By 2022, those living in poverty will be a minority for the first time, as the global middle class – particularly from BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) nations – surges. Does new affluence signal shifting global power?
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Cambodia launches first stock exchange - sort of
Cambodia officially opened its first stock exchange. The problem? There aren't any stocks to trade.
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Why the Greek crisis has global reach
Portugal and Ireland may follow Greece in asking for more financial help, which could drive up the cost of borrowing money across Europe and elsewhere.
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Horizons
iPad 3 could get OLED screen
The iPad 3 drumbeat has begun. Among the first rumors: The Apple device will ship with an OLED screen.
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Wave of anger blankets Athens as Greece weighs new austerity measures
Tens of thousands of protesters crossed police lines as Greece's parliament prepared to vote on new austerity measures to avoid what could be a devastating default.
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Africa Monitor
West Africa Rising: Liberia aims to tap riches, wean itself off aid by 2021
After guiding Liberia to stability after years of civil war, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf hopes to take advantage of the country's natural resources to transform it into a middle-income nation.
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China pushes rail links into southeast Asia: Is Laos aboard?
China's ambitious rail project in Laos could bring prosperity, some say. But others in region doubt that’s high on Beijing’s agenda.
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Africa Monitor
West Africa Rising: Why Indian firms are bidding to buy up Nigeria's decrepit electrical grid
More than 200 companies – including India's Tata Group, New Jersey's Honeywell Energy, and Nigerian conglomerate Dangote Group – have signed up to own a rusty piece of Nigeria's grid.
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Ghana takes steps to avoid oil curse
The 'model' West African nation of Ghana last week announced a five-year road map to make sure the economy is not overly dependent on oil, but the policy papers are short on details.
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Africa Monitor
West Africa Rising: Can big infrastructure projects help Sierra Leone lure investors?
At an investment conference in the capital city of Freetown last week, President Ernest Bai Koroma described his hopes to build a massive new bridge, new airport, and new city in the sleepy village of Lungi.
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Can France's Christine Lagarde get Brazil's support for her IMF bid?
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde is seeking to replace her compatriot Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned as IMF managing director earlier this month after he was arrested for sex crimes in New York.
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How the American dream went global: interview with Fareed Zakaria
Even as America’s middle class plateaus, says author and CNN host Fareed Zakaria, emerging nations are celebrating a confident new class of consumers.
- Africa Monitor: West Africa Rising: Why Indian firms are bidding to buy up Nigeria's decrepit electrical grid
- Ghana takes steps to avoid oil curse
- Africa Monitor: West Africa Rising: Can big infrastructure projects help Sierra Leone lure investors?
- Can France's Christine Lagarde get Brazil's support for her IMF bid?
- Latin America Monitor: Mexico's stable economic outlook a rare piece of good news
- Stefan Karlsson: Growing Germany has less inflation than shrinking Greece
- Peru, Colombia, and Chile merge stock markets
- Stefan Karlsson: Greek default may be likely, but not inevitable
- Kung Fu Panda 2: Hollywood works harder to win Chinese audiences
- Horizons: How 'cookiejacking' could steal people's Facebook passwords
- Change Agent: Peter Thiel gives $100,000 each for 24 youths to skip college
- Horizons: Mac Guard: Apple users hit by second Mac malware scam
- Horizons: Google Wallet turns phones into credit cards
- Two years after end of Great Recession, how are we doing?
- Follow the money: Should the US cut aid to Pakistan?
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In Pictures: Living in Vladivostok after Soviet times
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In Pictures: The Rising Global Middle Class
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Are you middle class? Take our quiz to find out.
Even though it's widely used by politicians, the term "middle class" is notoriously vague. Almost everyone identifies themselves as middle class, regardless of their income. Are you part of the middle class? Take our quiz and find out.
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Strauss-Kahn resignation: Who are his potential successors?
The International Monetary Fund’s managing director has traditionally been a European male, often a Frenchman. But with Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s resignation amid sexual assault charges, the job is available. A woman is among the leading candidates, and contenders from emerging markets may vie for the top spot. Here’s a look at the possibilities.
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Can Adam Smith save your marriage? Four steps of 'Spousonomics'
Every marriage is a little business. "Economics is about how to allocate scarce resources," says Paula Szuchman, coauthor with Jenny Anderson of "Spousonomics: Using Economics to Master Love, Marriage, and Dirty Dishes." "That's what married people are trying to do, given that they have limited resources – time, money, patience." Marriage experts and even economists aren't ready to replace Dear Abby with Adam Smith. "Marriage is more than an economic transaction." says Raymond Fisman, a Columbia University economist. Still, he's a fan of the book. Test these four economic principles on your marriage:
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Eight ways $100 oil may affect you
Here are eight ways that higher energy prices are starting to affect America.
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