Let’s Make a Trade
Barter used to mean swapping rice for a chicken,chicken for car repair.But with cash flow tight for many businesses in this economic climate,exchanging goods and services might be a trading method to consider as part of normal operations.“In times like these,cash is king,but barter is smarter," says Brian Hodgson,director of Hong Kong's Pacific Barter Company.Companies want to get rid of excess inventory and save cash.
Hodgson started his company in April 1997,just months before the crisis hit East Asia.“When we introduced the concept into the marketplace,people said:We don't want to barter,we have lots of money.Now with the slump,they are tlling us:‘We have warehouse full of things.Lest’s talk.'"With over 60 members,ranging from major international conglornerates to small and medium-sized local firms,Pacific Barter handles about $40000 in deals monthly out of Hong Kong an China.
Last month,Rudy Chan launched the Hong Kong operations of Australia-based Bartercard,the world's biggest trade exchange with 20000 members.Bartercard holders use“trade dollars" to purchase goods and services from other members.A security company for instance may buy $1000 worth of uniforms from a garment maker.The seller is credited with 1000 trade dollars by Bartercard,while the purchaser's account is debited the same amount.Straight swaps are not required.On joining,members are given a trade-dollar credit line.
“Trade dollar" is a financial means used to balance the accounts of members of Bartercard.
A、正确
B、错误
【正确答案】：A
【名师解析】:根据题目内容，这段文字主要讨论了在经济形势紧张的情况下，许多企业可能会考虑使用易货交易作为一种商业手段。易货交易指的是不通过现金，而是通过商品或服务的交换来进行贸易。Brian Hodgson，香港太平洋易货公司的负责人，强调了在当前经济环境下，虽然现金非常重要，但易货交易是一个更明智的选择。他提到，在经济繁荣时期，人们不愿意进行易货交易，因为他们有足够的现金。但在经济低迷时期，许多企业拥有过剩的库存，他们愿意通过易货交易来减少现金的使用。
题目中还提到了Bartercard，这是一个基于澳大利亚的全球最大的贸易交换平台，拥有20000名会员。Bartercard的会员使用“贸易美元”来购买其他会员的商品和服务。这种“贸易美元”是一种金融工具，用于平衡Bartercard会员的账户。
题目的选项是判断题，要求判断题目中的信息是否正确。由于题目中提供的信息与给出的背景和描述相符，没有发现错误或矛盾之处，因此正确答案是选项A。
