Abstract
This paper studies the evolution of the legal treatment of insolvent debtors in Britain and America. It focuses on the factors that sustained the practice of imprisoning insolvent debtors and relies principally on Britain, with American practices used as points of contrast. The paper argues that the debtor's prison was a primarily economic institution, necessary for a well-functioning petty credit market, as opposed to a primarily sociological institution, necessary to deal with insolvent individuals in an arbitrary "proper" manner. Section I reviews existing literature and outlines the "sociology of debt" argument, which is the primary lens through which scholars now understand debtor's prisons, to which this paper stands in contrast. It also summarizes the relevant economic literature on bankruptcy. Section II provides historical background on the evolution of the institution of debtor's prisons. Section III establishes the necessity of the debtor's prison for the credibility of debt contracts. Section IV concludes and discusses the importance of the "economic necessity" hypothesis in explaining the abolition of the debtor's prison.

Paper Outline
Introduction
Literature Review
Historical Background
Credibility and Commitment: Early Petty Borrowing
Conclusion
Appendix
Bibliography

From the Paper
"Imprisonment for debt is viewed as so bizarrely cruel and draconian that contemporary opponents of Republican bankruptcy reform legislation have tarred it as akin to restoring debtor's prison. Internet bloggers, too, have invoked the image of the debtor's prisons to impugn the Bush Administration's Social Security plan as lacking compassion for the poor (see Appendix A). The view of the debtor's prison as a barbaric relic from the past is not confined merely to popular expression, but may also be found in scholarship. For example, Margaret Hunt, professor of history at Amherst College concludes a book review stating:
'One also comes away from [The Character of Credit] with a palpable sense of relief that debtors' prisons are no more. Let us hope a certain Department of Justice does not get hold of this book, or someone might decide to bring them back.'"

Tags:bankruptcy, economic, insolvent

Abstract
This paper explores the relationship of debtor and creditor relationships through examining the various repercussions from a single scenario, depending on whether the debtor or the creditor is the party to file bankruptcy.

Abstract
This paper uses the ideas from the book "Getting to Yes" and applies them to a case in which a debtor owes money to a creditor company that it cannot pay,

From the Paper
"Amy Siegel is credit manager for Star Computer Components, a manufacturer of printed circuit boards. One of Amy's collectors told Amy that she has been unable to reach anyone at Odyssey Electronics Inc. to discuss a past due balance. Amy reviewed the credit file and found the following information about Odyssey: The debtor company is four years old. It employs eighteen people. A credit report shows Amy's company is one of Odyssey's two largest creditors."

Tags:Negotiation, debt collection, collection tools, getting to yes, negotiation strategies

Abstract
This paper explains how the role of the banks in an economy can be analyzed by using the concept of financial intermediation between debtors and creditors in the economy. It also points out that they can be defined according to the traditional functions of financing, collection of resources and administration of payment methods.

From the Paper
"In order to emphasize the role of the banks, it is necessary to accurately place them in the midst of the financial system, as its main component. From a financial perspective, there are, at a general macroeconomic level, two categories of participants with complementary preoccupations: the ones who are in need of financial resources and who wish to procure them and the ones with financing capabilities who desire to efficiently place their capital. The function of the financial system is to represent the interface between agent with surplus and with deficit of resources."

Tags:debtors, creditors, economy, financing, payment

Abstract
The paper discusses the ratio of chapter seven to chapter eleven bankruptcy filings, timeframe requirements and the common reasons why individuals file for bankruptcy. The paper also looks at debts that can not be discharged through chapter seven filings and if payment modification is available for debtors that cannot pay under their current plans.

Outline:
The Ratio of Chapter Seven to Chapter Eleven Filings for Business
Typical Chapter Eleven Time Span for Filing, Confirmation, and Successful Completion
The Most Common Reasons that Force Individuals to File for Bankruptcy
Individual Debts That May Not be Discharged by Filing for a Chapter Eleven Bankruptcy
Can a Chapter Thirteen Payment Plan be Modified if the Debtor Cannot Make Payments

From the Paper
"Based on the statistics released in the December 3, 2004 News Release from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and as stated in Chapter 11, Title 11, of the United States Code (Wikipedia, 2003), the number of business bankruptcy filings for the twelve month period ending September 30, 2003 are 21,008 chapter 7 filings, and 9,185 chapter 11 filings. Therefore, based on this information, the ratio of chapter seven to chapter eleven business filings is approximately 2.287:1. This deduces that there are nearly two and one-third times more chapter 7 filings compared to chapter eleven filings for businesses alone."

Tags:debts, payments, chapter, eleven, seven, thirteen

Abstract
This paper first explains that Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Reform Act allows the petitioning corporation a chance to negotiate its debts with its creditors and to formulate a plan for reorganization that will allow it to fulfill its obligations. Next, the author relates the way that Enron used Chapter 11. In a credit nation, such as the United States, the paper concludes that it is very important to protect creditors' claims as well as debtors' rights to maintain the agreements and transactions, which make up the economy.

From the Paper
"The findings of the Enron scandal were extremely complex, to the point that it is difficult to discern their legality. In 1992, president of Enron's trading operations Jeff Skilling managed to persuade federal regulators to permit the company to make use of "mark to market" accounting methods, a technique that is usually exclusive to trading and brokerage firms. This method allowed the company to figure the value of contracts yet to be collected into its profits, thus inflating the books."

Tags:referee mismanagement reorganization, relief procedures, discharge clauses

Abstract
This paper considers the fundamentals of debt. In particular, the paper looks at what it is, debt crisis, and how any analysis of the effects of foreign debt must take into account the type of debt, regional variation and the level of development, and the trappings of 'debt trap' not only for debtors but also for the world economy. The paper also analyzes two competing theoretical approaches to Third World indebtedness- neo-classical economics and dependency theory- and the efficacy of the International Monetary Fund's austerity programs.

From the Paper
'Different types of debt may also affect physical quality of life in varying ways. One study shows that external debt actually improved the physical quality of life in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study argues that because Africa is extremely capital-starved, thus relying on multilateral and bilateral debt to direct resources to projects which promote physical well-being, external debt may provide some stimulus for at least short-term development. Thus, while it is wrong to assert that the majority of multilateral or bilateral loans are allocated to programs which enhance basic development, relative to commercial loans, they provide some resources for the overall physical quality of life."

Tags:financial, policies

Abstract
This paper explains that Supa Toys has identified objectives to develop and expand the contracting of operational activities, alliances, joint ventures, outsourcing and sourcing opportunities. The author points out that one of the key strategic plans, upon which Supa focused, is its operational activities, which coordinates and prioritizes the major elements of the actual daily activities of the company's physical plant. The paper stresses that any business of any size needs to have an effective accounting system, which is especially vital to Supa Toys because of the firm's intense effort to grow, improve and lead its industry. The paper includes charts.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Opportunities, Trends and Objectives
Strategic Opportunities
The Importance of an Accounting System
Financial Trends
Trends in Light of Organizational Strategic Objectives
Measures of Efficiency and Profitability
Net Operating Profit per Person
Percentage of Net Operating Profit to Owner's Investment or Equity
Percentage of Operating Profit to Total Assets
Stock
Sales
Gross Profit
Debtors
Measure of Financial Stability
Short Term Financial Stability
Long Term Financial Stability
General Observations about the Financial Reports for Supa Toys
Pricing Remains Stable
Financial Management Training
Planning Objectives
Process Time-frames
Resource Allocation
Timing of Supa's Financial Planning Objectives
Closing Thoughts

From the Paper
"Over the past several years the product pricing for Supa Toys has remained the same, and has not increased in spite of the revenue increases that are being sought as part of the overall strategic plan. The unchanged price also can represent a significant source of additional revenue. While some people view price increases as a last ditch effort when their business cannot be grown or customer base is even dwindling, for a successful company like Supa, the prospect of increasing pricing, of course in a discreet and professional way while the firm is doing well can provide a way to increase revenues without actually having to sell more individual units or to undertake business with disreputable customers who will cause more harm to the organization than good."

Tags:objectives, pricing, factories, measurements, systems

Abstract
The paper discusses how examining the emergence of chattel slavery in the Caribbean and Iberian America between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, reveals the indigenous origins of African slavery and the sinister participation in this inhuman system of European governments and their colonies in the Western Hemisphere. The paper describes how slavery emerged and developed in the New World because of the existence of black slave markets in Africa. The paper explains that by the sixteenth century, African slave traders had been supplying slaves to the Islamic world for centuries and had taken advantage of the African tribal custom of selling captives of war debtors and enemies from other tribes.

Tags:chattel, slavery, caribbean

Abstract
This paper explains that the Bankruptcy Abuse and Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 is considered to be the most extensive review of the Bankruptcy Code ever since its inception in 1978. The author points out that, although several provisions, such as general structure of liquidation under chapter 7 and provisions for reorganization under chapter 11 remain as they are, the 2005 Act is considered to have significant impact on the rights and interests of both creditors and debtors in consumer and business bankruptcy cases, which is reviewed in this paper chapter by chapter of the new code. The paper relates that the primary objective of this legislation, which was widely patronized by both banks and the credit card industry, is to discourage bankruptcy filings and to turn some debts not subject to a bankruptcy discharge.

From the Paper
"Such reformation in terms of major modifications in the corporate bankruptcy law is expected to lead to a rush to the courts by loosing companies to find out easier treatment. The new bankruptcy law embodying the new creditor protections in the law will make the bankruptcy reorganizations more stringent and also more costly for companies in search of shelter under Chapter 11. The formulators of the Law have made it stringent in reply to the concerns that management has been too fast to use bankruptcy like another financial device to affect creditors and shareholders. The recent impositions on personal bankruptcies attracted the attention but the legal experts opined that new rules could have extensive effects."

Tags:credit-card, fresh-start, small-business, chapter, creditor-protection