Unconventional forms of international trade (such as counterpurchase, compensation deals and barter) have assumed rapidly growing importance, especially in many developing countries, as a consequence of the fall in commodity prices and the worsening of international debt problems since the oil...

During the 1970s the North-South Dialogue, which will shortly be continued at the summit in Mexico, was characterized by a gross disproportion between monstrous expenditure - with many losses due to friction - and negligible results. Symptoms of fatigue with regard to the Dialogue are spreading...