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Give two reasons why the dual-pricing system of transfer pricing is not widely used.

Short Answer

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The dual-pricing system of transfer pricing is not widely used mainly due to its complexity and the potential for creating inconsistent incentives within the organization. Implementing separate pricing for buying and selling can be challenging to manage, and may lead to internal competition and conflict between divisions, ultimately harming the company's overall performance. Companies often prefer alternative transfer pricing methods, such as cost-based or market-based approaches, which are easier to manage and provide more aligned incentives for the divisions.

Step by step solution

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Explanation of the Dual-Pricing System

The dual-pricing system of transfer pricing refers to a method where internal transfers between divisions within a company are priced differently depending on whether the purpose of the transfer is for buying or selling the product. This approach mainly aims to encourage the divisions to act in the company's best interest by promoting efficiency in production and resource allocation.
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Reason 1: Complexity

One of the reasons the dual-pricing system is not widely used is due to its complexity. Implementing separate pricing for buying and selling can be difficult to manage and oversee. It may lead to higher administration costs, as the company must establish separate systems and processes to manage the distinct pricing structures. Additionally, it might require significant time and effort to ensure that the pricing policies are consistently applied across the organization.
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Reason 2: Inconsistent Incentives

Another reason the dual-pricing system is not widely used is that it may create inconsistent incentives for the divisions. On the one hand, dual pricing aims to encourage efficiency and optimal allocation of resources; on the other hand, it can lead to internal competition and conflict between divisions. This issue arises because the different pricing schemes might motivate the divisions to act in their best interests rather than the company's, which may ultimately harm the organization's overall performance. In conclusion, the dual-pricing system of transfer pricing is not widely used primarily due to its complexity and potential for creating inconsistent incentives within the organization. Companies often prefer alternative transfer pricing methods, such as cost-based or market-based approaches, which are easier to manage and provide more aligned incentives for the divisions.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Dual-Pricing System
A dual-pricing system in transfer pricing is a unique approach where products transferred within a company are priced differently for buying and selling purposes. This method aims to foster production efficiency and optimal resource allocation. Dual-pricing can encourage different segments of a company to work harmoniously, keeping both their interests and the company's objectives in mind. Yet, despite its potential benefits, it remains largely underutilized. The reason is simple: its complexity and the administrative burden it generates. The necessity to maintain two separate pricing structures can create substantial challenges for the company. It often requires an increase in administrative resources and efforts to keep everything aligned. This added complexity, unfortunately, leads many companies to explore simpler transfer pricing methods rather than employing dual-pricing systems.
Internal Transfers
Internal transfers refer to the movement of goods or services from one division of a company to another. Within the dual-pricing system, these transfers use different prices for the buying and selling divisions. This approach can incentivize divisions to minimize cost and maximize the benefits of shared resources. One primary goal of internal transfers is to ensure that all divisions align with the company’s overall objective, encouraging synergy and cooperation. However, differing transfer prices can lead to confusion and potential disagreements between divisions. Each division might only look out for its own goals rather than the greater good of the company. Therefore, it's crucial to balance the need for fair internal pricing with the need for organizational unity and shared objectives.
Resource Allocation
Resource allocation involves distributing available resources among the various divisions within a company. The dual-pricing approach can impact this distribution by promoting efficient use of resources. Ideally, when divisions are motivated to manage costs effectively, the overall profitability of the company rises. Nevertheless, if not managed carefully, dual pricing can create a disconnect in resource allocation efficiency. The risk is that divisions might prioritize their profits over company goals due to discrepancies in pricing, thereby leading to suboptimal allocation of the company’s resources. Thus, while the intention of promoting strategic resource allocation is noble, the practical application requires vigilant oversight to ensure the entire organizational benefits.
Organizational Efficiency
Organizational efficiency is about maximizing productivity within a company while minimizing waste of resources. The dual-pricing system of transfer pricing aims to achieve this by regulating the internal transactions at different prices to stimulate cost control and resource optimization. However, the complexity of maintaining such a system can dilute these efforts. If the internal pricing structure is not clear and well-managed, it can lead to inefficiencies rather than resolve them. Misaligned incentives and increased friction between divisions due to dual-pricing can lessen harmony and efficiency within the organization. Companies often look for more streamlined transfer pricing methods that effectively balance the need for efficiency with the ease of administrative implementation, ensuring the organization runs smoothly and cohesively.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Calgary Lumber has a raw lumber division and a finished lumber division. The variable costs are as follows: \(\bullet\)Raw lumber division: 125 dollar per 100 board-feet of raw lumber \(\bullet\)Finished lumber division: 145 dollar per 100 board-feet of finished lumber Assume that there is no board-feet loss in processing raw lumber into finished lumber. Raw lumber can be sold at 175 dollar per 100 board-feet. Finished lumber can be sold at 345 dollar per 100 board-feet. 1\. Should Calgary Lumber process raw lumber into its finished form? Show your calculations. 2\. Assume that internal transfers are made at \(130 \%\) of variable cost. Will each division maximize its division operating-income contribution by adopting the action that is in the best interest of Calgary Lumber as a whole? Explain. 3\. Assume that internal transfers are made at market prices. Will each division maximize its division operating-income contribution by adopting the action that is in the best interest of Calgary Lumber as a whole? Explain.

Cocoa Mill Chocolates manufactures specialty chocolates and sells them to fine candy stores. The company operates two divisions, cocoa and candy, as decentralized entities. The cocoa division purchases raw cacao beans and processes them into cocoa powder. The candy division purchases cocoa powder and other ingredients and uses them to produce gourmet chocolates. The cocoa division is free to sell processed cocoa to outside buyers, and the candy division is free to purchase processed cocoa from other sources. Currently, however, the cocoa division sells all of its output to the candy division, and the candy division does not purchase materials from outside suppliers. The processed cocoa is transferred from the cocoa division to the production division at \(110 \%\) of full cost. The cocoa division purchases raw cacao beans for 4 dollar per pound. The cocoa division uses 1.25 pounds of raw cacao beans to produce one pound of processed cocoa. The division's other variable costs equal 1.25 dollar per pound of output, and fixed costs at a monthly production level of 20,000 pounds of cocoa are 0.75 dollar per pound. During the most recent month, 20,000 pounds of processed cocoa were transferred between the two divisions. The cocoa division's capacity is 25,000 pounds of output. With the increase in demand for dark chocolate, the candy production division expects to use 22,000 pounds of cocoa next month. Franklin Foods has offered to sell 2,000 pounds of cocoa next month to the candy production division for 7.50 dollar per pound. 1\. Compute the transfer price per pound of processed cocoa. If each division is considered a profit center, would the candy production manager choose to purchase 2,000 pounds next month from Franklin Foods? 2\. What would be the cost to Cocoa Mill Chocolates if the 2,000 pounds had been produced by the cocoa division and transferred to the candy division? Is the external purchase in the best interest of Cocoa Mill Chocolates? What is the cause of this goal incongruence? 3\. The candy division manager suggests that \(\$ 7.50\) is now the market price for processed cocoa, and that this should be the new transfer price. Cocoa Mill's corporate management tends to agree. The cocoa division manager is suspicious. Franklin's prices have always been much higher than 7.50 dollar per pound. Why the sudden price cut? After further investigation by the cocoa division manager, it is revealed that the 7.50 dollar per pound price was a one-time-only offer made to the candy division due to excess inventory at Franklin. Future orders would be priced at 8.00 dollar per pound. Comment on the validity of the 7.50 dollar per pound market price and the ethics of the candy manager. Would changing the transfer price to 7.50 dollar matter to Cocoa Mill Chocolates?

\((\mathrm{CMA}, \text { adapted). }\) Quest Motors, Inc., operates as a decentralized multidivision company. The Vivo division of Quest Motors purchases most of its airbags from the airbag division. The airbag division's incremental cost for manufacturing the airbags is 90 dollarper unit. The airbag division is currently working at \(80 \%\) of capacity. The current market price of the airbags is 125 dollar per unit. 1\. Using the general guideline presented in the chapter, what is the minimum price at which the airbag division would sell airbags to the Vivo division? 2\. Suppose that Quest Motors requires that whenever divisions with unused capacity sell products internally, they must do so at the incremental cost. Evaluate this transfer-pricing policy using the criteria of goal congruence, evaluating division performance, motivating management effort, and preserving division autonomy. 3\. If the two divisions were to negotiate a transfer price, what is the range of possible transfer prices? Evaluate this negotiated transfer-pricing policy using the criteria of goal congruence, evaluating division performance, motivating management effort, and preserving division autonomy. 4\. Instead of allowing negotiation, suppose that Quest specifies a hybrid transfer price that "splits the difference" between the minimum and maximum prices from the divisions' standpoint. What would be the resulting transfer price for airbags?

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