Dutch term (edited): beschouwperiode; beschouwingsperiode

Straight from the JEL.

'An important element of DCF analysis is the determination of the proper discount rate that should be applied to bring the cash flows back to their present value. Generally, the discount rate should be determined in accordance with the following factors:

• Riskiness of the business or project: The higher the risk, the higher the required rate of return.
• Size of the company: Studies indicate that returns are also related inversely to the size of the entity. That is, a larger company will provide lower rates of return than a smaller company of otherwise similar nature.
• **Time horizon**: Generally, yield curves are upward sloping (longer term instruments command a higher interest rate); therefore, cash flows to be received over longer periods may require a slight premium in interest, or discount, rate.
• Debt/equity ratio: The leverage of the company drives the mix of debt and equity rates in the overall cost of capital equation. This is a factor that can be of considerable importance, since rates of return on debt and equity within a company can vary considerably.
• Real or nominal basis: Market rates of interest or return are on a nominal basis. If the cash flow projections are done on a real basis (noninflation adjusted), then the discount rate must be converted to real terms.
• Income tax considerations: If the cash flows under consideration are on an after-tax basis, then the discount rate should be calculated using an after-tax cost of debt in the cost of capital equation.' (http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Dev-Eco/Dis... )

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Note added at 1 hr (2012-11-04 13:37:32 GMT)
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'By the way, the risk-free rate is usually estimated as the rate on the 3-month T-bill, not the rate on the long bond. The reason is that when you are thinking about committing money to a stock you're doing a **DCFA** on, you are not thinking of a 30 year **time horizon**‘’ (http://caps.fool.com/Blogs/discounted-cash-flow-analysis/594... )
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Note added at 1 hr (2012-11-04 13:41:32 GMT)
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Steven's 'reference period' also seems to be correct. See, e.g.:

'the reference period (also called the project time horizon) appropriate to the category of investment concerned' (http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/regeneration/pdf/192... )
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