The Idea Department
In one of his latest featured articles, Nobel Laureate in economics and Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz discusses the recent United States Supreme Court case arguments concerning the issue of intellectual-property rights, specifically in terms of human genetic testing.
Intellectual-property rights are rules that we create – and that are supposed to improve social well-being. But unbalanced intellectual-property regimes result in inefficiencies – including monopoly profits and a failure to maximize the use of knowledge – that impede the pace of innovation.
His heated arguments discussing the domestic and global impacts of cases such as these are creating quite a stir over at Project-Syndicate. Go on over and check it out.
(Illustration by Paul Lachine)
Professor and Author Ian Baruma on how the American government and other authorities respond to homegrown terrorism.
To read more, check out Ian’s featured article “America’s Enemy Within” over at Project-Syndicate.
Yes, that article title is correct. Before making an preconceived judgments, consider the topic and its author. President of the Council on Foreign Relations Richard N. Haass posits this situation with some controversial and critical statements.
…Like most temptations, the urge to gloat at America’s imperfections and struggles ought to be resisted. People around the globe should be careful what they wish for. America’s failure to deal with its internal challenges would come at a steep price. Indeed, the rest of the world’s stake in American success is nearly as large as that of the US itself.
For more of Haass’s creative commentary, go on over to Project-Syndicate. Don’t worry, America will still be here when you get back.
(Illustration by Paul Lachine)
As the United States continues to cope with the Boston marathon bombings, the first major attack on the country since 2001, Anne Marie-Slaughter discusses how the American reaction to these events has been dramatically altered since 9/11.
…Amid the shock and grief fueled by images of the bombing and the many victims with shattered, shredded limbs, Americans found at least a little bandwidth to comprehend that bombs are still a feature of daily life in Iraq and Syria. Today’s America is one that recognizes that it is not the world’s only country, and by no means the worst off.
Slaughter’s critical analysis of the response of both the American public and media continues over at Project-Syndicate.
(Illustration by Paul Lachine)
For a child, receiving a vaccine takes just a moment (and perhaps a few tears). But such moments are crucial for getting children off to a healthy start in life, and for advancing progress on global health and development goals.
Talk about a tag team. In one of Project-Syndicate’s newest commentaries, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Gates Foundation Co-Chair Bill Gates discuss the positive impact vaccines and disease eradication can play in the development of low-income countries— particularly for their children.
Intrigued by the debate on how to improve upon these global development goals (or if you just like the sound of Bill Gates’ name)? Go on over to Project-Syndicate to read more of this great commentary and other similar opinions in the Visionary Voices Focal Point.
