Why are many companies so concerned about brand management? companies use brand management a. to eliminate excess capacity and earn economic profits in the short run. b. to collude with other firms and earn economic profits in the long run. c. to maintain product differentiation and earn economic profits in the short run. d. to produce a product identical to that of competitors and create network externalities in the short run. e. to achieve productive efficiency and maximize economic surplus in the short run?

Gwen, a manager at exude apparels inc., received a message from a customer requesting a replacement for a purchased pair of shoes. exude apparels has a clearly stated no-return policy. gwen responded to the customer denying the request in a tactful and clear manner. despite this, the customer submitted a second request. in this scenario, which of the following is an appropriate response to the second request?

Suppose the production function in an economy is y = k0.5l0.5, where k is the amount of capital and l is the amount of labor. the economy begins with 64 units of capital and 16 units of labor. use a calculator and equations in the chapter to find a numerical answer to each of the following questions. what are the wage and the rental price of capital? the wage is equal to unit(s) of output and the rental price of capital is equal to unit(s) of output.

The gilbert instrument corporation is considering replacing the wood steamer it currently uses to shape guitar sides. the steamer has 6 years of remaining life. if kept,the steamer will have depreciaiton expenses of $650 for five years and $325 for the sixthyear. its current book value is $3,575, and it can be sold on an internet auction site for$4,150 at this time. if the old steamer is not replaced, it can be sold for $800 at the endof its useful life. gilbert is considering purchasing the side steamer 3000, a higher-end steamer, whichcosts $12,000 and has an estimated useful life of 6 years with an estimated salvage value of$1,500. this steamer falls into the macrs 5-year class, so the applicable depreciationrates are 20.00%, 32.00%, 19.20%, 11.52%, 11.52%, and 5.76%. the new steamer is fasterand allows for an output expansion, so sales would rise by $2,000 per year; the newmachine's much greater efficiency would reduce operating expenses by $1,900 per year.to support the greater sales, the new machine would require that inventories increase by$2,900, but accounts payable would simultaneously increase by $700. gilbert's marginalfederal-plus-state tax rate is 40%, and its wacc is 15%.a. should it replace the old steamer? b. npv of replace = $2,083.51