Investment and other gains (losses) - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Net realized gains from sale of securities investments	$ 1,300	$ 3,200	$ 4,000
Net unrealized investment losses recognized on equity securities still held	$ 2,162	0	0
Net realized losses from change in fair value of contingent consideration liabilities		$ 800
Realized loss from sale of a business			3,300
Realized gains			1,200
Facility Closing
Net Investment Income [Line Items]
Charges related to office closures			$ 3,400

Realized Investment Gains (Losses), Fair Value Reduction of Contingent Liability

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Includes, but is not limited to, one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and termination benefits associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement. Excludes expenses associated with special or contractual termination benefits, a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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- Definition

This item represents the gain (loss) realized during the period from the sale of investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) on investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 321
-SubTopic 10
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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from sale and disposal of integrated set of activities and assets capable of being conducted and managed for purpose of providing return in form of dividend, lower cost, or other economic benefit to investor, owner, member and participant.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition

The net realized gain (loss) on investments sold during the period, not including gains (losses) on securities separately or otherwise categorized as trading, available-for-sale, or held-to-maturity, which, for cash flow reporting, is a component of proceeds from investing activities.

+ References

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-Topic 230
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-Section 45
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- References

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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