Tag: United States
Why Is Saudi Arabia Reducing Its Oil Production?
Why did the Saudi authorities reduce production, despite receiving US advice to the contrary?
Ukrainian Marshall Plan: A Financial and Psychological Endeavor
The western political discussion on Ukraine remains largely focused on military support. But, as the war continues, foreign ministers and finance ministers across Europe are appropriately starting to discuss the financial cost of the war today and in the future when the international community must help rebuild the country…
Turning U.S. Attention from Middle East to China and Asia
The current dynamics in the Middle East are creating an opportune time for U.S. leadership to strategically shift priorities on the global stage, especially as the U.S. is not entangled in any war…
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia: A Rendezvous in the Desert…
U.S. President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman must come together for a long awaited rendezvous in the desert…ideally the two leaders can employ some modern rules of dating in making the alliance work…
U.S. Infrastructure and Its Challenges…
U.S. infrastructure is the never-ending problem that all administrations want to solve. Yet attempts to find a solution generally creates more questions and angst…
Lessons for Americans (and the World) from France and Le Pen
The French recently re-elected Emmanuel Macron for a second term as president. It is not clear that most French like Macron but we do know that a majority of French favored Macron over his 2nd round runoff opponent, Marine Le Pen. The election itself garnered more attention than many French probably could have expected. Portuguese, Spanish, and German leaders (Antonio Costa, Pedro Sanchez and Olaf Scholz respectively) thought it necessary to pen a letter in support of Macron. The Macron victory should not overshadow the economic realities underpinning the relative success of the Le Pen campaign.
France and the United States: “Fait l’un pour l’autre?”
France is “America’s oldest friend and Ally” with a relationship “built upon [..] shared commitment to the same values – democracy, human rights, the rule of law, security, and prosperity” according to the State Department. The debacle of last month regarding submarine sales by the U.S. to Australia and a subsequent voiding of a French contract with Australia raises questions about the French-American alliance. Yet an assessment of the other two options in Europe – the U.K. and Germany – suggests France and the U.S. are made for each other…
Tax Policy Is Never So Simple
The focus of tax policy should be to create the ‘necessary’ revenue mixed with a manageable level of debt to cover the requisite spending for the country. That tax revenue will involve a balance between capital, labor, and consumption taxes. Mix in the targeted investment incentives and managed spending (better said than done) and maybe you can find a solution…
Five Things To Watch As The U.S. Economy Recovers
U.S. GDP has reached its pre-covid 19 level…should we be celebrating? The answer is yes. But the economy continues to provide mix signals to the market. And, as it continues to recover, there are five things to watch…
