In this paper we have dealt with several time dependent cash balance models and have solved them using some form of a control theory maximum principle. The kinds of solutions we obtained were intuitively satisfying from a financial analysis point of view. The main effort for the future will be to extend these very simple models to much more realistic and complicated ones. But to do this will require considerable theoretical research in the area of both deterministic and stochastic control theory. We hope that we have demonstrated the usefulness of these theories in the area of finance and we expect many similar applications to be made in the future.

A normative theory of capital budgeting requires determination of the correct cost of capital for the evaluation and selection of risky investment projects. Since different uses of funds within the firm may involve different degrees of uncertainty, the normative theory should take into account the effects of changes in the composition of the firm's portfolio of productive assets on its market valuation. The normative theory must therefore be based on a positive theory of market valuation. The objective of this paper is to develop and test an empirical specification of the positive theory.

In an earlier paper [2], the sequential decision process was applied to two major facets of credit management: (a) deriving unambiguous decision rules for handling individual credit requests; and (b) devising relevant credit indices for effective management control and evaluation of the system. Usefulness of the model was constrained by its static nature and by exogenous determination of other significant variables, notably, collection efforts and costs.

Based upon the ubiquitous nature of cash flow projections in the decision-making process, it would be desirable to be able to find answers to questions of the following form:

(1) How does the level of variability in demand affect the cash outflows for payment of accounts payable liabilities?

(2) Does the method used in planning production influence the firm's cash flow patterns?

Analysis of existing attempts to model the cause and effect relationships within the cash flow process reveals that the ability to answer questions similar to the ones posed above does not exist. The research accomplished to date can be characterized as being definitional and hypothetical; cash flows have been defined, lists of factors that may influence cash flow patterns have been postulated, and simple examples of what may happen to cash flow patterns have been constructed. Although these preliminary steps are necessary, they are not sufficient for a thorough understanding of the cash flow process. Analysis must be undertaken to establish the cash flow consequences of various combinations of environmental and organizational factors.

Recent literature, as it has been developing in this journal and others, suggests that a significant change has taken place in the field of finance. The “new finance” has broader and deeper analytic and empirical content. Its relevant characteristics are: (1) a weakening of the traditional distinction between security analysis and corporation finance; (2) an increased emphasis upon financial management as an integral part of the overall management function; (3) greater emphasis upon the relevance of economic theory in the analysis of financial relations; and (4) more attention to the measurement and testing of hypotheses.