2008 January:   Business
Anchor:   Base Index
Other months:    December  February
Other areas:    Climate  computing  education  health  international  Internet  science  social  technology  Others
Topics:   Agriculture  banking  carbon  climate  competition  consumerism  copyright  corruption  economics  environment  fraud  free trade  freight  globalism  management  manufacturing  marketing  media  money  newspapers  outsourcing  pay  policy  politics  privatism  publishing  social  television  trademarks  wealth
Carbon(see also in Climate) last  down  top   back  on

Leader, Airlines cannot avoid their duties, Observer, 2008 Jan. 27 (airlines pay no tax on aviation fuel and are currently excluded from international schemes for controlling carbon emissions; this state of affairs is unfair and unacceptable)
Adam Morton, Greenhouse emissions soar, The Age, 2008 Jan. 7 (annual greenhouse gas emissions from energy in Victoria have soared by nearly 30% since 1990, challenging State Government claims that it is serious about tackling climate change)
James Kanter, Investment in clean energy topped $100 billion for first time in 2007, IHT, 2008 Jan. 2 (the sector had performed well because important factors that drive investment in clean energy, like fears about dwindling supplies of traditional sources of energy, remained strong even as financial markets plunged into turmoil amid the crisis over subprime mortgages in the United States in the second half of the year)
Competition and Free Trade(see also Marketing) up  down  top   back  on

Vanda Carson, Food labels being eaten by private branding, The Age, 2008 Jan. 9 (the big food makers, including listed companies Goodman Fielder and Coca-Cola Amatil, are feeling the pressure from the major supermarkets' push into private label goods, with some of the big brands taking a hit to their market share)
Consumerism(see also Social and in Social) up  down  top   back  on

Charlotte Raven, I've never liked the consumer herd, so self-denial was made for me - if I could just resist the plasma TV, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 31 (if everyone did stop consuming, there'd be a global recession, and if they don't we're heading for a different kind of disaster; with capitalism, you can't win)
Pricing and the brain: Hitting the spot, Economist, 2008 Jan. 19 (people do not just say they enjoy expensive things more than cheap ones; they actually do enjoy them more)
AP, Microsoft touts high-tech grocery cart, The Age, 2008 Jan. 15 (Microsoft trials grocery cart helping shoppers find products in the store, then scan and pay for them without waiting in the checkout line)
Jo Revill, Digital world creates a new underclass, Observer, 2008 Jan. 6 (modern shopping and banking frustrate those who can't log on or want to speak face to face)
Patrick Collinson, When is a sale not a sale?, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 3 (so you weren't there at 5am to grab 75% off that duvet; but don't worry; there will be another 'sale' along next week—and every week after that, as retailers push the law on sales to breaking point)
Copyright and Trademarks(see also in Internet and Technology) up  down  top   back  on

Cory Doctorow, Copyright law should distinguish between commercial and cultural uses, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 29 (the idea that the same copyright regime should apply to movie studios and kids who photocopy comics is preposterous)
Aboriginal archive offers new DRM, BBC, 2007 Jan. 29 (a user-centred digital rights management system is being pioneered by Aboriginal Australians)
Owen Gibson, Web disconnection threat to downloaders, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 25 (record labels call for new legislation to tackle digital piracy)
Michael Geist, The concerns of copyright reform, BBC, 2007 Jan. 22 (how copyright reform is leading to privacy concerns)
Randeep Ramesh, Why brothers' Facebook homage to Scrabble spells L-A-W-S-U-I-T, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 17 (big toymakers claim breach of copyright over hobby that spawned 2.4m internet addicts)
Owen Gibson, Copying music legally in the digital age, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 9 (government set to relax copyright laws amid fears of free-for-all)
Claudia H Deutsch, In a move to rebrand, Xerox unveils a new logo, IHT, 2008 Jan. 7 (this morning, Xerox unveiled what it says is the most sweeping transformation of its corporate identity since it dropped "Haloid" from the Haloid Xerox name in 1961)
Martin Hodgson, Lacoste tears in logo battle with dentists, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 3 (a Cheltenham dental practice has won a protracted legal battle against an international fashion giant)
Economics and Policy(see also Money) up  down  top   back  on

The economy: Stampede to stimulus, Economist, 2008 Jan. 19 (politicians want to give the economy a boost; they're likely to make a hash of it)
Peter S Goodman and Floyd Norris, Economists see no quick fix for U.S. downturn, IHT, 2008 Jan. 13 (as leaders in Washington turn their attention to efforts to avert a looming downturn, many economists suggest that it may already be too late to change the course of the economy over the first half of the year, if not longer)
William Keegan, Why rate cuts are no longer the answer to keeping recession at bay, Observer, 2008 Jan. 13 (is monetary policy the ideal weapon, or should the government be thinking of fiscal policy?)
Recession in the US 'has arrived', BBC, 2007 Jan. 8 (the feared recession in the US economy has already arrived, according to a report from Merrill Lynch)
William Keegan, Eat, drink and be merry—for tomorrow we devalue the pound, Observer, 2008 Jan. 6 (in an attempt to escape from the gloomy economic news I read Martin Rees's Our Final Century over the Christmas holidays; this is not a book about the end of English cricket as we know it; it ranges far, far farther afield than that, asking 'Will Civilisation Survive the Twenty-First Century?')
The Observer Business team, Top of the flops—10 pointers to a downturn in 2008, Observer, 2008 Jan. 6 (we are faced with the bleakest economic outlook in 15 years—a housing slump, record levels of personal debt, a sliding pound and even slowing demand from China; but how bad will it get?; and what can the Chancellor do about it?)
Paul Krugman, It's all about the Chinese economy . . ., The Age, 2008 Jan. 5 (oil prices, wages and climate change all centre on Chinese growth)
Larry Elliott, Is this the big one?, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 3 (it is 15 years since Britain last suffered a recession; but now the housing market is slumping, oil prices are soaring and a credit crisis is paralysing the banking world; are the conditions right for a 'perfect economic storm'?)
Environment(see also in Health and Science) up  down  top   back  on

Environment and development: How green is their growth, Economist, 2008 Jan. 26 (a new argument that economic progress can help to ease environmental woes, just so long as the governance is good too)
Environmental protection in China: Don't drink the water and don't breathe the air, Economist, 2008 Jan. 26 (and don't expect the government's environmental watchdog to do much about it)
Ben Cubby, Garrett set to push for ban on plastic bags, The Age, 2008 Jan. 9 (the days of the plastic bag are numbered, with federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett likely either to impose a levy on each bag handed to shoppers or to ban them outright within 12 months)
Low-energy bulb disposal warning, BBC, 2007 Jan. 5 (the public should be told more about the environmental risks of low-energy light bulbs so they are disposed of correctly, the Environment Agency says)
Andrew Darby, Wedge-tails blind to wind farm's deadly 'black hole', The Age, 2008 Jan. 3 (Australia's largest wind farm in north-west Tasmania becomes a "black hole" for already endangered wedge-tailed eagles)
Fraud and Corruption(see also in Internet and Social) up  down  top   back  on

Jason Burke and Alex Duval Smith, French rally behind rogue trader as fraud scandal spreads, Observer, 2008 Jan. 27 (he committed the biggest individual fraud in history but France is lauding the 'quiet and fragile' Jérôme Kerviel as a national hero who took on the system)
Ruth Sunderland, You can bet Kerviel is not the odd man out, Observer, 2008 Jan. 27 (describing Jérôme Kerviel as a rogue trader is a slur on rogues)
James Button, Rogue trader's bank fraud, The Age, 2008 Jan. 25 (a rogue trader stuns global financial markets by defrauding France's second-largest bank of $8.2 billion - the largest trading fraud in history)
David Leigh and Rob Evans, Court battle over secret export commissions claims, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 2 (company accused of circumventing bribery law; firm accuses ex-manager of taking kickbacks)
Globalism and Free Trade(see also in International) up  down  top   back  on

Global markets: A wild ride, Economist, 2008 Jan. 26 (there will be odd rallies, but fear will continue to stalk the financial markets)
Emerging-market multinationals: The challengers, Economist, 2008 Jan. 12 (a new breed of multinational company has emerged)
Larry Elliott, Oil at $100 a barrel, gold at record high, pound at all-time low: markets begin 2008 in turmoil, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 3 (turbulence seen as start of things to come; rate cuts more likely on both sides of Atlantic)
Management(see also in Computing) up  down  top   back  on

Michael Andrew, Directors at risk of becoming an endangered species, The Age, 2008 Jan. 28 (a recent development which is a cause for concern in the Australian capital markets is further shrinkage in the director talent pool)
Floyd Norris and Mark Landler, Risk management still a risky business, IHT, 2008 Jan. 24 (how bad is risk management at major banks?)
Simon Caulkin, For the worst of all possible worlds, press '1' now, Observer, 2008 Jan. 20 (responses to last week's piece on surveillance and outsourcing management to computers yielded much food for thought - mostly depressing)
Starbucks sacks chief executive, BBC, 2007 Jan. 8 (Starbucks replaces its chief executive with its chairman and decides to slow new store openings)
Business in Norway: Girl power, Economist, 2008 Jan. 5 (Norwegian companies' boards are now stacked with women)
Christopher Hope, Booze, drugs and bonuses: a lethal mix, The Age, 2008 Jan. 2 (a luxury hotel-style addiction clinic is offering a lifeline to London City types who turn to cocaine and alcohol to ease stress)
Manufacturing(see also in Technology) up  down  top   back  on

Bill Vlasic, Pursuing fuel efficiency, U.S. automakers start to phase out V-8 engines, IHT, 2008 Jan. 16 (at the Detroit auto show this week, the Big Three are promoting smaller engines and alternative-fuel vehicles, eliminating the V-8 from many models and relegating it to niche status)
Joshua Dowling, Time's up for petrol cars, says GM chief, The Age, 2008 Jan. 15 (the world's biggest car maker, General Motors, believes global oil supply has peaked and a switch to electric cars is inevitable)
Robert Booth, Made in China, recalled in Britain, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 14 (imports blamed for 22% rise in faulty products leads unions to claim outsourcing is affecting quality)
Amelia Gentleman, The £1,290 car delights Indians but horrifies the green lobby, Observer, 2008 Jan. 6 (after years of secret preparation, the world's cheapest car will be unveiled in Delhi this week)
Jacob Greber and Stephen Johnson, Industry on fast track to growth, The Age, 2008 Jan. 3 (Australian manufacturing expands at fastest pace in more than five years in December, buoyed by consumer and business spending)
'Contraction' in US manufacturing, BBC, 2007 Jan. 2 (Wall Street shares fall after new figures show a contraction in the US manufacturing sector in December, seeing its weakest monthly output since April 2003)
Marketing(see also Competition and in Internet) up  down  top   back  on

Josh Gordon, The brand becomes part of the grand plan, The Age, 2008 Jan. 29 (in the absence of an iconic opera house or bridge, branding is now regarded as being so important to Victoria that it represents a key plank of the Government's economic strategy)
The advertising market: Hard sell, Economist, 2008 Jan. 26 (ad-spending usually plunges when economic growth slows; will it be any different this time?)
Jill Stark, Liquor advice too severe: industry, The Age, 2008 Jan. 22 (major alcohol industry players condemn new drinking guidelines as scientifically flawed, confusing and destined to fail)
The food industry: Son of Frankenfood?, Economist, 2008 Jan. 19 (produce from cloned animals has won regulatory approval; now companies must persuade consumers to buy it)
Michael Pollan, Consuming passion, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 7 (there was a time when knowing what to eat was easy; but over the past 40 years the food industry and nutritionists have interfered with our diet; the result is confusion - and an epidemic of food-related diseases; in the first of two extracts from his new book, Pollan says we should junk the science—and rediscover the joy of eating)
Advertising: How not to annoy your customers, Economist, 2008 Jan. 5 (is in-store television an effective advertising tool?; perhaps, if done right)
Media and Television(see also in Technology) up  down  top   back  on

John Dugdale, Commercial TV success sparked by digital channels, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 28 (the latest viewing figures released by Barb suggest that the much-reported demise of television viewing has been greatly exaggerated; full-year figures for 2007 reveal that overall viewing remained stable at an average of 3.63 hours per day, a slight increase over 10 years from 3.59 hours in 1997)
Children's television: School's out, Economist, 2008 Jan. 19 (why teenagers are losing out to younger viewers)
The music industry: From major to minor, Economist, 2008 Jan. 12 (last year was terrible for the recorded-music majors; the next few years are likely to be even worse)
Vanessa Thorpe, Britain's love affair with braces and bonnets, Observer, 2008 Jan. 6 (BBC's acclaimed Sense and Sensibility is feeding our addiction to classic serials; but does their enduring popularity reflect an unhealthy obsession with nostalgia)
Katie Allen, BBC children's series confirms India is centre of animation, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 2 (a new BBC children's series airing this week will cement India's position as a global centre for animators)
Money and Banking(see also Economics and Wealth) up  down  top   back  on

Will Hutton, Comment: This reckless greed of the few harms the future of the many, Observer, 2008 Jan. 27 (the government must act firmly to control an industry that destabilises all our lives with its naked pursuit of huge profits)
Leader, It's our responsibility to hold the banks to account, Observer, 2008 Jan. 27 (bank architecture is solid and imposing; deliberately so, to disguise the riskiness of what goes on behind the impressive façades)
Global inflation: A delicate condition, Economist, 2008 Jan. 19 (global inflation is rising even as the world economy is slowing; how much should policymakers worry?)
Jennifer Coogan, Microlending takes off on the Internet, IHT, 2008 Jan. 7 (anyone with $25 to spare and an Internet connection can now become an international microfinancier through the Web site for Kiva, an organization that matches individual lenders with impoverished entrepreneurs in the developing world)
Fed ups credit auction offering, BBC, 2007 Jan. 5 (the US Federal Reserve increases the amount of money available as it seeks to ease the credit crunch)
The euro area: Déjà vu, Economist, 2008 Jan. 5 (the euro area is not immune to the ills that afflict America and Britain)
Floyd Norris, Economic reality and fiction in the world of banking, IHT, 2008 Jan. 3 (one end-of-year incident in 2007 illustrates two absurdities: the techniques that banks use to make themselves appear healthier than they really are, and the determination of some portfolio managers to get dubious-looking securities out of their portfolios by the end of the year)
Helena Smith, Arrival of euro boosts Cyprus peace hopes, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 2 (Europe's increasingly strong common currency reaches this fractured corner of the Levant)
Outsourcing(see also Pay and in Social) up  down  top   back  on

Simon Caulkin, For the worst of all possible worlds, press '1' now, Observer, 2008 Jan. 20 (responses to last week's piece on surveillance and outsourcing management to computers yielded much food for thought - mostly depressing)
Robert Booth, Made in China, recalled in Britain, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 14 (imports blamed for 22% rise in faulty products leads unions to claim outsourcing is affecting quality)
Pay and Wealth(see also Outsourcing and in Social) up  down  top   back  on

Nick Mathiason, Tax avoidance by UK's super-rich 'worth £13bn', Observer, 2008 Jan. 27 (tax avoidance by the super-rich costs the British taxpayer enough to increase old-age pensions by 20 per cent; the first ever forensic study of Revenue figures to establish the true scale of tax avoidance by some of the wealthiest people in Britain will pile pressure on the government to prevent the tax burden falling disproportionately on ordinary working people)
Katie Allen, Heavyweight New York book becomes latest collector's item for the rich, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 2 (spare change left over from Christmas shopping and the sales?; how about treating yourself to a very special book?)
Privatisation and Private Equity up  down  top   back  on

Tim Weber, Private equity defends job record, BBC, 2007 Jan. 26 (research suggests private equity firms are not the massive destroyers of jobs they have been accused of)
Publishing and Newspapers up  down  top   back  on

John Naughton, Thanks, Gutenberg—but we're too pressed for time to read, Observer, 2008 Jan. 27 (the First Law of Technology says we invariably overestimate the short-term impact of new technologies while underestimating their longer-term effects)
Jesse Hogan, Rationalists win out as The Bully goes bust, The Age, 2008 Jan. 25 (PBL Media's axing of The Bulletin magazine in its 128th year is an eventual triumph of rationalism over sentiment, media analysts believe)
Carolyn Webb, In bush and city, the 'Bully' was as Australian as a thumbnail dipped in tar, The Age, 2008 Jan. 25 (historians describe The Bulletin, which closed Thursday, as Australia's first national newspaper, and one of its most influential)
Spanish-language publishing: Lost in translation no more, Economist, 2008 Jan. 19 (sales of books in Spanish are booming, and there is plenty of room for growth)
German media: The mirror crack'd, Economist, 2008 Jan. 12 (a brave tale of journalists who sacked their editor at Der Spiegel)
Jeff Jarvis, On new media: The big challenge for the next generation of hacks, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 7 (if we don't figure out how to sustain the business of journalism, we journalists won't report or eat)
Roy Greenslade, The digital challenge, Guardian, 2008 Jan. 7 (the future of newspapers is online - but how are they responding to the demands of different platforms and round-the-clock reporting?; Greenslade tours the newsrooms to see the push for integration in action)
Leslie Cannold, Insults deter quality debate, The Age, 2008 Jan. 5 (something worrying is happening to column readers; they are becoming rude; menacingly rude—and just plain mean—when they don't agree with you)
Social(see also Consumerism) up   first    top   back  on

Daniel Franklin, Corporate Social Responsibility: Just good business, Economist, 2008 Jan. 19 (corporate social responsibility, once a do-gooding sideshow, is now seen as mainstream; but as yet too few companies are doing it well; introduction to a special report; other items:   
Josh Gordon, Transport ills stifle economy, The Age, 2008 Jan. 9 (Melbourne's roads and public transport have become so clogged that workplace productivity and the state economy have suffered, Victoria's biggest business lobby group says)