Analysis On Financial Statements Economics Essay

Analysis On Financial Statements Economics Essay ATandT Inc. (NYSE: T) is a United States telecommunications corporation headquartered in Texas. Founded in 1983 as SBC Communications, it became AT&T Inc. upon purchase of AT&T Corporation in 2005. It is the leading U.S. provider of wire-line and wireless communications. AT&T delivers 3G wireless services through AT&T Mobility LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary. Other major segments include broadband internet, digital television, directory publishing, and business communications. In 2006, AT&T Inc. acquired BellSouth communications corporation, valued at $86 billion, absorbing its wire-line, wireless, and broadband interests. AT&T has stated specific future goals in 4G wireless, speech recognition, telehealth, and digital convergence. Recently, AT&T selected Alcatel-Lucent and Ericsson as equipment providers for its LTE (4G) wireless deployments. AT&T has over 150 million customers and 280,000 employees. AT&T reported a $124 billion operating revenue and $23 billion net income as of Dec . 31, 2008. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) is a United States telecommunications corporation headquartered in New York. It was founded in 1983 as Bell Atlantic. Bell Atlantic acquired GTE Corp. in 2000 and changed its name to Verizon Communications Inc. It is the second largest U.S. provider of wire-line and wireless voice services. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture, with Vodafone Group holding 45 percent ownership. Through its FiOS product, Verizon provides fiber-optic delivery of internet, television, and digital voice. Other major operations include IP networks, applications, and professional services for business. In 2008, Verizon stated its goal to surpass AT&T as the U.S. market leader in wireless voice and data communications in the United States. It is aggressively pushing fiber-optic deployments to combat industry-wide access-line losses. Verizon has over 91 million customers and 220,000 employees. Verizon reported a $97 billion operating revenue and $6.5 billion net income as of Dec. 31, 2008. Balance Sheet – unusual items AT&T:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At Dec. 31, 2008, AT&T reported a current ratio of 0.53, and a long-term assets / long-term liabilities ratio of 1.92. This mismatching indicates that too much short-term financing has been used to acquire long-term assets. AT&T may have problems meeting its short-term obligations without additional refinancing. If additional financing cannot be obtained, a lack of asset liquidity poses a bankruptcy risk. At Dec. 31, 2008, AT&T reported goodwill at $71.8 billion, accounting for about 27% of their total reported assets. This stems from AT&T’s aggressive acquisition strategy. The high amount poses a great asset impairment risk. Only losses, not gains, can be recorded for goodwill. If the acquired entities lose value, as judged by an annual impairment test, the loss of recorded assets and corresponding write-offs against stockholders’ equity can be subst antial. Verizon:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At Dec. 31, 2008, Verizon reported wireless licenses valued at $62.0 billion. These are indefinite-lived intangible asset which account for 30.6% of Verizon’s total assets. Wireless licenses are extremely important for a telecommunications company, but placing such large valuation on an intangible is a serious risk. Estimating fair value is very subjective, and any significant write-offs (as judged by a periodic impairment test) could threaten stockholders’ confidence. At Dec. 31, 2008, Verizon reported cash and cash equivalents of $9.8 billion. Having such a large amount of cash and cash equivalents (investments with a maturity of 90 days or less) is good for liquidity. However, a significant portion of this $9.8 billion could be converted to less-liquid, higher-interest investments that mature within a year, or even long-term investments. Having so much cash-on-hand is a problem because it is not being inve sted to return additional value to the business.

Using deductive and inductive logic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Using deductive and inductive logic - Essay Example cision maker as the projection of informed consent -- the competent patient makes a â€Å"living will.† Also, this paper claims that people have the right to die and that their living will is constant throughout. The decision of the surrogate decision maker is also similar to the decision of the incompetent patient; the idea centers on the scope of time: past and present. The choice from the past is still the choice of the present considering the principle of informed consent. It is debatable to say that a person’s decision changes over time, especially when that person expressed it in writing. The living will is a written form of the patient’s explicit declaration concerning his or her thoughts of an ideal life or death. The contents of the living will are true and valid for all time when the physically and mentally competent patient makes one. Humans can choose either life or death especially when one is at the verge of utter helplessness. Life as we know it directly springs from humans; and to exercise mercy killing or suicide per se sounds fairly human. A physically incompetent person, for instance, is better off than live a life not far similar to death; he or she is alive via the brain’s electrical activities but dead via the immobile physical body. A living dead, so to speak, is a horrible human condition. Therefore, the practice of physician-assisted suicide to an incompetent patient is perfectly human. The right to die is an inalienable and human right. Nobody can take one’s life but himself or herself. One’s life and one’s body is one’s own. It is the prerogative of the individual who owns that body/life on when and how he or she wants to die. Death is sweet when the ideal life appears to be impossible to attain or is not attained. People have the right to die like their right to life. Death is the last option when life seems to be not the kind of life one perceives it; for in death, there is life as well. A terminally-ill patient should

Economics Effects of Taxing Sugar Beverages Research Paper

Economics Effects of Taxing Sugar Beverages - Research Paper Example Such economic policies have provided conventional measures in various sectors that have ensured reduction in consumption of non-dietary food items. Economists assert that best economic policies that could reduce consumption of non-dietary food that contribute to lifestyle diseases include adoption of price cap and taxation policies. These policies would advance commodity prices hence reduce its demand. Evidently, sugar beverages form one of the food items consumed by majority that have immense effect on productivity. It presents severe complications that delimit human functioning and productivity. Chronic diseases that it causes include diabetes, obesity and heart diseases that have severe complications.Economists assert that nations and individuals should adopt essential methods to facilitate eradication of lifestyle diseases that presents long-term complications for example diabetes which is caused by consumption of sugar beverages. They stated that authorities should adopt proper conventional strategies to facilitate eradication of chronic diseases that cause immense lose. Nations including the US have initiated development of sound health care policies to provide basic incentives towards improving health standards. The policies are geared towards reforming the entire health system with an aim of providing effective, fair and superior medical assistance to citizens. US government view health as a vital element that has to be improved through potential policies with absolute potential to revolutionize the sector. This is to facilitate provision of fair nursing care through superior treatment ideals and dietary counseling. Consequently, the policy seeks to ensure that individuals are informed about the dangers of compromised dietary food consumption including complications of drugs. This paper evaluates the imperativeness of economic health care with focus to sugar beverages that hinders human development. Health care policies Health care policies are comprehensive guidelines that drive provision of quality nursing services and enhancement of individual’s life standards. Health officials are under obligation to provide basic treatment and counseling based on health matters and food dietary system. The activities should be formulated with an aim of developing a healthy nation with vibrant economic prospects that are sustainable. Developing effective health care policies requires input of various stakeholders (Neuman 1). Evidently, effective health policies should consider various factors that include monetary impact, dietary system, and infrastructural system and health professionals. These factors are significant in devising appropriate health policies that enhances safety and human

Research Design and Case Study (Was Iraq War Handled Effectively) Assignment

Research Design and Case Study (Was Iraq War Handled Effectively) - Assignment Example Additionally, it offers the chance to examine the outcomes of the choices chosen by the U.S and its allies during and after the invasion and even after the evacuation of U.S troops from Iraq. Other factors include the decisions of the new regime to marginalize the Sunnis and the inefficiencies of the institutions of Iraq to handle matters of the nation. The adoption of a case study will enable me to offer an analysis of both content and from a historical perspective. In addition, a case study offers the opportunity for structuring any future research on this topic while also providing a foundation for other researchers to further their knowledge on this topic and a chance to offer additional insight and information. A case study is the ideal research design technique because it is particularly helpful in analyzing institutions and structuring policy. The analytical approach to be adopted is the congruence method based on typical conditions. The use of congruence analysis is the most appropriate approach because it places emphasis on formulating conclusions that are relevant to the goals of the study and because it enhances objectivity and reliability of the research. The case study chosen is â€Å"Wars of Decline: Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya† because it offers an opportunity to clearly investigate the factors listed above and is able to comprehensively explain the occurrence of a number of factors that are responsible for the mismanagement of the Iraq War. â€Å"The Wars of Decline: Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya† provides an opportunity for the analysis of the management of the Iraq War. It provides a chance to analyze underlying factors that may have caused the mismanagement of the Iraq War. The Iraq War was as a response to the 9/11 bombings in Washington and New York by Al Qaeda militants. Al Qaeda had been responsible for a number of attacks

Challenges of Advance Planning in Care-Giving Assignment

Challenges of Advance Planning in Care-Giving - Assignment Example This assignment explores one of the most basic challenges in advanced planning as the misconception that it requires a complex legal documentation process. These make patients reluctant in engaging in the process. In such a situation, a patient may require some time to go and rethink the issue over and prepare for a discussion over the matter. It is necessary at this point to demonstrate the benefits of the plan to their lives and to family members (Laverty, Laverty, & Cindy, 2010). Initiating this program only requires patients to be thoughtful and engage the family in their discussions. Lack of awareness, State laws support advance directives in care giving for all individuals. Nevertheless, there is still no clear process and procedures to allow individual wishes to be known and be fulfilled at the appropriate time. Support studies sponsored by various organizations such as Robert Johnson Foundation in America reported that almost 75% of terminally ill patients do not like cardiop ulmonary resuscitation but less than 50% of their care givers know about this. Even if the patient had documented his preference, less than 42% of the cases are discussed by the actual care giver (Bumagin & Hirn, 2006). These bring lack of awareness as a strong challenge to the process of advanced planning. Denial is also a key problem in advance care planning. The society’s denial of death and dying puts patients in a situation where they cannot make decisions for themselves. These make them unable to heed waning of life just as we acknowledge the waning of birth. Denial about death makes people not to review life. Live in fear and uncertainty when these happens, the patient is unable to make clear directives of his health care preference. Confusion this is also a big challenge that affects advance plans in health care giving. Despite a strong desire for quality life and â€Å"good death†, many people worry about conflicting feelings within them. These conflicts arise from palliative care and doing whatever it takes to extent patient’s life. Research carried out by Regence Foundation shows that almost 50% of the respondent ascertained that emphasizing on palliative and end of life care options can interfere with the processes put in place to extent the patient’s life as long as possible (Bumagin & Hirn, 2006). This creates a misunderstanding of what to take as the best alternative. Majority of patients, who benefit from Medicare of all racial and ethnic groups, argue that in the event of a terminal illness with less than months to live, they would rather stay at home and die. They would not like to use life-prolonging drugs that have uncomfortable side effects to prolong their lives for a week or month hindering advance planning. However, various researchers like Amber Barnato, MD and colleges have discovered different distribution of end life preferences in different races ethnic groups. For example a research done between the whi tes and the blacks shows that more blacks are likely to die in the hospital compared to white.  

Events and banqueting managments in UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Events and banqueting managments in UK - Essay Example The services that should complement banqueting are good crockery, good lighting facilities and excellent and trained staff to serve the food. This type of service provisions provide total satisfaction to the customers and bring returning customers to the company. At another place, we found out that many companies make the banquet too formal and food that they offer do not match the type of event. At other times, the crockery does not match the type of food and the kind of guests that have to attend the function. It is very important for the waiters to understand how corporate meals are held and what kind of decorations is required. Many clients complained that the banqueting companies do not understand the corporate rule of solids to the right and liquid to the left. The glass for drinks should be on the left and plates should be on the right side of the table. If banqueting companies understand these rules and provide excellent services to customers, they are likely to increase thei r clientage. The future of banqueting relies a great deal on ergonomics. Many companies are putting more and more emphasis of comfort of guests. In the recent times, a lot of emphasis has been put on the ergonomic banquet chair.

Public Law exam question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Public Law exam question - Essay Example Its is been examined and argued that existing constitution of UK is loose assemblage of defining conventions and institutions and concluded that it lacks the checks and balances needed to make it a democratic system of governance. By contrast, in the Westminster tradition, which originated in England, the uncodified constitution contains written sources but also unwritten constitutional conventions, precedents, royal prerogatives and custom collectively constituted the British constitutional law. In the days of the British Empire the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council acted as the constitutional court for many of the British colonies such as Canada and Australia, which had federal constitutions. I completely agree with the author that Conversely, the British constitution is, in practice, becoming more written and more legally codified, mainly because of the growing quantity and impact of EU laws and regulations, which take legal precedence over all other sources of the constitution; and also because of the large number of constitutional reforms introduced by statute since 1997 - such as devolution, reform of the Lords and the Human Rights Act. This trend will continue. Again, in practice rather than theory, the British constitution is gradually becoming more rigi... itten and more legally codified, mainly because of the growing quantity and impact of EU laws and regulations, which take legal precedence over all other sources of the constitution; and also because of the large number of constitutional reforms introduced by statute since 1997 - such as devolution, reform of the Lords and the Human Rights Act. This trend will continue. Again, in practice rather than theory, the British constitution is gradually becoming more rigid as the principle becomes increasingly accepted and expected that referenda should be held on issues of major constitutional change such as electoral reform, devolution and joining the euro. Although such referenda in the UK are invariably merely 'advisory' to maintain the semblance of parliamentary sovereignty, no government could, in reality, ignore a referendum result. Instead it can, of course, choose not to hold a referendum, as Labour has done since 1997 on the question of electoral reform for Westminster (despite a manifesto promise to the contrary). The piecemeal introduction of reforms since 1997 has brought a bigger change in the mindset of the people but there is still a lot of work to be done to formally have the codified constitution in place. Charter's document calls for a written constitution, one that would put the institutions of governance into a coherent framework. And this is what the people want. State of the Nation polls has consistently revealed over more than a decade that the overwhelming majority of people in Britain want a codified constitution. It is time to help bring this about. The unitary nature of the UK is also already challenged, however, by the supranational power of the EU over Parliament; and it is likely to come under more challenge from below as the Scottish, Welsh