Throughout human history, competition has been the primary driver of meaningful innovation. Unfortunately, this competition is too often limited to a few traditional competitors who all see things pretty much the same way. Recognizing this weakness, a set of public and private sponsors are establishing and running "formal competitions" aimed at addressing intractable technological challenges. These challenges range from low-cost space flight, to ultra-efficient vehicles, to making "personal genomics" an affordable technology. Competitors range from universities, to corporate giants, to entrepreneurial start-ups. Why is this approach so cost-effective? When does it make the most sense? What are the implications? We'll address these questions and more.

China, India, and the rest of the developing world can no longer rely upon affluent consumers in Europe, North America, and Japan to drive their growth. As the largest and fastest-growing of these economies, China will have to lead this transformation. Why is this important? What barriers need to be overcome? What will this mean for local enterprises, as well as for multinational corporations? What will this mean for your career, your investments, and your life? We'll show you.

Perhaps the most distressing element of the current recession is the way in which it has emboldened protectionists. Until recently, protectionist union leaders and antiglobalization anarchists were restricted to the fringes of business and policy making. But the Great Recession has given these people a degree of respectability not seen since the '70s. What's going on? More importantly, what are the long- and short-term implications? We'll provide the answers.