Abstract
This paper talks about dividend growth models, in particular the Gordon Growth model and the assumptions that one needs to take in the calculations. The paper includes the characteristics and limitations of dividend growth models and talks about CAPM, or the capital asset pricing model, which is based on three main parameters: the risk - free rate, the stock's beta coefficient and the expected rate of return for the market as a whole, used to calculate the market risk premium. The author compares the two models and explains why the modern portfolio theory is base on CAPM notions.

From the Paper
"On the other hand, the CAPM is an easy to use and implement model, based on three main parameters: the risk - free rate, the stock's beta coefficient and the expected rate of return for the market as a whole, used to calculate the market risk premium. The model has a large applicability, mainly because it does not use dividend estimates for the future and thus works for organizations that do not pay regular dividends, but also because information on the three variables mentioned are usually public and thus one does not need to make additional estimates on the variables used. "

Tags:dividend growth models. growth rates, Modern Portfolio Theory

Abstract
The paper discusses how for a firm that is expanding, it is difficult to establish a proper growth rate for the DCF, since, if past growth rates in earnings and dividends have been relatively stable, and if investors appear to be projecting a continuation of past trends, then the growth rate may be based on the firm's historic growth rate. The paper explains, however, that if the company's past growth has been abnormally high or low, either because of its own unique situation or because of economic fluctuations, then the growth rate has to be estimated in some other manner.

From the Paper
"More individuals own stock more than ever. Stock pricing is now expansive and is an important aspect of financial economics. A stock is generally considered over-valued if the price-earning ratio is high relative to the rate at which a company's earnings are likely to grow. The converse holds true for an under-valued stock. Because of the complexity and importance of valuing common stock, various techniques for accomplishing this task have been devised over time. The sections that follow will compare and contrast the CAPM and DCF models. CAPM is an equilibrium theory that relates the expected return of an..."

Tags:capm, discounted, model

Abstract
This paper explains that, from the beginning of 21st century, the Demographic Transition Model, which uses population age structure, has become a more important factor than the traditional use of total population. The author points out that demographic transitions have significant impact on the age-distribution of the populations of the countries. Four ratios are important to this measurement: (i) Child Dependency Ratio; (ii) Old Dependency Ratio; (iii) Overall Dependency ratio and (iv) Ratio of Working Age Population to non-working-age population (between 15 & 64 years of age). The paper states that the quality of the working age population is more important than the sheer numbers; hence, without substantial achievement in the areas of health and education, the quality of the working-age population may decline and consequently, the growth will be adversely affected despite having larger proportion of working age population. Many Charts and Tables.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Demographic Transition Model
Population Neutralism
Mortality Rates
Fertility Rates
Population Rise
Demographic Dividend
Dependency Ratios
Dependency Ratios in Japan
Dependency Ratios in China
Dependency Ratios in India
Dependency Ratios in Africa
Economic Impacts of Demographic Changes and vice versa
Base-Level Position of Population, Rate of Fertility and Mortality
Education
Openness of the Economy
Other factors
Policy Environment

From the Paper
"By shifting the age-structure of a population, a country's demographic transition can contribute to significant changes in its economy. Those changes occur because people's economic behavior -savings and investment- tends to vary predictably over their life-times . This is also called life-cycle theory model. Once age structure dynamics are introduced into an economic growth model, the countries obey the common principles of economic growth . These so called 'predictable ways' of shift in economic behavior have already been summarized in the beginning of the paper too (Page 3). Let us summarize the same. Let us assume that we have an economy that is growing at 2 or 3% per year. Let us call it the steady-state growth. The demographic burden transition creates a youth demographic burden initially. That baby boom drags down measured economic growth a bit, but when they reach the working-age, we have the accounting and behavioral effects-more savers and more workers and also higher labor force participation rates and more people earning to save because they think that they have to live longer. That leads to a bump in economic growth. But this bump abates when people reach older age."

Tags:age-structure, ratio, dependency, working, education

Abstract
The writer of this paper seeks to compare and contrast the economic growth, unemployment and/or inflation of two or more countries to each other. With this in mind, the paper's author compares and contrasts Australia and the United States in relation to economic growth, inflation and unemployment rates. The paper's writer first presents an overview of the two economies before comparing and contrasting them. The paper is accompanied by a number of graphs.

Outline:
Introduction
Overview Of Australia's Economy
Overview Of U.S. Economy
Unemployment Rates & Inflation Rates Compared And Contrasted
Summary
Bibliography

From the Paper
"Because employment rates do impact inflationary rates during times of change and in times specifically when unemployment rates rise it is necessary specifically during these times to inform the public through clear policy and expectations as to what is expected thereby cushioning the shock of the impacts of unemployment on inflation rates. There has however, been research reviewed in this study that shows that use of an inflation target is most useful to understand when lower of prices can result in a benefit to levels of employment."

Tags:economy, inflation, finance, growth, recession, employment, consumer, price, employer, commodity, tourism, exchange, service, dollar, monetary

Abstract
This paper explains that, although small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are believed to be essential to the development of transitional economies such as in Kosovo, numerous financial and institutional barriers are blocking their development. Next, the author relates an extensive literature review and the methodology for a cross-sectional survey of 106 participants from 73 SMEs in Kosovo. The paper summarizes the outcomes of this study, which also are presented in tables.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Table of Contents
Introduction
Definition of the Research Problem
Significance of the Problem
Overview of Study Method
Previous Work
Research Objectives
Expected Outcomes
Dissertation Overview
Literature Review
Growth of an Organization
Size and Growth
Current Growth as a Predictor of Future Growth
Barriers to SME Growth and Development
Internal Business Environment
Employee Retention
Threat of Change
Implementing a New Organizational Model
Employee Empowerment
External Business Environment
Industry Growth
Competition
Technological Changes
Legal and Regulatory Frameworks
Financial Barriers
Social Barriers
Methodology
Research Design
Sampling
Procedures
Ethical Considerations
Findings
Results
Data Analysis
Response Rates
Summary of Participants
Company Type and Growth
Importance of Barriers
Institutional Barriers
Internal Environment Barriers
External Environment Barriers
Financial Barriers
Social Barriers
Most Important Overall Factors
Differences Across Sectors
Discussion
Summary and Conclusions
Summary of Findings
Conclusions
Recommendations for Further Research
Appendix: Questionnaire

From the Paper
"In particular, previous research has highlighted several internal barriers to SME development. These relate often to the quality of equipment and training which is available, along with the skill set of the different elements of the labor force, including employees and management. For example in Macedonia, Acevska identified that low quality of equipment was the most important internal business environment to SME development, followed by the capacity to produce more, lack of space to produce, and low labor force skills."

Tags:bureaucracy, cost of credit, labor costs, licenses, sector-specific

Abstract
The paper looks at what a public company does with its earnings and discusses two common uses for earnings: rewarding shareholders with dividends, and reinvesting in the company. The paper relates that a company's dividend policy is a highly strategic component of financial management, as it can have an impact on the company's share price. This paper examines the relationship between dividend policy and share price through four models: the Graham and Dodd model, the Walter Model, the Gordon Model and the Miller and Modigliani Model.

From the Paper
"What does a public company do with its earnings? There are two common uses for earnings: rewarding shareholders with dividends, and reinvesting in the company. A company's dividend policy is a highly strategic component of financial management, as it can have an impact on the company's share price. This paper will examine the relationship between dividend policy and share price through four models: the Graham and Dodd model, the Walter Model, the Gordon Model and the Miller and Modigliani Model. There are many sub-policies that constitute a dividend policy, but for the..."

Tags:share, price, dividend

Abstract
This is an edit of a thesis on dividend policy in Kuwait, with six pages of additional text included. The writer provides a general idea about dividend policy and then offers a brief history of concerning dividends. The writer also offers an
overview of the Kuwait Exchange Stock market.

From the Paper
"This chapter will provide the necessary information and background of the research area. It is starts by giving a general idea about dividend policy then a brief historical facts of concerning dividends after. After that an over view of the Kuwait Exchange Stock market is provided followed by the problem definition then. The research objectives methodology and research limitations are then detailed and at the end of this chapter thesis structure is presented. Dividend policy is defined as the payout ..."

Tags:dividend, policy, thesis, Kuwait, Middle East

Abstract
The paper discusses the four evolving models defined by Keith Davis; autocratic, custodial, supportive, and collegial. The paper compares these models to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The paper shows the parallels of the need for security with an autocratic management style; the need for belonging and achievement with a custodial and supportive management style; and self-actualization with a collegial style of management. The paper uses this parallel with the 'hierarchy of needs' as a means of illustrating key concepts between the different models of organizational behavior.

From the Paper
"Typically in those situations where there is less internal motivation to complete tasks and have a vested personal interest in its outcomes, the autocratic model tends to get results. This is certainly true from the manufacturing growth during the industrial revolution where many workers were struggling for sustenance and the concept of ownership of one's profession was unheard of at the time. Authority and enforcement of productivity and compliance with rules, both societal and from a company's perspective, all contributed to the need for autocratic leadership styles and hence the model being created. The custodial model that focuses on security and passive cooperation on the part of workers and eventually leads them to organizational dependency is contrasted to the autocratic model due to the recognition of the individual value of the contributor or employee. In an autocratic work environment, there is no delineation of worker's unique and valued experiences, unless the work is heavy manual labor and the worker can lift over 100 lbs., yet autocratic leadership sacrifices the individual talents of employees for the accomplishment of a highly defined and often rigid goal that can often only be achieved through manual labor or drudgery."

Tags:growth, organization, market, dynamics, focused, customer

Abstract
The paper discusses how growth stocks have long held the imagination of the average investor as well as the institutional investor. The paper explains that growth stocks are simply stocks of companies that produce consistent earnings over time and usually above 12% per annum year after year and so investors of all types have consistently gravitated to such stocks.

From the Paper
"Growth stocks have long held the imagination of the average investor as well as the institutional investor. Growth stocks are simply stocks of companies that produce consistent earnings over time and usually above 12% per annum year after year (Sivy "Dividends" pars.1-2). Investors of all types have consistently gravitated to such stocks because this growth was also expected to produce a similar growth in the value of the stock itself regardless of dividend payout. The strategy is that by investing in growth stocks, the rate of return on investment (ROI) could be maximized over time. This growth stock mania has been framed as: "since the 1960s, one...""

Tags:growth, stocks, dividends

Abstract
yThis paper discusses indepth the state of the economy in context of the rise and then consistent drop in interest rates over the last 5 years. It discusses what the impact is such rate cuts is on all aspects of the economy and also highlights the various kinds of interest rates.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Overview of Interest Rates and their Significance as a Macroeconomic Tool
Types of Interest Rates
Impact of Change in Interest Rates on the Current Economy
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"The Federal Reserve like other Central Banks seeks to maintain a financial environment within which competitive markets support the efficient use of productive resources. The overarching principle is that central bank should provide the necessary monetary and fiscal stability in a way that leaves the maximum freedom of action to private markets. In keeping with this principle, monetary policy is implemented by indirect means, with an interest rate policy instrument than with direct credit controls. Thus interest rates are part of the Federal Reserve's key macroeconomic tools that it has at its disposal to control the markets and inadvertently the entire economies money supply. The quantity of money within an economy can determine various exogenous and endogenous factors that can keep the markets and the economy in close range of the equilibrium position. This is important in-order to prevent the extensive number of boom and bust cycles the American economy has faced in the early part of the last century."

Tags:economy, federal, interest, present, rates, reserve, situation