An Australian company has two manufacturing plants, one in Australia and the other in a Southeast Asian country. Both produce the same product, each for sale in their respective countries. However, their labour productivity and capital productivity figures are quite different. The analyst thinks this is because the Australian plant uses more automated equipment for processing while the other plant uses a higher percentage of labour. In your own words, explain how the aforementioned factors can cause productivity figures to be misleading. Is there another way to compare the two plants that would be more meaningful?

Essentials Of Investments
11th Edition
ISBN:9781260013924
Author:Bodie, Zvi, Kane, Alex, MARCUS, Alan J.
Publisher:Bodie, Zvi, Kane, Alex, MARCUS, Alan J.
Chapter1: Investments: Background And Issues
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1PS
icon
Related questions
Question
An Australian company has two manufacturing plants, one in Australia and the other
in a Southeast Asian country. Both produce the same product, each for sale in their
respective countries. However, their labour productivity and capital productivity
figures are quite different. The analyst thinks this is because the Australian plant
uses more automated equipment for processing while the other plant uses a higher
percentage of labour.
In your own words, explain how the aforementioned factors can cause productivity
figures to be misleading. Is there another way to compare the two plants that would
be more meaningful?
Transcribed Image Text:An Australian company has two manufacturing plants, one in Australia and the other in a Southeast Asian country. Both produce the same product, each for sale in their respective countries. However, their labour productivity and capital productivity figures are quite different. The analyst thinks this is because the Australian plant uses more automated equipment for processing while the other plant uses a higher percentage of labour. In your own words, explain how the aforementioned factors can cause productivity figures to be misleading. Is there another way to compare the two plants that would be more meaningful?
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Goals and Objectives
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, finance and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
Essentials Of Investments
Essentials Of Investments
Finance
ISBN:
9781260013924
Author:
Bodie, Zvi, Kane, Alex, MARCUS, Alan J.
Publisher:
Mcgraw-hill Education,
FUNDAMENTALS OF CORPORATE FINANCE
FUNDAMENTALS OF CORPORATE FINANCE
Finance
ISBN:
9781260013962
Author:
BREALEY
Publisher:
RENT MCG
Financial Management: Theory & Practice
Financial Management: Theory & Practice
Finance
ISBN:
9781337909730
Author:
Brigham
Publisher:
Cengage
Foundations Of Finance
Foundations Of Finance
Finance
ISBN:
9780134897264
Author:
KEOWN, Arthur J., Martin, John D., PETTY, J. William
Publisher:
Pearson,
Fundamentals of Financial Management (MindTap Cou…
Fundamentals of Financial Management (MindTap Cou…
Finance
ISBN:
9781337395250
Author:
Eugene F. Brigham, Joel F. Houston
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Corporate Finance (The Mcgraw-hill/Irwin Series i…
Corporate Finance (The Mcgraw-hill/Irwin Series i…
Finance
ISBN:
9780077861759
Author:
Stephen A. Ross Franco Modigliani Professor of Financial Economics Professor, Randolph W Westerfield Robert R. Dockson Deans Chair in Bus. Admin., Jeffrey Jaffe, Bradford D Jordan Professor
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education