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财务管理专业双语教学的现状及对策【摘要】经济全球化决定我国高等教育必须面向国际化，开展双语教学已成必然趋势。
本文拟对财务管理专业开展双语教学的现状展开探讨，分析财务管理专业双语教学在实践过程中出现的问题，并有针对性地提出改进方案。
【关键词】财务管理；双语教学；高等教育为顺应全球经济一体化和我国教育国际化的发展需要，如何培养具有核心竞争力的国际化财务人才已成为高校财务管理专业面临的重要问题。
在实现财务管理学科国际化的过程中，双语教学被视为最直接和有效的途径。
一、双语教学的内涵在西方，双语教学更多地被称为“双语教育”（bilingual education），英国《朗文应用语言学词典》定义双语教学是“能在学校里使用第二语言或外语进行各门学科的教学”。
在我国，目前对双语教学比较公认的说法是以加深学生对国外先进知识体系和学科前沿动态的理解，提高学生的外语综合运用能力为目标，将两种语言（通常是英文与中文）作为教学语言的一种教学形式。
二、财务管理专业开展双语教学的现实意义（一）符合时代发展的要求按照教育面向现代化、面向世界、面向未来的发展方向，教育部于2001年下发《关于加强高等学校本科教学工作提高教学质量的若干意见》文件，提出我国本科教育应创造条件使用英语等外语进行教学，特别强调为适应我国加入wto后的金融专业应积极推动双语教学，力争三年内外语教学课程达到所开课程的5%～10%。
该文件的出台，为财务管理专业的发展指明了方向。
作为经济管理的一个重要学科，财务管理专业开展双语教学势在必行。
（二）促进先进理念的吸收信息是当今时代的重要资源，信息的传播和流通对促进各国家的经济文化领域有重要的影响。
从某种程度上说，教育被赋予了传递知识信息的职能。
直到今天，先进的科技、经济和文化等信息依旧来源于欧美发达国家，在可预见的未来，我们仍然需要从发达国家学习文化技术以获取先进的信息资源。
在此过程中，英语作为“世界的语言”成为信息传递的重要媒介。
《国际财务管理》课程双语教学模式的实践探讨1 国际财务管理课程实施双语教学的意义双语教学，是指本科教学中采用汉语和英语进行教学，目的是尽快实现与国际接轨，培养能够运用英语进行专业交流、具有国际竞争力的人才。
本科教学中并非所有课程都适合双语教学，只有那些国际通用性强、可比性较强的课程才适合推行双语教学，而国际财务管理正是符合上述特点的课程。
双语教学的最终目的是通过在外语环境中进行学科教育，使学生能够熟练地运用中、英文进行专业思考，加深学生对国外先进知识体系、思想方法以及前沿学术理论的了解，促使其全面掌握专业知识和技能。
双语教学的实质是用教学语言来促使学生的专业能力和语言能力发展，并非纯粹是对英语的学习，而是以英语为载体对专业的学习，是以学科内容为核心，即利用英语学好专业。
在这种教学环境下，英语不仅仅是学习的对象，也是获取相关专业知识的工具，对专业课程本身的掌握才是教学的目的所在。
国际财务管理课程在我校是为财务管理专业本科生开设的一门专业必修课，作为现代财务管理向国际领域发展的一门新学科，国际财务管理研究在国际经济条件下，国际企业从事跨国性生产经营活动所面临的财务管理问题，研究企业在国际市场的资金运动及其财务关系。
通过该课程的学习，使学生了解和掌握国际企业，特别是跨国公司财务管理的基本理论、基本方法和实务操作。
国际财务管理课程的主要内容均源于国外的理论和实务，国内诸多教材也是以翻译外国教材为基础的，因此若能直接使用外国教材或者采用英文讲义对于学生更好的理解国际财务管理的知识是有诸多益处的。
2 国际财务管理课程双语教学的实施现状鉴于国际财务管理课程的特性，我校在开设该课程之初就确定了双语教学的改革方向，而2008版教学方案的实施为这一改革提供了很好的平台。
在我校2004版教学方案中，国际财务管理课程名为跨国公司财务，课时数为36学时；在我校2008版教学方案中，跨国公司财务更名为国际财务管理，课时数也提高到46学时，这就为该课程的教学改革提供了更多的空间。
《财务管理》（一）（双语）课程教学大纲课程代码：FINM2005课程性质：大类基础课程授课对象：财务管理专业开课学期：秋总学时：54学时学分：3学分讲课学时：54学时实验学时：实践学时：指定教材：《现代企业财务管理》，复旦大学出版社，2012年；James C.Van Home，《Fundamentals of Financial Management》（Thirteenth Edition）（影印本），清华大学出版社，2009年参考书目：1．财务管理-实务与案例.陈玉菁。
中国人民大学出版社，2011年2.财务成本管理（第1版）.中国注册会计师协会.财经出版社，2010年3．财务管理.陈玉菁、赵洪进、顾晓安.中国人民大学出版社，2008年4．金融理财原理（上、下）.中国金融教育发展基金会金融理财标准委员会组织.中信出版社，2007年5．公司金融.薛斐.立信会计出版社，2005年6．现代财务管理(原书第11版，中译本第1版).(美）麦圭根（McGuigan,G.R.）, 克雷洛（Kretlow,W.J.），王满译，机械工业出版社，2010年7．公司财务管理（原书第2版，中译本第1版），（美）埃默瑞（Emery,D.R.）,芬纳蒂（Finnerty,J.D.）著，荆新，王化成等译.中国人民大学出版社，2008年8．经理人财务管理——如何创造价值（原书第3版，中译本第1版）.（美）哈瓦维尼（Hawawini,G.）维埃里（Viallet,C.）著，胡玉明，江伟译.中国人民大学出版社，2008年9．财务管理（中译本第1版).（美）韦佛（Weawer,S.C.）, 韦斯顿（Weston,J.F.）著，刘力，黄慧馨译. 中国财政经济出版社，2003年10.公司理财（原书第6版）.[美]罗斯等著.吴世农等译.机械工业出版社，2012年教学目的：本课程介绍企业财务管理的基本理论、基本知识和基本方法。
内容主要包括：财务管理的基本概念，财务管理的目标，财务管理的环境，财务管理的一般方法，资金时间价值及其初步运用，资金成本的基本计算和运用，筹资管理的基本原理和方法，投资管理基本原理和方法，分配管理基本原理和方法，财务预测和财务决策原理，财务计划和财务控制原理，基本财务指标分析等。
《财务管理基础（双语）》教学大纲课程编号：课程类型：专业课总学时：32 讲课学时：32 实验（上机）学时：0 学分：2适用对象：先修课程：财务会计、概率与统计一、课程的教学目标Financial management is a foundation course for undergraduate students in accounting school. Financial management draws on the knowledge acquired in other areas of accounting, including terms and concepts from the fields of financial accounting, managerial economics, and quantitative methods. A solid understanding of basic mathematics and its application in business contexts is required.Financial management emphasizes on the major decisions made by financial executives of an organization. Topics introduced in this course include the following: • Financial planning• Working capital management• Capital budgeting• Strategic decision making• Cost of capital• Security valuation二、教学基本要求1.Teaching RequirementsFirstly, a learning bridge between theory and practice should be built. While teaching, teachers should emphasize on the financial theories and the role in guiding practice. The ability of using theory knowledge to analysis typical financial cases andsolve practical problems should be trained. Thirdly, a variety of teaching methods should be used. Theory teaching should combine with case study and classroom teaching should combine with students’self-study. Various learning methods are encouraged to be adopted to help students to consolidate the learned knowledge.2. Selection Principles of Teaching MaterialsThe content of teaching materials should cover the main points and basic methods of corporate finance and the framework of teaching materials should be universally accepted in China. However, the framework of the teaching materials should be strict in structure and have a clear logic relationship. While explaining the basic theories and methods of finance, the teaching materials should combine those theories with practice to conform the trend. The latest development of corporate finance should also be included in the teaching materials.3. Teaching Method and Grade sTeaching Method: While teaching, the key points should be focused and difficult points should be taught clearly. Modern means of teaching are encouraged to be used. Exercises are used to help students to prepare and review the lessons. Extra newspapers, magazines and website should be provided, and students are encouraged to use these channels to collect information combined with theory principles learned in the class to analyze and solve practical problems. Homework are required to be completed by individuals or discussed in groups according to the difficulty of the problems.Grades:Homework and test in classroom: 30%;Final Examination: 70%.三、各教学环节学时分配教学课时分配四、教学内容Part 1 Introduction of Financial ManagementChapter 1 The Role of Financial ManagementWhat is Financial Management?The Goal of the FirmCorporate GovernanceOrganization of the Financial Management FunctionKey Learning Points：What is Financial Management?The Goal of the FirmObjectives：After Studying Chapter 1, you should be able to: Explain why the role of the financial manager today is so important. Describe "financial management" in terms of the three major decision areas that confront the financial manager.Identify the goal of the firm and understand why shareholders' wealth maximization is preferred over other goals. Understand the potential problems arising when management of the corporation and ownership are separated (i.e., agency problems). Demonstrate an understanding of corporate governance.Discuss the issues underlying social responsibility of the firm. Understand the basic responsibilities of financial managers and the differences between a "treasurer" and a "controller."Questions：1. If all companies had an objective of maximizing shareholder wealth, would people over-all tend to be better or worse off?2. Contrast the objective of maximizing earnings with that of maximizing wealth.3. What is financial management all about?4. Explain why judging the efficiency of any financial decision requires the existence of a goal?5. What are the three major function of the financial manager? How are they related?6. Should the managers of a company own sizable amounts of common stock in the company? Why are the pros and cons?7. As an investor, do you think that some managers are paid too much? Do their rewards come at your expense?8. How does the notion of risk and reward govern the behavior of financial managers?9. What is corporate governance? What role does a corporation’s board of directors play in corporate governance?10. Compare and contrast the role that a firm’s treasurer and controller have in the operation of the firm.Chapter 2 The Business, Tax, and Financial EnvironmentsThe Business EnvironmentThe Tax EnvironmentThe Financial EnvironmentKey Learning Points：The Tax EnvironmentThe Financial EnvironmentObjectives：After Studying Chapter 2, you should be able to: Describe the four basic forms of business organization in the United States – and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Understand how to calculate a corporation's taxable income and how to determine the corporate tax rate - both average and marginal. Understand various methods of depreciation. Understand why acquiring assets through the use of debt financing offers a tax advantage over both common and preferred stock financing. Describe the purpose and make up of financial markets. Demonstrate an understanding of how letter ratings of the major rating agencies help you to judge a security’s default risk. Understand what is meant by the term “term structure of interest rates”and relate it to a “yield curve.”Questions：1. What is the principal advantage of the corporate form of business organization? Discuss the importance of this advantage to the owner of a small family restaurant. Discuss the importance of this advantage to a wealthy entrepreneur who owns several businesses.2. What are some of the disadvantages of (a) a sole proprietorship? (b) a partnership? (c) a limited liability company (LLC)?3. Are individual tax rates progressive or regressive in the sense of increasing or decreasing with income levels?4. The method of depreciation does not alter the total amount deducted from income during the life of an asset. What does it alter and why is that important?5. What is the purpose of financial markets? How can this purpose be accomplished efficiently?6. What is meant by making the financial markets more efficient? More complete?7. What are the major sources of external financing for business firms?8. In addition to financial intermediaries, what other institutions andarrangements facilitate the flow of funds to and from business firms?Part 2 ValuationChapter 3 The Time Value of MoneyThe Interest RateSimple InterestCompound InterestAmortizing a LoanCompounding More Than Once per YearKey Learning Points：Simple InterestCompound InterestObjectives：After Studying Chapter 3, you should be able to: Understand what is meant by "the time value of money." Understand the relationship between present and future value. Describe how the interest rate can be used to adjust the value of cash flows – both forward and backward – to a single point in time. Calculate both the future and present value of: (a) an amount invested today; (b) a stream of equal cash flows (an annuity); and (c) a stream of mixed cash flows.Distinguish between an “ordinary annuity” and an “annuity due.” Use interest factor tables and understand how they provide a shortcut to calculating present and future values. Use interest factor tables to find an unknown interest rate or growth rate when the number of time periods and future and present values are known. Build an “amortization schedule” for an installment-style loan.Questions：1. What is simple interest?2. What is compound interest? Why is it important?3. What kinds of personal financial decisions have you made that involve compound interest?4. What is an annuity? Is an annuity worth more or less than a lump sum payment received now that would be equal to the sum of all the future annuity payment?5. What type of compounding would you prefer in your savings account? Why?6. Contrast the calculation of future (terminal) value with the calculation of present value. What is the difference?7. What is the advantage of using present value tables rather than formulas? Chapter 4 The Valuation of Long-Term SecuritiesDistinctions Among Valuation ConceptsBond ValuationPreferred Stock ValuationCommon Stock ValuationRates of Return (or Yields)Key Learning Points：Bond ValuationPreferred Stock ValuationCommon Stock ValuationObjectives：After Studying Chapter 4, you should be able to: Distinguish among the various terms used to express value. Value bonds, preferred stocks, and common stocks. Calculate the rates of return (or yields) of different types of long-term securities. List and explain a number of observations regarding the behavior of bond prices.Questions：1. What connection, if any, does a firm’s market value have with its liquidationand/or going-concern value?2. Could a security’s intrinsic value to an investor ever differ from the security’s market value? If so, under what circumstances?3. In what sense is the treatment of bonds and preferred stock the same when it comes to valuation?4. A20-year bond has a coupon rate of 8%, and another bond of the same maturity has a coupon rate of 15%. If the bonds are alike in all other respects, which will have the greater relative market price decline if interests increase sharply? Why?5. Why are dividends the basis for the valuation of common stock?6. Why is the growth rate in earnings and dividends of a company likely to taper off in the future? Could the growth rate increase as well? If it did, what would be the effect on stock price?7. Using the constant perpetual growth dividend valuation model, could you havea situation in which a company grows at 30% per year (after subtracting out inflation) forever? Explain.Chapter 5 Risk and ReturnDefining Risk and ReturnUsing Probability Distributions to Measure RiskAttitudes Toward RiskRisk and Return in a Portfolio ContextDiversificationThe Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)Efficient Financial MarketsKey Learning Points：Using Probability Distributions to Measure RiskAttitudes Toward RiskDiversificationThe Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)Objectives：After Studying Chapter 5, you should be able to: Understand the relationship (or “trade-off”) between risk and return. Define risk and return and show how to measure them by calculating expected return, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation. Discuss the different types of investor attitudes toward risk. Explain risk and return in a portfolio context, and distinguish between individual security and portfolio risk. Distinguish between avoidable (unsystematic) risk and unavoidable (systematic) risk and explain how proper diversification can eliminate one of these risks. Define and explain the capital-asset pricing model (CAPM), beta, and the characteristic line. Calculate a required rate of return using the capital-asset pricing model (CAPM). Demonstrate how the Security Market Line (SML) can be used to describe this relationship between expected rate of return and systematic risk. Explain what is meant by an “efficient financial market” and describe the three levels (or forms) of market efficiency.Questions：1. If investors were not risk averse on average, but rather were either risk indifferent (neutral) or even liked risk, would the risk- return concepts presented in this chapter be valid?2. Define the characteristic line and its beta.3. Why is beta a measure of systematic risk? What is its meaning?4. What is the required rate of return of a stock? How can it be measured?5. Is the security market line constant over time? Why or why not?6. Suppose that you are highly risk averse but that you still invest in common stocks. Will the beta of the stocks in which you invest be more or less than 1.0? Why?7. If a security is undervalued in terms of the capital-asset pricing model, whatwill happen if investors come to recognize this undervaluation?Part 3 Tools of Financial Analysis and PlanningChapter 6 Financial Statement AnalysisFinancial StatementsA Possible Framework for AnalysisBalance Sheet RatiosIncome Statement and Income/Balance Sheet RatiosTrend AnalysisCommon-Size and Index AnalysisKey Learning Points：Balance Sheet RatiosIncome Statement and Income/Balance Sheet RatiosObjectives：After Studying Chapter 6, you should be able to: Understand the purpose of basic financial statements and their contents. Understand what is meant by “convergence” in acco unting standards. Explain why financial statement analysis is important to the firm and to outside suppliers of capital. Define, calculate, and categorize (according to liquidity, financial leverage, coverage, activity, and profitability) the major financial ratios and understand what they can tell us about the firm. Define, calculate, and discuss a firm’s operating cycle and cash cycle. Use ratios to analyze a firm's health and then recommend reasonable alternative courses of action to improve the health of the firm.Analyze a firm’s return on investment (i.e., “earning power”) and return on equity using a DuPont approach. Understand the limitations of financial ratio analysis. Use trend analysis, common-size analysis, and index analysis to gainadditional insights into a firm's performance.Questions：1. What is the purpose of a balance sheet? An income statement?2. Why is the analysis of trends in financial ratios important?3. Auxier Manufacturing Company has a current ratio of 4 to 1 but is unable to pay its bills. Why?4. Can a firm generate a 25% return on assets and still be technically insolvent (unable to pay its bills)? Explain.5. The traditional definitions of collection period and inventory turnover are criticized because in both cases balance sheet figures that are a result of approximately the last month of sales are related to annual sales (in the former case) or annual cost of goods sold (in the latter case). Why do these definitions present problems? Suggest a solution.6. Explain why a long-term creditor should be interested in liquidity ratios?7. Which financial ratios would you be most likely to consult if you were the following?a. A banker considering the financial of seasonal inventoryb. A wealthy equity investorc. The manager of a pension fund considering the purchase of a firm’sbondsd. The president of a consumer products firm8. In trying to judge whether a company has too much debt, what financial ratios would you use and for that purpose?9. Why might it be possible for a company to make large operating profits, yet still be unable to meet debt payments when due? What financial ratios might be employed to detect such a condition?10. Does increasing a firm’s inventory turnover ratio increase its profitability? Why should this ratio be computed using cost of goods sold (rather than sales, asis done by some compilers of financial statistics)?Chapter 7 Fund Analysis, Cash-Flow Analysis, and Financial Planning Flow of Funds (Sources and Uses) StatementAccounting Statement of Cash FlowsCash-Flow ForecastingRange of Cash-Flow EstimatesForecasting Financial StatementsKey Learning Points：Forecasting Financial StatementsObjectives：After Studying Chapter 7, you should be able to: Explain the difference between the flow of funds (sources and uses of funds) statement and the statement of cash flows –and understand the benefits of using each. Define "funds" and identify sources and uses of funds. Create a sources and uses of funds statement, make adjustments, and analyze the final results. Describe the purpose and content of the statement of cash flows as well as implications that can be drawn from it. Prepare a cash budget from forecasts of sales, receipts, and disbursements – and know why such a budget should be flexible. Develop forecasted balance sheets and income statements. Understand the importance of using probabilistic information in forecasting financial statements and evaluating a firm's condition.Questions：1. Contrast flow of funds (sources and uses) statements with cash budgets as planning tools.2. What is the purpose of a statement of cash flow?3. Discuss the benefits that can be derived by the firm from cash budgeting.4. Explain why selling inventory to credit customers is considered a source offunds when in fact no “funds” were generated?5. Is depreciation a source of funds? Under what conditions might the “source”dry up?6. Why do bankers closely analyze cash flow statements and/or sources and usesof funds statements in considering credit applications?7. What are the major points of difference between a cash budget and the sourcesand uses of funds statement?8. On what items should the financial manager concentrate in order to improvethe accuracy of the cash budget? Explain your reasoning.9. Why is the sales forecast so important in preparing the cash budget?10. What are the two principal ways by which one can prepare forecast financialstatements?Part 4 Working Capital ManagementChapter 8 Overview of Working Capital ManagementWorking Capital ConceptsWorking Capital IssuesFinancing Current Assets: Short-Term and Long-Term MixCombining Liability Structure and Current Asset DecisionsKey Learning Points：Working Capital ConceptsCombining Liability Structure and Current Asset DecisionsObjectives：After Studying Chapter 8, you should be able to: Explain how the definition of "working capital" differs between financial analysts and accountants. Understand the two fundamental decision issues in working capital management –and the trade-offs involved in making these decisions. Discusshow to determine the optimal level of current assets. Describe the relationship between profitability, liquidity, and risk in the management of working capital. Explain how to classify working capital according to its “components” and according to “time” (i.e., either p ermanent or temporary). Describe the hedging (maturity matching) approach to financing and the advantages/disadvantages of short- versus long-term financing. Explain how the financial manager combines the current asset decision with the liability structure decision.Questions：1. What does working capital management encompass? What functional decisions are involved, and what underlying principle or trade-off influences the decision process?2. Utilities hold 10% of total assets in current assets; retail trade industries hold 60% of total assets in current assets. Explain how industry characteristics account for this difference.3. Distinguish between “temporary” and “permanent” working capital.4. If the firm adopts a hedging (maturity matching) approach to financing, how would it finance its current assets?5. Some firms finance their permanent working capital with short-term liabilities (commercial paper and short-term notes). Explain the impact of this decision on the profitability and risk of these firms.6. Suppose that a firm finances its seasonal (temporary) current assets with long-term funds. What is the impact of this decision on the profitability and risk of this firm?7. At times, long-term interest rates are lower than short-term rates, yet the discussion in the chapter suggests that long-term financing is more expensive. If long-term rates are lower, should the firm finance itself entirely with long-term debt?8. How does shortening the maturity composition of outstanding debt increase the firm’s risk? Why does increasing the liquidity of the firm’s assets reduce the risk?9. What are the costs of maintaining too large a level of working capital? Too small a level of working capital?10. How is a margin of safety provided for in working capital management? Chapter 9 Cash and Marketable Securities ManagementMotives for Holding CashSpeeding Up Cash ReceiptsS-l-o-w-i-n-g D-o-w-n Cash PayoutsElectronic CommerceOutsourcingCash Balances to MaintainInvestment in Marketable SecuritiesKey Learning Points：Cash Balances to MaintainInvestment in Marketable SecuritiesObjectives：After Studying Chapter 9, you should be able to: List and explain the motives for holding cash. Understand the purpose of efficient cash management. Describe methods for speeding up the collection of accounts receivable and methods for controlling cash disbursements. Differentiate between remote and controlled disbursement, and discuss any ethical concerns raised by either of these two methods. Discuss how electronic data interchange (EDI) and outsourcing each relates to a company’s cash collections and disbursements. Identify the key variables that should be considered before purchasing any marketable securities. Define the most common money-market instruments that a marketable securities portfolio manager would consider for investment.Describe the three segments of the marketable securities portfolio and note which securities are most appropriate for each segment and why. Questions：1. Define the function of cash management?2. Explain the concept of concentration banking.3. Explain how the lockbox system can improve the efficiency of cash management.4. Money market instruments are used as investment vehicles for otherwise idle cash. Discuss the most important criterion for asset selection in investing temporarily idle cash.5. Discuss the impact of lockbox banking on corporate cash balance.6. What are compensating ban balance, and why are they not the same for all depositors?7. What is net float? How might a company “play the float” in its disbursements?8. Under what conditions would it be possible for a company to hold no cash or marketable securities? Are these conditions realistic?9. What are the three motives for holding cash?10. What is outsourcing? Why might a company outsource some or all of its cash management processes? What is business processing outsourcing (BPO)? Chapter 10 Accounts Receivable and Inventory ManagementCredit and Collection PoliciesAnalyzing the Credit ApplicantInventory Management and ControlKey Learning Points：Analyzing the Credit ApplicantInventory Management and ControlObjectives：After Studying Chapter 10, you should be able to: List the key factors that can be varied in a firm's credit policy and understand the trade-off between profitability and costs involved. Understand how the level of investment in accounts receivable is affected by the firm's credit policies. Critically evaluate proposed changes in credit policy, including changes in credit standards, credit period, and cash discount. Describe possible sources of information on credit applicants and how you might use the information to analyze a credit applicant. Identify the various types of inventories and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of increasing/decreasing inventories. Describe, explain, and illustrate the key concepts and calculations necessary for effective inventory management and control, including classification, economic order quantity (EOQ), order point, safety stock, and just-in-time (JIT).Questions：1. Is it always good policy to reduce the firm’s bad debts by “getting rid of the deadbeats”?2. Is an increase in the collection period necessarily bad? Explain.3. What are the principal factors that can be varied in setting credit policy?4. If credit standards for the quality of accounts accepted are changed, what things are affected?5. Why is the saturation point reached in spending money on collections?6. What is the purpose of establishing a line of credit for an account? What are the benefits of this arrangement?7. The analysis of inventory policy is analogous to the analysis of credit policy. Propose a measure to analyze inventory policy that is analogous to the aging of accounts receivable.8. What are the principal implications to the financial manager of ordering costs, storage costs, and cost of capital as they relate to inventory?9. Explain how efficient inventory management affects the liquidity and profitability of the firm.10. How can the firm reduce its investment in inventories? What costs might the firm incur from a policy of very low inventory investment?11. Do inventories represent an investment in the same sense as fixed assets?12. Should the required rate of return for investment in inventories of raw materials be the same as that for finished goods?Chapter 11 Short-Term FinancingSpontaneous FinancingNegotiated FinancingFactoring Accounts ReceivableComposition of Short-Term FinancingKey Learning Points：Factoring Accounts ReceivableComposition of Short-Term FinancingObjectives：After Studying Chapter 11, you should be able to: Understand the sources and types of spontaneous financing. Calculate the annual cost of trade credit when trade discounts are forgone. Explain what is meant by "stretching payables" and understand its potential drawbacks. Describe various types of negotiated (or external) short-term borrowing. Identify the factors that affect the cost of short-term borrowing. Calculate the effective annual interest rate on short-term borrowing with or without a compensating balance requirement and/or a commitment fee. Understand what is meant by factoring accounts receivable.Questions：1. Explain why trade credit from suppliers is a “Spontaneous source of funds”.2. Trade credit from suppliers is very costly source of funds when discounts arelost. Explain why many firms rely on this source of funds to finance their temporary working capital.3. Suppose that a firm elected to tighten its trade credit policy from “2/10, net 90”to “2/3f0”. What effect could the firm expect this change to have on its liquidity?4. Why are accrued expenses a more spontaneous source of financing than tradecredit from suppliers?5. Why is the rate on commercial paper usually less than the prime rate chargedby bankers and more than the Treasury bill rate?6. Why would a firm borrow bank funds at higher rates instead of issuingcommercial papers?7. Who is able to issue commercial paper and for what purpose?8. How do bankers’acceptances differ from commercial paper as a means offinancing?9. Compare and contrast a line of credit and a revolving credit agreement.10. Would you rather have your loan on a “collect basis” or a “discount basis” ifyou were a borrower, all other things being the same? If you were a lender?11. What determines whether a lending arrangement is unsecured or secured?12. As a lender, how would you determine the percentage you are willing toadvance against a particular type of collateral?13. As a financial consultant to a company, how would you go aboutrecommending whether to use an assignment of accounts receivable or a factoring arrangement?14. In choosing the composition of short-term financing, what factors should beconsidered?Part 5 Investment in Capital Assets。
