個案總覽

During the 1990s, environmental activists became interested in trade issues for the first time. Whereas GATT, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, had previously been the province of trade specialists, a new poster popular among environmentalists depicted the monster "GATTzilla," devouring the earth, dolphins, and democratic institutions. This case describes the conflict between environmental and trade values as it is manifested in various multilateral institutions and treaties: GATT, especially after its controversial ruling on a United States dolphin protection law; NAFTA, the North America Free Trade Agreement, for which environmental matters have become an unexpected stumbling block; the European Community, as it tries to harmonize member regulations; and multilateral treaties such as CITES (the convention on trade in endangered species), the Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting substances, and attempts to protect tropical timber.

Since winning independence in 1965, Singapore achieved some of the world's highest rates of economic growth. A large part of GDP and employment came from direct investment by multinational companies in low-cost assembly work, but in the 1990s Singapore's rising wage rates increasingly priced it out of these industries. Could Singapore change itself from an assembler and fabricator of Western-designed parts to a designer and marketer of desirable products? Lee Kuan Yew, "the father of Singapore," repeatedly had shown an ability to guide the nation through such transitions. Not only did his successor have no such track record, but the next transition might be the hardest yet.

Allied-Signal, Inc., one of the world's oldest chemical companies and today a diversified conglomerate, is liable for clean-up costs of old hazardous waste sites. These costs are substantial: reserves grew to nearly $500 million in 1991. Attempting to avoid further set-asides, and anticipating U.S.-style liability laws in Europe, environmental managers undertake a review of the company's three-part environmental control policy. With extensive programs for disposal-site inspection, auditing for compliance, and hazardous waste reduction, the managers try to optimize costs and liabilities by balancing waste disposal and reduction. The case recounts the formation of the control policy in response to legislation such as RCTA, Superfund, and the Toxics Release Inventory. Examines in detail the implementation of the three hazardous waste programs, analyzing the experiences of two plants. Exhibits include internal control documentation.

Outlines new government economic plans and first actions after election. To be handed out in class after discussion of main case.

Examines the causes of decline--economic, social, and political--of the Zambian economy since 1974. It takes place at the time of the election of Frederick Chiluba, in October 1991. Examines the problems of economic development in Africa, and especially, of structural reform away from closed, statist systems of government. Also examines the problems of external debt and the reliance on commodity industries to produce foreign exchange.