The big gap between the headline and effective marginal tax rates reflects the large number of allowances given to firms for doing particular activities, such as research and development.

ECONOMIST: Tax reform

The Commission plans to withdraw a large portion of CO2 allowances from the market in 2013-2015 in an effort to boost the carbon price.

BBC: EU court rebuffs Poland over CO2 emissions

Two weeks ago, shares of Car-Mart lost 20% in a single day when the company warned that it would show a loss for the quarter ended Oct. 31, due in large part to larger than anticipated credit-loss allowances.

FORBES: Gurus Get Into Used Cars