Trump’s Tax Reform Dissected

By Olav Dirkmaat on October 17, 2017

Two weeks ago, the Trump administration presented a detailed version of one of Trump’s most important election promises: a tax reform. What are the consequences of Trump’s recent tax proposal for the US budget deficit and public debt?

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Gentrification—and tourism—have become the new target in the never-ending social struggle in favor of the disadvantaged

By Daniel Fernández on October 16, 2017

Gentrification is the new monster to be fought. The term already has such bad press, that almost no one is willing to say anything in its favor (defending gentrification and defending neoliberalism are now almost interchangeable). Can gentrification get a break? Find out more here.

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Italian Banks Are The European Economy’s New Sword of Damocles

By Daniel Fernández on October 8, 2017

What are the Eurozone’s riskier banking systems? Which countries should be concerned in the face of a possible contagion effect of the Italian crisis?

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The Accounting Cycle and Financial Bubbles: On the Current Indifference on Accounting Methods

By Olav Dirkmaat on September 25, 2017

As long as the stock market is booming, businesses get away with shady accounting practices. What do the recent cases of Netflix, Tesla and Alphabet suggest about what phase of the business cycle we are in?

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US GDP Growth a Solid 3%, But Is Trouble Ahead?

By Olav Dirkmaat on September 4, 2017

The US economy is growing at a 3% annual rate. But are things as they seem?

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Bank of Mexico: Bread Today, Hunger Tomorrow

By Edgar Ortiz on August 14, 2017

This year Banxico will report operating losses and the Mexican government will no longer have another “gift” in 2018.

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How OPEC Became Irrelevant: Traditional Oil Producing Countries Still Fail to Face the New Reality

By Olav Dirkmaat on June 13, 2017

The large traditional oil-producing countries — both OPEC and non-OPEC — are still catching up with the new reality. After deciding to extend the production cuts — agreed upon half a year ago — for another nine months, oil prices plunged below $50/barrel. Not quite the effect these oil giants were hoping for, but nothing out of the ordinary. After all, the fact is that supply and demand dynamics in the oil market have changed for good.

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Does the Fed Follow Its Own Rules?

By Daniel Fernández on May 22, 2017

One of the most interesting discussions in the field of monetary theory concerns the role central banks play in the economy. There are multiple views regarding different issues: from questioning the mere existence of the central bank to the actual role a central bank should take.

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Cheap Oil and Why OPEC Can’t Do Anything About It

By Edgar Ortiz on May 4, 2017

Beyond the behavior of speculators or OPEC—which some consider a cartel, if there is anything we can learn is that the fall in oil prices responds to the forces of supply and demand. On the demand side, lower economic activity throughout the world, specially in China, has lowered the price of oil. Projections by the International Energy Agency show how demand weakened in 2014, although it rebounded in 2016.

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Beyond the Bitcoin Hype: Limitations of Bitcoin and Blockchain Technology

By Olav Dirkmaat on May 1, 2017

A lot has been written about the benefits of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Blockchain technology will no doubt revolutionize the world. It should be no coincidence that one of our recent guests to Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Nick Szabo, has labeled blockchain technology “the Napster of finance.” While recognizing the value of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology,

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