Should Chinese Local Governments Be Allowed to Issue Bonds?

I.IntroductionDespite China’s impressive economic growth,its fiscal sustainability has increasinglybecome one of the most watched risk indicators facing the economy.Although China’sexplicit national debtto GDP ratio israther manageable by theOECD standard,at about20 percent of GDP,given its small share of tax revenue to GDP,currently at18.5percent ofGDP,this fiscalsystem may stumble upon major challenges in themedium to long term ifChina’slargecontingent fiscal liabilitiesare als…     

马上男儿的选股秘诀

郝特韦经常练习一种特殊的双人骑马运动,这需要他和他的骏马,以及另一个人---通常情况下是他的儿子马克斯---共同练习。在这项比赛中,两名参赛者需要轮流骑马竞速。对于他投资的股票,62岁的郝特韦喜欢这样打趣:“有些在飞驰,有些还在小跑。”可是,就是这样的投资组合近10年来为郝特韦基金带来了年均16.2%的高收益率,比标准普尔500指数高出整整4.7个百分点。他评估股票的主要方法便是自由现金流法。经营性现金流减去资本支出,所剩下的余额就是自由现金。私有公司的老板更关注自由现金而非净利润,因为自由现金能给他们更大的余地,来安排资本用…     

Beyond takeovers: politics comes to corporate control

In the 1990s, politics will replace takeovers as the defining tool for corporate governance challenges, and a marketplace of ideas will replace the frenzied activity that once dominated the financial marketplace in the 1980s. In the transaction-driven market of the past, corporate raiders used junk bonds and other financial tools to take control of their targets. In the new marketplace of ideas, debate will replace debt as active shareholders press specific operating policies for their target corporations in a new politicized market for corporate control. John Pound, associate professor of public policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, reports that investors are already using shadow management committees, independent director slates, and outside experts to influence management policy. Pound cites Carl Icahn's battle for control of USX as an example of the emerging trend. What began as a hostile takeover ended with a negotiated solution in which many constituencies ultimately played a role in the restructuring of the company. This political approach to governance gives management a chance to embrace a bargain that is in its long-term interest. By promoting politically based tactics, managers can generate political capital with their major investors. Managers in companies as diverse as Avon and Lockheed now meet regularly with investors, seeking their input on both financial and strategic decisions. In the new politicized market for corporate control, striking a bargain with long-term investors is ultimately in the best interest of the corporation.     

AIDS wars

At the Centers for Disease Control, director William L. Roper battles the deadly AIDS epidemic and other rising health hazards. But critics say political interference sets back the effort to stem AIDS.     

The right cure for health care

An aging population with nearly unlimited access to high-priced doctors and technology is pushing medical costs skyward. Managed care is the best way to bring them down.     

减少汽车业的浪费

汽车制造商和零件供应商可以节省巨大开支，但前提是双方要更为紧密地合作在一起麦肯锡的研究表明，北美汽车业每年在产品开发和组装过程中由于汽车生产商与供应商缺乏良好的计划和协调不当，造成了超过100亿美元的浪费。事实上．这只是较为保守的估算。因为我们的研究仅涵盖了供应商发生的成本，如：附加设计、生产工具最后改型和零件自身的附加成本。这还不包括因设计问题生产商需额外支付的改型费用、生产问题引发的车辆最终成本的增加或质保支出。这几项每年给汽车行业带来的浪费约为120亿美元。     

哈林顿专栏检验、纠正、预防、选择:质量工作者的角色转变

回顾自己40年的质量工作生涯,我认为可以将质量工作大致划分为四个阶段: 检验:20世纪70年代我们关注检验.质量组织致力于防止制造商装运不符合规范的产品.质量工作者是顾客的保护者,几乎会跑去躺在卡车前面,阻止制造商将不合格产品装车后带离码头.质量工作者的基本角色是警察.制造过程中约10%的工作与质量保证性检验相关.这属于质量控制范畴.