Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Starbucks in Hot Water Over British Tax

 by Kenneth Thomas Starbucks in Hot Water Over British Tax Reuters (via Tax Research UK) reported on October 15 the results of an extensive investigation into the British unit of coffee giant Starbucks, the second largest restaurant firm in the world after McDonald’s. It turns out that the company has reported losing money in every […]

U.S. Trade Deficit Largely Due to "Intra-Firm" Trade

by Kenneth Thomas U.S. Trade Deficit Largely Due to “Intra-Firm” Trade The vast majority of the U.S. $727 billion trade deficit in goods for 2011 is due to “intra-firm” or “related party” trade, that is, trade between two units of the same corporation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This is significant because such trade […]

Ireland – The Questions Nobody Seems to be Asking

by Mike Kimel Ireland – The Questions Nobody Seems to be AskingCross-posted at the the Presimetrics blog. Talk about deja vu all over again. Here’s Tyler Cowen talking about the Ireland bailout, and linking to Megan McArdle discussing the same. Its deja vu, for me, because it seems just about everyone commenting on the issue […]