The Federal Reserve is poised to resume its rate cutting cycle in September. Markets briefly flirted with the idea of a 50-basis point move, but sticky core inflation, a larger-than-expected jump in producer prices, and firm retail sales have settled expectations at a quarter-point cut. The Fed continues to describe policy as restrictive, so this move will not be framed as easing but as removing a touch of that restrictiveness. Most G10 central banks and many emerging-market peers have already...

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By this point in human history the science is undeniable: multitasking is not your friend. Employees should do it to whatever degree they are required but beyond that they should not seek out multitasking because the facts show it kills productivity. The average desk job employee loses 2.1 hours a day to distractions and interruptions; that adds up to over a full day of work every week. Being distracted by incoming calls or emails can lower employees’ IQ by...

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IMPORTANT TARIFF UPDATE A federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority when imposing specific tariffs earlier this year. The decision struck down the so-called “Liberation Day” duties but left them in effect until at least mid-October while the case moves to the Supreme Court. At issue are tariffs announced on April 2 that applied a baseline 10 percent duty on most imports and additional rates as high as 50 percent on goods from countries with trade...

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On July 23, the White House published “Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan,” a 28-page comprehensive federal strategy aimed at securing global leadership in artificial intelligence (AI). Developed in response to President Trump’s January 2025 executive order, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence,” the plan recommends policy actions across three pillars: accelerating AI innovation, building robust AI infrastructure, and leading in international AI diplomacy and security. The agenda emphasizes deregulation, open-source AI, workforce development, infrastructure modernization, and...

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My lead item for this month’s newsletter comes from Australia. It is an article written by two leading academics - Peter Siminski, Professor of Economics at the University of Technology Sydney and Roger Wilkins, Professorial Fellow and Co-Director at the HILDA Survey, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne. They have “bravely” ventured to suggest that the Australian family home should be taxed. Their article is titled “The government has asked for bold proposals....

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One of your first major considerations while moving to the US for work will be health insurance. Navigating the mostly privatized U.S. healthcare system without insurance might result in extremely costly medical expenses. Traditional Individual Health Insurance and Travel Medical Insurance are two popular choices for newcomers, however they have rather different functions. Making an informed choice for your wellbeing requires an understanding of the basic distinctions between these two. Travel Health Insurance: The Quick Fix Travel medical insurance is temporary...

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