Homers Ajax Essays - Mythological Kings, Ajax, Suicide, Trojans

Homer's Ajax The relevance that the themes of tragedy could have to issues affecting the city-state even in plays whose plots had ostensibly nothing to do with life in a polis shows up clearly in Sophocles' play entitled Ajax, presented in the early 440s B.C. The play bore the name of the second-best warrior (Achilles had been preeminent) in the Greek army that besieged Troy in the Trojan War. When his fellow Greek soldiers voted to award the armor of the dead Achilles to the wily Odysseus instead of himself, Ajax went on a berserk rampage against his former friends which the goddess Athena thwarted because Ajax had once rejected her help in battle. Disgraced by his failure to secure revengeAjax committed suicide. Odysseus then stepped in to convince the Greek chiefs to bury Ajax despite his attempted treachery because the future security of the army and the obligations of friendship demanded that they obey the divine injunction always to bury the dead. Odysseus' arguments in favor of burying Aja x anachronistically treat the army as if it were a polis, and his use of persuasive speech to achieve accommodation of conflicting individual interests to the benefit of the community corresponds to the way in which disputes in the polis were supposed to be resolved. Mythology Essays

Free Essays on Native American Captivity

D.H. Lawrence’s view of American spirit in his essay, â€Å"Spirit of Place,† coincides with the account of Mary Rowlandson’s emotions and experiences in, â€Å"A Narrative of the captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.† D.H. Lawrence writes about a false sense of freedom in America, in which people do not understand nor cherish their freedom until their basic liberties are stripped away from them. Through Mary Rowlandson’s captivity and drastic change in her lifestyle, we can see a greater appreciation of daily life and a true sense of freedom develop. The United States of America has always been a country that is based on freedom. Even before this country was established, the Pilgrims came to live in America to get away from the British government and for freedom of life and religion. On the road to gaining independence from Britain, the ideal of freedom in this country still remained evident. The founding fathers of our nation wrote laws, founding the United States of America upon ideals that will keep citizens free from government in many aspects of their life, such as freedom of speech and right to vote or not vote. The closing lyrics to our national anthem are â€Å"The land of the free, And the home of the brave.† D.H. Lawrence believes that people’s view of freedom in America throughout our history has been a false sense of what true freedom actually means. Lawrence believes that one understands freedom when they have accepted their life and is at peace with themselves and all aspects of their life. â€Å"Men are freest when they are most unconscious of freedom. Men are not free when they are doing just what they like†¦Men are only free when they are doing what the deepest self likes†¦If one wants to be free, one has to give up the illusion of doing what one likes, and seek what it wishes done† (Lawrence 6). Lawrence feels that people understand freedom to be doing as they please. However, free... Free Essays on Native American Captivity Free Essays on Native American Captivity D.H. Lawrence’s view of American spirit in his essay, â€Å"Spirit of Place,† coincides with the account of Mary Rowlandson’s emotions and experiences in, â€Å"A Narrative of the captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.† D.H. Lawrence writes about a false sense of freedom in America, in which people do not understand nor cherish their freedom until their basic liberties are stripped away from them. Through Mary Rowlandson’s captivity and drastic change in her lifestyle, we can see a greater appreciation of daily life and a true sense of freedom develop. The United States of America has always been a country that is based on freedom. Even before this country was established, the Pilgrims came to live in America to get away from the British government and for freedom of life and religion. On the road to gaining independence from Britain, the ideal of freedom in this country still remained evident. The founding fathers of our nation wrote laws, founding the United States of America upon ideals that will keep citizens free from government in many aspects of their life, such as freedom of speech and right to vote or not vote. The closing lyrics to our national anthem are â€Å"The land of the free, And the home of the brave.† D.H. Lawrence believes that people’s view of freedom in America throughout our history has been a false sense of what true freedom actually means. Lawrence believes that one understands freedom when they have accepted their life and is at peace with themselves and all aspects of their life. â€Å"Men are freest when they are most unconscious of freedom. Men are not free when they are doing just what they like†¦Men are only free when they are doing what the deepest self likes†¦If one wants to be free, one has to give up the illusion of doing what one likes, and seek what it wishes done† (Lawrence 6). Lawrence feels that people understand freedom to be doing as they please. However, free...

Explain how an investor can set a stream of future payments from an Coursework

Explain how an investor can set a stream of future payments from an investment equal to its present value. Give two reasons why an investor might be interested in the present value - Coursework Example Stress is a common occurrence in the life of any individual. Stress has been shown to affect an individual’s performance hence in effect hampering their output, ability to relate and communicate effectively. This usually leads to a state of depression. This paper will highlight the causes of depression and anxiety, the types of treatments that are available for patients and the most recommended treatment. This paper will look at two articles that highlight the causes and treatments of depression and anxiety. It is paramount to understand the different approaches used in stress management before analyzing the stress management techniques. Stress management techniques could be grouped in two using two main classification methods (Lehrer, et al., 2007): a) Problem focused approach methods aim to identify the root cause of stress in the workplace. These approaches consider time management and come up with solutions best applicable for a particular cause, tailored for that specific workplace environment (Lehrer, et al., 2007). For example, problem focused approach methods for a construction site worker differs from those of a banking hall teller. b) Emotionally focused approach methods seek to provide a temporary guide for the parties involved getting by with the symptoms, but give little in solving the root cause of stress. Social support is the most common method; however drugs and alcohol fall under this category (Lehrer, et al., 2007). a) Psychological approaches handle subjective feelings triggered by stressful situations, such as lack of control and anxiety. These approaches only help people cope with these feelings (Lehrer, et al., 2007). b) Physiological approaches to handle the physical symptoms of stress that can be felt in the body. Symptoms such as increased heart rate and arousal are reduced by exerting

Auditors Responsibility for Detecting Fraud Assignment

Auditors Responsibility for Detecting Fraud - Assignment Example Business failure occurs when a business is unable to repay its creditors or meet investors because of prevailing business conditions. A recent fraud that shocked the financial society is the financial collapse of Lehman Brothers, a big investment firm in U.S. Reuters carried news report that the accounting firm of Ernest & Young helped to hide financial problems of Lehman Brothers that led to its downfall (McKena, Francine,2010) Reuters reported that Ernest & Young tolerated the fraudulent transactions of Lehman Brothers that used an accounting technique known as â€Å"Repo 105, a business model designed to hide billions in liabilities. The firm used this technique to hide as much as $50 billion in assets from the balance sheet. (McCool Grant, 2010) As a process, management puts the internal control to be assured that operations are in place. Internal control, as Carl Haus(2014) defined, are rules designed to promote proper functioning of business. It is also designed to protect company assets, Cari suggested. In this context, Independent auditors rely on the accuracy of internal controls to form their opinions. As such, management has the responsibility of providing a reliable financial position of the company. Based on this premise, failures of internal control started with top management who failed or ignored internal controls for a dependable financial reporting. The Auditors, on their part failed or disregarded the weaknesses of financial information or errors presented so as not to disrupt the operations of Lehman Brothers. Financial statements done by Lehman Brothers were manipulated by management to make it appear that it was a sound company.  

Vietnam war Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Vietnam war - Research Paper Example Critical analysis of The Things They Carried, by Tim OBrien offers a first-hand experience narration by a participant in the war. It is therefore imperative that in-depth assessment of the text is undertaken to draw the comparative analysis of what transpired in the Siege of Khe Sanh-that ran from mid-January 1968 through June 1968. Several questions were left unanswered in regard to the number of military officers United States lost before they were compelled to give up in the war amidst public discontent in funding it (Rottman 71-3). In this regard, further investigative research is important in making informed conclusions and deriving findings. Assessment of the events that constitute the Siege of Khe Sanh forms the basis of making informed conclusion on the actual magnitude of United States’ lost bid to impose capitalism in Vietnam. Further brainstorming entails exploration of the information gap through review of past literature on the topic. A formal research proposal will unravel facts and figures to guide in boosting the public understanding of costs incurred by United States in the Vietnam War with particular focus on its logistics and strategic planning base of Khe

Meaning of Political Theory

Meaning of Political Theory Political theory is a subdivision of the study of politics. It is a contested expression in that political theorists have failed to reach a consensus on an all-encompassing definition as any such definition is bound to alienate someone. Theorists have tried to bring some exactness to the contested concepts so that one can provide convincing arguments for the particular social arrangements aimed. However, John Plamenatz defined political theory as the systematic thinking about the purposes of government (Farrelly, 2004). The expression Political Theory is composed of two words, ‘Politics’ and ‘Theory’. Politics literally means the study of politics and it is about conflict of interest and its resolution which occurs at every level of the society. Theory is anything from a plan to a piece of abstract knowledge. In academic discourse, however, a theory is an explanatory proposition, an idea or set of ideas that in some way seeks to impose order or meaning upon phenomena (Heywood, 2004). This paper therefore seeks to discuss what political theory is. The role of political theory is to analyze the political concepts, understand and criticize them through the use of the four tools: concepts, models, theories and paradigms. Concept is a general idea about something usually expressed in a single word or short phrase that draws out meaning from an otherwise infinitely complex reality, for example; equality, presidency, political party, power, social class, rights, law, etc. (Heywood, 2004). It helps to make sense of the world by serving as a tool for thinking, criticizing, arguing, explaining and analyzing political developments and to classify objects by recognizing that they have similar forms or properties, hence concepts serve as building blocks of human knowledge. Model is a representation of empirical data that aims to advance understanding by highlighting significant relationships and interactions among variables, for example; systems analysis, public choice, game theory, etc. Models are built around a number of concepts to apt ly resemble the original object without necessarily becoming its copy. A Theory is an explanation and prediction of relationships among specific variables, for example; pluralism, elitism, functionalism, etc. It is usually used interchangeably with model and may be explained by a series of models. A theory attempts to present a full explanation and prediction of future events while a model attempts to accurately reflect reality. Paradigm is an intellectual framework comprising interrelated values, theories and assumptions, within which search for knowledge is conducted. It consists of a set of principles that structure the process of intellectual inquiry, for example; liberalism, Marxism, feminism, etc. According to Heywood (2004), political theory was broadly defined to include normative theory and systematic theory. Normative theory contains the history of political ideas and the continuous generation of new ideas about what society ought to be. It is concerned with ethical or normative questions, such as why should I obey the state, how should rewards be distributed and what should be the limits of individual liberty. This traditional approach is primarily interested in examining how thinkers developed and justified their views, and the intellectual context in which they worked. Systematic theory includes the explanation and understanding of the existing society and enables one to make projections for the possible future transformations. Given this difference in the definition of political theory, it is not easy to reach a compromise on the definition. Political theory involves analytical study of ideas and doctrines that have been central to political thought unlike Political Ph ilosophy which is concerned with the critical evaluation of political beliefs, paying attention to both inductive and deductive forms of reasoning and to clarify and refine the concepts employed in political discourse. It has attempted to understand better the behavior of actors like voters, politicians, lobbyists and bureaucrats, and has spawned rational choice, public choice and social choice schools of thought (Heywood, 2004). Hoffman and Graham, in their book, Introduction to Political Theory, explain that political theory takes account of activity that focuses on the states that are formed by political parties through elections to govern a country. In everyday life, we are guided by notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, so that everything we do is informed by concepts, just like politicians. Humans in general cannot work without ideas as it is a defining property of human activity that we can only act when we have ideas in our head as to what we should do (Hoffman et al., 2009). The objective of political theory is also to train citizens to think rationally about political questions and assess correctly the political events of their time. Human beings are unique in two respects: they possess reason and the ability to reflect on their actions. They communicate with each other in the language they know. Unlike other species, they can express their innermost thoughts and desires; they can share their ideas and discuss what they consider to be good and desirable. Political theory has its roots in these twin aspects of the human self. It analyzes certain basic questions such as how the society should be organized, why government is needed, what is the best form of government, what does the state owe its citizens and what do we owe each other as citizens (www.politics.as.nyu.edu). It examines questions of this kind and systematically deals with the origins, meanings and significance of political ideas that we are familiar with such as freedom, equality, democracy, citizenship, justice, development, nationalism, secularism, etc. It clarifies the existing definitions of these concepts by focusing on some major political thinkers of the past and present. It also examines the extent to which freedom or equality are actually present in the institutions that we participate in everyday such as schools, shops, buses, trains, government offices, etc. It looks at whether existing definitions are adequate and how existing institutions of government and policy practices must be modified to become more democratic in a systematic manner. It probes the significance of principles such as rule of law, separation of powers, judicial review, etc. This is done by examining the arguments advanced by different thinkers in defense of these concepts. Besides examining arguments, political theorists also reflect upon the current political experiences and point out trends and possibilities for the future. When we begin a debate or argument on any topic, we usually as k what does it mean and how does it matter (www.politics.as.nyu.edu). Conclusion Political theory means theorizing politics. It encourages people to examine their ideas and feelings about political things. It exposes them to systematic thinking on justice or equality so that they can polish their opinions and argue in an informed manner and for the sake of common interests. It analyzes and explains political ideas and concepts rather than advance any particular beliefs or interpretations like what political philosophy does. In this context, political theory will mean an explanatory proposition, an idea or set of ideas that seeks to explain matters about politics. Bibliography Farrelly, C. (2003), An Introduction to Contemporary Political Theory, A Reader: Sage Publications Ltd, London. Heywood, A. (2004), Political Theory: An Introduction, 3rd Edition: Palgrave MacMillan, New York. Hoffman, J. and Graham, P. (2009), Introduction to Political Theory, 2nd Edition: Pearson Education Limited. (www.politics.as.nyu.edu), Chapter 1; Political Theory: An Introduction.pdf 1 Meaning of Political Theory Meaning of Political Theory The term Political Theory is composed of two words ‘Politics’ and ‘Theory’. Politics means the study of politics whereby theory is anything from a plan to a piece of abstract knowledge. In academic discourse, however, a theory is an explanatory proposition, an idea or set of ideas that in some way seeks to impose order or meaning upon phenomena. Political theory involves analytical study of ideas and doctrines that have been central to political thought (Heywood, 2004). This paper seeks to discuss the meaning of political theory. Political Philosophy Political Philosophy is concerned with how the world ought to be rather than with how we see it now. In short this area of study is defined based on what is experienced rather than on theory. What political goals, is it reasonable and correct to follow? The meanig of this is to be leally employed to pursue such reasonable and main purpose. In short these are the impotant questions Political Philosophy tries to answer. Political philosophers have discussed them from antiquity to recent times, that is why the sound knowledge of the history of political thought isindispensable for political theorists. (Druwe ulrich) Political theory is concerned with ethical or normative questions, such as ‘Why should I obey the state?’, ‘How rewards should be distributed?’ and ‘What should be the limits of individual liberty?’ This traditional approach is primarily interested in examining views by great thinkers, justify them and find out their sources and the intellectual context in which they worked. Political theory has attempted to understand better the behavior of actors like voters, politicians, lobbyists and bureaucrats, and has spawned ‘rational choice,’ ‘public choice’ and ‘social choice’ schools of thought. Heywood, 2004 Political theory examines questions of this kind and systematically clarifies the meaning of concepts such as freedom, equality, democracy, secularism and justice. It explains the meanings and significance of these and other related concepts. It clarifies the existing definitions of these concepts by focusing on some major political thinkers of the past and present. It also examines the extent to which freedom or equality are actually present in the institutions that we participate in everyday such as schools, shops, buses or trains or government offices. It looks at whether existing definitions are adequate and how existing institutions (government, bureaucracy) and policy practices must be modified to become more democratic in a systematic manner. Political theory probes the significance of principles such as rule of law, separation of powers, judicial review, etc. This is done by examining the arguments advanced by different thinkers in defense of these concepts. Besides examining arguments, political theorists also reflect upon the current political experiences and point out trends and possibilities for the future. The role of Political theory is to analyze the political concepts, understand them and criticize them through the use of the four tools: concepts, models, theories and paradigms. Concept is a general idea or mental construct in which an attempt is made to draw out meaning from an otherwise infinitely complex reality, for example; equality, presidency, political party, etc. It helps to make sense of the world by serving as a tool through which political developments are explained, analyzed, disapproved, and classifying of objects by recognizing that they have similar forms or properties. For example we must attempt to understand the political parties in Malawi since the colonial period to date. What we have seen, heard and experienced has acted as a building block for our knowledge Dr. E B Muluzi introduced starter pack fertilizer to famers but hunger still continued but Prof. Bingu Wa Muthalika analyzed what was in the past and introduced fertilizer subsidy, it worked and it put Malawi on the world map as a food self-sufficient. Therefore Concepts serve as building blocks of human knowledge. Model is an analytical tool through which meaning can be imposed upon a massive disorganized collection of facts , simplification of reality and merely a device for drawing out understanding but not reliable knowledge in themselves ,following and explaining Easton’s systems model we see that people mean people who form political parties and their parties in estimate figures then inputs are manifestos which are made to convince voters to elect them into government and the gate keepers are mechanisms put in place to protect the government of the day like law enforcers. The government is the political party that has been elected into power by the people. Outputs are the developments that are unfold from their manifestos in order to fulfill their promises they made during campaign period. A model can also be defined as a representation of empirical data that aims to advance understanding by highlighting significant relationships and interactions among variables. Models are built around a number of concepts to aptly resemble the original object without necessarily becoming its copy. Theory is a reliable explanation, comprehensive, consistent and systematic prediction of relationships among specific variables. It is usually used interchangeably with model and may be explained by a series of models. A theory attempts to present a full explanation and prediction of future events while a model attempts to accurately reflect reality. The objective of political theory is to train citizens to think rationally about political questions and assess correctly the political events of our time. Human beings are unique in two respects: they possess reason and the ability to reflect on their activities. In addition to that they also have the ability to use language and communicate with each other. Unlike other species, they can express their innermost thoughts and desires; they can share their ideas and discuss what they consider to be good and desirable. Political theory has its roots in these twin aspects of the human self. It analyzes certain basic questions such as how the society should be governed. Is the government needed? What form of government is best for us? Is our freedom limited by the law? What social contract is there between the state and its citizens? What about citizen to citizen? Paradigm is an intellectual framework comprising interrelated values, theories and assumptions, within which search for knowledge is conducted. It consists of a set of principles that structure the process of intellectual inquiry. Conclusion Political theory helps us in critical thinking, evaluation and understanding of ideas. As a human being we are able to enlarge our knowledge because it is through the study of political theory where we get building blocks of our knowledge. It also helps us to understand and evaluate manifestos of political parties in order to make informed decision and make a good choice during any election, in addition to that politicians are able to make decisions for their parties so that they can be voted into power in any election and they can be able to make a good government. Political theory’s objective is to analyze and explain political ideas and concepts rather than advance any particular beliefs or interpretations like what political philosophy does. In this context, political theory will mean an explanatory proposition, an idea or set of ideas that seeks to explain matters in politics. In all political theory involves the analytical study of ideas and doctrines that have been cent ral to political thought (Heywood 2004). Bibliography Heywood, A.(2004) Political Ideologies: An introduction. 3rd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Heywood, A.(2004) Political Theory: An Introduction. 3rd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Druwe Ulrich (1995)politische 2nd ed Neuried https: ioenline. Microsoft.com./# ieslice.

Death In Toms River :: essays research papers

When I first saw Linda Gilik and I was told that I had to listen to her presentation I didn’t fully realize how much it was going to move me. She is a woman who had a healthy baby boy, and then after loving this â€Å"normal† child for three months was told that he was diagnosed with cancer of the nervous system. She was very taken back by what she was told and knew that there was something wrong because it came out of no where. It is very rare for a baby to get cancer, this type of cancer occurs in one in a million babies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  She went to Sloan Keteran a world famous cancer hospital in New York City. She was sitting on her sons floor which had 40 beds filled with children patients, and saw that 7 or 8 of tough’s beds were children from Toms River New Jersey. She started talking to some of the parents of the children from Tom’s River and they decided to investigate and maybe find out the reason this was happening to their children. Her son Michael was diagnosed with this cancer in 1979. He is now 25 years old and lives at home. He is a 25 year old in a 7 year olds body because of the cancer and the procedures he has to go through.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After a couple of years of investigations and several years later, a nurse at a hospital in Philadelphia in the cancer ward saw that again a lot of the children that were there were from the same place, Toms River. She called EPA 3 to report what she was seeing; they called EPA 2 who called the New Jersey department of health. Then a man named Michael Berry made a report of what was going on called the Berry report in 1995. This was going on 16 years after Linda’s son Michael was diagnosed, they still didn’t have a clue and the cancer rates of children in Toms River were getting bigger.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Finally, they decided to start testing the water in Toms River to have some kind of clue as to what is happening. When they tested the water from the schools, they found many cancer causing chemicals.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What happened was a man named Mr. Fernicola was supposed to destroy drums full of chemicals. Instead, he was lazy and paid the sanitation workers off so that he can just take them and dump them in the landfill.

Computer education Essay

Computer education is two sides of a coin, there are several advantages and disadvantages which are listed below: Advantages: 1. Information is available at the click of a button, the internet is very useful and gives a huge support to the teacher to enhance her curriculum 2. The students themselves can learn a lot about the topics taught in class through the internet 3. Children find the lessons interesting since teachers have access to a vast pool of information. 4. Children can submit homework etc via computer, thus saving of time 5. Saves a lot of stationery, paper wastage is minimal since students can submit their projects via computer. 6. Also, today everywhere a computer is used children become computer savvy and better prepared to face the world. Disadvantages: 1. Computer tends to make the children lazy, reason being that a computer is a one stop shop. Everything is available at a click of a button, they do not have to strive to collect information. 2. Children lose their power the think since just by putting in one word on the search engine a whole treasure of information opens up, everything is available without trying very hard, children lose their imagination power and ingenuity. 3. Children do not have to learn spellings, calculation, tables they become totally dependant on computers and their skills for memorising, application, quick thinking are not developed. 4. A computer is a very cold way of teaching, earlier live examples and objects were used which were far more exciting, we could touch, smell objects like earlier if a teacher wanted to teach about an orange a live orange was brought and shown, today everything is shown via power point presentations on screen which does not have the same effect on children, since a live thing is so much more exciting. 5. Children lose touch with the real world and live in a virtual world which is not good. 6. Children become loners, lose friends, since all the time they are stuck to the computers 7. They do not sleep on time since chatting, emailing,

Free Essays on Effects of Rap on Today’s Youth.

I plan on researching the effects of rap on today’s youth. As Glenn Collins explains, â€Å"the influence of rap is now evident in the nation’s language, music, fashion and advertising† (C15). I also plan on researching the effects of good clean lyrics that Will Smith uses, compared to the vulgar and violent lyrics of past rap artists such as Tupac Shakur and Chris Wallace a.k.a. Notorious BIG. I became aware of this topic because I listen to rap music. I own 20 rap CD’s. I became concerned about rap lyrics bad influence when Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG were murdered in the middle of the 1990’s. Will Smith is also my favorite rap artist, because he does not use profanity and violence in his lyrics. According to Smith, â€Å"Good rap does not have to be vulgar† (qtd. in â€Å"Fresh Prince† 17A). I am also interested in learning the effects of unclean rap lyrics on today’s youth. There needs to be further investigation on this, because this important subject seems to have some how faded over the past five to ten years. According to Terry Teachout, â€Å"the actual content of rap, nobody talks about it much anymore-it seems far, far longer then seven years ago that Bill Clinton made political hay by attacking Sister Souljah-and it may well be that the sickening excesses of gangster rap have become as untrendy as Austin Power’s wardrobe† (14). We need to see if rap lyrics are in fact affecting our youth and how rap artists like Will Smith, can be a good role model. â€Å"And the same people who go out and say rap is negative, they don’t come and look at some of the good groups that are out there, who are doing positive things† (Williams C1). Will Smith is nearly the only rap artist not using profanity in his rap lyrics. Is Will Smith making an impact on today’s youth with his clean lyrics? The big â€Å"in† thing twenty or thirty years ago was rock & roll. How will people remember rap 50 years from now? ... Free Essays on Effects of Rap on Today’s Youth. Free Essays on Effects of Rap on Today’s Youth. I plan on researching the effects of rap on today’s youth. As Glenn Collins explains, â€Å"the influence of rap is now evident in the nation’s language, music, fashion and advertising† (C15). I also plan on researching the effects of good clean lyrics that Will Smith uses, compared to the vulgar and violent lyrics of past rap artists such as Tupac Shakur and Chris Wallace a.k.a. Notorious BIG. I became aware of this topic because I listen to rap music. I own 20 rap CD’s. I became concerned about rap lyrics bad influence when Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG were murdered in the middle of the 1990’s. Will Smith is also my favorite rap artist, because he does not use profanity and violence in his lyrics. According to Smith, â€Å"Good rap does not have to be vulgar† (qtd. in â€Å"Fresh Prince† 17A). I am also interested in learning the effects of unclean rap lyrics on today’s youth. There needs to be further investigation on this, because this important subject seems to have some how faded over the past five to ten years. According to Terry Teachout, â€Å"the actual content of rap, nobody talks about it much anymore-it seems far, far longer then seven years ago that Bill Clinton made political hay by attacking Sister Souljah-and it may well be that the sickening excesses of gangster rap have become as untrendy as Austin Power’s wardrobe† (14). We need to see if rap lyrics are in fact affecting our youth and how rap artists like Will Smith, can be a good role model. â€Å"And the same people who go out and say rap is negative, they don’t come and look at some of the good groups that are out there, who are doing positive things† (Williams C1). Will Smith is nearly the only rap artist not using profanity in his rap lyrics. Is Will Smith making an impact on today’s youth with his clean lyrics? The big â€Å"in† thing twenty or thirty years ago was rock & roll. How will people remember rap 50 years from now? ...

Impact of Gambling on the Bahamian Economy

Impact of Gambling on the Bahamian Economy Introduction Bahamian Economy The economy of The Bahamas is strongly shaped by aspects of the growth of touristic services and packages, foreign dominance of its main sectors, development of financial services, foreign capital inflows as well as a state revenue collection through indirect taxation (primarily of the import customs), while evading taxation on earnings and corporate gains (Karagiannis and Madjd-Sadjadi, 2011 p.96).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Impact of Gambling on the Bahamian Economy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Analysts perceive the potential of high volume tourism for increasing income levels and boost employment opportunities for locals that has significant influence in foreign exchange earnings. Nevertheless, this nature of tourism services is highly susceptible to international political economy, foreign exchange, prone to global environmental problems, and external shocks (Karagiannis and Madjd-Sadjadi, 2011 p.96). The Bahamian economy is modelled to structurally and technologically dependent due to disparities in the trend of domestic market demand and the type of good supplied (Karagiannis and Madjd-Sadjadi, 2011 p.97). A wide range of economic transactions in The Bahamas are associated with foreign trade. Activities in the agricultural sector are less developed to the extend that a large quota of food products is sourced from outside the country in order to meet the demand. Population growth and tourism boom are the main factors contributing to food deficits. Consequently there has been an exponential growth in the food import bill as well as a decline in the balance of payments (Karagiannis and Madjd-Sadjadi, 2011 p.97). This has caused challenges in diffusing financial benefits from the tourism into other sectors of the economy. Lottery in The Bahamas Gambling premises particularly casinos were inconsistent and have influenced the economy of the Bahamas for ove r 9 decades (Boxill 2009, p.3). Lottery activities particularly in casinos are designed to favour tourism development. Sources from the government of The Bahamas indicate that the first of gambling casinos in the name of the Bahamian Club opened for business from the capital of Nassau towards the close of the 1920s decade (Boxill 2009, p.3). Later, another gambling premises was opened by the name Cat Cay (Boxill 2009, p.4). The two premises had a small capacity for patrons and centred on attracting tourists. They operated fully during the winter seasons. The lottery activities served as complimentary for other entertainment experiences for the tourists. In the 1960s decade, there was a boom in the casino gambling business throughout the archipelago; with the Play Boy Casino set up in 1978, but later closed in 1983 (Boxill 2009, p.4). By April 2009, there was an approximate five gambling casinos doing business in The Bahamas.Advertising Looking for essay on business economic s? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The traditional paper lottery is now challenged by the online version known as the web shop gaming. This form of virtual gambling eases the need for physical presence during the lottery activities. Participants experience a simulated experience close to the physical one. In a bid to regulate casino gambling, The Bahamas put in-place the Lotteries and Gaming Act in 1969 (Boxill 2009, p.4). The Act was later amended for public ownership of casino premises. The amended act allowed the Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas to have the monopoly license for carrying out business of gaming at any establishment (Boxill 2009, p.4). In addition, an operator was issued with a license to manage a gambling casino. Licenses were to be issued after consensus between the minister overseeing gaming and the Gaming Board. As provided in the official government website, the Gaming Board is vested with the mandate t o regulate the lottery activities (Boxill 2009, p.4). The mandate is mainstreamed within a range of stipulated activities. The Board shall update the status according to the extent, character and geographical site for gaming establishments operated by a premises as per the issued license. The Board shall screen the lottery business as per guidelines of the act, so as to rid off any criminal elements in the industry. The Board shall offer Certificates of Approval as well as Permits to prospective employees intending to operate, supervise or manage gaming. The Board maintains close vigilance on the Certificate and Permit holders for any malpractices or contravention. The Board shall cause the initiation of amendments to the Gaming Act as well as provide advise to the Minister in this regard. The Board liaises with the respective associations in gaming to inform on any developments as well as technological advances within the industry as a way of keeping abreast. Finally, maintain ties with the International Gaming Regulators for information exchange. Lottery amenities have to directly pay to the government of The Bahamas four forms of gaming levies, that is application levy for casino personnel, basic taxes, levies for permits and certificates as well as winning taxes (Edwards, 2009, p.33). Based on the Casino Taxation Act rates levied are proportionate to the floor space occupied. In addition, winnings during games are charged taxes but to some limit. The highest amount of basic taxes charged on casinos based on the business type is US$ 200 000 (Edwards, 2009, p.33). Taxes on winnings are calculated as 25 percent of the gross.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Impact of Gambling on the Bahamian Economy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Table 1: Lottery Taxes to The Government between July 1999 and June 2000 Category of Tax Amount Basic taxes (for three selected casinos @ US$ 200 000) US$ 600 000 Winning Taxes US$ 19 369 273 Levies for approvals (permits and certificates) US$ 35 830 Application fees for Casino personnel US$ 46 600 Overall lottery Earnings accrued US$ 20 051 703 Source: Edwards (2009, p.34) The above table implies that table winning is the major source of government revenue (at US$ 19 369 273). Table 2: Over the Time (From 1993 to 2003) Annual Expenditure Data By the Gaming Board of The Bahamas Year Personal Emoluments ($) Other Charges ($) Total ($) 1993–1994 1,372,225 458,345 1,830,570 1994–1995 1,457,490 532,111 1,989,601 1995–1996 1,456,145 589,872 2,046,017 1996–1997 1,667,543 671,142 2,338,685 1997–1998 1,708,163 622,040 2,330,203 1998–1999 1,919,654 683,238 2,602,892 1999–2000 2,031,951 765,331 2,797,282 2000–2001 2,112,540 721,582 2,834,122 2001–2002 2,353,302 706,388 3,059,690 2002–2003 2,633,182 800,185 3,433,367 Source: Edwards (2009, p.36 ) Figure 1: Annual Expenditure and Taxes Patterns for the Gaming Board Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Source: Edwards (2009, p.36) Based on the Gaming Board expenditure figures and annual revenue for 2002/2003, it is evident that the government remains with a net revenue earning of 85 percent that is utilized within the Bahamian economy for other services. Taxation of Lottery Amenities Globally, The Bahamas provide a model of how the government ceases control and legalises gaming activities leading to positive impacts in tourism resort-based casinos as a social facility which attracts more than 4.5 million international visitors (Edwards, 2009, p.21). Lottery facilities provide jobs, government taxes, foreign exchange earnings as well as investment opportunities. The initial efforts to raise tax revenue from lottery activities in The Bahamas was in 1964 through a legislation- the Casino Taxation Act of December 29, 1964. In addition the Act recognised the potential of the lottery activities to develop the tourism industry. With regard to income generation for the state, some quarter s remained opposed to the legislation (Edwards, 2009, p.24). Tax levy was imposed on all casino facilities. Operators (like the Grand Bahamas, New Providence and Cat Cay) enjoying tax exemption were not left out. Concurrently, the Gaming Machines Tax Act was introduced targeting slot machines used in gaming. It was argued the tax revenue generated was partly re-channeled to develop tourism activities in The Bahamas (Edwards, 2009, p.24). Impacts of Gambling on the Social and Economic Bottom lines Notably, the locals are legally deterred from engaging in casino gambling games, thus the social contribution has relatively been compared to other places that allow participation. Figure 2: Direct Earnings From Lottery Amenities For The Bahamas between 1996 and 2003   Source: Edwards (2009, p.35) Figure 3: Tax Earnings Against Winnings Revenue for Selected Lottery Amenities   Source: Edwards (2009, p.35) General Economic Contribution of Lottery Gambling centres like Casinos have the ability to raise income from fees levied on licenses as well as taxes generated from public gross earnings. The Government of Bahamas indicates that tourism associated activities are lead employer to most locals; thus, contribute largest tax revenue to the state. In the fiscal year of 2002/2003 revenue from winnings indicated that tax collected in 2002 alone amounted to almost US$ 22 million. In total, the American Gaming Association raised gross gambling revenue worth US$92.27 billion in 2007. Deepwater cruise and cruises revenue accounted for 37.3 percent. The Bahamian fiscal budget for 2007/2008 targeted to raise tax revenue from gambling worth US$ 28 million. A case in point is the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Hotel which seconds the government lead employer, nationally at 5500 employees. Out of the total staff, more than 1000 employees are stationed at the premises casino. The casino makes annual winning revenue worth over US$134.5 million; while attracting over 5 millio n visitors from abroad. Between the period of July1st 2002 and June 30th 2003, the Princess Casino Limited located at the Grand Bahama made over US$ 29 million from revenue winnings. In the same period, the Crystal Palace Casino sited on the Cable Beach raised close to US$ 34.5 million (Edwards, 2009, p.32). By 2008, gross revenue generated within the last seven years remained within the range of $US190 US$200 million. Two thirds of the national gross domestic product is generated from tourism activities. Thus, casino gambling has diversified the countrys tourism product. Much as the number of table games is less compared to machine slots, the greater portion of the revenue from the lottery industry comes from them. Take for instance, table games at the Atlantis Paradise Island Casino earned revenue worth US$ 0.9 million in 2002/2003 (Edwards, 2009, p.33). Communication (2012, para.22) explains that staff employed within the virtual web shop gambling contribute more than US$ 1 mill ion to the lottery industry. Moreover web shop businesses remit more than US$ 100 000 to the government in the form of license fees. Communication (2012, para.28) observes that governments keenness to regulate can lead to raising of annual tax of up to US$ 20 million from the virtual web shop activities. Figure 4: Revenue Generation (from Tables and Slot Machines Winnings) for Selected Locations in 2002/2003 Fiscal Year Source: Edwards (2009, p.33) Business Investment In Gambling Amenities The Bahamas benefits widely from the investment in the casino gambling business by international corporations as well as renowned players in the resort establishments. Edwards (2009, p.21) notes international investors to include Donald Trump, the Carnival Group of Companies, the Ruffin Group, Princess Properties International, Playboy Limited, Resorts International and Sun (Kerzner) International. Most of these investors have gained interest in The Bahamas since the mid-1960s when the premises w ere small scale but nowadays have expanded to large scale resorts. In 1964, the Monte Carlo Casino located at the Lucayan Beach Hotel was the first among the big international investments to be set up in The Bahamas, followed by the El Casino based at The island of Grand Bahamas in 1966 (Edwards 2009, p.21). The Paradise Enterprises Limited under the auspices of the Mary Carter Paint Company opened the Paradise Island Casino on the Paradise Island in 1967. Nevertheless, the ownership of the Paradise Island Casino changed hands in 1987 to Donald Trump then Merv Griffin in 1989 (Edwards 2009, p.21). Later, it was purchased by the Sun International Hotels in 1994 after which a major face lift and rebranding was one (Edwards 2009, p.21). The growth in the number of gambling amenities gives the indication that the business environment is conducive as well as the return on investment is promising. This is confirmed by the growing number of multinationals attracted to the country. Accordin g to the Communication (2012, para.37) population dynamics and geography of the Bahamas have contributed to the challenges facing the commercialization of national lottery activities. Among geographical challenges is the proximity to the United States of America. The level of advancement in the lottery activities makes them take advantage of the population dynamics and raise more income from the lottery activities (Communication, 2012, para.38). On these grounds, The Bahamas face stiff competition from the lottery activities in the State of Florida. Communication (2012, para.39) observes that it is common for a Bahamian to prefer to spend their lottery bids in the State of Florida than spend locally. Table 3: Large Casino Gambling Amenities put up Between 1964 and 2009 Location Amenity Name (Year, ground size of the amenity) Grand Bahama The Monte Carlo Casino (1964); The Bahamia (1966, 1 000 sq. ft.); The Lucayan Beach Casino (1986) Isle of Capri Casino (2003, 20,000 sq. ft.) Paradise Island Paradise Island Casino (1967, 50,000 sq. ft.); Nassau The Playboy Casino (1978); The Cable Beach Casino (1983) The Crystal Palace Resort Casino (1983, 35,000 sq. ft.) San Salvador Columbus Isle Casino (1995) Exuma Four Seasons Casino (2006, 5,000sq. ft.) Modified from Edwards (2009, p.22) Branding Gambling Amenities Swinging casino destination Since the casino boom in the 1960s, The Bahamas has been promoted under the brand- swinging casino destination. This branding was an attraction for tourists to supplement other entertainment experiences during their stay in an island beach resort (Edwards, 2009, p.23). A baseline study in 1968 sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank agreed under some premises. Gambling was ranked first as a prime attraction for tourists in the Bahamas, then water sport and nightlife, respectively (Edwards, 2009, p.23). Compared to other warm weather destinations, tourist entertainment packages that included beach activiti es, water entertainment as well as gambling were highly saleable to international tourists (Edwards, 2009, p.23). Top casino entertainment publications have featured amenities in The Bahamas, particularly with regard to travel and recreation. The Paradise Island Casino has been rated excellent by The Travel Guard International publication which deals with provision of travel insurance (Edwards, 2009, p.23). The publication brands the Casino as leading in the Caribbean and offers visitors 800 slot machines as well as 75 game tables, sports and race betting (Edwards, 2009, p.24). The destination boasts of incredible dà ©cor designed by renowned artists like Dale Chihuly. The Paradise Island Casino The Paradise Island gambling amenity is the countrys largest and over the time it has undergone multiple upgrading to give a first class status as well as rank among the prestigious similar to resorts in the Las Vegas. The amenity runs throughout (day and night) and aligns a range of gambli ng entertainment such as let-itride poker, craps, Caribbean stud poker, blackjacks, baccarat, roulette and big six wheels (Edwards, 2009, p.22). Other gambling packages at the facility include parimutuel betting, sports betting as well as paigow poker (Edwards, 2009, p.22). The amenity offers more than three-quarters of the entertainment choices offered across three selected locations, as shown below. Figure 5: Variety of Gambling Entertainment at Selected Locations in The Bahamas Data modified from Edwards (2009, p.23) It is evident that black jacks, roulette and craps are the popular entertainment, respectively. Edwards (2009, p.23) adds that slot machines are over 2,226 in the three locations, while the gaming tables are 190. By the end of the 2003 fiscal year, the variety of tables were 11 in the Grand Bahama, Paradise Island and Cable Beach (Edwards 2009, p.23). This form of data can provide insights into the revenue expectations zeroed-in to the level of per table. Anecdotall y, black jack tables attract more revenue and thus are popular in the selected locations. Other factors that determine the choice of the table to invest in is the return on investment. Table 4: Trend in Percentage (between 2001 and 2007) of Lottery Entertainment Visitor Stopovers vis-a-vis the Overall Year % of Stopover for casino % of Stopover for casino at NASSAU/PI % of Stopover for casino at Grand Bahama 2001 1.1 0.7 2.2 2002 1.7 1 3.8 2003 0.8 1 0.6 2004 0.8 0.9 1.1 2005 0.6 0.7 0.6 2006 0.8 0.8 1 2007 0.8 1.1 0.4 Source: Edwards (2009, p.37) The percentage range (0.8 to 1.1 percent) for visitor stopover for lottery entertainment vis-a-vis overall visitor stop over has experienced dismal growth. Figure 6: Trends in Visitor Stop-over Against National Tax Earnings from Lottery Activities in the Period of 1978 to 2003 Source: Edwards (2009, p.38) The pattern developed between the visitor stop over numbers and tax revenue from lottery shows a positive correlati on. In other words, it is possibly obvious that visitors to The Bahamas are bound to spend proportionately on lottery activities during their stay. Employment Opportunities in the Lottery Industry Across the country, tourism activities provide employment to over 38 percent (that is close to 50 000) (Edwards, 2009, p.29). This statistic indicates that for every US$ 1 million spent by guests, there are 35 jobs sustained. According to the Communication (2012, para. 21), the annual cumulated payroll for employees under the web shop category is more than US$ 15 million. Directly employed opportunities feature more than within the tourism sector such as working in lottery facilities, among others (Edwards, 2009, p.29). There are over 28 indirect employment opportunities in lottery facilities in 1999/2000. Edwards (2009, p.30) lists them as follows (with the percentage of expatriates in brackets). Croupiers (3 percent) Administrative Staff (1 percent) Cage Employees (0 percent) Construc tion Games Supervisors (31 percent) Credit Employees Gaming Tables Surveillance Pit Bosses (27 percent) Transportation Change Machines Hotels Shift Managers (33 percent) Junket Representative Slot Machines Entertainment Playing Cards Dealer’s School Surveillance Equipment Professionals Slot Employees Dice Casino Furniture Accounting Audit Legal Professionals Private Investigations Security (0 percent) Sports-betting Staff Source: Edwards (2009) As shown in the table above, lottery employment opportunities are diverse. In 2002, the number of directly employed staff at lottery stations was 2,747 with expatriates accounting 12 percent. The pie-chart below illustrates this. According to Communication (2012, para.20), in The Bahamas, web shop businesses account for more than 4000 jobs. In 2002, the Atlantis Paradise Island Casino led in the number of direct jobs created at 972 employees (Edwards, 2009, p.30). Figure 7: Job Opportunity Allocations Data modified fro m (Edwards 2009, p.30) This shows that for every job opportunity going to an expatriate, an approximate nine are created for the locals. Presence of expatriates provides the Bahamas lottery experience an international feeling. These expatriates indicate that remuneration rates for staff are appealing. Figure 8: Job Opportunities for The Bahamians in Selected Locations in July 2001–June 2002 Data modified from Edwards (2009, p.30) Drawbacks Faced by The Bahamas Lottery Sector: Religious Resistance Even during the cradle of the Bahamian lottery business religious groupings such as the Bahamas Christian Council opposed the casino development (Edwards 2009, p.39). In opposition to the lottery development issues raised include discouraging decent tourism in The Bahamas; facilitation of social and moral decadence among the residents as well as encourage underworld immigrations and lead to complexities in security enforcement. While, this religious uprise was high at the advent of the lottery legalization, developments in the recent times show restraint among the stakeholders in the industry leading to tolerance among the religious groupings (Edwards 2009, p.39). Arguably, prohibition of Bahamians in participating as gamblers may have ameliorated any adverse impacts resulting from the activities of gaming thus general consensus to include lottery activities among tourism products. However, the current calm on the lottery debate may change considering the growing trend into web shop gambling which is a virtual version of the paper casino gambling. Bahamians are not exempted by law (under the Lotteries and Gaming Act) to participate as online (web shop) gamblers. Financial constraints to secure bank accounts may be a deterrent factor for Bahamian locals to enter into web shop gambling. Regulations on anti-money laundering inflict exorbitant charges (Communication, 2012, para.31). A national legal framework for web shop gambling may be necessary, particularly to direction on Bahamians interested in investing. However, gambling money is perceived as not decent. Conclusion The Bahamian economy is anchored on tourism revenue. This is characterized by the dominance of foreign visitors flocking to the country. The economy benefits from financial services as well as state revenue collections generated from taxation regimes on the tourism products and packages. This means that the influx of visitors is an indicator of the ability of the state to suppress drawbacks while maximizing the opportunities available to better the economy. The success in the Bahamian tourism industry can partly be measured in the ability to sustain mass tourism. Lottery activities boast a long history in The Bahamas (spanning over nine decades). Flourishing of lottery activities within The Bahamas is attributed to the presence of a robust and booming tourism industry. Statistics show that for every visitor spending worth US$ 1 million in lottery entertainment activities o ver 35 jobs are sustained. Web shop lottery activities account for over four thousand jobs. In the lottery industry, expatriates account for 12 percent of the employee base in The Bahamas. This gives the implication of the employment standards in the lottery industry in The Bahamas. The lottery activities survived existence during the cradle years as a supplementary package for tourism entertainment. Now the lottery industry in The Bahamas has grown to the extent of initiating the virtual version where gambles need not to be physically present. This is known as the web shop gambling. In recognition of the contribution of lottery activities to The Bahamian economy, the Lotteries and Gaming Act was put in place in 1969. A Gaming Board institution was put in place to administer and oversee countrywide lottery activities. In addition, the Board has to advise the responsible minister on pertinent matters, be it legislation or other administrative issues. The Bahamas government has establ ished four means of generating revenue from the lottery activities. Taxes, licenses as well as working and business permits directly generate revenue to the government. Edwards (2009) provide the direct and gross revenue for the fiscal period July 1999 June 2000 to be more than US$ 20 million. In the fiscal year 2002/ 2003, revenue collected was US$ 2 million higher. In the financial year 2007/ 2008, the revenue projections pegged on the lottery was at US$ 28 million. The amount is economically attractive considering the emolument and running deductions leave behind 85 percent net income that is reverting to the economic development of the country. A pattern can be generated for the fiscal proceeds that the industry is economically growing. It is interesting to understand how the government has been able to maintain the industry economically robust yet the law exempts the Bahamians from participating as gamblers. Over and above, Revenue from table winnings have generated more to th e economy yet are even fewer than slot machines. Nevertheless, the growing invest interest in the lottery industry by renowned multinational corporations could partly explain the economic significance. Web shop gambling alone generates annual revenue of more than US$ 1 million yet there exists no national frameworks to leverage its activities. The stop over visitor numbers engaging in lottery entertainment has undergone minimal growth compared to the overall visitor numbers. Nevertheless, tax revenue from lottery activities has had a positive association with visitor stopover numbers over the time. Population dynamics and geography present challenge to the full commercialization of lottery activities in the Bahamas. The proximity to stiff competitors like the State of Florida in the USA explains this challenge. Actually, The Bahamas is losing lottery business opportunities to the state of Florida due to the friendly lottery spending environment even for the Bahamians. Unless, the go vernment takes an accelerated and forward thinking step while diversifying the lottery entertainment packages then the revenue that would likely destined into The Bahamas will end up to its competitors. The initially perceived negative social and moral impacts of legalizing lottery activities in The Bahamas have over the time waned off. The legal exemption of the Bahamians from participating in lottery activities as gamblers may have made the significant difference. However, with the existence of the web shop gambling that does not exempt Bahamians it still remains unclear whether the moral and ethical issues are completely addressed amicably. Regulators may have to forgo moral and ethical strictness allowing more economic liberty in order for business owners to break even particularly in the web shop gambling. Web shop gambling requires heavy capital investment that is not readily available among the Bahamians. Other business risks including security may present more barriers of en try for the Bahamians interested in investing in web shop gambling. Having a legal framework in place to regulate lottery activities has not benefited the government, economically but also weather down any barriers of entry for international investors. Probably, this presents the likely path for the government in order to enable the Bahamians to equally benefit from the opportunities originating from the development of the gaming industry; a case in point is the web shop gambling. References Boxill, I. (2009). Casino Gambling in Jamaica: Lessons and Policy Options. In J Cheesman (Eds.), Jamaica’s Casino Initiative: The Policy Options (pp.1-17). Mona Campus: The University of the West Indies. Communication By The Right Honourable Perry G. Christie, Prime Minister And Member For Centreville Re: Referendum On National Lottery And Web Shop Gaming. (2012). Retrieved from http://bahamasuncensored.com/website_update_11_18_12/lottery.pdf Edwards, J. (2009). Casino Gambling and The Ba hamian Economy: Development, Economic Impacts and Competitiveness Issues. In J Cheesman (Eds.), Jamaica’s Casino Initiative: The Policy Options (pp.18-43). Mona Campus: The University of the West Indies. Karagiannis, N. and Madjd-Sadjadi, Z. (2011). Framing The Bahamian Developmental State: An Alternative Policy Package To Neoliberal Failure. International Journal of Peace and Development Studies, 2(4), 96-109. Web.

IKEA Prices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

IKEA Prices - Essay Example If not, in which country is the product cheaper than it is in the United States. In which country is it more expensive? The prices of IKEA products are not identical and vary in different countries after converting the price in USD. For comparing the prices of IKEA 365 + Gnistra Bread Knife, three different countries have been chosen namely Australia, Canada and United States. Among these three countries, USA has the cheapest price which is 12.99 USD. After converting the price in USD, the price of 365 + Gnistra Bread knife of Canada has become 17.4532 USD and in Australia the figure is 18.2721 USD. So, Australia’s cost for this particular product is expensive compared to other two countries (IKEA Systems, 2011). Question 2 What might be the reason for the prices to differ even after conversion to U.S. dollars? Individual product costs differ from one country to another. The conventional reasons for difference in price level are the exchange rates and prices of labor. Wage dis tribution at mean level has significant negative effect on product prices. The high currency conversion rate of various countries is related with higher prices. The high income generating countries enjoy large productivity advantage (Lipse & Swedenborg, 2007). Trade cost can determine the cost of product.

Social Media for Small to Medium Enterprises Essay - 1

Social Media for Small to Medium Enterprises - Essay Example It (Anoto) is a Swedish-based technology company engaged in providing digital writing solutions, through its 103 employees based at operations in Sweden, the US, Japan and the UK (Group 2013). Small medium enterprise companies are increasingly adopting social media strategy as means of increasing their market share and sales volume. This is because social media strategy has different advantages to the enterprises (Bronner, & de Hoog 2014). This strategy also has some disadvantages. This paper will look thoroughly into that and make appropriate recommendations. For this strategy to work, the organisation has to consider various steps. Firstly, the organisation should come up with a group of well renowned professionals in information technology, or related fields (AAron 2014). These professionals should have ample knowledge on computers and how to establish network architecture, which is effective. Secondly, the organisation should listen out to the consumers and learn which social media will reach a broad clientele. They should also compare notes with other organisations. That is what other organisations mostly the well established ones and the impact (Naylor et al. 2012). Thirdly, the organisation should know why they want to establish the social media strategy. Could it be that they need to reach out to their clientele for feedback or are they just marketing their products? The reason behind this should enable them establish themselves in the right social media. Fourth step is to establish the success of the strategy they are about to ad opt. They should carry a substantial research on the social strategy before adopting it to see how successful it is. The fifth step is to analyze the targeted audience. Will they be in a position to access the social media? Are they literate enough to know how to use computers or to know how to read? The answers to these questions are very crucial in determining that the media used is accessed by a great percentage of the