RE: [OPE] Bernanke's Bubble Laboratory

From: GERALD LEVY (gerald_a_levy@msn.com)
Date: Sat May 24 2008 - 06:17:09 EDT


In the US, 80-90% of all companies use at least some leased equipment. The most important kinds of leased equipment are computers, office equipment, vehicles, planes, earthmoving and other heavy plant & equipment. However obviously real estate is also leased. 
The total value of leased equipment acquired during the year in the US is now said to be about one-third of the total value of newly acquired fixed assets during the year (see e.g. USDoC Capital Expenditures Survey).
 Leasing is one of the fastest growing forms of capital investment globally. It is estimated by accountants that leasing now provides approximately one-eighth (12.5%) of the world's equipment financing requirements. In the U.S., the percentage is higher than the global average, totaling a third (33%) of the externally financed equipment purchased.  http://www.allbusiness.com/accounting/637055-1.html
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Hi Jurriaan:
 
Thanks for these statistics. The first one ("In the US, 80-90% of all companies use at least some leased equipment") is not
very meaningful, imo, since most businesses in the US are small businesses and it doesn't tell you what % of capital
goods are leased.  But, the "one-third of the total value of newly acquired fixed assets during the year" statistic _is_ 
meaningful, especially when you compare the proportion of leased equipment in the US to the global average.  A closer
look at the numbers is worth taking, though. I suspect that the majority of leased computers and office equipment is done
by _small_ businesses and the majority of leased earthmoving equipment is by construction contractors (and hence
industry-specific).  Leasing planes and (motor) vehicles probably make sense for most firms  (which, for whatever reason,
don't want to book individual seats on commercial flights) and, in any event, small firms would be unlikely to have the 
finance to directly own corporate planes. Real estate should probably be put in a separate category.
 
In solidarity, Jerry
 


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