Compare and Contrast What is one way that a corporation is different from a sole proprietorship? 2. Draw Conclusions What are four advantages of incorporating? 3. Draw Conclusions What are the disadvantages of incorporation? 4. Explain When a multinational corporation opens a new factory in another country, what economic responsibilities must it meet? 5. Summarize The government may be more likely to allow a corporation to form a conglomerate than to allow it to horizontally merge with another company. Why?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
1. Compare and Contrast:
One way a corporation is different from a sole proprietorship is that a corporation is a separate legal entity, whereas a sole proprietorship is not legally distinct from its owner.
2. Draw Conclusions – Advantages of Incorporating:
Four advantages of incorporating are:
- Limited liability for owners
- Ability to raise capital more easily
- Perpetual existence (continues beyond owner’s involvement)
- Transferability of ownership through stock sales
3. Draw Conclusions – Disadvantages of Incorporation:
Disadvantages include:
- Higher costs and complexity to establish and maintain
- More government regulation and scrutiny
- Double taxation of corporate profits
- Reduced control for original owners if shares are sold
4. Explain – Economic Responsibilities of Multinational Corporations:
When a multinational corporation opens a factory in another country, it must:
- Create local jobs
- Follow local labor laws and safety regulations
- Pay local taxes
- Avoid exploiting natural and human resources
5. Summarize – Conglomerates vs. Horizontal Mergers:
The government may prefer a conglomerate because it does not reduce competition within the same industry, while a horizontal merger might lead to monopoly power and less consumer choice.
Explanation:
Corporations and sole proprietorships differ significantly in structure and legal standing. A corporation is an independent legal entity that exists separately from its owners, providing limited liability protection. In contrast, a sole proprietorship is owned and operated by one person who is personally liable for the business’s debts and obligations.
Incorporating offers numerous advantages. First, limited liability protects shareholders’ personal assets from business losses. Second, corporations can raise large sums of capital through stock issuance. Third, they have perpetual existence, meaning they continue even if ownership changes. Fourth, ownership is easily transferable, allowing shareholders to buy or sell shares without disrupting operations.
However, incorporation also comes with drawbacks. It requires more paperwork and legal compliance, resulting in higher startup and maintenance costs. Corporations face more government oversight and are subject to double taxation—once at the corporate level and again on shareholder dividends. Furthermore, original owners may lose some control when shares are publicly traded.
Multinational corporations expanding abroad carry economic responsibilities. They must contribute positively to the host nation’s economy by creating jobs, adhering to fair labor and environmental standards, and paying taxes. Ethical responsibility also includes respecting local customs and avoiding exploitation.
Finally, governments tend to be cautious with horizontal mergers—mergers between competitors in the same industry—because they reduce competition and can lead to monopolies. In contrast, conglomerates merge businesses in different industries, which doesn’t affect market competition as directly. Therefore, conglomerates are less likely to raise antitrust concerns and more likely to receive regulatory approval.
