157 PGTRB Commerce Study Material em
157 PGTRB Commerce Study Material em
157 PGTRB Commerce Study Material em
com
KOTAGIRI
PG TRB COMMERCE
STUDY MATERIAL
UNIT I AND II
Marketing Management
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Unit I: Marketing- Fundamental Concepts and
Approaches- Marketing Mix- Segmentation- Buyer
behavior- Four P’s - Role of Middlemen- Arguments FOR
and AGAINST - Pricing Policies and strategies.
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MARKETING MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
The development of marketing is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. There is no
single answer to the question of what is marketing. “Marketing is what a marketer does”.
The evolution of marketing is as old as the Himalayas. It is one of the oldest professions of
the world. The traditional objective of marketing had been to make the goods available at
places where they are needed. This idea was later on changed by shifting the emphasis from
“exchange” to “satisfaction of human wants”.
EVOLUTION OF MARKETING
1. BARTER SYSTEM: The goods are exchanged against goods, without any other
medium of exchange, like money.
2. PRODUCTION ORIENTATION: This was a stage where producers, instead of
being concerned with the consumer preference, concentrated on the mass production of
goods for the purpose of profit. They cared very little about the customers.
3. SALES ORIENTATION: The stage witnessed major changes in all the spheres of
economic life. The selling activity becomes the dominant factor, without any efforts for the
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satisfaction of the consumer needs.
4. MARKETING ORIENTATION: Customers’ importance was realized but only
as a means of disposing of goods produced. Competition became more stiff. Aggressive
advertising, personal selling, large scale sales promotion etc. are used as tools to boost
sales.
5. CONSUMER ORIENTATION: Under this stage only such products are brought
forward to the market which are capable of satisfying the tastes, preferences and expectations
of the consumers – consumer satisfaction.
6. MANAGEMENT ORIENTATION: The marketing function assumes a
managerial role to coordinate all interacting business activities with the objective of planning,
promoting and distributing want-satisfying products and services to the present and potential
customers.
MEANING OF MARKET
The word “Market” is derived from the Latin word “Marcatus” meaning
merchandise, wares, traffic, trade or a place where business is conducted. The common
usage of market means a place where goods are bought or sold. In its strict meaning market
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need not necessarily mean a place of exchange. The following are the various definitions
given by various authorities.
1. “Market includes both place and region in which buyers and sellers are in free
competition with one another.” – Pyle
2. “The term market refers not to a place, but to a commodity or commodities and
buyers and sellers who are in direct competition with one another.” - Chapman
NEED FOR MARKETS
1. For exchange (barter) of goods and services.
2. For adjustment of demand and supply by price mechanism.
3. For improvement of the quality of life of the society.
4. For introduction of new modes of life.
5. For higher production (development of markets encourage production).
CLASSIFICATION OF MARKETS
I. ON THE BASIS OF GEOGRAPHICAL AREA
1. FAMILY MARKET: When exchanges are confined within a family, or close
members of the family, such a market can be called as family market.
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2. LOCAL MARKET: When people, buyers and sellers, belong to a local area or
areas, say a town or village, participate in market, it is called local market. The demands
are limited. For example, perishable goods like fruits, fish, vegetables etc. But strictly
speaking such markets are disappearing because of the efficient system of transportations
and communications. Even then, in many villages such markets exist even today.
3. NATIONAL MARKET: For a certain type of commodities, a country may be
regarded as a market, through the fast development of industrialization; it is called a
national market. At the present stage, in India, the goods of one corner can reach another
corner, because of the efficient systems of communications and transportation facilities. In
the present decade almost all the products have national markets as the markets have
widened to a great extent.
4. WORLD MARKET : World or international market comes up when buyers and
sellers of goods evolve on world level i.e., involvement of buyers and sellers beyond the
boundaries of a nation.
II. ON THE BASIS OF COMMODITIES / GOODS
COMMODITY MARKET: Produced goods or consumption goods are bought and sold.
Commodity markets are sub-divided into:
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and helps people to take loans through banks. London is the world biggest money market.
2. FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET: It is an international market. This type of
market helps the exporters and importers , in converting their currencies into foreign
currencies and vice versa.
3. THE STOCK EXCHANGE MARKET: This is a market where shares,
debentures, bonds etc., of companies are dealt with purchased or sold. It is also known as
Security Market. Stock Exchanges of Mumbai, Calcutta, Madras etc., are examples for this
type of market.
III. ON THE BASIS OF ECONOMICS
1. PERFECT MARKET :A market is said to be a perfect market, if it satisfies the
following conditions:
(i) Large number of buyers and seller are there.
(ii) Prices should be uniform throughout the market.
(iii) Buyers and sellers have a perfect knowledge of market.
(iv) Goods can be moved from one place to another without restrictions.
It should be remembered that such types of markets are rarely found.
2. IMPERFECT MARKET: A market is said to be imperfect when
(i) Products are similar but not identical.
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like, fruits, milk, vegetables etc. are for a very short period. There is no change in the supply
of goods. Price is determined on the basis of demand.
2. SHORT PERIOD MARKET: In certain goods, supply is adjusted to meet the
demand. The demand is greater than supply. Such markets are known as Short Period
Market.
3. LONG PERIOD MARKET: This type of market deals in durable goods.
V. ON THE BASIS OF VOLUME OF BUSINESS
1. WHOLESALE MARKET: In wholesale market goods are supplied in bulk
quantity to dealers.
2. RETAIL MARKET: In retail market goods are sold in small quantities directly to
the users or consumers-consumer market. The consumer gets the goods for consumption and
not for profit making.
VI. ON THE BASIS OF IMPORTANCE
1. PRIMARY MARKET: The Primary producers of farm produce sell their output
or products through this type of markets to wholesalers or consumers. Such markets can be
found in villages and mostly the products arrive from villages.
2. SECONDARY MARKET: The commodities arrive from other markets. The
dealings are commonly between wholesalers or between wholesalers and retailers.
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3. TERMINAL MARKET: The ultimate consumer gets the goods from such
markets. Here the final disposal of goods takes place.
KINDS OF GOODS
Goods may also be called as product. They are tangible. They are
A. CONSUMER’S GOODS
This type of goods are purchased by ultimate users or consumers for their personal
use. For example, food, biscuits, toys, clothes etc. are purchased by consumers to satisfy
their non-business wants. These goods may be further classified as:
(I) CONVENIENCE GOODS: Consumers or purchasers get commodities such as
bread, drug, perfumery, soap, sugar, tooth paste, newspapers, petrol, cold drinks, stationery
items etc., at minimum effort and at low cost. They are often required by the consumers.
These types of goods are available at places, where consumers need. The purchase of such
goods cannot be postponed because they are daily necessities of life.
(II) SHOPPING GOODS: Before making final selection, the consumers make an
enquiry as to the products’ comparative prices, durability, style etc., from different shops.
Goods like jewelry, furniture, ready-made garments etc., are more costly than convenience
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goods. Their need is also less when compared to the convenience goods. Shopping goods
are generally available from particular shops where similar but same type of goods are sold.
(III) SPECIALLY GOODS: Certain products possess special attraction to the
consumers. As such the consumer may wait or suffer inconveniences to get the desired
goods. This type of goods are of high value and manufactured by reputed firms. For
example, cars, refrigerators, fancy goods televisions, fans, scooters, photographic
equipments, high grade shoes, stereo equipment, electrical appliances etc.
B. INDUSTRIAL GOODS
Goods which are used for production or used in producing other products are
industrial goods. This type of goods are generally sold to manufacturers who in turn use
them to make their own products. The difference between the consumer products and
industrial goods is based on their ultimate use. If a product is brought by ultimate
consumer, it is consumer goods. If a product is bought and used form making other products,
it is an industrial product. The industrial goods can be further classified as:-
(I) RAW MATERIALS: Raw materials are the basic materials entering physically
into the final products. For example, building stones, raw jute etc.
(II)FABRICATED MATERIALS: Materials of this category will enter physically
into the final products, but some type of processing is already undergone. For example,
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bricks, copper sheets, leather, yarn etc. As the processing is incomplete, further processing is
required.
(III) COMPONENT PARTS: Such type of parts are already undergone some
processing and more or less the parts can be called as final products. That is, the assembly of
several component parts, makes the final products. The components are visible in the final
products, such as batteries, tyres, speedometer, spark plugs, spare parts etc.
(IV) INSTALLATION: Machines, buildings, equipments etc., do not enter into final
products and are durable for a long period. They are essential for production. For example,
gas, power installation etc. They need heavy expenses for installation and sometimes decide
the nature, scope and efficiency of an organization.
(V) ACCESSORIES: They are light machines or tools which are used for the
operation of a business. This is not used for manufacturing a product. For example, hand-
tools, cash-register in retail shop, type-writers, calculators, accounting machines etc.
SERVICES
Services are intangible activities which are offered for sale as such or in connection
with sale of goods. For example, consultation, banking etc.Services may be two types.
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(i) Personal: It comprises of education, communication, medical legal services etc.,
(ii) Business services: It comprises of advising, mercantile credits, collection agencies etc.
MARKETING MIX
Marketing mix is the policy adopted by the manufacture to get success in the field
of marketing. Those days, when goods were matched with the market, have gone. The
modern market concept emphasizes the importance of the consumer’s preference. All the
marketing effort focuses attention around the consumer’s need. Marketing departments
perform the operations and the market offering mix is the result.
According to Borden, “The marketing mix refers to the appointment of efforts, the
combination, the designing and the integration of the elements of marketing into a
programme or mix which on the basis of an appraisal of the market forces will best achieve
an enterprise at a given time.”
According to Stanton, “Marketing mix is the term used to describe the combination
of the four inputs which constitute the core of a company’s marketing system- the product,
the price structure, the promotional activities and the distribution system.”
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The term marketing mix is used to describe a combination of four elements- the
product, price, physical distribution and promotion. These are popularly known as “Four
Ps.”
1. PRODUCT: The product itself is the first element. Products must satisfy consumer
needs. The management must, first decide the products to be produced, by knowing the
needs of the consumers. The product mix combines the physical product, product services,
brand and packages. The marketing authority has to decide the quality, type of goods or
services which are offered for sale. A firm may offer a single product (manufacture) or
several products (seller). Not only the production of right goods but also their shape, design,
style, brand, package etc., are of importance. The marketing authority has to take a number
of decisions as to product additions, product deletions, product modification, on the basis of
marketing information.
2. PRICE: The second element to effect the volume of sales is the price. The marked
or announced amount of money asked from a buyer is known as basic price-value placed on
a product. Basic price alterations may be made by the manufacturer in order to attract the
buyers. This may be in the form of discount, allowances etc. Apart from this, the terms of
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credit, liberal dealings will also boost sales.
3. PROMOTION: The product may be made known to the consumers. Firms must
undertake promotion work-advertising, publicity, personal selling etc., which are the
major activities. And thus the public may be informed of the products and be persuaded by
the customers. Promotion is the persuasive communication about the products, by the
manufacture to the public.
4. DISTRIBUTION (PLACE): Physical distribution is the delivery of products at
the right time and at the right place. The distribution mix is the combination of decisions to
marketing channels, storage facility, inventory control, location transportation warehousing
etc.,
MARKET SEGMENTATION
Diversity is the basic characteristic of a market. The markets exhibit widely
heterogeneous characteristics with widely differing and scattered consumer. The process of
dividing a market into smaller homogeneous markets with similar characteristics is called
market segmentation. The firm will focus only on those submarkets which can be served
most effectively the basis of their evaluation of market requirements. This is called target
marketing .
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behaviour.
2. ACCESSIBILITY: It must be possible to reach the different segments in regard to
both promotion and distribution. In other words, organization must be able to focus its
marketing efforts on the chosen segment. Segments must be accessible in two senses. First,
firms must be able to make them aware of products or services. Secondly, they must get
these products to them through needs to be refined.
3. RESPONSIVENESS: A clearly defined segment must react to changes in any of
the elements of the marketing mix. For instance, if a particular segment is defined as being
cost conscious, it should react negatively to price rises. It is does not, this is an indication
that the segment needs to be refined.
4. SIZE: The segment must be reasonably large enough to be a profitable target. It
depends upon the number of people in it and their purchasing power. The idea is that enough
potential buyers must exist to cover the costs of production and marketing required in that
segment. This is often called as substantiality.
5. NATURE OF DEMAND: It refers to the different quantities demanded by various
segments. Segments Segmentation is required only if there are marked differentiation in
items of demand.
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basis of demographic variables – age, sex, family size, income, occupation, family life
cycle, religion, nationality etc. Demographic variables have long been the most popular
bases for distinguishing significant groupings in the market place. One reason is that
consumer wants or usage rates are often highly associated with demographic variables;
another is that demographic variables are easier to measure than most other types of
variables.
3. PSYCHOGRAPHIC SEGMENTATION
Consumers are subdivided into different groups on the basis of personality, life
style and values. These characteristics lead to psychographic segmentation. People
exhibit different life-style and they express them through the products they use. Some social
segments are very orthodox and tradition bound at home. But the same people look very
modern and conspicuous when in the outside world. Marketers of cosmetics, textiles, soft-
drinks, fast-food providers etc., must understand the lifestyle of the target market.
Personality is another psychographic characteristic which is used to segment the market.
Particularly, automobile manufactures-two wheelers and passenger cars- must consider
different personality traits in dividing the market. Values are also used by marketers to
segment a market. Value are beliefs which determine people’s product choices and desires.
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(c) Economy: The price may be important deciding factor in case of any purchase: They
buy Maruti 800.
(d) Sepciality: People can be adventurous and sporty in purchase decision. they buy Ferari.
6. USER STATUS
The users of a product of service can be classified as heave users, medium users and
light users- heavy buyers, medium buyer and light buyers. Marketers of soft drinks, hot
drinks etc. for example, many segment the market in terms of the above said criteria. A firm,
generally, is interested in the heavy buyers or users. Sometimes, a firm may select light users
as their target market with the intention of wooing and changing these customers into heavy
users.
7. USAGE RATE
Markets can be segmented into various classes depending on usage rate. Considering
the cosmetics usage, the different categories of usage rate are as follows.
(a) Light: These are the categories of the users who are very infrequent users. In case
of cosmetics an average housewife who is not very fashion conscious is a light user of
cosmetics.
(b) Medium: The fashion-conscious teenagers are the medium users of cosmetics,
that is they use it frequently.
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(c) Heavy: There are people for whom the cosmetics are the most important purchase
and they are heavy users of it. Celebrities in entertainment world, the models etc. need
cosmetics on a regular basis, as it is the most important part of their profession.
8. LOYAL STATUS
Consumers have varying degrees of loyalty to specific brands, stores and other
entities. Buyers can be divided into four groups according to brand loyalty status.
(a) Hard-core Loyals: Consumers who buy one brand at all time.
(b) Split or Safe Core Loyals: Consumers who are loyals to two or three brands.
(c) Shifting loyals: Consumers who shift from one brand to another.
(d) Switchers: Consumers who show no loyalty to any brand. These are the people
who will buy brand that is available in the market.
9. ATTITUDE
A market may be segmented by classifying people in it according to their enthusiasm
for a product. Five attitude groups can be found in a market.
(a) Enthusiastic: These are people having tendency of impulsive purchase. They may
not carry cash all the time but suddenly decide to buy something. They definitely need credit
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cards.
time.
(b) Positive: They are serious but mobile people who need to buy suddenly at any
(c) Indifferent: There are some people who are technology averse with systematic
purchasing pattern. They do not prove to be potential users of credit cards.
(d) Negative: People can be spend thrifts who fear of loosing money or misusing it.
They would never go for a credit card.
(e) Hostile: People at times become very much irritated either by sales- people calling
or meeting any time, giving false promise or by the service provided. For example, in case of
credit cards, there are some hidden costs which are not clarified by the sales- person during
selling.
BENEFITS OF MARKET SEGMENTATION
Benefits from segmentation are:
1. Segmentation helps in focusing strategies more sharply on target groups.
2. It helps the company to know demand pattern of each segment thus increases the
sale volume of the products.
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3. It helps the marketer to understand the needs, behaviors, habits, tastes and
expectation of consumers of different segments. Thus marketing opportunities
increases.
4. It is possible to satisfy a variety of customers with a limited product range by
using different promotional activities.
5. Marketing can be more specialized when there is segmentation as the element of
marketing mix.
6. Segmentation helps in adopting different policies, programmers and strategies for
different markets based on rival’s policies, programmes and strategies.
7. New customers are attracted because of segmentation strategy and thus
opportunities created for growth.
8. Customers are benefited as the products that serve customers interest and satisfy the
needs and wants.
9. Segmentation supports the development of niche strategies.
10. It helps to achieve a better competitive position for existing brands .
11. Identify gaps in the market which represent new product opportunities.
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12. It is possible to pay proper attention to a particular area.
THE PHILOSOPHIES OF MARKET SEGMENTATION
The marketer adopts several approaches to segmenting a market. The various
approaches are as follows.
I. MASS MARKETING: Before the onset of the marketing age, there was widespread
adoption of mass marketing, mass production, distribution and promotion. That is, offering
the same product and applying the same marketing- mix to all customers assuming that
there is no significant difference among consumer in terms of their needs and wants. The
company designs its marketing programmes to appeal to all buyers. This is undifferentiated
marketing strategy. This type if marketing is well suited for fruits vegetables, drugs
chocolates, bakery items, stationery items etc.
II. PRODUCT VARIETY MARKETING: Once it is learnt that consumers would not
accept standard products, the marketer might try to provide different sizes, colours, shapes,
features, qualities, etc. to attract them.
III. TARGET MARKETING : The modern marketing concept starts with the definition or
target markets. The target marketing has its root in the marketing age. The target marketing
requires marketer to take three steps:
(a) Market Segmentation
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(v) The niche has size, profit and growth potential.
(c) Local marketing: Target is leading to marketing programmes being tailored to
the needs and wants of local customers.
(d) Individual Marketing: The ultimate level of segmentation leads to “one-to-
marketing” or “customized marketing”. Mass customization is the ability to prepare on a
mass basis individually designed products and communication to meet each customer’s
requirements. The concept of service has broadened to include both breadth of product
offerings and the ability to customize to meet specific needs.
5. CUSTOMISED MARKETING: The focus of the target marketing is further shifting
from local basis to individual customer basis. With the advancement in manufacturing
because of break through in information technology, for instance, use of compuer-aided
design and computer aided manufacturing; it has now become possible to manufacture a
product as per the individual customer needs or of a buying organization. Tailors and drapers
(cloth merchant), boutiques (ladies and children) beauty parlours etc. are customized
products.
6. PERSONALISED MARKETING: Although in case of customized marketing, the
requirements for a customer are met by a custom-made product, but still the customers might
not be willing to retain his loyalty with the company because of competition. For instance,
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one gets shirts made from a tailor as per personal fitting. Still, tailors find their customers
shifting their loyalty to others. Heil, Parker and Stephens provide TEN RULES for building
relationships with customers:
1. The average customer does not exist.
2. Make customer’s experience special. Give customer something to talk about.
3. If something goes wrong, fix it quickly.
4. Guarantee customer satisfaction.
5. Trust customer and customer will trust the company.
6. Customer’s time is as important as company’s.
7. Don’t take customer for granted.
8. The details are important to customer, as they should be to the company.
9. Employ people who are ready and willing to serve customer .
10. Customer cares to find out whether company is a responsible corporate citizen .
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1.
MARKETING MANAGEMENT
The three fold classification of consumer goods is developed by
a) prof. M.T. Copeland b) Stanton c) peter F.Drucker d) none of these
04. Marketing is the creation and deliver of a standard of living to the society who said ?
a) William j. Stanton b) Alderson c) ducker d) paul mazur
08 All elements of business is geared towards customers satisfaction . the marketing concept related with
this is
a) production orientation b) sales orientation c)consumer orientation d) none of these
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10 The primary function of a business is to create and maintain a satisfied customer who said?
a) peter f. ducker b) Stanton c) Philip kotler d) pyle
11 The process of building long-term trusting win- win relationship with customers distributors dealers
and suppliers is relationship marketing who said?
a) peter ducker b) Philip kilter c) pyle d) none of these
P3
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17.
a) single segment concentration
c) market specialization
b) selective specialization
d) full market coverage
21 All the eggs in one basket is related to which of the marketing strategy?
a) undifferentiated marketing strategy b) differentiated marketing strategy
c) concentrated marketing strategy d) none of these
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24 Which of the following is psychographic variable that affects semand for the product
a) personality b) age and sex c) family life cycle d) culture
25 Which of the following is demographic variable that effects the demand for the product?
a) personality b) sex c) life style d) perception
27 A person who suggests or thinks of the idea of buying the particular product is called as
a) influencer b) decider c) initiator d) buyer
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assets over current liabilities. It is in the latter sense in which the term funds is generally
used.
Current assets
The term Current Assets includes assets which are acquired with the intention of
converting them into cash during the normal business operations of the company.
However the best definition of the term Current Assets has been given by Grady in the
following words:
“For accounting purpose the term Current Assets is used to designate cash and other
assets or resources commonly identified as those which are reasonably expected to be
realized in cash or sold or consumed during the normal operating cycle of the business”.
The Board categories of current Assets therefore are
(i) Cash including fixed deposits with banks,
(ii) Accounts receivable i.e trade debtors and bills receivable,
(iii) Inventory i.e stock of raw materials work in progress finished goods stores and spare
parts,
(iv) Advances recoverable i.e the advances given to supplier of goods and services or
deposit with government or other public authorities, customs port authorities advance
income tax etc.,
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(v) prepaid expenses cost of unexpired services e.g insurance premium paid in advance,
etc.
It should be noted that short-term investments should be included in the definition of
the term current assets, while loose tools should be excluded from the category of the
current assets. Of course this is not strictly according to the requirements of the
Companies Act regarding presentation of financial statement where investments even
though held temporarily are to be shown separately from current assets while loose tools
are to be shown under the category of current assets.
Current Liabilities.
The term Current liabilities is used principally to such obligations whose liquidation is
reasonably expected to the use of assets classified as current assets in the same balance or
the creation of other current liabilities or those respected to be satisfied within a relatively
short period of time usually one year.
However this concept of current liabilities has now undergone a change. The more
modern version designates current liabilities as all obligations that will require within
the coming year or the operating cycle. Whichever is longer (i) the use of existing
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current assets or (ii) the creation of other current liabilities.
In other words, the mere fact that an amount is due within a year does not make it a
current liability unless it is payable out of existing current liabilities. For example
debentures due for redemption within a year of the balance sheet date will not be taken as
a current liability if they are to be paid out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of
shares/debentures or out of the proceeds realized on account of sale of debenture
redemption fund investments.
The term current liabilities also includes amounts set a part or provided for any known
liability of which the amount cannot be determined with substantial accuracy, e.g.,
provisions rather than liabilities.
The broad categories of current liabilities are:
(i) Accounts payable, e.g., bills payable and trade creditors.
(ii) Outstanding expenses, i.e., expenses for with services have been received by the
business but for which the payment has not been made.
(iii) Bank overdrafts
(iv) Short-term loans, i.e., loans from banks, etc., which are payable within one year from
the date of Balance Sheet.
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(v) Advance payments received by the business for the services to be rendered or goods
to be supplied in future.
(vi) Current maturities of long-term loans, i.e., long-term debts due within a year of the
balance sheet date or instalments due within a year in respect of these loans, provided
payable out of existing current assets or by creation of current liabilities,. However,
instalments of long-term loans due after a year should be taken as noncurrent liabilities.
Provisions against current Assets: Provisions against current assets, such as provision
for doubtful debts, provision for loss of stock, provision for discount on debtors, etc., are
treated as current liabilities, since they reduce the amount of current assets.
Non- Current Assets: All assets other than current assets come within the category of
non current assets. Such assets include goodwill, land, building, machinery, furniture,
long-term investments, patent rights, trade marks debit balance of the profit and loss
account, discount on issued of shares and debentures, preliminary expenses, etc.
Non- current Liabilities: All liabilities other than current liabilities come within the
category of non-current liabilities. They include share capital long-term loans,
debentures, share premium, credit balance in the Profit and Loss Account, revenue and
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capital reserves (.g., general reserve, dividend equalization funds, debentures sinking
fund, capital redemption reserve) etc.
Meaning of Flow of Funds
The term Flow means change and therefore the term Flow of Funds means change in
Funds or Change in Working Capital. In other words any increase or decrease in
working capital means Flow of Funds. There will be said to be a flow of funds in case
the working capital position of the company changes on account of any transactions.
(1)There will be flow be flow of funds if a transaction involves:
(i) Current assets and fixed assets, i.e., purchase of building for cash;
(ii) Current assets and capital, e.g., issue of shares for cash;
(iii) Current assets and fixed liabilities, e.g., redemption of debentures in cash;
(iv)Current liabilities and fixed liabilities, e.g., creditors paid off in debentures
(v) Current liabilities and capital e.g., creditors paid off in shares;
(vi) Current liabilities and fixed assets, e.g., building transferred to creditors in
satisfaction of their claim.
(2) There will be no flow of funds if a transaction involves;
(i) Current assets and current liabilities, e.g., payment made to creditors;
(ii) Fixed assets and liabilities e.g., building purchased and payments made in debentures;
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(iii) Fixed assets and capital e.g., building purchased and payments made in shares;
A fund flow statement is, therefore, a statement depicting change in working capital.
It is also termed as a ‘Statement of Sources and Applications of Funds’, ‘Summary of
Financial Operations Funds Generated and Expended’, ‘ Where got and Where gone
Statement’ and ‘Statement of Changes in Working capital’.
Uses of funds flow statement
Funds flow statements helps the financial analysts in having a more detailed analysis
and understanding of changes in the distribution of resources between two balance sheet
dates. In case such study is required regarding the future working capital position of the
company, a projected funds flow statement can be prepared.
1. It explains the Financial Consequences of Business Operations
2. It answers intricate queries
3. It acts as an instrument for allocation of resources
3. It is a test as to effective or otherwise use of Working Capital
FUNDS FLOW STATEMENT AND INCOME STATEMENT
A Funds Flow Statement differs from an Income Statement (i.e., Profit & Loss Accounts)
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in several respects:
(i) A Funds Flow Statement deals with the financial resources required for running the
business activities. It explains how were the funds obtained and how were they used,
whereas an Income Statement discloses the results of the business activities, i.e., how
much has been earned and how it has been spent.
(ii) A Funds Flow Statement matches the funds raised and funds applied during a
particular period. The sources and applications of funds may be of capital as well as of
revenue nature. For example, where shares are issued for cash, it becomes a source of
funds while preparing a funds flow statement but it is not an item of income for an
Income statement.
(iii) Sources of funds are many besides operations such as share capital, debentures, sale
of fixed assets, etc. an Income Statement which discloses the results of operations cannot
even accurately tell about the funds from operations alone because of non-fund items
(such as depreciation writing off of fictitious assets, etc.) being included therein.
Thus, both Income Statement and Funds Flow Statement have different functions to
perform. Modern management needs both. One cannot be substituted for the other; rather
they are complementary to each other.
Preparation of funds flow statement
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In order to prepare a Funds Flow Statement, it is necessary to find out the sources and
applications of funds.
Sources of Funds
The sources of funds can be both internal as well as external
1. Internal Sources
Funds from operations is the only internal source of funds. However following
adjustments will be required in the figured of Net Profit for finding out real funds from
operations:
Add the following items as they do not result in outflow of funds:
(i) Depreciation on fixed assets.
(ii) Preliminary expenses or goodwill etc., written off.
(iii) Contribution to debenture redemption fund, transfer to general reserve etc., if
they have been deducted before arriving at the figure of net profit.
(iv) Provision for taxation and proposed dividend are usually taken as appropriations
of profits only and not current liabilities for the purpose of Funds Flow Statement. Tax or
dividends actually paid are taken as applications of funds. Similarly interim dividend paid
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is shown as an applications of funds. All these items will be added back to net profit, if
already deducted to find funds from operations.
(v) Loss on sale of fixed assets.
Deduct the following times as they do not increase funds:-
(i) Profit on sale of fixed assets since the full sale proceeds are taken as a separate
source of funds and inclusion here will result in duplication.
(ii) Profit on revaluation of fixed assets
(iii) Non operating incomes such as dividend received or accrued dividend, refund of
income tax, rent received or accrued rent. These items increase funds but they are non-
operating incomes. They will be shown under separate heads as sources of funds in the
Funds Flow statement. In case the Profit and Loss Account shows Net Loss. This should
be taken as items which decreases the funds.
2. External Sources
These sources include:
i. Funds from Long-term Loans: Long term loans such as debentures, borrowings from
financial institutions will increase the working capital and, therefore, there will be flow of
funds..
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ii. Sale of Fixed Assets: Sale of land, buildings , long-term investments will result in
generation of funds.
iii. Funds from Increase in Share capital: Issue of shares for cash or for any other
current assets results in increase working capital and hence there will be a flow of funds.
Applications of funds
The uses to which funds are put are called applications of funds. Following are some
of the purposes for which funds may be used:
1.Purchase of Fixed Assets
2. Purchase of fixed assets such as land, building, plant, machinery, long-term
investments, etc., results in decrease of current asset without any decrease in current
liabilities.
3. Payment of Dividends
Payment of dividends results in decrease of a fixed liability and therefore, it affects funds.
4. Payment of Fixed Liabilities, payment of a long-term liability, such as redemption of
debentures or redemption of redeemable preference shares results in reduction of working
capital and hence it is as an application of funds.
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5. Payment of Tax Liability
Provision for taxation is generally taken as an application of profit and not as an
application of funds. But if the tax has been paid, it will be as an application of funds.
Technique for Preparing a funds Flow Statement
A Funds Statement depicts change in working capital. It will therefore, be better to
prepare first a Schedule of changes in Working Capital before preparing a Funds Flow
Statement.
Schedule of changes in Working capital
The schedule of changes in working capital can be prepared by comparing the current
assets and the current liabilities of two periods. It may be in the following form.
SCHEDULE OF CHANGES IN WORKING CAPITAL
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠
Items as on as on 𝐼𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒(+) 𝐷𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 (−)
…. ….
Current Assets
Cash balance
Bank balance
Marketable securities
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Accounts receivable
Stock- in- trade
Prepaid expenses
Current Liabilities
Bank overdraft
Outstanding expenses
Accounts payable
Net Increase/Decrease in working Capital
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be ignored. Attention is to be given to changes in Fixed Assets and Fixed Liabilities. The
statement may be prepared in the following form.
FUNDS FLOW STATEMENT
Sources of Funds:
Issue of shares ……
Issue of debentures ……
Long-term borrowings ……
Sale of fixed assets ……
Operating profit ……
Total Sources ……
Applications of funds:
Redemption of redeemab fle preference shares ……
Redemption of debentures ……
Payment of other long-term loans ……
Purchase of fixed assets ……
Operating loss ……
Payment of dividends, tax, etc. ……
(Total sources-total Uses) ……..
The Funds Flow Statement can also be prepared in ‘T’ shape shown below:
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is made the transaction involves Profit & Loss Appropriation Account which is a fixed
liability and Provision for Tax Account which is a current liability It will thus decrease the
working capital because it will involve one current asset (i.e., Bank or Cash balance).
(ii) Provision for tax may be taken only as an appropriation of profit. It means there will be
no change in working capital position when provision for tax is made since it will involve
two fixed liabilities, i.e., Profit and Loss Appropriation Account and Provision for Tax
Account. However, when tax is paid, it will be taken as application of funds, because it will
then involve, provision for tax account which has been taken as a fixed liability and bank
account which is a current asset.
Proposed Dividends
Whatever has been said about the provision for taxation is also applicable to proposed
dividends Proposed dividends can also be dealt with in two ways:
(i) Proposed dividends may be taken as a current liability since declaration of dividends by
the shareholders is simply a formality. Once the dividends are declared in the general meeting
they will have to be paid within 30 days of their declaration. In case proposed dividend is
taken as a current liability, it will appear as one of the items decreasing working capital in the
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term funds in a narrower sense, is also used to denote cash. In such a case, the term funds will
exclude from its purview all other current assets and current liabilities and the terms Funds
flow statement and Cash Flow Statement will have synonymous meaning.
Preparation of cash flow statement
A cash Flow Statement can be prepared on the same pattern on which a Funds
Statement is prepared. The change in the cash position one period to another is computed by
taking into account Sources and Applications of Cash.
Sources of cash
Sources of cash be both internal as well as external:
Internal Sources
Cash from operations is the main internal source. The Net Profit shown by the
Profit and Loss Account will have to be adjusted for non-cash items for finding out cash from
operations. Some of these items are as follows;
(i) Depreciation. Depreciation does not result in outflow of cash of cash and therefore, net
profit will have to be increased by the amount of depreciation
(ii) Amortization of intangible assets. Goodwill, preliminary expenses, etc., when written off
against profits, reduce the net profits without affecting the cash balance. The amounts written
off should therefore, be added back to profit to find out the cash from operations.
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(iii) Loss on sale of fixed assets. It does not result in outflow of cash and, therefore, should
be added back to profits.
(iv) Gains from sale of fixed assets. Since sale of fixed assets is taken as a separate source of
cash, it should be deducted from net profits.
(v) Creation of reserves. If profit for the year has been arrived at after charging transfers to
reserves, such transfers should be added back to profits. In case operations show a net loss
such net loss after making adjustment for non cash items will be shown as an application of
cash.
For the sake of convenience computation of cash from operations can he studied by
taking two different situation:
1) When all transactions are cash transactions, and
2) When all transactions are not cash transactions.
When all transaction are cash transactions
The computation of cash from operations will be very simple in this case. The net
profit as shown by the Profit and Loss Account will be taken as the amount of cash from
operations.
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Cash for operations = net Profit
When all transactions are not cash transactions
The computation of cash from operations in such a situation can be done conveniently
if it is done in two stages as
(i) Computation of funds (i.e., working capital) from operations as explained in preceding
pages
(ii) Adjustments in the funds so calculated for changes in the current assets (excluding cash)
and current liabilities.
+Debtors outstanding at the beginning of the accounting year.
Cash from operations=Net Profit
-Debtors outstanding at the end of the accounting year.
Or
+Decrease in Debtors
Cash from operations= Net profit
-Increase in Debtors
+increase in Creditors
Cash from operations= Net profit
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-Decrease in Creditors
+Decrease in Debtors
+Decrease in Stock
+Decrease in Prepaid expenses
+Decrease in Accrued Income
+Increase in Creditors
+Increase in Outstanding Expenses
Cash from operations = Net profit
-Increase in Debtors
-Decrease in Stock
-Decrease in Prepaid expenses
-Decrease in Accrued Income
-Increase in Creditors
-Increase in Outstanding Expenses
The above formula may be summarized in the form of following general rules:
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Increase in Current Asset Decrease in Current Liability results in Decrease in Cash
AND
Decrease in Current Asset and Increase in Current Liability results in Increase in cash
External Sources
The external sources of cash are:
(i) Issue of new shares: In case shares have been issued for cash, the net cash received (i.e.,
after deducting expenses on issue of shares or discount on issue of shares) will be taken as a
sources of cash.
(ii) Raising long-term loans: Long-term loans such as issue of debentures, loans from
Industrial Financial Corporation, State Financial Corporations, I.D.B.I., etc., are sources of
cash. They should be shown separately.
(iii) Purchase of plant and machinery on deferred payments: In case plant and machinery
has been purchased on a deferred payment system, it should be shown as a separate source of
cash to the extent of deferred credit. However the cost of machinery purchased will be shown
as an application of cash.
(iv) Short term borrowings- cash credit from banks: Short term borrowings, etc., from
banks increase cash available and they have to be shown separately under this head.
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(v) Sale of fixed assets investment, etc. it results in generation of cash and therefore is a
source of cash.
Decrease in various current assets and increase in various current liabilities (discussed
earlier) may be taken as external sources of cash if they are not adjusted while computing
cash from operations.
Applications of Cash
Applications of cash may take any of the following forms:
(i) Purchase of fixed assets: Cash may be utilised for additional fixed assets or renewals or
replacement of existing fixed assets.
(ii) Payment of long-term loans: The payment of long-term loans such as loans from
financial institutions or debentures results in decrease in cash. It is therefore, an application of
cash.
(iii) Decrease in deferred payment liabilities. Payments for plant and machinery purchased
on deferred payment basis has to be made as per the agreement. It is, therefore, an application
of cash.
(iv) Loss on account of operations. Loss suffered on account of business operations will
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result in outflow of cash.
(v) Payment of tax. Payment of tax will result in decrease of cash and hence it is an
application of cash.
(vi) Payment of dividend. This decreases the cash available for business and hence it is an
application of cash.
(vii) Decrease in unsecured loans, deposits, etc. The decrease in these liabilities denotes
that they have been paid off to that extent. It results, therefore, in outflow of cash.
Increase in various current assets or decrease in various current liabilities may be
shown as applications of cash if changes in these items have not been adjusted while finding
out cash from operations.
Difference between cash flow analysis and funds flow analysis
Following are the points of difference between a Cash Flow Analysis and a Funds
Flow Analysis:
(1) A Cash Flow Statement is concerned only with the change in cash position while a Funds
Flow Analysis is concerned with change in working capital position between two balance
sheet dates. Cash is only one of the constituents of working capital besides several other
constituents such as inventories, accounts receivable prepaid expenses.
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(2) A Cash Flow Statement is merely a record of cash receipts and disbursements. Of
course, it is valuable in its own way but it fails to bring to light many important changes
involving the disposition of resources. While studying the short-term solvency of a business
one is interested not only in cash balance but also in the assets which are easily convertible
into cash.
(3) Cash flow analysis is more useful to the management as a tool of financial analysis is
short period as compared to funds flow analysis. It has rightly been said that shorter the
period covered by the analysis, greater is the importance of cash flow analysis..
(4) Cash is part of working capital and therefore an improvement in cash position results in
improvement in the funds position but the reserve is not true. In other words inflow of cash
results in inflow of funds but inflow of funds may not necessarily result in inflow of cash.
Thus a sound funds position does not necessarily mean a sound cash position but a sound
cash position generally means a sound funds position.
(5) Another distinction between a cash flow analysis and a funds flow analysis can be made
on the basis of the techniques their preparation. An increase in a current liability or decrease
in a current asset results in decrease in working capital vice versa. While an increase in a
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current liability of decrease in a current asset(other than cash) will result in increase in cash
and vice versa. Some people as stated earlier, use term funds in a very narrow sense of cash
only. In such an event the two terms Funds and Cash will have synonymous meaning.
Utility of cash flow analysis
1. Help in efficient cash management 2. Help in internal financial management
3. Discloses the movements of cash 4. Discloses success or failure of cash planning
Limitation of cash flow analysis
Cash flow analysis is a useful tool of financial analysis. However it has its own limitations.
These limitations are as under:
(1) Cash flow statement cannot be equated with the Income Statement. An Income Statement
takes into account both cash as well as non cash items and therefore net cash flow does not
necessarily mean net income of the business.
(2) The cash balance as disclosed by the cash flow statement may not represent the real liquid
position of the business since it can be easily influenced by postponing purchases and other
payments.
(3) Cash flow statement cannot replace the Income Statement or the Funds Flow Statement.
Each of them has a separate function to perform.
Accounting Standard-3 (revised) Cash Flow Statement
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AS-3 changes in Financial Position issued in 1981 was replaced by AS-3 Cash Flow
Statement in April 1997.
The standard provides for the preparation of cash flow statement mandatory from 1
April 2001 in respect of the following enterprises.
1. Enterprise whose debt or equity securities are listed or going to be listed on a
recognized stock exchange.
2. All other commercial , industrial and business reporting enterprises whose turnover
for the accounting period exceed Rs. 50 crores.
According to AS-3 (Revised) Cash flow Statement should be presented a manner that
it reports cash flow during the period classifying by operating, investing and financing
activities.
1. Cash flow from operating activities: Cash flow from operating activities are primarily
derived from pre-revenue producing activities of the enterprise. Examples of cash flow from
operating activities are.
(a) Cash receipts from the sale of goods and the rending of services;
(b) Cash receipts from royalties, fees, commission and other revenue;
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( c) Cash payments to suppliers for goods and services;
(d) Cash payments to and on behalf of employees;
(e) Cash receipts and cash payments of an insurance enterprise for premium and claims,
annuities and other policy benefits;
(f) Cash payments or refunds of income taxes unless they can be specifically identified with
financing and investing activities; and
(g) Cash receipts and payments relating to futures contracts, forward contracts, option
contracts and swap contracts when the contracts are held for dealing or trading purposes.
Cash from operating activities can be computed either by direct or indirect method. In
case of direct method, the specific items of cash flow viz., cash from customers, cash from
other operation income, payment to suppliers, other operating expenses are separately
shown. While in case of indirect method, the net income from the business is taken and
additions or deductions are made for non-cash expenses and for increase and decrease in
operating current assets and current liabilities. It may be noted that increase in a current
asset such as debtors ,inventory, prepaid expenses results in decrease in cash and vice versa.
Similarly, an increase in current liability viz., creditors ,outstanding expenses results increase
in cash and vice versa.
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2. Cash flows from investing activities: These include activities on which expenditure has
been incurred for resources intended to general future income and cash flow. Examples of
such activities are
(a) Cash payments to acquire fixed assets (including intangibles). These payments include
those relating to capital research and development costs and self-constructed fixed assets;
(b) Cash receipts from disposal of fixed assets (including intangibles);
( c) Cash payments to acquire shares, warrants or instruments of other enterprises and
interests in ventures (other than payments for those instrument considered to be cash
equivalents and those held for details or trading purposes).
(d) Cash receipts from disposal of shares, warrants or instruments of other enterprises and
interests in ventures (other than payments for those instrument considered to be cash
equivalents and those held for details or trading purposes).
(e) Cash advances and loans made to third parties (other than advances and loans made by a
financial enterprise);
(f) Cash receipts from the repayment of advances and loan made to third parties (other than
advances and loans of financial enterprise);
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(g) Cash payments for future contracts, forward contracts, option contracts and swap
contracts except when the contracts held for dealing or trading purposes, or the payments
classified as financing activities; and
(h) Cash receipts from futures contracts, forward contracts option contracts and swap
contracts expect when the contracts held for dealing or trading purposes, or the receipts
classified as financing activities.
3. Cash flow financing activities: These include providers of funds (both capital and
borrowings) to the enterprise. Examples of such activities are:
(a) Cash proceeds from issuing shares or other similar instruments’
(b) Cash proceeds from issuing debentures, loans, notes, bonds and other short or long-term
borrowings; and
(c) Cash repayments of amounts borrowed.
Marginal costing
Elements of cost can broadly be put into two categories: Fixed Costs and Variable
costs within a given period of time and range of activity in spite of fluctuations in production.
The examples of Fixed Costs are rent insurance charges, management salaries, etc. on the
other hand variable Costs are costs which vary in direct proportion to any change in the
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volume of output. The costs of direct materials, direct wages etc., can be put into this
different elements of cost according to any of the following two techniques:
(i) Absorption costing and (ii) Marginal Costing
Absorption costing
Absorption Costing technique is also termed as Traditional or Full cost Method.
According to this method, the cost of a product is determined after considering both fixed
and Variable Costs. The variable Costs such as those of direct materials, direct labour, etc..,
are directly charged to the products while the fixed costs are apportioned on a suitable basis
over different products manufactured during a period. Thus in case of Absorption Costing all
costs are identified with the manufactured products. Under Absorption Costing each unit of
product has to bear its total share of cost.
Marginal costing
Marginal costing is a technique where only the variable costs are considered while
computing the cost of a product. The fixed costs are met against the total fund arising out
the excess of selling price over total variable cost. This fund is known as contribution in
marginal costing. According to the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, London,
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marginal costing is a technique where only the variable costs are charged to cost units, the
fixed costs attributable being written off in full against the contribution for that period.
Difference between Absorption Costing and Marginal costing
Under Absorption Costing full costs are charged to production, i.e., all fixed and
variable costs are recovered from production while under Marginal Costing only Variable
Costs are charged to production. Fixed costs are ignored. This is on the basis that for
additional output only Variable Costs are incurred since Fixed Costs remain constant. There
is, therefore, no reason to burden the additional output with the share of fixed overheads,
otherwise it will give a wrong idea about the likely profit to be earned on additional sales. On
account of recovery of only variable costs from production, the closing stock under marginal
Costing is valued only at marginal cost. Thus Marginal Costing system differs from
Absorption Costing system in two respects:
(i) Recovery of Overheads (ii) Valuation of Stocks.
Profit planning
The basic objective of running any business organization is to earn profits. Profits
determine the financial position, liquidity and solvency of the company. They serve as a
yardstick for judging the competence and efficiency of the management. Profit planning is
therefore a fundamental function and is a vital part of the total budgeting process. The
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management determines the profit goals and prepares budgets that will lead them to the
realization of these goals. However, profit planning can be done only when management is
aware about the various factors which affect profits. Some of the important factors affecting
profits are as follows:-
1. Selling Price
2. Cost
3.Volume: The term volume refers to the level of activity. This may be expressed in any of
the following manner:
(i) Sales capacity as a percentage of maximum sales;(ii) Value of sales;
(iii) Quantity of sales(iv) Production capacity as a percentage of maximum production;
(v) Value of production(vi) Quantity of production;
(vii) Direct labour cost;(viii) Direct labour hours; and (ix) Machine hours.
The measure adopted for expressing the volume should be simple, consistent and well
defined. It is common to express volume in terms of units or value.
4. Product Mix: In a multi-product company, the profit is also affected by the product mix,
i.e., variation of product mix, may cause variation in profit also.
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Cost volume profit analysis
Cost Volume Profit (CVP) Analysis is an important tool of profit planning. It provides
information about the following matters:
1. The behavior of cost in relation to volume.
2. Volume of production or sales, where the business will break even.
3. Sensitivity of profits due to variation in output
4. Amount of profit for a projected sales volume.
5. Quantity of production and sales for a target profit level.
Cost-volume-profit analysis may therefore be defined as a managerial tool showing
the relationship between various ingredients of profit planning, viz., costs both fixed and
variable, selling price and volume of activity, etc. Such an analysis is useful to the Financial
Manager in the following respects:
(i) It helps him in forecasting the profit fairly accurately,
(ii) It is helpful in setting up flexible budgets, since on the basis of this relationship it
can ascertain the cost, sales and profits at different levels of activity.
(iii) It also assists him in performance evaluation for purposes of management control,
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(iv) It helps in formulating price policy by projecting the effect which different price
structures will have on cost and profits.
(v) It helps in determining the amount of overhead cost to be charged at various levels
of operations since overhead rates are generally pre-determined on the basis of a selected
volume of production.
Break-even analysis
Break-even analysis is a widely used technique to study cost-volume profit
relationship. The narrower interpretation of the term break-even analysis refers to a system
of determination of that level of activity where total cost equals total selling price. The
broader interpretation refers to that system of analysis which determines probable profit at
any level of activity. It portrays the relationship between cost of production volume of
production and the sales value.
It may be added here that CVP analysis is also popularly, although not very
correctly, designated as Break-even Analysis. The difference between the two terms is very
narrow. CVP analysis includes the entire gamut of profit planning, while break-even analysis
is one of the technique of break-even analysis is so popular for studying CVP Analysis that
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the two terms are used as synonymous terms. In order to understand the concept of breakeven
analysis, it will be useful to know about certain basic terms as given below:
1. Contribution
This refers to the excess of selling price over the variable cost. It is also known as
gross margin. The amount of profit (loss) can be ascertained by deducting the fixed cost from
contribution. In other words, fixed cost plus profit is equivalent to contribution. It can be
expressed by the following formula:-
Contribution = Selling Price (-) Variable Cost
Or
=Fixed cost (+) Profit
=Profit = Contribution – Fixed Cost
2. Profit/Volume Ratio (P/V Ratio)
This term is important for studying the profitability of operations of a business. Profit
volume ratio establishes a relationship between the contribution and the sale value. The
ratio can be shown in the form of a percentage also. The formula can be expressed thus:
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠−𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡
P/V Ratio = =
𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠
𝑆−𝑉 𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑠
Or 𝐶/𝑆 = 𝑂𝑟1 −
𝑆 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠
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This ratio can also be called Contribution/Sales ratio. This ratio can also be known
by comparing the change in contribution to change in sales or change in profit due to change
in sales. Any increase in contribution would mean increase in profit only because fixed costs
are assumed to be constant at all levels of production. Thus
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑖𝑡
P/V Ratio= Or
𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠
This ratio would remain constant at different levels of production since variable costs as a
proportion to sales remain constant at various levels.
The following are the special features of P/V Ratio:
(i) It helps the management in ascertaining the total amount of contribution for a
given of sales.
(ii) It remains constant so long the selling price and the variable cost per unit remain
constant or so long they fluctuate in the same proportion.
(iii) It remains unaffected by any change in the level of activity. In other words, P/V
ratio for a product will remain the same whether the volume of activity is 1,000 units or
10,000 units.
(iv) The ratio also remains unaffected by any variation in the fixed cost since the latter
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are not at all considered while calculating the PV ratio.
In case of a multi-product organization, P/V ratio is of vital importance for the
management to find out which product is more profitable. Management tries to increase the
value of this ratio by reducing the variable costs or by increasing the selling price.
3. Break-even Point
The point which breaks the total cost and the selling price evenly to show the level of
output or sales at which there shall be neither profit nor loss is regarded as break-even point.
At this point, the income of the business exactly equals its expenditure. If production is
enhanced beyond this level profit shall accrue to the business, and if it is decreased from this
level loss shall be suffered by the business.
It will be proper here to understand different concepts regarding marginal cost and
break-even point before proceeding further. This has been explained below:
Marginal Cost = Total Variable cost
Or = Total Cost–Fixed Cost
Or = Direct Material + Direct Labour + Direct Expenses (Variable )+ Variable
Overheads
Contribution = Selling Price – Variable Cost
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In case P/V ratio is to be expressed as a percentage of sales, the figure derived from
the formulae as given above should be multiplied by 100.
𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡
Breakeven Point (of output) = 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡
Breakeven Point (of sales) = 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 ×𝑆𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡
Or = 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ×𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠
𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡
Or = 𝑃/𝑉𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜
At break-even point the desired profit is zero. In case the volume of output or sales is
to be computed for a desired profit, the amount of desired profit should be added to fixed cost
in the formulae given above. For example.
𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡+𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑖𝑡
Units for a desired profit =
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𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡
𝐹𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡+𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑖𝑡
Sales for a desired profit = 𝑃/𝑉𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜
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𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
Composite P/V Ratio = ×100
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑠
5. Key factor
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Key factor is that factor which limits the volume of output or level of activities of
an undertaking at a particular point of time or over a period. The extent of its influence must
be assessed first so as to maximize the profits. Generally on the basis of contribution the
decision regarding product mix is taken. It is not the maximization of total contribution that
matters, but the contribution in terms of the key factor that is to be compared for relative
profitability. Thus it is the limiting factor or the governing factor or principle budget
factor. If sales cannot exceed a given quantity, sales is regarded as the key factor, if
production capacity is limited, contribution per unit of raw material is in short supply,
contribution has to be expressed in relation to per unit of raw material required. There may be
labour hour is to be known. If machine capacity is a limitation, contribution per machine hour
is to be considered for appropriate decision making. Thus, profitability can be measured by:
𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
= 𝐾𝑒𝑦 𝐹𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟
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shows profit or loss at various levels of activity, the level at which neither profit nor loss at
shown being termed the breakeven point. This may also take the form of a chart on which is
plotted the relationship either of total cost of sales or of fixed costs to contribution. Thus, it is
a graphical presentation of cost and revenue data.
Form of Break-even chart
A break-even chart can be presented in different forms as given below:
(i) Simple break-even chart:This is also known as traditional or orthodox break-even chart.
(ii) Contribution break-even chart
(iv) Analytical break-even chart: Analytical break-even chart is prepared to show different
elements of cost and appropriations of profit.
(v) Cash break-even chart
The chart is prepared to shown the volume at which cash break even, i.e., the point at
which the cash inflows will be just equal to the cash required to meet immediate cash
liabilities. For the purposes of drawing this chart, the fixed costs are divided into two
categories:
(i) fixed costs which do not require immediate cash outlay, e.g., deprecation, deferred
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expenses, and
(ii) fixed costs which require immediate cash outlay, rent, salaries, etc. while drawing the
chart the cash fixed costs are plotted first parallel to the base line, variable costs (presuming
all of them to be in terms of cash) are then plotted over them. The non-cash fixed costs are
plotted in the last. The sales line is plotted as usual.
Angle of Incidence
Angle of Incidence is formed at the inter-section of total cost line and total sales line.
As a matter of fact there are two angles of incidence:
(i)The angle formed at the right side of the break-even point.
(ii) The angle formed at the right left of the break-even point.
The angle formed at the right side of the break-even point indicates the profit area
while that formed at the left side indicates the loss area. The size of the angle of incidence is
indication of the quantum of profit or loss made by the firm at different output/sales levels.
For example if the angle of incidence is narrow to the right side of the BEP, it indicates that
the quantum of profits made by the firm is also low. Similarly, if it is narrow to the left side
of the BEP, it indicates that the quantum of loss made by the firm is also low. In other words
a narrow angle of incidence shows a slow rate of profit earning capacity while a wider angle
of incidence shows a swift rate of profit earning capacity of the firm. A narrow angle also
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indicates that the variable cost as proportion to sales is quite high and therefore very little has
been left by of way contribution.
A study of angle of incidence, break-even point and margin of safety can help the
management in having a better understanding about profitability, stability and incidence of
fixed and variable costs on the performance of the firm. This can be understood by taking the
following four different situations:
(i) High margin of safety, large angle of incidence and low break-even point,
(ii) High margin of safety, small angle of incidence and low break-even point,
(iii) Low margin of safety, large angle of incidence and low break-even point.
Assumptions underlying CVP Analysis/Break-even Charts
The following assumptions are common to both Break-even Charts and CVP Analysis
(i) Fixed costs remain constant at every level and they do not increase or decrease with
change in output.
(ii) Variable cost fluctuates per unit of output. In other words, they vary in the same
proportion in which the volume of output or sales varies.
(iii) All costs are capable of being bifurcated into fixed and variable elements.
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(iv) Selling price remains constant even when the volume of production or sales changes.
(v) Cost and revenue depend only on volume and not on any other factor.
(vi) Production and sales figures are either identical or changes in the inventory at the
beginning and at the end of the accounting period are not significant.
(vii) Either the sales mix is constant or only one product is manufactured.
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
UNIT- III& IV
Management Accounting
3. The branch of accounting which primarily deals with processing and presenting accounting data for
internal use in a concern is
a) Inflation accounting b) Financial accounting
c) Cost accounting d) Management accounting
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12.
13.
Management accounting and cost accounting functions are
a) Natural in effect
c) Contradictory in nature
15. When financial statements for a number of years are reviewed and analyzed, the analysis is known as
a) Vertical analysis b) Internal analysis c) Horizontal analysis d) None of these
16. When ratios are calculated from the financial statements of one year it is termed as
a) Horizontal analysis b) Vertical analysis c) Internal analysis d) None of these
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28. The current assets to the current liabilities ratio is said to be satisfactory if it is
a) 1:2 b) 2:1 c) 1:1 d) 3:2
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30.
a) The profitability ratio
c) The solvency ratio
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3. Family background: This factor includes size of family, type of family and economic
status of family. Hadimani’s study revealed that Zamindar family helped to gain access to
political power and exhibited higher level of entrepreneurship.
4. Religious background: Religion exercises a strong influence on attitudes towards
materials gains relatively to efforts. Max Weber propounded the theory that the ‘ protestant
ethic’ among Christians fosters the right attitude for entrepreneurship.
5. Education and Technical Knowhow: Education, entrepreneurship and development are
interrelated. Education is the best means of developing man’s resourcefulness which
encompasses different dimensions of entrepreneurship.
6. Occupational Background: Generally employed people were more attracted towards
entrepreneurship than those engaged in agriculture or business. A sizeable number of
entrepreneurs were the unemployed youth prior to starting the industrial units.
7. Migratory Character: As much as four-fifths of the entrepreneurs were immigrants
having come from different places within the State or from outside.
8. Type of Industry started: Nearly two thirds of the entrepreneurs started industrial units in
engineering works. A little more than one tenth preferred to start units in non metallic
products while 7.5 percent started units belonging to plastic works industry. A few other
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entrepreneurs started units belonging to food products, aluminum products and other
miscellaneous products.
9. Type of ownership preferred: More than one half of the units were partnership firms ,
nearly one third were sole trading concerns and about one tenth were private limited
companies. Most of the entrepreneurs preferred partnership to avoid legal formalities
involved in starting a company.
Sharma investigated the economic, social and geographic origins of the
entrepreneurs who promoted 220 public limited non- government manufacturing companies
during April, 1961 to March 31, 1963. The following are origins.
1. Occupational origins: An overwhelming majority (134 out of 198) of the individual
entrepreneurs came from the mercantile background.
2. Educational backgrounds: About 30 percent of the entrepreneurs were graduates, 10
percent postgraduates. About 28 percent had professional qualifications in engineering and
technology and about 11 percent in law. Rest had professional education in medicine,
accounting and management.
3. Social and geographic origins: The traditionally trading castes of Banias-Hindu and Jain,
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Chettiars, etc, constituted 47% of all enterprising families and 49% of all promotions.
4. Nature of enterprise: Well established business houses and professionally qualified
entrepreneurs have by and large preferred the modern sector ( engineering, metals, chemicals
and electrical).
Environmental factors affecting entrepreneurship
A complex and varying combination of financial, institutional, cultural and
personality factors determine the nature and degree of entrepreneurial activity at any time.
The personal backgrounds of the entrepreneurs are determined mainly by the environment in
which they are born and brought up and work. Some of the environmental factors which
hinder entrepreneurial growth are given below:
1. Sudden changes in Government policy.
2. Sudden political upsurge.
3. Outbreak of war or regional conflicts, e.g. sons of the soil’ call.
4. Political instability or hostile Government attitude towards industry.
5. Excessive red tapism and corruption among Government agencies.
6. Ideological and social conflicts.
7. Unreliable supply of power, materials, finance, labour and other inputs.
8. Rise in the cost of inputs.
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According to Higgins, ‘’Entrepreneurship is meant the function of seeking investment and
production opportunity, organizing an enterprise to undertake a new production process,
raising capital, hiring labour, arranging the supply of raw materials, finding site, introducing
a new technique and commodities, discovering new sources of raw materials and selecting
top managers of day-to-day operations of the enterprise’’.
Richard Cantillon defined entrepreneur as agent who buys factor of production at
certain prices in order to combine them into a product with a view to selling it at uncertain
price in future.
Nature and characteriatics (dimensions) of entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is a multi dimensional concept and it is necessary to consider many
factors and perspectives. The various features of entrepreneurship are summarized below:
1. Innovation: According to Schumpeter, entrepreneurship is a creative activity. An
entrepreneur is basically an innovator who introduces something new into the economy.
Innovation involves problem solving and the entrepreneur is a problem solver.
2. A Function of High Achievement: McClelland identified two characteristics of
entrepreneurship, namely ‘doing things in a new and better way’ and ‘decision making
under uncertainty’. He stressed the need for achievement or achievement orientation as the
most directly relevant factor for explaining economic behavior entrepreneurs. McClelland
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explains the entrepreneurs interest in profits in terms of a need for a achievement. People
with high achievement (N-Ach) are not influenced by money rewards as compared to people
with low achievement. McClelland suggests that in order to raise the level of achievement
motivation, parents should set high standards for their children
3. Organisation building Function: According to Harbison entrepreneurship implies the
skill to build an organization. Organisation building ability is the most critical skill required
for industrial development. This skill means the ability to multiply oneself by effectively
delegating responsibility to others. Unlike Schumpeter, Harbison’s entrepreneur is not an,
innovator but ‘an organization builder’ who harnesses the new ideas of different innovators
to the rest of the organization.
4. A Function of Group Level Pattern: Accepting Schumpeter’s definition, Young suggests
a casual sequence where ‘transformation codes’ are developed by the solidarity groups to
improve their symbolic position in their larger structure and become entrepreneurs. Young
conducted the Thematic Appreciation Test (TAT) on a group of entrepreneurs. The test
revealed the tendency to describe the situation as a problem to be solved, an awareness of
pragmatic effort required, confidence in their own ability to solve the problem and a tendency
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to take the viewpoint of each individual in turn and analyse the situation as he might see it
before suggesting an outcome. Young’s theory is a theory of change based on society’s
incorporation of reactive subgroup.
5. A Function of Managerial Skills and Leadership: According to Hoselitz, managerial
skills and leadership are the most important facets of entrepreneurship. Financial skills are
only of secondary importance. He maintains that a person who is to become an industrial
entrepreneur must have more than the drive to earn profits and amass wealth. He must have
the ability to lead and mange. He identifies three of business leadership, namely merchant
money lenders, managers and entrepreneurs. The function of the first group is market
oriented, that of the second is authority oriented while the third group has in addition to these
a production orientation.
6. Gap Filling Function: Liebenstein identified two broad types of entrepreneurship. The
routine entrepreneurship is associated with the managerial function of the business whereas
the new entrepreneurship is innovative in nature. The most significant feature of
entrepreneurship is gap filling. It is the job of the entrepreneur to fill the gap or make up the
deficiencies which always exist in the knowledge about the production function. These gaps
or deficiencies arise because all the inputs in the production function cannot be marketed.
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supply, Kunkel argues that marginality does not generate entrepreneurship and there must be
some additional factors at work. Entrepreneurs are not equally distributed in the population.
Minorities ( religious, ethnic, migrated, displaced elites) have provided most of the
entrepreneurial talent. But all the minorities are not important sources of
entrepreneurship.The supply of entrepreneurship depends upon four structures found in a
society or community. These structures are (i) Limitation Structure, (ii) Demand Structure,
(iii) Opportunity Structure and (iv) Labour Structure.
(v) A Function of Religious Beliefs: Max Weber analysed religion and its impact on
enterprising culture. According to him the ‘spirit of capitalism’ is a set of attitudes towards
the acquisition of money and the activities involved in to. He also distinguished between the
spirit of capitalization and adventurous spirit.
Generally the entrepreneurs should have the following characteristics
1. Hard work 2. Deire for high achievement 3. Highly optimistic 4. Independence 5.
Foresight 6. Good organizer 7. Innovative
A conceptual model of entrepreneurship
There are several obstacles in defining entrepreneurship clearly. First, everyone has a
personal opinion or understanding of entrepreneurship. Secondly, entrepreneurs are viewed as
the new cultural heroes and are held in awe due to which critical examination of their
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(c) A feeling of rejection, (d) Painful feelings of anger, hostility and guilt, (e) Identity
confusion ( identification with the person causing the hurt and (f) Adopting the reactive’
mode to painful feelings ( guilt, rebellion, impulsiveness).
Entrepreneuril style refers to social interactins ,the interface between self and others.
The entrepreneurial task
The second leg of entrepreneurship is the role or task of an entrepreneur. The
central task of the entrepreneur is to recognize and exploit opportunities. Opportunity may
come from many sources. But entrepreneur must have the ability to perceive opportunities
where others do not. The entrepreneur is both a ‘dreamer and a doer’.
The entrepreneurial environment
Entrepreneurship is to a great extent controlled by the environment. Entrepreneurial
environment is made up of several elements economic, socio-cultural, political, legal and
others. Availability of capital and human resources is very important.
The organisational context
The organizational context is the immediate setting in which creative and
entrepreneurial work takes place. It includes the organization structure, and systems the
definition of work roles, group culture, etc. These factors may facilitate or hinder creativity
and entrepreneurship.
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entrepreneur is a problem solver.
capabilities in attacking problems.
An entrepreneur gets satisfaction from using his
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above average ability for organization and coordination. He is a pioneer and a captain of
industry. However, in practice the entrepreneurs possess different degrees of organizational
skills and coordinating capacity. The supply of true entrepreneurs is limited. The more
competent entrepreneurs earn superior rewards in terms of profits.
3. Drucker’s views on entrepreneurship
According to Peter Drucker, an “entrepreneur is one who always searches for change,
responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity “ Entrepreneurs innovate and innovation is a
specific instrutment of entrepreneurship. It creates resource because there is no such things as
a resource until the man finds a use for something and endows it with with economic value.
Theories of entrepreneurial supply (origin of entrepreneurship)
The concept of entrepreneurship and its theory have been evolved over a period of more than
two centuries. There are different opinions on the emergence of entrepreneurship. These
opinions may be classified into three categories:
1. The economist’s view 2. The sociologist’s view 3. The psychologist’s view
1. Economic Theory: According to economists entrepreneurship and economic growth
will take place in those situations where particular economic conditions are most
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favourable. G.F Papanek and J.R. Harris are the main drive for the entrepreneurial activities.
In some cases, it is not so evident, but the person’s inner drives have always been associated
with economic gains.
2. Sociological Theory: Sociologists argue that entrepreneurship is most likely to emerge
under a specific social culture. According to them social sanctions, cultural values and role
expectations are responsible for the emergence of entrepreneurship.
3. Psychological Theory: According to the advocates of this theory, entrepreneurship is
most likely to emerge when a society has sufficient supply of individuals possessing
particular psychological characteristics. Schumpeter believes that entrepreneurs are
primarily motivated by an atavistic will to power, will to found a private kingdom or will to
conquer. Their main characteristics are
(a) An institutional capacity to see things in a which afterwards proves correct,
(b) Energy of will and mind to overcome fixed habits of thought; and
(c) The capacity to withstand social opposition.
Intrapreneurs
The entrepreneurs emerging from within the confines of the organization are called
‘intrepreneurs’ Innovation is the hallmark of entrepreneurship
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The term “intrepreneur” was coined in America in the seventies. Several senior
executive of big corporations in America left their jobs to start their own small business
because the top bosses in these corporations were not receptive to innovative ideas. These
executives turned entrepreneurs achieved phenomenal success in their new ventures. Some of
them posed a threat to the corporations they left a few years ago. This type of
entrepreneurs came to be known as intrapreneurs. Such corporate brain drain is a
worldwide phenomenon and is not confined to the United States. Industrialists all over the
world started devising ways and of stopping the flight of their brightest executives. Gifford
Pinchot III wrote his famous book. ‘Entrepreneuring’ in 1985 and used the term
‘entrepreneurs’ to describe the persons who resigned from their well paid executive positions
to launch their own ventures.
Pinchot suggested the creation of a system which will provide selected executives a
status within the corporation similar to that of an entrepreneur in society. Such people are
‘intra-corporate entrepreneurs’ or ‘intrapreneurs’
The difference between the entrepreneur and intrapreneur
Difference Entrepreneur Intrapreneur
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1. Dependency An entrepreneur is independent But, an intrapreneur is dependent
in his of the entrepreneur i.e, the owner .
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Person Process
Organiser Organisation
Innovator Innovation
Risk-bearer Risk-bearing
Creator Creation
Entrepreneur Entrepreneurship
Visualiser Vision
Leader Leadership
Initiator Initiation
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Evolution of the concept of entrepreneur
The word entrepreneur first appeared in the French language and was applied to
leaders of military expeditions in the sixteenth century. After 1700 it was applied to other
types of adventures. Richard Cantillon, an Irishman living in France, was the first person
to use the term entrepreneur to refer to economic activities. He defined an entrepreneur as
a person who buys factor services at certain prices with a view to sell its product at uncertain
prices in the future. He conceived of an entrepreneur as a ‘bearer of non insurable risk’.
The French economist J.B.Say defined an entrepreneur as the agent who unites all means of
production and who finds in value of the products- the re-establishment of the entire capital
he employs, and the value of the wages, and the rent which he pays as well as the profits
belonging to himself. He may or may not supply capital .
F.H.Knight propounded the theory that entrepreneurs are a specialized group of
persons who bear risks and deal with uncertainty. According to him, entrepreneur is the
economic functionary who undertakes such responsibility which cannot be insured nor
salaried. He also guarantees specified sums to others in return for assignments made to them.
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defines an entrepreneur as someone who specializes in taking judgmental decisions about the
coordination of scarce resources. Like many other theorists, Casson suggests that
entrepreneur is a person, not a team or a committee, or an organization. Some writers,
however, consider entrepreneur as a group. According to Cole entrepreneurship is the
purposeful activity of an individual or a group of associated individuals, undertaken to
initiate, maintain or aggrandize a profit oriented business unit for production or distribution
of economic goods and services. The entrepreneur is in essence an institution which
comprises all the people required to perform various functions. Such people not only
introduce innovations but implement the necessary adjustments in production units when they
expand on account of change in demand and its market conditions. These persons also
foresee the opportunities inherent in a given situation and even make opportunities out of a
given situation.
Relationship between Entrepreneur and enterprise
According to the classical economists, entrepreneur is one who provides the factor of
production, namely ‘enterprise’. As the fourth factor it assembles and manages the other
factors namely land, labour and capital. The essential features of an enterprise are as follows:
(i) An enterprise consists of people who work together primarily for the purpose of making
and / or selling a product or service. Production for self consumption and non business
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organisations, e.g., trade associations providing economically valuable services are not
enterprise in spite of being important activities in an economy. An enterprise, whether public
or private, large or small exists in order to produce a product or service that others consume
and pay for it.
(ii)An enterprise untilises raw materials, machinery, energy, space and other inputs to
produce and / or sell. It has to incur costs on the procurement of these inputs.
(iii) Every enterprise makes a comparison between its costs (inputs) and gains (outputs).
Therefore, its management must have sufficient autonomy to take appropriate actions to
maintain and improve the success of the enterprise.
(iv) An enterprise is a continuing entity. It is not an ad hoc effort to produce a single product
but rather a recurring effort to produce a stream of products. Some firms may go out of
business after a single transaction. But this is due to failure of management or unforeseen
conditions and not a planned or desired outcome.
Relationship between entrepreneurs and managers
Very often entrepreneur and manager are used as interchangeable terms. For instance,
Kao’s model of entrepreneurship does not treat the manager and the entrepreneur as distinct
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species within the business world. The main points of difference between the two may be
described as follows:
1. Innovation: The entrepreneur does not live with the status quo. He works to change in
accordance with his or her personal vision and values. He is more than an inventor.
2. Risk taking: An entrepreneur takes calculated risks. The manager is less tolerant of
uncertainty.
3. Reward: An entrepreneur is motivated by profits while the manager is motivated
externally imposed goals and rewards.
4. Skills: The roles of entrepreneur and manager demand different types of personal skills.
An entrepreneur needs intuition, creative thinking and innovative ability among other skills .
On other hand, a manager depends more on human relations and abilities.
5.Status: An entrepreneur is self employed and he is his own boss. On the contrary, a
manager is a salaried person and he is not independent of his employer, the entrepreneur.
6. Response to authority: One of the main features that distinguish mangers from
entrepreneurs is their ability to identify in a positive constructive way with authority figure
using them as role models. This type of behavior is legally absent in entrepreneurs.
The difference between an entrepreneur and a manager
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www.Padasalai.Net for bearing the risks involved in A manager gets salary as reward for
the enterprise is profit which is the services rendered by him in the
highly uncertain. enterprise. Salary of a manager is
4. rewards certain and fixed.
Entrepreneur himself thinks over
what and how to produce goods to But, what a manager does is simply
meet the changing demands of the to execute the plans prepared by the
customers. Hence, he acts as an entrepreneur. Thus, a manager
innovator also called a’ change- simply translates the entrepreneur’s
agent’. ideas into practice.
5. Innovation
An entrepreneur need to possess
qualities and qualification like
On the contrary, a manager need to
high achievement motive,
possess distinct qualification in
originality in thinking foresight,
terms of sound knowledge in
risk-bearing ability and so on.
management theory and practice.
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6. Qualification
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1. Capacity to assume risk
2. Technical knowledge and willingness to change
3. Ability to Marshall Resources
4. Ability of organization and administration
On the basis of the foregoing description, the qualities of a true entrepreneur may be
classified as follows:
1 .Capacity to take risk, 2. Capacity to work hard, 3. Above average intelligence and wide
knowledge, 4. Self (Inner) motivation, 5. Vision and foresight, 6. Willingness to defer
consumption, 7. Imagination, initiative and emulation, 8. Inventive ability and sound
judgment, 9. Flexibility and sociability, 10. Desire to take personal responsibility, 11. Desire
to seek and use feedback, 12. Persistence in the face of adversity, 13. Innovativeness and
future orientation, 14. Mobility and drive, 15. Creative thinking, 16. Strong need for
achievement, 17. Ability to marshall resources, 18. High degree of ambition, 19. Will to
conquer and impulse to fight and 20. Will to prove superior to others.
Types of entrepreneurs -Entrepreneurial Modes
In the initial stage of economic development, entrepreneurs tend to have less initiative
and drive. As development proceeds, they become more innovating and enthusiastic.
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Similarly, when entrepreneurs are shy and humble the environment is underdeveloped In a
study of American agriculture, Danhof has classified entrepreneurs in the following
categories.
1. Innovating entrepreneurs: Innovating entrepreneurship is characterized by aggressive
assemblage of information and the analysis of results derived from sound combination of
factors. Persons of this type are generally aggressive in experimentation and cleverly put
attractive possibilities into practice. Schumpeter’s entrepreneur was of this type.
2. Adoptive or imitative entrepreneurs: This kind of entrepreneurs are ready to adopt
successful innovations created by innovative entrepreneurs. Instead of innovating the
changes themselves, they just imitate the technology and techniques innovated by others.
Such entrepreneurs are particularly important in under-developed countries because they
contribute significantly to the development of such economies.
3. Fabian Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs of this type are very cautions and while practicing
any change. They have neither the will to introduce new product nor the desire to adopt new
methods innovated by the most enterprising. Such entrepreneurs are shy and lazy. Their
dealings are determined by religion, tradition and past practices. They are not much
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interested in and they try to follow footsteps of their predecessors.
4. Drone entrepreneurs: Drone entrepreneurship is characterized by a refusal to adopt and
use opportunities to make changes in production. Such entrepreneurs may even suffer losses
but they do not make changes in production. They are laggards as they continue to operate
in their traditional way of changes. When their product loses marketability and their
operations is uneconomical they are pushed out of the market. They are conventional that
they stick to conventional products and ideas.
Some more categories of entrepreneurs are given below:
(i) Individual and institutional entrepreneurs: In the small scale sector individual
entrepreneurs are dominant. Small enterprises outnumber the large ones in every country.
Such entrepreneurs have the advantages of flexibility, decision making and state patronage.
But a single individual can establish, and control an organization up to a limit.
(ii) Entrepreneurs by inheritance: At times, people become entrepreneurs when they inherit
the business. In India, there are a large number of family -controlled business houses. Firms
in these houses are passed from one generation to another.
(iii) Technologist entrepreneurs: With the decline of the joint family business and the rise
of scientific and technical institutions, technically qualified persons have entered the field of
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business. These entrepreneurs may enter business to commercially exploit their inventions
and discoveries. Their main asset is technical expertise.
(iv) Forced entrepreneurs: Many persons become entrepreneurs on account of the
circumstances. The money lenders of yester years enter into business due to decline of
money lending business with the growth of banking and Government legislation. Neo- rich
Indians returning from abroad (NRIs) and educated unemployed seeking self employment
may also be described as forced entrepreneurs.
On the basis of motive, entrepreneurs may be classified into three categories:
1. Managing entrepreneurs whose chief goal is security;
2. Innovating entrepreneurs who want excitement; and
3. Controlling entrepreneurs who above all desire power.
Following are some more types of entrepreneurs listed by some other
behavioural scientists.
1. Solo operator: These are the entrepreneurs who essentially work alone and , if needed at
all, employ a few employees.In the beginning most of the entrepreneurs start their enterprise
like them.
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2. Active partners: Active are those who start / carry on an enterprise as ajoint venture. It is
important that all of them actively participative in operation of the business.
3. Inventor: Such entrepreneurs with their competence and inventiveness invent new
products. Their basic interest lies in research and innovative activities.
4. Challengers: These are the entrepreneurs who plunge into industry because of the
challenges it presents. When one challenge seems to be met, they begin to look for new
challenges.
5. Buyers: These are those entrepreneurs who do not like to bear much risk. Hence in order
to reduce risk involved in setting up a new enterprise , they like to buy the ongoing one.
6. Lifetimers: These entrepreneurs take business as an integral part to their life. Usually, the
family enterprise and business which mainly depend on exercise of personal skill fall in this
type/category of entrepreneurs.
Women entrepreneurs
Women constitute around half of the total world population. So is in India. They ,
therefore, regarded as the better half of the society. Women entrepreneurs may be defined as
a woman or group of women who initiate , organize and run a business enterprise. In terms of
Schumpeterian concept of innovative entrepreneurs, women who innovate , initiate or adopt
a business activity are called women entrepreneurs. In other words, an enterprise owned and
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controlled by a woman having a minimum financial interest of 51 % of the capital and giving
at least 51% of employment generated in the enterprise to women.
Functions of women women entrepreneurs
As an entrepreneur , a woman entrepreneur has also to perform all the functions
involved in establishing an enterprise. These include idea generation and screening,
determination of objectives, project preparation, product analysis, determination of forms of
business organization , completion of promotional activities, raising of funds, procuring men,
machine and materials and operation of business.
Frederick Harbison has enumerated the following five functions of a woman
entrepreneur.
1. Exploration of the prospects of starting a new business enterprise.
2. Undertaking of risks and handling of economic uncertainities involved in business.
3. Introduction of innovations or imitations
4. Coordination, administration and control
5. Supervision and leadership
2. An entrepreneur
a) Searches for change b) Responds to the changes
c) Exploits the change as an opportunity d) All of these
3. The process of extending the firms domain of competence by exploiting new opportunities through
new combinations of its recasting resources is referred to as
a) Franchising b) Intrapreneuring c) Both a) and b) d) Invention
4. A situation in which there is a discontinuity between the individual’s personal attributes and the role
which the individual holds in the society is referred to as
a) Social marginality b) Group marginality c) culture marginality d) None of these
5. A situation in which there is a discontinuity between the individual’s personal attributes and the role
which the individual holds in the society is referred to as
a) Behavior b) Policies c) Practices d) All of these
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8. Entrepreneurship is a/an
a) Art b) Science c) Both a) and b) d) Technique
10. Entrepreneurship implies the skill to build an organization. This is the view of
a) Schumpeter b) Mc Clelland c) Harbison d) Drucker
13. One who forments a rebellion and attempts to establish a new society is called
a) Retreats b) Ritualish c) Reformist d) Innovator
15. An entrepreneur is an organizer and coordinator of various factors of production”. This is the view of
a) Schumpeter b) A. Walker c) Ruskin d) Drucker
16. “An entrepreneur is one who always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an
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17.
opportunity”. This is the view of
a) Drucker b) Walker c) Schumpeter
Who wrote the book, “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practice and Principal”?
a) Peter Drucker b) Economist c) Socialist
d) Pyle
d) Psychology
21. The person who first used the term ‘entrepreneur’ was
a) Richard Cantillon b) C. Cochran c) J.B. Say d) F. Hoselitz
23. The entrepreneurs who are characterized by aggressive assemblage of information and the analysis of
results derived from sound combination factors are called ________ entrepreneurs.
a) Innovating b) Adoptive c) Fabian d) Drone
24. The entrepreneurs who are ready to adopt successful innovations created by innovative entrepreneurs
are called as _______ entrepreneurs.
a) Innovative b) Adoptive c) Fabiran d) Drone
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their examination announce the results of the enterprise to the owner(s). This practice was
known to have existed in the ancient Egyptian, Greek, and the Roman civilizations. The
owners were chiefly interested in asserting whether all cash receipts and payments had been
properly accounted for and checking the records for possible employee fraud. Put differently,
initially, the aim of audit was to know whether any cash had been embezzled and if so, who
embezzled it and what amount was involved. The scope of audit, therefore, as it exists today,
cannot be confined to cash verification. The principal object of modern audit is to report on
the financial position of a business undertaking as depicted by its balance sheet and the
profit and loss account. Detection of errors and frauds is an incidental object of
independent financial audit.
DEFINITION OF AUDIT
“An audit may be said to be such an examination of the books, accounts and
vouchers of a business, as shall enable the auditor to satisfy himself whether the Balance
sheet is properly drawn up, so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the
business, and that the Profit and Loss account gives true and fair view of the profit or loss for
the financial period, according to the vest of his information and the explanations given to
him as shown by the books, and if not , in what respect he is not satisfied.”-Spicer and Pegler
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“An audit is an examination of such records to establish their reliability and the
reliability of statements drawn from them.”- A.W. Hanson
According to Auditing and Assurance Standard 1 (AAS1), ‘Basic Principles
Governing an Audit’, issued by ICAI: “An audit is the independent examination of financial
information of any entity, whether profit oriented or not, and irrespective of its size or legal
form, when such an examination is conducted with a view to expressing an opinion thereon.”
To conclude, auditing may be defined as “checking somebody else’s accounting and
reporting thereon”.
ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTIC OF AUDITING
1. Audit is an independent, scientific, intelligence and critical examination of the
books of account or accounting records of a business.
2. Such examination enables the auditor to satisfy himself that the financial
statements have been properly drawn up, and exhibit a true and fair view of the financial
state of affairs of the business for the accounting period.
3. Detection of errors and frauds is an integral part of auditing.
4. The job of auditing is performed by an independent person or body of persons
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qualified for the job.
5. In order to report on the financial health of the business, the auditor has to go
through vouchers and other related documentary evidence ( both internal as well as
external ).
6. The auditor has to satisfy himself about the correctness, authenticity, and reliability
of accounting information and submit his report accordingly.
COMPARISON BETWEEN AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING
Accounting: Accounting is the process of recording, classifying, and summarizing business
transactions in monetary terms. Accounting aims at providing financial information for
decision making. The person who performs this function is called accountant, His job
includes following :
(a) Recording business transactions in monetary terms .
(b) Classifying and summarizing them .
(c) Preparing financial statements.
(d) Communicating the final information in a summary form to management and
other users to make decision.
Auditing: “ Auditing begins where accounting ends”. This implies that an auditor comes
into the picture only when the accountant has done his job. While auditing accounting data,
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the auditor has to determine whether the recorded information properly reflects the economic
events that occurred during the accounting period . Thus auditing is basically a review
function. An auditor examines the final product of the accounting system and , on the basis
of his examination and audit evidence, accumulated by him, expresses ( through a formal
report) his impartial opinion- whether the accounting information is properly recorded and
fairly reflects the state of affairs of firm’s business. The main points of accounting and
auditing may be summarized below.
1. Subject matter: Accounting is concerned with collection, classification, and summarizing
of economic events in a logical manner for the purpose of providing financial information
for decision making. Auditing, on the other hand, is concerned with examination or review of
financial information so furnished.
2. Object: The main object of accounting is to know the trading results or state of affairs of a
business during the accounting period. Whereas the object of audit is to judge the correctness
and reliability of finance statements prepared by the internal staff of the business enterprise.
3. Hierarchy: Auditing begins where accounting ends. There can be no auditing without the
prior existence of accounting data.
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4. Nature: Accounting is constructive in nature as it measures business events in terms of
profit and loss and communicates the financial condition of the business as depicted by
financial statements. Auditing on the other hand, is referred as analytical and critical aspect
of accounting since it reviews the measurements and communication of financial results
and condition of business.
5. Expertise required: An accountant may not be comfortable with audit techniques and
procedures, but an auditor must be well versed with the principles and techniques of
accounting. It is this expertise that distinguishes auditors from accountants.
6. Process: Accounting is a four – step process that involves collection and record,
classification, summarizing and communication of accounting information and results
thereof. Auditing, on the other hand, includes three principal steps, viz., preliminary
planning, performing the audit work, and reporting the findings. However, separation of these
steps in not always clear.
OBJECTIVES OF AUDIT
The objectives of an ‘Audit’ may broadly be categorized as:
I. Primary objectives II. Secondary objectives III. Specific objectives
I. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE
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entries.
(ii) Errors of commission: These consists of incorrect additions, wrong posting and
(iii) Compensating errors: These are the errors which counterbalance each other in
such a manner that there remains no difference between the two sides of the trial balance.
(iv) Errors of duplication: Errors of duplication arise when an entry in a book of
original record has been made twice, or/ and due to double posting of a journal entry in ledger
accounts.
(v) Trial balance errors: These may consist of casting errors in the trial balance,
omission of a balance while extracting balance from the books of account, or entering an
amount incorrectly or on the wrong side.
2. Errors of principle: Errors of principle are those which result from misapplication of or
overlooking accounting principles. By and large, there are three types of errors generally
considered to be errors of principle. These are
(i) Incorrect allocation.
(ii) Omission of outstanding assets and liabilities .
(iii) Incorrect valuation of assets.
(B) Detection and prevention of frauds: The term ‘fraud’ may be defined as internal
irregularities aimed at cheating or causing loss to another. Frauds are often committed by
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two or more persons, acting in collusion with one another. The auditors responsibility for
uncovering frauds deserves special mention. A fraud may take the following terms:
1. Misappropriations and defalcations
(i) Embezzlement of cash: Embezzlement of cash refers to falsification or
misappropriation of cash, which is very common especially in case of big business concern,
as the proprietor has very little control over the receipts, and payments of cash. Cash may be
misappropriated in a number of ways as follows:
1. By omitting to enter receipts:
2. By entering fictitious payments:
- Under casting the receipt side of cashbook by entering fewer amounts than what has
been actually received .
-Overcastting the payment side of the cashbook by entering excess amount.
(ii) Misappropriation of goods: Further, fraud may also be committed through
misappropriation of goods.
2. Misrepresentation of accounts: Misrepresentation of accounts refers to Fraudulent
Manipulation of Falsification of Accounts with a view to conceal the true picture and to
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reveal the distorted picture, the accounts of a firm may be falsified or manipulated by making
false entries. It may take the following ways.
(i) Window dressing: When accounts are prepared in such a manner that they seem to
indicate a much better and sound financial position of the business enterprises, it is known as
window dressing.
(ii) Secret reserves: When accounts are prepared in such a manner that they seem to
disclose worse financial position of the company than actual ones, it is known as ‘Secret
Reserves’. Thus the real picture of the business is concealed and distorted picture is revealed.
The main objectives behind showing less profit than actual one’s are
-To avoid or reduce income tax liability
-To buy bash shares form the open marker through reducing the prince of shares by
paying less or no dividend.
-To conceal the true position of company’s state of affairs from the competitors.
III. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The area of operation of audit is quite wide and such other areas like review of cost,
operations, efficiency, management, and tax liability, etc. fall under the purview of audit.
Accordingly, there would be specific objectives in respect of each type of such specified
audit.
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1. Detection and prevention of errors and frauds become easier.
2. Audited accounting information: Greater reliability and authenticity.
3. Acceptability by the authorities. 4. Professional advice available.
5. Speedy processing of loan . 6. Settlement of disputes.
7. Facilitates calculations of net worth and goodwill of business .
8. Settlement of insurance claims. 9. Useful to compare the financial performance.
10. Keeps accounts department vigilance. 11. Identifies the weak areas
LIMITATIONS OF AUDIT
(i) Auditor may not be in a position to uncover all sorts of manipulations. In others
words, auditor may not trace out all types of errors, misappropriate or manipulations,
especially those ingeniously perpetrated.
(ii) As per the Companies Act, responsible officer must give true and correct
information to auditor who depends upon the information and explanation given by the
company. If such officer intentionally does not give the true and correct information to the
auditor, then the audit report will never show a true and fair view.
(iii) Influence of management is another major limitation of audit. Though, an
independent auditor is appointed by the shareholders, he depends upon the management for
his fees and obviously has a close working relationship with the latter. Every auditor suffers
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from a pre-conceived notion that he has been appointed to safeguard the interest of
management instead of to work as a financial police force to prevent the misuse of power and
other financial irregularities.
SCOPE OF AUDIT OR THE SUBJECT MATTER OF AUDIT
Scope of audit refers to its subject matter. The scope of an audit is determined by the
auditor, having regard to
(a) the terms of the engagement;
(b) the requirements of the relevant legislation; and
(c) the pronouncements of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
CLASSIFICATION OF AUDITS
Auditing is a wide discipline. The entire process of auditing depends upon the kind of
audit required in particular circumstances. Audit examination can broadly be classified on the
following three bases:
I. Classification on the basis of the organizational structure
II. Classification based on timing and scope of audit procedures
III. Classification on the basis of specific objectives behind audit
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I. CLASSIFICATION BASED ON ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
This type of classification is based on the organizational structure of business
undertaking under audit. A business undertaking may be owned, managed and controlled by
Government or private individuals, and may be operated in a corporate form or non-
corporate form. The types of audits to be conducted for various organizations therefore
should fall under the following categories.
(A) STATUTORY AUDIT
Where undertakings are formed under the statute or laws , audit for such undertakings
is made compulsory under the statutes that govern them. Audit is compulsory under statute in
the following cases:
1. Joint stock companies incorporated under the companies Act, 1956.
2. Cooperative societies registered under the Cooperative Societies Act.
3. Besides companies and cooperative societies, audit is a mandatory requirements in
respect of the following institutions:
(a) Public and charitable truths registered under the relevant Acts.
(b) Banking companies governed by the Banking Companies ( Regulation) Act, 1949.
(c) Insurance companies government by the Insurance Act, 1938.
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(d) Public sector undertakings (PSUs), local authorities, and government financial
institutions established under special Act or law, if any .
(B) PRIVATE AUDIT
Private audit is one that is not mandatory under any statute or law. It is undertaken by
the enterprises in view of the several benefits resulting from it. Various types of private audits
are as follows .
1. Audit of sole proprietorship: Audit of accounts of sole proprietary is optional.
Such type of business is owned, managed and controlled exclusively by an individual. He
individually takes the decision whether to get the books of account audited or not. The
auditor obtains clear instructions from the owner regarding the nature of work to be audited
and its scope.
2. Audit of partnership firm: The Partnership Act, 1932 dose not require a
partnership firm to get their financial statements audited. Still many partnership firms
provide for audit of their books of account.
3. Audit of accounts of other entities: There are some other institutions where
financial statements are not required to be audited by an independent auditor under any
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statute or law, viz.., clubs, libraries hospitals, schools, colleges, other educational institutions
and Hindu Undivided Family. For these entities audit of accounting data is not obligatory.
They may, however, get their books of account audited so as to present a clear picture of
state of affairs of the business transacted.
(C) GOVERNMENT AUDIT
The government offices, departments, undertakings registered as companies, are also
subject to independent financial audit. Usually a statutory auditor, appointed by the Central
Government on the advice of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India ), audits the
accounts of Government companies.
II. CLASSIFICATIONS BASED IN TIMING AND SCOPE OF AUDIT
PROCEDURES
Under this classification, important types of audit are as follows.
(A) CONTINUOUS AUDIT
A continuous audit is one where the audit is required to examine the books of
account of a business concern at regular intervals say weekly, fortnightly, and quarterly or
as per the requirements of the management and quantum of work. He checks the books of
account to date as far as possible. It is also known as ‘ running audit’. In other words, a
continuous audit is one, where the auditor or his staff attends and checks the accounting data
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2. Auditors suggestions can be incorporated quickly .
3. Errors and frauds can be identified and rectified at an early and initial stage and
their re- occurrence can be prevented.
(C) FINAL AUDIT OR PERIODICAL AUDIT
A final audit is one where the auditor undertakes the audit work only at the end of the
financial year. In such a case, the audit work commences after all the accounts are ready.
The auditor visits his client only once a year and completes the entire work in one go.
The final audit is very useful in case of a small concern.
(D) BALANCE SHEET AUDIT
Balance sheet Audit originated in the United States implies a critical review of
Balance Sheet. It is a procedure in which the figures, as stated in the balance sheet are taken
as a base and their authenticity is verified from the records. Just opposite to normal audit
procedures, the items appearing in the balance sheet and works back to the supporting
evidence and related documents.
III. CLASSIFICATION OF AUDITS BASED ON SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
(A) COST AUDIT
Cost audit as the expression implies is an audit of cost accounting record. It has been
defined in various ways:
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different order appoint either a chartered accountant (whether or not such chartered
accountant is a chartered accountant in practice within the meaning of the Chartered
Accountants Act, 1949) or the company’s statutory auditor to conduct such special audit.
The Central Government may order a special audit of the company’s accounts in the
following cases :
(a) If the affairs of any company are not being managed in accordance with sound
business principles or prudent commercial practices.
(b) Where any company is being managed in a manner likely to cause serious injury
or damage to the interests of the trade, industry or business to which it pertains.
(c) Where the financial position of any company is such as to endanger its solvency .
The Government may appoint the company’s auditor or any other chartered
accountant to conduct the audit. The auditor so appointed shall have the same powers and
duties as an auditor of the company. However such auditor shall submit his/ her report to the
Central Government.
(C) MANAGEMENT AUDIT
Management audit refers to critical and analytical examination of the performance of
different managerial functions in an organization. It involves a critical review of all aspects of
the process of management. It analyses the effectiveness of policies, procedures and
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(E) MARKETING AUDIT
Marketing audit, as is evident from the expression, refers to audit of marketing
situation of a business undertaking. Such type of audit is conducted in order to evaluate and
control marketing performance of a business. Marketing audit is very popular in the US and
European countries.
(F) ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT
Environmental audit, as the term indicates, is a process to examine the effects- good
or bad- of the operations of an enterprise on the environment. The Confederation of British
Industry has defined environmental auditing as the systematic examination of the
interactions between any business operation and its surroundings. This includes all
emissions to air, land and water; legal constrains; the effects on the neighboring community,
landscape and ecology; the public’s perception of the operating company in the local area.
To put in simple words, an environmental audit is as assessment of the nature and extent of
harm ( or risk of harm) . Environmental auditing originated in the United States in the
1970s as a way of checking whether a company was complying with a multitude of new
environmental laws and regulations.
(G) SOCIAL AUDIT
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Social auditing is a process that enables an organization to assess and demonstrate its
social, economic, and environmental benefits and limitations. It is a way of measuring the
extent to which an organization lives up to the shared values and objectives it has committed
itself to. In simple words, social audit attempts to assess the social performance of an
enterprise. Social auditing provides an assessment of the impact of as organization’s non-
financial objectives through systematically and regularly monitoring its performance and the
views of its stakeholders. Social auditing requires the involvement of stakeholders. This
may include employees, clients, volunteers, fund providers, contractors, suppliers and logical
residents interested in the organization. Stakeholders are defined as those persons or
organizations who have an interest in, or who have invested resources in, the organization.
(I) HUMAN RESOURCE (HR) AUDIT
A human resource audit reviews an organization’s policies, procedures, and
practices concerning human resource. Its purpose is to examine the technical and practical
dimensions of the HR function and to create a comprehensive system that adds value to the
organization.
Elements of HR audit
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A human resource audit generally includes the following elements:
1. Personnel polices .
3. Performance Appraisal.
2. Personnel Files Review .
4. Evaluation process.
5. Termination process. 6. Unlawful Harassment Compliance .
7. Hiring and Orientation Procedures. 8. Benefits and Compensation Review.
9. Employee Status and Classification. 10. Job Descriptions
(J) ENERGY AUDIT
The term energy audit implies a critical review of utility energy data for all fuels,
including electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, and any other delivered fuels. It is commonly
used to describe a broad spectrum of energy studies ranging from a quick walk-through of a
facility to identify major problems areas to comprehensive analysis of the implications of
alternative energy efficiency measures sufficient to satisfy the financial criteria of
sophisticated investors.
Types of Energy Audit
(i) Preliminary audit (ii) General Audit (iii) Investment-grade audit
AUDIT PLANNING
Planning begins especially with an intended goal, an end result or targeted outcome. A
plan is basically a device for the achievement of that goal. Planning is a two way function:
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setting the right goals and selecting the right means to achieve those goals. Planning in audit
operations too has been considered as an essential prerequisite so as to produce maximum out
of minimum. Adequate audit planning enables an auditor to cover the deferent aspects of
audit work including vouching, verification, valuation, expression of independent opinion
on financial statements and submission of audit report in s systematic and methodical
manner. Audit planning helps in enhancing the quality of audit work. It brings promptness
and perfection in performance.
PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS BY THE AUDITOR
Preparation before audit refers to preliminary arrangement made by the auditor
with regard to auditing. An auditor must prepare him well before he actually conducts audit.
Upon being appointed an auditor for the first time, the auditor will have to plan out the steps
he would take before commencing the actual work. Before commencing a new audit , an
auditor ought to undergo seven stages.
1. ‘Agreement’ with the client . 2. Ascertain the scope of audit work.
3. Knowledge of the client’s business.4. Knowledge of the accounting system in use.
5. Information about the client’s staff . 6. Ascertain technical details.
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7. Instructions to and information from client.
AUDIT PROGRAMME
An audit programme is nothing but a list of examination and verification steps to be
applied set out in such a way that the interrelationship of one step to another is clearly
shown and designed on the basis of an appraisal of the accounting records of the client.
Before commencing audit, the auditor outlines the whole procedure of the audit from
beginning till its completion, from the preliminary stage of the audit till the finalization of
audit report and his signatures thereon. Audit programme is, therefore , an outline of
procedures to be followed in order to arrive at an opinion concerning the financial
statements of a business undertaking.
Audit programme is generally contained in the audit notebook and is invariably in
black and white. AAS8 ‘Audit Planning’, issued by ICAI suggests that the auditor should
prepare a written audit programme setting forth the procedures that are needed to implement
the audit plan. One audit programme is prepared for a particular audit.
FEATURES OF AUDIT PROGRAMME
1. Audit programme is a set of procedures to be followed to support an opinion on the
financial statements.
2. The audit programme is invariably in black and white.
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Memorandum and Articles of Association etc.) affecting the duties of the auditor,
6. General nature and routine of the business,
The audit programme should not be very rigid; it must be capable of being reviewed
in view of changing circumstances.
OBJECTIVES OF AUDIT PROGRAMME
1. To integrate and coordinate the different parts of audit work,
2. To ensure the uniformity in the performance of audit work and to avoid duplication
of work,
3. To have a fair allocation of audit job amongst audit staff,
4. To ensure the completion of audit work within a time frame,
5. To fix the responsibility of each member of the audit staff and
6. To provide a proof of completion of a particular audit work, the dates on which it
was completed, who performed it and how was this done .
CONTENTS OF AUDIT PROGRAMME
It is somewhat difficult to mention all the items to be incorporated while drafting and
audit programme as it varies from company to company and depends on the type of audit
work to be carried out. A fresh audit programme is required for each audit. Generally
preparation for an audit programme needs the following information:
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3. Uniformity in the performance of audit work in ensured.
4. It serves as a legal proof for the work done as initials of those who have performed
a particular job are to be appended to it.
5. The responsibility for negligence can be fixed 6. It is helpful in supervising the
work of the staff.
7. It results in a proper audit routine. It not only saves time but also assures adherence
to the principles of auditing and accountancy.
AUDIT NOTEBOOK
An audit notebook refers to a record of some important and meaningful information
gathered or experienced prior to or during the course of audit. While conducting and audit,
the auditor comes across certain points which require further clarification, explanation and
investigation and he records the same in a diary maintained for the purpose known as the
audit notebook. It contains significant audit observations. Objections, queries raised and
replies received thereto, correspondence with the client, etc.
CONTENTS OF AUDIT NOTEBOOK
In an audit notebook , a permanent record is kept of the following
1. Audit Programme: An audit programme is nothing but a list of examination and
verification steps to be applied set out in such a way that the interrelationship of one step to
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another is clearly shown and designed on the basis of an appraisal of the accounting records
of the client.
2. Audit review notes: During the conduct of the audit, certain points do crop up which need
further elucidation and discussion with the management. Therefore notes are taken during the
conduct of work.
3. Audit queries: During the conduct of the audit, all those vouchers, which remain
insufficiently vouched, are to be noted in the query list of the audit notebook. A complete
record as to how they were cleared and those, which remained unclear and reported to
management, is also maintained.
4. Important balances: A note of the important closing balances particularly in respective
of cash and bank account should be noted so that after the work has been done alterations if
any, in the closing balances may not be carried out
5. Extracts from documents: Extracts from Memorandum and Articles of Association,
agreements, contracts, minutes of the proceedings of the directors of shareholders, etc. must
be noted in the audit notebook for ready reference.
6. Accounting statistics: Statistics in respect of the pages of each book of original entry and
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the number of the vouchers must be noted in this section. This serves two purposes. Firstly, it
is a check on the staff so that they may not indulge in wasting time. Secondly, it is intended
to help the auditor for requesting for increase in the audit fee if the comparison of accounting
statistics of the present year with the previous one reveals that the quantum of work has gone
up.
Advantages of Usefulness of Audit Notebook
The main advantages of an audit notebook can be summarized as under:.
1. It records all the significant information affecting the audit.
2. It ensures uniformity and assists in knowing the extent of work completed at a
particular point of time.
3. It serves as a source of information about the audit work and the points, which
deserves special attention.
4. It facilitates smooth conduct of audit.
5. It ensures that the audit programme has been followed sincerely, any deviation
can be traced immediately and the reasons therefore can be investigated into.
6. Certain modification are also possible in audit programme in case audit staff faces
certain practical difficulties in following the audit programme.
7. It helps the auditor in judging the efficiency of his staff.
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8. It may also help the auditor to prove that he has not acted negligently. In future, if
the auditor is charged with negligence, the audit notebook can be produced as an evidence to
defend him and to show what actual work he has done in the course of audit.
AUDIT WORKING PAPERS
Audit working papers refers to all documents prepared or gathered by the auditor,
relating primarily to set of accounts being audited and some basic information of
continuing importance affecting the company or the audit. Working papers are the
connecting link between the client’s records and the audited accounts. These include all the
evidence gathered by the auditor indicating what work has been done by him and the
procedure he has followed in verifying a particular asset or a liability. These would come to
help of the auditor in future in case the client files a suit against the auditor’s negligence.
Form and Contents of Working Papers
Auditing and Assurance Standard 3 (AAS3), ‘ Documentation’, offers the following
guidelines in this regard:
1. Working papers should record the auditor’s planning, the nature, timing and extent
of the auditing procedures performed, and the conclusions drawn from the evidence obtained.
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2. Working papers should be sufficiently completed and detailed to enable an auditor
to obtain an overall understanding of the audit. The extent of documentation is a matter of
professional judgement since it is neither necessary nor practical for the auditor to document
in his working papers every observations, consideration or conclusion made.
3. All significant matters, which require the exercise of judgment, with the auditors
conclusion thereon, should be included in the working papers.
4. The form and content or working papers are affected by matters such as:
(a) The nature of the engagement.
(b) The form of the auditor’s report.
(c) The nature and complexity of the client’s business
(d) The nature and condition of the client’s records and degree of reliance on internal
controls.
(e) The need, in particular circumstances of direction supervision and review or work
performed by assistants.
5. Working papers should be designed and properly organized to meet the
circumstances and the auditor’s need for each individual audit.
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6. To improve audit efficiency, the auditor normally plans with the client to utilize
schedules, analyzes other working papers prepared by the client. In such circumstances, the
auditor should satisfy himself that those working papers have been properly prepared.
CLASSIFICATION OF WORKING PAPERS
In the case of recurring audits, some working paper files may be classified as
permanent audit files as distinct from current audit files relating to the audit of a single
period. Thus, working papers may normally be divided between the following two files:
1. Current file, and 2. Permanent file
1. Contents of current file: A current file contains information primarily relating to the set
of accounts subject to audit during the current year. Following are some of the examples of
audit working papers to be placed in a current file.
(a) Correspondence relating to acceptance of annual appointment.
(b) Evidence of the planning process of the audit and audit programme.
(c) A record of the study and evaluation of the accounting system and related internal
control. This might be in the form of narrative descriptions, questionnaire or flowcharts, or
combination thereof.
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(d) Analysis of transactions and balances.
(e) A record of the nature, timing and extent of auditing procedures performed, and
the result of such procedures.
(f) Evidence that the work performed by assistants was supervised and reviewed.
(g) An indication as to who performed the audit procedures and when they were
performed.
(h) Copies of communication with other auditors, experts and third parties.
(i) Copies of letters or notes concerning audit matters communicated to or discussed
with the client including the terms of the engagement and material weaknesses in internal
control .
(j) The working trial balance, bank reconciliation statement.
(l) Conclusion reached by the auditor concerning related aspects of the audit,
including how exceptional and unusual matters (if any) disclosed by the auditor’s procedures,
were resolved or treated.
(m) Copies of the financial information being reported on and the related audit
reports.
Thus, a current file documents with all such information required for a single period
audit.
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collected the information for discharge of his duties. Also as a matter of professional conduct
the auditor should handover these working papers to his successor. Another argument of the
auditors to have claim over the working papers is that the working papers provide evidence of
the audit work performed by them. These papers might come to their rescue in future should
the client files a case against the auditors for negligence, etc.
In Sockockinsky vs. Bright Grahm and Co. (England,1938) case, it was held that the
working papers belonged to the auditor and were not the property of the client. The court
gave judgment in favour of the auditors on the ground that auditors were independent
contractors and not the agent of the clients. Again in Chantrey Martin and Co. vs. Martin
(London, 1953) case, the court held the same view and further added that where the auditor
acted as a mere agent to the client any correspondence between him (the auditot) and a third
party (e.g., the Inland Revenue Authority concerning clients tax liabilities) belonged to the
client.
As per AAS3, ‘ Documentation’, issued by the Institute of Chartered Accounts of
Chartered Accountants of India, working papers are the property of the auditor. The auditor
may, at his discretion, make portions of or extracts from his working papers available to his
client. They should not, however, be a substitute for clients accounting records.
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OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
UNIT - XVIII
AUDITING
1. Audit of joint stock companies is compulsory under the
a) Institute of Charted Accountants Act 1949 b) Companies Act 1956
c) Partnership Act 1932 d) None of these
2. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of an independent financial audit?
a) Detection and prevention of frauds
b) Detection and prevention of errors
c) Both a) and b)
d) Expression of impendent opinion by the auditor about the truth and fairness of financial
information examined by him
3. In a partnership firm the scope of audit and duties of auditor are determined by
a) Partnership Act b) Partnership Deed
c) Agreement between partnership firm and the auditor d) None of these
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6. The wrong allocation of amount between capital and revenue expenditure is a / an
a) Error of Principle b) Compensating error c) Error of Omission d) Trial balance error
8. “An auditor is not an insurer and all that he is required to do is to exercise with reasonable care and
skill”
a) Kingston Cotton Mills Co.Ltd b) Allen Craig and Co.
c) London and General Bank c) West minister Road Construction Co.
11. When the audit is conducted at regular or irregular throughout the year, it is called
a) Interim audit b) Internal audit c) Continuous Audit d) Statutory audit
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15. Consider the the following stages , an auditor has to undergo before commencing a new audit
i) Ascertain the scope of audit work
ii) Knowledge about business of his client
iii) The agreement with the client
iv) Instruction to and information from client
What is the correct sequence of above stage?
a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) b) (i), (iii), (ii), (iv) c) (ii), (i), (iii), (iv) d) (iii), (i), (ii), iv)
19. A written plan containing the details regarding the conduct of of particular audit is called
a) Audit programme b) Audit memorandum c) Audit note book d) None of these
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22. Audit techniques are concerned with
a) Examination of those evidence which have been traced by audit procedure
b) Application of generally accepted accounting principles to accuracy and validity of management
authorization to the accounts section employees.
c) Method of conducting business affair and reporting is annual report
d) All of these
28. An arrangement in which the accounting work of each individual is checked by other members is
known as
a) Internal cheek b) Internal audit c) External audit d) Test checking
29. When the audit is conducted at regular irregular intervals throughout the year it is called as
a) Interim audit b) Internal c) Continuous audit d) Statutory audit
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37. Verification of arithmetical accuracy of accounting entries and to ensure that ledger accounts are
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38.
.
properly
a) Routine checking
balanced is the main objective of
b) Test checking c) Vouching d) Internal audit
39. At the time of vouching any cash receipt item an auditor to ensure
a) Reliable system of internal check is in operation
b) Discount if any is allowed at uniform rate
c) All the receipts noted in rough cashbook or diary or promptly and properly entered in the cash
book
d) All of the above
41. Receipts from debtors who become bankrupt should be vouched with
a) Dividend warrants
b) Correspondence exchanged between the official receiver and the client only
c) Bad debts account
d) Cash book
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44. Lapping is
a) A device used to detect the misuse of cash collected from debtors
b) A malpractice under which a cashier makes private use of money for sometime
c) A method of vouching the cash transaction d) None of the above
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50. Memorandum book contains details of
a) Outstanding assets only b) Outstanding liabilities only
c) Both outstanding as well as outstanding liabilities
d) Deferred revenue expenditure only
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INTERNAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Internal or domestic trade means trade within the geographical boundaries of a
nation or a region. It is also known as intra-regional trade. International trade, on the other
hand is trade among different countries or trade across the political boundaries. It is also
known as foreign trade.
There are basic similarities to be found between internal or domestic and international
trade. Both these trades are based upon division of labour and specialization. International
trade becomes inevitable between the two countries on account of division of labour and
specialization. International trade takes place between the two countries. International trade
takes place because of the following reasons:
(i) Human wants are varied and unlimited and no single country possess the resources
to satisfy all these wants. Hence, there is interdependence between the countries.
(ii) Factors endowments in different countries differ.
(iii) International trade is the result of territorial or geographical division of labour
and specialisation in the countries.
(iv) Technological advancement of different countries.
(v) Labour and entrepreneurial skills differ in different countries.
(vi) Factors of production are highly immobile between countries.
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(ii) Comparative immobility of Labour and Capital: The capital and labour
between two countries are not so mobile as between two different parts of the same country.
In other words, the labour and capital resources are more mobile within the country. It is on
account of the greater mobility of labour and capital within the country that there is a
tendency for the equalization of interest and wage rates. Consequently, there comes to be
established an equality in the production costs of a commodity in different parts of the
country. As said above, labour and capital are not as mobile between two countries as they
are between two parts of the same country. Thus, due to the comparatively less mobility of
labour and capital, the production costs of the same commodity becomes different in the
two countries. It is on account of the differences in production costs that international trade
takes place.
(iii) Differences in Production Conditions: Sometimes, the production conditions
differ from country to country. This can be due to several causes. For example, one country
can be more advanced than another country in science and technology. Thus, the production
cost will be lower in the former country. Besides, the production costs of the same
commodity can be different in two countries on account of the economic policies of the two
Governments.
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same group whereas international trade takes place between differently cohered groups.
The modern economists like Bertil Ohlin and Haberler have regarded the internal and
international trade as similar and have argued that there is no need for a separate theory of
international trade. According to Ohlin, “International Trade is but a special case of inter-
regional trade. However, it is a well- established fact that there do exist certain basis
differences between internal and international trade .
THEORY OF COMPARATIVE COSTS
The classical theory of international trade is also known as theory of comparative
costs. The theory was first propounded by the well known classical economist, David
Ricardo. The theory was further developed and refined by John Stuart Mill, Cairnes and
Bastable. The modern exponents of the theory are the American economist, F. W. Taussing,
and the Germans economists, Gottfried Von Haberler.
If all the countries of the world had the same resources and were in the same stage of
economic development, there would be no international trade because there would be no gain
from such a trade. But if there are differences in natural, human and capital resources in
different countries, international trade is bound to emerge in course of time. This is known
as the theory (or law) of comparative advantage.
Assumptions of the Classical theory
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(viii) Only two countries and two commodities are to be considered at a time.
(ix) There are no disturbances from such sources and the trade cycle.
(x) The two countries have common monetary standard and the quantity theory of
money is valid.
The movement of particular goods between two countries is determined by cost
differences. Three types of cost differences may be distinguished:
(i) Absolute Differences, (ii) Equal Differences, and (iii) Comparative Differences.
(i) Absolute Difference in costs: Sometimes there develop absolute differences in
production costs between two countries. A country may, for example, earn special profits in
the production of a particular commodity on account of the existence of a natural monopoly.
The production cost of that commodity is low on account of the natural monopoly enjoyed by
the country in question. It becomes easier for that country to export that commodity to other
countries. Likewise, some other countries of the world also enjoy natural monopoly in the
production of certain commodities. Under these circumstances, there developed absolute
differences in production costs in different countries.
(ii) Equal Differences in Costs: International trade can be profitable only when
there are comparative differences in the two countries. On the contrary, if there are equal
differences in production costs, international trade cannot take place. The reason is that there
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is hardly any possibility of profit in international trade if there are equal differences in
production costs between the two countries. Hence, international trade automatically comes
to an end.
(iii) Comparative Differences in Costs: If there are comparative differences in
production costs between two countries, international trade will inevitably take place between
them. The reason is that these comparative differences in production costs will benefit both
the countries.
FACTORS INFLUENCING PROFIT ACCRUING FROM INTERNATIONAL
TRADE
The profit accruing from international trade depends, according to Prof. Taussig, on
two factors: 1. Terms of Trade, and 2. Efficiency of labour producing Export Goods.
1. Terms of Trade: This refers to the rate at which the commodities produced in the
two countries exchange with each other. The terms of trade keep on changing according to
the intensity of demand of the products of the two countries. That country gains the most out
of international trade, the foreign demand for whose products is the highest and whose
demand for other countries products is comparatively low. That country gains the least out of
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international trade, whose demand for the products of other countries is the highest.
2. Efficiency of Labour Producing Export Goods: The second influence on the size
of the profit arising out of international trade is the level of efficiency on the workers’
producing export goods. In reality the main reason for the differences in the level production
costs of the two countries is the differences in the level of labour efficiency in those
countries.
CRITICISM OF THE COMPARATIVE COSTS THEORY
The main criticisms leveled against this theory are as follows.
(i) Assumption of Labour Costs: The most fundamental criticism against the theory
of comparative costs is that it had its roots in the labour cost theory of value. The classical
economists sought to explain domestic exchanges of goods in terms of labour cost. From this,
they proceeded to explain international exchanges of goods in terms of comparative labour
costs. The theory is, thus, rooted in the labour cost theory of value. Now this theory was
rejected even in the 19th Century as an explanation of relative values on several grounds.
Firstly, labour is not homogeneous and that there are different types of grades of labour made
use of in production. Secondly there are other factors besides labour which are involved in
production, such as, land capital and enterprise. No homogeneous can be assumed even in
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the case of these factors. It was on account of these difficulties that the labour cost theory of
value was rejected as an explanation of relative values.
(ii) Assumption of Fixed Proportions: Based on the labour-cost theory of value, the
theory of comparative costs requires the further assumption that the various factors of
production are always combined in the same fixed proportions. Now this assumption of fixed
factorial proportions is totally wrong and unrealistic. In the real world, there is a wide
variation n the proportions in which the factors of production are combined with each other.
With the assumption of constant factorial proportions, the theory of comparative costs
becomes inapplicable to the real world.
(iii) Assumption of Constant Costs: Another criticism of the theory of comparative
costs relates to its assumption of constant costs. According to the classicists the law of
constant costs prevails in every industry so that additional units of the same commodity can
be produced at constant labour cost per unit. But this assumption of constant costs is
totally wrong and unrealistic.
(iv) Assumption of Internal Mobility and External Immobility: Another drawback
of the classical theory of comparative costs is to be found in its basis assumption that,
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internally, factors of production are completely mobile but internationally, they are wholly
immobile.
(v) Absence of Transport Costs: Still another criticism of the classical theory of
international trade relates to its assumption that transport costs do not exist. This is
manifestly a wrong and unrealistic assumption.
(vi) Unrealistic Theory: The theory of comparative costs is unrealistic in the sense
that actual production in a country may not accord with the principle of comparative
advantages.
(vii) Complete Specialization Impossible: The theory of comparative costs has been
criticized on the ground that complete division of labour and specialization would not be
possible even on the assumption of the classical economists.
(viii) Clumsiness of the Theory: Lastly the comparative cost theory has been
castigated by Bertil Ohlin as unduly cumbersome and unreal. According to Ohlin, “ The
theory avoids the obvious and straightforward approach, taking instead a perversely indirect
route”.
MODERN THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Bertil Ohlin, the well known Swedish economist , has attempted to extend this
general equilibrium theory to the field of international trade. He has successfully extended
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this theory (applicable to a single market) to deal with trade between different regions within
a country or between difference countries. In a forthright assertion, Bertil Ohlin pointed out
that there was absolutely no need for developing a special theory of international trade.
According to his much-quoted statement, “International trade is but a special case of inter
local or interregional trade”. The type of analysis applicable to interregional trade may be
extended without any substantial change to explain the phenomenon of international trade. As
such the modern theory of international trade is often referred to as the Heckscher-Ohlin
Theory in the same way as the classical theory of international trade is referred to as
Ricardian Theory of International Trade.
GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM THEORY OF VALUE
As is well known, the price of a commodity is determined by the demand and supply
of that commodity. The demand for a finished commodity depends upon
(i) consumers’ wants.
(ii) consumers’ income, which, in turn, depends upon conditions of ownership of the factors
of production and upon the prices of these factors, and
(iii) the prices of all other commodities.
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The cost of production of the commodity is also determined by the technique of
production used by the firm in question. At the point of equilibrium, the demand for and the
supply of the commodity will be equal to each other. Not only is that, the price of the
commodity, at the point of equilibrium, equal to its cost of production. The cost of
production of the commodity, as pointed out above, will comprise the prices of all those
factors of production which are used in the manufactures of that commodity. The prices
of factors of production are determined by the demand for and supply of these factors. The
demand for factors depends upon the demand for the finished commodity, because these
factors enter into the production of that commodity. The larger the demand for the finished
product, larger will be the demand for all those factors which enter into the production of the
finished product.
Likewise, the supply of factors of production depends upon the prices obtainable for
their services. Thus, the various quantities involved in this situation, namely, the prices of
finished goods, consumers’ incomes, the demand and supply of finished goods, and the
demand and supply of factors of production are interdependent and interrelated.
This explanation of prices is referred to as the general equilibrium theory of value.
The meaning of general equilibrium has been made clear by P.T. Ellsworth by citing an
analogy.
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Individual specialization is partly due to difference in personal ability and aptitudes.
Individuals tend to specialize in different lines of economic activity according to their
aptitudes.
Bertil Ohlin, thus, points out that variation in productive factor is a cause of
interregional trade and specialization, just as differences in individuals. The variations in
productive factors cause differences in prices in different countries and the price differences
are the cause of interregional trade. In the words of P.T. Ellsworth, “The immediate cause
of interregional trade in goods is to be found in price differences. In other words,
interregional trade is a price phenomenon”.
The question now arises: Under what circumstances do relative commodity prices
differ in different countries? Differences in relative commodity prices depend upon the
demand for and the supply of a commodity in the two regions. The demand for a commodity
depends upon (i) consumers’ wants, and (ii) consumer’s income which is determined by the
conditions of ownership of the factor of production. The supply of a commodity depends
upon (i) supply of productive factors, and (ii) the technical conditions of production.
According to Ohlin, the technical conditions of production are virtually the same everywhere;
hence, this factor can be safely kept out of our discussion. Consequently, differences in
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relative commodity prices depend upon the two conditions [namely, (i) consumers’ wants.,
and (ii) consumers’ income], the demand and the supply of the productive factors.
Relative prices of all commodities will be the same in the two regions, if—
(i) The conditions determining the demand for goods are similar, i.e. if the consumers’
wants and consumers’ income are identical in the two regions,
(ii) The productive agents are available in both regions in the same proportions, and
(iii) Any differences in the supply of factors are balanced by an exactly compensating
difference in demand conditions.
Bertil Ohlin’s main conclusion can, thus be summarized as follow:
(i) The immediate cause of interregional (or, international) trade is the differences in
relative commodity prices in the two geographical regions or countries.
(ii) Differences in the relative commodity prices are due to the relative scarcities of
productive factors in the two regions or countries.
REFINEMENTS OF THE THEORY
Bertil Ohlin, after explaining the basic cause of interregional (or, international) trade,
sought to introduce certain refinements into his theory of international trade.
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(i) He had discussed the basic cause of international trade with reference to two
regions or two countries. But he claimed that his theory would also be applicable to more
than two regions or two countries.
(ii) He introduced the economies of large-scale production into his discussion of the
theory and claimed that these economies created an additional basis for interregional trade.
Two regions may have identical factor endowments and yet they would specialize and trade
in those goods whose purely domestic market is too small to permit large-scale production.
(iii) Bertil Ohlin had earlier built up this theory on the assumption that qualitative
differences in the productive factors did not exist. Later, he discarded this assumption and
took into account qualitative differences in the three factors of production.
(iv) The earlier version of Ohlin’s theory was based on the assumption that transport
costs did not exist in international trade. He had assumed the non-existence of transport costs
to simplify his analysis of international trade. Later, Ohlin discarded this assumption and
introduced transport costs into his analysis.
(v) Bertil Ohlin discussed the obstacles to interregional mobility of factors and
explained how factor movements could act as a substitute for movement of commodities.
COMPARISON OF THE MODERN THEORY WITH THE CLASSICAL THEORY
OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
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The modern theory of international trade is better and more scientific than the
classical theory of international trade, as is evident from what is given below.
(i) According to the classical economists, there was need for a separate and distinct
theory of international trade, as international trade was marked by characteristics which were
quite different from those of interregional or internal trade. Eli Heckscher and Bertil Ohlin,
however, felt that there was no need for a separate theory of international trade, as
international trade was not different from interregional trade. The difference between the two
was one of the degrees, not of kind.
(ii) The classical theory explained the phenomenon of international trade in terms of
the old, discredited labour theory of value. As such, the explanation of international trade
was unsatisfactory. The modern (or. The H—O) theory explained the phenomenon of
international trade in terms of the general theory of value which was much more satisfactory
than the labour theory of value.
(iii) The classical theory attributes the differences in the comparative costs of
producing the commodities in the two countries to difference in the productive efficiency of
workers in the two countries. The modern theory, on the contrary, attributes the difference in
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comparative costs to the differences in factor endowments in the two countries. Differences
in factor endowments lead to differences in factor prices, and relative differences in factor
prices, providing thus the basis of international trade. According to the classical theory,
international trade would come to an end if the differences in comparative costs disappear
with the elimination of differences in productive efficiency with the free flow to the technical
know-how across international frontiers. But, according to the modern theory, international
trade would never come to an end because differences in factor endowments between two
countries can never be eliminated completely.
(iv) The classical theory presents a one-factor (labour) model whereas the modern
theory dilated upon a multifactor (labour and capital) model. To that extent, the modern
theory is much broader and more comprehensive in scope.
(v) The classical theory never considered the factor price differentials; the modern
theory, on the contrary, looked upon factor price differentials as the basis cause of
commodity price differentials which provided the basis of international trade.
(vi) The classical theory is unrealistic whereas modern theory is realistic.
(vii) The classical theory stresses the quality differences of labour in two countries.
Modern theory emphasizes the differences in factor endowments.
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The Modern (H—O) Theorem, thus marks a considerable advance over the classical
theory of international trade.
CRITICISMS OR SHORTCOMINGS OF THE MODERN THEORY.
Though the modern theorem (or, the factor-proportions theory) marks a considerable
improvement over the classical comparative cost theory of international trade, it is not
completely free criticism.
(i) Unrealistic Character: The modern theory is grossly unrealistic in character insofar as it
is based on certain very oversimplified and unrealistic assumption, such as, perfect
competitions, full employment of productive resources, absence of transport costs, similarity
of production function in the two countries, absence of product differentiation, etc. These
assumption, as pointed out above, are very unrealistic and even wrong.
(ii) It provides at best only a Partial Equilibrium Analysis, not a General Equilibrium
System: In other words, the modern theory provides only a partial, not a full explanation of
the phenomenon of international trade.
(iii) Leontief Paradox: The modern theory fails to explain what has come to be known as
Leontief Paradox. According to the theory, relative factor prices in the two countries are
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determined exclusively by their relative factor endowments which, in plain words, mean that
relative factor prices are determined by the supply of productive factors in the two countries.
(iv) Trade even with Identical Factor Endowments: According to the modern theory, trade
between two countries takes place when there are differences in their factor endowments. In
other words, if the factor endowments of the two countries are identical, there is no
possibility of any trade taking place between them.
(v) Commodity Prices determine Factor Prices: The modern theory holds that
international trade arises due to differences in relative commodity prices between the two
countries, and the differences in relative commodity prices are attributed to differences in
factor prices arising from differences in factor endowments in the two countries. In other
words, the commodity prices, according to the theory, are determined by the factor prices in
the two countries.
(vi) Products Differentiated: The modern theory assumes that the two products in the two
countries are homogeneous or identical. This is rather an unrealistic assumption. The product
in two countries may not be homogeneous.
(vii) Highly Static in Nature: The modern theory is based on certain assumptions which
make it highly static in nature. Its static character makes it unsuitable to explain a dynamic
situation. One such assumption relates to the factor endowments in the two countries. This
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theory assumes that the factor endowments in two countries are fixed and unchanging in
quantum. This is highly unreal assumption.
(viii) Production Functions not identical: Still another unrealistic assumption of the theory
relates to production functions in the two countries. The theory assumes that the production
functions of the same good are identical in the two countries. This assumption is not at all
justified by the reality of the situation. How can the production function of the good be
identical in the two countries?
(ix) Qualitative Differences in productive factors: The modern theory also assumes that
there are no qualitative differences in the productive factors in the two countries. The theory
assumes that the factors of production in the two countries are homogeneous in quality.
(x) Mobility of Productive factors: The modern theory assumes that the factors of
production are perfectly immobile between countries. This assumption has been challenged
by critics on the ground that there is no such thing as international immobility of the factors
of production. Factors of production, it is pointed out, have never been immobile
internationally.
(xi) Wijanholds is of the opinion that it is not the factor prices which determine costs, thus
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commodity prices as assumed by Ohlin, but it is commodity prices that determine the factor
prices.
EFFECTS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Following Bertil Ohlin we shall now discuss some important effect of international
trade.
(i) Equality in Commodity Prices: An important effect of international trade is to
bring about equality in the prices of internationally traded goods in all the regions of the
world.
(ii) Equality of Factor Prices: Another effect of international trade is to bring about
equality of factor price in all the regions of the world.
(iii) Advantages of International Specialization.: International trade result in
specialization (division of labour), efficient use of productive factors and maximization of
real output.
(iv) Effect on the Volume and Nature of Demand: International trade influences
the demand for commodities in two ways. Firstly, it increases the quantitative volume of
demand by increasing the income of people in participating regions. Secondly it changes the
natural demand by bringing the people in the participating countries.
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(v) Modern Industrialization: International trade is the basic force which had
promoted and sustained modern industrialization in the world.
GAINS FROM INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND TERMS OF TRADE
International trade confers a variety of gains and benefits on the participating
countries. That is why, nations of the world are interested in the promotion of trade and
commerce among themselves. The following gains accrue to the participating nations from
international trade.
(i) Advantages of Territorial Division of labour: International trade enables a
country to specialize in the production of those commodities in which it enjoys special
advantages.
(ii) Increase in production: International trade leads to an increase in the world
output of goods and services on account of the various advantages flowing from
international specialization
(iii) Equitable Distribution of Scarce Resources: There are certain scare resources
which are the exclusive monopoly of a single country or a group of countries.
(iv) Equality in Commodity and factor prices: International trade leads to an
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equalization of the prices of internationally traded goods and productive factors in all the
regions of the world.
(v) Capital Utilisation: International trade leads to expansion of the size of market,
thereby leading to more and more complex division of labour, improvement in quality and
productivity.
(vi) Expansion of the size of market: International trade lead to an equalization of
the prices of internationally traded goods and productive factors in all the regions of the
world.
(vii) Promotes Competition. International trade promotes competition at every
stage, economic alertness and efficiency in the country.
(viii) Promotes Consumption: International trade makes it possible to have increased
consumption of more varieties of goods.
DETERMINANTS OF GAIN FROM INTERNATIONAL TRADE
The size of the gain from international trade is determined by a large variety of
factors. Some important determinants of the size of gain are as follows:
(i) Terms of Trade: The term “Terms of Trade” refers to the rate at which the
country’s exports exchange for imports. The terms of trade are determined by the
relationship between the prices of exports and the prices of imports.
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(ii) Elasticity of Demand: The gain from international trade also depends upon the
elasticity of demand for the commodities in the two countries. International trade leads to an
expansion in output in both the countries. Real income in both the countries also registers an
increase.
(iii) Improvement in Productivity: An improvement in productivity in the two
countries also increases the size of the gain arising out of international trade.
(iv) Difference in Cost Ratios: The size of the gain, it is pointed out, also depends
upon the relationship between the ratio of the costs of production of the two commodities in
the two countries.
(v) Stage of Development: The sharing of the gain out of international trade between
the two countries is also governed by the stage of development in which a country finds
itself.
MEASUREMENT OF GAIN FROM INTERNATIONAL TRADE.
The classical economists adopted the following alternative criteria for measuring the
gain arising out of international trade.
(i) Reduction in Production Costs (ii) Increase in Real Income (iii) Terms of Trade
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TERMS OF TRADE
The term “Terms of Trade” refers to the rate at which a country’s exports exchange
for its imports. Terms of trade are naturally governed by the prices of export and imports
entering into international trade. They indicate the relationship between the prices of export
and prices of imports of a country. The terms of trade are said to be favourable to a country
when the prices of its exports are high relatively to the prices of its imports. In the same
manner, the terms of trade are said to be unfavourable to a country when the prices of its
imports are high relatively to the prices of its exports. There are several concepts of terms
of trade. Following Gerald M. Meir, we can classify them as follows:
I. Those terms of trade which refer to the rate of exchange between goods:
(A) Net Barter Terms of Trade.
(B) Gross Barter Terms of Trade, and
(C) Income Terms of Trade.
II. Those terms of trade which refer to the exchange between productive factors:
(A) Single Factorial Terms of Trade, and
(B) Double Factorial Terms of Trade.
III. Those terms of trade which express the gain arising from international trade in terms of
utility
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quantity of exportable. The higher is this ratio, the more favourable the gross barter terms of
trade for the country concerned. Symbolically, the concept is expressed as follows:
𝑇𝑔 =
𝑄𝑚
𝑄𝑥
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As pointed out above, the main defect of the commodity terms of trade was that it
failed to take into account the changes taking place in the productivity or efficiency of the
factors of production. To get over this defect, Jacob Viner devised the twin concepts of
‘single factoral and double terms of trade’. These concepts constitute a decided
improvement on the older commodity terms of trade concept. The single factoral terms of
trade refer to the ratio of the export-price index to the import-price index adjusted for changes
in the efficiency or productivity of a country’s factors in the export industries. In Viner’s
words, “If the commodity term of trade index was multiplied by the reciprocal of the export
commodity technical coefficients index, the resultant index would provide a better guide to
the terms of gain from trade than the commodity terms of trade index by itself.
𝑃
𝑇𝑠 = 𝑃 𝑥 𝐹𝑥
𝑚
𝑃𝑥
(where 𝑇𝑠 = Single factoral terms of trade; = Commodity terms of trade; 𝐹𝑥 = Index of
𝑃𝑚
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partial view of the situation or the position of the country in the field of international trade.
Jacob Viner was quite conscious of this defect.
DOUBLE FACTORAL TERMS OF TRADE
This concept constitutes an improvement over the earlier concept of single factoral
terms of trade. It takes into account the productivity of a country’s factors of production
entering not only into the production of exportables, but also the productivity of the foreign
factors of production entering into that country’s importables. That is why Viner has
christened the concept as the ‘double factoral terms of trade’. Symbolically, this concept can
be expressed as follows:
𝑃 𝐹𝑥
𝑇𝑑 = 𝑃 𝑥
𝑚 𝐹𝑚
𝑃
( where 𝑇𝑑 = Double factoral terms of trade; 𝑃 𝑥 =Commodity terms of trade; 𝐹𝑥 = Index of
𝑚
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factors in the export sector of the country. Symbolically, the concept of real a cost term of
trade is expressed as follows:
𝑃
𝑇𝑟 = 𝑃 𝑥 𝐹𝑥 𝑅𝑥
𝑚
𝑃𝑥
(Where 𝑇𝑟 - Real cost terms of trade; = Commodity terms of trade; 𝐹𝑥 = index of
𝑃𝑚
productive efficiency in export industries; 𝑅𝑥 = Index of the amount of disutility incurred per
unit of productive factors in the export sector.)
The concept of real cost terms of trade marks an improvement over the earlier
concepts devised by Jacob Viner. It is a welfare-oriented concept. It attempts to measure
the real economic gain or welfare accruing to a country out of international trade. But the
main drawback of this concept is that it overlooks the real cost involved in the production of
imports.
UTILITY TERMS OF TRADE
The utility terms of trade are arrived at by multiplying the real cost terms of trade with
the index of the relative utility of imports as compared with the commodities that could have
been produced for internal consumption with those productive factors which are at present
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devoted to the output of export goods. The concept of utility terms of trade is represented
symbolically as follows:
𝑃
𝑇𝑢 = 𝑃 𝑥 𝐹𝑥 𝑅𝑥 𝑈𝑚
𝑚
𝑃
(Where 𝑇𝑢 -Utility terms of trade; 𝑃 𝑥 = Commodity terms of trade; 𝐹𝑥 = index of productive
𝑚
efficiency in export industries; 𝑅𝑥 = Index of the amount of disutility incurred per unit of
productive factors in the export sector; 𝑈𝑚 = Index of the relative utility of imports as
compared with the commodities that could have been produced for internal consumption
with those productive factors which are at present devoted to the production of export goods.
FACTORS INFLUENCING TERMS OF TRADE
The terms “Terms of Trade” is being used here in the sense of commodity terms of
trade. The commodity terms of trade are determined by the relative elasticity of its import
demand and export demand as compared with the relative elasticity of the import demand and
export demand of the foreign country. These relative elasticity’s of demand and supply have
been referred to as reciprocal demand by J.H. Mill. In other words, the terms of trade of a
country are determined by the reciprocal demand. Basically , therefore, the terms of trade
of a country are determined by four types of elasticites:
(i) Nature of Exports and Import.
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foreign countries during a given period of time”.
According to Bosodersten. “The balance of payments is merely a way of listing
receipts and payments in international transactions for a country.”
It is an important index which reflects the true economic position of a country in a
given period, whether the country is a creditor country or a debtor country, and whether its
currency is rising or falling in its external value. There are various types of monetary
transactions taking place amongst the countries of the world. Broadly speaking, we can
classify them under three heads: (1) The exports and imports of a country give rise to
monetary transactions with other countries. (2) The international lending and borrowing also
give rise to monetary transactions amongst the countries of the world. (3) The servicing of
foreign debts and their final repayments also result in international payments and receipts.
Thus, the balance of payments is an annual record of the international receipts and payments
of a country during a year. It is a summarized statement of all international receipts and
payments and indicates the real monetary position of the country concerned.
BALANCE OF TRADE AND BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
The balance of trade of a country shows its trade transactions with the rest of world
during the course of a year. It indicates the relationship between the value of exports and
the value of imports of the country in question. But the balance of trade takes into account
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only visible exports and imports. The visible exports and imports are those which are
actually recorded at the ports. The balance of trade of a country is, thus the relationship
between the aggregate value of exports and the aggregate value of imports of goods during
the course of a year. If the money value of exports is greater than the money value of
imports, the balance of trade is said to be favourable to the country. On the contrary, if the
money value of imports is greater than the money value of exports, the balance of trade is
said to be unfavourable for the country.
However, it is not only the visible imports and exports which give rise to international
payments and receipts. There can be several other items known as invisible items are those
which are not recorded at the ports. These items are the services rendered by shipping
insurance and banking companies, debt repayment and payment of interest, expenditure by
tourists, payment of dividends on capital invested by foreigners, war indemnities, etc. The
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
Unit- XIII and XIV
International Trade
1. Who propounded the theory of comparative costs?
a) Adam smith b) David Ricardo c) J.S. Mill d) G.V. Haberler
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2.
3.
The per unit cost of production of jute and cotton in country A is RS. 8 and Rs. 16 respectively as
against 7 and 6 respectively in country B. What type of cost differences is there?
a) Absolute b) Comparative c) Equal d) None of these
Under which type of cost differences International trade will not take place?
a) Absolute b) Comparative c) Equal d) All of these
8. According to modern theory of international trade relative factor prices in two countries are determined
by
a) Comparative cost conditions b) Productive efficiency of labour
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12. Which of the following is not a component of current account of balance of payments?
a) Merchandise b) Travel and transportation
c) Transfers d) foreign investments.
14. When the rate of growth in the economy of a country is higher as compared to other countries the
import of this country will
a) Decrease b) Increase c) Remain stable d) None of these
15. Which of the following measures will be adopted to remove disequilibrium in the balance of payments?
a) Increase in exchange rate b) Devaluation c) Inflation d) Restrictions on exports
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16. Which of the following arguments supports free trade?
a) Infant industries argument
b) Employment argument
c) Proper utilization of factors of production argument
d) National self- stuffiness argument
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23. Under gold standard if mint par is €1= $4.866 and the market value of pound becomes €1= $5
then it will be
a) Gold import point for U.S b) Gold export point for Britain
c) Gold export point for U.S d) Favorable market rate for dollar.
24. Which of the following statements is true in relation to purchasing power parity theory?
a) Purchasing power parity is determined on the basis of gold prices in two countries
b) It is applicable in case of convertible paper currency
c) Purchasing power par is a moving par.
d) Purchasing power par is a fixes par.
27. Suppose present exchange rate is $1= Rs. 30 now if the price index in India goes up to 150 while it
remains at 100 in the U.S ., the new exchange rate according to purchasing power parity theory would
be
a) $1= Rs. 40 b) $1= Rs. 45 c) $1- Rs 30 d) $1= Rs. 32.50.
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30.
a) Fixation of exchange rate by the government
b) Government’s control on foreign exchange market
c) Determination of foreign trade policy
d) Control on foreign exchange payments
35. I.M.F quotas have been reviewed for how many times?
a) 7 b) 9 c) 11 d) 13
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40. Which of the following statements with regard to India’s membership of the I.M.F. is not correct?
a) India’s quota is SDR 4,1582 million
b) On the basis of quota India’s position is thirteenth
c) India is a major debtor country of the I.M.F.
d) India has repaid all loans from the I.M.F.
43. Which of the following institutions gives long-term concessional loans for less developed countries?
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44.
45.
a) IBRD b) IDA c) IFC
The loans given by which of the following institutions are called credits?
a) world Bank
d) IMF
a) IMF i) Investments in
b) World Bank ii) SDR
c) Export trade iii) Loans for development
d) IFC IV) Long – term concessional loans
48. The classical economists propounded a separate theory of international trade which is known as
a) Theory of comparative costs b)Theory of differential costs
c) Theory of national costs d) None of these
50. Who among the following is associated with the theory of comparative cost?
a) Carnes b) Bastille c) Stuart Mill d) All of these
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