Making Minds Matter with Bill Costello » Economics

Thinking Outside the Base

Bill Costello — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:32:05 +0000

The U.S. military needs to reinvent itself. If it continues to hold on to antiquated paradigms, U.S. national security could be at risk.

Consider what’s happening in China. The nation’s rapidly growing economy has enabled it to significantly increase its military budget. Over the past decade, China’s military-related spending has roughly doubled.

In a recent issue of [...]

The Extra Box Asians Must Think Outside Of

Bill Costello — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:05:37 +0000

One significant way Asian cultures differ from Western cultures is that group identity is more important than individual identity. This factor limits the ability of Asians to “think outside the box.”

I’ve had the opportunity to learn much about group identity in Asian cultures while living in Japan over the past year and a half and [...]

Cambodia’s Impoverished Education System

Bill Costello — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:13:07 +0000

I recently traveled to Cambodia to research their education system. During my visit, I stopped by the campus of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, the oldest and largest university in the nation, to talk to professors, administrators, and students. I also visited the Chroy Changvar Primary School in Phnom Penh where I observed students [...]

Malaysiannovation

Bill Costello — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:15:40 +0000

During a recent visit to Malaysia, I had the opportunity to visit the University of Malaya (UM).

Located in Kuala Lumpur, UM is the highest ranking and oldest university in Malaysia. According to the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings 2009, it’s ranked as the 180th best university in the world.

Dr. Mahzan Arshad, associate professor of [...]

Can Innovation Thrive in Singapore?

Bill Costello — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:41:48 +0000

I recently traveled to Singapore to research their national education system. During my visit, I stopped by the campuses of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the National Institute of Education (NIE)—Singapore’s only teacher-training institute—to talk to professors, administrators, and students.

According to the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings 2009, both universities rank in [...]

Koreativity

Bill Costello — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:30:09 +0000

On a recent trip to Korea, I visited Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul and saw magnificent statues of two Korean heroes: King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-shin.

Both men were remarkably creative. Their accomplishments exemplify Korea’s rich history of innovation.

King Sejong was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty. In the 15th century, he created [...]

Korea’s National Innovation System

Bill Costello — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:42:41 +0000

Korea is currently one of the most innovative countries in the world. This was made possible in part by the establishment of a national innovation system by the Korean government shortly after the First Five Year Plan for Economic Development was introduced in 1962.

Over the past half century, the government has implemented a series of [...]

Hong Kong Universities Focus on Innovation

Bill Costello — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:32:12 +0000

In the city of Shenzhen, directly north of Hong Kong, universities have been setting up research institutes in the Shenzhen Virtual University Park. Among them are four of the top five Hong Kong universities: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Polytechnic [...]

Shenzhen’s High-Tech Incubator

Bill Costello — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:14:02 +0000

Shenzhen Virtual University Park is situated within the Shenzhen Hi-tech Industrial Park (Shenzhen HIP), which focuses on the development of biology, electronics, information technology, optical electromechanical integration, pharmaceuticals and other high-tech industries. Shenzhen HIP serves as center for collaborative projects between university research institutes, investors, and high-tech firms that transform scientific and technological achievements into [...]

Research Institutes in Shenzhen

Bill Costello — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 02:05:04 +0000

The research institutes set up by universities in the Shenzhen Virtual University Park consist of labs, classrooms, and administrative offices. They offer training to research staff and students, establish high-tech enterprises, develop advanced technologies, and commercialize research outputs. The park has produced tens of thousands of postgraduates.

Shenzhen Virtual University Park

Bill Costello — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 02:17:22 +0000

The Shenzhen Virtual University Park in China is a win-win situation for the city of Shenzhen and the Hong Kong universities setting up research facilities there. Prior to the park’s opening, there were only two colleges in Shenzhen. More were required to train enough workers for the burgeoning manufacturing hub. So Shenzhen built the park [...]

Why U.S. Immigration Policy Needs Tweaking

Bill Costello — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:24:07 +0000

In the current issue of BusinessWeek, Michelle Conlin writes that the percentage of top MBAs from U.S. universities who are taking jobs in Asia has more than doubled since 2005. It’s now over 10 percent of the graduating class.

What’s luring them to the East? More opportunities to make an impact, work in an emerging market, [...]

Give Me Your Skilled Masses

Bill Costello — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:12:41 +0000

While immigrants represent only 12 percent of the U.S. population, their economic and intellectual contributions have been significant. They’ve started more than half of the technology companies in Silicon Valley and contributed to over one quarter of U.S.-originated international patents.

Offering skilled immigrants permanent residence instead of temporary visas will increase the number who come to [...]

Opening the Door for Skilled Immigrants

Bill Costello — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:02:28 +0000

In order for the U.S. to maintain its competitive edge in the global economy, it needs to focus on attracting skilled professionals.

One of the best ways to do this is by allowing more skilled immigrants to become permanent residents. I’m not talking about unskilled, illegal immigrants who sneak in the back door. The kind of [...]

Green Cards for Immigrant Job Creators

Bill Costello — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:17:34 +0000

Yesterday, I blogged about the StartUp Visa Act. Proposed by U.S. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) , the act would provide incentive for immigrant entrepreneurs to create jobs in the U.S.

The StartUp Visa Act is a step in the right direction. It will help keep jobs and innovation in the U.S. These [...]

StartUp Visa Act

Bill Costello — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:57:22 +0000

U.S. Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) recently proposed the StartUp Visa Act, which would provide incentive for immigrant entrepreneurs to create jobs in the U.S.

If passed, the act would create a two-year visa for any immigrant entrepreneur who can secure at least $250,000 from U.S. investors. At the end of the two [...]

Sea Turtles

Bill Costello — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:30:46 +0000

International students are increasingly choosing to return to their home countries to work and start new businesses. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that over 40 percent of non-U.S. doctoral degree recipients intended to leave the U.S.

Even highly educated and skilled immigrants who have worked in the U.S. for years are returning home. [...]

MBAs Heading East

Bill Costello — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:42:19 +0000

Chinnovation

Bill Costello — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:54:14 +0000

Martin Jacques’ new book, When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order, is causing controversy.

Is it possible that China will “rule the world” in the not-so-distant future? Perhaps, but only if it’s able to successfully transform from an industrial-based economy to a knowledge-based economy, [...]

China’s Renaissance of Innovation

Bill Costello — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:25:56 +0000

Martin Jacques’ new book, When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order, is causing controversy. Is it possible that China will “rule the world” in the not-so-distant future? Perhaps, but only if it’s able to successfully transform from an industrial-based economy to a knowledge-based [...]