Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Economics

Microeconomics vs. Macroeconomics

Microeconomics studies the individual decisions of economic decision-makers (companies and consumers as individuals).

• Macroeconomics studies the economy as aggregate decisions of economic decision-makers (groups of consumers, producers, and the government).
  • The government is a group that oversees a community, establishing rules and administering public policy.
  • Some governments are more interventionist at the economy (North Korea, Cuba) than others (US). They make key decisions about what will be produced, how it will be produced, and who will receive the outputs supplied by business.
  • The role of government is to create and administer policy at local, national, and international levels.
  • Locally: they establish rules,

Chapter 1: Introduction to Finance

Finance is the study of how and under what terms savings (money) are allocated between lenders and borrowers. Here are some key concepts:

• Real assets: Tangible assets.
• Financial assets: Claims on real assets.
• Flow of savings: Savings flow from households to governments and businesses.
• Financial intermediaries (indirect claims): Invest on behalf of investors (e.g., chartered banks, pension funds, mutual funds).
• Market intermediaries (direct claims): Brokers (e.g., insurance).
• Credit crunch: Financial intermediaries raise loan costs due to an inability to secure financing on reasonable terms.

Crown corporations, like Hydro Quebec, are also major borrowers.

Types of Financial Assets

• Non-marketable financial assets: Invested

What Is a Company?

A company consists of individuals or organizations that strive to earn a profit by providing products that satisfy people's needs.

Different Kinds of Products

Products are the outcomes of a company's efforts. They possess both tangible and intangible characteristics that provide satisfaction and benefits. When purchasing a product, consumers acquire the perceived benefits and satisfaction it offers.

Factors for Earning a Profit

Profitability requires effective management skills in planning, organizing, and controlling business activities. It also involves finding and developing employees, creating desirable products, and implementing marketing strategies to manufacture, price, promote, and distribute those products.

Stakeholders

Stakeholders...

Key Economic & Fiscal Policy Terms

Understanding the language of economics and government finance is crucial. This glossary defines essential terms related to fiscal policy, budgeting, and economic theory.

Appropriations Bill

A legislative bill that sets money aside for specific government spending.

Automatic Stabilizer

A government program designed to automatically adjust based on changes in GDP and a person's income, helping to stabilize the economy.

Balanced Budget

A financial plan where government revenue and spending are equal.

Budget Deficit

A situation in which the government spends more money than it collects in revenue.

Budget Surplus

A situation in which the government collects more money in revenue than it spends.

Classical Economics

An economic

1- Intermediaries: Buy products from manufacturers and resell them to consumers.

Why is the Purchasing Activity Becoming More Important to Global Firms?

Over the past three decades, increasing global competition has caused a dramatic increase in the outsourcing of materials. Firms are demanding the best value for all components used in finished products. Parts that were produced in-house as a matter of corporate policy are now being purchased from suppliers around the world. For a typical manufacturing firm, the share of finished product cost that is represented by purchased parts (as opposed to in-house) can range from 40-60%. As a result, purchasing is becoming a key success factor, and the current movement towards even greater international trade will only increase its importance.

What are the Tasks and Goals of Purchasing?

Operating Leverage

The degree of operating leverage measures how sensitive a firm is to its fixed costs. It increases as fixed costs rise and variable costs fall. Operating leverage magnifies the effect of cyclicality on beta. That is, a firm with a given sales cyclicality will increase its beta if fixed costs replace variable costs in its production process.

Financial Leverage and Beta

Financial leverage is the sensitivity to a firm's fixed costs of financing.

The equity beta will always be greater than the asset beta with financial leverage: the equity beta of a levered firm will always be greater than the equity beta of an otherwise identical all-equity firm.

Extensions of the Basic Model

The Firm vs. the Project

Any project's cost of capital depends...

Incoterms: Understanding Responsibility and Risk in International Trade

Understanding Credit, Debt, and Insurance

Credit Rule of Thumb: Product should outlive its payment; don't use credit if the purchase is beyond earnings capability.

Factors That Influence Credit Score:

• Billing history (35%)
• Length of bill payment history (15%)
• Amount owed (30%)
• New credit lines (10%)
• Types of credit (10%)

FICO Score:

300-850; above 800 is great; below 620 is not good (high risk); 40% of Americans have a score under 600.

Credit Bureaus:

TransUnion, Equifax, Experian (each has its own credit score).

Types of Entries in a Credit Report:

• Identifying Info
• Public Records (bankruptcies, civil judgments, and tax liens)
• Inquiries
  • Soft Inquiries (i.e., a credit

Basis Property Acquired as Gift

If donor ABFMV, then dual basis applies (1 gain basis & 1 loss basis). Where GB=DonorAB & LB=FMV prop. If sellpr>DonorAB D1EAB=DonorAB @ date of gift. If sellpr,

Scott has decided to dispose of these assets that he received as a gift. Compute his realized & recognized g/l on these disposals: a. In 2000, he received stock with a FMV of 88k. The donor’s AB was 100k. He sells the stock for 72k this year. Gain basis=100k Loss basis=88k Amtreal=72k-Lossbasis88k=(12k) RecogL.

In 2001, he received land with FMV of 42k. The donor’s AB was 50k. He sells the land this year for 45k. Since sellpr b/w AB & FMV. No g/l permitted.

Nicky receives a car from Sam as a gift. Sam paid 48k for the car. He had...