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Saturday, August 31, 2019

Coping With Climate Change Health And Social Care Essay

Autonomous versions may non be to the full equal for get bying with clime alteration, therefore asking deliberate, planned steps. Many options for policy-based version to climate alteration have been identified for agribusiness, woods and piscaries. These can either affect version activities such as developing substructure or edifice the capacity to accommodate in the broader user community and establishments, frequently by altering the decision-making environment under which management-level, independent version activities occur. Policybased versions to climate alteration will interact with, depend on, or possibly even be merely a subset of policies on natural resource direction, homo and animate being wellness, administration and human rights, among many others ( Yohe et al. , 2007 ) . Extenuation Schemes Agribusiness, land usage and waste history for some 35 per centum of the GHG emanations that contribute to climate alteration ( Stern, 2006 ) . At the same clip, improved agricultural patterns can do a important part at low cost to increasing dirt C sinks and to GHG emanation decreases ( Metz et al. , 2007 ) . Cardinal extenuation schemes in the agribusiness sector include: improved harvest and croping land direction to increase dirt C segregation, Restoration of debauched lands, improved rice cultivation and farm animal and manure direction to cut down methane emanations and improved nitrogen fertiliser direction to cut down azotic oxide emanations in some agricultural systems ( Metz et al. , 2007 ) . Improved direction of tropical land offers a promising agriculture-based extenuation scheme. Reduced deforestation, more sustainable forest direction and acceptance of agroforestry ( integrating of tree and harvest cultivation ) have peculiarly good potency to capture important sums of C and other GHGs and, at the same clip, to lend to poverty decrease ( CGIAR, 2008 ) . Cultivation of productive eatage grasses that sequester C can be combined with tree seting in silvopastoral systems of cultivation. Agroforestry non merely captures C and helps keep dirt wellness through N arrested development and usage of film editings as fertiliser and mulch, but it besides provides fresh fish, fruit, lumber, fuel, medical specialties and rosins. This can assist better nutrition in agriculturist families through higher incomes and by straight adding diverseness to diets ( CGIAR, 2008 ) . Agricultural research can assist make new engineerings that will ease agriculture-based extenuation schemes. For illustration, research is afoot at CGIAR-supported international agricultural research Centres to engender new, drought-tolerant assortments of sorghum that will supply nutrient, provender and fuel all from a individual works, without current trade-offs among utilizations. In the wast e direction sector, bing engineerings for extenuation are available that can lend to improved public wellness as an input into good nutrition. These include waste incineration with energy recovery, composting of organic waste, controlled waste H2O intervention and recycling to minimise waste ( Metz et al. , 2007 ) . Beginning: FAO, Policy Brief on Food Security, Figure 2, June 2006, Issue 2. FAO ‘s ‘twin-track attack ‘ for contending hunger combines sustainable agricultural and rural development with targeted programmes for heightening direct entree to nutrient for the most destitute. As outlined above, the first path addresses recovery steps for set uping resilient nutrient systems. Factors that affect nutrient system resiliency include the construction of the nutrient economic system as a whole, every bit good as its constituents such as agricultural production, engineering, the variegation of nutrient processing, markets and ingestion. Track 2 assesses the options for supplying support to vulnerable groups. This survey is looking for family nutrient security appraisal attack. Household nutrient insecurity can be assessed utilizing direct and indirect measurings. Food Sufficiency Status Question ( Briefel et al. , 1992 ) , Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project Instrument ( Wehler et al. , 1994 ) , Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument ( Radimer et al. , 1992 ) and Food Security Core Model ( Bickel et al. , 2000 ) and Accumulative Food Security Index ( Maxwell, 1996 ) are among questionnaire-based instruments designed to straight mensurate nucleus behaviours and experiences related to nutrient sufficiency or nutrient insecurity and to be administered to the individual most responsible for nutrient and nutrient proviso in the family. The indirect measurings of nutrient insecurity which include income-based steps of poorness, use of nutrient security-related plan, indexs of fiscal adversity, anthropometric measurings, dietetic consumption and other wellness and n utrition parametric quantities, indicate the degree of exposure in which nutrient insecurity may be moderately inferred ( Radimer et al. , 1990 ; Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion at Health Canada, 2002 ) . The Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity instrument identifies nutrient insecurity experienced at the family, single and child degrees and maintains that nutrient insecurity is a managed procedure ( Radimer et al. , 1990 ) . The family makes necessary accommodations to turn to nutrient insecurity with the kids being spared until nutrient insecurity becomes terrible. In other words, the grownups will digest hunger themselves so that their kids do non endure. While the Radimer/Cornell instrument has been used extensively in the United States, its application in a different cultural scene is comparatively limited ( Kaiser et al. , 2002 ; Studdert et al. , 2001 ; Welch et al. , 1998 ) . The Radimer/Cornell instrument has been shown to be applicable in Malaysia as a direct appraisal of family nutrient insecurity ( Zalilah, 1998 ; Zalilah & A ; Tham, 2002 ; Zalilah & A ; Ang, 2002 ) .Degrees of Food security:Extensive research in the late eightiess focused on understanding family nut rient security, nutrient insecurity, and hungriness. This work led to the development by an adept working group of the American Institute of Nutrition of the undermentioned conceptual definitions, which were published in 1990 by the Life Sciences Research Office ( LSRO ) of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology: Food security – â€Å" Entree by all people at all times to enough nutrient for an active, healthy life. Food security includes at a lower limit: ( 1 ) the ready handiness of nutritionally equal and safe nutrients, and ( 2 ) an assured ability to get acceptable nutrients in socially acceptable ways ( e.g. , without fall backing to exigency nutrient supplies, scavenging, stealing, or other get bying schemes ) . † It will be measured if families show no or minimum grounds of nutrient insecurity Food insecurity – â€Å" Limited or unsure handiness of nutritionally equal and safe nutrients or limited or unsure ability to get acceptable nutrients in socially acceptable ways. † Food insecurity is apparent in family members ‘ concerns about adequateness of the family nutrient supply and in accommodations to household nutrient direction, including reduced quality of nutrient and increased unusual header forms. It will be measured if small or no decrease in members ‘ nutrient consumption is reported Hunger – â€Å" The uneasy or painful esthesis caused by a deficiency of nutrient. The recurrent and nonvoluntary deficiency of entree to nutrient. Hunger may bring forth malnutrition over clip†¦ . Hunger†¦ is a possible, although non necessary, effect of nutrient insecurity. † Food consumption for grownups in the family has been reduced to an extent that implies that grownups have repeatedly experienced the physical esthesis of hungriness. In most ( but non all ) food-insecure families with kids, such decreases are non observed at this phase for kids. At this degree, all families with kids have reduced the kids ‘s nutrient consumption to an extent indicating that the kids have experienced hungriness. For some other families with kids, this already has occurred at an earlier phase of badness. It will be measured if grownups in families with and without kids have repeatedly experienced more extended decreases in nutrient consumption. Food insecurity and hungriness, as the footings are used here, are conditions ensuing from fiscal resource restraint. Hunger, for illustration, can happen in many state of affairss, including dieting and being excessively busy to eat. The measurement process described here, nevertheless, is concerned merely with nutrient insecurity and hungriness that occur because the family does non hold adequate nutrient or money to purchase nutrient. Hunger, in this position, may be seen as a terrible phase or degree of nutrient insecurity, instead than as a distinguishable or separate status from the more general experience of nutrient insecurity. Furthermore, while this status is normally associated with poorness, it is non the same thing as general income insufficiency. Rather, it is the status of want in this one country of basic demand ; its measuring captures the badness of want due to resource restraint in this one specific country of demand, as straight experienced and described by respon dents. The full scope of nutrient insecurity and hungriness can non be captured by any individual index. Alternatively, a family ‘s degree of nutrient insecurity or hungriness must be determined by obtaining information on a assortment of specific conditions, experiences, and behaviours that serve as indexs of the changing grades of badness of the status. Research over the past two decennaries has identified a peculiar set of this sort of status, experience and behaviour form that systematically characterizes the phenomenon of nutrient insecurity and hungriness. ( Derrickson, 2000 ) It is frequently utile, both for policy and research intents, to simplify the nutrient security graduated table into a little set of classs, each one stand foring a meaningful scope of badness on the implicit in graduated table, and to discourse the per centum of the population in each of these classs. Four classs have been defined for this intent: A family is classified into one of the nutrient security status-level classs on the footing of its mark on the nutrient security graduated table, while the family ‘s graduated table mark is determined by its overall form of response to the set of index inquiries. Families with really low graduated table tonss are those that report no, or really limited, food-insecurity or hungriness experiences. These families are classified as nutrient secure. At the other extreme, families with really high graduated table tonss are those that have reported a big figure of the conditions and are classified as nutrient insecure with hungriness ( terrible ) — i.e. , with hungriness at the most terrible degree measured in the U.S. The more meaningful separations are those that autumn in the in-between scopes of the graduated table. Here, families that affirm at least three of the index conditions are classified as nutrient insecure. Most of these are classified â€Å" nutrient insecure wi thout hungriness, † as the presence of adequate indexs, of sufficient badness degree to set up confidently the presence of hungriness among family members, is missing. A smaller figure of the food-insecure families show measured badness degrees higher up the graduated table, and have affirmed at least three of the ( normally adult ) hungriness indexs. These families are deemed to be describing adequate indicants of nutrient insecurity and reduced nutrient consumption to set up a high chance of hungriness among family members, and consequently are classified â€Å" nutrient insecure with hungriness. †Questions and Instruction manuals in USAID ModelIn the past four hebdomads, did you worry that your family would non hold plenty nutrient? ( Worry about nutrient ) This inquiry asks the respondent to describe their personal experience with uncertainness and anxiousness about geting nutrient during the old month. The interviewer should besides read the definition of a â€Å" family † that was developed during the readying of the questionnaire. Mention that this definition of family applies to all the inquiries with that term. In the past four hebdomads, were you or any household member non able to eat the sorts of nutrients you preferred because of a deficiency of resources? ( Unable to eat preferable nutrients ) One sphere of nutrient insecurity ( entree ) is holding limited picks in the type of nutrient that a family chow. This inquiry asks whether any family member was non able to eat harmonizing to their penchant due to a deficiency of resources. Preference can mention to the signifier of a peculiar nutrient ( i.e. , whole rice vs. broken rice ) , type of basic ( i.e. , millet vs. maize ) or a high quality nutrient ( i.e. , a piece of meat or fish ) . Preferred nutrients may or may non be nutritionally high quality. The interviewer should besides read the definition of a â€Å" deficiency of resources. † Mention that this definition of family applies to all the inquiries with that term. The respondent needs to reply on behalf of all family members In the past four hebdomads, did you or any household member have to eat a limited assortment of nutrients due to a deficiency of resources? ( Eat merely a few sorts of nutrients ) This inquiry asks about dietetic picks related to variety – i.e. , whether the family had to eat an unsought humdrum diet ( small diverseness in the different types of nutrients consumed ) . The interviewer should read the description of what a humdrum diet might be. The respondent needs to reply on behalf of all family members. In the past four hebdomads, did you or any household member have to eat some nutrients that you truly did non desire to eat because of a deficiency of resources to obtain other types of nutrient? ( Eat nutrients they truly do non desire eat ) This inquiry, which besides captures the dimension of limited picks, asks whether any family member had to eat nutrient that they found socially or personally unwanted due to a deficiency of resources. Often these are nutrients or nutrient readyings that are consumed merely under adversity. Different people may see different nutrients to be unwanted, so it is best non to supply illustrations here at first. The respondent needs to reply on behalf of all family members, harmonizing to his or her ain perceptual experience of the types of nutrient family members ate during the old four hebdomads. If more encouragement is required, the interviewer may give some illustrations utilizing any illustrations included in the questionnaire and reviewed during preparation. For all inquiries, it is of import to remind respondents that the illustrations are non an thorough list. In the past four hebdomads, did you or any household member have to eat a smaller repast than you felt you needed because there was non plenty nutrient? ( Eat a smaller repast ) This inquiry asks whether the respondent felt that the sum of nutrient ( any sort of nutrient, non merely the basic nutrient ) that any family member Ate in any repast during the past four hebdomads was smaller than they felt they needed due to a deficiency of resources. The respondent should reply harmonizing to his or her perceptual experience of what constitutes adequate nutrient for the demands of the family members. The respondent needs to reply on behalf of all family members. In the past four hebdomads, did you or any household member have to eat fewer repasts in a twenty-four hours because there was non plenty nutrient? ( Eat fewer repasts in a twenty-four hours ) This inquiry asks whether any family member, due to miss of nutrient, had to eat fewer repasts than the figure typically eaten in the nutrient secure families in their country. The respondent needs to reply on behalf of all family members. In the past four hebdomads, was there of all time no nutrient to eat of any sort in your family because of deficiency of resources to acquire nutrient? ( No nutrient of any sort in the family ) This inquiry asks about a state of affairs in which the family has no nutrient to eat of any sort in the place. This describes a state of affairs where nutrient was non available to family members through the families ‘ usual agencies ( e.g. , through purchase, from the garden or field, from storage, etc. ) . In the past four hebdomads, did you or any family member go to kip at dark hungry because there was non plenty nutrient? ( Travel to kip hungry ) This inquiry asks whether the respondent felt hungry at bedtime because of deficiency of nutrient or whether the respondent was cognizant of other family members who were hungry at bedtime because of deficiency of nutrient. The respondent needs to reply on behalf of all family members. In the past four hebdomads, did you or any family member go a whole twenty-four hours and dark without eating anything because there was non plenty nutrient? ( Travel a whole twenty-four hours and dark without eating ) This inquiry asks whether any household member did non eat from the clip they awoke in the forenoon to the clip they awoke the following forenoon due to miss of nutrient. The respondent needs to reply on behalf of all family members.Measurement Scalea. Categorical Ranking Assessment ( USAID Model ) : It calculates for each family by delegating a codification for the nutrient insecurity ( entree ) class in which it falls. The four nutrient security classs should be created consecutive, in the same order as shown below, to guarantee that families are classified harmonizing to their most terrible response. Calculate the Household Food Insecurity Access class for each family. 1 = Food Secure, 2=Mildly Food Insecure Access, 3=Moderately Food Insecure Access, 4=Severely Food Insecure Access. Category = 1 if [ ( Q1a=0 or Q1a=1 ) and Q2=0 and Q3=0 and Q4=0 and Q5=0 and Q6=0 and Q7=0 and Q8=0 and Q9=0 ] Category = 2 if [ ( Q1a=2 or Q1a=3 or Q2a=1 or Q2a=2 or Q2a=3 or Q3a=1 or Q4a=1 ) and Q5=0 and Q6=0 and Q7=0 and Q8=0 and Q9=0 ] Category = 3 if [ ( Q3a=2 or Q3a=3 or Q4a=2 or Q4a=3 or Q5a=1 or Q5a=2 or Q6a=1 or cQ6a=2 ) and Q7=0 and Q8=0 and Q9=0 ] Category = 4 if [ Q5a=3 or Q6a=3 or Q7a=1 or Q7a=2 or Q7a=3 or Q8a=1 or Q8a=2 or Q8a=3 or Q9a=1 or Q9a=2 or Q9a=3 ] b. Rasch measuring theoretical account ( USDA Model ) : The Rasch measuring theoretical account, which was developed chiefly in the educational testing field, assumes an implicit in continuum — in the present instance, of the badness of nutrient insecurity experienced by the family — upon which both points and families can be located, and assumes that the chance of a family confirming a specific point depends on the comparative badness of the family and the point. The single-parameter Rasch theoretical account, which is used to make the nutrient security graduated table, assumes specifically that the log of the odds of a family confirming an point is relative to the difference between the badness degree of the family and the badness degree of the point. Therefore, the chance that a family at severity-level H will confirm an point at severity-level I is: Ph, i=e ( h-i ) / ( 1+e ( h-i ) ) ( 1 ) where vitamin E is the base of the natural logarithms.three. Determining the nutrient security influencing factorsSeveral variables of family composing like incomes, outgos, basic comfortss, plus ownership, fiscal and material AIDSs received from authorities or non-government bureaus, employment position, etc. , factors have impacts on family nutrient security. Climate prima factors like income decrease, seasonal unemployment, wellness consequence, etc. , can impact family nutrient security. Literature besides showed more of the nutrient insecure families were populating below the poorness line, had a larger family size, more kids and school-going kids and female parents as homemakers. To supply grounds of family nutrient insecurity and place its indexs in Malaysia, the survey will analyze the associations between family nutrient insecurity with demographic, family, socioeconomic, and climatic factors. Chi-square trial and logistic arrested development will be utilized for comparing of factors between nutrient secure and nutrient insecure families and finding of factors associated with family nutrient insecurity, severally. Here, the chief intent is to find the chance that an person with a given set of property will fall in one pick instead than the alternate, i.e. , either nutrient secure or insecure non both. The dependent variable is dummy variable, which takes a value of 0 or 1 depending on the families ‘ nutrient security position. There are attacks developed for a chance theoretical account whose response variable is dummy one. These are: the Linear Probability Model ( LPM ) , Logit Model, and Probit Model. The pick of these theoretical accounts depends on the suitableness to suit the information. LPM has built-in draw dorsums. To advert some of these downside of: it lacks to demo the uniformity of mistake footings, hetroscedasticity ( the discrepancy of the error term is non changeless ) of the error term, possibility of the acquiring the chance map consequence out of 0 and 1, and the general lower R2 value. Owing to these cardinal jobs, LPM is non logically attractive theoretical account f or dummy antiphonal variables ( Gujarati, 1995 ) . Therefore, one can utilize Accumulative Distribution Function ( CDF ) viz. Logit or Probit theoretical accounts ( Gujarati, 1995 ) . The inquiry is that which CDF theoretical account to utilize. However, both can be used for dummy antiphonal variable most research workers choose Logit than Probit arrested development theoretical account. Therefore, Logit theoretical account warrant the estimated chances additions and ne'er stairss outdoors 0 to 1 interval and the relationship between chance ( pi ) and explanatory variable ( Xi ) is non-linear. Therefore, a logistic theoretical account, besides known as Multinomial Logistic Regression, uses to place the determiners of nutrient security and to measure their comparative importance in finding the chance of being in nutrient secure state of affairs or non. Prior to the appraisal of the logistic arrested development theoretical account that the explanatory variables need to look into for the being of multicolinearity. In this survey among the other methods, Variance Inflation Factor ( VIF ) uses to mensurate the grade of additive relationships among the uninterrupted explanatory variables. Where each uninterrupted explanatory variable reasoning backwards on all the other uninterrupted explanatory variables and coefficient of finding for each alar or subordinate arrested development computes. Following Gujarati ( 1995 ) , VIF is defined as: VIF ( X J ) = 1/ ( 1-Rj2 ) ( 9 ) Where, Xj = the jth quantitative explanatory variable regressed on the other quantitative explanatory variables. Rj2 = the coefficient of finding when the variable Xj regressed on the staying explanatory variables. As a regulation of pollex, if the VIF of a variable exceeds 10 that variable is said to be extremely collinear and it can be concluded that multicolinearity is a job ( Gujarati, 1995 ) . In a similar mode, to avoid the multicolinearity job among silent person ( qualitative ) variables Contingency Coefficients ( C ) need to be computed. It is defined as follows:four. Determining the influences of climatic agents on nutrient securityIndividual dimensions of nutrient security are non discernible per Se, and are considered a latent variable depending on the footings on several climatic factors and non-climatic factors observed variables. The theoretical account can be estimated through an extension of multivariate arrested development theoretical accounts. A hierarchical/ way diagram theoretical account in which some variables are dependent on one side and independent of the other. Unobservable ( i.e. , latent ) variables have besides to be dealt with. In the causal theoretical accounts literature ( Spirtes, Glymour and Scheines, 2000 ) , circles represent latent variables and boxes represent ascertained variables. Most of the hierarchal or multi-level theoretical accounts studied in the literature trade with mensural variables, so the arrested development belongingss are extended. One of the advanced parts of this research is the appraisal of latent variable theoretical accounts in complex study informations. Sing the complexness of the theoretical account concerned, two alternate appraisal schemes could be adopted for the appraisal of family resiliency: structural equation modeling and multi-stage modeling. Structural equation theoretical accounts ( SEMs ) are the most appropriate tools for covering with the sort of theoretical account illustrated in above figure. Structural equation patterning combines factor analysis with arrested development. It is assumed that the set of mensural variables is an imperfect step of the implicit in latent variable of involvement. Structural equation patterning uses a factor analysis-type theoretical account to mensurate the latent variables via ascertained variables, while at the same time utilizing a regression-type theoretical account to place relationships among the latent variables ( Bollen, 1989 ) . By and large, the appraisal methods developed for SEMs are limited to the usually distributed ascertained variables, but in most instances ( including this one ) , many variables are nominal or ordinal. It is besides possible to utilize generalised latent variable theoretical accounts ( Bartholomew and Knott, 1999 ; Skrondal and Rabe-Hesketh, 2004 ) to pattern different response types. This survey prefers to utilize SEM to gauge the influences of climatic alterations on nutrient security. The other attack explored is a multi-stage scheme for gauging the latent variables individually, based on the relevant ascertained variables. This involves the usage of assorted sets of ascertained variables to gauge the implicit in latent variables. In other words, the circles represent the common form in the mensural variables. The methods used for bring forthing these latent variables depend on the graduated tables of the ascertained variables. Traditional multivariate methods are based on uninterrupted variables, but most of the variables in household-level studies are qualitative ( nominal, ordinal or interval ) , so it is necessary to utilize different techniques for non-continuous types of variables.v. Determining the family header schemesFor early efforts to minimise family nutrient insecurity, several get bying schemes were found to be significantly different between the two types of families. More of the nutrient secure families were able to follow the schemes of selling va luable stuffs and borrowing money compared to the nutrient insecure families. The former with higher average income have assets and belongingss that they can sell or mortgage during periods of economic adversity. On the other manus, as nutrient insecure families had more school-going kids, cut downing outgos on kids ‘s instruction is an of import header scheme which includes bespeaking a school text edition loan, cut downing kids ‘s pocket money and expenditures on school demands and activities. On nutrient schemes, borrowing money to purchase nutrient and having nutrients from household members, relations and neighbours are ways to buffer the nutrient secure families from sing nutrient inadequacy. Most of the nutrient insecure families adopted the scheme on cooking whatever nutrient is available at place, including the usage of herbs, works shoots ( bamboo, manioc, banana ) or veggies grown by the families, domestic fowl or other domesticated animate beings ( coneies, c aprine animals, cattles ) reared for ain ingestion or hard currency, and fishing from rivers, lakes and sea. In other words, these schemes do non necessitate the nutrient insecure families to utilize money to buy nutrient. The schemes on cut downing sum of nutrients cooked for repasts, sum of nutrient consumption, nutrient fluctuations in repasts and ingestion of fruits and veggies did non differ significantly between the two families. However, decrease in the figure of repasts is adopted by more of the nutrient secure families than the nutrient insecure families. Typically, breakfast or tiffin is the repast excluded by these families ( Shariff and Khor 2008 ) . The usage of schemes to get by with short-run and long-run alterations in family income and nutrient inadequacy as direct indexs has been documented in many earlier surveies ( De Garine, 1993 ; Eele, 1994 ; Frakenberger & A ; Coyle, 1993 ; Watts & A ; Bohle, 1993 ) . Maxwell et Al. ( 1999 ) indicated that in both rural and urban scenes, four classs of get bying schemes related to dietetic alteration, food-seeking behaviours, family construction and rationing are normally adopted by families sing nutrient inadequacy ; nevertheless the specific header schemes within each class may change across scenes. Due to different environmental fortunes ( e.g. cost of life, rural versus urban civilization, instruction and employment position of adult females ) , the urban low-income families may use different specific get bying mechanisms to cover with income and nutrient inadequacy than rural families. Similarly, Davies ( 1996 ) has suggested that assorted facets of get bying behaviours ( definit ion, sequence of importance or badness, short-run versus long-run alterations ) may differ between locations ( e.g. urban versus rural ) and within a location ( angling versus agricultural community in a rural country ) . Shariff and Khor ( 2008 ) besides found that the rural low-income families used food-related get bying mechanisms ( cook whatever nutrient is available at place and borrow money to purchase nutrient ) during periods of nutrient insecurity. Based on the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring ( 1994~2000 ) , Dore et Al. ( 2003 ) reported that the usage of less expensive nutrient and ingestion of home-prepared repasts were prevailing get bying mechanisms among low-income Russian families to protect the dietetic consumptions of kids. Decreased frequence and measure of nutrient consumption, compromised diet in relation to nutrient quality, nutrient penchant and nutrient permutation, alterations in nutrient shop, sale of assets and borrowing nutrient or money were reported by households in Java during the Indonesia ‘s economic crisis in 1998 ( Studdert et al. , 2001 ) . There are several advantages of utilizing get bying schemes to mensurate nutrient insecurity such as the processs are simp le, low cost and comprehendible by many, can be used in combination with other steps of nutrient insecurity and gaining control some elements of exposure and complexness related to nutrient insecurity ( Maxwell, 1996 ) . Although several nutrient get bying schemes were associated with nutrient insecurity, the findings should be farther investigated and confirmed as these schemes may be context or puting specific. Finally, get bying schemes as nutrient security indexs should be validated against other indexs such as nutrient ingestion ( family, single ) , poverty steps ( income and outgo ) , single wellness and nutritionary position and grounds of nutrient insecurity ( climate alteration factors, natural catastrophes ) .

Friday, August 30, 2019

The International Strategy of TESCO PLC

Abstract This study explores the different theories of international entry strategies and then analyses the international strategy of Tesco Plc. Firms can enter the international markets through different strategies, including licensing technology abroad, direct investment acquisition, exporting, strategic alliance in foreign market and establishing joint ventures. The findings of this study indicate that Tesco Plc uses international joint ventures, acquisitions and Greenfield investments to enter into foreign markets. However, Greenfield investments have led to failures and as such it is recommendable that the company explores international joint ventures and acquisitions as part of its future entry strategies. Introduction International strategy is very important for all business organisations operating in the international market. This is because the strategy plays an important role in determining the opportunities present in the international market and how to exploit them (Hensmans et al., 2013). Tesco Plc. is one such company with significant development in the international market. The supermarket chain has managed to expand its operations across Europe, Asia and North America with huge success. This international expansion has affected all the facets of the company like business structure, financial status, corporate culture and organisational structure (Ryans, 2013). This study looks at different international strategies, why they are important to Tesco Plc, related theories and their applications. International Strategies The current business environment is very competitive and as such companies need to venture into the international markets in order to generate more profits (Hitt et al 2008). However, choosing the right international strategy is never easy; whether it is licensing technology abroad, direct investment acquisition, exporting, strategic alliance in foreign market, or establishing joint ventures. This study will focus on a few of these strategies that are of importance to Tesco Plc. These strategies are joint ventures, foreign acquisitions, and Greenfield investments. All these strategies have their own benefits and risks arising from the products or services being offered and the cultural, economic and political environment of the target market (Sternquist & Witter 2011). However the choice of the choice of international strategy is highly dependent on organisational resources, commitment and the extent of risk that it is willing to incur. Joint ventures involve cooperation among different companies. The partners often come together to consign risks, allocate resources and delegate responsibilities (Krafft & Mantrala 2010). These ventures are often disbanded once the project is completed. Joint ventures can enable an organisation to market its products or establish its manufacturing plants in a foreign country with the assistance of the local foreign partners. These local partners equip the foreign organisations with the relevant knowledge on government regulations, workings, local markets and the available channels of distribution. Joint ventures are ideal for Tesco Plc. as it will help it in understanding the foreign markets and mitigate risks (McLoughlin & Aaker 2010). In foreign acquisitions a foreign organisation acquires an interest in a local firm through foreign direct investment (Hensmans et al 2013). In most cases foreign acquisitions occur only in proven markets after years of exporting or success experienced through existent joint ventures. Once an organisation has obtained controlling interests, it attains full authority over policies regarding aspects like quality control, finance, production, marketing strategies and expansion programs. Foreign acquisitions are ideal for Tesco Plc. as it will help it acquire other companies that are already performing well in foreign markets. The last strategy is Greenfield investment which is a type of foreign investment that entails investing in foreign markets by starting new subsidiaries and then fully owning them. This is a strategy that is suitable for Tesco Plc. because it allows it to venture into new unexploited markets and exploit the opportunities present. Theories of International Strategies There are different theories that explain the reasons why an organisation opts to pursue a specific international strategy in a specific target market. This is the reason why organisations pursue different foreign markets using different strategies depending on their unique characteristics (Hitt et al 2008). These theories are monopolistic advantages, transaction cost, internalisation, strategic behaviour, internationalisation, bargaining and eclectic theories. These theoretical perspectives at times hold divergent perceptions on the relative importance of the different factors that influence choice of entry into foreign markets. The monopolistic advantage theory was proposed by Hymer and represented a major shift from the previous theories of capital investments and international trade (Sternquist & Witter 2011). The previous theories like that of Heckscher and Ohlin had restrictive assumptions on the immobility of the factors of production. Hymer argued that organisations could use their firm-specific advantages or monopolistic advantages that other organisations do not have to expand into foreign markets. These advantages are things like superior technology, economies of scale, superior knowledge in finance, marketing or management (McLoughlin & Aaker 2010). Therefore foreign direct investment was made possible by product and market imperfections. These market imperfections are structural and are as a result of control ownership advantages like proprietary technology, economies of scale, special access to inputs, product differentiation and gathered managerial expertise. According to this theory, the dir ect investor is often a monopolist or an oligopilist in product markets. Therefore these organisations pursue market power and monopolistic advantages in the foreign markets leading to the increased growth of international trade. Internationalisation theory builds on the monopolistic advantage theory and it holds that firms often expand into foreign markets whenever there are market imperfections and they can gain advantage by internalising markets across countries (Seth & Randall 2011). This results to the growth of the firms as they increase their operations across the borders to take advantage of the existent opportunities. As the organisations increase their efficiency through internalisation of transactions, the vertical integration of operations across the world lead to efficiencies and economies that include long term contracts, opportunity to exploit tax differentials and better quality control. The theory perceives the internalisation process and entry strategies as being products of series of incremental decisions that result in increases involvement in international operations (Alexander & Doherty 2009). Therefore firms move from exporting to foreign production as they continually gain internatio nal experience. This experience enables the firms to build their knowledge and developing deeper understanding of the foreign markets. The transaction cost theory holds that firms try to minimise the costs associated with exchanging resources with the environment and the bureaucratic costs of exchanges within the firm (Krafft & Mantrala 2010). Therefore they weigh the costs of exchanging resources with the environment against the bureaucratic ones that arise from performing the same operations within the firm. It perceives institutions and markets as possible forms of organising and coordinating economic transactions. Firms grow whenever the external costs exceed the internal bureaucratic costs because they are able to operate more cheaply compared to performing the same operations in the market (Seth & Randall 2011). However, the firms should be downsized whenever the bureaucratic costs exceed the external transaction costs. Therefore the firms will keep expanding for as long as they can perform their operations cheaply within the companies compared outsourcing them to external market providers. The bargaining theory was advocated by Fagre and other scholars and holds that the choice of entry is a function of the bargaining processes between the firm and the host countries (Ryans 2013). The interaction between the host country and the firms is often characterised by power struggles. Although the host country can exercise its bargaining power through controlling market access, the bargaining power of the firms lie in the ownership advantages that they have (Hensmans et al 2013). Therefore the relative power determines the entry strategy of a firm into a foreign market. The last theory is the strategic behaviour theory and it is based on the premise that firms derive comparative advantage from the resources that contribute towards giving them the advantage over the others (Thain & Bradley 2012). This is particularly true when some resources are worth more to an organisation owing to the special linkages between the firm and such resources. When the firms have such resources, t hey are more likely to opt for high control strategies for instance wholly owned subsidiaries. This decision is mostly made with the assumption that such linkages will be influential in enhancing the relative position of the firm in the new foreign market. In addition to the highlighted theories, the integrative theoretical perspective on foreign market entry holds that the firm’s decision to enter into a foreign market and its choice of entry are functions of multiple factors that arise from location and ownership-specific advantages (Alexander & Doherty 2009). Although these theories differ in many important aspects they allow for broad generalisations on the factors that influence an organisation to enter into a foreign market and the entry strategy. The next section analyses the international strategy of Tesco Plc based on the integrative framework. Tesco Plc International Strategy The company enters foreign markets mainly through joint ventures with local firms, acquisitions and Greenfield investments (Mosley & Barrow 2013). The company aims at being the market leader in the foreign country it enters within a period of five years. It has registered huge successes in Asia and most of the European markets. However, the situation in America has been different because the company has struggled to gain market control (Harrison 2013). The success of Tesco Plc in the international market has been aided by its sensitivity to the local culture of the host countries and the market environment. This has mainly been done through partnerships, mergers and acquisitions which have made it easier for the company to offer the local markets with what they want by serving their unique needs. This has been particularly helpful in high context cultures like in the Asian market. The global expansion and diversification of Tesco Plc are based on the long-term desire for the company to develop sustainable growth and development. Morschett (2011) claims that one of the main reasons why the company decided to pursue the international market was that the local UK market had reached saturation and maturity making it very difficult to grow without exploiting overseas opportunities. This was therefore the only viable solution for the company if it was to remain relevant for the economy in the long run. The main factors influencing the choice of entry for Tesco Plc are the different threats that it may encounter in the international markets. Some of the common threats are industrial structures and cultural factors. Nonetheless, the primary influencers of the choice of entry for the company are based on cultural factors (Harrison 2013). Tesco Plc has consistently preferred to use international joint ventures as an entry strategy in the Asian market. This is partly because these countries have high context cultures that require organisations to build interpersonal relationships (Alexander & Doherty 2009). In these cultures, relationship networks among business associates, colleagues and even clients tend to be close and personal. As a consequence, it is important for firms to build trust and relationships during business interactions. The importance of these relationships arises from the fact that they have high uncertainty avoidance levels; therefore relationships and trust reduce the level of uncertainties, risks and ambiguities (McLoughlin & Aaker 2010). For instance in South Korea, the international joint venture with Samsung helped the company establish contacts with the local suppliers and manufacturers. This was very important in penetrating the market in South Korea because the customers there often shop freq uently as they prefer fresh and quality products like vegetables and meat which is different from the customers in the UK who like piling stock. Based on the internalisation theory, Tesco Plc gained advantage by internalising the market in South Korea. This was done through building local networks to ensure that the company sales remain as high as possible. Therefore it employed all the employees of Samsung to ensure that the normal operations were not interfered with. The local managers were also given the authority to make decisions on behalf of the company because of their experience with the local market. Additionally, this was part of the company’s plan to deal with the challenges associated with the competitive environment by positioning itself using localisation and decentralisation while the other players in the industry pursue globalisation strategies (Hitt et al 2008). According to the bargaining theory, localisation and decentralisation gives the company a local im age thus making it highly responsive to the tastes and lifestyles of the local consumers. This gave Tesco Plc a competitive advantage in the South Korean market compared to the other foreign firms like Wal-Mart and Carrefour. The entry strategies of Tesco Plc have also been shaped by cultural factors like psychic distance. Psychic distance refers to the extent to which a firm is uncertain on the nature of the foreign market (Thain & Bradley 2012). Acquisitions and international joint ventures with the local businesses in the high context cultures are important in reducing risks, adaptation costs, psychic distance and cultural barriers. The acquisition of the local distribution channels gave the company a huge advantage over the other multinationals like Wal-Mart which were struggling because the Korean market is characterised by a strong nationalist outlook. The company pursued the same strategies in Thailand and China and this enabled it to penetrate the market with ease compared to other multinational companies. Therefore international joint ventures and acquisitions enabled Tesco Plc. to succeed in markets where Carrefour and Wal-Mart had failed eventually being forced to exit the market in 2006 (Mosle y & Barrow, 2013). In Thailand for instance, after the acquisition of Lotus, Tesco Plc has managed to grow and is currently the market leader as it has pumped huge investments into organic management. The company also diversified its operations in Thailand to include smaller express stores so as to reach more customers. Tesco Plc has made huge successes whenever it chose to enter foreign markets through strategic alliances and acquisitions; however Greenfield entries have proved to be costly and inappropriate. Although Greenfield entries provide the company with full control and ownership over its operations, it has proved to be unsuitable because of the dismal results. Despite the extensive research that the company made prior to joining the US market, its failure there demonstrates that the research was either flawed or inadequate (Krafft & Mantrala 2010). Additionally, its operations in the US were an attempt to duplicate its operations in the UK because it tried to standardise instead of localising them. Part of the problem with the market research was that it only concentrated on the buying behaviour of the Americans and ignored other important variables like shopping experience, value, aesthetics, store atmosphere and quality. This was a great mistake because corrective investments should have been made in response to these marketing aspects (Morschett 2011). For instance the Tescosells pre-packaged fruits was a big mistake because Americans prefer selecting their own fresh fruits. Tesco failed to appreciate the US customer base because it underestimated it. This is the reason why the company handled its operations in the US as an extension of the UK market. The company was attracted to the US market by the booming economy and the ever rising property value (Ryans 2013). These are the factors that prompted it to go for Greenfield investments in US. This was a viable option; however the company failed to account for the deeper financial dynamics that could have saved it from the 2009 financial crisis. In addition to this, the choice of Tesco Plc to enter the US market through Greenfield investments was partly influenced by managerial short termism and egoism. As a consequence, several mistakes can be pointed out from its entry and post entry strategies. The first mistake that the company made at the point of entry is that it increased its exit barriers by aggressively increasing more stores despite the fact that it was making huge losses. Secondly, the company may have been driven by managerial subjective interest for power emanating from the previous international successes. This led to overconfidence therefore blurring the vision of the managers to see that they were driving the company in the wrong direction (Morschett 2011). However, the biggest mistakes that Tesco Plc made was that it failed to plan and strategize for post entry and this led to flaws in its quest to compete in the home market of the world’s largest retailer. As a result the company made huge loses in the US and was eventually forced to exit without ever recording any profits. In Taiwan, the situation was the same as that of the US; Tesco entered the market in 2000 without partnering with the local companies. The company was able to establish six hypermar kets through organic growth. However, just like in the US the Taiwanese retail market was hugely dominated by Carrefour which had the advantage of having all the strategic positions. Just like in the US, the company was unable to attain the market scale necessary for building central distribution centres. Therefore in 2005, it was forced to exit the market through a divestment deal with Carrefour. Recommendations Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations can be made for Tesco Plc for it to succeed in its quest to establish its presence in other international markets. First off, the company should abandon Greenfield investment strategies because they have proved to be very costly in the past. The company struggled in the US and Taiwan and was eventually forced to exit because lack of local partners made it very difficult for it to succeed in markets that are dominated by the two retail giants. The company should have strategies that fit into the culture of the target market like it did in South Korea. The retail industry is very sensitive because it represents the daily necessities of the consumers and as such must be responsive to their cultural habits. For a multinational company to succeed in a foreign market it must have strategies that are responsive to the needs and culture of the local people. Therefore Tesco Plc. should continue incorporating localisation strat egies and respond to the culture of the local markets. It should be more innovative and proactive in its marketing strategies in the international markets. For instance the company should enhance its market intelligence and customer database in order to be able to customise service delivery to the customers. References Alexander, N., & Doherty, A. M. (2009). International retailing. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Cunningham, J., & Harney, B. (2012). Strategy & strategists. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Harrison, A. L. (2013). Business environment in a global context. Oxford: Oxford university press. Hensmans, M., Johnson, G., & Yip, G. S. (2013). Strategic transformation: Changing while winning. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2008). Strategic management: Competitiveness and globalization. Mason, Ohio: South-Western. Krafft, M., & Mantrala, M. K. (2010). Retailing in the 21st century: Current and future trends. Heidelberg: Springer. McLoughlin, D., & Aaker, D. A. (2010). Strategic market management: Global perspectives. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Morschett, D. (2011). European retail research: Volume 25, Issue I. Wiesbaden: Gabler Verlag. Mosley, R., & Barrow, S. (2013). The employer brand: Bringing the best of brand management to people at work. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Ryans, A. (2013). Beating low cost competition: How premium brands can respond to cut-price rivals. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley. Seth, A., & Randall, G. (2011). The grocers: The rise and rise of the supermarket chains. London: Kogan Page. Sternquist, B., & Witter, G. (2011). Retail strategic international expansion (SIRE?) theory and cases. Haslett, MI: BSC Publisher. Thain, G., & Bradley, J. (2012). Store wars: The worldwide battle for mindspace and shelfspace, online and in-store. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Galileos Documents in Western Civilization Essay - 1

Galileos Documents in Western Civilization - Essay Example Due to these beliefs, there was great opposition to his work by the defenders of the established truths during his era. Scholars were locked in the old knowledge and beliefs, commonly acceptable to the Church. New discoveries contradicting these were heresy and persons proposing them were destined to ridicule and even worse, arrest, as was Galileo’s fate later on in his life. In the succeeding chapter, his letter to the Serene Duchess Mother showed his frustrations against the non-acceptance of his discoveries and line of scientific inquiry, particularly his discoveries of the heavens. He describes the fondness of scholars during his time for their own opinions, rather than the search for truth and the use of biblical passages in the wrong context, to advance their accepted beliefs. In his letter, he describes how other scholars are greatly disturbed by his arguments, broad ways apart from popular beliefs, which resulted in his condemnation and house arrest. In his view, his quest for knowledge stimulates investigation and growth of the scientific arts, and not the destruction of science per se. He further argues that God gave a man the intellect and sense of reason to ultimately look for the truth of all that is around us. Religion and science clashed by Galileo’s discoveries as they were considered radical during his era. It deviated from established beliefs held acceptable by scholars of the period. A greater number of scholars held on to these beliefs commonly held acceptable by the Church.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Manufacture and Sale of Counterfeit Goods Essay

Manufacture and Sale of Counterfeit Goods - Essay Example Peter Law, in his article, â€Å"A Call for more Sweatshop† and others who favor sweatshop labor argue that it provides a means of employment for the weaker section of the population which helps the lower income population to lead a better livelihood. In addition, such companies provide employment for women, and that would, in turn, help them to become more independent and self-supportive. While sweatshop labor does provide a means of employment for the people, the mental and physical turmoil endured by the employees is much more than the benefits gained. In addition, the manufacturing of fake goods by itself is illegal as it is a deliberate infringement of the intellectual property rights of companies that produce the original goods. Hence, stricter policies and judicial changes should be introduced to close down companies producing fake goods and help save the lives of millions of women and children who are forced to work under horrendous conditions. The production of fake or counterfeit products is a violation of intellectual property rights and it poses a significant threat to the world economy as both businesses as well as the consumers are at a loss. As mentioned by Goodwin, the intellectual property theft has affected the world economy to the tune of nearly $600 billion a year. The number of fake products being seized is increasing at an alarming rate with a recent report from the EU customs showing seizure of nearly 100 million products in 2001. This illegal trade is part of every sector such as the information technology sector, clothing, toy industry and pharmaceuticals to name a few and the global market of counterfeit products have risen from 3 billion a year to nearly 100 times more (Counterfeiting and Organised Crime). The sale of counterfeit products has risen sharply over the past decade. A recent report shows that both industrial and commercial counterfeiting represents about 5 to 7% of trade in the world.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Alexis De Tocqueville and Democracy in America Essay

Alexis De Tocqueville and Democracy in America - Essay Example Furthermore, concerning Democracy in America, Tocqueville had vivid impressions on the equality of conditions that he saw in the United States. He described the dangers posed to liberty that is inherent in the majority rule, political consequences of the widespread property ownership, the influence of the judiciary and press in American politics. He also noted the importance of civil societies in an individualistic culture that was dominated by the self-interest, role of religion in the American society and the difference between the southern and the northern states (Tocqueville, n.d). The democratic impression that that Tocqueville had in mind is that â€Å"men will be perfectly free, because they will be equal, and they will be perfectly equal because they will be free† (Tocqueville, n.d. p.1). However, he warned that the American people’s passion of equality and liberty are unequal. In this phenomenon, the American people wanted equality in liberty and if they could not get it; they were ready to get it even if they are still in slavery. In conclusion, the visit of Tocqueville to the United States in1831 and his subsequent inquiries and interviews reveals the democracy of America during that time. In his manuscripts, he revealed the great democratic revolution that was going on in the Western World. He revealed that a democracy makes people equal, and free. However, he warned that the liberty could not be equated to equality (Tocqueville, n.d). Additionally, he pointed out that if the American people could not get their equality in liberty they were ready to get it even if in

Monday, August 26, 2019

Volcanoes Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Volcanoes - Research Paper Example As pressures from constricted inner layers proved too much to contain, they look for relief, hence, the formation of volcanoes. Moreover, initial volcanic construct is also attributed to tectonic plate motions--termed tectonic plates. This creates â€Å"zones of weakness in the crust,† paving way for molten magma to rise and manifest themselves through volcanic eruptions (Lopes & Lopes, 2005, p. 19). Basically, volcanoes originate from these procedures. In further discussions, there are several types of volcanoes identified: â€Å"shield, cinder cones, composite, domes, etc. (â€Å"Volcano,† n.d.). All of them, as illustrated in Figure 2 (please see Appendix B), apply the basic principles of pressured gases and plate disruptions, but along the way, several phenomena account for features that are unique in each types. In this discussion, three types of volcanoes are presented in detailed account, exemplifying particular volcanoes as the paper progress: cinder cone (Paricutin volcano), composite volcano (Mount Rainier) and lava dome volcano (Mount Unzen). Although the danger posed by each of these types possesses similar intensity, in more ways, their individualized attributes make them profoundly different from one another. As the simplest type of volcano, Paricutin volcano is a formation that fits the description of a cinder cone. Cinder cones are identified by the type of material emitted by volcanoes, where substances are of similar property with cinders seen at vents of volcanoes (Monroe & Wicander, 2008, p. 116). Named after the village of Paricutin in western Mexico, the volcano rises to about 2, 820 m and is prominent in â€Å"Michoacan and Guanajuato volcanic field...(that) belongs to Quaternary Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB).† Specifically, it is flanked by Angaguan Hills at the northern area while in the south, the volcanic rise of Pico de Tancitaro is the nearest structure (Migon, 2010, pp. 59-60). As depicted in Figure 3

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Outstanding patient care issue Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Outstanding patient care issue - Research Paper Example Healthcare is the most varying and the most synchronized sector in the current world. The quality in healthcare management is very important, which determines the level of confidence in patients to rely on a particular organization. It is important for the patient to understand that the hospital works in a cohesive manner and there is outstanding patient care. The hospital is responsible to provide all facilities for the doctors as well as the patients. Nurses have an inevitable role in hospitals; first and foremost, they have to clarify what the doctors have prescribed. For providing outstanding care to the patient, these nurses have to call the doctors and be thorough with which types of antibiotics to be given at what time. They take rounds throughout the hospital regularly so as to check the conditions of patients. They need to accompany the physicians and take notes according to what they say. They are masterminds at assessing the patient’s level of pain just by judging t heir facial expressions and they try various things to cheer the moods of patients. The current healthcare field is evolving and advancing with time, as a result, many of the organizations are trying to fulfill the needs and wants of the patients by providing them high class treatment with all types of equipments and machineries. The patient had fever and drainage afterwards and that is why she was readmitted to the hospital for a probable postoperative disease, seven days before. The patient needs utmost care from the organization. This will improve her health both mentally and physically. From the hospital’s point of view, it is very important to take care of the patient by providing whatever treatment or medication is needed. The individual effort will make a group effort that will directly give the best name to the hospital as the staff work their maximum to revive a patient back to complete health. The patients will be pleased by the way they are treated and would also a ppreciate the teamwork of the hospital. A consistent team of thoughtful people will create a world of diversity in exceptional patient care issues, which would bring in wide-ranging rewards to the performance. â€Å"A trusting relationship with patients and their families is built on open, honest communication. However, today's health care environment makes good communication among patients, families, and caregivers harder and harder to achieve. Hospital stays are shorter, medical care is more technologically complex, resources are constrained, and there is a growing need for patients and families to have more information about, and involvement in, care decisions† (Communicating With Patients, 2011). This mutual consent between the hospital authorities and the patients will lead to a positive result. The doctors, nurses and others from the lab and various departments, who are involved in the health care operations, will help the patients to retain their confidence. The initia l nursing plan has been documented but not updated after surgery. The oxygen tanks have been found on the floor and it has been found in not a secured condition. The nurses should clarify orders properly. Also the nurse was not able to range order policy accurately. As diseases like laparoscopic hysterectomy cause a lot of pain and suffering to the patients, they hope for a better treatment that would relieve their pain. The nurses and doctors have to treat this 67-year old patient very carefully and have to put in their best efforts. The patient had to undergo a surgery to treat a swelling

Saturday, August 24, 2019

The Columbian Exchange Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Columbian Exchange - Essay Example It is noted that the fish were very expensive and so this factor did not give everyone the path to get the species. Apart from being expensive, the Spanish, who by then were the most interested people to get the fish, did not like the fact that the fish came from Jews and Muslims. It seems then that there was a sense of rejection between the two communities with the Spanish. Since the Spanish wanted to be connected with the species, the only option was to look somewhere else where the same kinds of species could be found (Wilford, pg78). The immediate alternative was the indie, and so they planned their way to that destination, and Columbus being the torchbearer. First, before gearing up to the land where they could get the longed for species, Columbus was to get permission from both the Queen and the King (Mann, pg25). Columbus did not succeed in getting the permission to invade the land from the two on the first request, though he kept persisting until the ninth time, when he was given the go ahead. With the small ships he got from the authority, Columbus knew the dream has come true and so he sailed to the Indie in the year 1492. The whole missing hard challenges, as according to the records, he made four trips to the Southern America and Caribbean (Mann, pg11). On October 11 in the year 1492, Columbus landed the Caribbean Islands and there he landed capturing the local Taino Indians and later trading them as slaves. The above marked the first trip. The second one was much bigger and took place one year later after the first visit. Still hoping to get Indians and trade with as slaves as well as hoping to loot gold, he persisted in his journey and invasions. Notably, 1498 was the year that marked the third expedition of the Columbus. He is acknowledged to be the first European to set his foot on the American Mainland. According to scholars, it is worth noting that the above three dynamics portended future trends. Columbus had no

Friday, August 23, 2019

Organisational Design & analysis Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Organisational Design & analysis - Case Study Example Organisations thereby tend to attempt at generating greater interests as well as value to the customers for the purpose of effectively controlling the internal business activities and obtain competitive benefits identified in the external business environment. Moreover, it can be observed that the marketers also focus upon evaluating different effectual mechanisms and strategies in order to enhance the level of obtaining better control of the organisational procedures along with attaining a competitive position in the fiercely growing business environment (Stahl and Voigt, 2006). Emphasising the present phenomenon of competitiveness along with changing trends in the global business environment, the primary objective of this report is to demonstrate and analyse major issues faced by Google Inc. (Google) relating to its organisational culture along with its design. The discussion of this report will also focus on identifying the major issues of Google that the company faced from the gi ven case study and analysing them through justifying different theoretical perspectives effectively. Brief Description of Google Google Inc. is widely known for its rapid transformation in the global online advertising based industry. The company is well-known as one the leading and dominating companies specialising in worldwide internet-based products or services. The company is basically renowned for online advertising along with ‘search’ advertising technology which enabled it to attain dominant position in the respective industry. Google was established by the duo named Sergey Brin and Larry Page in 1996 and was incorporated in 1998 (Google, 2013). Since its emergence in the global internet-based computing business environment, it has been apparently observed that the company has gained a transformational growth through incorporating a wider range of pioneering products or services. In relation to the present day context, Google tends to offer series of products and services including online productivity software such as email, office suites along with other broader social networking services. Moreover, the organisation renders web browsing applications linked with photo editing tools and instant messaging services that enable the company to attain a superior competitive position. In addition, according to the present scenario, Google also offers effective telecommunication devices and online video sharing social media applications such as YouTube to its global users (Google, 2012). In relation to the organisational culture, it has been viewed that Google tends to incorporate exceptional organisational culture which makes the company more competitive than its rivals in the respective industry. The organisation incorporates an exceptional organisational culture which significantly reflects an adequate platform that enables the employees to gain their outrageous knowledge through innovating, experimenting along with risk taking initiatives. It h as been apparently observed from the organisational process or design prevailing in Google that it tends to promote the innate power of the workers and prefers to build a productive working environment. Moreover, the mistakes of the employees belonging to Google are used as the primary element facilitating the company to gain its potentials in terms of

Supply and Demand Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Supply and Demand - Essay Example Causes of shifts in demand curve Economists stipulate that increase and decrease in the quantity of a product demanded depends on the unit price imposed thus; the demand curve will shift upwards from the right towards the left at reduced prices, while it would reflect backward slumps at increased unit prices. Further, changes in per capita incomes and shifts in the prices for substitute commodities also influence a positive or negative shift in the demand curve. Demand shifts may also occur in the event of varied tastes and preferences, different expectations, and standards of living (Musgrave, et al 2009). Fig.1 demand and supply curves at the state of equilibrium Discussion of the equilibrium price and quantity, and the effects of demand and supply shifts upon the equilibriums Equilibrium price and quantity The demand and supply utilities pose equity in market when the quantity supplied equals the foregoing amount of demand. Similarly, the equilibrium results when the amount suppli ed meets all the demand satisfactorily without any remaining surplus. The situation is called a prefect market whereby the demand and supply curves conform at a certain point whereby the imposed unit price for the commodity is favourable to buyers and sellers such that all unit sales excel meeting the demand satisfactorily (Boyes, & Melvin, 2013). Fig.2 equilibrium points Effects of demand and supply shifts upon the equilibriums Demand and supply shifts affect equilibriums when one of the utility shifts while the other one stagnates. For instance, a increase in the supply for products while the demand remains constant shall cause a reduction of the prices while in the event of increased supply, the price will increase accordingly (Cohn, 2007). Consequently, an increase in the demand for commodities while the supply remains constant leads to increased prices and thereby the shifts move unevenly and cause disequilibrium, which implies varied instead of equated prices to the quantities . Fig.2 shifts in the demand and supply curves and the point of equilibrium Price elasticity of demand and supply Price elasticity of demand and supply suggests the natural course that the unit prices of commodities will either increase or decrease whenever the demand or supply increases or reduces respectively. Price elasticity of demand prevails when the rise of demand for products leads to increased prices since the supply remains constant (Musgrave, et al 2009). This situation prevails for necessary goods such that increase in demand will lead to increase in prices, but with the absence of reduction in the marginal consumption or increased supply, buyers will continue to purchase the commodity at the increased price. On the other hand, price elasticity of supply occurs whenever product prices increase or reduce in the event of reduced or increased quantity in the market while the demand remains constant. However, there are periods when demand and supply shifts are inelastic towa rds price increments and price reductions (Cohn, 2007). For example, the increase in the price of luxury and goods of ostentation will lead to increased demand and reduced supply thus causing price inelasticity such that the curves can never conform to the law of equilibrium. Fig.3 price elasticity

Thursday, August 22, 2019

E-Business Essay Example for Free

E-Business Essay A Brick and Mortar business is a physical store or office usually referred to by people belonging to the online network. It is very important to know that Brick and mortar establishments have several advantages compared to online businesses. They are less likely to disappear overnight, and hence people have more trust and assurance with them. People are more likely to physically meet the businessmen and respond with them in case an issue arises. In case of any problem, the customer would like to meet a senior and responsible individual from the company (such as a manager or the executive) and resolve the issue. However, having a brick and mortar business alone would have several problems. People from other areas (other than the local area) would not be able to access the services of the company. Traveling to the office and doing business could lead to a lot of stress and waste of time and resources. The process of doing an offline business is highly manual. Hence, it would be ideal if the company has both, an online business and a brick and mortar business (to supplement the needs of each forms of business) (Teo, 2003 Osgoodby, 1996). Several travel companies such as Expedia, Hotwire. com and Cheaptickets. com, operated brick and mortar services and soon began to launch their own websites. This was basically done to alter the supply chain (various processes and technologies that existed between the supplier and the customer whilst providing the services were altered in a systemic manner). The web enabled services form the center of all digital activity of the company and could provide cost-effective services. The online services provide the companies with a lot of flexibility in providing their services. The businesses are constantly in strong control over their services. Launching online services would seem to improve the efficiency and would provide a lot of benefits. Web technology provides the company an opportunity to modify the business strategy without spending much in terms of financial resources. The company is in a better position to compete with others. The speed at meeting the demands of the customers was drastically improved by having online services, as business could be conducted in an organized and efficient manner. Customers were in better control to make decisions. Studies have shown that the customer satisfaction levels drastically improved. Besides, the businesses were in better control to manage their operations and logistics. The companies were in a better position to sell their products or services faster to a much more global customer network. The paperwork required to conduct online business was minimal. Companies were also able to showcase their products better through online means (InfoScaler Technologies, 2004).

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Working With Sexual Abuse Victims Social Work Essay

Working With Sexual Abuse Victims Social Work Essay Sexual abuse has been a growing concern in our society. The statistics on sexual abuse in America are alarming. According to Finkelhor (1994) approximately 150,000 confirmed cases of child sexual abuse were reported to child welfare authorities in the United States during 1993 (p.31). Lucinda stated, I have worked with children who have been sexually abused and it is a devastating experience for the individual. Working with an individual who has a history of sexual abuse would be very difficult. The individual will likely be guarded and possibly closed off from the surrounding environment. He or she may not want to talk about what happened in their past, and want to shut it away so they never have to relive the horror that happened to them. Since this abuse is not as visible as physical abuse, it is harder for people outside the abuse to recognize it. The individual in the abuse may feel that it is their fault, or they are inviting the abuser into the relationship. The abused individual may also feel that when speaking about the abuse to another person, that person will judge them think it is the fault of the abused. Core Issues Some of the core issues in treatment while working with someone diagnosed with a history of sexual abuse is gaining the clients trust so that they may disclose their history of being sexually abused and feeling safe and not being judged. Lucinda stated, For me, the most important factor for the clinician is to gain the trust of the individual first before the client feels safe enough to share such an experience with a total stranger. Sexual abuse is a touchy subject to some and some individuals do not disclose having been sexually abused because they feel ashamed or guilty or they fear being judge has damaged goods. According to Levs post, 88% of cases of sexual abuse are never disclosed by the child. In agreement, Alaggia (2005) states, 50% to 80% of victims do not purposefully disclose childhood sexual abuse before adulthood (p.454). Another core issue is the ability to gain that initial trust between the client and the clinician. For someone that has had a history of sexual abuse this can be a hard aspect to have happen. This is understandable because at some point in that persons life they lost the ability to trust when someone took that opportunity away from them. Its like that individual had their bond of trust violated and that may carry over as an adult for the ability to trust their own feelings and judgment. Additional core issues noticed with those sexually abused would be placing the blame on themselves or taking the responsibility for what has occurred to that individual. Also, having a constant fear instilled in them that something is wrong with them. Perhaps even issues with power and control because one may feel that was stripped away from them. An abused child will not open up unless they can trust again (trust is obviously something that is tarnished and even lost through the abuse). Another core issue in treatment while working with someone diagnosed with a history of sexual abuse is using memory to work through the trauma. As Courtois (1992) points out, Therapy is geared not only to the retrieval of autobiographical memory, but towards the integration of affect with recall to achieve resolution of the trauma. Because so many feelings, emotions of the memories are difficult to deal with on a day to day basis, many victims of sexual abuse tend to dissociate and therefore can suffer from dissociative disorder and PTSD. I think it is extremely important to address sexual assault of males. So often is hard to come forward about the assault but as Hopper (2010) addresses, Approximately one in six boys is sexually abused before age 16. He goes on to talk about the long lasting affects of sexual abuse and how it can become a perpetuated cycle of being hurt: Avoiding getting close to people and trying to hide all of ones pain and vulnerabilities may creating a sense of safety. But this approach to relationships leads to a great deal of loneliness, prevents experiences and learning about developing true intimacy and trust, and makes one vulnerable to desperately and naively putting trust in the wrong people and being betrayed again. A core factor for many that are abused is that they are not alone. Many times knowing that others are dealing with a similar situation can make a huge difference. Therapeutic Models The types of therapeutic modality that works best for someone who has been abused should be determined based on the individual and the therapist preference. In the article by Courtois (1999) discusses that the resolution of sexual abuse trauma requiring retrieval of memory and the working through of the associated affect. This is important so the individual can heal by having fully acknowledged what has occurred to them in the past. The article further states, memory retrieval is an important component of the therapeutic process. As a therapist, an essential task when working with the client, would be having them acknowledge the abuse that has happened to them and be able to retrieve the full memory to proceed in the healing process. Courtois (1999) notes how memory deficits are quite characteristic of trauma response and are utilized in the interest of defense and protection. This is an essential point for the clinician to understand in working on trauma resolution in general and me mory retrieval in particular. The strengths perspective acknowledges the client as the expert, which allows the memory retrieval to be a lot easier, and to be more accurate from the client. It is crucial that clinicians be educated when working with individuals who have a history of childhood sexual abuse. Stearn (1988) states, to diagnostically assess and treat clients in the most effective manner, social workers need to discover how each sexual abused clients views himself or herself, significant others, and the world (p.466). Jennings (1994) examines ways of using a broad spectrum of creative approaches, such as art, play, dance, music and drama, and combinations of those, to work with people who have been traumatized by experiences of sexual abuse (p.471). Lucinda stated, In my opinion, the best therapeutic modality that would work best with clients who have a history of childhood sexual abuse is using the strengths perspective. The client is the expert on his or her own experience because only they know how they felt and what actually occurred during those moments. Bell (2003) believes the strengths perspective involves turning away from rational, empirical models that order and codify reality, toward a constructivist view, which holds that the identification of human problems reflects not objective reality, but the perspective of the one doing the looking. With this constructivist understanding, three assumptions emerge from the strengths perspective. First, clients have personal and environmental strengths and are more likely to act on those strengths when they are affirmed and supported. Second, the strengths perspective views the client as the expert on his or her own experience. Third, the roles of the social workers shift from expert and fixer to collaborator who respects and fosters the strengths of the client (p.513). Lucinda stated, I feel that being empathetic, understanding, and compassionate are important in working with these clients. According to Calof (1993) listening to their stories and helping them explore the truth of their experiences has enabled many to turn their lives around (p.45). Family therapy is also important. Acknowledging the important and loving family members and their role in the victims life can help. With their love and support, the abused can work with the family to form treatment plans and other means of support. As social workers, we have to not only listen to what our clients are saying but also read their body language as well as anything else they give us as clues. They are children who have been violated and are reluctant to speak because in their minds they did something wrong. We have to work collaboratively with the non-offending family (if that is obvious), schools, doctors, and other professionals so that we can get a full picture of the childs symptoms, behaviors, and problems. Once we establish there has been abuse and from whom, we must remove the abuser if that has not already been done. Only then will we be able to work with the child towards a state of healing. Healing cannot happen when someone is still being abused. However literature does state most do not disclose what has happened until they are adults. Sometimes, it is not possible to remove the abuser if nothing is said about the abuse. As social workers, we would have to take every incident as it comes and deal with it as soon as possible. Unfortunately and sadly, most sexual abusers get off with a slap in the hand while the children they abuse suffer for the rest of their lives. Essential Task for Therapists An essential task for the therapist is providing a safe environment. Ensuring that a victim of sexual abuse feels comfortable in their setting is a pertinent factor in providing treatment. Also, maybe the sex of the therapist will matter. If the victim is female and was sexually abuse by a male, she may only feel comfortable speaking with another female. Lana stated, The women in my placement have expressed many times their fears and anxieties when in groups with men after sexual assaults that they faced both as children and adults. As therapist we should not only be treating for sexual abuse, we should also be doing more about prevention and education to all young children. It should not take years for a person to disclose that they were abused as child without having the ability to address the abuse. They should not have to go through the feelings that it was their fault or the one to blame. Laura stated, I think it is very important for children to understand that it is often an adult that they know who becomes an abuser. Schools teach stranger-danger, and to fear the stranger, when often the threat comes from an individual close to or seen by the child. Children need to be aware that there are monsters who can appear as nice people, who are not only strangers, and the only way to make something bad go away they have to talk. Some ways to do this is by using examples of what is appropriate from different people is the best way to get things across. Also, using child-like language is very important as well. U sing characters from TV and books can be used as examples of love and family as long as the child can relate and understand in a certain way. A therapist of someone who has a history of sexual abuse would need to patient and empathetic, while urging the individual to share their story. The individual has likely lived many years of hiding the abuse and trying to act like it never happened, while trying to live a normal life. This is not possible, as the horrible history will present itself in varying disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, dissociative disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder and create upset in their life. The therapist must create an era of trust and safety in which the individual can feel comfortable and able to speak about their past. I think the therapist needs to ease into the revelations in order to help the individual to feel more comfortable; with each small piece, followed by safety and reassurance, another may follow, allowing the individual to reveal their past. This is really the ideal, and the therapist will need to be able to help the person overcome the varying disorders and o ther issues in their life.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Gdp And Economy Of Less Developed Countries Economics Essay

Gdp And Economy Of Less Developed Countries Economics Essay In the present days world, the economy of less-develop countries is rising. Some people live for their work. Some countries move forward all the time whereas some of them are taking a step backward or staying in the same position as before. What I mean by this is that we have to find equipment for measure domestic economy in each country. Gross domestic product (GDP) measures the output made in the domestic economy, regardless of who owns the production inputs. Furthermore, GDP is the value of net output of the factor of production located in the domestic economy. It can be measured in three equivalent ways: value added in production, factor incomes including profits, or final expenditure. (Begg, Fisher and Dornbusch, 2003:286) Whats more, The evaluation of GDP includes all of changes in market price such as inflation and deflation. In order to abstract from changes in overall price level, another measure of GDP called real GDP is often used. Real GDP is GDP evaluated at the market prices of some base year. For example, if 1990 were chosen as the base year, then real GDP for 1995 is calculated by taking the quantities of all goods and services purchased in 1995 and multiplying them by their 1990 prices. (Cliffsnotes.com, 2009) GDP can define by four parts Market value Securitys last report sale price or its current bid and ask prices. When we measure total production, we must add together the all of productions. In addition, the price as determined by dynamically by buyers and seller in open market also called market price. Final Goods and Services When calculate GDP, we value the final goods and services that are bought by its final user during a specified time period. There are available for purchase by ultimate or intended user with no plan for further physical transformation or as an input in the production of other goods that will be resold. For example, Canon camera is a final good, but a lens of camera is an intermediate good. Produced within a country All Goods and services that are produced within a country, is a part of that countrys GDP. For example, Addias is the German sportswear company that produces t-shirts in Thailand, the market value of those t-shirts is part of Thailands GDP, not part of GDP in Germany. Shiseido, a Japanese cosmetic company, produces some skincare lines in U.S.A, the production of those skincare products is part of GDP in U.S.A, not part of Japan GDP. In a given time period GDP measure the value of production that take place within a specific interval of time. Normally that interval is a year or a quarter but we have no measured GDP per monthly. Furthermore, GDP measures the economys flow of income and expenditure during that interval. The equality between the value of total production and total income is important because it shows the direct link between productivity and living standards. (Parkin, Powell and Matthews, 2008:470) Standard of Living Standard of living using the product or services (level of consumption) by group, the judgment of the observer as presented to what constitutes a high or low scale. The measure most frequently used to estimate standard of living is gross nation income per capita. (Investorwords.com, 2009) So, there are not includes only the equipment articles of consumption but also the number of dependents in the surroundings, family, education, health and social services. On other hand illiteracy, unemployment, low incomes, crowded living condition, drought, war, may bring a drop in the standard of living. For example, industrialized nations tent to have a higher standard of living than developing countries. Besides, Standard of Living, It is also referred to as the level of economic welfare, utility or real income. It refers to the level of material well-being of an individual or household. In economic analysis, the standard of living has been usually held to be determined by the quantities of goo ds and services (including leisure) consumed. (C.S.Nagpal, 2000:324) Real GDP and Standard of living. Economists are required to compare the standard of living between different countries or between difference time periods and estimate the standard of living in a specific year in a particular country by taking the total worth of products and services produced in that country, annually and separating by population. Producing the total value of goods and services is called real Gross Domestic Product, or real GDP. GDP is generally measured in dollars. While the Japanese measure their GDP in yen to dollars. We can trade yen to dollars; we can do such a conversion by using the yen/dollar exchange rate to compare it. When we compare GDP across time, we would like to adjust for inflation, which is a general change in prices. For example, if we produced 100 bags of sugar at a price of $0.50 each last year, and this year we produce 100 bags of sugar at a price of $1.50 each. If we said that our GDP increased three times from $50 to $150 thats mean we were calculating nominal GDP, which is the total dollar value of goods and services. Nominal GDP is a deceptive measure of the standard of living. For the reason that, we produced the same quantities of 100 bags of sugar each year. Whats I mean by this is that real GDP was exactly the same as last year. We adjust nominal GDP for price changes, to arrive at real GDP. We select one year as a base, and we measure price changes relative to that the base year. If last year was the base year, real GDP in the base year was $50. As the price of sugar went up from $0.50 to $1.50, that the price level tripled this year, As a result that our GDP price deflator is 3.0. We can divide nominal GDP in any given year by that years GDP deflator to arrive at real GDP. Hence, we divide $150 by 3.0 to obtain the correct $50 figure for real GDP. Real GDP=Nominal GDP/GDP Deflator Overall, an increase in nominal GDP has two factors. One factor is the increase in real GDP, which raise the average standard of living. The other factor is average inflation, which does not raise the average standard of living. In a financial system with services and goods, the enlargement in the inferred GDP deflator from one year to the next is a measure of average inflation. Inflation is a general increase in the prices of services and goods. Growth in nominal GDP = growth in real GDP plus growth in inflation Averaging standard of living in a country is defined as its real GDP divided by population, or real GDP per capita. This measure of the standard of living is directly related to labor productivity, which is defined as real GDP divided by the total amount of hours worked. Standard of living = real GDP/population Labor productivity = real GDP/hours worked Real GDP/population = (real GDP/hours worked)(hours worked/population) The ratio of hours worked to population the employment ratio. Hence, the standard of living is means to productivity multiplied by the employment ratio. Then, we can increase the standard of living by raising the employment ratio. Nevertheless that is an artifact of the way that GDP only measure goods bought and sold in the market. It does not include vacation and household work. An increase in the employment ratio has to be regarded as a reduction in the quality of life. A good argument can be made that productivity is more closely related to the real quality of life, although the ratio of output to population is commonly used to measure the standard of living. Therefore, it is significant to compare labor productivity across time and across countries than to evaluate the standard of living. In contrast, Employment ratio will mean more people for working-age population to support, if the employment ratio can change because of demographics. The extent output, population and hours work tend to grow geometrically. (Kling Arnold,Ph.D., 2009) Limitations of real GDP when measuring living standard of living Using estimates of real GDP for three main intentions. Economic welfare comparisons over time Economic welfare comparisons across countries Business cycle forecasts Economic welfare comparisons over time Economic welfare is an inclusive measure of the general state of well-being. This will be improve when all the goods and services grows by the production per person. The goods and services that make up real GDP growth are only a part of all items that influence economic welfare. In 2006, because of real GDP growth, real GDP person in the United Kingdom is twice what it was in 1976. But are we twice as well off? (Parkin, Powell and Matthews, 2008:480) It is mean real GDP depends on various factors that are not measured or measured accurate by real GDP. A number of these factors are: Quality Improvements The price indices can measure inflation give an upward-biased estimate of factual inflation. Normally, if we allow too much for rise in price, we take too lightly for growth of real GDP. Household Production The majority of production takes place every day in our home. Washing dishes, using computer and watching television are all examples of the productive activities that not involve market transactions and are not counted as part of GDP. However these activities grew at the same rate as real GDP and these are not measure them would not be problem. Nevertheless it is likely that market production is gradually more replacing household production, which is not part of GDP. Underground Economic Activity The underground economy is out of sight from view by the people operating in it to avoid taxes because the productions are illegal. Whats more, activity is unreported, it is absent from GDP. Health and Life Expectancy A higher real GDP does enable us to spend more on medical research, healthy food, the quality hospital, Leisure Time Leisure time is an economic high-quality that include to our economic welfare. Other factors remaining the same, the better off we are. Working time is valued as a part of GDP, but leisure is not. Environmental Quality Economic influences the quality of environment. Using car, rubbish from industries, the pollution of machine tool. Resources used to protect the environment are valued as a part of GDP. However we are not count the polluted from the atmosphere as a part of GDP. Political Freedom and Social Justice The majority of people evaluate Political Freedom and Social Justice should go to the same direction but in the real situation is not. A country might have a huge GDP but have limited political freedom. On the other hand they might have less social justice. For the example, Chain is the fastest-growing economy but they have limited political freedom. Economic Welfare Comparisons Firstly, the real GDP of one country should be changed into the same currency unit as the real GDP of the other country. Secondly, the same prices must be used to value the good and services in the country being compared. Hence, the real GDP must be use for make international comparisons of economic welfare. However, real GDP comparisons are a major component of international welfare comparisons and two special problems arise in making international comparisons. Business Cycle Forecast If policy makers plan to increase interest rates to slow an expansion that they believe is too strong, they look at the least estimates of real GDP. Business cycles are the irregular fluctuations in total economic activity observed in all developed market economic. Collection economic activity is measure by real GDP, the whole weighted by market prices, of all goods and services produced in an economy. The fluctuation in economic activity measured by real GDP tell business cycle that the economy is in. when real GDP grow, the economy is in a business cycle expansion and when real GDP shrinks, the economy is in a recession. Also, as real GDP fluctuates, so do production ad jobs. But real GDP fluctuations probably exaggerate or overstate the fluctuations in total production and economic welfare. (Parkin, Powell and Matthews, 2008:480-483) How to calculate Nominal GDP and Real GDP Nominal GDP is GDP of country that evaluated at current prices of goods and services. On the other hand, Real GDP is GDP of country that evaluated the value of productions for a given year at base year. For example, an economy producing printers and digital cameras in the year 2005 So, Nominal GDP 2005 = $(P printers * Q digital cameras + P digital cameras * Q printers) *P = Prices, Q = Quantities Table 1.1 GDP Data for 2005 GDP Data for 2008 Item Quantity Price Quantity Price Printers 100 $10.00 150 $30.00 digital camera 150 $30.00 175 $32.00 From the following data in the table 1.1, we can evaluate real GDP by using year 2005 to be as base year So, Real GDP2005 = $ (P2005 printers * Q2005 printers + P2005 digital cameras * Q2005 digital cameras) = $ (10*100 + 30*150) = $ (1,000 + 4,500) = $ 5,500 Then, Real GDP2008 = value of the 2008 quantities at 2005 prices = $ (P2005printers * Q2008printers + P2005digital cameras * Q2008digital cameras) = $ (10*150 + 30*175) = $ (1,500 + 5,250) = $ 6,750 Afterward, Comparing how many percentage that an economy in year 2008 has growth from year 2005 (as base year) So, = $ (6,750 5,500) * 100 = 22.73% $5,500 That is mean, an economy in year 2008, calculated and compared by real GDP measurement, has growth from year 2005 at 22.73 percentages. Generally, higher GDP is seemed to be better than lower GDP because more output produced mean higher potential standard of living. On the other hand, higher GDP doesnt promise that happiness is increasing because GDP often goes up when bad situations happen. For example, this table chart below illustrates the percentages of Singapores GDP and Chinas GDP in 2006-2008. Overall, it is clear that even China has had higher GDP real growth rate than Singapore but Singapore still has had higher GDP per capita than China. That is mean, Singapores standard of living is better than China Standard of living. Table 1.2 Singapore China GDP Real Growth Rate 1.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 7.8% (2007 est.) 8.4% (2006 est.) 9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 13% (2007 est.) 11.6% (2006 est.) GDP per capita (ppp) $ 51,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $ 51,600 (2007 est.) $ 28,500 (2006 est.) $ 6,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 $ 5,500 (2007 est.) $ 4,900 (2006 est.) *note : data are in 2008 US dollar Education expenditure 3.7% of GDP (2001) 1.9% of GDP (1999) Labor force 2.94 million country comparison to the world: 103 807.3 million country comparison to the world: 1 Labor force by occupation: Agriculture: 0% Industry: 27.8% Services: 72.2% Agriculture: 43% Industry: 25% Services: 32% Singapore Overviews Economic Singapore has a highly developed and successful free-market economy. It is an outstanding open and corruption-free situation and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed countries. The economy depend on export, electrics equipment and information technology products. In 2004 and 2007 real GDP growth at about 7% but decreased to 1.1% in 2008. However, Singapores economy is predictable to go a broad-bases slowdown in 2009. The ministry said in a statement. The economy last saw a full year reduction in 2001 when it shrank 2.4 percent. Singapore, a major trading hub and financial center, has been hit by the sharp slowdown in the United States, Japan and Europe, which has also increased to emerging economic such as China and India. China Overviews Economy Chinas economy in the past 30 years has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector and is a major player in the global economy. Furthermore, the economy still grew by 9.0% in 2008, the highest growth rate among the major economy in the world. (Central Intelligence Agency, 2009) In that case, Singapore is a small country if you will compare landscape and population with China. However, the table 1.2 shows chinas economy seem to be grew up in last three years ago by real GDP growth rate. On the other hand, Singapores economy fluctuated in the same period times. In fact, these are can not measure or summary that Chinas standard of living is better than Singapores standard of living. And also, we can uses the measuring of GDP per capita, is the excellent system, to evaluate which countries have healthy financial system. When measured at the table chart that found Singapores GDP per capita in 2008 stood at $ 51,500, among the highest in the world. In contrast, Chinas GDP per capita in 2008 stood at $ 6,000. The reasons for this are Singapores standard of living is better than China because Singapores peoples earn more. Therefore, they could spend their money for quality products and services. In conclusion, GDP or Gross Domestic Product is the summary of produced good and services in the country during a given period. Whats more, GDP is measure by using the expense and income totals in the circular flow model of the expense and income. Real GDP or Real Gross Domestic Products is used to compare an economy between countries during times period as a given based year. Furthermore, Real GDP is not perfect interpretation of economic welfare. However, this measurement is rather useful for comparing the standard of living between countries and also providing the history of the economic growth of those countries. Real GDP is showed by the percentage change in the value of production is year base on an average of the prices in the current year and the previous year. On the other, this measurement does not include household and underground production, environmental damage and the value of health, leisure time and political freedom. In addition, Real GDP across a number of years is used for measuring economic growth.