Managerial accounting techniques can be used in a wide variety of settings. As we have frequently pointed out, you can use them in many personal situations. They also can be useful in trying to find solutions for societal issues that appear to be hard to solve.

Instructions

Read the Fortune article “The Toughest Customers: How Hardheaded Business Metrics Can Help the Hard-core Homeless,” by Cait Murphy, available at Answer the following questions.

(a) How does the article define “chronic” homelessness?

(b) In what ways does homelessness cost a city money? What are the estimated costs of a chronic homeless person to various cities?

(c) What are the steps suggested to address the problem?

(d) What is the estimated cost of implementing this program in New York? What results have been seen?

(e) In terms of incremental analysis, frame the relevant costs in this situation.