Question & Answer

Why is the price inelasticity of demand for private car transport a problem when formulating a policy for the reduction of traffic congestion? What could be done to change the price elasticity of demand in a desirable direction?

1.15     Relevant information Suppose you are responsible for ordering a replacement for your office photocopy machine. Part of your job is to decide whether to buy it or lease it.   Required (a)          Describe something that could be considered relevant information in this decision and explain why it is relevant. (b)          Describe something that could be considered irrelevant information in this decision and explain why it is irrelevant. (c)           Explain why it was important to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information in this problem.

On April 1, 2014, Dougherty Inc. entered into a costplus- fixed-fee contract to construct an electric generator for Altom Corporation. At the contract date, Dougherty estimated that it would take 2 years to complete the project at a cost of $2,000,000. The fixed fee stipulated in the contract is $450,000. Dougherty appropriately accounts for this contract under the percentage-of-completion method. During 2014, Dougherty incurred costs of $800,000 related to the project. The estimated cost at December 31, 2014, to complete the contract is $1,200,000. Altom was billed $600,000 under the contract. Instructions Prepare a schedule to compute the amount of gross profit to be recognized by Dougherty under the contract for the year ended December 31, 2014. Show supporting computations in good form.

The records for the Clothing Department of Sharapova’s Discount Store are summarized below for the month of January. Inventory, January 1: at retail $25,000; at cost $17,000 Purchases in January: at retail $137,000; at cost $82,500 Freight-in: $7,000 Purchase returns: at retail $3,000; at cost $2,300 Transfers in from suburban branch: at retail $13,000; at cost $9,200 Net markups: $8,000 Net markdowns: $4,000 Inventory losses due to normal breakage, etc.: at retail $400 Sales revenue at retail: $95,000 Sales returns: $2,400 Instructions (a) Compute the inventory for this department as of January 31, at retail prices. (b) Compute the ending inventory using lower-of-average-cost-or-market.

Connie Chung Corporation adopted the dollar-value LIFO retail inventory method on January 1, 2013. At that time the inventory had a cost of $54,000 and a retail price of $100,000. The following information is available.8 Year-End Inventory at Retail Current Year Cost—Retail % Year-End Price Index 2013 $118,720 57% 106 2014 138,750 60% 111 2015 125,350 61% 115 2016 162,500 58% 125 The price index at January 1, 2013, is 100. Instructions Compute the ending inventory at December 31 of the years 2013–2016. (Round to the nearest dollar.)

Explain why some companies that issue bonds engage in interest rate swaps in financial markets. Why do they not simply issue bonds that require the type of payments (fixed or variable) that they prefer to make? (LO1)

Do the following events represent business transactions? Explain your answer in each case. (a) A computer is purchased on account. (b) A customer returns merchandise and is given credit on account. (c) A prospective employee is interviewed. (d) The owner of the business withdraws cash from the business for personal use. (e) Merchandise is ordered for delivery next month.

Under what conditions is it appropriate for a business to use the composite method of depreciation for its plant assets? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method?

Nicole is a calendar-year taxpayer who accounts for her business using the cash method. On average, Nicole sends out bills for about $12,000 of her services at the first of each month. The bills are due by the end of the month, and typically 70 percent of the bills are paid on time and 98 percent are paid within 60 days.

Fairbanks Corporation purchased 400 shares of Sherman Inc. common stock as an availablefor- sale investment for $13,200. During the year, Sherman paid a cash dividend of $3.25 per share. At yearend, Sherman stock was selling for $34.50 per share. Prepare Fairbanks’ journal entries to record (a) the purchase of the investment, (b) the dividends received, and (c) the fair value adjustment. (Assume a zero balance in the Fair Value Adjustment account.)

Use the information for Rode Inc. given in BE19-13. Assume that it is more likely than not that the entire net operating loss carryforward will not be realized in future years. Prepare all the journal entries necessary at the end of 2014.

Donald Lennon is the president, founder, and majority owner of Wichita Medical Corporation, an emerging medical technology products company. Wichita is in dire need of additional capital to keep operating and to bring several promising products to final development, testing, and production. Donald, as owner of 51% of the outstanding stock, manages the company’s operations. He places heavy emphasis on research and development and long-term growth. The other principal stockholder is Nina Friendly who, as a nonemployee investor, owns 40% of the stock. Nina would like to deemphasize the R & D functions and emphasize the marketing function to maximize short-run sales and profits from existing products. She believes this strategy would raise the market price of Wichita’s stock. All of Donald’s personal capital and borrowing power is tied up in his 51% stock ownership. He knows that any offering of additional shares of stock will dilute his controlling interest because he won’t be able to participate in such an issuance. But, Nina has money and would likely buy enough shares to gain control of Wichita. She then would dictate the company’s future direction, even if it meant replacing Donald as president and CEO. The company already has considerable debt. Raising additional debt will be costly, will adversely affect Wichita’s credit rating, and will increase the company’s reported losses due to the growth in interest expense. Nina and the other minority stockholders express opposition to the assumption of additional debt, fearing the company will be pushed to the brink of bankruptcy. Wanting to maintain his control and to preserve the direction of “his” company, Donald is doing everything to avoid a stock issuance and is contemplating a large issuance of bonds, even if it means the bonds are issued with a high effective-interest rate. Instructions (a) Who are the stakeholders in this situation? (b) What are the ethical issues in this case? (c) What would you do if you were Donald?

Gershwin Corporation obtained a franchise from Sonic Hedgehog Inc. for a cash payment of $120,000 on April 1, 2014. The franchise grants Gershwin the right to sell certain products and services for a period of 8 years. Prepare Gershwin’s April 1 journal entry and December 31 adjusting entry.

How should the amount of interest capitalized be disclosed in the notes to the financial statements? How should interest revenue from temporarily invested excess funds borrowed to finance the construction of assets be accounted for?

What are hybrid securities? Give an example of a hybrid security.

Bill Haley is learning about pension accounting. He is convinced that in years when companies record liability gains and losses, total comprehensive income will not be affected. Is Bill correct? Explain.

In each of the following independent cases the company closes its books on December 31. 1. Sanford Co. sells $500,000 of 10% bonds on March 1, 2014. The bonds pay interest on September 1 and March 1. The due date of the bonds is September 1, 2017. The bonds yield 12%. Give entries through December 31, 2015. 2. Titania Co. sells $400,000 of 12% bonds on June 1, 2014. The bonds pay interest on December 1 and June 1. The due date of the bonds is June 1, 2018. The bonds yield 10%. On October 1, 2015, Titania buys back $120,000 worth of bonds for $126,000 (includes accrued interest). Give entries through December 1, 2016. 3 4 Instructions For the two cases prepare all of the relevant journal entries from the time of sale until the date indicated. Use the effective-interest method for discount and premium amortization (construct amortization tables where applicable). Amortize premium or discount on interest dates and at year-end. (Assume that no reversing entries were made.)

Before Gordon Corporation engages in the treasury stock transactions listed below, its general ledger reflects, among others, the following account balances (par value of its stock is $30 per share). Paid-in Capital in Excess of Par—Common Stock Common Stock Retained Earnings $99,000 $270,000 $80,000 Instructions Record the treasury stock transactions (given below) under the cost method of handling treasury stock; use the FIFO method for purchase-sale purposes. (a) Bought 380 shares of treasury stock at $40 per share. (b) Bought 300 shares of treasury stock at $45 per share. (c) Sold 350 shares of treasury stock at $42 per share. (d) Sold 110 shares of treasury stock at $38 per share.

Cheng Company traded a used truck for a new truck. The used truck cost $30,000 and has accumulated depreciation of $27,000. The new truck is worth $37,000. Cheng also made a cash payment of $36,000. Prepare Cheng’s entry to record the exchange. (The exchange lacks commercial substance.)

Jack Kelly Company has grown rapidly since its founding in 2004. To instill loyalty in its employees, Kelly is contemplating establishment of a defined benefit plan. Kelly knows that lenders and potential investors will pay close attention to the impact of the pension plan on the company’s financial statements, particularly any gains or losses that develop in the plan. Kelly has asked you to conduct some research on the accounting for gains and losses in a defined benefit plan. Instructions Access the IFRS authoritative literature at the IASB website (http://eifrs.iasb.org/). (Click on the IFRS tab and then register for free eIFRS access if necessary.) When you have accessed the documents, you can use the search tool in your Internet browser to respond to the following questions. (Provide paragraph citations.) (a) Briefly describe how pension gains and losses are accounted for. (b) Explain the rationale behind the accounting method described in part (a). (c) What is the related pension asset or liability that may show up on the statement of financial position? When will each of these situations occur?

You are asked to travel to Milwaukee to observe and verify the inventory of the Milwaukee branch of one of your clients. You arrive on Thursday, December 30, and find that the inventory procedures have just been started. You spot a railway car on the sidetrack at the unloading door and ask the warehouse superintendent, Buck Rogers, how he plans to inventory the contents of the car. He responds, “We are not going to include the contents in the inventory.” Later in the day, you ask the bookkeeper for the invoice on the carload and the related freight bill. The invoice lists the various items, prices, and extensions of the goods in the car. You note that the carload was shipped December 24 from Albuquerque, f.o.b. Albuquerque, and that the total invoice price of the goods in the car was $35,300. The freight bill called for a payment of $1,500. Terms were net 30 days. The bookkeeper affirms the fact that this invoice is to be held for recording in January. Instructions (a) Does your client have a liability that should be recorded at December 31? Discuss. (b) Prepare a journal entry(ies), if required, to reflect any accounting adjustment required. Assume a perpetual inventory system is used by your client. (c) For what possible reason(s) might your client wish to postpone recording the transaction?

Kulikowski Inc., a client, is considering the authorization of a 10% common stock dividend to common stockholders. The financial vice president of Kulikowski wishes to discuss the accounting implications of such an authorization with you before the next meeting of the board of directors. Instructions (a) The first topic the vice president wishes to discuss is the nature of the stock dividend to the recipient. Discuss the case against considering the stock dividend as income to the recipient. (b) The other topic for discussion is the propriety of issuing the stock dividend to all “stockholders of record” or to “stockholders of record exclusive of shares held in the name of the corporation as treasury stock.” Discuss the case against issuing stock dividends on treasury shares.

Why is the minimum point of the AVC curve at a lower level of output than the minimum point of the AC curve?

Explain how a yield curve would shift in response to a sudden expectation of rising interest rates, according to the pure expectations theory. (LO3)

Carolina Corporation, an S corporation, has no corporate E&P from its years as a C corporation.  At the end of the year, it distributes a small parcel of land to its sole shareholder Shadiya. The fair market value of the parcel is $70,000, and its tax basis is $40,000. Shadiya’s basis in her stock is $14,000.  Assume Carolina Corporation reported $0 taxable income before considering the tax consequences of the distribution.