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

Financial Markets and Institutions: Module 1

The Value of the Finance Industry

The finance industry plays a crucial role in the economy by facilitating the efficient allocation of capital and managing risk. Its value is generated through several key functions:

The Role of Secondary Markets

• Liquidity: Enabling assets to be quickly converted into cash.
• Price Information: Allowing investors to assess the value of investments.
• Low Transaction Costs: Facilitating cost-efficient trading.
• Risk Sharing: Distributing financial risks among investors.
• Economies of Scale: Enhancing efficiency in financial operations.

How Financial Markets Generate Value in the Economy

1. The Informational Role of Financial Markets

   Stock prices are set in financial markets, serving as

Competitiveness and Trade

Nominal Exchange Rates

When our currency's value increases, our competitiveness decreases, and importations increase in relative terms.

Price Levels

• Our Country: If prices in our country increase, our exports decrease, and imports increase.
• Foreign Country: If prices in foreign countries increase, our competitiveness increases, benefiting our exports, and our imports decrease.

Foreign Exchange Market

• Price Determination: The exchange rate between countries is established based on supply and demand.
• Hedging: Protection against currency fluctuations, safeguarding investors and businesses from losses due to currency appreciation or depreciation.
• International Finance: Countries can lend and borrow money by converting currencies.

Equity and Financial Concepts

Free Cash Flow (FCF)

FCF_t = EBIT + DEP - CAPEX - ΔWC - TAX

ΔWC = Δreceivables + Δinventories - Δpayables + Δother items

TAX = (EBIT-Y_t)*T = EBIT*T - Y_tT

FCFE = FCF_t - Y_t - PRINC_t

FCF_t^u = FCF_t - Y_tT

Y = k_dD₀ (interest paid is cost of debt*value of debt)

Standard WACC

k_s=(1-L)k_e + Lk_d(1-T) | Use Standard WACC with FCF_u | ITS is not included in both FCF_u & k_s | Need Constant Target Leverage Ratio (L)

k_e = reflects operating and financial risk faced by investors | k_u = unlevered cost of equity (if firm had no debt), reflects operating risk

V₀ = U₀ + I₀ (Enterprise Value = value of operations + value of ITS) | Leave space for Standard WACC equation if k_its = k_d OR k_its = k_u

Standard WACC model implicitly assumes k_its...

Study of Socioeconomic Problems and Needs: D: An analysis of socioeconomic needs is conducted to identify the issues that public funds should address.R: It is crucial to ensure that funds are allocated to areas that truly need them, aligning program objectives with the real needs of society.Issuance of Call for Proposals Terms and Conditions:D: Objectives, beneficiaries, eligible concepts, and deadlines of the call are defined.R: This stage ensures transparency and clarity in eligibility criteria and program objectives, facilitating the participation of companies and other interested parties.Publication of the Call:D: The call is made public so that interested parties can submit their applications.R: It is fundamental to ensure that all stakeholders...

Axioms Determining Indifference Curve Shape

Six fundamental axioms determine the shape and properties of indifference curves:

1. Completeness: Individuals can compare and rank any two market baskets (A or B, or indifferent between A and B).
2. Transitivity: Guarantees the logical consistency of the ordering among any set of market baskets (If A is preferred to B, and B is preferred to C, then A is preferred to C).
3. Non-Satiation (More is Better): Market baskets with higher quantities (q) are always preferred.
4. Continuity: Market baskets in the same indifference set are distributed continuously.
5. Strict Convexity: Indifference curves are always strictly convex with respect to the origin of coordinates.
6. Smoothness: Indifference curves are smooth, lacking any

Essential Business Terminology

Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

That which separates your product from the competition.

ROI (Return on Investment)

How much money you make versus your initial investment.

Overhead

The indirect costs associated with running a business, often related to administration, marketing, and maintenance. These costs are not associated with product manufacturing or service delivery.

Profit

Total revenue minus total cost.

Revenue

Income generated before deducting expenses.

Liability

A financial debt, risk, or obligation. Liabilities include mortgages, outstanding loans, and accrued expenses.

Research and Development (R&D)

Activities related to investigating and creating new products.

Logistics

The processes involved in managing and...

Elasticity

Elastic demand: A high responsiveness of quantity demanded or supplied to changes in price.

Elasticity: An economics concept that measures the responsiveness of one variable to changes in another variable.

Inelastic demand: A low responsiveness by consumers to price changes.

Necessities vs. Luxuries

Necessities tend to have inelastic demands, whereas luxuries have elastic demands.

Short Run Versus Long Run

Price elasticity of demand is usually lower in the short run, before consumers have much time to react, than in the long run, when they have a greater opportunity to find substitute goods. Thus, demand is more price elastic in the long run than in the short run.

Competitive Dynamics

Goods that can only be produced by one supplier generally...

launch/introduce/roll out a product ≠ withdraw a product

(BRAND) stretching/extension  awareness/recognition image  loyalty

ADS endorse a brand target an audience sponsor an event launch a campaign run a campaign place an ad run an ad attract/appeal to...

The Economic Landscape of the 1920s

Post-War Boom and Depression (1919–1921)

• 1919–1920: Post-War "Boom" – This period was characterized by a short and abrupt increase in prices, repressed demand, scarce supply, and accumulated savings. This brief boom had beneficial effects, particularly in increasing employment.
• 1920–1921: Post-War Depression – This phase involved the conversion costs of transitioning from a war economy to a peace economy. Falling prices made the payment of allied debts difficult, leading to increased production and a deflationary process. Furthermore, the contraction of American foreign credit reduced the availability of capital, resulting in chronic unemployment, restrictions on immigration, and a return to protectionism