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September 1997

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Wealth gap increases in the U.S. (Tuesday, 9/30/97)
Things improved markedly for America's rich last year, but the have vs. have not gap increased. Also, data from August indicate an increase in American incomes.

Clinton not in favor of board to watch IRS (Tuesday, 9/30/97)
A White House economic advisor says that President Clinton believes that a move to turn over oversight of the Internal Revenue Service to an outside board is "misguided."

Vote to organize at US Airways (Tuesday, 9/30/97)
Passenger service workers at US Airways have voted to unionize, while progress is reported in the pilots' negotiations with the company.

More people with HIV returning to work (Tuesday, 9/30/97)
Pharmaceutical breakthroughs are helping many persons infected with HIV to live longer and also to get back to work.

"Exporting" higher education (Tuesday, 9/30/97)
Many American colleges and universities have been experiencing declining enrollments at home, so are beginning to search the world for students. Community colleges, in particular, have been recruiting more foreign students. Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, many immigrants to the U.S. aren't who you may think. Also, unemployment among African Americans has reached 23-year low, and Steven Holmes of the New York Times reports how minorities are benefiting generally from the expanding American economy. We've already reported on the surge in home buying among both minorities and immigrants in the U.S.

What if you don't accept a "buyout?" (Tuesday, 9/30/97)
What happens next if your employer is in a downsizing mood? Here's some advice from the experts. Also, Marilyn Gardner provides more information on what employers are doing to keep employees safe, and Jeff Lewis compares rising tuition costs with what some universities are paying their coaches. Also in today's Christian Science Monitor, Deborah Merrill reports on the aging of America, and what it will mean for families in the near future. Finally, here's news about an important comeback after so many years: the Russian farm.

More on the hi-tech worker shortage (Tuesday, 9/30/97)
Rajiv Chandrasekaran tells about a new report from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Also from today's Washington Post, Kenneth Cooper writes about how some of the poorest people in India are being helped by an unusual coalition, John Yang reports on an agreement for a cost-of-living increase in Congress, and the three-week extension that will help some immigrants in the U.S. passes.

Your doctor may be a nurse (Tuesday, 9/30/97)
The effort to control costs in the American health care service delivery system is resulting in restructuring at most levels. For one thing, non-physicians are now doing some of the things only physicians used to do.

Congress and IRS begin to compete for public approval (Monday, 9/29/97)
Who can do the most to help American taxpayers? Suddenly, lawmakers and the Internal Revenue Service itself seem to want to be seen as the good guys. House of Representatives Majority Leader Dick Armey promises that Congress will pass legislation to curb abuses at the big American tax collection agency. Hearings last week brought scary stories to public attention.

Israel strike suspended after eight hours (Monday, 9/29/97)
Tova Cohen reports that a half million workers in Israel are returning to work after striking for only eight hours. Talks are set to resume.

Fed meets tomorrow; expected to hold steady on interest rates (Monday, 9/29/97)
The American Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates where they are again, given that the economy seems to be in excellent shape with no immediate threat of inflation. Whenever the threat of inflation looms, the Fed likes to step in and slow things down by raising interest rates. A great many people care, because, among other things, a slowed economy is likely to mean slower job growth. So far, though, everything seems fine. Many job seekers are faced with a variety of choices, and spot labor shortages have begun to appear throughout the country. This itself is worrying some experts who see little slack left in the American economy. Before long, continued high growth rates could lead to "overheating."

Home buying boom continues; immigrants and minorities are participating (Monday, 9/29/97)
A new Harvard University study finds that more immigrants and minorities are buying homes in the United States in a hot real estate market that is part of a hot overall American economy. Meanwhile, the Washington Post's Michelle Singletary reports that African Americans are also moving out ahead on computing and on-line services. This is regarded as important, because minorities are more heavily represented in lower socioeconomic categories, and the "have vs. have not" gap is likely to be defined more and more by who has access to information and to information technologies over the years ahead.

Auto insurance company targeting "diverse households" (Monday, 9/29/97)
Rate changes planned by Hartford Financial Services Group could possibly affect one in eight American households.

House vote today on temporary extension affecting immigrants (Monday, 9/29/97)
Democrats are expecting that the temporary extension will be approved today, and are saying they will fight for permanent renewal of a provision that would enable many immigrants to stay in the U.S. rather than having to leave the country in order to apply for visas. INS staff shortages have slowed the processing of immigrants to a crawl in some areas of New York. In other INS-related news, Rachel D'Oro writes in today's Anchorage Daily News that a Chinese businesswoman who had been jailed in Alaska is joining a lawsuit challenging a new immigration law.

Why oh why does college tuition continue to inflate faster than prices in general? (Monday, 9/29/97)
Gail Russell Chaddock writes today that many are asking that question, including parents and legislators.

More on the problems at the Educational Testing Service (Monday, 9/29/97)
Here's additional information from today's Christian Science Monitor on the New York Times story about ETS not revealing its knowledge of widespread cheating on standardized tests. Meanwhile, controversy continues over whether such tests are a good basis for college admission decisions in the first place.

Japanese executives more pessimistic (Monday, 9/29/97)
Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that Japanese executives have gotten more pessimistic about the recovery of the Japanese economy. Personal consumption has declined in the country, and this is one of the reasons for the glum mood in major company executive suites.

Help in managing your time (Monday, 9/29/97)
If you're operating a small business, time may be almost as scarce as money, and your success is likely to be determined by how effectively you manage both. Here's some advice on managing your time from today's Newsday. Also, Laura Koss-Feder writes that flexibility and benefits are key ingredients for success among employers who are trying to recruit skilled workers. Also, the Washington Post's Kirstin Downey Grimsley reports that special benefits are more attractive than raises to an increasing number of workers.

Check to see if you're on this list (Monday, 9/29/97)
It's new from Forbes magazine, and guess who is still on top. Microsoft's Bill Gates has had a good year. His net worth has increased by about $400 million per week.

The latest report from Miss Management (Monday, 9/29/97)
Another sad story of a job lost from "corporately incorrect."

You think your job is stressful? Try this (Monday, 9/29/97)
Matthew Wald writes in today's New York Times about the life of nuclear power workers and the potential consequences of small mistakes.

Majority of states will miss welfare deadline (Monday, 9/29/97)
Wednesday is a big deadline for the states, but a survey indicates that less than half will meet it. It could cost them millions in federal funds.

Big hi-tech job fair (Monday, 9/29/97)
It's become an industry in itself, says Claudia Deutsch of the New York Times. Forecasts are indicating that it will be years, at the very least, before the supply of people with high-level hi-tech expertise approaches demand. Welcome to the revolutionary new world information economy.

Another country with an illegal immigration problem (Monday, 9/29/97)
The growing gap between the world's "haves" and its "have nots" is fueling massive migrations over much of the globe. We've reported regularly on the illegal immigration problem in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Here's more: Costa Rica seems to be losing its contest with Nicaraguans who want to get into this prosperous Central American country. Here's the story from La Nacion, which also reports today on the slow growth of private pension funds in Costa Rica.

New credit reporting law to help consumers (Sunday, 9/28/97)
The Washington Post's Albert Crenshaw tells how a new law provides added protection to consumers. However, it doesn't go far enough in insuring the improper use of credit reports, he says. Also, Crenshaw writes today about IRS audits and whether they are done for political purposes, an issue which has led many to believe that the big tax collection agency has become a power more or less independent of the democracy it is supposed to serve. However, is all the attention the IRS is getting in Congress right now just an effort on the part of politicians to distract from their own behaviors?

Choosing a college and being chosen (Sunday, 9/28/97)
Debra Stead writes that this is the season for anxiety for many high school students with college in their future. The PSAT for some, the SAT for others, among other things. Incidentally, the Educational Testing Service, which does most of the standardized testing in education, is in hot water because it apparently knew about widespread cheating. Here's that story from today's New York Times.

Teamwork on the rocks (Sunday, 9/28/97)
If someone says a company is on the rocks, it doesn't necessarily mean it's failing. Instead, it may mean that employees are learning how to work together more effectively.

Health coverage for children in New York (Sunday, 9/28/97)
Amy Goldstein explains why the U.S. is watching what New York is doing to provide health coverage for children. Meanwhile, Peter Kilborn reports that surveys are showing that Americans, who haven't liked rising health care costs, don't much like the increasingly prominent device for getting those costs under control either.

Derailment looming on Clinton's "fast track" (Sunday, 9/28/97)
President Clinton wants increased authority to make broader NAFTA-like trade deals and make them quickly. There had been some bipartisan support for the idea in Congress, but John Harris and Paul Blustein report that it all seems to be unraveling.

The higher cost of higher ed in Japan (Sunday, 9/28/97)
The cost of college is going up in Japan too, according to Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun. Speaking of higher education, here's a story from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune about renewed efforts to promote diversity at the University of Minnesota.

Job trends for next century (Sunday, 9/28/97)
Mike Meyers writes about what's hot and what's not on the occupational front, and what can be expected during the 21st century. Sabra Chartrand of the New York Times reports that something funny is going on in hi-tech. Demand for people with technical expertise is skyrocketing, but fewer people are being graduated in those fields.

French government decides that the impossible is possible after all (Sunday, 9/28/97)
France has two major economic problems: historic unemployment levels and high deficits that could prevent the country's participation in the European common currency that's supposed to happen the year after next. What to do? The new Socialist-led government has decided that it can create jobs while also reducing the deficit. Many people certainly hope so. Stay tuned.

Number of welfare recipients increasing in Hawaii (Sunday, 9/28/97)
The number of people on welfare is diminishing nationally, right? Well, not in Hawaii. Rachel Swarns reports. Also in the New York Times today, Constance Hays writes about the impact of work on intimate relationships at home, and Sana Siwolop tells about people who are changing careers in order to teach.

What's drawing people to the fields and orchards of Nova Scotia (Sunday, 9/28/97)
Unemployment benefits, that's what. Here's the story from Halifax's Daily News. Also in Canada, Campbell Clark writes for the Montreal Gazette about Quebec's efforts to make health care system cuts easier for people.

Kohl's government may not survive economic woes (Saturday, 9/27/97)
German Chancellor Kohl has failed to get his tax reform package accepted, and observers are saying that this may mean that his government may not survive the next election, given the country's struggling economy. Like neighboring France, Germany has been suffering record unemployment levels. Incidentally, French President Jacques Chirac is visiting Russia and says his country plans to strengthen its commercial ties with Russia. Meanwhile, Russia's president has signed into law a controversial bill restricting religious practices in his country, additional evidence that Russia may be in the process of reducing political freedom while trying to increase economic freedom.

UPS doesn't expect pilots to strike (Saturday, 9/27/97)
Mike Cooper of Reuters reports that United Parcel Service officials aren't expecting the company's pilots to strike this year, even if the company's offer is voted down, as many do expect.

Democrats get immigration program extended (Saturday, 9/27/97)
A program that helps immigrants become legal residents of the United States without having to leave the country has been temporarily extended. Democrats in Congress are saying they will fight to make it permanent.

Federal workers to pay more for health insurance (Saturday, 9/27/97)
Health insurance costs will increase by 8.5 percent for federal employees and retirees, according to the Washington Post.

State-supported education should be privatized, writer says (Saturday, 9/27/97)
Lewis Perelman, author of School's Out, writes in the fall edition of Technos Quarterly that there is no future for state-supported education. "The longer our government keeps the US's $600-billion academic sector and its denizens insulated from the market economy, the more economically crippled they will become," he says. In the health care area, on the other hand, columnist Robert Reno is not so enthusiastic about the market system.

Japanese court finds company liable for employee's suicide (Saturday, 9/27/97)
Here's a Japan Times story about a worker who killed himself because of overwork, according to a court ruling.

What employers are trying to do about domestic abuse (Saturday, 9/27/97)
Patricia Kitchen writes in Newsday about employers on Long Island who are trying to find ways to fight the domestic violence which victimizes many of their workers. Also in Newsday today, Carrie Mason-Draffen answers a correspondent's question about how a union error has resulted in the denial of pension benefits, so far, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Diana Nelson Jones writes about what is happening to employee morale during the era of downsizing and restructuring.

How British miners are doing under a Labour government (Saturday, 9/27/97)
Warren Hoge of the New York Times writes that Labour in power isn't making much difference to miners who are diminishing in number. Also in the Times today, top Chinese leader tells Secretary Rubin not to worry about Chinese market reforms, and the Senate voted yesterday to fix public housing for the working poor.

Courting for a green card (Saturday, 9/27/97)
A woman fell in love with a man who had his own agenda. He wanted to fix his immigration status, and romance was a means to his end. Here's Greg Gordon's story from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Would reducing greenhouse gases put the skids under the hot American economy? (Saturday, 9/27/97)
Not according to a new study released by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Report says Britain more inclined toward the Euro now (Saturday, 9/27/97)
The British government may be getting more enthusiastic about joining the European common currency, which is scheduled to begin the year after next. The report appeared in London's Financial Times, but government officials say that it's just speculation.

The latest on the audit of the IRS (Friday, 9/26/97)
Three days of hearings have ended. Now, the hard part begins: finding ways to reform the Internal Revenue Service. The agency has come out looking rather bad in the hearings, according to Peter Grier of the Christian Science Monitor. Here's an editorial on the whole affair from the same paper. Stephen Barr of the Washington Post examines what looks like quotas, and the IRS' acting commissioner has apologized for his agency and promises they'll try to do better.

French government view on Russian reforms (Friday, 9/26/97)
Economic reforms in Russia are "irreversible," says French President Chirac. However, the fact he feels it necessary to say it suggests that some people don't think they are. The Washington Post's David Hoffman wonders who will control Russia's market economy. A struggle is going on, he says.

Shorter work hours sought in Sweden (Friday, 9/26/97)
Workers in Sweden's pulp and paper industries want shorter hours and wages that rise at least as fast as inflation, say union leaders who intend to negotiate in order to achieve these goals. Dagens Industri has the story today. Also, the FinansTidningen reports that Sweden's metal workers union expects wage increases of about 3.5 percent next year, on average.

St. Paul, Minnesota takes big job hit (Friday, 9/26/97)
More than 350 workers will lose their jobs with the closure of the Stroh brewery in St. Paul.

Treasury Secretary talks to Chinese students (Friday, 9/26/97)
A key representative of the Clinton administration was in Beijing yesterday telling students about the virtues of free trade and why China should open its markets. Here's a new Business Week story about why some U.S. firms are losing enthusiasm about joint ventures in China. Some say they're being cheated.

Managers at Kodak checking their mailboxes for pink slips (Friday, 9/26/97)
About 200 management jobs will go, say company officials, as Kodak attempts to reorganize and cope with a radically changing environment for the old photo company. Here's more from Ben Dobbin of the Washington Post. Over the entire American economy, though, the job situation still looks good. Jobless claims fell again last week.

Italian unions want smaller welfare cuts (Friday, 9/26/97)
Corriere della Sera reports that representatives of several major trade unions are calling planned welfare spending cuts in the 1998 budget "excessive," and want them reduced. Italy is trying to get its deficits under control, and it's not the only European country with that problem, as the planned launch date for the European common currency marches closer. Incidentally, here's a Business Week analysis of "Europe adrift." Will the European subcontinent simply become a museum, or will it play a key role in the revolutionary new world economy? At the moment, deficits and unemployment continue as major problems. For instance, here's news about France's "brain drain," as well as a story from Le Figaro today about France's employers' association opposing government plans to reduce the work week in order to try to spread available work around among more people. The employers are saying that it won't help relieve the nation's historically high unemployment rates.

Postmaster General says others need a raise more than him (Friday, 9/26/97)
Bill McAllister of the Washington Post says American postal executives are underpaid, with the exception of himself.

Party coming to an end in Bangkok (Friday, 9/26/97)
Peter Waldman and Paul M. Sherer write today in the Wall Street Journal about the end of the spree and how many in Bangkok are feeling spent. Yuppies were flying high for awhile, but that was before the current financial crisis.

Japanese court issues order in harassment case (Friday, 9/26/97)
A teacher is ordered to pay 500,000 yen to a former female colleague who says he defamed and sexually harassed her. Here's the story from today's Asahi Shimbun.

King Kullen resists union pressure on severance (Friday, 9/26/97)
Here's the Newsday story on the continuing strike at King Kullen, as well as a story about how mergers in the securities industry may cost jobs on Long Island.

If your boss talks dirty, maybe he's just trying to improve morale (Friday, 9/26/97)
An employee who objected to lewd talk by her boss has been denied unemployment benefits in Superior, Wisconsin. The judge says it may have been intended as a morale booster. If so, it doesn't seem to have worked.

Israeli bank workers may be able to relax (Friday, 9/26/97)
Dan Gerstenfelt writes in today's Jeruselum Post that layoffs aren't expected as a consequence of the purchase of Bank Hapoalim.

Research on the college grad paradox (Friday, 9/26/97)
Two contradictory trends involving college graduates in the job market are examined in a Swarthmore College study reported in the Monthly Labor Review.

The insufficiency of job security (Friday, 9/26/97)
Business Week reports on a new survey showing that people want more than security in their work. Also, here are opinion pieces on how the Teamsters mess may be spoiling labor's comeback and about going nowhere fast on the fast track. Finally, are boomers clueless when it comes to retirement? If so, here's help.

The best of neighbors are more irritated with one another than usual (Friday, 9/26/97)
Canada and the United States share the longest undefended border in the world, and have had a remarkably long and cordial relationship. Nothing's perfect, though, and Anthony DePalma reports that things have been a little more tense than usual lately. Part of the reason has to do with economics. Also in the New York Times today, parents have raised money to pay a teacher's salary, and have made their point. School officials say they can keep their money.

Ya dun me wrong, says priest and others (Thursday, 9/25/97)
Testimony is taken in the Senate hearing on the IRS, and some of the stories don't promote relaxation. Jacob Schlesinger writes in today's Wall Street Journal that, despite the drama, real reform of the Infernal Revenue Service is not at all certain. Meanwhile, columnist Robert Reno detects some hypocrisy, and says the IRS does well at a bad job. If the IRS ever gets kinder, can gentler bill collectors be far behind? Here's a story about how psychologists and other scientists are trying to help the collectors learn a different and possibly more productive approach.

Clinton has little fun at AFL-CIO meeting (Thursday, 9/25/97)
President Clinton made his pitch for free trade, but the response was not enthusiastic at the big AFL-CIO meeting in Pittsburgh yesterday. The Chicago Tribune's Stephen Franklin compares the response to the president's speech with the response to Dick Gephardt's appearance. Peter Hakim of the Christian Science Monitor thinks Clinton's "fast track" plans would help the U.S. in the credibility department. Finally, Steven Greenhouse of the New York Times discusses the cooling effect of the Teamsters scandal on the atmosphere at the AFL-CIO meeting.

Turkey moves ahead on privatization (Thursday, 9/25/97)
Milliyet reports today that Turkey's Privatization Administration will have sold off about $1 billion worth of state assets by the end of this year.

Slow flow at Stroh in Minnesota could result in cuts or shutdown (Thursday, 9/25/97)
The big Detroit-based brewer's chief will be in St. Paul today, and many workers are very interested in what he will say. Speaking of layoffs, a few are scheduled at Precision Response Corporation in Miami. Overall, layoffs have moved off the front page recently, but many continue in the American economy. However, the high rate of job creation with some labor shortages has been the big story recently.

What Austrians recommend (Thursday, 9/25/97)
A poll reported in Der Standard indicates that a third of the people polled say that they would recommend a bank, office, or blue collar job. They also see more security in public service jobs than in the private sector. In addition, Kurier reports that Austrians are taking to early retirement in a big way. More than 200,000 people applied for early retirement during the month of August, the largest number ever.

Many in the House don't want to stand up and be counted (Thursday, 9/25/97)
Most members of the American House of Representatives prefer to have their pay raised quietly, rather than voting on it directly and publicly, according to this Reuters story this morning. Also from Reuters today, a move by Congressional Republicans to get rid of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Northwestern grad students welcome outspoken Sam Zell (Thursday, 9/25/97)
The noted investor told business students to have fun, maintain a sense of humor, but forget about sentimentality if they want to succeed in business. Here's the story from today's Chicago Tribune.

Portuegese unions don't like government wage proposal (Thursday, 9/25/97)
The Portuguese government would like to see wages rise by 2 percent next year on the average, but the country's largest trade union federation says that would be unacceptable, according to Diario de Noticias this morning. In neighboring Spain, El Mundo reports that there may be a gas station strike next month. The Spanish station operators' association is upset at by a government decision to allow truck drivers' cooperatives to sell gasoline directly to the truckers. El Pais seems to have had the story first.

Many African Americans attracted to Minnesota (Thursday, 9/25/97)
In part, it seems to be become of "Minnesota nice," writes Sam Walker of the Christian Science Monitor. Also in the Monitor today, Ruth Walker reports that people in Poland think things have improved, but that there's still skepticism. Also, Alexander MacLeod looks at how the great movement of workers across international boundaries is leading to major culture conflicts. One strong case in point is the growing diplomatic crisis between Britain and Saudi Arabia over punishments that have been prescribed for two female nurses charged with murder.

Why the relatively slow rise in wages? (Thursday, 9/25/97)
Some think it's because of corporate profits. John Berry reports for today's Washington Post.

Yelsin's plans for stabilizing things in the new Russia (Thursday, 9/25/97)
It's sometimes easier to get rid of the old than build the new, as Russia's president has learned. Daniel Williams examines President Yeltsin's plans for the further development of Russia's fledgling democracy and capitalist economy. The New York Times' Michael Gordon reports that, among other things, Yeltsin intends to promote freer competition. Free-market capitalism has its brutal side, part of the price that must be paid for its benefits. Michael Lev of the Chicago Tribune tells about the crises in some Asian economies.

More on plans for helping immigrant families get together (Thursday, 9/25/97)
A lot of people have been waiting to join their family members in the United States for a long time. Here's the Washington Post's report on another "fast track" effort that's brewing. Also, the New York Times' Mirta Ojito describes the tough choices faced by many because of immigration law changes.

Reno thinks Turner could have done better (Thursday, 9/25/97)
Columnist Robert Reno appreciates Ted Turner's sentiment, but thinks he could put his money in a better place than the U.N. Also in Long Island's Newsday, more on that PepsiCo executive who has decided to go home.

Tuition continues to rise (Thursday, 9/25/97)
The cost of college has gone up faster than prices in general since about 1980, and, during many of these years, has increased about as fast as the cost of health care in the U.S. Ethan Bronner of the New York Times says tuition is up another 5 percent this year. That's a smaller increase than earlier, but still twice the overall rate of inflation. Some think that the people who are running the colleges need some reality training on how a market works and the long-term consequences we might expect from being over-priced, keeping in mind that it's still possible to obtain an excellent education for nothing at the public library.

More regulation called for in managed care (Thursday, 9/25/97)
Robert Pear reports on the growing call for national standards, as the American medical service delivery system continues its fundamental restructuring.

Clinton faces a tough audience today (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
President Clinton has a tough sell ahead of him when he speaks at the big AFL-CIO convention in Pittsburgh today. He will try to persuade his audience that free trade is good for them and for the rest of the country, but the big labor federation is already organizing to oppose his plans.

Yeltsin takes communism's pulse and declares it dead (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
Russia's president indicates a concern with some of the social fallout from a "wild west" free economy, though. Alastair Macdonald reports this morning for Reuters. Also from Reuters this morning, Mongolia's prime minister thinks universities are charging students too much and wants costs reduced. Angry protests by students helped persuade him. Also, Fiona Fleck reports on the continuing story of slavery during Germany's Nazi era. A court ruling is expected.

Senate hearing on IRS continues (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
Tabassum Zakaria reports that the Senate panel continues to examine alleged IRS abuses, and also that it's hard to find anyone willing to defend America's big tax collection agency.

Carey says he was a victim, not a perpetrator (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
Ron Carey held a press conference yesterday to say that he has been a victim in the Teamsters fund-raising scandal. He was betrayed by his aides, he said. Also, he thinks that James Hoffa should be disqualified from running in the re-do of the Teamsters presidential election, not him. Meanwhile, the whole mess has been made a bit more muddy now that the official who overturned the presidential election and ordered a re-run has withdrawn from further involvement because of a possible conflict of interest. Will Carey be able to run again? Stay tuned.

Whoops! Inflation might be out there on the horizon after all (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
A Federal Reserve governor thinks there is little slack left in the American economy, so the chances of inflation becoming a problem are increasing, she says. That could lead to higher interest rates, which could slow things down, including the rate at which jobs are created.

Another Vietnam war, but it's not what it sounds like (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
Vietnam wants the economic benefits of further integration into the larger new world economy, but it fears some of the imports. Here's Cameron Barr's story about the worry over "social evils." Also in the Christian Science Monitor today, David Francis writes about America, the big spender, and Laurel Shaper Walters tells about the new book by a Harvard student on how to apply for scholarships.

Look who has extra money (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
Many of the states have bulging piggy banks, according to the Washington Post's William Claiborne, who also tells what they plan to do with all that money. Also in the Post today, an opinion piece on the Congressional pay raise.

Trying to balance family and job responsibilities? (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
The Wall Street Journal's Nikhil Deogun reports that a top executive at PepsiCo has decided in favor of family.

How bosses and employees see things differently (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
Stephen Franklin of the Chicago Tribune reports that a growing number of workers are wondering if their companies intend to reward them for doing their best to help out during a difficult period. A big perception gap exists, its seems.

Physicians get special training in health problems of the elderly (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
America has a glut of physicians, but not enough who know a lot about the special needs of the elderly, and we're growing older as a population. Thirty years ago, there were a tremendous number of young people. Soon, there will be a tremendous number of old people, and they'll be the same people. In fact, the fastest growing demographic group in the U.S. right now is persons over 85.

How the Internet is influencing politics, as well as economics (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
Richard Chin of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes today about how the world is reorganizing politically because of the Internet and changing the nature of government. State sovereignty is even at issue, he says. We're not surprised. We've been saying all along that social organization is determined in large part by who can talk to whom about what under what conditions, and, now, of course, nearly everybody can talk to nearly everybody else nearly anytime. Why should we expect things to remain the same? Also, is it any wonder that the Chinese government is so nervous about the Internet? The lowly copy machine probably played a role in the downfall of the old Soviet Union, after all.

A close look at what brings happiness, and what doesn't (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
Helen Trinca of the Sydney Morning Herald writes about economist Robert Theobald's ideas about happiness. Meaningful jobs and high levels of consumption may not be as important as many people think, he says.

Professor caught plagiarizing student's work (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
A professor at the University of Ottawa has been ordered by a Canadian court to pay up.

New Jersey's plan to cover children's health care (Wednesday, 9/24/97)
There are a lot of uninsured children in the United States, and we've been reporting on how the states are preparing to do something about it. Here's what New Jersey's governor is proposing.

Report on IRS investigation due (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
The Senate Finance Committee seems ready to offer its report on a lengthy investigation into a possible quota system at the Internal Revenue Service. Many others in Congress want to make fundamental changes in the agency, and some would like to eliminate it all together. However, Mortimer Caplin of the Washington Post urges caution. He doesn't think it's a good idea to put the IRS under control of an independent board.

Air Force suspends some training flights (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
There have been six American military air accidents within the past week, and authorities would like to know what is going on, to say the least. The Air Force has shut down some of its training flights for the moment, while an investigation is conducted.

Job cuts in the picture at Kodak (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
Bloomberg News reports that Eastman Kodak Company plans to cut at least 10,000 jobs . The company has been struggling a bit lately because of more vigorous competition, not only from other conventional photography companies, but also because of the growing movement in the direction of digital photography.

No mass deportations, INS says (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
A provision allowing some illegal immigrants to remain in the United States while their applications to legalize their status are processed may be allowed to expire. However, the American Immigration and Naturalization Service says it will not conduct mass deportations. Here's the story from Anthony Boadle of Reuters and William Branigin of the Washington Post.

It's six months since the big volunteerism summit, so.... (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
Judith Miller reports in today's New York Times on how things have been going since the push to make volunteers out of more Americans in Philadelphia. Incidentally, while a lot of current big names made an appearance at the volunteerism summit six months ago, in order to give credit where credit is due, we should point out that the big affair was mostly the brainchild of the late George Romney, former president of American Motors and former governor of Michigan.

Move to keep women's pension age at 62 opposed by Swiss Parliament (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
A 1994 law will raise the women's pension age from 62 to 64. However, Swiss trade unions and others have been supporting an initiative that would keep the age of eligibility where it is. A majority in the Swiss Parliament has voted against it, though, so the change, which is scheduled to happen in 2005, appears to remain on schedule, according to Neue Zuercher Zeitun this morning.

More criticism of Nike's treatment of Asian workers (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
Brad Knickerbocker reports in today's Christian Science Monitor on accusations at the company's annual meeting on mistreatment of its employees in China. Margaret Harris reports from Hong Kong for the Sydney Morning Herald that Nike isn't the only offender in southern China. Sweatshops and child labor persist, she says. Speaking of China, the new economic chief says they intend to go slow in opening the country's markets to international competition.

Is it time to begin worrying about the next recession? (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
If it holds for awhile longer, the current economic expansion of the American economy will be the longest in American history. However, while we're part of a new world economy, and all that, experts don't think all the rules have changed. That is, the traditional business cycle has not been banished for all eternity, so when can we expect the next slowdown? Steven Pearlstein says no signs are apparent yet.

What it would take to move to a tamper-resistant Social Security card (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
Billions of dollars, for one thing, and all Americans lining up at a government office to re-register, for another. Why is anyone even considering such a thing? Such a card as proof of citizenship might be nice, officials say.

When you marry your co-worker, will it slow your career? (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
Hal Lancaster writes in today's Wall Street Journal about how both partners can stay on the fast track.

Labor attempts to consolidate gains and move ahead following the UPS strike (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
Organized labor has slipped a lot in the United States during recent years, and membership has declined to the point where most American workers are not unionized. However, many see the resolution of the Teamsters conflict with United Parcel Service as a major success providing needed momentum to the labor movement. Stephen Franklin writes for today's Chicago Tribune from Pittsburgh, where the AFL-CIO is holding its biennial convention. Here's more from Newsday's Kenneth Crowe.

Women to state economic case (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
Columnist Carol Kleiman writes about how women from throughout the United States are preparing a legislative package that will eventually be presented to legislatures in all 50 states. Purpose: to improve the economic security and well-being of women in the U.S.

New round in "living wage" battle in Australia (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
Brad Norington reports in today's Sydney Morning Herald on the ACTU's contest with the Australian federal government.

Cramming on the way to work (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
People coming off welfare have to get to work fast, so, frequently, there's not much time for training. Lynda McDonnell writes for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Also, Chris Farrell compares the relative effectiveness of government subsidies vs. education in getting people into jobs.

One way to pay for training in the UK (Tuesday, 9/23/97)
Here's a London Times story from Philip Bassett on a proposal from British unions to require companies to pay two per cent of their payrolls to cover the cost of employee training.

Families should get priority in immigration policy, panel advises (Monday, 9/22/97)
Families have been split for years, as some members have awaited visas. A bipartisan advisory panel says Congress should fix immigration policy in order to help get families together.

Japan due increased standing in the IMF (Monday, 9/22/97)
An International Monetary Fund ministerial committee met yesterday to discuss the IMF's planned capital increase. Here's the Asahi Shimbun story reporting on the plan's likely effect on Japan.

Is the White House an empty nest now? (Monday, 9/22/97)
The Boston Globe's nationally syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman discusses what happens to family life when the kids go away to college.

Big layoffs continue (Monday, 9/22/97)
Think layoffs have slowed down? MSNBC reports that some of the biggest layoffs yet have occurred during the past few weeks.

World Bank in favor of Turkey's education reforms (Monday, 9/22/97)
Turkey wants to raise the minimum number of years of formal education from five to eight, and the World Bank says it will provide all the support it can, according to Yeni Yuzyil.

More capitalism in China, but with strings attached (Monday, 9/22/97)
Kevin Platt writes in today's Christian Science Monitor about the skilfull string pulling of China's Jiang Zemin. If you've assumed that economic freedom can only exist within a context of political freedom, you may have to re-think your position, or, at least, wait and see. Also in the Monitor today, Takehiko Nomura reports on volunteerism in Japan, and Toni Call says women have to jump higher, when it comes to retirement planning.

Standardized admissions testing ending in California? (Monday, 9/22/97)
The University of California is considering a new admissions policy that would not include the use of the Scholastic Aptitude Test in the wake of the state's roll back of affirmative action. Governor Wilson is not pleased with the idea.

Sweden's taxes may not be high enough (Monday, 9/22/97)
Dagens Industri reports that Sweden's budget isn't going to be able to pay the interest on state debt for the second year in a row, despite the country's having the world's highest tax rate.

Poverty numbers may not reflect reality in China (Monday, 9/22/97)
The Hong Kong Standard's Sharmila Gopinath reports that World Bank officials have been told to be wary of statistics coming from provincial leaders which may mask reality when it comes to poverty in China. Also, Lucia Palpal-latoc of the Christian Science Monitor says that China's economic reforms are likely to result in workers from the mainland replacing migrant workers in Hong Kong during the next few years.

Food as a sign of goodwill (Monday, 9/22/97)
Peace treaty talks have broken down, again, so North Korea says the United States should demonstrate its goodwill by providing food aid. There have been widespread reports of growing famine in North Korea.

Unions urged to support part-time jobs (Monday, 9/22/97)
According to Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten, the coalition Social Liberal Party is urging Danish labor unions to allow more people to work part time as a partial solution to the country's labor market problem.

Rio's poor making progress (Monday, 9/22/97)
Brazil has been getting its inflation under control, and some of Rio's poorest are finally gaining a foothold as a consequence. Also in the Washington Post this morning, the NCUA cheated on federal hiring rules, according to an OPM investigation, and here's yet another analysis of the widening mess involving the Teamsters. Also, relating to that is Leslie Wayne's New York Times reports that a watchdog group is under investigation now too.

The benefit to children of their parents' careers (Monday, 9/22/97)
Here's a look at Joan Peters' new book, When Mothers Work, in which she argues that it benefits children to have their mothers working outside the home. Also from Newsday, Carrie Mason-Draffen reports that you can sound off at a Regulatory Fairness Board hearing in Washington in a few days if you're self-employed and feeling unheard. Also, Elizabeth Sanger tells about a company that has been treating employees well and it didn't stop with its IPO. Speaking of stock options, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the boom in hi-tech stocks has been creating a great many millionaires.

Minnesota brags about its work force (Monday, 9/22/97)
Minnesota will issue its Workforce Report Card today, and guess who looks good. Also from the Minneapolis Star Tribune this morning, the Copley News Service's Michael Kinsman says that the paparazzi aren't the only ones who should examine the effects of their work.

Big welfare changes in New York? Not! says writer (Monday, 9/22/97)
Raymond Hernandez isn't impressed with how much things have changed because he doesn't think it's been much. Also in today's New York Times, Amy Harmon has more on how concerned employers are getting about employees wasting time on the office PC, and John Markoff reports on economist George Gilder's libertarian concerns about how "emperors and morons" may hold back what could be a much richer economy because of hi-tech. Incidentally, he tells about which are which.

Gore speaks to union activists (Sunday, 9/21/97)
Vice-President Gore tells union activists about the Clinton administration's plans for protecting union elections, but he slips past an unpopular topic: the Administration's push to build broader NAFTA-like free trade agreements. Meanwhile, Peter Szekely reports on how leaders at the big union meeting are celebrating gains, despite scandal.

Discirmination suit settled (Sunday, 9/21/97)
Home Depot Inc. has agreed to pay big bucks to settle a class action discrimination suit.

Hotel squeeze in hot economy (Sunday, 9/21/97)
Increasingly, business travelers are finding no room at the inn.

Wasting time more efficiently (Sunday, 9/21/97)
You could be wasting up to three weeks of work time each year because of personal computers, according to a new study. Part of the reason is PCs that don't work. Who was it who said that anybody who uses a computer sooner or later feels like jumping off a bridge someplace? We don't remember either.

`Behavior-Based' interviewing (Sunday, 9/21/97)
Steven Ginsberg of the Washington Post writes about a new approach to interviewing job candidates. Russ Britt of the New York Times reports that some persons are losing jobs or promotions because of repetitive stress injuries.

Prosperity in post-communist Poland (Sunday, 9/21/97)
Jane Perlez writes in today's New York Times about the new abundance in the new Poland. How have things been going in Azerbaijan following the bad old Soviet days? Stephen Kinzer reports. Also, Roger Cohen takes a look at the last huge communist state on earth, and how it is trying to be more capitalistic, in a way.

Ten million uninsured children to get coverage (Sunday, 9/21/97)
The states are going to provide it, reports Peter Kilborn. Also in the New York Times today, more on the persistence of wage disparities between the sexes in the United States.

Why the whole world is watching the American economy (Saturday, 9/20/97)
Global growth depends on what happens in the United States, according to many experts. However, here's a warning: noninflationary growth has a limit, and the American economy is "pushing its luck," some say.

Will Spain qualify for the European common currency? (Saturday, 9/20/97)
This Business Week article says the Spanish economy is sailing and gaining momentum. Also, here's how organized labor is hoping to use pension funds to change corporate America, and here's how the French Prime Minister hopes to bring his country up to speed on the Internet.

South Korea wants more foreign students (Saturday, 9/20/97)
The South Korean Education Ministry is planning to step up efforts to attract more foreign students to the country. Here's the story from the Korea Herald. Also, a university course for would-be entrepreneurs is particularly popular among Korean students.

Guilty pleas in the Teamsters mess (Friday, 9/19/97)
Jeanne King reports that three men who helped Ron Carey win election to the Teamsters presidency have pleaded guilty to various charges. Carey's election has been thrown out and a new election is scheduled. However, officials have indicated that Carey may not be eligible to run next time. Meanwhile, the Carey camp has also accused opponent James Hoffa with financial improprieties. Even the oldest people in North America may be unable to remember a time when the Teamsters was not in the middle of controversy. If you are a bit confused with all that's going on presently, Newsday's Kenneth Crowe may be able to help straighten things out a bit.

McKinney court martial recommended (Friday, 9/19/97)
Here's today's "sex and the military" story. Actually, things have quieted down a bit lately, as the military services try to get to the bottom of the various problems they've been having with sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct. The latest is that the Sergeant Major of the Army may face court martial, according to the Washington Times.

Turner to make a "small" contribution (Friday, 9/19/97)
Ted Turner says he will contribute a cool billion dollars to United Nations humanitarian programs. Also, if you're rich, expect a call from him.

Job cuts at Whirlpool (Friday, 9/19/97)
Whirlpool Corporation is restructuring, and this will include selling one of its units and also cutting 10 percent of its workforce. Whirlpool stockholders seem to approve of the action.

Jiang clears his path toward more economic reform (Friday, 9/19/97)
The Communist Party congress wrapped things up yesterday in Beijing, and President Jiang Zemin is left with a firmer grasp on power in China. Among other things, it means more of the same economically. Meanwhile, Joseph Kahn writes in today's Wall Street Journal that the World Bank is urging China to do more privatizing and not try to protect its markets, which could backfire, they say. Edward Gargam of the New York Times says that, while much has been made of China's economic boom recently, there are major weaknesses. For instance, Kevin Platt of the Christian Science Monitor discusses layoffs in China and the country's major unemployment problem. Finally, Business Week this time focuses a major cover story on the events in China, saying that privatizing its major state-run industries may not be enough.

Turkey gets ready to sell petroleum companies (Friday, 9/19/97)
Yeni Yuzyil reports that Turkey's Privatization Administration is prepared to support the government's plans for reforming taxes and prices in order to get ready to sell state-owned petroleum companies. Also, Milliyet reports that the Privatization Administration is thinking of listing shares in Eregli Demir ve Celik Fabrikalari TAS, a state-run steel company, in the New York stock market.

Grain gap in North Korea (Friday, 9/19/97)
Azhar Sukri writes for Reuters from Juala Lumpur, Malaysia on the huge shortfall in the supply of grain that North Korea is experiencing.

Food Lion closing stores, cutting jobs (Friday, 9/19/97)
Food Lion, Inc. will lay off more than 3,000 workers.

Unemployment applications down last week (Friday, 9/19/97)
U.S. Department of Labor statistics for last week show a decrease in the number of people filing for unemployment benefits for the first time.

Economic cataclysm when 2000 hits? (Friday, 9/19/97)
As nearly everybody has heard, many of the world's computers aren't able to tell the year 2000 from the year 1900, suggesting not the greatest degree of foresight among people who wrote the early programs with which the big machines, in particular, operate. After all, the fact that the year 2000 would arrive before long shouldn't have been a major surprise defying anticipation. But, then, computer memory was scarce and expensive, so it was decided to use two bytes to indicate the year (e.g., "97"), rather than four (e.g., "1997"). Now, dedicated to the proposition that things aren't nearly enough fun unless we wait until the last minute to try to fix a problem, governments, corporations, universities, and other large computer users are scrambling to head off cyberchaos. Britain's Independent reports that government officials are saying that 6 million jobs could be lost in the UK alone if the "2000 time bomb" isn't fixed quickly. Incidentally, the "year 2000 problem" is mostly a problem with the large computers (i.e., mainframes and mini-computers), not the desktop versions, and, among the desktops, it will be less of a problem for the Macintosh than the "Wintel" types of machines.

Minneapolis unemployment lowest in the nation (Friday, 9/19/97)
Today's Christian Science Monitor reports that, if you're in Minnesota and both willing and able to work, you may have to run fast to keep employers from catching you. There aren't enough qualified workers to go around in this pleasant Midwestern state, and this could put a brake on Minnesota's surging economy. Incidentally, the Twin Cities is also a good place to study, with many higher education options available. Moreover, Anthony Lonetree writes that area colleges and universities are good citizens, but they tend to keep their contributions to the community quiet.

A close look at free trade's relation to social and environmental policy (Friday, 9/19/97)
Paul Blustein writes in today's Washington Post about some of the reasons why not everybody is enthusiastic about broadening NAFTA-like free-trade agreements, as President Clinton wants to do and to do quickly.

Danish employment agencies criticized (Friday, 9/19/97)
And it's the Danish government that is doing the criticizing. Politiken reports today that an audit finds that government-subsidized employment agencies in Denmark are operating inefficiently and not keeping the parliament informed about how public money is spent. In fact, agencies have been spending considerably more money lately than earlier when unemployment was higher.

Indian government nervous about opening the Indian economy too much too fast (Friday, 9/19/97)
Kenneth Cooper writes from New Delhi for the Washington Post that fear of foreign domination, among other things, is chilling economic reform in India.

What are Americans thinking? (Friday, 9/19/97)
Today's Wall Street Journal contains the big quarterly report on American public opinion, including what's on America's economic mind.

Sweden won't hit unemployment target (Friday, 9/19/97)
Sweden's Social Democrat government wanted to cut unemployment in half by the year 2000, but says now that it won't make it. Unemployment is expected to average out at 8.4 percent for 1997.

More thoughts on the new price support system (Friday, 9/19/97)
Some people think it's nuts to pay teaching hospitals NOT to produce so many physicians, but what are the consequences of not doing so? Louis Ling says that we need for teaching hospitals to survive. Mark DePaolis also has some thoughts on the subject. He's a humor writer who is also a practicing physician. Incidentally, this is not the first time that the federal government has done something like this. For at least a generation, American farmers have been paid to take some farm land out of production in order to support farm prices. Why? Because people who like to eat need for farmers to stay in business. Many European countries have subsidized their farmers to a much greater extent, but are trying to cut back now in order to get budgets under control and qualify for the European common currency, which may or may not really happen.

Training flights halted for the time being (Thursday, 9/18/97)
Five military air accidents in the past four days have led the U.S. Secretary of Defense to suspend training flights.

Unions would like to move Clinton from the fast track to the slow track (Thursday, 9/18/97)
Deborah Zabarenko reports that the AFL-CIO has starting a heavy advertising campaign to slow the movement toward broader NAFTA-like trade agreements.

House votes to give itself a raise (Thursday, 9/18/97)
USA Today reports that the U.S. House of Representatives voted on a pay raise for itself yesterday.

Welfare rolls decline, but... (Thursday, 9/18/97)
Some people, including President Clinton, are happy about the decline in the number of people on welfare since the new welfare law went into effect, but all is not clear sailing ahead, according to Linda Feldmann of the Christian Science Monitor. Also, the welfare rolls were diminishing almost as much before the new law went into effect, so to what extent is the new law "working?"

UT professor stirs things on affirmative action issue (Thursday, 9/18/97)
Some provocative remarks by a University of Texas professor has a lot of people in a stir.

Thousands of Americans go to Vietnam, this time to do business (Thursday, 9/18/97)
Opportunity knocks in Vietnam, according to several thousand Americans who have taken up residence there.

More on the once again widening gender gap (Thursday, 9/18/97)
The new numbers came out several days ago, but experts warn that it is easy to over-interpret their meaning.

IMF forecasts 6% growth for South Korea (Thursday, 9/18/97)
Sohn Tae-soo writes in the Korea Herald that the International Monetary Fund expects the South Korean economy to grow at a rate of 6 percent this year and next.. However, Koo Hee reports that many Korean businesses expect continuing problems through the remainder of this year. Finally, the paper reports that South Korea ranks 32nd in the world on the Human Development Index, which is based on a variety of factors, some of which are economic.

Woman wins harassment suit against Treasury Department (Thursday, 9/18/97)
Bill McAllister reports for today's Washington Post has agreed to accept slightly less than the jury recommended, apparently hoping to head off an appeal.

Model workers out of a job in China (Thursday, 9/18/97)
The "hero worker" has become irrelevant as China attempts to capitalize on a new market economy. However, Peter Passell of the New York Times wonders if China's move to a capitalist economy is as real as it may appear.

Short-term losses for long-term gains, they hope (Thursday, 9/18/97)
More post-mortem on the Teamsters strike of several weeks ago. Steven Pearlstein of the Washington Post examines the motivation to strike if both sides seem to lose.

Immigration backlog may worsen with new fingerprint policy (Thursday, 9/18/97)
The INS is trying to fix some things with a change in how applicants are fingerprinted, but don't expect it to speed up the process.

Inflation fighters not convinced that we're in a genuinely new era (Thursday, 9/18/97)
Inflation isn't a problem in the U.S. now, but Richard Stevenson of the New York Times reports that not all experts think it's gone away for good.

How's Wisconsin doing on welfare reform? (Thursday, 9/18/97)
Jean Hopfensperger says many are giving Wisconsin's approach to welfare reform mixed reviews. Here's the story from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune. Meanwhile, Maria Douglas says that finding adequate child care is one of the big problems with the new welfare system.

Big look at the global economy in today's WSJ (Thursday, 9/18/97)
The Wall Street Journal has a large report on global business in today's edition. Many articles relevant to the new work world.

Need some help with networking? (Thursday, 9/18/97)
Many people are still finding the jobs they want through interpersonal "connections," rather than by responding to ads. The Twin Cities Employment Weekly offers some advice in how to become an effective networker.

Clinton campaigns on the Hill (Wednesday, 9/17/97)
President Clinton made a trip up Pennsylvania Avenue yesterday to try to encourage support for a trade bill, but reception was mixed. Here's more from today's Washington Post.

UPS still not up to speed, but no immediate layoffs expected (Wednesday, 9/17/97)
Business is still down at UPS following last month's strike, but workers who have been anxious about layoffs can exhale. No immediate layoffs; in fact, some workers are being hired.

Different views on the Cuban economy (Wednesday, 9/17/97)
Some differences of opinion can be found right within families in Cuba, as people struggle to cope with life in a communist economy that has become increasingly tattered around the edges. Here's Howard LaFranchi's report.

Why American financial managers are excited about Japan (Wednesday, 9/17/97)
Cameron Barr writes about the likely impact of the deregulation of Japan's financial industry. As Japan attempts to navigate out of its economic doldrums, big changes will help determine where Japan's huge savings will be invested, and many American firms may benefit . Meanwhile, the Christian Science Monitor's David Francis says that Japan's trade surplus could turn around, and Tori Marlan examines why Japanese students do so well. It's not all because of what happens in school. Also, while, by most conventional measures, Japan isn't as wealthy as it was some years ago, many are still enjoying fine living. Want to hear about people who are really fanatical about fine food?

Taxpayers should prepare for a surprise, writer says (Wednesday, 9/17/97)
Albert Crenshaw of the Washington Post says the new family and education tax credits aren't quite what they appear to be.

Thai economic crisis exposes social problems (Wednesday, 9/17/97)
Seth Mydans reports on the situation in Thailand that follows the big dip in that country's economy. Here's the story from Europe's International Herald Tribune. Meanwhile, Seth Faison in the New York Times examines the move toward private enterprise in China, which may not be quite a great leap as much as a tiptoe.

How to prepare for work in the diamond industry (Wednesday, 9/17/97)
By attending South Africa's diamond school, that's how.

Why America has a stake in poor countries (Wednesday, 9/17/97)
Barber Conable reports on how foreign aid looks in Congress and in the population as a whole. Meanwhile, the current edition of Business Week says one can find uncharacteristic agreement on broadening the wealth in the United States.

Europe told to follow British leadership on labor market reform (Wednesday, 9/17/97)
The International Monetary Fund warns that the European Union needs to act fast to deal with a "dismal" unemployment problem. Otherwise, public support for a common currency may disappear. Janet Bush reports for the London Times. Also in the Times, government officials are hoping that the latest figures will show further decreased unemployment in Britain. However, a new report show how fragmented the job market is in the UK and what this implies.

Carey takes a swing (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
Now, Teamsters president Carey is accusing his opponent, James Hoffa, of financial misdeeds. Here's the story from today's Washington Post and New York Times.

If you've been waiting for the modernization of Medicare, you'll have to wait awhile longer (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
Robert Pear of the New York Times reports that it's more-or-less back to the drawing board in modernizing Medicare's prehistoric computer systems.

Conditions bad in North Korea, but maybe not as bad as reported (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
One recent report claims that up to two million people have already died in North Korea's famine, but many experts doubt it. Incidentally, in the United States, Vice-President Gore has joined with others urging the donation of excess food to the hungry.

Talks continue at another GM plant (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
A strike vote has already been taken in Flint, Michigan, but talks between General Motors and the United Auto Workers continue.

Anger consultants in the workplace (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
Jon Tevlin writes about a new kind of consultant in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Swedish government and population may be out of sync (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
Dagens Industri reports that a poll in Sweden finds that four of five Swedes would prefer lower taxes, rather than increased benefits. The Swedish government announced an increase in child care benefits last week.

Is Russia becoming more capitalistic at the expense of freedom? (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
During the bad old Soviet days, there was no capitalism and no freedom. The Christian Science Monitor's Lawrence Uzzell writes that Russia seems to be emulating the "Chinese model," meaning more economic freedom but perhaps less political freedom than recently. Also in the Monitor today, signs that "corporate welfare" is alive and well in the United States.

Job growth expected at many companies in Denmark (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
Borsen reports that about 44 percent of 1000 Danish companies surveyed expect to hire more workers during the next six months.

Glassman thinks many Americans are afraid of competition (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
Competition is a joy, says Washington Post columnist James Glassman.

A creative frame of mind (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
Hal Lancaster writes about how to get into the right frame of mind for creativity in today's Wall Street Journal. Also, Bhushan Bahree writes that a UN report forecasts a worker backlash in response to freer global markets.

Details of sexual harassment at Mitsubishi (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
Nancy Millman writes in today's Chicago Tribune that new court documents should more specifically what was going on that brought about the big suit against Mitsubishi in the U.S.

More on what's happening with the Japanese economy (Tuesday, 9/16/97)
It's a battle of the strong and the weak, writes Sheryl WuDunn in today's New York Times.

Gender gap increasing again (Monday, 9/15/97)
For decades, women who worked outside the home earned slightly less than two-thirds of men who worked outside the home. Then, some years ago, the gap began to narrow. However, a new report indicates it's widening again. Here's the story from the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the New York Times.

China's defense sector may be leading the march to the market (Monday, 9/15/97)
William Kazer of Reuters has more on the big privatization move in China. Also, from Reuters today, Clinton reveals his plan for cutting Medicare fraud, and the BART settlement adds to organized labor's optimism about labor's comeback.

Careful--your boss may be reading this over your shoulder (Monday, 9/15/97)
James Romenesko writes that many employers are concerned with wasted time on the Internet at work. Also from today's St. Paul Pioneer Press, here's Julio Ojeda-Zapata's advice on how to avoid repetitive stress injuries.

Personal debt rises in Brazil (Monday, 9/15/97)
Estado de Sao Paulo reports that, on the average, Brazilians are more in debt than previously. Incidentally, President Clinton will visit Brazil in October, and Noel Lateef of the Christian Science Monitor says he will find a lot of optimism. Brazil is included on most lists of emerging economies for the 21st century. Incidentally, unlike other South American countries, Brazil's language is Portuguese, so here's a story from its "mother country:" Diario de Noticias reports that, despite official government figures, Portuguese unemployment is rising again, according to other information.

South Africa expects to get employment law this year (Monday, 9/15/97)
According to Business Report, South Africa's Labor Minister expects that an employment bill will pass in Parliament this year. Representatives of labor, business, and government have been debating the Basic Conditions of Employment Bill for sometime.

Orthodox Jewish students challenging Yale's on-campus living requirement (Monday, 9/15/97)
Yale University requires that all its students live on campus during the first two years, thinking that this will add to their education. However, five students don't think so.

How family friendliness can help firms as well as employees (Monday, 9/15/97)
Kirstin Downey Grimsley offers some examples. Also in the Washington Post today, Judith Havemann writes about why October 1 is a day of reckoning for the states. Hint: it has to do with welfare reform. Also, syndicated columnist William Raspberry says maximized economic growth isn't everything.

Some thoughts on technology's purposes (Monday, 9/15/97)
Jon Van writes in the Chicago Tribune that technology should be used to help workers, not replace them. Also in the Trib today, R.C. Longworth says the achievement of economic stability in Hungary has had significant social costs.

Much concern with retention among corporate personnel directors (Monday, 9/15/97)
The Wall Street Journal's Bernard Wysocki says the balance of power has been shifting toward employees.

Being incorrect at work (Monday, 9/15/97)
Here's a column with some stories about how some people are being creative in preventing their rise to the top.

How's workplace morale? (Monday, 9/15/97)
Opinions differ, according to this Scripps Howard story.

Back on track in San Francisco (Sunday, 9/14/97)
A tentative agreement has been reached in the San Francisco BART strike.

Depression to become enormous burden, economically and otherwise (Sunday, 9/14/97)
A study just released forecasts that clinical depression will become an ever increasing burden, including lost productivity, unless more effective anti-depressant medications can be developed. Clinical depression has always existed, but seems to be on the increase, according to some data. A variety of factors seem to contribute to this often disabling and life-threatening disease, but recent research has demonstrated the important role played by neurotransmitters, specialized chemicals in the brain that enable neural cells to communicate with one another. Chemical imbalances develop, and the brain doesn't function properly, and this can result in depression. Anti-depressant medications typically target the "synapse," which is the point at which one neural cell almost touches another and across which information is transmitted. Medications are intended to restore the chemical balance at the synapse and, as a consequence, restore normal brain functioning.

"New" communists? (Sunday, 9/14/97)
Through nearly all of the history of 20th century communism, a key article of faith has been that state-ownership of industrial enterprise would lead to a "workers' paradise." Well, at the very least, it appears that many people have been trapped in purgatory on the road to paradise, and now we're seeing something really different: communists who want to "privatize" state-owned firms. Here's Mure Dickie's report on the meeting of China's Communist Party currently going on in Beijing. Of course, China is not the only remaining communist state. The Washington Post's Keith Richburg writes about how well things aren't going with Vietnam's economy at the moment, and why.

Trade union report on Maori workers in New Zealand (Sunday, 9/14/97)
A report from New Zealand's Council of Trade Unions says that Maori workers are being subjected to a "revolving door" that perpetuates a cycle of low-pay temporary jobs and various training schemes. The report examines all issues having to do with employment equality for Maori workers in New Zealand. This story comes to us from Vivian Hutchinson's "The Jobs Letter," an excellent source of information on work and employment in New Zealand. Subscription information and back issues are available through the Letter's web site.

Take your laptop to work? Maybe not, if you're a Senator (Sunday, 9/14/97)
One U.S. Senator would like to see his workplace modernized, or, at least, brought up to the 18th or 19th century, perhaps. On the other side of the U.S. Capitol building, members of the House are trying to find a way to raise their own salaries without having to vote on it, and, at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House is trying to decide whether "fast track" by any other name will be as fast.

The good news and bad news about new tax law and retirement (Sunday, 9/14/97)
Albert Crenshaw says that new tax legislation may offer incentives to retirement savings, but don't expect the process to be simple. Also, Julian Block writes in today's Chicago Tribune about how hard it is to itemize medical deductions not covered by insurance, and Lynn Brenner of Newsday responds to a correspondent's question about IRS rules on "primary residences."

Employers want to train their own (Sunday, 9/14/97)
For various reasons, there have been an increasing number of indications recently that much of the world off campus is having difficulty maintaining confidence in the higher education establishment. Here's more: Steven Ginsberg writes about the increasing number of businesses that are setting up their own "campuses." Along these lines, Anthony Lonetree of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says two-year colleges are part of the solution, not part of the problem. Also, today's New York Times examines the importance of student internships and other work experience in preparing for a career in the new economy. Also, given the high cost of college, Los Angeles Times columnist Kathy Kristof tells how you can save money by making monthly payments. In the bad news department, Rene Sanchez tells about the big cheating conspiracy that the feds are uncovering. Also, in the still bad but maybe not quite so bad news department, Tokyo's Asahi Shimbun reports that Japanese colleges are having little success getting help from businesses in finding housing for foreign students.

If sabbaticals are of use in academe, why not in the private sector? (Sunday, 9/14/97)
Nick Ravo of the New York Times writes about how sabbaticals have become a more common perk in the work world off campus. Also in the Times today, Bruce Felton writes about enabling technologies for workers with disabilities.

You need not fear your UPS driver, Reno says (Sunday, 9/14/97)
Here's Robert Reno's Newsday column in which he says that the Republicans are overdoing all the business about the Teamsters being the "most violent" union. The accusations fit in with their political strategy, he says. Also in Long Island's Newsday, Lisa Doll Bruno tells about career opportunities in the hot and highly competitive field of wireless communications sales.

Job hopping? The new work world may not hold it against you (Sunday, 9/14/97)
The Wall Street Journal's Hal Lancaster says frequent job changes no longer carry the stigma they once had. It's another feature of the revolutionary new world economy, which, among other things, includes a lot of "just-in-time" mobility. Actually, many employers no longer want you to stay for 40 years. Instead, arrive fully up to speed, do what they want done, and, then, get lost, if you don't mind.

New pension plan to help Australian farmers (Sunday, 9/14/97)
Diane Stott reports from Canberra for today's Sydney Morning Herald.

Male soldiers irritated by female fitness standards (Saturday, 9/13/97)
Apparently, male soldiers think there should be parity in fitness standards, and the U.S. Army seems to agree. Fitness standards for women will be toughened, according to this story from Reuters this morning. Elsewhere in the American military, the Air Force has concluded that pilot error was responsible for the crash that killed Captain Amy Svoboda last May. Also, Jonathan Landay of the Christian Science Monitor writes about the Army's intentions for dealing with sexual harassment, including "values training." The American military has gotten a lot of very bad publicity during recent months because of a number of incidents, and their own investigation indicates that harassment and exploitive attitudes are widespread. However, some observers expect that the military will manage to solve the problem, pointing to a greater overall degree of success in dealing with racism during recent years than seems to have been the case in the larger American society, including the private sector workplace.

Boom-bust cycle still feared (Saturday, 9/13/97)
While some economists point to the moderation of the traditional business cycle that has occurred during recent decades, and a few even suggest that the boom-bust cycle is a thing of the past, Pierre Belec reports that there is still plenty of anxiety out there that big highs followed by big lows could come back. The rising demand for workers, while good news for many, is giving some experts bad dreams and making them wake up in a cold sweat. However, John Berry reports on new government statistics indicating that, for the moment, at least, these experts can afford to get a good night's sleep. Here's more on the latest data from Robert Hershey in today's New York Times.

Line up to get your "social card" (Saturday, 9/13/97)
Italy's Corriere della Sera reports that Italians will soon be issued a "social card" that will make them eligible for welfare benefits. Eligibility will be based on overall wealth below a certain level, not limited to income. Investments will also be considered.

ADHD limits career success (Saturday, 9/13/97)
A new study indicates that men who suffered from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder as children tend to get less schooling and have less career success. While fads tend to sweep through K-12 education in the United States, and the "hyperactivity" label has been one of them, ADHD is a genuine disorder with clear diagnostic criteria. Malfunctioning neurotransmitters in the brain have been implicated, and, for many, pharmacological treatment makes a big difference.

Fund managers making more in Sweden (Saturday, 9/13/97)
FinansTidningen reports that there is a strong demand for fund managers in Sweden, and this has led financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies to offer higher salaries in order to attract the people they need.

Spanish job-creation plan near approval (Saturday, 9/13/97)
The Spanish cabinet yesterday was near to approving a job-creation plan that would involve a 30 percent increase in spending in order to stimulate job growth, according to El Mundo. It is expected that the program will lower unemployment to 17 percent by the year 2000.

Why the big shrinkage of Japan's economy? (Saturday, 9/13/97)
Japan's economy has undergone the largest contraction since it was hit by skyrocketing oil prices nearly a quarter century ago. Is the current problem an indication that the Japanese economy is in fundamental trouble, or is it something else? Some officials think it's not as serious an indicator as it may appear, and that it has happened mostly because of a tax increase that has slowed consumer spending.

World Bank looks ahead to 2020 (Saturday, 9/13/97)
The year 2020 can be seen with something less than 20-20 foresight, but the World Bank is fairly optimistic. Here's what their new study forecasts. Also, of course, you can take another look at the Hudson Institute's new book and its own forecasts. Here's our review, now available in both English and French, written by Laurence Shatkin of Princeton's Educational Testing Service. Incidentally, President Clinton and others believe that more free trade will make a greater number of good things happen during the years immediately ahead. The Washington Post's Paul Blustein writes about the president's strategy for gaining expanded authority for making broader trade deals.

The new communist revolution (Saturday, 9/13/97)
Communist parties, in addition to their endorsement of brutality and dehumanization, used to be known for wanting state ownership of the means of production, and this led to huge collectivist enterprises in the old Soviet Union and other Eastern European regions, as well as in China. These state-owned enterprises have constituted one of the most conspicuous failed experiments in modern history, and the pragmatic totalitarians who are now in charge of the Chinese government are getting ready to have a sale. Seth Faison of the New York Times reports on the economic reforms that top the agenda as the party congress opens in Beijing. For some additional perspective on the tensions and convolutions going on in the last huge communist state on earth, here's Steven Mufson's Washington Post story on the Chinese Communist Party, then and now. Meanwhile, Keith Richburg reports on how democrats are becoming an endangered species in Hong Kong, now that the Brits have gone home. Tune in again tomorrow when we may learn more about whether freedom in economic life can coexist with the polar opposite of freedom in political life.

Who needs more doctors? (Saturday, 9/13/97)
Not the U.S., apparently, considering that the American government is following the lead of a number of European countries and will pay large teaching hospitals to cut back on their production of physicians. The doctor glut surely isn't worldwide, however. Here's information about who could use a lot more physicians.

Minnesota teachers union reconsidering political contributions (Saturday, 9/13/97)
The Minnesota Education Association isn't altogether happy with the politicians it's been supporting, so, for the moment, at least, it's put its checkbook away. Robert Whereatt reports for today's Minneapolis Star Tribune. As we've been indicating, we're not only in the middle of a revolutionary new world economy in which familiar expectations no longer apply; the political landscape has gotten less familiar too. What in hell does it mean to be "liberal" or "conservative" anymore? Old stereotypes are evaporating, or, at least, the basis for them surely is. In the U.S., Democrats aren't necessarily behaving like Democrats, Labour isn't behaving as we might expect in the UK, France is muddled politically and doesn't appear to know what kind of economy or even what kind of government it wants, and, as we've been reporting, Chinese communists are even beginning to look a little unfamiliar. Welcome to the new millennium, which is dead ahead.

How does the household work when you no longer work outside the household (Saturday, 9/13/97)
Barb Phelps tells how her family has established a post-retirement division of labor around the home.

How the Australian economy is adjusting (Saturday, 9/13/97)
What happens to the part when the whole undergoes transformation? Here's what's happening in the Australian economy, according to Clyde Farnsworth of the New York Times.

Update on the Labor Department's occupational categories (Saturday, 9/13/97)
The proposed edition of the Standard Occupational Categories from the United States Department of Labor will include 795 occupations, but none that will be Internet-related, according to the Internet Index. You can subscribe by sending a message to internet-index-request@OpenMarket.com, saying "subscribe" in the body of your message. Very interesting.

Privatization in China (Friday, 9/12/97)
A lot of state-owned firms are not doing well in China, and the country's President Jiang Zemin intends to do something about it. This time, the revolution will have to do with ownership.

The Army's plan for ending sexual abuse (Friday, 9/12/97)
Charles Aldinger of Reuters reports on yesterday's news conference and what the U.S. Army plans to do about widespread sexual abuse. Today's New York Times summarizes the Army panel's findings and recommendations.

Carey may not be allowed to run in the re-do of the Teamsters election (Friday, 9/12/97)
Teamsters president Ron Carey may not be a candidate in the presidential election rerun after all. New information may lead to his disqualification.

Discrimination in the White House? (Friday, 9/12/97)
The White House's former chef says he was fired because of his accent and because he is overweight.

More good news (Friday, 9/12/97)
In addition to a strong economy, Americans are living longer now as well. Here's Mike Cooper's story about the new report from the CDC. Incidentally, speaking of the economy, Federal Reserve Vice Chairwoman Alice Rivlin calls it "astonishing."

Homeowner insurance companies accused of bias (Friday, 9/12/97)
Four companies are accused of discriminating against minorities who seek homeowners insurance. Here's the story from Reuters and Caroline Mayer of the Washington Post.

German company to cut a quarter of its work force (Friday, 9/12/97)
About 5,000 European jobs will be cut by the world's largest maker of railroad equipment. In related news, here's a Business Week story about the beginnings of an economic recovery in Europe that is threatened by taxes and rigid labor laws, they say.

U.S. unemployment down last week (Friday, 9/12/97)
First-time jobless claims declined in the United States last week, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Labor.

What does a 54-year-old retiree do? (Friday, 9/12/97)
This one may concentrate on restoring Little Rock, Arkansas and making it prettier, but it will be awhile yet.

Agriculture still among the most dangerous industries (Friday, 9/12/97)
If you work in American agriculture, be careful. Tractor rollovers are a common reason for job-related deaths, according to a new report. Speaking of on-the-job health and accident issues, here's a story about cancer and top executives.

Anger in Malaysia (Friday, 9/12/97)
Thailand's economy was doing well not so long ago, and so was Malaysia's. Things are different now, and social unrest may be bubbling below the surface as a consequence. Speaking of Asian economies, how are things going in Hong Kong? Martin Lee writes that officials there would like us to believe that nothing has changed since the handover, but citizens know better, he says. A few thousand miles away, the once-mighty Japanese economy takes a big hit. Sheryl WuDunn reports for today's New York Times on the biggest contraction in nearly a quarter century.

Another government agency concerned about security in the hi-tech era (Friday, 9/12/97)
As we've been reporting, the Social Security Administration would like us to have access to our account information on the web, but the problem is keeping everybody else from getting at it as well. Now, Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post reports on similar concerns at HHS with respect to health records.

"Family cap" policy not causing decline in birth rate, officials say (Friday, 9/12/97)
New Jersey won't pay additional benefits to mothers who have more children while on welfare. Recent data indicate that the birth rate has declined in the state, but there must be other reasons, state officials say.

Job cuts at big Chicago ad agency (Friday, 9/12/97)
Leo Burnett USA has been one of the largest advertising agencies in the world for many years. Business is down, though, so the company is firing 74 workers as part of a sweeping reorganization, according to the Chicago Tribune.

What do you do for child care if you work all night? (Friday, 9/12/97)
Paul Brand writes in today's Minneapolis Star Tribune about a new around-the-clock child care center and the great demand for odd-hour child care services.

Best companies for working mothers (Friday, 9/12/97)
Here's the new Working Mother magazine list of the best companies in the United States for mothers who work. Universal Studios is the first big Hollywood production company to make the list. Incidentally, Business Week examines the reasons why married women work, and it isn't all a matter of family income, they say.

Connecticut governor has plan for insuring children (Friday, 9/12/97)
Governor Rowland offers plans for a subsidized health care program for the children of working families. More than 80,000 children could be affected. In New York City, officials say they will make a more aggressive effort to help homeless families.

Letters of reprimand in Army sex scandal (Thursday, 9/11/97)
As many as 10 senior officers and Army enlisted personnel are scheduled to receive letters of reprimand in what may be one of the final stages of the big scandal involving sexual harassment of female recruits during the training process. Details are to be announced later today, according to officials.

BART talks break down (Thursday, 9/11/97)
The commuter rail strike continues in San Francisco, and talks have broken down. However, it appears that the sides are fairly close.

Egypt moves to increase student preparation for work (Thursday, 9/11/97)
El Ahram reports that Egypt intends to lower fees at professional training centers and accept 50 percent more students into the job-preparation programs in an effort to narrow the gap between how students are being prepared and what the contemporary Egyptian economy needs. Estimates of Egyptian unemployment range from just over 9 percent to as high as 20 percent.

Truckers not getting enough sleep, study says (Thursday, 9/11/97)
Gene Emery of Reuters reports on a new study prompting safety concerns because truck drivers in the U.S. and Canada are getting