Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 2,228	$ 1,268	$ (13)
Less: income from discontinued operations	0	0	178
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	2,228	1,268	(191)
Adjustments to reconcile income (loss) from continuing operations to cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations:
Depreciation	85	90	86
Current year amortization	96	67	48
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	9	8	11
Deferred income taxes	79	280	(245)
Stock-based compensation	76	78	100
Gain on dispositions	(1,101)	(11)	9
Accrued legal and regulatory settlements	54	119	1,587
Other	30	57	71
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and dispositions:
Accounts receivable	(177)	(118)	(9)
Prepaid and other current assets	(2)	(4)	(7)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(26)	(92)	(130)
Unearned revenue	107	129	78
Accrued legal and regulatory settlements	(150)	(1,624)	(35)
Other current liabilities	(21)	(78)	(16)
Net change in prepaid / accrued income taxes	132	61	(93)
Net change in other assets and liabilities	45	(35)	(55)
Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations	1,464	195	1,209
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(115)	(139)	(92)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(177)	(2,396)	(71)
Proceeds from dispositions	1,498	14	83
Changes in short-term investments	(1)	(4)	15
Cash provided by (used for) investing activities from continuing operations	1,205	(2,525)	(65)
Financing Activities:
(Payments on) / additions to short-term debt, net	(143)	143	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net	493	2,674	0
Payments on senior notes	(421)	0	0
Dividends paid to shareholders	(380)	(363)	(326)
Dividends and other payments paid to noncontrolling interests	(116)	(104)	(84)
Repurchase of treasury shares	(1,123)	(974)	(362)
Exercise of stock options	88	86	193
Contingent consideration payments	(39)	(5)	(11)
Purchase of additional CRISIL shares	0	(16)	0
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments	41	69	128
Cash (used for) provided by financing activities from continuing operations	(1,600)	1,510	(462)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash from continuing operations	(158)	(67)	(65)
Cash provided by (used for) continuing operations	911	(887)	617
Discontinued Operations:
Cash (used for) provided by operating activities	0	(129)	18
Cash provided by investing activities	0	0	320
Cash (used for) provided by discontinued operations	0	(129)	338
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	911	(1,016)	955
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,481	2,497	1,542
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	2,392	1,481	2,497
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest (including discontinued operations)	150	65	50
Income taxes (including discontinued operations)	$ 683	$ 260	$ 419