Stock Option Plans Give Employees the Option to Purchase (A)

question 112

Essay

Stock option plans give employees the option to purchase (a) a specified number of shares of the firm's stock, (b) at a specified price, (c) during a specified period of time. One of the most heated controversies in standard-setting history has been the debate over the amount of compensation to be recognized as expense for stock options. At issue is how the value of stock options is measured, which for most options determines whether any expense at all is recognized. The opposition included corporate executives, auditors, members of Congress, and the SEC.
Required:
Describe the primary objections of critics of the FASB's eventually successful attempt to require expensing of the fair value of the options.

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Definitions:

Consumption

The act of using goods and services for personal needs or wants.

Demand Curve

A graphical representation showing the relationship between the price of a good and the amount of it that consumers are willing to purchase at various prices.

Quantity Demanded

The total amount of a good or service consumers are willing and able to purchase at a given price in a specified period.

Demand Curve

Is a graphical representation showing the relationship between the price of a product and the quantity of the product that consumers are willing and able to purchase at various prices.