Nuclear energy in a box!!

Heritage Foundation nuclear policy experts, JACK SPENCER and NICHOLAS LORIS tout the potential of small, modular nuclear reactors (SMR) in the generation of abundant emissions-free power. They argue in their opinion piece, "Small Nuclear Reactors, Big Energy Pay-Offs", that this nascent technology could significantly transform the nuclear industry due to its numerous advantages such as lower up-front capital costs, mobility, scalability and multi-functionality. They state that the current U.S. regulatory environment was dominated by inefficient licensing and rule-making, failed nuclear waste management policy leading to barriers to new nuclear technologies and call for a market-based approach that provided a stable regulatory environment, promoted competition, relied on private investment and sustainable economics.

Analyzing China Inc's M&A trends and future scenarios

DEREK SCISSORS of the Heritage Foundation analyzes China Inc.'s  global investments since 2005 across countries, sectors and investors quantifying it at $224 bn in successful investments and $140 bn in unsuccessful investments. In his analysis, "China Global Investment Tracker: 2011", Australia, U.S., Brazil, Canada and Iran, were the most popular destinations and energy, metals and finance accounted for over 80% of all investments. CNPC, Sinopec, CIC, Chalco and CNOOC were the top firms investing $120 bn or over 50% of Chinese cross-border mergers and acquisitions. 

CHARLES WOLF of the Hoover Institution states that China's appetite for acquisitions of foreign companies could quadruple from current levels of 6.6% share of global cross-border M & A by 2020 on the back of its growing trade surplus, diversification away from US debt and its appetite for natural resources, emerging technologies, and financial know-how.

In his Wall Street journal op-ed, "China's Next Buying Spree: Foreign Companies", he states that this would make China a more active and influential player in global mergers and acquisitions markets enhancing its integration into the world economy and could also lead to an improvement in China's domestic corporate governance practices. He states that there could also be a rise in tensions both within host countries and China on differential barriers to cross-border investments.

Asian geopolitics - in charts

WALTER LOHMAN, JOHN FLEMING and NICHOLAS HAMIESEVICZ of the Asian Studies Center of the Heritage Foundation state that the global financial crisis had impacted perceptions of American power and its relationships in Asia while these perceptions were not grounded on fact. In their report, "Key Asian Indicators: A Book of Charts", they provide a visual representation of factoids across the spectrum of economics, politics and defence to support their argument of American predominance across all areas in Asia and an absence of American power could lead to a decline of peace and prosperity in Asia.