© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University *An expanded version of this article was published in the June 21, 2014 edition of Parsiana—International Zoroastrian Community Magazine as a “Comment” under the title “What drives Narendra Modi? Hindu reformist Swami Vivekananda’s ideals and Chinese traveller Hsuan Tsang have helped to shape the new Prime Minister’s worldview.” Click here for the PDF: What … Continue reading What Drives Narendra Modi? – Swami Vivekananda and Hsuan Tsang
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The Indian Election: A Rare Historic Opportunity for Coherent Investment Policies in India
© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University For the past 30 years, India has been governed by a series of raucous coalition governments. At least some of the caution, vacillation, and even backtracking on investment and taxation policies that have dismayed foreign companies contemplating foreign direct investment (FDI) in India can be attributed to this. … Continue reading The Indian Election: A Rare Historic Opportunity for Coherent Investment Policies in India
Whither the Chinese Yuan? Is the RMB Still Undervalued?
© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University Introduction to my May 8, 2014 YaleGlobal Online article: “Renminbi Undervalued? Think Again” The exchange rate between the US dollar and the Chinese Renminbi Yuan (RMB) is of crucial importance to both the American and Chinese economies since the bilateral trade between the two nations (imports plus exports) is nearing … Continue reading Whither the Chinese Yuan? Is the RMB Still Undervalued?
“Punching above their weight” Recognized by IJOEM
© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University “Punching above their weight” Named “2014 Outstanding Paper” by International Journal of Emerging Markets* [Excerpt from Letter] Monday, April 28, 2014 Dear Professor Contractor: Congratulations again on “‘Punching above their weight’: The sources of competitive advantage for emerging market multinationals” being selected as the 2014 Outstanding Paper winner for International Journal of Emerging … Continue reading “Punching above their weight” Recognized by IJOEM
The US – One of the World’s Most Competitive Manufacturing Locations?
© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University In 2012, I was one of the observers who indicated that American manufacturing productivity was, by far, the best in the world. (See my August 7, 2012 Yale Global Online article “7 Reasons to Expect US Manufacturing Resurgence,” which provided figures from the International Monetary Fund and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.) In … Continue reading The US – One of the World’s Most Competitive Manufacturing Locations?
Beware the Million-Dollar IRS Phone Scam
© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University The internet era, where the cost of an international phone call is near zero, has also seen a rise in telephone scams emanating from foreign countries. On returning from India, I called my wife’s attention to an article in the April 4, 2014 edition of India Abroad: “Over 20,000 taxpayers victims … Continue reading Beware the Million-Dollar IRS Phone Scam
What the Indian Election Means for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India
© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University Narendra Modi, the candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and presumptive Prime Minister, is portrayed as pro-business and a man of decisive action. The rival Congress party, in power for the last 10 years, actually did more to weaken the apparatus of bureaucratic controls and open the door … Continue reading What the Indian Election Means for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India
Learning from the History of Globalization
© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University Since the year 2000, the US has suffered a horrendous merchandise trade deficit against China, adding up to $2,947 billion over the 14-year period. This means that China has accumulated nearly $3 trillion surplus dollars—much of which they “kindly” reinvested in US assets, notably US Treasury debt. … Continue reading Learning from the History of Globalization
Multinationals Based in Emerging Markets: The Sources of Their Competitive Advantage
© 2014 Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Rutgers University When a company goes abroad, it faces the extra hurdle of unfamiliarity with the local market, its culture, its regulations, and its institutions. Sometimes, the national origin of the firm is looked down on. An example is the skepticism and mild hostility toward Chinese products in some … Continue reading Multinationals Based in Emerging Markets: The Sources of Their Competitive Advantage
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