North America
Extensive corruption in Quebec undermines competition
Will Quebec’s Charbonneau Commission succeed in rooting out corruption, or will the crooked culture persist? The answer to that question will have a substantial impact on the province’s prospects for
5 takeaways from the US court ruling against net neutrality
What should we make of a federal court’s shooting down the FCC’s net neutrality regulations? A US federal court recently ruled that the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 2010 regulations enforcing
Gang, cartel violence threatens Mexico’s economic goals
Mexican government forces have stepped up security measures in an attempt to quell clashes between vigilante groups and drug cartels in several towns. Over the last year, vigilante groups have
U.S. Congress allows R&D tax credit to expire
If the credit is extended sometime in 2014 it may not affect companies’ research departments, but it still will throw uncertainty into earnings reports and tax management. On January 1,
Are loans causing U.S. financial markets to overheat again?
Low interest rates in the U.S. enabled the 2013 bull market but have also created the conditions for another credit bubble. Covenant-lite loans, the latest financial innovation, could spell trouble.
Shale boom prompts calls for expanded US oil and gas exports
As US energy production increases from newly tapped shale resources, powerful voices are calling for a reexamination of the limitation on US crude exports and for a faster process permitting exports of liquefied
Oil privatisation central to Mexico’s economic overhaul
In an act that was met with mixed views by its public, Mexico’s nationalised oil sector has been opened for private investment for the first time in 75 years. In
Oil glut could pose risk for U.S. shale oil revolution
With oil production reaching a historic peak, the U.S. may have to reconsider its 40-year-old ban on oil exports. The year 2014 could pose a milestone for the U.S. oil
Expiration of jobless benefits poses growth risk to US economy
With benefits for the long-term unemployed ending at the beginning of 2014, forecasters are downgrading US growth projections. For 1.3 million long-term unemployed workers in the US, 2014 starts with
U.S. Congress has a budget deal, but more uncertainty lies ahead
Despite the successful Ryan-Murray budgetary agreement, another U.S. Debt Ceiling Debate Looms on the Horizon. A compromise brokered by Republican Representative Paul Ryan and Democratic Senator Patty Murray is poised
