ISO 9000 series of standards governing quality of products by United States manufacturers. Total quality management; Generic standards issued and maintained by the American National Standards Institute.

Argues on the impact of delusions of adequacy about protectionism versus free trade. Status of worldwide trade since 1960; How the government management or attempts to provide protection via tariffs directly affects the consumers; Account on the history that shows adherents to free trade principles; American gross domestic product (GDP) in 1972 and 1994.

Opinion. Comments on the expensive cost of a United States federal rules and regulation. How small business pay the cost for adherence to federal rules; Compliance costs for all companies in the study published by Thomas Hopkins; How US Congress contributed to the problems.

Focuses on the impacts of the privatization of social security management in the United States. Benefits can give by the privatization; Social security investments of several countries; Problems confronting the American system.

Opinion. Presents the author's view on President Bill Clinton's approach to constitutional federalism which is dangerous to American liberty. Evidences on the constitutional violations and infringements upon liberty; Examples that support the author's view of eroding liberties.

Presents information that North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) will have major impact on data reported in the annual Census of Manufacturers. Purpose of its creation; Six digit system it employs; Number of its sectors; Contact information.

Reports that the Office of Industrial Technology (OIT) selected Seven Industries of the Future (IOF) in 1996 to define a strategic vision and technology roadmap. Why the industries were selected; Why the OIT targeted these sectors.

Focuses on the problems associated with the Social Security (SS) system in the United States, with reference to a report compiled by the Advisory Council on Social Security. Content of the report prepared by Health & Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala; Young citizens' lack of confidence that SS will be solvent and contribute to their retirement.

Opinion. Focuses on an annual report by Capital Research Center in Washington D.C. entitled `Patterns of Corporate Philanthropy,' which focuses on donations to non-profit organizations from businesses in the United States. Listing of the areas of the non-profit organizations under review; Types of non-profit organizations with the highest donations.

Presents information on the American Gas Association's Total Energy Resource Analysis model, which uses economic and demographic assumptions and methods of proven accuracy to give a glimpse of the future. Model's predictions for United States industrial direct energy consumption; Future of natural gas as the most heavily consumed industrial fuel; Comparison of industrial energy prices to residential prices for gas, and electricity.

Opinion. States that most American voters do not understand the functions of the government, but will vote during elections, based on selfish interest. Need for citizens to go to the polls, with cogent understanding of their voting rationale.

Looks at an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiative which promises long term effects on business involved in industrial heating. Details on the provisions under the initiative; Controls enforced by the Industrial Combustion Coordinated Rulemaking (ICCR); List of seven categories of ICI sources.

Discusses the concept of corporate welfare. Background information on United States' (US) automotive trade with Asia; Examination of a study conducted by Scott Latham, and released by the Cato Institute, which traced the history of the industry; Offers which Ford, and General Motors declined from Japan; Development of the Japanese industry in the US.

Focuses on the `Atlantic Monthly' article written by Peter G. Peterson that analyzes the Social Security tax payments in United States. Demographics on the topic; Statistics of annual surplus of revenues over outlays for the year 2013, 2030, 2040 and 2050; Misconception on Social Security tax payments; Some of Petersons suggestions on how to eliminate the possibilities of collapse of Social Security tax payments. INSET: Untitled (election time)..

Reports on the research and development performance by the energy industry. Annual growth figures; What these figures represent; Perceived role of government from the Battelle study; Questioning of the choices being made by industry executives.

Reports on how the introduction of an Automated Highway System (AHS) will solve some traffic problems in the United States. Impact of AHS on the automotive industry; Description of plans for the AHS; Cost of the AHS project; Advantages of AHS technology; Information on how the project is being financed.

Presents environmental regulations for the paint and coatings trade in the United States. Environmental Protection Agency's teamup with the National Institute of Standards & Testing for the formation of the National Metal Finishing Resource Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan;p Occupational Safety and Health Administration's offer of a free booklet called `No. 3047 Consultation Services for the Employers.'

Discusses the challenge of intellectual-property parenthood in the United States. Need for the transfer of intellectual property (IP) to commercialization to begin during research and development; Need for the technology-transfer (TT) process to be continuous; Advice on TT.

Reports on legislative bills affecting the paint and coatings industry. Authorization of fiscal 1996 Environmental Research, Development and Demonstration; Private Property Protection Act of 1995; Proposal to establish the Patent and Trademark Office as a government-owned corporation.

Announces the availability of the United States Occupational Safety & Health Administration's CD-ROM titled `OSHA Regulations, Documents and Technical Information' and the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Mass Spectral Database. Description of the products; Contact information.

Comments on the application of bionomics in the United States economy, as proposed by economist Michael Rothschild. Theories of bionomics; Implications of bionomics theories on tax policies; Contact information.

Comments on the federal budget and alleged irregularities regarding entitlement spending. Author's claim that entitlements are unconstitutional; Table indicating entitlement spending history.

Focuses on proposed bills covering `Common Sense Product Liability Reform.' Objection of Democrats of the House Committee on Commerce; Increase in product liability suits in federal courts; Content of preamble of each bill; Need for reform.

Describes the hybrid neural network (HNN) technology. Uses in paint and coating manufacture; HNN as a quality control tool; Applications in medicine.

Reports on the final rules set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that will affect paint and coatings manufacturers. Significance of the proposed rule for the identification and management of hazardous materials in dye and pigment industries; Standard Industrial Classification code system for reporting industrial activity.

Reports on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) regulations for exports of United States products to Mexico. Commercial information labels; Language; Period of transition; Contact information.