Discussion Topic Economics affects nearly everything we do in some way. Someone else has
produced most items we consume, or use, in our daily lives, from food to clothes
to music to gas for our cars. Chances are, when we purchase these daily items,
we don't question the price with the producer. But in the United States, the
interactions between the consumers and producers determine quite a lot in terms
of business and economics.
Think about the items and services that you and your family buy or consume.
What causes you to pay the prices that you do for these goods and services?
What determines the price that's on the price tag? What goes into determining,
or setting, that price? Consider all the possible elements that could influence the
prices you pay.

You have just been hired as a financial analyst for barrington industries. unfortunately, company headquarters (where all of the firm's records are kept) has been destroyed by fire. so, your first job will be to recreate the firm's cash flow statement for the year just ended. the firm had $100,000 in the bank at the end of the prior year, and its working capital accounts except cash remained constant during the year. it earned $5 million in net income during the year but paid $800,000 in dividends to common shareholders. throughout the year, the firm purchased $5.5 million of machinery that was needed for a new project. you have just spoken to the firm's accountants and learned that annual depreciation expense for the year is $450,000; however, the purchase price for the machinery represents additions to property, plant, and equipment before depreciation. finally, you have determined that the only financing done by the firm was to issue long-term debt of $1 million at a 6% interest rate. what was the firm's end- of-year cash balance? recreate the firm's cash flow statement to arrive at your answer

Gerda, a real estate agent, is selling a moderately priced house in a subdivision. she knows from her uncle that the factory being built half a mile from the subdivision will be manufacturing dog food, using a process that creates a very strong odor that permeates the surrounding neighborhood. a buyer, who is unaware of the type of factory under construction, makes an offer on one of the houses gerda is selling, and within a short time, the deal goes through. what does this scenario best illustrate?

The uptowner just paid an annual dividend of $4.12. the company has a policy of increasing the dividend by 2.5 percent annually. you would like to purchase shares of stock in this firm but realize that you will not have the funds to do so for another four years. if you require a rate of return of 16.7 percent, how much will you be willing to pay per share when you can afford to make this investment?