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

Factors Influencing Business Ownership Structure

Key Determinants of Legal Status

• Growth: Many businesses start small and gradually expand. Most businesses change their legal status as they grow, primarily to raise more capital.
• Size: Small businesses typically operate as sole traders or partnerships. Public limited companies (PLCs) are much larger, often having thousands of employees and huge turnovers.
• The Need for Finance: Finance is a primary reason owners change their business's legal status. Changing the organizational structure is often the only way to secure significant additional funding.
• Control: Some owners value independence and complete control over the business. This preference often leads them to remain sole traders.
• Limited Liability:

Fundamentals of Marketing Management

The role of the Marketing Manager involves strategic decisions regarding Market Share, focusing on the core elements of the Marketing Mix: Product, Price, Promotion, and Place.

The Evolution of Marketing Eras

• Production Era (Pre-1920s): Goods were scarce; buyers accepted what was available. (Approx. XIX Century to 1920)
• Sales Era (1920 to 1960): Increased production necessitated aggressive selling to move products out.
• Marketing Concept Era (1960 to Present): Focus shifted to satisfying customer needs and delivering value.
• Customer Relationship Era (1990 to Present): Emphasis on satisfying high customer expectations and building long-term relationships.

Strategic Decision Making

Key components of strategic decision... Continue reading "Marketing Strategy Fundamentals: Eras, Data, and Consumer Decisions" »

Economics

Definition

Derived from the Greek word ‘oikonomos,’ meaning “one who manages a household,” economics studies how societies allocate scarce resources to satisfy unlimited wants and needs.

Core Principles

1. Trade-offs: Acquiring something necessitates forgoing something else (e.g., watching TV versus studying).
2. Opportunity Cost: The cost of something is the value of the next best alternative forgone.
3. Marginal Thinking: Rational individuals make decisions by comparing the additional benefits and costs of an action.
4. Incentives: People's behavior is influenced by incentives, such as price changes (e.g., lower prices may increase consumption).
5. Benefits of Trade: Specialization and trade allow individuals and nations to achieve higher levels

Understanding Call and Put Options

A call option grants the owner the right to purchase a specified financial instrument for a specified price (the exercise price) within a specified period of time.

Option Moneyness Definitions

The relationship between the market price of the underlying security and the exercise price determines if an option is "in the money" or "out of the money."

• A call option is in the money when the market price of the underlying security exceeds the exercise price.
• A put option is in the money when the exercise price exceeds the market price of the underlying security.
• A put option is out of the money when the market price of the security exceeds the exercise price.

Managing Option Positions

Sellers (writers) of call options can... Continue reading "Mastering Options Pricing and Capital Market Theory Concepts" »

International Marketing

Key Concepts

Market Potential

The total number of units of a product that could be sold by all companies in a specific international market.

Sales Potential

The percentage of market potential a specific company expects to sell in a specific international market.

Market Types

Industrial Market

Companies purchasing equipment and machinery.

Consumer Market

Represents over 50% of GDP in developed countries.

Government Market

Similar to industrial markets, but focused on major projects.

Marketing Strategies

Marketing Research

Collects information at a specific time to aid marketers' decisions.

Standardization

Using the same marketing strategies internationally as domestically.

Adaptation

Using different marketing strategies internationally... Continue reading "International Marketing and Production Strategies" »

Neoclassical Theory of Migration

This theory incorporates both macro and micro perspectives. It is fundamentally based on principles such as rational choice, maximizing advantages, income differentials, and net benefits.

Macro-Level Perspective

At the macro level, migrations occur due to differences in the supply and demand of labor across various locations, directly associated with wage disparities. Workers tend to move to places where salaries are higher.

Micro-Level Perspective

At the micro level, the neoclassical theory posits that individuals migrate after rationally considering the costs and benefits of the move. Therefore, it is the differentials in expected incomes and benefits—rather than merely salary differences—that motivate people... Continue reading "Understanding International Migration Theories" »

Understanding Commerce

General Characteristics

Commerce includes all economic activities intended to connect producers and consumers through the buying and selling of goods and services.

Some characteristic features of commerce today include:

• It is governed by the principles of supply and demand.
• In terms of location, it is physically concentrated primarily in urban environments. It is also closely related to and dependent on transport and communications networks.
• Countries are becoming increasingly interdependent. Multinational companies are also increasingly important in international trade.
• In developed economies, the growth of commerce is based on consumption by consumers, inhabitants, and companies, and the significant production of goods and

Nike and Corporate Social Responsibility

Nike came under fire from critics who alleged: corporate social responsibility.

Nokia's Reversal of Fortune

Nokia's reversal of fortune at the hands of Apple and Google TRUE

IKEA's CSR Initiatives

One of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives by IKEA's primary carpet T

Forces Restraining Global Business

One of the forces restraining the growth of global business. TRUE

Potential Drawbacks of Regional Cost

One of the potential drawbacks of a regional cost can be prohibitive.

Global Success and Competencies

Organizations in order to be globally successful must be competencies.

Primary and Secondary Stakeholders

Primary stakeholders include all of the following except: media.

Secondary shareholders include... Continue reading "Global Business and Corporate Social Responsibility" »

Topic 4: World Trade Organization (WTO)

Trade barriers are measures that governments or public authorities introduce to make imported goods or services less competitive than locally produced goods and services.

Effect of Trade Barriers

• Cause a limited choice of products and, therefore, would force customers to pay higher prices and accept inferior quality.
• Generally favor rich countries because these countries tend to set international trade policies and standards.
• Economists generally agree that trade barriers are detrimental and decrease overall economic efficiency, which can be explained by the theory of comparative advantage.

Legal and Illegal Trade Barriers

Illegal barriers: Violate international agreements and rules.

Legal barriers: Do not violate... Continue reading "World Trade Organization: Trade Barriers and Regulations" »

Compensation

Rewards earned by employees in return for their labor

Direct Financial Compensation

Consisting of pay received in the form of wages, salaries, bonuses, and commissions provided at regular and consistent intervals

Indirect Financial Compensation

Including all financial rewards that are not included in direct compensation and understood to form part of the social contract between the employer and employee such as benefits, leaves, retirement plans, education, and employee services

Equity Theory

States that a person’s motivation is in proportion to the perceived fairness of the rewards he or she receives for the amount of effort he or she exerts, and that this is also compared with what others receive. According to the theory, individuals