Three things that happened in m life, and push me to stude

What is that challenge? How is work? Is that something I can stay home and it will come over to me? Is that something I can befit because my parents have it? My explanation about challenge could be different but I think it will work. Challenge is always people dreams but most do not complete it Challenge is your dream, is something you want died for, you sacrifice our life for You believe in, you spend all your time for, you borrow money for, you cut in your sleep for, and onetime you don't sleep for, First is work!When you want, when you decide to sacrifice you life for it, and will see how work is. No is not something you can stay home and it will come to you, is something you go looking for, no matter how bad it is outside no matter how bad the whether is you wake up with it in you head and get out looking for it, no matter how hard everything is for you go looking for it.No challenge is not something you could be befit from any parents, our parents could e rich and gives you what ever you want, you still need to know you need challenge , our parents can give you most time they have doesn't mean anything, you can have to put yourself out and looking for challenge Just like I did. Remember challenge is go back to school, or if you already at school fit for it, spend all your time on it, always have an your mine why you wake up early for? Why would you go to school for? Why would you do anything Jobs to survive?Why would you need to spend a lot of time in school for? Don't forget how much money you loose if you spend four years in college, and could save that money and go to work making more money, always ask yourself why would you do that for, and keep going in school you will see it, you will understand it, you will satisfy it, you will love it, you will say this is how challenge work. No matter how long it will take you , no matter how hard it is to do your homework, no matter how late you been , no matter how bad your grade is don't give up.

History of Coffee Essay

The global spread of coffee growing and drinking began in the Horn of Africa, where, according to legend, coffee trees originated in the Ethiopian province of Kaffa. It is recorded that the fruit of the plant, known as coffee cherries, was eaten by slaves taken from present day Sudan into Yemen and Arabia through the great port of its day, Mocha. Coffee was certainly being cultivated in Yemen by the 15th century and probably much earlier. In an attempt to prevent its cultivation elsewhere, the Arabs imposed a ban on the export of fertile coffee beans, a restriction that was eventually circumvented in 1616 by the Dutch, who brought live coffee plants back to the Netherlands to be grown in greenhouses. Initially, the authorities in Yemen actively encouraged coffee drinking. The first coffeehouses or kaveh kanes opened in Mecca and quickly spread throughout the Arab world, thriving as places where chess was played, gossip was exchanged and singing, dancing and music were enjoyed. Nothing quite like this had existed before: a place where social and business life could be conducted in comfortable surroundings and where – for the price of a cup of coffee – anyone could venture. Perhaps predictably, the Arabian coffeehouse soon became a centre of political activity and was suppressed. Over the next few decades coffee and coffeehouses were banned numerous times but kept reappearing until eventually an acceptable way out was found when a tax was introduced on both. By the late 1600’s the Dutch were growing coffee at Malabar in India and in 1699 took some plants to Batavia in Java, in what is now Indonesia. Within a few years the Dutch colonies had become the main suppliers of coffee to Europe, where coffee had first been brought by Venetian traders in 1615. This was a period when the two other globally significant hot beverages also appeared in Europe. Hot chocolate was the first, brought by the Spanish from the Americas to Spain in 1528; and tea, which was first sold in Europe in 1610. At first coffee was mainly sold by lemonade vendors and was believed to have medicinal qualities. The first European coffeehouse opened in Venice in 1683, with the most famous, Caffe Florian in Piazza San Marco, opening in 1720. It is still open for business today. The largest insurance market in the world, Lloyd’s of London, began life as a coffeehouse. It was started in 1688 by Edward Lloyd, who prepared lists of the ships that his customers had insured. The first literary reference to coffee being drunk in North America is from 1668 and, soon after, coffee houses were established in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and other towns. The Boston Tea Party Of 1773 was planned in a coffee house, the Green Dragon. Both the New York Stock Exchange and the Bank of New York started in coffeehouses in what is today known as Wall Street. In 1720 a French naval officer named Gabriel Mathieu de Clieu, while on leave in Paris from his post in Martinique, acquired a coffee tree with the intention of taking it with him on the return voyage. With the plant secured in a glass case on deck to keep it warm and prevent damage from salt water, the journey proved eventful. As recorded in de Clieu’s own journal, the ship was threatened by Tunisian pirates. There was a violent storm, during which the plant had to be tied down. A jealous fellow officer tried to sabotage the plant, resulting in a branch being torn off. When the ship was becalmed and drinking water rationed, De Clieu ensured the plant’s survival by giving it most of his precious water. Finally, the ship arrived in Martinique and the coffee tree was re-planted at Preebear. It grew, and multiplied, and by 1726 the first harvest was ready. It is recorded that, by 1777, there were between 18 and 19 million coffee trees on Martinique, and the model for a new cash crop that could be grown in the New World was in place. But it was the Dutch who first started the spread of the coffee plant in Central and South America, where today it reigns supreme as the main continental cash crop. Coffee first arrived in the Dutch colony of Surinam in 1718, to be followed by plantations in French Guyana and the first of many in Brazil in the state of Para. In 1730 the British introduced coffee to Jamaica, where today the most famous and expensive coffee in the world is grown in the Blue Mountains. The 17th and 18th centuries saw the establishment across Brazil of vast sugar plantations or fazendas, owned by the country’s elite. As sugar prices weakened in the 1820’s, capital and labour migrated to the southeast in response to the expansion of coffee growing in the Paraiba Valley, where it had been introduced in 1774. By the beginning of the 1830’s Brazil was the world’s largest producer with some 600,000 bags a year, followed by Cuba, Java and Haiti, each with annual production of 350 to 450,000 bags. World production amounted to some 2. 5 million bags per year. The rapid expansion of production in Brazil and Java, among others, caused a significant decline in world prices. These bottomed out in the late 1840’s, from which point a strong upward movement occurred, reaching its peak in the 1890’s. During this latter period, due mainly to a lack of inland transport and manpower, Brazilian expansion slowed considerably. Meanwhile, the upward movement of prices encouraged the growth of coffee cultivation in other producing regions in the Americas such as Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador and Colombia. In Colombia, where coffee had been introduced by the Jesuits as early as 1723, civil strife and the inaccessibility of the best coffee-growing regions had hampered the growth of a coffee industry. Following the â€Å"Thousand Days War† of 1899 to 1903, the new peace saw Colombians turn to coffee as their salvation. While larger plantations, or haciendas, dominated the upper Magdalena river regions of Cundinamarca and Tolima, determined peasants staked new claims in the mountainous regions to the west, in Antioquia and Caldas. New railways, relying on coffee for profit, allowed more coffee to be grown and transported. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 permitted exports from Colombia’s previously unreachable Pacific coast, with the port of Buenaventura assuming increasing importance. In 1905 Colombia exported five hundred thousand bags of coffee; by 1915 exports had doubled. While Brazil desperately tried to control its overproduction, Colombian coffee became increasingly popular with American and European consumers. In 1914 Brazil supplied three-quarters of U. S. imports with 5. 6 million bags, but by 1919 that figure had fallen to 4. 3 million, while Colombia’s share had risen from 687,000 to 915,000 bags. During the same period Central American exports to the U. S. had risen from 302,000 to 1. 2 million bags. In spite of political turmoil, social upheaval and economic vicissitude, the 20th century saw an essentially continuous rise in demand for coffee. U. S. consumption continued to grow reaching a peak in 1946, when annual per capita consumption was 19. 8 pounds, twice the figure in 1900. Especially during periods of high global prices, this steadily increasing demand lead to an expansion in production throughout the coffee-growing regions of the world. With the process of decolonisation that began in the years following the Second World War, many newly independent nations in Africa, notably Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi, found themselves in varying degrees dependent on coffee export revenue. For US coffee drinkers, the country’s wettest city, Seattle, has become synonymous with a new type of cafe culture, which, from its birth in the 1970s, swept the continent, dramatically improving the general quality of the beverage. This new found ‘evangelism’ for coffee has spread to the rest of the world, even to countries with great coffee traditions of their own, such as Italy, Germany, and Scandinavia, adding new converts to the pleasures of good coffee. Today it is possible to find good coffee in every major city of the world, from London to Sydney to Tokyo; we are drinking more and, more importantly, better coffee. The importance of coffee to the world economy cannot be overstated. It is one of the most valuable primary products in world trade, in many years second in value only to oil as a source of foreign exchange to producing countries. Its cultivation, processing, trading, transportation and marketing provide employment for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Coffee is crucial to the economies and politics of many developing countries; for many of the world’s Least Developed Countries, exports of coffee account for more than 50 percent of their foreign exchange earnings. Coffee is a traded commodity on major futures and commodity exchanges, most importantly in London and New York. ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTION I. FACILITIES According to the experts and professionals, the facilities must be divided into series of modules which can be combined as required to suit a particular location. The following modules are included: A. Administrative Service †¢ Lobby 15 m? †¢ Information and Reception area 10 m? †¢ Toilet 1. 67 m? B. Employee Facilities †¢ Cafeteria and Kitchen 30 m? †¢ Recreation Area (Indoor and Outdoor) 50 m? †¢ Factory Men’s and Women’s Lockers and Toilets 35 m? †¢ Office Men’s and women’s Lockers and Toilets 35 m? †¢ Meeting area 45 m? †¢ Nurse’s station and First Aid 25 m? C. Warehouse 200 m? D. Wet Processing Area (Produces Washed Coffee) †¢ Cherry reception/Sorting Area 15 m? /machine †¢ Floatation Area 30 m? †¢ Pregrader/Pulper Area 15 m? /machine †¢ Pregrading Area 25 m? †¢ Fermentation Area 35 m? †¢ Washing Area 25 m? †¢ Grading Area 15 m? /machine †¢ Skin Drying Area 15 m? /machine †¢ Sun and or Mechanical drying area 20 m? /machine †¢ Storage 35 m? †¢ Toilet( Men and Women) 6 m? E. Dry Processing Area( Produces Original Coffee). Cherry reception/Sorting area 15 m? /machine †¢ Floatation area 25 m? †¢ Skin drying and raking area 20 m?/machine †¢ Storage/conditioning area 35 m? †¢ Toilet(Men and Women) 6 m? F. Coffee Milling Area 25 m? /machine G. Packaging Area 20 m? /machine H. Cocoa Processing (to produce cocoa butter, cocoa powder) †¢ Cocoa Bean Reception Area 30 m? †¢ Cleansing and Shelling Area 45 m? †¢ Winnowing And Roasting Area 30 m? †¢ Grinding and Refining Area 15 m? /machine †¢ Alcalizing Area 20 m? †¢ Pressing Area 20 m? /machine †¢ Milling Area25 m? /machine †¢ Bagging Area 25 m? /machine †¢ Storage 35 m? I. Delivery Loading/Unloading Area 80 m? J. Parking Area 100 m? K. Villas for tourist 3600 m? †¢ Villa lot size 120 m? L. Villas for Workers 3000 m? †¢ Villa lot size 90 m? M. Museum 150 m? N. Coffee Spa 200 m? O. Restaurant 200 m? P. Horse Back riding 500 m? Q. Sports and Recreational Facilities 1500 m? Machinery and Equipments (Wet Process and Dry Process) †¢ Vertical Dick Type Coffee Pulper VCP – 700 †¢ Vertical Disk Type Coffee Pulper VCP – 5000 †¢ Vertical Dick Type Coffee Pulper VCP – 200 †¢ Bucket Elevators 1 †¢ Bucket Elevators 2 †¢ Coffee Hullers †¢ Coffee Graders †¢ Gravity Separators †¢ Catador †¢ 50 kg/hour Coffee Roaster †¢ 150 kg/hour Coffee Roaster †¢ 70 kg/hour Coffee Roaster †¢ Coffee Grinder †¢ Coffee Mixer Machine Harverster †¢ Korvan Harvester †¢ Brastoft Harvester. Details and Images of Machineries and Equipments attached in Appendix I BREWING TIPS FOR THAT PERFECT CUP †¢ Buy freshly roasted coffee in whole beans. Coffee is best consumed within 60 days from when it was roasted. †¢ Store in an air tight container away from light. †¢ Grind your coffee as you need it. Make sure that you use the right grind for your brewing system. †¢ Use cold filtered water that is pleasant tasting. †¢ Use one standard coffee measure or two tablespoons per 6 oz cup of coffee †¢ To keep your brewed coffee longer transfers it to a thermos. Space Programming (Coffee Processing) Space Programming (Employee Facilities). Site Selection I. Criteria for Site Selection |Location |It should be located in an agricultural zone with soil that are deep, well-drained | | |and rich in organic matter | |Size |30 to 50 hectares | |Accessibility |Easy access to Metro Manila, to major to minor road | |Transportation |Must be reachable through commuters and private vehicles | |Climate/Environment |Climate which has sharply defined wet and dry season, the mean temperature is 20o to| | |38o Celsius | |Topography |Relatively flat | |Utilities |Accessible to water main, proper sewage system, electrical service and communication | | |networks |. Site Selection |Criteria |Site A |Site B |Site C | | |(Sumulong,Batangas) |(Lipa City, Batangas) |(Lipa City, Batangas) | |Location – It should be located in |It is located in an agricultural |It is located in agricultural zone|It is located in agricultural | |an agricultural zone with soil that|zone of brgy. Simulong Batangas |of Brgy. Pinagkawitan, City of |zone of Brgy. Pussil. City of | |are deep, well-drained and rich in |City |Lipa |Lipa | |organic matter | | | | |Size – 30 to 50 hectares. |20 hectares |55 hectares |24 hectares | |Utilities – Accessible to water | National Power Corporation, |National Power Corporation, |National Power Corporation, | |main, proper sewage system, |Batangas Water District |Batangas Water District, PLDT, |Batangas Water District, PLDT, | |electrical service and | |Digitel Telecommunication Phils. |Digitel Telecommunication | |communication networks | |And Globe Telecom |Phils. And Globe Telecom | |Accessibility – Easy access to |Easy access to Metro Manila, to |Easy access to Metro Manila |Easy access to Metro Manila | |Metro Manila, to major and minor |major and minor road |To major to minor road |to major to minor road | |road | | | | |Transportation – Must be reachable|Public utility vehicles |Public utility vehicles |Public utility vehicles | |through commuters and private |Private vehicles |Private vehicles |Private vehicles | |vehicles | | | | |Topography – Relatively flat |Relatively flat | Relatively flat | Relatively flat |. |Climate – Climate which has sharply|Temperature of 26 ° / 38 °c, wet |Temperature of 25 ° / 36 °C wet |Temperature of 25 ° / 38 °C wet | |defined wet and dry season, the |and dry season |and dry season |and dry season | |mean temperature is 20o to 38o | | | | |Celsius | | | | Based from the site selection, Site B is the best site among the other site choices. Site B is strategically located in well – agricultural zone and meets the entire requirement needed in the proposal in term of conditions of land and distance from the Brgys. Apparently Site B heading the most perfect site for the proposal since, it is near from the commercial areas and its in agricultural zone III. Profile of Site A. Locations – Situated in near Brgy. Pinagkawitan, Lipa City, Batangas, Boundaries: South Luzon Expressway, Padre Torres Provincial Road B. Size – As recommended the size of the site 30 to 50 Hectares is near and most rated in the site category and most preferred site standard to the proposal. C. Accessibility – the site accessibility is no problem at all since; the site is adjacent to the expressway and major road in Batangas D. Utilities – Telephone, Fax, Radio, Electricity from National Power Corporation, water supply from Batangas Water District E. Transportation – Public Utility vehicles and rivate vehicles F. Topography – flat terrain Map and details of the site are attached in Appendix II DESIGN CONCEPT Modern architecture is a term given to a number of building styles with similar characteristics, primarily the simplification of form and the elimination of ornament. The style was conceived early in the 20th century. Modern Architecture was adopted by many influential architects and architectural educators, however very few â€Å"Modern buildings† were built in the first half of the century. It gained popularity after the Second World War and became the dominant architectural style for institutional and corporate buildings for three decades. CHARACTERISTICS Modern architecture is usually characterized by: †¢ a rejection of historical styles as a source of architectural form (historicism) †¢ an adoption of the principle that the materials and functional requirements determine the result. †¢ an adoption of the machine aesthetic †¢ a rejection of ornament †¢ a simplification of form and elimination of â€Å"unnecessary detail† †¢ an adoption of expressed structure †¢ Form follows function DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ZONING: Zoning determines the size and use of buildings, where they are located and, in large measure, the densities of the city’s diverse neighborhoods. Along with the city’s power to budget, tax, and condemn property, zoning is a key tool for carrying out planning policy. ACCESSIBILITY: Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product (e. g. , device, service, and environment) is accessible by as many people as possible. DISABILITIES: The disability rights movement advocates equal access to social, political, and economic life which includes not only physical access but access to the same tools, services, organizations and facilities which we all pay for. STABILITY: Stability of the propose building must be consider. The builfing must withstand any circumstances that might affect and might destroy it, like an earthquake. References Burea of Agricultural Statistics Department of Agriculture Nescafe Philippines Inc Nestle Philippines Inc P. D. 856 – Code on Sanitation of the Philippines and Its Implementing Rules and Regulations P. D. 1096 – National Building Code of the Philippines and Its Implementing P. D. 1185 – Fire Code of the Philippines and Its Implementing Rules and Regulations R. A. 184 – Philippine Electrical Code R. A. 1378 – National Plumbing Code of the Philippines and Its Implementing http://www. tupeloplantation. com/documents/tupelo-plantation-pud. pdf www. internationalorganizationofcoffee. inc http://www. charityfarm. co. uk/charityfarm. htm http://www. vetiver. org/ETH_WORKSHOP_09/ETH_A6a. pdf http://www. losaricoffeeplantation. com/ http://xandercap. com/Documents/New%20Exec%20Summary%20-%20V2. pdf www. internationalorganizationofcoffee. inc Time-Saver Standards for Building Types. McGraw-Hill Book Company. 1980 THE SITE.

Question Bank International Business Essay

Chapter 07 Foreign Direct Investment True / False Questions 1. (p. 242) A firm becomes a multinational enterprise when it undertakes foreign direct investment. TRUE 2. (p. 242) Licensing involves the establishment of a new operation in a foreign country. FALSE 3. (p. 242) If a firm that makes bicycles in Germany acquires a French bicycle producer, Greenfield investment has taken place. FALSE 4. (p. 242) The amount of FDI undertaken over a given time period is known as the flow of FDI. TRUE 5. (p. 242) The total accumulated value of foreign-owned assets at a given time is the inflow of FDI. FALSE 6. (p. 242) FDI is seen by executives as a means of circumventing future trade barriers. TRUE 7. (p. 244) Historically, most FDI has been directed at the developed nations of the world as firms based in advanced countries invested in the others’ markets. TRUE 8. (p. 246) The total amount of capital invested in factories, stores, office buildings and the like is referred to as the stock of FDI. FALSE 9. (p. 246) The largest source country for FDI has been China. FALSE 10. (p. 247) About 27 percent of the world’s largest 100 nonfinancial multinationals in 2004 were American companies. TRUE 11. (p. 247) In developing countries, about one third of FDI is in the form of mergers and acquisitions. TRUE 12. (p. 248) In 2004, about two thirds of FDI stock was in service industries. TRUE 13. (p. 249) As compared to exporting and licensing, FDI is the more expensive and risky. TRUE 14. (p. 250) Internalization theory is also known as the market imperfections approach. TRUE 15. (p. 250) One of the problems of licensing is that it may result in a firm’s giving away valuable technological know-how to a potential foreign competitor. TRUE 16. (p. 251) An oligopoly is an industry composed of a limited number of large firms. TRUE 17. (p. 252) When two or more enterprises encounter each other in different regional markets, national markets or industries regional competition occurs. FALSE 18. (p. 252) According to Vernon, location specific advantages can help explain the nature and direction of FDI. FALSE 19. (p. 253) Dunning, in the eclectic paradigm theory, suggests that a firm must establish production facilities where foreign assets or resource endowments necessary to the production of the product exist. TRUE 20. (p. 254) Pragmatic nationalism traces its roots to Marxist political and economic theory. FALSE 21. (p. 254) Classical economics and the international trade theories of Adam Smith and David Ricardo form the basis for the free market view. TRUE 22. (p. 255) The free market view argues that FDI is a benefit to both the source country and to the host country. TRUE 23. (p. 255) Countries adopting a pragmatic stance pursue policies designed to maximize the national benefits and minimize the national costs. TRUE 24. (p. 256) An aspect of pragmatic nationalism is the tendency to aggressively court FDI believed to be in the national interest by, for example, offering subsidies to foreign MNEs in the form of tax breaks or grants. TRUE 25. (p. 257) Foreign direct investment can make a positive contribution to a host economy by supplying capital, technology and management resources that would otherwise not be available and thus boost that country’s economic growth rate. TRUE 26. (p. 258) There is research supporting the view that multinational firms often transfer significant technology when they invest in a foreign country. TRUE 27. (p. 258) Jobs created in local suppliers as a result of the MNE’s investment and jobs created because of increased local spending by employees of the MNE are examples of direct employment effects of FDI. FALSE 28. (p. 258) Host country citizens that are employed by an MNE following an FDI are an example of an indirect effect of FDI. FALSE 29. (p. 259) A country’s balance of payments accounts keep track of both its payments to and its receipts from other countries. TRUE 30. (p. 259) A current account deficit exists when a country imports more than it exports. TRUE 31. (p. 259) In recent years, the U.S. has run a persistent balance of payments surplus. FALSE 32. (p. 260) Host governments sometimes worry that the subsidiaries of foreign MNEs may have greater economic power than indigenous competitors. TRUE 33. (p. 261) FDI does not benefit the host country’s balance of payments if the foreign subsidiary creates demand for home-country exports of capital equipment, intermediate goods or complementary products. FALSE 34. (p. 262) The term offshore production refers to FDI undertaken to serve the home market. TRUE 35. (p. 263) Countries cannot prohibit national firms from investing in certain countries for political reasons. FALSE 36. (p. 264) The two most common methods of restricting inward FDI are ownership restraints and performance requirements. TRUE 37. (p. 265) The WTO has been very successful in efforts to initiate talks aimed at establishing a universal set of rules designed to promote the liberalization of FDI. FALSE 38. (p. 266) Licensing is a good option for firms in high-tech industries where protecting firm-specific expertise is of paramount importance. FALSE 39. (p. 266-267) Typically licensing will be a common strategy in oligopolies where competitive interdependence requires that multinational firms maintain tight control over foreign operations so that they have the ability to launch coordinated attacks against their global competitors. FALSE 40. (p. 267) Licensing is more common in fragmented, low-tech industries in which globally dispersed manufacturing is not an option. TRUE Multiple Choice Questions 41. (p. 242) FDI occurs when a A. Domestic firm imports products and services from another country B. Firm ships its product from one country to another C. Firm invests in the stock of another company D. Firm invests directly in facilities to produce and/or market a product in a foreign country 42. (p. 242) A Greenfield investment A. Is a form of FDI that involves the establishment of a new operation in a foreign country B. Involves a 7 percent stock in an acquired foreign business entity C. Involves a merger with a foreign business D. Occurs when a firm acquires another company in a foreign countr 43. (p. 242) If General Electric, a U.S. based corporation, purchased a 50% interest in a company in Italy, that purchase would be an example of a(n) A. Minority acquisition B. Outright stake C. Majority acquisition D. Greenfield investment 44. (p. 242) The amount of FDI undertaken over a given time period is A. The flow of FDI B. The stock of FDI C. The FDI outflow D. The FDI inflow 45. (p. 242) The stock of FDI is A. The amount of FDI undertaken over a given period of time B. The total accumulated value of foreign owned assets at a given time C. The flow of FDI out of a country D. The flow of FDI into a country 46. (p. 242) FDI has been rising for all of the following reasons, except A. The globalization of the world economy B. The general increase in trade barriers over the past 30 years C. Firms are trying to circumvent trade barriers D. There is a shift toward democratic political institutions and free market economies 47. (p. 244) Historically, most FDI has been directed at the _____ nations of the world as firms based in advanced countries invested in A. Underdeveloped, underdeveloped countries B. Developed, underdeveloped countries C. Developed, each other’s markets D. Underdeveloped, each other’s markets 48. (p. 244) The U.S. has been an attractive target for FDI because of all of the following reasons, except A. Its small and wealthy domestic markets B. Its dynamic and stable economy C. Its favorable political environment D. Its openness to FDI 49. (p. 244) Identify the incorrect statement regarding the direction of FDI. A. Historically, most FDI has been directed at the developing nations of the world B. During the 1980s and 1990s, the United States was often the favorite target for FDI inflows C. The developed nations of the EU have received significant FDI inflows D. Recent inflows into developing nations have been targeted at the emerging economies of South, East and Southeast Asia 50. (p. 246) Africa is not a popular destination for FDI because of all of the following reasons, except A. Political unrest in the region B. Armed conflict in the region C. Liberalization of FDI regulations D. Frequent policy changes in the region 51. (p. 246) The total amount of capital invested in factories, stores, office buildings and the like is summarized by A. Gross fixed capital formation B. Total investment capital C. Total tangible investment D. Gross depreciable investments 52. (p. 246) The largest source country for FDI since World War II has been A. Japan B. China C. The United States D. The United Kingdom 53. (p. 247) Most cross-border investment is A. In the form of Greenfield investments B. Made via mergers and acquisitions C. Between American and Japanese companies D. Involved in building new facilities 54. (p. 247) Which of the following is not a reason why firms prefer to acquire existing assets rather than undertake green-field investments? A. Foreign firms are acquired because those firms have valuable strategic assets B. Firms make acquisitions because they believe they can increase the efficiency of the acquired unit by transferring capital, technology or management skills C. Even though Greenfield investments are comparatively less risky for a firm acquisitions always yield higher profits D. Mergers and acquisitions are quicker to execute than green-field investments 55. (p. 247) In developing nations most FDI inflows are in the form of A. Mergers B. Greenfield investments C. Acquisitions D. Non-profit organizations 56. (p. 248) The sector composition of FDI shows that by 2004 approximately _____ of FDI stock was in service industries. A. One fourth B. One third C. Two third D. Half 57. (p. 248) The rise in FDI in the services sector is a result of all of the following, except A. The general move in many developed countries away from manufacturing and toward services B. Accelerating regulations of services C. Many services cannot be traded internationally D. Many countries have liberalized their regimes governing FDI in services 58. (p. 248) When strategic assets such as brand loyalty, customer relationships or distribution systems are important, _____ investments are more appropriate. A. Merger and acquisition B. Greenfield C. Portfolio D. New construction 59. (p. 249) _____ involves granting a foreign entity the right to produce and sell the firm’s product in return for a royalty fee on every unit sold. A. Horizontal FDI B. Licensing C. Vertical FDI D. Greenfield investment 60. (p. 249) In a licensing arrangement, the _____ bears the risk and cost of opening a foreign market. A. Licensee B. Licensor C. Acquiring firm D. Greenfield investor 61. (p. 250) Identify the theory that seeks to explain why firms often prefer foreign direct investment over licensing as a strategy for entering foreign markets. A. Internalization theory B. Internationalization theory C. Perfect markets theory D. Small markets theory 62. (p. 250) According to the internalization theory, all of the following are drawbacks of licensing as a strategy for exploiting foreign market opportunities, except A. Licensing does not grant control over manufacturing, marketing and to a licensee in return for a royalty fee B. Licensing may result in a firm’s giving away its know-how to a potential foreign competitor C. Licensing does not give the firm the tight control over manufacturing, marketing and strategy that may be required to profitably exploit its advantage D. A firms capabilities such as the management, marketing and manufacturing are often not amenable to licensing 63. (p. 250) ______ is also known as market imperfections theory. A. Internationalization theory B. Internalization theory C. Perfect markets theory D. Small markets theory 64. (p. 251) If four firms control 80 percent of a domestic market, then ______ exists. A. An oligopoly B. A monopoly C. An oligarchy D. Vertical integration 65. (p. 251) According to Knickerbocker A. The firms that pioneer a product in their home markets undertake FDI to produce a product for consumption in a foreign market B. When a firm that is part of an oligopolistic industry expands into a foreign market, other firms in the industry will be compelled to make similar investments C. Combining location-specific assets or resource endowments and the firm’s own unique assets often requires FDI D. Impediments to the sale of know-how increase the profitability of FDI relative to licensing 66. (p. 252) The eclectic paradigm was developed by A. F. T. Knickerbocker B. Adam Smith C. Raymond Vernon D. John Dunning 67. (p. 252) When two or more enterprises encounter each other in different regional markets, national markets or industries, there is A. Vertical integration B. Horizontal integration C. Multipoint competition D. Monopolistic competition 68. (p. 252) The product life cycle suggests that A. Often the same firms that pioneer a product in their home markets undertake FDI to produce a product for consumption in foreign markets B. When a firm that is part of an oligopolistic industry expands into a foreign market, other firms in the industry will be compelled to make similar investments C. Combining location-specific assets or resource endowments and the firm’s own unique assets often requires FDI D. Impediments to the sale of know-how increase the profitability of FDI relative to licensing 69. (p. 253) The _____ suggests that a firm will establish production facilities where foreign assets or resource endowments that are important to the firm are located. A. Product life cycle B. Strategic behavior theory C. Multipoint competition theory D. Eclectic paradigm 70. (p. 253) Advantages that arise from using resource endowments or assets that are tied to a particular location and that a firm finds valuable to combine with its own unique assets are known as A. Location specific advantages B. Resource specific advantages C. Competitive advantages D. Directional advantages 71. (p. 253) John Dunning, a champion of the eclectic paradigm, argues that A. The firms that pioneer a product in their home markets undertake FDI to produce a product for consumption in a foreign market B. When a firm that is part of an oligopolistic industry expands into a foreign market, other firms in the industry will be compelled to make similar investments C. Combining location-specific assets or resource endowments and the firm’s own unique assets often requires FDI D. Impediments to the sale of know-how increase the profitability of FDI relative to licensing 72. (p. 254) According to the _____ view of FDI, MNEs extract profits from the host country and take them to their home country, giving nothing of value to the host country in exchange. A. Imperialist B. Conservative C. Free market D. Radical 73. (p. 254) Which of the following is not a reason that the radical position of MNEs was in retreat by the end of the 1980s? A. The strong economic performance of those developing countries that embraced capitalism rather than radical ideology B. The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe C. The generally abysmal economic performance of those countries that embraced the radical position D. A growing belief in many capitalist countries that MNE’s tightly controls key technology and that important jobs in the MNEs’ foreign subsidiaries go to home-country nationals 74. (p. 255) According to _____ international production should be distributed among countries according to the theory of comparative advantage. A. The radical view B. The eclectic view C. Pragmatic nationalism D. The free market view 75. (p. 256) A distinctive aspect of _____ is the tendency to aggressively court FDI believed to be in the national interest by, for example, offering subsidies to foreign MNEs in the form of tax breaks or grants. A. The dogmatic view B. Pragmatic nationalism C. The radical view D. The conservative view 76. (p. 257) When a company brings capital and/or technology to a host country, the host country benefits from the A. Competitive effect of FDI B. The resource transfer effect of FDI C. The balance of payments effect of FDI D. The effect on competition and economic growth 77. (p. 258) When jobs are created in local suppliers as a result of the FDI and when jobs are created because of increased local spending by employees of the MNE, the MNE has a _____ effect on employment. A. Direct B. Indirect C. Inward D. Outward 78. (p. 259) A _____ keeps track of a country’s payments to and its receipts from other countries. A. Federal payments ledger B. Current accounting system C. Checks and balances account D. Balance of payments account 79. (p. 259) The _____ tracks the export and import of goods and services. A current account deficit or trade deficit as it is often called, arises when a country is importing more goods and services than it is exporting. A. Current account B. Debit account C. Surplus account D. Capital account 80. (p. 261) Three costs of FDI concerns of host countries arise from all of the following except A. Adverse effects on competition within the host nation B. Adverse effects on the balance of payments C. The perceived loss of national sovereignty and autonomy D. Debit on the current account of the home country’s balance of payments 81. (p. 262) FDI undertaken to serve the home market is known as A. Greenfield investment B. FDI substitution C. Offshore production D. Home market FDI 82. (p. 263) Double taxation is A. Charging double taxes in the home country B. Charging double taxes in the host country C. Taxation of income in both home and host country D. Paying income taxes at twice the normal rate 83. (p. 264) _____ are controls over the behavior of the MNE’s local subsidiary. A. Performance requirements B. Ownership restraints C. Double taxation laws D. Greenfield restrictions 84. (p. 267) Licensing would be a good option for firms in which of the following industries? A. High-technology industries in which protecting firm-specific expertise is of paramount importance and licensing is hazardous B. Global oligopolies, in which competitive interdependence requires that multinational firms maintain tight control over foreign operations C. Industries in which intense cost pressures require that multinational firms maintain tight control over foreign operations D. In fragmented, low technology industries in which globally dispersed manufacturing is not an option 85. (p. 267) _____ is essentially the service industry version of licensing, although it normally involves much longer term commitments. A. Franchising B. Subsidizing C. Greenfield investment D. Patenting Essay Questions 86. (p. 242) Discuss the connection between foreign direct investment and multinational enterprises? Foreign direct investment (FDI) occurs when a firm invests directly in new facilities to produce and/or market a product in a foreign country. The U.S. Department of Commerce states that FDI occurs whenever a U.S. citizen, organization or affiliated group takes an interest of 10 percent or more in a foreign business entity. Once affirm undertakes FDI, it becomes a multinational enterprise. 87. (p. 242) What are the two forms of foreign direct investment? The two forms of FDI are Greenfield investment or establishing a new operation in a foreign country and mergers and acquisitions whereby a company expands internationally through an existing firm. Acquisitions can be minority, majority or a 100% ownership position. 88. (p. 242) Discuss the trends in FDI over the last 30 years. Be sure to differentiate between the stock of FDI and the flow if FDI. The flow of FDI refers to the amount of FDI undertaken over a given period, while the stock of FDI refers to the total accumulated value of foreign-owned assets at a given time. Over the last 30 years there has been a marked increase in both the flow and the stock of FDI in the world economy. Over this period, the flow of FDI accelerated faster than the growth in world trade and world output. 89. (p. 242) Discuss the reasons for the growth in FDI over the last 30 years. FDI has grown more rapidly than world trade and world output for several reasons. First, many companies see FDI as a means of circumventing potential trade barriers. Second, political and economic changes in many of the world developing nations has been encouraging FDI. Finally, the globalization of the world economy is having a positive impact on the volume of FDI as firms now see the whole world as their market. 90. (p. 242-248) What is a Greenfield investment? How does it compare to an acquisition? Which form of FDI is a firm more likely choose? Explain your answer. FDI can take the form of a Greenfield investment in a new facility or an acquisition of or a merger with an existing local firm. Research show s that most FDI takes the form of mergers and acquisitions rather than Greenfield investment. Mergers and acquisitions are more popular for three reasons. First, mergers and acquisitions are quicker to execute than Greenfield investments. Second, foreign firms are acquired because those firms have valuable strategic assets. Third, firms make acquisitions because they believe they can increase the efficiency of the acquired firm by transferring capital, technology or management skills. 91. (p. 248) Discuss the shift in FDI from manufacturing to services. What is driving the trend? Over the last twenty years, the sector composition of FDI has shifted from extractive industries and manufacturing toward services. By 2004, some 66 percent of the stock of FDI was in services. Four factors are driving the shift to services. First, the shift reflects the general move in many developed economies away from manufacturing and toward service industries. Second, many services cannot be traded internationally and FDI is a principal was to bring services to foreign markets. Third, many count ries have liberalized their regimes governing FDI in services making the option more attractive to firms. Finally, the rise of Internet-based global telecommunications networks has allowed some service enterprises to relocate some of their value creation activities to different nations to take advantage of favorable factor costs. 92. (p. 249) Consider why firms selling products with low value-to-weight ratios choose FDI over exporting. Products with low value-to-weight ratios such as soft drinks or cement are frequently produced in the market where they are consumed. When transportation costs are added to production costs, it becomes unprofitable to shift such products over a long distance. For firms that can produce low value-to-weight products at almost any location the attractiveness of exporting decreases and FDI or licensing becomes more appealing. 93. (p. 250) Discuss the market imperfections explanation of FDI. What is its relationship with internalization theory? Market imperfections or factors that inhibit markets from working perfectly, provide a major explanation of why firms prefer FDI to either exporting or licensing. In the international business literature, the marketing imperfections approach is referred to as internalization theory. According to the theory, FDI will be preferred when there are impediments that make both exporting and the sale of know-how difficult and/or expensive. 94. (p. 250) What is licensing? How does it work? Licensing occurs when a domestic firm, the licensor, licenses to a foreign firm, the licensee, the right to produce its product, to use its production processes or to use its brand name or trademark. In return, the licensor collects royalty fees on every unit the licensee sells or on total licensee revenues. The licensor also benefits from the arrangement in that the licensee bears the cost and risk of expanding into a foreign market. 95. (p. 250) Compare and contrast the advantages of foreign direct investment over exporting and licensing. A firm will favor foreign direct investment over exporting as an entry strategy when transportation costs or trade barriers make exporting unattractive. Furthermore, the firm will favor foreign direct investment over licensing (or franchising) when it wishes to maintain control over its technological know-how or over its operations and business strategy or when the firm’s capabilities are simply not amenable to licensing, as may often be th e case. 96. (p. 251) Consider the notion that FDI flows are a reflection of strategic rivalry between firms in the global marketplace. What is the main limitation of the theory? The strategic behavior approach to explain FDI was initially expounded by Knickerbockers who argued that in an oliogopolistic industry, a â€Å"follow the leader† mentality will prompt firms to pursue FDI when another firm in the industry  has already done so. However, the theory fails to explain why the first firm decided to undertake FDI, rather than export or license. 97. (p. 252) What is multipoint competition? How do firms respond to multipoint competition? Multipoint competition arises when two or more enterprises encounter each other in different regional markets, national markets or industries. Economic theory suggests that firms will try to match each other’s moves in different markets to try to hold each other in check. If a firm is successful with this strategy, the firm will ensure that a rival does not take a commanding position in one market and then use the profits generated in that market to underwrite competitive attacks in other markets. 98. (p. 252) Explain the product life cycle theory and its connection with FDI. The product life cycle theory, developed by Ray Vernon, suggests that the same firms that pioneer a product in their home country will undertake FDI to produce a product for consumption in foreign markets. According to the theory, firms will invest in industrialized countries when demand in those countries is sufficient to sup port local production. They subsequently shift production to developing countries when product standardization and market saturation give rise to price competition and cost pressures. Investment in developing countries, where labor costs are lower is seen as the best way to reduce costs. 99. (p. 252-253) What are location-specific advantages? How do they help explain FDI? Location specific advantages are advantages that arise from using resource endowments or assets that are tied to a particular foreign location and that a firm finds valuable to combine with its own unique assets. Natural resources such as oil and minerals for example, are specific to certain locations. Firms must undertake FDI to exploit such foreign resources. 100. (p. 253) Explain John Dunning’s position on FDI. What is the eclectic paradigm? John Dunning has argued that to fully understand FDI it is important to consider the role of location specific advantages. According to Dunning, a firm will be prompted to undertake FDI in an effort to exploit assets that are specific to a particular location. Dunning’s theory, the eclectic paradigm, combines the arguments of internalization theory with the notion of location-specific advantages to suggest that combining location-specific assets or resource endowments and the firm’s own unique capabilities often requires the firm to establish production facilities where the foreign assets or resource endowments are  located. 101. (p. 254-256) Discuss the various political ideologies and their impact on foreign direct investment. The radical view writers argue that the multinational enterprise (MNE) is an instrument of imperialist domination. The free market view argues that international production should be distributed among countries according to the theory of comparative advantage. The pragmatic nationalist view is that FDI has both benefits and costs. The radical view has a dogmatic radical stance that is hostile to all inward FDI The free market view is at the other extreme and based on noninterventionist principle of free market economics. Between these two extremes is an approach called pragmatic nationalism. 102. (p. 257-262) Discuss the benefits and costs of FDI from the perspective of a host country and from the perspective of the home country. The main benefits of inward FDI for a host country arise from resource-transfer effects, employment effects, balance-of-payments effects and effects on competition and economic growth. Three costs of FDI concern host countries. They arise from possible adverse effects on competition within the host nation, adverse effects on the balance of payments and the perceived loss of national sovereignty and autonomy. The benefits of FDI to the home (source) country arise from three sources. First, the home country’s balance of payments benefits from the inward flow of foreign earnings. Second, benefits to the home country from outward FDI arise from employment effects. Third, benefits arise when the home-country MNE learns valuable skills from its exposure to foreign markets that can subsequently be transferred back to the home country. The most important cost/concern of FDI for the home country centers on the balance-of-payments and employment effects of outward FDI. 103. (p. 266-267) Describe the situations when licensing is not a good option for a firm. Licensing is not a good option in three situations. First, licensing is hazardous in high-tech industries where protecting firm-specific expertise is very important. Second, licensing is not attractive in global oligopolies where tight control is necessary so that firms have the ability to launch coordinated attacks against global competitors. Finally, in industries where intense cost pressures require that MNEs maintain tight control over foreign operations, licensing is not the best option. 104. (p. 267) What is franchising? What type of firm uses franchising as a means of expanding into foreign markets? Franchising is essentially the service-industry version of licensing. With franchising, the firm licenses its brand name to a foreign firm in return for a percentage of the franchisee’s profits. The franchising contract specifies the conditions that the franchisee must fulfill if it is to use the franchisor’s brand name. Franchise agreements usually have a longer time commitment than do licensing arrangements. Franchising is common in the fast food industry because fast food cannot be exported, because franchising minimizes the costs and risks associated with opening a foreign market, because brand names are relatively easy to protect, because there is no compelling reason for a firm to have tight control over franchisees and because fast food know-how is easily transferred. 105. (p. 267) How useful are the product life cycle theory and Knickerbocker’s theory of horizontal FDI to business? The product life cycle theory and Knickerbocker’s theory of horizontal FDI to business are not particularly useful from a business perspective because the theories are descriptive rather than analytical. The theories are useful for explaining historical patterns of FDI, but they do a poor job of identifying the factors that influence the relative probability of FDI, licensing and exporting.

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich - Essay Example From the discussion it is clear that  today, the market may be thought to be saturated. Generally social constructs are the views that people have on us, and how people describe us. The idea behind social cosntructionism is that people hear or experience these views over and over, and this makes them believe these views or have a picture that depicts these stories as being true. A million man march reflects that what the people march for is not well known by majority of the people in the march but he people seek to change this situation using their own social construction that reflect whom they really are.  As the study highlights that  the book Nickel and dimed by Ehnrenreich clearly starts on a note that portrays a well defined case of critical theory concerning workers and how they are being treated as well as their working conditions. There is a great contrast between Lampham who takes the writer for a lunch for about $30 at a â€Å"country style place† the writer an d Lampham are in deep reflection of how four million women have to live on the wages that are paid to the unskilled with a salary for about $6 and $ 7 per hour, with about 4 million women who are not literate and who are in the market looking for the lowly unskilled lowly jobs to make a living or to sustain themselves.  The eschewing divisions in the society in the book Nickel and Dimed by Ehnrenreich are clear, and by large magnitude have gone deeper to portray inhuman and a cruel world where the illiterate have to endure cruel wages and mistreatment to make a living.

The Effects of rewards on employee motivation Essay

The Effects of rewards on employee motivation - Essay Example As researches at the work level have shown, however, these needs for external rank or status are not the only needs which the worker brings to his work situation. Research has also shown the importance to the worker of the need to belong, to be liked, and to be an accepted member of a group. These member or internal rewards are thus highly prized by the worker (Reed 32). To become an accepted or high-ranking member of a work group, however, exacts its toll or cost: one must abide by its values and norms. But by abiding by its values and norms, the member's needs for association, friendship, approval, and support are satisfied. His standing or rank in the eyes of his fellow workers also goes up (Schuler 78). "The components of the motivation function include motivation theories, appropriate job design, reward and incentive systems, compensation, and benefits" (DeCenzo and Robbins 51). The terms "external" as applied to the concept of needs or rewards refer primarily to the source, organizationally speaking, through which individual needs tend to be satisfied (Schuler 79). The external needs include the need for economic rewards such as pay and job security. Through these economic rewards, of course, the individual satisfies many physical and biological needs which are elementary in human survival and adaptation. The external needs also include the need for status and to be engaged in interesting work; that is, to satisfy the desire to do work that tests competence and expresses some creative ability in individuals. In modern industry most of the needs included in the external category are associated with the larger organization and the management union structure (Reed 33). Management generally decides what and how work is to be done. Armstrong and Murlis (2007) underlines that: "aim is to offer a value proposition and maximize the combined impact of a wide range of reward initiatives on motivation, commitment and job engagement" (12). Through the process of collective bargaining, an organization-wide pay structure is established, setting the level of pay for various tasks. Similarly, other economic policies are established which determine the conditions of work which are external to the individual and the small group of which he is a part. At times, consequently, researchers call the external rewards "reward by management" (Reed 40; Lashaway-Bokina 225). Motivation is defined as a psychological force, analogous to a physical force in that it is a vector quantity possessing both magnitude and direction. Motivation is the amount of effort that one desires to expend in a given direction. The amount of effort one does expend to reach a goal is assumed, in the absence of the imposition of constraints on effort expenditure, to be in direct proportion to the amount of effort one desires to expend (Reed 40). Alternatively stated, and again neglecting constraints, the amount of eff

Information sensitivity and protection of data Essay

Information sensitivity and protection of data - Essay Example It is important because organizations’ policies in some ways reflect the underlying culture and values. Modern organizations instill performance and cultural values such as mutual trust and confidence as an integrative mechanism (Fairholm & Fairholm, 2008: pp.103-104) rather than exercising sheer authority and control (Masters, 2005: p. 271). Mayo Foundation (referred to as Mayo in rest of paper) outlines a guidance oriented policy. In contrast to Mayo, Beth Israel Deaconess (referred to as Beth Israel in rest of paper) has a strongly authoritative tone in outlining its policy with strong worded phrases such as â€Å"Users have no expectation of personal privacy of any kind related to their use† compared with â€Å"contents will not be monitored, observed, viewed, displayed or reproduced in any form by anyone other than the sender or recipient unless specifically authorized by an officer† in Mayo for the same purpose. Georgetown University (referred to as Georget own in rest of paper), on the other hand, presents a matter-of-factly and exhaustive policy covering several aspects of security separately. Amongst the three policies, Mayo was found to be the most well structured and easier to follow with cross referencing links leading to further details, such as local implementations or human resource policies, for specific areas where needed. Some of the common themes followed in each policy are confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. These themes are also recognized by NIST as foundations for an information security policy (Ross et al, 2007: p. 4). At a specific level, prudent use of resources, data access control and physical security are found common in all three policies. While these themes are covered in each document, the way they are implemented and enforced is different. For example, in terms of confidentiality, Mayo clearly and concisely describes how information is to be accessible to authorized personnel at authorized

Mark Mazower's After the War was Over Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mark Mazower's After the War was Over - Essay Example rience of its brief life as a nation-state’{p.21}) to restore justice and prosecute collaborators were undone by the resurrection of the anticommunist right wing faction. Eleni Haidia’s essay â€Å"The Punishment of Collaborators in Northern Greece, 1945-1946† (Chapter 2 of the book) is a composition of studies of trials of collaborators in Thessaloniki. It explores how at first there was widespread determination to mete out strong punishment, a determination that eventually broke down and vanished after encountering malignancies such as improper administration practices, corruption, lack of funding and the new, sudden and unforeseen political crisis that resulted after the civil war. Procopis Papastratis’ essay â€Å"Purging the University after Liberation† (Chapter 3 of the volume) explores the efforts carried out with the aim of cleansing Athens University of those persons who had collaborated with the Germans and the pre-war Metaxas regime. The University used academic and political tactics to successfully repulse the threat of purging it; in the process, ironically, the University also succeeded in expelling several of its professors who supported the EAM (National Liberation Front). Susanne-Sophia Spiliotis’ essay â€Å"An Affair of Politics, Not Justice: The Merten Trial (1957-1959) and Greek-German Relations† (Chapter 14 of the book) reveals how Max Merten, a Nazi official mainly responsible for the deportation of Thessaloniki’s Jews, escaped justice. She highlights this trial to show that not only collaborators, but even German war criminals escaped Greek justice, an evasion made possible by the late 1950s â€Å"mutual interest† move by the Greek and West German governments to turn a blind eye to past wartime events, and look ahead with a view to boost mutual political and economic relations. Polymeris Voglis’ essay â€Å"Between Negation and Self-Negation: Political Prisoners in Greece, 1945-1950† (Chapter 4 of the volume) is a valuable study

History shows us that attempts to fix exchange rates or create Essay

History shows us that attempts to fix exchange rates or create monetary unions between different countries usually end in failur - Essay Example While there are certainly several similarities between these experiences, the European experiment must be viewed in its broader political and administrative context to see that such pessimism is not entirely warranted. The failure of monetary cooperation was partly due to the loss of autonomy countries face when they agree to fix exchange rates or participate in a union. This loss of autonomy means that a country has fewer tools at its disposal to reach its internal and external balance. Different countries define the term â€Å"balance† differently with respect to their internal and external balance goals – for instance, the German Bundesbank has historically been considered very inflation-averse, while the central bank of Italy has generally seemed comfortable with higher inflation rates1. In normal economic times, this divergence in goals is not a problem and countries find their fiscal tools sufficient to address short- and medium- term deviations from their interna l and external balance goals. In times of crises, however, countries with a lower tolerance for deviation from goals may find that they require more than just their fiscal tools to address the crisis. This is particularly true under fixed exchange rate regimes. When a country is facing unemployment, in addition to fiscal measures, monetary authorities might want to stimulate investment by increasing the money supply and lowering interest rates. However, the Mundell-Fleming model shows us that under a fixed exchange rate regime (unless the nation imposes restrictions on capital mobility, such as China did until recently)2, such a move would be ineffective because a lower interest rate would cause a capital outflow, which in turn would apply depreciating pressures on the domestic currency. To maintain the exchange rate, the central bank would then be obliged to buy back the very same currency that it initially supplied to the economy to encourage investment.3 Where the costs are deeme d to outweigh the benefits, countries are left with three options: (i) Continue to remain within the arrangement, but act autonomously (ii) Continue to remain within the arrangement, but renegotiate the terms to address the crisis, or (iii) Cease to remain within the arrangement Examples of these options being exercised are numerous. For example, under the Gold Standard, which was a fixed exchange regime between 1870 and 1914, central banks were required to adhere to the â€Å"rules of the game,† when there were disturbances in the price-specie flow mechanism that held the Gold Standard in place4. These â€Å"rules† meant that central banks would sell domestic assets while experiencing a current account deficit and buy domestic assets while experiencing a surplus. However, the urgency to bring about an external balance was felt more sharply by countries facing deficits, so countries often exercised the first option - which meant that the â€Å"rules† were freque ntly violated or ignored5 although to all appearances, the system was not overthrown. The second option, often takes a form that either returns a degree of autonomy to the member countries or enhances the power of a third body to address the crisis. Examples of the second option being exercised can be found in both the history of the Bretton Woods System as well as the European Monetary System (EMS). Under the Bretton Woods System, countries were required to peg their currencies to the U.S. dollar while

Individual vs group incentive plans Research Paper

Individual vs group incentive plans - Research Paper Example The incentives can cause different levels of motivation to the employees; hence, creating a common objective in the long-run. From a human resource perspective, setting of individual goals will prevent the hiring of extra employees to perform the same task. The human resource department can also monitor the workers individually by introducing incentives and performance contracts. The individual plans will also reduce the cost incurred in dealing with human resources. Secondly, the employees have personal responsibilities over their outcomes. From an organizational view, the firm incurs benefits since it can specifically highlight the workers that do not meet the set standards. As a result, the workers will acquire the potential that is required to meet departmental goals and objectives. A human resource perspective shows that the presence of individual control will reduce the need for supervision in the firm. The workers will be solely responsible for their actions and will be aware of the repercussions. On the contrary, the individual incentives also incur disadvantages. For example, the plans do not lead to a healthy competition among the employees (Gneezy, Meier and Rey-Biel 195). The incentives may tend to favor some of the workers rather than others. Employees in the higher ranks may be issued with valuable motivation packages; hence discouraging those in the lower ranks. Moreover, the human resource department may also incur more costs to support all the workers through the incentive plans. Group incentives include the rewarding programs for collective performances. They are preferred due to various advantages to the human resource section and the organization at large (London and Oldham 37). Firstly, from an organizational perspective, the plans ensure that group objectives are met without any setbacks such as unskilled workers. The plans

Why Should a Firm Cooperate with an Advertising Agency Coursework

Why Should a Firm Cooperate with an Advertising Agency - Coursework Example At Keller Advertising Agency we employ competitive professionals who are able to organize, create as well as place an advertisement to meet the objectives better than any company.   We do extensive market research and thus we are able to build an effective advertising strategy that will help you capture the market share as well as build a stable relationship with the consumers creating customer loyalty and help in building the company brand. With our knowledge of the eReader market coupled with an innovative and unique approach to the market, we are able to engage, capture the attention of the target market and enhance their interaction with the new product thus creating a relationship with the brand. At Keller Advertising we go at greater lengths to please our clients by ensuring that they have a great strategic vision that will steer them towards strategic success for their business in the global market.Our strategy is your strategy and this is what guides as to intriguing, competitive and ultimately successful campaigns. Our main aim is to inform and persuade the consumers on the new product through communicating ideas and information about the product in a way that will create a memorable experience for the consumer and enhance brand recognition. What counts most in campaigns is the message and we have talented experts who ensure creativity and logic. Finally, we provide a follow up after implementation of the campaign to ensure success.  An effective product name is one which is simple and easy to remember and thus will help in selling the product during marketing. A good product name should have the following characteristics be unique and thus distinguish the product from its competitors, hold appeal for the target audience, imply the benefits of the brand, create customer loyalty through bonding with the company, motivates the customers to purchase, can buy the image of the product and name and have symbolic association which fortifies the company’s image.

Exothermic reaction Essay Example for Free

Exothermic reaction Essay The object of this investigation is to determine the enthalpy change for the reaction CaCO3 (s) i CaO (s) + CO2 (g) by an indirect method based on Hess Law. Hesss law states that the enthalpy change for any chemical reaction is independent of the route taken provided that the initial and final conditions are identical. So the temperature change during these reactions below can be measured and the enthalpy changes ? H1 and ? H2 calculated. For Example: Using Hess law with the calculated values for ? H1 and ? H2 it is possible to calculate a value for ? H3. Results Table. Temperature change during reaction   The results for the temperatures are to the nearest whole number as it is unrealistic to measure to a point of a ? C with this type of thermometer and the masses rounded up to 2 decimal places for greater accuracy. Calculations Its possible to use the formula E = mc ? T, where E = energy transferred, m = mass of HCl, c= specific heat capacity of HCl and ? T = temperature change. This formula can be used for calculating the energy transferred in the following reactions ? ?H1, CaCO3 (s) + HCl and ? H2, CaO (s) + HCl. Seeing as the molar mass of CaCO3 = 100. 00 ?H1 = 420 x (1 x 0. 0250) = 16. 80 kJmol-1 I will not include the last result in my average for ? H1, which is 16. 80 kJmol-1. This is because its way off the other results and would significantly affect my average results, its an anomaly. AVERAGE for the ? H1 for the reaction between CaCO3 + HCl: (- 25. 09 kJmol-1) + (- 24. 90 kJmol-1) 2 ?H1 = 25. 00 kJmol-1 This value for ? H1 is negative because heat is lost to the surroundings. Its an exothermic reaction. Calculations for ? H2 for the reactions between CaO (s) + HCl: 1. I will not include the 102. 86 kJmol-1 result in my average for ? H2. This is because its way off the other results and would significantly affect my average results, its an anomaly. AVERAGE for the ? H2 for the reaction between CaO + HCl: (-128. 05 kJmol-1) + (- 111. 43 kJmol-1) 2 ?H2 = 119. 74 kJmol-1 This value for ? H1 is negative because heat is lost to the surroundings. Its an exothermic reaction. Using Hess cycle I will use the values that I have calculated for ? H1 and ? H2 to work out the value for ? H3. ?H3= ? H1 ? ?H2 = (- 25. 00 kJmol-1) (- 111. 43 kJmol-1)= 86. 43 kJmol-1 This value is positive because heat is absorbed from the surroundings. Its an endothermic reaction. I have been told the actual value for ? H3, which is 178. 00. So I will calculate the percentage by which my value is out by the actual value. 178. 00 ? 86. 43 = 91. 57 (91. 57 ? 178. 00) x 100 = 51% Evaluation Errors in procedure: When the CaO and CaCO3 were put into the cup there was a delay before the lid was put on. This could have caused heat to escape out of the cup and the temperature change would not have been as great compared to if there was no delay.

Italian Aggression in Abyssinia Essay Example for Free

Italian Aggression in Abyssinia Essay Background: Benito Mussolini was the dictator of Italy. He wanted to increase Italian influence in Abyssinia (today’s Ethiopia). Long before Mussolini came to power, Italy had tried to take over Abyssinia in 1896 and had suffered an embarrassing defeat. Mussolini wanted revenge for this defeat. He also wanted the natural resources of Abyssinia. Mussolini dreamed of building a big empire for Italy that would be like the ancient Roman Empire. The attack: In 1934, Mussolini made plans to invade Abyssinia. The Emperor of Abyssinia, Haile Selassie, asked the League of Nations for help. Between January and October 1935, Mussolini held talks with the League about avoiding a war in Abyssinia. However, he continued to prepare his army for an invasion of Abyssinia. In October 1935, Mussolini began a full-scale invasion of Abyssinia. The Italian Army had an advantage because it was more modern than the Abyssinian Army. The Italians had guns and planes, while the Abyssinians had spears and bows. What the League did: The League held a meeting to discuss the crisis in Abyssinia. The League’s members had a long debate before deciding that they would stop selling their goods to Italy. However these goods only included rubber and metal. The League took a longer time to decide if it should ban the export of oil to Italy. The League had another way of stopping the war. The fastest way for Italy to send Italian troops and supplies to Abyssinia was by ship and these ships had to pass through the Suez Canal to get to there. The Suez Canal was under British control, so the British could have blocked the Italian ships that were on their way to Abyssinia. However, they did not do this as they thought it would lead to war with Italy. British Foreign Minister Samuel Hoare and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval held secret talks with Mussolini. They wanted to avoid a war, so they were willing to give Mussolini two-thirds of Abyssinia if he withdrew his troops. Britain and France called it the Hoare-Laval Plan. News of these talks was leaked by the French press. People in Britain and France were angry that their governments had not stopped the Italian invasion. They forced their governments to drop their plan to give Italy control of Abyssinia. The fighting in Abyssinia continued, so Mussolini turned to Hitler for help. Italy completed its takeover of Abyssinia in May 1936. Reasons for adopting policy of appeasement Reason 1 * How can anyone forget World War 1? If we do not make peace with Hitler today, then there will be another war in Europe and millions of young men will die. We are willing to give Hitler what he wants as long as it prevents another war in Europe. Reason 2Â  * The British economy was badly damaged by World War 1 and the Great Depression. The government needs to rebuild the economy. The economy would be destroyed by another war. Reason 3 * Germany has modernised its military and is ready to fight a war. Britain and France are not ready. Appeasement will give us more time to modernise our armies. Reason 4 * We are having problems in many parts of our big empire. The colonies, like India and Palestine, want independence. We do not have the troops to keep order in our colonies and fight a war in Europe at the same time. Reason 5Â  * Britain and France cannot win a war against Germany. We can only win if the USA supports us. However, the USA is currently following a policy of isolation. It won’t get involved with other nations. Reason 6Â  * Most Britons feel that Communism is a far greater threat than Nazism. A strong Germany will prevent Communism from spreading to Central and Western Europe. Reason 7 * Many Britons believe that the Treaty of Versailles was unfair to Germany. Hitler is merely making this treaty less unfair. Once these problems are solved, Germany will become a peaceful nation again. The Munich Agreement Chamberlain went to Germany three times in September 1938 to ask Hitler not to start a war in Europe. At the first meeting on 15 September, Hitler said that he only wanted those parts of the Sudetenland where there were many Germans and only if they voted to join Germany. Chamberlain felt that Hitler’s request was reasonable. On 19 September, the British and the French informed the Czechs of the outcome of the meeting and that it was agreed to let Hitler have certain parts of the Sudetenland. At the second meeting on 22 September, Hitler said that he wanted all of the Sudetenland. He said the Czech government was ill-treating the Germans living there. It looked as if Hitler was ready to go to war at any moment. The British Army was mobilized but Chamberlain was still determined to avoid war. He wanted a third meeting. The third meeting, arranged by Mussolini, was held in Munich, Germany on 29 September. Representatives from Britain, France, Italy and Germany attended the meeting, which was called the Munich Conference. Czechoslovakia and the USSR were not invited. Britain and France said that they would not stop Germany from taking the Sudetenland. In exchange, Germany promised Britain and France that it would not take any more land in Europe. Chamberlain returned to Britain a very happy man. He had prevented war from breaking out. He said that the Munich Agreement had brought about ‘peace for our time.’ The Course of WW2 in Europe, 1939 – 1945 From 1939 to 1941, Hitler and his allies won many battles. They conquered most of Europe, except Britain. In 1941, Hitler turned East and invaded the USSR. The harsh winter and strong Russian defence forced the Germans to retreat by December 1942. By early 1944, the Soviet Army began to regain most of the land that it had lost. It also liberated the East European countries and the Balkans from the control of German troops. By 1945, it began to move towards Berlin. In the Battle of El Alamein, the Allied powers won and drove the combined forces of the Germans and Italians out of North Africa. They soon moved into Italy through the island of Sicily on 10 July 1943, with the Italian capital of Rome falling to the Allies on 4 June 1944. On 6 June 1944, a multinational force of British, American, Canadian and other Allied soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy in Northern France. These amphibious landings became known as the D-Day landings. In August the same year, Paris was freed from Nazi rule. Soviet troops were advancing rapidly into the German capital of Berlin from the East, while the combined British and American forces moved in from the West. On 30 April 1945, Adolf Hitler committed suicide so that he would not be captured by British, American or Russian troops. On 7 May 1945, Germany’s armies surrendered. The war in Europe was over.

Richard Branson Management Analysis

Richard Branson Management Analysis Virgin is a company established in 1970 by Richard Branson as a mail order company for sale of records. The company name Virgin was suggested by an associate of Mr Branson and was adopted as proclaiming their commercial innocence, while possessing some novelty and modest shock-value (Grant, 2010:808). Over the years, the company has grown rapidly and became a leading branded venture which diversified into other businesses. Today, Virgin is widely recognised and has become one of the most respected brands owing to successfully grown businesses in areas such as the airline industry, telecom, financial services, music etc. So far, the company has more than 200 individual companies or ventures which are owned and controlled by 20 holding companies that operate under one umbrella Virgin. Most of these companies own assets, employ people, offer goods and services (Grant, 2010:816). Even though all Virgin companies and ventures are separate entities, each is empowered to run its own affair s. They share common resources and capabilities that link them. Grant (2010) noted that the principal commonalities between this diverse range of enterprises are, the Virgin brand, and the role of Richard Branson as their instigator and major investor which is discussed below. Resources and capabilities defined by Grant (2010) are productive assets owned by a company and what the company can do. Resources are not productive in themselves they need to be converted into capabilities by being managed and co-ordinated (openlearn.open.ac.uk). For a company to gain competitive advantage, the company requires to focus on key strengths in resources and capabilities and ensure both work together instead of in isolation. In the case of the Virgin Group, one major resource is its founder Branson, who founded the company in 1970. His strong leadership is vital to developing new capabilities for Virgin. As noted by Grant (2010), his strength as a businessman was in conceiving and implementing new business ideas. Richard Branson is not only the founder, he is also an instigator and major investor in the company. His enthusiasm and devotion for business led him to establish a series of other Virgin companies such as Virgin Records, Virgin Airline, Virgin Rail, Virgin C ola etc. He is famous worldwide, his leadership of the Virgin Group extended beyond his role as a source of entrepreneurial ideas. As creator of Virgin and its unique corporate culture, and the primary promoter of its image and entrepreneurial spirit, Branson was synonymous with Virgin (Grant, 2010:814). He does not believe in corporate culture and bureaucracy, he prefers to do things differently by transition from rule Britainnia to cool Britainnia. Informality and disrespect for convention were central to Bransons way of business (Grant, 2010:814). Over the years, Branson has become more of strategic and charismatic leader of the Virgin Group instead of mere hand-on manager and his business vision has been a driving force for the success of Virgin. Another link is the Virgin Brand. Brand names and other trademarks are a form of reputational asset, their value is in the confidence they instill in customers (Grant, 2010:128). Grant (2010), described it as the Virgin groups most valuable asset. He noted that the values and characteristics that the Virgin brand communicated are inseparable from Branson the entrepreneur. The Virgin brand was also identified with innovation and unconventional strategies and marketing that characterised most Virgin start-ups (Grant, 2010:813). With the brand, the group was able to create other companies representing quality of services and value for money. It enabled them to create a range of products and services over other markets. Even though a brand name is an intangible asset, the value to organisational growth and competitive advantage sometimes can be immeasurable. The success of a firm to build a strong consumer brands have a powerful incentive to diversify which the Virgin group have succeede d in doing (Grant, 2010:130). The Virgin brand allowed the group to diversify to unlikely business areas in countries around the world like the US, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong etc. The success of Virgin can also be traced to its organisational structure and culture. Organisational culture as identified by Jay Barney and cited by Grant (2010) is a firm resources of great strategic importance that is potentially very valuable which relates to its values, traditions and social norms. Virgins ability to operate effectively with so little formal structure or management systems owes much to the groups organisational culture as defined by Bransons own values and management style (Grant, 2010:818). He draws inspirations from the ideas of others and encouraged submission of new business ideas to its corporate offices. Employees are encouraged to develop business ideas for new businesses. Grant (2010) pointed out that the idea of Virgin Bride was actually from a Virgin Atlantic employee appalled of products and services offered by bridal stores in the UK. Employees have stakes in the group and strive to make the company succeed, allowing them to manage and control the co mpany and also to enjoy the benefits of their success. In 1993, Branson summed up Virgins relationship with employees as staff first, then customers and shareholders. Virgins capability is in using employees competence and commitments in achieving organisational goals which can only happen where there is an open workplace structure and culture. Virgin has done well in the establishment and management of new businesses over the years, but some of its businesses are no longer what they used to be considering the current the world economic downturn. Virgin must look inward and see some of its ventures that are no longer economically viable and consider divestment. A few of them should be considered like Virgin airline, Virgin money, Virgin cola etc. Virgin dominated the airline industry due to its management style and offering customers value for money, but this came at a price. The airline industry is capital intensive. As a matter of fact, in 1992 Branson sold his most profitable and successful business, Virgin Music for  £560 million to fund Virgin Atlantic (Grant 2010:809). Even though the airline still makes profit but it is not as profitable as it used to a decade ago. People no longer travel as much, and competition in the entire travel industry is rife. Nowadays, airlines are always trying to win customers over by of fering low prices and unique packages, compounded with substitutes to air travel etc. There are other factors affecting the profitability of air travel such as government regulations and deregulations, high jet fuel price, taxes etc. Considering all these, it will be best for Branson and the Virgin group to divest Virgin Airline. Branson is always known as trying to stick it the big boys, but his involvement in financial activities seems to be a business that should be left to the big boys by divesting and concentrating on other areas. Customers will prefer products and services from institutions with a long history and good track record such as banks and other financial institutions. With more established players in the field, his involvement is a little tricky. Virgin is not a bank and does not have all the infrastructures to ensure full banking activities, and as a result its effort to bid for 318 RBS branches in England and Wales failed, and was ran over by Spanish banking giant Santander, a clear indication for Virgin to divest Virgin money. Virgin cola, another of Richard Bransons effort to stick it to the big boys should also consider divestment. It is a known fact that brands fail when they move into unknown territories. Even though, Virgin cola might be cheaper than the likes of Coca-Cola and Pepsi, these are two giant coke makers known worldwide. It will be hard, if not impossible for Virgin Cola to make an impact competitively in the world market. Coke and Pepsi take competition seriously and will not fold arms while Virgin Cola try to unseat them. It is believed that strong brands exploit competitors weaknesses. Though Virgin is a strong brand, but its Virgin Cola is not a strong brand when compared to Coca-Cola and Pepsi. By 1997, Virgin Cola was losing  £5 million on revenues of  £30 million (Grant, 2010:813). Still trying to take on the big boys will come at a detrimental costs to Virgin. So, it will be wise to also divest Virgin Cola. As a result of diversification, a firm can expand its range of products and services and sell to existing customers or create new markets in different parts of the world thereby increasing value and growth. Grant (2010), described it as risk reduction strategy that enables shareholders spread risks. He noted that the focus of diversification analysis has been to identify the circumstances in which multi-business activity can create value (Grant, 2010:406). To determine if diversification will create shareholder value, Grant advised to apply Porters essential tests the attractiveness test, the cost of entry test and the better off test, Grant (2010:408). He explained that without diversification, firms are practically prisoners in their own industry. Branson successfully built companies from ground-up but strategic alliance with firms with the resources and capabilities might be beneficial. Alliance is something Branson knows well. In 2007, he negotiated an alliance with an Indian co mpany Tata to establish Indian Virgin mobile. Branson should do the same by diversifying into road construction in developing countries like Nigeria. An alliance with an already established company in Nigeria with the resources and capabilities such as Chinas Shanghai Shibang Machinery company (SBM) will be ideal. SBM provides construction companies with large amounts of stone crushers, sand making machines and industry grinding machines. Virgin has economies of scope as a result of tangible and intangible resources due to its brand name, this can be exploited to increase value through licensing or franchising. Virgins operating styles have been designed by Branson. Things have changed, Virgin should adjust its financial structure. Branson should consider looking within the group and consolidate or divest companies that are not performing well. Grant (2010) noted that to obtain the tax relief from Virgins loss-making firms, there are clear advantages to consolidation. Branson argued that Virgin companies operate on a standalone basis but consolidation of some in similar businesses such as Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Blue and Virgin Express, Virgin Retail and Victory Corporation will create more financial stability. This will also cut down the overhead of conducting multi businesses and offer customers more diversified service range. Virgin is a successful brand of small companies that run independently, its organisational structure has been as styled by Branson. The structure has worked to an extent but Virgin should allow its brand name to be used by other small good companies through franchise and collect royalties. Grant (2010), described the Virgin brand as its most valuable asset. The benefit of franchising the brand means Virgin can reduce risk, provide the much needed cash that it requires to run other profitable businesses, watch the business grow with minimal involvement, freely expand to other businesses and enter new markets in new countries. Franchisees are very important source of new  market offerings  and product concepts. Many companies have done well through franchise such as McDonalds, Trump hotels etc. The management structure of Virgin has been centred on one man, Branson and operated with little formal structure or management systems, this will not last forever. An organisation as big and diverse as Virgin should have a top-bottom management system instead of decisions being made by Branson and a few close pals. It is important that a well detailed management structure is in place instead of no-building, no-headquarters type of management he operates. The system may have worked under Branson does not mean it will work after him. Virgin is not a one-man business, it is a multi-national corporation and if Branson was to become less active as chief entrepreneur, public relations director and strategic architect without a defined management structure in place, who or what would take his place (Grant, 2010:822)? A centralised and systematic way of managing the future without Branson is what Virgin needs like Apple Inc.

Banking :: essays research papers fc

Banking So Much for That Plan "More than 70% of commercial bank assets are held by organizations that are supervised by at least two federal agencies; almost half attract the attention of three or four. Banks devote on average about 14% of their non-interest expense to complying with rules" (Anonymous 88). A fool can see that government waste has struck again. This tangled mess of regulation, among other things, increases costs and diffuses accountability for policy actions gone awry. The most effective remedy to correct this problem would be to consolidate most of the supervisory responsibilities of the regulatory agencies into one agency. This would reduce costs to both the government and the banks, and would allow the parts of the agencies not consolidated to concentrate on their primary tasks. One such plan was introduced by Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen in March of 1994. The plan called for folding, into a new independent federal agency (called the Banking Commission), the regulatory portions of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS). This plan would save the government $150 to $200 million a year. This would also allow the FDIC to concentrate on deposit insurance and the Fed to concentrate on monetary policy (Anonymous 88). Of course this is Washington, not The Land of Oz, so everyone can't be satisfied with this plan. Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan and FDIC Chairman Ricki R. Tigert have been vocal opponents of the plan. Greenspan has four major complaints about the plan. First, divorced from the banks, the Fed would find it harder to forestall and deal with financial crises. Second, monetary policy would suffer because the Fed would have less access to review the banks. Thirdly, a supervisor with no macroeconomic concerns might be too inclined to discourage banks from taking risks, slowing the economy down. Lastly, creating a single regulator would do away with important checks and balances, in the process damaging state bank regulation (Anonymous 88). To answer these criticisms it is necessary to make clear what the Fed's job is. The Fed has three main responsibilities: to ensure financial stability, to implement monetary policy, and to oversee a smoothly functioning payments system (delivering checks and transferring funds) (Syron 3). The responsibilities of the Fed are linked to the banking system. Banking :: essays research papers fc Banking So Much for That Plan "More than 70% of commercial bank assets are held by organizations that are supervised by at least two federal agencies; almost half attract the attention of three or four. Banks devote on average about 14% of their non-interest expense to complying with rules" (Anonymous 88). A fool can see that government waste has struck again. This tangled mess of regulation, among other things, increases costs and diffuses accountability for policy actions gone awry. The most effective remedy to correct this problem would be to consolidate most of the supervisory responsibilities of the regulatory agencies into one agency. This would reduce costs to both the government and the banks, and would allow the parts of the agencies not consolidated to concentrate on their primary tasks. One such plan was introduced by Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen in March of 1994. The plan called for folding, into a new independent federal agency (called the Banking Commission), the regulatory portions of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS). This plan would save the government $150 to $200 million a year. This would also allow the FDIC to concentrate on deposit insurance and the Fed to concentrate on monetary policy (Anonymous 88). Of course this is Washington, not The Land of Oz, so everyone can't be satisfied with this plan. Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan and FDIC Chairman Ricki R. Tigert have been vocal opponents of the plan. Greenspan has four major complaints about the plan. First, divorced from the banks, the Fed would find it harder to forestall and deal with financial crises. Second, monetary policy would suffer because the Fed would have less access to review the banks. Thirdly, a supervisor with no macroeconomic concerns might be too inclined to discourage banks from taking risks, slowing the economy down. Lastly, creating a single regulator would do away with important checks and balances, in the process damaging state bank regulation (Anonymous 88). To answer these criticisms it is necessary to make clear what the Fed's job is. The Fed has three main responsibilities: to ensure financial stability, to implement monetary policy, and to oversee a smoothly functioning payments system (delivering checks and transferring funds) (Syron 3). The responsibilities of the Fed are linked to the banking system.

Selfish Love in Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights Essay -- Wuthering H

The Selfish Love in Wuthering Heights      Emily Brontà «'s Wuthering Heights is a classic soap opera type drama of infatuation and deceit. Brontà « advances the plot of this story in several different ways. Perhaps the most effective method and indeed the most vital parts of this story are the characters. Of all the characters of this story, Catherine and Heathcliff stand out the most. There are many similarities as well as many differences between these two characters. The two characteristics most commonly shared by Catherine and Heathcliff are love, although sometimes it's hard to tell if it really is love, and selfishness and conceitedness, so extreme at times that it is hard not to get irritated with the novel. The mixture of the love and selfishness of these two characters proves to be fatal. Time and again Catherine's extreme selfishness and conceitedness are put on display. Whether it is through deceit or betrayal, Catherine's selfishness plays an important role in almost every situation she is involved in. Perhaps due to the environments that she was exposed to growing up, Catherine becomes very conceited and selfish as a child. After returning from a stay with the Lintons, Catherine is even worse. Brontà « shows, "Our young lady returned to us, saucier, and more passionate, and haughtier than ever" (65). Catherine's actions were often governed by her extreme selfishness. In fact, her marriage with Edgar Linton was almost entirely based around what she would get out of it. In a conversation with Nelly, Catherine demonstrates this in saying, "...He will be rich, and I shall like to be the greatest woman of the neighbourhood, and I shall be proud of having such a husband," she tells Nelly (57). She has only married for m... ... similar in this aspect. Catherine would not have even been in her death bed had she not acted so selfishly with her husband and Heathcliff.    This timeless novel is one of love and deceit. The main characters of Catherine and Heathcliff never cease to amaze as their extreme selfishness ruins every situation they are involved in. When reading this book, it is easy to get lost in how dismal things are; however, by the end, the book does teach a lesson. Wuthering Heights demonstrates many things. Though the characters of this book were far exaggerated, and at times frustrating, they teach a very distinct lesson. Love is not meant to be selfish, and if it is, it will never work. The selfish love of Catherine and Heathcliff causes almost every conflict in this book.    Work Cited: Charlotte Brontà «.   Wuthering Heights.   New York: TOR Books, 1989.     

James Earl Jones: A Voice In The Crowd :: essays research papers fc

James Earl Jones: A Voice in the Crowd March 19, 1996   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People all around the world know the voice of James Earl Jones. From Star Wars fans listening to the voice of Darth Vader to news junkies who hear a voice that dramatically intones AThis is CNN@ just before all the cable network= s station breaks to children who hear the stately voice of the majestic Mufasa, the king of the jungle in Walt Disney Pictures= animated The Lion King - people know this deep harmonious voice belongs to this consummate actor of stage and screen.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  James Earl Jones was born January 17th, 1931, in Arkabutala Township, Mississippi. His natural parents, Ruth and Robert Earl, moved away to the Mississippi Delta when he was an infant. Raised for the rest of his young life by his maternal grandparents, James Earl developed a close relationship with the Connollys. AMaggie and John Henry were always there, day by day, and they became for me, once and for all, my mama and my papa@ (18) .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Less than three years later, the Connollys moved to Dublin Michigan where James Earl and his >brother= Randy grew up in a remodelled chicken barn. His early school life had a great impact on his style of speech and diction. AOn my first day at school, I could not believe my ears,@ recalls Jones, AThey called me James Earrrrl instead of James Uhl, as it had sounded in the South@(40).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the initial shock of hearing Northern dialect, Jones Aquickly absorbed this different rhythm and style@ and embarked on the first half of a long vocal journey leading to his distinctive speaking style. Until he was 14 years old, James Earl Jones rarely spoke mostly due to shyness, preferring silence to the sound of his own voice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Around the age of 10, James Earl Jones witnessed his brother, Randy, having an epileptic seizure. His grandmother applied the only remedy she knew - a thimbleful of bluing dye - and told James Earl to run for help. After travelling a mile through a Michigan blizzard and recalling the sight of his brother on the floor with Ablue liquid spilled out of his mouth,@ Jones= epic battle with stuttering began. At a local store, Jones panicked and couldn=t speak. After a time, he Afinally calmed down and the words came. The doctor was called. Randy recovered. But the stuttering - that stayed.@(42)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The same year his brother almost died, Jones was sexually assaulted by the minister of a church he attended. The incident scarred him for life. Jones recalls, AI was afraid and very confused.