Never So Important—First Sino-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue

The first Sino-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue was held on July 27 and 28, 2009 in Wash- ington. Either before or during the dialogue, PRC and USA attached great importance to it. The former Strategic Dialogue and the biannual Strategic Economic Dialogue were initiated by the two heads of state in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The dialogue mechanism, upgraded from by ministers from both governments to a strategic and economic dialogue between governmental cabinets, will be held once a year in the future. From the US side, Obama administration shows great interests in the dialogue and places great importance on Sino-US relationship, which can be seen from the visits from US senior officials to China in 2009, including US Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Energy.     

The perspectives of the North-South Dialogue

During the 1970s the North-South Dialogue, which will shortly be continued at the summit in Mexico, was characterized by a gross disproportion between monstrous expenditure—with many losses due to friction —and negligible results. Symptoms of fatigue with regard to the Dialogue are spreading not only among governments, but also among the public in the North. The disillusionment and disappointment are proportionally greater in the South. As no one would presumably like to risk a failure of the Dialogue, which would probably result in a severe aggravation of the North-South conflict, a reorientation of the Dialogue now suggests itself.     

Monetary dialogue 2009–2014: Looking backward,looking forward

In response to the fi nancial crisis, the ECB has had to adopt new instruments to support the euro area economy and preserve the integrity of the single currency. This has challenged the current framework of the Monetary Dialogue exercise. This paper briefl y assesses the implications of enhanced transparency and “forward guidance” for the effectiveness of the ECB’s policies. It then checks whether the Monetary Dialogue works, and if and how the current Monetary Dialogue framework needs to change in order to fulfi l its goal.     

Fruitful Fifth Sino-U.S. SED at Vital time

The United States and China held the fifth Strategic Economic Dialogue （SED） in Beijing on December 4 and 5, 2008. As the special representatives, Treasury Secretary Henry M Paulson, Jr. and Vice Premier Wang Qishan served as co-chairmen of the SED. In two days, the two sides discussed strategies for managing macro-economic risks and promoting balanced growth, on open investment and trade policies, including strengthening products, food and drug safety, on respected roles in international institutions and to strengthen cooperation in energy and the environment.     

Review essay: Deregulation and distributive justice

This article is an extended critical review of a set of essays arguing for the deregulation of U.S. industry. The essays are by mostly lawyers and economists, not philosophers. The writers act as though non-market-based theories of distributive justice do not exist. Nonetheless, the essays are ingenious and sophisticated enough to present a considerable challenge to such theories. In criticism I discuss chiefly two broad themes — the considerations a non-market-based theory would adduce in rebuttal, and the use by the writers of the existing legal framework. The book illustrates most forcefully the clash between rival philosophical visions of the Good Society. Roger A. Shiner is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Alberta. His most important publications are: Knowledge and Reality in Plato's Philebus (Assen, 1974); articles on legal theory in M. A. Stewart (ed.), Law, Morality and Rights (Dordrecht, 1983); Philosophia, University of Toronto Law Journal, Wm & Mary Law Review; on Wittgenstein in Proc. of the Aristotelian Society, Philosophy and Dialogue; on aesthetics in Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, British Journal of Aesthetics, Philosophy and Dialogue.     

问路

对话 （北京。吉姆想去宜家，可是不知道怎么走，于是他拨打114查号台。）     

Beyond the Proxy Vote: Dialogues Between Shareholder Activists and Corporations

The popular view of shareholder activism focuses on shareholder resolutions and the shareholder vote via proxy statements at the annual meeting, which is treated as a “David vs. Goliath” showdown between the small group of socially responsible investors and the powerful corporation. This article goes beyond the popular view to examine where the real action typically occurs – in the Dialogue process where corporations and shareholder activist groups mutually agree to ongoing communications to deal with a serious social issue. Use of the capitalized word “Dialogue” is intended to distinguish this formal process between corporations and shareholders from all the other forms of dialogue or two-way communication exchanged between a corporation and its stakeholders. The phenomenon of Dialogue between a corporation and dissident shareholders has not been analyzed in the academic literature or in the popular press because it occurs behind the scenes and out of sight from media scrutiny. Yet this is where a great deal of social change initiated by shareholder activists is negotiated. This article contributes both theoretically and empirically to the study of Dialogues between shareholder activists and corporations. We explain how Dialogues occur in the context of the shareholder resolution process and examine two Dialogues that focus on international labor issues in two industries. Then data on Dialogues during the period, 1999–2005, from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility are analyzed. This research contributes to knowledge about the Dialogue process and the emerging literature on corporation–stakeholder engagement.     

The CDM：How Could China Utilize it to Finance Energy Efficiency？

Prelude of Copenhagen In the first round of China-US Strategic ＆ Economic Dialogue, America＇s most senior climate-change officials were meeting their Chinese counterparts. The two countries are by far the world＇s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases. They will determine whether a worthwhile global treaty to limit emissions can be concluded as planned in Copenhagen in December.     

The Third U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue December 12-13, 2007, Beijing Joint Fact Sheet

At Grand Epoch City near Beijing on December 12 and 13, the .United States and China held the third Strategic Economic Dialogue （SED）. As special representatives of President George W. Bush and President Hu Jintao, Treasury Secretary Henry M. Pauslon, Jr. and Vice Premier Wu Yi served as cochairs of the SED.     

New aspects of US economic policy towards LDCs

President Carter assumed power in Washington in January, 1977. Since that time, many aspects of US foreign economic policy, especially those involving the less developed countries (LDCs), have been reviewed and some new approaches have been introduced. Foreign and concepts have been adjusted and the US has actively participated in the North-South Dialogue; it has also become increasingly involved in international economic including UN conferences.     

New aspects of US economic policy towards LDCs

President Carter assumed power in Washington in January, 1977. Since that time, many aspects of US foreign economic policy, especially those involving the less developed countries (LDCs), have been reviewed and some new approaches have been introduced. Foreign and concepts have been adjusted and the US has actively participated in the North-South Dialogue; it has also become increasingly involved in international economic including UN conferences.

     

Zur Vertiefung der wirtschaftlichen Konvergenz in der Eurozone

In a draft recommendation, National Competitiveness Boards should be established which inter alia should monitor the developments in labour costs. The German and European Trade Unions have refused this proposal strictly. Here, as a way out, an alternative proposal is presented extending the agenda to the macroeconomic development and policy as a whole. In implementing the agenda, social partners should be included together with the other macroeconomic actors such as monetary and fiscal policy in a Macroeconomic Dialogue forum on both the national and Eurozone levels.     

Trends in international business thought and literature (supplement): The transatlantic business dialogue: Business at the negotiating table

The Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) is a novel coalition of American and European business leaders who seek to influence their respective governments on transatlantic trade and investment matters. In the past year, the TABD has emerged as a powerful voice in setting the agenda for the “transatlantic marketplace.” This article examines the TABD's origins and development, and suggests that the TABD may serve as a future model for trade and investment negotiations.     

The EU on the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome

March 25, 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, the signing of which is considered to be the birth of the European Union. On this occasion the following articles discuss past and present developments in a number of important European policy fields. *Member of the Panel of Experts of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament to which the article was first presented as a Briefing Paper for the Monetary Dialogue with the President of the European Central Bank in December 2006.     

Treaty Reform: Consequences for Monetary Policy

The proposed reform treaty, aimed at enhancing the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the enlarged Union as well as its position on the global stage, has a number of important implications for monetary policy and the status of the European Central Bank. Can the reforms be expected to make euro area governance more efficient? Could they potentially jeopardise the ECB's independence and European monetary policy? Member of the Panel of Experts of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament, to which the article was first presented as a Briefing Paper for the Monetary Dialogue with the President of the European Central Bank in October 2007. The author gratefully acknowledges the helpful comments of Edin Mujagic and the excellent research assistance of Rob Nijskens.     

Joe Camel

Dialogue about the use and impact of Joe Camel has dissipated since RJ Reynolds retiredthe advertising campaign in 1997. However, Joe Camel remains important for advertising because of its controversial and prominent use as a worldwide celebrity presenter. Using a historical lens equipped with before, during and after Joe Camel data, we examine Camel print advertising performance, adult brand usage, market share and advertising/promotional spending from 1986 to 2003. Our research suggests that, though Joe was an ideal celebrity endorser who attained excellent print recognition scores, his direct effect on sales in the short and longer term is unclear considering that Camel’s overall market share stayed mostly the same during the Joe Camel campaign. In the end, Joe may have met his demise like any other celebrity endorser whose bad behaviour threatens to cause negative associations that could prove harmful to a brand.     

Corporate Responses to Shareholder Activists: Considering the Dialogue Alternative

This empirical study examines corporate responses to activist shareholder groups filing social-policy shareholder resolutions. Using resource dependency theory as our conceptual framing, we identify some of the drivers of corporate responses to shareholder activists. This study departs from previous studies by including a fourth possible corporate response, engaging in dialogue. Dialogue, an alternative to shareholder resolutions filed by activists, is a process in which corporations and activist shareholder groups mutually agree to engage in ongoing negotiations to deal with social issues. Based on a unique dataset of resolutions filed by member organizations of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility from 2002 to 2005 and the outcomes of these resolutions, our analysis finds that corporate managers are more likely to engage in dialogue with shareholder activists when the firm is larger, is more responsive to stakeholders, the CEO is the board chair, and the firm has a relatively lower percentage of institutional investors.     

Doha Development Round Perspectives

The Doha round got back on track in the summer of 2004. Where does it stand today? Has market access policy gained predominance over market regulation policy? Is the promotion of economic and social development becoming the “mainstream” of negotiations? What role does trade facilitation in developing countries play in this context? Is multilateral liberalisation compatible with the regional and bilateral opening of markets? Is further institutional reform of the WTO beyond the Doha agenda necessary? If so, what form could this take?*This article is based on a contribution made by the author to the International Policy Dialogue “Doha Development Round: Status and Prospects for Success” organised by the InWEnt gGmbH’s Development Policy Forum (Entwicklungspolitisches Forum, EF) in Berlin on 7/8 June 2005.     

Trade Disputes and Non‐state Actors: New Institutional Arrangements and the Privatisation of Commercial Diplomacy

Critical aspects of commercial diplomacy in the United States and the European Union are undergoing a process of gradual privatisation. We examine institutional arrangements that permit private groups (predominantly industry associations and firms) to petition for the initiation of trade disputes, propose agenda items for multilateral negotiations in the World Trade Organisation, and conduct negotiations on proposals for regulatory reform outside state‐to‐state channels. These include the United States’ Section 301, the European Union's Trade Barriers Regulation, formal consultation processes surrounding WTO negotiations, and the Transatlantic Business Dialogue. We explore the reasons why governments have opened up these new access points for industry, draw comparisons among the institutions and between the US and EU experience of them, and outline patterns of industry use of the petition mechanisms by broad industrial classification. Along with building theory on comparative private‐sector policy substitutability, we consider some of the normative issues raised by institutions for privatised commercial diplomacy.     

Achieving quality in social reporting: the role of surveys in stakeholder consultation

More companies are publishing environmental and social reports, but concerns remain about the extent to which these reports reflect a genuine intention of businesses to make themselves accountable for their social and environmental performance or whether they are merely a way of maintaining corporate reputation in the face of external criticism. Dialogue with stakeholders lies at the heart of Corporate Social Responsibility practice. While questionnaire surveys are a main method for consulting large stakeholder groups, little has been written about how the data used in CSR reports are generated. This paper argues that the survey method can be adapted in ways to promote dialogue and hence stakeholder inclusion, without loss of technical rigour. It presents a case study of how one company conducted a large-scale multinational employee survey and identifies key design features of the survey process that were used to enhance the quality of dialogue between the company and its employees. The purpose of stakeholder consultation and dialogue is to find mutually agreed solutions to identified issues of concern. It can only claim to be an ethical business practice if it strives to achieve this overarching purpose.