Its work is also supported by an International Committee (Internationaler Ausschuss), responsible for advising the municipal council and administration on all matters of integration and diversity.

UNESCO: Social and Human Sciences

But his target audience, civil servants at the federal, provincial and municipal levels plus students of public administration at Canadian universities, is large enough to propel him up the rankings.

ECONOMIST: A tool for linguistically joined-up government

As mayor of Ribeirao Preto, a city of 500, 000 in Sao Paulo state, Mr Palocci privatised some municipal services and brought businessmen into his administration.

ECONOMIST: Brazil's presidential election

The measures, including home buying curbs and differentiated mortgage policies, will remain, Liu Haisheng, director of the Shanghai Housing Support and Building Administration Bureau, told a municipal conference held Wednesday.

FORBES: Shanghai Continues To Choke Housing Market

Mike Nicholas, the CEO of Bond Dealers of America and an organizer of the Municipal Bonds for America coalition, notes that the Obama administration and Congress are desperate to find more revenue as the country faces the dire ramifications of reaching its debt limit and not being able to pay its bills.

FORBES: Muni Bond Group To Washington: Hands Off Our Tax Exemption

Municipal commissioner of Mumbai, John Joseph, told the AFP news agency the administration was doing its best and all holiday had been cancelled.

BBC: NEWS | South Asia | Rains return to devastated Mumbai