The Aging Population in the United States and Its Effect on Our Economy - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2011 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/09/18 Category Economics Essay Type Argumentative essay Tags: Money Essay Population Essay Did you like this example? Managerial Economics ORG 342 The Aging Population in the United States and its Effect on our Economy July 20, 2010 Aging Population 1 The population in the United States is aging at an unprecedented pace. For the first time in history, seventy percent of everyone who has ever lived is alive today (Isidro, 2009). The aging population and their imminent retirement will place an even greater strain on the country’s financial resources. The baby boomers; people born between 1946 and 1964 have influenced our economy by their sheer number. As this age group matures and enters their retirement years, an economic shift is inevitable. Not only will changes be seen in government programs such as social security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but consumer spending will also see a dramatic transformation. Over the next thirty years, the United States will see the largest demographic change in history. 77 million baby boomers will cease to work and pay payroll taxes (Fehr, Jokisch, 20 05). The drain on government social programs will be severe as the baby boomers retire and collect benefits. The gradual aging of the population will bring demographic changes not seen since the end of World War II. The increase in the number of people over age 65 strongly influences social, economical, medical, and personal situations. This phenomenon of aging will place extraordinary pressures on the economic resources necessary to sustain the population’s standard of living. In the Aging Population 2 United States, individuals over the age of 65 constituted 4 percent of the American population in the year 1900. In the year 1972, 10 percent of the population was over the age of 65. Estimates for the year 2050 are as high as 22 percent (U. S. Census Bureau, 2004). In the next 10 to 15 years, the first of the baby boomers will begin to retire. This will be a large generational shift from the young to the old. The United States population boom following World War II, did not continue with the resulting generation. This generation born as baby boomers produced much fewer children. This has resulted in the younger workforce shrinking as the aging population is increasing. The number of older persons supported by social security is growing while the number of younger employed persons paying into the retirement system is declining. This dependency ratio in the United States is currently at 20 percent. According to the World Bank, the dependency ratio will be close to 46 percent by the year 2050. The structure of the economy and consumption will experience a significant change. Many economists agree that people work and save money when they are young and live off the proceeds when they retire. With this formula, wealth peaks at retirement age and then declines thereafter indicating that people will have different consumption and saving patterns at different stages in their lives. With the change in the age structure, consumption patterns of the po pulation will also Aging Population 3 change. The needs of older people are very different from the needs of middle aged and younger people and have less need for borrowing money (Isidro, 2009). Paying the elderly their promised benefits will require large tax increases. The burden on the younger workforce will be substantial. One study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that the payroll tax will need to increase from 14 percent to 23 percent over the next 30 years, while the average income tax will rise from 10 to 14 percent. The total tax on wages will rise from 24 percent to 40 percent. Higher taxes mean lower after-tax income for workers. The younger work force will have less disposable income which results in less saving; less savings means less capital formation; less capital formation means lower labor productivity; and lower productivity means lower real wages (Fehr Jokisch, 2005). The younger work force will experience a 25 percent reduction in take home pay. According to National Institution of Pension Administration data, future public spending will be profoundly affected by the aging population. Major government transfer programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid disproportionately benefit the elderly, while expenditures on public education disproportionately benefit the young. With the trend of our population entering the older age group, even more funds will be allocated to the elderly. With the younger generation being fewer in number, the government consumption in public education Aging Population 4 will be reduced, somewhat off setting the rising expenses for the older age group. Unfortunately the decrease in the number of school age children will be much less than the increasing numbers of people reaching retirement age, so the transfer of funds may be insignificant. In 1986, The Center for Mature Consumer Studies was established for the purpose of understanding the consumption behavior of the aging population. Its mission is to generate and disseminate information that can help organizations improve the efficiency of their marketing activities and enhance the well being of older adults (Brock, 2010). Once portrayed as unhealthy and unproductive, this generation is now being seen as contributors and a viable consumer group. This large group of people has determined the size and age composition of the labor force for over 30 years. As this group ages, the age of the labor force increases; this will have an impact on the economy. The number of people exiting the labor force due to death, disability or retirement will rise in unprecedented numbers. By congressional mandate, beginning in the year 2000, the normal retirement age for collecting a full Social Security pension started increasing by gradual increments. The previous age for most recipients was 65 years and 2 months, and increases to 67 years by the year 2022 (Dohm, 2000). Along with the higher required age fo r collecting Social Security, pension benefits are also being reduced. Congress in 2000, eliminated the earnings limit on the amount that Social Security recipients Aging Population 5 between the ages of 65 and 69 can earn before having to forfeit part of their Social Security benefits. Together, these Congressional policy changes could keep people in the work force longer. Another potential cause of people working longer is the retirement age is likely to rise with the trend of companies changing how their pension plans are distributed. Defined contribution pension plans are replacing defined benefits. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducted a survey of medium to large companies which showed that among full time employees, participation in defined benefit pension plans declined from59 percent in 1991 to 50 percent in 1997. Defined benefit plans provide the maximum benefits when taken at the earliest possible age of eligibility. In contrast, under defined contribution p lans such as 401k’s, the amount of benefits accrued depends on the amount contributed to the plan by employees and employers, as well as the success and growth of the investment in the pension fund. A study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) provides further evidence of an extended work life for baby boomers. 8 in 10 survey participants plan to work during their retirement years though not necessarily at the same job or full time. A Current Population Study conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals a number of interesting details of the composition of the order labor force. With strong Aging Population 6 laws preventing discrimination of age and gender, more women have entered the work place. More women in the workforce will also have an impact on the economy. Gender compositions studies show that woman leave the work force after age 55 more rapidly than men. As a result, occupations that employee predominately more woman in their field (tea chers, nurses, health support) will see a large number of employees exiting at an earlier age, within a short period of time. New employees will need to back fill these positions and with fewer numbers of potential employees, this could create an improved employment situation for the country. Many Small businesses will feel the demographic shift. With the population aging and the decrease in the younger work force, small business will be impacted. Small businesses are forced to raise wages and benefits to compete with larger corporations and to attract employees. With higher expenditures the cost of maintaining profits will prove to be a challenge. The United States economy will feel the strain by lower out-put from the businesses. With the potential for production capacity to shrink as the work force declines, the impact on the economy will be substantial. Some economist state that only exceptional growth in productivity will ensure sufficient resources to sustain rising standar ds of living for the aged and working Americans. Besides small businesses, other markets will feel the effects of the aging population. The United States economy is largely based on consumption and the older population as Aging Population 7 consumers will change the economy. Individuals aged 55 and older control more than three-fourths of this country’s wealth and the 65 plus group has twice as much per capita income as the average baby boomer (Weisman, 2005). With more financial resources and buying power, the seniors of today are redefining the marketplace. This age group is one that can not be ignored. The marketplace which traditionally focused on the younger generation is now scrambling to address the needs of the older generation. Older baby boomers spend there money differently than the younger boomers. Younger boomers born between the years of 1956 – 1964, are still focused on spending their money on children and mortgages. The older boomers born during t he years, 1946-1955, are now mostly empty-nesters, and spend their money on upgrading their current homes, and personal effects (Booming, 2007). With the consumer market shifting to an older generation, many changes can be seen. Today’s marketplace is starting to change to adapt to the new growing consumer group. Companies must shift their attention to the population that is the growing in size and has the capacity to purchase what they are marketing. The market place today is changing before our eyes. Dating services that once catered to the young and beautiful, are finding a bigger market with the baby boomers. More baby boomers are on-line than ever. Dating and social networking sites are gaining more acceptance with society and the older population. On-line services are expected to grow exponentially. With this Aging Population 8 growth, advertising is changing as well. Advertising on web sites that cater to the older population is a booming business. Where magazine ads and television commercials were once the prevalent marketing media, one only needs to peruse the web pages geared to the older generation to see this is a niche market. While researching the baby boomers as consumers for this paper, I was amazed at the advertisements geared for this generation. The number of ads popping up between paragraphs, made reading the articles challenging. There were advertisements for cell phone ringtones for the mature person, healthcare items which promise to enhance or to improve quality of life, home improvement services, dating services, etc. The data that was found concerning the aging population and the economy, leads me to believe that our economy will be just fine. Executives, marketing groups, and entrepreneurs who are paying attention, should be able to tap into this robust aging generation of consumers. Yes, there is an economic shift occurring in the Unites States with the aging population. The sheer number of people in the baby boom er generation is certain to make an impact, but not necessarily a negative one. This generation of baby boomers is not only willing, but is able to keep this economy rolling. References Booming Business, Forever Trends, (August 2007)retrieved June 30, 2010 from www. trendwatching. com/trends/boomingbusiness. htm Brock, Jennifer, The Aging of America, (May, 2010) retrieved June 28, 2010 from https://www. cba. gsu. edu/magazine/aging. html Dohm, Arlene, Gauging the Labor force effects on retiring baby-boomers, Monthly Labor Review, (July 2000) https://www. monthlylabor review. com/human-resources. tml retrieved June 24, 2010. Fehr, Hans and Jokisch, Sabine (February, 2005). Aging, the world economy and the coming generational storm. National Center for Policy Analysis. Retrieved June 23, 2010. www. ncpa. org/pub/st/st273. Isidro, Isabel, M. (June 2009). The aging population and its effect on small business, Power Home Biz, https://www. powerhomebiz. com/vol12/aging. htm, retrieved Jun e 24, 2010, U. S. census Bureau, Census 2000 special report, issued December 2004. Weisman, Jonathan, Aging population poses global challenges, Washington Post, (February 2005) , https://www. washingtonpost. com/as2. Retrieved June 28, 2010. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Aging Population in the United States and Its Effect on Our Economy" essay for you Create order

Excellence in Customer Service Organisations Often Fail...

BSBCUS501C Work Related Project Question 1 Excellence in customer service is the objective of all organisations wishing to be successful. However, there is often a gap between customer expectations and management perceptions of customer expectations. Organisations often fail to get close to their customers and correctly read their expectations. Other reasons for customer service problems include: * not listening to or collecting information from customers * poor, or no, focus on the actual design of processes to turn identified customer needs into products and services * gaps between what the organisation intends to produce for its customers and what its systems do actually produce * gaps between what the system is†¦show more content†¦Segmentation is usually done to understand the needs of customers more elaborately or distinctly. When asking customers for their input or feedback, they need to feel as if their opinions matter, they are more likely to continue supporting the organisation if they feel their feedback has been taken seriously and into consideration. Listening to the customer and acting timely on their feedback is important for the organisation, failing to understand a customer’s needs can result in widespread negative comments about the organisation and the loss of customers and potential customers. By not listening to customers and understanding what they need from a product or service will not allow the organisation to maintain its effectiveness in the market place, producing poor quality products or service and effecting overall profitability for the organisation. Each organisation needs to develop and establish procedures, standards and guidelines for customer service requirements and communicate these to all staff. 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Risk Management Plan

Question: Discuss the risk management plan. Answer: Summary As per the conduct of the Audit various deficiencies is witnessed in Blue Horizon services. The bank account of the company is not yet opened even after four weeks even considering that the bank is very near. Since, the bank is not near it is creating problem. The delay in installation of teleconferencing system has led to potential issue. The training of the managers has been left to alteration creating time problem. The training on banking shows that it is done however, the audit of the bank deposit book signifies that no banking entry. The training on water saving process has been done on a verbal note hence, could not be result oriented. The original members need to wear the Blue Horizon uniform and guide the new employees. However, they fail to provide a proper explanation to the new employees regarding the importance and compliance of wearing the uniform. Implementation Risks are many since it is the beginning for Blue Horizon services. Therefore, the risks can be reduced by different mechanism. Firstly, the conduct of audit in a weeks time is essential to ensure compliance. This will help to chalk out the difference. Secondly, proper training must be given to the new employees about the organizational value and the importance of uniform. It should not be left to the old employees. Thirdly, bank account must be opened at a place where there is no hassle and helps the business. Outcome and evaluation Risk management plan is the need of the hour as it helps in mitigating risk. In the above mentioned plans implementation the process of audit will lead to significant result as deficiencies will be easily traced. Secondly, training of the employees will ensure that the compliance is done and the risk factor will be less because trained employees has less exposure to risk. References Baldwin, S 2010, Doing a content audit or inventory, Pearson Press. Cappelleto, G. 2010, Challenges Facing Accounting Education in Australia, AFAANZ, Melbourne.

Internet Users Turn Into Addictes Essays - Behavioral Addiction

Internet Users Turn Into Addictes Internet Users turn into Addicts As I sit here and look across the street, I see my neighbor in front of his own computer; the screen glowing against the window behind him. He does not use his personal computer for work, he is a farmer. He has become what is known as an Internet Junky. Internet means a network of networks, a super highway that links online services and computer networks at companies, universities, and government agencies all around the world. Internet usage has become very popular with in the past years. It is used for entertainment, communication and resources. It has become an important tool which many people have in their homes and children as well as adults are able to use it. The Internet plays a very important role in technology today, however there can be many negative aspects of Internet usage which can lead to addiction. Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD) is a big threat to users. It has symptoms that can mislead your life, family and job. Some symptoms users have are as follows, anxiety, ps ychomotor agitation and persistent desire to go on the net. The Internet is rapidly becoming an addictive source. The users may not be aware of this since it begins slowly. The addiction begins innocently. At the start, you are not even aware of the possibilities that may form from your excessive computer use. You begin to take an avid interest in e-mailing with your friends and family. Once the novelty of keeping in touch through e-mail wears off, and researching starts to bore you, you may possibly expand your computer usage to chatting. Internet usage is becoming more acceptable in our lives, but it is looked down upon by many skeptics. Chatting through the Internet involves choosing an appropriate nickname for yourself, such as Hotstuff, and then finding a chat room of interest. Once you entered that chat room, other fellow chatters may say, Hello...a/s/l (age/sex/location) please. These are a few of the negative aspects of internet usage which can lead to addiction. The user may not be aware of this since it begins slowly. Once you become involved in meeting online, it is difficult to break such a habit. You may even make a daily habit of it. I think people have been found to carry out exactly the same behavior, not only in the United States, but also through out the world. The Internet plays a very important role in technology today. In any one chat room, you may come across people from five different countries around the globe. Granted, not everyone stays online for hours on end and involved in chatting, but it is more often than not the cause for the Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). The prevalence of Internet Addiction Disorder has been increasing in number. There is even a support group, The Internet Addiction Support Group (IASG). This has been developed because IAD or maladaptive pattern for Internet use, is leading to impairment and/or distress. These are more negative aspects of Internet usage, which can be addictive. If an internet user experiences three or more of the following behaviors wi thin a one year time period, they are considered to have IAD. These are a need for markedly increased amounts of time on the Internet to achieve satisfaction, markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of time on Internet and reduction in Internet use which has been prolonged. Symptoms of Internet Addiction Disorder include: Psychomotor agitation, anxiety, obsessive thinking about what is happening on Internet, fantasies or dreams about the Internet, and voluntary or involuntary typing movements of the fingers. These symptoms begin to cause conflict in social, occupational, or another important areas of functioning. People who become addicted use the Internet to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms, which are similar to those brought on by the abrupt withdrawal from drug use. The disorder is recognized by the persistent desire or the unsuccessful efforts to minimize the Internet use. These symptoms are negative aspects of the Internet usage. ABC news reported that an Internet crazed Cincinnati woman was arrested for neglecting her three young children. The woman reportedly spent 12 straight hours online, while

Micromax in India free essay sample

COMPANY OVERVIEW. It was in late 2007, when Mr. Rahul Sharma, The owner of Micromax who was into PCO business decided to diversify from PCO devices into the business of mobile handsets. The company designed a battery that could last 30 days on a single charge and give 17 hours of talk-time. Micromax asked vendors in China and Taiwan to manufacture 10,000 handsets with these battery specs and Micromaxs handset business was on its way. COMPANYS PERFORMANCE. Since our entry into the Indian mobile handset market in March 2008, our overall market share has increased from 0. 59% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 to 6. 4% for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. Our handset sales have grown by 123. 48% from 1. 15 million units in the quarter ended June 30, 2009 to 2. 57 million units in the quarter ended March 31, 2010. We also sell mobile data cards for computers under our own brand to service providers in India. Micromax- Products : touch screen phone GSM mobile phone Utility mobile p hone CDMA mobile phone Qwerty Mobile phone Data Card MICROMAX MICROENVIROMENT : COMPANY: Micromax, based in Gurgaon, a city near New Delhi, designing them in India and manufacturing with partners in China which helps them to reduce their cost with indian expertise. We will write a custom essay sample on Micromax in India or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page COMPETITORS : Micromax faces a tough competition from market giants like Nokia,Motorola,Sony Ericson,Samsung,LG and small players like Karbonn,Lava,Intex,Videocon and Onida but their innovative design and latest technology with affordable price attracts the customers. PUBLICS : Media like Newspaper and Magazine are the medium used by micromax for connecting with the general public. Through TV Advertisement, Micromax has shown how interested they are to invest and create a brand in the mind of general public.

Example Sentences Using the Verb Find

Example Sentences Using the Verb Find This page provides example sentences of the verb find used in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms. Base Form: FindPast Simple: FoundPast Participle: FoundGerund: Finding Present Simple He often finds unexpected treasures. Present Simple Passive The shop is often found easily by new customers. Present Continuous He is finding it difficult to pay attention. Present Continuous Passive New customers are being found at this very moment. Present Perfect He has recently found a new job. Present Perfect Passive A new director has been found for the position. Present Perfect Continuous He has been finding it difficult to adjust to his new job. Past Simple Jerry found it easy to adjust last week. Past Simple Passive A house was found after a long search. Past Continuous We were finding the house when he walked out the door. Past Continuous Passive The house was being found when he walked out the door. Past Perfect They had found a new apartment by the time their parents arrived. Past Perfect Passive A new apartment had been found by the time their parents arrived. Past Perfect Continuous We had been finding it difficult to adjust when he helped us out. Future (Will) They will find friends quickly. Future (Will) Passive New friends will be found quickly. Future (Going To) He is going to find a hotel when he arrives. Future (Going To) Passive A hotel is going to be found when you arrive. Future Continuous We will be finding life easy this time next week. Future Perfect They will have found a new house by the time I arrive next week. Future Possibility She might find a new job easily. Real Conditional If she finds a new job, she will move out of town. Unreal Conditional If she found a new job, she would move out of town. Past Unreal Conditional If she had found a new job, she would have moved out of town. Present Modal She can find a new job anytime. Past Modal She cant have found a new job! Conjugate with Find Quiz Use the verb to find to conjugate the following sentences. Quiz answers are below. In some cases, more than one answer may be correct. He _____ it difficult to adjust to his new job.He _____ it difficult to pay attention.He often _____ unexpected treasures.A new director _____ for the position.Jerry _____ it easy to adjust last week.A house _____ after a long search.A new apartment _____ by the time their parents arrived.He _____ a hotel when he arrives.She _____ a new job easily.If she _____ a new job, she would move out of town. Quiz Answers has been findingis findingfindshas been foundfound  was foundhad been foundis going to find / will findmight findfound

Establishing and Maintaining a Creative Work Climate Term Paper

Establishing and Maintaining a Creative Work Climate - Term Paper Example valuing creativity; (2) by listening attentively and looking for positive aspects in employee’s suggestions and opinions; (3) by implementing employees’ ideas and giving credit when due; and (4) by avoiding discouraging employees through emphasizing that they should not be afraid of failure and can in fact learn from them (243). These concepts indicate that the creation of a creative work climate depends greatly on the ability and style of the leader to solicit cooperative, collaborative and innovative efforts from subordinates along the organizational hierarchy. Mind Edge (2007) provided some guidelines in the creation of a creative climate which are consistent with Certo’s (2007) recommendations: promoting and communicating innovation and creativity as part of values of the organization; relaying the natural tendencies for mistakes as part of the creative process; and allotting organizational resources to promote creativity through time, money and effort. Likew ise, the discourse stipulated the importance of training to develop creative skills. In addition, there are eminent benefits seen in promoting diversity and therefore acknowledging that opinions and ideas from different perspectives are sources of creative and innovative ideas. Increasingly more global organizations include diversity in culture in their policies such as Walmart (Walmart: Diversity, 2010); Johnson & Johnson (Johnson & Johnson, 2011); and Procter & Gamble (Procter & Gamble, 2011), among a host of others, and realize that diversity encourages the creation and development of positive working environments conducive to honing of abilities, skills, and competencies. Rewarding and motivating exemplary creative performance is also a plus factor to create a conducive working environment. The... This essay stressses that many conditions, policies and practices in the work setting could be a barrier in the promotion of a creative work climate, especially for personnel who have not been prepared to attune themselves to develop creative thinking and to promote thinking outside the box. The creation and maintenance of a creative work climate is possible through objective, transparent and humane treatment of employees by leaders who acknowledge and encourage innovativeness, creativity and positive thinking. In this regard, the essay aims to present both a research and critical analysis of the topic: ‘Establishing and Maintaining a Creative Work Climate’ sourced from the textbook entitled Supervision Concepts and Skill-building written by Samuel C. Certo. The research would delve into determining the elements that encourages creating thinking to establish and maintain a creative work climate; and to present barriers that preclude creativity in the work environment. This paper makes a conclusion that the success or failure of an organization is caused by a combination of internal and external factors that influence its existence. As averred by Certo, â€Å"a well-led group of creative employees can generate far more good ideas as one creative supervisor trying to come up with all the ideas†. The collective and collaborative efforts that contribute to more innovative and creative ideas sources from diverse points of views, as encouraged, developed and promoted by effective leaders, all attest that creativity in the work place is crucial for an organization’s sustained success.

Principles of Econometrics Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Principles of Econometrics - Coursework Example Random assignment does not guarantee that the groups are "matched" or equivalent, only that any differences are due to chance. Control group is a valid counterfactual since it is a proof that your experiment had a specific outcome. At the end of the experiment, you have the results for the control group (the group where no intervention/treatment was applied) and the results for the group(s) where an intervention/treatment was applied. We only get useful information only when we compare those two sets of results. The  Hawthorne effect  (also referred to as the  observer effect) refers to a  phenomenon  whereby individuals improve or modify an aspect of their behavior in response to their awareness of being observed Multicollinearity  (also  collinearity) is a statistical phenomenon in which two or more predictor  variables  in a  multiple regression  model are highly  correlated, meaning that one can be linearly predicted from the others with a non-trivial degree of accuracy. In this situation the  coefficient estimates  of the multiple regression may change erratically in response to small changes in the model or the data. (a) Explain what is meant by measurement error and how does it cause endogeneity bias? (4 marks) When the measurement error is in the dependent variable, the zero conditional mean assumption is not violated and thus no endogeneity. However, when the measure error is in the independent variable, the problem of endogeneity arises. Suppose that . Explain how an instrumental variables regression estimated using two stage least squares (TSLS) can be used to obtain consistent estimates of the regression coefficients. (7 marks) Instrumental variable (IVs) methods especially using

Gender Stereotyping is Unfairness Essay Example for Free

Gender Stereotyping is Unfairness Essay The roles the society allocates to its members according to sex are the root course of how people relate to each other in the society. Those who don’t fit into predetermined gender roles face social sanctions. This paper reveals that the gender stereotyping in the society are unfair and amount to the abuse of the rights of those who don’t conform to the norms. The essay takes into consideration the origins of the social standards and experiences of life which are used on women. Devor’s essay reveals how gender stereotypes give rise to female to male transsexuals. This paper shall also analyze Alice Munro’s book, Boys and Girls that provides a literary example that complements Denvor’s scientific explanation. The paper will also be complemented by various views by feminists. Devor states that since time immemorial women were taken as less important than men. Women were not much recorded in writings on the society as men were. A close look at the writings of ancient religions e.g. Greek, Judaism, and the dark ages reveals this.   Cultures in the past have had individuals with mixed gender, who are based on polytheistic beliefs. In America this was identified in the 16th century. This was not written about as most of the writings focused on men thought to have female traits for social ridicule. In the twentieth century women became empowered and became workers due to the industrial age. In this time women who dressed like men were branded the title lesbians. This name later was used to refer to transgender women in the culture. Efforts to discover the trait of transgender individuals have been undertaken in the recent past however this phenomenon has been present in societies always. This phenomenon for long has been suppressed. Modern science has discovered the biological differences as well as psychological and social influences between men and women, and now the study of transsexuals can be studied and medication given. Devor argues that the context of culture is very important in understanding sex and gender. He states that the structure of the society determines the lives of individuals. Gender is a result of cultural influence on the members of the society. The relations in the society that enhance gender are rules of relations in the society. He observes that the society is responsible for its transgender individuals. They represent the mean of what the society has forced in the diverse human life (Dover 37). His argument is that the home is the place where the female to male transsexuals are bred. Most of the theories on transgender individuals put the responsibility of the situation on parents. For instance fathers are seen to impart the message that women are lesser to their daughters. Also mothers who appear victimized and dependent on the husband make their daughters attracted to be like men. This leads to a personality split, which is not illness, as some people believe. In the developmental years at the stage of early development those children with male to female traits do not identify with female relations in their childhood years.   The children in this stage identify themselves with masculine figures and preferred male company. In the final analysis there seems, on the part of these girls a desire to escape the problems of their gender. Transsexuals, therefore, are the result of intense socialization.   The process starts at early childhood and continues to build up in adolescence and even in adult life. She argues that people should be left to live and fully express the gender roles they choose. Most transsexuals don’t undergo the surgery to change their genitalia so they face continuing limitations in society. In spite of this they are able to achieve their goals in life.   As stated in the introduction, Alice Munro’s book, Boys and Girls supports Devor’s idea of sex and gender. The story of the girl narrator sheds light on Devor’s argument about gender stereotyping in the society. In the book Munro depicts challenges and successes in the process of passage from childhood to adulthood. Her narrators are a girl and a boy, who are siblings. She tackles the theme of sex role stereotype which is full of unfairness. The protagonist undergoes exacting and extreme initialization into adulthood like her younger brother. The author suggests that stereotyping of gender and loss of innocence are initiation into adulthood, and are extremely influential to individual children. Munro through the choice of a female protagonist who is without a name and therefore undignified lays he ground for showcasing the stereotype. The younger brother of the protagonist is named laid for lord, and by virtue of the name he is to become a dignified master of others. The grandmother of the children comes calling and gives the narrator advice on the rules of conduct for a girl. For instance girls keep their legs together when they are seated. The narrator faces a disliking of the roles that she is being couched to take; those of her mother. She rather likes her father’s roles.

Effects of Regionalisation

Effects of Regionalisation 1. Introduction Acknowledging the fact that future growth will depend on overcoming resource scarcity and a small domestic market, the Singapore government has been strongly encouraging local firms to regionalise their operations and invest abroad. This report discusses some of the social and economic downsides brought about by the regionalisation strategy. 2. Regionalisation Intent Of The Government Singapores scarceness in resources i.e. land labour as well as its undersized domestic market are the major drives for regionalisation. The rationales to propel Singapores economy beyond her shores are as follow. Boundless Boundaries Markets and workplaces are no longer limited by boundaries and distance. Capital is free to move to where it can generate the best returns. While our neighbouring countries gear up and build up, our competitiveness is eroded due to our high operational cost and unattractive domestic market. Many jobs are lost for good as business activities shift to these countries where operational costs are much lower e.g. for labour intensive industries. Also, the small consumer market here hinders the potential of local retailing industries unfavourably. On the other hand, the region offers far better returns for all. Economic Growth The United States and Europe have all along been our traditional markets. In view of this dependency, the slowdown of economic growth rates in these matured economies invariably puts a brake on Singapores economy. Consequently, we have to look towards the up and coming Asia-Pacific region where growth rates are in double digits, no doubt due to its low base. But it offers vast opportunities for Singapores produce to be a part of them and to grow with them. Mutual Benefits Regionalisation looks beyond the borders to tap and leverage on one anothers strengths. This constitutes a win-win situation. Wider exposure cultural diversity of people Expanded networks and contacts with international businesses, clients talents Larger job market where career is not confined to local employment opportunities Healthier relations with affiliated countries through mutual beneficial trade 3. The Family Pays For Regionalisation It is believed that while regionalisation brings us good, it will and is going to upset the family ties of Singaporeans in one way or another. The Children One major hurdle that deters Singaporeans who are married with children from taking up jobs overseas is their concern about their childrens education. Parents expressed concerns over the childs resistance and adaptability to foreign curriculum system, possibility of racial discrimination in foreign schools, denial of foreign education credentials in future and loss of emotional ties with Singapore. Nonetheless, measures are taken to resolve these concerns: Singapore International Schools: Simulating home-style schooling environment abroad with parallel curriculum including Mother Tongue Leave of Absence Scheme: Entitling previous students to rejoin their former schools upon returning home Flexibility in Admission Criteria: Recognising foreign examination scores and conducting in-house examinations and interviews for admittance decisions CAMP SINGAPORE: Assembling overseas Singaporeans children back home to live through Singapores all-embracing way of life in a good fun educating manner Abolishment of Monetary Bond Requirement: Encouraging males (> 11 years old) to follow their parents abroad to foster family cohesion promote regionalisation The Wife The regionalisation policy seems to have become one that helps men more than it does women. Findings of a study have shown that the careers of many women ended on the backburner because of the countrys regionalisation drive. Women get locked into the stereotypes of being only mothers and housewives. 100 out of 150 Man brings his wife children with him overseas 146 out of 150 Wife gives up a good career becomes a housewife 149 out of 150 Unable to secure a professional job she once held 001 out of 150 Only one man accompanies his wife overseas The Marriage Findings of the study have revealed that 148 out of 150 spouses felt neglected when the other heads overseas to work. More than 75% of them fear the problem of extramarital affair. Furthermore, research has shown that a disillusioned family returns in spite of all preparatory measures taken by the family e.g. pledging to call/visit one another often, to stay faithful etc. E.g. A top manager resigned, choosing his marriage over his career and another who did the exact opposite and as a result suffered a broken marriage. 4. The Country Pays For Regionalisation To begin with, let us understand that regionalisation implies the occurrence of a two-way flow of expertise between a sending country and a receiving country. When the inflow is greater than the outflow, we say there is â€Å"Brain Gain†. Conversely, when the outflow is greater than the inflow, we say there is â€Å"Brain Drain†. Some Reasons For The â€Å"Brain Drain† Phenomena Economical reasons e.g. better job development prospects, lower cost of living, higher disposable income Political Legal reasons e.g. less restrictive dominative grounds Social reasons e.g. stress-free work, education personal lifestyle, creative self-interest development space Physical Natural reasons e.g. ample cheap resources (land, labour, raw materials etc.), seasonal climate, picturesque landscapes The Undesirable Repercussion The phenomenon has weakened the countrys choice and pool of talents harshly. Given our diminutive population, we have no surplus of talents. This will in turn upset our competitiveness, economic potential as well as unbalance our mix of population e.g. Singaporeans versus PRs, aging population etc. In a way, we have flattened our own pyramid of talents with our own hands by encouraging the dispersal of Singaporeans. Many of our best now contribute to others economies permanently instead of returning to Singapore. They are only thinking, worrying and creating wealth for foreign lands. This is the facet of regionalisation that we need to reflect on and address (Goh Chok Tong, 1997). â€Å"Go Regional, Stay Local† Approach It is crucial that overseas Singaporeans are tied to Singapore strongly by helping them to stay in touch with us. The setting up of Singapore International Foundation, Singapore International Schools, Singaporeans Overseas Programmes, over 85 Singapore Clubs and the regular monthly SINGAPORE magazine are efforts paid out to preserve the Singaporean identity and the sense of national belonging of overseas Singaporeans (Lee Hsien Loong, 2003). Other efforts include giving overseas Singaporeans voting rights e.g. the recent GE 2006 in Shanghai, home-stand assistance in times of emergency e.g. evacuation from Cambodia Indonesia during those troubled times and welcoming them back by helping spouses to find jobs children to schools in the re-entry stage. 5. Foreign Talents Policy The policy aims to attract two groups of foreigners. It also covers transient low-skilled workers who will have to leave after a period of time. The first group refers to the crà ¨me de la crà ¨me of talent. Sought by countries all over the world, they include neurosurgeons, top-notch scientists, professors, sportsmen etc. Examples include table tennis player: Li Jia Wei from China, CEO of DBS Bank: John Olds from America etc. The other group refers to qualified young people who meet several objectives e.g. lab technicians, nurses, IT personnel, multi-skilled or experienced persons etc. Population Distress Statistics show that more than a quarter of the people in Singapore are foreigners (PRs and non-residents). In 1990, our population numbered 3.05 million. It has since jumped to 4.02 million with the gap mainly attributed to the increase of foreigners. As such, Singaporeans now make up approximately only 74% of the population size compared to 86.1% ten years ago. Importing Foreign Talents The rationale behind this is fairly apparent. Foreign talents are needed to boost the economy, create jobs and strengthen the countrys competitiveness (Goh Chok Tong, 2003). Singapores small population cannot produce enough talent; whats more when the â€Å"Brain Drain† phenomenon is mounting (Lee Kuan Yew, 2003). Foreigners are needed. America has been a top-notch marketplace for ideas owing to its readiness to welcome foreigners into all industries. The Singapore government wishes to emulate this example as well. Reasons for importing foreign talents include: Fill in jobs which Singaporeans lack the expertise in or that we do not want to do Promote healthy competition among foreigners and locals, motivating locals to work harder upgrade their skills to compete on fair grounds Encourage fruitful diversity in creative thinking and value-adding innovation For instance, out of the 32 Chairmen of Statutory Boards, 12 were born outside Singapore and in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, 51 out of the 87 musicians were foreign born. Many ministers were also born overseas: Goh Keng Swee (Malacca), Rajaratnam (Ceylon), Toh Chin Chye (Taiping), Hon Sui Sen who joined later was from Penang. Without this inflow, Singapore could never have made it, let alone become what it is today. Nonetheless, many Singaporeans have raised questions over the following issues: Managerial positions and those of good pay benefits are taken up by expatriates Fear of â€Å"second-class citizen† treatment Nepotism over fellow foreigners, unfair gap in disposable income (foreign exchange difference) etc. 6. Regionalisation In Mandarin Our government has identified China, in addition to India and ASEAN nations, as the direction to our regionalisation strategy. In 20 years time, China will be the second most powerful nation in the world after the U.S. probably the worlds largest economy. Many non-Chinese will see the advantage of learning the Chinese language to do business in China. Therefore we must find ways to sustain a high level of proficiency in Mandarin in the Singapore. We have to reproduce a core group of Singaporeans who are steeped in and knowledgeable about the Chinese cultural heritage, history, literature, and the arts (Goh Chok Tong, 1991). More students are taking up the Higher Chinese subject More scholarships are offered to people learning and educating Chinese Language and Literature More bilingual local Chinese are able to speak Mandarin More promotional and educational support e.g. â€Å"Say It If You Dare† TV variety show, local pop idol Lin Jun Jie endorsing the Speak Chinese Campaign etc. are carried out actively 7. Conclusion We agree that regionalisation is today no longer a choice but very much a necessity. But as we encourage the dispersal of Singaporeans, there is a possibility that we are disposing them for good as our pyramid of talents gets flattened, family gets disillusioned and foreign talents gets within. If Singaporeans are not deeply rooted to Singapore through strong bonds of family, friends, community and nation, the core of our nation will be shattered. In a nutshell, regionalisation has a world of opportunities yields to offer to all of us as long as we fulfill our individual and collective rightful obligations with utmost virtuousness.

A job or profession Essay

There are six domains in the content model starting with† worker characteristics† which talks about the abilities, enduring attributes of the individual that influence performance, also the occupational interest, the preference of work environments and also work values and work styles what is more important to you at work and how exactly you enjoy and feel more comfortable doing your job. â€Å"Worker requirements† which involves basic skill and cross-functional skill, basic skills are skill you already should know, and cross- functional are skills you tend to learn from moving from job to job. Knowledge and education are also needed in worker requirements knowledge is what you know of the job and education is any prior knowledge you already had coming in. â€Å"Experience requirements† involves experience and training, licensing and basic and cross- functional skills, which is everything needed for you to get started on the right track with your job, basic and functional skills to help you in your everyday life and also in your work environment, also licensing and training are requirements because jobs need to know that you are legit and know what you are doing. â€Å"Occupation specific information† also involves tools to help with your job and also technology as in machinery equipment, things to make your job a less of a hassle. â€Å"Workforce characteristics†, variables that define and describe the general characteristics of occupations that may influence occupational requirements. â€Å"Occupational requirements† a comprehensive set of variables or detailed elements that describe what various occupations require. There are many careers in career cluster but there is one that really interests me which is teaching the reason for this is because teaching has always been a dream of mine simply because I would love to influence a child’s life in a good way. For good teachers, teaching is a vocation rather than a job something they can’t refuse. Teaching is a call to service; a way to change the world. There’s so much potential in a classroom. Teaching is the profession that makes all other professions possible. There are a lot of great reasons to teach and none of them are better than the others. The reasons why you want to teach depend on your personality and beliefs. Some teachers want to make a difference and some people love working with children or adolescence and some people want to make a big contribution to society. As long as you’re intentions are good and you’re not going into teaching for the wrong reasons, you should pursue your passion and desire to become the teacher with all the right reason .You could be that teacher that influence a kid to be anything from a hero to the president of the united states because lets be totally honest kids look up to teachers and you setting a good example could do so much for children . Teachers do more than make a small difference, they touch their students’ lives forever. I want to teach because I want to make a difference in the world. A lot of teachers want to teach because they have the power to do good things for their students. Students do more than learn academic things from teachers, they learn about morals and ethics, they learn about confidence and self-esteem, and they learn what having someone who cares about them is like. I want to teach because students deserve a teacher who really cares about them and wants them to do their best. A lot of people want to teach because of the rewards that come with teaching like pay and vacations. I want to teach because I love working with students and being a part of their lives. I care about the youth of the world, and I want to help them learn and prosper in any way I can. I also want to teach because I honestly can’t see myself doing anything else with my life than teaching. As reported in yahoo the salary for teachers in Texas can vary on location, experience and whether or not they have a master’s degree. In Lubbock, teachers employed by the Lubbock Independent School District in 2011 earn a starting salary of $37,750 if they have a bachelor’s degree. If they have a master’s degree, their salary begins at $39,250. An LISD teacher with 20 years of experience, but only a bachelor’s degree, will earn $48,635 per year, this is how much I could expect to earn. Another job I have always been interested in is being a personal trainer simply because you get to motivate and help people get physically fit. Some reasons may be to help people become healthier or let athletes maximize their performances; other reasons may include sharing with others the gift of health or it could be that you just like hanging around the gym and want to make some money in the process. There is no â€Å"wrong† reason, just as there is no single â€Å"right† way to train people. I feel the best part about being a personal trainer is having the opportunity to transform not only my client’s body, but their mind as well. Being a personal trainer means being there for my client through the good and the bad, answering emails and being on-call if a client has questions from muscle soreness to protein powder. I chose this profession merely on the basis of having a healthy physique, to train people and inspire them to be aware of health and not only that but to have a great body too has been something I would love to teach. When you market yourself to potential clients, you subtly make them a promise that you’ll get them looking and feeling how they’ve always dreamed of. Some of them expect you to hand them results, barely making an effort in the gym, my job is to push them to the limits and make them earn their results. These results are all the right reasons to pick this profession. Salary for a trainer is ranging from 20-100 dollars a hour per person. One main job I would love to be is a doctor I just wish I would be smart enough to peruse that career. Becoming a doctor is no easy task. Just getting into medical school is a daunting task let alone the amount of studying, time spent in residency and the grueling hours one spends training. I personally have many reasons why I want to become a doctor. Yes my first answer is I want to help people, and yes it is true that you can help people in many ways but I think a doctor provides the most direct and critical type of help. I mean how many times have you been in pain and you’ve gone to see your doctor and after he’s treated you, you want to just get up and hug him. The healing power of a doctor is almost godly. I don’t think any other profession is more appreciated than a doctor because of that fact. We as humans seek help and relieve from pain and suffering when we are going through such a time and the most critical pain and suffering is physical pain and when that pain is relieved we are most grateful. This is why I would also enjoy being a doctor; there is no greater gift you can give. Annual salary of a doctor is, depending on the area in the U.S.A. the average yearly salary of a doctor is around $120,000-$160,000. What I have learned from these careers and what u has put into conclusion in my own mind is that no matter what career you are looking for, the annual salary will not make you happy, what will make you happy is how much you will enjoy the job. Enjoying your job is the main part of being happy in life; having a job you enjoy waking up to every day will make your life so much less complicated. Which is why I no longer look at the pay of jobs , but end up asking myself would I enjoy this?

Bread Talk Marketing Analysis Essay

BREAD TALK GROUP (Bakery) Number of brands under Bread talk group ( bakery) 1) Bread talk 2) Toast Box 3) The icing room 4) Bread Society Macro- environment: * Economic: There is a rise in income for most middle and lower income earners, making the bread sold price inelastic as it is a smaller proportion of the salary earned. Bread talk will always enjoy a demand for their bakery products. * Demographic: There is an increase in Singapore’s Population (overcrowding) from past years, more people will cause an increase in demand for such bakeries. * Culture: It is Asian’s habit to eat supper/ tea and hence selling of breads can be used as snacks during these breaks. Therefore there will always be a demand for these snacks. * Technology: Bread talk consulted top R& D teams to create more varieties of bread. 50 novel recipes conceptualized with the input of international bakery consultants within its Research & Development team. The exciting Euro bread series harnesses the taste and quality of European breads and incorporates them with a variety of Asian flavors, such as drunken longan, black sesame, spinach and sweet potato. * Competition: There are also many bakery shops that are well known such as Four Leaves, Crystal Jade, Cake History, Begawan Solo etc. which are in close vicinity of Bread talk. Consumers may choose to purchase breads in different shops according to their tastes and preferences Market: * over 600 bakery outlets in 15 territories * territories include: Singapore, China, Hong Kong and the Middle East Customer target group: * people with different range of income esp. low and middle class * no age group * the discerning customer who enjoys her daily bread * esp those living in city areas Strategy of company * Spirit of innovation: introduced new bakery model called Bread Talk Transit positioned as a quick stop for consumers on the go. Bread talk also developed a mobile application, allowing users to make purchases, locate outlets, and be informed of the latest promotions. By enabling customers to shop-on-the-go, it effectively reduces the in-store shopping time by close to 33% and led to a 75% increase in customer compliments. * Increases productivity and allows for more versatility when sourcing for retail space. * Rapid expansion of the Bread Talk brand. * Strengthened Brand presence : Build RamenPlay, Bread talk, Toast Box and The icing room together in Nex reap financial benefits through cost savings due to shared expenditure ( set up costs) * More charity work being done/ sharing their success: To celebrate 10th anniversary, BreadTalk pledged 5 cents from each Floss Bun sold to Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, raised $50,000 for needy school children. * Marketing mix: 1) Product: bread, pastries, cakes and drinks. Always create new varieties of breads: Chilli Crab, Carlee Crab & branded its signature bun: Chicken Floss Bun. There are 50 types of bun available in each outlet. Objective: Gain revenue and to satisfy customer’s desire for snacks, especially during breakfast and tea time because most people usually take bread or pastries during this time 2) Place: 25 outlets in Singapore. Some places includes: Parco, Bugis junction, Paragon, Tiong Bahru Plaza, Novena Square, Jurong Point Shopping Centre, Marriott Hotel, Tang Plaza, Junction 8Shopping Centre, Great World City, Capitol Building, Turf City, Parkway Parade, HDB Hub (Toa Payoh), Tampines Mall etc Objective: Locating everywhere allows the customer to buy their bread anywhere! 3) Price: Min. price: $1.00.Max. price:$2.00 Objective: Priced averagely so that people can afford the bread 4) Promotion : a. Store structure: i. Each outlet bears the urban, clear glass, clean cut look punctuated subtly with detailing of contrasting colours of artworks, unique to each locale. (Zen-like concept) ii. BreadTalk signature â€Å"see through† kitchens allow their chefs to showcase their expertise upfront, sharing the preparation of the freshly browned breads and tempt the customers to have a taste of their breads. b. Advertisements/Television/Banners to attract others cheaper price during anniversary month : Bread talk campaign tagline â€Å"Breadtalk gets you Talking†, c. Use of their own brand plastic bag, pamphlet and coupons also serve as a type of promotion to attract new customers wherever and whenever the name carries it. d. Loyalty card-Spend above $5, you will get a stamp on your card. With correct no. of stamps, they are able to redeem a free bun. Flaws * Decline in sales was due to some outlets’ business not doing well, leading to revenue and profits made by other outlets to go wasted as earning cannot overcome losses made. * The popular ‘Chicken Floss Bun ´ idea was stolen by other bakery shops. Bread Talk pushed onto the losing side as competitor sells the product at lower prices price out-grew satisfaction! Improvements made: Market Penetration : 1) Bread talk can have delivery services 2) Bread talk can sell using push carts 3) Conduct more lucky draws to encourage more purchase of breads Product Development 1) Create Minis Breads like Four Leaves such that consumers get to taste and will go for the normal one if the flavours are nice 2) Create certain type of breads during festivals like CNY , Christmas Market Development 1) Open a place to sit and eat ( E.g. Cafà ©) to allow ppl to rest and interaction /not just buy and go 2) Open more shops in residential areas ( underneath HDB flats etc.) so that it is more convenient for residents | Diversification 1) Invent new bread flavours that customers like by surveying them before that Swot Analysis Strengths 1) Unique concept & branding: captures interest of consumers as it constantly develops products reflecting contemporary  lifestyle and current events. Shops gives customers a sense of friendliness 2) Wide range of products:  Bread talk offers over 150 varieties of breads, buns, pastries and cakes overall. Breadtalk constantly introduces new products to cater to customers’ changing tastes. It currently introduces approximately 10 items every four months 3) Strategic Locations : located at strategic and accessible places to attract potential customers as having high customer traffic flow (near public transport systems , retail outlets, , cinemas) Weakness 1) Pricing: products are priced higher than the products of other bakeries, which might cause customers to choose another brand 2) Selection of Products : products limited to bread and cake compared to Bengawan Solo with pastries choices Opportunities 1) Nature of Products :Bread is a commodity and can be sold anywhere in the world. There is a high potential for global growth since there is a constant consumer demand for bread expanding of business overseas 2) Other Markets: BreadTalk has forged partnerships currently in Indonesia, China (Shanghai) Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan ROC and the Middle East (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and UAE), India and Hong Kong. Threats 1) Product/Brand Concept Replication Breadtalk faces the threat of product/brand concept replication by other bakeries especially in regions which Breadtalk has not ventured into (eg USA). 2) Competition from Direct and Indirect Competitors: – indirect competitors include specialized bakeries like Donut Factory, which are currently both capturing increasing consumer interest.

As I Lay Dying1 essays

As I Lay Dying1 essays In the novel As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner, there are several instances in which a pleasurable comment or action that is witty or humorous is made by a character. However, there are also many occurrences when there is a deep sense of disquietude resulting from a characters words or dealings. Throughout the text, it is also not unusual for these two types of situations to occur as one, in a healthy confusion. This confusion may even be a mark of superior literature according to certain critics. First, let us examine a point in the story where there is a distinctive instance resulting in the readers pleasure: But its not like they cost me anything except the baking. (p. 9) The previous excerpt is somewhat pleasurable, because Cora makes it a point to reinforce the fact that the cakes required no capital for their production. Although the statements repetitiveness is somewhat annoying, it is rather humorous that she is so hung up on this fact. Even though there are references to the dying Addie Bundren in the surrounding text, there is no great sense of disquietude concerning the situation. In the following reference however, the feeling of disquietude is rather prevalent: When is she going to die? I say. Before we get back, he says. Then why are you taking Jewel? I say. I want him to help me load, he says. (p. 28) It is most disconcerting to think that a child would be absent for the death of his or her own mother, especially when it can clearly be avoided. In this scene unsettledness reigns supreme, while there is an absence of pleasure. But now I can get them teeth. That will be a comfort. It will. (p. 111) Here is the apparent blending of the pleasure and the disquietude into the so-called healthy confusion. It is amusing that Anse needs teeth, but quite disturbing on the other hand that he is r...

Modernity and Islamism in Morocco

Modernity and Islamism in Morocco The Break between Modernity and Islamism in Morocco In the Eighteenth century, Islam was the only aspect that bound all the Moroccans together, and this explains why Islam was dominant in the country. Another reason is the geographical location.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Modernity and Islamism in Morocco specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The country is situated at Islam’s far frontier which makes Jihadist very influential. The monarchial institution strongly identified with Islam, it influenced the way the communities led their lives. However, modernism brought changes in the country’s governance and Sharia ceased to be the only way to define the government’s models (Ruedy 54). This article will discuss on the period and events that resulted in a break between modernity and Islam Morocco. It will also compare the radicalization of political Islam in Morocco and in Egypt. According to Ruedy ( 54), in the beginning of the Nineteenth century, Sharia began losing its popularity as the only mode of reference in the government. The government began implementing practices that were initially seen as contrary to Islamic religion. The European colonists were determined to change the traditional setting in Morocco’s political system. Change in the political system was met by internal rebellion which threatened to collapse the state. Moroccans in support of Islam practice sought support from Middle East in an effort to resist the new governance. The Moroccan intellectual elite, however, had a different view on the new form of governance.Advertising Looking for essay on political culture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They studied the Middle Eastern constitutional ideas through the Syrian and Egyptian publications. They represented heterogeneous communities who had some forms of secular ideas. The Moroccan Islamic elite accepted the Pan-Arab and Pan-Islamic ideas wholly, and did not realize the secular content that was in these publications. The Muslims advising the government did not know of the ideological differences that existed in Middle East (55). The Radicalization of Political Islam in Morocco The political language used in the constitutional movement was too modern for the Moroccan Islamic consultants to understand. They were therefore, represented by the young educated Moroccans who participated in the publication of the constitution. These scholars acted as co-authors, and did not participate much in the publication of the constitution. Eventually, the demands by the Muslim representatives came out as a protest against the new governance. Egypt experienced less radicalization of political Islam because the leaders were well informed through publications. They represented the views of a heterogeneous community. Such knowledge prepared the Islamic advisors to accommodate mode rnism in the government while at the same time preserving their religious values. Morocco was more affected than Egypt because its leaders were ignorant and less educated (Ruedy 55-56). By 1923, leaders like Muhammad Ibn Abd alKarim al-Khattabi acknowledged that independence could not be achieved without the freedom from religious fanaticism.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Modernity and Islamism in Morocco specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, an Egyptian newspaper criticized the leader’s views and saw it as a way of destroying religious bonds and adopting secular views. These leaders simply accepted the European way of governance and were willing to discard their traditional values to adopt the secular ones. Egyptians were educated and integrated modernism in their traditional values. In the 1930’s, Morocco’s main challenge was the two opposing political organizations, one working on how t o modernize Islam while the other one worked on how to include Islam in modernity. Modernists finally managed to make leadership effective through the monarchy. Modernization was embraced while at the same time the traditional Muslim culture was preserved. Religion in Islamic countries goes hand in hand with politics (Ruedy 66-69). Unlike Morocco, Egypt was under authoritarian leadership by President Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak saved the country from opposition by Muslim leaders. The country did not experience the constitutional reforms that were in Morocco (Ottaway 2). Politics and religions are closely related and should be addressed by nations to promote peace. Morocco experienced intense radicalization of political Islam as a result of separating the government from religion. While embracing modernity, communities should preserve their cultural values (Ruedy 69). Ottaway, David B. Morocco’s Arab Spring. 22 June 2011. Web. https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/moroccos-arab-spr ing Ruedy, John. Islamism and Secularism in North Africa. New York: St. Martins Press, 1996. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on political culture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Corporate financial management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Corporate financial management - Essay Example Investors are attracted to invest in a stock depending on the company’s dividend policy, which is defined as â€Å"the proportion of after tax earnings paid out in cash to the shareholders by a company† (lecture notes). Several theories have been formulated that seek to explain how investors are affected by dividends and the value of their equity holdings. From the point of view of the investor, unnecessary risk may be averted if it became possible to forecast the future price directions of stocks. This is the rationale behind dividend theory, that supposedly dividends have informative content that convey to investors the value of the company, and would tend to influence investor attitude towards the stock. The traditional view stated that use of debt lowers the cost of capital. With a lower cost of capital as discount rate, assuming the cash flows unchanged, then the value of the firm becomes higher. However, the problem with the traditional view is that it ignores the increased risk of gearing to equity holders, thereby increasing cost of equity (lecture notes). According to Modigliani and Miller’s trade-off theory, firms should favour the use of debt. M&M theory showed that the higher the debt capital used by the firm, the higher the value of the firm, even to the point of maximizing value at 100% debt. M&M, however, states that capital structure or gearing (the amount of debt) does not affect the weighted average cost of capital, and therefore the value of the firm. The M&M theory assumes, however, very restrictive and unrealistic assumptions, ignoring entirely the cost of debt default and bankruptcy. Allowing for cost of bankruptcy, a point is reached where the benefit of the tax deductibility of interest on the debt is offset by increase in the costs of debt and of equity as a result of the risk due to high leverage (USF, 2010). Miller and Modigliani (1961) theorized that in a perfect market, a firm’s investors

The Art of English Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

The Art of English - Assignment Example The current of the moths flying strongly this way. A lamp and a flower pot in the centre. The flower can always be changing. But there must be more unity between each scene than I can find at present. Autobiography it might be called. How am I going to make one lap or act, between the coming of the moths, more intense than another; if there are only scenes? One must get the sense that this is the beginning; this is the middle; that the climax – when she opens the window and the moth comes in. I shall have two different currents – the moths flying along; the flowers upright in the centre; a perpetual crumbling and renewing of the plant, In its leaves she might see things happen. But who is she? ... Virginia Woolf After reading passages such as this where the only human is simply described as ‘She’ and does nothing more than open a window, one can agree with Kronenburg ( as quoted by Liukkonen 2008) who claimed that Woolf was not concerned about her human cha racters but rather, ‘the poetic symbols, of life--the changing seasons, day and night, bread and wine, fire and cold, time and space, birth and death and change.’ This is a description of a purely internal process – no one watching would be able to guess what was going on unless they read over her shoulder. And even then they might ask ‘What’s she going on about?’ This lack of physical action has an effect upon the minds of readers – they are more used to stories with a beginning, a middle and an end – stories about people’s actions, achievements or disappointments, but Woolf seems much more concerned with the mind’s inner workings – thoughts, sensations, emotions, and often people find this harder to deal with. This would be especially so if they aren’t themselves as introspective, aren’t so concerned with why one acts in a certain way as in the action itself. She intends to write a novel yet s ays ‘ I am not writing a story’ – how can a novel not be a story? Virginia Woolf has had two books of her diaries published. This selection comes from ‘A Writer’s Diary’ and was edited by her husband Leonard. She was born Adeline Virginia Stephen in 1882, so was 47 at the time of this entry. The other work considered is by a soldier and prisoner of war. Both writers are Londoners, but John Mansel on the other hand was 32 when he wrote so they are almost, but not quite, of the same generation and background. John Mansel (1909- 1974) trained as an architect , but joined the Territorial Army in 1935. His diaries cover the period of his interment in Germany as a prisoner-of-war during the 2nd World War. There were huge differences between their lives – not least that Woolf was permanently scarred by childhood sexual interference. Both came from financially secure backgrounds.- Mansel senior was a stockbroker. He had attended both school and university and had professional qualifications - Virginia Woolf had never been to any kind of school. Mansel’s diary only covered the war years, whereas Woolf was a full time professional writer whose works, although not the easiest to read, were read widely. Mansel’s writing was presumably meant of only private consumption, at least in the first instance, although he is careful not to mention names, probably in case of causing offence. It was not published until a few years after his death. They each use the diary form in different ways. Woolf seems to be using it as preliminary

Democracy and Capitalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Democracy and Capitalism - Essay Example Great Britain had slowly emerged as a country that was dominated by classical liberalism as it evolved during the seventeenth and the eighteenth century. Capitalism was inadvertently further developed by two events of the late fifteenth century and the early years of the sixteenth century, namely the discovery of the New World and the Protestant Reformation. The Portuguese and Spanish colonisation and economic exploitation of their New World empires in Asia, Central America, and South America were responsible for greatly expanding global trading links. New World silver and gold alongside the Atlantic slave trade boosted economic development greatly. The wealth exported to Portugal and Spain prompted competition from the Dutch, the English, and the French for colonies and trade England and later Britain was the state most responsible for developing the global capitalist economy. Capitalism, liberalism, and the Royal Navy were a virtually unstoppable combination.1 When Britains economic and military power declined after the Second World War its position of the global promoter of capitalism and democracy was taken over by the United States. In 1945 the United States was the worlds only nuclear power as well as having the largest economy. During the Cold War period the United States certainly promoted capitalism and anti-communism even if it did always further democracy. During the Cold War era capitalism and democracy became even more closely linked together than before. Capitalism whether in its traditional liberal form, or the Keynesian version with its mixed economies dominated Western Europe, North America, Latin America, and Japan. The Americans were not averse to interfering in other countries if their democratic choices threatened capitalism, for example in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, and Iran. Unlike Russia in

Restrictive health, safety and technical standards Essay Example for Free

Restrictive health, safety and technical standards Essay Technical Standards: Standards and standards-related technical regulations are pervasive features of global commerce, affecting an estimated 80 percent of world commodity trade. These technical specifications make up much of the vocabulary in the exacting language of industry, consumer protection, and government regulation. As such, foreign standards and methods used to assess conformity to standards can either facilitate efficient international trade and its resultant benefits, or they can impede access to export markets. Divergent standards peculiar to a nation or region, redundant testing and compliance procedures, unilateral and non-transparent standard setting exercises, and a confusing thicket of other standards-related problems are now recognized as major impediments to free trade. For example: Vietnams Ministry of Science and Technology publishes a list of imports and exports requiring mandatory quality inspection. Importers and exporters of the products on the list must subject their products to inspection and obtain a permit from the relevant government agencies (such as the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Fishery, and the Ministry of Science and Technology) at the time they go through customs. In the inspection, some products are subject to national standards, some are subject to regulations of the functional agencies, and some are subject to both. China is very concerned with the transparency of Vietnams mandatory quality inspection system. Language Barrier: Communication is the key to building successful business relationships. However, communication becomes complex when more than one language is involved. Interpreters and translators can play a critical role assisting exporters with the delivery of key information to prospective customers and clients. Interpreters and translators fulfill different roles in different cultures. For example, an interpreter in North America or Europe is expected to relay an unbiased account of the information to the audience. In Japan, however, an interpreter will translate the language and quite likely interpret gestures, context and meanings for those in attendance. Exporters should enlist the services of an experienced, fluent translator or interpreter who is also immersed in the culture of the target market. Working as a team, the exporter and the interpreter can review the text, presentation or other materials together to ensure that there will be no difficulties with background information, technical terms or potentially ambiguous messages. Non-tariff Barriers. Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) refer to the wide range of policy interventions other than border tariffs that affect trade of goods, services, and factors of production. Most taxonomies of NTBs include market-specific trade and domestic policies affecting trade in that market. Extended taxonomies include macro-economic policies affecting trade. NTBs have gained importance as tariff levels have been reduced worldwide. Common measures of NTBs include tariff-equivalents of the NTB policy or policies and count and frequency measures of NTBs. These NTB measures are subsequently used in various trade models, including gravity equations, to assess trade and/or welfare effects of the measured NTBs. Conclusion The world has a long history of international trade. In fact, trading among nations can be traced back to the earliest civilizations. Trading activities are directly related to an improved quality of life for the citizens of nations involved in international trade. It is safe to say that nearly every person on earth has benefited from international trading activities. This may be a good time to reinforce the idea that trade barriers are designed to protect some industries but, in fact they may hurt other industries or even consumers. Economists have found that sanctions dont often reach their political objectives and they come with high costs. A good example is the steel tariff imposed by the Bush administration, on foreign-made steel. President Bush imposed the tariffs, ranging from 8 percent to 30 percent, on some kinds of foreign steel in March 2002, in order to help the U. S. steel industry compete with foreign steel producers. Many U. S. manufacturing companies that use steel, including manufacturers of auto parts and appliances, say that the steel tariffs have raised costs for manufacturers and caused thousands of manufacturing losses. Also, people who buy cars or appliances may have to pay higher prices because of the steel tariffs. The U. S. International Trade Commission recently concluded that the tariffs have caused a $30 million net loss to the U. S. economy. In addition, the European Union is considering retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. TBR (Trade Barrier Regulation) is Europes way of removing obstacles to trade, ensuring that countries abide by the rules of international trade, and providing procedures for resolving international trade disputes. Through the European Commission, its procedures interface directly with WTO dispute resolution procedures, affecting all countries subject to WTO rules and agreements notably the United States and Japan and whose industries have been the subject of recent international decisions. Free trade is usually most strongly supported by the most economically powerful nations in the world, though they often engage in selective protectionism for those industries which are politically important domestically, such as the protective tariffs applied to agriculture and textiles by the United States and Europe. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom were both strong advocates of free trade when they were economically dominant, today the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan are its greatest proponents. However, many other countries (such as India, China and Russia) are increasingly becoming advocates of free trade as they become more economically powerful themselves. As tariff levels fall there is also an increasing willingness to negotiate non tariff measures, including foreign direct investment, procurement and trade facilitation. The latter looks at the transaction cost associated with meeting trade and customs procedures. Traditionally agricultural interests are usually in favour of free trade while manufacturing sectors often support protectionism. This has changed somewhat in recent years, however. In fact, agricultural lobbies, particularly in the United States, Europe and Japan, are chiefly responsible for particular rules in the major international trade treaties which allow for more protectionist measures in agriculture than for most other goods and services. During recessions there is often strong domestic pressure to increase tariffs to protect domestic industries. This occurred around the world during the Great Depression leading to a collapse in world trade that many believe seriously deepened the depression. The regulation of international trade is done through the World Trade Organization at the global level, and through several other regional arrangements such as MERCOSUR in South America, NAFTA between the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the European Union between 27 independent states. The 2005 Buenos Aires talks on the planned establishment of the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) failed largely due to opposition from the populations of Latin American nations. Similar agreements such as the MAI (Multilateral Agreement on Investment) have also failed in recent years. Bibliography 1. Barriers to entry: Coping with protectionism. UK Investment. 18 April 2007 http://www. ukinvest. gov. uk/10415/en_GB/0. pdf 2. Boone, L. , and Kurtz, D. Contemporary Marketing. New York: Dryden Press. 2003 3. Brue, S. , and McConnell, C. Economics. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2003 4. Churchill, G. , and Peter, P. Marketing: Creating Value for Customers. Austen Press. 2004 5. Czinkota, M. R. , and Ronkainen, I. A. International Marketing. New York: Dryden Press. 2005 6. Competition and Market Power. Econoclass – Sources for Economics Teachers. 18 April 2007 http://www.econoclass. com/imperfectcompetition. html 7. Deardorff, Alan V. , and Robert M. Stern. Measurement of Nontariff Barriers: Studies in International Economics. 2005 8. Debra Ann Skaradzinski. Testing chaotic dynamics via Lyapunov exponents. Journal of Applied Econometrics 20:7, (2003): 911. 9. Fisher, Ronald, and Pablo Serra. â€Å"Standards and Protection. † Journal of International Economics 52 (2004): 377-400. 10. Farese, L. , Kimbrell, G. , and Woloszyk, C. Marketing Essentials. Mission Hills, CA: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill. 2003 11. Henson, Spencer, and John S. Wilson, eds. The WTO and Technical Barriers toTrade, in the Critical Perspectives on the Global Trading System and the WTO series, Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd. 2005 12. Impact of Standards and Technical Regulations on Trade. Press Release from Commerce Ministry (2003). 18 April 2007 http://www. commerce. gov/opa/press/Secretary_Evans/2003_Releases/March/19_Standards. htm 13. Journal of Behavioral Finance, Vol. 4, No. 2, (2003): Pages 65-70 14. Kee, Hiau Looi, Alessandro Nicita, and Marcelo Olarreaga. Estimating Trade Restrictiveness Indices, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper # 3840.2006 15. Kotler, P. , and Armstrong, G. Marketing: An Introduction. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 2004 16. â€Å"Methodologies, Classifications, Quantification and Development Impacts of Non-Tariff Barriers: Note by the UNCTAD Secretariat,† Document TD/B/COM. 1/EM. 27/2. (2004). 18 April 2007 http://www. unctad. org/TEMPLATES/meeting. asp? intItemID=3411lang=1m=10489info=not 17. Non-tariff Barriers Centre for Rural Agricultural Development (2003). 18 April 2007 www. econ. iastate. edu/research/webpapers/paper_12703. pdf 18. RSIE Working Papers. University of Michigan.(2005). 18 April 2007 http://www. fordschool. umich. edu/rsie/workingpapers/wp. html 19. The Impact of Regulations on Agricultural Trade. Working Paper, Centre d’Etudes Prospectives et d’Informations Internationales, Paris. (2003). 18 April 2007 www. econ. iastate. edu/research/webpapers/paper_12703. pdf 20. Trade, Environment and Development. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). (2005). 18 April 2007 www. unctad. org/trade_env/ 21. Vousden, Neil. The Economics of Trade Protection. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. 2005.

How Will Genetic Engineering Impact Our Lives? :: Expository Essays Research Papers

How will our lives change in the future? Are we as a society going to live longer because we have better medical treatments? The answer is most likely, yes, but will our genetic manipulation/sequencing take us to a new level. Instead of living to one hundred, will we be able to live to two hundred? More importantly, is this ethically correct to create a â€Å"fountain of youth† through genetic correction? An article I read recently helped me to draw some understanding. Thus far, researchers have had minimal success in using gene therapy to correct most genetic conditions and no researcher has used gene therapy to correct genetic impairments in a fetus (Parens). Although it is impossible to correct genetic flaws, we have discovered how to test for over 400 conditions, from those viewed as severe, such as Tay Sachs, to those that many might describe as relatively minor, such as polydactyly (a trait involving an extra little finger) (Parens). As it gets easier to test for these genetic disorders, so does the perception within both the medical and broader communities that prenatal testing is a logical extension of good prenatal care. On the other hand, as long as in-utero interventions remain relatively rare, and as long as the number or people seeking prenatal genetic information to prepare for the birth of a child with a disability remains small, prospective parents will use positive prenatal test results primarily as the basis of a decision to abort fetuses that carry mutations associated with disease or disability (Parens). â€Å"†¦There is a sense in which prenatal testing is simply a logical extension of the idea of good prenatal care† (Parens). Whether it is a logical extension or not, using prenatal tests to prevent the birth of babies with disabilities seems to be a good decision to many people (Parens). Even if the testing will not help bring a healthy baby to term this time, it gives prospective parents a chance to try and conceive again (Parens). â€Å"To others, however, prenatal testing looks rather different. If one thinks to appreciate why people identified with the disability rights movement might regard such testing as dangerous. For the members of this movement, including people with and without disabilities and both issue-focused and disability-focused groups, living with disabling traits need not be detrimental either to an individual's prospects of leading a worthwhile life, or to the families in which they grow up, or to society at large† (Parens). How Will Genetic Engineering Impact Our Lives? :: Expository Essays Research Papers How will our lives change in the future? Are we as a society going to live longer because we have better medical treatments? The answer is most likely, yes, but will our genetic manipulation/sequencing take us to a new level. Instead of living to one hundred, will we be able to live to two hundred? More importantly, is this ethically correct to create a â€Å"fountain of youth† through genetic correction? An article I read recently helped me to draw some understanding. Thus far, researchers have had minimal success in using gene therapy to correct most genetic conditions and no researcher has used gene therapy to correct genetic impairments in a fetus (Parens). Although it is impossible to correct genetic flaws, we have discovered how to test for over 400 conditions, from those viewed as severe, such as Tay Sachs, to those that many might describe as relatively minor, such as polydactyly (a trait involving an extra little finger) (Parens). As it gets easier to test for these genetic disorders, so does the perception within both the medical and broader communities that prenatal testing is a logical extension of good prenatal care. On the other hand, as long as in-utero interventions remain relatively rare, and as long as the number or people seeking prenatal genetic information to prepare for the birth of a child with a disability remains small, prospective parents will use positive prenatal test results primarily as the basis of a decision to abort fetuses that carry mutations associated with disease or disability (Parens). â€Å"†¦There is a sense in which prenatal testing is simply a logical extension of the idea of good prenatal care† (Parens). Whether it is a logical extension or not, using prenatal tests to prevent the birth of babies with disabilities seems to be a good decision to many people (Parens). Even if the testing will not help bring a healthy baby to term this time, it gives prospective parents a chance to try and conceive again (Parens). â€Å"To others, however, prenatal testing looks rather different. If one thinks to appreciate why people identified with the disability rights movement might regard such testing as dangerous. For the members of this movement, including people with and without disabilities and both issue-focused and disability-focused groups, living with disabling traits need not be detrimental either to an individual's prospects of leading a worthwhile life, or to the families in which they grow up, or to society at large† (Parens).