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A World of Trouble: Is the nightmare over?
With signs of economic recovery finally emerging, here's where things stand in 20 countries around the world.
BOSTON — In February, at the bleakest moment of the global economic meltdown, we asked 20 GlobalPost correspondents in 20 countries to assess the widening damage — from official government data to anecdotal evidence of how the drama was unfolding in the streets, hutongs, factories and fields across the planet.
They uncovered a world of trouble.
Then in April, after governments worldwide began stimulating battered economies with new spending and other rescue measures, we revisited those same 20 countries for an update. It was still ugly out there.
Now, with the first shoots of recovery popping up around the world we thought it was a good time to ask the question: is the nightmare over?
So we did. Twenty times over.
As you can see in the interactive map below, the answer is yes. But not everywhere (we're talking to you Mexico, Russia and South Africa).
And because the world is an endlessly fascinating place — even in the darkest of times — you'll also learn Argentines are having less sex, the size of Japanese TV screens matters, and why Thais have turned to furry panda masks.
(Editor's note: The data in these reports comes from official government sources and the International Monetary Fund, unless otherwise indicated.)
Woo hoo! Argentina, here I come!
If anything the "World of Trouble" seems to be getting worse in the UK, more job cuts announced yesterday at Vauxhall.
Recent on Commerce:
India: The farmer's unhappy wives
Hanna Ingber Win - India - February 8, 2010 13:30 ET
Indian widows struggle mightily after a rash of farmer suicides.
Chickens: made in Brazil, sold in Iraq
Seth Kugel - Brazil - February 8, 2010 06:51 ET
Brazil's exports to Iraq have exploded in the last year and poultry is leading the charge.
Greek prime minister fights "credibility deficit"
Nicole Itano - Europe - February 8, 2010 06:40 ET
George Papandreou has stuck by his pledge to increase transparency despite economic woes.
Chile safeguards its food export success
Lezak Shallat - Chile - February 7, 2010 09:18 ET
Traveling to Chile? Don't even think about sneaking in an apple and cheese.
Can Toyota Digg its way out of recall crisis?
Thomas Mucha - Commerce - February 7, 2010 09:07 ET
The reeling Japanese automaker turns from old school PR to new media.
Opinion: Africa needs free market economies
Marian Tupy - Worldview - February 6, 2010 11:51 ET
Gates money for vaccines will help Africa's children, but better economic policies will help them more.
On Location: Shoul, Morocco — On the organic food frontier
Solana Pyne and Erik German - Morocco - February 5, 2010 06:55 ET
NYU unveils labor guidelines for Abu Dhabi campus
Tom Hundley - Middle East - February 5, 2010 06:44 ET
Human rights advocates warn that the workers building NYU's new campus could be forced laborers.
Japanese consumers tighten spending
Sonia Narang - Japan - February 5, 2010 06:30 ET
Once a hallmark of Japanese consumer culture, convenience stores are the latest casualty of the worldwide recession.
On Location: Sinaloa — The front lines of Mexico's drug war
Ioan Grillo and John Dickie - Mexico - February 4, 2010 09:13 ET
Video: Moroccan winemaker thrives
Erik German - Morocco - February 4, 2010 09:12 ET
Despite Muslim prohibitions, wine produced and sold from vineyards older than Roman times.
Sierra Leone boosted by World Bank
Kimberly S. Johnson - Africa - February 4, 2010 06:42 ET
Country's economy is still rebuilding after devastating civil war.
Opinion: How did China get double-digit economic growth?
Joel Brinkley - Worldview - February 3, 2010 11:17 ET
By dealing with some of the world's most repugnant regimes. Iran is just the latest on a long, long list.
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Nigeria's oil rebels end cease-fire
Shyamantha Asokan - Global Green - February 2, 2010 06:48 ET
Crucial Niger Delta oil production threatened, Nigerians ask where is President Yar'Adua?
No porn, no gore, no sensitive politics: Censored in Indonesia
Peter Gelling - Indonesia - January 31, 2010 08:54 ET
Has Big Brother moved back to Jakarta? Does it matter?
Opinion: Uganda should consult Ghana on oil
Stephanie Hanson - Worldview - January 30, 2010 11:46 ET
Good planning and transparency should help population benefit from new find.
Fordzilla vs. Japan
Thomas Mucha - Commerce - January 30, 2010 09:40 ET
It may not be a giant radioactive lizard, but Ford is stomping all over Japan's auto industry.
Special Report
Thomas Mucha - Commerce - January 28, 2010 17:24 ET
20 correspondents, 20 countries and a world of pain. Meet the ground truth of the global economic crisis.
Top budget retirement destinations abroad
News Desk - Worldview - January 28, 2010 07:33 ET
Looking for a fabulous place to retire on a budget? GlobalPost picked 10 intriguing overseas locales where you can stretch every dollar.
Mac Rumor Alert: What Apple's "iTablet" could mean for Asia
Jonathan Adams - China and its neighbors - January 27, 2010 09:48 ET
Here's the latest chatter about the supply chain of the coming Apple gadget — if it really exists.
Watch GlobalPost videos:
Reporter's Notebook
As I previewed in this column over the weekend, Toyota's U.S. boss Jim Lentz today faced Digg's 40 million strong audience over the company's global...Read more >
As Toyota's quality problems mount, the company has thrown its PR machine into high gear. First, company president Akio Toyoda (and grandson of the...Read more >
Another day, another piece of bad news for Toyota. That trend continued again today, after the U.S. Transportation Department said it had opened an...Read more >
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