Managing Financial Resources in the health and Social Care Essay

Managing Financial Resources in the health and Social Care - Essay Example They will also provide residential support, transition program, visual therapy, special needs education etc for young people and children. This organization also has to manage its financial resources to provide such kind of services consistently. There are few principles of costing which significantly exist in the financial management. Care Tech Holdings PLC has to follow and apply such principles in their costing activities. If they are unable to reduce the cost or to control the cost then they never will face the financially healthy situation within the organization. For this reason they cannot take better initiatives in their activities and cannot help more adults and children. These principles are generally helping any organization to plan their activities in a systematic way. Break even analysis is one of the important principles among the costing method (Brayley and McLean, 2008). By applying this method the organization can get information that at which level the company meet all its costs and expenditure and started to earn profit for further investment or expansion of business. This is generally indicating a point at which the company can recover all its fixed and variable expenses. Minimum cost analysis is another principle to control the business activities. It is generally based on the assumption and prediction before starting a business or before starting any new financial year or before taking any kind of new initiative by the organization. What will be the minimum fixed and variable cost that has to be analyzed and how much revenue can be generated from those particular business activities that also have to be analyzed. If the revenue will be higher than the anticipated cost then the initiative will be granted. This method is generally used as a guideline to operate activities in an efficient way. If the mentioned company will follow these principles then it will never face any kind losses and always can maintain

The Complex Relationship Between Faith Essay Example for Free

The Complex Relationship Between Faith Essay The Complex Relation between Faith and Fate In the novel A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, numerous themes present themselves to the reader. Irving uses the idea of the relationship of faith and fate to question whether or not faith directly shapes our fate, creating the idea that believing in God in a world with no faith completely absurd. As the novel unfolds, you begin to understand ‘special purpose’ each character serves can only be told in the way God decides. When Owen Meany is on stage portraying the ghost of Christmas yet to come he approaches the gravestone prop, stops, and suddenly faints. He later awakens, as the curtains fall only to realize that the name he read on the gravestone is his own. Scared, he knew he had been given a glimpse into his future. â€Å"It made (Owen) furious when I suggested that anything was an ‘accident’ – especially anything that happened to him; on the subject of predestination, Owen Meany would accuse Calvin of bad faith. There were no accidents. (Irving 66) Owen has a very strong sense of faith and believed that this directly affected his fate and the fates of others and because Owen believes he is an ‘instrument of God’ and that there are no accidents. Everything dealing with Owen is fated to occur. As did others in the novel, Sagamore, John’s mother (Tabitha), John’s grandmother, and others all become symbols of things foreshadowed to die because they los t their faith at some point throughout the novel. Another example of faith shaping fate is when Mr. Fish taught Owen and John to play football because he had no children of his own. Irving uses this biblical allusion to show how faith is directly tied to fate. Mr. Fish had given up hope in Owen’s ability to kick a football and this led to the fate of Sagamore because, those who lost their faith became ill willed or suffered a fate only destiny could have imagined, much like Sagamore and the diaper truck. As Owen Meany became ‘God’s instrument’ in the death of Sagamore, he also served the same role in taking the life John’s mother, Tabitha, who suffered the fate of a baseball to the head. But was this an accident of fate or was it a lack there of? At the end of the novel Rev. Merrill revealed to John that he was his father, and it was John, who in the end restored his faith. It however, was the death of Tabitha that caused his lack of faith. The Rev. Merrill believes that he caused her death because, he had wished for it. Or maybe, it is his fate, that Tabitha was destined to die. Owen Meany believed that there were no such things as coincidences and that fate is the ultimate reason. Irving wrote it this way to show how faith and fate are interconnected. Most people have faith that God decides what happens to you; this is fate. There were many people in this novel that lost their faith. John’s grandmother had lost her faith after John’s mother had died which, foreshadowed her death. And maybe Owen himself, who had confidence in John to believe in faith, fated that Owen too would become another victim of fate. Which makes us think, what is it that actually contains a story of religion and fate, are they linked, or are they two things we can never know together? However, one thing is certain, the belief that if faith is lost; fate will not be so kind. Works Cited Irving, John. A Prayer for Owen Meany. New York: Ballantine Books, 1990. Print

The New Republic and the Issues It Faces :: Writing Politics Governmnet Essays

The New Republic and the Issues It Faces The New Republic is a weekly British political journal that focuses quite a bit on the internal workings of the US government and issues dealing with foreign policy and issues outside of this country. The New Republic is very broad with its political orientation, but tends to be more liberal with some conservative tendencies. The United States edition is published from Washington DC. The major pieces of information I gathered about the New Republic (TNR) were information about some recent issues the publication itself is facing. The magazine’s major emphasis has been dealing with international issues in the context of the US government and how the US is handling certain aspects of these issues. The New Republic has been seen as a traditionally liberal magazine, but some sources have recently said that the magazine has developed a neo-liberal view. The website http://www.ctheory.net/text_file.asp?pick=111 defined Neo-liberalism as â€Å"a political philosophy which originated in the advanced countries in the 1980s. It is associated with the idea of "liberal fascism": free enterprise, economic globalization and national corporatism as the institutional and ideological grounds for the civil disciplining of subaltern individuals, "aliens" and groups.† The New Republic has also been seen as a very intellectual New York style of magazine. This means that TNR has more of a center on the New York culture and tries to amplify that in the text and articles. Much of the content is put forth toward these intellectuals who have a real sense of politics. The editor in chief is Martin Peretz. His biography on the New Republic web site says that Martin Peretz â€Å"has been editor and chief and chairman of the New Republic since 1974. Simultaneously he has kept up his teaching at Harvard University where he has been a part-time lecturer in Social Studies since joining the New Republic.† The website also goes on to say that he holds many awards and distinctions such as the Jerusalem Medal and the Medal of Distinction of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. Mr. Peretz’s biography also states that he â€Å"is co-founder and co-chairman of The street.com, a publicly traded company of the NASDAQ†, and â€Å"was a co-founder of Leukosite, a biotechnology and pharmaceutical company.

Health Disparities in New Zealand from a Marxist Perspective Essay

In New Zealand society there many are people who encounter with Health disabilities and issues that do not only impact their wellbeing but also their lives. However the majority of them cannot control their Health situation due to their lifestyle, in addition to this problem the distribution of Health services contribute to the creation of ‘Health Disparities’. In this essay I will classify Heath Disparities in New Zealand from a Marxist perspective, where it will become visible that Health inequality within our country lies in the structure of society. However our society is constructed through social stratification which is the process where people are classed in the hierarchical system; based on superiority and subordination (Llewellyn, A. , Agu, L. , & Mercer, D. 2008). This technique of classing society contributes to why inequalities exist today. I will focus on how Marxist’s perspective integrates the structure of capitalism and social class in society where it influences Health in New Zealand. Inequalities within health are distinguished between different population groups, where there is variance in a group’s health or health care (Reid & Robson, 2006). This is caused by gender, ethnicity, age, environment and economic status (Howden- Chowden, 2005). Health disparities in New Zealand conflict with the structure of society, however it is logical that in order to have an impact on society we must hold power (Dew & Kirkman, 2007). This brings us to the Marxist perspective where Karl Marx (1818-1883) focused his research on the development of capitalists (Cree, 2010). The rise of capitalism originated from the modes of production, which relates to the way society organises production of material and also enables surplus value to become generated (McLennan, McManus & Spoonly, 2010). Capitalism within New Zealand is based on the operation of production allowing the continuation of profit to increase for owners; however this means superiority constructs society in a manner where it will benefit them while alienating other classes (Dew & Kirkman, 2007). Marxist’s main focus of capitalism is class structure where the process of social stratification comes into place. An individual’s status in the class structure is measured through their socio-economic status, this can also be calculated by the amount of power they have in society (Llewellyn, Agu & Mercer, 2008). Through the Marxist theory we come to an understanding of the development of low income that workers earn through production. The functions of capitalism and class structure identifies that individuals whom receive low income, is impacted in every domain of their lives this includes health. Health inequalities are strongly influenced by socio-economic differences which expose’s factors such as income, housing, diet and occupational toxin as high impacts on a person’s health. Through the Marxist perspective we understand that capitalism’s main focus is based within the growth of profit, however the power that capitalist’s (known as owners of production) hold influences the health of their workers. Capitalists have control over wages; work hours and the environment of workers (Newman, 2008) they also go to the extent of exploitation and alienation in order for their profits to increase (McLennan, McManus & Spoonly, 2010). Workers face the effects of class consciousness (McLennan, McManus & Spoonly, 2010) they become competitive and are blinded from realizing that they are being over worked and at the same time under paid. Proletariats become vulnerable to ill health through poor working conditions and also lack of freedom (Howden- Chowden, 2005). For example lack of freedom in their work environment can lead proletariats to stress and fatigue illnesses. Health disabilities such as chronic illness, toxic appearance in an individual’s immune system and also serious accidents are caused from poor working conditions (Howden- Chowden, 2005). Capital is known to be a factor that contributes to human misery and alienation, which leads to health disabilities. Health Disparities within our society varies throughout the different levels of class. The class structure consists of two main levels which are Bourgeoisie; the highest class that contains capitalists and individuals who hold power. The Proletariat class is for workers in production, and who have no power (Joseph, 2006). Health services within New Zealand are distributed unevenly where it benefits the wealthy (Bourgeoisie) and excludes others such as the Proletariats (Dew & Kirkman, 2007). Although health services in our society are available for everyone’s use, it is imbalanced within the quality. For example individuals in the upper class have access to higher quality services, such as private insurance and specialists (Dew & Kirkman, 2007). However through research it has become more apparent that workers have the highest exposure to ill health (Howden- Chowden, 2005) this means they need this service more than others but it is not affordable. The gradients of avoidable and unavoidable death rates are very different; Proletariats have high rates within avoidable deaths, this means that the majority of deaths could have been avoided through medical consultation. As for the Bourgeoisie class it is at high rates of unavoidable deaths, although they’ve received quality treatment it cannot be cured (Dew & Kirkman, 2007). Inequalities within social class have different influences on an individual’s health, in particularly the quality of health provided for each class level. Through the development of capitalism and social class, it’s obvious that the creation of ‘low income’ becomes one of the main attribute to health disparities. Proletariats that encounter this issue have higher risks of low life expectancy and also a high mortality rate (Howden- Chowden, 2005) they are also forced to live in high levels of Deprivation (Dew & Kirkman, 2007). This situation does not only impact workers but also their families, where living in a damp cold home increases vulnerability of ill health such as cardiovascular diseases (Howden- Chowden, 2005). Low income also influences a family’s diet as they can only afford food that are high in calories and low in nutrition, this leads to morbid obesity and also Diabetes (Howden- Chowden, 2005). By understanding the impacts of low income in an individual’s life we also recognize that low income leads to poverty. Through the notion of Marxist’s perspective of health disparities within our country, it is understandable that in order to unravel this issue the system within society must change. This can transpire by establishing additional organisations that hold a responsibility to support population groups who encounter with health disabilities but cannot afford health services; this will support families in debt and also decrease health inequalities. Our system needs to improve their public services where it is affordable yet good quality, allowing workers to receive health support in order to maintain an occupation to provide for their families. Improvement of health services available for workers is extremely important not only for themselves but also for capitalist, as they will decrease in profit if workers become ill and lose jobs. If this process continues it will come to a point where capitalists increase their surplus value impacting other workers, where exploitation and alienation will intensify. By having the capability to unpack health disparities from a Marxist perspective, we are able to understand that inequalities in New Zealand health mainly impact the working class. Where the construction of society makes it visible that low income is the central foundation of health disparities, and also poverty. We need to understand that the only way out of inequality not only in health care, but in general is through improvement of the system. Kevin Dew and Allison Kirkman (2005, pp. 241) stated â€Å"People are not poor because they are sick, they are sick because they are poor. †

Death Penalty Essay

Roy Brown is a conservative who believes in individual rights and the right to life. He believes there is no deeper violation of a citizen’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness than the government killing them when they’re actually innocent. With the use of the death penalty, mistakes are highly inescapable (Brown 1). More than one hundred and forty death row inmates had been set free after evidence was revealed proving they were wrongfully condemned and this often happened decades after they were sentenced to die. Sometimes the mistake was not caught and a few innocents have been put to death. Brown states that the death penalty is also somewhat bad for the victim’s families. The families are brought along to this drawn out legal process and appear in many court sessions reliving the tragedy as it is impossible to make capital punishment quick (Brown 1). Another negative about the death penalty is its cost. Legal expenses alone make each death penalty case much more expensive than a case where a criminal is sentenced to life without the likelihood of parole (Brown 2). Brown values human life and believes that everyone should die a natural death. The same principles that motivate him to oppose abortion also motivate him to oppose the death penalty. All life is valuable and the only way that the citizens can be sure an innocent person is never executed is by ending the death penalty completely (Brown 2). Roy Brown has a type of bias with his opposition of the death penalty. He is a Catholic so his religious views get in the way of his perspective on the use of capital punishment. Catholics believe that the fundamental respect for human life includes even those guilty of crimes. So Brown, as a Catholic, grew up disliking the death penalty as he has been taught in his religion to love human life. So his view with Catholicism might blur out how he truly views the use of the death penalty without religion involved. Brown, Roy. â€Å"Why Conservatives Should Oppose the Death Penalty.† The Daily Caller. The Daily Caller, 16 Apr. 2013. Web. 26 Sept. 2013.

How To Make a Prototype

How To Make a Prototype Before 1880, every inventor had to present a working model or prototype of his or her invention to the patent office as part of the patent application. You do not have to submit a prototype anymore, however, prototypes are great for several reasons. Legally a prototype proves what is called a reduction to practice. The United States used to hold the  first to invent rule, granting a patent to the first inventor who conceives and reduces the technology or invention to practice, for example, a working prototype or a well-written description. Today the United States follows the first to patent rule. However, a prototype is invaluable for business dealings if your invention is still at that stage of funding. Do not underestimate the power of having one.You can include photos of your prototype in your inventors log book.A prototype helps you figure out any design flaws your invention has and if it really works.It can help you make sure your invention is the right size, shape, and form.A prototype helps you sell or license an invention. You can use it during demonstrations.Making one can prepare you to write your patent application and make your patent drawings. How to Make a Prototype Some of the steps listed below apply in different ways to different types of inventions, for example, a simple wooden toy vs a complex electronic device. Use your common sense to apply the steps in ways that make sense to your individual case. Make a drawing(s) of your invention. If available use the descriptions or drawing from your inventors log book. Keep all the sketches in your logbook.If you know how you might want to make a CAD drawing of your invention. Simple CAD (computer-aided design) programs exist that you might be able to use yourself.Make a non-working model of your invention out of foam, wood, metal, paper, cardboard. This will test your inventions size and form.Make or plan how to make a working model of your invention. Depending on your invention, you might be casting in metal or plastic. Write down all the materials, supplies and tools you may need and identify the steps needed to assemble your prototype. You might need simple to complex engineering drawings for any electronics. At this stage, you might want to pick up a book or kit on prototyping. You might need to contact professional for quotes on what any work you need to be done will cost.You have to figure out how much a working prototype will cost to make. Remember one copy might be very expensive to make. Mass production brings down the cost per unit. If you can make your own prototype and you can afford it, do it. Do your research on the latest methods and alternatives. For example, plastic injection molds are expensive, however, a method of CAD called Rapid Prototyping is an alternative.Depending on your invention, your prototype might be very expensive to make. If that is the case you might want to produce a virtual prototype. Today, computer programs can simulate an invention in 3D and can test that an invention does work. Virtual prototypes can be made by a professional and they cost a thousand or more. They can make you a video or CD animation of your invention working.You may have to create a real working model of your invention if perhaps a buyer or licensee demands one.You may have to hire a professional prototyper, engineer or designer at some point in this process. Our Prototyping Resources includes directories of professionals. Before Hiring a Prototype Maker Discuss your project thoroughly. Make sure that you can communicate well to this person.In advance, agree on fees for the entire project. Prototype makers can charge very high fees by the hour.Tell them exactly what you want to include with as many details as possible. Include your drawings and possibly your virtual prototype files.Make sure anyone you talk to signs a nondisclosure agreement with you before you publicly disclose your invention.

The World Is a Stage, and All Are Merely Players Essay Example

The World Is a Stage, and All Are Merely Players Essay Example The World Is a Stage, and All Are Merely Players Paper The World Is a Stage, and All Are Merely Players Paper Introduction to Theatre Review on As You Like It. All the worlds a stage, And all the men and women merely players. touched my heart when I sat under a tree in dog wood park to see the play which leaves me no doubt that this is As you like it written by the greatest writer in the English language and the worlds pre-eminent dramatist and play write William Shakespeare. They play started at 7. 00pm in the evening and it was directed by Steven W Gwilt. They story as about a girl named Rosalind who was the nephew of a king named Duke Fredrick and a boy named Orlando who was a prince. Rosalind and Orlando fell in love with each other when they meet at a wrestling competition. Their love goes deeper when Rosalind went to forest with her cousin Cilia and a fool guy named Touchstone in search for her banished father in a disguise of a man and named herself as Ganymede and coincidently meets Orlando while Orlando was expressing his love for Rosalind with the nature of the forest and Heather. With the disguise Rosalind appeared in front of Orlando and said that his love for Rosalind isnt enough. To prove his love Orlando had to woo Ganymede. Along with this story there were other love stories also. The fool Touchstone fell in love with Phebe who came along with them and there is the story of the couple Jacques and Audrey. Orlandos elder brother Oliver also fell in love with Cilia. The story ends with a happy wedding in the end. The acting of the main character Rosalind and Orlando was very good. Their ostumes and acting was true to the play. The theatrical condition was small but it was good. The voice of the actors was loud and clear. They gave a very good gesture but at the beginning When Orlando and Oliver heard the name of Rosalind and Cilia and their relation with Duke Fredrick they used high five which was funny but it might not true with the play. And when Rosalind and Cilia decided to go to the forest together they used something similar to high five which was also funny but It might not be true with the play. I think this things wasnt true to the play because the story was about a very long time ago and I dont think high five was used as gesture in those time. The reaction in all the situation was good but the Reaction a Heather wasnt that good. When they entered the forest they made sound of foot behind the scene which was a brilliant idea and their entering and going out of the scene as perfect timing. This showed me that they had good teamwork. The entire presentation of the play was good but the banished father Duke the senior faced his ack to the audience a lot of times. The whole set was very good. But they only showed two set, the forest and the kingdom. And they didnt showed the play of Orlando killing the snake and tiger. They made a second floor on the set which helped the audience see two scenes at a time but going to second floor sometimes make audience that they were climbing mountain where there is no mountain story in the book. The dress up and costumes was perfect. But the dress up of Heather and Duke senior was not that g Because Heather dressed up pretty well but Dukes ress was like a forest guy which might made audience think that Heather is the Duke senior and Duke senior is Heather. The songs were very nice especially the last song. But the music that was played during the intervals was kind of modern type which didnt make the story looked like that it was a story of past times. On my opinion the liked the show very much. Even though some of the dialogues were changed and some of the things made it looked like it wasnt true with the play but it made the play funny and interesting which made me liked it.

Sentence Flow

Sentence Flow Sentence Flow Sentence Flow By Maeve Maddox David writes: I was wondering if you could share your thoughts on how to flow from sentence to sentence. I feel mine can be a bit jumpy as I tell the story. Much is written about â€Å"transition sentences,† that is, sentences that bridge paragraphs, but that’s not what this question is about. This question is about what a writer can do to avoid writing paragraphs that all progress to a beat of dumpty-dumpty-dump. Two things contribute to the flow of sentences within a paragraph: 1. sentence length 2. logical progression of thought In browsing my shelves for examples, I realized that some very popular writers don’t seem to share David’s concern regarding â€Å"jumpy† narration. Here’s a typical paragraph from Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code: Langdon and Sophie stepped into another world. The small room before them looked like a lavish sitting room at a fine hotel. Gone were the metal and rivets, replaced with oriental carpets, dark oak furniture, and cushioned chairs. On the broad desk in the middle of the room, two crystal glasses sat beside an opened bottle of Perrier, its bubbles still fizzing. A pewter pot of coffee steamed beside it. Not a complex sentence in sight. It doesn’t seem to matter if Brown is being reflective or describing action. Most of his sentences are simple or compound. Here and there the reader comes across a noun clause introduced by that, or a an adverb clause introduced by as or as if. Mostly it’s dumpty-dumpty-dump. Yes, Dan Brown is a wildly successful writer and I’m happy for him. His gift, however, is story-telling, not writing style. Here are two examples from a novel by a writer who is both an effective story-teller and a fine stylist. The first is a paragraph in which the narrator is reflecting on his life. He is attending the opera with his employer. I suppose I had once aspired to come here and walk among these beautiful, elegant people as one of their own, but that had been long ago, before all my dreams had been dashed like porcelain on paving stones. Now that I was finally here, I felt all the more like a Welsh collier’s brat, as if I were still twelve, nose running, and starting to outgrow my brother’s cast-offs. I was in the right place at the wrong time. Such was the refrain of my life. Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas The first sentence is long and leisurely, suggesting reflection. It contains no fewer than four clauses and numerous phrases. The second sentence has multiple clauses and phrases, but the last two are simple sentences, brusquely bringing the introspection back to the present moment. The second example is from an action paragraph in which the narrator is about to be murdered. The cross spun in a circle, and when it stopped, a pistol was clapped to my head. It was my own revolver. I recognized the filed-down sight. I closed my eyes and felt surprisingly at ease. I was ready to die now. I gave it all over. At that point, I would have preferred a bullet to slow death. Ibid. The first sentence has three clauses joined by the most commonplace conjunctions and and when. The loosely joined clauses suggest a spinning motion. The next two sentences are simple and staccato. Short sentences take the reader along rapidly. They convey the breathlessness felt by the man in danger. The next sentence has two clauses, but they are short and, again, joined by the nearly invisible and. The next three sentences are simple. With the length of the sentences the writer has conveyed both the fear and resignation felt by the narrator. The writer striving for a pleasantly flowing style will vary sentence length and kind, crafting length to thought. Here are some joining words with which to introduce subordinate clauses. Subordinate conjunctions after, although, as, as if, as long as, as much as, as soon as, as though, because, before, even if, even though, how, if, inasmuch, in order that, lest, now, provided (that),   since, so that, than, that, though, till, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while, Conjunctive adverbs accordingly, also, anyway, again, besides, certainly, consequently, contrarily, finally, further, furthermore, elsewhere, hence, henceforth, however, in contrast, incidentally, indeed, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, namely, nevertheless, next, nonetheless, now, otherwise, rather, similarly, so, subsequently, still, that is, then, thereafter, therefore, thus, undoubtedly, yet Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Good At, Good In, and Good With20 Words Meaning "Being or Existing in the Past"Epidemic vs. Pandemic vs. Endemic

Buddhism And The Reductionist Approach Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 11250 words

Buddhism And The Reductionist Approach - Essay Example In the context of religion, Eliade saw religion as an entity that is autonomous and special, that it cannot be reduced mainly to the spheres of the social, economic and psychological spheres. Based upon his approach to everything that is sacred, Eliade has stated that there’s something special and unique about the religious experience. The religious ritual of Perahera is a ceremonial religious experience. It is one of the biggest Buddhist celebrations of the year and it is a ritual where devotees get together and pray for the rains to fall bountifully so that they will be able to cultivate their crops. It is a ceremony that is no more than a grand parade, wherein the sacred tooth, which is one of the most precious and sacred relics of Buddhism, is removed from the Temple of the Tooth and is paraded through the streets of the various cities of Sri Lanka, along with the Kandy Perahera. Following the Kandy perahera are several other festive events and included among the crowds wh o are following the Kandy perahera will also be jugglers, dancers, and fire breathers. It is an experience that is profoundly moving for most of the devotees who follow in the parade and they express their devotion and religious solidarity by following the Kandy Perahera. Pirith chanting is also an essential part of the Buddhist religious dharma. Music is believed to be closely related to physical health so that the chanting of pirith is believed to have a very soothing effect. Chanting of the pirith is also believed to invoke the blessings of the gods. Thus, it may be noted that there are very strong spiritual and religious connotations associated with both of these religious ceremonies, which are an essential part of Buddhism.  

The Bretton Wood's institutions play a big role in intervening with Essay

The Bretton Wood's institutions play a big role in intervening with internal affairs of developing countries. How successful hav - Essay Example This is through regular monitoring and rigid policies especially on nations with weak institutions. On the other hand, foreign investment for poor nations should be limited to acquiring manageable loans and grants that do not collapse the economies. This will increase excellence both African and Asian nations in terms of economic prosperity. Development entails the well-being of a nation or individual in various forms. This may include economic, social or political development and the way it affects the citizens of such a country. Similarly, development may also encompass the gradual advancement or growth that leads to the progress in other sectors of the nation in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and exports among others. Other fundamental areas include education, health and governance in the context of the provision of services for the benefit of the citizenry. Therefore, the involvement of Bretton Wood’s institutions such as IMF, World Bank and IBRD ensure there is a f inancial regulation and fair dispensation of funds to sponsor developmental projects. Such institutions also participate in the regulation of the systems that oversee the monies dished to nations especially the third world countries (Szirmai 45). On that account, there are several ways, which education development, through funds acquired from Bretton Wood’s institutions has helped the advancement of nations. This is manifested in the increase of public schools and literacy levels where there participation of IMF and World Bank is high. In other words, education is now associated with sustainable development that permits people to gain skills, knowledge and skills. Other benefits include values and attitudes that are meant indicate a sustainable future where everyone thrives. Similarly, educational development has meant that matters of sustainable prosperity are translated in areas of learning and teaching for the purpose of students and society. In the same breadth, Bretton W ood’s institutions have given funds to support the reduction of poverty, biodiversity and sustainable consumption to education an enjoyable venture (Tiwari 167). This is manifested in a nations such India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore where financial aid is boosting the education standards of most schools. In this case, the IMF and World Bank has dispensed funds in the ministries of education to facilitate standards of education. Therefore, this has translated to competencies of imagination, critical thinking and decision making skills in a mutual may for kids. This is also apparent in teachers and tutors who get motivation from governmental and non-governmental ventures. However, when it comes to economic development in terms of assistance from Bretton Wood’s institutions, there are interesting issues. This suggests that economic development entails concerted and sustained actions that are used by policymakers in the promotion of the living standards including eco nomic health. In the same breath, y in failed states mostly found in Africa such as Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo, economic development refers to qualitative and quantitative alterations in the economy (Mbaku 134). Therefore, IMF and World Bank have not been successful in their development ventures because of several reasons. For example, issues such as bad governance policies, corruption and civil wars have hampered the efforts of Bretton

Component Based Software Engineering Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Component Based Software Engineering - Assignment Example This is because these applications are already deployed originally for an environment or naturally embed assumptions based applications. In addition, the documentation procedure is nil, in these types of assumptions therefore if the component is reclaimed again then it is impossible to carry out test to check whether the assumptions are still valid or not. The implanted environmental assumptions are not invalid if they are reused in a different environment. However, this is possible only if the components are utilized in an operational system (Sommerville 1989). Component Composition The process regarding the Component Composition includes the integration of components with each other and particularly if written â€Å"glue code† in order to generate a system or another component. There are different ways to compose components. The methods include sequential composition, hierarchical composition and additive composition (Sommerville 1989). Sequential Composition Suppose a scena rio in which you are composing two components for instance A and B. Now in order to generate a new component such as Sequential components you generate this by combining the 2 existing components. In other words the sequential component is formed by calling the existing components in sequence (Sommerville 1989). This composition can be addressed as a composition of the â€Å"provides interfaces†.... Therefore, these compositions are used along with the components that include program elements or components that provide services. Hierarchical Composition The hierarchical composition occurs if the one component is called directly on the services offered by another component. These services are actually needed by the calling components. Thus, the â€Å"provide interface† that are offered by the called components must need a compatible â€Å"required interface† of the calling component. Here the component A calls directly the component. If the calling procedure is matched by their provided interfaces than no need of extra code is required for these components (Sommerville 1989). On the other hand, if the â€Å"required interface† between the two components such as A and B occurs than some conversion code is needed to overcome the situation. Moreover, the services do not need any â€Å"required interface† therefore, this type of composition is not utilized during the implementation as a web services. Additive Composition The additive composition happens when two or more components are added together in order to generate a new component that combines with each other functionally. The combination of the parallel interfaces includes the â€Å"provide interface† and the â€Å"required interface†. These interfaces are present in components A and B. However, these components are called separately with the help of their external interface of the composed component. In addition, the components A and B neither depend on each other nor they call each other. (Sommerville 1989) This kind of composition is actually utilized along with the other components that are program units or service components. In fact, all

Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Italian Immigrant Families and Aboriginal Families in Canada - Essay Example Original subcultures give a family a sense of belonging and enhance the process of socialization through which parents can instill the values, beliefs, and attitudes of their children. Both Italian and aboriginal families are forced to live in poor urban shanties because of lack of acceptance and poverty levels in Canada. For Italians, the family is a resourceful and dynamic structure that is forced to compromise because of the different demands in the bicultural and bilingual Canadian setting. To adapt the two cultures and survive in Canada, the family is forced to adopt cultural and linguistic aspects and develops a synthetic culture made up of cultural elements from both societies (Colalillo 120). On the other hand, the Aborigine family has refused to let go of their traditional cultural systems to maintain their identity. However, they find it hard to maintain their lifestyle and customs because of aggravating poverty and lack of government support. Most of them were moved to res erve lands during the colonial era and despite the resettlement treaties signed by the government, they have remained refugees in their homeland. In the reserves, the aborigines families are isolated, have insufficient wildlife and natural resources, and government funding for subsistence. Literature indicates Italians immigrant families have experienced alienation that has led to breaking of families, disruptions of family life as laid down by the Italian culture and moved to unfamiliar territories. In addition, sociologists indicate that Italian immigrant families in Canada are forced to live in urban villages and never get an opportunity to be fully integrated into Canadian society (Colalillo, 123). Experts say that literature on assimilation and integration creates conflicts between children and their parents when they criticize parents for being left the ethnic ghetto. The effort to assimilate attempts to remove cultural baggage (Italian culture) and quantifies the gains of the second generation. On the other hand, Over the years, the literature indicates that the aboriginal people have undergone suffering and poverty because of their adamant to get rid of their nomadic cultural system. In Canadian society, aborigines are stereotyped and their relationship with other communities is tainted by mutual mistrust and misunderstanding. Long during the colonization period, the state of Canada tried to eliminate the aboriginal culture through the use of discriminatory laws that were aimed at assimilating them. Because of the state of poverty and government alienation, the aborigines have been forced to move to urban centers and states show that their population is one of the fast growing in the Canadian urban centers. However, because of the lack of basic survival skills, most of them are forced to enlarge in crime to support their families. Moreover, the community's poverty makes it vulnerable to victimization and assault sexually and physically. The statistics report indicates that the bringing families living in urban centers are likely to be poor, with an estimation of more than 80% of their children being raised in poverty-stricken families.

Individual project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual project 2 - Essay Example The elevated productivity was due to the raise in capital, machines, innovation in technology, more experienced and educated labor, enhanced support from the government and favorable political policies. Therefore, Japan’s miraculous economy was in the past as compared to the modern times as it is facing obstacles of low growth and development rate. Although the economic growth also enhanced the standard of living of the Japanese as compared to the Americans (Flath, 2005). The important factor was that the income in Japan is evenly and fairly distributed in relation to United States. Similar to United States economy Japan has also turned out to be a manufacturing nation. Japan has been successful in getting cheap labor from the neighboring Southeast Asian countries. This alteration from a comparatively more service economy has also exhibited the alteration of preferences and tastes of the consumers. Japan is considered to be the eight most densely populated country around the g lobe. The main problem with Japan is that the land of Japan is not large enough to cater the demand of agriculture. Japan despite all its success is not able to produce food for its own population. Japan is devoid of many raw materials necessary for the industry, for example coal, oil, iron ore, aluminum, copper and wood. Japan is relying on other countries for most of its imports. For these natural resources and energy Japan has to import all the following resources. The problem occurs to pay for the imports of Japan, what they do is that in order to pay for the imports Japan has to export some products to other countries. Chief exports comprising Japan is cars and electronic equipment. Trade or exports with neighboring and other countries is very essential for Japan. The variety of the goods of exports has altered over the time, moving from agriculture products to manufactured goods, steel, cars and textiles. As discussed above Japan has become unpopular in the field of agricultur e due to lack of farmland. In current time manufacturing has become highly expensive as the wages have also increased. Another drawback for Japan is that it less competitive in energy for instance, aluminum and petrol and other chemicals, as the domestic energy resources are very few (Gao, 2001). Due to reasons Japan has to import oil from Middle East, as the prices of the oil were increased conversely Japan had to pay more for the oil. Japan has to export its products somewhere else not in the Middle East as they are not in need of those resources. This has increased the interdependency of Japan as they have trade relations with each other to make products available in their own countries. Japan even has to purchase raw materials such as coal and technology based items from Australia. With Australia, Japan has a trade deficit as they are not able to pay as they do not produce finished products. United States and Japan are very essential trading associates. Therefore, there exists a disproportion in their trade. Currently Japan is making use of its trade surpluses with the United States in order to pay for its trade deficit with the OPEC countries. China has many natural resources such as petroleum, iron ore, mercury, tungsten, antimony, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, zinc, uranium and hydro power. It also produces coffee beans and rice. The problem is that the quality of the natural resources is not very superior as compare to the other countries, for this matter many of

Profit Maximisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Profit Maximisation - Essay Example The hotel industry (specifically Hotel Intercontinental) falls under tourism business. Profit maximization, in economics, is the process by which a firm determines the price and output level that returns the greatest profit. The total revenue -- total cost method relies on the fact that profit equals revenue minus cost. Management has to find ways to maximize profit without making the standard quality service offered to the general public suffer. We can give the hotel banquet department clients extra food (they call it side dishes or perks) or we could add some soft love music to the common waiting or guest area in the hotel. While the guests are whiling their time tinkering with their busy business portfolios and entertaining the clients' customers and friends in the hotel rooms or banquet or restaurant or even the bar area. Who knows, the swimming pool may be the most crowded area of the hotel. Profit maximization is the presumed goal of firms. In practice, business people often trade off making as much profit as possible against other goals, such as building business empires, being popular with staff and enjoying life. The growing popularity in recent years of paying bosses with shares in their firm may have reduced the costs that arise because. a) As a well respected hotel developer and operator, BDL operates a number of management contracts, where it delivers a range of services for its clients. The services range from standard hotel operations and management contracts based on a percentage of turnover and profit, to full or partial equity participation, development only agreements and/or pre-opening and launch contracts. COMMENT: BDL will maximize profit for its excellent services will increase the number of customers. The disadvantage of reducing costs to maximizing profit is that we may put a later date the expansion or promotional activities so that costs for the current period will not increase. Seminars and trainings for management level employees may be reset at a later date. Thus quality of employee performance may be affected. The morale of the workers will go down. This in turn will result in reduced quality of goods sold. The customers then will transfer to the competitors because of the poor quality of perform ance. b) Corus hotel placed an ad for housekeeping assistant at Maids Head Hotel, Norwich It offers a smart opportunity at Corus hotels with being responsible for helping to achieve the outstanding success of the housekeeping department. They are looking for a dedicated assistant whose super-efficient housekeeping can ensure their bedrooms, corridors and adjoining areas are kept spotless. Providing an enthusiastic service with above par interpersonal skills that adds to the satisfaction of our guests, applicant will prove a valued member of our team. Being honest and knows time management and able to turn out good ideas into realistic

Individual project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Individual project 2 - Essay Example The elevated productivity was due to the raise in capital, machines, innovation in technology, more experienced and educated labor, enhanced support from the government and favorable political policies. Therefore, Japan’s miraculous economy was in the past as compared to the modern times as it is facing obstacles of low growth and development rate. Although the economic growth also enhanced the standard of living of the Japanese as compared to the Americans (Flath, 2005). The important factor was that the income in Japan is evenly and fairly distributed in relation to United States. Similar to United States economy Japan has also turned out to be a manufacturing nation. Japan has been successful in getting cheap labor from the neighboring Southeast Asian countries. This alteration from a comparatively more service economy has also exhibited the alteration of preferences and tastes of the consumers. Japan is considered to be the eight most densely populated country around the g lobe. The main problem with Japan is that the land of Japan is not large enough to cater the demand of agriculture. Japan despite all its success is not able to produce food for its own population. Japan is devoid of many raw materials necessary for the industry, for example coal, oil, iron ore, aluminum, copper and wood. Japan is relying on other countries for most of its imports. For these natural resources and energy Japan has to import all the following resources. The problem occurs to pay for the imports of Japan, what they do is that in order to pay for the imports Japan has to export some products to other countries. Chief exports comprising Japan is cars and electronic equipment. Trade or exports with neighboring and other countries is very essential for Japan. The variety of the goods of exports has altered over the time, moving from agriculture products to manufactured goods, steel, cars and textiles. As discussed above Japan has become unpopular in the field of agricultur e due to lack of farmland. In current time manufacturing has become highly expensive as the wages have also increased. Another drawback for Japan is that it less competitive in energy for instance, aluminum and petrol and other chemicals, as the domestic energy resources are very few (Gao, 2001). Due to reasons Japan has to import oil from Middle East, as the prices of the oil were increased conversely Japan had to pay more for the oil. Japan has to export its products somewhere else not in the Middle East as they are not in need of those resources. This has increased the interdependency of Japan as they have trade relations with each other to make products available in their own countries. Japan even has to purchase raw materials such as coal and technology based items from Australia. With Australia, Japan has a trade deficit as they are not able to pay as they do not produce finished products. United States and Japan are very essential trading associates. Therefore, there exists a disproportion in their trade. Currently Japan is making use of its trade surpluses with the United States in order to pay for its trade deficit with the OPEC countries. China has many natural resources such as petroleum, iron ore, mercury, tungsten, antimony, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, zinc, uranium and hydro power. It also produces coffee beans and rice. The problem is that the quality of the natural resources is not very superior as compare to the other countries, for this matter many of

How Much Weekly Exercise Is Needed To Achieve Lasting Health Benefits Research Paper

How Much Weekly Exercise Is Needed To Achieve Lasting Health Benefits - Research Paper Example It was found that 10 minutes of exercise per day, two to three times a week may contribute significant impact on physical and mental health. A study was conducted in order to find out if the impact of perceived notion about the benefits of exercise. It was found that a 10-min bout of exercise has substantial impact on mood (Anderson & Brice, 2010). This was found out by having exercise group in the study who jogged for about 10 minutes and then their moods were assessed prior and after of the session. Another study was able to identify which mode and intensity of exercise program is effective (Delecluse, et al., 2004). The study was able to employ older men, 55-75 years old and were assigned to control groups and had undergone exercise two to three times per week within twenty weeks. The result was staggering considering that there were remarkable results in heart rate, work capacity and recovery, waist girth, insulin response, knee exterior strength, body composition, resting metabolic rate and postural control. Based on conducted scientific studies regarding exercise in different field of expertise, the study of Tanji (2000) was able to explore the benefits of exercise for women in the hope that it can relatively contribute to change of one’s lifestyle. It was suggested that an exercise of 30 to 40 minutes per day or everyday per week should be allocated for moderate intensity aerobic exercise. The above results prove that a good quality and regular physical exercise has significant impact on the human body. ... The above results prove that a good quality and regular physical exercise has significant impact on the human body by cultivating sound and healthy mind resulting to good body condition. The other impacts of exercise However, it is not only on maintaining the healthy physical condition of the body exercise has a significant contribution. It also shows significant benefits to healing and prevention of human illnesses and other related health problems. Using an evidence-based approach, Diehl & Choi (2008) found that the lack of regular physical exercise, which in the case of the United States around 50% of the total population was found not to have it, results to significant health problems such as on mental health, disease prevention and productivity. A scientific investigation using randomized trial approach was conducted in New Zealand to find out if exercise has relevant impact on smoking-cessation outcome (Maddison et al., 2010). Home and community-based exercise were found to hav e significant contribution to smoking cessation. In this study, exercise is particularly determined to contribute to a healthy lifestyle. There was a study conducted employing postpartum-depressed women as respondents (Dritsa et al., 2009). The study was in line with finding the effect of home-based exercise on the reductions in their physical and mental fatigue. This study was part of finding significant mediators for changes in physical fatigue. The result suggests that exercise is a significant activity to reduce physical fatigue especially among postpartum depressed women. Another study was able to determine other significant impact of exercise on the human physical health (Perez, 2008). The study was able to employ significant information from various studies showing

Great Gatsby Research Essay Essay Example for Free

Great Gatsby Research Essay Essay The majority of what Fitzgerald writes in his stories are about the love for rich girls. In real life he has personally experienced falling for a wealthy girl, Zelda. In the book, The Great Gatsby, he writes about a boy who isn’t rich that is in love with a girl named daisy, who is rich like Zelda. Gatsby later lost his love, Daisy, when he went to war, for Fitzgerald, he was rejected by Ginevra King’s father who said â€Å"poor boys don’t marry wealthy girls,† which was said by Daisy in the book. He was asking for her hand in marriage. Then Fitzgerald got denied by Zelda Sayre. Daisy, the women jay Gatsby has been basing on his whole life on, is similar to Zelda Sayre who would not marry him at first since he was unsuccessful Fitzgerald lived in Great Neck, Long Island, in which his first child was born. To Zelda, Fitzgerald was seen poor but he was really upper middle class, but Zelda’s Standards were too high, like Daisy. Gatsby and Fitzgerald both met vital women to their lives at dances and both while they were stationed at army camps They both had highly society connections and down falls such as Gatsby getting murdered in the pool by George Wilson, for love. Fitzgerald died of alcohol use when he was trying to become rich again. Gatsby made money by bootlegging while Fitzgerald made money by writing. Fitzgerald Scott was self-destructive because he would drink to much, due to being an alcoholic. He was very social but then later on in his life he became very rude and started to offend people, due to his alcoholism. Gatsby was always trying to make himself better, improving him self. He was very self-disciplined and an outsider. They were both faithful and dedicated to the ladies the fell in love with. F. Scott’s wife, Zelda, was sent to a refuge in the last few years of her life. He made sure to never allow him or their daughter that they had together for get about her. Being the dedicated man he was, he would go see her to visit at the asylum. In the book, many of the characters represents the people that Fitzgerald met in his life, including his own character that represents him. To add on to that, F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in Great Neck, Long Island after his first child was born. At the time, the Great Neck was home to many of the wealthiest people on Long Island. A scholar has proven that there are many similarities between the Great Neck and the West Egg. In the movie version, Daisy tells Gatsby that Rich girls dont marry poor boys. This line was taken straight out of Fitzgeralds life. The father of his first love, a young woman by the name of Ginevra King, supposedly told him that after Fitzgerald asked for Ginevras hand in marriage. There are many other similarities between F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jay Gatz (Gatsby)- keep your eyes out for them! F. Scott and Gatsby were born in a middle class family. Both of their fathers started out very wealthy until they both failed with their business when the crashed. They both came from an underprivileged family, in many cases, inclined a lot on both of their behaviors and goals. For school, both Gatsby and F. Scott were drop-outs from Universities and joined the army in 1917. There are a bunch of similarities between the two. The Author of the Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald Scott, based this story one his own life in almost every scene in the book.

Economic recovery program of Ghana

Economic recovery program of Ghana CHAPTER ONE 1.0 Introduction This chapter attempts to provide an overview on the problem statement of the entire research work, objectives of the study, relevance of the study, methodology applied as the research unfolds and the organization of the study. 1.1 Background Ghana is one of the fast emerging developing countries in West Africa with twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. With well endowed natural resources, Ghana still relies heavily on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, cocoa and timber are the major sources of foreign exchange. The introduction of Ghanas Economic Recovery Program (ERP) in 1983 to recover the initially very weak private sector participation did improve consistently but although still levels were modest during 1987-91. Over the past years Ghana has witnessed dynamic changes in its private Sector. The number of banks has increased from 9 in 1989 to 21 at May 2006 (www.bog.gov.gh). These banks serve a prominent role as corporate entities that provide investment capital in the economy to support employment opportunities, human resources development and contribute towards national and community development programmes (Aryeetey, E. Gockel, F. 1990). They primarily furnish loans to individuals and companies to finance various projects which lead to economic and private sector development. Brownbridge, M., Gockel, A.F. (1997) are also of the view that these financial institutions support savings and investment in the economy, which plays a major role in the overall development in terms of increasing productivity of resources in the economy. They further highlighted that this role of banks in the Ghanaian economy is crucial, in that shortcomings in the industry directly affect the trend of economic growth. In recent times Ghana has discovered crude oil, which is expected to boost the economic growth by bigger margins. Ghana has a unique welcoming attitude towards foreign investors; the long political stability of the country has attracted a lot of business investors to establish businesses in the country. The rate of foreign investors has not reduced as better prospects in doing business in Ghana are yielded in the long-run. The political state of the country has also been very peaceful with a vibrant atmosphere to establish businesses. During the fifth banking awards ceremony in Accra, Dr. Paul Acquah (Governor of Bank of Ghana) revealed that the banking industry in Ghana has become highly competitive due to the increased sophistication of customer needs coupled with tremendous global competition. He further stated that these reasons over the years have been the driving force for banks, in particular private owned banks, to focus on increasing shareholders value, delivering superior services aimed at achieving over all customer satisfaction and value. The concept of competition has introduced an overwhelming challenge among organisations worldwide. Most organisations are forced to compete by promptly responding to changes in national and world economies, technological changes, new business environments, cultural diversity and deregulation in emerging capital markets to improve overall organisational performance. Privately owned businesses in Ghana are constantly entwined in this fierce battle of global competition and the pressing need to sustain its existence in the growing rate of change in its environment. Recent trends in the Ghanaian economy have revealed that keen competition in the business sector has been as a result of an open market which promotes private sector participation. Though most private owned organisations have managed to survived, a considerable number of them do fail due to reasons not limited to economical and financial factors. A study conducted by Dun and Bradstreet (cited by Gaughan Patrick A. 1999, pp. 432) reveals that there are three most common factors that cause business failure such as economic, financial and experience factors (refer to Table 1). In some developing countries market forces are completely eliminated as a result of controls imposed by the ruling governments. These controls create adverse effects on the economy such as large fiscal deficits coupled with weak macroeconomic management leading to high inflation in the economy. The consequences are generally felt by banks and other non-banking institutions, in that, loans borrowed by individuals or organisations are not paid back due to economic hardship (Brownbridge M., Gockel A.F., 1997). According to Pfeffer J. (1994; p. 6), People and how organisations manage them are becoming more important because many other sources of competitive success are less powerful than they once were. He emphasises the fact that in recent times most organisations rely extensively on the traditional sources of competitive success such as product and process technology, regulated markets, access to capital resources, and economies of scale which provide an insignificant competitive influence as compared to the past. He further argues that organisational culture and potential employee contributions derived from managing employees in an organisation are crucial as compared to the traditional sources of competitive success. Employees have been referred to as assets to a firm or an organisation when they possess the right skills needed to work effectively and efficiently (Odiorne G. S, 1984). However, these employees may possess diverse capabilities that lead to various potential contributions to an organisation because of previous education, experience, or individual qualities. In view of the fact that employees contribution to the organisation determines extensively competitive success, their individual skills are considered vital (Pfeffer J. 1994). 1.2 Problem Statement The gradual transformation of Ghana has had a lot of positive feedback from other nations, but will this transformation termed economic growth survive the long-term or would it collapse somewhere in the future? What are the main strengths and weaknesses of the private sector? Will the private sector support sustainable development? Has Ghanas initiative to increase private sector participation been successful? What measures has Ghana taken liberalize its economy to encourage private sector participation? Recent discovery of crude oil (black gold) in Ghana has brought higher hopes to accelerating the countries development goals into reality. This is what the recent ex-president of Ghana, President John Kufuor had to say in an African programme with the BBCs Focus Were going to really zoom, accelerate, and if everything works, which I pray will happen positively, you come back in five years, and youll see that Ghana truly is the African tiger, in economic terms for development. Will this oil discovery further attract new entrants into the financial sector and in the affirmative will this promote a competitive private sector environment? 1.3 Objectives of the Study The main objective of this thesis is to show the role of the private sector in contributing to business competitiveness and economic growth. The research limits its focus on the inflow of private non-financial and financial institutions in the Ghanaian economy as a result of the introduction of Financial Sector Adjustment Programme (FINSAP) in Ghana. The economy over the years has witnessed an increase in private sector participation, which has significantly promoted business competitiveness and contributed to a vibrant economy at large. Table 2: SMART Objective of the Study Strategic Operation Tactical Specific Evaluate the role of the private sector (Privately owned financial institution) contributing to business competitiveness and economic growth. Present a platform for private sector participation in economic development. Provide a primary evaluation for developers and investors who aspire to do business in Ghana. Measurable To fall within the framework of the private sector and factors leading to business competitiveness and economic growth. Increase real GDP. Impact of the private sector on economic growth. Note government policies that would prevent adverse effects on critical sectors of the economy. Attainable To recommend effective and sustainable business development strategy and policies that will enhance more participation in the private sector. Increase economic growth and improve effective and efficient business plans. Embark on comprehensive business competitiveness and productive performance within the various business sectors. Realistic The research will look extensively into government development goals as well as the private sectors role in development. Access to economic reports surveys from IMF. Ghana Government reports on development projects. The IMF monitors on a yearly basis the economic situation in Ghana. Time-Limited To complete the thesis within two months. This thesis expects to propose recommendation based on the information available at the time of writing. The recommendations and proposals are expected to be considered and if applicable implemented by other developing countries as well. Source: Self-prepared. Specifically, the thesis critically focuses on the following: The role of the private sector (privately owned financial institutions) contributing to economic growth in Ghana. To investigate the driving forces of Ghanas emerging markets. The role of the government promoting the private sector. The challenges and constraints facing the private sector. To evaluate the strategies being employed by Ghana in the private sector and its impact on the economy. 1.4 Significance of the Study The study will be beneficial in many respects: To help identify the success and bottlenecks of the significant economic contributions from private sector with regards to its contribution to economic growth business competiveness. It also reviews the strengths of the financial sector to support expansion of the private sector development and more importantly availability of credit facilities to promote businesses. It will help investors to get a fair idea of business establishment opportunities. To help formulate strategies to help implement better policies and promotions for the private sector development. 1.5 Methodology This study uses secondary data and literature to evaluate the topic. It also uses SWOT analysis to examine the strategic position of Ghana in improving its economic and business areas. The research will employ the use of CAMEL approach as the overall framework to evaluate the financial strength and stability of the Banking Industry in Ghana, where; C Capital adequacy, A Asset quality, M Management capability, E Quality and level of earnings, L Adequacy of liquidity 1.6 Organisation of the study The paper is divided into five chapters. Chapter one presents the introduction, problem statement, objectives of the study, significance of the study, methodology and the organisation of the study. Chapter two gives an overview of the Ghanaian financial sector as well as reasons that led to the financial sector reforms. Chapter three gives an overview of the Ghanaian private sector. Chapter four uses CAMEL approach to analyse 4 major privately owned financial institutions. The final chapter looks at the overall findings, conclusions and recommendations. CHAPTER TWO 2.0 Overview of the Ghanaian economy This chapter provides an overview of the Ghanaian economy and the Ghanaian Financial System. The chapter also looks at reasons that led to the introduction of the financial sector reforms, a SWOT analysis of financial sector adjustment program (FINSAP I II). Ghana is one of the developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa that introduced structural and economic reforms to address its extensive macroeconomic shortcomings, reduce poverty and to liberalize the financial sector. The broad money/GDP ratio fell significantly to 12.5% in 1983 as compared to 29% in 1976, whiles currency/M2 ratio also decreased from 35% in 1970 to 50% in 1983. Bank deposits decreased from 19.5% of GDP in 1977 to 7.4% of GDP in 1984 because there was lack of confidence in the banking industry (Brownbridge, M., Gockel, A. F. 1997). During the 1980s the Ghanaian economy was hit by the most devastating economic crisis (www.bog.gov.gh). This gave rise to numerous extensive economic drawbacks in the Ghanaian economy. Leechor Chad reveals in an article published by the World Bank the following economic crisis that plagued the Ghanaian economy between the years 1982 to 1983: The countrys power systems, communication, postal and railway services ceased to function properly and the whole country was in a state of chaos. Tax collection had declined to about 5% to GDP, investment dropped drastically beyond the level required to maintain capital stock. Real income per capita which was continuously diminishing for a decade was a third below the level reached in the early 70s as at 1983. Foreign exchange reserves deteriorated considerably. The Ghanaian economy was heavily controlled by the government in terms of setting unrealistic interest rates and sectoral credit ceilings; banks were forced to focus on lending to priority sectors (agriculture, export and manufacturing) regardless of the borrowers performance in terms of profitability and their capability to payback the loan. The economy was regulated to foreign investments and the strong existence of strict capital flow regulations (The Corporate Guardian, July-September 2006). Governments heavy intervention in the financial system set the stage for economic shortcomings a few such as lack of competition, high incidence of inefficiency, hardship and the escalating rate of non-performing loans (Leith, C. J., Sderling, L. 2000). Since the late 1980s, the government of Ghana continued to implement financial sector reforms as an integral part of its ongoing Economic Recovery Program (ERP) (Brownbridge, M., Gockel, A. F. 1997). Ghanas enthusiasm to initiate the ERP with close collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the year 1983-85 was to liberalise the financial sector and establish an open market-based economy by eliminating price ceilings, reducing the influx of foreign imports, diversifying viable sectors of the economy and stabilizing fiscal deficit. Ghana in 1984 launched the Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) with the primary aim of reducing its involvement in the economy and allowing the free interaction of demand and supply (The Corporate Guardian, July-September 2006). However, during the period 1983-88 the performance of the banking industry deteriorated with high levels of non-performing assets (NPAs) and inefficient deposit mobilization which made most public banks insolve nt (Leith, C. J., Sderling, L. 2000). The government launched the first phase of the Financial Sector Adjustment Program (FINSAP) in 1988. This was to fully deregulate as well as liberalize the financial sector and improve resource allocation within the various sectors of the economy (www.oecd.org). Since 1983, Ghana has attached great importance to its divestiture initiative program. About 200 stated-owned enterprises (SOEs) were being considered for diversification under governments ongoing privatization initiative. At the end of the last two years, government still owned 35 enterprises valued at more than 60% of GDP in 2003 (IMF Survey, 2005). Governments expenditure during 1986-1991 increased and this called for policy reforms to enable government to meet its high spending. Government depended on the tax system to support its high level of spending. The Parliament of Ghana in 1993 increased tax on petroleum. However, the tax system could not supplement its GDP share to match the expenditure. Consequently this brought about deficit financing. Government resorted to other forms of financing its expenditure such as extensive borrowing from the Central Bank (issuing new notes), public and foreign borrowing, and privatization of sate-owned enterprises (Leith, C. J., Sderling, L. 2000). Over the years, Ghana has witnessed a massive transformation in its economy as a result of continuous implementation of financial sector reforms to deregulate the economy and stimulate savings, investment and growth. The Central Bank is constantly implementing policies adopted under FINSAP to ensure the entrants of privately owned financial institutions, free interest rates, stabilize the cedi against foreign currencies, encourage the flow of foreign investment and allow easier access to credits (www.bog.gov.gh). The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) was set up in 1989 as a private company limited under the Company code. The Stock Exchange act of 1971 (Act 384) allowed it to function as an authorized Stock Exchange. The Securities Industry Law PNDCL 333 (1993) as amended bestowed regulatory rights to the Security Regulatory Commission (SRC) with its main function to register, protect, assist and supervise all stakeholders in the securities market. In April 1994 the Ghana Stock Exchanges status became a public company limited (www.gse.co.gh). At the end of 2003, listed companies equity increased to 26 as compared to 22 in 2002 (www.gipc.org.gh). The performance of the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) has improved tremendously. All-share Index increased by 91.3% in 2005 as compared to 154.7% in 2003 (ISSER 2005). Flow of foreign investment increased from $110.0 million in 2003 to $139.3 million in 2004. In 2004 the cedi depreciated by only 2.2% against the US dollar, 10.7% against the Euro and 12.1% against the pound sterling. There was quite an improvement in the value of the cedi as compared to the previous year (2003) when the cedi depreciated by 22.5% against the Euro and 13.0% against the pound sterling. Average inflation fell from 26.7% in 2003 to 12.6% as at December 2004 (ISSER 2005). Ghana is the second largest producer and exporter of cocoa; the agriculture sector accounts for about 50% of GDP and is considered the backbone of economic development (www.ghanaweb.com). Real GDP growth in 2004 was 5.8% (www.gipc.gh). The tremendous performance of the Agricultural sector has supported Ghanas remarkable rate of economic growth over the years. The Agricultural sector contributes significantly to GDP growth. In 1990 GDP increased by only 3.3%, this was due to the negative 2% growth rate in the Agricultural sector that year. The year 1991 witnessed a GDP growth rate for the Agricultural sector by 5.8% which consequently increased the whole Ghanaian economy GDP by 5.3% in that year. The sector has also contributed immensely to the countrys foreign exchange earnings; 38.5% in 1999, 35.4% in 2000, 33.9% in 2001, 35.5% in 2002. (www.fao.org/es/esa). Other main exports are gold, timber, bauxite, manganese ore and diamond (BOG Quarterly Economic Bulletin, April June 2005). The performance of the agriculture sector over the years has immensely improved with growth rate of 7.5% in 2004 as compared to 6.1% in 2003. The production of cocoa for export contributed 46.7% during the year 2004, a significant portion of over all growth (ISSER 2005). The crops and livestock contribution increased from 2.3% in 2003 to 5.4% in 2004, the largest contribution to the agricultural sectors GDP. The forestry and logging sub-sectors increased by 6.1% in 2003, but dropped with a growth rate of 5.8% in 2004. (www.gipc.org.gh).The elimination of maximum lending rates and minimum time deposit rates succeeded to some extent in the liberalization of interest rates in 1987. Direct controls in the form of credit ceilings were also abolished. During the 1990s banks were at liberty to price deposits and loans and to distribute loans accordingly; however the Bank of Ghanas high reserve requirement limited the funds available for allocation (Brownbridge M. Gockel A. F 1997). These h igh reserve requirements prevented banks from developing their loan portfolios and consequently, most banks preferred to invest in attractive and somewhat risk-free government securities (strategis.ic.gc.ca) Interest rate dropped steadily owing to the Monetary Policy Committee (set up by the Bank of Ghana in 2004) decreasing prime rate from 21.5% in 2003 to 18.5% in 2004. Consequently, the commercial banks base rate has decreased from 29% to 25.4%. Interest rate for 91-Treasury bill fell from 18.71% early part of the year to 17.08% at the end of 2004. Interest rates for the 182-Day Treasury bill dropped from 19.78% during the early part of the year to 17.85% at the end of 2004. Inter-Bank interest rate also fell from 17.12% in January to 16.23% at the close of the year 2004 (www.gipc.org.gh) The Banks spread (21.3%) is still too high as compared to the other African countries (see table 3*). The banking industry has been structured in a way that banks are able to adjust their interest rates according to policy rates. Banks maintain a high spread to ensure that their profits are not significantly influenced by their interest margins (BOG financial stability report 2004). However, according to the BOG financial stability report 2006 the emergence of new banks will lead to an efficient financial sector which is expected to reduce the pressure on lending spread due to the fact that banks will continuously try to gain market share by competing for customers. Table 3: Selected Commercial Bank Interest Rates, 2000 and 2004 Deposit Rate Lending Rate Spread 2000 2004 2000 2004 2000 2004 Gabon 5.0 5.0 22.0 18.0 17.0 13.0 Ghana 16.8 7.5 47.0 28.8 30.2 21.3* Kenya 8.1 2.4 22.3 12.5 14.2 10.1 Mauritius 9.6 8.2 20.8 21.0 11.2 12.8 Mozambique 9.7 9.9 19.0 19.2 9.3 9.3 Nigeria 11.7 13.7 21.3 19.2 9.6 5.5 Tanzania 7.4 4.2 21.6 13.9 14.2 9.7 Uganda 9.8 7.7 22.9 20.6 13.1 12.9 Zambia 20.2 11.5 38.8 30.7 18.6 19.2 Source : International Financial Statistics, IMF Fiscal and Monetary Policy The financial policies implemented by monetary authorities in Ghana before the implementation of FINSAP were direct government controls on all sectors of the economy. Government excessive control in the economy by setting price and interest ceilings coupled with weak macroeconomic problems lead to a high level of inflation (Ziorklui, S. Q. 2001). Ghanas fiscal policy primarily aims at decreasing domestic debt, ensuring economic stability, cutting down on the increasing level of interest payments to achieve the required real interest rates. Consequently, the Bank of Ghana has adopted numerous strategies to address fiscal deficit and governments borrowing (www.gipc.org). Budget deficit was 0.55% of GDP during the second quarter of the year 2005 as compared to 1.18% of GDP during the last quarter of 2004. This showed significant decrease in the overall budget balance (Bank of Ghana Quarterly economic bulletin, April-June 2005). The Bank of Ghana in 2004 set up the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to mainly focus on formulating effective monetary policies, making available statistical data and providing necessary support in terms of advise for monetary policy formulation (www.bog.gov.gh). The MPC seeks to control inflation, stabilize price and exchange market, manage external debt and develop the capital market (www.gipc.org.gh). 2.1 The Ghanaian Financial System in Brief Ghanas banking sector has evolved over the years. There are 23 major banks (refer to table 7) operating in the banking sector in Ghana as at 2006. The Ghanaian banking sector is made up of 19 universal banks, 2 Development Banks, 2 Commercial banks including Apex Bank and 121 Rural Banks (www.bog.gov.gh). The introduction of universal banking in Ghana is overwhelmingly changing the way banks function in the economy. Unfortunately, not all banks operating in Ghana are eligible to be universal banks. To be eligible for banks to operate as universal banks they are expected to have at least 70 billion as shareholders capital (www.agighana.org). According to the Bank of Ghana universal banking substitutes the famous three-pillar banking model, namely development, merchant and commercial. Table 4: List of Major Banks in Ghana 2006 INITIALS BANK DATE OF ESTABLISHMENT NATURE OF BUSINESS ABL Amalgamated Bank 2000 Universal Bank ADB Agricultural Development Bank 1965 Development Bank BBG Barclays Bank Ghana 1918 Universal Bank CAL CAL Merchant Bank 1991 Universal Bank EBG Ecobank Ghana Limited 1990 Universal Bank FAMBL First Atlantic Bank 1995 Universal Bank FBL Fidelity Bank Limited 2006 Universal Bank GCB Ghana Commercial Bank 1952 Universal Bank GTB Guaranty Trust Bank 2006 Universal Bank HFC HFC Bank Limited 2002 Universal Bank ICB International Commercial Bank 1996 Universal Bank INTER Intercontinental Bank Plc 2006 Universal Bank MAB Metropolitan Allied Bank 1995 Commercial Bank MBG Merchant Bank Ghana Limited 1972 Universal Bank NIB National Investment Bank 1963 Development Bank PBL Prudential Bank Limited 1997 Commercial Bank SBL Stabic Bank Ghana Limited 2000 Universal Bank SCB Standard Chartered Bank 1896 Universal Bank SG-SSB SG-SSB Bank Limited 1976 Universal Bank TTB The Trust Bank 1994 Universal Bank UBA United Bank for Africa 2005 Universal Bank UNI Unibank Ghana Limited 1999 Universal Bank Zenith Zenith Bank 2005 Universal Bank Source:http://www.bog.gov.gh/privatecontent/File/BankingSupervision/Licensed%20Banks%20%20Addresses%20November%202008(1).pdf Until 1957 the West African Currency Board (WACB) acted as the only board under the Colonial regime conferred with the authority to exchange sterling to Gold Coast pound. Government of the then Gold Coast declared its intention to issue its own currency after independence. Politicians and economists were of the strong opinion that with the establishment of a Central Bank, Ghanas independence will have a significant meaning in political history. In view of this, preparations started which ended up in the establishment of the Bank of Ghana on the 4th of March 1957 under the Bank of Ghana Ordinance (No.34) of 1957 passed by the British Parliament. The whole idea for the establishment of a Central Bank was to meet the financial needs of vast indigenous sectors of the economy as well as the new independent Ghana government. After the establishment of Bank of Ghana (replaced WACB) as the central bank, the 1957 ordinance empowered the bank to primarily assume the following role in Ghana when it first begun formal operations on 1st August 1957 (www.bog.gov.gh): Printing out and redeeming bank notes and coins. Lender of last resort for banks in Ghana. Using fiscal and monetary policies to regulate money supply and maintaining monetary stability. Advise the government and be the main source to finance to the government of Ghana. Supervise and regulate all banks in Ghana. The legal and regulatory frameworks in which financial intermediaries operate in Ghana are as follows (www.bog.gov.gh): Bank of Ghana Act 2002, Act 612 Banking Act, 2004 (Act 673) Financial Institutions (Non-Bank) Law 1993, PNDC Law 328 Companies Code Act 179, 1963 Bank of Ghana Notices /Directives / Circulars / Regulations Non-Banking Financial Sector Ghana has achieved significant success in the economy particularly in the non-banking sector as a result of initiating the structural adjustment program, liberalizing the economy and by passing the Banking law in 1989 and the Non-bank financial law in 1993. These initiatives embarked by the government of Ghana have paved way for new entrants in the private sector and also transformed the existing financial institutions to diversify into the financial system. Consequently, there has been a rapid growth of Non-Bank Financial Institutes (NBFIs) with the prime aim of providing financial services to potential target groups outside the banking system (Ziorklui, S. Q. 2001). According to the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre the financial system in Ghana includes the following licensed non-Bank Financial Institutions: Insurance companies Stock exchange Building Society Mortgage Finance Co. Venture Capital Funding Financing Trust Company Credit unions Discount houses Financial houses Leasing companies Savings and loans associations 2.2 Objectives of Financial Sector Adjustment Program (FINSAP) According to Ziorklui S. Q. (2001), FINSAP was introduced and implemented in two phases. He further outlines the main objectives in both phases of the implementation. The first phase was implemented in 1988 with its main objectives as follows; FINSAP I Embark on restructuring to address financially distressed banks. Mobilize savings and strive to improve efficiency in the allocation of credit. Establish an effective regulatory and supervision system to monitor and improve the banking sector. Improve and strengthen the money and capital markets. To establish a non- performing assets recovery trust. The second phase of FINSAP was implemented in 1990 with the following objectives; FINSAP II Promote foreign investment and increase private participation in the banking sector in Ghana. Continue the implementation of policies adopted under the first phase of the financial sector adjustment program (FINSAP 1) to restructure the financial sector. Better manage the collection of non-performing loans by Non-Performing Assets Recovery Trust (NPART). Promote and develop non-Bank financial Institutions (NBFIs) to be more effective and efficient in savings mobilization. 2.3 SWOT Analysis Financial Sector Adjustment Program (FINSAP) This section seeks to determine whether the main objectives under the implementation of the financial sector reforms (FINSAP) are attainab

The Role of the Teacher in Education :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays Education Essays

Schools are one of the first places where kids' behavior and future educational success is shaped. Teachers are carriers of either positive or negative behavior toward students. The reason why the first years of school are so critical is because kids learn the base of their educational life. I believe that teachers must love their career in order for them to pass enthusiasm, to assists, and to provide a warm environment to the students. In my opinion teachers are the second mothers for the students because students spend a lot of time with their teachers. At the same time. I believe a real teacher becomes through many years of training and experiences in the field. The same way, mothers are not born being great mothers but as their experiences with their kids expands they become experts on the field. We know that mothers look the best for their kids and one of their goals is to raise their kids so they can become professionals and pioneers for the society. Some of the mother's role t oward kids is to give them care, love, respect, lead, instruct and to try to form a safe and pleasant environment at their homes. Are these attitudes of the mothers toward their kids related to what the role of the teacher should be with the students in the classroom? If not, what should be the role of the teachers then? I believe that a teacher is someone who becomes through many years of training and experiences in the field. I have not found a teacher who is an expert the first day of their profession. I believe that is urgent for everyone who is a teacher or is planning to become one to get prepare in the field the best they can. All teachers who get prepare will know how to set up rules in the classroom. Those kind of teachers will probably have less problems in their classroom because they will be able to control the classroom. There are all types of teachers some are better than others. Through my life I had some professors who were well prepared and some who were not. I had some teachers who just came into the class and stared teaching. They did not get involve with the students. I rarely talked to them. Those teachers did not showed any concern about what the students were feeling. The Role of the Teacher in Education :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays Education Essays Schools are one of the first places where kids' behavior and future educational success is shaped. Teachers are carriers of either positive or negative behavior toward students. The reason why the first years of school are so critical is because kids learn the base of their educational life. I believe that teachers must love their career in order for them to pass enthusiasm, to assists, and to provide a warm environment to the students. In my opinion teachers are the second mothers for the students because students spend a lot of time with their teachers. At the same time. I believe a real teacher becomes through many years of training and experiences in the field. The same way, mothers are not born being great mothers but as their experiences with their kids expands they become experts on the field. We know that mothers look the best for their kids and one of their goals is to raise their kids so they can become professionals and pioneers for the society. Some of the mother's role t oward kids is to give them care, love, respect, lead, instruct and to try to form a safe and pleasant environment at their homes. Are these attitudes of the mothers toward their kids related to what the role of the teacher should be with the students in the classroom? If not, what should be the role of the teachers then? I believe that a teacher is someone who becomes through many years of training and experiences in the field. I have not found a teacher who is an expert the first day of their profession. I believe that is urgent for everyone who is a teacher or is planning to become one to get prepare in the field the best they can. All teachers who get prepare will know how to set up rules in the classroom. Those kind of teachers will probably have less problems in their classroom because they will be able to control the classroom. There are all types of teachers some are better than others. Through my life I had some professors who were well prepared and some who were not. I had some teachers who just came into the class and stared teaching. They did not get involve with the students. I rarely talked to them. Those teachers did not showed any concern about what the students were feeling.

History and Work of Ikko Tanaka Essay

Looking over the work of Henryk Tomaszawski I found his work to be uniquely his own in the way that each design is composed. I also felt he’s done a fine job in expressing his culture throughout his work. I’d have to compare his art form and technique to Japanese graphic designer Shigeo Fukudo. In comparing their poster works they both display their own unique style but the form, colors, and in some posters ideas are much alike. In both artists work you see their individual cultures expressed. In Tomaszawski work there’s a constant use of rich colors of purples, yellow, reds, and greens. He also uses black to emphasize his designs. Like bold lettering in heavy stroke lines. His use of these heavy stokes resembles to Japanese calligraphy. Many of his posters are very impacting but in an animated and lively way that pulls the viewer in. His work presents much softer and curvier stroke than that of Fuduka, but much of their elements are similar. The feeling is quite the same with Shigeo Fukuda. He’s also expresses his culture throughout his work. In his more recent work there’s a modern Japanese feel to it. Much of his work displays the vivid red color like that from Japan’s flag. He also fuses heavy strokes of black into most of his work. In some of his older works you see these heavy yet softer strokes but recent work shows harder more uniformed lines. Fukuda’s work is very simplistic with an animated twist. Throughout his work you see a constant use of bright colors. I think Tomaszawski and Fuduka express a sense of illusion in their work. They do this excellent job of getting their points across in a way that’s almost fantasy like. Even in their more serious nationalistic posters both chose to represent them in a impacting way that still expressed a bit of animation. Henryk Tomaszawski â€Å"Manekiny Opera Poster† (1985) Shigeo Fukuda â€Å"In Poland† (1995) In both posters you can see the elements are very similar but each artist has a distinguished way of expressing his style. I found throughout many of their posters they both have found a usage for limbs that’s quite interesting. Here is these poster Tomaszawski used more whimsical strokes to draw a female’s leg. His poster looks very much like other Polish art I have seen. While Fuduka’s poster is quite similar he chose harder more serious modern style. Here he has intertwined a male and female leg while giving the illusion of a necktie flying.

Morality Defined Essay

Legendary philosopher, Socrates once said, â€Å"A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.† With this statement, Socrates argues that there are few people in this world who possess an absolute morality within themselves whereas most others have a relative morality which they stand by. Absolute morality is the belief that something is always right or always wrong while relative morality is the belief that something is right or wrong depending on the circumstances. The crucial difference between absolute and relative morality lies in the viewpoints of the people who possess each one. However, Socrates’ belief is that relative morality is nothing more than a mere illusion because it really has no guidelines that it stands behind; it is solely based on opinion. In his mind, it should not even be considered a morality. In essence, Socrates is arguing that you must believe in something to its extreme or not at all; there is no in-between. Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road, tells the riveting story of a father and son’s survival in a post-apocalyptic world full of thieves and cannibals. The man and the boy travel the United States in search of food and shelter, while also attempting to flee from danger and the threat of death. All through the story, they consistently struggle with issues concerning their own morality, character, and conscience. They are forced to make life altering-decisions that ultimately define who they are as people. Throughout the novel The Road, McCarthy uses nature symbolism and apocalyptic imagery to criticize that many people’s ethics dissipate and their immorality consequently rises when they are immersed in an evil world. The desolate world that the boy, man, and others have to live in results in some people going to the extremes to survive. As the boy and man journey on the road, they encounter very few people along the way. However, one day, the man realizes there are people following him and the boy, so they hide out. Three men and a pregnant woman pass them on the road. A few minutes later they are met with a shocking sight, â€Å"Oh Papa, he said. He turned and looked again. What the boy had seen was a charred human infant headless and gutted and blackening on the spit. He bent and picked the boy up and started for the road with him, holding him close. I’m sorry, he whispered. I’m sorry† (McCarthy 198). The author deliberately describes the appearance of the burning baby using words that convey graphic imagery such as, â€Å"charred, human, infant, headless, gutted, and blackening,† eliciting a repulsive feeling and characterizing the ugliness of evil in the world. The sight traumatizes the boy evidenced when he gasps, â€Å"Oh, Papa,† and turns â€Å"and looked again [at the burning baby].† The man feels regretful for letting the boy experience such a horrendous sight and apologizes as he takes the boy back to the road. This gruesome imagery reveals the absolute social breakdown in humanity and society. The morality of the people in this apocalyptic world has completely faded because there are no governing rules or laws to keep them in line. This results in total chaos and turmoil as seen when the weakest and most helpless of human beings – an infant – is preyed upon by a group of insane man-eaters. The cannibals clearly symbolize the end of civilization and this passage represents the extremes of violence, hunger, and cruelty within the apocalyptic world. Every person in the story seems to be judged by the man and boy as either good and moral or evil and immoral. In his view, the man strongly believes he and the boy are moral and good because, as he tells the boy, â€Å"we’re carrying the fire† (McCarthy 83). This â€Å"fire† is symbolic of hope and human perseverance, despite the wicked world they are living in. The man assures the boy that they are the â€Å"good guys† who â€Å"carry the fire† within themselves to never stop trying to survive in the horrible world even amongst â€Å"bad guys† who kill and even cannibalize people in order to survive. As the story unfolds, the boy and the man encounter many potential threats to their existence and make questionable decisions in order to survive which sometimes violate their self-professed â€Å"good guy† virtues. Through his actions, the man subtly begins to show signs that he is heading towards immorality and evil. The man and the boy are awoken by the sound of a diesel truck not too far from them. They flee their camp site and listen quietly until the silence is broken by a guy stumbling through the woods. The guy wrestles the boy into his arms and the man fires his loaded pistol, â€Å"The man fell back instantly and lay with blood bubbling from the hole in his forehead. The boy was lying in his lap with no expression at all†¦covered with gore and mute as a stone† (McCarthy 66). The man’s quick reaction to save his son represents the very rare love bonds that still exist in this apocalyptic world. The author compares the boy to a â€Å"mute stone† after he obviously experiences another life-changing moment. Sickening imagery is also used in this passage, as seen through the words, â€Å"bubbling, hole, and gore.† These words portray the man’s heroic act to save his son; however, it comes at the expense of the brutal murder he committed. The man shoots the guy who threatens his son with the intention of ensuring the boy’s safety, yet it contradicts his own moral virtues. Because he did this out of love, the man can essentially justify the violent killing as being morally correct. Yet, what the man fails to realize, is what makes his choice more praiseworthy than the choices of the people who kill and even cannibalize others in order to survive. This clearly raises a contradiction which creates an ambiguity between immorality and morality. Although the man killed this guy to protect his son, his decision is still problematic because it only takes one bad decision like this to arouse the inner evil within himself and eventually drive him to immorality. After living in such a malicious world for such a long time, it is nearly impossible for the man not to succumb to immorality and evil. The boy and the man enjoy a nice walk on the beach until they come back to find their camp completely raided. Their entire shopping cart full of food and other survival necessities had been stolen and as a result, they set out to find the thief. They follow the tracks of the shopping cart and finally find the thief in front of the cart with a butcher knife. The man is enraged and pulls his pistol out and threatens the crook, â€Å"Take your clothes off. / What? / Take them off. Every goddamned stitch. / Come on. Don’t do this. / I’ll kill you where you stand. / He stripped slowly and piled his vile rags in the road. / Put the clothes in the shopping cart. / He bent and scooped the up the rags in his arms and piled them on top of the shoes. / Don’t do this, man. / You didn’t mind doing it to us. / You tried to kill us. / I’m starving, man. You’d have done the same. / You took everything. / Come on, man. I’ll die. / I’m going to leave you the way you left us† (McCarthy 256-257). The man clearly displays immorality by the way he treated the thief and how he reacted to the situation at hand. It is obvious he is incapable of any empathy for the guy who is trying to survive in the same hellish world he is trying to live in. The fact that he wanted to punish the guy by stripping him suggests he wants to make the crook suffer a horrible death because the world is too cold to live without any sort of clothing. The thief in this passage symbolizes the deterioration of the human race because he embodies the ugliness that has emerged in this new world where formerly common things are now extremely valuable. The man still believes he is a â€Å"good guy,† however, this controversial decision proves otherwise. Because the man is acting so cruelly in this scene, his viciousness can almost be compared to the brutality of the savages that roam the same barren world he lives in. Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, set in the Pre-Civil War period, tells the story of young boy named Huckleberry â€Å"Huck† Finn, who ventures throughout the Mississippi River Valley. Huck travels with a run-away slave named Jim, meets many new people, and encounters frequent obstacles along the way. Throughout the novel, Huck constantly struggles with complex circumstances affecting his own conscience and morality, but ends up making a big decision that reflects his true character in the end. Due to the social environment in which Huck grew up, his racist outlook is displayed on occasion throughout the story. In one short exchange with Aunt Sally, Huck indicates that he doesn’t actually view blacks as real people. Huck tells his aunt that his boat ran ashore and she worriedly responds, â€Å"‘Good gracious! Anybody hurt?†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ Huck replies, ‘†No’m. Killed a nigger,†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ to which Aunt Sally answers, ‘†Well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt’† (Twain 167). Huck’s conversation with his aunt vividly illustrates the deeply embedded racism within society. Not only does this exchange exemplify Huck’s own beliefs about blacks’ inferiority, but also proves his prejudiced outlook is primarily derived from the racist society in which he lives. The conversation suggests that both the aunt and Huck think of blacks only as â€Å"things† or â€Å"objects,† not actually human beings. When Huck informs his aunt that a â€Å"nigger† had died in the crash, she casually dismisses any loss of life. Instead, she responds by pointing out that â€Å"it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt [in boat crashes],† therefore essentially revealing that she believes that blacks are not people. Both Aunt Sally and Huck offer no empathy or show any responsiveness to the death, which most people would do if another human had died. Although Huck views slavery as morally correct, he only believes this because it is customary during this time period. In essence, Huck’s moral nature has been misguided and distorted throughout his childhood, causing him to believe slavery and white superiority is ethically right. Sadly, his morality has been skewed so he believes something not necessarily because he actually believes it in his heart, but possibly because it is just what is socially accepted at the time. Bennett Kravits, author of the critical essay â€Å"Reinventing the world and reinventing the self in Huck Finn† reveals his criticism regarding Twain’s portrayal of whites’ perceptions of blacks. He specifically deals with the phrase that Huck uses to describe Jim, â€Å"white inside† (Twain 345).† He essentially explains that although that seems to be an overtly racist description, it actually has the potential to â€Å"undercut the prejudicial notions that whites held concerning blacks† (Kravits 6). It is clear Huck has a difficult time seeing Jim as an equal member of society, but he instead can view him as white inside. According to Kravits, the significance behind this depiction is that Huck discovers a way to see Jim as a fellow human being, just in an odd way. Huck’s morality has been molded throughout his childhood and he has an ingrained belief that blacks are just inhumane slaves that are property to white people; however, Kravits is actually arguing that Huck realizes black people deserve to be labeled as humans and not property. While journeying down the Mississippi River together, Huck and Jim begin to bond in a unique way. A friendship between them starts to develop and Huck’s compassion for Jim grows despite him being a black slave. Huck is faced with the particularly difficult decision of either turning Jim in or rescuing himself from the Phelps’. He struggles between standing up for Jim and what he believes is right or surrendering to the embedded racism he has grown up around. With Jim’s fate on his hands, Huck decides to save Jim instead of himself and rips up the letter to Miss Watson with the astounding exclamation, â€Å"‘All right, then I’ll go to Hell†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ (Twain 162). During the moments leading up to this heroic decision, his mind runs wild with the thoughts of the harsh punishments Jim could possibly face. Huck recognizes that he has a power to give Jim something he has desired his entire life: freedom. Huck’s empathy is so strong at this point, that combined with his loyalty and morality, it causes Huck to have a significant epiphany. The epiphany illuminates Huck’s concern for Jim and shows another step in his moral development. The fact that Huck believes he is giving up his soul for Jim’s freedom demonstrates that Huck’s morality has truly developed over the course of the novel. This shows Huck’s incredible loyalty and his ability to put himself in Jim’s shoes in order to sacrifice his owns wants, needs and desires to save Jim. His empathy displayed in this scene supports the belief that although Huck is racist, he still possesses an enormous capacity to see Jim as a fellow human being. Every person acts in accordance with their beliefs, attitudes, and values, which consequently reflects that person’s ultimate identity. Many factors are responsible for determining the principles people value and respect, including familial, societal, and environmental influences. Throughout Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck is in the midst of moral development in his subconscious and his deeper feelings arise as the truer expression of his morality. He makes decisions in his adventures which demonstrate that not only does he possess morals, he possesses extraordinary ones. Huck’s moral maturity rings clear after he makes significant controversial decisions. Huck’s character progression shows that good scruples can be developed in anyone and a more empathetic part of people can triumph over heartlessness. . In the novel The Road, Cormac McCarthy describes the struggle between morality and immorality that exists within every person that walks the post-apocalyptic world. He demonstrates that some people give into the evil while others are able to remain good. McCarthy essentially concentrates on the man’s progression from the moral â€Å"good guy† to an immoral â€Å"bad guy.† â€Å"The fire† that the man truly believed he possessed slowly smolders and he begins to succumb to the immoral world he had faced for such a long time. Huck and the man serve as foils to each other by highlighting Huck’s progression towards a better morality as the man regresses and loses the morals he originally possessed. In essence, both Twain and McCarthy conclude that all people are faced with adversity and difficult decisions, but those people have the power to make certain choices which ultimately define who they really are. Works Cited McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Print. Kravits, Bennett. â€Å"Reinventing the World and Reinventing the Self in Huck Finn.† Literature Resource Center. Gale, Winter 2004. Web. 22 May 2012. . Socrates. â€Å"Morality Quotes.† ThinkExist. Web. 22 May. 2012. . Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. United Sates: Tom Doherty Associates, 1985. Print.