Secure property rights promote economic progress because they
a. encourage individuals to produce efficiently and undertake productive activities.
b. weaken the incentive to take actions that increase the value of resources.
c. transfer the costs of a decline in property value to the government.
d. discourage property owners from engaging in activities that provide value to others.

Lauer corporation uses the periodic inventory system and has provided the following information about one of its laptop computers: date transaction number of units cost per unit 1/1 beginning inventory 210 $ 910 5/5 purchase 310 $ 1,010 8/10 purchase 410 $ 1,110 10/15 purchase 255 $ 1,160 during the year, lauer sold 1,025 laptop computers. what was cost of goods sold using the lifo cost flow assumption?

The gilbert instrument corporation is considering replacing the wood steamer it currently uses to shape guitar sides. the steamer has 6 years of remaining life. if kept,the steamer will have depreciaiton expenses of $650 for five years and $325 for the sixthyear. its current book value is $3,575, and it can be sold on an internet auction site for$4,150 at this time. if the old steamer is not replaced, it can be sold for $800 at the endof its useful life. gilbert is considering purchasing the side steamer 3000, a higher-end steamer, whichcosts $12,000 and has an estimated useful life of 6 years with an estimated salvage value of$1,500. this steamer falls into the macrs 5-year class, so the applicable depreciationrates are 20.00%, 32.00%, 19.20%, 11.52%, 11.52%, and 5.76%. the new steamer is fasterand allows for an output expansion, so sales would rise by $2,000 per year; the newmachine's much greater efficiency would reduce operating expenses by $1,900 per year.to support the greater sales, the new machine would require that inventories increase by$2,900, but accounts payable would simultaneously increase by $700. gilbert's marginalfederal-plus-state tax rate is 40%, and its wacc is 15%.a. should it replace the old steamer? b. npv of replace = $2,083.51

Happy foods and general grains both produce similar puffed rice breakfast cereals. for both companies, thecost of producing a box of cereal is 45 cents, and it is not possible for either company to lower their productioncosts any further. how can one company achieve a competitive advantage over the other?