On page962of your text,view the portion of the balance sheet of Macy's Inc.for the years ended January30,2016,and January31,2015.

Macy's debt to equity ratio for the year ended January30,2016,was3.84,calculated as($20,576-4,253)4,253.Some analysts argue that long-term deferred tax liabilities should be excluded from liabilities when computing the debt to equity ratio.

1. What is the rationale for the argument that long-term deferred tax liabilities should be excluded from liabilities when computing the debt to equity ratio?
2. What would be the effect on Macy's debt to equity ratio of excluding deferred tax liabilities from its calculation?What would be the percentage change?
3. What might be the rationale for not excluding long-term deferred tax liabilities from liabilities when computing the debt to equity ratio?