[764] Of between globalization and public policy

I’m bored but I just want to share an article published by the New York Times. It’s Globalizing Good Government:

Globalization’s critics argue that a more open world economy sets off a race to the bottom by encouraging countries to jettison protections for consumers, workers and the environment. In reality, the opposite is true.

In the accompanying illustration, it looks like Malaysia by far is the second most globalized (tag) country within Southeast Asia. First is that island down south.

p/s – some people love to talk about how China is pushing Malaysia aside in every aspect, adversely affecting us. Especially protectionists. Actually no. In NST’s Business Times today, Malaysia is benefiting from China economic boom:

MALAYSIA ranks second globally on being positively impacted by the fast growing economy of China, according to an independent survey.

The 2006 Grant Thornton International Business Owners Survey (IBOS) found that Malaysian medium and large enterprises (MLEs) are benefiting from the Chinese economic boom.

That along with more than USD 2 billion Malaysian trade surplus with China prove that these pessimists are wrong.

pp/s – this season’s bastard kampioen is P$V. Mathematically confirmed. Ajax on the other hand lingers at fifth and if things don’t improve soon, Ajax might miss the chance to be in the next Champions League season (tag). Ajax needs at least fourth placing to qualify for the new weird Champions League playoff. For the why, see Wikipedia.

However, that won’t prevent me from celebrating Ajax’s 1 – 0 win over AZ! Hat off to Boukhari and Stekelenburg.