Rules of origin define the country of origin for exports and IMPORTS. Rules of origin are important in determining what, if any, TARIFF applies to the importation of a PRODUCT. Many products contain components and materials produced around the world and then assembled in another country.

Compounding is the process of finding an unknown future value from a known present value�that is, moving forward in time from a known amount in the present to an unknown amount at some point in the future. Obviously, in dollar terms, future values are larger amounts than are present values because of the time value of money (INTEREST RATES are always positive, never negative).

The Robinson-Patman Act of 1935, as amended, is found in Section 2 of the CLAYTON ANTITRUST ACT. Adopted in the middle of the GREAT DEPRESSION, Robinson-Patman was intended to protect small retailers from the growing number of price-cutting chain stores. In that basic purpose it clearly failed, yet the act remains on the books and is still used by small businesses to challenge chain-store practices.

Risk exists when a probability of occurrence can be assigned to each of a set of possible outcomes. Thus, risk is measurable. Uncertainty exists when it is impossible to determine the probability of occurrence for each of a set of possible outcomes or when the entire set of possible outcomes is not known. As a result, uncertainty is not measurable.

After a huge marketing campaign, a computer company sends out a defective game. The same people who stood hours in line to be the first to own it cram the stores demanding their money back. The company loses millions of dollars.

Right-to-work laws are state laws mandating that workers cannot be required to join or pay dues to a UNION as a condition of EMPLOYMENT. The 1947 TAFT-HARTLEY ACT allowed states to pass right-to-work laws, and right-to-work laws exist in 22 states. Most southern states have passed rightto- work laws, but most northeastern and all Pacific Coast states have not passed similar legislation.

Right-to-know laws are state laws that expand upon federal laws requiring employers to inform employees about hazardous substances that they may encounter in the workplace. Federal laws overseen by the OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA) provide the primary rules regarding workplace safety.

See RACKETEER INFLUENCED CORRUPT ORGANIZATION ACT.

See CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, REVENUE EXPENDITURE.

A retirement provides retirement INCOME to an employee or results in a deferral of income by employees during their EMPLOYMENT or beyond. It is a cash benefit created by government, the employer, or the employee to cover the period after the employee retires.