41. Emerging Asia's precarious middle class
(Panorama/Society)

Poor countries typically have a tiny rich elite, large impoverished masses, and a very small "middle class".  When development succeeds, society's middle class expands as poor people escape poverty, and ...

42. Is China's economy in the balance?
(Panorama/Globalization winners)

... disparities in access to social services and opportunities have exacerbated inequalities, the rapidly increasing living standards among the poorest of society compare favorably with other middle- and low-income ...

43. Human dignity, water and revolutions in Africa
(Panorama/Development)

... such as having access to basic staple foodstuffs and to water, both to drink and for sanitation purposes. Poor political governance and moribund economic policies have failed to provide adequate protection ...

44. Aborigines' first contact with modernity
(Panorama/Culture)

... on the experience of Australia's aborigines, the Japanese, who are surrounded by countries with large and much poorer populations, may well be right in seeking to maintain their unique culture and life ...

45. Central Asia Update
(Panorama/Globalization)

... problem rose in the southern Kyrgyzstan. Social tensions in predominantly agrarian and poor South resulted into ethnic conflict between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. In Central Asian countries, state measures of ...

46. Asia and Europe
(Panorama/Globalization winners)

... do economically".  Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir recently said "in Asia we live within our means. So when we are poor, we live as poor people. I think that is a lesson that Europe can learn ...

47. 2012 -- a time to prepare for the long haul
(Panorama/Globalization)

... political tensions due to the wide income gap between rich and poor, labour unrest, human rights' abuses, rampant corruption, land grabs, and environmental damage.  Thus, with a change of leadership coming ...

48. Philippines' challenges
(Panorama/Development)

... are due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases from exposure to poor air quality. The fourth key issue to tackle is governance and political economy which is in fact the heart of the matter. For ...

49. Doing business in Asia
(Panorama/Investment)

... make dramatic progress in making it easier to do business.  For example, Indonesia, India and the Philippines all score very poorly when it comes to "starting a business", something which is not rocket ...

50. China's elites and development
(Panorama/Society)

... their societies. Globalization is having diverse impacts on elites.  International trade and investment usually benefit business and government elites more than poor people.  But globalization also constrains ...