- 04 July 2008 |
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The Bush tax cuts are immensely polarizing, cleanly dividing the nation to those who entirely support or entirely oppose Bush's major domestic legacy. But the editors of Portfolio pithily argue that a wholesale acceptance or rejection is akin to a "Taliban-like fundamentalism" and largely ignore the juxtaposition of positive and negative measures in Bush's plan. While the plan has glaring negatives -- a reduction from 39.6 percent to 35 percent in income taxes for the nation's wealthiest -- it also has positives, like a reduction in capital-gains taxes that has proven to stimulate investment. Thus, come next January, a reasoned appraisal should trump indiscriminate action.
Posted 4:54, 2 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Will Russell
and edited by Brijit.
in Portfolio
by
Nancy Hass, April 2008
Leather goods purveyor Coach, managed since 1995 by CEO Lew Frankfort, faces challenges in the current economic climate. A pioneering proponent of accessible-luxury retailing, Coach, with 277 US stores, has watched its stock price fall sharply in recent months. Declining consumer confidence amid credit worries is suspected as a contributing factor, yet other luxury goods companies have not seen similar downturns. This quintessentially American brand, focusing on handbags and related accessories, has a 22 percent market share in North American and has begun looking to expand abroad. This agreeable, in-depth profile of Frankfort and his company examines it's character and competitiveness.
Posted 4:46, 2 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Cath Stockbridge
and edited by Brijit.
in Portfolio
by
Harriet Rubin, April 2008
Rubin offers an informative but depressing account of women's struggles with the "glass ceiling" and pay-gaps that characterize the US labor market. The progress that has been made, according to Rubin, has slowed down and in some instances, seems to be in reverse; women's positions, pay, and roles within professional occupations are taking a turn for the worst. While this article highlights the important issue of gender discrimination, it fails to engage with the current and highly relevant feminist contributions to the debates of women's subordination in the workplace. It's a solid piece but more depth is needed.
Posted 11:23, 2 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Joanne Loughlin
and edited by Brijit.
in Portfolio
by
Christopher S. Stewart, April 2008
This profile of Judge Radhi Hamza al-Radhi, the former head of Iraq's Commission on Public Integrity, reveals the US State Department's unwillingness to confront a seemingly bottomless depth of corruption in Iraq. Al-Radhi's investigations revealed that $18 billion of US taxpayer money disappeared at the hands of various government agencies, often funneled to anti-American militias. His evidence against the government led to threats against his life, causing him to flee to the US, where the State Department refuses to support his case for asylum. It's an insightful article that describes Iraqi corruption in great detail and provides evidence of the US government's mismanagement in Iraq.
Posted 11:01, 2 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Paula Jolin
and edited by Brijit.
in Portfolio
by
John Cassidy, April 2008
Cassidy makes a strong argument that the current credit crisis will become a worse recession than many economists think. The key is psychology -- the downturn was caused by credit and housing problems, factors that, Cassidy notes, greatly affect consumer confidence and, in turn, spending. As plunging housing prices lead to more homeowners with negative equity, foreclosures will rise, panic will spread, and people will spend even less. Cassidy's sensible solution is for regulators to eschew market-based solutions and look to the examples of Scandinavian countries who staged massive government interventions to save their economies in the 1980s and 1990s.
Posted 10:54, 2 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Chris Lugardo
and edited by Brijit.
in Portfolio
by
Howell Raines, April 2008
While popular opinion at The New York Times says that the Sulzberger family's grip on ownership is "bulletproof," former executive editor Howell Raines suggests that this isn't the case. In this brief piece, he details how financial hardship and competition -- mostly from Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal -- could force the Times to sell. By targeting traditional Times strengths such as foreign news, the Sunday magazine, and political reporting, Murdoch has created considerable instability at the paper. Without going into too much detail, Raines explores several possibilities for the future of the Times, including privatization or purchase by an affluent buyer. Michael Bloomberg, anyone?
Posted 8:48, 1 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Brian Willett
and edited by Brijit.
in Portfolio
by
Jesse Eisinger, April 2008
Failure is the new success, writes Eisinger as he profiles CEOs and chairmen who haven't yet seen the financial repercussions of their actions or inaction. Though they're quick to take "full responsibility" when things go awry, consequences rarely follow in a business and political spectrum where entitlement -- everyone deserves a shot, no one gets blamed for screwing up -- beats out the exceptionalism that used to prevail. While shareholders and employees reel from the recent economic troubles, heads of companies are doing fine with their bonuses and padded salaries. Though the article would benefit from a better structure, Eisinger's point is strong.
Posted 5:01, 1 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Francis Merlie
and edited by Brijit.
in Portfolio
by
Megan Angelo, April 2008
Angelo's recounting of what each Sex and the City star has been up to -- and earned -- since the HBO series ended is less of a smackdown and more of a pointless collection of words and pictures. Kim Cattrall earned approximately $600,000 for Ice Princess? Jason Lewis is now on an ABC drama? It's impossible to tell if the intent of this piece was to revive old rumors of behind-the-scenes tension, stir up interest in the upcoming Sex and the City film, or something else altogether. Eminently missable.
Posted 4:56, 1 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Sarah Erdreich
and edited by Brijit.
in Portfolio
by
Duff McDonald, April 2008
With the Chicago Cubs up for sale, McDonald worked with Anderson Economic Group's Chicago office to estimate a sales price. According to their calculation, a "rational" buyer should pay $606 million for the club, but the actual price could be $650 million or more. That's less than the $1 billion Sam Zell -- owner of the Cubs' parent, Tribune Company -- is hoping for, but close to the $660 million record set when the Boston Red Sox were sold in 2002. The article is a brief and interesting look at what makes up the value of a sports franchise.
Posted 4:53, 1 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Chris Lugardo
and edited by Brijit.
in Portfolio
by
Russ Mitchell, April 2008
Mitchell offers an interesting interview with Google CEO Eric Schmidt. His connection to Google has made him a multi-billionaire, with his own private jet and philanthropic foundation. Schmidt believes that a Microsoft-Yahoo tie up has the potential to "break the internet," as Microsoft's history indicates it would try to replace the net's interoperable, open architecture into something based on proprietary standards -- owned, of course, by MicroHoo. Mitchell asks how a company of Google's size and influence differs from Microsoft; Schmidt answers categorically that Google "won't trap user data in proprietary systems ... If I don't like Google, I can switch to Yahoo, Microsoft, or whatever."
Posted 4:52, 1 April 2008
This abstract was written by
Alan Matthews
and edited by Brijit.