As trade flows expanded and trade agreements proliferated after World War II, governments - most notably the United States - came increasingly to use their power over imports and exports to influence the behavior of other countries. But trade is not the only way in which nations interact economically. Over the past two decades, another form of economic exchange has risen to a level of vastly greater significance and political concern: the purchase...

"When it came into force in 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) joined the economic futures of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with rules governing trade and investment, dispute resolution, and economic relations." "However, economic integration among the three countries extends considerably beyond trade and investment. The NAFTA agreement takes a very narrow view of integration, barely addressing such vital issues as immigration...

"Examines trend toward digital means of consumer payments, asking several questions: How will digital money evolve? What impacts will technologies such as wireless devices have on payment for goods and services? What other technologies await consumers? And what will the consumer payments industry look like in the future?"--Provided by publisher.