
 
 Why the World Needs New Thinking America needs to get its groove back. In this era of change--in government, the markets, corporate behavior, and the management of information--here are 25 ideas to help set us on the right path
 
CORPORATION
 1: After Enron: The Ideal Corporation Following the abuses of the '90s, executives are learning that trust, integrity, and fairness do matter --and are crucial to the bottom line
 2: The Mea Culpa Defense The instinctive reaction of executives in times of scandal is to deny, deny, deny--then clam up. In many cases, the smarter response is a heartfelt apology
 
ECONOMY
 3: Crimes Against the Information Age In this era, the price of bad data can be disaster. When a company lies or inflates its numbers, everyone suffers: Investors, the financial markets, and even competitors
 4: After Greenspan Some thoughts on who could succeed the Fed Chairman
 5: When Business Is Scared Stagnant Fear is on the march. And this could make Americans retreat so much from taking chances that economic growth stalls
 6: The Rich Get Richer, and That's O.K. In the 1990s, the gap between rich and poor widened. But poverty rates fell to record lows
 7: The Copycat Economy Once, a hot new idea spelled years of fat profits. But these days, rivals are moving into markets before you can say "clone"
 
FINANCE
 8: Firepower for Financial Cops Nothing less than an overhaul of the SEC is due. Its job would be the same--protecting investors--but its cops would be out to bust criminals, not just sue them
 9: The Downside of Disclosure Too much data can be a bad thing. It's quality of information that counts, not quantity
 10: Abolish Paper Money O.K., O.K.--not all paper money, but certainly bills over $50. They'll be mourned only by tax cheats, drug dealers, and other criminals
 11: A Yardstick for Corporate Risk Current measures of a company's health--and its ability to handle adversity--are inadequate. Here's what we need to know
 12: Brainpower on the Balance Sheet Intangibles such as brands and intellectual property comprise well over half the market value of public companies. They should get toted up like other assets. The question is, where and how?
 
GLOBAL
 13: Small Is Profitable What will work in the developing world is a focus on inexpensive, downsized, simple-to-use products
 14: Lessons from the Fastest-Growing Nation: Botswana? GDP in the diamond-rich economy has skyrocketed thanks to free-market principles and prudent management. And its AIDS offensive is showing Africa the way
 15: Who's Hu? Don't know much about China's Vice-President? You might want to take a peek at the guy who's next in line for the top spot
 
TECHNOLOGY
 16: High Tech's Future Is in the Toy Chest Toymakers are pushing the boundaries in artificial intelligence, wireless communications, and virtual reality. And the benefits are flowing to other industries as well
 17: Vaunted Technologies That Don't Measure Up
 
WORKPLACE
 18: The Coming Battle for Immigrants The ability to absorb foreigners could determine whether nations in the industrialized world will grow or stagnate
 19: Rethinking the Rat Race Technology is making "all work and no play" a real possibility. How will we strike the proper balance of work and life?
 
HEALTH
 20: Welcome to the Health-Care Economy As time catches up with baby boomers, spending on medical care will skyrocket and set off a vast shift in the nation's resources. New investments in health could be a major engine of future growth
 21: Minimal Medicine New treatments aim to be less traumatic, shorter, cheaper, and more effective
 22: The Take-Charge Patient Now, you and your physician can be partners. That's healthier for everyone
 
SOCIETY
 23: Don't Kill All the Trial Lawyers When regulators fall short, it's up to plaintiffs' attorneys to put the hurt on corporate miscreants
 24: Didja C That Kewl Ad? What bewildered advertising executives need to know to pitch a wary generation
 25: The Importance of Teaching Tots Given the strong evidence of its benefits to society, preschool education for the poor--and perhaps all children--is a must
 
CODA
 The Art of Brainstorming Hiring diverse, even eccentric people, mixing them up in unexpected ways, and asking them to do something unusual can prompt surprising ideas
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SPECIAL REPORTS
JULY 29, 2002
The Angry Market
The blunt message: Investors are repricing stocks to reflect a more honest picture of earnings, options, and the future. Ultimately, that's good
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Can You Afford to Retire
The market has wrought particular disaster on retirement plans. But there are ways to keep nest eggs from cracking
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Gurus of Medical Tech
Meet five medical pioneers whose work reveals a sweeping range of innovations that promise to improve the lives of millions
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