Global Financial Imbalances Essay

Global Financial Imbalances Essay – How the arrangements of global trade act as a driver of global imbalances Abstract This paper looks at the different factors causing trade imbalance on the global trade arena. This global financial imbalances essay identifies the different factors that affect the global trade imbalances of trade as envisioned in the global trade agreements. The findings reveal that there is need for countries to look into better ways of ensuring that a level playing field is provided for all and proper mechanisms enacted to ensure that no member state flouts the rules and policies. Introduction Pettis (2013, p. 65) claims that trade is a very controversial issue around the world because many people hold the perception that trade agreements and even trade itself undermines some human rights like labour rights, and even affordable medicine in some cases. Many international institutions have emerged to act as a means for countries to foster new economic order. Some of the institutions include bodies like World Trade Organisation which has eventually replaced the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade to help reduce trade tariffs; the European Union (EU), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Group (APEC). These trade agreements are being formed to help regions integrate and enable smooth trading among the trading partners. In addition to the aforementioned regional trade agreements, countries are still negotiating other bilateral trade agreements in all parts of the world. (Rebucci et al 2009, p.44). All these efforts are being directed at liberalising the world economy in order to ensure smooth flow of goods and services in the global market. This liberalisation of trade and investment around the globe has made a large contribution to an increase in global trade volumes, portfolio investment and foreign direct investments, all of which have made significant impacts on the member countries. Despite all the advantages that accompany neoliberalism, it has flaws because it has created trade imbalances in the member states. Liberalisation of trade has been appealing to states because of the logic of comparative advantage as it relocates the factors of production to areas where they would yield a greater advantage through subjection to international competition and trade. This is what guided the formation of associations like World Trade Organisation and the European Union. However, this is part of the causative agents for global trade imbalance because the international economy and the financial system are increasingly becoming vulnerable to the policies of the surplus countries as some countries intentionally refuse to play along the rules of liberalisation (Koo 2011, p. 77). You can also review Free Politics Essay – International Political Economy Global Financial imbalances Liberalisation of trade is pursued by states because it defends international mobility of investment in sites of production, free trade, trade and financial liberalisation in services. Therefore economic efficiency lies in the increase in specialisation in production and circulation of goods and services, and reallocation of capital in the global market. However, the recession being suffered by the developed states has leftthe future of trade liberalisation in the balance as these countries may decide to opt for protectionism in order to shield their economies from such adverse effects (Fardoust et al 2011, p. 54). In contrast to the situation in 2008, countries now have some tools which they can use to mitigate the renewed economic downtown which increases the chances of it generating into a recessionIf the economic downtown continues then the protectionist pressure is likely to increase. However Koo (2011, p. 19) asserts that the first countries that will erect trade barriers to cushion themselves against economic downtown will obviously be blamed for the eventual damage that will be made to the global trading system. However, the countries that will be more responsible for this are the ones that skew their industrial structures, exchange rate policies and tax systems to gain competitive advantage. The irony of this scenario is that the governments that are most dependent on the free trade i.e. the ones that produce more commodities than they can consume will be the biggest hindrance to the sustainable recovery of the global economy (Pettis 2013, p. 55). It is therefore advisable for these countries to change course before it is too late for them to act, or else they will suffer adversely if other governments decide to erect new trade barriers because it will affect their market segments. The countries with surplus production have a tendency of exhorting the governments with deficits to live within their means, pay their debts and save more. However the real challenge facing the global economy is the acute lack of aggregate demand. The globe is already awash with savings but profitable investment opportunities are very minimal which manifests itself in the weakness of consumption (Morrison et al 2007, p. 31). The implication for this is that saving more is not a solution to the countries with trade deficits. Indeed saving more will be extremely disastrous as it will reduce consumption. Reducing consumption will depress investment because households will no longer be buying more and as a consequence, aggravate the fiscal problems. If the governments with big trade deficits opt to save more, then those with surplus will be forced to spend more and save less. Fund (2010, p. 66) claims that the weakness of domestic demand in the United Kingdom, United States and the rest of the Eurozone is grossly affecting the global demand but there is nothing to offset it. The governments with big surpluses like Japan, Germany and China are not doing anything to help ease the contraction in demand elsewhere. Such a situation is fraught with risks because for the world to continue enjoying the benefits of global trade and finance, then there must be a mechanism for unwinding the global trade imbalances. This then leads the discussion to the definition of trade imbalance in order to be able to identify its causes and effects. You can also review UK Trademark and Fashion Brands Essay What is trade imbalance? Duncan (2013, p.65) defines trade balance of a government as a reflection of what it spends less what it produces. A country has a trade surplus if its income exceeds its expenditure which enables it to lend the surplus to the countries where their expenditures exceed their income. In so doing these countries are able to accumulate international assets. The countries with a deficit on the other hand are on the flipside of this as they spend more than their income and have to borrow from the governments with surpluses to cover for the difference. However, in the process of covering their difference, they end up accumulating international debts or liabilities. Surplus economies are dependent on the deficit economies just like the deficit economies are dependent on the surplus economies which imply that there is a mutual relationship of dependency. Therefore it is not possible for all governments to run in surpluses or deficits as both must be in existence for the relationship to subsis t. This then leads to the question of whether trade imbalances are sustainable or not. Trade imbalances and the eventual capital flows between governments are not necessarily the problem. The fast ageing wealthy governments often have excess savings which enables them to make investments in economies with insufficient savings to meet their investment needs (Duncan 2013, p.90). Historically, this meant putting more investments in the rapidly developing economies. As long as the current account deficits remain modest and governments invest the surplus in ways that promote economic growth, then such imbalances are sustainable. However, the current trade imbalances around the world are of a different type (Hall et al 2011, p. 70). They are much bigger than was ever anticipated. For instance the most serious is that between China and the United States where China is still maintaining a huge trade surplus with the United States. Most of the other trade imbalances are between economies with the same levels of development, for example Japan and the United States, and between the Eurozone members. Such imbalances are far from benign as they destabilize the flow of capital between economies. For instance the 2007 global financial crisis and the resultant Eurozone crisis were caused by capital flaws between countries (Haddad and, Shepherd 2011, p. 43). The banks that were overleveraged made matters worse as they further amplified the crisis. However, the underlying reason for the capital outflows was economies with surpluses seeking higher returns. The surplus economies like the United Kingdom, United States and the rest of the Eurozone failed to find productive uses for their surpluses. Instead of boosting productivity, the inflow investments ended up raising assets prices leading to excessive borrowing by the households. The trade imbalances survived both crisis and are even growing again at high levels. However, this is not sustainable. Unlike in the period preceding the 2007 crisis, the current deficit has nothing to do with excess demand in the economies with deficit. It is occurring against a backdrop of stagnation and a decrease in the living standards of these economies. Firms and households of the deficit economies are even saving more and there is no offsetting decline in savings in the private sector within the economies with surpluses (Chen et al 2012, p. 47). Against such kind of economic activities, the trade deficits constitute a major hindrance to economic activities as they reduce employment and demand and as a consequence forces governments to intervene by running huge fiscal deficits. The external demand that the surplus economies rely on is heavily dependent on unsustainable policies in the economies with deficits. You can also review Finance Essay on Savings and Loans Crisis Theoretical foundation – Unger: institutional arrangements and outcomes Roberto Unger proposes an institutional arrangement for the organisation of civil societies, democracies and market economies. He claims that neo-liberalisation of trade is based on theory of comparative advantage that is too partial. It is this partiality that has created global trade imbalances. Roberto Unger argues that the current model of comparative advantage used for free trade arguments is not only partial but is also incomplete and empirically inaccurate to permit the formulation of global business policies. His major concern is the trade policies and designs of the global trading systems which he thinks are inherently designed to create trade imbalances (Claessens, et al 2010, p.81). The theory of comparative advantage is incomplete because it has as a premise the existence of an established comparative advantage. The comparative advantage in the real world is a function of a complex array of economic, social, and political factors. As such it is not possible to determine a case for free trade until fully taking into account the manner in which these factors interact to create the regime of an economy. It is these differences relative to unit costs across countries that create comparative advantage. Different trade agreements often have an effect on the patterns of advantage that an economy can develop and then eventual gains it can attain from free trade. In addition to this, the trade theories often find that multiple world equilibriums exists both in the presence of increasing returns and scale economies as well as the conventional return models (Unger 2005, p. 89). Whichever of these equilibriums the global economy leads a country into affects the aggregate efficiency and distribution of the gains from trade across nations. In the process of selecting equilibrium, broader political and social processes are likely to play a significant role. Only once the effects of trade restrictions on social and political forces have been determined and the eventual selection of an equilibrium made, can a definitive case for or against liberal trade policies be made. This is the reason why Unger proposed the development of a more complex theory of trade premised on a set of basic ideas that play analogous role for labelling the assumptions of a formal model. Without the formal model that takes into account all the factors that affect equilibrium, then the trade imbalances will continue to exist. Other Causes of Trade Imbalance Some countries like China are fuelling imbalance in the global economy by devaluing the Yuan like the Japanese did 26 years ago (Aaronson & Zimmerman 2008, p.81). The country is accused of intentionally devaluing its exchange rates. Although it is not easy to accurately calculate the exchange rate of the Yuan, economists believe it is undervalued by up to 40% and consensus indicate that the policy of China of stockpiling foreign exchange reserves is responsible for this (Aaronson & Zimmerman 2008, p.33). The country has been able to use its huge trade surplus to buy US currency and treasuries in order to maintain a high demand for the US Dollar and make the Yuan appear relatively cheap. This raises the price competitiveness of China against the United States. Acts of money intervention by China to create trade imbalance is deliberate as it spends a lot of money in the market to keep the Yuan undervalued. This market interference by China is fuelling trade deficits in the United States because American companies are forced to outsource jobs to China in order to be able to enjoy cheap labour (Claessens, Evenett & Hoekman 2010, p. 64). The purchasing power of the Chinese is equally suppressed because they are less able to afford foreign products and increase their living standards. This makes it hard for foreign companies to sell their products in the country because the weak Yuan renders them expensive for the average Chinese consumer. The manipulation of trade by China is also fuelling overconsumption in the United States by buying up government treasuries. The artificial suppression of the value of Yuan allows the treasury department to lower the long term interest rates. This fuels the western and American debt, over consumption and ensures that the demand for the Chinese exports is sustained. Although such a practice is not illegal, it creates imbalance in the global trade arena. Although the East and China have played a major role in the provision of attractively priced commodities and financing the western debts, the west has also been responsible for the creation of trade imbalance owing to their inability to control their over consumption (Berger and Nitsch 2010, p. 62). Other than the manipulation of currency by China, the country also supresses labour rights thus lowering the costs of production in the country. The repression of labour by the Chinese government has lowered the manufacturing wages of the workers by approximately 47% to 86% (Chen et al 2012, p.86). The country also provides huge direct export subsidies to its major industries in order to boost production for the export market. Finally, China maintains strict non-tariff barriers to imports. This has ensured that the country maintains trade imbalance with other countries and as at 2011 the Chinese exports to the US were more than four times what the United States exported to China. This trade imbalance from China was further enhanced partly when the country was accepted into the World Trade Organisation without inclusion of a clause to improve the environmental standards and the labour conditions. The entry of China into the economic playing field has further worsened things for the domestic workers in the United States in favour of the multinational companies working in China. You can also review Free International Relations & Trade Dissertation Essay Conclusion This essay has identified the different factors affecting the balance of trade on the international arena. Some countries are deliberately carrying out actions to influence the balance of trade in their favour at the expense of the other partners. Although there are countries that are interfering with the global balance provided by the international market, there is need for countries to look into better ways of ensuring that a good business environment is provided for all and proper mechanisms enacted to ensure that no member state flouts the rules and policies You can also review International Business Environment Essay References Aaronson, S. A., & Zimmerman, J. M. (2008). Trade imbalance: The struggle to weigh human rights concerns in trade policymaking. New York, N.Y., : Cambridge University Press. Berger, H., Nitsch, V., & International Monetary Fund. (2010). The Euro?s Effect on Trade Imbalances. Washington, D.C: International Monetary Fund. Chen, R., Milesi-Ferretti, G.-M., Tressel, T., International Monetary Fund., & International Monetary Fund. (2012). External imbalances in the Euro area. Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund. Claessens, S., Evenett, S. J., & Hoekman, B. M. (2010). Rebalancing the global economy: A primer for policymaking. London: Centre for Economic Policy Research. Duncan, R. (2013). The dollar crisis: Causes, consequences, cures. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Fund, I. M. (2010). European Financial Linkages. Washington: International Monetary Fund. Haddad, M., Shepherd, B., & World Bank. (2011). Managing openness: Trade and outward-oriented growth after the crisis. Washington, D.C: W orld Bank. Hall, P. V., McCalla, R. J., Comtois, C., & Slack, B. (2011). Integrating seaports and trade corridors. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate. Koo, R. C. (2011). The Holy Grail of Macroeconomics: Lessons from Japans Great Recession. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Korea-World Bank High Level Conference on Post-Crisis Growth and Development, Fardoust, S., Kim, Y., Sepulveda, C. P., World Bank., & Taeoe Kyo?ngje Cho?ngch’aek Yo?n’guwo?n (Korea). (2011). Postcrisis growth and development: A development agenda for the G-20. Washington, D.C: World Bank. Morrison, C. E., Pedrosa, E., Pacific Economic Cooperation Council., APEC Business Advisory Council., & Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. (2007). An APEC trade agenda?: The political economy of a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Pettis, M. (2013). The great rebalancing: Trade, conflict, and the perilous road ahead for the world economy. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Rebucci, A., Batini, N., Cova, P., & Pisani, M. (2009). Global Imbalances. Washington: International Monetary Fund. Unger, R. M. (2005). What should the Left propose?. London: Verso. For other resources, please take a look at our site Journal. 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Using Mooc to Improve Rural Education

* Using MOOC to upgrade Education in Rural Areas UNISA has made distance learning a common practise in South Africa. It's position is entrenched more so after the 2004 merger with Technikon RSA. The next evolution in distance learning beyond e-learning or computer-based training is Massive Open Online Courses or MOOC. This is made possible with the pervasiveness of broadband Internet.MOOC is a virtual delivery model that allows participation in learning activities at convenient places and times,rather than forcing students into set time frames; blended learning, which can facilitate widespread, often global collaboration with other students and teams of specialized instructors (Bujak,K,R, et al, 2012). Recently we enrolled for three modules on Coursera. org. The initial appeal to using this platform was the flexible time schedules and immediate access via the Internet. We've already opted out of one and there was no real downside because there was no financial commitment in contrast to traditional universities. Benefits for Teaching E-learning has been around since the earliest stages of the Internet. It is well know the origins of this global inter-connected network began in the military and expanded quickly into academic research facilities in the US before becoming available to the general public in the 1990s. Expanding access to and the availability of e-learning programmes for students, teachers and government is an important step in furthering continental development and growth (Rupp, 2012).Even though Rupp (2012) points out the availability of e-learning technologies provides expanded opportunities for countries in Africa to make education available to their whole population. Clearly these same information and communication technologies (ICTs) allow students from the rural or remote areas to access opportunities for scholarships to academic institutions they may not otherwise have identified. * Benefits for Learning MOOC introduces students to a new type of experience called â€Å"Blended Learning† by Bujak,K,R, et al. (2012). It combines face-to-face interactions with communication enabled by ICTs.A key consideration is that ICTs compliment not replace traditional pedagogy. Whereas e-learning was online only experience, more blending the online and offline experience takes shape in self organised groups meeting similar to traditional self organised groups of students who attend the same campus, except this takes place even easier in the virtual world. Initial research suggests that students are not only accepting blended learning approaches, but also they are improving learning outcomes. * Conclusion Two challenges reduce the adoption of MOOC.Firstly they do not lead to a widely recognized credentials and workable revenue models are not available at present (King, J. W. & Nanfito, M. 2012). Until both are addressed by institutions and investors in the platforms, MOOC, may be a blip on the radar and future of online learning solutions. Even though MOOC have caused well established institutions from UCT in South Africa and MIT in United States to invest resources, clear impact in Africa continent remain limited. One segment that stands the most to gain, are people who do not gain entry to traditional universities for reasons financial or otherwise.Internet literacy will delay the adoption further among the rest of the population in Africa irrespective of the availability of broadband Internet. As with all technological innovations MOOC will take a number a few years before we know whether it is viable platform or not. * Reference Bujak,K,R, Baker, P. , & DeMillo, R. (2012) The University: Disruptive Change and Institutional Innovation Centre for 21st Century Universities. Paper number 22012. Available online: http://c21u. gatech. edu/sites/default/files/u21/C21U_22012__University. pdf [03 December 2012] Rupp, S. 2012) Technology, e-learning and education in Africa. In Consultancy Africa Intelligence. Av ailable online http://tinyurl. com/9dul5he [04 December 2012] King, J. W. & Nanfito, M. (2012) To MOOC or Not to MOOC? Available online: http://www. insidehighered. com/views/2012/11/29/essay-challenges-posed-moocs-liberal-arts-colleges [05 December 2012] Koutropoulos, A. & Hogue, R. J. (2012). How to Succeed in a MOOC. Available online: http://www. cedma-europe. org/newsletter%20articles/eLearning%20Guild/How%20to%20Succeed%20in%20a%20MOOC%20-%20Massive%20Online%20Open%20Course%20(Oct%2012). pdf [05 December 2012]

Marketing for Nike - Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing for Nike - Questions - Essay Example In 2005 another definition of marketing was developed by AMA. The new definition highlighted the importance of customer value and the quality of communication between the organization and its customers (Ferrell 2012). In 2007 the definition of marketing had to be changed, again, in order to cover a broader audience: the new definition of marketing focuses on the value not just of customers but also ‘of partners and of society at large’ (Ferrell 2012, p.7). In this definition the issue of corporate social responsibility is emphasized (Ferrell 2012). At this point, the need for aligning marketing practices with ethics is made clear. At this point, the application of the above definitions of marketing for NIKE should be explored. NIKE has based its marketing strategy on the needs of its customers (Mourdoukoutas 2012). From this point of view, the organization’s marketing strategy is aligned with the first definition of marketing, as developed by AMA. Another characte ristic of NIKE’s marketing strategy is the importance given to the communication with customers. This fact is made clear, for example, in NIKE’s ‘She Runs The Night’ campaign which was introduced by NIKE in order to improve the communication of the organization with ‘its female customers’ (Marketing 2013). ... The products that the firm developed in order to respond to the demands of such project are presented in Figure 1 below. The first of the images shows NIKE’s new logo while the second and the third images show two products that have been designed in order to help towards the transition to a digital society: ‘a wristband for tracking energy, in the central image, and a watch customized for sports’ (Intelligent HQ 2013). Through such products the firm aims to contribute in the expansion of digital products in daily human activities, a target that it is related to the society at large, and not just to individuals. Thus, NIKE manages to respond to the requirements of the third definition of marketing, as set by AMA. Question B The Marketing Concept reflects the key role of marketing: ‘the satisfaction of customer needs’ (McDonald 2007, p.3). The marketing activities of NIKE seem to be fully aligned with Marketing Concept, as described above. More specific ally: a) NIKE tries to respond to the needs of all its customers; the introduction of a marketing campaign for improving the communication of the organization with women (Marketing 2013) denotes NIKE’s willingness to keep all its customers satisfied, b) in 2013 NIKE presented a watch that it is specially customized for sports (Intelligent HQ 2013); this initiative is an effort of NIKE to respond to the need of its customers for wearing a watch even when being involved in sport activities that are quite demanding, c) moreover, NIKE tries to continuously update its product, emphasizing on innovation (Mourdoukoutas 2012); this practice also denotes the firm’s effort to respond to the need of its customers for innovative products, d) NIKE is aware of the

Plate Techtonics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Plate Techtonics - Essay Example According to this theory, the Earths crust is composed up of about a dozen plates or big rock slaps on which the continents and oceans lies. Plate tectonics explains the big scale movements of Earths lithosphere. The theory comprises the developed beliefs of continental drift, urbanized throughout the initial half of the 20th century, and seafloor scattering, understood during the 1960s Wiki (2008). The furthest part of the Earths center comprises two layers: top layer is the lithosphere which surrounds the coating and the inflexible topmost part of the layer. Inferior the lithosphere the asthenosphere lies. While the hard, the asthenosphere has comparatively small thickness and shear potency and is able to stream like a liquid on geological time scales. The inner deeper layer under the asthenosphere is extra rigid yet again due to the higher stress / pressure ThinkQuest(2008). The lithosphere is divided tectonic plates, if we talk about the Earth; there are 7 main and important plates and many small/ minor plates. These plates are frequently shifting their position because the surface under them, the boiling, hot, soft layer, is changing position gradually similar to a conveyor strap/ belt, determined by heat and other forces at work in the Earths core/ center. These plates or slaps are changing their positions or moving at speed of approximately a centimeter (0.5 inch) to 15 cm (6 inch) per year in diverse directions. In scientific notations this movement is called as â€Å"cross motion of the plates is naturally at rate of 50-100 mm/a† Wiki (2008). Now we talk about the Continental drift. It is the movement of or change in the position of the Earths continents compared to one another. The idea that continents drift was originally proposed by Abraham Ortelius in 1596 and was fully urbanized by Alfred Wegener in 1912. However it is fully developed after the advancement of the assumption of plate tectonics in the

Small business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Small business - Research Paper Example Quality assurance, in its broadest sense, is also any action taken to prevent quality problems from occurring. In practice, this means devising systems for carrying out tasks which directly affect product quality (Anon., 2011). B. At least two systems associated with the management of quality. Describe their relationships, limitations and applications. There are two popular systems associated with the management of quality that I am aware of, they are Kaizen and Total Quality Management or TQM. Kaizen is a Japanese Quality Assurance system of continuous improvement in quality, technology, processes, company culture, productivity, safety and leadership. It is a system that involves every employee - from upper management to the cleaning crew. Everyone is encouraged to come up with small improvement suggestions on a regular basis. This is not a once a month or once a year activity. It is continuous. Japanese companies, such as Toyota and Canon, a total of 60 to 70 suggestions per employ ee per year are written down, shared and implemented (Anon., 2011). TQM on the other hand is a comprehensive and structured approach to organizational management that seeks to improve the quality of products and services through ongoing refinements in response to continuous feedback (Anon., 2011). TQM requirements may be defined separately for a particular organization or may be in adherence to established standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization's  ISO 9000  series. TQM can be applied. At its core, Total Quality Management (TQM) is a management approach to long-term success through customer satisfaction. In a TQM effort, all members of an organization participate in improving processes, products, services and the culture in which they work (Anon., 2011). C. The main principles that should be included in quality management systems. This should include a systematic approach; documentation of procedures, standards and specifications; innovation; review and audit; measurement and evaluation. Since the business is still new, the best quality assurance approach that is applicable to our company is Kaizen as this allows continuous improvement of the system, policies and procedures that would make the company responsive to the customer’s needs. In the implementation of our intended quality assurance system the following steps will be undertaken; 1. Identification of key tasks – this will make us know the key areas of responsibilities that is important to the over- all performance of the business. 2. Documentation of guidelines on how to do those key tasks, its processes and systems – documented tasks are easier to improve, savings us time and resources. 3. Continuously improve the readability of the documented tasks – the purpose for this is continuous improvement of readability is for easier understanding and communication. 4. Make those informations available to each workstations – this way each em ployee knows the key tasks and how to do them. 5. Create a work flow system considering the key tasks identified and documented – since the company is still new, work process are still to be created for further improvement as the business evolves. II. Choose a business that has an established quality assurance system in place and provide a summary about the business that clearly identifies the sector it operates in (manufacturer, retailer or service), its size, its main operations and its purpose or

Middle Class Delinquency to Gangs Research Paper

Middle Class Delinquency to Gangs - Research Paper Example As Lowney (2009: 527-38) observed, in a gang, a youth will find money, friendship and above all to get what they need. The paper will discuss the middle class delinquency relationship to the gangs. In order to understand the relationship between the middle class delinquencies to gang, it is of great importance for five issues to be addressed. To begin, gang must be differentiated from other forms of peer groups. Gao (2002: 8-26) observed that some youths are organized into groups but are not gangs. Secondly, attention must be paid to the relationship strength between being in a gang and the delinquency of the members. Thirdly, the focus should be on the importance of learning from the peers despite being generalized into gangs. The fourth issue involves the peer group solidarity effect in causing delinquency. Because of the importance of giving consideration to the similarity of the peers to a gang, getting involved in delinquency and other activities, and the peers solidarity should be treated as variables. Peer groups that resemble a gang among the middle class stimulate delinquency when the members feel the strong solidarity sense in their group. Furthermore, it may be that the likeness of the gang is related to the delinquency of the individuals when combined with the delinquency of other members. ... According to Myerhoff et al (2001: 328-335), the popularized gang ideas are used by all types of youths in different sorts of communities. Moreover, the disorganized communities act as the delinquency locations, predominantly the male gangs. Greeley et al (2005: 33-41) suggested the strain theory that was introduced by theories such as Albert Cohen as the model that can explain how factors in the middle class such as homelessness, poverty, lack of opportunity and lack of parenting are the major contributors of crime and formation of delinquent sub cultures like the gangs. According to Greeley et al (2005: 33-41), the strain theory forms part of the objectivists perspective that believes that behavior is socially created, assumes consensus of value and is observable. Furthermore, the theory comprises of the two other separate theories, that is, Anomie and Social Disorganization Theories. According to Lowney (2009: 527-38), both theories suggests that the less presence of integration, cohesion and solidarity within a community, group or society, the higher the rate of crime and deviance. Gao (2002: 8-26) indicated that the term Anomie refers to condition of lack of norms, that promotes in most cases higher suicide rates. Using the concept of anomie, The Theory of Anomie and Social Structure was drawn. The Theory of Anomie and Social Structure gives a logical explanation of the reasons why most crime activities are found in middle class and the lower class urban areas. According to Salzinger et al (2006), social structure balance and culture are the necessary components that form an integrated society. Therefore, anomie is the direction that disintegration of the society takes when there is dissociation between legitimate societal means and valued cultural ends

Cross cultural management - International Teams Essay

Cross cultural management - International Teams - Essay Example during the conversation means that the person who is speaking is confident and knows what he is talking about; while in others such as in Japan, it is considered as showing disrespect and eye contact is avoided during business meetings. Hence, it becomes important for the companies to understand the dynamics of culture, ethics and communication in different work settings. According to Keogh (2012), the international teams or multicultural teams vary and they need to take account of four important factors to ensure that the team progresses in the right direction i.e. purpose of the team’s existence, degree of personality differences influence, role and impact of both professional and cultural identities and degree emotional intelligence’s importance alongwith the appropriate supporting systems. From the studies of Taras and Rowney (2011), it is evident that the teams need to first understand the dynamics of the international teams and decide on a common goal. The team needs to understand the purpose of its existence so that every member has fair idea about their role and also the norms and culture of the team as well. The communication medium and interaction activities must be decided on a consensus way so that the teams can have effective communication and everyone has clear understanding about the team’s objectives alongwith the direction. One of the most effective ways of managing the cross-culture problem among the groups is that the team member should meet frequently so that all of them have cordial relations with each other and the rules of the team are set with utmost ease. Everything for the team must be described in a written form so that each member has a proof that they are part of the team and are aware of the milestones and the goals that are to be met by the team. The most common problem found in the international teams is that they have certain set of preferences for their work and rewards and therefore, they hesitate to move out of that

Ethical Issues Supporting Children Advertising Essay

Ethical Issues Supporting Children Advertising - Essay Example Ethical Issues Surrounding Children Advertising Introduction Advertising to children has long been the point of extensive debate about the impacts such advertisements could have on young, vulnerable, and easily influenced consumers. One issue with children advertising is that kids are not capable of differentiating between the programme and the advertisement. Hence, youngsters do not have the same critical thought as grown-ups do and more apt to believe ads (Buijzen & Valkenburg 2005). Ads may take advantage of children’s irresistible desires for bodily gratification, attachment, play, persuading them to choose prefer physical items over socially driven alternatives. Some scholars claim that ads make children impulsive, impatient, and materialistic (Ramsey 2006). Therefore, this essay takes into consideration the ethical issues surrounding children advertising. Relevant Theories/Models Because the issue of advertising’s effect on youngsters was charged to childrenâ€⠄¢s cognitive developmental weaknesses, with a number of governmental concerns for the possible fault of unethical advertisers who deliberately deceive youngsters with their advertisements, that became the main emphasis for the believed solution, too. Thus, Jean Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory is a relevant and suitable model for the issue of ethical issues surrounding children’s advertising (Mercer & Miller-McLemore 2005). Originally, marketers’ application of models of development started as reactions to detractors of children advertising with explanations that the models would help them to further promote ethical marketing. Marketers could prevent the making of ads that unjustly exploit children’s lack of ability to function outside a developmentally established scope of information deciphering. For instance, the study of Ward and colleagues focuses on the inclination of children to give importance to a portrayed product fully relative to actua l attributes (Srivastava & Nandan 2010). The child would give importance to more vibrant colour or bigger size instead of doing a critical assessment of how the product could carry out its publicised features or purposes, which may be anticipated at a later developmental phase of a child (Shimanovsky & Lewis 2006). Therefore, this essay supports the argument that this knowledge can strongly contribute to the promotion of ethical children’s advertising. In this essay, the issue puts emphasis only on ethical and suitable children’s advertising, rooted in the belief that encouraging them to be fine and critical consumers is an admirable objective, and this belief is never challenged. The discourses on children advertising persist, all the same, with advocates of a critical, perceptive child challenging those who emphasise children’s core incorruptibility and immaturity (Davis 2002). A particular issue in establishing the disagreement between marketing and children as a problem of a child’s undeveloped capacity for rational thoughts rests in the beliefs that advertising composes mainly of disseminating product information and that a critical, wise person has the liberty to work on acquired information (Abelman & Atkin 2000). According to Stuhlfault and Farrell (2009), this point of view overlooks the complexity of image and representation in advertising, together with the different ways wherein individuals encounter an ad (e.g. as entertainment, as a social

The Merchant of Venice Essay Example for Free

The Merchant of Venice Essay One of the most central issues in The Merchant of Venice is that of the antagonism between the Jews and the Christians. The unconscious, inborn dislike of cultures which jeopardise our way of life. Ever since people have left their homelands to settle in other places there has been conflict between different cultures. So, in the play, Antonio, Bassanio, Gratiano and many more of the Christians feel resentment towards Shylock the alien. This is partly because of the trap that he has led Antonio into and partly because he is different. This seemingly unaccounted for dislike is shown particularly by Shylock who comments: I hate him for he is a Christian (act 1, scene 3, line 38.) and then later on, in the trial scene itself, when asked to explain his actions he states: I give no reason, nor I will not, more than a lodgd hate and a certain loathing, I bear Antonio (act 4, scene 1, lines 59-61.) This speech shows how even Shylock himself cannot explain his deep-rooted hatred of Antonio (the Christian). The opposite of feuds between cultures, are the bonds which are made between people of the same beliefs and habits. This is shown at the beginning of the Act in the form of a conversation between the Duke and Antonio, both of whom are Christian. In this conversation the Duke reveals his feelings on the matter. I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answer to a stony adversary, an inhuman wretch uncapable of pity, void and empty from any dram of mercy. (act 4, scene 1, lines 3-6.) However, Antonio seems to have no hope, and accepts the law without complaint. This opening view of Antonio portrays his temperament throughout the whole scene, right up until the very end when he is released from the fateful bond. Shortly after this conversation ends Shylock enters. The Duke appeals to Shylock to have mercy upon Antonio, but Shylock is stubborn and sticks with his original decision and intention. Shylock informs the Duke about what will happen if he denies him the due and forfeit of his bond. The consequence of denying the bond would be something that Antonio himself talked about earlier in the play: The Duke cannot deny the course of law: for the commodity that strangers have with us in Venice, if it be denied, will much impeach the justice of the state, since that the trade and profit of the city consisteth of all nations. (act 3, scene 3, lines 26-31.) This means that if the course of law is not permitted, then foreigners will question the integrity and fairness of Venetian justice, which would be fateful for Venice, as the citys wealth depends upon international trade. Venice will also lose its reputation as the centre of international trade if the Duke does not grant Shylock his bond. Yet again, Antonio does not try to excuse himself from the bond, but reminds his friends that they are dealing with a Jew, and of how they will not be able to shift his Jewish Heart. Bassanio proposes to repay Shylock with twice the amount agreed in the bond but, yet again, Shylock is unmoved in his decision. The Duke now realises that there is no way that he can legally save his friends life, but, he states that upon his power he may dismiss the court unless Bellario, a famous lawyer whom he has called to the court  to ask him of his opinion, can attend the hearing. Bassanio sees this as a possibility that his friend may live, but Antonio is not optimistic and says: I am a tainted wether of the flock, meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit drops earliest to the ground; and so let me. You cannot be better employd, Bassanio, than to live still, and write mine epitaph. (act 4, scene 1, lines 114-118.) He almost feels that he deserves to die, and asks Bassanio to carry on with his own life and write his memoirs for him. The lawyers clerk, who is Nerissa dressed as a man, arrives with a letter from Bellario. The Duke reads the letter and in the meantime Shylock sharpens his knife on the sole of his shoe. Bassanio is upset by this and asks him Why dost thou wet thy knife so earnestly?, and Shylock replies that he intends to take what is rightfully his. At this, Gratiano, who until now has been silent, launches a verbal attack on Shylock, accusing him of having the soul of a man-killing wolf. However, as before, Shylock is unscathed by these insults, and reminds Gratiano that he is only here to uphold the law. After reading the letter the Duke informs the court that Bellario has been taken ill and therefore cannot attend the hearing, but that he has sent a young lawyer in his place, whom he has informed with the details of the case. This lawyer of which the letter speaks is called Balthazar, but when Balthazar enters it becomes apparent to the audience that the lawyer is in fact Portia in disguise. The characters in the play, however, do not know this. Portia attempts to persuade Shylock to have mercy but is unsuccessful. Finally, she agrees that it is lawful that Shylock shall have his bond. Shylock, who is gratified with this judgement, compares Portia to Daniel who, in the Apocrypha, was instructed by God to give a verdict against two elders who had tried to rape the celibate lady Susanna. Portia proceeds to gain Shylocks respect by reminding the court that Antonio must pay the bond with A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off nearest the merchants heart.  Portia asks Shylock whether he has the scales ready to weigh the pound of flesh, to which he replies I have them ready. Portia then feels that she may have found a way to save Antonios life, she asks Shylock: Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, to stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death. (act 4, scene 1, lines 255-256.) Yet Shylock reminds her that it says nothing about a surgeon in the bond, so her statement is void. Portia accepts this, she then turns to Antonio to ask him if he has anything to say. Antonio speaks to Bassanio to try and console him, concluding with a wry joke about the matter: If the Jew do cut but deep enough, Ill pay it (the debt) instantly with all my heart. (act 4, scene 1, lines 278-279.) Bassanio then comments that he would give up his wife if it would save Antonio, and then Gratiano says that he wishes that his wife were in heaven so that she could stop the proceedings by some divine interception. These comments fracture the tension that has built in the court because, unknown to Bassanio and Gratiano, their wives are there in the court with them. Portia emphasises the irony in this further by saying: Your wife would give you little thanks for that, if she were by to hear you make the offer. (act 4, scene, 1 lines 286-287.) Portia gives permission for Shylock to take his bond, but just as he is preparing to do so she finds a weak link in the bond: Tarry a little: there is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood. (act 4, scene 1, lines 303-304.) Meaning that Shylock is entitled to his pound of flesh but not to any of Antonios blood. She then explains that if Shylock does shed one drop of Christian blood then he will have his lands and goods confiscated by the state of Venice. At this decree Gratiano is overjoyed as he can see a way out for his friend. He mocks Shylock by repeating the very praises that Shylock himself had delivered to Portia. The likening of Portia to Daniel is now more fitting because like Portia, Daniel was not anticipated in the court, and the judgement that he gave freed Susanna and condemned her accusers. Shylock is shocked by Portias words, but he is not defeated, he offers to accept triple the original amount, which was offered to him earlier: I take this offer then: pay the bond thrice, and let the Christian go. (act 4, scene 1, lines 316-317.) Bassanio is about to hand over the money when Portia intervenes again. She states that Shylock shall have only his justice, so she instructs him to prepare to cut the pound of flesh, but she warns him, if he should cut any more or less than a pound, even in the estimation of a hair then he shall lose all that he owns. Gratiano jeers at Shylock even further, and yet again Shylock asks for the money, but Portia reminds us that Shylock had refused the money earlier, so now, he shall have merely justice, and his bond. At this, Shylock attempts to leave the court, yet Portia calls him back stating the law hath yet another hold on you. This hold is yet another law of Venice, which states that any alien or foreigner who attempts to take the life of a Venetian shall have all of their possessions confiscated, one half of which shall go to the endangered Venetian, Antonio, and the other half shall go to the privy coffer of the state. This law also states that the life of the alien shall be in the hands of the Duke, and Portia advises Shylock to get down onto his knees and beg mercy of the Duke. The Duke spares Shylocks life, and Antonio, who is now entitled to half of Shylocks wealth, is asked what mercy he can render him? Antonio, despite Gratianos petition, shows his generosity. He offers to take the money on loan, keeping it in confidence for Lorenzo, a Christian who recently ran away with Shylocks daughter, Jessica. However, Antonio puts two conditions on his offer, firstly, that Shylock must become a Christian and, secondly, that he must make a will leaving all that he owns to Jessica and Lorenzo. In doing this, Antonio has struck the  ultimate blow, forcing Shylock to become what he hates and to leave his wealth to someone who has already robbed him of a lot of money and stolen his daughter. Shylock sees that he has been cornered, and asks permission to leave the court. He agrees to conform with Antonios conditions saying: Send the deed after me, and I will sign it. (act 4, scene 1, lines 394-395.) In agreeing to these conditions Shylock has lost his chance for revenge upon the Christians and has had their revenge cast upon himself. Gratiano now makes his feelings apparent, and he declares to Shylock: In Christening shalt thou have two god-fathers; Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, to bring thee to the gallows, not to the font. (act 4, scene 1, lines 396-398.) This shows that Gratiano feels that Shylock should have been hanged for, in Christianity, when a child is baptised, two god-fathers are appointed to see that the child is properly educated in the Christian faith. However, at the time, god-fathers, was also a nick-name for the members of a jury, a body of twelve men, who would have been needed to pass sentence on Shylock. Gratiano suggests that there should have been ten more god-fathers in order to make up a jury, who he feels would have condemned Shylock to death.  This statement by Gratiano has a double meaning, firstly, that he feels Shylock should have been punished by death and, secondly, that he will be baptised into the Christian faith. The Duke, yet again showing his liking of Antonio, invites Portia to have dinner at his home with him, but Portia declines his offer because she must away this night to Padua. The only thing left to do now is for Bassanio, Antonio and Gratiano to pay the lawyer for his services. Bassanio offers the three thousand ducats which would have been used to pay Shylock, yet Portia refuses payment declaring: He is well paid that is well satisfied, and I, delivering you, am satisfied, and therein do account myself well paid. (act 4, scene 1, lines 413-415.) Suddenly though, the lawyer catches sight of the ring on Bassanios finger, the very ring which Portia gave him at their wedding. She asks for the ring as payment. Bassanio remembers that Portia had told him never to detach himself from the ring for any reason, and, recollecting this, he refuses. Antonio pleads with Bassanio for him to give the ring, and Bassanio, who almost brought about the death of his friend, does not refuse his companions wish. He then sends Gratiano after the lawyer in order to offer Portia the ring.

How White People Became White Essay Example for Free

How White People Became White Essay Abstract Biologically speaking, it’s just as possible for a given white person in Florida to have genetics similar to his neighbor down the street as it would be for the same white person to have genetics similar to a black person in Nigeria. We could just as easily disregard skin color and pay attention to hair and/or eye color. Sociologists make this claim because they argue that the definition of what constitutes a race is something that is arbitrarily decided by society. Additionally, what it means to classify yourself or someone else as a particular race carries social meaning. Sociologist claims that race as a biological concept does not exist. However, the consequences of classifying someone as a certain race as certainly real enough. It needs to be said, though, that not every discipline agrees that race is merely a social construct. Forensic psychology absolutely identifies at least three racial categories. Some geneticists and epidemiologists also recognize race as a legitimate biological category. Race can be biological and socially constructed at the same time. The big difference is sociologists emphasize social definitions and meanings, rather than the biological aspects of race. By the eastern European immigration the labor force has been cleft horizontally into two great divisions. The upper stratum includes what is known in mill parlance as the English-speaking men; the lower contains the â€Å"Hunkies† or â€Å"Ginnies. † Or, if you prefer, the former are the â€Å"white men,† the latter the â€Å"foreigners† (Barrett Roediger, 1995). Skin color (whiteness, blackness, yellowness, etc. ) remains a concern in the late 20th century, not because it advances the mission of multiculturalism, helps us to understand different people, or allows us, as individuals to congratulate ourselves on our â€Å"color blindness,† but because skin color has been used to rank order people for practical things like jobs, promotions, loans, and housing (Condit Lucaites, 1993). Whiteness refers to a historical systemic structural race-based superiority (Philip C. Wander). You might think that because skin color was so central to the law, that â€Å"whiteness† and â€Å"blackness† were carefully defined and easy to understand. They were defined by law, but they were not easy to understand in practice. The inferior were, by God’s will, destined to be enslaved by the superior. Slave property became totally identified with people who happened to have black skin, the color that had always horrified the West (Kovel, 1984, p. 21). Abraham Lincoln believed in the racial superiority of white people, although he felt blacks should be paid a fair day’s wage for their work. People in the South thought he was an abolitionist in disguise. The confusion and the horror surrounding these complexities emerged, after the Civil War, in Jim Crow laws designed to keep the â€Å"races† apart. The law, pressured by the leaky nature of racial categories, devised a â€Å"one drop† theory-if you had one drop of â€Å"non-white blood† in your veins, you could not qualify as white. Throughout our history, â€Å"whiteness† has legally speaking, been a form of property (Harris Wander 1971). In the twentieth century, these fears gained a great deal of social legitimacy thanks to the efforts of an influential network of aristocrats and scientists who developed theories of eugenics—breeding for a â€Å"better† humanity—and scientific racism. Key to these efforts was Madison Grant’s influential Passing of the Great Race, in which he shared his discovery that there were three or four major European races ranging from the superior Nordics of northwestern Europe to the inferior southern and eastern races of Alpines, Mediterranean’s, and, worst of all, Jews, who seemed to be everywhere in his native New York City (Brodkin). Creating a separate ethnic category within the racial category of White seemed to solve the problem of how to count Hispanics without racializing them as non-Whites, as it had done in 1930 (Neil Foley). To identify oneself today as a â€Å"Hispanic† is partially to acknowledge one’s ethnic heritage without surrendering one’s whiteness—whiteness with a twist of salsa, enough to make one ethnically flavorful and culturally exotic without, however, compromising one’s racial privilege as a White person. The majority of Mexicans in the United States were therefore recognized by the census, if not the courts, as non-Whites. Although having their whiteness restored did not lessen discrimination, the Mexican government and Mexican Americans fully understood the implications of being officially or legally recognized as a non-White group (Foley). Segregation statues consistently defined all those without African ancestry as â€Å"whites. † Chinese and Mexicans in Texas were thus White under state laws governing the segregation of the races (Foley). After World War II, a French reporter was asked, â€Å"If there are any Negro problems? † The author replied, â€Å"There isn’t any Negro problem; there is only a white problem. † By inverting the reporter’s question, Wright called attention to its hidden assumptions—that racial polarization comes from the existence of blacks rather than from the behavior of white, that black people are a â€Å"problem† for whites rather than fellow citizens entitled to justice, and that unless otherwise specified, â€Å"Americans† means â€Å"white† (Lipsitz). Whiteness is everywhere in U.S. culture, but it is very hard to see. White power secures its dominance by seeming not to be anything in particular. † Race is a cultural construct, but one with sinister structural causes and consequences. Conscious and deliberate actions have institutionalized group identity in the Unites States, not just through the dissemination of cultural stories, but also through systematic efforts from colonial times to the present to create economic advantages through a possessive investment in whiteness for European Americans (Lipsitz). References Wander, P. C. (1971). The savage child: The image of the Negro in the proslavery movement. Southern Speech Communication Journal, 57, 335-360. Condit, C. , Lucaites, J. (1993). Crafting equality: America’s Anglo-African world. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Roediger, D. (1991). The wages of whiteness: Race and the making of the American working class. New York: Verso. Lipstiz, George. (1998) The Possessive Investment in Whitness: How White People Profit from Identity Politics. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

United Kingdom Fast Food Industry Commerce Essay

United Kingdom Fast Food Industry Commerce Essay The Fast Food in the United Kingdom industry profile is an indispensable source for high level data and analysis wrapping the fast food industry. It covers detailed facts on market structure and its segmentation, market size and segmentation, plus documented and graphical analysis of the key trends and competitive background, leading companies and demographic information. The market predict for the fast food industry in UK is to generate total returns of $2.6 Billion by the end of 2013, with an expected complex annual growth of 3.5%.The market is broken down in to four segments: Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), Takeaways, Mobile Street Vendors and Leisure Locations. Intrinsic and Extrinsic environmental factors have a remarkable consequence on fast food industry. Market segmentation in UK is as leisure (48%), QRS (37.2%), Take away (13.4%) and street and mobile vendors (0.9%), (Data monitor-B, 2009). Purpose and Benefits: PESTLE analysis is an essential apparatus for understanding risks allied with market expansion or turn down and as such the situation, position, capability and trend for a business or organization. This analysis examines the impact of each of these factors (and their interaction with each other) on the business. And identifying means for change assists top-level to focus on pestle factors which are important and must given the main concern. By this analysis, we can certify that what we do is associated positively with the factors of change which upset our global and also avoid taking action which directs towards malfunctioning and helps to adapt in a new environment. A. MACRO ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS POLITICAL FACTORS The policies of the government have greater collision on an organization in that particular country. Government decision such as accumulation, diminution, alteration in stuff like policy and taxes has adverse affect in organizations established in that particular country. And the taxation policy is 15-17.5% in UK. Likewise, fast food industry is an inevitable. (G Johnson K Scholes , 2005) CORPORATION TAX Corporation tax is a direct tax which is executed by the government, and organisation or industry pay directly depending on their profit. 30% is the standard corporation tax set for the business organisations but this rate is only applicable to the organisations whose annual profit exceeds more than  £1,500,000. In the year, 2010, 21% is applied for those organizations that make profit less than  £300,000 per year. CARBON TAX It is and environmental tax which is imposed due to the harmful gases it emanates likes carbon dioxide in the environment which affects environment. It is imposed to effect to minimize the emission of gases by the industries to guard environment.The Conservatives are planning to impose a carbon tax on British businesses in UK. There should be labelling of genetically modified food as well and health and safety guidelines from the government sector. ECONOMIC FACTORS Market value of UK fast food is bid. The market anticipation for the fast food industry in UK is to engender total revenue of $2.6 billion by the end of 2013 with an expected complex annual growth of 3.5%. Unemployment: This factor influence and has greater impact in every organisations executing in the country. The figure of people unemployed in the UK has plummeted again, leaving the jobless rate at 7.8 %. Workers are perhaps agreeable to accept lower wages or shorter period of time stick on to their jobs in fast food industries. (BBC, 2010) Affect of Inflation: There are various ways in which it affects business industries. The inflation rate in UK is 5% in 2010.If there is the rise in prices of the products it has an undesirable affect on the organisations including the fast food industries. Increase in inflation force employees to demand higher wages in their working places in order to maintain their living standard and increase in the disposable income. Therefore, companies spend more on labours for well execution of their business. As a result, companies need to enhance their prices or products to maintain the profitability in the business. Recession also leads to increase sales of a product of the companies. SOCIAL FACTORS Population: Fast food affects a community in many aspects. It is mainly geared towards the younger edge of the market. According to the census UK population is aging and most of the fast food organisations are concerned in this sector. So, fast food products are diminishing because people are concerned about their health. Busy Schedule: As we all know that UK has a very busy life style which has positive affect on the UK food industry by choosing fast food rather than cooking in their own house for saving their time. Health and Safety: Government are concerned about public health and imposed rules on fast food industry that the foods that contains high sugar, salt or obesity should be avoided in order to maintain healthy life and protection from obesity.( M Purcell, 2008) Most of the people are being vegetarianism due to health concerns which affects fast food industry. Animals right campaign: Fast food key players such as Mac Donalds, Burger King , Pizza Hut, KFC etc are the main industries for producing and consumption of food from animals all over the global. Thus animals right personnel are concerned about the maltreatment towards the animals which are supplied to the players of the fast industry. TECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS Technology plays a vital role in fast food industries. It enhances the speed and saves time for the successful completion of its performance. For eg: systematic computerised system such as till counters helps to perform their operation in accurate time. The use of online marketing about their products too has been very successful. The presence of the internet of the companies such as Mac Donald, KFC etc has been very solid factor to stand out in their business. The products that are delivered online also assist to a large amount to enhance sales and profit of the business. LEGAL FACTORS Food safety act The Food Safety Act 1990 provides the framework for all food legislation in Britain. It is concerned with food safety and consumer protection in Great Britain. The main objectives of this law are as follows: To ensure that the food is safe to public health and provide legality authority to the consumers. For e.g.: a child spills himself/ herself and he/she should be properly cared. To ensure that the food is served should meet the expectations in (quantity and quality) forms To ensure they advertise and label the product in a proper way which do not mislead consumers. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS Fast food outlets have been responsible for high amount of litters and waste. For eg: we probably dont think that eating a burger emerges carbon, but it is true that whatever we do we donate towards the resources we use. The organization concerned with protection of environment has held, which is keep Britain Tidy . And they found McDonalds which is responsible for most of the burger wrappers, condiment sachets and plastic straws. . The litters found in the streets have been divided among the all the fast food brands or companies as given below: 1. McDonalds 29% 2. Unbranded fish and chips/kebab 21% 3 .Greggs -18% 4. KFC 8% 5. Subway 5% and other branded coffee 5% Ultimately, the analytical tool helped us to understand the prons and cons of the fast food industry and their success and failure of the strategy. This analytical tool (PESTLE) helped to determine industrys attractiveness (profit potential) and can be influential in general performance. B: MICRO ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS (PORTERS FIVE FORCES): Porters five forces is a framework for the industry analysis and strategy development introduced by Michael E. Porter in 1979. It is a way of assessing the potential profit of different industries which provide the starting point for strategic analysis even profit criteria may not apply. POWER OF BUYER: Despite the population of UK do not go for fast food, but many of the people plump for it or as consumers. Many of the big players in UK such as Mc Donald, KFC, Burger King .Etc, spend hugely in the fast food industry through advertising and other promotional activities to improve brand image towards consumers because they are the essential part of the business to survive. And leads to customer loyalty and decreases buying power. For e.g.: milk in the grocery sector in UK, where there is few retailers dominance that means few large customers relate for the majority of sales. Thus, buying power increases. If such gift items in fast food industries help to enhance some degree of customer loyalty, nonetheless, buying power can be strengthened to some extent, low switching cost is insignificant. In the fast food industry, the buying power can be accessed as reasonable. POWERS OF SUPPLIERS: The factors increasing buying power are the converse to those for buying power. It is very crucial for the fast food industry for the continuous, reliable supply of food with a quality and low cost which is applicable even in the fast food industry. By this we can figure out the reliability of fast food chains. As we all know, fast food industry are not only engaged with single sort of food but they can also create profit by other varieties. Suppliers are the main source of firm when there are few substitutes, they might also refuse to work with the firm, and therefore, it is vital for food industry to maintain good relationship with each other in order to get success. The leading food industry in UK is 3663 because it exceeds its sales which exceeds 1 billion pound per annum. For e.g.: star football players have succeeded in raising their plunder to enormous levels but leading football clubs, their buyers struggle. THREATS OF SUBSTITUTES Substitutes are services of products that offer a same benefit to an industrys products. For eg: trains are substitute of cars. Likewise in fast food industry there are other forms of food service providers as well as food stores, eg: Sainsbury, ASDA, Somerfield, etc provides ready serve their food to the customers. Fast foods are cheaper. Therefore, the substitutes do not have a power to dominate fast food industry in terms of various foods and services they provide. Eventually, the advantage which substitutes have with comparison with their substitutes is that they facilitate with diversity of products and there is the matter of health and safety towards fast food outlets which has been criticised by public and government. Consequently, substitutes in the whole market propose its consumers with more liberty or alternatives to organize their fast by delivering various ranges of food products. The threat of substitutes has been accessed as moderate in fast food industry. Threats of entrants: The entry into the UK fast food market does not involve huge investment. Individuals can enter without recognized brand name. Some companies execute their task as a franchise which enables the franchisee or the investor to help operating or fully operate a business. The franchisee pays for the cost to the franchisor and yield profit from the business from different strategies used by franchisor. For e.g. Mc Donalds., have many out lets all over the world among them 25,400 are operates by franchisee. Although it is not much expensive to execute a fast food industry but there is a threat to the entrants because there are key players who already set their brand images in front of the consumers. The already existing players are very strong established for the new entrants to compete with (Data monitor-A, 2009). COMPETETIVE RIVALRY As we are all concerned about fast food industry that they cover large market and focus on large part of UK population therefore it has been mushrooming every year. There is very low risk of business failure which as a result attracts more new entrants. Former fast food industry wants to increase their number of outlets as a result they want to survive in the industry for longer time period by employing more employees and execute for longer period. Each industry wants to be better than each of their competitors. Therefore, to float in the business, the main thing that the industry needs to maintain is attractiveness, i.e. profitability. Eventually, UK is mushrooming with fast food industry, in recent globalisation. It is not much easier to enter into the market. There are challenges in entering into the fast food industry as well opportunities to receive success. Despite the dark cloud on the horizon, fast food industry is one of the most important food outlets in the context of UK.

Similarities between Business & Military Strategy Essay -- War and Bus

The Art of War and todays business have many common characteristics. Sun Tzu has analyzed war from different angles like moral laws, time period, chances of life and death, skills of the commander and the maintaince of the army. The same analyses can be made for todays business environment. War is a position where only the strong have the ability to survive, or at least the stronger ones have the higher probability to survive. Similarly todays business environment and the character of business people, their agressiveness, motivation, stress are all similar to ancient soldiers and commanders. The comparisons between war and business life are similar in five ways. 'These are the way, the weather, the terrain, the leadership and dicipline.' First of them is the way. In war the way you have to avoid from the strong andstrike at weak. Therefore at the beginning when you want to grow your business you don't neet to challange stronger rivals at first, you have to grow first by challanging the weak rivals in the busin...

Economics, Winning Bolivias Drug War :: essays research papers

Economics is Winning Bolivia’s Drug War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A 1998 article from the New York Times reported that Bolivia was winning its war against drugs as a result of two factors that influence the market for coca, which is used to make cocaine. First, Bolivian soldiers raided a number of coca plantations and destroyed the crops. Second, Colombians began growing more of their own coca and, as a result, now buy less from Bolivia than in the past. I am proposing that the basic principles of supply and demand are what helped to solve the drug problem. The following paragraphs will support my argument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Figure 1 shows the supply and demand curves before and after the changes occurred in Bolivia. As you can see, after the coca plantations were raided, the supply of cocaine was cut short, thus shifting the supply curve to the left. Also, because Colombians began growing their own coca, demand decreased for the cocaine from Bolivia, shifting the demand curve to the left also. To sum up, supply decreased from S to S1, because of the raids, and demand decreased from D to D1 because Colombians began to grow their own coca and didn’t need to rely as much on Bolivia. The diagram clearly shows that the quantity sold at P* decreased from Q* to Q** due to these two changes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to the article in the New York Times, the Bolivian government hopes these changes in the coca market will motivate coca growers to switch to a substitute crop such as pineapple. This is a possibility if the price of coca falls. If the price of coca falls, supply will also decrease because it won’t be as profitable to farm coca as it was before. The falling price would then trigger farmers to switch to another crop such as pineapple.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Bolivian government, hoping to eliminate the cocaine problem, indirectly turned to economics for a solution. That solution is a simple tale of cutting supply in a way that leads to a decrease in demand. That decrease came because Colombians couldn’t get the supply they wanted at the price they wanted to pay so they grew their own and helped eliminate coca growth within Bolivia. They can further solve the problem by perhaps raising the price paid for other crops so farmers will switch from growing coca to growing something else for a bigger profit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although farms in other South American countries grow acres and acres of coca plants, the raw material from which cocaine is made, today, Columbia is the leading Economics, Winning Bolivias Drug War :: essays research papers Economics is Winning Bolivia’s Drug War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A 1998 article from the New York Times reported that Bolivia was winning its war against drugs as a result of two factors that influence the market for coca, which is used to make cocaine. First, Bolivian soldiers raided a number of coca plantations and destroyed the crops. Second, Colombians began growing more of their own coca and, as a result, now buy less from Bolivia than in the past. I am proposing that the basic principles of supply and demand are what helped to solve the drug problem. The following paragraphs will support my argument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Figure 1 shows the supply and demand curves before and after the changes occurred in Bolivia. As you can see, after the coca plantations were raided, the supply of cocaine was cut short, thus shifting the supply curve to the left. Also, because Colombians began growing their own coca, demand decreased for the cocaine from Bolivia, shifting the demand curve to the left also. To sum up, supply decreased from S to S1, because of the raids, and demand decreased from D to D1 because Colombians began to grow their own coca and didn’t need to rely as much on Bolivia. The diagram clearly shows that the quantity sold at P* decreased from Q* to Q** due to these two changes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to the article in the New York Times, the Bolivian government hopes these changes in the coca market will motivate coca growers to switch to a substitute crop such as pineapple. This is a possibility if the price of coca falls. If the price of coca falls, supply will also decrease because it won’t be as profitable to farm coca as it was before. The falling price would then trigger farmers to switch to another crop such as pineapple.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Bolivian government, hoping to eliminate the cocaine problem, indirectly turned to economics for a solution. That solution is a simple tale of cutting supply in a way that leads to a decrease in demand. That decrease came because Colombians couldn’t get the supply they wanted at the price they wanted to pay so they grew their own and helped eliminate coca growth within Bolivia. They can further solve the problem by perhaps raising the price paid for other crops so farmers will switch from growing coca to growing something else for a bigger profit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although farms in other South American countries grow acres and acres of coca plants, the raw material from which cocaine is made, today, Columbia is the leading

Permanent Change In An Individuals Knowledge Or Behaviour

Learning can be ocular, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, lingual, logical, realistic, religious and moral, and, consequentially, scholars have really differing degrees of intelligence in these different sorts of larning. It is per se of import for instructors to hold a on the job cognition of how different pupils learn because of this fact that non all pupils learn in the same manner. An educators occupation is to ease acquisition for a pupil, and hence must be adaptable to these assorted acquisition manners in order to adequately supply for them, and this can non be done without an apprehension of different larning theories and manners. A pupil who is kinesthetic or visually intelligent is non traveling to profit from certain manners of learning every bit much as a pupil who is a logical scholar, presuming the pedagogue is merely learning in a logical manner. Therefore it is necessary for pedagogues to understand the differing sorts of larning so that they can pro vide for multiple intelligences within their lessons, both by admiting their being and leting pupils the chance to larn in different ways every bit good as developing pupils abilities to interact with intelligences that they might otherwise be non as accustomed to. Equally good as different intelligences there are different worldviews on how learning occurs, whether it is inactive or active, whether it is societal or personal, and these theories straight affect the teaching method embraced by the instructor keeping them. Therefore the acquisition theories will needfully order the types of intelligences most supported by the acquisition that is taking topographic point, and it is up to the pedagogue to understand these learning theories so that they may use them in a manner to outdo explore all of the multiple intelligences and give their pupils the best opportunity of making a higher order apprehension of any capable affair. Behaviourism is a theory that operates upon an ‘action-reaction ‘ or ‘stimulus-response ‘ construct of larning. At its kernel this worldview places the scholar in the place of being a ‘blank slate ‘ , an empty vas or ‘tabula rasa ‘ , which is so filled with the coveted cognition or acquisition. Behaviourism assumes that the scholar is inactive and that they respond to any and all environmental stimulations that they are exposed to. The environment acts on the scholar, non the scholar on the environment. Behaviorism can be broken down into two possible signifiers of conditioning: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, the late of which was founded by B. F. Skinner and is one of the most outstanding larning theory places. Skinner ‘s operant conditioning position is non-dualistic, it denies that the head is a separate thing to the organic structure, alternatively situating ideas to be private behaviors, analysable in the same manner that public behaviors are. Essentially learners learn to ‘operate ‘ on the environment. Functionally, operant conditioning plants on a footing of support and penalty. Reinforcement is a procedure by which a targeted behavior is caused to happen with greater frequence and penalty a lesser frequence. Both these effects have positive and negative fluctuations, by positive and negative we refer to their linear or subtractive qualities, non their moral deductions. Positive support is when a rewarding stimulation is to happen following a desirable behavior, therefore increasing its frequence. Negative support occurs when an unwanted stimulation is removed after a desirable behavior, besides increasing its frequence. Positive penalty is the happening of a penalty or negative stimulation following an unwanted behavior, diminishing its likelihood, while negative penalty is the remotion of a positive or honoring stimulation following a unsought behavior, besides diminishing the opportunity of reoccurrence. In contrast to behaviorism, constructivism positions the scholar as an active participant in the acquisition procedure. The scholar is an â€Å" information builder †[ 3 ], one of the basic premises behind constructivism is that â€Å" people are active scholars and must build cognition for themselves. †[ 4 ]This base premise is that the scholar is a â€Å" alone person with alone demands and backgrounds. †[ 5 ] Learning is a constructive, contextualized and active procedure by which the scholar is engaged in actively making a subjective reading of an otherwise nonsubjective world. One of the cardinal differences between constructivism and behaviorism is that the scholar is seen as conveying past experience and cognition to the acquisition, and that it is this past experience that is the specifying factor in the defining and constructing of new cognition. This construct at work postulates that people generate their appreciation on cognition through an interaction between their thoughts and experiences. Furthermore the scholar acts upon the environment, interacting with it to make significance, instead so being acted upon. Constructivism, nevertheless, is non a incorporate theory. Under the streamer of constructivism subsists three chief positions dubbed the exogenic position, the endogenous position and the dialectical position. An exogenic constructivism â€Å" position posits a strong influence of the external universe on cognition building, such as by experiences, instruction, and exposure to theoretical accounts. Knowledge is accurate to the extent it reflects that world. †[ 6 ]On the other manus, endogenous constructivism provinces that cognition is derived from earlier mental constructions and focal points on a coordination of â€Å" cognitive actions †[ 7 ], while dialectical constructivism is a blend of the two, situating that cognition is non wholly construed from the external universe, nor is it entirely of the head but instead is the consequence of interactions between the scholar and the environment. – Schunk, Dale H. ( 2008 ) Constructivist Theory ( Chapter 6 ) . In Learning Theories: An Educational Perspective. 5th Edition. ( pp.234-277 ) . Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson, Merrill Prentice Hall. ISBN 9780132435659 pg 239 A behaviorist schoolroom places the scholar in a inactive function, as earlier mentioned, they are ‘tabula rasa ‘[ 8 ]. As a consequence the pedagogue is positioned in an active function, basically ‘acting ‘ on the scholar to instil cognition. This can take to a schoolroom where the scholar is non needfully encouraged to prosecute with the cognition presented to them, but instead to basically digest it, taking the cognition in to regurgitate ‘as is ‘ when needed. There is nil incorrect with this type of acquisition, so for certain topics and certain countries of topics it is arguably the most efficient signifier of acquisition. However a failing nowadays within the behaviorist theory is that it does non let the scholar to come on much further so the ‘applying ‘ phase in the new blooms taxonomy. It may be wrong to state that it does non ‘allow ‘ , but it surely does non promote the scholar to come on farther into the analysin g, measuring and making phases of the theoretical account without proper motion into determining the scholars behaviour. Even though they may acquire their ain their ain, the attack does non supply scaffolding to back up the scholar to these more advanced interactions with the cognition. This is because the scholar is non forced to prosecute with the cognition in an active manner, they do non hold to do it their ain, alternatively expected to be able to retrace what the instructor has presented to them, demoing an ability to retrieve and reproduce, but non needfully to grok on a meaningful degree. On the other manus a constructivist attack efforts to guarantee that the scholar interacts on a degree that allows them to prosecute in making from the footing of the cognition conveyed, hence promoting higher order thought. However In a behaviorist schoolroom the instructor will be actively seeking to place behavior to be changed, and, one time identified, they will be after specific intercessions to change that behavior in a coveted manner utilizing ancestors and effects. The instructor invariably accumulates informations on the consequences of these intercessions and modifies their attack to more efficaciously ‘shape ‘ the pupils behaviour. Praise, although contingent upon the behavior of the pupil, will strategically and often be given out to reenforce coveted behaviors. Each lesson will hold clear and precises ends in footings of cognition, attitudes and accomplishments to be transferred to the pupils, and cues and prompts will be utilized in order to put up behavioral forms and determine the pupils into the coveted acquisition form. This would so be scheduled with uninterrupted regular support to get down with, followed by more intermittent and sporadic support to ease the pupil into ego regula ted acquisition. This defining is necessary because a rigorous behaviorist attack is merely utile for a short period of clip, determining is required to foster the pupils larning. In an English schoolroom it would be expected that the instructor would be actively reenforcing the battle of pupils in category treatment with prima and directed oppugning accompanied with congratulations for engagement. The teacher*/*** As a instructor it is of import to gain that behaviorism does work, it is a important portion of any instruction and has a really effectual and functional intent but that it is non all of the image. As with the demand to be various in learning to cover the multiple intelligences, so excessively do we hold to be various in the theories we use in our pattern. While behaviorism is a really of import tool we can utilize, and basically covers a big part of the behaviour direction and positive forms we can put in the category, we still need constructivism in order to ease * Piaget posited four phases that all human existences go through in the procedure of ripening. The sensorimotor phase is that phase â€Å" from birth to age 2. Children experience the universe through motion and senses ( utilize five senses to research the universe ) † -Santrock, John W.. Children. 9. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1998. The preoperational phase consists of kids from ages two to seven and consists of egoism and begins to see the universe symbolically, so the kids begin to believe logically and travel into the concrete operational phase between ages seven and twelve and eventually from age 12 onwards reach the formal operation phase and develop abstract logical thinking. â€Å" the fact that many of the voluntary responses of animate beings and worlds are strengthened when they are reinforced ( followed by a desirable effect ) and weakened when they are either neglected or punished. † â€Å" †¦ organisms learn new behaviors and when to exhibit them and E »unlearnE? bing behaviors. † â€Å" †¦ all behaviors are accompanied by certain effects, and these effects strongly influence whether these behaviors are repeated and at what degree of strength. † â€Å" Positive interactions between instructor and pupils can bring forth successful acquisition results in the presence of complex kineticss of individuals, conditions and results. † Snowman et Al. ( 2009 ) . Chapter 7. â€Å" Behavioural Learning Theory: Operant Conditioning † . In Psychology Applied to Teaching. 1st Australian Edition. Milton, QLD: John Wiley & A ; Sons Australia Ltd. Bibliography

Moral Degradation of Modern Society or Moral Evolution? Author: Unpretentious Diva

â€Å"I fully subscribe to the judgment of those writers who maintain that of all the difference between man and the lower animals, the moral sense or conscience is by far the most important† Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man. Is it the phase of moral degradation of society? To even attempt answering this question we have to first arrive at a definition of morality. The first question is are we clear as to what it is?In the study of ethics morality has been defined from two perspectives, personal morality which is what you feel from your conscious as right and social morality which is what the society as a whole feels to be right. While the origin of personal morals are very simple and pure dictated by only one basic dictum that is innate nobility of the human soul. A person may be a criminal but he will always know from deep with that he is wrong unless he is a psycho. Social morals however are not so, they evolved for the singular reason that is to control man, to tame him so as to allow sustenance of society.In its essence it too is noble, for society too is a need of humanity. We wouldn’t have evolved to this juncture without this structured organisation called society. If I am sitting here and typing this, it is because someone else is cooking for me. Not everybody can be thinker and scientist, but they all in their own ways help in sustenance of the society and evolution of mankind as a whole. It is however difficult to conclude from here that social morality is right in all its perspectives.The sad part of the society is that it was not formed best logic of will full cooperation and subordination, with reverence to human soul and its spirit. For most part of the history it has been dominated by mystiques and brutes, the purpose of the society was to serve mankind as a whole but it ended up serving a few who had the power and intellect to manipulate the rest. It is for these lacunae in social morality that I consider personal morality as a far more superior guideline to judge whether you are right or wrong.There are many such arbitration in the social code of morality that has no logical support to its stance except some vague religious dictums or traditions that a society has been following from time immemorial. This article Honour Killings†¦. the Ultimate Price Women pay for the False Male Ego is an apt example of how unjust and harsh these codes of socio-religious morality can become. Of the many such debatable issues of conflicting personal and social morality I would like to discuss here the issue of sexual morality.The sexual liberation of the modern times has been largely viewed as a serious moral degradation of the society at large. On the issue of sexuality and our sexual needs, first question is whether it is our need or of the society. I believe that all of us would agree that we have sex not just to produce kids, to refurbish the human resource. We have it because we need it, nature made us so. I have a deep reverence for nature, for I believe that any need that nature instilled in us has a purpose and is innately good.The society in its primitive from had put in a lot of restriction on sex. The first reason was If sexuality is liberated it would have killed the institution of marriage and therefore the society. Models of these societies were all very authoritarian/ tyrannical where men were expected to have a very high quotient of obedience. As we evolved we slowly moved on into more democratic and cooperative models of society where the quotient of personal responsibility and maturity and free volition outweighed any kind of socio-religious adherence or obedience.Many a moral codes of conduct however were just borrowed from the old model of society which obviously has no space for these individual freedom and volition The new world order as was dreamt by philosophers and intellectuals is slowly coming to reality. It is for sure that if you refer to the old book of social moral s we would find ourselves morally degraded, but if we believe that at least now we are living in a free world free society, then society must start existing for man rather than vice versa.We need to rework on our studies of ethics and come up with better a moral code which cater for needs of a man and gives him/ her freedom to seek what they desire as long as they are not harming the society at large. A society that respects man as an entity, his rationales his intellect and his judgement and the innate goodness in him. There used to be a time when it was moral to burn wives down alive on their husband’s pyre (Sati). Is it today moral? Will all of us call our change in perspective as moral degradation?How can those women think of another man? What is wrong in free sexuality, if it is forced, it is a rape then it is wrong because you are violating the will and independence of another person. Is homosexuality wrong? I think no, not at all because it is volition of individuals, it is what they need what they desire. It is thus I feel that we need to rework on our books of ethics, make our moral codes more humane and Man friendly. And that actually is Moral Evolution. (Rudra)

A Theory in Crisis Essay

People are naturally selfish, greedy and will always think about themselves especially during difficult times. That is even scientifically proven by Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution – Natural Selection, â€Å"Natural selection eliminates inferior species gradually over time. † It is the only way to survive. And yet there are still a few good men who would go out of their comfort zones to bring justice onto the table. Willie Stark had enjoyed his fair share of both the good and the bad. â€Å"Guilty of dishonest practices, as bribery; without integrity; crooked† (Stein, 1975, p. 302). Corruption can be a politician’s worst nightmare or his best friend. Sometimes, you do it against your will. But in the end, you are consumed by it, just like any other power hungry crazed individual, believing that they can make a difference. Willie Stark believed in it too. Willie was just like any ordinary farmer’s son. He grew up in the South and is employed as Mason City’s county treasurer. He wanted to make a difference by giving light into a controversy. He set out a campaign against an alleged county schoolhouse construction contract. He was working for Dolph Pillsbury, the County sheriff, who happened to favor the bid of a certain J. H. Moore over all the others. The fact that J. H. Moore did not have the lowest bid only brought more suspicion as to why he was chosen. Willie fought this, as he was on the side of Jeffers Construction, the one having placed the lowest bid. Eventually, the County sheriff got what he wanted and J. H. Moore won the contract, Willie lost his job. But he stood by his conviction and he was rewarded. Years later, the schoolhouse met a tragic fate due to the low quality construction materials that was used by J. H. Moore. The building collapsed, killing three and injuring several others. I believe this moment was one of the turning points of the story. It shows that when you stood by what you tried to fight for until the very end, the people would know of this and you will gain their sympathy. Hence, he ran for governor as planned by existing political figures. Although he did not win, this became his driving force to study law, and later to run again for the same position. Willie Stark’s character in Robert Penn Warren’s All the King’s Men is that of a governor surrounded by all the people mixed in a perfect concoction to produce the dictionary meaning of political differences powered by blackmail, alliances and corruption. I believe that a person’s morality is gravely affected by circumstances of everyday living. One day you believe in the political system, the next day you probably would not. Maybe you encountered a bully police officer, a person trying to blackmail you, or a pickpocket. A person can be as hard as a rock when he or she stands by his/her moral and ethical principles. But even the strongest rocks are destroyed especially by secrets that are meant to damage your public image and meant to shake the very foundation of your moral beliefs. I believe that Willie Stark was corrupted by the political system. And I would like to point out three reasons why. As I have mentioned, Willie wanted to correct what he thought was wrong with the schoolhouse bid event when he stood up for the Jeffers Construction. Unknown to him, the County sheriff will still be the one to call the shots since he has authority over every single thing that happens. I believe this showed how much Willie was not in favor of set-ups in the political hierarchy, and an honest man would accept losing his job rather than sticking up to the misdoings of his superior. Another circumstance pointing to the righteousness of Willie was when he gave his support to his opponent Sam MacMurfee during his first time to run for governor. He found out the plan when Sadie Burke revealed it to him and to the dismay of all those who worked for his campaign, he announced his support to his rival on his big speech. Lastly, his efforts to build a free-for-all hospital sum up his desire to help the needy. What I see is a person who believes in the morality of things but is just caught up in the immorality and corruption that is inevitable in politics. Right from the start he was good, and he never stopped being good even if he has to do bad to be good. References AllAboutScience. org. (2002). Darwin’s Theory of Evolution – A Theory in Crisis. Retrieved December 22, 2007, from http://darwins-theory-of-evolution. com Stein, J. (Ed. ). (1975). The Random House College Dictionary. New York: Random House, Inc.