Because many relevant factors such as bankruptcy costs, tax asymmetries, and agency costs cannot easily be identified or quantified, it’s practically impossible to determine the precise debt/equity ratio that maximizes the value of the firm.

An office manager is concerned with declining productivity. despite the fact that she regularly monitors her clerical staff four times each day—at 9: 00 am, 11: 00 am, 1: 00 pm, and again at 3: 00 pm—office productivity has declined 30 percent since she assumed the helm one year ago. would you recommend that the office manager invest more time monitoring the productivity of her clerical staff? explain.

Jamie lee is reviewing her finances one month later. she has provided the actual amounts paid below. use the cash budget table below to her identify the variances in her budget. each answer must have a value for the assignment to be complete. enter "0" for any unused categories. actual amounts income: monthly expenses: gross monthly salary $2,315 rent obligation $260 net monthly salary $1,740 utilities/electricity $130 savings allocation: utilities/water $10 regular savings $130 utilities/cable tv $155 rainy-day savings $20 food $160 entertainment: gas/maintenance $205 cake decorating class $90 credit card payment $25 movies with friends $50 car insurance $75 clothing $145 budgeted amounts assets: monthly expenses: checking account $1,850 rent obligation $225 emergency fund savings account $4,300 utilities/electricity $75 car $5,200 utilities/water $35 computer & ipad $1,100 utilities/cable tv $120 liabilities: food $115 student loan $6,600 gas/maintenance $95 credit card balance $1,000 credit card payment $45 income: car insurance $45 gross monthly salary $2,155 clothing $45 net monthly salary $1,580 entertainment: savings allocation: cake decorating class $90 regular savings $130 movies with friends $50 rainy day savings $20

Google started as one of many internet search engines, amazon started as an online book seller, and ebay began as a site where people could sell used personal items in auctions. these firms have grown to be so large and dominant that they are facing antitrust scrutiny from competition regulators in the us and elsewhere. did these online giants grow by fairly beating competition, or did they use unfair advantages? are there any clouds on the horizon for these firms -- could they face diseconomies of scale or diseconomies of scope as they continue to grow? if so, what factors may limit their continued growth?