Box 3–1: Transaction Price Method a

Recorded Dollar Transaction (500,000 barrels)....................   $2.0 million
Adjustments    
 Add: assumed liabilities.................................... $1.0 million  
 substract: working capital.................................. $0.2 million  
   
Effective Purchase Price of Asset.................................   $2.8 million
 Add: present value of taxes, royalty transfers.............. $0.6 million  
   
Value of Assets..................................................   $3.4 million
 Substract: value of associated capital..................... $0.8 million  
   
Value of Petroeum Reserve.........................................   $2.6 million


a This methodology is not followed in the conventional accounts. For instance, in valuing the stock of cars, we do not subtract tax credits, nor do we add in future liabilities such as property taxes. Similarly, to the extent that royalties are regarded as a sharing of profits (like dividends), they should not affect the value of an asset; to the extent that royalties are actually a deferred part of the purchase price, they can be capitalized to increase the value of an asset.