INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense and effective tax rates were as follows:



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2017			2016
Income before income taxes	$	15,948		$	13,051
Income tax expense	4,938			2,905
Effective tax rate	31.0		%	22.1		%

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the increase in effective tax rate, compared to the same period in 2016, is primarily due to operating losses in certain jurisdictions where the Company is unable to record tax benefits because it has determined that it is not more likely than not that such tax benefits will be realized, as well as an increase in profitability in certain jurisdictions for which tax expense is recorded. The Company’s effective income tax rate, for each period presented, also differs from the federal U.S. statutory rate primarily due to differences in income tax rates between U.S. and foreign jurisdictions as well as book losses in certain jurisdictions for which tax benefits cannot be recognized. There were no significant or unusual discrete tax items during the quarter. The Company had unrecognized tax benefits of $5.2 million and $4.8 million at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, and the Company does not expect any significant changes in tax benefits in the next twelve months.