World Perspectives

Inflation Whiff; Indian Scraps; Capitol Coup

Inflation Whiff Kiev is not just battling a Russian-led insurrection in the Donbas but is also trying to fight food inflation, which hit 11.3 percent in 2021 and 13.3 percent in December alone. Its solution is price controls, limiting the margin earned on trading major food products to 10 percent. Meanwhile, the price of gas used to fertilize, process and transport food has climbed ten-fold over the past year. Price controls are an old tactic that most economists consider counterproductive. Since price is the primary means for regulating supply and demand, artificially suppressing the price increases demand for what otherwise might be a limited supply. The result is increased shortages and likely the creation of a black market where higher...

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From WPI Consulting

Infrastructure investment due diligence

On behalf of a Canadian oilseed processer WPI's team provided market analysis, econometric modeling and financial due diligence in support of a $24 million-dollar investment in a Ukrainian crush plant. Consistent with WPI's findings, local production to supply the plant and the facility's output have expanded exponentially since the investment. WPI has conducted parallel work on behalf of U.S., South American and European clients, both private and public, in the agri-food space.

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