Premium Essay

Apple Economics

In:

Submitted By Ensen
Words 1270
Pages 6
Apple Inc
University of Redlands

Abstract
Apple Inc (previously known as Apple Computers Inc) is a market leader and an iconic American company. They provide an interesting example of micro-economics as they operate in a competitive industry – high tech consumer electronics, but they have differentiated themselves so well, they operate almost like a monopoly. This paper will explore the uniqueness of Apple that makes them an economical oddity.

Company Overview
Apple Inc. (originally Apple Computers Inc.) was formed in 1977 and is a $500 billion company, employing 75,000 people worldwide. It sells consumer electronic products, software and digital content. Its primary product lines are the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone and the iPad. It is, by far, the largest company in the world in terms of market capitalization and is more than twice the size of Wal-Mart. This sheer size makes Apple an important to our component financial composition. Many people own shares of Apple without even realizing it, as most pension funds and stock mutual funds have a significant amount of Apple stock. It’s also an important company in terms of technology that touches our lives.

Niche and Following
Apple products have a fiercely loyal following. Many of its customers wouldn't even consider a competing product. There have been a series of bugs and technical oversights in its products and software. Who could forget the famous antenna snafu? Despite these issues, Apple's customer base is generally unwavering. Other products have been harmed, and in some cases, eliminated for similar oversights.
There are many possible explanations for this loyalty. One is the trust and love people felt for Steve Jobs, Apple's founder and CEO until his death. He arguably had a bigger impact on people's everyday lives than any other person of our generation - even the President.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Apple – Economic Environment

...Economic Environment Apple’s domestic environment is the United States of America. While Rostow’s five stages of development can be somewhat helpful, some argue that Rostow’s model was developed with western cultures in mind and is not applicable to least developed countries (Ford, 2004). Because Apple was developed in a westernized culture, the model is slightly more helpful. However, several economists believe the model, as a predictive one is not very helpful, that instead its main use it to highlight the need for investment. Rostow’s five stages of development is essentially a growth model (Ford, 2004). Because of the model being created in the 1960s, some of the stages do not exactly match up to today’s businesses. For example, stage one is labeled as the traditional society. In this stage, the producers consume their own goods. It goes on to explain that when goods were traded, they were traded for other goods, rather than someone paying money for them. At this time, agriculture was the most important industry. Today, Apple definitely does not trade goods directly for other goods. Apple sells directly to consumers in exchange for money. This goes for both domestic and global environments. Stage two becomes slightly more similar to today’s economy. Specialization increases and transportation is accessible and used to support trade. Apple has corned the market with their technological devices and offers store around the country. Also, because of mass transportation...

Words: 545 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Apple, Inc Economic Outlook

...MBAX 5510 Andy Duy Mai Apple, Inc (Ticker: AAPL) Introduction Apple Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries designs, manufactures and markets hardware devices including mobile communication, media, computers (personal and enterprise storage), portable music players, networking solutions and peripherals worldwide. In addition, it also develops and sells software, services, and third party digital content and applications that are both synchronous and asynchronous to its hardware offerings. Hardware product offerings include the iPhone®, a multi-touch smartphone that includes a mobile phone, music player, internet device, and applications made available through an online software store. iPad® and iPod® are portable media devices with onscreen, multi-touch features, long battery life and internet capabilities with applications also made available through the online software store. Mac (desktops and laptops), Apple TV®, xServer® and xServer RAID® and networking peripherals such as Air Port® along with a vast array of accessories, including high resolution displays and peripheral products such as mouse, keyboard, ear phones, and protective cases round out the hardware offerings. Software product offerings include iOS® and OS X® operating systems, a professional line of software such as Final Cut Pro® and File Maker Pro®, consumer software such as iPhoto, and Garage Band as well as third-party digital content and applications. Services and support offerings brings seamless...

Words: 897 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Apple Inc Economic Analysis

...MBUS 610 Econ Environment of the Firm 12 Apple Inc. Economic Firm Analysis Trey III Apple Incorporated, formerly known as Apple Computers Incorporated, and more commonly known just as Apple, has lead the way in technology and innovation for consumer electronics with their slender storage capacities, vibrant displays, and incredible touch screen products. When they first started, their focus was more on personal computers for customers, but as the company has aged, so has their focus expanded towards this idea of consumer electronics as a whole. Seeing as they now offer popular devices including, but not limited to, computers (Mac Book), home theater (Apple TV), phones (iPhone), tablets (iPad), and media (iPod), it can clearly be seen that versatility is a strong suite of theirs. Everywhere you look, an Apple product can be found. From the consumer’s perspective, this is not merely a local market. Not only can you purchase Apple products from Apple online or Apple stores, but their products can be found in any number of places, including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Fred Meyers. Similarly, if your device breaks down, wherever you can find a computer or an Apple store, you can be helped. From personal experience, when my first iPod broke, all that I needed to do was go online and request a replacement device. Two weeks later a box showed up for me to send my old one away, and a week later Apple shipped me a new iPod. Similarly, if you are having problems with your...

Words: 1804 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Economic Analysis of Apple Inc

...ECO320-65: CAPSTONE Economic Analysis of Apple Inc Student 2 Cleary University May 14, 2007 ECO320-65: CAPSTONE Economic Analysis of Apple Inc. Introduction 3 Industry analysis 4 Personal computers 4 Computer software 5 iPod and iTunes 5 Company analysis 7 Apple Computers Inc 7 Apple Inc 8 Innovation 9 Profitability 9 Recommendations 11 Personal computing 11 Conclusions 12 References 13 Appendix 14 Introduction The primary purpose of this report is to execute an economic analysis on Apple Inc. We will review the impacts that the competitive market has had on Apple, since it was founded in 1976. This report will detail how Apple Inc. is both a dire example of the adverse effects of monopolistic competition on a company as other companies into the market; as well as an exceptional example the economic rewards yielded by innovation and brand differentiation within a competitive market. An analysis of Apple Inc would be incomplete without reviewing its past and present competitors. Reviewing these competitors will help the reviewer gain insight into comparative advantages held by other companies and the economic impact this has had on Apple Inc. this report will review the industry as a whole in order to understand the impacts of industry level supply and demand upon Apple Inc. The report will briefly examine the impact of market prices and international trade as an aspect of this report. More importantly, it will review specialization...

Words: 2731 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Economic Analysis of Apple Inc.

...to execute an economic analysis on Apple Inc. We will review the impacts that the competitive market has had on Apple, since it was founded in 1976. This report will detail how Apple Inc. is both a dire example of the adverse effects of monopolistic competition on a company as other companies into the market; as well as an exceptional example the economic rewards yielded by innovation and brand differentiation within a competitive market. An analysis of Apple Inc would be incomplete without reviewing its past and present competitors. Reviewing these competitors will help the reviewer gain insight into comparative advantages held by other companies and the economic impact this has had on Apple Inc. this report will review the industry as a whole in order to understand the impacts of industry level supply and demand upon Apple Inc. The report will briefly examine the impact of market prices and international trade as an aspect of this report. More importantly, it will review specialization is undertaken by Apple Inc and the economic benefits gained by this course of action. Essentially, the economic view of Apple Inc is looking a company set within the market structure of monopolistic competition and how it has successfully used innovation and branding to turn itself into a pseudo-oligopoly despite competitors continually entering the market. Industry analysis Reviewing Apple Inc involves investigating the competitors that almost led to the demise of Apple Computers Inc...

Words: 2609 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Economic Factors for Apple Inc in Usa

...Introduction: Apple and Samsung are the two greatest companies in the world, when it comes to supply of Mobiles phones, laptops And TV’s. The fierce competition between Apple and Samsung is going on from a long time. And surely the consumer’s across the World are benefited by this competition. Apple Inc. is an American multinational partnership headquartered in Cupertino, California, that plans, creates, and offers buyer gadgets, machine programming, online administrations, and Pcs. Apple was established by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976 to create and offer Pcs. It was named Apple Inc. on January 9, 2007 to reflect its moved center towards buyer hardware. Its best-known fittings items are the Mac line of machines, the ipod media player, the iphone cell phone, and the ipad tablet machine. Apple has ceaselessly concocted imaginative items making it the most significant organization on the planet and abandoning all its rivals Samsung (Hangul: 삼성; hanja: 三星; Korean articulation: [sʰamsʰʌŋ ɡɯɾup]) is a South Korean multinational combination organization headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul Samsung was established by Lee Byung-chul in 1938 as an exchanging organization. Throughout the following three decades, the gathering broadened into zones including sustenance transforming, materials, protection, securities and retail. Samsung entered the hardware business in the late 1960s and the development and shipbuilding commercial enterprises in the mid-1970s;...

Words: 1105 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Economics 2013 Research Paper on Apple, Inc.

...Economics 2013 Research Paper on Apple Inc. Introduction Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and markets a range of consumer electronics, personal computers, laptops, portable digital music players, media devices, mobile phones, and related software products. The company’s most famous hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPhone, the iPod, and the new iPad. The software products offered by Apple, Inc. include the Mac OS X operating system; the iOS mobile operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software; the iWork suite of productivity software; the Aperture, a professional photography package; Final Cut Studio, a suite of professional audio and film industry software products and Logic Studio, a suite of music production tools. The Company sells its products globally through retail stores, online stores, and third-party cellular network carriers. [1] Currently Apple Inc. has a total of 317 retail stores around the world, including 233 stores in the United States and 84 international stores, along with an online store (www.apple.com) where hardware and software products are sold. [2] Apple Inc. was established by Steven Jobs, Steven Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California, to sell the Apple I personal computer kit. [3] These computers were hand built by Steven Wozniak at the time, and first shown to...

Words: 3988 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

The Influence of Two Contrasting Economic Environments Apple

...Economic Environments on Business Activities Task 4 Your local magazine plans to publish a follow-up article to the first one, which was well accepted. In this article, you will need to choose one of the two organisations from your initial article and compare it with an organisation from another industry. This requires you to research a different economic environment and to look at one business from that industry. This business with then be compared with your local business. * Draw up a table of economic data for your local organisations and one other contrasting economic environment. * Choose at least two economic topics and collect relevant data from two different industries example GDP, retail sales, inflation and interest rates. * Using the data collected in your table, describe the influence of two contrasting economic environments (i.e. the economic data collected) on business activities within your selected organisations. Economic Environment An economic environment is the factors that have effects on the working of the business. This will include the system, policies and the nature of the economy, economic resources, level of income, distribution of income, trade cycles and wealth. GDP The gross domestic product or the gross domestic income (GDI) is one of the measures of national income and output. It is defined in 3 ways which gives identical results. 1. It is equal to the total expenditures for all final goods and services produced within the country throughout...

Words: 594 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Marketing Report - Tooheys Five Seeds Cider

...Marketing Report – Toohey’s New Five Seeds Cider Morgan Grace and Sciobhan Leahy Word Count: 1500 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Executive summary 2.0 Situational Analysis 3.0 Swot Analysis 3.1 Strengths 3.2 Weakness 3.3 Opportunity 3.4 Threats 4.0 SWOT Matrix 5.0 PEST Analysis 5.1 Political 5.2 Economical 5.3 Socio-cultural 5.4 Technology 6.0 Marketing Strategy 7.0 Marketing Mix 7.1 Product 7.2 Price 7.3 Promotion 7.4 Media and Advertising 7.5 Promotion 8.0 Critique 1.0 Introduction This marketing report addresses the SWOT analysis, PEST analysis, marketing strategy, marketing mix and critique of Toohey’s Five Seeds Cider. It also credibly evaluates the marketing, promotions and the creators of Toohey’s Five Seeds Cider 1.1 Executive Summary 2.0 Situational Analysis The following situational analysis has been prepared in order to address the Macro environment issues surrounding the target market and destination. 3.0 SWOT Analysis 3.1. Strengths Toohey’s is apart for the Lion Nathan which is a premium Australasian Alcohol Company, which was established in the late 1980’s and by 1990 was one of Australia’s largest corporate companies. Lion Nathan embodies a sense of Australian pride, owning two breweries, Castlemaine Perkins in Brisbane and Toohey’s brewery in Sydney. Furthermore employees over 1800 Australians and 1400 New Zeeland’s, and holds shares on both the Australian and New Zealand stock...

Words: 2217 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Economic Factors That Affect Apple in China and Usa

...Unit 1: Business Environment Assignment 3 Apple is the company that I am going to be talking about in this assignment; I will be talking about how different economic environments affect two countries Apple operates in (China, USA) and what countries they are manufactured and assembled in. They’re stores are usually located in the central main shopping centre of a city especially their stores in the UK. The company Apple is a private limited company and the company is open to the public to buy shares in the organisation. The company is based in the secondary sector of business. Here is a table stating some of the economic factors that may affect Apple. China United Kingdom GDP China GDP is worth 5879 billion dollars or 9.48% of the world economy, according to the World Bank. from 1960 until 2010, China's average GDP was 839.37 billion dollars reaching a massive rate 5878.63 billion dollars in December of 2010 and a record low of 46.46 billion dollars in December of 1962 The United Kingdom GDP is worth 2246 billion dollars or 3.62% of the world economy, according to the World Bank. From 1960 until 2010 the United Kingdom's average Gross Domestic Product was 862.04 billion dollars reaching 2810.97 billion dollars in 2010. Inflation The inflation rate in China was last reported at 4.1 percent in December of 2011. From 1994 until 2010, the average inflation rate in China was 4.25% reaching 27.70 percent in October of 1994 and a record low of -2.20% in March of 1999. The...

Words: 1644 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

International Marketing Opportunities

...6. Assessment Tasks Assessment Task 1: Assessment Task Case Study: IKEA: A Long March to the Far East Schedule Week 4 Performance Criteria: Outcomes Assessed 1.1,2.1,2.2, 4.1 Also addresses some elements of required skills and knowledge as shown in the Assessment Matrix Description: From its humble beginning as a small general retail store in a village situated in the south of Sweden, IKEA has grown into the world's largest furniture retailer with 279 stores in 36 countries today. Specialising in furniture and home decoration, IKEA has an annual turnover of 19.8 billion euros (source: IKEA, www.ikea.com, accessed 25/03/2012). The IKEA catalogue is printed in 52 editions with 25 languages, with a global distribution in excess of 160 million copies. IKEA sees the Far Asia as an emerging market still in its infant stage. Its number of retail outlets in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong are very small and comprises a mere 3% of the company's total sales. These stores were expected to be more successful in the near future. IKEA's imminent strategic expansion into this region exemplified its ambitions to dominate this emerging market. This Case Study illustrates how IKEA's ventures into China and Japan are laden with unique marketing challenges which it had not encountered before in other international markets. Read the attached case (Case Study: "IKEA: A Long March to the Far East" - Source: Oxford University Press) and ...

Words: 2881 - Pages: 12

Free Essay

New Dessert

...position the brand as the new favorite dessert in the consumer’s mind. Define your product According to a study managed by MedecineNet.com, United States’ children and teenagers do not eat enough fruits[1]. Moreover the obesity rate in the United States grew up last decades: ““Over the last three decades, obesity rates among children and adolescents have nearly tripled,” said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, MD. “Obese children are more likely to have asthma, depression, diabetes, and other serious and costly health problems.”[2] The concept of my product is to create and sell pure fruits with the appearance of food liked by children. For instance, the first product to be launched will be pieces of apple with the form and the color of French fries. That means that fresh apples will be cut into thick slivers and...

Words: 4710 - Pages: 19

Free Essay

Plan de Ventas Fase I

...entorno, del análisis de la situación y por último el análisis del SWOTT (“Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats”). Este último punto se toma en cuenta, ya que su propósito es incrementar sus ventas en este producto. El “iPad”2, es una tableta o una computadora portátil liviana y fácil de utilizar, ya que su diseño fue inspirado por los teléfonos portátiles. “Apple”, es una compañía innovadora la cual decidió crear el “iPad”2 para entrar a un mercado diferente a los de los teléfonos inteligentes. No obstante, ya que creando esta nueva computadora fácil de utilizar y diferente a todo lo que el mercado estaba acostumbrado. Las ventajas del “iPad”2 en comparación a un teléfono, es el tamaño de la pantalla. Esto le da ventaja al usuario, ya que este puede navegar por el Internet con mejor facilidad que por un teléfono. Quiere decir, que el usuario no tendría que accesar desde su computadora portátil. Sin embargo; su enfoque está dirigido a diferentes mercados, educación, corporativo y al mercado de las computadoras portátiles e internet. El “iPad”2, es la sucesora del “iPad”1, donde Apple logró mejorar e innovar en la creación del “iPad”2, esta nueva tableta contiene dos cámaras. Estas dos cámaras están ubicadas una en el área frontal y la otra en el área trasera. El “iPad”2, contiene un procesador de doble núcleo A5. La tarjeta de procesamiento de video, es nueve veces más potente que el “iPad”1. Según las especificaciones del “iPad”2 esta puede...

Words: 2163 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Contrast Essay

...point of contrast (PC). Remember that a point of contrast is a quality that both subjects possess in different ways. This is called a “difference in kind.” Apples and oranges both have seeds, but they have different kinds of seeds. Your points of contrast should avoid the Not/-Er Fallacy. In other words, you must write about the actual characteristics of each subject and not simply say one has X but the other does not, or that one has X but the other has more X. Topic Sentences (T) You will have two topic sentences in each paragraph. One will come at the beginning of the paragraph and identify the first subject as it relates the point of contrast (the general difference). After you have provided the necessary information (see below), use a transitional expression (on the other hand, in contrast, however) and write the second topic sentence which will identify the second subject as it relates to the point of contrast. Support Distinguishing Characteristics (DC) After each topic sentence, you will present in specific, clear detail the characteristics that distinguish the first subject from the second. The details you present will vary. If you were writing about the characteristics that distinguish an apple seed from an orange seed, you would need to use description in order to show the reader what makes the apples seed different. If you are writing about how a person is obsessed with his self-appearance, you would need to provide examples of the person’s...

Words: 274 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Literature

...Liezel Mae D. Flores FMA21FA2 The World Is an Apple Alberto S. Florentino I. Characters * Mario- Husband of Gloria, late twenties, shabbily dressed and with hair that seems to have been uncut for weeks. - lost his job because he puts just one apple in his bag * Gloria- Wife of Mario, small woman about Mario's age, with long hair, and a scrawny body * Pablo- older than Mario, sinister-looking, and well dressed. II. Setting The setting takes place in an improvised home behind the portion of the Intramuros walls. Two wooden boxes flank the doorway. III. Plot When Mario gets home, his wife Gloria puts her hand on Mario’s pocket to get some money. Then Mario suddenly gets angry and said that he don’t have any money. Gloria asked her why he said that he spend it on getting drunk and spending on other woman but Gloria didn’t believed Mario. And he said the truth that he has kicked out from his work because he get one apple and put in his bag for his daughter. Mario then told Gloria that she didn’t have to worry because he found another job. When she sees Pablo was their watching them. Pablo said that Mario will now work in dishonest ways like their past time job. Gloria tries to stop her husband going together with Pablo but Mario goes, Gloria was left home shouting Mario’s name and crying together with Tita. IV. Theme Good principles and values will effectively work beneficially to the person who have them and will...

Words: 616 - Pages: 3