World Perspectives

Complexity of Competitiveness

U.S. political leadership is focused on competitiveness but may be oversimplifying requirements for its achievement. Most specifically, the political system itself. The institutional framework is such that the most powerful special interests become favored. Public spending on education has been rising but there are a dozen countries with a higher share of the population holding college degrees and yet all rank lower in competitiveness. The measure of competitiveness used by IMD in Switzerland involves 334 criteria and not just GDP and productivity. A large negative for the U.S. is public finance where an exploding budget deficit has tripled in the past four years as a predicted drag on competitiveness. ...

Related Articles
feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Cattle Retreat on Import News; Corn Posts New Lows on Midwest Rains

With the June Acreage and Grain Stocks reports past, the CBOT resumed trading its favorite variable for the peak of summer – weather. For Tuesday’s trade, this meant a focus on five-year highs in corn ratings and an excellent outlook for the crop into mid-July at least, which were t...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Sep 25 Corn closed at $4.06/bushel, down $0.0325 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.49/bushel, up $0.1075 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.2725/bushel, up $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $287.6/short ton, down $1.7 f...

livestock

Feeder Cattle Import Update

As summer demand for beef is upon us, fed cattle hit $233 per cwt yesterday, having moved above $200 per cwt in April on tight supplies. The cattle herd as of 1 January was the smallest in more than 50 years, imports of feeder cattle from Mexico have been suspended due to the New World Screwwor...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Cattle Retreat on Import News; Corn Posts New Lows on Midwest Rains

With the June Acreage and Grain Stocks reports past, the CBOT resumed trading its favorite variable for the peak of summer – weather. For Tuesday’s trade, this meant a focus on five-year highs in corn ratings and an excellent outlook for the crop into mid-July at least, which were t...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Sep 25 Corn closed at $4.06/bushel, down $0.0325 from yesterday's close.  Sep 25 Wheat closed at $5.49/bushel, up $0.1075 from yesterday's close.  Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.2725/bushel, up $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Dec 25 Soymeal closed at $287.6/short ton, down $1.7 f...

livestock

Feeder Cattle Import Update

As summer demand for beef is upon us, fed cattle hit $233 per cwt yesterday, having moved above $200 per cwt in April on tight supplies. The cattle herd as of 1 January was the smallest in more than 50 years, imports of feeder cattle from Mexico have been suspended due to the New World Screwwor...

Prop 12 Lives, Long Live Prop 12; Power of Ag; Trump Power

Prop 12 Lives, Long Live Prop 12 Delineating the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution from the rights of the states has long been a legal fight in the U.S. Thus, it was notable last night when the U.S. Senate voted 99-1 to remove language from the Big Beautiful Bill that would have restric...

Image
From WPI Consulting

Weighing in on strategic realignment

WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.

Search World Perspectives

Sign In to World Perspectives

Don’t have an account yet? Sign Up