abu yahya's definitions
(STATISTICS) a range of values for which you are x percent confident contains the correct answer. Answers to a statistical question which are ranged from the lowest likely value to the highest; answers outside of this range are highly unlikely.
Presupposes that you are estimating a value based on sample data, and the sample data has a genuinely random variance.
Usually the confidence interval is for a 95% confidence, meaning there is only a 5% probability that the true value is OUTSIDE the interval.
Presupposes that you are estimating a value based on sample data, and the sample data has a genuinely random variance.
Usually the confidence interval is for a 95% confidence, meaning there is only a 5% probability that the true value is OUTSIDE the interval.
ANNA: I've been driving your car for about a month.
JAMES: And what you think is the MPG?
ANNA: It's probably about 25 MPG, with a 95% confidence interval of 19.5 to 32 MPG.
JAMES: Holy cow! Any Prussians in your family tree?
JAMES: And what you think is the MPG?
ANNA: It's probably about 25 MPG, with a 95% confidence interval of 19.5 to 32 MPG.
JAMES: Holy cow! Any Prussians in your family tree?
by Abu Yahya April 23, 2010
Get the confidence intervalmug. the sum of the capital account balance and the current account balance; put another way, the net change in financial reserves of a country, whether in the form of income (current account) or foreign investments (capital account)
For example, in all years since 1980, the USA has run a large-to-huge current account deficit, but in most years it has run a capital account surplus that is almost as big as the current account deficit. As a result, the USA has run a medium-to-large balance of payments deficit over this period.
A commonly-overlooked byproduct of BoP is that it determines whether or not a currency can be used as an international reserve currency. Despite repeated efforts by the governments of the EU and Japan to get their currencies established as such, they have failed to dent the US dollar's global primacy as the money for international transactions. This is because EU member states and Japan (as well as other major economies) run very large surpluses in their BoP. Japan, in particular, imports extremely little, and retains huge reserves rather than invest all of its net export earnings overseas. As a consequence, overseas holdings of euros or yen are much to small to serve as an alternative to the US dollar.
For example, in all years since 1980, the USA has run a large-to-huge current account deficit, but in most years it has run a capital account surplus that is almost as big as the current account deficit. As a result, the USA has run a medium-to-large balance of payments deficit over this period.
A commonly-overlooked byproduct of BoP is that it determines whether or not a currency can be used as an international reserve currency. Despite repeated efforts by the governments of the EU and Japan to get their currencies established as such, they have failed to dent the US dollar's global primacy as the money for international transactions. This is because EU member states and Japan (as well as other major economies) run very large surpluses in their BoP. Japan, in particular, imports extremely little, and retains huge reserves rather than invest all of its net export earnings overseas. As a consequence, overseas holdings of euros or yen are much to small to serve as an alternative to the US dollar.
Since the oil embargo of the 1970's, the US has run a balance of payments deficit because its trade deficit was enormous; prior to the embargo, the US BoP deficit was large because the US exported such an enormous amount of finance capital. As a consequence, the balance of payments deficit has persisted since the end of the Korean War (1953).
by Abu Yahya February 14, 2009
Get the balance of paymentsmug. (FINANCE) when a corporation "goes public"; the first sale of stock by a corporation. All sales of stock or bonds on the stock market require the services of an underwriter, or investment bank. Outside of the USA and China, it is common for regular banks to offer underwriting for corporations.
Incorporation is a legal status that allows (but by no means requires) a firm to issue stock. Moreover, once a corporation lists stock, it does not necessarily do so on a major exchange. Some corporations areclosely held, which means they have a small number of shareholders who are mostly affiliated with management; other corporations are "private," which means they have no stock issues at all, and control/shares of profits are determined contractually.
Some corporations have issues of stock, and that stock is traded, but it is not listed. Instead, it is traded on the "pink pages." Such companies are usually in a bad way, but not necessarily.
An IPO is the first issue of stock by a corporation THAT DOESN'T ALREADY have a listed stock. If a company is "taken private" (i.e., bought out by a PE fund and de-listed) then it can have another IPO (or "sponsored IPO"). Most likely, however, if a listed company will need to raise money on the stock market, it will have a "follow-on offering."
Incorporation is a legal status that allows (but by no means requires) a firm to issue stock. Moreover, once a corporation lists stock, it does not necessarily do so on a major exchange. Some corporations areclosely held, which means they have a small number of shareholders who are mostly affiliated with management; other corporations are "private," which means they have no stock issues at all, and control/shares of profits are determined contractually.
Some corporations have issues of stock, and that stock is traded, but it is not listed. Instead, it is traded on the "pink pages." Such companies are usually in a bad way, but not necessarily.
An IPO is the first issue of stock by a corporation THAT DOESN'T ALREADY have a listed stock. If a company is "taken private" (i.e., bought out by a PE fund and de-listed) then it can have another IPO (or "sponsored IPO"). Most likely, however, if a listed company will need to raise money on the stock market, it will have a "follow-on offering."
A fantasy of many entrepreneurs is "going public" with a big initial public offering, and retiring to a beachfront mansion.
by Abu Yahya September 2, 2010
Get the Initial Public Offeringmug. (ECONOMICS) the difference between the nominal interest rate and the rate of inflation; the actual premium charged by banks for lendable funds.
The real interest rate can be determined by subtracting the annualized rate of inflation from the prime rate offered by banks to borrowers with the best credit.
During the 1970's, the USA experienced relatively high inflation (peaking at 17% in January 1980). In some months this exceeded the prime rate, resulting in negative interest rates for short periods (e.g., April-October, 1978; Feb-July, 1979).
One problem of deflation (i.e., falling absolute prices) is that it always occurs when the economy is in VERY severe recession, and there is no way the central bank can reduce the real interest rate to zero, since 0% nominal rates minus negative inflation = positive real interest rates.
The real interest rate can be determined by subtracting the annualized rate of inflation from the prime rate offered by banks to borrowers with the best credit.
During the 1970's, the USA experienced relatively high inflation (peaking at 17% in January 1980). In some months this exceeded the prime rate, resulting in negative interest rates for short periods (e.g., April-October, 1978; Feb-July, 1979).
One problem of deflation (i.e., falling absolute prices) is that it always occurs when the economy is in VERY severe recession, and there is no way the central bank can reduce the real interest rate to zero, since 0% nominal rates minus negative inflation = positive real interest rates.
During the period 1978 to 1980, there were 14 (out of a total of 36) months during which the real interest rate was negative.
by Abu Yahya September 6, 2010
Get the real interest ratemug. *noun*; one of the factors of production. Fixed capital refers to physical objects used to produce goods or services. Examples include cash registers, drill presses or car jacks, and civil aircraft.
Pretty much anything can be used as fixed capital, provided it is used by the entrepreneur/firm to provide a service or produce something valuable. If the firm is a hotel, then pillows and vacuum cleaners are fixed capital; if it's a store, then the cash register, the shelves, and the mop are fixed capital.
Another form of business capital is circulating capital. This is called capital because it's a physical object used to produce value, but its purpose is to be sold or used up in production.
Pretty much anything can be used as fixed capital, provided it is used by the entrepreneur/firm to provide a service or produce something valuable. If the firm is a hotel, then pillows and vacuum cleaners are fixed capital; if it's a store, then the cash register, the shelves, and the mop are fixed capital.
Another form of business capital is circulating capital. This is called capital because it's a physical object used to produce value, but its purpose is to be sold or used up in production.
Some part of the capital of every master artificer or manufacturer must be fixed in the instruments of his trade...In other works a much greater fixed capital is required. In a great iron-work, for example, the furnace for melting the ore, the forge, the slitt-mill, are instruments of trade which cannot be erected without a very great expense.
Adam Smith, *The Wealth of Nations* (1776)
Adam Smith, *The Wealth of Nations* (1776)
by Abu Yahya March 3, 2009
Get the fixed capitalmug. (FINANCE) a contractual obligation to buy or sell a fixed amount of a thing at a set price, at a specific time in the future.
Same as a futures contract.
Same as a futures contract.
SALES AGENT: I have this awesome product made in the USA I want to sell in Europe. It's cheap now, but what if the euro goes down against the dollar? I could lose a lot of money on inventory.
BROKER: No problem, just buy a future for the amount of US dollars you'll need to pay your suppliers.
SALES AGENT: You mean, a futures contract for dollars?
BROKER: Yes, a euro-pegged future for dollars. When the contract comes due, you pay the euros, they pay you the dollars, and BOOM! You're good to go. No risk.
BROKER: No problem, just buy a future for the amount of US dollars you'll need to pay your suppliers.
SALES AGENT: You mean, a futures contract for dollars?
BROKER: Yes, a euro-pegged future for dollars. When the contract comes due, you pay the euros, they pay you the dollars, and BOOM! You're good to go. No risk.
by Abu Yahya April 5, 2010
Get the futuremug. 