“The flow of capital away from the U.S. is broad, deep and long-term. Investors can buy 20-year debt denominated in Brazilian reals or Chinese yuan, a monumental shift in the allocation of long-term capital. U.S. companies are shifting operations offshore in order to build and innovate more profitably. Meanwhile, the U.S. government is trapping billions of tech dollars — the lifeblood of innovation — offshore through an excessive repatriation tax. This is blocking much-needed industry consolidation, because an acquirer is forced to pay for the offshore cash without getting access to it.”
— David Malpass, August 20, 2009
