Economy

Public support for the governing Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has rebounded a bit since mid-2012, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s party will have to boost its numbers further before it can be confident of winning another majority at an election required by October 2015. In that regard, the CPC is unlikely to repeat its […]

The two-stage municipal elections held in October 2012 were closely watched as a gauge of the effect of a notorious vote-buying scandal on the popularity of the main governing PT. In that regard, the results suggest that the PT remains in a strong position to retain control of the presidency in 2014.

<p>Although I am uncertain how the majority of Americans view this Washington sequestration soap opera, many small business owners are disgusted. Sequestration is just another example of mismanagement in a long line of examples. This is no way to run a superpower. Government is not a business. It has different goals and objectives. Small business [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Most Americans have recognized the valuable contributions of veterans and members of our military services ever since the founding of the Republic. What’s surprising to many is this: veteran entrepreneurial accomplishments also create tremendous economic value not only for themselves, but also for American cities and towns. Their leadership in the re-newel of American communities [&hellip;]</p>

Commercial letters of credit (CLCs) are the most actively used structured payment instruments in international trade. They have been available for decades — long enough for exporters to have figured out how to effectively use them. If only this were true. In reality, large numbers of exporters are not aware of the pitfalls.

Today we are faced with government debates about the importance of managing national debt. The President’s State of the Union Address did not show a strong movement towards debt reduction. Those of us who worry that growing debt can and will lead to another economic crisis in the U.S. often point toward U.S. fiscal policy [&hellip;]

President Barack Obama won his budget pound of flesh in the “fiscal cliff” showdown. Taxes on the “rich” are going up. But that hasn’t solved Washington’s deficit crisis. Nor would approval of the new taxes that he proposed help avoid the impending budget sequester.

In the past decade, Latin America has appeared more visibly on the radar screens of many companies considering expansion of their global footprint. More of these companies today are deciding to set up manufacturing facilities, distribution centers or services operations in this market. Since 2003, nearly 8,000 international companies have established new “greenfield” operations in [&hellip;]

Mali’s risks remain heightened as its conflict continues to evolve. French-led international military intervention since 11 January has successfully repelled rebel forces to the more remote northern regions. Yet the country remains vulnerable to reprisals from both secular Tuareg separatist fighters and Islamist guerrillas linked to Al-Qaeda, which have regrouped among the safety of the [&hellip;]

<p>The current times are disheartening. We are in uncharted waters. Nevertheless, through my columns, I admit to being a cheerleader. I do not apologize for this. As an entrepreneur, I find it useful to think about where we are, where we have been, and where we can go in the future.</p>

Prior to the 1990s, it was acceptable for business and technical professionals not to fully understand the workings of intellectual property (IP). In fact, IP was largely viewed as an isolated topic for legal or research and development departments to handle. In turn, many innovative and high-tech firms didn’t even file for patents. However, due [&hellip;]

Government financial support for corporate facility investment and expansion continues to be a common practice in most parts of the world. For the right project, economic development agencies in many parts of North America and Asia can be remarkably flexible and creative in structuring an attractive incentives package.

The voters have spoken. The U.S. election of November 2012 resulted in very little visible change — Democrats retain control of the White House and the Senate, Republicans the House of Representatives and most governors’ mansions — 30 as of January. The U.S. remains a nation split fairly evenly along party lines, just as it [&hellip;]

<p>Executives often ask me what the latest trends I see developing in the leadership field are. One trend I always point to is a widespread shift to “applied leadership.” Applied leadership is the practical and tangible implementation of leadership skills specific to a given work environment or business initiative. It is based on actual, hands-on [&hellip;]</p>

The fragile three-party coalition government formed after two parliamentary elections held last year failed to produce a decisive winner. And the unwillingness of some coalition lawmakers to back various elements of a harsh austerity program dictated by the EU and the IMF has reduced the government’s majority in the 300-member Parliament from 179 seats to [&hellip;]

In late 2012, the center-left government led by President François Hollande was dealt a major blow to its economic policy credibility. The constitutional council ruled that a 75 percent income tax rate imposed on individuals earning more than $1.3 million annually was not consistent with the French ideal of equality before the law. The very [&hellip;]

As a small business owner, I knew it was coming. As a skeptic of any pronouncement by the White House relating to healthcare, I knew consumers and small businesses would get socked with higher rates. And as an employer that works with private health insurance providers, I knew they would be able to manipulate Obamacare [&hellip;]

With Michigan becoming the 24th state to adopt a right-to-work law, the hand writing is on the wall: if you want to attract investment and create jobs, unions are a barrier not a benefit. Understanding why Michigan chose the right-to-work path isn’t difficult to analyze when you consider the state has an unemployment rate of 9.1 percent.

Eliminating short-distance airline flights between regional airports can significantly boost American efficiencies. Plus, airlines can obtain large savings by reducing landing fees, jet fuel consumption and airline service personnel. And this could be possible simply by connecting Amtrak and inter-urban passenger rail travel to many U.S. airports.

SPECIAL REPORT. On November 6, 2012, elections were held for the President of the United States, all 435 Members of the House of Representatives, and 33 of 100 Senators. The election results did not significantly change the makeup of American leadership. What has changed, however, is the severity of the challenges facing the new 113th...