...Introduction: When people purchase a cup of coffee in cafes, they also reserve the right to a seat for them to enjoy the coffee. In that sense, the money a consumer pays in the café is not only for the cup of coffee but also for the seat that he or she may or may not use. In economic terms, the coffee and the seat can be seen as complements. Consumers pay for an “invisible” bundle, which is composed by a cup of coffee and a seat. For café owners, their goal is to maximize their profit. Hence, the cost of the seat, which seems to be free, is actually contained in the coffee price. This is the traditional strategy of a café (“first strategy” in latter passage). However, a phenomenon is observed in China. With the increasing number of freeloaders, people who enjoy the seat without any purchase, private firms start to use a new strategy (“second strategy” in latter passage). They charge a sitting fee, which costs less than a typical cup of coffee, to those freeloaders. It is clear that such a policy is implemented to guarantee the café’s profit. As Singapore is also starting to observe an increasing trend of freeloaders, we are interested in which strategy is more suitable to be implemented by café. Research method & Survey: Our research is based on the hypothesis that the second strategy is going to be implemented in Singapore. Since coffee remains the same in the two strategies, we are going to draw our conclusion by analyzing a consumer’s willingness-to-pay for the...
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...Economic Impact Analyses analyze the economic effects of a particular project in a particular area. This analysis can cover a region as small as a neighborhood and as large as the world. The main variables analyzed include revenue, profits, wages, and jobs. They consider the direct impact the economic impact has on an area as well as indirect impacts. For instance, you can analyze the total number of employees a firm will hire if it builds a new factory. You can also analyze what this increase in employment will do to other non-related industries in the area. These newly employed workers will have more money to spend at a local store which will in turn create more profits and potentially more jobs. It typically analyzes activity before the project and after the compare the changes and the impact of the project. This is typically done by measuring the difference in economic activity assuming the economic event occurs and then assuming it does not occur. This is called the counterfactual case. An economic event can be defined as a new business moving into a region, a new policy or government program, or any other activity that produces some sort of profit. This is useful to determine if a particular project is worth investing in (Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 2012) . The main types of impact analysis include output impact, value added impact, labor income impact, and employment impact. There is also a property value impact. An output impact measure the total increase...
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...prevailed: MRSAom = 4 and MRSKom = 3. Keya can offer one orange to Apu for 3 mangoes and 3 mangoes can give her the same satisfaction as before and the exchange make her better off than before, because she has 1 more mango left. This means the initial situation was not Pareto efficient. Answer no. 06 Suppose in the initial resource allocation, MRSAom = 4 and MRTom = 3. Apu can reduce mango production by 3 units and gain 1 unit of orange. He can exchange 1 orange for 3 units of mangoes and can improve his situation because he gains 1 unit of orange in the process. This again implies that the initial allocation was not Pareto efficient. Answer no. 07 We need government intervention even if the First Fundamental Theorem of welfare economics is satisfied because the initial allocation of resources can lead to a point on the grand utility possibility curve, which sustains a very unequal distribution of income and puts the economy on a lower social indifference curve. The government can change the initial allocation of resources such that the distribution of income can be made socially desirable without affecting the Pareto efficiency condition. Answer no. 08 The situation in which price becomes greater than marginal cost, as in a monopoly market, cannot be Pareto efficient because marginal valuation of the consumer for the commodity as expressed by MRS exceeds MRT and in this situation the society’s total welfare can be increased by increasing the production of the commodity...
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...investors of a possible first half-year, $91 million loss (Johnston 2012). Application of concepts The recent decision by the BoQ to rise capital funding relates to the economic component of the PEST model. The significant performance fluctuations between last year’s profits as compared to this year’s potential loss, which is approximated to be $91m, can be explained to be consequential of the highly unstable economic environment (Johnston 2012). Factors such as post GFC strains including significant drops in consumer confidence and credit shortages are still prominent in many different sectors of the market (Reuters. 2011). For BoQ in particular, it was it’s adverse exposure to the ‘property market bust in the tourism hot spots’ that unfavourably affected its profitability (Johnston 2012). However, fortunately for the bank institutional investors were able to raise $284 million and pick 92% of the banks entitlements (Johnston 2012). This strong support can be seen as a direct result of the bank’s diverse CSR operations. The bank’s diversification into programs such as carbon pollution reducing activities for the environment and ‘Banking on our kids’ programs to raise money for hospital foundations greatly assist in aligning BoQ’s business sector operations with profound community values (Bank of Queensland). Analysis Increasing a bank’s capital reserve not only allows the company to absolve any underlying debt obligations by increasing...
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...BOFIT Discussion Papers 15 • 2011 John Knight and Wei Wang China's macroeconomic imbalances: Causes and consequences Bank of Finland, BOFIT Institute for Economies in Transition BOFIT Discussion Papers Editor-in-Chief Laura Solanko BOFIT Discussion Papers 15/2011 20.06.2011 John Knight and Wei Wang: China's macroeconomic imbalances: Causes and consequences ISBN 978-952-462-711-5 ISSN 1456-5889 (online) This paper can be downloaded without charge from http://www.bof.fi/bofit. Suomen Pankki Helsinki 2011 BOFIT- Institute for Economies in Transition Bank of Finland BOFIT Discussion Papers 15/ 2011 Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ iii Tiivistelmä ........................................................................................................................... iv 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 2. China’s macroeconomic imbalances ................................................................................. 2 3. China’s external imbalance ............................................................................................. 14 4. Reviewing the export surplus .......................................................................................... 22 5. The external surplus and foreign exchange reserves .......
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...Economic Analysis Exercise I. Discuss how the two cases in this chapter illustrate the major theme of this text: Changes in the macro environment affect individual firms and industries through the microeconomic factors of demand, production, cost, and profitability. Drawing on current business publications, find some updated facts for each case that support this them. Drawing on current business publications and the two cases in this chapter it is prevalent that several changes in the macro environment have had an effect on the profitability of individual firms and industries. The text states that (Farnham, 2010 page 459), downturns in economic activity forced all the fast-food companies to develop new strategies. During this economic downturn McDonald’s was one company in particular that has developed strategies that were influenced by microeconomic changes. A great example is when McDonald’s entered the Chinese market they had to take into consideration consumer taste and acceptance in China. They had to decided whether or not to have the menu in Chinese or English and whether or not to take on the American menu or add more Chinese influenced menu items. Cost also played a part in the China market. Beef was much more expensive and so therefore could only reach a certain percentage of the people. Half of McDonald’s sales in China had been of chicken product with beef only making up 35 percent (Farnham, 2010). II. Compare and contrast McDonald’s strategies in China with...
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...Economic Analysis of Shale Gas an Industry Alternative By Lillian Ashford & Bridget M. Chow Professor Nelson Altamirano, Ph.D. National University ECO 607 Economics for Managerial Decision-Making December 11, 2011 Introduction Shale gas is natural gas that is trapped in shale formations. Shale particles are fine grained sedimentary rocks that are rich sources of petroleum and natural gas. In the past, it was not economically viable to produce shale gas; however, with technological advances and the forward thinking perceptions of reducing our ecological footprint, the process has become more economical due to horizontal drilling and fracturing. The natural gas industry in the United States has been revitalized as a result of the production of natural gas from shale formations. In 2009, shale gas represented approximately 14% of the United States total natural gas supply. The production of shale gas is expected to increase and make up approximately 60% of the (U.S.) total natural gas supply by 2035. The question to ponder is whether or not shale gas is a viable energy option for the United States to consider in reducing the energy dependence of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) while increasing fiscal responsibility and economic viability in both the short and long run analysis? Economic Analysis The shale gas industry has contributed to the economy in terms of jobs, economic value...
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...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...
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...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 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...
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...Page 1 Analysis of the Recent Economic Downturn In 2007, strong growth in the third quarter lead most to believe that a recession had been avoided, however, this proved not to be the case. A decline in GDP growth is the cause of recessions. Typically, there will be a “goldilocks” economy or an irrational exuberance prior to a recession, followed by a market crash. Prior to the 2007 – 2009 recession, the housing market was going up. Everyone “knew” house values could only go up and behaved accordingly; banks lent too much money to consumers bought too much house. Once the market crashed, the stage was set for a recession. Many factors affecting the aggregate demand curve had declines. As mentioned, home equity declined, as well as the stock market. This decrease in wealth decreased consumption and consumer confidence leading to lower spending. As consumers cut back on spending, business confidence also fell with additional decreases in consumption and also investments. Additionally, foreign GDPs were also declining leading to a decrease in exports. The changes in these variables all caused a shift back in the aggregate demand curve, lowering the GDP. Attempting to counteract the recession, the Federal Reserve pumped money into the economy, increasing the nominal money supply. As the value of the dollar decreased, interest rates were kept low, allowing the exchange rate to remain favorable for exports. Additionally the government increased spending by way of stimulus packages...
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...Economic and Financial Outlook in 2015 External Shocks Creating New Opportunities FSDH Research January 2015 Economic and Financial Outlook: 2015-2019 1.0 Global Economic Growth: According to the World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), January 2015 Edition, the global economic growth is forecast at 3.5% and 3.7%, for 2015 and 2016 respectively. The forecasts were reviewed downward by 0.3% The IMF forecasts a global economic growth of 3.5% and 3.7% for 2015 and 2016 respectively. relative to the October 2014 WEO. The revisions reflect a reassessment of prospects in China, Russia, the Euro-area, and Japan as well as the weaker activity in some major oil exporters because of the sharp drop in oil prices. The United States (U.S.) is the only major economy for which growth projections have been raised upward. The IMF added that the global growth will receive a boost from the lower oil prices. However, this boost is projected to be more than offset by the negative factors, including investment weakness as adjustment to diminished expectations about medium-term growth continues in many advanced and emerging market economies. The U.S. is expected to grow by 3.6% in 2015 and slow down to 3.3% in 2016, supported by domestic demand due to lower oil prices, more moderate fiscal adjustment, and The U.S. is expected to grow by 3.6% in 2015 and slow down to 3.3% in 2016. continued support from an accommodative monetary policy stance...
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...Depression of the 1930s? This article looks at the economic factors that may have attributed such a long recovery in the employment numbers. Economists agree that there were many economic factors at work that effected employment. For example, in July 2009, the federal minimum wage was increased from $6.55 to $7.25. Though fewer than 3 percent were affected...
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...experienced was nothing short of spectacular – with GDP contracting 12.5% from 2007 to 2010 i and unemployment peaking at 9.4% in 2007 and culminating in a total government collapse on January 27, 2009.ii Altogether, the banks – who owed more than six times the country's GDP in debtiii - defaulted on 85 billion,iv leaving the previously affluent residents angry and afraid. Since that time, the country has taken drastic measures to right the economic situation, and while Iceland is not yet out of danger, the economic future is certainly looking hopeful. How was this tiny country, against all odds, able to crawl back from the brink of disaster? Looking Back First, let's back up and take a look at Iceland's recent economic history. The 1990s, Iceland's golden days, combined free-market and capitalist principles with a robust welfare system. At the time, this produced strong economic growth plus low unemployment and a relatively even distribution of income. As a result, Iceland was rated as "having one of the world's highest levels of economic freedom as well as civil freedoms."v In the second quarter of 1998, the GDP growth rate reached 10.20%.vi (For comparison purposes, the current GDP growth rate in the US is 2.4%.vii) Iceland's ability to sustain this expansionary period through the 90's and early 2000's was due to the deregulation and privatization of the banks as well as Iceland's decision to join the EU Single Market in 1994. The single market enabled goods and services...
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...While other students have fretted over choosing the right college and correct major I have always felt that regardless of these choices I would be happy, making the most of any situation I chose for myself. However, I was encouraged to think more deeply after reading Victor Claar and Robin Klay’s book, Economics In Christian Perspective. They spoke about the Christian vocation and mentioned John Calvin’s view on the subject “Calvin taught that everyone received a special calling to a work for which he or she received the necessary gifts”. Certainly my business administration degree interests me but it can feel like there is a surplus of students entering the business field and it may not be the best major for me to help my peers. After...
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...In a free market society where firms and households shape the economy, government intervention can significantly contribute to economic stability and improve current economic outcomes. The successful use of government policy tools is evident through an examination of environmental economics, monetary policy and the labour market. With regards to the environment and the labour market, the government have made use of taxes, permit trading systems, general regulations and transfer payments to influence economic outcomes in each of these respective fields. By studying monetary policy it is also apparent that control over the interest rate mechanism is another effective tool used by policymakers to enhance the present and future economic circumstances of a nation. As society continues to expand, the quality of the environment is beginning to deteriorate. Governments to prevent this from occurring and to avoid market inefficiency, can help the economy through policy tools such as enforcing taxes and regulating pollution permit trading systems. As shown in Figure 1 below, market equilibrium (Me) on its own is inefficient because it does not take into consideration the negative externalities that arise during production and does not account for a lack of incentive by firms to incorporate additional production costs. The implications of market failure will mean that a society will not be allocative efficient and as a result output will be greater than it what it should be (Q0 instead...
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