Like Land Rover and Mercedes, BMW lags in offering small-displacement, fuel-efficient engines in the United States.

FORBES: New Baby Benz a Sign of Things to Come: Efficient Luxury

Inadequate in the smaller Jetta and a cruel joke in the Passat, the 2.5L will be replaced with a small-displacement gas-turbo engine for model-year 2013, and not a second too soon.

WSJ: 2012 Volkswagen Passat 2.5 SEL Review: Cost-Cutting Done (a Little More) Right | Rumble Seat by Dan Neil

Another type of early impact relates to dispossession and forced displacement of small farmers, pastoralists and indigenous peoples.

UNESCO: Madiodio Niasse on the risks associated with large-scale foreign land aquisitions | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Also, youth sports tournaments in small-town USA are not likely to be hampered by displacement effects.

FORBES: Educating Sports Commissions and CVBs About the Economic Impact of Sports