UK Local Government Reforms

Until the late 1980s, local government in the United Kingdom was financed from three sources. First, households paid domestic rates that are a property tax assessed on hypothetical house prices. Second, local firms paid business rates on their property. The Third, the largest source was from central government.

The Thatcher government believed this system resulted in overspending by local governments. Many poor households did not pay rates but still had a vote (право голоса) and voted for high-spending programs. Firms paid rates but had no vote at all. Only about 20% of local government revenue came from households paying rates. Most firms were against raising property assessment, the basis of the property tax, as market prices were rising.

The reform of local government in 1990 made three changes. First, education in state schools was moved from local to central government. Second, instead of local business rates a national business rate was imposed. Business property re-assessment corresponding to market prices led to great increases in the taxed property. Whereas before the reform each local government collected all this revenue and distributed it to local governments in proportion to the local population. Money from the rich south, where property prices were high, moved to the poorer north. Third, domestic rates gave way to poll tax, that is, a tax per head with some relief (налоговая льгота) for the poorest households.

IX. Ответьте на следующие вопросы к тексту.

1. What were the three sources of financing British local governments before 1990?

2. What did this system result in?

3. Why was there a protest against raising assessment?

4. Was all taxed property re-assessed during the reform?

5. How did financial position of different regions of the UK change?

X. Приложите к данной контрольной работе словарь экономических терминов, составленный вами в течение двух лет обучения.

КОНТРОЛЬНАЯ РАБОТА №3

Вариант 3

Для того чтобы правильно выполнить контрольную работу, необходимо усвоить следующие разделы курса.

1. Времена группы Perfect (Present, Past, Future).

2. Страдательный залог (The Passive Voice).

3. Согласование времен (прямая и косвенная речь).

4. Придаточные условные предложения.

5. Сложное дополнение (The Complex Object).

6. Сложное подлежащее (The Complex Subject).

I. Выберите правильный вариант, обращая внимание на образование времен группы Perfect (Present, Past, Future).

1. I ______ that point yet.

a) have not considered         b) did not consider         c) not considered

2. I hope we ______ the market research by January.

a) be doing         b) will do         c) are doing       d) will have done

3. He ______ his driving test. He is so happy. He hasn’t been able to pass it for three years.

a) has just passed        b) have just passed          c) just passed

4. I knew that once he ______ a well-known specialist in his field.

a) had been      b) was         c) has been

5. By the end of August we ______ a new product.

a) shall have launched      b) launched          c) has launched

II. Преобразуйте предложения в страдательный залог.

1. When did they build this house?

2. They had organized the exhibition before I gave my approval.

3. I am not reading this newspaper, you may have it.

4. They build many houses in our city every year.

5. Can we discuss the question tomorrow morning?

6. Jack was writing his annual report when the rain started.

III. Поставьте глагол в скобках в правильную форму страдательного залога.

     1. If you don’t come in time, you (not to be) admitted to the lecture.

2. Your resume (to discuss) now.

3. He knew that he (to follow).

4. These issues (to discuss) usually after work.

5. She knew that she (to wait) for.

6. You cannot sit here. The seat (to take).

7. Everything (to settle) already.

IV. Передайте следующие предложения в косвенной речи.

1. “I have already learnt enough about this company”, said the manager.

2. “Will you be able to find his telephone number?”, asked the secretary.

3. “I shall finish my work with documents by Monday”, said the secretary.

4. “Explain to me how to solve this problem”, said my boss to me.

5. “I can give you our banking details”, said the secretary.

6. “The delegation is staying at the Grand Europe Hotel”, he said to me.

V. Раскройте скобки, употребляя глаголы в требующейся форме.

     1. If he is free tomorrow, he certainly (to come) to our party.

2. If you (to ring) me up, I shall tell you additional information.

3. If I were a rich man, I (to open) a new bank.

4. If you (to give) me your address, I shall send you all details.

5. If I (to have) his telephone number, I should easily settle this matter with him.

6. If my friend (to be) at home, he will tell us what to do.

VI. Переведите предложения, содержащие конструкцию Complex Object. Подчеркните этот оборот в каждом предложении.

     1. The manager wants three more workers to build this house.

2. Higher prices for inputs make producers to rise for output.

3. They expect us to give them 5% discount on the price.

4. Would you like the cable to be sent today?

5. The secretary watched the manager make an appointment with the representatives of the British firm.

VII. Переведите предложения, содержащие конструкцию Complex Subject. Подчеркните этот оборот в каждом предложении.

1. You are supposed to go to business trip in two weeks.

2. Money just doesn’t happen to interest me.

3. Labor, machinery, raw materials, energy are known to be input.

4. Taxes are assumed to redistribute incomes within an economy.

5. Positive economics is sure to play an essential part in social life.

VIII. Прочитайте текст и переведите его письменно.

Market Trends

Market size, market structure and market shares are known not to remain the same. What happens today may be totally irrelevant to what is happening in one, two or three years’ time. The usual method of deciding of what is going to happen in the future is to take what has happened in the past and project it forwards. This approach is supposed to be fraught with dangers. At the very least you have to adjust the numbers for changes which may occur or are forecasted to occur.

On general level anticipated changes in the economy can affect the buying model of individual markets. There may be forecasted changes in tax or other laws which will influence purchasing decision. New information may emerge on the effect of certain items (for example, health hazards).

On a more specific level, in your particular target market there may be new products or better products emerging. There may be specific changes due to government or local authority policy. And so on. You should look closely at your market to guess what changes will occur which might affect the market trends. In any conversations with people already operating in the market remember to ask what changes they think are on the cards. You may be better able to take advantage of them as a new entrant with no constraints dominating your activity and methods of operating.