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November 1997

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Social and political upheavals feared in Asia (Sunday, 11/30/97)
What are the social and political implications of Asia's financial crises? Nicholas Kristof examines the possibilities when people feel that the implied "social contract" has been violated. Incidentally, there are conflicting messages from Asia this morning. South Korea is saying that it has reached an agreement with the IMF on a loan package, but Christina Toh-Pantin and Marguerite Nugent are reporting that others are saying that a rescue of Asian economies may be delayed. Meanwhile, at least one major American newspaper is saying that Congress should support the International Monetary Fund bailout. Also relating to Asia, Anne Tergesen wonders what opportunities may be lurking in South Korea's present chaos, and Edwina Gibbs discusses growing nervousness about rising unemployment in Japan. Incidentally, the two-day jobs conference in Kobe, Japan is ending with more agreement about what to do than many had expected. Incidentally, how are things in Kobe itself? Kimie Itakura examines some ironies. Many people still need jobs following the big earthquake of 1995.

Will it be bloody merger for your pension? (Sunday, 11/30/97)
The Washington Post's Tim Smart looks at some of the possible effects of corporate mergers on pension plans.

Clinton wants to extend AmeriCorps (Sunday, 11/30/97)
President Clinton thinks that AmeriCorps has been a success and wants to extend it for another five years. He thinks citizen service will be crucial in America's preparation for the 21st century.

Latin America well-positioned to resist Asian flu, officials say (Sunday, 11/30/97)
American officials are optimistic about the well-being of Latin American economies. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin will meet next week with Latin American finance ministers.

What's your financial IQ? (Sunday, 11/30/97)
Many Americans really don't know much about their money or investment, and the consequences can be very serious. Various organizations are trying to do something about this big gap in America's education.

'Tis the season to review your options (Sunday, 11/30/97)
Albert Crenshaw suggests some things to consider when you're choosing your benefits for the next year.

The impact of part-timers (Sunday, 11/30/97)
Here are some results from a new survey that examines the impact of the growing dependence on part-time workers.

When all else fails, read the manual (Sunday, 11/30/97)
In this case, it's the employee manual, and Steven Ginsberg says more people should look at them as a first resort rather than last resort.

Big victory for Vegas service workers (Sunday, 11/30/97)
Lou Cannon reports on a major union victory in Las Vegas. It settles the nation's longest strike.

News from the Kobe conference (Saturday, 11/29/97)
Radio Free Europe reports on the two-day jobs conference in Kobe, Japan. Eric Johnston of the Japan Times says leaders from the world's largest industrial countries (Is it "G7" or "G8" now?) are searching for solutions to an unemployment problem that stretches over much of the globe, with the current exception of the U.S. and a few other places. Kimie Itakura of Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that conference participants seem to agree that expanded vocational training will be the key to moving large numbers of persons into the new economy.

Activist group says exploitation continues (Saturday, 11/29/97)
The National Labor Committee says it's "time to name names." Many U.S. clothing companies continue to exploit and abuse workers in other countries, they say. Jeff Manning of the Newhouse News Service says life is more complex in the new global economy. Companies such as Nike can readily move production from one country to another, depending on local conditions. Some seem to seek, not only low wage regions, but also countries with limited political freedom. China and Indonesia are the top Nike producers now, but production continues in other areas as well.

Economic inequalities are inherent in market economies, because demand for some people's services is greater than for others. However, if these inequalities are held in place by political power, this seems to be something else again. For instance, the "new China" claims to have undergone a capitalist conversion, but, to what extent can a free market system exist within a context of political totalitarianism? If, in effect, a U.S. company benefits from a government's suppression of worker political rights, aren't its stockholders supporting political repression?

Incidentally, reports are circulating that U.S. basketball star Michael Jordan is paid more by Nike than all of the Nike production workers in Malaysia combined, but we cannot confirm this. Nonetheless, it wouldn't be surprising, and in a genuinely free economy under the right conditions, some theorists would claim that there is nothing necessarily inappropriate about such huge disparities. Some Hollywood stars are guaranteed $20 million per film, which, for them, may amount to only a few weeks work.

Canadian government to force striking postal workers back to work (Saturday, 11/29/97)
A bill will be introduced in the Canadian parliament on Monday, according to Canada's labor minister. The national postal strike started on November 19.

Homelessness on the rise in the U.S. again (Saturday, 11/29/97)
Many communities are testing innovative approaches to dealing with the problem. Here's Daniel Wood's story from the Chiristian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor this weekend, some thoughts about President Clinton's options now following failure--at least for the time being--of "fast track," as well as his uphill battle with Congress on several fronts as the year of the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan nears its end.

Experts argue over IMF's prescription for ailing Asian economies (Saturday, 11/29/97)
Clay Chandler reports that some think the International Monetary Fund's plan to help the somewhat sick "Asian tigers" may strangle growth. Incidentally, Japan, which has its own problems, has announced that it will do its part to help rescue South Korea's economy. In Japan itself, there is still much nervousness in the air following several major failures of financial firms, but not so much feeling of crisis now as a few days ago. Steven Mufson of the Washington Post reports that China's economy is cooling, but hasn't caught the "Asian flu" yet. In the U.S., personal incomes are still on the increase.

What to do about minority home ownership (Saturday, 11/29/97)
Neal Gendler of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Minneapolis and St. Paul have "the largest concentration of people below the poverty line" among America's largest cities, and this means that minority home ownership rates are lower than in many other regions of the United States. The National Association of Realtors and HUD are pledging to find ways to boost minority home ownership. Incidentally, we should point out that, while Minneapolis and St. Paul are Minnesota's two largest cities, the major portion of the Twin Cities' population lives in more than 40 suburbs.

Finding time for religion at work (Saturday, 11/29/97)
Large numbers of religion classes are being organized in work settings across the United States, writes David Chen of the New York Times. David Lauter of the Los Angeles Times has a very different kind of story about religion and work. He reports on the growing number of religious discrimination cases.

It's not as easy to fire somebody as it once was (Saturday, 11/29/97)
Business Week offers advice on how to protect yourself from lawsuits when you absotively posilutely need to show an employee the door.

Ireland's small employers should prepare for free-for-all on pay, economist says (Saturday, 11/29/97)
The Irish Times' Barry O'Keeffe reports that economist Terry Baker is warning small employers that another collective wage agreement is unlikely, and that they will have to resist excessive wage increases if they want the Irish economy to maintain its strength.

Public service workers strike in Portugal (Friday, 11/28/97)
Publico reports that many public services, ranging from hospitals to trash collection, will be curtailed throughout Portugal because of a strike by two of the three unions representing public service workers. At issue are wages and the unions' view that the Portuguese government has failed to live up to previous agreements, among other things.

More than $20 billion will be needed by South Korea, official says (Friday, 11/28/97)
It will take more than a $20 billion loan to deal with the debt crisis in South Korea, according to that nation's finance minister.

Suicide blamed on Yamaichi failure (Friday, 11/28/97)
An official with an affiliate of Yamaichi Securities has leaped to his death in Tokyo. The Yamaichi collapse is the biggest financial failure in Japan's history. Business Week this time examines whether failures can lead to stronger Asian economies later.

What a difference a month makes in Russia (Friday, 11/28/97)
Colin McMahon of the Chicago Tribune writes from Moscow about the change of mood in that country in little more than a month. Daniel Williams of the Washington Post says that the Asian financial crisis is contributing to the nervousness in Russia.

Investing in college (Friday, 11/28/97)
Not enough people are saving for college, Clint Willis says. He suggests mutual funds to make things easier.

Jobs return to small-town America (Friday, 11/28/97)
Jon Jeter reports on the resurrection of some of American's tiny communities.

San Francisco's homeless in conflict with its mayor (Friday, 11/28/97)
Things apparently aren't turning out quite as many homeless expected, and Mayor Willie Brown isn't as popular on the streets as before his election.

Eliminating one of the costs of doing business (Friday, 11/28/97)
Here's news about a new agreement that will attempt to eliminate bribery in international commerce, and Business Week reports on the hidden costs of corruption.

Big jobs conference opens in Kobe (Friday, 11/28/97)
Kimie Itakura of Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun writes about the G8 jobs meeting opening today in one of Japan's major cities.

So, Nike's so bad that people don't want to work there, right? (Friday, 11/28/97)
Nike has been criticized a lot lately because of its employment practices, but the company has little difficulty attracting people who want to work in its factories. Also in the Minneapolis Star Tribune today, more on sexual harassment on Wall Street, plus news about the big increase in home-based businesses.

The use and abuse of testing in the hiring process (Friday, 11/28/97)
The New York Times' Constance Hays reports that businesses are making increased use of standardized tests, but testing is a highly technical enterprise, and not everybody know what s/he is doing.

Asian economic problems could spread to China (Thursday, 11/27/97)
Some experts are expecting a devaluation of China's currency as a consequence of the financial storms that have been spreading across Asia over the past several months. Seth Faison of the New York Times has more. Also, Michael Gordon reports that Russia is worried about its financial system and wants outside help.

German students protest decline in higher education (Thursday, 11/27/97)
German university students don't believe they're getting the preparation they will need in the new era, and are staging large-scale protests in response to what they see as detereorating quality in the German higher education system.

Canadian postal strike grinds on (Thursday, 11/27/97)
The competing sides are standing firm for the moment, as the national strike enters its second week.

HMOs facing pressure from boomers (Thursday, 11/27/97)
Milt Freudenheimm of the New York Times reports that HMOs are under pressure from all sides, and now the baby boomers are in revolt.

Eye of the beholder (Thursday, 11/27/97)
Some people remember the senior James Hoffa as representing the Teamsters' biggest time of troubles. Some people don't. The younger James Hoffa hopes to become president of the troubled union, and his father's legacy is helping in many regions.

It's the law: many illegal immigrants can stay (Thursday, 11/27/97)
President Clinton signed the bill into law yesterday that will prevent the deportation of large numbers of illegal immigrants.

G7 reps to talk jobs in Kobe (Thursday, 11/27/97)
The Kobe Jobs Conference opens tomorrow in Kobe, Japan, according to Asahi Shimbun this morning. Also in Japan, concern about non-stop work.

Study finds much optimism about retirement (Thursday, 11/27/97)
Many seniors may be too optimistic about their retirement finances, according to a new study. Much will depend on how the stock markets performs during the years ahead.

Joblessness down last week (Thursday, 11/27/97)
First-time jobless claims fell last week, according to the latest U.S. Department of Labor figures.

Irish union leader calls for minimum wage (Thursday, 11/27/97)
Peter Cassells would like to see a minimum wage of £5 hourly. Also in the Irish Times, Conor O'Clery writes from Tokyo about the fundamental corporate changes that seem to be reflected in the demise of Yamaichi Securities.

Australians concerned about impact of Asian economic problems (Thursday, 11/27/97)
Asians stock and currency slide threatens economic growth in Australia, according to The Age from Melbourne.

Problem 1 in Israel: unemployment (Thursday, 11/27/97)
It's the number one economic problem in Israel, according to Finance Minister Yaakov Neeman. He's calling for a reduction in government spending in order to energize the private sector.

Software professionals not getting their share, paper says (Thursday, 11/27/97)
The software industry in India has been flourishing and profits have been high. However, The Hindu claims that employees are being denied what they deserve.

Carey leaves Teamsters presidency as U.S. prepares to file charges (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
Ron Carey apparently will be charged with participating in an illegal scheme to use union funds to finance his presidential campaign last year. The U.S. panel made its recommendations shortly after Carey announced that he is taking an upaid leave of absence. Columnist Robert Reno offers some perspective in Newsday this morning. The current scandal is nothing compared to the Teamsters' bad old days, he says.

Japanese officials call for calm (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
Japanese leaders are asking people not to pay attention to rumors and to remain calm, writes Brian Williams this morning, following several failures of financial institutions. Many are beginning to worry about Japan's banks. Here's a story about one that has already failed, as well as growing concern about the country's largest bank. American investors seem to be expecting that officials will get Japan's financial instability under control. However, the New York Times' David Sanger says that many are wondering if Japan really enjoys immunity to the kinds of problems that have been sweeping across many Asian countries since the beginning of the summer. Takehiko Nomura, writing in today's Christian Science Monitor, says that the collapse of Yamaichi Securities this week is convincing many Japanese that layoffs aren't just "an American thing." Japan's traditional post-war industrial paternalism and job security are eroding fast, as the risks inherent in an open economy become more broadly distributed, with the rank-and-file taking their share.

APEC meeting ends on optimistic, forceful note (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
Delegates to the big meeting in Vancouver ended the annual APEC summit yesterday with expressed confidence in the Asian economies, as well as a pledge to deal strongly with the Asian economic crisis. However, some experts are wondering if the present international system is up to the task. Peter Cooney writes that, unlike previous meetings, there was not much talk about Asian economic ascendancy, despite the bravado. Instead, most seemed concerned with whether the Asian economies are beginning a long period of decline. Richard Stevenson says that the United States considers the meeting to have been a success, in part because it demonstrated America's power and influence in Asia. Donna Smith reports that officials in the Clinton administration are hoping that the Vancouver summit will help Clinton obtain the "fast track" authority that he wants. Incidentally, the latest data from the U.S. Department of Commerce indicate that the American economy hasn't been growing quite as fast as originally thought.

Swedes head for Norway in search of jobs (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
Dagens Nyheter reports that Sweden's unemployment rate is more than twice as high as that in neighboring Norway, and this means that many Swedes are crossing the border to find jobs. For instance, Norway has 500 vacancies for chief medical officers.

Farm groups oppose climate treaty (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
Negotiators could agree to limit greenhouse gasses to 1990 levels. If that happens, American farmers may be put in a tight spot, according to a new study.

INS to conduct investigation into Arizona roundup of illegal aliens (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
David Schwartz reports for Reuters on government concern with potential civil rights abuses.

Postal agreement in the UK (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
The state-run British postal service has reached an agreement with the Communication Workers' Union on a pay increase, according to the London Times. Meanwhile, Canada's postal strike continues, and it isn't getting to be any more fun for anybody.

Federal government to intervene on restroom issue (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
Many workers are complaining that their employers don't provide adequate breaks or restroom facilities, and the government has decided to get involved.

Brazil may be facing recession (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
Anthony Faiola reports that good times in Brazil may not last much longer, and government austerity programs may be the reason.

Strike fails in Greece (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
The Greek government plans to limit state employee wage increases to the projected rate of inflation for next year. Some state employees struck for 24 hours in protest, but the Greek finance minister has refused to negotiate. Union leaders decided not to extend the strike. Work continued as usual in most areas, according to Kathimerini.

Blair government presents plans for welfare reform (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer says his government plans to conduct an overhaul of the UK's welfare state, but also keep inflation under control by encouraging restraint in long-term wage growth.

Are recent job losses typical of NAFTA's impact? (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
Craig Gordon reports on the effects of NAFTA for Long Island's Newsday. Also, a court rules that repetitive stress injury suits should be handled differently because of the special nature of the injuries.

Nike to change "outworker" policy in Australia (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
Frequently criticized Nike Corporation has been using some workers who do piece work from their homes, but has announced that they will stop the practice. Today's Nando Times has the story this morning.

Now, let's see if we've got this straight (Wednesday, 11/26/97)
A women was employed by a labor union, and she was fired because she sought union representation. Is that it? Apparently so, or, at least, the National Labor Relations Board thinks so. She's feeling vindicated, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

Quick, take an aspirin! Here's the latest news from Asia (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
Japan is off balance because of the failure of Yamaichi, which apparently had been hiding losses illegally. Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports on the anguish of the company's 7,500 employees. The big firm's failure indicates the end of "Japan, Inc.," according to today's Washington Post. In fact, other firms that may be in trouble are being warned that the Japanese government won't step in to save them. Also, Merrill Goozner of the Chicago Tribune wonders what would happen if Japanese banks should begin failing too. Brian Williams of Reuters writes about the spreading impact of the Yamaichi failure throughout the Asian markets, and here's how stocks responded in New York. South Korean stocks have fallen sharply to a 10-year low, but not simply in response to Japan's problems. South Korea has plenty of its own, despite optimistic talk from the head of its central bank. Pacific Rim leaders are expressing confidence in Asian economies and indicating support for the international bailout plan as they complete their APEC meeting today in Vancouver, while some observers elsewhere worry that the bailout may simply be too costly. President Clinton, who sounded a bit like he was minimizing Asia's troubles yesterday, is saying today that, while the Asian economies can expect some help from outsiders, they'll have to bite the bullet and take much of the responsibility for their own recovery. Finally, here are some thoughts on the latest "domino theory" from today's Christian Science Monitor.

New government monitor will watch Teamsters finances (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
The troubled union has agreed to the installation of a new government auditor to watch the money and veto improper expenditures, if necessary.

Sears prepares its managers for protests by retirees (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
Sears has cut benefits for many of its retirees, and they don't like it. Large numbers of them plan to demonstrate the day after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest retail sales days of the year.

Affirmative action laws have gotten less clear (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
Robert Marquand writes about the increasing murkiness of affirmative action law in the United States. Also in today's Christian Science Monitor, news about the growth in temporary jobs in Europe, and two views of child care in the United States. Michael Meyerhoff says there's really no getting around the fact that it's the parents' responsibility, while Philip Altbach and Constance Gresser say that it is a basic right that should be supported by the state.

Unemployment up again in Israel (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
Unemployment in Israel during the third quarter reached 8.1 percent, the highest since April 1994, according to Ha'aretz. Also in Israel today, the Bank of Israel's governor says rising unemployment is not linked to inflation, and David Harris reports on the World Bank's view of the potential of the Palestinian economy. Both stories are in today's Jeruselum Post.

U.S. economy maintains its balance, according to report (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported yesterday that the American economy seems well-balanced. Christina Duff of the Wall Street Journal writes today that experts are expecting that the U.S. economy will get through the Asian storm with moderate growth.

Politicians to study American health care (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
The new bipartisan caucus will examine the current state of American health care. New legislation may be on the horizon, given growing dissatisfaction with managed care and President Clinton's recent call for a patients' bill of rights.

Changes in pension plan for the self-employed sought in Italy (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
The proposed budget for 1998 includes increased pension payments for the self-employed to help make up for budget shortfalls. The governing coalition wants these rolled back a bit and also wants the minimum retirement age reduced for the self-employed, according to La Repubblica. Also in Italy today, Corriere della Sera reports that employees of the Bank of Italy have begun a series of strikes to protest proposed cuts in their pensions.

Kleiman on wage-gap regression (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
Noted career columnist Carol Kleiman examines a reversal of the wage-gap trend. The gap between the earnings of men and women had been narrowing slowly for years, but more recently, has widened again.

The parade must go on (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
The National Labor Relations Board has ruled against Macy's and says that its striking employees can be represented by a union. As a consequence, the workers have unconditionally decided to return to work. They'll be making costumes for the big Thanksgiving Day parade.

Hong Kong and welfare (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
The former British colony is learning what it can from Europe's welfare experience. They've got the reserves to support an elaborate system, but don't expect adoption of the European model in its totality.

Advice on being an "independent contractor" (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
The IRS may classify you as an "employee," whether you like it or not, and this can make a big difference to you, according to Computer Currents.

Is TUC looking for you? (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
The search is on for the worst bosses in Britain. Got any nominations? Would you like to identify yourself? Here's information from BBC News.

Finally...a vacation after nearly 50 years (Tuesday, 11/25/97)
Nobody can accuse cartoonist Charles Schulz of not sticking to his work. He finally plans to take a few weeks off.

Yamaichi Securities gives up (Monday, 11/24/97)
Yamaichi is Japan's fourth largest securities firm, and its collapse is the largest financial failure ever in Japan. Three other financial firms have failed in Japan this month. Employees are greatly fearful, and many are blaming government reform efforts. Investors throughout much of the world, including the United States, are watching the situation in Japan and the rest of Asia with a good deal more than casual interest. The New York Times' David Sanger says that the economic storms in Asia will change U.S. policy. Here's more on what the Washington Post is calling the "Asian contagion." Despite it all, President Clinton is optimistic, but, then, part of his job is to be optimistic. Nonetheless, David Francis of the Christian Science Monitor says some American economists expect Asia to "weather the storm," as the U.S. did in similar crises some years ago.

Vancouver summit opens (Monday, 11/24/97)
Representatives of Pacific Rim nations have been gathering in British Columbia and have already been focusing much of their attention on the Asian financial crisis. Formal sessions open today. President Clinton is there, and expects to meet with Chinese and Japanese leaders today.

Korea and the IMF scheduled to begin negotiations soon (Monday, 11/24/97)
South Korea needs a $20 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, and they'll be talking next week about the terms.

Hot job market may be nearing its peak (Monday, 11/24/97)
There have been many news stories during recent weeks about how America has the best employment situation in a generation, including this one from today's Chicago Tribune. Also, a survey recently conducted by Manpower Inc. finds that a quarter of American businesses expect to add workers during the months immediately ahead. However, David Morgan of Reuters reports that a growing number of economists see signs that the hot job market is nearing its end.

Vote begins today on Christmas Eve strike (Monday, 11/24/97)
London's Daily Telegraph reports that 25,000 workers at Midland Bank Plc will start voting today on whether to go on strike on Christmas Eve. The company wants to keep bank branches open all afternoon that day.

Labor's influence may suffer, but people will still join unions, according to experts (Monday, 11/24/97)
The latest Teamsters mess is casting a long shadow over much of the labor movement. Experts expect that organized labor will be less influential for a while as a consequence, but membership should hold up, particularly among low-income workers. Today's Houston Chronicle says that the Teamsters scandal is even leaving a stain on the reformers, in part because the discredited Carey was a reformer. Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times says that Carey's allies are having difficulty looking ahead. The Boston Globe's Aaron Zitner says that if you think that the re-do of the presidential election can't get more confusing, think again. He discusses several possible candidates in addition to James Hoffa, who may or may not be disqualified because of his own financial policies in the last election.

"Fast track" not permanently derailed, Clinton thinks (Monday, 11/24/97)
President Clinton hasn't surrendered on "fast track." He still expected to get the expanded presidential authority to make international trade deals. Also, expect another round in the president's battle with Congressional Republicans over health care. The president's position is strengthened somewhat because of growing complaints about managed care. Also, Peter Kilborn of the New York Times reports that President Clinton may be intending to try to help that "in-between generation" with health coverage; i.e., the uninsured "near elderly." Meanwhile, across the Atlantic Ocean, Tony Blair's government intends to change the health care system in the United Kingdom.

Most Danes expect pensions to be cut (Monday, 11/24/97)
Borsen reports today that a study conducted by Greens Analysis Institute finds that about 70 percent of the persons surveyed expect that government pensions will be reduced or even stopped. Most expect to live off private savings when they retire.

Choosing home work (Monday, 11/24/97)
More and more people are deciding to work at home, but old zoning laws can cause a problem for home-based businesses. Some executives are cutting back in order to spend more time at home as well.

Things may be looking up if you're concerned about the cost of college (Monday, 11/24/97)
Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that tax credits and expanded Pell Grants should make it easier to finance college, but much depends on whether the colleges cooperate. Want more information? Check out FinAid, the Financial Aid Information Page on the web. Incidentally, here's a Newsday story about how many employers are now offering college scholarships to the children of their employees.

Postal strike continues in Canada (Monday, 11/24/97)
It's gone on for five days so far, and many are looking to alternatives to get their messages from here to there.

Is the common currency really going to happen? (Monday, 11/24/97)
Geoff Kitney writes from Berlin for the Sydney Morning Herald. He says that Europe's failure to deal effectively with its unemployment problem raises serious questions about how the new Europe will...or can...work. If you're surprised at how difficult this is getting, just re-read about a thousand years of European history.

Big Japanese securities house appears to be headed for closure (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Yamaichi Securities Co Ltd has been in business for a hundred years, but maybe not much longer. The latest bad news from Asia is that one of Japan's largest securities firms has failed. Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun says that the firm's employees are stunned, as one might expect, and the Nando Times says the whole country is waiting to see what the consequences will be. Are more dominoes set to fall in the Japanese economy? If so, foreign investors may begin running the other way, according to this report.

Elsewhere, Asia's fiscal problems are hitting the Malaysian auto industry and Hong Kong real estate, and Pierre Belec writes for Reuters this morning that the American stock market can expect more ups and downs, in part because of the hair-raising events spreading throughout Asia. Meanwhile, Richard Stevenson of the New York Times writes that the big Pacific rim conference in British Columbia seems to be a meeting of the walking wounded. However, Howard Schneider of the Washington Post says that talks so far seem to have produced consensus on the need for freer trade. President Clinton just arrived this morning in order to participate in the talks. Representatives of some of the same nations have been meeting in California to discuss technology's role in building infrastructure for the new world economy.

Incidentally, speaking of technology and its critical role for the future, Japan may have longer-term problems because of a need to reduce greenhouse gasses. Finally, another technology meeting on the other side of the world closes with doubts about concrete progress in removing constraints to commerce on the Internet.

Newt calls for compassion for Haitian immigrants (Sunday, 11/23/97)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives spoke in Miami in response to Congressional action that excludes Haitians from a measure that will allow thousands of Latin Americans to remain in the U.S . Along slightly related lines, here's a Washington Post story about the cost of benefits for American citizens who are the children of illegal immigrants.

Leaving a loan alone (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Albert Crenshaw advises resisting temptation to borrow from your 401(k). Also relating to retirement planning, here's Jan Rosen with news about the new I.R.A.s. Scott Burns writes that "only a fool would die rich." Finally, the Houston Chronicle's Vivian Marino writes about the new goals of many retirees, and R.A. Zaldivar writes in today's Philadelphia Inquirer about the benefit gap that many women still face when they retire.

Deciding about long-term care insurance (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Is it worth the cost? Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn says two new tax breaks should be considered in your decision.

Networking in Harlem (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Most experts say that "networking" can help your career. Here's news about the "Five O'clock Club." Networking isn't just for people up toward the top of the career ladder.

Working in dangerous parts of the world (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Steven Ginsberg writes about Americans working in some of the world's hot spots and how it can take their minds off the job itself.

Republican governors agree about union dues (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Republican governors are meeting in Miami, and they seem to agree that union members should be able to say how their dues are used. Politics is on their minds, of course. Speaking of unions, Carey says reform efforts will survive in the Teamsters, whether or not he's in charge, and Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times says that one group of Teamsters is wondering whether to continue supporting Carey. Finally, the Washington Post's Frank Swoboda and Edward Walsh look at how the latest Teamsters mess is influencing the image of organized labor.

Retirees may picket Sears (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Many Sears retirees are unhappy about the company's decision to reduce their life insurance benefits, and they may come out in great numbers to protest on one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

Students and the financial minefield (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Big student loan debt isn't the only financial challenge faced by many of today's students. Henry Gilgoff of Newsday explains. Also, here's what some of the paper's columnists have to say this morning: Lynn Brenner advises a correspondent on what it takes to be your child's dependent, while Lisa Doll Bruno describes Santa Claus' job description. Patricia Kitchen writes today about the benefits of having a flexible boss, and Carrie Mason-Draffen responds to a question about what it takes to claim unemployment benefits.

Wondering why your tax prep software isn't being advertised much yet? (Sunday, 11/23/97)
One reason may be that taxes have just gotten a lot more complicated. We suspect that the tax preparation software folks are working day and night to rebuild their products from the ground up. Newsday has several articles today on how the tax changes will affect you. Here's Jerry Morgan with one of them.

Inspecting grain in Duluth (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Grain inspectors play a critical role, and they're working overtime right now. Many people don't realize that Minnesota, located in the middle of the vast North American continent, has a large, very busy international seaport. Much of the world receives its American grain via the Duluth-Superior harbor, and it takes a lot of workers to make that happen.

You know about overwork. But what are the dangers of "underwork?" (Sunday, 11/23/97)
"Rust out" seems to be one, according to today's New York Times. Also in the Times today, the problems involved in doing your job if you're a doctor and your patient doesn't speak your language. Finally, one of the 20th century's most influential sociologists and work experts examines the problem of workplace e-mail and privacy.

How well is welfare reform working? (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Nobody really knows, according to Christy Oglesby in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Want a hot job? (Sunday, 11/23/97)
If you can develop web sites, you're likely to be in demand right now. Also, if you know the (almost) ancient programming language COBOL. Why the latter? Does "the year 2000" provide a hint? Here's Jon Bigness' article from the Sun-Herald.

The big reduction of the federal workplace (Sunday, 11/23/97)
Mike Causey tells about the 50,000 Washington-area EX-federal workers.

South Korea to IMF: Help! (Saturday, 11/22/97)
South Korea needs a loan, and the country is submitting an application to its friendly neighborhood "bank," the International Monetary Fund. Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times has some details, and says Seoul is asking for at least $20 billion. Russell Skelton and John Harkin of the Sydney Morning Herald also have the story, but the amounts they quote are in their own country's currency. The South Korean people have gotten used to their country's economic success is recent years, and are shocked that the financial crisis has reached such a serious level. President Kim Young Sam has addressed his country and asked everybody to "tighten their belts." Are you a little confused about what's going on? Steven Pearlstein of the Washington Post makes things a lot clearer. Meanwhile, Pacific Rim leaders meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia say they're going to do all they can to keep the financial crisis from spreading.

Hope for Europe's unemployed? (Saturday, 11/22/97)
Ian Geoghegan reports that leaders from European Union countries meeting for a day in Luxembourg have pledged help for Europe's youthful unemployed. About 18 million persons are jobless across EU member countries. Paul Ames of ABC News and Ian Geoghegan of the Philadelphia Inquirer have more. Also, here's an Irish Times story about the common strategy developed during the one-day meeting. Meanwhile, unemployment is a continuing problem in Australia as well, and this writer from Melbourne's The Age says that growth alone won't be a sufficient solution.

Judge orders delay (Saturday, 11/22/97)
It's official: a federal judge has ordered a 45-day delay in the re-do of the Teamsters presidential election to enable investigators to take a closer look at James Hoffa's campaign financing last time. His rival, Ron Carey, has been disqualified because of financial improprieties.

Layoffs at Kimberly-Clark (Saturday, 11/22/97)
Kimberly-Clark intends to cut 5,000 jobs. Also, Hasbro Inc. is cutting 700 jobs in El Paso, Texas.

Out-of-court settlement in bias case (Saturday, 11/22/97)
Much of the country has been watching a race-bias case in New Jersey. An out-of-court settlement has just been reached.

Maybe better to crackdown more slowly (Saturday, 11/22/97)
The Minneapolis Star Tribune editorializes today about the government's quick move to end Social Security payments to many families claiming to have disabled children.

Will the Internet destroy jobs? (Saturday, 11/22/97)
An American official has told a conference in Finland that the Internet will destroy, then create jobs over the years ahead. Here's the story from MSNBC.

Strike in Japan (Saturday, 11/22/97)
Japanese port workers staged a one-day strike yesterday , according to the Japan Times. In Canada, the government may step in to settle the national postal strike.

What if there aren't enough low-skill jobs? (Saturday, 11/22/97)
The American economy has been generating a lot of jobs recently, and there are growing labor shortages in many regions, with the greatest shortages in fields requiring high skill levels. But what about people who need low-skill jobs, like many of those coming off welfare, for instance? Here are stories from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Philadelphia Inquirer describing how some kinds of job shortages could jeopardize the success of welfare reform.

Israel's hi-tech recruiting (Saturday, 11/22/97)
Israel seems to be skipping Alvin Tofler's "industrial wave," and, instead, moving directly from an agrarian to a hi-tech information economy. They feel they are in the process of creating the Middle East's version of "Silicon Valley," but their hi-tech firms are facing some of the same difficulties faced by similar companies over much of the globe: a growing shortage of people with the necessary sophisticated skills. Dan Gerstenfeld of the Jeruselum Post reports on Israel's recruitment efforts in Jordan.

The managed care agonies (Saturday, 11/22/97)
For those who have had access to it, American health care has been among the best in the world. However, during the 80s and 90s, there has been a growing crisis in the United States. At least until recently, it hasn't been so much a health CARE crisis as a health care COST crisis. Costs have escalated enormously over the past decade and a half, and tens of millions of Americans have been left out of the system. The Clinton administration wanted to rebuild and largely nationalize health care several years ago in order to broaden access and, they thought, get costs under control. That turned out not to be politically possible, and prbably wasn't a good idea in the first place. However, American health care is undergoing an historic revolution anyway with the rapid move to managed care. Not all has been tranquil, though, as we've been reporting for nearly two years. The New York Times' Peter Kilborn reports on a difficult new phase that the system seems to be entering, and painful adjustments are underway.

Asian crisis has just gotten more dangerous (Friday, 11/21/97)
Michael Baker writes in today's Christian Science Monitor that the world is holding its breath over South Korea. The U.S. has turned down a rescue request, and Japan has been asked to refinance loans to South Korea. Seoul hasn't wanted to go to the IMF for loans, but it appears that they may have to, and they're talking with IMF officials now. Okay, take a deep breath and read Steven Pearlstein's description of the "doomsday scenario." Meanwhile, Philippines leader Fidel Ramos takes a look at the Asian crisis as he deals with a crisis of his own. Here's that story from today's San Francisco Examiner.

Here's the latest on the EU jobs summit (Friday, 11/21/97)
On the other side of the world, European leaders have been meeting in Luxembourg to see if they can think of some way to help the 18 million unemployed in European Union nations. David Eades of BBC News has more details. European Union Commission President Jacques Santer believes that it's possible to cut the average unemployment rate across the EU's 15 members nations from 10.6 percent to seven percent fairly soon, according to Berliner Morgenpost. Britain's Tony Blair says that employment is "about self respect," and that the EU will be letting people down if they can't do something about Europe's jobs problem. Portugal's Diario de Noticias reports that Portuguese representatives are pleased that the discussion moved in the direction of emphasizing employability, training, and education. La Tribune and the Sydney Morning Herald report on the thousands of demonstrators at the meeting.

Progress reported in Canada's postal strike (Friday, 11/21/97)
The mail still isn't going through, but negotiators are saying that a new contract may be on the horizon.

Fed head worried about Social Security (Friday, 11/21/97)
Alan Greenspan says that the American Social Security system is badly underfunded, and he's concerned about it. Raising the age of eligibility would help, he says.

UK's disabled to receive smaller benefits (Friday, 11/21/97)
London's Guardian reports that Tony Blair's Labour government plans to cut social security benefits to about 6.5 million people with disabilities in the United Kingdom.

Kids should play with toys, not make them, Mattel has decided (Friday, 11/21/97)
Mattel Inc. has announced a policy that will ban child labor in all of its factories. Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times says that the presidential task force seems divided on how to police sweatshops, but Business Week thinks that a new monitoring system will be a potent weapon. In a slightly related story, the Christian Science Monitor's Jon Marshall looks at how too much teen employment can have a negative effect on school, as well as some of the educational benefits of work. If you are a teenager yourself and are looking for work, here are some tips.

Jobless claims up last week (Friday, 11/21/97)
Here's the Reuters story on the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Teamsters election may be delayed until May (Friday, 11/21/97)
There will be a re-do of the Teamsters presidential election, but Frank Swoboda reports that it might not happen until early summer. Ron Carey has been disqualified, and officials want time to examine the financial practices of his arch-rival, James Hoffa. Here's some perspective from the new edition of Business Week on how the mess may have stopped the union's comeback attempt. The magazine also looks at what the labor movement needs during the new era.

America's youth seems altruistic, but... (Friday, 11/21/97)
When the baby boomers were young during the 1960s, they liked to think of themselves as the generation with a social conscience, although not everybody agreed with their interpretations of their own motivation. The generation following may have gotten an undeserved reputation for not caring too much about social issues. The current generation of young people seems to have rediscovered altruism, but, as Stephen Barr of the Washington Post reports, they're skeptical of government's ability to make a positive difference in people's lives. Also in the Post today, more on that advisory commission's recommendations for a patients' "Bill of Rights."

Good-bye to Stroh's in St. Paul (Friday, 11/21/97)
A brewery closes its doors today, and workers wonder about their future.

Maybe it was just more stereotyping of immigrants (Friday, 11/21/97)
Despite what many have been assuming, it doesn't appear that immigrants chase welfare benefits. Here's a Business Week report on the results of a new study.

What to do about religion in the workplace (Friday, 11/21/97)
Actually, employers are struggling to develop policies that work to protect people's rights but also protect their own. Here's the story from USA Today.

Dodging taxes in Germany (Friday, 11/21/97)
Here's a reason for one big European nation's budget problems. Business Week reports that tax dodging seems to be a national pastime in Germany.

Canadian postal strike (Thursday, 11/20/97)
Mail service has been shut down across Canada, following a failure of lengthy negotiations. In other labor news, GM truck production is slowed because of a supplier strike, and Nike defends its labor policies. The company's CEO says that, despite accusations, good working conditions are a top priority.

South Korea trying to avoid IMF help (Thursday, 11/20/97)
Asia's financial storm has hit the Korean peninsula, putting South Korea's financial markets into a spin. They prefer not to get loans from the International Momentary Fund, and, instead, obtain regional help, particularly from Japan and the United States. Australia says it's prepared to help too. Overall, Asian nations meeting in the Philippines are saying that they don't want an Asian-only fund, which pleases the U.S., according to reports.

Another important meeting is going on in Canada. The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum is meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the ongoing financial and stock market crisis in Asia is a key topic of concern. Member nations are worried that Asia's problems might slow the global economy in general, which, among other things, would have a negative effect on employment. Paul Blustein reports that, in Asia itself, business as usual isn't going on, well, as usual.

Incidentally, after a rough day, the Tokyo stock market has rebounded somewhat. In a very slightly related story from New York, Dow Jones is set to cut some jobs. Meanwhile, Russia is continuing its struggle to build a viable free market economy after decades of communism. The latest news is that Russian President Yeltsin has fired his top economic reformer.

Child labor protests in New Delhi (Thursday, 11/20/97)
Millions of children are still exploited in sweatshops over much of the world. Indian children in school uniforms, symbolizing that children belong in school, not in sweatshops, are protesting on behalf of other children today. In the United States, President Clinton signs a new law that will facilitate the adoption process in the U.S., and a U.S. Agency for International Development report says that 40 million children could lose their parents to AIDS.

Patient "Bill of Rights" (Thursday, 11/20/97)
The "corporate takeover" of health care in the United States--i.e., the increasing shift to managed care--has greatly altered the relationship between physician and patient and has reduced the physician's power in making many key decisions. Maggie Fox reports on a special commission's report recommending a "Bill of Rights" for patients. President Clinton seems to favor the idea. A recent poll in California finds that about three-quarters of those surveyed expressed satisfaction with their HMOs. An ability to choose their own doctors seems to be one of the things that make people happier. In other health-related news, the AMA will start issuing "quality care alerts" to physicians throughout the United States next month, and E.J. Mundell reports that some state laws enabling patients to sue their HMOs over treatment restrictions are stirring debate throughout the country. Finally, Esther Fein says that a growing number of physicians are using e-mail to keep in touch with patients.

France gets its way (Thursday, 11/20/97)
France demanded a European Union Summit on employment, and it is happening. Talks open tonight in Luxembourg, reports Les Echos in Paris. Jonathan Charles of the BBC has details.

Good employment news in Holland (Thursday, 11/20/97)
Algemeen Dagblad reports that unemployment dropped more in the Netherlands between August and October than had been expected.

Turkey may be invited to join the EU (Thursday, 11/20/97)
Ruth Walker reports on a bold effort to link East and West in today's Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, some opinions on the apparent end of Ron Carey's career as a reformer. Along these lines, Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times reports that new candidates for the Teamsters presidency are beginning to emerge.

George discusses the president's operetta (Thursday, 11/20/97)
The "poet laureate" of American conservatism says President Clinton's problems in getting his own party's support for free trade reminds of Gilbert and Sullivan.

"President Wellstone" would take some getting used to (Thursday, 11/20/97)
Minnesota has two of the longest of long shots for the American presidency: Senator Paul Wellstone and Governor Arne Carlson. Neither is talking about it much, and Carlson almost surely would deny such secret thoughts. Nonetheless, over the past several months, there have been slight indications that the former is thinking that the "have vs. have not" gap in the U.S. could possibly result in his candidacy, given a strange and unlikely turn of events, and that the latter would like to be in position, should education become the key issue in the next campaign. If the country moves slightly to the left on social welfare issues, Wellstone might have a remote, very remote chance. If the country stays mostly where it is, but the Democrats self-destruct, Carlson might have a remote, very remote chance. At any rate, Senator Wellstone, who, from all indications, has a deep and sincere interest in poverty, is ending his "poverty tour," which has managed to generate some national visibility, not only for the issues, but also for himself. Meanwhile, Chris Farrell writes in today's St. Paul Pioneer Press that income inequality in the U.S., which has been increasing for years, may be turning around a bit. Also in Mr. Farrell's paper today, a look at work in the 21st century, as well as an examination of how college students are investing in their country's future and their own.

Helping the hard core (Thursday, 11/20/97)
Help for the hard core jobless is a major challenge for welfare reform, says Jason DeParle of the New York Times.

Deep in the heart of tech-sas (Thursday, 11/20/97)
Texas is the top hi-tech state behind California, writes David Braun of Tech Investor, and generates a tremendous number of hi-tech jobs.

One state that hasn't recovered from the last recession (Thursday, 11/20/97)
The American economy is hot? Yes, but here's one state that continues to experience hard times. It may be paradise, but not for all workers.

More turmoil in Asia (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
Tokyo stocks are down again, as the Japanese government releases its "modest" plan. Hong Kong stocks are down again too, as well as stocks in India. Michael Schuman and Namju Cho write in today's Wall Street Journal that South Korea may be facing a bailout by the International Monetary Fund, as that country's finance minister loses his job. Here's more from today's New York Times. The Washington Post's Robert Samuelson wonders if the world is heading for an overall slump, and Pat Widder of the Chicago Tribune says the United States may be in the "calm before the storm," given all that's going on in Asia. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Rubin, speaking in Minneapolis, worries about possible Congressional actions that could threaten the presently high-flying American economy. However, for the time being, things are still looking good. Today's Nando Times says that signs of low unemployment are everywhere, and, just to America's south, Mexico's economic expansion continues and reaches into the service industry. Finally, Christina Toh-Pantin writes that Asia is betting on hi-tech for its future.

Anti-immigration attitudes hit the political scene in Denmark (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
An anti-immigration party has done well in Danish local elections.

Smith Barney wants to settle (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
It's official: Smith Barney wants to settle the bias suits against it in a novel way, but it will require court approval. The Chicago Tribune's John Schmeltzer and Kathy Bergen write that the settlement could become a model for others.

Afghan women have a friend from the United States (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has been talking with Afghan refugees in Pakistan in order to emphasize the importance of education and opportunity for women everywhere, among other things. Incidentally, Secretary Albright is one of several top government officials in the U.S. who came to America as immigrants. Also, here's a story about what happened after a merchant in Oman didn't save his money for his boys, and, instead, sent his daughter to the university. She became the first woman to be elected to public office back home, that's what.

"Here's your prescription. It starts with "http." (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
Med school must teach courses in handwriting illegibility, given the reputation that American physicians have for the scribbles. Conventional prescriptions are one thing, but what if more physicians begin prescribing web sites? URLs in Latin, maybe? Sandeep Junnarkar writes in today's New York Times about how the Internet is inflecting the relationship between patients and their doctors. Leslie Lang takes the story further, looking at how information technology is likely to change health care over the years just ahead, and also writes about how rating reports for consumers are affecting hospitals right now. Finally, here's how managed care is affecting Medicaid.

New cable TV jobs in the UK (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
Cable & Wireless Communications Plc expects to create a thousand jobs as part of its expansion, according to the London Times. Also, in the United Kingdom, look for a possible strike on Christmas Eve at Barclays Bank.

Union resisting retrenchment in South Africa (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
South Africa's National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union wants an audit of the number of people working in the public service sector before negotiating with the government on its retrenchment plans. Retrenchment should be only a last resort, the union says. South Africa's Business Day has the story. Speaking of the great African continent, David Dinkins wonders if Congress will ever vote on the African Trade Bill. He writes for today's Christian Science Monitor.

Wanna be president of the Teamsters? (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
Is it possible that James Hoffa might be disqualified too? Glenn Burkins writes in today's Wall Street Journal that officials will seek a delay in the re-do of the Teamsters presidential election from which Ron Carey will be excluded. Now, they want to look at Hoffa's fund-raising activities. Here's more from Stephen Franklin of the Chicago Tribune. The Christian Science Monitor wonders where reform of the Teamsters stands now, given the union's most recent troubles, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune thinks the whole thing is a tragedy, not just for the Teamsters, but for union democracy generally. Steven Greenhouse says "Mr. Clean" doesn't look so clean anymore, although Norimitsu Onishi says he still has support back home.

What does it cost to make employees happy? (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
Not necessarily so much, writes Sue Shellenbarger in today's Wall Street Journal. The Journal's on the web, but it charges a subscription fee.

Millions of children still exploited (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
Global awareness might help, and child advocacy organizations are working to create broader understanding of the extent to which child labor is still part of the new world economy.

Foreign workers to be replaced with Palestinians (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
Here's that story from today's Jeruselum Post.

How to retire without retiring (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
Vivian Marino writes in the Akron Beacon-Journal about a new generation of retirees who are remaining in the middle of the action.

Minimum wage would cost jobs, report claims (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
The UK's leisure industry could lose thousands of jobs if a minimum wage is introduced, says the Business Sport & Leisure group. Here's the story from the BBC.

Guess what has been driving America's economic growth (Wednesday, 11/19/97)
It certainly hasn't been the buggy whip industry. Instead, look to hi-tech, says a report from the American Electronics Association and Nasdaq.

Carey can't run again (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
Teamsters President Ron Carey has been disqualified from running in the re-do of the union's presidential election. Here are some excerpts from the court-appointed overseer's ruling. The Washington Post's Blaine Harden examines the irony of the union reformer's demise, and Newsday's Kenneth Crowe looks at Carey's 30-year career. Thomas Edsall says that the ruling is a setback for a labor movement that was undergoing revitalization, and today's Washington Post editorializes that the decision was probably the right one.

Drug problems in nursing homes (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
Many residents are getting the wrong prescriptions, according to a new government study.

Big, really BIG cuts coming at GM (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
General Motors intends to cut 42,000 jobs during the next five years. Meanwhile, US Airways is retiring 325 pilots early.

How Japan hopes to energize its economy (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
The Japanese government tells what it plans to do to stimulate the sleepy Japanese economy, while the country's 10th largest bank fails, which gives a boost to the Japanese stock market, which, in turn, boosts the market in the U.S. However, New York Times David Sanger reports that in nearby South Korea--near Japan, that is--things are looking more ominous. South Korea has given up trying to defend its currency, and others are scrambling to see what they can do. All of which reminds us that we are living in a genuinely GLOBAL economy tied together with a "nervous system" that responds at near the speed of light. Incidentally, here's a Merrill Lynch economist who expects a global slowdown next year, with the worst expected in Asia.

Slight drop in poverty rate in Israel (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
Ha'aretz reports that Israeli government data show that about 16 percent of the nation's families lived below the poverty line in 1996, which was a decline of 0.8 percent compared to a year earlier.

Settlement at Smith Barney (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
After being sued the old fashioned way, Smith Barney is getting ready to settle a couple of dozen sexual harassment cases. Here's the story from Reuters and the New York Times.

New welfare-to-work rules (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
Speaking in Kansas, President Clinton yesterday released new rules intending to put additional pressure on states to move people from welfare to work, and also reports on how things have been going so far. In addition, he continues to urge businesses to do their part to make welfare reform work.

Portugeuse official attempts to head off inflated expectations (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
According to Publico, the Portuguese finance minister says there will be no "magic solution" to European unemployment at the upcoming EU summit in Luxembourg. Diario de Noticias reports that employers and unions are divided on what should be done about European unemployment and what the European Union's policy should be. A key issue: plans to reduce work hours.

Cutting costs by promoting health (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
Employers can significantly cut their health care costs by supporting workplace programs encouraging healthy lifestyles, according to a new study from the University of Michigan. Meanwhile, Benjamin Franklin writes in the Houston Business Journal that an increasing number of people are going with child-only insurance policies. Finally, a new study describes how doctors are handling patient requests for unnecessary procedures under managed care.

Swedish construction company will provide environmental training to all its employees (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
The company's policy follows an incident in which ground water was polluted in the building of a tunnel in southern Sweden earlier in the year, according to Svenska Dagbladet.

Kleiman on job sharing (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
The Chicago Tribune's noted career columnist Carol Kleiman tells what successful job sharing requires: dedication, trust, and hard work, she says.

Retailer theft...of employees (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
Newsday's James Madore tells how bad retailing's labor shortage has gotten in some areas.

Getting to work when you lack a car (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
With no car, the commute can be a bit harder. Jane Gross reports for today's New York Times. Also in the Times today, Adam Bryant tells what worries affluent executives, and Kirk Johnson wonders where the skills will come from to serve the hot computer-related job market in the general New York City region during the years immediately ahead.

The legality of pre-employment drug screening (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
Nicholas Sargent writes that there aren't many legal barriers to pre-employment screening, and it's one of the better ways to combat drug abuse, which can pay off significantly.

The 90s mix (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
Sue Romanos tells how the workforce of the late 90s is a blend of full-timers and temps.

What to do if you make less than those you supervise (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
Ilana DeBare responds to a frustrated correspondent's questions about pay equity in today's San Francisco Chronicle.

Telling the difference between independent contractors and employees (Tuesday, 11/18/97)
Carl Peckinpaugh offers some legal guidelines in Federal Computer Week.

Middle East econ talks to go on, but downgraded following Palestinian boycott (Monday, 11/17/97)
Nothing is easy in the Middle East, but it appears that the MENA conference will go ahead, despite the Palestinian boycott.

Mexican president disappointed at failure of "fast track" (Monday, 11/17/97)
Mexican President Zedillo has been visiting the United States and has expressed disappointment that President Clinton has not been able to get his "fast track" legislation through Congress so far. Incidentally, President Zedillo has an American Ph.D. in economics.

France ready to boost civil servant salaries (Monday, 11/17/97)
According to La Tribune, the French government is prepared to raise the salaries of civil servants for a total cost of 10 billion francs. Also, the French state-owned television production company, SFP, may cut jobs by about 50%, if a plan developed by its new president is implemented.

Here's a tip about your tips (Monday, 11/17/97)
You're requiring to keep a record and pay up at tax time. Here's the story from Kathy Kristof of the Los Angeles Times. Also from the Times today, a columnist responds to questions from correspondents on several issues, including recovering the cost of commuting.

How the 105th Congress will affect you (Monday, 11/17/97)
Lawrence Goodrich describes the numerous economic effects of the 105th Congress' first session, which has just ended. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, German university students may soon have to pay tuition, and Michael Baker reports on South Korea's on-going anguish over exporting large numbers of its children. Nearly 140,000 Koreans have become citizens of other countries through adoption since the end of the Korean War in the early 1950s. For many years, while South Korea was recovering from the devastation of the war, foreign adoption provided large numbers of children with life prospects that weren't available for many under the economic conditions of the time. Over the years since, though, South Korea has become one of the world's industrial powerhouses with a large, prosperous middle class. However, traditionally, adoption has not been popular in Korea, so the foreign adoptions have continued. In a somewhat related story, Katharine Seelye of the New York Times reports on the sweeping changes in American adoption law that are coming soon. Meanwhile, the Monitor comments on how child care is on trial in the United States following the highly publicized au pair case, but Caryl Rivers writes in the Minneapolis Star Tribune this morning that the Louise Woodward case exaggerates parental worries. Sally Loane of the Sydney Morning Herald reports that there is plenty of concern with child care in Australia too, including how to pay for it.

Unemployment up in Israel (Monday, 11/17/97)
The Israeli government reports a 1.3 percent increase in the number of job seekers between September and October, according to Ha'aretz today.

Now, IBM will create jobs (Monday, 11/17/97)
A few days ago, IBM was in the news because of plans to eliminate jobs. Now, it's because the huge computer company is creating them. Meanwhile, the Washington Post's Steven Ginsberg writes that, despite strong American economy, many still fear layoffs. Speaking of layoffs, France's GEC-Alsthom will idle about 900 workers for 41 days in its transportation unit, according to Les Echos. High-speed train orders are down.

New U.S. ambassador will be talking economics in Japan (Monday, 11/17/97)
Tom Foley will represent the United States in Japan starting this week, and he is going to express American concern with Japanese economic policies and financial troubles. David Hamilton of the Wall Street Journal writes today that Japan may be facing long-term stagnation.

Contract negotiations underway in Swiss construction industry (Monday, 11/17/97)
According to Neue Zuercher Zeitung, talks are going on between the Swiss Building and Industry Union and employers. Employers want more flexible working hours. The unions believe that employers want to cut salaries and are demanding a national agreement on working conditions.

Some of Europe's youth driven to the far right by job problems (Monday, 11/17/97)
Geoff Kitney writes from Berlin for the Sydney Morning Herald and reports that some of Europe's young people are finding extremist political ideology attractive, given the subcontinent's employment paralysis. In Germany and France, for instance, unemployment has been at post-World War II record levels recently. Many will remember that economic woes, including high unemployment, helped bring Hitler's far-right regime to power in Germany in the early 1930s.

More on the shift at Harvard Biz (Monday, 11/17/97)
Harvard's renowned graduate school of business has used its case study method of instruction for a long time. From now on, more of those cases will be about women who are running businesses.

Long wait for Danish citizenship (11/17/97)
Persons applying for Danish citizenship can have a long wait. Given the backlog, applicants may have to wait for two years before their applications are processed. This, plus various requirements, can mean that an applicant may have to remain in the country for nine years before attaining citizenship, according to Berlingske Tidende.

D.C.janitors seek pension fund support for union representation (Monday, 11/17/97)
The Washington Post's Frank Swoboda writes that the Service Employees International Union is taking its fight to Wall Street. Also in the Post today, a story about art in the workplace.

Big report on technology and education (Monday, 11/17/97)
Paul Cox reports on on-line university courses for credit in today's Wall Street Journal. It's only one of many articles in a special report on hi-tech and education in today's edition.

Will slightly critical of--gasp!--Republicans (Monday, 11/17/97)
Nationally syndicated columnist George Will says opponents of affirmative action should stick to core arguments, not impugn other people's motives.

A response to a paralyzed worker (Monday, 11/17/97)
A man who was injured on the job and, then, dumped in a drain afterward has received an outpouring of public sympathy in Singapore, as well as an oupouring of money.

Limited prognosis for the "Asian flu" (Sunday, 11/16/97)
The Washington Post's Brett Fromson says there's no easy or quick solution to Asia's economic problems, which have influenced much of the rest of the world. For instance, the Japan Times reports that Japan's Liberal Democratic Party has a plan for stimulating the Japanese economy, but that it won't be a quick fix. In fact, the Nando Times looks at why things may get worse in Japan before they get better.

Did you know that you can deduct some of the cost of long-term care now? (Sunday, 11/16/97)
Nationally syndicated columnist Jane Bryant Quinn explains the angles on the new long-term care tax deductions. Also in the Washington Post today, Thomas Edsall examines the aftermath of organized labor's effective opposition to "fast track" legislation, and what this means for the long-term relationship between labor and the Democratic party. Finally, a new study says that the next generation of American workers will be more dedicated and better prepared to be team players as well as more computer literate than their elders.

Keeping workers and kids, and pets, together (Sunday, 11/16/97)
In a tight labor market, employers are having to find creative ways to attract and hold the kinds of workers they need. Here's one way: school at the office. Here's another: let employees bring their pets.

Open house at the IRS (Sunday, 11/16/97)
You were invited. Did you RSVP? Actually, that wasn't necessary. Nonetheless, as part of an effort to become more "user-friendly," the American Internal Revenue Service held problem-solving sessions yesterday, as Tabassum Zakaria reports for Reuters. Incidentally, in "user-friendly," who's the user, and who's the usee?

You may be offered a job while you're Christmas shopping (Sunday, 11/16/97)
If you have difficulty getting somebody to wait on you during the holiday season, you might consider moving to the other side of the counter. Retailers are singing the blues over holiday labor shortages, according to today's Chicago Tribune. Also in the Trib today, Andrew Leckey tells how savings can help with those college tuition expenses. Speaking of saving, one of the richest men in the world advises teens to begin now.

One reason insurance costs are high (Sunday, 11/16/97)
There's a lot of insurance fraud, and guess who pays for it? Newsday's Henry Gilgoff how Long Island is trying catch people who cheat on insurance and make such activity very discouraging to others .

Reno is tickled (Sunday, 11/16/97)
Columnist Robert Reno discusses the triumph of good politics over good economics, as David Sanger of the New York Times scratches his head over the response to "fast track." Meanwhile, the San Francisco Examiner's Eric Brazil reports on the blasts at free trade and other targets at a big California labor conference.

Are you a working mother? Want somebody to pass judgment? Ask anybody (Sunday, 11/16/97)
The highly publicized au pair case has brought a lot of attitudes to the surface. Here's Adam Bryant's New York Times story on the subject. Also in the Times today, some children with disabilities have been wrongly denied Social Security benefits. Some employers are helping adoptive parents. The Labor Department holds hearings next week on 401(K) fees that are being shifted to employees. And, finally, here's why many people are more vulnerable to job burnout during the holiday season.

What to do when you've been laid off (Sunday, 11/16/97)
One woman's answer: start a business and make it fly. Dick Youngblood tells her story in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Sensitivity training in real estate (Sunday, 11/16/97)
HUD intends to help real estate agents help close the housing gap by increasing their cultural literacy and sensitivity. In a remotely related story from today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution, L.A. Winokur reports on how things have changed at Shoney's.

Poll finds less resistance to the euro in Germany (Sunday, 11/16/97)
Nobody has said that it will be easy for the Germans to give up their mark or the British to give up their pound. A nation's currency is a persistent daily reminder to millions of people of their national identity. However, the Nando Times tells about a story that originally appeared in Germany's Focus. A new poll finds that Germans are getting a bit more used to the idea of a European common currency.

Kleiman on "lead-in" jobs (Sunday, 11/16/97)
Columnist Carol Kleiman answers a correspondent's question about the advisability of taking a job one really doesn't want in a field one might want to work in.

Don't get personal on your resume (Sunday, 11/16/97)
In her "At the Office" column this time, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Lona O'Connor says leave the personal stuff off your resume. She explains some of the reasons.

California immigration law struck down (Saturday, 11/15/97)
A California law denying most benefits to illegal immigrants has been struck down by a federal judge. Here's this important story from Reuters, the Washington Post, and the New York Times.

Mideast economic conference canceled (Saturday, 11/15/97)
Palestinians decide to boycott MENA, so it's not going to happen. Also relating to immigration issues, President Clinton likes the action of the Congress, but would like to go further in helping immigrants stay in the U.S. Meanwhile, the INS is going to step up its campaign against fraud.

Supreme Court to hear harassment case (Saturday, 11/15/97)
Under what conditions is an employer liable for sexual harassment by supervisors? We will know more on this issue soon, because the U.S. Supreme Court has decided to hear a Florida case. Here's the story from Reuters and the Washington Post.

Industrial leaders worried about labor shortage (Saturday, 11/15/97)
The shortage of skilled labor is top issue facing American manufacturing, according to the head of the National Association of Manufacturers.

Merger to lead to job cuts (Saturday, 11/15/97)
Michelle Singletary of the Washington Post reports that 1,300 jobs will go as a consequence of the merger of First Union and Signet. Also in the Post today, a Commerce Department report suggests that the American economy may be slowing down a bit, and Leonid Gozman says that reform is working in Russia better than many people think, but it takes time.

Cuts, but for new reasons (Saturday, 11/15/97)
Here's more on why companies are cutting jobs again. This Newsday story originated in the Washington Post.

How good is your mental health coverage? (Saturday, 11/15/97)
Lee Beecher looks at some things to consider during the open enrollment season, and mental health coverage is one of them.

Congress should have passed "fast track," says magazine (Saturday, 11/15/97)
U.S. News says that denying the president "fast track" authority is a job-killer.

How much should be expected from the EU's jobs summit? (Saturday, 11/15/97)
Not much that will be substantive, writes Joel Blocker of Radio Free Europe. Instead, expect quite a lot of hollow rhetoric.

Net job gains (Saturday, 11/15/97)
More and more recruiting is being done via the Internet, according to this story by Diane Lewis of the Boston Globe.

Partial strike in Lebanon (Saturday, 11/15/97)
About 350,000 workers staged a one-day strike in Lebanon for better pay and working conditions, but it wasn't universally observed, according to Arabic News.

Another round of layoffs due at IBM (Friday, 11/14/97)
The Wall Street Journal reports that IBM is planning restructuring that will result in the loss of several hundred jobs. Also, Kmart continues to struggle, and is offering early retirement to a major portion of its workers in order to cut costs. Finally, Cray Research in the Twin Cities, which is now part of stumbling Silicon Graphics, plans to cut jobs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

Jobless claims down last week (Friday, 11/14/97)
Here's the story from Reuters on the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor. The labor market in the U.S. continues to be tight, but Business Week offers the opinion that labor isn't quite as scarce as it looks, and we probably don't have to worry about the brakes being put on growth for lack of workers. The hot job market is attracting more women, more older men, and many immigrants. Also, more people are retiring from their main careers to take on work in other areas. Marilyn Gardner writes about an example of a program that intends to make fuller use of older workers.

Higher income groups will pay more tax in Greece (Friday, 11/14/97)
Kathimerini reports that the Greek government intends to increase tax revenues mostly by increasing the burden on upper- and middle-income persons, whole offering relief to those at the lower end of the income scale.

Congress saves hundreds of thousands from deportation (Friday, 11/14/97)
The American Congress has made some changes in the recently passed immigration law that will allow large numbers of immigrants to remain in the U.S. Here's the story from Reuters and the Washington Post. However, the New York Times' Anthony DePalma reports on what border guards are doing under the immigration law. Incidentally, the Congress also approved legislation that would facilitate the adoption process, so it was a big day on Capitol Hill.

How the typhoon in Asia may affect economic weather patterns in the U.S. (Friday, 11/14/97)
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told the House Banking Committee yesterday that Asia's economic crisis can be expect to have an effect on the U.S. economy, but he tried to be reassuring. Greenspan may be less worried about future inflation after seeing the latest productivity figures. Here's that story from today's New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer.

Softening the impact of the 35-hour work week in France (Friday, 11/14/97)
CNPF, the French employers federation, is likely to have a new leader soon, and it will probably be Ernest-Antoine Seilliere. He wants to begin talking with the government again about its plans for reducing the 39-hour work week to 35 hours. He has a compromise in mind that would reduce the plan's impact on employers. Only those businesses with 50 or more workers should have to cut the work week to 35 hours by January 1, 2000, he says. La Tribune has the story this morning. Meanwh