Market conditions

I can’t imagine there are many consultants in Brazil cheering the election result. A narrow 3% margin keeps the economy in the hands of interventionist Dilma Rousseff, and that’s not the result consultants wanted to hear.

The election had more twists and turns than your average thriller novel, causing the consulting market to slow down while clients put off making major decisions and investors hedged their bets, waiting to see the outcome. The uncertainty was noticeably stifling the economy, and an even bigger distraction than the World Cup.

By B.J. Richards

Times have certainly been tough in the Benelux consulting market.  After a 3% contraction in 2012, 2013’s 0% growth actually came as something of a relief.  Source is predicting the market will finally make some gains this year -- we’re predicting 1-4% growth across the region’s three countries -- but with the Eurozone recovery largely grinding to a halt, it could still be a while before this market is truly back on track.

By B.J. Richards

When we talk to consultants in Africa, one of the fundamental things they always want us to understand is that it is really a tough place to do business.  Depending on where you are, inadequate transport links may mean you can’t always get where you’re going; the lights may be unreliable and the internet even more so; and a good deal of your work could depend on donor money that may or may not be there tomorrow.