In a country that is already surpassing the USA in areas many thought impossible (internet usage, economic strength, etc) I suppose the last thing American businesses want is increased motivation within China. But, apparently, that’s exactly what Kung Fu Panda has done to people in China’s movie industry. If this prediction comes to pass I wonder how long until we see global blockbusters coming from places other than Hollywood.

There is a very interesting article in the May - June 2008 edition of AdBusters Magazine entitled “A New Kind of Capitalism”. The article features former Harvard Law School professor Roberto Mangabeira Unger. Unger, now the Minister of Strategic Affairs, is known for his (sometimes radical) leftist leanings and is now pushing what he calls “radical pragmatism”.

What piqued my curiosity is Adbusters’ summary of his view to stimulate the economy in Brazil: “Instead of a tiny business elite dropping crumbs for the country’s poor, a broad middle class of small business entrepreneurs would form Brazil’s engine of growth. These small enterprises would get access to the credit and tax benefits that big businesses more typically enjoy. The benefits of the market should be shared broadly, not monopolized by big business”.

Adbusters, admittedly, concludes “In a way, the idea is very much free-market orthodoxy”. So how does a man known for his leftist leanings come to promote a decidedly free-market (i.e. right leaning) idea? I’ve got a few thoughts, namely, that perhaps what the right has promoted as free-market is, in essence, not truly free-market, but big business communism; and, secondly, that Unger may be right (as in correct).

Especially, when you consider that famed international financier, George Soros, said at the recent World Economic Forum, “central banks have lost control” and that the global economy as we know it is heading for “systemic failure”. For additional food for thought on global economics I recommend reading Revolution Wealth by Alvin and Heidi Toffler.

I haven’t been to Dubai yet but from everything I’ve heard there is some really cool stuff happening there. The logo for the Dubai International Airport makes me think what I’m hearing is true. The logo was done by Cato Purnell Partners who specialize in “identity management and design.”

For me at least. No not this one. Rather one I started early Friday morning. It was going to be a quick entry about a new book we got for our boys and my appreciation of it. Somehow, though, the post has turned into a critique of logic and our abandonment of it in America. I worked on it some more this morning and it only got more complicated, so instead of delaying my next post until this mini-treatise is complete, I thought I’d drop a quick “sup?” to everyone and tell everyone of my wildly growing excitement for free market economies.

Being a business school grad, you hear “Adam Smith” and “free market stuff” from the very first semester in Econ 101.  However, I have taken it for granted and approached it appathetically for quite some time. However, a few projects I have encountered have forced me to look at the topic with a new set of glasses (as they say. Who are “they” by the way?)

Anywho (to avoid another rhyme), I am fascinated with free markets right now and am starting to notice some ways in which our global economy is restricted. (Ok, duh, but how else am I supposed to quickly articulate newfound discoveries my mind is making in a single sentence?) So, it obviously goes without saying that this does not make me an expert economist, but suffice it to say that I am reading and soaking in free market thoughts like crazy right now. More thoughts on this and the conclusion of my super-post soon.

I came across a firm called The Tribe located in Dubai. It’s made up of a bunch of former “big agency” cats. They do nice work and with Dubai growing at the rate it’s growing I’m sure they are poised for a successful run. On a (not-so-fun) side-note, I’ve been trying to work out a Dubai business arrangement for the last 6 months to no avail. Simon, if you’re reading this, light me up as I’d love to talk more about a potential deal.