A value-added tax (VAT), known in some countries as a goods and services tax (GST), is a type of general consumption tax that is collected incrementally, based on the surplus value, added to the price on the work at each stage of production. Unlike sales taxes, which are added to the selling price at the … Continued
Does anyone really set out to make a bad movie? No, but many new movies, if not a majority, fail to gain consumer acceptance. The ability to successfully anticipate consumer acceptance is critical to corporate success and, therefore, to investors. Perhaps one of the better comments on this problem came from Steve Jobs, who is … Continued
Tax and other incentive programs, primarily state and local, aimed at attracting new corporate investment have been around for a long time. The primary motivation for states is usually related to jobs and for the corporation, lower costs. A recent, major, proposed transaction involves efforts to induce Foxconn (a key Apple supplier) to build a new … Continued
A recent article in The Wall Street Journal highlighted a debate between economists as to whether workers or investors bear the greater burden of U.S. corporate taxes. This is very interesting and manages to politicize corporate taxation. If workers bear the greatest burden, a reduction in the corporate tax might attract Democratic votes. On the … Continued
According to Wikipedia, a Goldilocks economy is one that is not too hot or too cold, in other words, sustains moderate economic growth, and has low inflation, which allows market-friendly monetary policy. Where are we now? Economic growth, during the last several years, as the economy recovered from the severe decline during the “great recession”, … Continued
Successfully managing a company and attracting investors is not easy. But thumbing your nose at prospective investors, by issuing shares with no shareholder rights, and then refusing to provide any guidance respecting management’s operating expectations, may not be the best approach. Under these circumstances it shouldn’t come as a big surprise if investors conclude that … Continued
In recent blogs we have noted that there has been an increase in large investor concerns over a trend toward a reduction in shareholders’ rights. Now we have the managers of the S&P 500 taking a stand in favor of shareholders’ rights by announcing a new policy that would bar new admissions to the index … Continued
Healthcare is, or more correctly, continues to be the topic of the day. We are all, as patients, providers and/or tax payers, necessarily involved in the whole issue of how best to provide reasonable and universal access, on an affordable basis, to quality healthcare. Big pharma, and therefore, investors, are directly involved. Media commentary likes … Continued
To varying degrees, commentators and economists are suggesting that the U.S. economy seems to be struggling to sustain a growth rate on the order of 2%, while most observers believe that growth on the order of 3% would be highly beneficial and, is also generally considered to be a reasonable target. June unemployment has fallen … Continued
In our March 15th blog, we commented on the apparent deterioration in shareholders’ rights in connection with the initial public offering of Snap, Inc. shares, which have no voting rights. This issue is garnering increased attention from institutional investors. State Street Global Advisors recently urged the U.S. financial regulator to block companies from adopting controversial … Continued
Recently released data from Freddie Mac revealed that nearly 50% of Americans, who have recently refinanced their homes to take advantage of lower interest rates to reduce borrowing costs, are taking cash out. This means that the home owner is increasing the principal balance, and reducing equity. This is the height of folly. Apparently, people … Continued
Wikipedia defines investment as the allocation of money (or sometimes another resource, such as time) in the expectation of some benefit in the future. Wikipedia defines education as the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. The foregoing suggests that, before investing a great deal of time and … Continued
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