Saturday, August 31, 2019
Fantasy and Poetry in Childrenââ¬â¢s Literature
The two selections of literature are Cinderella for the fantasy story and a poem by Eloise Greenfield called ââ¬Å"Traditionâ⬠. Both selections are from different cultural traditions, but portray positive messages to children and adults in todayââ¬â¢s society. Every little girl dreams of finding her prince charming. There are more than 1500 different versions of ââ¬Å"Cinderellaâ⬠from cultures all over the world. The story of Cinderella has been in existence since 1865 and published by George Routledge. This fairy tale is one of the oldest and most familiar to young children that inspire them to believe anything is possible. The literary elements in Cinderella include the setting, characters, plot, conflict, climax, and ending. The setting was in a faraway kingdom a long time ago. The characters included a young girl name Cinderella, her stepmother, two stepsisters, the prince, and fairy godmother. The Plot of this fairy tale is a young girl who is being treated unfairly, but dreams of finding her true love. She is being mistreated by her stepmom and sisters and works as a maid in the home. Cinderella begs to go to a ball and is told she could go after all chores are completed. Once she completes the chores and finds a dress, she is maliciously attacked by her stepsisters and destroys her dress. Cinderella was shattered and thought she would never recover from this. The conflict in this story is the continual dislike from the stepmother and stepsisters against Cinderella. The climax is so exciting in this story. After Cinderella meets her fairy godmother, she dresses her in a beautiful gown and sends her to the ball, Cinderella forgets about the time and at 12:00 midnight her fantasy is over. She runs out of the ball and leaves her glass slipper. The prince is searching all over the kingdom searching for the girl who could fit the glass slipper. The ending to this fairy tale is every girlââ¬â¢s dream. The prince searched high and low searching for his princess. He sent his grand Duke to try the glass slipper on every girl in the kingdom and the shoe only fits one person. After Cinderella revealed she had the other glass slipper. This created one of the most romantic fairy tales ever. Cinderella and the Prince falls in love, marry, and live happily ever after. ââ¬Å"Traditionâ⬠is a poem written by Eloise Greenfield, an Africa American poet in 1988. Eloise was born in 1929 in North Carolina; this was in the early days of the Great Depression. Eloise was influenced by memories of her childhood, observations, and stories she had read about. The literary elements in the poem include the setting, characters, plot, conflict, climax, and ending. The setting in this poem was a long time ago in a southern state. The character in this poem is any person who has worked hard throughout his or her lives with no worry of failure or fear. The plot in the poem is to live, learn, and give back to others. The conflict in this poem is dealing with self. She can achieve anything in life if she works hard and want it bad enough. The climax is rising to the occasion. If she is able to overcome adversity and focus on her goals, regardless of the many things you have been through. Success is the end of this poem.
Case Study of Puan Hajjah Faiza Bawumi Essay
The family a social institution is the most fundamental of all social groups and it is universal in its distribution from time immemorial. It is fundamental and persistent social group, a basic social institution at the very care of society. The values institutionalized in the family have long been regarded as important enough to warrant strong measures against any behavior that violated them. Not only has the family been defined as fundamental to the existence of society, but it has been viewed as a source of morality and decent content. It has also been defined as a primary force for controlling behavior and civilizing of human. The family is a group defined by a sex relationship sufficiently precise and enduring to provide for the procreation and upbringing of children. It may include collateral or subsidiary relationship, but it is constituted by the living together of mates forming with their offspring a distinctive unity. This unit has certain common characteristics everywhere in human society. The following are the five significant characteristics seen essential to the very nature of the family that may be met in extremely a ways. â⬠¢ A mating relationship â⬠¢ A form of marriage or other institutional arrangement in accordance with which the mating relation is established and maintained. â⬠¢ A system of nomenclature, involving also a mode of reckoning descent. â⬠¢ Some economic provision shared by the members of the group but having especial reference to the economic needs associated with child bearing a child rearing and generally, â⬠¢ A common habitation, home or household. In Islam, contraception is mainly addressed in the context of marriage and family. As a social system, culture, and civilization, Islam considers the family the basic unit of society. The Quran, Islamââ¬â¢s holy book and the primary source of Islamic law or Shariah, views marriage as sacred and identifies the husband and wife as the principals of family formation. The Quran has a number of references to marriage, including the following: [pic] It is He who created you from single soul andtherefrom did make his mate, that he might dwell in tranquility with her. (7 :189) And God has made for you mates from yourselvesand made for you out of them, children and grandchildren.(16:72) These verses suggest that tranquility is an important purpose of family life and is achieved through marriage. Also, while procreation is expected in marriage to maintain the human race,sexual relations in marriage need not always be for the purpose of having children. On this point, Islam departs from some other religions where procreation is the exclusive purpose of sexual relations. From the Islamic point of view, when procreation takes place, it should support and endorse tranquility rather than disrupt it. Thus, contraception helps families achieve tranquility by having children when they want them and when they are prepared to have them. Because of the importance of family in Muslim societies, legal scholars from various Islamic schools of jurisprudence and from various locales have given considerable attention to contraception. MUSLIM FAMILY THE STRUCTURE OF MUSLIM FAMILY There have been many definitions and descriptions of the family. For our purpose, we shall adopt the following simplified definition. The family is a human social group whose members are bound together by the bond of blood ties and/or marital relationship. The family bond entails mutual expectations of rights and obligations that are prescribed by religion, enforced by law, and observed by the group of members. Accordingly, the family members share certain mutual commitments. These pertain to identity and provision, inheritance and counsel, affection for the young and security for the aged, and maximization of effort to ensure continuity of the family. As can be clearly seen from the above definition, the foundation of the family in Islam is blood ties and/or marital commitments. Adoption, mutual alliance, clientage, private consent to sexual intimacy, and ââ¬Ëcommon lawââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëtrialââ¬â¢ marriages do not institute a family in the Islamic sense. Islam builds the family on solid grounds that are capable of providing reasonable continuity, true security, and mature intimacy. The foundations of the family have to be so firm and natural as to nurture sincere reciprocity and moral gratification. Islam recognizes that there is no more natural relationship than that of blood, and no more wholesome pattern of sexual intimacy than one in which morality and gratification are joined. Islam recognizes the religious virtue, the social necessity, and the moral advantages of marriage. The normal course of behavior for the Muslim individual is to be family-oriented and to seek a family of oneââ¬â¢s own. Marriage and family are central in the Islamic system. There are many passages in the Qurââ¬â¢an and statements by the Prophet which go as far as to say that when a Muslim marries, he has thereby perfected half his religion; so let him be God-minded and careful of his ââ¬Ëother halfââ¬â¢. Muslim scholars have interpreted the Qurââ¬â¢an to mean that marriage is a religious duty, a moral safeguard, and a social commitment. As a religious duty, it must be fulfilled; but like all other duties in Islam, it is enjoined only upon those who are capable of meeting the responsibilities involved. 1. The Meaning of Marriage Whatever meaning people assign to marriage, Islam views it as a strong bond, a challenging commitment in the fullest sense of the word. It is a commitment to life itself, to society, and to the dignified, meaningful survival of the human race. It is a commitment that married couples make to one another as well as to God. It is a kind of commitment in which they find mutual fulfillment and self-realization, love and peace, compassion and serenity, comfort and hope. All this is because marriage in Islam is regarded first and foremost as a righteous act, an act of responsible devotion. Sexual control may be a moral triumph, reproduction a social necessity or service, and sound health a gratifying state of mind. Yet, these values and purposes of marriage take on a special meaning and are reinforced if they are intertwined with the idea of God, if they are also conceived as religious commitments, and internalized as Divine blessings. And this seems to be the focal point of marriage in Isl am. To paraphrase some Qurââ¬â¢anic verses, mankind are called: to be dutiful to God, Who created them from a single soul, and from it or of it created its mate, and from the two of them scattered abroad many men and women (4:1). It was God Who created mankind out of one living soul, and created of that soul a spouse so that he might find comfort and rest in her (7:107). And it is a sign of God that He has created men, of themselves, mates to seek in their company peace and tranquility, and has set between them mutual love and affection. Surely, in that are signs for those who reflect (30:21). Even at the most trying times of married life, and in the midst of legal disputes and litigation, the Qurââ¬â¢an reminds the parties of Godââ¬â¢s law; it commands them to be kind to one another, truly charitable toward one another, and above all dutiful to God. It is noteworthy that the Islamic provisions of marriage apply to men and women equally. For example, if celibacy is not recommended for men, it is equally so for women. This is in recognition of the fact that womenââ¬â¢s needs are equally legitimate and are seriously taken into consideration. In fact, Islam regards marriage to be the normal, natural course for women just as it is for men. It may even be more so for women because it assures them, among other things, of relative economic security. This significant additional advantage for women does not, however, characterize marriage as a purely economic transaction. Indeed, the most peripheral aspect of marriage in Islam is the economic aspect, no matter how persuasive it may be. The Prophet is reported to have said that a woman is ordinarily sought as a wife for her wealth, for her beauty, for the nobility of stock, or for her religious qualities; but blessed and fortunate is he who chooses his mate for piety in preference to everything else. The Qurââ¬â¢an commands marriage to the spouseless and the pious even though they may be poor and slaves (24:32). On the other hand, whatever dowry (marriage gifts) a man gives his prospective wife belongs to her; and whatever she may have acquired prior to or after marriage is hers alone. There is no necessary community of property between husbands and wives. Furthermore, it is the husband who is responsible for the maintenance and economic security of the family. He must even provide the wife with the kind of help and service to which she was used before marriage, and, according to some scholars, she is under no legal obligation to do the routine housework, although she may do so, and usually does, for some reason or other, e.g. cooperation, economy, etc. 2. The Performance of Marriage Because Islam considers marriage a very serious commitment, it has prescribed certain measures to make the marital bond as permanent as humanly possible. The parties must strive to meet the conditions of proper age, general compatibility, reasonable dowry, good will, free consent, unselfish guardianship, honorable intentions, and judicious discretion. When the parties enter into a marital contract, the intention must be clear to make the bond permanent, free from any casual or temporary designations. For this reason, trial marriages, term marriages, and all marriages that appear to be experimental, casual, or temporary, are forbidden in Islam. In one of his statements, the Prophet condemned the men and women who relish frequent change of partners, that is, the ââ¬Ëtastersââ¬â¢, saying: ââ¬ËAllah does not like the tasters [i.e. men and women who enjoy changing partners after short-lived marriages].ââ¬â¢ However, to insist on the permanent character of marriage does not mean that the marital contract is absolutely indissoluble. Muslims are designated by the Qurââ¬â¢an as a middle nation and Islam is truly a religion of the ââ¬Ëgolden meanââ¬â¢, a well-balanced and well-integrated system. This is particularly clear in the case of marriage which Islam regards as neither a sacrament nor a simple civil contract. Rather, marriage in Islam is something unique with very special features of both sacramental and contractual nature. It is equally true that the alternative to the extreme of casual or temporary marriage is not the other extreme of absolute indissolubility of the marital contract. The Islamic course is one of equitable and realistic moderation. The marriage contract should be taken as a serious, permanent bond. But it does not work well for any valid reason; it may be terminated in kindness and honor, with equity and peace. 3. The Husband-Wife Relationship With piety as the basis of spouse selection, and with the earnest satisfaction of the conditions of marriage, the parties should be well on the way to a happy and fulfilling married life. However, Islam goes much further than this in setting the course of behavior for husbands and wives. Many are the statements of the Qurââ¬â¢an and the Sunnah that prescribe kindness and equity, compassion and love, sympathy and consideration, patience and good will. In a part of a hadith the Prophet goes as far as to declare that the best Muslim is the one who is best to his family. In another hadith he states that the greatest, most blessed joy in life is a good, righteous wife. The consummation of marriage creates new roles for the parties concerned. Each role is a set of equitable, proportionate rights and obligations. The role of the husband revolves around the moral principle that it is his solemn duty to God to treat his wife with kindness, honor, and patience; to keep her honorably or free her from the marital bond honorably; and to cause her no harm or grief (Qurââ¬â¢an, 2:229-32; 4:19). The role of the wife is summarized in the verse that women have rights even as they have duties, according to what is equitable; but men have a degree over them (2:228). This degree is usually interpreted by Muslim scholars in conjunction with another passage which states, among other things, that men are trustees, guardians, and protectors of women because God has made some of them excel others and because men expend of their means (Qurââ¬â¢an, 4:34). It may be likened to what sociologist call ââ¬Ëinstrumental leadershipââ¬â¢ or external authority in the household due to the division of labor and role differentiation. It does not, however, mean any categorical discrimination or superiority of one sex to the other. a. The wifeââ¬â¢s rights: the husbandââ¬â¢s obligations. Translated into rules of behavior, these ethical principles allocate to the wife certain rights and corresponding obligations. Because the Qurââ¬â¢an and the Sunnah of the Prophet have commanded kindness to women, it is the husbandââ¬â¢s duty to consort with his wife in an equitable and kind manner. One specific consequence of this Divine command is his responsibility for the full maintenance of the wife, a duty which he must discharge cheerfully, without reproach, injury, or condescension. Components of maintenance: Maintenance entails the wifeââ¬â¢s incontestable right to lodging, clothing, sustenance, and general care and wellbeing. The wifeââ¬â¢s residence must be adequate so as to provide her with reasonable level of privacy, comfort, and independence. Foremost is the welfare of the wife and the stability of the marriage. What is true of the residence is true of clothing, food, and general care. The wife has the right to be clothed, fed, and cared for by the husband, in accordance with his means and her style of life. These rights are to be exercised without either extravagance or miserliness. Nonmaterial rights: The wifeââ¬â¢s material rights are not her only assurances and securities. She has other rights of moral nature; and they are equally binding and specific. A husband is commanded by the law of God to treat his wife with equity, to respect her feelings, and to show her kindness and consideration. She is not to be shown any aversion by the husband or subjected to suspense and uncertainty. A corollary of this rule is that no man is allowed to keep his wife with the intention of inflicting harm on her or hindering her freedom. If he has not love or sympathy for her, she has the right to demand freedom from the marital bond, and no one may stand in her way to a new life. b. The wifeââ¬â¢s obligations: the husbandââ¬â¢s rights. The main obligation of the wife as a partner in a marital relationship is to contribute to the success and happiness of the marriage as much as possible. She must be attentive to the comfort and wellbeing of her mate. She may neither offend him nor hurt his feelings. Perhaps nothing can illustrate the point better than the Qurââ¬â¢anic statement which describes the righteous people as those who pray, ââ¬Å"Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the joy and the comfort of our eyes, and guide us to be models of righteousness (Qurââ¬â¢an, 25:74).â⬠This is the basis on which all the wifeââ¬â¢s obligations rest and from which they flow. To fulfill this basic obligation, the wife must be faithful, trustworthy, and honest. More specifically, she must not deceive her husband by deliberately avoiding conception lest it deprive him of legitimate progeny. Not must she allow any other person to have access to that which is exclusively the husbandââ¬â¢s right, i.e. sexual intimacy. A corollary of this is that she must not receive or entertain strange males in her home without his knowledge and consent. Nor may she accept their gifts without his approval. This is probably meant to avoid jealousy, suspicion, gossip, etc., and also to maintain the integrity of all parties concerned. The husbandââ¬â¢s possessions are his trust. If she has access to any portion thereof, of if she is entrusted with any fund, she must discharge her duty wisely and thriftily. She may not lend or dispose of any of his belongings without his permission. With respect to intimacy, the wife is to make her desirable; to be attractive, responsive, and cooperative. A wife may not deny herself to her husband, for the Qurââ¬â¢an speaks of them as a comfort to each other. Due consideration is, of course, given to health and decency. Moreover, the wife is not permitted to do anything that may render her companionship less desirable or less gratifying. If she does any such thing or neglects herself, the husband has the right to interfere with her freedom to rectify the situation. To ensure maximum self-fulfillment for both partners, he is not permitted to do anything on his part that may impede here gratification.
Friday, August 30, 2019
Patents and Intellectual Property Essay
à à à à à à à A patent is a set of rights given exclusively to an individual or firm by an independent nation to the inventor or discoverer for a given duration in exchange for detailed information on the details of the inventions or discovery (Foray 28). These set of rights are exclusive to the inventors thus acknowledging their contribution and get financial benefits. Inventions that can be patented are new products, processes of manufacturing, improvements to an existing product or process, new chemical compounds or compositions, or processes relating of an existing manufacturing process (Perelman n.p.). This form of intellectual property encourages the economic and technological development by rewarding intellectual creativity. à à à à à à Patents laws are set up to ensure that the owner of intellectual property benefits from his or her invention. The law gives the owner freedom of choice to do what they require with the invention as long as it does not conflict with other existing laws. The inventor can sell the patent at any market price they believe is commensurable, they can license the patent to others for use and in the process collect royalties from the users which increases their financial stability (Gold 135). Patent laws also offers a sense of protection to the inventors for the stipulated time usually twenty years and this approach usually is a disadvantage to the competitors in the same line of work. These laws also prohibit dealing with patented goods without permission from the patent holder and this ensures that pirating of patented goods or services is a prosecutable case whereby one can be sentenced to jail or heavily fined (Perelman n.p.). à à à à à Patents are a crucial part for advancements in science based professions such as medicine, biotechnology, computers and even drug chemistry. These advancements have born great fruits which have all been aimed at improving the life of mankind. In this paper, the strengths and weaknesses of patent laws and foreign investment, trade, innovation, public health, generic resources and traditional knowledge will be discussed. Patent laws have improved the life of investors greatly, this has led to greater determinations in patenting other products, and in the process, greater, and discoveries that are more useful have been made. à à à à à à Strong patent laws are a major attraction to foreign investors who are assured of the protection of their goods or services. They are thus confident about imitations of their product, which has lead to an increased net demand of their products leading to higher marginal profits. The intellectual laws act as an attraction and assurance to foreign investors as their business is enabled a fair play ground to compete with existing indigenous firms (Smarzynska 41). Strong patent laws also offer a location attraction to foreign investors opting for areas with enhanced patent laws. This has lead to further development and improvement of economies of such areas as compared to areas whose laws are not well established. Stronger intellectual property rights can be a deterrent to new foreign investors since existing firms may have already established large market bases which may not be easy to break through. With this kind of market, monopolistic ventures may mushro om to the disadvantage of consumers since they may overprice their commodities due to lack of competitors. à à à à à à Patent laws create ownership advantages conferring ownership advantages to firms serving the foreign markets (Cooter, & Ulen 124). Through the provision of legal redress against any violations, markets are expanded and increase in both multilateral and bilateral trade is enhanced. Patent laws increase bilateral exchange to foreign markets by reducing the costs associated with preventing loss of knowledge assets. Such costs consist of foregone revenues resulting from reduced bilateral exchange and or expenses incurred to make knowledge assets difficult to imitate especially when the destination country has strong imitative abilities. à à à à à à à Strong intellectual property laws can increase market power and even though strong laws enhance ownership advantage, this enhanced ownership can increase or decrease bilateral exchange. The market power concept holds that strong rights reduce bilateral exchange by ensuring a temporary monopoly over the protected knowledge. This market power is attributed to the patent holder, whether domestic or foreign. Firms that secure strong patent protection in foreign markets can exercise their market power by restricting quantity and increasing the unit price of bilateral exchange to that market (Fink and Primo 26). à à à à à à According to Forays (13), strong patent laws provide incentives for people and firms to invest in research.Where there exists strong patent laws, inventors and innovators are energized since any benefits accrued from the new knowledge benefits them solely. With weak patent laws a free market economy fails to induce an optimal investment in research, development and innovation, since investors would not be able to recoup the full benefit from their investment. Patent laws also give strong ownership advantages to firms in developed countries, which encourage them to transfer their technology to developing countries through market channels at a cost. Strong patent laws may also be a disadvantage since they may lead to increased market power which results in high cost of technology transfer. In cases where there exist weak patent laws, this provides a loophole for technology transfer in non-market channels which would greatly disadvantage the innovators. à à à à à à Patents are important to pharmaceutical firms as they help in appropriating the benefits to the innovators. Moreover, products and the development process are protected from imitators in order to avoid replication of same drug. The process of drug development is quite costly averaging at about 1billion US dollars for the actual discovery, development and regulation approval. However, patenting novel drugs is essential and only beneficial in developed countries where many firms may want to set up drug manufacturing firms. According to Vernon (14), the expensive process of research and development is usually compensated by profits, which arise from patent protection. Patent laws in drug development are quite complicated since while patenting new drug protects the producers from unscrupulous firms may also increase the cost of the drugs thus making them unaffordable to needy people. à à à à à à à The process of patenting innovations in public health may be long and tiresome which may discourage innovations. However due to emergence of tropical diseases in the developing world patenting may act as an incentive for continued research in both drug development and innovations of new procedures for their early diagnosis and treatment. All this will lead to improved health care for patients especially in developing countries where cost of drugs is beyond the reach of the majority who are struggling. Patent laws encourage the development of medicinal compounds or products. These conditions being rare are not economically viable for the pharmaceutical firms since the profits margins are so minimal thus little research is channeled towards them. However, through patenting, firms that delve into this kind of research because they are protected exclusively thus giving them the sole ownership rights to manufacture and distribute them at a given cost (Gol d 131-132). This enables them to make profits. à à à à à à Weak patent laws in the health sector have been associated by rise of firms, which exploit the whole process of drug development. Drug imitators can benefit from innovatorsââ¬â¢ free approval and produce duplicate drugs at a much lower cost relative to the real cost of discovering and developing the new product. Patenting the genetic resources and traditional knowledge ensures that people who participated in the development of the new information are acknowledged for the work they have done. To scholars being acknowledged builds confidence in them and is a motivator for them to work even harder. By them being acknowledged, it shows that they become authorities in their specific fields, which further leads to production of more accurate and high quality new knowledge. Patent laws regarding information are in conflict with human rights since plant information should be made public for the benefit of all. It is not easy to relate patent laws and human ri ghts since it exist in different perspectives on the same depending on the contributors (Gold 186). As such, information to the knowledge should be easily accessible at minimal cost affordable to all. à à à à à à In production of pharmaceuticals, patents laws restricted patent term to 20 years, this was disadvantageous to people who developed drugs for infrequent illness because sales of the drugs could not give adequate returns within the period. It was until 1984 that the congress amended the drug act by coming up with orphan drugs act that extended the period of patents to 25 years in order to allow developers to pay-back the cost of development and get profits (Gold 132). In addition, patent restricted use of available drugs for research of new drugs development. This presented a challenge to development of new and generic drugs until when the congress amended the patent laws to allow use of drugs for research purposes. Conclusion à à à à à à Patent laws have more strength compared to the weaknesses depending on the issue of involved in discussion. Through patenting, the innovators and inventors are not only recognized as the owner of the emerging products but they also have various benefits such as financial gains to payback on the capital invested. However, the patent are only limited to 20 years, which in some cases is disadvantageous to products with weak marketing such as orphan drugs. However, government intervention has seen developers reap high profits for their ideas, and products over a given period. The weakness of patent is limitation on research where they restrict third party from using the original product or idea to develop new product thus slowing research and improvements of the existing ones. Hence, caution is necessary to ensure that patenting does not give rise to monopolies, which would discourage competition at the expense of the consumers. References Cooter, Robert and Ulen, Thomas. ââ¬Å"Intellectual Propertyâ⬠in Law and Economics 5th ed. Toronto: Pearson, 2008. Fink, Carsten. and C.A. Primo Braga. ââ¬ËHow Stronger Protection of Intellectual Property Rights Affects International Trade Flowsââ¬â¢. In C. Fink and E. Mansfield (eds) Intellectual Property and Development: Lessons from Recent Economic Research. New York: World Bank/Oxford University Press. (2004). Print. Foray, Dominique. Technology Transfer in the TRIPS Age: The Need for New Types of Partnerships between the Least Developed and Most Advanced Economies. Geneva international Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (2009). Gold, Richard E. Patents and Human Rights: A Heterodox Analysis. Journal of Law,Medicines and Ethics, 41(1) (2013):185-198. Perelman, Michael. ââ¬Å"In Patents We Trust: How the U.S. Government Learned to Stop Worrying about Monopoly and Love Intellectual Property.â⬠MR Zine (2005). Smarzynska Javorcik, B. ââ¬ËThe Composition of Foreign Direct Investment and Protection of Intellectual Property Rights: Evidence from Transition Economiesââ¬â¢. Journal of European Economic Review 48(1) (2004): 39ââ¬â62. Vernon, J.A. ââ¬ËExamining the Link between Price Regulation and Pharmaceutical Research and Development Investmentââ¬â¢. Journal of Health Economics 14(1) (2005): 1ââ¬â16. Source document
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Suggest how an economist would approach the problem of alcohol abuse Essay
Suggest how an economist would approach the problem of alcohol abuse - Essay Example Numerous examinations on this subject have been conducted by economist to determine the impact of the price of alcoholic beverages to alcohol consumption. Despite the varied nature of the researches conducted, the conclusion is common. That an increase in the price of alcoholic beverages results to a decline in drinking and heavy drinking, as well as the consequences of alcohol use and abuse. This is in direct relevance to the fundamental law of economics called the downward sloping demand curve. It states that, as the price of a product rises, the quantity demanded for that product decreases. Another way to curb the abuse of alcohol is the use of government policy. Economists have found that the most ignored policy of controlling alcohol abuse is the most effective and important (Chaplouka, Grossmann & Saffer, 2002). This is the raising of the taxes levied on all alcoholic beverages. The decline of federal, state and local taxes on alcoholic beverages over the years by considerably high margins is a show of ignorance to this policy. The effectiveness of this policy of this policy is due to the fact that the use and abuse of alcoholic beverages has been found to be sensitive to price. However, to address the matter with economical intellect the policy should be implemented after accounting for the effects of inflation. Prescription drugs fall under the industry of pharmaceuticals, which is funded in the country as part of Research and Development. In the recent past and the present this industry has been found to have very large costs of maintaining and they are always fixed. It is estimated that twenty percent of sales from research based pharmaceuticals has been devoted to research and development compared to four percent for other industries (Nebbit, 2000). This huge investment in relation to prescription drugs, therefore, results to high prices for these products. Since the products are essential for life, their consumption is fixed and may not be greatly
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Executive Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8
Executive Summary - Essay Example Annual reports are the basis on how stockholders and others view the performance of an organization, influencing their decision to retain the stocks or not. The annual report consists of a financial section and a possible narrative section. The financial section remains accurate, because of the attention paid to it by the auditors. The decision to have a narrative section and what it contains is decided by the organization, which is influenced by their financial position. Graphs in the narrative section play an important part in the comprehension of the narrative section. Yet, the graphic designer through selection of graph type, color, scale, and emphasis, and the like, can manipulate the perception of the reader of the narrative section. The distortion of graphs in narrative section is clearly established through several studies. For example, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1993 reports fifteen different ways in which distortion in graphs can occur. Evaluation of financial graphics and the actual financial data in annual reports confirm the use of such graphic distortion. Results of the literature review demonstrate that there is manipulation in selection and preparation of graphic representation that have implications for accountancy-related issues, international opinions, and the communications intended through the annual reports. However, a key question that remains unanswered is whether company size has any role to play in the manipulation of graphical representation in annual reports (Penrose, 2008). This article presents the problem of the requirement for writing skills in accounting firms. Many of the bright university students choose to work in accounting firms. In this era of globalization, writing skills in accounting firms have gained in importance, raising the questions as to the specific requirements of writing skills in accounting firms, whether these needs
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Financial Services Industries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Financial Services Industries - Essay Example This destabilization asks questions about the various organizational practices and balance sheet structures that these two types of financial institutions utilize. Furthermore, the regulatory agencies involved in the monitoring of securities firms play a vital role in protecting consumers and investors, and the solvency of the bank system is a vital component of social stability not only in the U.S. economy but globally speaking. This paper will briefly examine some of the differences in structure and operation of depository institutions as well as examine the regulatory processes involved in supervising the securities firms. As an illustration of the crumbling barrier between banking and commerce consider that during the 1970s there were predictions that there was a decline in banking as balance sheets for commercial banks had fallen to their lowest levels in years (Federal Reserve Bank, 1998). In response a number of deregulation initiatives were instituted to spur growth for depository institutions. To manage the acknowledged increased risk that deregulation would entail the FDIC systematically raised the minimum level of the capital-to-asset ratio. However, because of deregulation and the FDIC response this encouraged depository institutions to move business off their balance sheets, for example, by packaging and selling various product lines in the form of securities. This ââ¬Å"securitizationâ⬠of assets, such as mortgages, auto loans, and credit-card loans- shifts loans to permanent investors, leaving the depository institutions to service the loans for a fee. "Origination, distribution, and servicing capabilities have therefore become increasingly significant elements of the banking business, while building up the balance sheet, once perceived as a measure of an institutions eminence, has diminished in importance" (Federal Reserve Bank, 1998, p. 61). The operational practices and balance sheet structure are in fact markedly different
Monday, August 26, 2019
Market Model Patterns of Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1
Market Model Patterns of Change - Essay Example In the year 1981, it introduced a Nordic mobile telephone (NMT); NTM was the first mobile phone or cellular phone which was able to permit roaming network. In 1987 the Nokia Corporation launched a mobile phone that was capable to be handled, the phone used NTM network. Regardless of its price and its weight, the phone became classic as it recorded biggest sell of the time. In the year 2002 the Nokia Corporation launched Nokia 3650, the phone had camera feature. Later in the year, the company launched Nokia 6650; it was the first 3G phone in the market. Currently, Nokia has made a major step on the models of the phone they are manufacturing. In the year 2011 February, the Corporation declared to work together with Microsoft Company to improve features of Smartphones they plan to manufacture. After the two major company united, in October they launched two models; Nokia Lumia 880 and Nokia Lumia 710 (Pulkkinen, 2011). Previously, Nokia Corporation was enjoying monopoly; it was the firs t company to develop hand mobile phone. Despite the size and the price of the phones, in made highest sell than what the company was expecting. In 2005, the company manufactured Nokia 1100 which recorded billion sell even though it was having less features. The monopoly of the industry Nokia to enjoy profits and failed to concentrate on the advancement of their products. As the industry evolved, new technologies were brought into the market. Small industry entered into the market and impressed technology, these new companies in the industry started manufacturing products that had more features, hence attracting more customers. With the increase in competition, Nokia Corporation started to follow new drift of the technology and started to manufacture better phone models. Initially, Nokia Corporation enjoyed monopoly, currently there is pressure in the communication industry. Different and new companies have entered into the market and are making remarkable profits; therefore, Nokia C orporation is facing oligopoly. At present, other companies that are into the market includes; Motorola Corporation, Samsung company, apple industry, Alcatel, Sony Ericson, and blackberry Corporation. Each new product brought into the market by one company, it is countered by other company by producing a more advanced technologically handset. With these competition trend seen in the market, consumers or the buyer of the product are the ones who enjoys better product. Also with this tendency of competition, consumers have a wide variety of product to choose from and at an affordable price (Morris, 2009). Presently, it is viewed that the market or the industry trend has changed to a perfect competition; there is no dominant company in the market. Each company is trying to manufacture best possible product than what the other company can produce. In the short term run, the major dominant or the giant company in the industry will enjoy the market as a result companies known and trusted names. This dominancy with major company will hinder penetration of the emerging businesses into market. The new company has never been on the market before and there product has never been used before; it will be difficult for them to penetrate into the market. Therefore, in a short run, the dominant corporation including Nokia, and Samsung; they will prevent entry of the new companies into the market (Gruber, 2005). In the long
Sunday, August 25, 2019
50 First Dates(2004) Rated PG-13 Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
50 First Dates(2004) Rated PG-13 - Movie Review Example It is then that he realizes that Lucy has a condition of short terms memory loss and that she is unable to remember the previous day and each individual day. Henry is in love with her and will not give up easy he is ready to win her over every single day for fifty days and makes her fall in love with him. Since she cant remember him every single morning, the story is a romantic comedy of Henryââ¬â¢s efforts to get Lucy to remember him every single day with the single hope that she would fall back in love with him again. There are a few scenes which reveal this point in the movies. First is the scene in the movie where Henry (Adam Sandler), makes the video for Lucy (Drew Barrymore). The video includes all the details of the various events that she missed during the year. Also he delivers the video with a bunch of lilies which he is aware that she loves. Second is the scene where Henry arranges a get together for Lucy and her friends. In this scene there is a clear mention of the fact that Henry tries everyday to make Lucy fall in love with him. This was also mentioned in the scene where Lucyââ¬â¢s friend was shocked on how Henry would do this on a daily basis just to maintain the relationship and love that he has for Lucy. The communication mode used here by Henry in the video is one which is positive. A video is one of the most appropriate modes of communication. As seen in the movie as well, the previous day the fact of the short term memory loss is conveyed by her family to her, however the mode of communication is one which leaves her needing to more proof. The mode of communication adopted by Henry is very positive and he gives out the same information to her in a lighter and less stressful manner. It is however essential to understand that this can also be a little negative for of communication. This is mainly because Lucy is a very happy person and every time her accident is told to her, she
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Evidence & Expert Interview Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Evidence & Expert Interview Paper - Essay Example In recent scenario, it has been reviewed that the healthcare sectors are facing challenges to effectively mitigate the accelerated health issues of common people. Leadership development and the organizational planning are considered to be the two most vital goals pertaining to any organization for its development. There are evidences in peer reviews and scholarly journals, which depicts about the impact of nursing leadership over staff satisfaction, patientââ¬â¢s outcomes and the retention aspects. Nursing leadership at diversified levels of the organization, especially in patient care drastically affects the organizational development (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2013; Sherman, 2010). Organizational planning, another vital strategy for any business fosters sustainability and growth of it. Correspondingly, organization planning will assist the nursing department in framing strategies to mitigate critical healthcare issues. This paper intends to discuss about the importance of th e aforementioned SMART goals within a health care sector. Moreover, the paper will also provide an insight on the peer reviewed articles, credible websites and expert view to support the aforementioned SMART goalââ¬â¢s importance to mitigate critical issues such as cancer within the healthcare sector. Peer-Reviewed Articles With reference to the article, ââ¬Ëan evaluation of the RCN Clinical Leadership Development Programme: Part 2.ââ¬â¢ by Cunningham and Kitson (2000), it can be ascertained that a program was being conducted in four acute hospital in England involving 4 senior nurse and 24 division sister to test, that if nurses are being accepted in a headship position will accelerate the quality of patient care. The intention of the program mentioned above was conducted to infer about leadership enhancement of the participants i.e. nurses. The process basically involved a survey asking the patients about the healthcare services they rendered. The data collected was then analyzed and an action plan was developed, which mainly focused on the development of leadership quality of the participants. Correspondingly, it was later measured that the program had a positive effect on the nurses, significantly improving their leadership skill (Cunningham & Kitson, 2000). With reference to the article, ââ¬ËCommunity and Home Care Services Provided to Children with Cancer: A Report from the Children's Cancer Group Nursing Committee Clinical Practice Groupââ¬â¢ by Frierdich, Goes and Dadd (2013), it can be analyzed that a survey conducted by Children's Cancer Group Nursing Committee reflects and spread awareness among society about cancer and its endanger health effects. Furthermore, it has also been observed that conducting fairs and campaigns could contribute considerably in spreading awareness within the society. Correspondingly, the aforesaid scenario depicts about the effective organizational planning and its desired outcomes. Proper organizational pla nning for healthcare sector will ensure effective measures and awareness to mitigate critical health issues such as cancer under societal context. (Frierdich, Goes & Dadd, 2013). Credible Websites With reference to a journal published by INSEAD, feedbacks from patients motivates and inspire nurses to develop skills enhancing their performance, inspire them to do better, helps them to maintain
Friday, August 23, 2019
Grants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Grants - Essay Example Grants from funding agencies to help promote literacy in primary schools: SAMPLE GRANT NO. 1 . Summary Information : Government Education Grant. Supplemental Education Service Providersââ¬â¢ Program: Study Center. The subject area is: Reading K-4. One on one tutoring: one student for every one instructor. Maximum cost: Rs. 32/- per hour. Target group: Students living on the South side of District Hometown or attending school there. Following the standard elements of a proposal, the main guidelines: First, The Title Page. Then, The Abstract: Regular and consistent classes for improving the reading skills of economically backward children, to make a difference in their lives in all areas. Lesson plans include CIERA (Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement) strategies through guided reading. The over-all focus is on the six dimensions of reading instructions: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, text comprehension, and motivation. Introduction: Statement of the problem: Poor academic performance of non-native English speaking children, from poor families. Purpose of the work: To improve young childrenââ¬â¢s reading skills before they are caught in a cycle of failure.
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