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The focus of economic relations between Canada and Europe--and more specifically, the European Union--is usually on trade and investment, not finance. This has been true since at least the 1970s [...]

A model which integrates performance-enhancing strategies with of trust in trade relations is presented. Findings revealed that trust becomes more important in improving the performance of import-export relations when high interdependence is present. The ways to develop successful international exchange relationships based on trust is analyzed further.

The economic policies that T urkey should adopt for winning a membership in European Union are discussed.

Germany is a central actor in European integration, regarded as the locomotive for major economic and, increasingly, political developments. (1) Political leaders consistently justified the country's provision of around 60 [...]

The author examines the development of Israel's high technology industry, analyzes some of its current problems, and assesses its potential.

This article discusses the negative impact of capital flight from Russia on the country's production, social and intellectual potential. The author examines the political-economic development of international financial capital, problems involved with its changing structure in the face of increasing globalization, and the impact of the Washington consensus and the International Monetary Fund's policies on the Russian economy.

A case study is presented on labor union reactions to new social and spatial scales presented by corporate changes within a globalized economy, using the F. Hoffman-La Roche and Boehringer Mannheim acquisition as an example. It is posited that unions must broaden their communication and negotiation strategies beyond the local and national arenas to address issues raised by working for international business enterprises.

Social sovereignty offers a means to understand how state and non-state agencies can control social domains, but how communities can form sovereign societies. Globalization is an example of social sovereignty that transcends borders.

The US Department of Defense needs to reassess its policies and practises in the light of increasing globalization if it is to retain its position of military superiority.

This article identifies the specific problems that small countries have to grapple with as a consequence of globalization. It argues that developing countries with limited population size have tended to give inadequate attention to the pressures that globalization places on their institutional structures, particularly with regard to finance. In discussing survival tactics for such nations, the article identifies three possible scenarios that might be adopted. It concludes that small states must play a much more active role than they have in the past in defending their interests in the emerging global economy.

An evaluation of Russian government's regulation of the market is presented, focusing on regional economic planning. Topics include regulations of the regional economy, economic ramifications of enterprise siting, and federal financial support of economic regions.

The economic benefits of foreign trade promotion between Russia and the East Asian region are examined. The difficulties in managing foreign trade between Russia and developing countries, the financial impact of the Russian economy's weakened state, and regulation of export products are analyzed.

This article examines Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)'s role in the promotion of free trade in the Asia-Pacific, focusing on the key role of Japan and Australia in establishing APEC, and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed's opposition to it. The author examines the lack of successful regional challenges to US hegemony in the Asia-Pacific, the influence of the East Asian economic crisis on preventing opposition to the US, the increasing influence of the International Monetary Fund since the crisis, the inability of Asian leaders and APEC members to deal with the crisis in a unified fashion and the obstacles which may exist to any effort at pan-Asian challenges to neo-liberalism.

This article examines exchange-rate regimes and their affects on globalization.

The relationship between the Russian government and its regulation of business and economy is examined. Topics include the role of state spending in managing the GDP, government's policy of welfare economics, management of social security, and the importance of international competitiveness in assisting economic growth.

Globalization and the end of the Cold War have weakened reasons for the US' embargo of Cuba. The introduction of a market economy, the political clout of labor unions, Cuban government's management of education and health care policies, and multinational businesses' stake in the Cuban economy are examined.

Finance, the economic activity intermediating between savings and investments, is probably the first to reach the stage of globalization; as a consequence, the financial sector is taking a leading position in modern economic systems. While the world expects from financial efficiency an increasingly positive contribution to welfare, it appears that recent developments of financial leadership in an increasingly deregulated world system, are also acting negatively on world welfare. In many aspects, it can be established that finance is crisis prone, induces deflationary biases and stimulates speculative behaviour: crisis, deflation and speculation are often harmful to the real economy. A set of proposals are made in order to improve world financial stabilization, promote growth and encourage the spirit of enterprise, as a way of enhancing the future contribution of financial activities to world welfare. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)

The increasing development of white goods manufacturing firms, outside Europe, is likely to challenge existing European companies. Some European firms have extended their market into the growing economies, such as in India. It is predicted around six new companies will join the seven predominant firms in the marketplace. Some 70% of the market is controlled by the seven largest companies. A number of companies have successfully served only their domestic market but with the maturing of the markets, and technological developments, they have had to develop a global strategy.

Multinational corporations (MNCs) have to constantly change and develop in order to remain competitive in a global marketplace. MNCs must endeavour to make a relationship with their customers to sell their products in the fiercly competitive global market. The customer not only wants to buy a quality product but also expects a high level of service. MNCs must work actively to keep their customers business. Around 70% of the revenue from sales comes from customers making another purchase. Global competition has led to the development of a buyers market, raising customers expectations.

The sweeping changes which have occurred in Russia during the past few years, such as the break-up of the Soviet Union and the collapse of the CMEA, have resulted in equally significant changes in the country's foreign trade relations and economic situation. Economic indicators, such as foreign trade, employment, inflation, and production, have bottomed out in 1997. However, the government has implemented a number of reforms to stabilize the economy, such as price and trade liberalization and the privatization of public firms.

The theories of Richard T. Ely and Clarence A. Wiley regarding the integrating global economy are related to the current state of international economic relations. Ely propounded the theory that global economic integration would foster optimal specialization, which refers to standardized productions processes and division of labor in the internation market. Such an arrangement would result in the production of goods and services according to relative national capacities and efficiency. Wiley, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of market balance in ensuring smooth transactional flows in the international economy. Thus, market imbalances in the global economy such as those created by trading blocs are suspect. The implications of these theories on the economic integration in Europe, North America and Asia are presented.

Economic globalization poses problems on taxation for governments involved in international trade. Issues discussed include dealing with tax competition for resources which are not restricted to a single location, and coordination of national tax policies. Harmonization by adapting a standard global tax system is a non-realistic option. A government may also choose to compete for resources, but this limits the economic growth to the richer sectors of society. The option of coordination or 'peaceful coexistence' is the most feasible, and measures for adapting it are attainable.

Economic growth in the Latin American countries has been stymied by the policy of devaluation. Such an economic policy cannot simultaneously achieve growth and financial stability. The inconsistencies in policy objectives and must be resolved immediately to sustain the economic growth and democracy in Latin American countries. A strong currency can help in encouraging investments and maintaining political stability. Thus, Latin American countries should try to anchor their monetary policies on prices of tradeable items to ensure a stable and strong currency.

As the movement toward liberalization has succeeded in reducing or eliminating visible border barriers to trade, interest in and use of dispute settlement mechanisms have grown. For a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the general model will be the 1988 U.S.-Canadian Free Trade Agreement. Broad institutional and dispute settlement provisions along the lines of Chapter 18 of the U.S.-Canadian accord have already been agreed on in the NAFTA negotiations. More problematic is the extension of Chapter 19 to NAFTA. This special binational mechanism for dealing with anti-dumping and countervailing duty determinations depends for its success on the similarity of the U.S. and Canadian systems. Mexico has a different tradition and method of making such determinations. It is not clear whether the differences can be bridged. In other areas, such as standards--perhaps including the environment and labor--the U.S.-Canadian binational review principle or binational monitoring might be adapted to NAFTA. The outcome of the NAFTA negotiations on dispute settlement will probably be the model for other Western Hemisphere free trade agreements, although arrangements with groups of countries may be more difficult to adapt.

The top three economic powers in the 1990s are Japan, the EC and the US. While these three nations will definitely have a large role in global economics, each has a different approach. Japan's strength lies in its economic force; the EC in its sovereignty; and the US, in its capital. Economic integration is clearly necessary to maintain the balance of trade and power. Globalization and increased productivity and innovation will enhance the lateralization of businesses. Education and training will play an important role in increasing technological and, thereby, international, competition.