Daniel Kaufmann, Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development

Toyota Motor Corporation is the latest automotive maker to be confronted with production woes; unlike several of its competitors however, it is not centred on a bailout. The massive Toyota recall which has captured the attention of consumers, as well as transportation regulators, began in 2009 and has since grown to include 270,000 vehicles in Canada and 2.3 million in the United States. Several problems have been identified in recent months, from poorly fitted floor mats which threaten to jam pedals, to defective accelerator pedals that stick and cause sudden, unintended acceleration.

To build a better understanding of what is happening in North America in the classroom, our newest Teaching Modules highlight ongoing and emerging issues in the North American context: The North American Free Trade Agreement and North AmericaCase Study and Teaching Note by Stephen Blank    

On an annual basis, January in the United States is highlighted by two of the country's largest trade events of the year: The North American International Auto Show in Detroit and the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Both events are regularly used as a measure of future technological innovations, and the level of economic optimism existing in the market as seen through the number of conference attendees and the type of goods present. January 2009, for instance, showed dramatic signs of economic decline at both CES and the Detroit Auto Show.

Kristine Owram,, The Canadian Press