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December 1997

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Unemployment down slightly in France (Wednesday, 12/31/97)
La Tribune reports this morning that unemployment in France declined by 0.1 percent to 12.4 percent in November, compared to the month before. However, the decline is mostly attributable to a dip in the number of the young unemployed. The number of long-term unemployed increased by 7.8 percent during the past year. Also, according to Les Echos, unemployed persons across the country continue their protests to demand the special Christmas bonus of 3000 francs. Craig Whitney, who writes from Paris for Melbourne's The Age, provides more details on the year-end chaos. Mr. Whitney also provides perspective on France's economic uncertainty in this New York Times article. Finally, Marlise Simons reports that, despite all their problems, France manages to find money for child care.

What happens when it comes down to a choice between family and career? (Wednesday, 12/31/97)
Sue Shellenbarger writes in today's Wall Street Journal about the kinds of choices some executives have made, and how they feel about them in retrospect.

Now, the layoffs come (Wednesday, 12/31/97)
Michael Schuman of the Wall Street Journal reports that a jobs bill is languishing as unemployment in South Korea's troubled economy increases. Meanwhile, today is when $15 billion in loan payments were supposed to be paid, but, with help from the IMF, many major lending institutions, and others, South Korea has avoiding default, but it may be only a temporary reprieve. Nonetheless, it makes the country's economists feel better. Some of those who are helping want a restructuring of some of that debt along lines that the Korean government seems to be resisting. George Lerner writes that South Korea has gained credibility from the willingness of the big banks to help, and Robert Reno tells why so much abuse is being directed toward the International Monetary Fund at the moment.

Denial in Japan? (Wednesday, 12/31/97)
Robert Samuelson writes in today's Washington Post about Japan's "almost infinite capacity."

Things are booming in 74 of the world's poorest countries (Wednesday, 12/31/97)
Population, that is. A new report predicts a doubling of the population in some of the world's poorest places.

One way to reform welfare (Wednesday, 12/31/97)
Gwen Rubinstein and Paul Samuels, writing for today's Christian Science Monitor, say that not enough states are emphasizing the treatment of drug abuse as part of their welfare reform plans, and they should be. In slightly related news, President Clinton wants more funds in order to improve health care quality in the United States, and Robert Pear of the New York Times tells about how a new federal law that kicks in tomorrow is likely to stimulate furious controversy, including lawsuits. It has to do with Medicare and choice.

Confident consumers will help fuel more growth (Wednesday, 12/31/97)
More good news about the American economy. Consumer confidence is as high as it's been in a generation, and this should help keep the U.S. economy on the right track next year. Here are additional details from Robert Hershey of the New York Times. Some of the northern states are likely to experience increasing labor shortages in 1988, according to this Minneapolis Star Tribune story. Also in the Strib today, a disgruntled former employee holds a company database hostage.

Put it in writing, and we may get back to you (Wednesday, 12/31/97)
It's the "why I should attend your college" essay, and, for many, it's torture, says today's New York Times.

South Korea given an extra month (Tuesday, 12/30/97)
When you can't pay your bills, you should call your creditors and try to work out a deal, right? South Korea faces some very big loan payments. In fact, $15 billion is due tomorrow, and the tremendous drop in the value of the won has made payment on time problematical. But, as somebody has said, when you owe a little money, you've got a creditor, but when you owe a lot, you've got a partner. With little alternative, the world's major lending institutions have decided to give South Korea an extension in order to try to avoid potential disaster for the Koreans as well as for themselves. Here's the story from the New York Times via the Minneapolis Star Tribune as well as from Reuters. Also, the Washington Post's Kevin Sullivan reports that South Korea's National Assembly has passed a set of reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund as a condition of the big bailout arrangement, and the Christian Science Monitor's David Hitchcock discusses how the reforms insisted upon by outside helpers will require painful and difficult cultural changes. He says patience and understanding are in order. Finally, Seth Faison reports on the growing number of suffering "company towns" in South Korea now that so many companies are going bankrupt.

Packard Bell denies report of job cuts (Tuesday, 12/30/97)
A Japanese business publication had reported that Packard Bell intended to cut about 1,000 jobs in the United States, but the company is saying that it ain't so.

Women are banned, except sometimes they aren't (Tuesday, 12/30/97)
Dana Priest reports that some of the U.S. Army's policies affecting women are sometimes subject to flexible interpretation. Take Bosnia, for example. Speaking of the American military, a pay raise is coming Thursday, but civilian employees of the government will get it too. Also, the federal government is ending its "buyout" program that has been used as a "downsizing" tool.

Washington could become a more dangerous place (Tuesday, 12/30/97)
No, not because of crime, but because of a looming budget surplus. The Washington Post's James Glassman explains why he's trembling with fear.

Who is Hoffa, really, and what will he do? (Tuesday, 12/30/97)
Glenn Burkins writes in today's Wall Street Journal about why so many people are more than curious about James Hoffa and how he might handle the Teamsters presidency if he should end up heading the troubled union that has been so closely identified with his late father.

The president's right about the Haitians, paper says (Tuesday, 12/30/97)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes about President Clinton's decision to give 40,000 Haitians an extra year in the U.S.

Why it's hard to predict the outcome of big experiments (Tuesday, 12/30/97)
Jason DeParle says that welfare reform has had some unanticipated consequences. Also in today's New York Times, more on the demand for a year-end bonus on the part of France's unemployed.

Australian employers skeptical of jobs forecast (Tuesday, 12/30/97)
The Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry doesn't think that unemployment will fall during the first half of 1998, and also is undertaking a study of a federal workplace law about which the organization is uneasy. The stories appear in Melbourne's The Age.

Jobs during the new year (Tuesday, 12/30/97)
Here is the San Francisco Chronicle's employment forecast for 1998.

U.S. bankers willing to help (Monday, 12/29/97)
The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that a number of American lenders are willing to roll over some of South Korea's debt in order to give the country some additional breathing space. Some may be willing to make additional loans as well. Also, South Korea's parliament is ready to pass some important reform legislation. Expect that to happen today. In neighboring Japan, stocks have hit their lowest level in two and a half years. David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor says bailouts so far have cost $100 billion, and, in the case of South Korea, at least, success is not yet assured. What happens if more countries follow suit? Is the rescue effort as practiced in Asia "barking up the wrong tree?"

Workers' advantage likely to continue into the new year (Monday, 12/29/97)
Shelley Donald Coolidge writes that workers have the advantage in a tight labor market, and this is likely to continue for a while.

Packard Bell to cut jobs in U.S. (Monday, 12/29/97)
Tokyo's Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports that Packard Bell, which is a division of Japan's NEC Corporation, will cut a thousand jobs in the United States. Here's the story this morning via Reuters.

Now, this is really news (Monday, 12/29/97)
We've reported it before, but it's worth repeating: the United States may have a budget surplus...yes that's SURPLUS...for the first time in 30 years. A strong American economy is in the process of balancing the budget several years earlier than expected. So, why is the U.S. encouraging Japan to aggravate its own deficit? Incidentally, today's Christian Science Monitor says that President Clinton has all but ruled out any tax cuts, while the Los Angeles Times says that he hasn't ruled out a broad tax cut. Same facts, but a different spin, it seems.

What to do when you want a promotion (Monday, 12/29/97)
When you're having difficulty moving up where you are, is it time to leave? The Washington Post's Steven Ginsberg offers some thoughts.

Three ways to reward employees (Monday, 12/29/97)
Paul Tulenko of the Scripps Howard News Service passes on some suggestions from Sprint Business.

Why is mental health still a taboo topic on the threshold of the 21st century? (Monday, 12/29/97)
At least since the Garden of Eden, knowledge hasn't been particularly popular. Academics are seen as the enemy by people who seem to confuse the seven liberal arts with the seven deadly sins.

Mental health issues remain among the most widely misunderstood, and many people seem to settle for the attitudes of their remote ancestors who had zero access to modern information during a time when even the smartest people didn't know that the blood circulates or what the heart is for. Our genuine knowledge of psychiatric disorders and our ability to help have increased geometrically in just the past few years.

For instance, schizophrenia, the most severe and devastating of psychiatric illnesses, was considered untreatable only a few years ago. As late as the mid-1950s, the average number of consecutive days of hospitalization for schizophrenics was more than 300. Now, it's about 18.

Similar advances have occurred in the treatment of depression and other ailments, enabling large numbers of people to live ordinary lives who might otherwise suffer major impairment and limitation. The word "revolution" is among the most over-used in the English language, but it certainly seems to apply to psychiatric treatment.

Still, only a small percentage of those who could benefit from treatment get any at all. At the end of the 20th century, the major obstacle to our doing better is not lack of knowledge or lack of ability to do, but, instead, unsupportive social attitudes. Frank Rich of the New York Times discusses some of the relevant issues and tells about one of the "last taboos."

Economics will be much on many minds during the new year (Monday, 12/29/97)
Here's a year-end retrospective and a look ahead from today's Nando Times.

Clinton wants to get eligible kids covered by Medicaid (Monday, 12/29/97)
Robert Pear reports that President Clinton says that many children are eligible for Medicaid but aren't covered. He wants to find them and sign them up. Also in the New York Times today, James Brooke writes about how things have changed in Pueblo, Colorado, and how the current steel strike tells the story.

Employment to increase in Ireland (Monday, 12/29/97)
Padraig Yeates of the Irish Times reports that a survey of labor market trends expects employment to increase by 50,000 during the first four months of 1998.

Medicare cancer coverage to expand on January 1 (Sunday, 12/28/97)
Laurence McQuillan of Reuters writes about President Clinton's announcement of expanded coverage intended to encourage more frequent cancer testing. Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes about the work of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare whose mission is to save health care for the elderly.

American economy likely to see record expansion next year (Sunday, 12/28/97)
Experts see another good year ahead for the American economy, which, if it continues its expansion, will set an historical record. Inflation doesn't appear to be a concern. About the only worrying on the part of a few people seems to be concern that deflation could occur, but nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says those fears are exaggerated. A survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers predicts strong demand for college graduates next year. Not long ago, many college graduates were working in jobs not requiring four years of college, so some see current demand as vindication for the traditional emphasis on degrees. However, in a tight labor market, many employers seem willing to hire students before they have graduated as well, suggesting that, in the new economy, specifically relevant skills or competencies are more important to employers than traditional so-called "credentials."

A test of the social righteousness of work hypothesis (Sunday, 12/28/97)
Minnesota's new welfare reform system kicks in on Friday, and observers are waiting to see if social ills will diminish as a consequence of requiring welfare recipients to work.

Big bankers meeting Monday on South Korea's problems (Sunday, 12/28/97)
Bankers from the U.S., Japan, and Europe will get together Monday to discuss South Korea's financial situation and how to encourage banks to help the country through the crisis. Speaking of bankers, a top official in China sees dangers but no immediate threat from the Asian financial crisis. Meanwhile, the tremendous decline in the value of the South Korean currency means that the country contains a lot of bargains for outsiders, including those who might like to take over its corporations. Seth Faison of the New York Times tells how South Korea's changed financial condition is affecting individuals, including newlyweds.

Japan prepares for a difficult year (Sunday, 12/28/97)
Many experts predict that 1998 will be a time of troubles for Japan's economy, as the Asian financial crisis begins its sixth month. How will things be in other parts of the world? Germany may be able to expect a better jobs picture in 1998, and Christine Spolar reports on the turnaround in Hungary. The new year is likely to be difficult for Russia, as that nation continues the difficult transition from 70 years of totalitarianism to a viable democracy and market economy. Results have been mixed, and David Hoffman writes that the elite are the primary beneficiaries so far.

Financial resolutions for the new year (Sunday, 12/28/97)
The Washington Post's Michelle Singletary has some suggestions for getting straightened out financially during 1998, and Kiplinger's has some tax tips, coming to you via Long Island's Newsday. Finally, Steven Ginsberg has some new year's resolutions for people in the workplace, both employers and employees. In the good news department, the Boston Globe's Diane Lewis reports that some employers are now trying to help employees cope with personal crises and continue their careers.

Reality check on women and military jobs (Sunday, 12/28/97)
In the first of a three-part series in the Washington Post, Dana Priest reports that policy changes have not brought changes in fact for many women in the military.

What on earth is "MnSCU," and why is Terry Reuther saying these things about it? (Sunday, 12/28/97)
A while back, Minnesota combined its large system of community colleges with its large system of technical colleges with its large system of state universities. The humongous result is called Minnesota State College and Universities, or "MnSCU" for short. In an opinion piece, Terry Reuther expresses concern with the system's labor-negotiating record. Cynics might suggest that Minnesota's governor would like to be Secretary of Education in the next Republican administration, if the Democrats self-destruct over the fund-raising fuss, and Al Gore's presidential possibilities go up in flames. Since MnSCU is still in the process of reorganizing and the restructuring of both K-12 and higher education seems much on the minds of many people across the country, Governor Carlson may have an opportunity to present a laboratory experiment in Minnesota, appoint himself the "education governor," and attract major national attention. This could bode well for his career, if education moves toward the top of the agenda during the next presidential campaign.

The real effects of foreign aid (Saturday, 12/27/97)
What do we really know about how much foreign aid helps? Until now, very little, but, according to this St. Paul Pioneer Press story, some real data are now available which may make things a bit clearer.

Heath care workers strike in Israel (Saturday, 12/27/97)
About 70,000 Israeli health-care workers strike nationwide in Israel. Here's the story from the Nando Times.

Is the low unemployment rate a methodological artifact? (Saturday, 12/27/97)
John Crudele of the New York Post says it's really a lie. The U.S. Department of Labor has changed the numbers and is engaging in sleight of hand, he says.

Your clothing may carry a new label soon (Saturday, 12/27/97)
If some Congressional Democrats get their way, articles of clothing will carry a label indicating that they have not been produced under sweatshop conditions, assuming that's the case, of course.

Temporary euphoria in Seoul (Saturday, 12/27/97)
Investors have returned to the South Korean securities market following news that the IMF will speed its loan payments, writes Yoo Choon-sik of Reuters, but the good feelings and confidence may not last. Seth Faison of the New York Times says that it does provide an opportunity for a shift of attention to labor issues, though. South Korea's president-elect is telling labor leaders that layoffs are inevitable. Andrew Pollack reports that South Koreans also fear that many of their companies will be taken over by outsiders. It all means that the South Korean economy, including its connections to the political system, is undergoing rapid and fundamental change, writes Bill Tarrant. A "new South Korea" is emerging.

France's numerous unemployed continue protests throughout the country (Saturday, 12/27/97)
France has record unemployment, and some of the unemployed have been demanding year-end bonuses. Their protests are entering their third week.

Blair facing revolt from some in his own party (Saturday, 12/27/97)
Tony Blair's "honeymoon" surely is over in the U.K. John Burgess of the Washington Post reports that the British PM is finding that many don't like his plan to cut welfare payments. In the U.S., Judith Havemann and Barbara Vobejda offer some insight into how children see the effects of welfare reform.

Why very low unemployment can be dangerous (Saturday, 12/27/97)
America's national unemployment is low at 4.6 percent, but in Minnesota, it's only 2.8 percent. Why should anyone think this is a problem? Labor shortages can lead to stagnation, and they can even encourage companies to relocate, says this editorial in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. What can be done? Train the undereducated, they say.

Indicators up in Taiwan (Saturday, 12/27/97)
Things are a bit sluggish in Taiwan at the moment, but its leading economic indicators point to better times ahead. Also, a tax reform package has been approved which is intended to stimulate growth.

Fears that Teamsters problems will spread (Saturday, 12/27/97)
Other labor organizations are nervous about the Teamsters' legal problems.

Is the common currency coming to Europe, really? (Saturday, 12/27/97)
It's not supposed to be much longer before Europe has a common currency, but Paul Lewis of the New York Times says many don't seem ready. Will it really happen on schedule? Stay tuned.

Labor unrest increases in China (Saturday, 12/27/97)
It seems inevitable that Asia's current financial problems will eventually get around to influencing China's economy is significant ways. For the moment, though, China has other concerns, including an increase in unemployment for some of its own reasons, according to the Miami Herald.

Australian companies want to cut pay of waterside workers (Saturday, 12/27/97)
The Sydney Morning Herald's Helen Trinca reports that demands were sent to the Maritime Union of Australia on Christmas Eve. Workers in major Australian ports can make $80,000 to $100,000 per year with overtime.

How well are people managing under managed care? (Friday, 12/26/97)
The "bloom is off the rose," says the Washington Post. Managed care has gotten costs under control, but what else has it done?

What does it cost to raise a child? (Friday, 12/26/97)
In the United States, it's nearly $150,000 now, according to a new report.

Fortune's top 100 (Friday, 12/26/97)
Anne Fisher reports on the best companies to work for in the United States.

What it takes to make the transition to the new economy (Friday, 12/26/97)
The Jeruselum Post editorializes on the need for training as people attempt to move from "labor-intensive agriculture- and manufacturing-based economies to education intensive service and high-tech economies."

No miracles in 1997, Yeltsin says (Friday, 12/26/97)
Russian President Yeltsin says it hasn't been a wonderful year for his country, and his remarks make the "radical reformers" a little nervous. Daniel Williams of the Washington Post reports that a significant part of the country's problem is that people haven't been paying their taxes. Russia isn't the only country with that problem. Binaj Gurubacharya reports on the tax amnesty in India. Meanwhile, Taiwan, which hasn't had that much difficulty collecting taxes, has decided to change its tax policy in order to stimulate the country's economy. Also, Taipei's Economic Daily News reports that the Council for Economic Planning and Development fears that the government's plan to adopt a five-day-work-week every other week may slow the country's economic growth.

A little Christmas cheer, but very little (Friday, 12/26/97)
The IMF has decided to move fast to head off financial collapse in South Korea, and the Washington Post's Paul Blustein says that the International Monetary Fund's credibility is on the line in Asia. Sheryl WuDunn of the New York Times reports that Japan is leaning on its commercial banks to give South Korea a bit more time to make its loan payments. Meanwhile, several major American banks are considering the possibility of making their own loans to help South Korea, and the U.S. government has decided to toss in $1.7 billion during January when a lot of loan payments come due in Seoul. The problem is that most of the foreign loans must be paid back in their respective foreign currencies, and, with the loss of value of South Korea's won, these currencies suddenly have become much more expensive for the Koreans. Their own currency doesn't stretch nearly as far as it did a few weeks ago. Kirk Johnson reports that the financial mess in South Korea is making many immigrants in the U.S. feel that they made the right choice, despite the personal hardships they have experienced.

Why Japan's own crisis is so different and also so important (Friday, 12/26/97)
Japan's financial problems are very different from those of South Korea and the other Asian economies that have been in the news so much during recent months. Nonetheless, Tokyo's problems are severe and worry a lot of people. One reason is that the Japanese economy is more than twice as large as all the other Asian economies put together, so ripples in Tokyo can create waves throughout much of the world. Here's more from the Washington Post. Also, Nihon Keizai reports that the Japanese government will cut 3,700 jobs beginning in April. This will bring overall government employment to its lowest level in 30 years.

Asia and the European Community (Friday, 12/26/97)
Batuk Gathani writes from Brussels for The Hindu on how the E.U. may be affected by Asia's economic problems.

Good times in Latin America (Friday, 12/26/97)
Peter Hakim has news about growth in the Latin American economies. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, the results of a Roper Poll on how Americans see themselves and their future.

Union members to join class action suit against big tobacco (Friday, 12/26/97)
A U.S. District Judge has ruled that 500,000 union workers in Washington state can join the suit.

Merry Christmas. Get back to work (Friday, 12/26/97)
Most Americans are not off work the day after Christmas, unlike many others in Western countries. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, Los Angeles Times writer Ellen Dannin says U.S. labor laws put unions at a disadvantage. Here's why. Noel Holston describes the new TV series about work from San Francisco public television called "Livelihood."

U.S. changes direction on Korean bailout (Thursday, 12/25/97)
Convinced that other efforts weren't going to work in time, the United States has joined with other major industrial nations to accelerate and strengthen support for the ailing South Korean economy. About $10 billion will reach Seoul by early January, with much more to follow, but the country doesn't face a cheerful scenario. Unemployment is expected to increase, among other things. With some background, Steven Mufson tells about two very different personalities in the South Korean drama. Things look better in neighboring Japan, with an increase in the Nikkei Average following announcement of plans for helping Japan's financial sector. Also, responding to world financial turbulence, Russia faces a dicey first quarter, according to experts.

Clinton wants $1.15 billion for the homeless (Thursday, 12/25/97)
The President wants a record increase in money to assist America's homeless in the next federal budget.

New jobless decrease last week (Thursday, 12/25/97)
Here's news about the latest new jobless benefits applications from the U. S. Department of Labor. Other data indicate that American incomes have increased significantly. Here's that story from Reuters and the Washington Post. Petrr Passell of the New York Times offers some perspective on the problems that remain in a very strong American economy, and here's news on a lengthy University of Michigan study showing how poverty increases vulnerability to physical and mental health problems.

Resolution to the latest workplace violence situation (Thursday, 12/25/97)
A gunman releases hostages in Denver. He had been an employee of the postal system, and had been fired.

Efforts to fix South Korea's economy may be failing (Wednesday, 12/24/97)
The financial crisis in South Korea appears to be worsening, so the U.S. is preparing to try other options, as evidence begins to accumulate that the American economy itself may be slowing a bit. In South Korea, stocks are down again in response to worries about the huge conglomerates. Yoo Choon-sik reports that the IMF is going to speed up the rate at which loans are dispersed. Also, another $10 billion will come from the IMF and G-7 member countries, as well as an additional $3 Billion from the World Bank. Incidentally, while there are a variety of reasons for Asia's current troubles, and while Japan's situation is quite different from that of South Korea, Thailand, and the others, this story by Akira Sato of Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun about all the debt that was "off the books" at Yamaichi provides one hint as to why troubles have developed throughout the region. Speaking of Yamaichi, here's how things are going for some of its former employees a month after the big financial firm announced its failure.

Some agreement on Korean food aid (Wednesday, 12/24/97)
Nothing involving both North and South Korea has been easy for at least 50 years, and providing food assistance to the North is no exception. However, it appears that an agreement as been reached, with some arguments remaining.

A push for free labor unions in China (Wednesday, 12/24/97)
Erik Eckholm of the New York Times reports on efforts by activists to promote the development of independent labor unions in China, as the government prepares to shut down many state-run enterprises, which will put large numbers of people of out work.

New research on risk of injury for disabled workers (Wednesday, 12/24/97)
A report in the new edition of The Journal of the American Medical Association says workers with disabilities are more likely to be injured on the job.

Christmas gifts from the INS and President Clinton (Wednesday, 12/24/97)
William Branigin writes about a gift from the INS to a Salvadoran mother. Also, President Clinton has delayed for a year the deportation of 40,000 Haitians. Finally, here are some comments from New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis on immigrants and their search for justice.

Unwelcome news for Sears retirees (Wednesday, 12/24/97)
Sears retirees who have been angry about cuts to their life insurance benefits weren't encouraged by what they heard from the company's chief executive. Here's the story from Susan Chandler in today's Chicago Tribune. Also, Stephen Franklin tells how one software company "acculturates" its young employees.

The end of "papa employer" (Wednesday, 12/24/97)
If you've learned to expect your employer to be paternalistic and take care of you, it's probably time to change your expectations. The change in the "psychological contract" between employer and employee is one way in which the new economy differs from the old, and Sanford Jacoby comments about what the continuing wave of layoffs says about the new world of work. If you want a real friend, do as the President has done: get a dog.

An M.A. degree in giving? (Wednesday, 12/24/97)
Yes, it is possible to earn a master's degree in philanthropy. Honest. Dirk Johnson reports for the New York Times. Also in the Times today, an update on medical savings accounts.

Grants to house the homeless (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
Vice-President Al Gore has announced an increase in funding for America's homeless. Judith Havemann reports this morning for the Washington Post. In a related story, Jennifer Hewett writes for one of Australia's major newspapers about why it's important to keep the growing have vs. have-not gap in mind when interpreting U.S. employment data. Finally, Glenn Somerville of Reuters reports that U.S. growth figures have been revised downward slightly for the third quarter.

Whoops! Presidents have to be careful what they say (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
South Korea's president-elect has learned that he is no longer just a private citizen who can say what's on his mind without shaking everything loose. Major leaders can't simply describe realities without greatly influencing them. It must be an economic version of the Heisenberg principle, or something. At any rate, among other things, Kim Dae-jung is now saying that his country's current economic mess may indeed cost jobs, but he didn't really mean that the country is facing bankruptcy and collapse. Figure of speech, folks. The Washington Post's Steven Mufson reports on the very latest from South Korea, and it isn't pretty. Interest rates are on the way up at the same time that credit ratings and the won are on the way down again. Stocks over much of Asia declined again after a report from the International Monetary Fund. Also, Anthony Rowley writes from Tokyo for the Singapore Business Times about the growing sense of urgency in Japan, as another financial institution fails. The Biz Times also says that the Asian economic crisis is knocking on China's door.

U.S. not only place where people can't afford insurance (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
Switzerland's Tages-Anzeiger reports that the number of individuals and companies that can't afford to pay health insurance premiums is increasing as fees have soared in recent years. In Denmark, Forsikringsselskabet Codan A/S, a major insurance company, will cut 100 jobs and close many of its branches, according to Borsen.

Netanyahu booed (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
Ofakim is Israel's principal center of unemployment, and the people there don't like it. When Israel's PM visited, they let him know how they feel in terms he's unlikely to misunderstand. Today's Jeruselum Post reports that emergency employment plan prepared by the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry will be presented today. Also, the Post reports on the increase in unemployment among Druse and Arabs over recent months.

These aren't layoffs (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
South Africa's Business Day reports that the national postal system has fired 222 workers for fraud or theft since April.

The days dwindle down to a precious few (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
Kirstin Downey Grimsley reports on how your days are numbered during the holidays .

Want to pay your doctor? It may be illegal (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
Columnist James Glassman is steamed about Section 4507 which says that elderly on Medicare can't pay out their own money for medical services.

Clinton wants incentives to encourage employers to offer pension plans (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
Today's Wall Street Journal reports that President Clinton will seek tax law changes to boost the availability of pensions.

Decision takes power out of the hands of Australian hospitality workers (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
Here's Helen Trinca's report on the Australian Industrial Relations Commission ruling affecting hours and work conditions for hospitality workers. Also in the Sydney Morning Herald, Melissa Sweet writes about scientific research on work-related stress and its effects on health.

Smuggling conspiracy broken up (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Justice Department have broken up a ring that has been smuggling illegal workers into the United States to work in a Georgia factory. Hong Kong has concerns about imported labor, as well, and here's Cheung Chi-fai's Hong Kong Standard story about the government's call for tighter scrutiny.

"Finishing school" for execs sought (Tuesday, 12/23/97)
With downsizing, many executives have been finished, but this isn't what Ilana DeBare is talking about in her San Francisco Chronicle "Workways" column.

Who's not been affected by the Israeli boom? (Monday, 12/22/97)
Israel's economy has been doing well for five years, but not everybody has benefited.

Clinton thinks you deserve credit...tax, that is (Monday, 12/22/97)
Tax credits intended to help students will kick in next year. Now, President Clinton would like to see more child care help for working families.

Kim reassures U.S. (Monday, 12/22/97)
American officials and others have been worried that South Korea may not follow through on their part of the bargain with the International Monetary Fund. The country's new president is telling the U.S. not to worry, and he's telling his countrymen to expect hardship. Among those who will be facing less hardship are two former presidents who have been released from prison. The Christian Science Monitor's Cameron Barr shares some thoughts about Kim as a new unifier, and today's Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes about what Kim's election means for his country. Here's what's on his agenda, and it's a lot. Steven Mufson of the Washington Post tells how South Korea's big conglomerates built a house of cards with too much debt and some corruption thrown in. Incidentally, if you've been losing track of the details of the South Korean economic meltdown, here's a chronology to freshen things in your mind a bit. In other news, the food talks with North Korea have hit a snag, according to Paul Eckert of Reuters. South Korea's new president would like a summit with the North.

What to do about the firefighter shortage in Miyazaki (Monday, 12/22/97)
Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that officials are arranging perks to help attract firefighters. They're making deals with area businesses.

Moody's downgrade hits several Asian currencies (Monday, 12/22/97)
Four countries are affected, three of which are hit with a "junk bond" designation. Guy Halverson reports on the continuing turbulence resulting from Asia's financial troubles and how others are being affected. The IMF has no good news for Asia itself, but says that the U.S. won't be affected too much, according to today's Wall Street Journal. Le Figaro reports that the IMF is saying that France's growth won't be affected much, despite some impact on overall global economic growth next year.

Blair to go ahead with cuts (Monday, 12/22/97)
Tony Blair has been getting resistance from UK Education Secretary David Blunkett, but will go ahead with cuts to sickness and disability benefits anyway. The cuts will be difficult but are necessary, because the system isn't working, according to Blair, as reported in today's Daily Telegraph.

The new dichotomy in Washington (Monday, 12/22/97)
Now, much of the struggle seems to be between the "globals" and the "nationals," writes Peter Grier of the Christian Science Monitor. Here's more about why they're arguing. The new global economy as hit a "speed bump," according to Newsday's James Toedtman. Incidentally, if you've been wondering what Gorby's been doing lately, David Francis says he's been thinking about the new global economy quite a lot himself, and would like to see better management.

The employers are coming! The employers are coming! (Monday, 12/22/97)
If you're a college student near graduation, or even if you're not ready to graduate, employers may be trying to find you. However, you'll be easier to find some places than others, according to Shelley Donald Coolidge, who also offers some advice on your resume. Speaking of college, Mark Clayton wonders if the anti-affirmative action suits will be coming to the Ivy League. Here's how one such suit at the University of Michigan is stacking up and what it may mean for the parties involved. Also, Jim Charkins writes about college students and their debts, not all of which have to do with the cost of school. Julie Ferron tells about the hard lessons that many young people face, particularly if, like so many, they haven't learned the basics of personal economics.

Charting a course with the new Supplemental Security Income rules (Monday, 12/22/97)
Linda Feldmann tells how the new world of welfare is influencing families with children who have disabilities. The Social Security Administration is acknowledging that there have been problems, she says.

GI Joe and GI Jane (Monday, 12/22/97)
Today's Christian Science Monitor editorializes about the impact of the recommendation that men and women be separated during part of their military training.

Entrepreneurial Xers (Monday, 12/22/97)
Heather Salerno reports on the tremendous number of new businesses being started by people in their twenties and thirties, but she says finding funding is harder for young women, and for older ones too. Also, she writes about the Generation X's interpretation of the loss of job security when it comes to changing careers, as well as about young people who are working two jobs.

HMO's have some surprises for the elderly (Monday, 12/22/97)
Benefits are being cut for Medicare recipients, writes Milt Freudenheim. Also in the New York Times today, some suggestions about visiting tax sites before the year ends.

Office parties are changing in the new age of lawsuits (Monday, 12/22/97)
Employers have gotten more nervous about the hazards of holiday parties at the office. Here's the Boston Globe's Diane Lewis with a report.

Swedish furniture maker criticized, again (Monday, 12/22/97)
Ikea is being accused of exploiting child labor again. Also in the Nando Times today, the rush to make money from online educational programs.

Holy budget, Billy! (Sunday, 12/21/97)
Remember the deficit? Like the Cold War, we used to worry about it all the time. We still have one, but maybe not much longer. In a hot economy with spending cutbacks and surging tax revenues, the federal deficit is declining much faster than expected. The budget may be balanced by the end of this fiscal year, rather than by 2002, as planned. Some leaders are even learning how to spell "surplus" again, because it may be a word they'll have to use before long, and it's been a long time since anyone has even thought of it, let alone said it out loud. Meanwhile, in a not entirely unrelated story, President Clinton has decided against any major tax cuts or simplifications for next time.

Shellout falter at the IMF (Sunday, 12/21/97)
The International Monetary Fund has conducted some major bailouts lately, most notably the bank-breaker deal with South Korea. As we've been reporting, their purse is going to need some replenishing, particularly if conditions continue as they have been in Asia. A new report from the IMF says the financial crisis in Asia could deepen and spread during the months ahead, and is also likely to slow economic growth worldwide. Among those Asian economies directly, involved, Thailand, where the crisis began months ago, could lose as many as 2 million jobs, according to the New York Times. The China Daily, which most certainly is not a member of the world's free press, nonetheless does reliably report what Chinese officials want us to hear, and the State Statistical Bureau wants the world to know that growth in China is expected to settle in at about 9 percent for the year. Officials say that this level of growth could be sustained next year with suitable "macro-economic adjustments" and if it can avoid "international turmoil." The latter, in particular, may be a very big "if."

Things to do at year's end (Sunday, 12/21/97)
Now that the family will be together for the holidays, it may be a good idea to bring up the subject of family finances, says the New York Times' Paul Sweeney. It may be a way of avoiding unpleasant surprises later and could save the entire family a lot of grief. Also, Gerard Sheilds of the Scripps Howard News Service advises that you take a close look at your year-end 401(k) statement. Some employers are making unauthorized use of their workers' money, it seems. Finally, as you celebrate the new year, you might want to send up a cheer for the new tax law that kicks in on January 1. Well, I suppose that really depends.

If ET were working for you, would he call home from the office? (Sunday, 12/21/97)
John Bray of the New York Times looks at the various policies employers have covering the making of personal calls on the job. Also, what's your boss' policy on holiday gift giving at work? Steven Ginsberg reports that many employers are establishing specific procedures so as to head off possible trouble in a litigious era.

Your work may be a hazard to your health (Sunday, 12/21/97)
Here's news about the results from the Women's Health in the Workplace Survey.

Quick--which country is made up of "medical idiots?" (Sunday, 12/21/97)
Here's columnist Robert Reno's answer, not necessarily ours. However, he says it's a mistake to believe that nothing has happened to change the American health care system, just because the Clintons didn't get what they wanted a few years ago. Also in Long Island's Newsday this time, Patricia Kitchen asked her readers to tell about their "workplace friends," and here's what she's heard. Finally, in her "Help Wanted" column, Carrie Mason-Draffen advises a correspondent about what a late evaluation might portend.

Help for people who feel their lives are too cluttered (Sunday, 12/21/97)
Steve Berg tells about the growing number of books intending to help people simplify their lives. Choosing just the right one might be complicated. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, Sharon Schmickle turns a penetrating eye to Chile's privatized pension plan. It is the sort of thing America needs? Mike Meyers tells how many companies are increasing productivity. Finally, here's a New York Times piece coming to you via the Strib that describes how hi-tech is changing even the smallest businesses.

Miami settles suit on behalf of its homeless (Sunday, 12/21/97)
The ACLU filed suit against the city of Miami on behalf of 5,000 homeless people. They claimed that their constitutional rights had been violated 10-15 years ago. A settlement has been reached.

Waiting to exhale (Saturday, 12/20/97)
Why would the U.S. be holding its breath because of the election of one of South Korea's most outspoken proponents of true democracy for his country? Maybe for some of the same reasons that South Korea's financial markets seem pessimistic. Right now, economic issues have highest priority in that country, and not everybody is convinced that Kim Dae Jung will be willing to make the hard choices to save the South Korean economy from default. Things seem to be shifting into high gear, though. Various political opponents have agreed to pass a collection of bills next week intending to speed up the process of reform, as called for in the agreement with the IMF. Also, South Korea has hired two major U.S. firms--Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Salomon Smith Barney-- as consultants. Meanwhile, President Clinton does his part to convince Americans that it is in their interest to support the ailing economies.

More workplace violence (Saturday, 12/20/97)
Two are dead and two more are injured at the Milwaukee post office.

Computer skills in great demand in Connecticut (Saturday, 12/20/97)
Connecticut's Department of Labor has released data indicating that the computer and financial services industries will provide the hottest market for jobs over the next few years. Speaking of "computer jobs," Apple's workers still haven't lost their Jobs. Many observers seem to feel that one of the more interesting, complicated, and contradictory business personalities of the late 20th century is continuing to affect Apple Computer Corporation in about the same way as he has since he co-founded the company in the 1970s. Much of what has been most remarkable and also most self-defeating about Apple over the past 20 years has been because of Steve Jobs. Now that he's back, he may be helping to save the company. On the other hand, he can't leave until a new CEO is appointed, and top candidates may be reluctant to come on board if, no matter what the sign on their office door says, they're really going to end up working for Jobs.

All this and poor pay too (Saturday, 12/20/97)
Are people paid more because their jobs are dangerous? On the whole, the answer is no. In fact, a new study says it's just the opposite. Also, with respect to hazards on the jobs, try to be a little less forceful, and you may save your keyboard arms.

Clinton listens to opponents of affirmative action (Saturday, 12/20/97)
Foes of affirmative action seem to have been affected by the "Clinton treatment," although few minds on either side have changed, it appears.

Mediators to become involved in discrimination complaints (Saturday, 12/20/97)
Hundreds of discrimination complaints against the Department of Agriculture remain unresolved, but a federal judge has gotten the government to agree to mediation.

Some of the best places to work (Saturday, 12/20/97)
Fortune magazine has identified some of the best places to work. Several Minnesota firms come out high on the list.

Pakistani bank to cut 4,500 jobs (Saturday, 12/20/97)
The bank is state-run, and the cuts are part of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

Airline strike lasts an hour and a half (Saturday, 12/20/97)
An agreement was reached just after the beginning of a strike at Skyway Airlines. Speaking of airlines, according to the Bangkok Post Thailand has decided to delay privatization of its Thai Airways International, despite the fact that it is part of its bailout deal with the IMF. Here's how the Thai government is explaining the delay.

Organized labor spans the U.S.-Mexican boundary (Saturday, 12/20/97)
Sam Dillon the New York Times writes about how labor organizations are crossing the border in ways which should give Mexican workers more leverage in the new world economy.

Looking behind the numbers in New York City (Friday, 12/19/97)
On the surface, it looks as though New York is the great exception to America's low unemployment, but this Business Week article explains why things aren't quite what they appear. Incidentally, jobless claims were up ever so slightly across the U.S. last week, according to the latest U. S. Department of Labor figures.

South Koreans cast a dramatic vote for change (Friday, 12/19/97)
Guess who's going to be president of South Korea? Kim Dae Jung, the "Nelson Mandela" of Korea will get his chance to lead the country out of its financial morass. He's been a crusader for Korean democracy, even during the country's darkest days of dictatorship. However, there are indications that investors are nervous about his election. Business Week says that, despite a slight easing of the crisis, default is still a real possibility in South Korea. Radical changes are needed, they say. Incidentally, the International Monetary Fund has approved the second installment of that big loan, while the Washington Post's Stephen Rosenfeld wonders about the IMF as "fireman."

One of the reasons that the big economic crisis developed in the first place is because many Asian countries lack the institutional structure necessary for regulating or managing the "wild west" open-market economies that have developed there in recent years. High growth rates continued for several years, but things got out of control. We're all learning more about the conditions necessary for the development of viable capitalistic economies and how political and economic institutions are linked. For one thing, we've learned that it isn't simply a matter of destroying old totalitarian structure, and success isn't a sure thing. Here's a thoughtful article about two possible paths following the collapse of European communism, and which one the various former eastern block countries seem to be following.

More on how the picture is developing at Kodak (Friday, 12/19/97)
Here's what Kodak is saying about its major corporate restructuring for participation in the new information economy, characterized, in part, by a digital revolution that is leaving traditional photographic process, a 150-year-old technology, behind. Their previously announced job cuts won't be enough, they say, so an additional 6.600 jobs will have to go.

Child care as a national political issue (Friday, 12/19/97)
Several things have come together at this particular time to put child care up near the top of the national agenda, and here are some thoughts about President Clinton's proposed response to a national need.

How workers' comp has been turning around (Friday, 12/19/97)
Kirstin Downey Grimsley writes about how workplaces have gotten safer and workers' compensation costs have started to come down. Also in the Washington Post today, an editorial about the recommendations for handling training in the military, and how both sides in the debate seem to have made a knee-jerk response to the report.

Day laborers continue sit-in in Osaka (Friday, 12/19/97)
The protesters want shelter during the night. Here's the story from today's Japan Times.

Teamsters to pay for their own election (Friday, 12/19/97)
The re-do of the Teamsters presidential election must be paid for by the union itself, says a federal judge.

Clinton wants to normalize economic relations with Vietnam (Friday, 12/19/97)
It hinges on whether Vietnam is allowing free emigration. That's been a snag for a long time, but the President thinks Vietnam's policy has changed sufficiently to justify normal economic relations with the United States.

Proposal would make Swiss labor more flexible, say supporters (Friday, 12/19/97)
Basler Zeitung reports that Switzerland's National Council is debating a revision of the nation's employment law that would lower overtime pay and loosen Sunday work regulations, among other things. Proposed labor changes are under consideration in South Africa too, where a cabinet subcommittee has approved a plan for making the firing of government employees less costly. Presently, severance costs are two to three times as high as in the private sector, according to Business Day.

Details about Boeing's layoff plans (Friday, 12/19/97)
The big aircraft company expects to cut 12,000 jobs by the second half of next year. The company expects further effects from the problems in Asia, but that's not all there is to it.

Government adjusts to the increase in home-based businesses (Friday, 12/19/97)
In some cases, cities are prohibiting them through re-zoning; in others, they're seeing them as an additional revenue source.

More privatization coming to Greece (Friday, 12/19/97)
Greece's finance minister says that his country will sell off more state assets during 1998 and that wage increases in the private sector should not exceed 4.5 percent. Kathimerini has the story this morning. Meanwhile, in Denmark, The Danish Federation of Trade Unions is calling for wage increases next year of 4 percent. This would be about 1 percentage point higher than what is expected in neighboring Germany, reports Borsen today.

The big employment problem for women in China (Friday, 12/19/97)
Duncan Hewitt reports for BBC News on the special problem faced by women in China, as millions try to move from the old state-run enterprises to the private sector.

Hot job market for American college students (Friday, 12/19/97)
Employers are scrambling to find the workers they need, so they're recruiting very aggressively on American college campuses, according to the Columbus Dispatch. In fact, many are willing to hire students before they graduate. A few years ago, large numbers of college grads were working in jobs not requiring college. It all seems to reflect the changing relationship between academic credentials and economic security. In the old economy in which big government, big corporations, and big universities tacitly supported each other, the college degree was used a basic screening device for long-term employment. Get a degree, and you were pretty much set for your entire work life. However, in the new economy, everything is more fluid, and there is increasing emphasis on skills, whether or not one has traditional academic credentials.

Real hunger in Melbourne (Friday, 12/19/97)
Clare Kermond reports on a new study conducted by the Catholic Church that finds many of the long-term unemployed in Australia are going without food for days at a time.

A suicide each day because of South Korean crisis (Thursday, 12/18/97)
At least one South Korean businessman is committing suicide each day because of the economic crisis in that country. USA Today reports that conspicuous consumption is suddenly out in South Korea. Meanwhile, an IMF official defends how things have been handled, saying there's no easy solution to the financial mess many Asian economies are in. Knut Engelmann writes that U.S. and European officials are applauding Japan's recent action, and Paul Cleary of the Sydney Morning Herald says that, while the Australian economy is not catching the "Asian flu," the crisis is affecting his country's economy. Slower recovery can be expected as a consequence of it.

Not all Christmas cheer for everybody (Thursday, 12/18/97)
Many are being laid off just in time for Christmas, despite a strong economy. Also, here's a story about a man who's tried everything else, so he's handing out resumes to Christmas shoppers.

Welfare caseloads down (Thursday, 12/18/97)
The House Ways and Means Committee reports on the reduction in welfare caseloads during the past year, which many are attributing to welfare reform. However, caseloads were declining before the new welfare law took effect as well. One consequence of welfare reform has been the denial of benefits to large numbers of disabled children. President Clinton has ordered a review to make sure that some of this has not been happening improperly.

Agriculture Secretary responds to the complaints of minority farmers (Thursday, 12/18/97)
African American farmers have been complaining about the USDA for sometime. The current Secretary of Agriculture wants to increase the availability of farm loans to minorities, but many farmers feel that it won't be enough. A thousand discrimination complaints remain unresolved.

The euro gets a boost from Asia's financial troubles (Thursday, 12/18/97)
Supporters of the European common currency look at the events in Asia and say "We told you so."

Finally, some progress in the talks at Caterpillar (Thursday, 12/18/97)
It's been a long time coming, but it appears that there has been a breakthrough in negotiations between Caterpillar and the UAW. On the other side of the world, things aren't going so well. The Maritime Union of Australia has broken off talks on waterfront reform, according to today's Sydney Morning Herald. Also, here's news about how the Australian population is aging. In other demographic news, Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports today that the Japanese population is shrinking.

Unemployment lowest ever in Minnesota (Thursday, 12/18/97)
National unemployment is low in the U.S., but nothing like Minnesota where it's now running at only 2.8 percent.

More job cuts at Kodak (Thursday, 12/18/97)
Kodak continues to restructure, and another 6,600 jobs will be cut as part of the process.

Children who die on the job (Thursday, 12/18/97)
About seventy-five children die on the job in the U.S. each year. Yes, we said children.

Worried about retirement? (Thursday, 12/18/97)
Apparently, a lot of people are. USA Today reports on the large number of people who are afraid that they aren't saving enough to cover the years beyond work.

A raise for some low earners in Australia (Thursday, 12/18/97)
Clare Kermond writes for Melbourne's The Age about the Australian Industrial Relations Commission decision to increase the wages of some workers who are near the bottom of the pay scale. Also, good news for many people in Egypt. El Ahram reports that more than 2 million workers will benefit from an increase in the minimum amount of income that will be exempt from income tax.

Japan's stabilization plan (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
The Washington Post's Clay Chandler reports on what the Japanese government intends to do to stop the economic boat from rocking in that country. For one thing, expect a cut in personal income taxes, but also expect its growth plan to be delayed. Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times write that Japan, with an economy twice the size of all of the rest of Asia, is powerful enough to bring stability throughout the region, but there's a catch, or maybe more than one. Finally, as an aid to understanding what's going on, Steven Pearlstein explains how Japan's problems differ from those of the other afflicted economies in Asia.

Confucius to be laid off in Korea (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
Cameron Barr explains why South Korean will have to break with its traditional relationship between government and business if it is to recover from its present mess. After more bad news than anyone wanted to hear, the news is still good about the recovery of South Korea's currency. The Koreans themselves are a major part of the reason, suggesting that their confidence is returning. The Korean people are still worried about layoffs, though.

Asia's continuing impact on the rest of the world (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
Some parts of the world are being influenced more than others by the economic events in Asia. Here's how U.S. corporations are being affected, as well as more about the Fed's "wait-and-see" policy within a still strong American economy. John Burgess says that Britain is being influenced more than the rest of Europe, and Taiwan has gotten through mostly unscathed, so far. Yvan Cohen reports on how the Thai economy's hitting the skids as resulted in a change of attitude in that country. Steven Mufson and Mary Jordan of the Washington Post look at the geopolitical implications of the Asian economic crisis, and Robert Samuelson says there's a downside to "globalization." Incidentally, among the various reasons that have been given for the Asian crisis has been corruption in some of the wrong places. Here's news about a recent international agreement to outlaw bribery in business dealings. Brazil's financial markets have been turbulent too, but many business people seem unconcerned. Finally, here's how the Asian crisis looks from South Africa.

The sad impact of malnutrition (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
A lot of children die in the world each year, and more than half of the deaths are because of malnutrition, says a UNICEF report. In other news, Barbara Vobejda writes about the new system in the U.S. that is cutting many children from the disability rolls.

Today's job cuts (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
The American economy is still creating jobs at a respectable rate, but it's destroying them too. Jobs are scheduled to go at RJR Nabisco, Outboard Marine, Boeing, Polaroid, and Cabletron. At least, these are the ones we know about this morning.

Panel recommends segregation of the sexes early in military training (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
Among the recommendations are separate housing facilities. Some are critical of the panel's overall recommendations, though. The Christian Science Monitor's Jonathan Landay has some additional thoughts about the issues involved.

A widening of the gap (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
The rich have gotten richer and the poor have gotten poorer in 44 states over the past twenty years, according to a new report.

Here's something new in employer-employee relations (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
You see, a man won't give his boss' wife back, or, that is, his ex-wife, or.... Well, it's a little hard to explain. Here's the original story from today's Nando Times.

Emergency panel formed in Israel (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu thinks the unemployment problem in Israel constitutes an emergency, and he has formed a panel to try to find ways to cut joblessness, according to today's Jeruselum Post. Also in Israel, Yediot Ahronot reports that hundreds of people in Ofakim held a violent demonstration yesterday to protest a 14.3 percent unemployment rate in the community. Finally, a hardware chain is trying to bypass Israel's Work and Rest Law by hiring non-Jews to work on Shabbat.

Big negotiations begin in Greece (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
According to a report in Kathimerini today, Greece's largest non-state employer and employee groups are starting talks that are intended to lead to next year's collective private wage agreement. The General Confederation of Greek Workers has called a 24-hour strike for tomorrow in order to press its demands for a 6 percent wage increase.

Restructuring of American medical service continues with pharmacy controversy (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
You may find that the person wearing the stethoscope and writing your prescription isn't a physician, but could be a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant instead. Those roles were created during earlier years as an effort to cope with a physician shortage in the United States that has long since disappeared. Now, though, tasks are being moved as low in the training hierarchy as possible in order to reduce health care costs. Also, some professions, such as nursing and pharmacy, which have been traditionally ancillary to medicine, are feeling strong independence needs. Here's the latest about the controversy over doctoral programs in pharmacy.

Here's help with your children. Merry Christmas (Wednesday, 12/17/97)
Nancy Rivera Brooks writes in today's Los Angeles Times writes about companies that are trying to help out during the holiday season, and it isn't just a fruitcake.

A new beginning in South Korea? (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
South Korea eliminated controls on its currency today, and, almost immediately, the won and the country's stock market began to strengthen. Andrew Pollack and Peter Passell of the New York Times write that this may be the beginning of a turnaround for a major Asian economy that has been in desperate crisis in recent weeks. Mary Jordan of the Washington Post tells about the euphoria of foreign shoppers in Seoul during recent days as the won as plummeted against other major currencies. Cameron Barr discusses what the current economic crisis means to a country that has moved from the rubble of the Korean War to become the 11th economy in the world in less than 50 years.

In the U.S., experts are expecting that the Federal Reserve will put a hold on interest rates while it waits to see how the Asian economic crisis plays out over the weeks ahead. Mike Meyers of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that some economists expect deflation--yes, we said deflation--in the United States. Should we be alarmed? Not necessarily, he says.

Meanwhile, representatives at the ASEAN meeting in Malaysia are calling on the U.S., Japan, and the EU to face up to the global dimensions and implications of the Asian crisis which bailout efforts, so far, have not curtailed. Incidentally, among the institutions which could use a little more cash is the International Monetary Fund itself. They've sent out some very big checks recently. What's happening in some of the countries other than South Korea? Sander Thoenes reports that Indonesia's currency lost nearly half its value in a week on fears about President Suharto's health. Seth Mydans reports that the Malaysian government has finally started to take action to deal with its own financial crisis, and Stephanie Strom says that Tokyo is set to use 10 trillion yen to strengthen its shaky banking system.

Recovery forecast for Yeltsin as well as Russia's economy (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
Russian President Yeltsin is feeling better, and his ministers are expecting that the Russian economy will get better too.

Hungry and homeless not helped by America's economic strength (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has conducted a survey that finds an increase in the need for food and shelter aid in America's cities.

Some historical perspective on economic supremacy (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
The Washington Post's Allan Sloan says we shouldn't allow the current American economic success to go to our heads. Things could be different tomorrow.

Koreans in Japan seek university rights (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
Korean students in Japan feel they're not being treated fairly, and they're petitioning the Education Ministry to do something about it, according to the Japan Times. Also in the Times today, the Japanese Labor Ministry says that having to pour tea may be a form of sexual harassment. Finally, Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that workers who lost their jobs when Yamaichi Securities failed are finding plenty of new job opportunities...unless they're over thirty-five.

Here's a priest with his own ideas about welfare reform (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
A Twin Cities priest has drawn Protestants, Jews, and others to his cause. Leonard Inskip writes about what Michael O'Connell thinks welfare recipients really need and what really works.

Settlement at Detroit Edison (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
According to today's Detroit News, negotiators have reached a tentative settlement in a discrimination suit on behalf of 3,500 minority employees.

The hard life of part-time temps (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
Here's news about some findings from a new study conducted by the Economic Policy Institute.

Job seekers increase in Israel (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
The number of people seeking work increased in November, according to Israel's Employment Service.

Jobs increase and decrease, depending on the industry (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
In Australia, employment in manufacturing is down, while it's up in retailing, as Diane Stott reports from Canberra. Also, according to Leonie Lamont and Adam Harvey of the Sydney Morning Herald, young Australians are earning less than a decade ago, as the nation's economy continues to restructure. Finally, James Woodford looks at the bigger picture: Quality of life and the tremendous increase in standard of living over the past century. Has the former increased because of the latter? Finally, Clare Kermond describes how joblessness can seem to be an endless cycle for many.

INS doing better, according to report (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
Eight months seem to have made a difference in operations at the Immigration and Naturalization Service. They seem to be doing a better job of keeping people out who have criminal records.

New rules on mental health coverage (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
It will be at least six months before employers can claim exemptions to the new law extending mental health insurance coverage. The law goes into effect on January 1. Also in the New York Times today, Catalyst reports a slight increase in the number of women who are officers in Fortune 500 corporations.

Reich on job creation (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich writes in Time magazine about three conditions of job creation.

The explosion of sexual discrimination cases (Tuesday, 12/16/97)
Elizabeth Cohen, writing in the New York Post says that there has been a tremendous increase in the number of sexual discrimination suits filed in the U.S., particularly having to do with sexual harassment.

South Korean people begin to panic (Monday, 12/15/97)
A South Korean presidential candidate says his country faces its "biggest crisis since the war," and thousands of individual citizens rush to the markets in order to hoard food staples and other products in the face of rising prices. On the other hand, South Korean stocks are up sharply today in response to the announcement of a government plan for bolstering the country's financial institutions. Thousands of miles from South Korea, Thailand's financial mess crushes the working poor, according to Seth Mydans of the New York Times. South Korea's stock market is one bright spot in an otherwise Asian market today. Stocks are down again elsewhere, as currency values continue to slump, and analysts are saying that more currency problems are on the way. The ASEAN meeting continues in Kuala Lumpur under depressing conditions, and participants are asking the United States, Europe, and Japan to help end the financial crisis.

Hunger within a sea of prosperity (Monday, 12/15/97)
The American economy continues its strength, jobs are plentiful, and wages have been rising, but there is more hunger as well. Christina Nifong reports that America's homeless now include more families, but Guy Halverson writes that more people are stepping up their cheritable contributions this year.

More on the big expansion of the European Union (Monday, 12/15/97)
Eleven additional countries will join the EU, writes William Echikson. Also in the Christian Science Monitor this morning, you're advised to get started on your 1998 taxes before the first of the year, and, if that's depressing, remember that a lot of experts are saying that money can't buy happiness. Finally, some thoughts on why the new International Labor Organization report on the growing number of women in management positions shouldn't surprise us.

That vision thing and your career (Monday, 12/15/97)
Forget the five-year plan, Steven Ginsberg says. He writes today about Christine Bennett's new book, Me, Myself, and I, Inc., in which Ms. Bennett claims that plans are out, but planning is more important than ever.

Yamaichi begins liquidation (Monday, 12/15/97)
The big failed Japanese financial firm will cut 7,000 workers, keeping only those that are needed to shut down the company. Here's the story from Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun. Also in Japan, corporate loyalty declines in a dramatically new Japanese workplace.

Now, here's today's forecast (Monday, 12/15/97)
A panel of economists gaze into America's immediate future and see another good year... mostly. Also in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune, some thoughts about whether barriers should be constructed to guard against "welfare migrants."

Recruiters hit the campuses in time for Christmas (Monday, 12/15/97)
The growing labor shortage in the United States means that many students are getting job offers months before graduation. Merry Christmas.

Clinton takes aim at Medicare abuse (Sunday, 12/14/97)
President Clinton announced yesterday that he will eliminate waste and fraud in the American Medicare system. Among other things, he wants legislation that will stop overpayment for medications.

New initiative on child care promised (Sunday, 12/14/97)
President Clinton will seek a variety of subsidies and tax breaks to help working families obtain access to child care.

Some good financial news for a change (Sunday, 12/14/97)
Donna Smith of Reuters reports on the big agreement reached yesterday to open up the banking, insurance and securities markets. It will help the global economy, according to experts. More than a hundred members of the World Trade Organization are signing on.

Parting thoughts on the managed care series (Sunday, 12/14/97)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune completed its big 6-part series on managed care yesterday. Here is their editorial this morning to sum things up. Speaking of health coverage, Alice Ann Love writes in the Fort Worth Star Telegram about how medical savings account experiments are doing.

Is the worst yet to come in South Korea? (Sunday, 12/14/97)
It may be difficult to believe that South Korea's financial situation could get worse, but some U.S. experts are worried about the country's immediate financial future. Meanwhile, a growing number of Koreans are taking to the streets to protest the deal worked out with the International Monetary Fund. Janet Guttsman reports that, despite growing pressure, the U.S. won't allow a change in the agreement's terms. Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times writes that three major presidential candidates have signed on in support of the IMF bailout plan, because they fear that the country could default on its foreign debt. Meanwhile, the IMF itself is re-thinking its rules following the huge South Korean loan. The New York Times' Floyd Norris provides a little history on the South Korean problem and says we should blame the lenders. Meanwhile, ASEAN officials aren't having the happiest meeting on record in Malaysia, but they still have a grand plan for Southeast Asia on the drawing board. Finally, Louis Uchitelle writes about how the "dimming of Asian economies" is affecting U.S. companies.

More on the IRS audit...of itself (Sunday, 12/14/97)
Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers says that IRS policies will change following the big trax collector's disclosure of its own abuses.

Physical vs. fiscal fitness (Sunday, 12/14/97)
Stan Hinden offers some thoughts on exerise during retirement. Also in today's Wasington Post, growing concern about the increase in student debt, a shift of worker attitudes following downsizing, and mixed signals on affirmative action. Incidentally, a new poll finds that Americans generally favor diversity's ends, but not some means toward those ends.

Advice from Newsday columnists (Sunday, 12/14/97)
Newsday's columnists offer a number of responses to correspondents this morning. Lynn Brenner says that the home office tax deduction issue is complicated, so be careful to avoid later surprises. Carrie Mason-Draffen advises about how much notice to give when you want to leave a job, and Patricia Kitchen offers suggestions for helping coworkers overcome the holiday blahs. Lisa Doll Bruno offers a look at radiologic technology as a career possibility. Scott Burns also has some advice, even though he's with a different newspaper. He says it's easy to deplete your retirement assets by drawing on them at too rapid a rate following retirement, and Todd Mason says pulling money out of a 401(k) is simply a bad idea. Finally, Kenneth Hooker examines the new Roth IRAs and concludes that they aren't for everybody.

Independent union blocked by government in Mexico (Sunday, 12/14/97)
It would have been a breakthrough for more democratic labor negotiations, but the Baja California government has intervened. Here are the details from today's Nando Times.

Some employers apparently haven't gotten the message (Sunday, 12/14/97)
Child labor has been illegal in the U.S. for nearly 60 years, but news apparently travels slowly, even during the information age. Child labor is still quite common in America, write David Foster and Farrell Kramer for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Also, Jeffrey Ulbrich reports on the enlargement of the European Union, which will now include some former foes. Craig Whitney of the New York Times has more on this story.

Greater role for religious groups in the new world of welfare (Sunday, 12/14/97)
Laurie Goodstein writes about how religious organizations are trying to pick up some of what government has put aside. Also in the New York Times today, Louis Uchitelle reports on women at work in three stories. All three relate to the role of older women in the new work world. Here are the first, second, and third of Mr. Uchitelle's articles. Finally in the Times today, news about how employers are changing the way they test job applicants. If you're applying, you may no longer find the familiar interview situation when you arrive.

Now, take a deep breath, and let's talk about the jobs (Saturday, 12/13/97)
The new edition of Business Week predicts that the economic crisis in Asia could cost 2 million jobs. The crisis is broader and deeper than most thought, even very recently, and the impact on the new world economy is likely to be greater as well, says the big international biz mag. Among workers who have already been displaced are former employees of Yamaichi Securities in Tokyo, and the future doesn't look good for them and their families, according to this Asahi Shimbun story. The paper also reports on a snag in plans for helping the homeless in Tokyo, and there may be more of them in the future. Yuzo Saeki writes that November was one of the worst Japan has ever seen, so far as corporate bankruptcies are concerned.

In nearby South Korea, the fourth-largest brokerage firm has just failed. Keith Richburg of the Washington Post writes about the continuing decline of Asian currencies, a conspicuous example of which is the Thai baht, which has hit a record low against the American dollar. South Korea continues to scramble to bring its economy under control. The country's top politicians are pledging that they will uphold South Korea's painful obligations as part of the IMF bailout deal. Protesters are demanding that the agreement be renegotiated. Senior officials of ASEAN are preparing to meet, and Asia's economic firestorm is likely to come up in their talks. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund has been busy.

The New York Times' Michael Gordon reports that the IMF has reached agreement with Russia so that that country can quickly obtain $1.7 billion in loans from the West. David Hoffman of the Washington Post says that a suspended $700 payment will probably be in the mail now. Among other things, the big loan may enable Russia to get out of economic gridlock and pay $1.7 billion in back wages to public sector employees who have been waiting for their money for a long time. At the same time, they intend to improve tax collection procedures.

Big EU expansion (Saturday, 12/13/97)
The European Union will undergo a major expansion, but Turkey won't be included.

Boeing to retirees: please come back (Saturday, 12/13/97)
In a tight labor market in which technical expertise can be extremely difficult to find, Boeing is trying to bring some of its retired workers back to help out. Here's how an things have changed for an organization called Employment for Seniors now that retirees are badly needed. In an ever so slightly related story, at least in that it's related to the concerns of older workers, Career Magazine's Catherine Fyock advises corespondents about age discrimination and what the individual's rights are.

Strong California economy expects Asian wave to wash up on its shores (Saturday, 12/13/97)
The Bank of America expects that the Asian crisis could have some effect on moderating California's strong growth prospects for next year.

The IRS says, yes, there have been problems (Saturday, 12/13/97)
An internal audit at the Internal Revenue Services confirms abuses. Also in the Washington Post, nationally syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman shares some thoughts about the economic value of a wife.

Some finalists in the "worst job interviews" sweepstakes (Saturday, 12/13/97)
Here are some suggestions if you're trying to find ways to shoot down your prospects of being hired.

Working your way down the economic ladder (Saturday, 12/13/97)
Business Week has some opinions about welfare reform and how it seems to be driving large numbers of people deeper into poverty. Also, here's news about the contributions of small business to the increasing multitude of telecommuters, and here's why colleges and universities are having to change their way of doing things in a tough market. One of the reasons it's tough and getting tougher is the tremendous increase in on-line college-level programs for credit.

Bad news and good news from Australia (Saturday, 12/13/97)
Adele Horin and Sally Loane report in today's Sydney Morning Herald about the 500,000 children on the breadline, while Phillip Hudson of The Age has the good news: the creation of 70,900 new jobs last month.

Preventing workplace violence (Saturday, 12/13/97)
The secret is early intervention, according to this report in the San Francisco Examiner.

Meltdown continues in Korea (Friday, 12/12/97)
South Korean officials are struggling to bring stability to the country's financial markets, and some are seeing default as a possibility. Korean officials are receiving strong criticism from persons involved in arranging the IMF bailout, while distrust of the Korean government is seen as part of the problem. Individuals in South Korea are angry with politicians too, as they see the value of their savings plummet. The U.S. is urging Koreans to accept the hardships implied by the conditions of