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

Concord Hotels

Concord Colonial Inn

48 Monument Square

Concord, MA 01742

(800) 370-9200
www.concordscolonialinn.com

Best Western

740 Elm Street

Concord, MA 01742

(877) 237-8731

http://www.bestwesternmassachusetts.com/concord-hotels/

Westford Regency Inn and Conference Center

219 Littleton Road

Westford, MA 01886

(978) 692-8200

http://www.westfordregency.com

The Westin Waltham Boston

70 Third Avenue

Waltham, MA 02451

(781) 290-5600

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1036


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 Concord Hotels Concord Colonial Inn 48 Monument Square Concord, MA 01742 (800) 370-9200 www.concordscolonialinn.com Best Western 740 Elm Street Concord, MA 01742 (877) 237-8731 http://www.bestwesternmassachusetts.com/concord-hotels/ Westford Regency Inn and Conference Center 219 Littleton Road Westford, MA 01886 (978) 692-8200 http://www.westfordregency.com The Westin Waltham Boston 70 Third Avenue Waltham, MA 02451 (781) 290-5600 http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1036