The outsourcing boom in India is raising political hackles in the United States and other developed economies. But, as Kamalakshi Mehta reports, the economics are simply too good to resist. This boom still has a long way to go. It is truly the face of the future – both for India’s bright young IT generation,…

The problems of public healthcare are too complicated for any one group to solve alone. Fighting the health problems that threaten global security and prosperity will require the broadest possible coalition of public and private interests. Henry McKinnell looks at the progress being made, the new partnerships that are forming and the pitfalls that lie…

Biotechnology has the capacity to change our lives greatly for the better, says Robert May. But it could also do massive harm. It is vital to establish where the social, cultural and ethical boundaries lie in a range of scientific fields – and to maximize the good use, while minimizing the misuse, of technological advance…

To discover the essence of leadership in the modern world , we must go back to the ancient philosophers. Without virtuous leadership in every sphere of human life, there can be no order and no progress, no security and no prosperity. Lou Marinoff offers an ABC guide to virtue ethics At the World Economic Forum’s…

Howard Dean may not win the US presidency – or even the Democratic nomination. But by harnessing the power of technology and the internet, he has transformed the nature of political campaigning in the US (and in other developed countries) and pioneered new ways to re-engage a disenchanted, disenfranchised public in the democratic process. Lance…

Human migration and displacement is one of the most complex challenges in today’s globalized, interdependent world. Finding lasting solutions to the problems raised by the mass movement of refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants will require commitment and partnership on a truly global scale, says Ruud Lubbers People have always moved across the world in…

The IFC and some 20 leading banks have voluntarily adopted common environmental and social standards in their financing of projects around the world. Is this just good PR? Do the so-called Equator Principles have teeth? Or is it a true breakthrough in terms of the financial community taking greater responsibility for the social and environmental…

Making use of new energy sources and protecting the planet from any further environmental degradation will require new types of partnership between the private sector and non-government organizations. But governments must be prepared to play their part as well. Jonathan Lash looks at how one such public-private partnership, aimed at boosting the use of green…

Hedge funds look set to take off as investors, scarred by recent losses, demand more rigorous management of their capital – and as regulatory changes make the previously clubby and secretive world of hedge funds available to a broader group of investors. Hedge funds always used to be seen as the bad boys of the…

In terms of its organizational resilience and flexibility, its structure and communications, al-Qaeda is not unlike a successful, smart company – or even a venture capital firm. It has a clear message, a charismatic leader, a firm purpose and is not afraid to delegate. Recognizing how it works might be a useful step towards learning…