a) Based on BNM or news report, explain the latest changes in the statutory reserve requirement (SRR) for Malaysia. Your explanation should also include the changes to money supply and the possible impact of the change.
b) Based on your answer above, select an economic problem where that impact would work and explain what could happen.
In: Economics
How can changes in the number of people in the labor force and its components cause changes in the unemployment rate?
If an economic crisis leads to a large number of discouraged workers in an economy, how does it affect the ability of the official labor market statistics such as unemployment rate to provide healthy information about the nature of the labor market in the economy?
In: Economics
. What factors have caused the decrease in loan volume relative to other assets on the balance sheets of commercial banks? How has each of these factors been related to the change and development of the financial services industry during the 1990s and 2000s? What strategic changes have banks implemented to deal with changes in the financial services environment?
In: Accounting
In: Economics
In a pro forma income statement, do you think a finance manager make changes in the prior year's percentages for different line items? Give an example of a line item that you would expect to vary in percentage every year as sales forecasts grow or changes for Facebook. Be sure to cite and reference your sources if possible.
In: Finance
You are the financial manager of the Crossrail 1 project in London. The Board overseeing the project, acting on behalf of the UK Government, has asked you to provide a financial analysis of the project for business planning purposes. With two years to go before the commencement of train operations, you have assembled the most recent estimates of the capital investment cost and net revenues, which were forecast 1 year ago. While the user benefits and ticket revenues are assumed to remain the same each year of the 60-year useful life, it is anticipated that maintenance costs will be higher in the final 30 years of the project. They are shown in Table 1.
| Item of cash flow | Today (£bn) | Each year (for the first 30 years) (£bn) | Each year (for years 31 to 60) (£bn) |
| Capital investment | -9.4 | ||
| User benefits (Includes Time savings, Traffic congestion relief) | 0.843 | 0.843 | |
| Ticket revenues | 0.3 | 0.3 | |
| Operational costs and maintenance | -0.422 | -0.609 |
For projects such as Crossrail 1, the UK Government typically estimates a 60-year useful life and uses a discount rate of 3.5%.
a) What is the net present value (NPV) of the project? [ Select ] ["£15.04", "£8.83", "£7.36", "£16.76"]
b) What is the payback period of the project? [ Select ] ["13.04", "8.22", "17.60", "7.49"]
c) What is the internal rate of return (IRR) of the project? [ Select ] ["7.57%", "7.35%", "5.44%", "6.52%"]
d) Based on your calculations is Crossrail 1 a viable project at the discount rate? [ Select ] ["Yes", "No"]
You have been asked by the Board to present an analysis that incorporates more recent cash flow information about the Crossrail 1 project. Before the project becomes operational, the capital investment has been given a worse scenario estimate that is 35% above the forecast in table 1. The Board would like to see the analysis if the net cash inflows will also be 35% below expectation over the 60-year life whether under the existing hurdle rate of 3.5% it would remain viable.
a) What is the net present value (NPV) of the project? [ Select ] ["-£2.16", "£4.78", "£3.20", "-£1.80"]
b) What is the internal rate of return (IRR) of the project? [ Select ] ["2.72%", "3.10%", "1.79%", "0.67%"]
c) Based on your calculations is Crossrail 1 a viable project at the discount rate? [ Select ] ["Yes", "No"]
In: Finance
Case Study
Mephisto Products ‘Yet another poor year,’ reflected the senior
executive of Mephisto Products Ltd. ‘Profits down by 15 per cent,
sales and turnover static in a market that was reckoned to be
growing at a rate of some 20 per cent per annum. It cannot go on.’
These were the thoughts of Jim Bullins, and he contended that the
company would be out of business if the next year turned out to be
as bad. Jim Bullins had been senior executive at Mephisto for the
past three years. In each of these years he had witnessed a decline
in sales and profits. The company produced a range of technically
sophisticated electromechanical control devices for industry. The
major customers of Mephisto were in the chemical processing
industry. The products were fitted to the customer’s processing
plant in order to provide safety and cut-out mechanisms, should
anything untoward happen in the manufacturing process. The products
were sold through a UK salesforce of some 12 people. Each
represented a different area of the country and all were
technically qualified mechanical or electrical engineers. Although
some 95 per cent of Mephisto’s sales were to the chemical industry,
there were many more applications for electromechanical control
devices in a wide variety of industries. The reason that sales were
concentrated in just the one industry was historical, in that the
firm’s founder, James Watkinson, had some 30 years earlier married
the daughter of the owner of a major detergent manufacturer. As an
engineer, Watkinson had seen the potential for such devices in this
type of manufacture and, with the aid of a small loan from his
father-inlaw, had commenced manufacture of such devices, initially
for his father-in-law’s company and later for wider application in
the chemical industry. Watkinson had long since resigned from
active participation in Mephisto Products, although he still held a
financial interest. However, the philosophy Watkinson had brought
to the business was one that still pervaded business thinking at
Mephisto. The essence of this philosophy was centred on product and
production excellence, backed by strong technical sales support.
Watkinson had believed that if the product was right, i.e. well
designed and manufactured to the highest level of quality, there
would be a market. Needless to say, such a product then needed
selling (because customers were not necessarily aware that they had
a need for such safety mechanisms) and salespeople were encouraged
to use what may be described as high-pressure salesmanship,
pointing out the consequences of not having such mechanisms in a
manufacturing plant. They therefore tended to emphasise the
negative aspects (of not having such devices) rather than the
positive aspects (of how good they were, how time-saving during a
plant breakdown, etc.). Needless to say, in Watkinson’s day, such
products then needed selling and, even though sales were to
industrial purchasers, it was felt that such selling techniques
were justified. This philosophy still pertained, and new
salespeople were urged to remember that, unless they were pressed,
most customers would not consider updating their control equipment.
Little advertising and sales promotion was carried out by the
company, although from time to time, when there was a little spare
cash, the company did purchase advertising space in The Chemical
Processors’ Quarterly. Pricing was done on a cost-plus basis, with
total costs being calculated and a fixed percentage added to
account for profits. Prices were thus fixed by the accounts
department, and sales had no say in how they were established. This
led to much dissent among the salespeople, who constantly argued
that prices were not competitive and that if they were cut, sales
could be increased substantially. Delivery times were slow compared
with the industry average, there were few discounts for large order
quantities, and all discounts had to be cleared with accounts
before the salesperson could agree them with the customer. Again,
Watkinson’s old philosophy still prevailed: If they want the
product badly enough, they will wait for it. And why offer
discounts for large quantities? If they did not want that many,
they would not order them. During the previous five years, from
being a relatively successful company, market share for Mephisto
Products dropped substantially. The market became much more
competitive with many new entrants, particularly from EU countries
coming into the UK market, which had traditionally been supplied by
UK manufacturers. Many of these new entrants had introduced new and
updated products to the market, exploiting recent advances in
electronics. These new products were seen by the market as being
technically innovative, but the view taken by Mephisto management
was that they were faddish and once the novelty had worn off,
customers would come back to their superior products. Unlike many
of his colleagues, Jim Bullins was worried by developments over the
past five years and felt there was a need for many changes. He was
aware that the more successful new entrants to the industry had
introduced a marketing philosophy into their operations. Compared
with ten years ago in this type of business, it was now common
practice for companies to appoint marketing managers. Furthermore,
he knew from talking to other people in the industry that such
companies considered sales to be an integral part of marketing. At
a recent meeting with his senior staff, he mentioned to the sales
manager the possibility of appointing a marketing director. The
sales manager, who was shortly expecting to be made sales director,
was scathing about the idea. His view was that marketing was
suitable for a baked bean manufacturer but not for a company
engaged in the manufacture and sale of sophisticated control
devices for the chemicals industry. He argued that Mephisto’s
customers would not be swayed by superficial advertising and
marketing ploys. Although Jim Bullins always took heed of advice
from his senior managers, recent sales figures had convinced him
that the time had now come to make some changes. He would start, he
decided, by appointing a marketing manager in the first instance.
This person would have marketing experience and would come, most
probably, from the chemical industry. The person appointed would
have equal status to the sales manager, and ultimately either the
new appointee or the existing sales manager would be promoted to
the board of directors.
Questions
1 Criticise Mephisto Products’ approach to sales and
marketing.
2 Comment on the following as they exist now at Mephisto Products:
(a) marketing orientation, (b) the marketing mix, (c) the product
life cycle.
3 What problems can you anticipate if Jim Bullins appoints a
marketing manager?
4 If appointed, what problems can you foresee for the new marketing
manager?
5 What general advice can you give to the company to make it more
marketing oriented?
In: Operations Management
Item 6
In the case below, the original source material is given along with a sample of student work. Determine the type of plagiarism by clicking the appropriate radio button.
|
Original Source Material |
Student Version (written in 2002) |
|
Merck, in fact, epitomizes the ideological nature--the pragmatic idealism--of highly visionary companies. Our research showed that a fundamental element in the "ticking clock" of a visionary company is a core ideology--core values and a sense of purpose beyond just making money--that guides and inspires people throughout the organization and remains relatively fixed for long periods of time. References: |
Merck is one of world's biggest pharmaceutical companies. It originated in Germany late in the seventeenth century with operations in the United States starting in the late nineteenth century. As a business, Merck pursues profitable ventures; however, they have established an impressive track record of charitable giving with hundreds of millions in donations. |
Which of the following is true for the Student Version above?
Word-for-Word plagiarism
Paraphrasing plagiarism
This is not plagiarism
Hints
Item 7
In the case below, the original source material is given along with a sample of student work. Determine the type of plagiarism by clicking the appropriate radio button.
|
Original Source Material |
Student Version |
|
There is a desperate need for theorists and researchers to generate and refine a new breed of learning-focused instructional design theories that help educators and trainers to meet those needs, (i.e., that focus on learning and that foster development of initiative, teamwork, thinking skills, and diversity). The health of instructional-design theory also depends on its ability to involve stakeholders in the design process. References: |
We "need theorists and researchers to generate and refine learning-focused instructional design theories...." Such theories will "help educators and trainers to meet those needs ... that focus on learning and that foster development of initiative, teamwork, thinking skills, and diversity." References: |
Which of the following is true for the Student Version above?
Word-for-Word plagiarism
Paraphrasing plagiarism
This is not plagiarism
Hints
Item 8
In the case below, the original source material is given along with a sample of student work. Determine the type of plagiarism by clicking the appropriate radio button.
|
Original Source Material |
Student Version |
|
In examining the history of the visionary companies, we were struck by how often they made some of their best moves not by detailed strategic planning, but rather by experimentation, trial and error, opportunism, and--quite literally--accident. What looks in hindsight like a brilliant strategy was often the residual result of opportunistic experimentation and "purposeful accidents." References: |
Decisions that look like the result of smart strategic thinking could, instead, be attributed to a culture that values opportunistic experimenting and intentional mishaps. Collins and Porras (2002) point out their surprise at finding that many of the visionary companies that they researched "made some of their best moves not by detailed planning, but rather by experimentation, trial and error, opportunism, and--quite literally--accident" (p. 141). References: |
Which of the following is true for the Student Version above?
Word-for-Word plagiarism
Paraphrasing plagiarism
This is not plagiarism
Hints
Item 9
In the case below, the original source material is given along with a sample of student work. Determine the type of plagiarism by clicking the appropriate radio button.
|
Original Source Material |
Student Version |
|
But what are reasonable outcomes of the influence of global processes on education? While the question of how global processes influence all aspects of education (and who controls these forces) is multidimensional and not completely testable, there appear to be some theories of globalization as it relates to education that can be empirically examined. References: |
The question of “how global processes influence all aspects of education (and who controls these forces) is multidimensional and not completely testable but there appear to be some theories of globalization as it relates to education that can be empirically examined” (Rutkowski and Rutkowski, 2009, p. 138). |
Which of the following is true for the Student Version above?
Word-for-Word plagiarism
Paraphrasing plagiarism
This is not plagiarism
Hints
Item 10
In the case below, the original source material is given along with a sample of student work. Determine the type of plagiarism by clicking the appropriate radio button.
|
Original Source Material |
Student Version |
|
A communication channel is the means by which messages get from one individual to another. The nature of the information-exchange relationship between a pair of individuals determines the conditions under which a source will or will not transmit the innovation to the receiver and the effect of such a transfer. References: |
Rogers places great importance on the sharing of information about an innovation. He defines a communication channel as "the means by which messages get from one individual to another" (p. 18). He describes two general media channels of communication: mass media and interpersonal; and two scopes of channels: localite and cosmopolite. References: |
Which of the following is true for the Student Version above?
Word-for-Word plagiarism
Paraphrasing plagiarism
This is not plagiarism
In: Operations Management
# Write a function called `get_state_data` that allows you to
specify a state,
# then saves a .csv file (`STATE_data.csv`) with observations from
that state
# This includes data about the state, as well as the counties in
the state
# You should use the full any.drinking dataset in this function
(not just 2012)
# Demonstrate that you function works by passing "Utah" to the
function
state_Utah <- get_state_data(Utah)
############################ Binge drinking Dataset ############################
# In this section, you will ask a variety of questions regarding
the
# `binge_drinking.csv` dataset. More specifically, you will analyze
a subset of
# the observations of *just the counties* (exclude state/national
estimates!).
# You will store your answers in a *named list*, and at the end of
the section,
# Convert that list to a data frame, and write the data frame to a
.csv file.
# Pay close attention to the *names* to be used in the list.
# Create a dataframe with only the county level observations from
the
# `binge_driking.csv` dataset. You should (again) think of
Washington D.C. as
# a state, and therefore *exclude it here*.
# However, you should include "county-like" areas such as parishes
and boroughs
county_data <- binge.drinking.csv %>% distinct(state)
# Create an empty list in which to store answers to the questions below.
# What is the average county level of binge drinking in 2012 for
both sexes?
# Store the number in your list as `avg_both_sexes`.
# What is the name of the county with the largest increase in male
binge
# drinking between 2002 and 2012?
# Store the county name in your list as
`largest_male_increase`.
# How many counties experienced an increase in male binge drinking
between
# 2002 and 2012?
# Store the number in your list as `num_male_increase`.
# What fraction of counties experienced an increase in male binge
drinking
# between 2002 and 2012?
# Store the fraction (num/total) in your list as
`frac_male_increase`.
# How many counties experienced an increase in female binge
drinking between
# 2002 and 2012?
# Store the number in your list as `num_female_increase`.
# What fraction of counties experienced an increase in female binge
drinking
# between 2002 and 2012?
# Store the fraction (num/total) in your list as
`frac_female_increase`.
# How many counties experienced a rise in female binge drinking
*and*
# a decline in male binge drinking?
# Store the number in your list as `num_f_increase_m_decrease`.
# Convert your list to a data frame, and write the results
# to the file `binge_info.csv`
# The next questions return *data frames as results*:
# What is the *minimum* level of binge drinking in each state in
2012 for
# both sexes (across the counties)? Your answer should contain
roughly 50 values
# (one for each state), unless there are two counties in a state
with the
# same value. Your answer should be a *dataframe* with the
location, state, and
# 2012 binge drinking rate. Write this to a file called
`min_binge.csv`.
# What is the *maximum* level of binge drinking in each state in
2012 for
# both sexes (across the counties)? Your answer should contain
roughly 50 values
# (one for each state), unless there are two counties in a state
with the
# same value. Your answer should be a *dataframe* with the
location, state, and
# 2012 binge drinking rate. Write this to a file called
`max_binge.csv`.
################################# Joining Data
#################################
# You'll often have to join different datasets together in order to
ask more
# involved questions of your dataset. In order to join our datasets
together,
# you'll have to rename their columns to differentiate them.
# First, rename all prevalence columns in the any_drinking dataset
to the
# have prefix "any_" (i.e., `males_2002` should now be
`any_males_2002`)
# Hint: you can get (and set!) column names using the colnames
function.
# This may take multiple lines of code.
# Then, rename all prevalence columns in the binge_drinking dataset
to the have
# the prefix "binge_" (i.e., `males_2002` should now be
`binge_males_2002`)
# This may take multiple lines of code.
# Then, create a dataframe by joining together the both
datasets.
# Think carefully about the *type* of join you want to do, and what
the
# *identifying columns* are. You will use this (joined) data to
answer the
# questions below.
# Create a column `diff_2012` storing the difference between `any`
and `binge`
# drinking for both sexes in 2012
# Which location has the greatest *absolute* difference between
`any` and
# `binge` drinking? Your answer should be a one row data frame with
the state,
# location, and column of interest (diff_2012).
# Write this dataframe to `biggest_abs_diff_2012.csv`.
# Which location has the smallest *absolute* difference between
`any` and
# `binge` drinking? Your answer should be a one row data frame with
the state,
# location, and column of interest (diff_2012).
# Write this dataframe to `smallest_abs_diff_2012.csv`.
############## Write a function to ask your own question(s)
####################
# Even in an entry level data analyst role, people are expected to
come up with
# their own questions of interest (not just answer the questions
that other
# people have). For this section, you should *write a function*
that allows you
# to ask the same question on different subsets of data. For
example, you may
# want to ask about the highest/lowest drinking level given a state
or year.
# The purpose of your function should be evident given the input
parameters and
# function name. After writing your function, *demonstrate* that
the function
# works by passing in different parameters to your function.
################################### Challenge
##################################
# Using your function from part 1 that wrote a .csv file given a
state name,
# write a separate file for each of the 51 states (including
Washington D.C.)
# The challenge is to do this in a *single line of (very concise)
code*
# Write a function that allows you to pass in a *dataframe* (i.e.,
in the format
# of binge_drinking or any_drinking) *year*, and *state* of
interest. The
# function should saves a .csv file with observations from that
state's counties
# (and the state itself). It should only write the columns `state`,
`location`,
# and data from the specified year. Before writing the .csv file,
you should
# *sort* the data.frame in descending order by the both_sexes
drinking rate in
# the specified year. The file name should have the format:
# `DRINKING_STATE_YEAR.csv` (i.e. `any_Utah_2005.csv`).
# To write this function, you will either have to use a combination
of dplyr
# and base R, or confront how dplyr uses *non-standard
evaluation*
# Hint:
https://github.com/tidyverse/dplyr/blob/34423af89703b0772d59edcd0f3485295b629ab0/vignettes/nse.Rmd
# Hint:
https://www.r-bloggers.com/non-standard-evaluation-and-standard-evaluation-in-dplyr/
# Create the file `binge_Colorado_2007.csv` using your
function.
In: Computer Science
The Fed increases money supply through open market purchase assuming a positive money multiplier. Analyze how the interest rate changes based on the liquidity preference framework in the short-run when the price level and output do not change. Also, analyze how money velocity changes in the short-run by the quantity theory of money.
In: Economics