Suppose That a Small County Is Considering Adding a Guard

question 79

Multiple Choice

Suppose that a small county is considering adding a guard rail to a dangerous curve by a river. The guard rail will cost $70,000. The average damage done to vehicles that slide off the road at the curve is $10,000. It is expected that the guard rail will prevent 5 vehicles from sliding off the road during its usable life. What should the county do?

• A)Install the guard rail because safety is priceless.
• B)Install the guard rail because the benefits exceed the costs.
• C)Do not install the guard rail because the costs exceed the benefits.
• D)Do not install the guard rail at any cost because drivers can purchase private insurance for their vehicles.

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Definitions:

Total Liabilities

The sum of all financial obligations (debts and other liabilities) that a company owes to outside parties.

Stockholders' Equity

The residual interest in the assets of a corporation after deducting liabilities, representing the ownership equity spread among individual shareholders.

Coupon Interest Rate

The annual interest rate paid by a bond issuer on the bond's face value, also known as the "coupon rate."

Premium

An amount paid in excess of the nominal or face value of something, often associated with bonds or insurance.