"and there is no such thing as a "future balance sheet" in the sense that a company does one now for the future"


Oh my God it's called a Pro forma Balance sheet and it's used to project how the business will be managing its assets in the future. You can forecast i.e. change parameters in the Balance sheet for current and future years.

You say you're an economics major? I take it that means you couldn't gain acceptance into your school's business program. However you can still take finance and accounting courses for non-business majors if you're that interested.

But it's about real-life experience and talking to small business owners who aren't hiring or expanding and are sitting on cash because of the shaky economy and impending individual mandate.

Either way, the Hostess example would make a good case study, that's why I brought it up.