ECO 365 WEEK 4 Discussion Question
2. What are the differences among horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate mergers? Provide real-world examples of each type of merger. What policy do you think the US should follow toward mergers? Why?
Horizontal mergers take place between companies in the same industry. These companies are rivals who sell the same goods or services. When a merger takes place, a rival is eliminated and potential for gains become higher. A vertical merger is one in which a firm or company combines with a supplier or distributor. For example, if a car making firm is receiving chassis from two suppliers and decides to acquire them, it is a vertical merger. On the other hand conglomerate mergers are those between firms that
…show more content…
Government intervention takes place when there is necessity to support the economic fabric of the nation. For example, when the US government provided bailout packages to investment banks the objective was to rescue the banking system of the United States. The fiscal intervention has the objectives of reducing unemployment, ensuring growth, and controlling inflation. An example is a fiscal stimulus package that reduces unemployment. The direct goal of taxation is to finance government programs, reduce government deficit, and to pay off the debts of the government. Taxation is reduced to stimulate the economy. A real-world example is that currently President Obama has announced that the effective corporate tax rate will be cut to 28% and for manufacturers the effective rate will be 25%. The goal of this policy is to encourage businesses to invest more and become more competitive. Regulations are imposed to control unacceptable economic behavior. For example, around 2000 there were a number of large accounting scandals that shook the confidence of investors. To regain the confidence of investors, the Sarbanes Oxley Act 2002 was passed. This regulation sets higher standards for Public Company Boards, management, and public auditors. The goal of this act was to restore investor confidence in public companies. The goal was also to bring greater transparency and accountability in the management of public companies.
References;
1.
Horizontal refers to the idea of one firm joining with another at the same stage of the same production process. It also allows for greater market share; achieves economies of scale; and an opportunity to enter a different market segment. An example of this would be Ford’s takeover of Volvo - both being car manufacturers.
Throughout history, there have been many problems present in the American life. In the time period between the 1800s to the 1900s, there were many problems such as, poor living and working conditions and powerful monopolies. Many reforms were proposed in order to solve these problems. The grisly living and working conditions, along with overpowered monopolies, were both addressed with reforms.
United States vs. Microsoft is one the largest, most controversial antitrust lawsuits in American history. Many claim the government is wrongly punishing Microsoft for being innovative and successful, arguing that Windows dominates the market because of the product’s popularity, not because of malpractice by the parent company. Others argue in favor of the government, claiming that Microsoft’s practices conflict with the free market ideal. There are many arguments for both sides of the lawsuit, but what the case really comes down to is this: does the government have the right to interfere in today’s marketplace? Or is Microsoft violating laws that are rightfully imposed by the government?
The progressive era was an era of reform. At the time monopolies controlled production of what they produced. American industrialization was based on the free enterprise system, where people have the right to make their choices in what they work, buy, or make. Businesses used the free enterprise system to their advantage and used their own resources to compete with other businesses and focused on the needs of the consumer to make greater profit. Some businesses used different tactics to drive other businesses out and strove for greater labor with least pay. Eventually, the progressive movement would create the turning point of the century and restore
Horizontal integration involves buying out other companies and taking over one single step of an industrial process. It establishes a monopoly because, with horizontal integration, everyone must go the company that has monopolized that step.
Taxation, the amount of money we pay every year and of course the government is a big spender has a lot of assets at its disposal to influence the economy. The government is a very large entity and controls a lot of money. Fiscal policy is more effective when trying to stimulate the economic growth rather than trying to slow down an economy that is overheating. The goal of fiscal policy is too accomplished by decreasing aggregate expenditures and aggregate demand through a decrease in government spending. Fiscal policy pros are; it can build up the operation electronic stabilizers. Well-timed fiscal stabilization together with automatic stabilizers can have an impact on the level of aggregate expenditure and activity in the economy. Fiscal policy can be picky by attempting specific category of the economy. For example, the government can be focused to concentrate education, housing, health or any specific industry area. Fiscal policy controls a spending tap. Fiscal policy can have a forceful effect if used in bankruptcy, because the government can open a spending tap to increase the level of aggregate
6. In an era of global competition, what is the case for antitrust authorities to permit the formation of large domestic firms through mergers and acquisitions?
A merger between one firm and another firm that is its supplier is known as a:
1. Analyze the fast food industry from the point of view of perfect competition. Include the concepts of elasticity, utility, costs, and market structure to explain the prices charged by fast food retailers.
There are three broad types of mergers: horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate. As the antitrust laws made Horizontal and Vertical Mergers more difficult, Conglomerate Mergers became more popular and are very common today.
Mergers and acquisitions are becoming commonly practiced strategic options for organizations. Organizations are coming together one way or another to realize emerging commercial opportunities. Goals for this upcoming and popular strategy converges around themes including growth, diversification and achieving economies of scale.
If a petrochemical firm that used oil as feedstock merged with an oil producer that had large oil reserves and a drilling subsidiary, this would be a vertical merger.
Mergers and acquisitions can be classified in terms of the direction of the growth. A horizontal merger/takeover is the combining of two firms in the same stage of production, for example Well come Pharmaceuticals merged with Glaxo Pharmaceuticals. This sort of integration takes place to combat competition from the market and secure market domination; to reduce risks and increase financial strength; and to compete in
Has the economy ever thought about direct impact from monopoly and oligopoly industries? The structure of a monopoly based industry exemplifies one seller in the entire market. On the other hand, the concept of an oligopoly industry illustrates few sellers that have the potential of making a direct impact in one single industry idea. The economy has depended on the market share of a monopoly and an oligopoly trade. However, a monopoly industry differs from an oligopoly industry due to a monopoly competitor dominates a majority of the market share of many industries and an oligopoly competitor contains few sellers who dominate a market share based on one single industry idea.
Market structures are either imperfect competition or perfect competition, referring to the environment in which a firm competes in. These are monopolies, oligopolies, monopolistic competitions, and perfect competitions. A monopoly is one market in which there are no substitutes and entry is difficult into the market. There are four variables for a monopoly to occur. An oligopoly is a market structure that has only a few sellers but the products are either differentiated or homogeneous. Monopolistic competition has elements of both a monopoly and a perfect competitor. With multiple sellers and differentiated products, a monopolistic competitor is able to produce with these advantages of both market structures. The final market structure is perfect competition. Perfect competition occurs when there are many sellers and buyers, identical products, mobility of resources, and complete knowledge of the market. Overall, a firm must decide which market structure is best to involve themselves in. A pure monopoly is not legal in the United States, but a natural monopoly or one enabled by the government is. An oligopoly is uncertain in the long run analysis. A monopolistic competitor must make sure it’s price strategy is suitable for the industry or they will stand to lose profit. Perfect competition, however, “has never really existed” (Salvatore, 2012, p. 374). Therefore, a firm faces a difficult task in deciding which market structure to produce in and must