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

Unit 2

1. Market Types: Understanding the Differences

Differences between the current market, potential market, objective market, and product-market.

• Current market: The demand for a specific product.
• Potential market: The maximum number of potential buyers.
• Objective market: The market a company targets with its products.
• Product market: Products regarded as substitutes.

2. Types of Markets Based on Competition

Types of markets according to the number of competitors.

• a) Monopoly
• b) Oligopoly
• c) Monopolistic Competition
• d) Perfect Competition

3. What is a Franchise?

What is a franchise? (Que es una franquicia?) A franchise is a contractual relationship that covers a wide range of service provisions, goods supply, leasing of a commercial name or brand on... Continue reading "Market Analysis: Current, Potential, and Objective Markets" »

IFRS for Small and Medium-Sized Entities (SMEs)

What are *not* the IASB's Objectives?

To strive for worldwide use of International Accounting Standards instead of national accounting standards.

What is the Primary Function of the IASB?

To develop and publish IFRS and strive for their worldwide use in general-purpose financial statements and other financial reporting.

What is the Primary Objective of IFRS?

IFRS sets out recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements dealing with transactions and other events and conditions that are important in general-purpose financial statements.

What are the Major Differences Between IFRS and US GAAP?

Compared to US GAAP, IFRS are more principles-based, objective-oriented, and with emphasis on... Continue reading "IFRS for SMEs: Understanding Key Concepts and Applications" »

• Customer Care:

  Deals with complaints.

• Distribution:

  Transports goods to different places.

• Finance:

  Deals with invoices and payments.

• Human Resources (HR):

  Deals with recruiting new staff.

• Maintenance:

  Looks after the equipment.

• Marketing:

  Handles advertising and new product launches.

• Payroll:

  A division of HR responsible for paying wages and salaries.

• Planning:

  Sets out a strategy for the company's future.

• Production:

  Is responsible for manufacturing goods.

• Purchasing:

  Buys in products and services.

• Quality Control:

  Makes sure that standards are maintained.

• Research and Development (R&D):

  Tries to develop new products.

• Sales:

  Persuades people to buy the company's products.

Section 1: Collecting and Organizing Information

Accounting is an information system that reports on the economic activities and financial condition of a business or other organization.

1.1 Identifying the Ways Accounting Benefits Society

Accounting provides information that helps answer questions such as:

• How should society allocate its resources?
• Should we spend more money to harvest food or cure disease?
• Should we build computers or cars?
• Should we invest money in IBM or General Motors?

Market-Based Allocations

A market is a group of people or entities organized to exchange items of value. Common terms for the added value created in the transformation process include profit, income, and earnings.

Financial Resources

Businesses need financial resources... Continue reading "Accounting: An Information System for Resource Allocation" »

Concepts and Principles

Primary Objective of SME Financial Statements

What is the primary objective of financial statements of SMEs? To provide information about the financial position, performance, and cash flows of the entity that is useful for economic decision-making by a broad range of users who are not in a position to demand reports tailored to meet their particular information needs.

Qualitative Characteristic: Reliability

What does the qualitative characteristic “reliability” mean? Information presented in financial statements should be free from material error and bias and ensure a faithful representation of the economic phenomenon.

True Statements About Financial Position

Which of the following statements are true?

• The financial position

Development Charges

Development charges are fees imposed by local governments to offset the costs associated with new construction projects and their impact on public services. These charges help fund off-site improvements and cover expenses related to building inspections.

Property Tax Benefits

Property taxes offer several advantages as a source of revenue for local governments:

• Stable Source of Revenue: Property taxes provide a consistent and predictable income stream.
• Exportable Reach: Non-resident property owners who benefit from local services also contribute to the tax base.
• Equitable Financing: Property taxes support property-related services like police, fire protection, and infrastructure development (streets, sidewalks, storm drainage).

Job Analysis

Job analysis is the systematic process of determining the skills, duties, and knowledge required for performing jobs in an organization.

A job consists of a group of tasks that must be performed for an organization to achieve its goals. A position is the collection of tasks and responsibilities performed by one person;

Job analysis is performed on three occasions: (1) when the organization is founded and a job analysis program is initiated for the first time; (2) when new jobs are created; and (3) when jobs are changed significantly as a result of new technologies, methods, procedures, or systems.

The Job Description

The job description is a document that provides information regarding the essential tasks, duties, and responsibilities... Continue reading "Understanding Job Analysis and Job Descriptions" »

1. Sunk Costs

Costs that do not vary according to different decisions

• Eg. A student buys a book for $50 and can sell it for $20. Sunk costs amount for $30
• Eg. Market research, R&D (frequent in IT sector)

Managerial decision-making:

1. Ignore sunk costs and consider only avoidable costs to be very careful before committing to costs that will become sunk, since such commitments cannot be reversed
2. Exploit investments in sunk costs as a way to strategically influence the behavior of competitors

- Major entry barrier because they increase the cost of exit

Relationship between fixed and sunk costs: - sunk costs are the amount of fixed costs that cannot be recouped

2. Incremental Costs

Change in costs between undertaking a course of action and not undertaking... Continue reading "Cost Concepts and Pricing Behavior" »

1.How Would you describe the risk attitude of the sponsor? Justify.
In my opinion, the risk appetite of the sponsor was very high. He was willing To take enormous amount of risk just to get the contract going on with the Army. He fine with telling lies and hiding facts as well.

2.Can The PM develop an effective risk management plan working alone?
No, risk planning should not, be carried out in isolation. Internal and External stakeholders bring with them many differing backgrounds, perspectives And experiences. Risk is a particular area (as is scoping the project) where These different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences should be included in Activities to identify and mitigate risk.
People with different and complementary backgrounds... Continue reading "Hrm, company-of-origin, analysis" »

Globalization: A Shift Towards a More Integrated World Economy

Globalization of Markets

• National markets merge into a single global market.
• Trade barriers are reduced or eliminated.
• Tastes and preferences converge.
• Firms promote the trend by offering the same products worldwide.

Globalization of Production

• Goods and services are sourced from locations around the globe.
• Firms take advantage of national differences in the cost and quality of factors of production (land, labor, capital).

Benefits of Globalization

• Lower prices for goods and services
• Greater economic growth
• Higher consumer income
• More jobs

Critics of Globalization

• Job losses
• Environmental degradation
• Cultural imperialism of global media and multinational enterprises (MNEs)

Factors Driving Globalization

• Declining