Professional Documents
Culture Documents
c)
d)
e)
Assignment - B
Question 1. What is the role of World Bank in promoting International Trade?
What are the functions of IDA and IRDB?
Question 2. How International Monetary Funds helps its member countries in their
economic development? What steps were taken by IMF to help the member countries
to come out of the recession?
Question 3. What the major function of EXIM Bank of India? Which are the major
initiatives taken by the Bank to promote export from our country?
Case Study
Organic Food Consumption in India is on the Rise.
Some people believe that organic food is only a "concept" popular in the
developed countries. They think that when it comes to organic food, India only
exports organic food and very little is consumed. However, this is not true.
Though 50% of the organic food production in India is targeted towards exports,
there are many who look towards organic food for domestic consumption.
ACNielsen, a leading market research firm, recently surveyed about 21,000
regular Internet users in 38 countries to find their preference for functional
foods - foods that have additional health benefits. The survey revealed that
India was among the top ten countries where health food, including organic food,
was demanded by the consumers.
The most important reason for buying organic food was the concern for the health
of children, with over 66 percent parents preferring organic food to non organic
food. Though organic food is priced over 25 percent more than conventional food
in India, many parents are willing to pay this higher premium due to the
perceived health benefits of organic food.
The increase in organic food consumption in India is evident from the fact that
many organic food stores are spurring up in India. Today (2006) every
supermarket has an organic food store and every large city in India has numerous
organic food stores and restaurants. This is a huge change considering that the
first organic food store in Mumbai was started in 1997.
What do Indian organic food consumers prefer? The pattern of organic food
consumption in India is much different than in the developed countries. In
India, consumers prefer organic marmalade, organic strawberry, organic tea,
organic honey, organic cashew butter and various organic flours.
However, the Indian organic food consumer needs education. There are many
consumers who are unaware of the difference between natural and organic food.
Many people purchase products labeled as Natural thinking that they are Organic.
Further, consumers are not aware of the certification system. Since
certification is not compulsory for domestic retail in India, many fake organic
products are available in the market.
Organic Farming in India
Organic farming was practiced in India since thousands of years. The great
Indian civilization thrived on organic farming and was one of the most
prosperous countries in the world, till the British ruled it.
In traditional India, the entire agriculture was practiced using organic
techniques, where the fertilizers, pesticides, etc., were obtained from plant
and animal products. Organic farming was the backbone of the Indian economy and
cow was worshipped (and is still done so) as a God. The cow, not only provided
milk, but also provided bullocks for farming and dung which was used as
fertilizers.
Shift to Chemical Farming in 1960s
During 1950s and 1960s, the ever increasing population of India and several
natural calamities lead to a severe food scarcity in India. As a result, the
government was forced to import food grains from foreign countries. To increase
food security, the government had to drastically increase the production of food
in India. The Green Revolution (under the leadership of M. S. Swaminathan)
became the government's most important program in the 1960s. Large amount of
land was brought under cultivation. Hybrid seeds were introduced. Natural and
organic fertilizers were replaced by chemical fertilizers and locally made
pesticides were replaced by chemical pesticides. Large chemical factories such
as the Rashtriya Chemical Fertilizers were established.
Before the Green Revolution, it was feared that millions of poor Indians would
die of hunger in the mid 1970s. However, the Green Revolution, within a few
years, showed its impact. The country, which was greatly relied on imports for
its food supply, reduced its imports every passing year. In 1990s, India had
surplus foodgrains and once again became and exporter of food grains.
As time went by, extensive dependence on chemical farming has shown its darker
side. The land is losing its fertility and is demanding larger quantities of
fertilizers to be used. Pests are becoming immune requiring the farmers to use
stronger and costlier pesticides. Due to increased cost of farming, farmers are
falling into the trap of money lenders, who are exploiting them no end, and
forcing many to commit suicide.
Both consumer and farmers are now gradually shifting back to organic farming in
India. It is believed by many that organic farming is healthier. Though the
health benefits of organic food are yet to be proved, consumers are willing to
pay higher premium for the same. Many farmers in India are shifting to organic
farming due to the domestic and international demand for organic food. Further
stringent standards for non-organic food in European and US markets have led to
rejection of many Indian food consignments in the past. Organic farming,
therefore, provides a better alternative to chemical farming.
According to the International Fund for Agriculture and Development (IFAD),
about 2.5 million hectares of land was under organic farming in India in 2004.
Further, there are over 15,000 certified organic farms in India. India,
therefore is one of the most important suppliers of organic food to the
developed nations. No doubt, the organic movement has again started in India.
Organic Food Exports from India
Organic food exports from India are increasing with more farmers shifting to
organic farming. With the domestic consumption being low, the prime market for
Indian organic food industry lies in the US and Europe. India has now become a
leading supplier of organic herbs, organic spices, organic basmati rice, etc.
RCNOS recently published a report tilted 'Food Processing Market in India
(2005)'. According to its research, exports amount to 53% of the organic food
produced in India. This is considerably high when compared to percentage of
agricultural products exported. In 2003, only 6-7% of the total agricultural
produce in India was exported.
Exports is driving organic food production in India
The increasing demand for organic food products in the developed countries and
the extensive support by the Indian government coupled with its focus on
agri-exports are the drivers for the Indian organic food industry.
Organic food products in India are priced about 20-30% higher than non-organic
food products. This is a very high premium for most of the Indian population
where the per capita income is merely USD 800. Though the salaries in India are
increasing rapidly, the domestic market is not sufficient to consume the entire
organic food produced in the country. As a result, exports of organic food is
the prime aim of organic farmers as well as the government,
lled
Options
interest-rate risk.
coupon-rate risk.
reinvestment risk.
yield-to-maturity risk.
Question No. 2
Marks - 10
The concept of _________ is based on the common-sense notion that a dollar paid
to you in the future is less valuable to you than a dollar today.
Options
present value
future value
interest
deflation
Question No. 3 Marks - 10
A spot transaction in the foreign exchange market involves the
Options
exchange of exports and imports at a specified future date.
exchange of bank deposits at a specified future date.
immediate (within two days) exchange of exports and imports.
immediate (within two days) exchange of bank deposits.
appreciated
appreciated
depreciated
depreciated
depreciate;
appreciate;
depreciate;
appreciate;
short
short
long
long
Question No. 13
Marks - 10
The government institution that has responsibility for the amount of money and c
redit supplied in the economy as a whole is the
Options
central Bank.
commercial Bank.
bank of settlement.
Treasury Department.
Question No. 14
Marks - 10
Money market instruments
Options
are usually sold in large denominations.
have low default risk.
mature in one year or less.
are characterized by all of the above.
Question No. 15
Marks - 10
Long-term debt and equity instruments are traded in the _________ market.
Options
primary
secondary
capital
money
Question No. 16
Marks - 10
A loan that requires the borrower to make the same payment every period until th
e maturity date is called a
Options
simple loan.
fixed-payment loan.
discount loan.
same-payment loan.
Question No. 17
Marks - 10
When the exchange rate for the euro changes from $1.20 to $1.00, then, holding e
verything else constant, the euro has
Options
appreciated
appreciated
depreciated
depreciated
and
and
and
and
the United
the United
in Germany
in Germany
Question No. 18
Marks - 10
The commonly accepted goal of the MNC is to:
Options
maximize short-term earnings.
maximize shareholder wealth.
minimize risk.
A and C.
Question No. 19
Marks - 10
Insurance purchased to cover the risk of expropriation __________, and will typi
cally cover __________.
Options
will be the same for all firms; only a portion of the firm's total exposure.
will be the same for all firms; all of the firm's total exposure.
will be dependent on the firm's risk; all of the firm's total exposure.
will be dependent on the firm's risk; only a portion of the firm's total exposu
re.
Question No. 20
Marks - 10
Markets in which funds are transferred from those who have excess funds availabl
e to those who have a shortage of available funds are called
Options
commodity markets.
funds markets.
derivative exchange markets.
financial markets.
Question No. 21
Marks - 10
When the price of a bond is above the equilibrium price, there is excess _______
__ in the bond market and the price will _________.
Options
demand;
demand;
supply;
supply;
rise
fall
fall
rise
Question No. 22
Marks - 10
If the demand for _________ goods decreases relative to _________ goods, the dom
estic currency will depreciate.
Options
foreign; domestic
foreign; foreign
domestic; domestic
domestic; foreign
Question No. 23
Marks - 10
If the 2005 inflation rate in Britain is 6 percent, and the inflation rate in th
e U.S. is 4 percent, then the theory of purchasing power parity predicts that, d
uring 2005, the value of the British pound in terms of U.S. dollars will
Options
rise by
rise by
fall by
fall by
10 percent.
2 percent.
10 percent.
2 percent.
Question No. 24
Marks - 10
______________ is(are) not a form of political risk.
Options
Exchange rate movements
Attitude of consumers in the host country
Actions of the host government
Blockage of fund transfers
Question No. 25
Marks - 10
Bonds that are sold in a foreign country and are denominated in a currency other
than that of the country in which they are sold are known as
Options
foreign bonds.
Eurobonds.
Eurocurrencies.
Eurodollars
Question No. 26
Marks - 10
The process of calculating what dollars received in the future are worth today i
s called
Options
calculating
discounting
compounding
compounding
the
the
the
the
yield to maturity.
future.
future.
present.
Question No. 27
Marks - 10
The nominal interest rate minus the expected rate of inflation
Options
defines the real interest rate.
is a less accurate measure of the incentives to borrow and lend than is the nom
inal interest rate.
is a less accurate indicator of the tightness of credit market conditions than
is the nominal interest rate.
defines the discount rate.
Question No. 28
Marks - 10
The theory of purchasing power parity is a theory of how exchange rate are deter
mined in
Options
the long run.
the short run.
both (a) and (b).
none of the above.
Question No. 29
LIBOR is:
Marks - 10
Options
the interest rate commonly charged for loans between banks.
the average inflation rate in European countries.
the maximum loan rate ceiling on loans in the international money market.
the maximum deposit rate ceiling on deposits in the international money market.
Question No. 30
Marks - 10
The price paid for the rental of borrowed funds (usually expressed as a percenta
ge of the rental of $100 per year) is commonly referred to as the
Options
inflation rate.
exchange rate.
interest rate.
aggregate price level.
Question No. 31
Marks - 10
If the dollar appreciates from 0.8 euros per dollar to 1.2 euros per dollar, the
euro depreciates from _________ dollars to _________ dollars per euro.
Options
1.25; 0.83
0.83; 1.25
0.67; 1.50
1.50; 0.67
Question No. 32
Marks - 10
The exchange rate is the:
Options
Opportunity cost at which goods are produced domestically.
Balance-of-trade ratio of one country to another.
Price of one country's currency expressed in terms of another country's currenc
y.
Amount of currency that can be purchased with 1 ounce of gold.
Question No. 33
Marks - 10
The demand for dollars in the foreign-exchange market:
Options
Is represented by a point in a diagram of foreign-exchange supply and demand.
Depends in part on the foreign demand for U.S. goods.
Depends on U.S. demand for foreign goods and services.
Is the ratio of the dollars demanded to the amount of foreign currency supplied
.
Question No. 34
Marks - 10
Changes in the value of the euro affect the economies of:
Options
Only those countries using the euro as currency.
All European countries but there would be no significant impact on countries ou
tside Europe.
Potentially the entire world.
There would be no significant impact on any economies as long as exchange rates
are flexible.
Question No. 35
Marks - 10
The main sources of financing for businesses, in order of importance, are
Options
il.com