Part I: Description of the State of the U.S. Economy
Part II: Analysis of Economic Policies
In: Economics
How would you respond to this post?
We live in uncertain times. If it sounds doomsday-ish, then you’re reading it correctly. At any given moment there are important, powerful things happening around us. In the past, it could be argued that rapid technological advancements fit this description. Right now, one could make a case for anything from COVID-19 to the Climate Crisis. And some companies and products are thriving in the chaos. The first example that comes to mind, probably because it’s directly related to the auto manufacturers listed in the posted article, is Tesla. Tesla has demonstrated everything referenced in the article. Each car has a big monitor that keeps the people inside connected. [Smart Products & Productivity.] Tesla cars, generally, can only be serviced by Tesla service centers. Owners aren’t really allowed to obtain and work on their own cars, which is very different than times past. The level of customer service is as important as the service itself [Servicitization.] For Digitization, the product itself is pretty digital, but another example could be how a Tesla is built (as a model, not an individual product.) Tesla can mock up a car and see what it would look like in a computer long before manufacturing begins. For personalization, those who order Tesla's can do so from the comfort of their own home. They can choose their own features, color, and more. It’s like Build-A-Bear for moms and dads. For Regulation, Tesla has to follow the same federal rules and regulations as all other car manufacturer. What sets them apart is how they go above and beyond. This is especially true in how they handle EPA regulations. As eco-cars they come with a guilty free conscience and a sense of civic duty.
In: Operations Management
You are assigned to design the decision table of the year-end bonus. Everyone has a basic amount of $500. Anyone who worked for over 5 years would have an addition $2000. Anyone who got top sales at any month during the year would have an extra $1000. However, if anyone who got a warning from the company would drop all the bonuses. Draw the decision table based on the above information.
In: Civil Engineering
The input file, “input.txt” is called parse Text.txt
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate — we can not consecrate — we can not hallow — this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
In: Computer Science
On January 1, 2017, Ivanhoe Ltd. had 500,000 common shares outstanding. During 2017, it had the following transactions that affected the common share account: Feb. 1 Issued 157,000 shares. Mar. 1 Issued a 19% stock dividend. May 1 Acquired 168,000 common shares and retired them. June 1 Issued a 2-for-1 stock split. Oct. 1 Issued 71,000 shares. The company’s year end is December 31. Determine the weighted average number of shares outstanding as at December 31, 2017. Assume that Ivanhoe earned net income of $3,452,000 during 2017. In addition, it had 110,000 of 11%, $100 par, non-convertible, non–cumulative preferred shares outstanding for the entire year. Because of liquidity limitations, however, the company did not declare and pay a preferred dividend in 2017. Calculate earnings per share for 2017, using the weighted average number of shares determined above. Assume that Ivanhoe earned net income of $3,452,000 during 2017. In addition, it had 110,000 of 11%, $100 par, non-convertible, cumulative preferred shares outstanding for the entire year. Because of liquidity limitations, however, the company did not declare and pay a preferred dividend in 2017. Calculate earnings per share for 2017, using the weighted average number of shares determined above. Assume that Ivanhoe earned net income of $3,452,000 during 2017. In addition, it had 110,000 of 11%, $100 par, non-convertible, non–cumulative preferred shares outstanding for the entire year. Because of liquidity limitations, however, the company did not declare and pay a preferred dividend in 2017. Assume that net income included a loss from discontinued operations of $400,000, net of applicable income taxes. Calculate earnings per share for 2017
In: Accounting
The fact that millions of Americans do not have health insurance is said to be a major problem, if not the major problem, of the United State health care system. Estimates of the number who are uninsured vary widely. There are also widely different indicators of how much difference uninsurance makes. One of the strange features of the U.S. health care system is that the health plan most of us have is not a plan that we chose; rather, it was selected by our employer. Even if we like our health plan, we could easily lose coverage because of the loss of a job, a change in employment, or a decision by our employer.
Most employer health insurance contracts last only twelve months. At the end of the year, the employer may choose a different health plan or cease providing health insurance altogether. Strangely, the only people with private health insurance guaranteed to last longer than one year are people who purchase insurance on their own. A switch of health plans might mean changing doctors as well, if the two plans do not have overlapping networks or if cost-sharing arrangements penalize the patient's previous choice of doctors. If an employee (or family member) has a health problem, that could interrupt the continuity of care. In addition, different plans have different benefit packages. So some services, such as mental health, might be covered by one plan but not the next.
These disruptions affect some families more than others. For people who are healthy, they amount to minor inconveniences; for others, the problems can be severe. One study of chronically ill workers found that relying on one's employer for health coverage reduced job mobility 40 percent. Older workers, who are more likely than younger workers to have health problems, are also disproportionately affected. Further, as more employers cut back on postretirement health care benefits, many baby-boomer early retirees will have to shop for individual insurance and pay for it with after-tax dollars. The same fate will confront many younger spouses of retirees who enroll in Medicare.
Discussion Question
What is your approach to determine an action that can resolve these problems in our system? Can we have one without the other?
In: Operations Management
Please research the web and find two articles that deal with leaders (CEO’s politicians, public figures) who have experienced significant personal changes on their way to becoming an effective leader. Recap for us and talk about some of the changes. Do you think this changes are ”required”? Have you experienced these changes yourself?
In: Operations Management
1. A mutual fund company offers its customers a variety of funds: a money-market fund, three different bond funds (short, intermediate, and long-term), two stock funds (moderate and high-risk), and a balanced fund. Among customers who own shares in just one fund, the percentages of customers in the different funds are as follows. Money-market 25% High-risk stock 16% Short bond 10% Moderate-risk stock 25% Intermediate bond 8% Balanced 11% Long bond 5% A customer who owns shares in just one fund is randomly selected.
(a) What is the probability that the selected individual owns shares in the balanced fund? (
b) What is the probability that the individual owns shares in a bond fund?
(c) What is the probability that the selected individual does not own shares in a stock fund?
2. Suppose that 50% of all adults regularly consume coffee, 60% regularly consume carbonated soda, and 70% regularly consume at least one of these two products.
(a) What is the probability that a randomly selected adult
regularly consumes both coffee and soda?
(b) What is the probability that a randomly selected adult doesn't
regularly consume at least one of these two products?
3. Eighty percent of the light aircraft that disappear while in flight in a certain country are subsequently discovered. Of the aircraft that are discovered, 61% have an emergency locator, whereas 86% of the aircraft not discovered do not have such a locator. Suppose a light aircraft has disappeared. (Round your answers to three decimal places.)
(a) If it has an emergency locator, what is the probability that
it will not be discovered?
(b) If it does not have an emergency locator, what is the
probability that it will be discovered?
4. Suppose that the proportions of blood phenotypes in a particular population are as follows:
| A | B | AB | O |
| 0.50 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.39 |
a. Assuming that the phenotypes of two randomly selected
individuals are independent of one another, what is the probability
that both phenotypes are O? (Enter your answer to four decimal
places.)
b. What is the probability that the phenotypes of two randomly
selected individuals match? (Enter your answer to four decimal
places.)
In: Statistics and Probability
Researchers determined that 60 tissues is the mean number of tissues(μ) used during a cold. Suppose a random sample of 64 Kleenex users (n) yielded the following data on the number of tissues used during a cold: sample Mean (X bar) = 57.5, S = 4. Suppose the alternative you wanted to test was H1: μ ≠ 60. State the correct rejection region for α = 0.1.
Select one:
a. Reject H0 if t < -1.6694 or t >1.6694.
b. Reject H0 if t > 1.9983 or t < -1.9983.
c. Reject H0 if t < -1.6604.
d. Reject H0 if t > 1.6604.
A researcher is attempting to show statistically that the female MBA graduates have a significantly lower mean starting salary than the male MBA graduates. Which of the following is an appropriate alternative hypothesis?
Select one:
a. H1: μfemales > μmales
b. H0: μfemales < μmales
c. H0: μfemales = μmales
d. H1: μfemales < μmales
The marketing manager for an automobile manufacturer is interested in determining the proportion of new compact-car owners who would have purchased a side curtain air bag if it had been available for an additional cost of $300. The manager believes from previous information that the population proportion is 0.30 (π). Suppose that a survey of 100 new compact-car owners is selected (n) and 45 indicate that they would have purchased the side curtain air bags. If you were to conduct a test to determine whether there is evidence that the proportion is different from 0.30, what will be your test statistic(Zstat) value?
Select one:
a. 3.27
b. 2.35
c. -4.103
d. 1.091
If an economist wishes to determine whether there is evidence that mean family income in a community is more than $50,000
Select one:
a. a two-tail test should be utilized
b. either a one-tail or two-tail test could be used with equivalent results.
c. None of the above.
d. a one-tail test should be utilized.
Researchers determined that 60 tissues is the mean number of tissues used during a cold(μ). Suppose a random sample of 64 Kleenex users (n) yielded the following data on the number of tissues used during a cold: Sample Mean ( X bar) = 57.5, S = 4. Using the sample information provided, calculate the value of the t-test statistic.
Select one:
a. t = -4.00
b. t = 4.56
c. t = -2.5
d. t = -5
In: Statistics and Probability
The toy hoop, a popular children's toy in the 1950s, has gained popularity as an exercise in recent years. But does it work? To answer the question, an exercise council conducted a study to evaluate the cardio andcalorie-burning benefits of using this children's toy. Researchers recorded heart rate and oxygen consumption of adult participants, as well as their individual ratings of perceived exertion, at regular intervals during a30-minute workout. Identify Who and What were investigated and the Population of interest.
A. The Who is the participants in the study and the What is the recorded heart rate, oxygen consumption, and perceived exertion. The population of interest is all adults.
B. The Who is children and the What is the number children's toys sold. The population of interest is all children.
C. The Who is all adults and the What is the amount of time spent working out. The population of interest is the participants in the study.
D. The Who is the exercise council and the What is the recorded heart rate, oxygen consumption, and perceived exertion. The population of interest is all adults.
In: Statistics and Probability