Global Challenges

Clean Technology in Europe, August 2011

Amid rising concerns about global climate change and growing anxieties over regional energy security, the European Union has launched a range of initiatives to spur adoption of clean technologies.

Brazil in the run up to the 2016 Olympics, July 2011

On October 2, 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the awarding of the XXXI Olympiad to Rio de Janeiro, defeating finalists Chicago, Madrid, and Tokyo. The selection of Rio as the host city for the 2016 Olympics constitutes a seminal development in Brazilian history, inviting comparisons with prior Games (e.g. Seoul 1988 and Beijing 2008) that showcased newly ascendant emerging markets as global players.

India as a Global Technology Hub, June 2011

Over the past two decades, India has become the global leader in offshore IT (Information Technology) and BPO (Business Processing Outsourcing) services. India's IT/BPO industry is poised to reach annual revenues of US$225 billion by 2020.

Small and Medium Enterprises in the Global Economy, March 2011

Small and medium enterprises, which played a crucial role in job creation and economic growth in the early and mid-2000s, incurred major setbacks during the Great Recession. In the European Union, SME employment fell by over three million jobs in 2009-10. American SMEs, which account for over 99 percent of non-farm employment in the United States, also reeled under the impact of the global downturn. For many SMEs still standing after the crisis, the continuing credit squeeze hinders access to the debt financing needed to expand their operations.

Corporate Sustainability, March 2011

"Corporate Sustainability"– broadly conceived as the formal integration of economic, environmental, and social factors in managerial decision making and corporate governance – is assuming a central role in global business.

Prospects for the World Economy, December 2010

Three years after the onset of the global financial crisis, the contours of the global rebound have taken shape.

Renewable Energy in Europe, November 2010

The development of renewable energy in Europe faces a host of environmental, economic and political hurdles. Imported fossil fuels represent more than half of European energy consumption. At projected growth rates, the share of imported hydrocarbons will rise to 70 percent of total energy consumption by 2020.

Economic impact of the World Cup, August 2010

International sporting events offer significant potential benefits to host countries: modernization of infrastructure; upgrading of tourist facilities; increased foreign commerce; heightened global prestige and visibility.

Emerging and developing countries stand to reap particular gains from hosting such events. The 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul brought South Korean multinationals (LG Electronics, Samsung, et al) to international prominence, while the 2008 Beijing Olympics showcased the rising commercial power and technological prowess of China. The 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro is widely anticipated as Brazil's arrival as a major global player.

Eurasia in the Global Economy, June 2010

Eurasia, the landmass bridging the traditional continents of Europe and Asia, has become a bulwark of the global economy.

The ancient network of trade routes that for thousands of years brought goods from the Far East to Western Europe is now a rapidly modernising network of pipelines, rails, super highways, and Information Technology links. The Eurasia of the Third Millennium is home to some of the world's largest oil producers, wealthiest investors, and fastest growing economies along with more than half the world's population.

Commercial Developments in MERCOSUR, May 2010

Since its creation in 1991, MERCOSUR (acronym in Spanish for Mercado Común del Sur or Common Market of the South) has been developing at an uneven pace. MERCOSUR, initiated in a restrictive framework by Argentina and Brazil, now includes four South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) with Chile and Bolivia as associate members. Venezuela's formal admission to the organization has been ratified by the parliaments of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay but is pending approval by the Paraguayan legislature.

International Tax Representation, April 2010

Companies planning to expand their international operations need to consider a wide variety of factors: Foreign demand for the company's products and services; transparency and cost efficiency of foreign subsidiaries; operating, investing, financing and non-cash expenses; and the impact of international expansion on the company's aggregate tax burden.

The Smartphone and its risks, March 2010

Having a few key safeguards in place can reduce the risk of smartphones becoming a matter of national security.

While smartphones often create a wave of security anxiety, the convenience they offer can't be ignored. In today's business environment, senior executives expect—maybe even demand—the ability to receive e-mail and have network access on their iPhone, Blackberry or Motorola smartphone. This makes managing smartphone risk a top priority for information technology departments everywhere.

Creating Enterprise-Wide Risk Awareness - Are Your Clients Building Prudent 'Risk Cultures'?, January 2010

The collapse of Enron and other corporate scandals in the early 2000s demonstrated how imprudent company cultures can lead to unethical practices and outright fraud. The more recent implosion of Lehman Brothers showed how a culture of risk-taking pervaded financial institutions and precipitated the global financial meltdown.

Economic Growth Prospects in Central and Eastern Europe, December 2009

In early 2009, many analysts feared that Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) was hurtling toward a regional crash reminiscent of the East Asian crisis of the late 1990s.

Labour Market Trends in the Wake of the Great Recession, October 2009

The global economy is showing unmistakable signs of recovery from the steepest downturn since World War II. Economic contraction has ceased in North America, Europe, and developed Asia, and most of the advanced industrialised countries are poised for positive GDP growth in 2010.

Turkey in the Euro Mediterranean Area, August 2009

The Euro Med Partnership now includes all 27 member states of the European Union, along with 16 partners across the Southern Mediterranean and the Middle East. However, in the bars, tea gardens and boardrooms of Istanbul the question is still asked 'Is Turkey Middle Eastern, Asiatic or European?'

IT Risk Management - Meeting the changing requirements and demands of today's business enterprises, July 2009

India is recognised as the global leader in offshored IT (Information Technology) services and a principal player in BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) services....

Survey of European Business Leaders: European business in the wake of global recession, May 2009

On April 7, the Westin Excelsior in Rome hosted the 2009 European Business Awards to honor the achievements of leading European companies. As part of the event, RSM International (a sponsor of the European Business Awards) conducted a survey to gauge the views of participants on the European business environment in the wake of the global recession.