Questions
What does globalization mean? Some scholars argue that it is a process that is both inevitable...

  1. What does globalization mean? Some scholars argue that it is a process that is both inevitable and irreversible. Do you agree or disagree?
  1. What is the “myth of free trade”? How does the “real” history of free trade contradict with this “myth”? (HINT: Support your answer with providing a detailed account of how the “ladder-kickers” have achieved their goals for their own economic development.)

  1. Historically speaking, “whereas the Indian state’s efforts to promote a dynamic industrial sector fell prey to the twin evils of bureaucratic paralysis and capitalist rent-seeking, Korean efforts were rewarded by unprecedented success.” How can one explain such divergent outcomes in the installation of developmental states? (HINT: Elaborate your answer by recourse to the state’s ability to impose discipline on capital, as well as situating the developmental state in the context of emerging global capitalism.)
  2. How did the role of the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) change from Bretton Woods to Neoliberal Globalization? (HINT: Elaborate your answer by identifying key aspects and principles of the Structural Adjustment Programs).
  1. Has the state’s capacity to govern the national economy declined with increasing economic openness and interdependence? (HINT: Justify your answer by referring to both constraining and enabling dynamics of globalization, as well as the role of domestic political institutions.)

  1. How are capitalist societies distinguished from preceding social systems?
    (Hint: Frame your answer with reference to “the peculiarity of the capitalist market as a compulsion rather than an opportunity”, by identifying how “rules for reproduction of the individual economic actors” changed from pre-capitalist to capitalist societies.)

                             

  1. It has once been argued that “the mortgage crisis in the US was only the immediate trigger [for the global financial meltdown that took place in 2008]”. What does this statement mean? If that is the case, where else should we look at in order to make sense of the “first great depression of the 21st century”? (HINT: Elaborate your answer by examining the relationship between capital accumulation and profitability in the United States.)

  1. What are the main elements of “Global New Deal”, as outlined by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)? How likely do you think these policies could be implemented, and be successful? (HINT: Include in your answer the main possible obstacles against their implementation and success).
  1. Is there an alternative to global capitalism? Elaborate your answer by referring to the typology of “four strategic logics of anti-capitalism”, as well as providing your critical response to Erik Olin Wright’s “Real Utopias”.

In: Economics

Let x represent the average annual salary of college and university professors (in thousands of dollars)...

Let x represent the average annual salary of college and university professors (in thousands of dollars) in the United States. For all colleges and universities in the United States, the population variance of x is approximately σ2 = 47.1. However, a random sample of 16 colleges and universities in Kansas showed that x has a sample variance s2 = 79.1. Use a 5% level of significance to test the claim that the variance for colleges and universities in Kansas is greater than 47.1. Find a 95% confidence interval for the population variance.

(a) What is the level of significance?


State the null and alternate hypotheses.

Ho: σ2 = 47.1; H1: σ2 < 47.1Ho: σ2 < 47.1; H1: σ2 = 47.1    Ho: σ2 = 47.1; H1: σ2 ≠ 47.1Ho: σ2 = 47.1; H1: σ2 > 47.1


(b) Find the value of the chi-square statistic for the sample. (Round your answer to two decimal places.)


What are the degrees of freedom?


What assumptions are you making about the original distribution?

We assume a binomial population distribution.We assume a exponential population distribution.    We assume a uniform population distribution.We assume a normal population distribution.


(c) Find or estimate the P-value of the sample test statistic.

P-value > 0.1000.050 < P-value < 0.100    0.025 < P-value < 0.0500.010 < P-value < 0.0250.005 < P-value < 0.010P-value < 0.005


(d) Based on your answers in parts (a) to (c), will you reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis?

Since the P-value > α, we fail to reject the null hypothesis.Since the P-value > α, we reject the null hypothesis.    Since the P-value ≤ α, we reject the null hypothesis.Since the P-value ≤ α, we fail to reject the null hypothesis.


(e) Interpret your conclusion in the context of the application.

At the 5% level of significance, there is insufficient evidence to conclude the variance of annual salaries is greater in Kansas.At the 5% level of significance, there is sufficient evidence to conclude the variance of annual salaries is greater in Kansas.    


(f) Find the requested confidence interval for the population variance. (Round your answers to two decimal places.)

lower limit
upper limit    


Interpret the results in the context of the application.

We are 95% confident that σ2 lies above this interval.We are 95% confident that σ2 lies outside this interval.    We are 95% confident that σ2 lies below this interval.We are 95% confident that σ2 lies within this interval.

In: Statistics and Probability

Is Walgreens’ rapid growth strategy realistic? Why or why not? How will changes in U.S. health...

Is Walgreens’ rapid growth strategy realistic? Why or why not?

How will changes in U.S. health care policy affect Walgreens? Explain.

Case 2: Walgreens

Walgreens was founded in 1901 and incorporated in 1909 in Chicago. Like other drugstores in the early 20th century, Walgreens emphasized a soda fountain and a lunch counter. By 1929, the firm had amassed 394 stores and $47 million in revenues. By the 1950s, Walgreens had begun a shift to self-service stores, but rapid growth did not occur until the late 1970s and early 1980s. Walgreens passed the 1,000-store milestone in 1984 and continued to grow steadily.

Today, Walgreens is the leading drugstore chain in the United States, operating almost 8,000 stores throughout the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The firm also operates two mail service facilities and 13 distribution centers throughout the country.

Prescriptions account for about 65% of company sales, with the rest coming from OTC medications, cosmetics, toiletries, photo processing, and grocery items. Approximately 90% of prescriptions are paid by insurance companies or other third parties. Most stores offer drive-thru pharmacies and almost all offer in-store photo processing. Walgreens’ closest rival is CVS, although competition from pharmacies in grocery stores and discount retailers such as Wal-Mart has intensified.

More consumers are using health insurance to pay for prescription drugs. Retailers receive the same payment from insurers for a given drug and consumers pay the same co-pay regardless of pharmacy. As a result, convenience appears to have replaced price as the most important factor in the pharmacy side of the business. In this regard, “convenience” includes such factors as the acceptance of a given insurance plan, store hours, waiting periods, options for telephone and Internet refills, and the availability of grocery or other items that a consumer might wish to purchase while picking up a prescription.

Walgreens has responded to this emphasis on convenience by developing highly visible and accessible freestanding stores in high-traffic locations. Many of the stores are open 24 hours a day. As such, Walgreens continues to emphasize building new stores rather than acquiring them from smaller rivals.

Walgreens has benefited from constant increases in U.S. expenditures on prescription drugs, a trend that is projected to continue well into the future. The effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (and any subsequent revisions) on Walgreens remain unclear.

In: Economics

please go to details and don't forget to answer the questions that my professor ask for,...

please go to details and don't forget to answer the questions that my professor ask for, also explain for the first question in one paragraph and explain second question in one paragraph too. thanks.

Sex Education and Teenage Pregnancy

Santrock (2016) mentions in his text that the United States has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates of industrialized nations, despite the fact that adolescent sexual activity is no higher in the United States. Why is that? For starters, sex during adolescence is considered a "taboo" subject in our culture. Abstinence is also promoted and touted as the most safest, surefire way to avoid the consequences of early sexual activity. Additionally, we teach teens that sexual activity is an "adult activity" and do not acknowledge that during the adolescent period, when there is an upsurge of hormones and changes in the physiological landscape, teens grow curious about their bodies and that of the opposite sex. Teens are also at a stage in their life where experimentation and identify formation are at its "peak", and questioning, expressing, and exploring their sexual identity is part of that process.

How many people did you know in high school knew what sex was and even had sex? Probably the majority. That is because sexual curiosity during adolescence is part of healthy, typical human development.

What is sex education?

Briefly, sex education is about instilling accurate, scientific-based information and spreading awareness about the following:

1. The physiological changes that occur in the body due to pubertal/hormonal changes.

2. The risks and consequences involved in sexual activity such as contracting sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy.

3. It involves teaching youngsters how to set boundaries with others when it comes to their own body and other people's bodies (i.e."No means NO!").

4. Contraception options-how to be "sex smart" such as the benefits of using protection.

5. A discussion about knowing when they are "ready" to have sex.

6. Define rape and sexual assault and how to know if you are about to be a victim.

Put it in Perspective...

Answer the Following Discussion Questions:

1. What was your experience with 'sex education'? Did you take a class in school? Did you learn from your caregivers? Include points that you remember learning. And how has that served you as a teenager?

2. According to the film "Inside the Teenage Brain" and your textbook readings, what are some effective ways to approach a conversation with teenagers about 'safe sex'?

In: Psychology

“Universal Declaration of Human Rights” Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and...

“Universal Declaration of Human Rights”

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,

Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

Whereas the Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,

Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Article 1

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 2

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

**Required**

Read the above passage " Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and pick one of the 2 articles above and explain how you as a manager can realize or support to realize the goal of the article you have chosen.

In: Economics

____   73.   If a nation imposes a tariff on imports, a. part of the tax is...

____   73.   If a nation imposes a tariff on imports,

a.

part of the tax is paid by foreign exporters.

b.

the entire tax is paid by foreign exporters.

c.

none of the tax is paid by foreign exporters.

d.

the tax has no impact on the profits of foreign exporters.

____   74.   Exchange rates determined by the forces of demand and supply are called

a.

fixed exchange rates.

b.

floating exchange rates.

c.

equilibrium exchange rates.

d.

dirty exchange rates.

____   75.   Who among the following is most likely to favor an appreciation of the U.S. dollar?

a.

a German professor visiting Chicago

b.

an American farmer who depends on exports

c.

an American professor on a tour of Austrian universities

d.

Disney World in Orlando, Florida, a popular destination for foreign tourists

____   76.   If the United States experiences an economic boom, compared to other countries, how will this affect the value of the U.S. dollar?

a.

It will fall because other nations would be forced to raise their interest rates.

b.

It will fall because the United States will import more goods and services, leading to an increased supply of dollars.

c.

It will rise because U.S. GDP would be rising faster than other countries.

d.

It will rise because the Fed will have to lower U.S. interest rates.

____   77.   If a country is in a strong upward phase of the business cycle, one can expect that its currency will

a.

revalue.

b.

devalue.

c.

appreciate.

d.

depreciate.

____   78.   The exchange rate of Country X is set by government decisions and maintained by government actions. Country X follows a

a.

floating exchange rate policy.

b.

free market exchange rate policy.

c.

pegged exchange rate policy.

d.

fixed exchange rate policy.

____   79.   An important effect of foreign currency speculators is that

a.

they have consistently lost money and have left the market.

b.

they have pushed exchange rates to wider extremes than most economists predicted.

c.

they actually limit the volatility of exchange rate movements.

d.

they have had no effect at all on exchange rate volatility.

____   80.   For a major country with extensive capital flows, what is the effect of an increase in interest rates?

a.

a currency depreciation and increased net exports

b.

a currency depreciation and reduced net exports

c.

a currency appreciation and increased net exports

d.

a currency appreciation and reduced net exports

In: Economics

Case Analysis Lay’s had $800 million in sales within the $2.7 billion U.S. potato chip market....

Case Analysis

Lay’s had $800 million in sales within the $2.7 billion U.S. potato chip market. But, it had no product to compete directly with Procter & Gamble's Pringles, which had a 60% share of the "pre-formed, stacked, potato-chip-in-a-can" market segment.

In August 2003, Frito-Lay launched its Lay’s STAX potato crisps, which are stacked in a portable, resealable, crush-resistant container.

Frito-Lay identified premium snack consumers in the United States who were young adults as their target market. Frito-Lay's STAX promotional objectives were two-fold:

  1. Create awareness.
  2. Achieve sales by reaching both retailers, and ultimately, consumers.

Frito-Lay developed a major IMC effort directed at its retailers to encourage and support them in their decision to stock and sell the new line of Frito-Lay’s STAX potato crisps. At product launch, there were four flavors. However, by early 2010, there were six flavors sold in the United States. In 2017, there are 13 flavors of STAX chips. As the product moves through the product life cycle, the goals (inform, persuade, remind and connect) should change as well as the the integrated marketing campaign.

Assignment Directions

Part 1

Building upon the background you just read, conduct additional research, which should include Frito-Lay, Frito-Lay's STAX potato crisps, marketing campaigns conducted by Frito Lay, as well as IMC programs. Visiting the Frito-Lay (Links to an external site.) website may be a good place to begin your research.

Part 2

Based upon the synthesis of your research, please develop an IMC program for the Frito-Lay STAX potato crisps that addresses where the product currently is on the Product Life Cycle. Using the following matrix as a guide, be sure to describe in detail your "BIG IDEA" and recommendations for specific actions (e.g., advertisements, coupons, POP displays, etc.) and why you believe these actions will help you reach your IMC objectice. Be sure to explain how these work as part of an IMC program and not as stand-alone elements. What is the cohesive message you are trying to portray?

Elements of the IMC IMC action How the action produces sales
Advertising
Personal selling
Public relations
Sales promotions
Direct marketing

  

In: Operations Management

FOREIGN CAPITAL BUDGETING Sandrine Machinery is a Swiss multinational manufacturing company. Currently, Sandrine’s financial planners are...

FOREIGN CAPITAL BUDGETING Sandrine Machinery is a Swiss multinational manufacturing company. Currently, Sandrine’s financial planners are considering undertaking a 1-year project in the United States. The project’s expected dollar-denominated cash flows consist of an initial investment of $2,000 and a cash inflow the following year of $2,400. Sandrine estimates that its risk-adjusted cost of capital is 10%. Currently, 1 U.S. dollar will buy 0.96 Swiss franc. In addition, 1-year risk-free securities in the United States are yielding 3%, while similar securities in Switzerland are yielding 1.50%. a. If this project was instead undertaken by a similar U.S.-based company with the same risk-adjusted cost of capital, what would be the net present value and rate of return generated by this project? b. What is the expected forward exchange rate 1 year from now? c. If Sandrine undertakes the project, what is the net present value and rate of return of the project for Sandrine? below is the table given by instructor to use for this problems.

Class: A direct quote is the foreign exchange rate stated in terms of the domestic currency per unit of the foreign currency. In the U.S., a direct quote for the Canadian dollar would be US$0.82 = C$1. Conversely, in Canada, a direct quote for U.S. dollars would be C$1.22 = US$1.

Using the interest rate parity theorem, the one-period forward exchange rate is calculated using the spot rate (stated as a direct quote) and the interest rate forecasted for the two countries in the period ahead.

If the Japanese yen is the home currency and the U.S. dollar is the foreign currency and the one-year interest rate in Japan is 1% and in U.S. is 2%, the one-year forward exchange rate (direct quote) in Japan is given by

The spot rate (yen/$1) x [(1 + Japanese interest rate)/(1 + U.S. interest rate)]

If the spot rate is 100 yen/ US $ then we have 100yen/$1 x [(1+1%)/(1+2%)

= 100 x [(1.01)/(1.02)] = 100 x 0.9902 = 99.02 yen/$ 1

An initial investment in the U.S. of $100,000 = 100,000 x 100 yen = 10,000,000 yen

If the one-year cash inflow is $125,000

The yen equivalent is 125,000 x 99.02 = 12,377,500 yen

You can then calculate the NPV and rate of return with the information of cash outflows and inflows in yen.

In: Finance

CASE 2-3: Starnes-Brenner Machine Tool Company: To Bribe or Not to Bribe? The Starnes-Brenner Machine Tool...

CASE 2-3: Starnes-Brenner Machine Tool Company: To Bribe or Not to Bribe?

The Starnes-Brenner Machine Tool Company of Iowa City, Iowa, has a small one-man sales offi ce headed by Frank Rothe in Latino, a major Latin American country. Frank has been in Latino for about 10 years and is retiring this year; his replacement is Bill Hunsaker, one of Starnes-Brenner’s top salespeople. Both will be in Latino for about eight months, during which time Frank will show Bill the ropes, introduce him to their principal customers, and, in general, prepare him to take over. Frank has been very successful as a foreign representative in spite of his unique style and, at times, complete refusal to follow company policy when it doesn’t suit him. The company hasn’t really done much about his method of operation, though from time to time he has angered some top company people. As President Jack McCaughey, who retired a couple of years ago, once remarked to a vice president who was complaining about Frank, “If he’s making money—and he is (more than any of the other foreign offi ces)—then leave the guy alone.” When McCaughey retired, the new chief immediately instituted organizational changes that gave more emphasis to the overseas operations, moving the company toward a truly worldwide operation into which a loner like Frank would probably not fi t. In fact, one of the key reasons for selecting Bill as Frank’s replacement, besides Bill’s record as a top salesperson, is Bill’s capacity to be an organization man. He understands the need for coordination among operations and will cooperate with the home offi ce so that the Latino offi ce can be expanded and brought into the mainstream. The company knows there is much to be learned from Frank, and Bill’s job is to learn everything possible. The company certainly doesn’t want to continue some of Frank’s practices, but much of his knowledge is vital for continued, smooth operation. Today, Starnes-Brenner’s foreign sales account for about 25 percent of the company’s total profi ts, compared with about 5 percent only 10 years ago. The company is actually changing character, from being principally an exporter, without any real concern for continuous foreign market representation, to having worldwide operations, where the foreign divisions are part of the total effort rather than a stepchild operation. In fact, Latino is one of the last operational divisions to be assimilated into the new organization. Rather than try to change Frank, the company has been waiting for him to retire before making any signifi cant adjustments in its Latino operations. Bill Hunsaker is 36 years old, with a wife and three children; he is a very good salesperson and administrator, though he has had no foreign experience. He has the reputation of being fair, honest, and a straight shooter. Some back at the home offi ce see his assignment as part of a grooming job for a top position, perhaps eventually the presidency. The Hunsakers are now settled in their new home after having been in Latino for about two weeks. Today is Bill’s fi rst day on the job. When Bill arrived at the offi ce, Frank was on his way to a local factory to inspect some Starnes-Brenner machines that had to have some adjustments made before being acceptable to the Latino. government agency buying them. Bill joined Frank for the plant visit. Later, after the visit, we join the two at lunch. Bill, tasting some chili, remarks, “Boy! This certainly isn’t like the chili we have in America.” “No, it isn’t, and there’s another difference, too. The Latinos are Americans and nothing angers a Latino more than to have a ‘Gringo’ refer to the United States as America as if to say that Latino isn’t part of America also. The Latinos rightly consider their country as part of America (take a look at the map), and people from the United States are North Americans at best. So, for future reference, refer to home either as the United States, States, or North America, but, for gosh sakes, not just America. Not to change the subject, Bill, but could you see that any change had been made in those S-27s from the standard model?” “No, they looked like the standard. Was there something out of whack when they arrived?” “No, I couldn’t see any problem—I suspect this is the best piece of sophisticated bribe taking I’ve come across yet. Most of the time the Latinos are more ‘honest’ about their mordidas than this.” “What’s a mordida ?” Bill asks. “You know, kumshaw , dash , bustarella , mordida ; they are all the same: a little grease to expedite the action. Mordida is the local word for a slight offering or, if you prefer, bribe,” says Frank. Bill quizzically responds, “Do we pay bribes to get sales?” “Oh, it depends on the situation, but it’s certainly something you have to be prepared to deal with.” Boy, what a greenhorn, Frank thinks to himself, as he continues, “Here’s the story. When the S-27s arrived last January, we began uncrating them and right away the jefe engineer (a government offi cial)— jefe , that’s the head man in charge—began extra-careful examination and declared there was a vital defect in the machines; he claimed the machinery would be dangerous and thus unacceptable if it wasn’t corrected. I looked it over but couldn’t see anything wrong, so I agreed to have our staff engineer check all the machines and correct any fl aws that might exist. Well, the jefe said there wasn’t enough time to wait for an engineer to come from the States, that the machines could be adjusted locally, and we could pay him and he would make all the necessary arrangements. So, what do you do? No adjustment his way and there would be an order canceled; and, maybe there was something out of line, those things have been known to happen. But for the life of me, I can’t see that anything had been done since the machines were supposedly fi xed. So, let’s face it, we just paid a bribe, and a pretty darn big bribe at that—about $1,200 per machine. What makes it so aggravating is that that’s the second one I’ve had to pay on this shipment.” “The second?” asks Bill. “Yeah, at the border, when we were transferring the machines to Latino trucks, it was hot and they were moving slow as molasses. It took them over an hour to transfer one machine to a Latino truck and we had ten others to go. It seemed that every time I spoke to the dock boss about speeding things up, they just got slower. Finally, out of desperation, I slipped him a fi stful of pesos. and, sure enough, in the next three hours they had the whole thing loaded. Just one of the local customs of doing business. Generally, though, it comes at the lower level where wages don’t cover living expenses too well.” There is a pause, and Bill asks, “What does that do to our profi ts?” “Runs them down, of course, but I look at it as just one of the many costs of doing business—I do my best not to pay, but when I have to, I do.” Hesitantly, Bill replies, “I don’t like it, Frank. We’ve got good products, they’re priced right, we give good service, and keep plenty of spare parts in the country, so why should we have to pay bribes? It’s just no way to do business. You’ve already had to pay two bribes on one shipment; if you keep it up, the word’s going to get around and you’ll be paying at every level. Then all the profi t goes out the window—you know, once you start, where do you stop? Besides that, where do we stand legally? The Foreign Bribery Act makes paying bribes like you’ve just paid illegal. I’d say the best policy is to never start: You might lose a few sales, but let it be known that there are no bribes; we sell the best, service the best at fair prices, and that’s all.” “You mean the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, don’t you?” Frank asks, and continues, in an I’m-not-really-so-out-of-touch tone of voice, “Haven’t some of the provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act been softened somewhat?” “Yes, you’re right, the provisions on paying a mordida or grease have been softened, but paying the government offi cial is still illegal, softening or not,” replies Bill. Oh boy! Frank thinks to himself as he replies, “Look, what I did was just peanuts as far as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act goes. The people we pay off are small, and, granted we give good service, but we’ve only been doing it for the last year or so. Before that I never knew when I was going to have equipment to sell. In fact, we only had products when there were surpluses stateside. I had to pay the right people to get sales, and besides, you’re not back in the States any longer. Things are just done different here. You follow that policy and I guarantee that you’ll have fewer sales because our competitors from Germany, Italy, and Japan will pay. Look, Bill, everybody does it here; it’s a way of life, and the costs are generally refl ected in the markup and overhead. There is even a code of behavior involved. We’re not actually encouraging it to spread, just perpetuating an accepted way of doing business.” Patiently and slightly condescendingly, Bill replies, “I know, Frank, but wrong is wrong and we want to operate differently now. We hope to set up an operation here on a continuous basis; we plan to operate in Latino just like we do in the United States. Really expand our operation and make a long-range market commitment, grow with the country! And one of the fi rst things we must avoid is unethical . . .” Frank interrupts, “But really, is it unethical? Everybody does it, the Latinos even pay mordidas to other Latinos; it’s a fact of life— is it really unethical? I think that the circumstances that exist in a country justify and dictate the behavior. Remember, man, ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’” Almost shouting, Bill blurts out, “I can’t buy that. We know that our management practices and relationships are our strongest point. Really, all we have to differentiate us from the rest of our competition, Latino and others, is that we are better managed and, as far as I’m concerned, graft and other unethical behavior have got to be cut out to create a healthy industry. In the long run, it should strengthen our position. We can’t build our future on illegal and unethical practices.” Frank angrily replies, “Look, it’s done in the States all the time. What about the big dinners, drinks, and all the other hanky-panky that goes on? Not to mention PACs’ [Political Action Committee] payments to congressmen, and all those high speaking fees certain congressmen get from special interests. How many congressmen have gone to jail or lost reelection on those kinds of things? What is that, if it isn’t mordida the North American way? The only difference is that instead of cash only, in the United States we pay in merchandise and cash.” “That’s really not the same and you know it. Besides, we certainly get a lot of business transacted during those dinners even if we are paying the bill.” “Bull. The only difference is that here bribes go on in the open; they don’t hide it or dress it in foolish ritual that fools no one. It goes on in the United States and everyone denies the existence of it. That’s all the difference—in the United States we’re just more hypocritical about it all.” “Look,” Frank continues, almost shouting, “we are getting off on the wrong foot and we’ve got eight months to work together. Just keep your eyes and mind open and let’s talk about it again in a couple of months when you’ve seen how the whole country operates; perhaps then you won’t be so quick to judge it absolutely wrong.” Frank, lowering his voice, says thoughtfully, “I know it’s hard to take; probably the most disturbing problem in underdeveloped countries is the matter of graft. And, frankly, we don’t do much advance preparation so we can deal fi rmly with it. It bothered me at fi rst; but then I fi gured it makes its economic contribution, too, since the payoff is as much a part of the economic process as a payroll. What’s our real economic role, anyway, besides making a profi t, of course? Are we developers of wealth, helping to push the country to greater economic growth, or are we missionaries? Or should we be both? I really don’t know, but I don’t think we can be both simultaneously, and my feeling is that, as the company prospers, as higher salaries are paid, and better standards of living are reached, we’ll see better ethics. Until then, we’ve got to operate or leave, and if you are going to win the opposition over, you’d better join them and change them from within, not fi ght them.” Before Bill could reply, a Latino friend of Frank’s joined them, and they changed the topic of conversation.

QUESTIONS 1. Is what Frank did ethical? By whose ethics—those of Latino or the United States?

2. Are Frank’s two different payments legal under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988?

3. Identify the types of payments made in the case; that is, are they lubrication, extortion, or subornation?

4. Frank seemed to imply that there is a similarity between what he was doing and what happens in the United States. Is there any difference? Explain.

5. Are there any legal differences between the money paid to the dockworkers and the money paid the jefe (government official)? Any ethical differences?

In: Economics

Spartan Corporation manufactures quidgets at its plant in Sparta, Michigan. Spartan sells its quidgets to customers...

Spartan Corporation manufactures quidgets at its plant in Sparta, Michigan. Spartan sells its quidgets to customers in the United States, Canada, England, and Australia.

Spartan markets its products in Canada and England through branches in Toronto and London, respectively. Spartan reported total gross income on U.S. sales of $15,000,000 and total gross income on Canadian and U.K. sales of $5,000,000, split equally between the two countries. Spartan paid Canadian income taxes of $600,000 on its branch profits in Canada and U.K. income taxes of $700,000 on its branch profits in the United Kingdom. Spartan financed its Canadian operations through a $10 million capital contribution, which Spartan financed through a loan from Bank of America. During the current year, Spartan paid $600,000 in interest on the loan.

Spartan sells its quidgets to Australian customers through its wholly-owned Australian subsidiary. Spartan reported gross income of $3,000,000 on sales to its subsidiary during the year. The subsidiary paid Spartan a dividend of $670,000 on December 31 (the withholding tax is 0 percent under the U.S.–Australia treaty). Spartan paid Australian income taxes of $330,000 on the income repatriated as a dividend.

Requirement:

  1. Compute Spartan’s foreign source gross income and foreign tax (direct and withholding) for the current year.
  2. Assume 20 percent of the interest paid to Bank of America is allocated to the numerator of Spartan’s FTC limitation calculation. Compute Spartan Corporation’s FTC limitation using your calculation from part (a) and any excess FTC or excess FTC limitation (all of the foreign source income is put in the foreign branch FTC basket).

In: Accounting