2008 March:   Business
Anchor:   Base Index
Other months:    February  April
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

Fred Brenchley, Carbon catchers launch coal's brightest hope, The Age, 2008 Mar. 31 (the new Victorian project, at Nirranda near Warrnambool in the Otway Basin, will eventually store 100,000 tonnes, enabling the injection, storage and surface behaviour of the stored carbon dioxide to be monitored for future commercial application and linkage to carbon capture at power plants)
Mathew Murphy, Guide reveals more choice in carbon-offsets market, The Age, 2008 Mar. 31 (the first update of the carbon offsets guide, a joint initiative between Victoria's Environment Protection Authority and RMIT, shows a 13% boost to those servicing the offsets market)
Orietta Guerrera, Energy efficiency takes centre stage, The Age, 2008 Mar. 25 (when the former Castlemaine Breweries malting works were renovated in the 1980s to house the Malthouse Theatre, little thought was given to the carbon footprint)
Adam Morton, Carbon windfall for coal towns, The Age, 2008 Mar. 21 (power producers should be refused the $1 billion compensation they have demanded to cope with new climate change laws, but struggling coal communities should be helped, the Federal Government's chief climate adviser, Ross Garnaut, has said)
Adam Morton and Chris Hammer, Carbon cuts to bring tax boost, The Age, 2008 Mar. 20 (Australia's scheme to cut greenhouse gas emissions will pour up to $20 billion a year—roughly the annual defence budget—into Federal Government coffers, new modelling shows)
Adam Morton, Big polluters demand billion-dollar 'ransom', The Age, 2008 Mar. 18 (Australia's electricity generation industry is demanding massive compensation from the Federal Government in return for its co-operation in efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions)
Carbon capture and storage: Filling it all back up again, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (carbon-capture technology offers a new use for old assets; in November ministers announced a competition to build a coal-fired demonstration plant by 2014)
Competition(see also Marketing) up  down  top   back  on

Tony Wright, Big two supermarket chains 'do over' little guys, The Age, 2008 Mar. 27 (Woolworths and Coles have such a vast share of Australia's grocery sector that they are able to "do over" food manufacturers on a daily basis, the National Association of Retail Grocers says)
Darren Gray and Daniella Miletic, Retailers accused of market control, The Age, 2008 Mar. 15 (Victorian fruit growers blow whistle on Woolworths and Coles, saying the supermarket giants exercise significant market power both openly and subtly)
John Elder, Sex, lies & surveillance, The Age, 2008 Mar. 9 (as business rivalry gets down and dirty, the big end of town is turning to private eyes to sort out their problems)
Consumerism(see also Social and in Social) up  down  top   back  on

Owen Gibson, Listen now, pay never, Guardian, 2008 Mar. 13 (with CD sales plummeting, Gibson looks at the concept of 'free'—anathema to record labels, but a rallying cry to others)
Consumer electronics: Power plays, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (displays that reveal how much electricity your home is using can give you a nasty but informative surprise; part of a Technology Quarterly)
Copyright and Trademarks(see also in Internet and Technology) up  down  top   back  on

Asher Moses, WoW declares war against automated play, The Age, 2008 Mar. 28 (the creators of World of Warcraft are suing the developer of a tool that makes it possible to play the game unattended)
AFP, Cybersquatting cases on the rise, The Age, 2008 Mar. 28 (against the background of an unprecedented number of cybersquatting cases in 2007, the evolving nature of the domain name registration system is causing growing concern for trademark owners around the world, said the UN agency)
AFP, JK Rowling fights plans for Potter wizipedia, The Age, 2008 Mar. 26 (British author JK Rowling is expected to appear as a witness at a New York trial next month, in a case called to settle an intellectual property dispute involving her Harry Potter books)
Owen Gibson, Listen now, pay never, Guardian, 2008 Mar. 13 (with CD sales plummeting, Gibson looks at the concept of 'free'—anathema to record labels, but a rallying cry to others)
John Crace, Harry Potter: the last battle, Guardian, 2008 Mar. 11 (on one side: global-celebrity author JK Rowling; on the other: an amateur fan site devoted to Harry Potter; the court case that has the publishing world holding its breath)
European trademarks: A money mountain, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (what should be done with a growing pile of public money at the European trademark agency, OHIM?)
Economics and Policy(see also Money) up  down  top   back  on

Mike Moore, Open societies are the best and fairest wealth creators, The Age, 2008 Mar. 31 (countries with open economies, open trade, and open societies—those that cherish the rule of law, property and labour rights and democracy—do better)
Tim Colebatch, Auctions hammered as slowdown signs grow, The Age, 2008 Mar. 31 (a sharp fall in auction clearance rates adds to signs that the economy is slowing rapidly, setting the scene for the Reserve Bank to keep interest rates on hold)
Economics and the rule of law: Order in the jungle, Economist, 2008 Mar. 15 (the rule of law has become a big idea in economics; but it has had its difficulties)
Adam Smith: Monumental profits, Economist, 2008 Mar. 15 (the economist's house is on the (free) market)
Exports and the economy: A few good machines, Economist, 2008 Mar. 15 (exports are cushioning America's downturn; but for how long?)
Peter Weekes and Chris Vedelago, We're feeling it as US economy worsens, The Age, 2008 Mar. 9 (the collapse of the US housing market has hit the broader American economy - and Australia is about to feel the effects)
Buttonwood: Bling fling, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (gold is enjoying a speculative surge; beware)
Chris Hammer, 'Miracle economy' days may be over, The Age, 2008 Mar. 3 (a leading business lobby group report has suggested the Australian economy's glory days are behind it)
Environment(see also in Health and Science) up  down  top   back  on

James Randerson, Cooking fires recipe for environmental disaster, The Age, 2008 Mar. 25 (soot produced by burning coal, diesel, wood and dung causes significantly more damage to the environment than previously thought, research shows)
Ben Cubby, Drastic plastic: bag use up, The Age, 2008 Mar. 20 (plastic carry bag use has skyrocketed in the past 12 months, despite repeated industry claims that fewer bags are being used by shoppers)
Trade bans and conservation: Call of the wild, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (is the prohibition of trade saving wildlife, or endangering it?)
Business and the environment: From geeks to greens, Economist, 2008 Mar. 1 (executives are switching in droves from the computer industry to clean-technology firms; do they have what it takes to succeed?)
Fraud and Corruption(see also in Internet and Social) up  down  top   back  on

Leo Shanahan, Drug firms splurge $31m on doctors, The Age, 2008 Mar. 28 (drug companies spent more than $30 million on hospitality for doctors at "educational" events in just the last six months of 2007)
Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker, Trouble at the Tax Office, The Age, 2008 Mar. 27 (a second official from the Australian Taxation Office's tax crime investigation unit has been suspended amid denials of systemic misconduct among its top investigators)
Tim Dowling, Not in my name, Guardian, 2008 Mar. 25 (it is far easier than you may think to steal someone's identity; all you need are a few details from your victim's bills and receipts - and a bit of cheek, as one former ID fraudster tells a very alarmed Dowling)
Richard Baker and Nick McKenzie, Money trail in US medical devices investigation leads to Melbourne, The Age, 2008 Mar. 12 (medical device companies that are among the biggest financial donors to Melbourne's top hospitals are being investigated by US authorities over payments to doctors in return for the exclusive use of their products)
Stuart Washington, Damning findings on director trading, The Age, 2008 Mar. 10 (directors in more than 20 companies within the ASX 200 actively traded shares in their own companies in the "blackout period" between when their company's books closed and results were announced)
Frank Walker, High-tech thieves steal PINs, The Age, 2008 Mar. 18 (an international gang of frauds is ripping off customers at ATMs across Sydney using high-tech devices)
Business in China: On the fake take, Economist, 2008 Mar. 1 (a Chinese gang is charged with printing $147 billion in fake receipts)
Globalism and Free Trade(see also in International) up  down  top   back  on

Ian Traynor, Forget the Rolexes, fake Ferrari proves $600bn industry has moved up a gear, Guardian, 2008 Mar. 11 (campaigners say global counterfeiting industry funds terrorism and organised crime, and facilitates money laundering and drugs and people trafficking; one in 10 products sold worldwide is counterfeit)
Emerging markets: The decoupling debate, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (as America's economy struggles to stay aloft, the developing world is learning to spread its wings)
NAFTA: An unreliable ally, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (the neighbours fear American protectionism)
Management(see also in Computing) up  down  top   back  on

Bankruptcies in America: Waiting for Armageddon, Economist, 2008 Mar. 29 (the recent rise in corporate bankruptcies in America may well be a sign of much worse to come)
Pauline Askin, Training managers, it's horses for courses, The Age, 2008 Mar. 16 (a novel program helps people improve their communication skills with some equine help)
Manufacturing(see also in Technology) up  down  top   back  on

China's steel industry: Pile up, Economist, 2008 Mar. 29 (a curious fight over iron-ore prices)
Tata, Jaguar and Land Rover: Now what?, Economist, 2008 Mar. 29 (what the Indian conglomerate will do with two luxury-car brands)
Reuters, Manufacturing confidence weakens, The Age, 2008 Mar. 20 (manufacturers reported improved business conditions in the first quarter as sales grew strongly, though concerns about rising borrowing costs and sharp falls in equities sapped confidence for the coming quarter)
Exports and the economy: A few good machines, Economist, 2008 Mar. 15 (exports are cushioning America's downturn; but for how long?)
Cars: Ford's European arm lends a hand, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (why the new Fiesta is so important)
Porsche and VW: In the driving seat, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (a European automotive titan is on its way)
Clay Lucas, The car is doomed, scientist warns, The Age, 2008 Mar. 3 (car travel should be cut by 80%, road construction halted and public transport boosted if Australia is to meet carbon emission targets, energy experts have warned)
Marketing(see also Competition and in Internet) up  down  top   back  on

John Mangan, Are books for kids where little ideas - or big brands - grow?, The Age, 2008 Mar. 16 (the latest space for product placement in America lies on the children's bookshelf, and the critics are calling the publishers to task)
Maxine Firth, Push for radio and TV ban on junk food ads, The Age, 2008 Mar. 16 (Choice is calling for a total ban on junk-food advertising on television between 6am and 9pm to reduce rising rates of obesity among children)
Media and Television(see also in Technology) up  down  top   back  on

Brian Stelter, Profits streaming away from TV, The Age, 2008 Mar. 31 (networks are loath to admit how much TV is being watched via computer)
Media: Mogul v mogul, Economist, 2008 Mar. 15 (Barry Diller and John Malone have their day in court)
Dan Glaister, Coming soon: new generation of 3D films, Guardian, 2008 Mar. 13 (Dreamworks chief Jeffrey Katzenberg has unveiled the first taste of new breed of three-dimensional films set to hit US cinemas; 10,000 US screens to be converted to digital; technology is new—but glasses remain the same)
Asher Moses, ABC jumps into digital hyper drive, The Age, 2008 Mar. 12 (the ABC leaps further into the digital media age, announcing a 24/7 "continuous news centre" and more than 60 new websites)
Communications: Stay tuned, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (broadcasters plan to hop, skip and jump around the world with a new long-range digital-radio technology; part of a Technology Quarterly)
Money and Banking(see also Economics and Wealth) up  down  top   back  on

Richard Wachman, Dollar chilled by rise of euro, Guardian, 2008 Mar. 30 (once-unchallenged world hegemony of the US currency is under threat as its value plummets and investors desert it)
Banking: The regulators are coming, Economist, 2008 Mar. 29 (now that investment banking is backed by the state, it needs re-regulating; carefully)
The financial system: What went wrong, Economist, 2008 Mar. 22 (how financiers—and their critics—have laboured under a delusion)
Gold hits $1,000 for first time, BBC, 2008 Mar. 13 (the price of gold hits new heights, trading at $1,000 an ounce for the first time, spurred by a weak US dollar fears about the US economy)
Larry Elliott, Federal Reserve leads world central bank move by injecting $200bn, Guardian, 2008 Mar. 12 (fresh action to ease credit crunch amid concerns financial turmoil has entered dangerous phase)
Economics focus: When the rivers run dry, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (can bank regulators and central banks prevent future liquidity crises?)
Buttonwood: Bling fling, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (gold is enjoying a speculative surge; beware)
British banks: Spurious shoots, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (British banks are making big profits, so why are their shares so cheap?)
Charlemagne: Don't play politics with the euro, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (the lessons of German history haunt the single currency)
Monetary policy: Oceans apart, Economist, 2008 Mar. 1 (the ECB and the Fed diverge over inflation; hence the surging euro)
Outsourcing(see also Pay and in Social) up  down  top   back  on

Call centres: Your call is important to us, Economist, 2008 Mar. 8 (making call centres run smoothly involves an ever-greater dependency on technological trickery behind the scenes; part of a Technology Quarterly)
Pay and Wealth(see also Outsourcing and in Social) up  down  top   back  on

Mike Moore, Open societies are the best and fairest wealth creators, The Age, 2008 Mar. 31 (countries with open economies, open trade, and open societies—those that cherish the rule of law, property and labour rights and democracy—do better)
Adam Smith: Monumental profits, Economist, 2008 Mar. 15 (the economist's house is on the (free) market)
Privatisation and Private Equity up  down  top   back  on

Suzanne Goldenberg, US gave $300m arms contract to 22-year-old with criminal record, Guardian, 2008 Mar. 28 (old stock sent to Afghan forces battling Taliban; 40-year-old ammunition had to be destroyed)
Publishing and Newspapers up  down  top   back  on

Ian Munro, Murdoch's Wall Street makeover, The Age, 2008 Mar. 29 (News Limited's ongoing transformation of The Wall Street Journal into a general-interest newspaper is alienating many long-time readers)
Henry Rosenbloom, Brits in the bad books, The Age, 2008 Mar. 24 (a war between British and Australian publishers leaves the locals bleeding)
John Mangan, Are books for kids where little ideas - or big brands - grow?, The Age, 2008 Mar. 16 (the latest space for product placement in America lies on the children's bookshelf, and the critics are calling the publishers to task)
John Crace, Harry Potter: the last battle, Guardian, 2008 Mar. 11 (on one side: global-celebrity author JK Rowling; on the other: an amateur fan site devoted to Harry Potter; the court case that has the publishing world holding its breath)
Peter Munro, Reading the stars, The Age, 2008 Mar. 9 (in Australia, where the literary market is tighter than ever, festivals are often seen as the difference between surviving and thriving)
Romantic fiction in India: Sari-rippers, Economist, 2008 Mar. 1 (India and slushy novels: a match made in heaven?)
Social(see also Consumerism) up   first    top   back  on

Richard Wachman and Lisa Bachelor, 10,000 face axe as City panic spreads, Observer, 2008 Mar. 16 (banks are to swing the axe in the City with 10,000 jobs expected to disappear this year amid signs of growing financial turmoil and fears that the US is already in recession)