What’s New at IIC

Role of Speculation on Oil Prices

IIC, Inc. has recently completed a comprehensive analysis of the reasons that led to the rapid increase and consequent decline in crude oil and refined product prices last year. We found that the devaluation of the dollar and the role of speculators have the greatest impact on the rise in crude oil prices, and these same factor also contributed to the decline as did the recession. Fundamental supply and demand factors did not play a role in the 380 percent increase in crude prices in 2008, and indeed we find that these factors should have led to a price decline, not a price increase. The impact of speculation on gasoline prices likely cost consumers $27 billion last year. Read more

Analysis of the New §1.482 Services Regulations
The Internal Revenue Service revised services regulations that provide new transfer pricing methods for controlled service transactions and include a revised cost safe harbor called the Services Cost Method (SCM). This brief presentation provides a helpful overview to the changes in the regulations for tax planners and examiners. Read more

Federal Minimum Wage Increase
IIC’s research is looking at whether increases in the minimum wage requirement and changes in health care coverage have had a disproportional impact on small business owners. Read more

Antitrust and Small Business
IIC recently published a report on behalf of the SBA which investigates how antitrust laws impact small firms — with case studies focusing on the retail grocery and timber industries. Read more

28th Annual USAEE/IAEE North American Conference
IIC principal Lee O. Upton, III presented a paper on offshore Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activity at North American Conference of the U.S. Association for Energy Economics (USAEE). Read more

Mass. School Building Authority Enrollment Projection Model
IIC assisted the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) in the development of a computer-based enrollment projection model. Read more

Directions to Concord Office

From Boston/Logan Airport:

Merge onto I-90 W/MASS PIKE/MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE (Portions toll). (go 14.5 miles)
Take the I-95/RT-128 exit, EXIT 15, toward WALTHAM/DEDHAM. (go 0.4 miles)
Take the I-95 N/RT-30/RT-128 N exit on the LEFT toward N.H.-MAINE/POINTS NORTH. (go 0.5 miles)
Merge onto I-95 N/MA-128 N via the exit on the LEFT toward WALTHAM/GLOUCESTER. (go 6.2 miles)
Merge onto MA-2 W via EXIT 29B toward ACTON/FITCHBURG. (go 4.0 miles)
Turn LEFT onto MA-2/CONCORD TURNPIKE. (go 3.3 miles)
Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto MA-62/MAIN ST. (go 0.7 miles)
Stay STRAIGHT to go onto COMMONWEALTH AVE. (go 0.1 miles)
Turn LEFT onto CHURCH ST. (go 0.1 miles)
Turn RIGHT onto JUNCTION SQUARE DR. (go 0.0 miles)
End at 72 Junction Square Dr Concord, MA 01742-3049

TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: 43 minutes | DISTANCE: 29.67 miles

From Interstate 495:

Merge onto MA-2 E via EXIT 29A or 29B toward BOSTON (go 7.5 miles).
Enter next roundabout and take 1st exit onto COMMONWEALTH AVE. (go 0.8 miles)
Turn RIGHT onto CHURCH ST. (go 0.1 miles)
Turn RIGHT onto JUNCTION SQUARE DR. (go 0.0 miles)
End at 72 Junction Square Dr Concord, MA 01742-3049

From Interstate 95:

Merge onto MA-2 W via EXIT 29B toward ACTON/FITCHBURG. (go 4.0 miles)
Turn LEFT onto MA-2/CONCORD TURNPIKE. (go 3.3 miles)
Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto MA-62/MAIN ST. (go 0.7 miles)
Stay STRAIGHT to go onto COMMONWEALTH AVE. (go 0.1 miles)
Turn LEFT onto CHURCH ST. (go 0.1 miles)
Turn RIGHT onto JUNCTION SQUARE DR. (go 0.0 miles)
End at 72 Junction Square Dr Concord, MA 01742-3049


About IIC Our Work Clients Approach to Management Offices History The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one. Mark Twain		What’s New at IIC Role of Speculation on Oil Prices IIC, Inc. has recently completed a comprehensive analysis of the reasons that led to the rapid increase and consequent decline in crude oil and refined product prices last year. We found that the devaluation of the dollar and the role of speculators have the greatest impact on the rise in crude oil prices, and these same factor also contributed to the decline as did the recession. Fundamental supply and demand factors did not play a role in the 380 percent increase in crude prices in 2008, and indeed we find that these factors should have led to a price decline, not a price increase. The impact of speculation on gasoline prices likely cost consumers $27 billion last year. Read more Analysis of the New §1.482 Services Regulations The Internal Revenue Service revised services regulations that provide new transfer pricing methods for controlled service transactions and include a revised cost safe harbor called the Services Cost Method (SCM). This brief presentation provides a helpful overview to the changes in the regulations for tax planners and examiners. Read more Federal Minimum Wage Increase IIC’s research is looking at whether increases in the minimum wage requirement and changes in health care coverage have had a disproportional impact on small business owners. Read more Antitrust and Small Business IIC recently published a report on behalf of the SBA which investigates how antitrust laws impact small firms — with case studies focusing on the retail grocery and timber industries. Read more 28th Annual USAEE/IAEE North American Conference IIC principal Lee O. Upton, III presented a paper on offshore Gulf of Mexico oil and gas activity at North American Conference of the U.S. Association for Energy Economics (USAEE). Read more Mass. School Building Authority Enrollment Projection Model IIC assisted the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) in the development of a computer-based enrollment projection model. Read more Directions to Concord Office From Boston/Logan Airport: Merge onto I-90 W/MASS PIKE/MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE (Portions toll). (go 14.5 miles) Take the I-95/RT-128 exit, EXIT 15, toward WALTHAM/DEDHAM. (go 0.4 miles) Take the I-95 N/RT-30/RT-128 N exit on the LEFT toward N.H.-MAINE/POINTS NORTH. (go 0.5 miles) Merge onto I-95 N/MA-128 N via the exit on the LEFT toward WALTHAM/GLOUCESTER. (go 6.2 miles) Merge onto MA-2 W via EXIT 29B toward ACTON/FITCHBURG. (go 4.0 miles) Turn LEFT onto MA-2/CONCORD TURNPIKE. (go 3.3 miles) Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto MA-62/MAIN ST. (go 0.7 miles) Stay STRAIGHT to go onto COMMONWEALTH AVE. (go 0.1 miles) Turn LEFT onto CHURCH ST. (go 0.1 miles) Turn RIGHT onto JUNCTION SQUARE DR. (go 0.0 miles) End at 72 Junction Square Dr Concord, MA 01742-3049 TOTAL ESTIMATED TIME: 43 minutes \| DISTANCE: 29.67 miles From Interstate 495: Merge onto MA-2 E via EXIT 29A or 29B toward BOSTON (go 7.5 miles). Enter next roundabout and take 1st exit onto COMMONWEALTH AVE. (go 0.8 miles) Turn RIGHT onto CHURCH ST. (go 0.1 miles) Turn RIGHT onto JUNCTION SQUARE DR. (go 0.0 miles) End at 72 Junction Square Dr Concord, MA 01742-3049 From Interstate 95: Merge onto MA-2 W via EXIT 29B toward ACTON/FITCHBURG. (go 4.0 miles) Turn LEFT onto MA-2/CONCORD TURNPIKE. (go 3.3 miles) Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto MA-62/MAIN ST. (go 0.7 miles) Stay STRAIGHT to go onto COMMONWEALTH AVE. (go 0.1 miles) Turn LEFT onto CHURCH ST. (go 0.1 miles) Turn RIGHT onto JUNCTION SQUARE DR. (go 0.0 miles) End at 72 Junction Square Dr Concord, MA 01742-3049