Archive for the ‘Daily Definition’ Category

The Gross National Product (GNP) is…

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

The gross national product (GNP) measures the value of the total output of goods and services produced by a nation’s citizens, whether they live within the country or elsewhere. GNP was the main measurement of U.S. production and growth until it was replaced by GDP in 1991.

Breaking Even is…

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Breaking even is the point where your total revenue equals your total cost – you haven’t made any money yet, but you also haven’t lost any. For example, when you buy a financial instrument there are the costs to purchase the item plus transaction costs – like paying your broker. The investment doesn’t “break even” until the value increases enough to cover ALL costs.

A Trade Embargo is…

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

A trade embargo is a prohibition against commerce with a particular country. For example, the United States has had an embargo against Cuba since October of 1960 in order to prevent Cuba from benefitting in any way from the U.S. economy. That’s why Americans can’t buy Cuban cigars or other products!

Return is…

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Return is the change in value of an investment over a period of time. For example, if a group of stocks in which you invested were worth $50,000 three months ago and they’re worth $75,000 now, you have a return of $25,000, or 50%, over that three-month period.

An Entrepreneur is…

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

An entrepreneur is a person who starts his or her own business or enterprise and assumes responsibility for all the risk involved. Basically, the entrepreneur is the brain behind the operation and the one in charge, but he or she is also the person held accountable for the business venture’s success or failure.

Restricted Funds are…

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Restricted funds are grants given to a recipient (usually a nonprofit organization) on the condition that the money be used in a specific way. For example, restricted funds could be given to a medical research organization only for use in finding a cure for a specific disease.

Lobbying is…

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Lobbying is the practice of trying to persuade some government body or official to support legislation that would help your employer or organization. For example, a member of an environmental group might lobby for Congress’ support in passing a global warming bill.

An Import Tax is…

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

An import tax is a charge added to the price of a good when it’s brought from one country into another. Reasons for the tax include: profit for the importing government and protection of its own home companies that produce that same good. For example, the U.S. has a high import tax on sugar in order to protect the U.S. sugar industry from cheaper foreign imports.

A Management Buyout is…

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

A management buyout is a buyout of a firm or a piece of a firm by the firm’s own management. For example, Company A owns Company B, and the management of Company B decides to buy their own company from Company A – that’s when you get a management buyout.

Operating Profit is…

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Operating profit is a calculation of how much profit was made by a firm in a given time period. You can find operating profit by subtracting total costs and expenses from revenue.