Shifting patterns of U.S. trade with selected developing Asian economies

Balance of trade ; Asia ; Korea ; Taiwan ; Malaysia ; Thailand

In brief: economic capsules--U.S. trade with Taiwan and South Korea

Taiwan ; Exports ; Korea ; International trade

The shifting composition of U.S. manufactured goods trade

Finished goods are claiming an increasing share of U.S. imports, while their share of U.S. exports has remained virtually unchanged in recent years. These divergent developments may suggest some erosion of the United States' traditionally strong competitive position in the production of finished goods. The author examines the factors underlying shifts in our trade composition and the implications of recent trends for the nation's trade outlook and competitiveness.International trade ; Manufactures ; Capital investments

Recent trade liberalization in developing countries: the effects on global trade and output

Many developing countries are currently easing import tariffs and other barriers to trade. This article estimates the impact of these reforms on international trade flows and global output under alternative assumptions about the ability of developing countries to finance increased import purchases. Particular attention is given to the effect of these reforms on the U.S. economy. The author also considers how the trade policies of the United States and other industrialized countries may influence the trade and output effects of the reforms.International trade ; Developing countries ; Tariff

Japanese trade balance adjustment to yen appreciation

Japan ; Yen, Japanese ; Balance of payments

The competitiveness of U.S. manufactured goods: recent changes and prospects

Competition ; Manufactures ; Prices ; International trade

Explaining the persistence of the U.S. trade deficit in the late 1980s

The U.S. trade deficit was twice as large a percentage of U.S. GDP in 1989 as in 1979 although the value of the dollar and the level of U.S. demand relative to foreign demand were roughly comparable in both years. This article investigates the reasons for the deficit's magnitude in the late 1980s. Particular attention is given to two prominent theories about the persistence of the deficit, one focusing on the relationship between exchange rate movements and capital stock developments and the other on shifts in the structure of U.S. trade flows.Investments, Foreign - United States ; Capital investments ; Balance of trade

Cost Savings of Universal Decolonization to Prevent Intensive Care Unit Infection: Implications of the REDUCE MRSA Trial

ObjectiveTo estimate and compare the impact on healthcare costs of 3 alternative strategies for reducing bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit (ICU): methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nares screening and isolation, targeted decolonization (ie, screening, isolation, and decolonization of MRSA carriers or infections), and universal decolonization (ie, no screening and decolonization of all ICU patients).DesignCost analysis using decision modeling.MethodsWe developed a decision-analysis model to estimate the health care costs of targeted decolonization and universal decolonization strategies compared with a strategy of MRSA nares screening and isolation. Effectiveness estimates were derived from a recent randomized trial of the 3 strategies, and cost estimates were derived from the literature.ResultsIn the base case, universal decolonization was the dominant strategy and was estimated to have both lower intervention costs and lower total ICU costs than either screening and isolation or targeted decolonization. Compared with screening and isolation, universal decolonization was estimated to save $171,000 and prevent 9 additional bloodstream infections for every 1,000 ICU admissions. The dominance of universal decolonization persisted under a wide range of cost and effectiveness assumptions.ConclusionsA strategy of universal decolonization for patients admitted to the ICU would both reduce bloodstream infections and likely reduce healthcare costs compared with strategies of MRSA nares screening and isolation or screening and isolation coupled with targeted decolonization