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An Analysis of the Impact of the Political Changes on Labor Unions in Egypt
This study analyzes the impact of the political changes on labor unions in Egypt in the period from 1960 to 1967. In 1960-1961 Egypt became a socialist country with one political party, the Arab Socialist Union. As a result of that development in the political arena, a wave of socialist laws were introduced by the government, affecting not only the labor unions' traditional functions, but also the industrial relations system in general. The study came to the following conclusions. 1. The role of the labor unions in the industrial relations system and especially in formulating the socialist laws was minimized in Egypt in the 1960-1967 period. 2. From an economic point of view, the socialist laws in the 1960-1967 period had restrained economic development process by reducing savings, not supplying the economy with skilled productive workers, causing inflation, and the wage structure did not work as an incentive system to stimulate productivity. 3. The socialist laws did not achieve any of their expected objectives partly because no one except the government was involved in these laws' formulation and implementation. 4. Except for the small increase in wages, the average worker did not achieve any tangible benefits that could improve his economic and social status. 5. The existence of political control over labor unions and over the industrial relations system will continue and persist as long as labor unions do not have effective leadership and as long as there is no political opposition to the government.
Corporate Planning and Forecasting: An Analysis of the State of the Art in the Service Industry and Development of a Generalized Approach for the Needs of the 1970's and the 1980's
This study has a twofold purpose. The first is to demonstrate the state of the art of corporate planning and forecasting activity, and the second is to determine the existence of any differences between the planning practices of the consumer service industry and the producer service industry. The study is organized into seven chapters. The introduction chapter contains background information, a description of the problem and opportunity followed by a definition of terms, the purpose of the research, hypothesis of the research. It also describes the scope of the research, methodology, significance and limitations of the study and provides a chapter bibliography. The study finds that though certain segments of the service industry have sophisticated planning capability, it is not generally widespread. The study concludes there is no significant difference in the planning methods between consumer services and producer services industries
Decision Criteria for Gifts Under the 1976 Tax Reform Act
The 1976 Tax Reform Act made many changes in the taxation of estate and gift transfers. Previously gifts and estates were taxed separately and the gift tax rate was 75 percent of the estate tax rate; and there was a $30,000 exemption for gifts and a $60,000 exemption for estate transfers. Under the new law the exemptions were repealed and replaced with a unified credit against the tax; and the tax on estate and gift transfers was combined into one increasing rate schedule. Under the prior law, deathbed gifts were advantageous because the gift tax paid on the transfer was excluded from the taxable estate but was allowed as a credit against the estate tax since gifts within three years of the date of death were included in the gross estate unless the estate could demonstrate that the gifts were not made in contemplation of death. Under the new law, gift taxes paid on transfers which occur within three years of the date of death are included in the taxable estate.
A Description and Analysis of the Channels of Distribution for Food Products in the State of Kuwait
This study is intended, first, to describe and analyze the channels of distribution for food products in the State of Kuwait, second, to pinpoint the problems that exist in the food-distribution system, and, third, to make specific recommendations for the alleviation of the problems. Consistent with the objectives of the study and based on the description and analysis of the food-distribution system in the country, it is concluded in the study that Kuwait depends on imports for virtually all of its food; the government plays a major role in the food-distribution system; and the majority of food wholesaling and retailing establishments are small, inefficient, and lack modern marketing and physical distribution techniques. Product shortages and rising food prices plague the food-distribution system in the country. Also, the findings indicate that consumers in Kuwait are generally ignorant and uninformed in the areas of food nutrition and food shopping, and the lack of standardization and grading of food products makes the shopping task of the consumer more difficult.
Employee Stock Ownership Plans and the Publicly Held Corporation, a Study of Their Accounting, Financial and Economic Implications
The purpose of this study is twofold. First, the results of the study are used to isolate the impact of ESOP financing on actual firms as closely as possible. This is simply to point out many of the advantages and disadvantages of ESOP financing. Second, the results of the study are used to compare the relative costs of ESOP's with other deferred employee compensation. In general, the findings indicate that ESOP's have little to offer as a means of financing for publicly held corporations, However, they may have certain advantages when used as a part of a firm's total employee compensation package. The findings indicate that accounting rules for certain types of ESOP's tend to distort per share calculation in the early years of the plan. To correct this, ESOP shares should be considered outstanding only as they become unencumbered. The study found that a definite need exists for empirical data relating to ESOP's motivational effects. This is a key factor in determining how the ESOP will affect a firm's financial structure. Further study of this aspect would provide valuable information regarding the ESOP's effect on the firm's productivity.
Environmental Pollution, Material Scarcity and the Development of Aluminum Recycling Reverse Channels of Distribution
The purpose of this study was to analyze the developing organizational and management paradigms in the aluminum packaging and container industry, where reverse channels of distribution offer an excellent vehicle for studying organizations which are "closing the distribution circle." Based on the analysis, several conclusions are offered. 1. The extent to which primary manufacturers have entered aluminum packaging and container recycling and subsequently developed effective reverse channels of distribution is contingent upon needs for resources. 2. The most successful recycling programs are those which have decentralized organizations. 3. Central to beverage producers' decisions to develop extensive reverse channels of distribution is the belief that recycling is (1) a deterrent to container legislation, (2) a source of favorable publicity, (3) a source of company profits, and (4) can improve supply relationships with primary aluminum suppliers. 4. Regional beverage companies in the environmentally conscious Far West have the most successful and comprehensive recycling operations. 5. Loose organizational federations such as those of the soft drink franchise do not seem amenable to the development of reverse channels of distribution. 6. Where i t serves the needs of the enterprise, firms are developing sophisticated and efficient reverse channels of distribution. The institution of reverse channel intermediary functions reflects a new management and organizational paradigm based on environmental considerations. 7. A major stumbling block to further reverse channel development is the uncertainty caused by proposed container legislation.
Financial Leverage and the Cost of Capital
The objective of the research reported in this dissertation is to conduct an empirical test of the hypothesis that, excluding income tax effects, the cost of capital to a firm is independent of the degree of financial leverage employed by the firm. This hypothesis, set forth by Franco Modigliani and Merton Miller in 1958, represents a challenge to the traditional view on the subject, a challenge which carries implications of considerable importance in the field of finance. The challenge has led to a lengthy controversy which can ultimately be resolved only by subjecting the hypothesis to empirical test. The basis of the test was Modigliani and Miller's Proposition II, a corollary of their fundamental hypothesis. Proposition II, in effect, states that equity investors fully discount any increase in risk due to financial leverage so that there is no possibility for the firm to reduce its cost of capital by employing financial leverage. The results of the research reported in this dissertation do not support that contention. The study indicates that, if equity investors require any increase in premium for increasing financial leverage, the premium required is significantly less than that predicted by the Modigliani-Miller Proposition II, over the range of debt-equity ratios covered by this study. The conclusion, then, is that it is possible for a firm to reduce its cost of capital by employing financial leverage. A secondary conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that earning power is an important variable to consider for inclusion in a regression model intended for use in investigating the effect of financial leverage on the cost of capital. The estimated partial regression coefficient of the earning-power variable was negative and highly significant in every cross-section year. Furthermore, earning power showed strong negative partial correlation with the debt-equity ratio. Therefore, omission …
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