Financial Economy Crisis and Its Influence on Society Essay

Financial Economy Crisis and Its Influence on Society - Essay Example These periods in time had a demonstrable and defininitive impact upon how the economic cycle, the American dream, and risk taking came to be understood. Firstly, in order to understand the Industrial Revolution, it must be understood that this was a period of runaway growth for almost each and every industry within the United States. Although it is oftentimes tempting to assume that the Industrial Revolution was only concentric upon benefiting the moguls that owned the iron and steel mills throughout the Northeast, almost each and every sector of the American economy experienced a level of growth as a result of this point in time. However, it must also be understood that the individual worker was at a distinct disadvantage for much of the Industrial Revolution. ... ervasive spirit of the era was one that believed that the growth that was being experienced and exhibited throughout the economy could somehow continue to be sustainable in perpetuity. By way of comparison, the period of the Great Depression evidenced a distinctly different, arguably opposite, societal, economic, and political approach. As a result of the fact that there were few if any jobs, investment was drying up, trust and availability of the currency was drying up, and little if any safety net existed for the people of the era, a true level of malaise and â€Å"depression† set in and defined the era. This is of course denoted with regards to such factors as the stagnation of the labor markets and the ultimate hardship that individuals felt with regards to the outlook for â€Å"bettering their position† in life. Obivously this has a direct correlation to the extent to which the â€Å"American dream† was believed to be a reality. Due to the fact that the mean s of creating â€Å"American way of life† was all but removed, it became incumbent upon the government and political sectors of the system to intervene and express the will of the people to fix the problems that were systemically plaguing and beleaguering the system. Such a point of view is rather well represented within the famous film â€Å"It’s a Wonderful Life†. Although a complex plot is woven around different types of hardship that cannot be defined purely economically, it is the economic hardship that is the final straw in prompting the main character towards the course of action that he takes. The economic hardship and the social fabric are two elements that are extensively represented within the film and two elements that factored heavily into how the Great Depression was felt within the United States

Track Software Inc. Essay Example for Free

Track Software Inc. Essay 1.) Stanley’s financial goal he seems to be focusing on is maximizing profits. This is the correct goal because the goal of any firm and therefore its financial manager, should be to maximize its value and by extension the wealth of the shareholders. 2.) There is potential for an agency problem if Stanley decides to go ahead and invest in the software developer. This investment will cause a temporary decrease in the earnings per share of the firm which will mean fewer earnings at the present time for the stakeholders. This may be a problem if the goal of the shareholders is to gain money sooner than later. Since, the goal of the shareholders is simply to maximize wealth, there may not be an agency problem since the goal of the financial manager, Stanley, is the same as the shareholders. B. Since there is no preferred stock; Earnings available for common stockholders ≠¡ Net profit after taxes. No of shares of common stock outstanding = 50,000 Earnings per share = ______Net profit after taxes____________ No. of shares of common stock outstanding EPS show a steady increase over the past five years indicating that Stanley is achieving his goal of maximizing profits. C. Operating Cash Flow (OCF) for 2012 OCF = {Earnings before Interest and Taxes Ãâ€" (1 – Tax rate)} + Depreciation OCF = {EBIT Ãâ€" (1 – T)} + Depreciation = {$89 000 Ãâ€" (1 – 0.20)} + $11 000 = $82 200 Free Cash Flow (FCF) for 2012 FCF = OCF1 – Net Fixed Assets Investments – Net Current Assets Investment FCF = OCF – NFAI – NCAI NFAI = Change in net fixed assets + Depreciation = ($132 000 – $128 000) + $11 000 = $15 000 NCAI = Chance in current assets – Change in (Accounts Payable + Accruals) = ($421 000 – $62 000) – {($136 000 + $27 000) – ($126 000 + $25 000)} =$47 000 FCF = $82 200 – $15 000 – $47 000 = $20 200 Both the operating cash flow and the free cash flow are positive indicating that Stanley was able to generate adequate cash flow to cover both operating expenses and investments in assets. There was also $20 200 left over to pay to investors. 1.) Liquidity Although the liquidity of the firm has improved slightly (current ratio) or remained steady (quick ratio), the firm’s performance is considerably below average. 2.) Activity The total asset turnover of the firm has improved but the inventory turnover and average collection period has deteriorated. The activity of the firm is also considerably below the industry average. 3.) Debt The debt ratio decreased in the times interest earned ratio improved. This indicates that the firm used more of its own money to generate profit in 2012 (rather than that of its creditors) and its ability to make contractual interest payments has improved. However, the firm fails to measure up to the industrial average yet again. 4.) Probability The gross, operating and net profit margin and the return on total assets (ROA) have improved slightly showing that the profitability of the firm is fairly stable, demonstrating little improvement. Even so, these ratios are all still subpar. The return of common equity (ROE) has deteriorated, falling to below the industrial average. 5.) Market The firm’s P/E ratio improved but remained bellowed the industry average, showing that the investors are gaining confidence in the firm’s future performance. The M/B ratio fell below, from above the industrial average in 2011 to below in 2012 but still remains fair. E. Stanley should try to find the money to hire the software developer since the ratios show that the firm should be performing better for a firm in this particular industry. In addition, the â€Å"blockbuster† sales potential implies a potential for increased profitability which falls in line with Stanley’s focus. F. The present value of a perpetuity creating a cash flow of $5 000 per year with a 10% interest rate =_____Cash Flow____ Interest Rate  = $5,000 = $50 000  .10 The investor would be willing to pay $50 000 for the firm. G. The present value of a firm generating a perpetual stream of free cash flow of $20 200 per year with an interest rate of 10 % = ___Cash Flow___ Interest Rate  =__$20,200__ =$202,000  .10  I would be willing to pay $202 000 for the firm.

Childcare Protection in Social Work | Case Study

Childcare Protection in Social Work | Case Study Critically evaluate, the evidence and application of the knowledge and practice skills required in helping children during the enquiry, investigation and assessment phases of childcare and protection work. The objective of this article is to explore the evidence and knowledge, values and skills that social workers use in child protection investigation and assessment. In the course of this commentary and self-evaluation, we will highlight the responsibilities of professionals in social work and: a) articulate the professional role and tasks of social workers and demonstrate an appreciation of the role and tasks of other significant professionals in childcare and protection investigation and assessment b) articulate what social workers understand by interdisciplinary work and their part in this c) articulate the values which inform the practice of social work during inquiry, investigation and assessment, paying particular attention to practice when conflicts arise e) demonstrate an example of anti-discriminatory practice during inquiry, investigation and assessment in relation to at least one of the following: race, gender, disability, poverty, sexuality and religion f) demonstrate effective practice in assessing, planning and evaluating interventions (Moore, 1985) g) convey a knowledge and understanding of models of investigation, assessment and risk analysis in practice h) make effective links between the commentary on the practice of social work and the theoretical bases in relevant literature For our purposes, we would investigate all these aspects of social work blending theory and practice, assessment and investigation and analyze the roles and responsibilities of social workers and their approach towards interdisciplinary collaborative practice. We would also critically evaluate the following case study to show the application and efficacy of knowledge and skills of social workers in childcare and protection work. Case Study: 14-year-old boy from Ireland, arrived in Scotland after being abducted by a man from Dublin. Past history of the boy is given as follows- he had been sexually abused by a neighbour for many years. The case of abuse went to court, the accused man was found not guilty due to lack of evidence. The boy ended up in childrens home and then on the streets in Dublin. He was persuaded by an older man to come to Scotland for better life. The man passed the boy off as his son (as he had no passport) and brought the boy to the UK. Once in the UK the boy was sexually abused by the man, ran off and went to police station. The social worker became involved as responsible and testified in police interview that the boy had learning difficulties. Application of Knowledge and Skills in Social work for Childcare and Protection: Social workers have the objective of improving people’s lives and help people to function in the best possible way within their social environment, helping them to deal with their relationships and solve their personal and family problems. Social workers also deal with issues of domestic and sexual abuse and often provide requisite care in a health related setting. Short-term intervention, community based care and ambulatory services are provided by the social workers and governed by care organizations (Howe, 2005). Child, family and school social workers provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and try to maximize academic achievements of the children and improve family relationships. Social workers help to find foster homes and care services for neglected, abused and abandoned children and address problems of misbehavior, truancy, delinquency and sexual deviation in children and adolescents. Chi ld, family, and school social workers typically work in schools, care settings, individual and family services agencies, or State and local governmental agencies providing social support (Munro, 2002). These social workers that work for children are also known as child welfare social workers, child protective services social workers. Social workers who work with entire families are family services social workers, occupational social workers, or if they work for betterment of aged people they are gerontology social workers. Child protection services are aimed at preventing and protecting children from being harmed through neglect or abuse at home, at school, in the community or in society at large. The Social work department of the UK government contributes to a multi-agency collaborative approach to care and protection of children who are vulnerable and easily exploited and abused. The collaborative efforts of the Police, Health, Education and Housing departments ensure a coordinated response towards the care and protection of children. This is coordinated and supervised by the Child Protection Committee, which follows the legislation noted in the Children’s Scotland Act, 1995 (Francis, 2000). The Department of social work has a specific responsibility for the promotion of child protection and welfare. For protection of children from abuse and neglect, the Social Work Services have the following responsibilities: Supporting families to maintain children within their own home and community where appropriate. Investigating allegations of child abuse. Where necessary, providing appropriate care placements for children. Referring those children who are believed to require compulsory measures of care to adequately protect them to the Reporter to the Childrens Hearing system. Organizing and chairing multi-agency child protection meetings. Coordinating multi-agency child protection plans for those children on the child protection register. One of the most important phases in child protection and care is assessment. In the assessment stage, the needs of children and their families and views of the carers are taken into consideration by the social workers, health professionals, and psychologists who perform the assessment and determine the individual and varied needs and assess how they can be met (Walker, 2003). The social workers, health professionals, housing officers, teachers, the police as well as carers and the children or young people themselves, contribute to a multi-agency assessment of needs. The legislative framework followed for childcare in social work is the Children Scotland Act, 1995 (Francis, 2000), some features of which are discussed later in the context of the case study. Considering the case study of the 14-year-old boy discussed above we evaluate the knowledge and skills of social workers in the investigative, inquiry and assessment phases of child protection work. According to the Children’s Scotland Act, 1995, the following legislative framework was provided if a person is not a natural parent or do not have parental responsibilities. Care or control of child by person without parental responsibilities or parental rights. 5.—(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, it shall be the responsibility of a person who has attained the age of sixteen years and who has care or control of a child under that age, but in relation to him either has no parental responsibilities or parental rights or does not have the parental responsibility mentioned in section 1(1)(a) of this Act, to do what is reasonable in all the circumstances to safeguard the childs health, development and welfare; and in fulfilling his responsibility under this section the person may in particular, even though he does not have the parental right mentioned in section 2(1)(d) of this Act, give consent to any surgical, medical or dental treatment or procedure where— (a)the child is not able to give such consent on his own behalf; and (b)it is not within the knowledge of the person that a parent of the child would refuse to give the consent in question. (2)Nothing in this section shall apply to a person in so far as he has care or control of a child in a school (school having the meaning given by section 135(1) of the [1980 c.44.] Education (Scotland) Act 1980). Views of children. 6.—(1)A person shall, in reaching any major decision which involves— (a)his fulfilling a parental responsibility or the responsibility mentioned in section 5(1) of this Act; or (b)his exercising a parental right or giving consent by virtue of that section, have regard so far as practicable to the views (if he wishes to express them) of the child concerned, taking account of the childs age and maturity, and to those of any other person who has parental responsibilities or parental rights in relation to the child (and wishes to express those views); and without prejudice to the generality of this subsection a child twelve years of age or more shall be presumed to be of sufficient age and maturity to form a view. (2)A transaction entered into in good faith by a third party and a person acting as legal representative of a child shall not be challengeable on the ground only that the child, or a person with parental responsibilities or parental rights in relation to the child, was not consulted or that due regard was not given to his views before the transaction was entered into. Section 6 especially highlights the views of the children in parental rights and responsibilities, so our case study here in which the 14-year-old boy was deliberately brought to Scotland and was forced to live with a man who abused him repeatedly is definitely illegal. Section 6(2) specifically mentions that a person can claim parental responsibility only when there is complete consent by the child. This has again not been the case here. The legislative care procedures for children at risk of harm is as follows: Short-term refuges for children at risk of harm. 38.—(1)Where a child appears— (a)to a local authority to be at risk of harm, they may at the childs request— (i)provide him with refuge in a residential establishment both controlled or managed by them and designated by them for the purposes of this paragraph; or (ii)arrange for a person whose household is approved by virtue of section 5(3)(b) of the [1968 c.49.] Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (provision for securing that persons are not placed in any household unless the household has prescribed approval) and is designated by them for the purposes of this paragraph, to provide him with refuge in that household, for a period which does not exceed the relevant period; (b)to a person who carries on a residential establishment in respect of which the person is for the time being registered (as mentioned in section 61(2) of that Act), or to any person for the time being employed in the management of that establishment, to be at risk of harm, the person to whom the child so appears may at the childs request provide him with refuge, for a period which does not exceed the relevant period, in the establishment but shall do so only if and to the extent that the local authority within whose area the establishment is situated have given their approval to the use of the establishment (or a part of the establishment) for the purposes of this paragraph. Usually when a child, as understood by a young person below the age of 16 is in any risk of harm as in this case study, it is legally required to provide him with shelter and protection at a residential establishment managed by local governmental authorities and social care services. In cases of neglect, abuse or torture this protection is mandatory. Thus the knowledge and skills of social workers to protect any child under 16 is also related to her understanding of legal implications and framework. The initial stage is assessment of the child’s needs followed by inquiry and investigation through background checks and psychological tests in which problems of the child and his background and social environment are analyzed. In this case study, the 14 year old boy is assessed with the help of past history, police records, psychological and medical tests and it was revealed from these procedures that we was not only tortured and abused by the person who took him away from Dublin, but was also suffering from learning disabilities. Thus along with the conditions of neglect and abuse, the child can also be considered disabled and separate legislative procedures have to be considered in this case. For Children with disabilities, the legal implications are as follows: Children affected by disability. 23.—(1)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of section 22 of this Act, services provided by a local authority under that subsection shall be designed— (a)to minimise the effect on any— (i)disabled child who is within the authoritys area, of his disability; and (ii)child who is within that area and is affected adversely by the disability of any other person in his family, of that other persons disability; and (b)to give those children the opportunity to lead lives which are as normal as possible. (2)For the purposes of this Chapter of this Part a person is disabled if he is chronically sick or disabled or suffers from mental disorder (within the meaning of the [1984 c.36.] Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984). (3)Where requested to do so by a childs parent or guardian a local authority shall, for the purpose of facilitating the discharge of such duties as the authority may have under section 22(1) of this Act (whether or not by virtue of subsection (1) above) as respects the child, carry out an assessment of the child, or of any other person in the childs family, to determine the needs of the child in so far as attributable to his disability or to that of the other person. Assessment of ability of carers to provide care for disabled children. 24.—(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, in any case where— (a)a local authority carry out under section 23(3) of this Act an assessment to determine the needs of a disabled child, and (b)a person (in this section referred to as the carer ) provides or intends to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for that child, the carer may request the local authority, before they make a decision as to the discharge of any duty they may have under section 2(1) of the [1970 c.44.] Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 or under section 22(1) of this Act as respects the child, to carry out an assessment of the carers ability to continue to provide, or as the case may be to provide, care for that child; and if the carer makes such a request, the local authority shall carry out such an assessment and shall have regard to the results of it in making any such decision. A child is considered to have a disability if he is chronically sick or suffers from some form of mental disorder that stops him from actively participating in normal daily activities. As we have already indicated the three stages of inquiry, investigation and assessment are important in child protection and childcare. In the inquiry and investigation phases, the police and the social workers obtain the history and background of the child. In the assessment phase, health workers, doctors, social workers, carers, and psychologists work together to assess the problem of the child, instances of abuse and the legal implications of the child’s conditions. Assessment of disability, if any, the child’s mental, physical and social problems and the general abilities and health of the child is important (Walker, 2003). Knowledge of legal implications and skills of social work practice and theories on mental health and disabilities are not only useful but also necessary in childca re and protection work. The ethical consideration and values are also considered here by the social worker as anti-discriminatory measures for disability, poverty, race or gender are also taken into consideration (Banks, 2001). A disabled person is entitled to his human rights to be treated equally and any discrimination would come under oppressive or discriminatory practice. It is the responsibility of the social workers to see to it that this is avoided. As we have already indicated a recognition of models and theories of practice, values and ethics of social services and an ability and appreciation of working in a collaborative effort with other professionals in varied fields are the most important characteristics in social work and child protection. Conclusion: In this case study, a 14-year-old boy abused and abducted was brought to UK where he sought the help of police, who according to legal requirements provided him with residential care. The boy was looked after by carers and social workers in the residential care arrangement where his condition was investigated further by the police and his mental and physical conditions were also assessed by social and health workers. In this article we discussed the importance of knowledge and practice skills of social workers relating the values, dilemmas and ethical considerations of childcare and highlighted the importance of legal implications using the relevant clauses in the Children’s Scotland Act, 1995. Bibliography Banks, Sarah. 2001.  Ethics and values in social work /Sarah Banks.  2nd ed.  Basingstoke :Palgrave. Francis, Joe. 2000.  Child protection and social work practice :exploring the impact of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.  University of Edinburgh, Department of Social Work. Howe, David, 2005.  Child abuse and neglect :attachment, development and intervention /David Howe.  Basingstoke :Palgrave Macmillan. Moore, Jean G. 1985.  The ABC of child abuse work /Jean G. Moore.  Aldershot :Gower. Munro, Eileen. 2002.  Effective child protection /Eileen Munro.  London :SAGE. Scourfield, Jonathan. 2002.  Gender and child protection /Jonathan Scourfield ; consultant editor, Jo Campling.  New York :Palgrave Walker, Steven. 2003.  Social work assessment and intervention /by Steven Walker and Chris Beckett.  Lyme Regis :Russell House Publishing. Scottish Local Government Information Unit.  Children (Scotland) Act 1995:a guide.  Scottish Local Government Information Unit,1995. Also see Children Scotland Act, 1995 http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/ Child Protection – Social work services http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/Social_Work/

Small Soldiers, Ally Mcbeal, Junger’s The Perfect Storm, and Otto’s How to Make an American Quilt :: Comparison Compare Contrast

The Movie Small Soldiers, The Television Show Ally Mcbeal, Junger’s Novel The Perfect Storm, and Otto’s How to Make an American Quilt The movie Small Soldiers, The television series Ally Mcbeal, Junger’s novel The Perfect Storm, and Otto’s How to Make an American Quilt fall into the larger category of methods of entertainment. All of these methods of "entertainment" are stories, each have common elements of stories, and are writings in themselves. The Movie and show started out as screen plays, so they have the elements that plays and novels have. To learn from these elements you must look at the good and the bad, and sometimes you find that you learn more from the bad ones than from the good. Small soldiers uses imagination to get its story across. Mainly written for entertainment purposes and because small fighting toys sell with little kids that all wish that their toys could come to life. That ever captivating written action or violence that keeps our short attention spans is used constantly in this movie, and is basically what the movie is about. The movie although having much of the trash elements of a bad action film, does have a meaningful moral, mainly, just because something looks monstrous or grotesque doesn’t mean that it is evil. The good guys, GI Joe buff fighters, who are ruthless killers for the American way and look human are the toys with the real evil side, loving torture and killing and doing anything to kill the enemy. The Monsters lead by Archer a furry wolf like creature who does not look human and are grotesque in some ways are really sweet, adorable, good, and help a little boy sort through his problems with girls and his dad. Small Soldiers kept the attention of the audience, especially the younger audience, and still, in a way, got the moral message across. While to some it might have been a waste of time, the way that it kept the attention of a particular audience, catering to a specific watcher, is important, for these things must be taken into consideration when I am writing. I must know my reader, and my reader’s main thoughts and feelings, what will keep my readers attention so that I can most effectively get my message across. Tone in writing is very important in this way. If I was writing for a bunch of children

Leanardo da vinci

Biography: Leonardo Dad Vinci was born in 1452, April 15 in Italy and passed away in 1519, May 2 at the age of 67. He was one of the best apprentices at Andrea del Veronica and he learnt many things as a student. His most famous works were Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, The Vitamins on Man and The Lady with a Ermine. Leonardo was one of the most acknowledge artist of his time, he did not only paint he also drew and made sculptures. He was an inventor and a scientist. Visual analysis:Movement- my eyes first go to the baby and this is because the image is filled with quite dark colors whereas the baby painted in a lot lighter neutral colors. Then it goes to the hands of the baby and his mother Mary and you can see the flower they are holding, then it goes to the window and the background. When everything is so dark your eyes immediately go to the lighter areas and I could see that in this artwork. Harmony-The emotion of Mary and the baby are very calm, comfortable and pure happiness and t he colors are also similar and it complements each other.Contrast- The use of the light and the shadows give it depth although it has a low contrast because the work feels soothing and subtle and not so energetic. Emphasis: I padded special attention to the baby because it is the focal point of the artwork and it pops out of the whole image, even though it doesn't take up a lot of space it still is clearly visible. I blurred out the rest of the image when I looked at the baby and you can see the great depth of the artwork. Balance- The balance would be asymmetrical because there is a vary of visual weight.Line-He used curved lines which make it feel, soft, relaxing and brings a sense of comfort. Form- The form would be three dimensional because there is depth and it also looks extremely realistic. Color-Len this painting he has a variety of tone you can see this with the baby because it goes from skin color, to a bronze skin color, light brown and then a darker brown. There is not a lot of hue. Texture: because it's a mother with a baby it looks very warm like the baby shows comfort and it looks very soft. Leonardo dad Vinci By Angier_21

California Medicaid Cuts

California Medicaid Cuts The proposed California medical cuts are initiatives, which the federal government has initiation to minimize the cost of treatment to the people whose income level is relatively low. This plan targets the low income group who depends on agriculture as the source of livelihood, thus might not be able to meet the high cost of hospitalization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on California Medicaid Cuts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reports have acknowledged that Healthcare costs have drastically increased and low economic growth has thrown many residents in the area, a situation that necessitates government involvement in the matter. Although the proposed medical cuts have significant affects on the privately owned community hospitals in the state, the facility owners need no panic because the anticipated legislations would not affect their operations completely. For example, there are some proposed cuts that are likel y to be most relevant for the operation of the hospital. Therefore, the hospital owners need to focus on the reductions that will help them achieve remarkable level of development and economic sustainability. The proposed California medical cuts will reduce the overall state’s expenditure and probably ease the level of taxation of the people. In return, the low income earners might have some money to seek medication at the community facility. The healthcare medical cuts would also result to substantial reduction of Medicacid program that the state government rolls to help the low income earners meet the cost of treatment.1 The reduction in the amount of money spent on the scheme means that there are people who might not get the security of the Medicacid program and would use their own money to finance their medical cost. In this regard, the community health facilities would remain relevant to the people and will continue to offer treatment to the local patients from the low i ncome category. In helping the low income earners cope with the rising cost of employments, their involvement into the medical scheme would make sure that they obtain this essential service. On the other hand, the increased number of people losing their employment due to job cut that result from economic down turn indicates that the Medicacid program will experience increased enrolment beyond its capacity.2 Since the government might not fund the increasing medical cost of the rising low income earners, it will reduce its contribution to the program. This will for a number of local people with low income to use their limited financial capability to seek medical attention from the community facilities.Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The other proposed healthcare medical cut that the government intends to implement that would be relevant to the operation of the ho spital is reducing the provider’s payments. This is significant because the amount of money that the medical facility owner will spend could reduce. As a result, he or she would spend more money on developing the facility and be able to provide best treatment to the patients. Third, the proposed healthcare medical cut that the government intends to implement that would be relevant to the operation of the hospital is promoting the program integrity.3 Here, the government intends to put efforts to improve the honesty with which the treatment services are provided to the people. Therefore, the patients who visit such facilities would get the best medical attention, thus will not shun the facilities. Therefore, most of the proposed healthcare medical cuts would be relevant to the operation of the hospital and the owners should mainly focus on quality. Bibliography Kaiser, Henry. California Medicaid Cuts Spark Anger; N.Y. Medicaid Fraud Detection. 2012. New York, NY: Henry J. Kais er Family Foundation. Lambert, Lisa. Fewer Jobs Means more Spending on U.S. Medicacid. (2012). New York, NY: Thomson Reuters. Vibeck, Elise. â€Å"Report: Medicacid Costs Squeezing State Budget.† (2012). The Hill’s Healthwatch Report, pp. 1-2. Footnotes 1 Henry Kaiser. California Medicaid Cuts Spark Anger; N.Y. Medicaid Fraud Detection (2012) New York, NY: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation 1.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on California Medicaid Cuts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More 2 Lisa Lambert. Fewer Jobs Means more Spending on U.S. Medicacid (2012) New York, NY: Thomson Reuters 1. 3 Elise Vibeck. â€Å"Report: Medicacid Costs Squeezing State Budget† 2012 The Hill’s Healthwatch Report 1.

Explaining Public Relations Degrees

Explaining Public Relations Degrees Students in a public relations degree program learn what it takes to create and manage a strategic communication campaign for different types of companies and government agencies. They study the different methods that can be used to garner positive media attention and learn what it takes to shape public perception. Many people confuse public relations with marketing or advertising, but they are different things. Public relations is considered earned media, whereas marketing or advertising is something that you need to pay for. Students in a public relations program focus on persuasive communication. They learn how to write press releases and letters and master the art of public speaking so that they can host press conferences and speak at public meetings.   Types of Public Relations Degrees There are three basic types of public relations degrees that can be earned from a college, university, or business school: Bachelor Degree in Public Relations: Takes approximately four years to complete.Masters Degree in Public Relations: Takes approximately two years to complete.Doctorate Degree in Public Relations:  Usually takes three to five years to complete, though program length can vary. An associate degree may be enough for individuals who are looking for entry-level employment in the public relations field. However, a bachelors degree is usually the minimum requirement for anyone who wants to work as a public relations specialist or public relations manager. A masters degree or MBA with a specialization in public relations could increase an individuals chances of getting more advanced positions. Public relations specialists who are interested in teaching at the college or university level should consider a doctorate degree in ​public relations. Where Can I Earn a Public Relations Degree? There are a number of campus-based programs that award public relations degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level. You can also find online programs that are similar in quality. If you are intent on attending a campus-based program but cannot find one in your area that focuses on public relations, you should look for a good advertising or marketing degree program. These programs will allow you to study many of the same things you would in a public relations degree program, including advertising campaigns, marketing strategies, promotions, public speaking, communication, and public affairs. Other degree program options for aspiring public relations professionals include degree programs in communication, journalism, English, or general business. What Can I Do With a Public Relations Degree? Many people who earn a public relations degree go on to work for advertising, marketing, or public relations firms. Some also choose to work as independent consultants or open their own public relations firms. Common job titles for public relations professionals include: Promotions Assistant: Sometimes known as an advertising assistant, a promotions assistant may work in the public relations, advertising, marketing, or sales department of a company. These entry-level public relations professionals typically focus on promotional campaigns and may handle clerical duties, telephone operations, client communication, and other office-related responsibilities.Public Relations Specialist: Also known as communication specialists or media specialists, public relations specialists work directly with the media. They may be responsible for helping clients communicate with the public. They may answer media questions or contact media outlets to market information or share news. Writing press releases is also a typical job duty. U.S. News recently ranked public relations specialist as one of the best jobs of the year.Public Relations Manager:  Public relations managers or directors are similar to public relations specialists. However, they often have more respons ibilities. In a large company, they may supervise one or more public relations specialists. Public relations managers may also be responsible for writing speeches, designing campaigns, or creating, maintaining, and managing a companys image. Learning More About Public Relations The  Public Relations Society of America  (PRSA) is the world’s largest organization of public relations professionals. Members include everyone from aspiring PR professionals and recent college graduates to seasoned communications professionals. The organization is a great resource for anyone who is considering a public relations degree. When you join the Public Relations Society of America, you get access to education, networking, certification, and career resources. Networking with other people in the organization will give you a chance to learn more about the field so that you can determine whether or not a public relations degree is right for you.

Thermodynamics essays

Thermodynamics essays The Second Law of Thermodynamics has several variations. One version says that some heat is always wasted when converting heat into mechanical energy. In other words all heat can not be completely converted into mechanical energy. Another states that heat normally flows from high to low temperatures. So why do hot cups cool off, well the answer lies in the fact that the universe is expanding. Say the universe started off infinitely small and infinitely dense, then expanded at an exponential rate as fluctuations in density increased, eventually forming galaxies. This explanation of the universe would explain the existence of the thermodynamic arrow of time. Because the universe is expanding, disorder is increasing. It cant be stopped. No one and nothing is powerful enough to break the laws of thermodynamics. Albert Einstein once said, Thermodynamics is the only physical theory of general nature of which I am convinced that it will never be overthrown. If you want to know whats going on in the physical world, you simply To understand the forward flow of time, suppose that God decided that the universe should finish in a state of high order but that it didnt matter what state it started in. This would mean that disorder would increase with time. One could observe a broken bottle gathering itself together on the floor and jumping back up onto the table. Such beings would have a psychological arrow of time that is backward. This means that I could take a warm Pepsi, set it on the counter and the colder particles in the room would become closer together and surround the bottle thus cooling the Pepsi. This makes the second law of thermodynamics questionable. Disorder increases with time because we measure time in the direction in which disorder increases. Why dont we see broken things gathering themselves ...

The concept of perception and how it affects behavior use examples Essay

The concept of perception and how it affects behavior use examples - Essay Example This principle goes with each one of the senses. Complex stimuli have the same fraction of a second recognition. Another important analogy from the study would be a symphony orchestra. When they come on stage, it is a cacophonous moment where there are 50 musicians playing random sounds. It is only when they all start playing together does it respond to the auditory sense. "This chaos-complex behavior makes perception possible" (Freeman 79) There are two types of concepts of behavior which follow from perception: the cognitive approach and the evolutionary approach. In the evolutionary approach, we have a need to understand what is going on in the environment. Our adaptive perception is a result of the behavior responding to the environment. It is when we comprehend and understand that we behave accordingly. The cognitive approach is the "way to look at this is by taking an evolutionary perspective. In the course of our development as a species, perceptual abilities and functions dev eloped because we started to behave, not because we started to understand." (Dijksterhuis 866 ) If we go to a soccer match and the crowd starts to throw bottle onto the field, there is a high chance that our evolutionary perception will lead to doing the same thing. When we take the environmental stimulus; filter it in the proper sense organ; process the information, the physiological arousal depending on the part of the brain will manifest the behavior. One explanation is that, upon seeing, soccer hooligans, one may..without being aware of it†¦start to act like them. (Dijksterhui 865) Eichmann at the Nuremburg trials said what he did was not wrong, he was only doing as everyone else. (Nuremburg 1954) The cognitive approach would be in such calm surrounding where our physiology arousal in not the same. Our gustatory senses would not have the same physiology arousal if it were a question of life or death or if it were a question of just being hungry. Our perception of food and o ur behavior of food would not be the same. The 5 responses directly relate to the cognitive evolutionary approach to behavior, referred to as the five f's: freeze, flee, fight, food, or fornication depend on the type of senses and thus will manifest in different types of behavior (Cibelli 2011) The chaos-complex behavior also applies as it is a quick response of a fraction of a second which determines the behavior. If I see a gang who is ready to attack me in down town Los Angeles, and I am a black belt, I will first use my visual senses to observe each person's movement. Then I will use my auditory senses to hear if there are any other people in the area. It is a question of the chao-complex behavior as everything will happen in a quick second before deciding If I am staying to fight, flee, or to freeze because I am too scared to do anything.. The cognitive approach assumes that there are learnt (social) perceptions as there is a weakness in the sensorial stimulus. Therefore this a pproach is information based. Social perception is learned but can stem from a sensorial stimulus. A woman who has been raped, has the stimulus which has caused the behavior of fear. She might transfer this fear into the social perception that all men of the race of that

Physiological Differences between Children and Adluts Essay

Physiological Differences between Children and Adluts - Essay Example Knowledge about human physiology dictates the approach that a teacher should use when handling children. Human physiology of a child differs from adult. Notably, adult language is different from child language. This paper identifies the physiological differences between adult and children, which influence their response to exercise or sport. Physiologists believe that major physiological differences that exist between adults and children influence their ability to respond to physical activities. Human body systems such as respiratory system and cardiovascular system among other systems influence the ability of an individual to handle a particular amount of physical exercises (Kirk, MacDonald, & O’Sullivan 2006:232). The physiological differences that exist between adults and children include difference in cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and ability of the human body to withstand fatigue. Adults have fully developed organ systems, which influence their ability to wit hstand strenuous exercises. On the other hand, children organ systems are still developing. Concerning these physiological differences, children are able to do a given amount of exercises (Armstrong, et. al. 2008:81). Another notable difference is the blood content of the body. Adult have large quantity of blood, which is responsible for oxygen circulation in the body. Cardiovascular system is responsible for the transportation of oxygen in the body from the heart to other parts of the body through the blood (Armstrong, 2007:128). Oxygen delivery to various parts of the body depends on the amount of blood pumped by the heart. Children have low volume of blood, which translate to the amount of oxygen supplied in various body organs. On the other hand, the pumping rate of the heart in children is higher than in adult. Another notable difference is ventricular size of the heart. Adults have large ventricular size compared to children. This influences the volume of blood pumped by the h eart in each pumping stroke. Another notable difference between adults and children is that children have low tolerance rate to high temperatures and humidity. The respiratory system is responsible for gaseous exchange in the human body. Ventilation refers to the amount of gaseous exchange per minute. Ventilation is a product of tidal volume and the rate of breathing. Children breathe rapidly compared to adults because they have low tidal volume. Adults have well developed lungs, which explain the difference in breathing frequency between adults and children. The later have small organs thereby influencing the volume of air exchange. Respiration depends on surface area of the body to its volume ratio (Kincheloe, & Horn, 2008:123). The children have a high rate of respiration compared to adults. Physical activities and gender influence the rate of respiration. When an individual is doing a strenuous activity, the rate of respiration tend to increase. Gender differences influence basa l metabolic rate. Women have a basal metabolic rate which low compared to men. This explains the difference in ability to handle strenuous exercises between girls and boys. Naturally, girls would handle simple physical exercises without straining. Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity influence oxygen supply in the human body. Physiologists observe that children response to high temperat

Natural resources Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Natural resources - Essay Example The world is faces with a challenge to guarantee the lasting utilization of natural resources at the lowest possible environmental cost while still assuring economic and social development. Natural Resources & Environment (NRE) is a broad emphasis area with major impact on the quality of our world. NRE programs strengthen the nation's capacity to address critical environmental priorities and contribute to improved air, soil, and water quality; fish and wildlife management; enhanced aquatic and other ecosystems; the sustainable use and management of forests, rangelands, watersheds, and other renewable natural resources; and a better understanding of global climate change, including its impact on the diversity of plant and animal life. These programs also demonstrate the benefits and opportunities of sustainable development, and contribute to the economic viability of agriculture and rural communities and realizing the impact of environmental policies and regulations. The sustainability of natural resources immensely depends on the use and management decisions of individual private landowners, who have a collective control over more than two-thirds of the nation's land and water resources. As agriculture is no longer the largest element in the economic base of most rural communities, natural resource wealth and income opportunities are becoming more important to farmers, ranchers, other landowners, and communities. Pressures on land and natural resource use are becoming more and more competing and conflicting.. Public demand keeps growing for natural resource products, services, and improved environmental quality. On the other hand, changing demographics and social values bring new challenges. Urbanization has serious impacts on ecosystem structure and function and they are becoming increasingly fragmented for the production of food and forest products. The goal should aim at discovering new, improved ways to use and manage natural resources and educational programs that teach best management practices will enhance environmental and economic benefits, as well as human well-being. These are critical ecological strategies are investments for our future Outline a process by which you could determine primary gross and net productivity, use data to support your process. The term "Production" implies to the creation of new organic matter. When a plant grows, new organic matter is created by the process of photosynthesis, which converts light energy into energy stored in chemical bonds within plant tissue. This energy fuels the metabolic machinery of the plant. New compounds and structures are synthesized, cells divide, and the plant grows in size. When we attempt to measure the rate at which photosynthesis occurs, or the rate at which the individual plant increases in mass, we are concerned with primary production (definition: the synthesis and storage of organic molecules during the growth and reproduction of photosynthetic organisms). * Gross Primary Production, GPP, is the total amount of CO2 that is fixed by the plant in photosynthesis. * Respiration, R, is the amount of CO2 that is lost from an organism or system from metabolic activity. Respiration can be further divided into components that reflect the source of the CO2. Rp =Respiration by Plants Rh = Respiration by Heterotrophs Rd = Respiration by

Communication, Culture and context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Communication, Culture and context - Essay Example support the essay. Definition of Terms Globalization has been defined by Mazrui (2001) as consisting of systems and operating processes aiming to ultimately be interrelated with global protocols on a continuously growing exchange of transactions among diverse countries and regions (p. 1). On the other hand, Landay (2008) averred that â€Å"virtual commodification is a process of transforming experience, ideas, and ideas about the self into the quantifiable products of inworld consumer culture, and placing those products in a social context in which people define things in terms of themselves, and themselves in terms of things, i.e., that â€Å"self† is created and understood through the goods and appearance of the goods people consume† (p. 4). From the qualification of terms, commodification becomes global in perspectives in so far as a product, service, artifact, image, or idea is turned into a commodity. To expound on the concept in a global context, one opted to sele ct a social networking game that became famous through Facebook, FarmVille. FarmVille A social networking game that was developed by Zynga, a social game developer located originally in San Francisco, California, became a global phenomenon – FarmVille. According to its official site, â€Å"Zynga is committed to transforming the world through virtual social goods. Zynga players have made real change by raising millions for several international nonprofits since Zynga.org launched in October 2009† (Zynga: What, 2010, par. 1). Zynga was founded by Mark Pincus in January of 2007 with the mission of connecting people though social games (Zynga: About, 2011). FarmVille is just one among 18 games accessible through Facebook. A prospective player needs to have a Facebook account to be able to play any of the games developed by Zynga. Other social networking games by Zynga are accessible through other social networking sites such as MySpace, Mobile and Yahoo (Zynga: Games, 2011 ). As proffered by Helft (2010), the mechanics for the social game is explained as follows: in FarmVille, its most popular game, players tend to virtual farms, planting and harvesting crops, and turning little plots of land into ever more sophisticated or idyllic cyberfarms. Good farmers — those who don’t let crops wither — earn virtual currency they can use for things like more seed or farm animals and equipment. But players can also buy those goods with credit cards, PayPal accounts or Facebook’s new payment system, called Credits. A pink tractor, a FarmVille favorite, costs about $3.50, and fuel to power it is 60 cents. A Breton horse can be had for $4.40, and four chickens for $5.60. The sums are small, but add up quickly

Economic analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Economic analysis - Essay Example This paper assess a year by year economic indicators from the year 2012 to the year 2014 Economic growth is the measure of the change in gross domestic product, abbreviated as GDP. On the other hand, GDP is defined as the market value of the goods and services attributable to labour and property located in the economy. The gross domestic product measures the national income (sum of factor incomes) and output for a given country’s economy. It is equal to the total expenditures for all the final goods and services produced within the economy for a given time frame. The United States GDP in the year 2012 was worth 16, 244.60 Billion dollars1 and this value it was the worlds highest and over 25 % of the total value of the world’s economy. This was a growth from 15, 533.80 Billion dollars recorded in the previous year. This signaled a growth of 2.8% on the GDP recorded in the year 2011. Economic theory asserts that an economy’s GDP consists of total consumption, total investments and net exports; the latter is the difference between the total value of exports and imports. The estimated value of the decomposed components of the GDP were as follow; household consumption -70.9%, government consumption-19.5%, investment in fixed capital-12.8 %, investment in inventories-0.4%, net exports of goods and services negative 3.6 %.2 At the estimated percentage of more than 70%, indeed consumers are the engine of the US economy. Consumers spending have grown rapidly out of confidence in the 2011 economic growth. In the United States, the country has grown to be an imported consumer oriented goods and services shown by the negative value of the net exports, which means that the value of imports exceeded the value of exports. Consumer spending at percentage of 70.9 out of the GDP is the single largest piece of spending. During the period that transverse the dip and the recovery,

Reviewing the Decision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reviewing the Decision - Essay Example The reason why the manager of "ABC" with whom we work decided that they would manage to promote fully equipped base cabinets in the future was due to the request of one of their key customers for the immediate installation of 25 pcs. of such advanced base cabinets, plus their reasoning that because of the increased convenience of the more expensive base cabinets the same quantity can be rather quickly installed at other locations as well. Considering our general positive experience with "ABC", our history of making similar supplies of equipment which "ABC" quickly exhausted, and their leading position in their market segment, I decided to place the order at the manufacturer for the mentioned amount of equipment. After we brought to our stock 50 pcs. of fully equipped base cabinets, it turned out that by then the key customer of "ABC" bailed out from his liability before them, and the general market response to the prospect of purchase of more expensive cabinets was much less enthusia stic than expected. As the result of the mentioned facts, by this moment we still have on our stock 38 pcs. of fully equipped base cabinets for table-top coffee machines, which translates into 12,500$ of frozen assets.

Communication, Culture and context Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Communication, Culture and context - Essay Example support the essay. Definition of Terms Globalization has been defined by Mazrui (2001) as consisting of systems and operating processes aiming to ultimately be interrelated with global protocols on a continuously growing exchange of transactions among diverse countries and regions (p. 1). On the other hand, Landay (2008) averred that â€Å"virtual commodification is a process of transforming experience, ideas, and ideas about the self into the quantifiable products of inworld consumer culture, and placing those products in a social context in which people define things in terms of themselves, and themselves in terms of things, i.e., that â€Å"self† is created and understood through the goods and appearance of the goods people consume† (p. 4). From the qualification of terms, commodification becomes global in perspectives in so far as a product, service, artifact, image, or idea is turned into a commodity. To expound on the concept in a global context, one opted to sele ct a social networking game that became famous through Facebook, FarmVille. FarmVille A social networking game that was developed by Zynga, a social game developer located originally in San Francisco, California, became a global phenomenon – FarmVille. According to its official site, â€Å"Zynga is committed to transforming the world through virtual social goods. Zynga players have made real change by raising millions for several international nonprofits since Zynga.org launched in October 2009† (Zynga: What, 2010, par. 1). Zynga was founded by Mark Pincus in January of 2007 with the mission of connecting people though social games (Zynga: About, 2011). FarmVille is just one among 18 games accessible through Facebook. A prospective player needs to have a Facebook account to be able to play any of the games developed by Zynga. Other social networking games by Zynga are accessible through other social networking sites such as MySpace, Mobile and Yahoo (Zynga: Games, 2011 ). As proffered by Helft (2010), the mechanics for the social game is explained as follows: in FarmVille, its most popular game, players tend to virtual farms, planting and harvesting crops, and turning little plots of land into ever more sophisticated or idyllic cyberfarms. Good farmers — those who don’t let crops wither — earn virtual currency they can use for things like more seed or farm animals and equipment. But players can also buy those goods with credit cards, PayPal accounts or Facebook’s new payment system, called Credits. A pink tractor, a FarmVille favorite, costs about $3.50, and fuel to power it is 60 cents. A Breton horse can be had for $4.40, and four chickens for $5.60. The sums are small, but add up quickly

Reviewing the Decision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reviewing the Decision - Essay Example The reason why the manager of "ABC" with whom we work decided that they would manage to promote fully equipped base cabinets in the future was due to the request of one of their key customers for the immediate installation of 25 pcs. of such advanced base cabinets, plus their reasoning that because of the increased convenience of the more expensive base cabinets the same quantity can be rather quickly installed at other locations as well. Considering our general positive experience with "ABC", our history of making similar supplies of equipment which "ABC" quickly exhausted, and their leading position in their market segment, I decided to place the order at the manufacturer for the mentioned amount of equipment. After we brought to our stock 50 pcs. of fully equipped base cabinets, it turned out that by then the key customer of "ABC" bailed out from his liability before them, and the general market response to the prospect of purchase of more expensive cabinets was much less enthusia stic than expected. As the result of the mentioned facts, by this moment we still have on our stock 38 pcs. of fully equipped base cabinets for table-top coffee machines, which translates into 12,500$ of frozen assets.

Are humans naturally good or naturally evil Essay Example for Free

Are humans naturally good or naturally evil Essay Are humans naturally good or naturally evil? Paul Bloom’s (psychologist) answer is yes. Most adults know wrong from right, for the excep*on of psychos. The heroes who come to the rescue, the ones that are disappointed, by some of the things that occur in our society and the act of kindness. There is a push to make the wrongdoers pay for what they commi-ed, help the needy, also emo*onal responses that revolve around morality. Research in laboratories, prove the claim that sense of good and evil are bred in the bone. Babies and toddlers can judge others ac*ons based on whether they are evil or good. They feel the same way about evil and bad and react the same way as adults. They also like Nikki Daniel 2/12/14 1st current event of quarter 3 per 2 those who do too. Based on their behavior, their judgments and ac*ons we can tell what they like and dislike. There is limit to morality. Babies start slow and then start seeing themselves as a group. Most humans obtain general moral ideas. Our ac*ons fall low compare to our moral principles. Communica*ng with people with the same morals and values as you is a big part of growing up to be a good person. This research might change the way that many people feel about their babies and children. Some think babies are bad seeds others think they are psychopaths. Our surrounding can change our natural moral senses. Understanding moral psychology can make the world a be-er place. The Nikki Daniel 2/12/14 1st current event of quarter 3 per 2 science of baby morality is all about human natures best and worst. It is actually pre-y goal that babies and li-le kids can tell the di5erence between good from bad. I think with people with be-er morality, the world would be a be-er place. Many people believe in one thing and do something completely di5erent. I learned something new. Honestly, I thought babies’ brain was like a size of a peanut and did not know right from wrong. I knew they could sense when someone is a good person or bad person but I did not know about all of this.

Analysis of Gordon Browns Leadership

Analysis of Gordon Browns Leadership Gordon Brown with his ‘government of all the talents’ and his promise to listen suggests he prefers a Cabinet form of Government over Prime Ministerial Government. What has been his record to date in exercising his prime ministerial powers? Illustrate with reference to the practice of the past three Prime Ministers and decide whether it is a positive or negative development. Introduction Upon becoming Prime Minister in June 2007, Gordon Brown gave strong indications that he would change the political culture in Britain. Among those promises, he pledged to govern with a â€Å"government of all the talents†, seeking consultation and advice from outside the traditional Labour Party sources. (BBC, 2007) Since then, the Prime Minister has also stated his preference for a more cabinet form of Government as opposed to a strong Prime Ministerial Government common in the Blair and Thatcher periods. (Rentoul, p552) Does Gordon Brown’s record show a preference for consultation, has Parliament been given more power in the running of Government or has Gordon Brown reverted to the strong autocratic style of leadership that he was often accused of during his time as Chancellor? This essay will examine Gordon Brown’s short reign as Prime Minister, looking closely at his use of Prime Ministerial powers in Government. The work will explore the extent to which the present Labour Cabinet has strong influence over decisions and policies, and whether Gordon Brown has strengthened Parliament by transferring some of the traditional Prime Ministerial powers to the legislature. In order to judge Gordon Brown’s record, it is necessary to compare the actions and records of the previous three UK Prime Ministers, Tony Blair, John Major and Margaret Thatcher. Each Prime Minister differed in their use of Prime Ministerial powers, influenced by the political situation and their own style and personality. By giving strong examples of cabinet or Prime Ministerial Government we may better understand their meaning, as well as better judging Gordon Brown’s record and style of Government. Finally we shall attempt to conclude whether Gordon Brown has brought ab out a more Cabinet form of Government, and if so, judge if this has been a positive or negative development for Government and the Country. Chapter One In Gordon Brown’s first address to the House of Commons as Prime Minister, he indicated that his Premiership was one that would increase the power of Parliament in such vital areas as declaring war, signing International treaties and approving public appointments. This was part of his plan to devolve power, which included proposals to start de-centralising power across the UK, allowing UK citizens and councils more influence in Government. The Prime Minister has in many ways delivered on some of his promises to rule with a â€Å"government of all the talents† appointing Labour outsiders such as Sir Digby Jones and setting up the National Economic Council. (Bagehot, 2008) These actions however, do not necessarily mean that Gordon Brown has brought in a new period of cabinet Government however. Cabinet Government refers to the UK Prime Minister ruling in conjunction with his or her Cabinet, sharing responsibility and power but remaining first among equals. Prime Ministeri al Government refers to the Prime Minister dominating the executive, making all the major policy decisions without always consulting with or taking the advice of the Cabinet. (Jones, 2005, p.27) Does Gordon Brown’s record suggest that he rules in co-operation with his Cabinet or does he make the major decisions without their contribution? The first few months of the Brown era were a relative success for the Government. The change of leader helped Labour recover public support, and Gordon Brown gave a successful image as a strong and experienced leader. Policies were put forward to restore Cabinet Government, the party was united and the PM appears to have consulted the Cabinet whilst remaining firmly in control. This was a change from the Blair period of Government, in which a strong Prime Ministerial form of Leadership existed, with outside unelected advisors exercising more power and influence on the PM than the elected Cabinet members. (Rentoul, 2001, p.536) Although the strong leadership of Blair and the unity of the party had been in many ways responsible for their electoral success, Blair’s weakening of Cabinet power and autocratic leadership led Britain into an unpopular and, for the Labour parties’ popularity, disastrous war in Iraq. Gordon Brown entered office with the promise of restoring Cabinets importance, and lessening the influence of outsiders such as Alistair Campbell, who during the Blair years appeared to be the real deputy Leader, rather than the elected John Prescott. (Stephens, 2004, p.180) Brown then, seemed to be promoting a style of Government personified by John Major. During Majors time as PM Cabinet meetings were transformed from meetings where Mrs Thatcher would inform the cabinet of her policies and demand obedience into genuine forums for debate and deliberation. Important issues were discussed, free debate was encouraged and arguments were common. This was extremely popular within Government, as suggested in Dick Leonards â€Å"A Century of Premiers†. â€Å"Major has restored Cabinet Government† (Leonard, 2005, p.333) In the first few months, Gordon Brown did successfully lead in a Cabinet style of Government. The aftermath and response to several failed terrorist attacks were handled by Cabinet figures such as Jacqui Smith, who liaised with the public and the Muslim Community. In both the crisis with Northern Rock and the flooding in rural areas Brown employed the full talents of his Ministers rather than attempting to micromanage every situation. (Freedland, 2007) Brown was popular with both the party and the public; it seemed that the return of Cabinet Government was beneficial for the Government and the Nation. In many ways Major and Brown inherited the Leadership under similar situations. Neither man had the commanding Parliamentary majority of Thatcher or Blair at their peak, and had to by necessity rely more on the support of their Cabinet. (Foley, 2002, p.33) Like Major, Brown has also had to deal with a resurgent opposition which for the first time in years appears to be ahead in the polls. This led to Brown’s first major crisis; in September and October 2007 Brown hinted that he would call an election to fully legitimise his Leadership, as he did not face a leadership election to become Prime Minister. However Brown decided not to go ahead with an election, with many suggesting that he was worried by the Tories lead in the opinion polls. (Robinson, 2007) From this point on Brown became steadily less popular with the Country and the party, as subsequent crises and Browns apparent lack of charisma and leadership chipping away at support for the Government. Despite this however, many would suggest that this has not caused Gordon Brown to abandon Cabinet Government. On the contrary, Gordon Brown has continued to consult and debate with his Cabinet on the major issues, allowing such figures as David Milliband and Jacqui Smith to emerge as possible future leaders of the Labour Party. Although Gordon Brown has consulted with many outside forces and attempted to build a more consensual form of British politics, even offering Paddy Ashdown a position in Government, (Woodward, 2007) this has not led to the marginalisation of the Cabinet. Margaret Thatcher’s preference for unelected advisors, such as Sir Alan Walters, over Cabinet Members helped bring about her downfall, making her believe she was infallible and isolating potentially loyal Ministers, as suggested by Leonard. â€Å"She acted as a virtual dictator, reducing the role of the Cabinet to that of a supporters club†. (Leonard, 2005, p.313) It did however, give Thatcher t he image of a strong Leader, one that could make important decisions decisively without having to consult or procrastinate. Unfortunately some of the decisions she made without consulting the Cabinet, such as the poll tax were disastrous for her and the Tory Party. Tony Blair did not marginalise or reduce his Cabinet to such a lowly level; however he did, as we have mentioned, surround himself with an inner circle of advisors, many of them outsiders like Alistair Campbell, and relied more heavily on their advice than that of his Cabinet. His style of leadership was also similar to Thatcher’s in that he tried to dominate and manage every important situation, with the notable exception of those issues that came under his Chancellors office. (Rentoul, 2001, p.249) Although the most successful Labour leader in history, Blair’s decisions and style of leadership were ultimately responsible for his clearly begrudging resignation. Despite following a more Cabinet orientated approach to Government, Gordon Brown has found that this does not necessarily guarantee loyalty during difficult times. There have been widespread rumours about a possible leadership challenge, with many Labour MPs talking to the press about their desire to see Gordon Brown step down. By giving his Cabinet power and responsibility Gordon Brown has allowed some of the bigger personalities, such as Milliband, to grow in status, so much so that many Labour MPs considered him a possible replacement. Chapter Two In our previous chapter we presented the argument that Gordon Brown has brought back a more Cabinet orientated form of Government. In Chapter two we will look at ways in which Gordon Brown has in fact maintained a Prime Ministerial form of Leadership, along with the negative consequences this has brought about. We will also attempt to evaluate Gordon Brown’s record, and come to a conclusion whether it has been a positive or negative development in relation to the three previous Prime Ministers reigns. At the beginning of Brown’s premiership, the Prime Minister made pledges to bring about more Parliamentary powers and increase executive accountability, a clear reference to Tony Blair’s decision to launch an unpopular war. (Stephens, 2005, p239) However so far, these pledges have remained in the formation stage. The Premier still retains ultimate authority on issues of national security, international treaties and appointments. Perhaps in the future these pledges will be passed in Parliament, however till that day the Prime Minister will retain a large degree of executive control. Since Brown has been in office little legislation actually transferring power away from the Executive has passed through Parliament. In many respects Brown has pushed through his own agenda, bypassing the reservations or objections of his Cabinet, as well as ruthlessly disposing of any Ministers that have dared to challenge his authority. (Bagehot, 2008) The ten pence tax rate cut was widely criticised by the media and opposition, and eventually forced the Government to backtrack. It was introduced in the 2007 budget by Brown, who insisted on implementing it despite the fact that it hit those on low incomes, natural Labour supporters. This disaster was a direct result of Gordon Brown forcing an unpopular policy into being despite the opposition of many in the Party. Despite the large size of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister has ensured that those in the top jobs are those with a proven track record for loyally supporting Brown throughout his years as Chancellor. Those supporters or suspected supporters of Tony Blair have largely been marginalised, not allowed near the more important Ministerial positions. Those Ministers who have resisted his policies or have spoken for the need of a new leader have been dropped for more loyal, pliant personnel. (Helm, 2008)) In the most important sphere of influence, the economy, the Chancellor Alistair Darling appears to operate with far less independence and power than Brown did under Blair, indeed although we may say that Tony Blair operated a â€Å"Presidential† style of Leadership, he went out of his way to appease his Chancellor. Gordon Brown does not have any figure powerful or independent enough to build a sphere of influence within Government as Brown did previously. (Leonard, 2005, p355-358) Reg ardless of the press and several Labour MPs promotion of David Milliband, Brown remains without peer in terms of gravitas, influence and experience within the party. Despite his smaller majority, Brown has also shown that he is able to force unpopular legislation through Parliamentary and Cabinet opposition, most notably in the case of the 42 day detention issue. The intense opposition in his Party, with alleged deals being made to get the bill passed, along with opposition condemnation suggests that Gordon Brown was not concerned with giving Parliament new powers related to national security. In relation to Iraq although some British troops have been pulled out of the Country, British troops remain in both Iraq and Afghanistan, again despite the opposition of many in the party. That there is no opposition in the Cabinet is perhaps testament to the loyalty of those Gordon Brown has chosen, rather than there being complete unity. Developments in the Brown Government: Positive or Negative? In the last Chapter we have demonstrated that the Brown Leadership is not yet a perfect example of Cabinet Government. The Cabinet consists mainly of Brown loyalists, the Prime Minister has forced through many unpopular policies and as of yet has failed to deliver the legislation that would make a Cabinet Government a long term possibility. However despite these criticisms Gordon Brown has run a more Cabinet Government than either Tony Blair or Margaret Thatcher. It will be difficult for the Prime Minister to backtrack on legislation that will give more power to Parliament, and he has demonstrated in many of the crises that he is willing to share power and responsibility with the more senior Cabinet members. The large size and broad range of the Cabinet also suggests that Brown is less likely to rely on a small clique of outsiders for advice, as did Thatcher and Blair. In recent months Brown has also shown that he is willing to accept Blair loyalists into the Cabinet, as we have seen with the appointment of Peter Mandelson. (Sparrow, 2008) It is the opinion of this essay that despite the serious problems of the Labour Party this has been a positive development. Although there has been limited use of the talents of opposition party personnel, a Government of all the talents has the potential to change the confrontational, winner takes all style of British Politics. In a time of severe economic crisis there is a need to take advantage of all available talent and ability. History has shown that although a strong Prime Ministerial Government can be initially popular, if the Leader believes it is unnecessary to consult with their Cabinet then they can make serious errors of judgement. If Margaret Thatcher had listened to her Cabinet perhaps there would have been no poll tax, nor would relations with Europe be so damaged by Thatcher’s strident anti European speeches. (Riddell, 1991, pp.184-187) Ultimately though, a more Cabinet form of Government means a more democratic, accountable Government, one that is more likely to grant Parliament a greater role in the more important aspects of Government. A larger Cabinet made up of representatives from across the board is also more representative of the nation itself. If ideas and policies can be discussed, deliberated and argued out by a professional, representative and broad Cabinet then perhaps there will be less chance of the Government enacting policies that are popular and logical only to the Prime Minister and a close circle of unrepresentative outsiders. Conclusion This essay has demonstrated that since taking office Gordon Brown has led a Cabinet Government similar to that of John Major, rather than the more Prime Ministerial approach of both Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair. The essay has also shown that Brown’s leadership style does still contain elements of the Prime Ministerial form of Government, especially in regards to forcing through unpopular pet projects originating from when Brown was Chancellor. However, despite his reputation as a â€Å"Stalinist† leader Brown has shown surprising flexibility, an ability to consult with those outside the traditional Labour party sphere as well as demonstrating trust in the more senior members of his Cabinet. If Brown remains Prime Minister for the foreseeable future then we are likely to see legislation that will strengthen both Cabinet Government and Parliament itself. In the new economic climate and looming recession these policies might herald a new age of not only Cabinet Government, but a more consensual and cross party form of British Politics. The emergence of a Cabinet Government is undoubtedly then a positive sign for the future. Bibliography Foley, Michael â€Å"John Major, Tony Blair and a Conflict of leadership: Collision Course† (Manchester University Press, Manchester and New York, 2002) Jones, Bill â€Å"Politics UK† (Harlow, Pearson, Longman, London, 2006) Leonard, Dick â€Å"A Century of Premiers: From Salisbury to Blair† (Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2005) Rentoul, John â€Å"Tony Blair: Prime Minister† (Time Warner, London, 2001) Riddell, Peter â€Å"The Thatcher Era and its Legacy† (Blackwell, Oxford UK and Cambridge USA, 1991) Stephens, Philip â€Å"Tony Blair: The making of a World Leader† (Viking, New York, 2004) Newspapers Bagehot â€Å"Gordon Brown’s Recovery: A War on two Fronts† Economist, 9/10/2008, p.27 Helm, Toby â€Å"Left Winger Cruddas in Think Tank challenge† Guardian, 12/10/2008 Freedland, Jonathan – â€Å"Who is Gordon Brown?† The New York Review of Books, Volume 54, Number 16, October 25 2007. Sparrow, Andrew â€Å"Gordon Brown defends decision to bring Peter Mandelson back into government† Guardian, 03/10/2008 Woodward, Will â€Å"Ashdown turns down job in Brown cabinet† Guardian, 21/06/2007, p2 Internet Brown is UK’s New Prime Minister – BBC News – 27/06/2007, accessed 06/11/2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6245682.stm Robinson, Nick â€Å"Brown rules out Autumn Election† BBC News – 06/10/2007, accessed 06/11/2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7031749.stm

cars :: essays research papers

It's been all too long since a new American sedan created anything more than an apathetic yawn from consumers. Between relentless Japanese competition and America's seemingly endless obsession with trucks and SUVs, the idea that a domestic four-door could be the "it" car of the year seemed laughable. Then along came Chrysler's new 300 sedan, a car so unabashedly nontraditional in both its style and its substance that it makes the competition look hopelessly bland in comparison. Chrysler veered from the usual route of designing a car that would appeal to the broadest swath of the general public and instead went for a look that's original at best and polarizing at worst. Like it or not, there's no denying that it has a presence on the road that no Camry or Taurus could ever hope to duplicate. Backing up its sinister looks is the performance of a rear-wheel-drive chassis and a suspension design shared with some of its more expensive Mercedes cousins. And not only does the outrageous exterior look good, it surrounds a cavernous, well-trimmed interior that's as spacious as any sedan on the road. Built to straddle the lines between upscale family car and entry-level luxury sport sedan, the 300 offers both a base V6 (190 horsepower) and a midlevel V6 (250 hp), depending on your budget. As surprisingly adept as these V6s are at getting the big sedan up to speed, it's the top-of-the-line Hemi-engined 300C that gives the car its star power. With 340 horses running through a five-speed automatic transmission, the 300C is in a class of its own. And if that's not enough, you can always step up to the high-performance SRT-8 version that packs a 425-hp Hemi under the hood along with larger wheels and a lowered stance. Chrysler took a chance when it decided on such a radical design for the 300 and the results speak for themselves.

Narrative Style and Structure of James and the Giant Peach Essay

Narrative Style and Structure of James and the Giant Peach      Ã‚  Ã‚   The books that Roald Dahl has written have very interesting narrative styles. In the story James and the Giant Peach, Dahl uses vivid imagination. He uses many imaginary situations but yet at the same time encompasses enough realistic situations that the reader can still relate to it. In James and the Giant Peach, it starts out introducing a boy named James Henry Trotter who lives with his loving mother and father. The narrator of the book tells us, the readers, that James and his family's dream is to sail to New York City and climb all the way to the top of the Empire State Building. This introduction makes us think that this story is realistic, because the explanation given is a normal family. The description of James' family is something that the young readers can connect with and understand.    Out of the blue, a rhinoceros gobbled up James' parents causing him to live with his evil aunts. Then an old man gives James magic green things that grow a giant peach, this totally changed the n...

A Tale Of Two Cities vs. Beowulf Essay

When talking about renowned stories and strong characters in literature, there are two names that come up every time, A Tale of Two Cities and Beowulf. Both of these stories can be compared in many ways and in many ways they are extremely different with few similarities. These stories were written centuries apart yet they are both still notorious today. The diverse styles of writing in each of these tales show the different time periods. There are three similarities that I want to specifically discuss more about: the protagonists’ characteristics, how they change, and how they end their lives with meaning. One of the differences between the two books is that the protagonists, Beowulf and Sydney Carton, are more comparable than most people would think. In Beowulf the main character is obviously Beowulf and he is a strong and resilient character that fights to help those who need it. In Beowulf it says he was, â€Å"greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in this world†¦ .† (lines 109-111). Beowulf has to kill Grendel to save the people of Denmark and lose many of his own men along the way. He does eventually kill Grendel and then Grendel’s Mother to save the people. â€Å"But Beowulf longed only for fame, leaped back into battle† (lines 502-504) this shows Beowulf’s heart to finish what he started. He never gave up no matter how difficult it was to continue after his men were killed or no matter how hard it was to fight the monsters. Sydney Carton on the other hand first appears as a lazy, alcoholic attorney who cannot muster even the smallest amount of interest in his own life. He describes his existence as a supreme waste of life and takes every opportunity to declare that he cares for nothing and no one. Carton by the end of story changes immensely and becomes a better man. Now Carton isn’t strong resilient like Beowulf but he is courageous and he gives up his own life to save his friend’s life, Charles Darney. Darney is married to lucie, who Carton loves, but Carton still saves him from the guillotine because he wants to give his life some meaning. Another difference is that both main characters change so much by the end of the stories. When Beowulf is called on by King Hrothgar of Denmark to come save him and his people from Grendel he goes right away and shows his strength by defeating Grendel so the people of Denmark would not be bothered by him anymore. This is how Beowulf wounded Grendel, â€Å"He twisted in pain, and the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder, snapped, muscle and bone split and broke. The battle was over, Beowulf had been granted new glory† (lines 389-393). Beowulf dies in the story so he changes a lot, but his story lived on, as he became a legend. As stated before Sydney Carton remarkably changes from this man who has no meaning in life to someone who is respected and finds fulfillment in existence. Carton changes from the moment he meets Lucie Manette, a French woman who grew up in England. Before Carton changed he was described as a â€Å"Jackal† throughout the story. â€Å" ‘Sydney,’ said Stryver, on that self-same night, or morning, to his jackal; ‘mix another bowl of punch; I have something to say to you’†(page 143). The third similarity between these stories is that they both end with these protagonists ending their lives with meaning. In Beowulf, after his tough fighting, he defeats the monsters in Denmark and saves the people, he eventually becomes the king of his home country, Geatland, when the king dies. By the end of A Tale of Two Cities Sydney Carton has changed enormously and ends his life with meaning. Carton takes Darney’s place at the guillotine and is killed for a crime he never committed, not exactly fair or just but that is how he wanted it. â€Å"Quickly, but with hands as true to the purpose as his heart was, Carton dressed himself in the clothes the prisoner had laid aside, combed back his hair, and t ied it with a ribbon the prisoner had worn†(page 372). After this he died at the guillotine knowing he had meaning in his life. In both of these fascinating stories we see how they similar they actually are. Beowulf acted on his feelings and was respected for it and Carton was someone who was looked down upon but changes his ways. These books are both well known throughout all of literature but for different reasons. Beowulf is well known for its language and diction and A Tale of Two Cities is known for its meticulous plot and scrupulous thought. As long as these stories are compared and talked about, these two tales will always be thought of as two of the best.

Pest Analysis of Primark Stores Ltd

Organisations And Environment PEST Analysis On Primark Stores Ltd Contents Introduction 1 Economic Factors 1-2 Technological Factors 2-3 Social Factors 3-4 Political Factors 4 Conclusion 5 Bibliography 5-6 Introduction This report will look at the macro environmental factors affecting Primark which operates in the high-street retail clothing sector. Primark offers chic clothing on the cheap through a number of department stores throughout the UK & Ireland, Holland and Spain. With its main target market being fashion-conscious under-35-year-olds, it is the second largest clothing retailer in the UK. The business environment is ever-changing, and it is crucial that all organisations analyse the environmental factors accurately to allow them to adapt to changes that may arise. If the environment is not analysed correctly, or if not enough attention is paid to observing environmental changes then the organisation could miss vital opportunities and fall under massive threat. This report will focus on a PEST analysis; a PEST analysis is a detailed environmental analysis that allows organisations to implement strategies that will respond to all environmental factors that they are faced with. A PEST analysis consists of four factors; Political, Economic, Social, and Technological. Primark, like all organisations will have to deal with all these environmental factors in some way. This report will now go into detail considering how each of these factors affect the high-street retail clothing sector, in particular Primark, and how they have or could respond to such issues. Economic Factors The biggest economic factor that has affected Primark in recent times, as with most businesses is the recession. This will definitely hinder Primark’s performance, as the recession means that their potential consumers will have less disposable income, and therefore will be less likely to spend vast amounts of money on clothes. However as Primark is certainly at the cheaper end of the high-street retail clothing sector it has a much more inelastic income elasticity of demand than some of its clothing competitors; meaning that it could have a huge advantage over some of its higher priced competition. This is because consumers will have less money to spend. But fashion-conscious women will still want to look good; and with Primark offering chic clothing for cheaper prices, many of these women may see Primark as an attractive option for their clothing purchases. The second economic factor to be talked about is the price of fuel. In the summer of 2008, the price of oil reached $147 a barrel (the highest it has ever been). Primark will have noticed huge increases in their transportation costs when the price of oil was this high. Primark relies very heavily on transportation as it has only two distribution centres, one being located in Leicestershire, UK and the other being located in Naas, Holland. As it distributes to all over the UK & Ireland, Holland, and Spain it will experience heavy fuel costs, and heavy shipping costs. Therefore, the high price of oil will increase costs and cut into Primark’s profit margins. Unless it decides to pass the cost onto the consumer, in which case it would experience a decrease in sales. Another important economic factor to look at is the lowering of interest rates by the Bank of England. ‘The interest rates have been cut five times since October at which point they were 5%, and now they stand at just 0. 5%. ’ (Monk, 2009) The extremely low interest rates will mean that most mortgage owners will be paying a lot less money back on their mortgage. This will result in them having a lot more disposable income, and could mean that they will have a lot more money to spend on clothes, and Primark could see sales increase. On the other hand; some of these mortgage owners may already have been Primark customers as they previously had a lower disposable income. Now they have more money to spend, they may take their custom to higher priced, higher quality clothing retailers. Technological Factors The first technological factor to be considered is the Penneys gift card. Penneys is the trading name of Primark in the Republic of Ireland. The gift card is only available in Ireland at this current time, but Primark may wish to introduce it into its Primark stores at a later date. The gift card was made available from 3rd November 2008, and gives the user the chance to put a minimum of â‚ ¬5 and a maximum of â‚ ¬200 onto the card. To add to this each card has a unique 19 digit number; with this number the gift card holder can check their current balance on the Primark website, without even needing to go to the store. With the knowledge that a gift card holder can check their balance online, one would assume that they must have an integrated computer system with these gift cards. This will give Primark the necessary information to see: which products are bought most frequently, when they are bought, a gift card holder’s average spend, amongst other things. Meaning that the gift card could be used as a useful tool for marketing purposes. This report has already mentioned the fact that Primark uses a website, which is also a technological factor. Primark’s website gives information on the company profile; including background, its ethical policy, and its upcoming stores. The fact that it shows upcoming stores could be seen as a good promotional tool. For example, currently on the website it shows that Primark plans to open a store in Bremen, Germany. This is promoting to German customers who have visited Primark stores before and have been waiting for one to open in Germany. Furthermore the website includes a store locator, giving potential customers the chance to locate the nearest store to them. This means that consumers can know the places they need to go if they want to find Primark stores. A major factor that could cause Primark to lose a lot of potential customers is the lack of online shopping available on their website. One of its biggest competitors, the Arcadia group which encompasses such stores as Topshop, Topman, Burton etc does have online shopping available on its website. In 2006 it was suspected that UK online shoppers were expected to reach 24. 9m in 2010. This is a huge amount of potential customers that Primark could be missing out on. Primark’s target market is under-35-year-olds; these are the people who use the internet most regularly. This could lead to Primark losing market share to the Arcadia group, and Tesco who also provide cheap clothing online. Social Factors The biggest social factor that affects Primark is the current fashion trends that potential customers are looking for. ‘Value clothing is now at the heart of British shopping. Two in five adults are now admitting that they buy their basics at â€Å"value† shops. (Smithers, 2008). This is saying that clothing consumers are now looking to buy cheaper alternative outfits. With this now being the social fashion trend of the UK market, Primark has a big advantage over other high-street clothing retailers. ‘In 2007 Primark was nicknamed Pri-Marni in the style pr ess for emulating fashion spin-offs, and overtook Asda as the UK’s most popular value clothing retailer. ’ (Smithers, 2008). Primark has responded to young women wanting highly fashionable clothing for cheaper prices by producing designer copies made with cheaper fabric. This is has led to massive sales, and shows an intelligent response to this social factor. Primark has recognised that to be viewed highly in society in modern times, means that the organisation must act ethically. This is shown by their ethical strategy on their website. ‘The challenges in the global garments supply chain require the collaboration of many different types of organisations to ensure that the gains from trade are spread. ’ (Primark, 2008). This quote taken directly from their ethical strategy tries to show that they are looking for all the workers that produce their products to be paid and treated properly. However, in January 2009 the BBC found that some of Primark’s manufacturers were acting in an extremely unethical manner. ‘TNS Knitwear Ltd is one of Primark’s biggest UK suppliers of knitwear. The minimum-wage is ? 5. 3 an hour, however an undercover BBC reporter applying for a job at TNS Knitwear was told she would be working for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for ? 3. 50 an hour. What is more, there was no heating and a broken toilet meant that both sexes had to use the same bathroom. ’ (Dhariwal, 2009). Stories such as these showing Primark’s manufacturers acting in hugely unethical ways could dramatically lower society’s opinion of Primark; leading to a large cut in Primark sales. Another social factor that Primark looks to implement on is the growing trend of organisations needing to be more environmentally friendly in order to succeed in current business climates. For the majority of purchases at Primark, the customer is given a brown paper bag instead of a plastic bag. Primark plastic bags are used only for heavy items with which the paper bag handles would rip. As paper bags are more bio-degradable, they are much more environmentally friendly. This gives Primark an image that shows they care about the environment, and improves their overall image socially. Political Factors This report has already covered the fact that TNS Knitwear Ltd (one of Primark’s suppliers) did not pay the minimum wage of ? 5. 73 per hour. Due to the minimum wage act, this is breaking the law. Failure to abide by the law could result in a ? 5,000 fine. Furthermore it was found that TNS Knitwear Ltd was also employing asylum seekers who were working illegally in the country. ‘Employers who take on illegal workers can face fines up to ? 10,000 per person under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act. ’ (Dhariwal, 2009). Even if it is not Primark itself that is committing such acts, it should always research its potential suppliers’ records to ensure that they are not involved in criminal activities either. This is not just unlawful, meaning it is a political factor, but is also unethical and so a social factor. In December 2008, the Government reduced the Value added tax on products from 17. 5% to 15%. This meant that Primark’s products looked 2. 5% cheaper, and could easily have led to higher sales as a result. To add to this, if it had made it known to customers that it was passing the V. A. T. reductions onto the consumer, it could be seen as a clever promotion tool, to encourage more potential customers to purchase its products. Conclusion The fact that Primark has become the UK’s most popular value clothing retailer would indicate that Primark is very aware of its trading environment. A sound knowledge of its trading environment can lead to such success. However there are a few factors which this report uncovers, in which Primark is perhaps failing to respond to correctly. To summarise the environmental analysis, this conclusion will discuss the factors which Primark responds well to and the factors it responds to less well. Primark’s most probable biggest concern will be the social factors affecting it. This is down to the fact that fashion relies almost entirely on social opinion. If customers do not like the products Primark offers, they will not buy them, and Primark will fail as a business. Primark’s sales in 2008 prove them to be the UK’s most popular value clothing retailer. In today’s society women want designer-like clothing for next-to-nothing prices. Primark has responded to this, and delivered with great success. On the other hand Primark has failed to respond to its suppliers’ criminal activities; giving the company an unethical view in society. If Primark can act quickly and find suppliers who act ethically, then it may not experience a big decrease in social opinion and continue with high sales. Unfortunately for Primark, ethical suppliers may not be able to produce the clothing for such low cost; and this could cut into Primark’s profits. Today’s current economic climate is not ideal for any organisation; recession meaning that consumers have far less disposable income. However, clothing is a necessity and Primark offers the cheaper end of high-street clothing. This might mean that Primark will not suffer a great deal compared to competing high-street clothing retailers. Furthermore if it can keep providing demand to its suppliers then they should survive the recession too. The company’s website is a great information tool; giving customers insight about the organisation, and giving them the chance to locate current and future stores. This can be seen as a good response to technological factors. However, with the growing trend in online shopping, and the company’s current choice not to sell its products online, could mean it loses large amounts of market share to competitors who currently provide such services. The poorest response to an environmental factor is Primark’s response to political factors. Its failure to discover that its suppliers were involved in criminal activities is very poor indeed. This is something the company will need to take into greater consideration in the future. Bibliography Dhariwal, N. 2009) Primark Linked to UK Sweatshops [Internet], BBC News. Available from: [Accessed 7 April 2009] M2 Presswire. (2006) TelecityRedbus: Online retailing is only half the story when it comes to UK internet activity; 35% i ncrease in UK internet shopping sales since July 2005; Online shoppers are expected to reach 24. 9m in 2010[1]; Figures from TelecityRedbus demonstrate the UK's growing dependence on a wide variety of online services, including government services, banking, travel and bill paying as well as a range of entertainment services [Internet], M2 Presswire. Available from ;www. lexisnexis. om; [Accessed on 7 April 2009] Monk, D. (2009) Low interest rates cost Notts councils ? 7. 6m; While mortgage payers are celebrating the lowest interest rates in the history of the Bank of England, Notts councils will lose ? 7. 6m on their savings next year. Nottingham Evening Post, 17 February, p. 10. Primark Stores Ltd. (2009) Primark [Internet]. Available from: ;http://www. primark. co. uk; [Accessed 7 April 2009]. Smithers, R. (2008) National: Fashion: Ethical concerns left at home as demand for cheap clothes surges: Primark and Asda lead way in reaching out to masses keen to wear latest designs. The Guardian (London), 30 January, p. 9.