You are an expert security software programmer who works in top secret for the national government of the country of Zulu. Late one afternoon, you come across an ominous email in which you learn that a small group of sinister government officials from Zulu plan – in exactly one hour – to unleash a nuclear attack on the neighboring country of Delta.  It happens that this very same group of officials is at odds with the neighboring country because of vastly different political and economic views.  The bottom line?  You are aware that if this missile is launched, the event will spawn World War III.    

Because you are the only person in the country of Zulu who has knowledge of the specific program code that will be used to trigger this devastating missile launch, you alone are the one individual who has the capacity to de-program the event — i.e., you could choose to cancel the launch altogether, or you could otherwise divert the nuclear missile to a neutral zone. In short, millions of innocent lives are now in your hands.   

However, you adhere strictly to duty ethics (referred to as a “deontologist”). On the day that you assumed your role as a top-secret national security programmer, you took a solemn oath swearing that you would never intervene in any government action, no matter its consequences.  In short, your duty is limited to software programming — and to programming alone. Indeed, your oath entails that you have an explicit duty never to make a decision that extends beyond your software programming role. Moreover, you are sworn never to discuss your programs with any other human being – except for communication that may be required with a limited number of superiors. On any given day, these few superiors of yours are easily found somewhere in the building. But alas! On this day, you are unable to find even one superior for advice (are they perhaps bound and gagged somewhere in this massive building?).   

What would a strict deontologist do? Why?    

To whom or to what is your duty? This is not an easy question…but it is also what makes duty ethics so much fun!   

What would Immanuel Kant’s “Categorical Imperative” suggest you do here?   

In this situation, would duty ethics be at odds with the thinking of Immanuel Kant?  Explain.

Type: Individual Project

Unit:  A Macroeconomics Perspective

Due Date:  Wed, 4/12/17

Grading Type: Numeric

Points Possible:  100

Points Earned:  0

Deliverable Length:  1,200–2,000 words, including research in essay format

Assignment Objectives

Demonstrate how metrics such as valuation, economic profit, and related terms are measured and evaluated.

Explain the significance and implications of various economic theories pertaining to profit, consumer choice, demand and supply, forecasting and optimization.

Lester Scholl’s administrative assistant calls you on Monday afternoon to set up a conference call between you and the chairman tomorrow morning to discuss the board’s reaction to your list and to discuss your next task. You call the number she gave you, and Lester joins the call shortly after.

“I’m pleased with your work,” he says. The board was impressed with your list of factors. Your ranking made sense because your explanations were well-written. I suspect they read everything you sent because it was concise and clear. Good job.”

“Thanks,” you say, and you feel relieved that your first assignment was well-received.

“Your list provided the basis for a good conversation about the manufacturing operations,” he says. “We want to know more about the economy of both countries to further inform our decision-making process.”

“That makes sense,” you say. “The United States and South Korea hold many distinct economic factors that may affect AutoEdge’s long-term financial performance.”

“Right,” he says. “Your research on the two economies will give the board enough information so we can advise the new, incoming CEO.”

“What should my research include?” you ask.

“In your research, you must take into consideration several macroeconomic factors,” he says. “We want to see information about the gross domestic product (GDP), unemployment, interest rates, and inflation for both the United States and South Korea. Make sure your research is current; that is, no more than 6 months old.”

“I’ll get started right away,” you say.

“Very good,” he says. “Let me know if you have any questions, and I’ll put you in touch with some of the other members of the board if I can’t provide the answers you need.”

“Great,” you say. “Thank you.”

Scenario 1: Imagine you own a small business and after a year in business you have decided to hire a bookkeeper for 2 hours every Friday to bring your books up to date and to process payroll. You want the work performed at your business using the business’s computer and software. The bookkeeper’s work is very specific and you are paying $25 per hour. 

Scenario 2: Imagine you start managing your family’s business and after taking the job you realize the business hasn’t had its bank statements reconciled for a year. None of the checks have been recorded in the checkbook or in the company’s bookkeeping software. You hire a bookkeeper to help you get things in order. They have to put all canceled checks in order, enter the missing checks in the bookkeeping software, and reconcile the bank statements using the company’s bookkeeping software. This is a one-time project that you estimate will require 2 weeks of work. You are paying $25 per hour.

Scenario 3: Imagine as the new manager of the family business you also decided to institute a new policy for handling expense reimbursements to employees. You hire an accountant to prepare the procedure manual for the finance department and prepare a new section of the Employee Handbook. The accountant must meet with company employees to gain an understanding of the new policy. The accountant will be paid a flat fee for the two tasks.

Analyze the scenarios above using a minimum of 1,200 words and include the following:

• Compare and contrast the three scenarios in a table including:
• Whether the person hired in each scenario is an employee or independent contractor.
• The reasons why the person hired in each scenario is an employee or independent contractor.
• Explain the pros and cons of hiring someone as an employee versus an independent contractor.
• Discuss what, if any, legal liabilities and responsibilities a business has for its employees as compared to independent contractors.
• Discuss the consequences a business might face for misclassifying an employee.

Cite at least 4 scholarly references.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

apa style

3 paragraphs

Assume that the United States invests heavily in government and corporate securities of Country K. In addition, residents of Country K invest heavily in the United States. Approximately $10 billion worth of investment transactions occur between these two countries each year. The total dollar value of trade transactions per year is about $8 million. This information is expected to also hold in the future.

Because your firm exports goods to Country K, your job as international cash manager requires you to forecast the value of Country K’s currency (the krank) with respect to the dollar. Complete the following:

• Explain how each of the following conditions will affect the value of the krank, holding other things equal. Then, aggregate all of these impacts to develop an overall forecast of the krank’s movement against the dollar.
  • U.S. inflation has suddenly increased substantially, while Country K’s inflation remains low.
  • U.S. interest rates have increased substantially, while Country K’s interest rates remain low. Investors of both countries are attracted to high interest rates.
  • The U.S. income level increased substantially, while Country K’s income level has remained unchanged.
  • The U.S. is expected to impose a small tariff on goods imported from Country K.
• In the 1990s, Russia was attempting to import more goods but had little to offer other countries in terms of potential exports. In addition, Russia’s inflation rate was high. Explain the type of pressure that these factors placed on the Russian currency.