Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Political Change Between 1815 and 1840 Essay Example

Political Change Between 1815 and 1840 Paper The political participation of voters, campaigners, and elections in general changed drastically between the periods of 1815 and 1840, events such as the aftermath of the war of 1812, the age of reform, and political campaign styles were incredibly important in the changes of political participation. The aftermath of the war of 1812 was an explosion of nationalistic feelings. Many believed that it was a second war for independence, even though the war was mainly a stalemate. The election of James Monroe to the presidency in 1816 was often called the Era of Good Feelings. The new sense of pride destroyed old political barriers by lessoning voter requirements. This united Americans behind the common goal of improving the nation. The nation was so unified that Monroe ran uncontested for a second term in 1820. The reform movement consisted of the Second great Awakening, a religious reform movement, women’s rights, the abolition of slavery, temperance and many others. Conventions made by women, such as the Seneca Falls convention would encourage women to step out of the domestic sphere of their house and dive into the world of politics, getting themselves more involved in the world beyond their homes and children. The second great awakening transformed many into god-fearing peoples and set certain beliefs toward temperance and slavery. People effects by these beliefs would vote for candidates that followed them, therefore playing upon the fact that more candidates should address important issues instead of using personality to get elected. However, personality is what many campaigns played upon in this era. Jackson for instance, was dubbed â€Å"old hickory† and had a large following simple because he was considered an average person, a representative for the common folk instead of another high-standing politician who was in office solely for the money and power. We will write a custom essay sample on Political Change Between 1815 and 1840 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Political Change Between 1815 and 1840 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Political Change Between 1815 and 1840 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Another candidate to run against Jackson played the same â€Å"common man† card, William Henry Harrison, who boosted that he was the â€Å"log cabin and hard cider candidate† this appealed to the more average folk in the same way Jackson had before him, this also allowed him to avoid important issues such as slavery and women’s rights. Many important factors decided the fate of political participation of the citizens of the United States. The nationalistic spark after the war of 1812 opened new doors to many by lessoning the restrictions against voters. The reform movement gave people issues to look for a solution to in politicians and candidates. Lastly, the campaigns themselves made a drastic change, depending mostly on the personality of the candidate instead of their views on the current events of the time.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

How to Write Family and Consumer Science Term Paper The Guide You Can’t Skip

How to Write Family and Consumer Science Term Paper The Guide You Can’t Skip Stuck with your family and consumer science term paper? Family and Consumer Science is a field of studies that focuses on relationships among people and their personal environments, taking into account the impact of biological, physical, and social environments on human development and behavior. Students who are enrolled in such programs have to learn a set of professional skills and be ready to apply their knowledge to improve the well-being of people of all ages by addressing complex problems faced by individuals, families, and communities. Every semester, students are typically assigned to complete multiple writing assignments of different types in the family and consumer sciences and a term paper is one of them. Writing a long essay or a term paper can seem to be intimidating at first but there are some basic rules of thumb that you should follow. They will make your job as a writer easier. Read this guide on how to write a family and consumer science term paper and learn the most effective strategies for completing a successful family and consumer term paper. Besides, you’ll find here a list of interesting term paper topic ideas that you can use for creating your own written projects. What Is Family and Consumer Science Term Paper? Family and consumer science term paper is actually an extended essay that is based on a profound research of scholarly sources. Like most academic papers, term papers in the family and consumer science have a basic format and include an introduction, body, and conclusion. In this guide, we’ll discuss how to write each section of your paper so keep reading. Writing a term paper is a long process that is often messy and recursive but still, it can be divided into a number of tasks: Choosing a topic; Researching a topic; Planning and outlining; Drafting and revising; Editing and proofreading the final draft. Choose a Good Family and Consumer Science Term Paper Topic When writing a term paper, you may have different options: you can pick your own topic, a topic may be assigned to you or you may be given a list of possible topics to choose from. Anyway, you will have to decide what approach to use to select a suitable topic for your term paper. It’s a very important step and you’d better choose a topic that you are interested in and that is somehow familiar to you. In this case, it will be easier for you to conduct a research and you may even enjoy doing it. But you should make sure that the chosen topic is not too broad. Otherwise, you will not be able to write a well-focused paper. That’s why you should do some background reading to understand whether your term paper topic is feasible. For example, if you are interested in interior design, you should narrow down this topic and write about contemporary interior design trends or the history of interiors. You may want to cover another aspect of this broad topic as well. Besides, you should do some preliminary research to determine whether you’ll be able to find enough resources in your library and online databases to cover your topic. When you have chosen an appropriate topic for your term paper, you should try to formulate a clear research question that will help you stay focused while doing the research and finding relevant sources. Can’t decide which topic to select for your term paper? Here is a list of amazing family and consumer science term paper topics you can choose from: Core Strategies of the Leading Luxury Brands; How Do Environmental Factors Influence Healthy Child Development? How Can Parents Support Positive Eating Behaviors of Their Children? What Is the Connection Between Sustainability and Food Safety? Key Reasons Why Parents Turn to Homeschooling; Environmental Sustainability and Family Planning; Impact of Immigration on Older Families; Basic Concepts in Interior Design; Principles of Family Finance; History of Interiors and Architecture; Safe Methods of Commercial Food Production; What Is the Role of Minerals, Vitamins, and Micronutrients in Human Nutrition? Management of Family Resources; Nutritional Management for Food Allergies; Current Trends in Family Life. Conduct a Research Like a Pro First, you can read some general resources to gain an understanding of the subject area. You may consult textbooks, specialized encyclopedias, and look through general newspaper or magazine articles. Write down different terms and phrases that define your topic. You will use them as keywords when searching for relevant scholarly books and articles. You should also think about ideas that you would like to explore in your term paper and make a preliminary outline for your research and develop a thesis statement. Now you must search for material that was published on your topic by experts in the field. You have to read the material that you can find, analyze, and evaluate it to determine how different sources can be useful for writing your term paper and developing your argument. You should use skimming and scanning techniques while determining if a source is useful. If you decide that a source is useful, you have to read it closely and take notes of some important ideas. You don’t have to write them word for word but summarize, paraphrase or use your own words to explain the key ideas. You’d better organize all the sources that you find. You can do it using index cards or on a spreadsheet. You should record essential information about every article, book, website or document that you use when doing research and writing your term paper such as the title, the author’s name, the date of publication etc. Taking notes from your sources is a crucial part of the research. You can use different methods for doing that but it’s important to clearly indicate if the ideas are your own or you derived them from the sources you are reading. That’s why you should use quotation marks to show that it is direct copying. It may be useful to group your notes by subject to organize your thoughts on a specific aspect. You should review your notes and consult your preliminary outline to ensure that you are staying within it. Wondering what type of information you should consider when taking notes? Facts or statistics to improve your argument; Quotations from original works to support your own argument; Ideas that explain the topic, issue or argument that you are investigating; Ideas that support or refute your thesis statement; Write a Working Outline The next step is to plan your term paper and create an outline that will help you keep your thoughts on the track. First, you have to develop a strong thesis statement that you will argue in your using relevant source material and convincing evidence. A good thesis forecasts the content of an academic paper and concretely announces the major elements of your topic. You will have to divide your argument into several reasonably balanced sections. You need to decide which material you will have to include or exclude. Next, you should make a list of headings and sub-headings and decide what you will include under each of them. Try to keep the system of headings simple – you may not need more than 3 levels of headings. If your term paper is not lengthy, 2 levels of headings will do. You should also decide how many words each of your term paper sections should include. For example, if you divide your 5,000-word term paper on food safety and sustainability into 5 sections, an average section will consist of about 1,000 words. You should decide if it is enough for presenting the key points in each section. Write the First Draft of Your Term Paper Use your notes and an outline to start your first draft. Keep in mind that the first draft of your family and consumer science term paper is not meant to be perfect. In fact, you will need to create several drafts before you can complete your final draft. It doesn’t matter from which section of your paper you will start writing. So start with a section that you feel more comfortable with. If you have trouble with writing a particular part of any section, skip it, and go back to later. You may also find that there are some difficult areas that you’ll need to rewrite later. You should ensure that your term paper has the following basic elements: The introduction that introduces your thesis statement and informs what you are going to discuss and how you are going to structure your paper; The main body that gives key points and evidence to support your thesis statement. The conclusion that summarizes your argument and ends your term paper on a convincing note Read on to find some tips on how to write the main parts of your term paper. Introduction Your introduction doesn’t have to be long but it should include some essential elements. You have to begin it with an attention grabber, for example, a story, statistic, fact or historical context; You can also give an overview of the specific problem or provide the background information on your topic; Besides, you should define the key terms that will help your readers understand the topic. For example, when writing about child development, you may want to explain such terms as Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, domains of development, core competencies, least restrictive environment, intentional teaching; If your term paper is argumentative, you can also present the primary opposing views; You must end your introduction with a strong thesis statement which may be 1 or 2 sentences in length. Main Body In the body, you need to clearly present the key points that you have outlined in the thesis statement and provide good explanations, details, and examples to support all your points. When writing an argumentative family and consumer science term paper, you need to mention counterarguments and refute them. It’s important to use strong evidence from credible sources to support the major points. Your paper should include quotations, summaries, and paraphrases with proper referencing according to the citation style specified by your instructor (MLA, APA, Harvard, Chicago or other). Never put all the information into one big section. Instead, you should divide the body of your term paper into a number of sections using an overarching principle and begin each section with an explanation of its purpose. Use clear section headings to guide your readers and help them understand how the argument is developing. Headings are used to break the term paper topic into its natural parts so you should use them carefully in the same way as you use topic sentences in the paragraphs, organizing your thinking for the sake of your audience. Conclusion In this part of your paper, you have to restate your thesis statement using different words and summarize all the major points presented in the body in a concise manner. You can also explain the significance of your findings and give suggestions for further research. Don’t include any new arguments in your conclusion. Revise, Edit, Proofread: Final Steps even Our Writers Don’t Skip When you have completed your first draft, you should look over it. A good idea is to wait a few days so that you’ll be able to be objective when revising it. You have to review your draft several times and try to determine if your argument is clear to your reader. You should check the content and logical flow of sentences and paragraphs, making improvements where necessary.   Make sure that all your paragraphs begin with a topic sentence and that there are transitions between the paragraphs. You should also pay particular attention to proper citation and referencing to avoid plagiarism. Make sure that you consistently use one system of citation. Attention to details at this early stage can save you tons of time in the long run. When editing your family and consumer science term paper, you should rewrite unclear passages and delete irrelevant words and sentences. You have to check your vocabulary and avoid inappropriate words or slang. Finally, you need to check grammar, punctuation, and spelling and eliminate typos if there are any.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Building a House Utilizing Traditional Brick and Block Construction Coursework

Building a House Utilizing Traditional Brick and Block Construction - Coursework Example This research tells that the construction of brick and block traditional houses begin with the digging of the trench. The trench is the site where the foundation will be laid on and should be well inspected before the concrete is laid. This must be done in accordance with the plan of construction. The plan is very instrumental precisely when revealing the load-bearing walls and the width of the tranches to be excavated. When building the wall the choice of brick and block to be used is very important. This affects the brick to be used in the foundation and when building the course block works as far as color and size are concerned. The foundation trench concrete is therefore laid down to a depth at least 150mm or as specified in the plan. After the laying of the concrete, the bricks and blocks are laid down in cavity wall construction depending on the planned design style. The construction of the two walls is done with the two skins constructed next to one another leaving a cavity in between them. The traditional brick and block develop a relative solid 9-inch wall. The main challenge despite the thickness is the risk due to exposure to moisture. However, with the cavity, it is difficult for water to get across the void between the two skins. To effectively prevent dampness, there is need to clear up the cement falling in between the walls during construction. This is primarily because if left there for long, it will pile up hence creates a bridge which will accelerate moistening the wall course. The builders also need to tie both the brick-work and block-work skins together but carefully and at a regular interval.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Interdependence and Independence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interdependence and Independence - Essay Example 201). In support of the observations, people are, in the modern times, learning about becoming independent. People no longer wish to share their concerns with others. This is because they tend to create social security for their private matters. Culture is fading away slowly and gradually, it does not significantly affect the decisions made by the people. For instance, if someone has issues with their spouse, culture would dictate that they continue living together. This should not be the case as people have the right to make their own independent decisions. An individual’s needs are more important than the community’s needs. People are more important than their communities are. The community regulates the rules and regulations that involve assisting one another. The rules advocate for community coexistence, getting it wrong. People in the community should push for what is beneficial to their lives. A person cannot seek for the rights of the community at the expense of their own benefit. I will raise my children differently from the way I was raised. It is important to appreciate and respect their efforts and decisions. There is need to encourage them to become independent thinkers. This is because they must be accountable for their own decisions and actions. Parents should only provide their children with guidance, in order to have them make the right choices in life. Through independence, individuals are able to understand themselves. They realize their uniqueness and acquire the ability for self-development. Independence affects the personality of an individual positively because they act without other people’s influence. People are able to keep their thoughts and feelings as secrets, increasing their internal activity. Independence gives an individual a sense of control over their lives. It is important to listen to parents whenever they give

Sunday, November 17, 2019

10 comparisons between Traditional Project Management, Adaptive Essay

10 comparisons between Traditional Project Management, Adaptive Project Framework (APF), and Extreme Project Management (XPM) - Essay Example Into the bargain, APF’s change is progression to an efficient solution similar to TPM but EPM has no progression change. The APF model offers increased business value in a certain time compared to EPM model. EPM needs processes to start over from the original beginning point hence no value to the business. However, TPM also brings more value to the business. TPM has a fixed scope, while APF and EPM have a variable scope. TPM hates change while APF embraces change but EPM drives the change since it is necessary. On planning TPM is driven by a fixed plan while APF and EPM are driven by Just in time form of planning. TPM has a good breakdown structure, while APF has a middle level work breakdown structure but EPM has no work breakdown structure (Wysocki 297-488). What’s more all changes in APF and TPM are temporary while EPM are permanent. At the same time the focus by APF is drawn towards delivery of products compared to EPM and TPM which are focused on the actual work itself. Lastly, there is partnership strategy between the entire stakeholders which is critical in APF compared to EPM which lacks collaboration and TPM which has minimal partnerships. These can be summarized in the table

Friday, November 15, 2019

PESTEL Analysis of the Chinese Economy

PESTEL Analysis of the Chinese Economy There is no doubt that nowadays globalization brings opportunities for companies to expand their business activities easily to take advantages of other countrys growth through investing activities. However, before investing to overseas, a company should make a careful examination of the country they are intending to invest in especially the industry related to their investment. Examining the relationship between risks will help to measure the risks the company has to encounter and the information is actually helpful for company in decisions making. Based on factual country information and financial analysis, this assignment will point out main factors that will impact Soundtech Technologys general business activities when it starts business in China producing low cost sound system for budget cars called Superaudio. This assignment will start with China background information and then six factors in PESTEL model these include political, economic, social, technology, environment, and legal will be presented. In addition, Soundtech Technologys financial overview that includes financial factors as well as sensitive analysis will be conducted based on the data given. Lastly, some recommendations will be make to help Soundtech Technology in making investment decisions. 1. China background informations Area: 9,596,961 sq. km Population (July, 2010): 1,330,141,295. Annual growth rate: 0.494 % Ethnic groups: Han Chinese is 91.5%, ethnic minority and other nationalities are 8.5%. Religions: Officially atheist, Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian is about 3%-4%, Muslim is approximately 1%-2%. Languages: Mandarin is also called Putonghua is the main language in China, plus many local dialects. Government: Communist party-led state. GDP is $4.814 trillion (2009) Per capita GDP is $3,678 (2009) GDP real growth rate (2009): 8.7% Natural resources: mineral is plentiful including coal, petroleum, mercury, iron ore, natural gas, tin, tungsten, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, antimony, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium. Moreover, China is the worlds largest in hydropower potential. Agriculture: China is one of the worlds largest producers of rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley; commercial crops include cotton, other fibers, apples, oilseeds, pork and fish; produces variety of livestock products. Types of industry: China is focusing on mining, ore processing and others mineral such as iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals. Consumer product is one of the nation strongest industries. Transportation, electronics, telecommunications equipment as well as commercial space are major sectors. Trade: Exports (2009) $1.194 trillion: electrical and other machinery, including data processing equipment, apparel, textiles, iron and steel, optical and medical equipment. Main partners (2008) United States 17.7%, Hong Kong 13.3%, Japan 8.1%, South Korea 5.2%, and Germany 4.1%. Imports (2009) $921.5 billion: electrical and other machinery, oil and mineral fuels, optical and medical equipment, metal ores, plastics, organic chemicals. Main partners (2008) Japan 13.3%, South Korea 9.9%, Taiwan 9.2%, U.S. 7.2%, Germany 4.9%. Undoubtedly, the electronics is the one of the leading industry in Chinas manufacturing sector. Sales revenue from Chinas electronics and IT industries (not including software) is estimated approximately $772.8 billion in 2008, reaching a growth of 28.3% over 2007. According to a statistical report by Chinas Ministry of Information Industry (MII), sales revenue of Chinas electronic information industry from January to April 2008 increased by 20.5% over the same period of last year. EE Times-China and ESM-China Market Research Dept predict that from 2006 to 2008, Chinas electronics industry will maintain a CAGR of 25.5% (global sources.com). 2. PESTEL analysis An analysis of Chinas Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, Legal factors is essential to the strategic management and implementation of the project. The positive and negative effect on the projects initiation and development will be pointed out through the analysis of the external factors. 2.1 Political factors 2.1.1 General information Currently, China Government is ongoing to promote rule of law. After the Cultural Revolution, a legal system to restrict of official authority and revolutionary excesses has been developed. In 1982, the National Peoples Congress issued a new state constitution that emphasized the rule of law under which even party leaders are theoretically held accountable. Since 1979, when the drive to establish a functioning legal system began, more than 300 laws and regulations concerned about economic areas have been promulgated. In the 1990s Legal reform became a government priority. Legislation designed to modernize and professionalize the nations lawyers, judges, and prisons was issued. The Chinese constitution and laws provide for fundamental human rights, including due process, however in practice these are often ignored. In addition to other judicial reforms, the Constitution was modified in 2004 that include the protection of individual human rights as well as the legally-obtained private property, but it does not clear about how some of these provisions will be implemented. Since this modification, there have been new promulgations in bankruptcy law and anti-monopoly law, and modifications for both company and labor law. Although additional safeguards to citizens have been provided in new criminal and civil laws, previously debated political reforms, including expanding elections to the township level beyond the current trial basis, have been put on hold. 2.1.2 Recent political events Since Tiananmen, 13 rounds of human rights dialogue between the U.S and China has been conducted. In May 2010, the most recent round was taken placed; topics were turned around religious freedom, the rights of labor, freedom of expression, rule of law, the discrimination of race, and multilateral cooperation as well. A foundation to continue these rounds in the future was adopted by The U.S. and China leading to unanimous approval for the next round of dialogue in China in 2011. The meetings in Lhasa on March 10th 2008, marking the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising turned violent, and led to protests and unsecure state throughout Tibetan areas and others surrounding provinces. The army and police force monitored strictly Tibetan areas for the safety of the 50th anniversary in 2009 and 51st in 2010 and security was tightened in the border with Nepal. Armed uprising was ongoing when ethnic violence broke out in Urumqi in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region on July 5, 2009. Security control significantly increased in Urumqi and its surrounding areas and as the result some mosques in Xinjiang were closed. As of early 2010, Urumqi was still under a heavy police control and most Internet and international phone communication were totally cut off. In recent years, riots have been happened in China that has created the unstable condition for foreign companies investment in China. However, China Government has taken strict measures to prevent and stop this situation that creates safe environment for foreign investors. 2.2 Economic factors Chinas economy has been reformed and opened since 1978. A more pragmatic thinking on many political and socio economic problems has been approved by the Chinese leadership and therefore the role of ideology in economic policy has been partly reduced. China has transformed its economic into the market-oriented that positively impact not only on China but also on the world. These economic reforms China has implemented over the past 2 decades have profoundly affected both individual initiative and entrepreneurship. As the result the poverty has been significantly reduced and the average income has reached to highest level ever seen. At the beginning of 2010China is ranked as the second-largest economy in the world after overtaking Japan to capture this position. An average economic growth has been sustained over 9.5% for the past 26 years. In 2009, its economy reached to $4.814 trillion was about one-third the size of the U.S. economy. The high economic growth along with higher nationa l income growth may boost demand for Soundtech Technologys products this is big opportunity for the firm to develop its business. In the 1980s, the combination of central planning with market-oriented reforms were tried to implement in order to increase productivity, living standards, and technological quality but not lead to negative effect on inflation, unemployment, and budget deficits In addition, Chinese Government pursued agricultural reforms, dismantling the commune system and introducing a household-based system that provided peasants greater decision-making in agricultural activities. Besides that nonagricultural activities like village enterprises in rural areas were also encouraged. Similarly, the government promoted more self-management for state-owned enterprises in order to increased competition in the marketplace, and create opportunities for Chinas domestic enterprise directly contact with the foreign ones. On 20th June 2010, Chinas central bank set the Yuan exchange rate at higher level after committing to increase the flexibility of exchange rate of its currency. Reference exchange rate of the day was set at 6.7980 Yuan on USD 1 its strongest level since September 2008, up 0.43% compared with the level of 6.8275 Yuan on 21st June 210. A stronger Yuan would make Chinese exports more expensive, help redress trade balances and bring some reliefs to foreign manufactures struggling to complete. The increase of Yuan exchange rate creates disadvantages for Soundtech Technology when they export their products to overseas markets because it raises the price in term of foreign currency. Especially, in recent years the cooperative relationship between China and Singapore have been improved within related global and regional organizations such as the ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). At the same time, both China and Singapore have conducted beneficial cooperation and put efforts to offer training sessions to a third country and to help their companies or enterprises explore and exploit the world market. The 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic corporation between China and Singapore is marked in year 2010 as well as the event of Chinas participation in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA). By taking advantages of all the opportunity from the partners, China is ready to work with Singapore to lift bilateral relations to a new level and bring more substantial benefits to the citizens of both countries. For this reason, China Government always makes the best condition to welcome Soundtech Technology to invest in China. 2.3 Social factors With a population officially over 1.3 billion and an estimated growth rate of 0.494%, China is very concerned about its population growth and has attempted with mixed results to implement a strict birth limitation policy. The governments goal is to stabilize the population in the first half of the 21st century, and 2009 projections from the U.S. Census Bureau are that the Chinese population will peak at around 1.4 billion by 2026. It can be said that China has huge population that supply to the market a profuse workforce which is an opportunity for Sountech Technology to expand its business in China. Another affecting factor that can be considered is the trend of employment with relation to the unemployment level. The current unemployment rate in China in January 2010 is 4.3% which demonstrates that this project would help the society and in turn the economy by creating positive job opportunities. Source: tradingeconomic.com Recently, China Government has increased the minimum wages. On 1st April Guangdong increased the provinces minimum wages by an average 13%. Moreover, the southern China province produces about 13% of Chinas economic output, the most among the countrys 32 provinces. Minimum wages in the capital city Guangzhou reached to 860 yuan increased $120 per month from 780 yuan, Wages of other cities in the province would also get a boost, with those in some inland cities up nearly 18%. China Government has increased the minimum wages that is a challenge for Sountech Technology because they have to paid more for labor costs that will decrease business profit. 2.4 Technological factors Chinese science strategists realize Chinas greatest opportunities in technology fields such as computers and biotechnology, where creates a chance for China to make innovation in these areas. It cannot be denied that a dense network of trans-Pacific contact have been built by most overseas Chinese students that will boost the cooperation between U.S. and China scientific in coming years. The U.S. space program is regarded as the standard of scientific modernity in China is held annually. Chinas small but growing space program is national pride of China when its third manned orbit was totally successful in September 2008. Technology Agreement is the model for bilateral cooperation between The U.S and China in science field. In April 2006 the Science and Technology Agreement was extended by a 5-year agreement was signed. The agreement which includes approximately 60 protocols, memoranda of understanding, agreements, and annexes, is considered as the longest-standing between U.S.-China accords. The agreement encompasses cooperation between U.S. and China in variety fields like marine conservation, renewable energy, and health. Besides the U.S China also has close relationship with Japan and the European Union in science and technology cooperation. Based on the data supplied by the State Development Planning Commission, during the Ninth Five-year Plan period from1996 to 2000, China has significant technological development. 50,000 projects have been set up under the Spark Plan. Started in 1986, these projects were actually a technological program in order to enhance the IT level in rural areas. Since 1996 a total of CNY192.9 billion has been invested in the Spark Plan in which CNY3.5 billion was from the Governments Funds, CNY41.9 billion were from loans of banks and CNY147.5 billion from private and other social sectors. Since 1996 the Chinese government has invested CNY3.19 billion in the industrial sector to develop technical innovation projects. In addition, since 1999 the government has been focusing on technological innovation of State-owned enterprises by spending CY19.5 billion worth of treasury bonds A number of districts for high-tech development have been established for researching and developing technological purpose. For example in 1996 the Silicon Valley was built with an CNY101.5 billion investment in the infrastructure construction. Up to now there have been approximately 17,000 high-tech enterprises operating in those districts, with the employees more than 2.2 million. 2.5 Environmental factors Undoubtedly, along with Chinas rapid industrial development are the serious negative impacts on environment these include increasing pollution and decreasing natural resources as well. In 2007, China became the worlds largest emitter of carbon dioxide and other gases leading to greenhouse. WTO conducted a report on the quality of air in 272 cities worldwide, pointed out seven out of the ten cities that are the most polluted in the world were in China. In addition based on Chinas own evaluation, two-thirds of the 402 cities which have been air polluted two-thirds of them moderately or severely so. According to environmental report, there is water polluted in almost all of the nations rivers to some degree and half of the population is lack of clean water for daily life. By some estimates, there are approximately 300 million people have to use contaminated water for drinking every day. Water scarcity also is considered as an issue; taking severe water scarcity in Northern China as an example that is actually a serious threat to sustained economic growth. Thus, the government has been working on a project for delivering a large-scale of water from the Yangtze River to northern cities, including Beijing and Tianjin. Some research estimate pollution costs hold the Chinese economy from 7% to 10% of GDP per year. Currently, like any Government, Chinas leaders are increasingly paying attention to environmental problems in the country. Realizing the important of environmental protection, The State Environmental Protection Administration was officially upgraded to a ministry-level agency, the Ministry of Environmental Protection in 1998. Recently, Chinas environmental legislation has been strengthened and some progress in stemming environmental deterioration has also been made. China took part the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development in 2005, which unites industries and government to implement common strategies together that reduce pollution and global climate change. Campaign about pollution control was great invested that a factor contributing to a successful Olympic Beijing 2008, though some of the benefits were just temporary in nature. Thanks to these campaigns the quality of air in some cities has been improved recently. It can be said that China is participating actively in climate change talks as well as other multilateral environmental negotiations, especially discussions about how developed countries deal with serious environmental issues that help developing countries to a greater extent. China has signed the Basel Convention about transporting and treating hazardous waste; the Montreal Protocol about the Ozone Layer Protection and other major environmental agreements. As long as China is huge country thus water scarcity is regarded as a big issue that also is the projects disadvantage. Besides that, climate change is considered as one of the major systematic risks for Soundtech Technology because climate change is affecting how companies operate and the products they offer. 2.6 Legal factors 2.6.1 Laws support foreign investors In order to encourage foreign companies to invest in China, China Government has gradually set up a relative complete law system. In 1979, The Law of the Peoples Republic of China on Chinese-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures was published. 20 years later, the Chinese government has promulgated and issued a series of laws and statutes about the establishment, operation, termination and liquidation of foreign-invested enterprises. The main laws and regulations include the three basic laws à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ The law on Chinese-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures, The Law on Chinese-Foreign Contractual Joint Ventures, and The Law on Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises; detailed rules for the implementation of the three basic laws; The Company Law of the Peoples Republic of China; The Income Tax Law of the Peoples Republic of China for Enterprises with Foreign Investment and Foreign Enterprises; Interim Provisions for Guiding Foreign Investment; Industrial Catalogue for Foreign Investment; Interim Pro visions Concerning the Investment within China of Foreign-invested Enterprises, Provisions Regarding the Merger and Separation of Foreign-invested Enterprises, and Liquidation Measures for Enterprises with Foreign Investment. These provide legal bases from which to guarantee the independent operation rights of foreign-funded enterprises and to protect the legitimate rights and interest of both domestic and overseas investors. Currently, the Chinas government is considering its existing laws and statutes in accordance with the model of the WTO. It has abolished certain obsolete laws and regulations, and will gradually revise the laws and regulations that are incompatible with the rules of the WTO. 2.6.2 China Tax Regime Tax law is one of the most important issues that SoundTech Technology needs to understand as the tax regulations have a direct impact on STs business activities. China is known as one of the most attractive incentives packages in Asia. Tax incentives and other facilities for the manufacturing sector are provided for in the Promotion of Investment. The data below demonstrates the tax that a medium-size company must pay or be withheld in a given year, as well as measures of the administrative burden in paying taxes. These measures include the number of payments an entrepreneur must make; the number of hours spent preparing, filing, and paying; and the percentage of their profits they must pay in taxes. 2.6.3 Procedures to starting new business in Malaysia When foreign investors want to set up business in China, they have to wait for approval from the Government for a long time. The challenges of launching a business are shown below which include the number of steps entrepreneurs can expect to go through to launch, the time it takes on average, and the cost and minimum capital required as a percentage of gross national income (GNI) per capita.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Narrative - Life with Escher :: Personal Narrative Essays

Narrative - Life with Escher If you were to diagram my life, it would look very much like a drawing of Escher. Sometimes I feel like I'm the hand that's drawing a hand that's drawing itself. Other times I feel like I'm locked in one of those inescapable paradox cages. But most of all, I feel like I'm on the ever-ascending stairway that never goes anywhere. Life's canvas was not designed to be painted by human hands. Constrained by the limitations of space and time, crippled by the human inability to see the entire painting at once, and gifted with an uncanny lack of judgement, I smear and smudge what I cannot go back and fix. At the same time, I worked hard to render my own image impeccably clear without the faintest idea of who I really was or the realization that I was constantly in flux, changing as often as a lonely flower bends before the force of the wind. Once I began to find outward stasis, my inward person grieved that I was not in the end what I wanted to be at the beginning. My attempts were futile. I then looked to the Maker of the canvas and the Master Painter to draw something more perfect, more beautiful upon my heart and frame. But do I put down the brush and lay aside our pencils? No. I stupidly scribble all over the masterpiece of my Creator. Even if He asks me to stop (I only hear him if I haven't destroyed the ears He painted in) I stubbornly confound His every stroke. Worse, I think I made an improvement. My life is also like Escher's paradox cage. This cage is of my own drawing. I thought I was building a palace for myself, but it restricted my movement. My own creation bound me, kept me from following the loving words of the Master Painter. He erased it for me once, but I was dumb enough to paint it back into existence. The funny thing, of course, is that it's just like the paradox cage. It doesn't really keep me inside. I just think it does. From my perspective, I have the illusion that it's an impregnable fortress when it's only a fake facade that need hold no one in, rendered so by the Master's nail-pierced hands. In the end, I choose to stay inside, though if I listened close, I'd hear the words of the Painter, guiding me through the illusion and onward in my life.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Conflict Resolutions, Cultrual Differences Essay

The American way of dealing with conflict, according to the article, is arguing. This might not be the best way, and it’s definitely not the only way. The article serves the purpose of exploring the cultural differences in how others deal with conflict. It provides alternatives and different ideas in how to resolve conflicts, as oppose to arguing. Arguing is a method of dealing with conflict. In the argument culture â€Å"nearly everything is framed as a battle or game in which winning or losing is the main concern.† The pillars of argument rest on this win-lose idea. Argument is expressed through â€Å"polarized†, two sided, debates and battles. The result elicits a winner and a resolved conflict. This method is commonly used in the â€Å"Western culture in general, and in the United States in particular†. It is also used by â€Å"individuals of Eastern European background†, â€Å"Jewish tradition†, and in some Indian cultures. Joanna Repczynski, for example, had an experience in her visit to France. Her host kept initiating â€Å"a heated intellectual debate over dinner.† When Joanna agreed, another argument would be on its way. Another example is Andrea Talarico. When her â€Å"Italian-American family† argues, their â€Å"voices would raise and objects would be thrown in an intense discussion†. Another example is the Japanese woman who is married to a Frenchman. The Frenchman started arguments with his wife. Finally when she argued back, â€Å"he was overjoyed† rather than getting upset. The advantages of arguments are various. In the case of Joanna and her host, the host felt as if arguing would â€Å"keep things interesting†. Agreement was just to boring. â€Å"Andrea sees advantages to her Italian-American family’s style: â€Å"We always know how each other feels at all times.†Ã¢â‚¬  This is a sign of her family’s closeness. The Frenchman was overjoyed that his wife argued back because it was a sign of â€Å"showing interest† and showing respect for each other’s intelligence. To him â€Å"disagreement was a sign of a good relationship.† There are disadvantages of arguments. It can be upsetting and it can turn violent. The Japanese women â€Å"found it so upsetting† and Andrea’s family threw objects. For people who aren’t used to the argument culture,  arguing can come off to be a â€Å"surprise, confusion, or alarm† and be very offensive. The disadvantaged result of an argument or deb ate is that there is always a loser. Another method of resolving conflict is ritual vituperation. This method works by the means of screaming insults and song lashing. It was created by traditional societies; the rules are culturally agreed upon, which gives this method a ritual context. It is used by â€Å"Women in Gapun, Papua New Guinea† and in traditional Nigerian villages. â€Å"Women in Gapun Papua New Guinea, when angered by husbands, relatives, or fellow villagers, can erupt in a kros, shouting insults and obscenities loudly enough to be heard all around.† The shouter waits near or in her home and waits for her offender to go far enough away. The villagers, then, watch up close as the women shouts. In Nigeria, a very similar method is used, song lashing. It â€Å"consists of familiar proverbs or original verses† that implies insults. Like kros, onlookers also watch. It’s different in the way that the target is referred to indirectly. An advantage of this way of managing conflict is that it provides â€Å"outlets so aggression can be expressed†. It’s their way of relieving anger. The advantages stem from it’s ritualized, structured rules. The onlooker’s role is to prevent any physical violence. The onlooker’s provide the speaker with the satisfaction of listening. The speaker provides the onlookers with entertainment. â€Å"Effective song-lashers are admired for their verbal skill†. The target is relived of any direct abuse. There are two major disadvantages to this method. The conflict doesn’t get resolved and the children in the surrounding area are subjected to this inappropriate verbal aggression. An alternative to the idea of winning or losing is â€Å"victors without vanquished†. This method of dealing with conflict is to honor the winners as well as the losers. There is more emphasis on harmony â€Å"rather than winner take all.† This method is used in the Asian culture and has a historical  significance in Japan. An example of this method is the 1868 Asian revolution. The two sides of the conflict were the supporters of the Western government model and the old, Chinese model. â€Å"The people who had fought for the old regimen were not punished but invited to join the new government (and most did).† The Western supporters won, but the supporters of the traditional, Chinese model maintained their respect and dignity; they were â€Å"allowed to remain in existence.† The main advantage of this method is that the loser gets recognition, â€Å"retaining a large measure of respect.† According to Ben-Ami Shillony, an anthropologist, this method â€Å"helped Japan avoid disastrous internecine ethnic and religious strife.† The advantage of this method is that it resolves conflicts without disastrous escalation. The disadvantage of this method is that â€Å"social pressure to maintain harmony can actually cause conflict.† The actions of people on conflicting sides are altered by the interference of harmony. For example, a person in disagreement with another might want to take action, but the emphasis on harmony might yield that action, which can cause frustration or even anger. Another disadvantage is that in a society that emphasis harmonic competition, competition â€Å"tends to become more fiercer† than in a society where competition is normal. Another way of dealing with conflict is by the use of intermediaries, third parties. This method rests on the idea that â€Å"community pressure takes the place† of direct conflict.† â€Å"This reflects an emphasis on harmony and interdependence†. The conflicting sides are dependent on a mediator, or peacemakers to resolve a conflict. This method can be â€Å"formally ritualized†, or informal. This method is used in Asian societies and in many Pacific cultures. An informal example of this method is the use of â€Å"matchmakers or marriage brokers†. Another example is â€Å"when neighbors pressure a son or a daughter-in-law to stop neglecting a parent or parent-in-law.† There are no ritualized rules in these examples, only third parties that take the place  of direct confrontation. The use third parties can be ritualized or formal. For example, the use of â€Å"standard structures or rules† and â€Å"hierarchical relations to maintain harmony.† In the Solomon Islands, fa’amananata’anga is the way that conflicts can be resolved. The event is held over a family dinner, speaking is serious and formal, and the most senior person is the peacemaker, all making this ritualized. In Tannan, a South Pacific island, â€Å"Conflicts among villagers or between villages are discussed publicly by groups of adult men at special meetings that last all day.† The people present are the go-betweens and the most senior people hold hierarchy positions within the group. Rather than resolving the conflict, these meetings are a way of taking part in a â€Å"joint journey† that results in â€Å"consensus flowing from the interaction of all.† They accomplish harmony of the minds and general understanding out of group effort. Another example is the Fijian Indians. They set up committees, third parties, which interview the opponents before a formal meeting called pancayat. The Japanese use a similar method called nemawashi. It rests on the idea that â€Å"there are two wrongs and now it is right.† Neither opponent is blamed as being the only wrong and â€Å"seriously at fault.† An advantage of intermediaries is that they â€Å"offer the needed apology without the principal losing face and can absorb rejections without taking them personally.† In the case of the matchmaker, the groom avoids the risk of rejection from the potential bride. The groom is then saving face, keeping his dignity and pride. Another advantage of using intermediaries is that the third party offers motivation. The third parties also play a role in maintaining peace and help to avoid potential violence. The idea of pancayat and nemawashi â€Å"seems a much better way of gathering information than forcing people to speak in a high-pressure public event.† The committees take the pressure off of the opponents. A disadvantage of using intermediaries is that the third party is placed in potentially â€Å"unhealthy and inappropriate† circumstances. The third parties are subjected to others conflicts, anger and possible violence. The third parties have a chance to get hurt. The cultures that use intermediaries form a dependence on them to handle their disputes. â€Å"Even some psychologists tend to regard† handling your own conflicts is â€Å"a sign of maturity†. The use of third parties can be a sign of interdependence and immaturity. Another idea of resolving conflict is ritualized fighting. The fighting has specific rules and culturally inclinations. This method is the â€Å"expression of opposition.† The opponents do not gage in physical contact, only express it. It is used in Bali, Indonesia and in Tori, Ireland. In Bali, Indonesia ritualized cock fighting is a fundamental way of dealing with conflict. In Tori, Ireland neighborhood street fights are ritualized ways of dealing with conflict. The rules are not â€Å"in the sense that the players could recount them†. They are just normal and taken for granted. The fighters come out in public and threaten each other. â€Å"Everything about the fight was structured so that the two men could seem eager to exchange blows without ever landing one.† No one gets hurt because no physical contact is actually exchanged. Finally, the mothers, or a female relative, of the fighters would break it up. â€Å"She would implore the fighter to come home and stop fighting.† An advantage of this method is that no one gets hurt. â€Å"The fighters could rely on their kin to restrain them, preventing them from hurting each other.† The onlookers, especially the kin take the role of stopping any physical contact. Another advantage is that the fighters provide the audience with entertainment and â€Å"excitement for both participants and onlookers.† The fight also provides outlets for the fighters and a way they can show their manhood and get more respect. These ritualized customs â€Å"reinforce social bonds and alliances†. The interactive part and support of the society helps to bond them closer together. A disadvantage to this method is that if the kin of one, or both, fighters are not present during the fight, physical contact might occur and someone can get hurt. Another disadvantage is that some of the onlookers may be children. The children are then subjected to cursing and threatening. They might look up to the manly fighters and want to mimic them. A major disadvantage of this method is that the conflict does not get resolved. Comparing the argument culture to ritualized methods of dealing with conflict, it seems that arguing overemphasizes winning, loosing and â€Å"war and sports metaphors†. Too much concentration on polarized views and not enough  on harmony that â€Å"discourages confrontation†. The cultural, ritualized rules provide that culture with boundaries, values, and â€Å"controlled ways to manage† conflict. â€Å"We cannot simply adopt the rituals of another culture, but thinking about them can give us pause and perhaps even ideas for devising our new ways to mange conflict.† The article provides insight on many ideas how to manage conflict. These new ideas can influence an individual, perhaps myself, to manage conflict more constructively.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Global Trade Imbalance Ensuring Proper Development of the Humanity

Global Trade Imbalance Ensuring Proper Development of the Humanity Recent financial crises and social turmoil in many countries suggest that the economic models used nowadays are inappropriate. Each country is struggling specific financial issues. However, it is important to remember that people have entered the era of global cooperation and integration and this means all the countries are affected by global trends.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Global Trade Imbalance: Ensuring Proper Development of the Humanity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Financial constraints of one country transfer to the rest of the world. The situation is worsen by the fact that different states have different capacity and more developed countries often take advantage of less industrialized states. Thus, global trade imbalance can be regarded as one of the most burning issues to be solved in the nearest future. The present paper dwells upon this issue and contains a brief analysis of the most ef fective solution to the problem. In the first place, it is necessary to understand that global trade imbalance is a real issue which can have deteriorating effects on the development of all countries. Pettis (2013) claims that states used to have numerous financial constraints but the issues never expanded to other countries. Nonetheless, in the twenty-first century, countries’ economies have close ties and any financial imbalance within one country is quickly transferred to other states (Pettis, 2013). Developing countries are especially vulnerable to financial constraints. Admittedly, deteriorating economy is associated with crime and social instability. Recent revolutions and military conflicts can be regarded as illustrations of negative effects of economic issues. Cleary, to avoid military conflicts involving many countries, it is crucial to address the global trade imbalance. Adams and Park (2009) claim that the global imbalance has been increasing for the past two deca des and now the rate of the imbalance is rather alarming. To provide an effective solution to the problem, it is necessary to consider the roots of the issue and its nature. Rodrik (2011) notes that global trade imbalance is often associated with different groups’ interests. Historically, countries tried to gain more benefits for themselves while trading with other states. One of the brightest illustrations of such policy is the mercantilists’ view on the society’s development.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, mercantilists thought it was effective to buy raw materials (or simply take them from colonies) and manufacture goods inside the country so that the domain could accumulate wealth (Rodrik, 2011). Admittedly, this approach cannot be applicable in the 21st century. Nonetheless, it is clear that countries pursue their national interests rather than try to focus on the good of all. This cause of the problem lies within the terrain of macroeconomic factors. Sinn, Buchen and Wollmershauser (2011, p. 47) state that the major reason for the present trade imbalance is bursting of â€Å"debt bubbles†. In other words, developed countries (e.g. the USA) have borrowed a lot to solve certain issues, but the GDP growth was much lower than it had been expected and the countries faced severe financial constraints when they had to pay back. Lane (2013) partially agrees with such a viewpoint and adds that the recent imbalance has not necessarily been caused by corrupted governments or banks. The author focuses on the crisis of 2008 and claims that banks as well as Americans thought the market would never fall. Nonetheless, this crisis transferred to the rest of the world and affected all countries, to different extent. This can be regarded as a microeconomic root of the present global trade imbalance. Clearly, the re are micro- and macroeconomic roots of the problem. Therefore, it is possible to note that stakeholders can also be found at the two levels. First, the major stakeholders are countries and international organizations, which are regulating bodies. Multinational businesses should also be regarded as a significant force, which can affect the global trade imbalance. At the same time, citizens of countries should be seen as stakeholders as citizens often affect their country’s policies.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Global Trade Imbalance: Ensuring Proper Development of the Humanity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Admittedly, people have always struggled financial constraints in different countries. Nonetheless, the crises become more and more severe while more and more countries are involved. Potentially, this could have deteriorating effects on the development of humanity. It is possible to think o f numerous scenarios. One of these scenarios is a global war (trade war or a global military conflict). Another possible scenario is the increased gap between developed and developing countries. This imbalance can also result in numerous conflicts. Both scenarios are destructive and, hence, it is essential to diminish the global trade imbalance. It is possible to consider a number of solutions to come up with the most effective one. At this point, it is necessary to note that the WTO can play the central role in each of possible solutions. Thus, it can be tempting to employ the strategic theory. Governments can try to affect some interactions between multinationals which control this or that industry. The case of the US anti-dumping policies on shrimp from Viet Nam can be regarded as a good example of this approach. The US government restricted import of certain shrimp from Viet Nam (United States, 2011). The country tried to ensure domestic companies could get more profits. Admitte dly, the increased profitability of some US companies was achieved at the expense of losses of Vietnamese firms, in this case. The approach has certain benefits. First of all, it can affect global trade. Thus, if a country faces severe economic constraints other countries can affect certain multinationals to help the country cope with the issues. At present, the vast majority of industries and markets are controlled by huge companies. Remarkably, lots of countries have a big business which has certain influence on the global scale. Therefore, it is possible to reach certain balance by controlling huge companies. However, the major downside of the approach is that countries tend to pursue their national interests. Countries are likely to try to gain benefits at the expense of others. This drawback makes the approach absolutely ineffective even though it is possible to introduce certain controlling body to make countries ready to strive for the good of all. There was need for an inter national organization to regulate such relations long ago. The WTO is the contemporary international regulator. It was created in 1995 and it has tried to achieve global trade balance since then (World Trade Organization, 2009). For example, Viet Nam addressed the organization when the USA had started the anti-dumping policies.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Remarkably, the USA had to admit that the measures had been inconsistent with the country’s obligations in terms of the WTO participation. The conflict was solved but it took quite a lot of time and Viet Nam still lost a lot. Therefore, even in this particular case, the balance was not totally achieved. This suggests that the use of this approach will not be effective. Theory of hegemonic stability is another approach which can be exploited to diminish global trade imbalances. This approach consists in the hegemony of a country, which controls global trade. This approach could be effective, but it has a serious downside. First of all, it is necessary to state that the approach was in the twentieth century. The USA was the hegemony which set certain conventions and regulations (Gilpin, 2011). The country spread certain economic patterns as well as such concepts as democracy and liberalism. Admittedly, this approach has certain strengths. For instance, it ensures that there is one dominant agent controlling interactions of other agents. The dominant agent ensures order and has the entire picture to be able to achieve global trade balance. Remarkably, the dominant agent is the country with strong economy, which is exemplary for other countries. According to the theory of hegemonic stability, the dominant country is an inspirational leader and other countries are eager to follow it. This ensures compliance with regulations set. It seems that there is a win-win situation as one country dictates rules to achieve global trade balance while other states eagerly follow. Nonetheless, the approach has a serious downside as the dominant country often tends to pursue national interests and declines, sooner or later. Thus, Gilpin (2011) articulates the ideas that the hegemon often strives for the good of all when it is consistent with hegemon’s national interests, while the dominant state often tries to achieve certain goals at the expense of other countries. Admittedly, to diminish such negative effects, it is possible to create an organization (e.g. the WTO), which will control the activity of the hegemon. Though, in practice the co-existence of the hegemon and a controlling organization is impossible as the domain would be reluctant to follow other people’s rules. The anti-dumping policies launched by the USA are exemplary in this respect. Although the USA had to comply with the regulations provided, the country asked for â€Å"a reasonable period of time† (United States, 2011, n.p.). Thus, the hegemon had an opportunity to continue certain policies for the necessary period of time. It is possible to note that the dominant country strives for global trade balance which is beneficial for the country and is often reached at the expense of the developing countries. As has been mentioned above, the USA can be regarded as a modern illustration of the approach and its drawbacks. Clearly, at certain stage of the world’s development, the USA supported non-Communist countries and they all benefited, though the hegemon still got more. However, the decline of the hegemon led to the severe financial crisis, which affected lots of countries. Therefore, this approach has proved to be ineffective as it failed to achieve the global trade balance. More so, the approach is short-lived as the hegemony of the USA is coming to an end while other countries gain more power in the world. For instance, Kharroubi (2011) states that China is becoming a powerful agent in the world arena and can become the next hegemon. Of course, China’s hegemony can also finish within decades. Institutionalism is another approach which can be employed to achieve global trade balance. This approach consists in the belief that international relations as well as macroeconomic activities should be controlled by an international institution (or institutions) striving for global balance (Gilpin, 2011). Clearly, this approach also has both benefits and drawbacks. One of the major benefits of the approach is its comprehensiveness. Thus, international institutions are constituted by representatives from many countries. Potentially, such an organization can include all countries in the world. Thus, all countries’ interests can be taken into account. This comprehensiveness can ensure that countries will not take advantage of a state. Besides, such organizations (ideally) ensure availability of comprehensive data which can help come to the right conclusions. For instance, members of the organization can report about their problems or issues they foresee. This approach can be effective and can help countries achieve global trade balance. However, there are a number of drawbacks. The members of the international institution are still likely to pursue their national interests. The discussion of the most burning issues is always associated with a lot of debate. Sometimes countries spend a lot of time discussing an d still fail to come up with efficient solutions as each country tries to pursue certain goals. This can be detrimental as even though some decisions can be made, the discussion takes up too much time while some issues need immediate actions and decisions. Apart from this, countries can distort data provided to get some support or get profit. It is difficult to ensure that the data provided are adequate. Admittedly, decisions made on the basis of the distorted data are often erroneous. This undermines effectiveness of the approach. Nevertheless, institutionalism is the most appropriate approach, which can help diminish global trade imbalance. The other two approaches mentioned above are far less efficient. It is possible to compare the three approaches in terms of a number of aspects. When it comes to fairness and transparency, strategic theory and theory of hegemonic stability are less effective. Thus, Rodrik (2011) claims that in free trade there is always the winner and the loser , i.e. there are always stakeholder who gain profit at the expense of other stakeholders. The two approaches are characterized by existence of a single ruling force (a country or coalition of several countries or a hegemon). These two approaches lead to global trade imbalance as the country (or countries) in power focus on their aims rather than the good for all. At the same time, institutionalism ensures that interests of all countries will be taken into account. Importantly, developed and developing countries have the same rights and can affect the decisions made. When it comes to collecting and analyzing data all approaches are quite similar. Countries always try to pursue their national interests and can provide inadequate data to promote their nations. Though, it is necessary to add that the latter approach (i.e. institutionalism) is more vulnerable to this kind of problem as countries can affect the decision made and are more interested in creating certain image of their state s. It is also quite difficult to get all the necessary data for an international organization using own resources. Finally, it is possible to consider such aspect as the pace of decision making. Admittedly, the contemporary business world often needs quick and correct decisions. Hesitation often leads to losses or even financial crises. It is possible to state that the theory of hegemonic stability can be regarded as the most efficient in terms of the flexibility and decision making ‘speed’. The dominant country does not have to discuss decisions and can implement changes at once. As far as strategic theory is concerned, there can be certain amount of debate, but the agents are not numerous and they can be quite flexible as well. However, institutionalism is associated with a great deal of debate which makes decision-making process quite lasting. At that, irrespective of certain downsides, institutionalism can be effective in addressing issues related to global trade im balance. It can ensure fairness and transparency. All stakeholders involved can participate in the decision making. Nevertheless, this approach can be effective if people understand the importance of cooperation. Countries should provide adequate data to make the international organization able to develop proper strategies. People should also understand that sometimes they have to waive some privileges and refrain from deriving advantages to enable other countries to benefit. Countries should learn how to cooperate effectively. In conclusion, it is possible to state that global trade imbalance is one of the most burning issues as it has already led to numerous financial crises. It is also associated with military conflicts in developing countries. There are numerous ways to address the issue. For instance, it is possible to employ strategic theory, theory of hegemonic stability or institutionalism. The third approach is the most efficient as it ensures fairness and transparency. How ever, to make the approach truly effective, people should start cooperating. It is time to understand that cooperation is the key to global trade balance, which, in its turn, it crucial for proper development of nations. Reference List Adams, C., Park, D. (2009). Causes and consequences of global imbalances: Perspective from developing Asia. Asian Development Review, 26(1), 19-47. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.177.2404rep=rep1type=pdf Gilpin, R. (2011). Global political economy: Understanding the international economic order. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Kharroubi, E. (2011). The trade balance and the real exchange rate. BIS Quarterly Review, 33-42. Retrieved from bis.org/publ/qtrpdf/r_qt1109e.pdf Lane, C. (2013, November 19). Banks aren’t the bad guys. The Washington Post. Retrieved from washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-lane-banks-arent-the-bad-guys/2013/11/18/fa1c7b1a-5073-11e3-a7f0-b790929232e1_story.html Pettis, M. (2013). The great rebalancing: Trade, conflict, and the perilous ahead for the world economy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Rodrik, D. (2011). The globalization paradox: Democracy and the future of the world economy. New York, NY: W.W. Norton. Sinn, H.W., Buchen, T., Wollmershauser, T. (2011). Trade imbalances – Causes, consequences and policy measures: IFO’s statement for the Camdessus commission. CESifo Forum, 1, 47-58. Retrieved from cesifo-group.de/portal/pls/portal/docs/1/1201880.PDF United States – Anti-dumping measures on certain shrimp from Viet Nam. (2011). Retrieved from wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds404_e.htm World Trade Organization. (2009). Retrieved from wto.org/english/res_e/doload_e/inbr_e.pdf

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Synonyms for Think

Synonyms for Think Synonyms for Think Synonyms for Think By Mark Nichol The bland verb think (from the Old English word thencan, and cognate with thank) is easily supplanted by any one of an impressive assortment of synonyms, each of which has a precise connotation think cannot match. Here are some to think about. To cogitate is to think deeply and intently; the root of the word, which is unrelated to cognition (which refers to knowledge rather than thinking), stems from agitare (meaning â€Å"drive†), from which we also get agitate. Contemplate connotes thought that is extensive as well as deep; another sense is â€Å"view as possible or probable.† The root of contemplatus, the Latin source word, is templum, the word for a place where omens are observed; it is cognate with temple. Deliberate means to think carefully, as implied by its source, the adjective deliberate. An additional sense is â€Å"discuss before making a decision,† as when a legislative body meets to decide about whether to pass a law. (The derivation is from deliberare, meaning â€Å"consider carefully,† the root is possibly libra, meaning â€Å"pound† or â€Å"scale,† with the sense of weighing.) To meditate is to focus one’s thoughts on something; the word, which can, alternatively, allude to planning, also refers to a mental exercise conducted in order to achieve a high state of spiritual awareness. (Meditate is derived from the Latin verb mederi, meaning â€Å"remedy,† and is related to medical and medicine.) Mull, from the Middle English noun mul, meaning â€Å"dust,† is cognate with meal and refers not only to lengthy consideration but also to grinding. Ponder has the connotation of carefully weighing a problem (as a matter of fact, ponder stems from the Latin verb ponderare, meaning â€Å"weigh,† and is related to ponderous), with the implication of extended inconclusive thinking. A similar term with the same etymological origin is perpend. Reflect means, among other things, â€Å"think calmly and quietly†; its root is from flectere (meaning â€Å"bend†), which is also the source of flex. To ruminate is to slowly and repeatedly go over something as if chewing it like a ruminant, a type of animal, such as a cow, that chews its food over and over again. (The word stems from the Latin term rumen, the name in that language and in English for part of a cow’s stomach.) â€Å"Chew over† is an informal synonym. Others include the word eye and the phrases â€Å"kick around,† â€Å"pore over,† and â€Å"wrestle with.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Contronyms (Words with Contradictory Meanings)A While vs Awhile3 Types of Essays Are Models for Professional Writing Forms

Sunday, November 3, 2019

School districts mission statements Research Paper

School districts mission statements - Research Paper Example Goals and objectives are important in complementing the process of achieving the vision of a company. Goals and objectives are important tools that are used in enabling an organisation to execute its mission statements effectively. In this regard, goals and objectives in an organisation should be in tandem with the particular mission statements. A school is an institution where learning takes place in order to transform the minds of learners towards setting and achieving their goals in life. Goals and objectives in school should focus on the values that a school impacts on the lives of learners in the process of executing their functions. In any country, a school is expected to make available quality education while at the same time, create and maintain suitable standards upon which the educational goals and objectives are to be met. These are the standards upon which a school is deemed effective or not; schools that perform excellently with proper standards are those that have clearly defined mission and vision statements with suitable approaches in achieving their goals and objectives (Carter & Roebuck 2006). â€Å"Jackson County Schools will provide excellent educational opportunities for ALL students in a safe and orderly environment that fosters respect, trust, honesty and responsibility† (Jackson county School 2014). In this school, the mission and vision statements seem to be clearly in line with the student learning and achievement. It has dedicated itself to putting up structures and systems to enable it achieve these priories; to this effect, it has established manageable goals that it intends to use to achieve its mission and vision statements. The data profile of the school is expansive, showing various activities and functions that the school is involved in its academic calendar. The data profile contains among other things the students learning calendar and timetable, activities to take place during that time, as well ways by which parents can

Friday, November 1, 2019

My first car Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

My first car - Essay Example I'll never forget that car. It was what was known as a fixer upper, a car that needed to be restored because the motor barely ran. I chose that model because I wanted to learn all that could about cars and how it was repaired. I had worked summer and after school jobs up until a month before my 16th birthday just so I would be sure to have enough money to buy the car that I wanted without having to ask my parents for any extra money to cover its costs. The month before my birthday, my parents and I made the sacred trek to the local 2nd hand car shop to make my purchase. I decided to purchase a sleek looking 1989 Mitsubishi Lancer, also known as the Cat's Eyes model. Just like with any 2nd hand car, it drove perfectly off the car lot and all the way home where I proudly parked my purchase next to my parent's cars in our driveway. I was on the phone in no time, asking my friends to come over for a joyride with me. As we piled into the car for my first ever excursion without a parent sitting next to me in the car, my dad could not help but holler out his concern for me going out so soon in the car. He was insisting on having his mechanic check out the car before I actually used it because he said I had â€Å"chosen the car like you were buying a candy bar at the store!†. I hate to admit it but my father's advice actually made sense. Maybe it was because the car was overloaded, or because I forgot to check the oil in the motor before we zipped out of the driveway but the car air conditioning broke down and we stalled about an hour and a half away from home. I had to call my dad who sent the auto club over to give us a tow home. Needless to s ay, my dad insisted that the car be towed to his mechanics shop that same day. The verdict from his mechanic was that the car motor was actually in pretty good shape for such an old car. However, the car needed some major parts replacements and, without sugar coating it, the mechanic immediately produced his estimate list that had my jaw drop from the sheer shock of the final cost for the â€Å"restoration† of parts and systems. The car needed everything from a brand new alternator to a set of window tints. Although I had saved money to purchase the car, I did not have enough set aside for such massive spending on the restoration of the machine itself. That is when my dad's mechanic and I came to an agreement, I could work off the parts that the car needed by helping out at the garage. In the process, he would also teach me all he knew about fixing car models like mine, just in case it came in handy. Who was I to refuse such an offer? And that is how I managed to get my baby, as I addressed my car, all dressed up and spruced up for my use. Needless to say, I became a regular grease monkey because of all the work that my car kept on ending up needing. It seemed like we would fix one part of the car, only to have another part break down a few days later. I think I became an expert on Mitsubishi Lancers because of all the repairs that I had to assist in completing. But I never verbally complained of course. After all, the repairs were only costing me my personal manpower and very little cash. The car served me very well while I was in high school. After we finished the restoration job that it required, the car ran practically repair and problem free for the next few years. However, I believe that the fact that I spent weeks