Nudging Consumption Some in Europe are pushing to waive the VAT tax on fruits and vegetables to improve their consumption. There is also talk of increased taxes on sugary products. The use of taxes to nudge consumption is not 100 percent effective. High taxes do not discourage cigarette smoking in countries like Greece, Bulgaria, or France. But they did in the U.S. Germany has higher taxes on alcohol than the U.S. but has a higher consumption rate. Sugar is higher priced in the U.S., but consumption is still large. But subsidizing high caloric foods while taxing better nutrient fruits and vegetables likely makes no sense. USMCA as Model Some Republicans frustrated by the lack of free trade agreement negotiations are proposing that other...
Key Market Insights The broad market is locked in on this week’s Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing, but this is no longer just a trade summit. Increasingly, the meeting is becoming tied directly to Iran, energy security, and the growing global economic fallout from disruptions through the Strai...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.