World Perspectives

ICT’s Importance; Future U.S. and EU Agriculture; LEADS Act

ICT’s Importance A decline in the growth rate of total factor productivity is common in mature economies even as government policies seek to accelerate it as a means of increasing wealth. The EU is seeking to tax America’s information and communications technology (ICT) companies while concurrently proposing subsidies to build its own. The value of this strategy is revealed in analysis (Transatlantic Technologies: The Role of ICT in the Evolution of US and European Productivity Growth; NBER Working Paper 27425) by Robert Gordon (Northwestern University) and Hassan Sayed (Princeton University). Rather than look at the larger economy, the economists looked specifically at 27 ICT-intensive industries in the services sector and fou...

Related Articles
livestock

Record Breaking Cow-Calf Profitability for 2025

Southern Plains cow-calf producers’ profitability outlook continues to defy all bullish expectations with projected returns surging to all-time highs. Returns on an inflation-adjusted basis are also forecast to rise above 2014 and 2015, which should provide producers with strong incentive...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for September 5-11, 2025 Wheat: Net sales of 377,500 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were up 24 percent from the previous week, but down 12 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 774,800 MT were up noticeably from the previous week and up 19 percent...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Looking for Demand Amidst Ample Supplies

Grain and oilseed trading was mostly in the red today, with livestock markets trading higher. Volume was higher today in soymeal, but otherwise it was modest and even relatively low in corn. Markets tend to drift when lacking any major new directional inputs.  USDA’s weekly Export Sa...

livestock

Record Breaking Cow-Calf Profitability for 2025

Southern Plains cow-calf producers’ profitability outlook continues to defy all bullish expectations with projected returns surging to all-time highs. Returns on an inflation-adjusted basis are also forecast to rise above 2014 and 2015, which should provide producers with strong incentive...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sales

Export Sales and Shipments for September 5-11, 2025 Wheat: Net sales of 377,500 metric tons (MT) for 2025/2026 were up 24 percent from the previous week, but down 12 percent from the prior 4-week average. Export shipments of 774,800 MT were up noticeably from the previous week and up 19 percent...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Looking for Demand Amidst Ample Supplies

Grain and oilseed trading was mostly in the red today, with livestock markets trading higher. Volume was higher today in soymeal, but otherwise it was modest and even relatively low in corn. Markets tend to drift when lacking any major new directional inputs.  USDA’s weekly Export Sa...

biofuel energy

How the EPA’s Anti-Decision Will Affect Biofuels and Soyoil

In mythology or legends, the hero is obviously identified – the “good guy” standing up for justice, not compromising what is right, and displays courage or other noble and admired qualities. Standing in contrast – but not quite opposite – to the hero is the anti-he...

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