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

Our Work

Innovation & Information Consultants, Inc. offers a unique array of economic research and consulting services to corporations, law firms, and governments at the local, state, national, and international arenas.

In our nearly 25 years, IIC, Inc. has combined detailed industry experience, principled methods and rigorous analysis to help our clients answer complex economic and financial issues in various litigation, regulatory and other settings, to develop strategies for changing markets and assist in making critical decisions. Our work is meticulous, yet easy to understand, and has earned the praise of our clients and our competitors, and has withstood critical review and scrutiny of clients and adversaries.

Our work covers a broad range of areas: from the courtroom where we deliver expert testimony and provide litigation support, to local and state agencies on matters of public policy and economic analysis, and to Fortune 500 companies in areas such as strategy, pricing, valuation, regulation and tax.

We are a small firm with three principals, located in Concord, Massachusetts and Orlando, Florida. Our principals are assisted by several associates and research assistants who work with our principals in project teams to provide creative solutions to our clients’ problems. All of our consultants possess exceptional analytic and research skills and typically hold undergraduate and graduate degrees from leading institutions as well as occasionally strong industry experience or institutional knowledge. We also maintain ties with academic economists and former government officials who are available to serve as advisors or experts on various client engagements.


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 Our Work Innovation & Information Consultants, Inc. offers a unique array of economic research and consulting services to corporations, law firms, and governments at the local, state, national, and international arenas. In our nearly 25 years, IIC, Inc. has combined detailed industry experience, principled methods and rigorous analysis to help our clients answer complex economic and financial issues in various litigation, regulatory and other settings, to develop strategies for changing markets and assist in making critical decisions. Our work is meticulous, yet easy to understand, and has earned the praise of our clients and our competitors, and has withstood critical review and scrutiny of clients and adversaries. Our work covers a broad range of areas: from the courtroom where we deliver expert testimony and provide litigation support, to local and state agencies on matters of public policy and economic analysis, and to Fortune 500 companies in areas such as strategy, pricing, valuation, regulation and tax. We are a small firm with three principals, located in Concord, Massachusetts and Orlando, Florida. Our principals are assisted by several associates and research assistants who work with our principals in project teams to provide creative solutions to our clients’ problems. All of our consultants possess exceptional analytic and research skills and typically hold undergraduate and graduate degrees from leading institutions as well as occasionally strong industry experience or institutional knowledge. We also maintain ties with academic economists and former government officials who are available to serve as advisors or experts on various client engagements.