Daniel McGinn

In a much-watched Wall Street ritual, Warren Buffett will release his yearly letter to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway this weekend, marking the informal kickoff of annual-report season. The task shouldn’t be hard: Berkshire stock returned 21.4 percent in 2010. Other letter-writers aren’t so fortunate, such as BP CEO Bob Dudley, who will have to explain away the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster. NEWSWEEK turned to annual-report consultants for suggestions on spinning some of the thorniest corporate issues.

What do a $2,500 Tata Nano, a $250 Acer Netbook, and a $1,000 General Electric handheld electrocardiogram device have in common? According to Vijay Govindarajan, a professor at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, all three are examples of "reverse innovation"—a concept that's becoming the next big driver of globalization. "Historically, American companies innovated in the U.S. and took those products abroad," says Govindarajan, who coauthored a Harvard Business Review article on the idea with Dartmouth colleague Chris Trimble and GE chairman Jeff Immelt in October. "Reverse innovation does the opposite: companies now innovate in poor countries and bring the products to the U.S."Because they're designed for emerging markets, these products—like the Nano, a tiny automobile designed for India, or the GE EKG, priced far below a conventional unit—are dramatically less costly, making them appealing to frugal consumers in developed countries. Reverse innovation will also grow as...

Will the hotel that has hosted 26 presidents be around to receive Barack Obama?

Why America is falling behind and how to fix it.

The Green Rankings were created in 2009 with ASAP Media, a New York City media development firm founded by editors Peter W. Bernstein (pbernstein@asap-partners.com) and Annalyn Swan (aswan@asap-partners.com). It specializes in creating magazine, book, and online content.

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At the height of the housing boom, I became a long-distance landlord. Then my tenants came home to roost.

Wal-Mart has a unique vantage point for tracking the recession. How it's playing in the grocery aisles.

Inspired by Dr. Phil, Harvard's Elizabeth Warren has gone to D.C. to change the way America borrows.

Think smaller: Most CEOs have strategies for good times. This recession will require a new set of skills.

Can Facebook revive the real-estate market?

The best present any homeowner could hope for: a 4.5 percent mortgage.

For Dr. Doom, a Crash Worthy of His Warnings

When you walk through a FOR SALE house with a real-estate agent, you expect to hear gushing about the "solid bones" or the "great potential." But as I toured listings this year while covering the deepening housing crisis, I heard a different line of patter. "Hold your breath," advised one agent, taking me into a basement with a mold-infested indoor pool that left my sinuses burning. Graffiti on bedroom walls, missing appliances, boarded windows, even crime-scene tape—they're becoming the norm as foreclosed houses swamp the market. By some estimates, there are now more than 1 million foreclosed homes for sale, and with prices still falling, more homeowners are going "underwater"— owing more on their mortgage than their home is worth—every month.Touring a foreclosed home is like watching an episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in reverse. You can imagine the heartwarming scenes of family life that once played out inside, but now you're left with only a dwelling that's been...

High-end spas are feeling stressed-out about the economy.

One family's struggle to make ends meet.

In a down economy, a networking guru is hosting Football 101 tutorials. Her theory: being able to discuss sports may spur friendships and help build careers.

For a century, the place has been turning out corporate leaders. But it's not all cause for celebration. The institution has flaws, and now's the time to address them.

Are real-estate prices set to fall around the globe?

Selling foreclosed homes is a growth industry for brokers. But some of the properties are disgusting.

Whether it's McCain's seven houses or Obama's one, politicians aren't the only ones with shaky judgment about home-buying.

Hip, new extended-stay hotel chains cater to road warriors who expect amenities like flat-screen TVs, stainless-steel appliances and outdoor fire pits.

A new book examines the opportunities that lie in the housing crisis.

After years of hype, 'e-newspapers' are getting closer to reality. Can they save a shrinking industry?

Using a cell phone to find your dream home.

Homeowners are optimistic, but the forecasts are bleak.

WeatherBill sifts through historical weather data to calculate the odds it might rain or snow on any day or week.

Where and what the Bushes may buy in Dallas.

Rumors that Jobs is ill may be overblown, but he's seen as so central to Apple's success that investors are jittery.

Will higher commuting costs kill the suburbs?

New GPS-powered features could help reposition a gizmo that has historically appealed to the young and the reckless.