Despite the growth in digital entertainment, the nation’s 400 amusement parks have managed to hold on to visitors. A manager collects data on the number of visitors (in millions) to amusement parks in the United States. A portion of the data is shown in the accompanying table.

B-1) Estimate a linear trend model and an exponential trend model for the sample. (Round your answers to 2 decimal places.)

B-2 Calculate the MSE for both trends. (Do not round estimates or intermediate calculations. Round final answers to 2 decimal places.)

b-3. By comparing MSE, which of the above methods perform better? Exponential or Linear?

c-1. Using the model of best fit, make a forecast for visitors to amusement parks in 2008. (Do not round estimates or intermediate calculations. Round your answer to 1 decimal place.)

c-2. Using the model of best fit, make a forecast for visitors to amusement parks in 2009. (Do not round estimates or intermediate calculations. Round your answer to 1 decimal place.)

Worksheet: Stem Cell Research

Assignment Overview

Stem cell research is a controversial topic in the United States and the world. For this assignment, you will conduct research on stem cell research and determine and defend your position on the issue.

This assignment is intended for you to apply research and critical thinking skills to support an argument on a controversial issue and communicate effectively that position in writing.

Assignment Details:

Perform the following tasks:

• Complete the reading assignment and the interactive lesson before attempting this assignment.
• Complete the following:
  • Perform a search on the Internet or the online library (LIRN) for the terms “stem cell and research” or “stem cell and controversy.”
  • Based on your search, write an essay (approximately 100 to 150 words in length) in the space provided in the Assignment Worksheet section on the next page that gives three reasons to either:
    • Defend/support stem cell research.
    • Oppose it stem cell research.
• Submit the Week 2 Assignment.
• Include the proper file naming convention: PSY278_wk2_assn_jsmith_mmddyyyy.

Rubric: See Written Assignment Rubric for grading details.

Grading:

Assignment Worksheet:

[Write your essay here…]

Worksheet: Stem Cell Research

Assignment Overview

Stem cell research is a controversial topic in the United States and the world. For this assignment, you will conduct research on stem cell research and determine and defend your position on the issue.

This assignment is intended for you to apply research and critical thinking skills to support an argument on a controversial issue and communicate effectively that position in writing.

Assignment Details:

Perform the following tasks:

• Complete the reading assignment and the interactive lesson before attempting this assignment.
• Complete the following:
  • Perform a search on the Internet or the online library (LIRN) for the terms “stem cell and research” or “stem cell and controversy.”
  • Based on your search, write an essay (approximately 100 to 150 words in length) in the space provided in the Assignment Worksheet section on the next page that gives three reasons to either:
    • Defend/support stem cell research.
    • Oppose it stem cell research.
• Submit the Week 2 Assignment.
• Include the proper file naming convention: PSY278_wk2_assn_jsmith_mmddyyyy.

Rubric: See Written Assignment Rubric for grading details.

Grading:

Assignment Worksheet:

[Write your essay here…]

Boeing just signed a contract to sell a Boeing 737 aircraft to British Airways and will receive £50 million in six months. The current spot exchange rate is $1.3030/£ and the six-month forward rate is $1.3100/£. Boeing can buy a six-month put option on the British pound with an exercise price of $1.3500/£ for a premium of $0.0542/£. Currently, the six-month interest rate is 1.450 percent per annum in the United States and 0.410 percent per annum in France. Boeing believes that the British pound would likely appreciate from its current level, but would still like to hedge its exchange exposure.

1. Explain how Boeing should do a forward hedge. Compute the guaranteed dollar proceeds from the British Airway sales if Boeing decides to hedge using a forward contract.

2. If Boeing decides to hedge using put options on the British pound, what would be the “expected” net dollar proceeds from the British Airway sale? Assume that Boeing regards the current forward exchange rate as an unbiased predictor of the future spot exchange rate.

3. At what future spot exchange rate do you think Boeing will be indifferent between the option hedge and forward hedge?

** Illustrate your answers with the proper post-hedging net $ proceed charts, labeling your foreign exchange rates and net proceeds properly.

SHORT ANSWERS

a. Macroeconomic Disequilibrium Describe the macroeconomic disequilibrium in the Soviet Union. Why was there a disequilibrium? What was the resulting problem?

b. Indicative Planning Some have argued that indicative planning is attractive as a mechanism for resource allocation because it eliminates some of the negative features of directive planning while retaining positive features. Comment.

c. Why has investment been very high in the East Asian Economies? When answering the question, relate to concepts such as saving, consumption, the structure of the financial system, etc.

ESSAY TOPICS

A. Active Labor Market Policy Explain the role of government in promoting full employment in Sweden through its active labor market policies. Explain why active labor market policies are more important in Sweden than in the United States. What are the three general programs constituting active labor market policy in Sweden. Explain them and their relative importance in Sweden.

B. The Rhine Model Describe the German (Rhine) economic model. What are its characteristics? What are its main institutions? How has Germany reformed its labor markets in the early 2000s? What has been the consequence of the euro on the German economy?

C. Describe the East Asian economic miracle. What were its main characteristics? How involved were respective countries’ governments? What happened with labor, capital, etc? Was is really a miracle?

Locate the financial statements of Microsoft's segmented financial information. Prepare an overview of what is revealed about the company through its segmented data. Discuss the benefits of reporting financial information this way.

We report our financial performance based on the following segments: Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing. The segment amounts included in MD&A are presented on a basis consistent with our internal management reporting. All differences between our internal management reporting basis and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), along with certain corporate-level and other activity, are included in Corporate and Other.

SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

1. Classify each of these transactions as an asset, a liability, or neither for each of the “players” in the money supply process – the Federal Reserve, the banking system, and nonbank public.

a) You take a $10,000 loan from Bank One to buy an automobile

b) You deposit $400 into your checking account at the First National Bank of Huntsville

c) The Fed provides an emergency loan to a bank for $ 1 million

d) A bank borrows $500,000 in overnight loans from another bank

e) You use your debit card to purchase a meal at a restaurant for $50

2. Suppose that Mr. Justin Bieber deposits $5,000 in his checking account at Santa Monica Bank. How does this transaction affect the monetary base? Show the changes in the balance sheets for Mr. Bieber, the bank, and the Fed.

3. What are the major differences between a discount loan and an open market purchase with respect to their respective effects on monetary base? Explain using an example and showing the relevant changes in the balance sheets of the Fed and the Banking System. Between these two actions, is one preferred to the other by the Fed? Why or why not?

4. As the bankers’ bank, the Federal Reserve Banks operate the payments system in the United States? What are the different components of the payments system that they operate? Briefly describe.

5. What are the main arguments against central bank independence? Is the Fed independent? How do you know? Explain.

Please use APA style for all aspects of this question. You must cite all course materials in-text; improper or missing citations will receive a zero grade and/or a formal investigation of academic misconduct. You are not allowed to use internet materials, quotations from outside readings or any “cut and paste” learning materials in any of your written answers. Write in your words only and draw on required course materials only.

1. Proponents of globalization like neoliberalists argue their approach to economic development can best lift countries out of poverty. Advocates of alternative theories and approaches like Bejing’s approach to economic development purported by Dambisa Moyo OR sustainable development are critical of neoliberalism. Define ONE alternative approach to economic development and explain ONE way it improves upon neoliberalism. Here, choose Bejing’s approach to economic development purported by Dambisa Moyo in her TED talk, Is China the New Idol for Emerging Economies? (Module 5) OR sustainable development (Module 6). For example, why does Dambisa Moyo think that Bejing’s approach to development is more appealing to poor countries than that of the United States? OR, why do proponents of sustainable development argue it is a superior approach to sustainable and equitable development than neoliberalism? Use specific empirical evidence and examples to demonstrate why the alternative approach is better.

Problem 6-20A Variable and Absorption Costing Unit Product Costs and Income Statements; Explanation of Difference in Net Operating Income [LO6-1, LO6-2, LO6-3] High Country, Inc., produces and sells many recreational products. The company has just opened a new plant to produce a folding camp cot that will be marketed throughout the United States. The following cost and revenue data relate to May, the first month of the plant’s operation: Beginning inventory 0 Units produced 36,000 Units sold 31,000 Selling price per unit $79 Selling and administrative expenses: Variable per unit $2 Fixed per month $ 563,000 Manufacturing costs: Direct materials cost per unit $16 Direct labor cost per unit $8 Variable manufacturing overhead cost per unit $2 Fixed manufacturing overhead cost per month $ 540,000 Management is anxious to see how profitable the new camp cot will be and has asked that an income statement be prepared for May. Required: 1. Assume that the company uses absorption costing. a. Determine the unit product cost. b. Prepare an income statement for May. 2. Assume that the company uses variable costing. a. Determine the unit product cost. b. Prepare a contribution format income statement for May.

Read the following case: An individual, Sam Rice, was injured while using a survival knife manufactured by the BearArms Knife Company. Sam is a resident of the state of Iowa. He was injured in the state of Iowa, where he was using the knife to whittle a wooden cup. The BearArms Knife Company is located in the State of Delaware. It sells its knives to retail stores throughout the United States. Sam bought his knife at Paul's Discount in Iowa City. Sam’s injuries cost him – in terms of doctor’s bills and missed income from not being able to work – well over $200,000.

Sam sued BearArms Knife Company in Iowa state court for negligence. BearArms Knife Company did not, however, respond to or otherwise contest Sam’s lawsuit, and Sam was awarded $425,000 in damages by the trial court.

Based on the legal information that you learned in this chapter, write a 1-2 sentence answer for each of the following questions.

1. What type of judgment did the trial court award against BearArms Knife Company?

2. Which court(s)--state and/or federal courts--would have jurisdiction over Sam’s lawsuit against BearArms Knife Company?

3. Explain the reasoning for your answer to question “2”.

4. What state law would Rice have invoked in trying to show that the Iowa state court had personal jurisdiction over BearArms Knife Company?