Monday, December 23, 2019

T2 DQ1 Essay - 676 Words

According to the assigned article, Health Disparity and Structural Violence: How Fear Undermines Health Among Immigrants at Risk for Diabetes, narratives tell the story of the interconnectedness between fear and health. Thematically, the issue of fear is a dominant feature that affects how an individual approaches day-to-day living and health. Explain the relationship between fear and health identified by the researchers in the article. Do you agree that structural violence perpetuates health disparity? The article Health Disparity and Structural Violence: How Fear Undermines Health Among Immigrants at Risk for Diabetes was extremely informative. The article identified â€Å"three dimensions of fear including (a) Cost; (b) Language,†¦show more content†¦39). Limited English proficiency lead to financial burdens, and increased their suspicion of being â€Å"discovered† when collections agencies attempted debt recovery, leading to further mistrust in the health care profession. In modern medicine, alternative therapies are poorly understood and studied. The preference for alternative therapies, and herbal medicine were indicated, and the fear of relinquishing information regarding these practices were almost paralyzing. It seemed as though they were ashamed to admit to cultural healing practices, and did not divulge information to practitioners regarding their usage. The cultural disconnect was present as alternative/complimentary medicines are valued as a culture, and â€Å"modern† practitioners cast judgment on their usage. This perceived stigma additionally limited the information shared by the cultural participants with modern medical treatments, potentially causing additional harm, as some herbals are potentially toxic. I do believe that structural violence perpetuates health disparities. I also think that there are services available that are often misunderstood and are underutilized. I feel that with some education, financial assistance through hospitals would be a potential avenue for diminishing the financial impact of seeking care, and

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Product Life Cycle Theory Free Essays

string(148) " of product life cycle is important to marketers because via this analysis they can manage their product well and prevent it from incurring losses\." The product life cycle theory is used to comprehend and analyze various maturity stages of products and industries. Product innovation and diffusion influence long-term patterns of international trade. This term product life cycle was used for the first time in 1965, by Theodore Levitt in an Harvard Business Review article: â€Å"Exploit the Product Life Cycle†. We will write a custom essay sample on Product Life Cycle Theory or any similar topic only for you Order Now Anything that satisfies a consumer’s need is called a ‘product’. It may be a tangible product (clothes, crockery, cars, house, gadgets) or an intangible service (banking, health care, hotel service, airline service).Irrespective of the kind of product, all products introduced into the market undergo a common life cycle. To understand what this product life cycle theory is all about, let us have a quick look at its definition. Product Life Cycle Definition A product life cycle refers to the time period between the launch of a product into the market till it is finally withdrawn. In a nut shell, product life cycle or PLC is an odyssey from new and innovative to old and outdated! This cycle is split into four different stages which encompass the product’s journey from its entry to exit from the market. Product Life Cycle StagesThis cycle is based on the all familiar biological life cycle, wherein a seed is planted (introduction stage), germinates (growth stage), sends out roots in the ground and shoots with branches and leaves against gravity, thereby maturing into an adult (maturity stage). As the plant lives its life and nears old age, it shrivels up, shrinks and dies out (decline stage). Similarly, a product also has a life cycle of its own. A product’s entry or launching phase into the market corresponds to the introduction stage. As the product gains popularity and wins the trust of consumers it begins to grow.Further, with increasing sales, the product captures enough market share and gets stable in the market. This is called the maturity stage. However, after some time, the product gets overpowered by latest technological developments and entry of superior competitors in the market. Soon the product becomes obsolete and needs to be withdrawn from the market. This is the decline phase. This was the crux of a product life cycle theory and the graph of a product’s life cycle looks like a bell-shaped curve. Let us delve more into this management theory. Introduction Stage After conducting thorough market research, the company develops its product. Once the product is ready, a test market is carried out to check the viability of the product in the actual market, before it can set foot into the mass market. Results of the test market are used to make correction if any and then launched into the market with various promotional strategies. Since the product has just been introduced, growth observed is very slight, market size is small and marketing cost are steep (promotional cost, costs of setting up distribution channels). Thus, introduction stage is an awareness creating stage and is not associated with profits!However, strict vigilance is required to ensure that the product enters the growth stage. Identifying hindering factors and nipping them off at the bud stage is crucial for the product’s future. If corrections cannot be made or are impractical, the marketer withdraws the product from the market. Read more on types of market research. Growth Stage Once the introductory stage goes as per expected, the initial spark has been set, however, the fire has to be kindled by proper care. The marketer has managed to gain consumers attention and now works on increasing their product’s market share.As output increases, economies of scale is seen and better prices come about, conducing to profits in this stage. The marketer maintains the quality and features of the product (may add additional features) and seek brand building. The aim here is to coax consumers to prefer and choose this product rather than those sold by competitors. As sales increase distribution channels are added and the product is marketed to a broader audience. Thus, rapid sales and profits are characteristics of this stage. Read more on marketing tools. Maturity StageThis stage views the most competition as different companies struggle to maintain their respective market shares. The cliche ‘survival of the fittest’ is applicable here. Companies are busy monitoring product’s value by the consumers and its sales generation. Most of the profits are made in this stage and research costs are minimum. Any research conducted will be confined to product enhancement and improvement alone. Since consumers are aware of the product, promotional and advertising costs will also be lower. In the midst of stiff competition, companies may even reduce their prices in response to the tough times.The maturity stage is the stabilizing stage, wherein sales are high, but their pace is slow, however, brand loyalty develops imparting profits. Read more on marketing plans. Decline Stage After a period of stable growth, the revenue generated from sales of the product starts dipping due to market saturation, stiff competition and latest technological developments. The consumer loses interest in this product and begins to seek other options. This stage is characterized by shrinking market share, dwindling product popularity and plummeting profits. This stage is a very delicate stage and needs to be handled wisely. The type of response contributes to the future of the product. The company needs to take special efforts to raise the product’s popularity in the market once again, by either reducing cost of the product, tapping new markets or withdrawing the product. Read more on: †¢Marketing Services †¢Marketing Mix †¢Marketing Tips It is important to note that, not all products go through the entire life cycle. Just as how not all seeds sown germinate, not all products launched into the market succeed. Some flop at the introductory stage, while some fail to capture market share due to quick fizzling out.Moreover, some marketers quickly change strategies when the product reaches decline phase and by various promotional strategies regain the lost glory, thereby achieving cyclic maturity phases. Application of product life cycle is important to marketers because via this analysis they can manage their product well and prevent it from incurring losses. You read "Product Life Cyc le Theory" in category "Life" A well-managed product life cycle leads to rise in profits and does not necessarily end. Product innovations, new marketing strategies,etc. keeps the product appealing to customers for a very long period of time.Hope this article on product life cycle theory was informative and helpful! The product life-cycle theory is an economic theory that was developed by Raymond Vernon in response to the failure of the Heckscher-Ohlin model to explain the observed pattern of international trade. The theory suggests that early in a product’s life-cycle all the parts and labor associated with that product come from the area in which it was invented. After the product becomes adopted and used in the world markets, production gradually moves away from the point of origin.In some situations, the product becomes an item that is imported by its original country of invention. [1] A commonly used example of this is the invention, growth and production of the personal computer with respect to the United States. The model applies to labor-saving and capital-using products that (at least at first) cater to high-income groups. In the new product stage, the product is produced and consumed in the US; no export trade occurs. In the maturing product stage, mass-production techniques are developed and foreign demand (in developed countries) expands; the US now exports the product to other developed countries.In the standardized product stage, production moves to developing countries, which then export the product to developed countries. The model demonstrates dynamic comparative advantage. The country that has the comparative advantage in the production of the product changes from the innovating (developed) country to the developing countries. Contents [hide] †¢1 Product life-cycle o1. 1 Stage 1: Introduction o1. 2 Stage 2: Growth o1. 3 Stage 3: Maturity o1. 4 Stage 4: Saturation o1. 5 Stage 5: Decline †¢2 References [edit]Product life-cycle There are four stages in a product’s life cycle: introduction ?growth ?maturity ?saturation ?decline The location of production depends on the stage of the cycle. [edit]Stage 1: Introduction New products are introduced to meet local (i. e. , national) needs, and new products are first exported to similar countries, countries with similar needs, preferences, and incomes. If we also presume similar evolutionary patterns for all countries, then products are introduced in the most advanced nations. (E. g. , the IBM PCs were produced in the US and spread quickly throughout the industrialized countries. ) [edit]Stage 2: GrowthA copy product is produced elsewhere and introduced in the home country (and elsewhere) to capture growth in the home market. This moves production to other countries, usually on the basis of cost of production. (E. g. , the clones of the early IBM PCs were not produced in the US. ) The Period till the the Maturity Stage is known as the Saturation Period. [edit]Stage 3: Maturity The industry contracts and concentrates — the lowest cost producer wins here. (E. g. , the many clones of the PC are made almost entirely in lowest cost locations. ) [edit]Stage 4: Saturation This is a period of stability.The sales of the product reach the peak and there is no further possibility to increase it. this stage is characterised by:  ¦ Saturation of sales (at the early part of this stage sales remain stable then it starts falling).  ¦ It continues till substitutes enter into the market.  ¦ Marketer must try to develop new and alternative uses of product. [edit]Stage 5: Decline Poor countries constitute the only markets for the product. Therefore almost all declining products are produced in developing countries. (E. g. , PCs are a very poor example here, mainly because there is weak demand for computers in developing countries.A better example is textiles. ) Note that a particular firm or industry (in a country) stays in a market by adapting what they make and sell, i. e. , by riding the waves. For example, approximately 80% of the revenues of H-P are from products they did not sell five years ago. the profits go back to the host old country. ?†¦ trade theory holding that a company will begin by exporting its product and later undertake foreign direct investment as the product moves through its lifecycle ? As products mature, both location of sales and optimal production changes ?Affects the direction and flow of imports and exports ?Globalization and integration of the economy makes this theory less valid ?Trade implication ? ?Increased emphasis on technology’s impact on product cost ? Explained international investment ?Limitations ?Most appropriate for technology-based products ?Some products not easily characterized by stages of maturity ? Most relevant to products produced through mass production Marketing gt; Product Life Cycle The Product Life Cycle A product’s life cycle (PLC) can be divided into several stages character ized by the revenue generated by the product.If a curve is drawn showing product revenue over time, it may take one of many different shapes, an example of which is shown below: Product Life Cycle Curve The life cycle concept may apply to a brand or to a category of product. Its duration may be as short as a few months for a fad item or a century or more for product categories such as the gasoline-powered automobile. Product development is the incubation stage of the product life cycle. There are no sales and the firm prepares to introduce the product. As the product progresses through its life cycle, changes in the marketing mix usually are equired in order to adjust to the evolving challenges and opportunities. Introduction Stage When the product is introduced, sales will be low until customers become aware of the product and its benefits. Some firms may announce their product before it is introduced, but such announcements also alert competitors and remove the element of surprise. Advertising costs typically are high during this stage in order to rapidly increase customer awareness of the product and to target the early adopters. During the introductory stage the firm is likely to incur additional costs associated with the initial distribution of the product. These higher costs coupled with a low sales volume usually make the introduction stage a period of negative profits. During the introduction stage, the primary goal is to establish a market and build primary demand for the product class. The following are some of the marketing mix implications of the introduction stage: †¢Product – one or few products, relatively undifferentiated †¢Price – Generally high, assuming a skim pricing strategy for a high profit margin as the early adopters buy the product and the firm seeks to recoup development costs quickly.In some cases a penetration pricing strategy is used and introductory prices are set low to gain market share rapidly. †¢Distribution – Distribution is selective and scattered as the firm commences implementation of the distribution plan. †¢Promotion – Promotion is aimed at building brand awareness. Samples or trial incentives may be directed toward early adopters. The introductory promotion also is intended to convince potential resellers to carry the product. Growth Stage The growth stage is a period of rapid revenue growth.Sales increase as more customers become aware of the product and its benefits and additional market segments are targeted. Once the product has been proven a success and customers begin asking for it, sales will increase further as more retailers become interested in carrying it. The marketing team may expand the distribution at this point. When competitors enter the market, often during the later part of the growth stage, there may be price competition and/or increased promotional costs in order to convince consumers that the firm’s product is better than that of the competition.During the growth stage, the goal is to gain consumer preference and increase sales. The marketing mix may be modified as follows: †¢Product – New product features and packaging options; improvement of product quality. †¢Price – Maintained at a high level if demand is high, or reduced to capture additional customers. †¢Distribution – Distribution becomes more intensive. Trade discounts are minimal if resellers show a strong interest in the product. †¢Promotion – Increased advertising to build brand preference. Maturity Stage The maturity stage is the most profitable.While sales continue to increase into this stage, they do so at a slower pace. Because brand awareness is strong, advertising expenditures will be reduced. Competition may result in decreased market share and/or prices. The competing products may be very similar at this point, increasing the difficulty of differentiating the product. The firm places effort into encouraging competitors’ customers to switch, increasing usage per customer, and converting non-users into customers. Sales promotions may be offered to encourage retailers to give the product more shelf space over competing products.During the maturity stage, the primary goal is to maintain market share and extend the product life cycle. Marketing mix decisions may include: †¢Product – Modifications are made and features are added in order to differentiate the product from competing products that may have been introduced. †¢Price – Possible price reductions in response to competition while avoiding a price war. †¢Distribution – New distribution channels and incentives to resellers in order to avoid losing shelf space. †¢Promotion – Emphasis on differentiation and building of brand loyalty. Incentives to get competitors’ customers to switch.Decline Stage Eventually sales begin to decline as the market becomes saturated, the product becomes technologically obsolete, or customer tastes change. If the product has developed brand loyalty, the profitability may be maintained longer. Unit costs may increase with the declining production volumes and eventually no more profit can be made. During the decline phase, the firm generally has three options: †¢Maintain the product in hopes that competitors will exit. Reduce costs and find new uses for the product. †¢Harvest it, reducing marketing support and coasting along until no more profit can be made. Discontinue the product when no more profit can be made or there is a successor product. The marketing mix may be modified as follows: †¢Product – The number of products in the product line may be reduced. Rejuvenate surviving products to make them look new again. †¢Price – Prices may be lowered to liquidate inventory of discontinued products. Prices may be maintained for continued products serving a niche market. †¢Distribution – Distribution becomes more selective. Channels that no longer are profitable are phased out. †¢Promotion – Expenditures are lower and aimed at reinforcing the brand image for continued products.Limitations of the Product Life Cycle Concept The term â€Å"life cycle† implies a well-defined life cycle as observed in living organisms, but products do not have such a predictable life and the specific life cycle curves followed by different products vary substantially. Consequently, the life cycle concept is not well-suited for the forecasting of product sales. Furthermore, critics have argued that the product life cycle may become self-fulfilling. For example, if sales peak and then decline, managers may conclude that the product is in the decline phase and therefore cut the advertising budget, thus precipitating a further decline.Nonetheless, the product life cycle concept helps marketing managers to plan alternate marketing strategies to address the challenges that their products are likely to face. It also is useful for monitoring sales results over time and comparing them to those of products having a similar life cycle. Marketing gt; Product LifecycleThe Product Cycle and its Implications Let us begin by reviewing Vernon’s principal points regarding the technological and geographical transitions of industries. His product-cycle paradigm suggested that an industry’s competitiveness will go through a predictable series of stages: To begin with, U.S. -controlled enterprises generate new products and processes in response to the high per capita income and the relative availability of productive factors in the U nited States; they introduce these products or processes abroad through exports; when their export position is threatened they establish overseas subsidiaries to exploit what remains of their advantage; they retain their oligopolistic advantage for a period of time, then lose it as the basis for the original lead is completely eroded. (1971: 66)While Vernon’s main objective was to explain the causes and consequences of foreign investment, the stages that he identified also implied that an industry’s perspective on trade policyComment on Deardorff 2 will evolve. Industries can be expected to favor open markets when they are competitive and to favor protection when they are not. Deardorff’s analysis is largely consonant with this cycle, but brings into closer consideration the role of developing countries’ exports in challenging the developed countries’ industries.While I am largely in agreement with the basic points raised by both Vernon and Deardorff, I would suggest two adjustments. The first is that a different policy question may be in order. To paraphrase, Deardorff’s question seems to be, â€Å"Will developed countries respond to increased competition from developing countries by erecting new barriers to trade? † I would instead ask, â€Å"How will the intere sts of declining industries in developed countries affect the pace and form of new trade liberalization? † While I understand the usefulness of the simplifying assumption that the two countries in the model â€Å"are initially engaged in free trade† (ibid. 3), I think it is equally simple and more realistic to begin with the assumption that restrictions to trade already exist. It would be a great exaggeration to claim that the WTO rules are so watertight as to prevent countries from imposing any new restrictions on trade, but I would quarrel with the suggestion that we â€Å"simply assume that [increased import competition will] lead the North to implement a tariff on imports† (ibid. : 9). The track record for both legislated protection 1 and safeguards cases 2 suggests that protectionist industries have had little success in winning support from government.The clear trend of the past half century has been towards the reduction of tariffs and (more recently) the replacement or elimination of quotas. In an environment of declining tariff barriers, the best that most protectionist industries can hope for is to secure a pledge that their products be exempted from reductions. Even when one acknowledges the continuation of â€Å"peak† tariffs in some industries and the mischief that can be done with antidumping duties and other instruments of pro tection, the fact remains that markets are much more open today than they were in decades past.Moreover, the rules are more comprehensive and enforceable under the WTO than they were under the GATT. The second important departure is that the range of options is not limited to a dichotomous choice between â€Å"free trade† or â€Å"protection. † Beyond the almost trivial point that there are many degrees of openness, representing every step from zero barriers to confiscatory levels of protection, discrimination is an equally important consideration. Here the rules of the GATT and WTO have been permissive.Free trade agreements (FTAs) and customs unions are allowable exceptions to the general rule of universal most-favored-nation treatment (provided that they meet the requirements of GATT Article XXIV), and preferential trade programs such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) are granted waivers. While each of these options provide for more liberal trade, and many extend special treatment to developing countries, they are widely seen as a â€Å"second-best† alternative to nondiscriminatory liberalization.For reasons that I explore below, however, the increasing use of these discriminatory instruments can also be portrayed as a natural consequence of the product cycle. 1 Although there have been many efforts since the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act of 1930 to enact bills imposing tariffs or quotas on imports, no major bills have been enacted over a presidential veto. There have been several instances, however, in which presidents felt obliged to make concessions to protectionist demands in order to win congressional approval of some other market-opening initiative (especially new grants of negotiating authority or the approval of a trade agreement).In other words, some of the rare steps backward have been price for making two steps forward. 2 Petitioners have succeeded in winning import protection in only 23 of the 70 cases considered in the quarter century since enactment of the current safeguards law (section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974). Comment on Deardorff 3 Implications of the Product Cycle for Trade Policy The product-cycle model could be used to explain any one of three approaches to trade policy.Depending on how one views the interests of firms and the responses of government, the cycle could be predicted to encourage more open markets, more protection, or more discrimination. Under the benign view that seems implicit in Vernon’ s analysis, the product cycle can be portrayed as a progressive mechanism. A country with an efficient process of â€Å"creative destruction† could theoretically sustain a permanent free-trade orientation, with few or no exceptions for specific industries. Vernon’s views were similar to those of Schumpeter (1936), who believed that a combination of entrepreneurial innovation and periodic depressions provided just such an engine of progress. A real free-trading country would regularly produce a new crop of innovators, while firms that lost their competitiveness would either find new lines of work or be swept away when the business cycle swung downward. The survivors favor open markets. This Darwinian optimism is challenged, however, if firms and workers in a declining industry refuse to go quietly into that good night.A more pessimistic interpretation is that old firms and their workers do not always conveniently disappear or get reabsorbed into the economy, but instead seek ways to keep alive even after they pass their prime. Deardorff’s analysis falls into this second category. He concludes that factor owners in the developed country will respond to a competitive challenge by demanding and receiving protection. I offer yet a third alternative, in which the product cycle encourages the reduction of trade barriers but does so in an increasingly discriminatory fashion.My adaptation of Vernon’s model, which is illustrated in Figure 1, departs from the original in two ways. First, I believe that a wider range of stages should be represented in the model. Second, I more explicitly state what the trade (in addition to the investment) preferences of an industry will be as it passes through these stages. My adaptation recognizes that the policy options available to industries and countries are not limited to opening or closing the market, but also allow for discriminatory initiatives that better lend themselves to manipulation on behalf of specific firms or trading partners.The stages might respectively be termed pre-competitive, semi-competitive, competitive, and post-competitive. The distinctions between industries in stages 2, 3, and 4A are particularly important. Each one of these stages is â€Å"pro-trade,† but they favor different emphases in both the objectives and form of trade agreements. Only the Stage 3A industry is the pure free-trader. Industries in stages 2, 3B, and 4A each take a more qualified approach to open markets, and may be reluctant to support universal liberalization.An industry’s most critical choice comes in the fourth stage, when it must choose between retreat into the domestic market or relocation of its production offshore. The initial decision to invest overseas might have been made in an earlier stage, prompted by such diverse objectives as gaining or maintaining access to a large and protected foreign market, taking advantage of lower wage rates and less restrictive regulatory environments, or reducing transportation costs. When an industry’s competitiveness declines, however, it could decide to shift most or all of its production offshore.Those firms that become multinational producers (Stage 4A) acquire interests and preferences very different from those that do not (Stage 4B). A multinational producer will be much more favorably disposed towards open markets than a â€Å"mature† domestic industry, but will not inevitably be a paragon of free-trade purism. These producers may perceive a strong incentive to support discriminatory options, especially if they create sanctuary markets at home or abroad. Home | About | Privacy | Reprints | Terms of UseCopyright  © 2002-2010 NetMBA. com. All rights reserved. This web site is operated by the Internet Center for Management and Business Administration, Inc. Search NetMBA Site Information Home About Privacy Reprints Terms of Use Marketing Accounting Economics Finance Management Marketing Operations Statistics Strategy ? ?In recent years an extensive theoretical literature has been offered examining the implications of the product cycle (PC) model of trade (Hirsch 1967; Vernon 1966). 1) Emphasizing knowledge transfers, Krugman (1979) constructed a general equilibrium model consisting of an innovating North country and an imitating South country. (2) A key implication of the PC is that the North must continually innovate in the face of the South’s ability to eventually imitate each new product. The flying-geese (FG) theory (inter alia, Akamatsu, 1935; Kojima, 2000, 2003; Ozawa, 1993, 2001, 2005) elaborates on the mature stage of the PC by examining conditions under which an initially imitating South country itself looses the comparative advantage in producing the mature product due to rising labor costs.The loss in comparative advantage results in the further and sequential transfer of production to less developed other South countries and the accompanying recycling of the North’s import market among themselves, a phenomenon that can be called â€Å"market or comparative advantage recycling† (Ozawa, 1993; United Nations Conference on Trade an d Development, 1995). ?This article specifically examines one particular mature PC import, TV sets, in the U. S. arket and its changing pattern of exporting economies from East Asia–first, from Japan and then from the Newly Industrializing Economies (NIEs) (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea), from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-4 (ASEAN-4) (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines), and more recently, from China. ?True, technological progress continues in the TV set industry (e. g. , digitalization, flat-panel sets, and high definition TV [HDTV]), but set manufacturing has practically disappeared in the United States (Chandler, 2001).Incremental innovations are now being introduced mostly in the South/follower countries themselves, especially in Japan and South Korea. East Asia has emerged as the world’s largest concentration of consumer electronics production. (3) In this sense, TV sets are certainly a â€Å"mature† product for the United States (too mature to be retained). In short, our study examines the phenomenon of PC-based imports and market recycling as witnessed in the United States and explores policy implications for both North and South countries in the age of globalization. There have been several tests for the existence of the PC. Tsurumi and Tsurumi (1980) found support for the PC by determining that the U. S. price elasticity of demand for color TV sets increased over time as U. S. consumers chose between domestic- and Japanese-produced color TV sets. Audretsch (1987) also found support by determining that growth industries tend to be more R ; D oriented while mature industries allocate fewer resources to this activity. Cantwell (1995) concluded that over time the share of patents of multinational corporations located abroad increased for most countries from 1920 to 1990, which supported the internationalization of investment by technological leaders. Gagnon and Rose (1995) found that a trade surplus (deficit) of a commodity is likely to persist over a long period of time, a trend that is counter to the PC and more consistent with factor proportions theory (which closely parallels the FG theory). ?Econometric tests for the FG theory have been limited.Dowling and Cheang (2000) found support for the FG theory by utilizing both Balassa’s â€Å"revealed† comparative advantage index and foreign direct investment (FDI) ratios for East Asian countries. Using Spearman rank correlation coefficients and examining three periods (1970-95, 1970-85, and 1985-95), they found that economic development trickled down from Japan to the NIEs and then to ASEAN-4. Cutler et al. (2003) analyzed labor-intensi ve trade data from Japan, the NIEs, the ASEAN-4, and China to the United States and found support for the FG theory (market recycling). In this article, we are interested in testing for the dynamics of the combined PC-FG framework. Using annual data from 1961 to 2002 for TV sets, we use cointegration techniques to estimate a system of multiple cointegrated vectors representing the sequential transfer of the U. S. TV import market from Japan to the NIEs, to the ASEAN-4, and finally to China. We develop a methodology of interpreting both the cointegrating vectors and the speeds of adjustment as a technique to test for the recycling of the U. S. import market among the East Asian economies. We argue that our analysis has implications for the emerging HDTV and flat-panel TV sets’ markets as well as patterns of behavior in lower developed South countries such as China, Vietnam, and India as these countries are actively pursuing inward FDI in higher value-added industries. ?Section II presents the theoretical framework, and section III provides the data and background information about the region’s TV set manufacturing. Section IV discusses the empirical techniques and results of the analysis. Section V touches on policy implications and offers conclusions. ?II.CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ?Electronics is an R D-based industry where new products and processes are constantly innovated and competitiveness shifts from one product to another sequentially, an industry that is characterized by short PCs. The Schumpeterian concept of â€Å"creative destruction† aptly applies to innovators’ home markets. A fast pace of technological standardization and maturity for a given new product leads to an equally swift outward shift of production from the innovators’ (North) country to overseas, as conceptualized in the PC theory of trade and investment.In the early developmental phase of electronics, the United States was the dominant source of innovations, as seen in the original PC theory (Hirsch, 1967; Vernon, 1966), but other countries in Europe and East Asia also soon emerged as active innovators, as presented in the revised version (Vernon, 1979). Nonetheless, the United States still continues to play the major roles of both technology and market providers to East Asian economies.Yet, as described in the original PC theory, conventional TV sets and many other mature electronic products have followed the typical pattern of a sequence from U. S. domestic production to exports, to overseas production, and to imports. (4) These imports come mostly from East Asia. ?What is equally interesting is that once an electronic product becomes a mature â€Å"commodity,† whose competitiveness is basically determined by labor costs, its production shifts from one South country to another in the persistent search of lower cost labor.This development is facilitated especially when lower echelon South countries liberalize their trade and investment regimes so as to attract production from higher developed South countries. Such a successive transmigration of production of a standardized product therefore exhibits a changing pattern of production over time within the South countries, while the United States remains the major import market.This phenomenon of production transmigration down the intraregional hierarchy of South countries differentiated in terms of the stages of economic development and the levels of technological sophistication is captured in the FG model. ?Viewed in the above light, the PC theory and the FG model complement each other, a s schematically illustrated in Figure 1. A new product is innovated first in a high-income (high-wage) country like the United States and initially manufactured and exported from the innovator’s home country (i. e. , the â€Å"introduction† and â€Å"growth† stages, from †¦ ? How to cite Product Life Cycle Theory, Essays

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Darwin Diving - Snorkeling - Scuba Diving - Deep Sea Dive - Snorkelling - in

Question: Describe about the Darwin Diving, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Deep Sea Dive, Snorkelling,in Australian Tourism? Answer: Free diving and Swallow water blackout The discussed articles emphasized about Snorkeling, free diving and their bad effects. The articles also discussed about various view points of experts, and people who nearly experienced the dangers of free diving. With the help of equipment, a diving mask, the process of swimming in the surface of water is known as Snorkeling (Yang et al., 2013). It comprises of Fins, suits, masks, glasses which helps a swimmer for a clear vision and smooth swimming. Without these equipments accidents occur. The article begins with the death of a 19 year old boy, who was free diving and decided to go down for more fish and finally end up dying out of breath. According to his peers he was a fit and fine diver, he surfaced into the Mexican gulf around 8 miles. What he did during the accident was diving without air mask. Despite of sufficient equipments available swimming without these has been an allure to most people and this causes accidents. Shallow water blackout is one of the symptoms that occur for people who free dive without equipments. It is the time when a diver loss his consciousness by hypoxia at the end of their last breathe (Shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org, 2015). At that time the swimmer doesnt feel the urgency of breathing and it is caused due to hyperventilation of several breath deep breaths before diving (Shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org, 2015). In the case of Shallow water blackout as discussed in the article, a student named Josh Chol was capable for holding his breath for almost three minutes. He went along with his family in Florida for Spear fishing in the Keys. The Keys are famous for coral formation and they are saltwater where the student had Shallow water blackout (Council, 2015). Saltwater consist variable temperatures, buoyancy and density and the currents these all leads to certain drawback in swimming. In the time of the accident his family member had a little clue of what has happened to him. This is partially a fault of his family members, no matter how much experienced a person is, even expert dies pout of Shallow water blackout. Chols cousin had an alarm when he saw him come up for air. That was the last time he saw Josh Chol. He not only mourned for the loss but he also felt that the underworld environment of foreign places is not easy to get complacent. If one person fails he doesnt get a second chance. In another incident, two brothers, Robert and David were surfacing in Biscaynne bay, which is a lagoon. It is 35 miles long and 8 miles wide in the Atlantic coast (Discoverbiscaynebay.org, 2015). At one point one of them became unconscious and even the other also running out of breath. Still the y somehow managed to swim up and was floating with down face. The severe condition was that both of them turned black. David the younger brother felt very peaceful while he was drowning. This incident led Richardson become an advocate in safe free diving. With instances like these one can easily infer that free diving is not an easy task. Hence equipments must be used. Snorkeling is safe but free diving comes with a big risk. The risk is not about a temporary accident that will occur; the risk is about losing a life. One needs to be alarmed, cautious and experienced enough for free diving (Byronbaydivecentre.com.au, 2015). Duties as a leader for Expedition in Darwin Harbor: The following are the duties and responsibilities that a leader in Snorkeling team should fulfill: One must keep thorough knowledge about Snorkeling To be updated with the area where expedition will begin. To have knowledge about the participants, each and everyone. To take sufficient safety measures To consult the experts and get the permission and perform other formalities. To be updated about the climatic conditions during June and the necessary accessories to carry. Last but not the least is to carry possible equipments for safety measures. These are the necessary steps that a leader should perform as his duty. Every single member is the responsibility of a leader (Gunderson, 2009). He guides them he assures the safety of their life an also analyses the capabilities of the participant a leader must have the necessary skill for snorkeling. Measures to reduce risk of accident: In order to reduce the number of accident certain steps needs to be followed, they are: To make the participant acquainted with the signs and train them. To provide necessary information for avoiding emergencies out of air and appropriate buoyancy. Use of equipments like, full-mask, helmet, diving equipment with voice communications, life jackets. To carry appropriate medical treatment Maintenance pre-use and preparation for snorkeling. Convey recommended procedures Look after the adequate instrumentation for gas quality monitoring. Buddy system. Risk analysis report for this snorkeling expedition using the rams report vulnerability: Risk of: Risk Evaluation: Controls: measures Chilled water or wind Hypothermia medium Carry well fitted protections, Prepare participants for exit waters Proper medicine to carry, Contact emergency service currents Separation of snorkeller high Participants should dive in pairs Have contingency exit points The participant must abort the expedition and return in the boat. drowning Death or serious injury. high Participants of dry suit must keep their zip when aboard First aid Contact emergency Ear Damage injury medium Necessary instructions on cleaning ears, Avoid snorkeling if the participant is suffering cold. Help from buddy or instructor. Squeezing mask Participants injury low Provide instruction on mask equalization Instructors assistance Fishing nets Panic, injury. medium Should provide necessary details of area where nets are placed Leaders assistance and necessary convey of information. Wild life attack various medium .To carry necessary safeguard for attacks Avoid going near wildlife Carry necessary medical treatments Contact emergencies About Darwin Harbor: From April to September the Darwin harbor experiences dry weather. Rainfall occurs during December and April. Pick flow of water occurs around February and the discharge of river is comparatively low (Australiatourism.travel, 2015). Mostly smaller marine habitants are found along with manageable currents. Hence the wildlife and current risks are low. After analyzing the risk of snorkeling it can be stated that the snorkeling expedition has favorable factors and it can be done in Darwin harbor. References Australiatourism.travel, (2015).Darwin Diving, Snorkeling, Scuba Diving, Deep Sea Dive, Snorkelling, Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.australiatourism.travel/region/australia/northern-territory/darwin/attractions-and-activities/adventure/diving-and-snorkeling [Accessed 9 Mar. 2015]. Byronbaydivecentre.com.au, (2015).Australian Freediving Academy - Single breath, How deep can you go?. [online] Available at: https://www.byronbaydivecentre.com.au/freediving/ [Accessed 9 Mar. 2015]. Council, T. (2015).Florida Keys Scuba Diving Vacation planning | Florida Keys Snorkeling. [online] Fla-keys.com. Available at: https://www.fla-keys.com/diving/ [Accessed 9 Mar. 2015]. Discoverbiscaynebay.org, (2015).Recreational Opportunities in and out of the Water. [online] Available at: https://www.discoverbiscaynebay.org/water-activities.htm [Accessed 9 Mar. 2015]. Gunderson, J. (2009).Snorkeling for fun!. Minneapolis, Minn.: Compass Point Books. Shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org, (2015).Facts | Shallow Water Blackout Prevention. [online] Available at: https://shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org/about-swb/facts/ [Accessed 9 Mar. 2015]. Shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org, (2015).Shallow Water Blackout Prevention. [online] Available at: https://shallowwaterblackoutprevention.org/ [Accessed 9 Mar. 2015]. Yang, Y., Guo, J., Sun, G. and Xu, M. (2013). Characterizing the snorkeling respiration and growth of Shewanella decolorationis S12.Bioresource Technology, 128, pp.472-478. Duties as a leader for Expedition in Darwin Harbor:

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Older Generation and Modern Business of UAE

Table of Contents Introduction Description of the two respondents A general Story about Dubai’s evolution Their perceptions over the changing world Positive and negative impacts on their lifestyle Advice/wisdom to young people Personal reflection/Conclusion Introduction The rapid changes experienced in the contemporary world have left human beings overwhelmed, forestalling, and others mesmerized depending on the age group factor.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Older Generation and Modern Business of UAE specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Perhaps one would wonder why the world seems entangled in different perceptions over the current global image, especially the differing presumption over matters pertaining to socio-economic structures. Traditionally, culture has been the most respected aspect amongst communities, but currently, the notion behind the significance of culture and subcultures is diminishin g. International competition has confused the world economic, cultural, and social living styles that have led to the emergence of world economic subdivisions popularly known as developed and developing nations. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one among the swiftly changing economies across the world with businesses struggling to meet market pressures, dynamic price fluctuations, and serving consumers with diverse needs. As the old generation is nearing retirement age, a new era is dramatically becoming dexterous. This study evaluates the new generation, as deemed by the mature community. Description of the two respondents This study undertook a face-to-face verbal interview with two older men aged 65 years and 59 years respectively named Mohammed Al Maktoum and Khan Al Suwaidi, both residing within Dubai with one retired from a local company and the other still working.Advertising Looking for report on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, in a bid to preserve confidentiality, these are not their real names and the names mentioned herein are for academic purposes coupled with assisting in undertaking this analysis. Mohammed Al Maktoum can barely speak and from a distance, one can read his thoughts and probably conclude that the older man must be undergoing some psychological agitation. Every time he begins to tell his story, he nods instantaneously, his bloodshot eyes begin reddening, and he puts his head down and grumbles. With a moderate body size fitted in an old suit, his efforts to start an old-engine car from a parking bay along one of the most beautiful Dubai streets is causing more frustrations. He never thought his Dubai dream would end here. We picked a conversation with the aging man and he recalls with nostalgia how Dubai used to observe influential culture, which underscored a working nation enjoying right working conditions coupled with favorable and attractive wages with no biasness in payments. He regrettably remembers earning double-digit salary before drastic changes began within the working community that shockingly witnessed unexpected layoffs, demotions, and even unforeseen retrenchments that consumed the industrial world in the 1990s. According to Mohammed, the companies that most people worked for started changing their perceptions over their workforce, coupled with frustrating and even treating workers inhumanely.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Older Generation and Modern Business of UAE specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Mohammed stresses that there was no senior to explain what was happening and workers used to teamwork became afraid as management teams disbanded any form of conversations and debates. The streets are now fluffy of a mixture of different races and nationalists from forces of migration and immigration that has been eminent in the current decades. H e continues to explain how he became jobless after he lost his work after a few days off to seek medical attention due to an injury he got at work. The situation was not different from the 59 years old Khan Al Suwaidi whom I knew his family for an extended period and thus he forms part of our family friend. The tall, middle-aged man with a flat tummy describes his life as a man born from an underprivileged family with a repeated history of members earning only living wage. His old voice, which seems humorous and balmy, forces him to respond to greetings in a frustrated manner. Employed for approximately 25 years in the same company, the current technologies seem to have outwitted him since the company is currently considering his age group as a liability. Since he began working with this company, which he refused to talk about, his life has been full of aggravation with doctors advising him to resign following a series of psychosomatic disorders.Advertising Looking for report on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Khan Al Suwaidi, initially, people with an education level like his were somehow bosses or even supervisors, but within two decades, things have changed dramatically. A general Story about Dubai’s evolution Only Mohammed Al Maktoum, by drawing memories from stories told to him, managed to portray a slight overview of the ancient Dubai that contrast distinctively from the modern Dubai. Dubai was once under a vast desert dominated only by scattered cactuses and tumbleweed with scorpions being the only insects inhabiting this zone. Nonetheless, within the eighteenth century, there was a small quaint town in the downtown with old-fashioned metal and glasses composing its infrastructure. Subsequently, a small village was coming into sight from this region with a few people in the lower Persian Gulf engaging in some pearls off the coast. From this moment, the desert-like Dubai region was gradually becoming an attractive site with the populace growing to substantial num bers. Within a short period, an accumulating cosmopolitan population streaming from the Persian Gulf, Indian subcontinent, and from Arab countryside was attractively engaging in some severe businesses around this zone before the British Empire and gunships invaded the place. Currently, Mohammed estimates Dubai’s population to consist of approximately 180 nationalities. Their perceptions over the changing world Mohammed Al Maktoum has had an unending criticism over the rapidly changing cultural and socio-economic paradigms in the contemporary world that has influenced almost every part of his lifestyle. The picturesque long and tall towers or even the skyscrapers along the Dubai streets are not the central part of his concern, but the dynamic changes within the socio-economic realm. Mohammed Al Maktoum exclaims that the contemporary Dubai does not only survive beyond its financial stature, but its lifestyle has surpassed its ecological form with zones characterized by manicure d Dubai lawns. Nonetheless, he notes that despite Dubai being nicknamed the global economic melting pot and essential for the entire world, such changes might only have favored the latest regimes and the modern generation, with the old generation struggling to cope with the dynamism. In fact, Mohammed Al Maktoum regrets that the primary virtues that embedded the Muslim community are gradually vanishing with the modern society concentrating on improvising and improving the business world. Even though Khan Al Suwaidi regards himself as an old nationalist of Dubai, much of his life experience consists of postmodernism of the current Dubai; hence, he has a mixture of thoughts regarding the changes that have consumed this city. Khan Al Suwaidi has much criticism on immigration and migration trends that have become uncontainable across the UAE and especially within Dubai city, which has witnessed massive influx of expatriates, deportees, and refugees, and thus the situation in Dubai is un desirable. Khan Al Suwaidi regrets losing his management position following changes in organizational culture, leadership techniques, and policies that since then have placed higher requirements for the senior ranks with salaries and wages depending on academic qualifications. The old Muslim culture, societal norms, and values have undergone down winding and finally meandered into the current globalization world that has captured individuals into endless interethnic, antisocial, and inconsiderate world. Immigrants are pushing natives deeper into the suburbs rural areas and occupying major economies within gateways, thus making lifestyle uncomfortable. Positive and negative impacts on their lifestyle As these elders are struggling to fit into the dynamics of the changing world within Dubai and other economically stable zones, Mohammed Al Maktoum and Khan Al Suwaidi admit that the contemporary world has resulted into a mixture of positive and negative impacts. A constant challenge ris ing from the changes seen in the current Dubai seems to be arising from how culture has become a controversial combination of modernism and some stereotyped traditions. Forty years ago, communities residing in Dubai remained bonded in specific cultures that respected both religion and traditions accustomed to the Dubai Emirati communities. Contrastingly, some minority women and men, influenced by immigrants, are practicing antisocial behaviors against national and regional customs. Economically, Mohammed Al Maktoum and Khan Al Suwaidi believe that life is becoming more and more difficult for the ordinary civilians within Dubai especially the aging men and women whose lives are worsening economically since they paved the way for the energetic and agile generation. Coupled with the rising expenses from common commodities to supplementary goods within Dubai city, they both expect life to worsen towards their old ages. Khan Al Suwaidi is still struggling to raise a family of at least si x individuals and thus waking up early in the morning to work in the industries makes his aging even more uncomfortable. They both explain that the areas that they visited for leisure during their youth have changed to something different and unpleasing. Since Khan does not possess any knowledge about the modern technologies integrated into the working systems, he is just but optimistic that his initial knowledge about his job will remain imperative to the company he serves. On the other side, Mohammed has been hopeful that the little savings he managed to accumulate from his meager pay will allow him to continue operating his small businesses for survival. The only way that the rapidly changing Dubai has positively influenced Maktoom and Khan Al Suwaidi is how current technologies are assisting in improving public service delivery, communication with family members and friends, and even comfortable transport networks founded from sophisticated technology. Contrary to the growing ca ses of prostitution, murder, terrorism, and bad politics that industrialization and modernization have brought to Dubai, current technologies have changed distance communication where members find it easy to communicate and share ideas. The media, though it might not be culturally sensitive to the behaviors and social structure of the present world, has improved information sharing and a deeper understanding of the world as it is currently. The four decades have also changed their way of interaction with the community, their perception about religion, and the reality about political and social life. Despite environmental concerns shifting from naturalism to imitations, Dubai has become more attractive than its earlier wilderness. Advice/wisdom to young people With a desire to create a better world than it appears currently, the two elders provided coherent advice to me as a youthful person. Mohammed Al Maktoum, in his deepest understanding of the experiences he has witnessed through global dynamism, believes that for generations to become stronger, they must keep up with the growing changes to enhance their competence economically and socially. Nonetheless, refraining from cultural norms might be enjoyable for the modernized community, but it is putting the world at more hazard than estimated. Khan Al Suwaidi asserts that the world does not change, but only human beings force it to change and it will be for the best of human nature to control people’s intuitions, notions, and motives concerning changes that are emerging in the world. They all admitted that these changes have risen desperately due to ravenousness and undesirable leadership traits coupled with human needs that are also increasingly becoming vibrant. Personal reflection/Conclusion Motivating words and wise saying have been useful in changing the current world and maybe will continue shaping the future world. The old generation has been quite imperative in providing critical advice through its intelligence though individuals keep underestimating its significance. Apparently, having elderly age-group presents some wisdom and thus preserving their acumen through simple words can aid in teaching the future generation. Mohammed Al Maktoum and Khan Al Suwaidi possess almost similar experiences through their employment and social life and thus, their words may change the lives of the future age group. Preserving the environment and nurturing its naturalism is crucial though we cannot get away from the reality that the current generation depends on jobs for survival. This report on Older Generation and Modern Business of UAE was written and submitted by user Jadon Brooks to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Euro Plight

The Euro Plight A single currency for the countries in the Eurozone was an idea that was brought up with the hope that this would steer economic development and eliminate trading barriers within this block. This has however turned to be a hindrance to economic growth within the region instead.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Euro Plight specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With the Eurozone economic crisis and deflation that has been witnessed in the countries within the Eurozone, the Euro currency has lost its value against other world currencies. It has for instance been exchanging at around $1.32 against the US Dollar in the resent past as evident in the graph bellow. Various measures have been put in place so as to save the Euro from the loss of value. One of these measures has been the purchasing of assets by the Central Banks of various countries. Performance of the Euro against the US Dollar The bank of Japan for instan ce launched a stimulus program where it was supposed to purchase assets with the intention of strengthening the Yen against major world currencies with the Euro included. This came in the wake of the European Central Bank and the U.S. Federal Reserve taking the same measures to strengthen their currencies. The purchasing of government as well as corporate bonds was aimed at strengthening the yen against major world currencies but it did not yield much as expected. Strengthening the yen only helped in reducing oversees corporate earnings. The exporters do not get maximum profits when the currency is so strong against other world currencies and this to some extend slowed down the economic recovery. The same measures that did not work quite effectively for the bank of Japan have been undertaken by the European Central Bank which is a clear indication that the Eurozone Economic Crisis is still far from being resolved. A stronger currency without the creation of jobs and building a platf orm for economic development would do little to avert the Eurozone crisis. With all efforts being made to rescue the Euro against depreciating, the currency has remained consolidated for a long time against the major world currencies hence the need to come up with other formulas so as to save this currency. The currency has lost by 0.12% against the sterling pound hence exchanging at 0.8022. It also depreciated against other major currencies like the Swiss franc were it depreciated by 0.19% hence exchanging at 1.2088 Franc per Euro.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Performance of the Euro against the Sterling Pound The Bank of Japan had opted for quantitative easing which involves the printing of more currency. This money is then used in the purchasing of bonds as well as other bank assets from banks. This then implies that these banks have more money at their disposal to issue as loans, improving their infrastructure and creation of employment by the opening of more branches, increasing their assets which then trickle down to economic growth. This also helps in lowering the interest rates and this is quite critical in economic stimulation. It encourages spending and investment hence economic growth. The aim is basically to counter deflation by reducing interest and creating enough quantity reserve hence raising the price of these assets. The extremely lower interest rates might however make it hard for the banks to sail through inflation. This measure also causes distortion on the government dept particularly given that some government borrowings are usually with extremely low rates and buying such securities and bonds are likely to slow down economic stimulation and any changes on these can have an enormous impact on the economy. Sovereigns are also likely to mismanage their finances as they might not obey market pressures hence puttin g pressure on the economy. The European Central Bank had taken up these measures in an effort to alleviate the European Economic Crisis. In spite of all these measures the Euro has not strengthened much against the world major currencies for instance the Japanese Yen where the Euro depreciated by 0.02 to exchange at 102.79 Yen per Euro. Performance of the Euro against the Japanese Yen The Capital Markets have particularly been closed to some countries as well as banks in the zone due to the crisis but the European Central Bank has promised to take some short-term actions in an effort to revive the bonds market. All the measures taken are meant to rescue the Eurozone from the Economic crisis but this is not supposed to act as a quick fix and it will take time before the recovery is fully realized.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Euro Plight specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By the end of next year, it is exp ected that the crisis will be over. Investors are however very cautious on the economic situation in the region with countries such as Spain which still need to be bailed out of their debts. This has slowed down the economic development in the region hence slowing down the recovery. The tax laws need to be changed so as to reduce the dept which is having a great effect on the GDP of the countries within the Eurozone. A compromise has to be reached concerning the tax laws as well as the appropriate measures to be taken so us to save the Euro. The issue of creation of employment as well as reducing job loses is quite crucial in averting the crisis even though all the parties concerned have not found a common solution to this particular issue. The road to recovery has been quite sluggish with so many obstacles to be overcome. The Euro currency has particularly consolidated with no major variations in terms of appreciation or depreciation of the Euro. Lapavitsas, Costas. Crisis in the Eurozone. London: Verso Books, 2012.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Barriers and solutions to international trade

Barriers and solutions to international trade INTRODUCION This essay provides an overview of the barriers to international trade faced by economies today with examples of barriers faced in various countries, and their solutions. International trade promotes high standard of living for trading nations and hence, despite its various ill effects, it is best to practice international trade as it provides economic and social benefits to economies bringing about an upturn in global economy. This essay attempts to bring to light, the general barriers international trade faces presently and its solutions with recent examples. INTERNATIONAL TRADE: AN INTRODUCTION Trade among countries has existed for a long period now. The trade between Asia and Europe marks this fact as Morrison (2006, pp.314-315) examines that these two continents have engaged in Trade since a long period. He also suggests that with time, international trade has come a long way as far as volume and patterns of trade between nations is concerned. Morrison (2006) has re ferred to figures by the World Trade Organisation (2004, cited in International Trade Statistics 2003, World Trade Developments 2002) from the official website of the WTO that Asia’s share of global merchandise exports has gradually increased, Northern America’s share has slightly decreased and Western Europe’s share has recovered from a downfall in 2001, but not as much as it did in 1990. Morrison further suggests, from 2000 to 2002, China’s exports and imports rose by 30 per cent and today, China is one of the world’s largest traders. Therefore, we may note that International trade plays a very essential role in globalization trends in the world economy. UNDERSTANDING ‘TRADE PROTECTIONISM’ Protectionism is †The deliberate use or encouragement of restrictions on imports to enable relatively inefficient domestic producers to compete successfully with foreign producers, or to protect and preserve those industries and producers con sidered of critical national interest.† (McCracken, 2005) Coughlin et al (1988) state that Protectionist Trade Policies are meant to improve the position of domestic products as compared to its foreign equivalents, and that this may be done through various policies – by increment of the market price of the foreign product or by barring access of foreign products to the domestic market. They explain that protectionist trade policies aim to expand domestic production in the protected industries for the benefit of the owners, suppliers and workers of the protected industry. However this may lead to a downturn in the consumption of protected goods due to either associated rise in its price or consumers start using less of other goods as a result of the decline in outputs and increase in prices. Coughlin et al hence, argue that domestic consumers are said to be impaired as the price of the protected goods keep increasing. Hence, imposing of tariffs lead to domestic producers ’ and the government’s gain, while domestic consumers’ and other domestic producers’ loss. These trade policies also affect foreign interests. ‘FREE TRADE’ & ITS THEORIES Free Trade is †trade between nations that is unhampered by Government constraints such as tariffs, restrictions, and other barriers.† (Financial Times Limited, 2009) Theory of Absolute Advantage

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Mammalian Stem Cells Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mammalian Stem Cells - Research Paper Example However, research has raised ethical and religious issues which oppose the duplication of body tissues. Our research shows that the benefit of mammalian stem cell culture has increasingly become important over the years in the production of antibodies, hormones and other vaccines essential for the treatment of various body ailments. Introduction Stem cells are found throughout the body of an animal. They occur in numerous numbers in the tissues such as the brain, adipose and the muscles. Stem cells help in maintaining the functioning and integrity of the tissues throughout the lifetime of an organism. This is because their main role is the replacement of the differentiated cells which are lost through attrition or other damages. Mammalian stem cells have the capacity of proliferating while maintaining their primitive states. In addition, they also differentiate into other specialized lineage. Due to their expansion and differentiation capabilities, there is high promise in the develo pment of cell based models of human diseases. This is because such diseases can be treated during the cell replacement therapies. Engineers and researchers have developed a theoretical approach and other cell culture systems. All this technologies are vital in the control of stem cell fate which is the ultimate goal to scale up the clinical grade during the production of stem cell therapies. Advancement of stem cells science and broadening of cell culture technology has led to arising of therapies and tissue engineering. This paper work gives an overview of tissue engineering and therapies of mammalian stem cells. It describes the current progress and prospect of stem cells research and its potential application in the medical treatment. Discussion Stem cell technologies and tissue engineering have currently emerged rapidly with an approach of addressing disease problems and other serious body complications. The two technologies are the interdisciplinary fields that use the principl e of bioengineering and other sciences towards assembling of the stem cells. This is important in restoring, maintaining and improving the functioning of the cell following their damage by disease or other traumatic processes. It is, therefore, easy to manage incurable diseases and loss of tissue through the successful therapies of artificial transplant of body organs. The general principles of stem cell engineering and tissue therapy are the combination of living cells with other synthetic scaffold to build three dimension living cells. The three dimensional cell structures aid in guiding the growth, organization and differentiation of cells. Synthetic scaffold should be biocompatible and designed in a way that it assists in meeting the nutritional and biological needs of different cells on the body. Their growth factors should be made of soluble peptides that are capable of binding the cellular receptors that provide permissive or preventive response of the cell towards differenti ation of the body tissue (Kim and Evans 12). Therapy And Tissue Engineering Fundamentals The concept of tissue engineering started in 1933 when tumor cells from the mouse demonstrated survival ability when they were implanted in the abdominal cavity of an embryo chick. Few decades later the chick’s pancreatic beta cells demonstrated that they responded by releasing insulin depending on the concentration of glucose in the body. In 1980, through the principle of tissue enginee

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Crisis Response Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Crisis Response Case - Essay Example Therefore, it is necessary to check with our surveillance system. We know that a security card is required to have access in Biomed laboratory. In addition, video system is also placed for monitoring that all the activity in side the premises. Universal Refuse Co. is contracted to remove the potentially dangerous discards from the plant location, therefore they have too regular access of Biomed premises. Therefore, we can share this information with Universal Refuse Co. so that they can too help finding the solution and tracking the anonymous caller. The most important thing in any crisis is to eliminate bureaucracy, establish relationships before a crisis with those you will need in the event of a crisis and know who you can count on when needed. Therefore, it is required to inform the CEO Karen Lewis, although she is out for a meeting at San Diego and will not return before Saturday morning. She can co-ordinate from there and can give appropriate instructions that redirect the crisis plan. At the time of crisis, a crisis team, communication officer and plan along with crisis communication center equipped with phones, computer and phone machines is required. In addition, a crisis management firm in case of emergencies is needed. Fortunately Biomed have all of this. Moreover, good relationship with press is also required at this time. As we know that the Vice President of Operations and Development has a scientific and medical background and manages the work of Biomed chemists, physicists, engineers and biologists and is articulate in explaining the work done at Biomed. Therefore, he should be placed along with communication officer for giving answers of all the queries that comes. At the time of crisis, it is important to form partnerships, listen to public concerns and be open and honest. Anonymous caller has given threat of placing the AIDS virus samples in food in buffet lines and in bottled water as examples

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Napoleonic Era Essay Example for Free

Napoleonic Era Essay Napoleon I is one of the most influential military and political leaders in the history of Europe. He led the French soldiers during the French Revolution in their invasion of Russia. Under his leadership, the French was able to defeat their opponents through employing Napoleons military innovations and tactics. During Napoleons reign, France turned into a nationalist power, extending their influence and territory over Italy and other states (â€Å"Napoleonic Europe†).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Napoleon was able to develop a fair few number of tactics which highly influenced and modernized the French army. His tactics were proven to be among the most prominent, and as such, are being studied by scholar all over the world. Given Napoleons success in his endeavors, he is being regarded as one of the most successful and famous military commanders in the history.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As Frances ruler, Napoleons one of the most important legacies in French history is the establishment of the Napoleonic Code or the French Civil Code, which became the foundation of the modern French state (Holtman, 1967). His achievements, policies and massive influence in the French history proclaimed him as one of the most famous tyrants by his opponents.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even though the French Revolution failed, Napoleons leadership became strongly imbibed within the French system, thus his influences were difficult to eradicate totally. In addition, Napoleon instilled a distinct sense of nationalism towards the French. His example of nationalism meant that people must fight against their conquerors and oppressors even until defeat (â€Å"Napoleons Legacy†).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, there were negative opinions generated by Napoleons autocratic leadership. While he was able to instill nationalism amongst the people, individual rights in Europe became suspended during his reign. Being an influential and powerful figure, he was able to impose his policies on the people. And as such, freedom became a rather limited right in France (â€Å"Napoleons Legacy†). References Holtman, R.B. (1967). The Napoleonic Revolution. Retrieved July 23, 2008, from http://mars.wnec.edu/~grempel/courses/wc2/lectures/napoleon.html Napoleonic Europe. (n.d). SparkNotes. Retrieved July 23, 2008, from http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/napoleonic/summary.html Napoleons Legacy. History Wiz. (2005). Retrieved July 23, 2008, from   http://www.historywiz.com/legacy.htm

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Autonomy and Responsibility The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bombs on Ja

Autonomy and Responsibility The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bombs on Japan Along with being a world superpower comes a long list of resposiblilities. One such responsibility is the decision of how to deal with other nations when they get out of line. People will always point fingers at who they think is at fault when a nation has to go to war with another. One such example of this is when the United States was brought into the Second World War because of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. By becoming involved in World War Two, the U.S. had to fight Japan, which led to the most important decision of the century. This decision was whether or not to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This decision was mainly placed on the shoulders of President Harry Truman. Truman did not jump to the idea of using the atomic bombs on Japan right away. In fact, he and other military officials came up with a few strategies for invading the Philippines initially (1, 17). Some military officials first proposed creating a blockade in the Pacific with carriers (1,18). Another plan was a two-phase amphibious assault on the island of Kyushu (1,18). In this plan the first landing would be followed by a larger second invasion (1,19). With this plan, though, it was estimated that Japan would not surrender until late 1946 (1,21). Also, it meant the use of British troops, and Great Britain could not afford to spare any because of the campaign in Europe (1,21). This meant that far too many lives would be lost on both sides, with a startling amount of half a million on the American side. By now the idea of using the first atomic bomb on Japan was being born. Due to the difficulty of fighting the Japanese in the Philippines, partially because of... ...deal world no bombs would be needed at all because there would be no wars,†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.but lets face the fact that that will never happen. There will always be conflicts between nations that can only be resolved through war. Works Cited 1)Fogelman, Edwin. Hiroshima: The Decision to Use the A-bomb. New York: Scribner. 1964. 2)Lifton, Robert Jay. Hiroshima in America. New York: Putnam's Sons. 1995. 3)Sherwin, Martin J. A World Destroyed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1975. 4)Skates, John Ray. The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb. Columbia: University of South Carolina. 1994 5)Hiraoka, Takashi. "Hiroshima" August, 1998. Online posting. 5 Feb. 1999 < http://www.igc.apc.org/napf/hiroshima98.html>. 6)Bernard, Tony. "Atomic Bombs" 1995 Online Posting. 3 Sep. 1997 < http://www.city.hiroshima.jp/City/ABombDamage/01.html>

Monday, November 11, 2019

How I became a Nurse Essay

Have you ever thought about becoming a nurse? Growing up, becoming a nurse had never crossed my mind. I didn’t grow up around anyone who worked in the nursing field nor was I used to being in and out of hospitals; whether it be for me or because of family. Although I wasn’t around many nurses or had much experience, I knew at one time or another I would be a huge part in changing the lives of others. Even though I haven’t always wanted to be a nurse, helping others has definitely been a huge priority in my life. It never occurred to me that being a nurse would give me the opportunity to help others until the end of my sophomore year in high school. That is when I decided a career in nursing would be perfect for me. Throughout my first two years of high school, I took class after class about where I was going to attend college and what my major would be. In the beginning I thought my decision was made and I knew exactly what my plan was going to be. I was going to be a Cosmetologist. From the time I was little I was always playing with hair and I just knew that was what I would do as a career one day. However, it seemed that God had a different plan for me. At my high school students were given the choice to take 2 electives. Whether it was choir, art, parenting, band, or a foreign language the decision was ultimately up to the student. My sophomore year I decided to take the parenting class as one of my electives. This class was the type that students assumed would be an easy grade and would not be a top priority. Little did I know this course would be the one to finalize my decision about life after high school and have a massive impact on my life. Throughout the class I watched many videos and had to complete projects on what it is like to be pregnant and all the things that come with having a child. I will never forget the final project that was assigned to the class. Each student in the class was assigned a computerized baby to care for over the course of a weekend. We had to watch this baby and care for it as if it were our very own. There were a variety of keys that came with the baby and each one had a reason as to why the baby might be crying. So, as  the â€Å"parent† of this baby, when he or she started to cry we had to determine whether it was hungry, needed a diaper change, burped etcetera. This was an extremely difficult weekend for me, but even after all of the crying and staying up all night, I enjoyed the project. In addition to caring for the computerized baby, we had to wear a pregnant belly suit for a day. This belly suit was designed to help students experience the feeling of a full term pregnancy. While wearing this suit I experienced a few things that an actual pregnant woman would feel. There was a 30 pound weight gain, fetal movements, shortness of breath, bladder pressure and frequency of urination. Even though I only had to wear the belly suit for a day, I felt that it was a very good experience and I was able to get an understanding of what it is like to be pregnant. Both of these p rojects taught me a lot about caring for an infant and the importance of good parenting skills. I was also intrigued by the medical aspects of labor and delivery and I began to think of the possibility of becoming a nurse. Throughout the many weeks of this class I had numerous talks with my friends and family and by the end of the course I knew my career path had changed. I wanted to be a nurse. During my remaining time in high school I began to focus more on classes that would be an asset to furthering my education in the healthcare field. My guidance counselor also worked closely with me to explore all my options in the nursing field. After much thought, I made my final decision to become a labor and delivery nurse. At the end of my senior year I started my prerequisite classes at Butler Tech to prepare for the LPN program that I would ultimately begin in January 2011. LPN school was extremely intense from the very beginning and at times I was ready to give up. Although it was very difficult, I learned that through hard work, diligence and sometimes tears, I can accomplish mo re than I ever thought possible of myself. Even though becoming an LPN was just a stepping stone to achieving my ultimate goal, I knew it was what I needed to do. I have enjoyed working as an LPN and I will continue to use my skills and knowledge to work towards becoming a labor and delivery nurse one day. Overall, there have been many events in my life that are very special to me and will forever be a part of who I am today. I believe making the choice to take part in a parenting class back in high school is one of the major events in my life and is the reason I am where I am today. Looking back, I realized how  important this class really was to me and the significance it had on my life. Taking this class was a main factor of why I became a nurse and I may not be where I am today if I had not taken part in it. I am very grateful I took the class, and I will never forget the impact it had on my life.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Assessment and Feedback Essay

Many of my lessons involve embedding literacy into a topic so it is more meaningful for the learners. There are various ways of assessing work which are used. One method that is used is initial assessment, where the learners at the beginning of their induction into our pre-16 program do an online BSKB initial assessment in Maths, English and ICT. This is to ensure that the learner is at the right level of learning. These tests are formative and convergent where choices of multiple choice questions give indications of gaps in the learner’s knowledge. Once the learner has  completed an initial assessment they are then given the diagnostic BSKB assessment to see what subject strengths and weaknesses they have. These learners tend not to have attended much school therefore it is difficult to assess the work they produce as very often little or no work is achieved. Assessment is about making a judgment to make sure that learning is taking place. It is about identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the learner so that the learner is progressing with the work that is set. Assessment in all forms that involve making a judgment and it includes an element of subjectivity by me. It should be objective, fair and transparent. It plays an important role in the education process as it determines the work students undertake and affects their approach to learning. There are varying degrees of assessment that are designed primarily to serve the purposes of accountability, or of ranking, or of certifying competence. However, an assessment activity can help learning if it provides information that I can use and can give students feedback. Feedback can be used to modify teaching and learning activities in which the learners are engaged in. Such assessment becomes formative when  the evidence is actually used to adapt the teaching work to meet learning needs. Much of what teachers and learners do in the classroom is assessment based. Tasks and questions prompt learners to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and skills. How the learners respond and interpret this can give indications of how their learning can be improved. Verbal feedback and discussion tends to be the main method that I use where opinions can be discussed and attainment of knowledge can be assessed during lessons. This is classed as affective learning where topics can gain an emotional response or a tone of interest/values that the  learner may have prior knowledge or experience. These types of responses are 1 usually focused on the learner’s feelings, and they are often difficult to measure in quantifiable terms. However, in my classroom, I want the learners to feel that their work is valued and that the effort has been worthwhile. During lessons, informal assessment is the preferred choice for me and my pre-16 colleague as students are wary of tests or exams. The reason for this maybe the learner’s previous experience of learning or the fact that they feel vulnerable when the word test, exam or assessment occurs within the learning environment. Informal assessment is easily incorporated into classroom routines and learning activities. It can be used at any time without interfering with teaching. The results give indication of the learner’s performance on the skill or subject of interest. However, it is not intended to give a broader view of the learner’s ability apart from the lesson that took place. This is not to say that informal assessment is spontaneous or absent from accuracy. Formal tests assume a single set of expectations for all students and come with prescribed criteria for scoring and interpretation. Informal assessment, on  the other hand, requires a clear understanding of the levels of ability the students bring with them. Only then may assessment activities be selected that students can attempt reasonably. Measuring the validity and reliability of informal assessments is achieved by expected goals and objectives outcomes. Once the work is completed, I assess the knowledge that the learners have gained by their attempted completion of the tasks. Scoring procedures can be used to measure progress and achievement in content areas and literacy skills can be measured by oral, reading and written work. Reliability is a statistical measure of which we can trust the results of a given writing test. Reliability estimations and their interpretations will vary according to particular assessment contexts and purposes. In real practice, high score reliability is indeed necessary and feasible in large-scale assessment, where the actual tests are the main source of interpretable information. In more local contexts (e. g. classrooms), reliability measurements are to a great extent unfeasible and, simultaneously, other sources for qualitative evaluation are available. The work that the learners produced enabled me to assess their level of  understanding and also their literacy progress. Feedback was given in written format on the activity worksheet, to identify strengths and weaknesses of each individual 2 learner. All the learners attempted the worksheet and I gave feedback in the format of Petty (2004) medals and missions. Medals (sometimes called positive reinforcement) are given when the learner has done something well, such as spellings or written something in their own words although most of the learners just wrote down what was on the computer screen. This was what I commented on as missions where the learners need to improve, correct or work upon. Written tasks, alongside oral questioning, should encourage students to develop and show understanding of the key features of what they have learned. Opportunities are given during lessons for the learners to respond to comments made about their work and advice is given on what areas they are struggling on. The key point to feedback is for it to be effective and for the learners to think about the good and bad points in their work and that clear goals can be achieved. The negative aspect of feedback for disaffected learners is that low self-esteem influences their reaction to feedback. Building self-esteem and confidence is one of the main aspects in my classroom. Low self-esteem can knock confidence and ability and their previous experiences of learning can have a considerable impact on their academic ability. In this environment learners are in a vulnerable position and in some cases their low esteem can be forgotten by teachers due to distractions and challenging behaviour. The comments I make have to be sensitive and constructive so that the comments do not impact on the learner’s self-esteem and confidence. The comments are to be constructive and build on their learning capabilities. When I  ask the learners whether or not they understood the feedback given regarding their work, the learners give the appearance that they are not bothered about the feedback or acted disinterested. Students find the feedback messages hard to understand and complex in their meaning especially in the written form. However, when feedback is used as dialogue within the lesson it provides opportunities for feedback and feedforward. This is a good scenario as the learner responds to initial feedback with their opinions. This gives the chance for the teacher to help the learners develop their understanding and has an instant response in correcting  misunderstandings. Although, the response to verbal feedback regarding the learners knowledge, skills and understanding is feasible in the classroom, further development of feedback and feedforward is required so that the student can improve and grow in their 3 understanding of the subject and true learning has taken place. When I assess a learner this has an impact on my teaching. The feedback I get from the students gives me the opportunity to reflect on my practices and adjust accordingly so that the learners are engaged, focused and completing the tasks given during lessons. However, learners’ indifference to learning and feedback can cloud my judgement about what I am doing right or wrong. In my sessions I need to develop the dual narrative where the learners work together as a group but also there are one to one opportunities. This would work towards full differentiation where students are working independently but within a whole group setting. This has been difficult to achieve yet it is possible; progress has been made with the learners providing work that can be assessed verbally or written. However, it has taken six months to gain  trust, confidence and self-esteem of the learners to provide any work at all. Nonetheless, with a longer time restraint development of feedback and feedforward can be achieved. The learners need to see feedback as a reflection on their work not that it’s personal to them, the problem these learners face is to understand what feedback is and what its intentions are. The trouble is that once the disaffected learners arrive at Rathbone they already feel that school as failed them therefore feel disengaged with the learning environment. This can be a contributing factor to the way they feel towards assessments. The attitude towards motivating and engaging the learners towards learning objectives is a more social context. Therefore, the attitude of Rathbone and its staff is to gain confidence, trust and self-esteem so that learning is more enjoyable to them. This then becomes a platform for the learners to want to learn post 16. As their teacher, the environment is complex and challenging however I feel that the learners are starting to become aware of what is required of them in the classroom. This means that I am doing something right and that my assessments, judgement and feedback are starting to be acknowledged.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Baumrind Parenting Styles Essays

Bronfenbrenner/ Baumrind Parenting Styles Essays Bronfenbrenner/ Baumrind Parenting Styles Paper Bronfenbrenner/ Baumrind Parenting Styles Paper Microsystem A system which is closest to the person and the one in which they have direct contact with (immediate relationships and activities). Mesosystem The interactions/relationships between the different parts of a persons microsystem. Exosystem a setting that does not involve the person as an active participant, but still affects them (Larger social settings such as communities). Macrosystem The cultural environment in which the person lives and all other systems that affect them. (Culture) Bioecologial Theory Theory describing the nested social and cultured contexts that shape development Authoritative Parenting High in Warmth but exerts firm control Authoritative Parenting This type monitors children closely, setting clear standards and communicating high expectations for behaviour. They are rational and supportive in their approach to discipline, and are willing to negotiate in disciplinary matters. Authoritative Parenting Often produce independent children. Authoritarian Parenting High in control and low in warmth and responsiveness. Discipline can be harsh and punitive. Authoritarian Parenting This type sets firm limits and expect their children to follow orders. They often have a because I said so kind of attitude. Authoritarian Parenting Often produce antisocial children who are not independent. Permissive/Indulgent Parenting This type is warm but they have little control over their children. Permissive/Indulgent Parenting This type of parenting has very few rules or consequences for their children. They also see themselves of more of a resource than a role model. Permissive/Indulgent Parenting Often produce spoiled children and the children are often more impulsive and prone to drug use. Neglectful-Rejecting Parenting Low in warmth and control (uninvolved) Neglectful-Rejecting Parenting This parenting style puts very little effort in and they take care of their own needs first. Often these parents have significant problems of their own, which limit or inhibit their ability to meet the needs of their children. Often these parents are depressed or battling with an addiction. Neglectful-Rejecting Parenting Children are more prone to antisocial behaviours when presented with this parenting style.

Monday, November 4, 2019

I am Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

I am - Essay Example figuration of my mother, it turned out to be chronologically three dimensional, typically impacted and shaped by the length of her relationship with me and the biases that she accrued to me owing to my close relationship with her. As per my mother, I was always a disciplined and good natured person who has evolved into a responsible and reliable personality. It goes without saying that while constructing this configuration; my mother was to a large extent biased pertaining to the selection of data she subscribed to, to shape my persona. The information that she relied on to typify my configuration was primarily obsolete, as she had either little information as to how I carried myself as a social and professional person, or she decided to ignore the information at her disposal, going by the choice of words that she used to define me. Not to mention that such a response from her was accurately in consonance with my expectations, though not in tandem with my innate self concept. I can s ay that my mother’s opinion of me was aimed at securing optimal relational satisfaction for her. The configuration contrived by my mother catered to my innate self concept that is adhered to a large extent to the stable set of perceptions that I held about myself. This indeed boosted my self esteem as it satiated that aspect of my, self concept that involved personal evaluations of my, self worth. I also need to mention that this particular interaction with my mother proceeded smoothly as her and mine communication was indeed impacted by a mutually evinced high self esteem. As my mother happens to be a ‘significant other’ in my life I must acknowledge that her evaluation of me was especially taken to be quiet influential. This evaluation was no way influenced by any viable and pragmatic social comparison. Wang had been working as my subordinate for the past ten months and in the context of personal expectations, I considered him to be quiet close to me, irrespective of him being