Application of Microeconomic Concepts in Personal Life

Application of Microeconomic Concepts in Personal Life Microeconomics involves observing the behavior of an economy to understand how to distribute resources. This study is very important in business world because it influences supply and demand of goods and services, which are used to set the cost of products and services. Both buyers and sellers use the two elements to make financial decisions. This paper will focus on how microeconomics concepts are applied in life.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Application of Microeconomic Concepts in Personal Life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Supply and demand are perceived to be the most influential factors concerning the cost of goods and services. This means that if the demand of a given commodity is high and the supply of that commodity is not adequate to meet the market needs, then the cost of that item will rise. This can be worse if there is only one sole supplier because he/she will be overwhelmed by the increase in de mand. This may cause the supplier to bring goods of low quality in the market and the sellers will trade them off at the usual prices. This happens because the manufacturer produces the products in a hurry. A smart shopper should not be contended with what he/she finds in one shop, but should instead look for other places where the same commodity is being sold at subsidized price. Competition among sellers favors buyers because each of them tries to entice the customer by slashing their prices without reducing the quality of the merchandise on sale. In addition, one needs to be cautious when making a purchase and the shortage of supply should not be the issue. There are people who are known to judge the quality of an item by its price tag. This is wrong because sellers are out to make profits and to them the real worth of an item is not an issue. It is therefore important to evaluate an item because it helps decide whether it is worth the cost. Many are times when the price of an it em misguides someone, only to regret later when it turns out that the item is not as durable as we were made to believe. Besides, one cannot distinguish a pair of shoes that was bought at $20 from the one that cost the owner $50.This is because they serve the same purpose. The above scenario implies that when the price of items that we require the most goes up we should identify alternative items to serve the same purpose. This is because there is no point of buying an expensive item when there are other cheap items that can quench our needs. However, it depends on the financial status of an individual. Another option would be to wait until the supply goes back to normal. This is necessary especially when the items in question are not needed that much, meaning that the needs can wait.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Likewise, planning is quite beneficial to both th e sellers and buyers. To the buyer planning ahead helps to prevent purchasing items at high prices. For instance, when schools close a parent should purchase the items that his/her child requires in the following season because at that time the demand for books and other learning materials would be low. However, if the parent opts to wait until when the schools are reopening, he/she would pay more for an item that would have cost him/her less money if he/she had made the purchase earlier. Alternatively, a smart seller observes the market behavior and understands when the low and high season commences and prepares adequately. By being knowledgeable about changing market trends a seller obtains enough stock and lies in wait for the demand to shoot up and make his/her score. In microeconomics, it is the smartest people who continue to thrive even when conditions continue to deteriorate. Microeconomics can also be used when one intends to establish a business by evaluating supply and de mand. By observing the environment, it is easy to spot an opportunity that is yet to be exploited. This involves identifying the needs of the people around you to determine what items you can sell to them. Going blindly will cause a noble idea to fail. Some people want to venture into businesses that have been tried by others simply because they know one or two people who get huge returns from selling particular merchandise. Just because John got his wealth by selling bananas by the roadside does not mean that another person will equally succeed in the same venture. It is therefore important to study the market first to identify possible customers. The same goes for people who wish to borrow money from financial institutions. This is because it is not difficult to get the money, but the interests that will accumulate. In fact, most people fear to borrow money because of these interests. When one wishes to apply for a loan, he/she should first analyze how the money is going to be rep aid. This entails carrying out research on how interests have been changing in the past. This is because the changes in interests could favor borrowers and have a negative impact on lenders. This implies that if the interest rates came down while you have already obtained money from the lending party then you will pay less money than the stated amount.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Application of Microeconomic Concepts in Personal Life specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In such a case, the borrower should take advantage of the situation to repay the loan while the rates are still low. If the borrower hesitates, the rates could increase and thus, the amount to be repaid will increase. Alternatively, the borrower can apply for a loan that has a permanent interest rate because that way he/she would be cautioned from the changes in interests. However, if one needs to borrow money when the interest rates are still high i t would be advisable not to apply for a loan in such a situation. Changes in interest rates also influence investments in bonds and shares. An investor can purchase bonds when it is speculated that the interest rates will go up in the future. This is because the returns he/she will get from those bonds will be much greater than when the interest rates remained low. In the stock market, it is possible to make profits when the interests are low .In such a case, an investor purchases stocks when the prices are still low and sells them when the prices appreciate probably due to increase in interest rates. Moreover, microeconomics can be employed in business management to dictate when an individual should enter or exit a venture. This is because if a business is not bringing any profits there is no point of operating it because it will continue to draw money from the investor instead of generating income. This is very common during recession periods. An individual who is employed should use the knowledge he/she has in microeconomics to negotiate for salary increase. The decline in the value of a local currency provides an opportunity for an employee to demand for wage increment because the salary that was once enough to meet his/her needs is no longer useful. A concerned employer would understand this logic much better. If the employer refuses to listen to such arguments then the employee should look for another job that pays more while still working for the current employer. If the situation persists, the employee should identify ways of surviving the inflation. Some of the approaches include eliminating some unnecessary expenses such as luxuries. Alternatively, when inflation reduces the people who are not employed should increase the frequency of searching for employment because job opportunities increases with reduction in inflation. When inflation increases, the learners who graduate from learning institutions should look for ways of employing themselves becau se the job market will decline and employers will be firing instead of hiring employees.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For individuals who participate in international trade, learning about changes in other economies would help them up their game. This is economic bubbles that are experienced in one country are extended to other countries that interact with it. For instance, if the value of the US dollar rose against the value of Japanese yen then the people who import goods from US would incur more costs. On the other hand, exports from Japan would be cheap to the Americans. In the above stated case, it would be logical for a Japanese to invest in the US because he/she will earn returns in US dollars and he/she will get more profit when the money is converted to Japanese yen. On the contrary, it would be unwise for Americans to invest directly in Japan because their investments will not yield any profit owing to the low value of the yen against the dollar. In conclusion, individuals should dare to apply the principles of microeconomics because it is only then that they can make wise decisions. Micr oeconomics is not just learned for passing exams, but because we need its insight in our day-to-day lives. This implies that consumers, sellers, and the public should make decisions that are based on what they know. If we all applied this knowledge appropriately, no one would be penalized for failing to pay his/her debts in good time. Furthermore, knowledge in microeconomics increases our bargaining power as seen in the case of employees and their quest for getting better pay.

Just like A Tree essays

Just like A Tree essays Just like a tree thats standing by the water, we shall not be moved. We remember singing that song while attending Clarendon school district 1 in Summerton, SC. Hello, my name is Sabrina H. and I am a graduate of the historic Scotts Branch High school. In recent news specials on the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, one key element was left out. It is of one of the cases that were included in the Brown vs. Board of Education; Briggs vs. Elliot. The struggle that was started then is still a focus for me and my Summerton community. I understand that the prettiest story with the happiest ending is what historians share. We, in Summerton share and remember a different story. My only concern with the issue is how we have been left behind? Summerton has been left behind. The mentality of the older residence is that of complacency. My generation (generation X) has no direction because we are in search of a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. How do I explain to them in a way that is not intimidating that the civil rights movement is not our movement? We have so many other focuses. Our children look to us for direction but we only know what we have seen. The town of Summerton is like no other I have seen. The high school that I graduated from has not had a white graduate since the Brown vs. Board of education ruling. When prompted to integrate, those that were not in favor started their own school. The ruling was a spring board for Topeka, Kansas, but it is evident that change was not welcome in Summerton, SC. I call it legal segregation. I did not believe that it was possible to be a product of your environment, but this situation has caused me to reevaluate my beliefs in that area. I can now conceive how a person can be a part of something so long that they adapt because no sign of change is in sight. How could we have been left behind? I shed a tear as I type only because the celebrations that were recently ...

Face Of Our Time Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Face Of Our Time - Research Paper Example Jim Goldberg’s collection of photographs about refugees was very heart throbbing. His spot-on method used that of centering or focusing the subject at the center created an odd power between the centre and auxiliary. One of them was Making Fire taken at the Democratic Republic of Congo. The photo captured the image of an African woman who had unrecognizable state and only showed her pursed lips. Her facial expression looked like she is upset but not very identifiable because of the shadow in her eyes. What really caught the attention of the audience is the autograph made by the subject herself. She wrote â€Å"I am a whore† on the photo and the photo did really speak of how our world looks like today. Refugees such as the subject on the photo have been ignored in our time today. They who badly need our help had been uncared for and mistreated. The picture did not really capture the true emotion of the subject but it really showed that the woman was not happy. Looking at the pictures exhibited by Goldberg, the photographs were able to hold the true meaning and goal of the exhibit. Like Making the Fire, the woman looked like she was not even given care and protection. Her autograph may imply that she was not ashamed of what she is or she is tired of being one and she wanted to tell the people that she existed and needed help. There may be a lot of interpretation of her photograph and what she wrote on the picture, but definitely it is not happiness. The Swiss photographer, Daniel Schwartz, focused his subjects to the effects of globalization. The photographs were able to portray less exposed subjects such as Bazaar Day. The photographs were collection of his travel. Though the images offer the audience less feeling of vulnerability, the photographs remain persistent. These pictures spoke that globalization is widespread and a lot of places were very much affected. Poverty and inequality can be seen in the pictures. If some countries have very clean and organized places such as market, a lot of places in central Asia do not have these opportunities and facilities. Thus globalization has its own series of pitfalls. Looking at Schwartz’s collection, he really wanted to convey a message about globalization to the world. Someone’s perfect place can mean to give another one’s place inadequacy. If there are countries that were blessed because of globalization, there are also those suffering because of it. Zanele Muholi’s collection and work gave voice to the visual identity of the marginalized queer black people in South Africa. Her elegant photographs of queer and transgendered women showed a strong message regarding marginalization of this kind of population. The collection spoke of identity and being of the queers. Discrimination especially based on gender has long been an issue not only in South Africa but in the world. The elegant portraits by Muholi showed pride, strength, and identity of the queer b lacks. South African queers, with reference to the pictures, are very proud of who they are and what they are. They posed strongly and proudly to the artist. Thus, there wasn’t any sign of them being ashamed. The works of Muholi showed how the queers stood for their right of being despite being marginalized. A Danish

Planning for Emergencies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Planning for Emergencies - Essay Example The causes may be different. However, the aftermath consisting of relief operations put up by governmental and non-governmental organizations are identical. They inevitably comprise the military, medical organizations including hospitals, social concerns, and trained volunteers. In terms of disaster management, there is no state as vulnerable and varied as Washington. Washington is a mountainous state and has a coastline making it vulnerable to avalanches, drought, earthquakes, floods, landslides, storms and wildfires. These are acts of nature or God. Man made disasters, other than terrorism, can happen due to hazards from abandoned mines, chemical wastes, and on lesser scale problems associated with dam breaches, nuclear mishaps, etc. Washington has large industries and business enterprises. This fact makes Washington quite vulnerable to terrorist attack. Acts of terrorism do not always happen by gun-totting misfits. They can get carried out through infringement of chemical, biological and even radio-active sources on a large scale. In order to handle disasters of either acts of God or human make, it is necessary to have in place a unique and ready organization equipped with the latest gadgets and trained thoroughly to carry out plans and analysis, and execute all operations from cutting through mangled steel and mortar debris to attending the victims who have either lost their lives or limbs. This is easier said than done because after the disaster has struck there is confusion and disorder. The confusion and disorder arise due to breakdown in the routine communication and transportation systems and people at the helm are grappling with right and wrong information. It is difficult to deal in situations where rumors are as ripe as reality and news of needy survivors or dead keep coming from all directions. In order to adequately meet all emergencies in the shortest time possible, it is necessary to have one chain of command and hand over all cases and responsibilities to this command. The question arises. Who will take up such responsibility This person must be of high moral stature, experienced, well informed, a team leader and capable of handling situations in high stressful conditions. He leads a team of trained, dedicated men and women who are conversant in handling emergency situations complete with capability in meeting mental and physical strain including medical care. This team must be capable of providing shelter, care and food to families and individuals affected by the disaster within the affected areas. A part of the team must be thorough in the field of medicine to provide medical care wherever needed. The need of hospitals and other medical centers is paramount in times of disaster. By the way, it is also important to keep away spectators and others who are there only to get a view of what is going on. The reporting system must adequately address dissemination of truthful information so that unnecessary crowding is avoided. Obviously, the size of the team providing care and

Is War Ever Justified Essay Example for Free

Is War Ever Justified Essay War, although being described by those who have survived it as hell, is in my opinion a necessary part of life in some sense in order to expand in many ways like socially, economically, and politically. In terms of social changes brought on by war, war often teaches us lessons about how to better our behaviour and attitudes in terms of our association both domestically and foreign. In World War 2 (1939 1945), America and Germany’s interaction and hostilities soon diminished after the end of conflict suggesting that they had learned to get along (or at the very least solve their issues in a more diplomatic way. ). Learning from our mistakes is essential for growing as a race in general. Had it not been for World War 2 the UN (United Nations) would have most likely not been formed and therefore our world would not feel the sense of unity that is present today. In terms of economic changes brought on by conflict or changes, had it not been for wars we would not gain items of value for the use of economic resources. Had the USA not gone over and improvised in Afghanistan they would have most likely lost what is estimated to have been one trillion dollars worth of oil. For this reason the Afghan War (2001 Present) has been referred to as the â€Å"resource war†. In terms of political change brought on by conflict or war, we as a society have learned many lessons of the importance of a strong political power which could in fact reduce the need for conflict or war. Had it not have been for the Vietnamese War (1959 1975), we would not have been shown the importance of international involvement from a single nation in order to assist a less fortunate nation. War has always, in the end, increased all nations sense of unity in some way. Had it not been for the Vietnamese War, America would still be in some state of singularity and arrogance. The loss in Vietnam for the Americans proved that even they the very powerful can be defeated; if they were not given assistance the losses could have been far greater. War may be brutal but there are many positives that can be taken away from it. War, though an expression of our inability to coordinate and understand one another is also a great teacher for the world at what is right and what is wrong. The atrocities and crimes committed during wartime, though terrible and evil as they appear are usually necessary and in the long run will eventually prove to be better for society. During World War 2 had the Allies not declared war against the Axis it is unthinkable as to what could have happened to our world. The Allies chose to stand up to what atrocities were committed by Hitler and stop his evil from spreading. World War 2 is also an exceptional example of what happens when good men fail to act and allow the actions of evil men to spread. Hitler rose to power and began breaching the Treaty of Versailles and built an army despite the Treaties clear clause in which it states that Germany is banned from ever creating an army to avoid the repetition of World War 1 (1914 1918). Had a militant force not attempted to stop Hitler and his Axis powers it is unthinkable as to what the outcome of Hitler’s plan could have been. World War 2 was completely justifiable in that the evil committed during this war far outweigh the possible evil that could have occurred had a war not occurred. Had a militant force not intervened and caused a war it is quite probable that Hitler would have just kept exterminating the Jewish population and that the world would have just continued to watch. During World War 2 we learned the importance of standing up against the tyrannical and not being afraid to stand up for what we as a civilisation believe to be acceptable behaviour. The conflicts during World War 2 could very well have been avoided had good men acted against Hitler’s breach of the Treaty of Versailles and had the courage to stop him before, as we can now see, his plan could have been put into motion. We can simply justify World War 2 in that had The Allies failed to intervene the Nazis would simply continue to exterminate the Jewish population and many attempts to reach Hitler on a political level had been attempted and failed. War, although being a major drain on our economy, is also a great representation of our ability to learn and adapt to what is occurring throughout our time. Had we not spent so much money on war machines during wartimes, we would not have defences in place today that protect our nations against attacks from other possible threats. It is also important to recognize that had wars not occurred it is quite possible that our economies would in-fact be damaged by this. for example a large portion of the economy revolves around oil and it is estimated that had America neglected to act in Afghanistan and stop the Taliban from burning their oil supply as an act of aggression and arrogance against the USA, it is possible that approximately one trillion dollars worth of oil would have been wasted. Had the USA not stepped in and intervened in this conflict, America’s already struggling economy would have been severely damaged and it is possible that this massive loss of oil would have quite possibly caused another depression in America. Had America not invested so much money into the conflict in Afghanistan there economy would have been severely damaged by this. The war in Afghanistan can be justified in that it was not originally intended for the sole purpose of protecting a means of economic revenue but was originally intended for the purpose of retrieving Osama Bin Laden and to punish him for his atrocities committed. It was only after this fact that Osama’s militia began to burn up the oil fields that American geologist discovered that Afghanistan was actually sitting over one of the worlds largest oil deposits. Many people who are against the war in Afghanistan claim that this conflict comments on Americas greed for Afghanistans oil deposits but it was intended originally to have been a mission to capture a known terrorist and to protect the people of Afghanistan. War is often a result of the lack of political effectiveness to eliminate issues and this causes violence. War can be justified in that many people are so close minded in that they would rather resort to violence and not accept a diplomatic solution to their issues that they have. The Vietnamese War is a result of America and her one-time ally the Soviet Union’s inability to discuss and resolve their issues without resorting to War and conflict. The collective inability of the Soviet Union and the Vietnamese Government to accept Americas attempts at peace resulted in this conflict and therefore this conflict was justified. The Vietnamese War was somewhat unavoidable in that many attempts by America were made to achieve peace with Vietnam. After the Vietnamese War was eventually lost by the American Military, it was determined that the original intention of the Vietnam War was to preserve the Vietnamese people’s right to self determination and freedom from oppression by the government. The war is justifiable in that America was merely attempting at preserving a god given constitutional right in that we as a people deserve the right to choose our actions without input from and political force. The Vietnamese War had the best intentions to preserve our rights but was perhaps ill prepared on part of the American Military. Sometimes in order to do whats right we have to put aside the safety of others and make the difficult decisions that need to be made. Each and every war or conflict throughout history has been caused by circumstances that require action. Had action been neglected during any of the wars listed within this paper the results of these wars would have been far worse and many more would have died. All of the wars listed within this paper were unavoidable and justified in the fact that they all had the best of intentions in mind and that they were all attempted to be solved through non violent means. If a conflict is attempted to be resolved without violence or conflict then the act of war is justified.

Satire, Surrealism and Dark Humor in Vonneguts Cats Cradle :: Vonnegut Cats Cradle

Satire, Surrealism and Dark Humor in Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle "And there on the shaft in letters six inches high, so help me God, was the word: Mother" (48) "'If that's mother,' said the driver, 'what in hell could they have raised over father?'" As the reader soon finds out, 40 cm of marble, as directed by Felix Hoenikker's will, that says "FATHER" (49). Vonnegut stops you short and plucks at your hand like a little boy who has just shaved the cat and can't wait to show you what he's done: you can't, as a responsible adult, laugh at the absurdity of the bald and shivering feline because you know that you should be astonished, offended, annoyed, anything but burst out laughing, which you desperately desire to do. Vonnegut acts as Wrang-Wrang in this scene; two men in an ice storm, marveling at a towering alabaster penis given in memoriam to a mother by her children. Vonnegut's use of the surreal (and, by the way, this is also an episode of, if not dark, then very twisted humor) in the scene discourages the reader's scrutiny so that Vonnegut can slip his point across without notice. What point? Possibly, and this could be just me thinking aloud, the scene describes the strength of the mother and the dual roles she had to play; the father was also a child, as simple and pure in his intellectual ecstasy as, well, a marble cube. "The marker was an alabaster phallus twenty feet high and three feet thick" (48), Vonnegut crows, inviting you to stand in the cold with him and wonder with the driver exactly what in hell is going on†¦ Satire is thrown into CC early and often, so much that it seems almost unfairly easy to extract examples, but it is such an integral component of the novel that it requires at least a look-see. One of my favorite parts of the book is the scene on the airplane where Jonah meets not one but two stereotypical "Ugly Americans," a term coined by William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick in the title of their 1958 novel of the same name. The Mintons are well educated, speaking "six or seven" (65) languages between the two of them but see the people and places they have seen during their diplomatic careers as "About the same" (65). They are what Bokonon calls a duprass that will, as Jonah points out, die at very nearly the same time when the world is overcome by ice-nine.

International Relations Theory Essay

The study of the international relations has traditionally focused on the study of the causes of war and conflict between the states and the condition of peace. However, in the 21st century we are more concerned with the question of how the global relations can be identified, and with who lays the power of world politics. The global politics and international relations concepts have been developed over centuries. The key theories have established the commonly accepted methods of explaining the relationships between the states, and the way in which nations conduct their businesses. We can distinguish between many strands of thought, each extensive and often mutable. Thus, it is hard to define which are the most equitable and had most leverage in the international relations or global politics. However, we can certainly highlight few, which are seen as the most important or even crucial. One of them is Marxism, developed by Karl Marx in the 19th century. Marxism sought to purport the varied terrains in a new and unprecedented way. Some of the key aphorisms include the materialism, class system theory, the dialectical approach to history and of course a critique to liberalism and capitalism. Alas, the Marxism theory was precluded in the 1990s, after the oppression of people, economic instability, poverty and unhappiness under the communistic rule became evident. However, in the latter years of extreme economic and social crisis, many scholars once again engaged in the critical insight of capitalism, just as Marx did centuries ago. Marxism is the only theory available, which seeks to completely undermine capitalism, and expose its fundamental flaws which capitalists try to avoid or divert, but cannot overcome. However, it is not only limited to the economics. It presents extensive explanation of social and political relations and ways in which societies can determine it. It offers a new concept of freedom, far more expansive and empowering than the traditional liberal understanding. In this essay I will critically assess the extent to which Marxism has contributed to an understanding of the global politics. The global politics otensibly consists of many strands of scholar thought , analysis and theories . The acuurate and cognizant way of explaining or arranging the different approaches would be to put them in two categories; mainstreem and the rest. The parenial mainstreem theories of international relations are realism, liberalism, neo-realism and neo-liberalism. Other vail approaches share much with mainstreetm but have been seen rather as develpoments or critiques or of it, often providing a very distinct analysys . One of such is Marxism. Karl Marx developed new depiction with some linkages to the previous theories. He offers a distinct approach and analysis of political, social and economic life. Marx’s aim was to expose the hidden truth about the world of politics, and to higlight to people that history, politics and our social life is not something that only happens to us (independently from our actions), but rather something wich happens with our presence and input, and therefore can also be transformed by us. We can choose weather or not we want to live in a political-social system which we inherited, or to alter it if we are dissatissfied with it. In this sense politics appears as a struggle over processess of social-self production. The ability to steer various processess in one direction or another, thus shape the world in whcih we live in, produce a social change. Marxs expalins this as a dialectical or process orientated approach to understanding our history and politics. The historical tensions and cirumstances opneded up various possibilities for actors (agents embodied in institutions), to produce a change. As humans we have a freedom or in other words a collective ability to shape ourselfs and our world. This concept of freedom is broader and more empowering , than in the traditional liberal thinging (freedom of choice, our wants and needs in the market). Another important aphorism of Karl Marx was historical materialism. According to Marx all life is constantly evolving . The evolution results from the clash of two opposing forces. The same must happen with peolpe. For centuries humanity experienced struggles and clashes mainly between 2 groups of people. In the acient world it was the slaves and the lords, in the middle the peasants (surfs)and the lad owners, and in capitalism the capitalists (burgouise) and the working class (proletariat). Each historic era is different , has its own dynamic an dlogic, based on a dominant mode of production: primitive, feudalism and finally capitalism. For Marx each stage had its beginbing, middle but also an end. Marx also belived that history is shaped by the material basis of society. He recognised base and superstructure division of society. He included education, politics, religion, culture, media to the superstructure. Underneeth the superstructure there lies base consisted of relations of production (burguoise), and means of production everything which is owned by burguise needed for procution such as technology for instance). The base in Marx view , creates a particular type of political authority which is mostly concerned with protecting and promoting the interests of the dominant class. The base can change the history and the society. The key implication here is that the people who conctrol the material base (the means and forces of production), ulitmately control the society, politics and the world we live in. He recognised tha states as the puppet of a dominant class. Marx also offered an extensive and profound crtique to caqpitalism, imperialism and globaloization. He did not undermined it. It is fair to say that Marx understood capitalims as the most productive theorey that every existed but nevertheless, he recognised that it was living on a borrowed time. For Marx the capitalism had fundamental flaws as it was exploitative and oppressive system. He examined the features of capitalism, praised it for the competetive nature whihc would recsult and many spohisticated advancemnts, presented its flaws and atributes. Karl Marx acknowledge that constant urge for profit wouldstimulate the innovation process in various fields such as technology, media, medicine. Nevertheless, the necessity to generate higher and higher profit is the main downfall of the globalization and capitalism concept. As a result capitalism will move from crisis to criris, and the society will become increasingly unequal. Marx specified that capitalists will attempt to reslove one crisis, but as one problem would be resolved, another would be created in its place. We can clearly see how this process works taking for instance the sub-prime lending case. As people did not have enough money , the demand failed. The profits of various cooperations also failed (as demand stimalates the supply and the prices). The banks offered creditd cards and loans. In turn people bought more goods, and contributed to the economy. Everyone was happy in the process, the baks, the producers and of course the working class who would now finally buy the goods and services they wanted. One problem was solved. However, after a while people did not meet their repayments. The banks had to confiscate their houses, cars, and other possesions as a result. Now banks were left with empty houses, and a huge deficit of money. The enterpreneours who invested and supplied banks with the money lost a vast ammount of money, many bankrupted. The taxes rates for the lower and the middle were risen, and the wages cut so the capitalists could once again make profit. Alas, less wages and bigger taxes meant less dissposable income to pay for the new good and services. The capitalists once again have to battle low profits, and find new ways to stay in business, The whole process reapeats itself, and no concrete and reliable solution is found. Marx also crtiticises the globalization process. The global capitalism means alliances of globalised capitalists, in order to do the business together and gain more control. This aspect of globalization within the context of capitalism will also prove fatal, as the interconcetivity between various world economies could potentiall bring doom to all if one falls ( we can see it happening with the hyousing bubble burst in the USA, resulting from the sub-prime lending . This crisis not only affected the USA economy, but spreaded to the rest of the world resulting in the global economical crises and recession). Marxs posited that economic relations between people was core to absolutely everything. The human needs for housing, security, food, drive human interactions. Furthermore he stasted that private property divided the world. The human persistency to barter and to create profit was a recepie for distater. Capitalism develpse productive powers of human societies, but it does in rather undemocratic manner, through exploating and subduing the working class. As a result it distors the real historiacal possibilities for social self-determination. Socially empowered people under the capitalistic system, are prevented from realising their full productive powers and enjoying their fuller forms of freedom. Under tha capitalism ideaology supports the historiucally specific forms of social activity and organization, which appears to be necessarry and natural universal conditions. It takes on the apperance of unchangable, and hard-wired withing the society. This is of course mistification. Within the context of capitalism , we are isolated individuals, therefore we confornt our social envirometn not as collective product. We views it in terms of constraint on our individual chocies. This way of understanding social relations as parennial, universal and natural prevents us from looking for possibilities of transformation, or imagining the alternative possible worlds. Marxism inspired future analysis in the international relations arena . One of the most significant was the crtitical theory. The critical theory was develpoed in 1930s by the frankfurt school of thoutgt. The term frnakfurt school refers to theorists originally assosiated with the Institute for Social Research at Frankfurt University . The early frnakfurt shcool tehorist Horkheimer and Adorno, began too lose faith in the revolutionary potential of the proletaria. The also saw how in the west Marxism was marxism was being transformed into a doctrisn of economic determinism. In the face of these developments, they wanted to retain a critical modern critical and potentially progressive role for social theory, but were wary of the orthodox Marxisms’ preocupation with production and the coresponding emphasis on the historical role of the proletariat† The core concepts of the Crtical theory are that critical social theory should be directed at the totality of society in its historical specificity , and also that critical theory should improve understanding of society by integrating all the major social sciences, including geography, economics, sociology, history, political science, anthropology, and psychology. Critical theoriests developed a key concept that the objectively valid forms of knowledge could not be established independently of the social context and social norms. The theories which claimthat they provide objective truth are profoundly misleading. In their view idealogy (or theories assosiated with it), are just a belief that oue perspective is the truth. The way in which things appera from the economic standpoint of our consciousness. They asked a question: can idealogy be proven, is it just a mode of belief. After all idealogy is without conciousness. Is it fair to say that things actually are the way they appear to me? The frankfurt scholars went on explaining that in each historic period the dominant class sets the idealogy. In the late capitalism it is ultimately a burgouise idealogy. So the ideas whic are the base of every aspect of our society , (for instance our current work ethic or current standards of moral behaviour) do not have to be universal, just and correct. The frankfurt scholars have undermined the positivist forms of scienfitic knowledge. They claim that positivism and instrumental reason discourse denys the alternative values and future possible worlds. Gramsci went a bit further and develpoed a theory of hegemony as a form of political power whcih relied upon the consent than coercion. â€Å" In a hegemonic social situation, dominant groups (classes, class fractions and their verious alliers) articulate a social vision which claims to serve the intersts of all, and they use selective incentives to recruit junior partners into their coalition and to didivde the disable oposition† He belived that in modern and advances capitalistsic societies, hegemonic power might be promoted via media, education, art, literature as well as political parties. Under these conditions various groups might be led to consent to the powerof dominant groups. This action would make the use of obviously opressive and coercive power unnecessary.. He also argued that hegemony should be continously chalenged by the civil society. In this way he hoped that capitaslist culture would be challenged by a counter-hegemonic political culture. In short, he speculated that peolpe might start to think of their economic lives as having a significant political importance . Gramsci hoped that they might finally question the universal capitalism’s structured separation of the ploitical fromt he economic aspects of life. Another important approach to global politics, which derives from Marxism is the World systems theory , which was fathered by Immanueakl Wallestein in the 1970s. He traced the rise of the world system to the 16th century Western Europe, whihc then spraded to the rest of the world. The E3urope feudal economy suffered crisi and was transformed into capitalism. The west quikly utilisised their advantages and gained control and power, over the most of the world economy (using colonialism, slavery, imperialism and globalisation together with the unfair trade). This actions resulted in an unequal develpoment, which instead of diminishing grows even further. Wallestein also supported Marx’s previous view that the suposely tree distnict areas of politics, socio9logya nd economics are in fact combined. In his writing Wollestein provided a structural explenation of the global inequallity between states. He viewd it as a pyramis. At the top of the pyramid lye the core states. Whuhc dominate the system. They all are in favour of capitalistic global economy for their own elevation. Examples in todays world inlude USA, Japan or Western Europe. Beneeth the core states lys the semi-periphery states, which are seeking to elevate themselfs to claim their place among the core . Examples include the BRIC countries: Brasil. Rusia, India or China. At the very bottom of the pyramid lies the peripher, the weakest of the states (third wolrd countires ). They are usually rulled by the puppet goverments , subservient to the global capitalists. Ruled by the core states. They will never be given the standars of life they deserve through their inustry. They usually provide most of the natural resources and products which are greedly devour by the core, only to recive poor technoplogy and ocasional aid in return. People in the third world countries (peripherians) are the main victims of this opression, as they benefit less from the spohisticated technology and innovation that capitalism (through drive for profit) brings about. This generates a fundamental innequality between the nations. Conclusion The forms of Marxian critical theory (further develpoed by the Frankfurt school and by Gramsci), lead us to a conlusion that the claims of scientific objectivity assosiated with positivistiv theories of International relations are in fact profoundly misleading . This approach differs a lot from the mainstreem realistic and liberalistsi approaches of the international relations. More recently there has been a sort of renaissance of Marxian international theory. It began during the 1990s and gained its momentum with the US war on terror after the 9/11/. The American war on terror is seen by many as the twnety-first-centuray imperialism . Many scholars return to Marxism wirtings and its later developments, to find it very accurate in the sphere of the global politics today. Undoubtedly, Marxism contributed in large means to our understanding of the global politics. It is the only reliable source of the critique of the capitalistis system we currently live in. Furthermore it explains and provides an analis of it. It stresses the interdependence of social-political- and economical aspects of life , not only within the domestic arena but also on the global scale. Marxisms highlights the global innequalities that the capitalism creates, demonstrates and unmasks the constant exploitation and mannipulation of the working class. It stresses the importance of all idvividuals, and their ability to transform and alter the world around us which includes our political system, current moral and ethical forms of behaviour, the ecoonomic system and every other aspect of our live. Marx and the later scholars influenced by his writing, do not propose a new clear system to replace capitalism. The presumptions are left to us . Within the concept of marism the idealogy can always be altered, it shall not be seen as something parenially just and fair. It is also seen as the tool of the higher class, who usess it to explain the world to the lower class and further to control it. Therefore Marx saw idealogy only a way of explainign and understanding the world rather than verity. This approach had big significance in the global politics theory. It inspired new starnds of thought in international relations and of course met with a fierce critique of positivistic scholars and thinkers.

Crime-free Children Today Essay

Open a newspaper or switch on the radio for news and you will no doubt see a number of horrifying crimes reported there – murder, rape and robberies are no longer surprising or shocking news to the Indian citizens. But what can shock us is the fact that most, at least a third, of the crimes committed in a year are by youngsters below the age of 18. Juvenile delinquency is increasing rapidly. A large part of the world’s children are in India. Children are often perceived as the epitome of innocence and naivetà © by most people. But the phrase â€Å"child-like innocence† can no longer be used, because the adolescents are one of the most violent age categories in the world. There are many incidences of crimes committed by the adolescents these days. The number of juvenile court cases are increasing and the crimes become more horrifying by the minute. There are increasing evidences of road rages, crimes against women, violence in school etc. all committed by teenage rs. Parents and others involved in a child’s life are equally responsible for the child’s hostile behavior. The amount of violence in the adolescent’s day-to-day life plays a large role in this issue, too. The child’s guardians have to take time to understand this complex problem and try to solve it; but what most of the Indian parents do is say to themselves, â€Å"He/she will grow out of it,† and simply avoid the issue, hoping it is just a phase. But this ignorant way of treating the problem is the start of a life-long trouble that will not only affect the family, but also the society, because in most of the cases of aggressive juvenile violence, the adolescent grows to be a criminal, thus delaying the development and progress of the nation.  The family does not bother to think of what may be the cause of the child’s behavior. Violent mannerisms in children can include a wide range of behaviors: explosive temper tantrums, physical aggression, fighting, bullying, homicidal thoughts, use of weaponry, cruelty towards animals, destruction of property etc. Most of this is caused by the problematic upbringing of the child – parents who pamper and spoil their children or agree to the child’s tantrums are endangering the child’s future. The television and the media can also increase a child’s violent tendencies. A child tends to imitate what he observes and this is a huge problem in India, because Indian cinema often has its heroes resort to violence to bring down their opponents. This makes the child think that using assault and bloodshed to achieve one’s needs is fine. Video games lessen the child’s value for a human life, as most of them involve killing animated characters. Being a victim of sexual abuse, presence of firearms in the house and even head injuries during childhood can cause adolescent violence. Remember, violence always leads to violence. Now that most of the people and the Government of India are starting to recognize and address this issue, solutions have to be found and made accessible to the citizens. Parents have to look out for signs of intense anger, impulsiveness, irritability and cruelty in children and look for the reason. Feelings of revenge and vengeance should be discouraged; tell them what the Father of our Nation once said, â€Å"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.† Make it clear to them that violence does not solve anything. Only clearheaded thinking can lead to good results. The amount of violence that the child is exposed to through media has to be restricted, but the media can also help by raising awareness and to show the children the adverse affects of violence. Developing a reading habit is also highly helpful in curbing a child’s hostility. Family conflicts, problems in school, discrimination by other children etc. should be found out and solved. Parents should not hesitate to consult a psychiatrist if necessary. Making the adolescent part of the Indian population is necessary because only calm and responsible children can grow into stable, responsible, patriotic citizens in the future. We should remember that it is the youth that will shape our country’s future. Every child is bright in his or her own way and it is the duty of the adults to keep the light burning, for the next generation will fulfill the dreams of our great leaders and lead our  nation to its victorious destiny only if our society is united, strong and nonviolent. Teach the children to follow the Mahatma’s policy, the motto that toppled the British, the strongest invading force of the past century: nonviolence.

Geography of the Korean Peninsula

Geography of the Korean Peninsula The Korean Peninsula is an area located in Eastern Asia. It extends south from the main part of the Asian continent for about 683 miles (1,100 km). As a peninsula, it is surrounded by water on three sides and there are five bodies of water that touch it. These waters include the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, the Korea Strait, the Cheju Strait and Korea Bay. The Korean Peninsula also covers a total land area of 84,610 miles (219,140 km).The Korean Peninsula has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times and several ancient dynasties and empires controlled the area. During its early history the Korean Peninsula was occupied by a single country, Korea, but after World War II, it was split into North Korea and South Korea. The largest city on the Korean Peninsula is Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, is another large city on the peninsula.Most recently the Korean Peninsula has been in the news due to growing conflicts and tensions between Nort h and South Korea. There have been years of hostilities between the two nations but on November 23, 2010, North Korea launched an artillery attack on South Korea. This was the first confirmed direct attack on South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953 (there are also claims that North Korea sunk the South Korean warship the Cheonan in March 2010 but North Korea denies responsibility). As a result of the attack, South Korea responded by deploying fighter jets and firing lasted for a short time over the Yellow Sea. Since then, tensions have remained and South Korea has practiced military drills with the United States. Topography and Geology of the Korean Peninsula About 70% of the Korean Peninsula is covered by mountains, although there are some arable lands on the plains between the mountain ranges. These areas are small however so any agriculture is confined to certain areas around the peninsula. The most mountainous regions of the Korean Peninsula are the north and east and the highest mountains are in the northern part. The highest mountain on the Korean Peninsula is Baekdu Mountain at 9,002 feet (2,744 m). This mountain is a volcano and it is located on the border between North Korea and China.The Korean Peninsula has a total of 5,255 miles (8,458 km) of coastline. The south and west coasts are also very irregular and the peninsula thus also consists of thousands of islands. In total there are about 3,579 islands off the coast of the peninsula.In terms of its geology, the Korean Peninsula is slightly geologically active with its highest mountain, Baekdu Mountain, having last erupted in 1903. In addition, there are also crater lakes in oth er mountains, indicating volcanism. There are also hot springs spread throughout the peninsula and small earthquakes are not uncommon. Climate of the Korean Peninsula The climate of the Korean Peninsula varies highly based upon location. In the south, it is relatively warm and wet because it is affected by the East Korean Warm Current, whereas the northern parts are usually much colder because more of its weather comes from northern locations like Siberia. The entire peninsula is also affected by the East Asian Monsoon and rain is very common in midsummer, and typhoons are not uncommon in the fall.The Korean Peninsulas largest cities, Pyongyang and Seoul vary also and Pyongyang is much colder (it is in the north) with an average January low temperature of 13ËšF (-11ËšC) and the average August high 84ËšF (29ËšC). The average January low temperature for Seoul is 21ËšF (-6ËšC) and the average August high temperature is 85ËšF (29.5ËšC). Biodiversity of the Korean Peninsula The Korean Peninsula is considered a biodiverse place with over 3,000 species of plants. Over 500 of these are native only to the peninsula. The distribution of species over the peninsula also varies with location, which is mainly due to the topography and climate throughout it. Thus the different plant regions are divided into zones which are called the warm-temperate, temperate and cold temperate. Most of the peninsula consists of the temperate zone. Sources CNN Wire Staff. (29 November 2010). Seoul Warns: Dear Price if North Korea Attacks Again. CNN World. Retrieved from: cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/29/koreas.crisis/index.htmlCNN Wire Staff. (24 November 2010). After North Korean Strike, South Korean Leader Threatens Retaliation. CNN World. Retrieved from: cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/23/nkorea.skorea.military.fire/index.html?hptT1Wikipedia.org. (28 November 2010). Korean Peninsula - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_PeninsulaWorldAtlas.com. (n.d.). Korean Peninsula Map, Map of North and South Korea, Korea Information and Facts - WorldAtlas.com. Retrieved from: worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/koreanpn.htm

Phil Spector and the Murder of Lana Clarkson

Phil Spector and the Murder of Lana Clarkson On February 3, 2003, police went to Spectors Los Angeles mansion after receiving an emergency 9-1-1 call. As stated in the police reports, police found the body of the 40-year-old actress Lana Clarkson sitting slumped in a chair in the foyer. She had been shot in the mouth and a blue-steel .38 Colt revolver with a two-inch barrel was found on the floor near her body. The Investigation Clarkson was an actress and also working as a hostess in a VIP lounge at the House of Blues in West Hollywood on the night that she met 62-year-old Spector and left with him in his limousine. His driver, Adriano De Souza, told the grand jury that he waited outside after the two went into Spectors mansion. Almost immediately after the two entered the home, Spector returned to the car and got a briefcase. About an hour later De Souza heard a gunshot, then observed Spector going out the back door with a gun in his hand. According to De Souza, Spector said to him, I think I killed somebody. Spector is Charged With Murder After police arrived to the scene, a small struggle incurred when Spector was asked to show his hands, which were jammed inside his front pockets. He fought off police and was eventually subdued after police used a Taser stun gun on him then tackled him to the ground. I Didnt Mean to Shoot Her Inside the home, police found nine additional firearms and a blood trail throughout the house. Transcripts of grand jury testimony in the case show that Spector first told police he accidentally shot actress Lana Clarkson, then later said she had committed suicide. When police officer Beatrice Rodriquez arrived at the scene, Spector told her, I didnt mean to shoot her. It was an accident. After an investigation lasting over six months, Spector was officially charged in November of 2003 for the murder of Lana Clarkson. The Trial Spectors attorneys tried unsuccessfully to have the damaging statements suppressed, but on October 28, 2005, the judge ruled the statements could be used against Spector in trial. A retired police officer who had worked at times for Joan Rivers as a security guard, testified during the trial that he ejected Spector from two Christmas parties for brandishing a gun and making violent and threatening statements about women. One Attorney, Two Attorneys, Three Attorneys Spector hired and fired three attorneys. Defense attorney Robert Shapiro represented Spector at his arraignment and early pretrial hearings, and arranged for his release on $1 million bail. He was replaced by Leslie Abramson and Marcia Morrissey. Bruce Cutler, the former long-time lawyer of New York City mafia boss John Gotti, in turn, replaced them.

Durkheim's and Merton's Sociological Positivism in Explaining the Essay

Durkheim's and Merton's Sociological Positivism in Explaining the Criminal Behavior - Essay Example So there are biological positivism, psychological positivism, and sociological positivism in criminology depending of the field of knowledge that is taken as reference. Sociological positivism in criminology makes a strong emphasis in the study of crime and criminal behaviour as a social phenomenon that is explained through the critical analysis of social structures, functions, and agents. Since criminology is an interdisciplinary science, sociological positivism also takes into account biological and psychological data when undertaking the study of crime and criminal behaviour. The study of deviance or abnormality in society belongs to the field of criminology, too. Sociological positivism attempts to explain crime and deviance from different angles trying to find valid and reliable theories that can help in its prevention and deterrence. Sociological positivism emerged as a scientific effort to fill the gap of other criminological studies based on biological and psychological perspectives, which were mostly centred on the individual. It also emerged in opposition of the Classical School of Criminology that was grounded on the standpoints of classical Greek philosophers, especially stressing the importance of free will (O'Connor, 2006). It was also based on utilitarian/hedonistic premises and the concept of social contract to whcih Durkheim was opposed (Hopkins Burke, 2005:91). Positivistic criminology takes a different position, and its main features are the following: 'The demand for facts, for scientific proof (determinism). There are body and mind differences between people (of these, the mens rea, or reasons for committing crime are important). Punishment should fit the individual criminal, not the crime (indeterminate sentencing, disparate sentencing, parole). The criminal justice system should be guided by scientific experts (rule by scientific elite, technocracy). Criminals can be treated, rehabilitated, or corrected (if not, then they are incurable and should be put to death). (O'Connor, 2006). The most influential figures in the field of sociological positivism in criminology are Quetelet, Guerry, Comte, Durkheim, Ferri, Garofalo, Merton and Agnew. 3. Durkhiem's and Merton's main features of sociological positivism. The main features of Durkheim's sociological positivism in criminology are the distinction between mechanical solidarity and organic solidarity, his views about the division of labour as a signal of social progress, his idea that crime and deviance are necessary for change and progress in society, and the introduction of the concept of anomie in the social structure for explaining the causes of crime and deviance (Hopkins Burke, 2005:91-95; Greek, 2005). For Durkheim, simple societies before the industrialisation process were formed by people that behaved and thought in similar ways since they performed similar work tasks with group-oriented goals (Greek, 2005). They were characterised by having mechanical solidarity. They had 'an intense and rigid collective conscience invariabley reinforced by sacred religious belief' (Durkheim paraphased by Hopkins Burke & Pollock, 2004:10). In this kind of society 'Repressive

Social work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Social work - Essay Example This gives the indication that even if the objective for equal educational opportunity to everyone is greatly supported by the values held sociologists, there is need to indulge in professional commitment as well as record accomplishment. It is therefore important to face these challenges by way of equipping educational social workers with basic knowledge on African American experiences as well as equipping urban schools which are considered to have massive enrolments of black students. It is very important to ensure improvement in policy making and leadership toward educational reforms especially in urban schools. Research indicates that policymaking in regard to educational reform is a variable missing especially when focusing on school social work discussion. This therefore creates the need for school social work to take responsibility so as to initiate various contracts based on major policy decisions. Social workers need to largely participate in public policy forum related to education reform. School choices play a major role in educational reforms with main focus on schools in urban cities. Therefore, development of various school choice issues is perceived to change the function and structure of existing urban school. School choices can be through school vouchers that are considered to be an issue of equality in education whereby a state or federal educational funding is directly issued to those families that are underprivileged and would like to enroll in private schools. Educational social workers can engage in organizing various community forums to bring both school personnel and organizers together to discuss key reforms needed in the education system. Also, research plays an important role in policymaking educational reforms with main focus on black culture in the educational system. Through research, many researchers have identified critical issues within the African American