World Perspectives

Summary of Weekend Reads

Back by popular demand. Hang on to your seat, this is a whirlwind review of this past summer weekend’s beach reads. Taxes: One of former President Donald Trump’s signature accomplishments was the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which his opponents derided for cutting the taxes of even rich people and reducing the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent while adding full expensing of investments. Most on the left called it a bailout for the well-off, merely expanding inequality. Liberal economics commentator Noah Smith reflected this view in 2019 but now concedes the policy’s rationale. Higher income taxes might deter individuals from working as hard, but high corporate taxes discourage business investment. He...

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WPI Grain Prices and Freight Rate App Note: you can also visit the app directly by clicking here. Supplemental Information The section below offers a concise view of the options available in the current version of the WPI FOB Price and Freight Rate app, along with a short “How To”...

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War and China The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran also involve China, tangentially if not directly. Iran has been supplying about 13.4 percent of China’s oil imports, roughly 1 million barrels per day. The attacks follow the U.S. removal of Venezuela’s leader, a country that is a s...

Schumer Planning a Bill to Force Divestiture in Meat Industry

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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.

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