List four major sources of external financing for the non-financial firms in developed economies and provide a brief explanation of the relevant importance of those sources using the United States as an example. Explain the relevant importance of debt vs. equity financing and the reasons for the mass-media preoccupation with equity markets (2 points) Explain the relevant importance of marketable securities vs. non-marketable securities (1 point) Explain the relative importance of direct vs. indirect finance (1 point) Solution exteranal funds refers to the funds that firms obtain from outside of the firm, means the persons are not beonging to the firm. the major sources are: Debenture capital, Term laons,Deferred credit and leasing and Hire Purchase. Debenture capital: A debenture is a marketable legal contract whereby the company promises to pay its owner, a specified rate of interest for a defined period of time and the capital repayment on maturity date. Term Loans: these constitute one of the major sources of debt finance for a long term project. term loans are generally repayable in more than one year but less than 10 years. these loans are offered by financial institutions like IDBI, IFCI and ICICI etc. the sailent features of term loans are the fixed interest rates, and longer periods. Deferred Credit: This facility is offered by the supplier of a machinery , where the buyer can pay the purchase price in installments spread over a period of time. Bill Rediscounting, Supplier\'s Line of Credit, Seed Capital investment are the some of the examples. Leasing and Hire Purchase: Leasing is a contractual agreement between the lessor and the lessee, where in companies can enter into lease deal with the manufacturer of the equipment and the payment will be like their agreement. once the conrtact is over, the ownership should return to the owner. in hire purchae, the process is same, but once the payments are over the ownership transfered to the lessee. debt financing is the best example of external financing, where the company has to repay the capital along with predetermined interest to the provider. in equity markets, all the investors who bought share are called owners of the company and they carries some obligations and rights. these shareholders have voting rights in decision making. marketable securites can be easily convertible into currency, which are carrying liquidity feature, where as non marketable securities carries lesser liquidity. direct finance facilitates to control or to get some power or authority in the firm where as indirect finance dont have the facility..