B) The Fed caused a reduction in the federal funds rate to its lowest level in 40 years.
C) Rising inflation encouraged many to invest in the real estate market.
D) Home building and consumer durable purchases are always high during a recession.
Which two factors make regulating mergers complicated?
A) First, firms may lobby government officials to influence their decision to approve
the merger. Second, by the time the government officials reach a decision regarding the
merger, the firms often decide not to merge.
B) First, the time it takes to reach a decision to approve a merger is so long that the
firms often have new owners and mangers. Second, by law, government officials are not
allowed to consider the impact of foreign trade (exports and imports) on the degree of
competition in the markets of the merged firms.
C) First, the Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the U.S.
Department of Justice must both approve mergers. Second, the concentration ratios that
are used to evaluate the degree of competition the merged firms face are flawed.
D) First, it is not always clear what market firms are in. Second, the newly merged firm
might be more efficient than the merging firms were individually.
Golda Rush quit her job as a manager for Home Depot to start her own hair dressing
salon, Goldilocks. She gave up a salary of $40,000 per year, invested her savings of
$30,000 (which was earning 5 percent interest) and borrowed $10,000 from a close
friend, agreeing to pay 5 percent interest per year. In her first year, Golda spent $18,000
to rent a salon, hired a part-time assistant for $12,000 and incurred another $15,000 on
equipment and hairdressing material. Based on this information, what is the amount of