A Concept of Citizenship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Concept of Citizenship - Essay Example What is citizenship? A citizen is an integral participant of the social life. A political community consists of citizens, whose participation is directed on the state’s welfare. Citizens gain benefits from their nation and thus they have to follow laws and regulations of their country. There are many aspects in the concept of citizenship. On the one hand, citizenship is a benefit, which enables citizens to vote or to receive insurance etc. On the other hand, citizenship is a hard work, which introduces obligatory involuntarily actions, obtruded by the government on its citizens.  Ã‚  For example, citizens have to pay taxes, work in favor of the country, to get secondary education and many other obligations are invented by the state and must be followed by the citizens. Citizenship is a great responsibility. It is a hard work and every citizen should remember of his daily obligations, dictated to him by the state. There is no welfare of the country without daily obligations c ompleted by the citizens. Thus, it is evident that citizenship is an integral part of the country. It is a trigger of the state’s functioning. We can summarize that there is no way out from this scope of duties. Nevertheless, it should be noted that not all people living in the state are citizens.

Plato’s The Republic Essay Example for Free

Plato’s The Republic Essay All philosophers write about something to address a particular issue which they feel need to be addressed.   The same is true in Plato’s The Republic.   Considering the political and social situation during 360 B.C.E, Plato was concerned about the deteriorating condition of Greece.   To be more particular, he was extremely concerned about the fate of his teacher, Socrates. Socrates was tried, and subsequently sentenced to death, for a crime that he did not commit.   Plato was also apprehensive about the individualist philosophy advocated by a famous group of philosophers called Sophists.    For the Sophists, the standard of what is good or evil depended on man alone without regard for the universal concepts of morality and justice. The individualist philosophy of the Sophists has affected the morals of the Greeks, to wit: â€Å"Sophistic teaching of the ethics of self-satisfaction resulted in the excessive individualism also induced the citizens to capture the office of the State for their own selfish purpose and eventually divided Athens in to two hostile camps of rich and poor, oppressor and oppressed. Evidently, these two factors amateur needlesomeness and excessive individualism became main targets of Platos attack.†   (Bhandari 2) Plato found a solution to free the society from the individualist philosophy of the Sophists.   This can be found in his book The Republic where Plato, speaking through his teacher Socrates, discussed the concepts of a just state and a just individual. According to Plato, Justice is â€Å"the minding of one’s own business and not meddling with other men’s concerns† (Book 4, The Republic).   He also said that Justice is Harmony.   (Book 4, The Republic)   In the same manner, there is injustice when a person does not mind his own business or minds other person’s business.   There is also injustice when there is discord and disharmony. In explaining the concept of Justice, Plato made two (2) analogies: his analogy on the parts of the state and the structure of the soul.   He argued that justice may exist not just in the state but also in the individual and that there is a relationship between a just state and a just individual. Plato argues that the state is formed because no individual is self sufficient.   He needs the help of other members of the society to perform some function of which he has no knowledge or expertise.   The continued existence of the society is dependent upon the individuals who specialize in the performance of certain affairs of the state.   Plato thus divided the state into three types of people: the workers, soldiers and the rulers each of which performs a particular function for the good of the whole society.   According to Kemerling, the orderly functioning of the state will depend on the separation of functions and the specialization of their individual tasks.   (Kemerling, p. 1). For example, the workers are those best suited to perform a particular labor for example the farmers, builders, weavers and laborers.   The soldiers are those people who are best suited to fight and defend the state against its aggressors.   The rulers on the other hand are those who possess wisdom and have the capacity to rule.   Plato considered that in an Ideal State each of these three kinds of people limit themselves to the performance of their functions.   A person who has the skill of a farmer should not be allowed to lead the state otherwise anarchy will result within the state.   An intellectual who is born to lead does not have the skill to build houses for the state. A person who has the skill in combat cannot be allowed to make laws for the state.   In addition, a just state is when each of the class possesses certain virtue: the working class possesses the virtue of temperance, the soldiers possess courage and the rulers possess wisdom.   Thus, according to Plato, â€Å"And a State was thought by us to be just when the three classes in the State severally did their own business; and also thought to be temperate and valiant and wise by reason of certain other affections and qualities of these same classes?† One may ask, who is a just man for Plato?   Plato’s concept of a just man is similar to his concept of a just state because essentially the same three divisions which exist in the state also exist in the individual.   If the society is divided into three (3) classes of persons, a person’s soul is likewise divided into three categories.   Plato made this analogy because he also believed that that the three parts of the human soul corresponds to the three classes of persons in the state. If it is better for a state that those who possess skill in manual labor to work and for those who possess skill in fighting to defend the state and for the intellectuals to lead the state, it is also better for the individual to control the desires of the other parts of the soul. If the society is divided into three groups of people, the soul is likewise divided into three parts, the appetitive, the spirited and the rational.   The appetitive is the part that hungers for worldly pleasures and wants and feels many things.   It is the part of the soul that yearns for wealth, power and material pleasures. Thus, the craving to eat burgers despite its hazards to health is a sign that a person gives in to the desires of the appetitive soul.   A person who decides to cut class to watch a movie or to play games also gives in to the appetitive soul.  Ã‚   For Plato, the goal of an individual is to develop the virtue of temperance and self-control. The spirited soul is the part of the soul that aims to carry out the dictates of reason.   It is the execution of whatever the intellect has determined to be the best for the person.   When a manager despite knowing that an employee is causing problems to the company because of his lack of professionalism fails to make the decision of terminating him, his spirited soul is considered weak.   For Plato, it is important for an individual to develop courage so that this part of the soul is controlled. The rational part is the thinking part which has the capacity to determine what is real and what are illusions or what is true and what is false or what should be done and what should not be done.   The rational part is also the part of the soul which makes the balanced decisions the purpose of which is the protection of its own interest and welfare.   When a person until now could not decide whom to vote for president of the United States, he is deemed to lack the rational soul.   When a person until could not decide whether to continue going to college, then his rational soul is weak. If justice in the state is to be attained by the three classes of individuals each performing their own function, justice in the individual person is to be attained by having temperance, courage, and wisdom. (Jostein Gaarder, Sophie’s World, p.72)   A person must have temperance and he is expected to be able to control his desire for worldly pleasures.   A person must also be able to distinguish between pleasures of the flesh and pleasures of the spirit.   The former is short-lived while the latter is eternal.   A person is also expected to have courage.   He must be able to take action and stand by his actions no matter how difficult it may be.   He must be able to take the risk.   A person must also develop wisdom so that he may know what is best for himself. According to Plato, justice can only be attained if every part of the soul is working in harmony with each other.   A person’s desire for wealth should not cloud his judgment.   A manager’s friendly relationship with a colleague should not hinder him from making the right decision.  Ã‚  Ã‚   A just man is therefore someone who can control the worldly pleasures and is able to discipline himself such that he does not submit himself to the wishes of his appetitive soul. Plato thus advocated self-mastery and discipline.   Ã‚  In controlling the appetitive soul, the rational soul is expected to ally with the spirited soul.  Ã‚   A person is also expected to be able to execute his decision.   He may have all the knowledge and wisdom in the world but if he cannot apply his knowledge to the practical world, then the person is also committing an injustice. In the end, the â€Å"justness† or the â€Å"injustness† of an individual will be determined based on how each of the different parts of the soul is able to relate with each other.   Thus Plato states that: â€Å"It will be the business of reason to rule with wisdom and forethought on behalf of the entire soul; while the spirited element ought to act as its subordinate ally.   The two will be brought into accord, as we said earlier, by that combination of mental and bodily training which will tune up one string of the instrument and relax the other, nourishing the reasoning part on the study of noble literature and allaying the other’s wildness by harmony and rhythm.† (Book 4, The Republic)

Causes And Effects Of Market Failure Economics Essay

Causes And Effects Of Market Failure Economics Essay In relation of the market performance, many things are well done, but not everything is done well. First of all, we assumed that markets are competitive. In some markets, a buyer or sellers might be having a right to control market prices. This ability to influence prices is called market power. Market power can cause markets to be inefficient because it keeps the price and quantity away from the stability of supply and demand. Market failure happen when resources are inefficiently allocated due to imperfections in the market structure , in the world the decisions of buyers and sellers sometimes affect people who are not participants in the markets at all. Pollution is the classic example of a market outcome that affects peoples not in the market such side effects called externalities. Market power and externalities are examples of a general phenomenon called market failure. When market fail public policy can potentially remedy the problem and increase economic efficiency. In this ca se; governments will interference where some form of market failure is taking part. Allocate efficiency means good resource allocation, when we cannot make any consumer better off without making some other consumer worse off. Moreover, an allocation of resources that maximizes the sum of consumer and producer surplus is said to be efficient. The balance of supply and demand maximizes the sum of consumer and producer surplus. That is, the invisible hand of the marketplace leads buyers and sellers to allocate resources. Markets do not allocate resources efficiently in the presence of market failures such as market power or externalities. Policymakers are often concerned with the efficiency as well as the equity of economic outcomes. This approach looks at the given resources and tries to get the most output from them and it also means that firms sell at a fair price to consumers that reflect the real resource use. Market failure is a situation in which a market left on its own fails to allocate resources efficientlywhen freely-functioning markets, operating without government intervention . Therefore, economic effiency welfare may not be maximized. This will leads to a loss of economic efficiency. When market fail, government policy intervention can potentially remedy the problem and increase economic efficiency, may also lead to an inefficient allocation of resources. Causes of Market Failure Public Goods Public goods are properties or facilities that can be used up by many consumers instantaneously without reducing the worth of consumption to any consumers. Therefore, public good is non-rival and non-excludable. That is a consumer cannot be stopped from consuming the good whether or not the individual pays for it. Realistically, non-rival means that the individual demand curves are summed perpendicularly to get the aggregate demand curve for the public good if each of those consumers has a demand curve for a public good (shown as the Figure 7.1). Consider Good with Identical Aggregate Demand is a public good. (i.e., Moon Lakes Water Quality) Figure 7.1 Mounting Aggregate Demand for Public Good Aggregate demand is summed vertically of individual demand curves in the market for a public good. The summed vertically of individual demand curves because all individuals can enjoy a similar public good. Hence, for every marginal unit of Moon Lakes water quality: aggregate demand = the total of consumer value for the unit Non-Rival and Market Failure Figure 7.3 Public Good: showed that the market price is not always in an efficiency condition because the a public good is never used up. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ P=MC cannot be the equilibrium price of water quality because the individuals would not spend for any improvement in water quality. Individual would only spend for Q2, and because of Q2 level of water quality would not be met. Thus, the social optimum solution would be to offer Q* and charge each individual a unit price same to the individuals marginal value at Q* or P1* and P2*. The higher demand of consumer will spend a larger amount than the consumer with a lower willingness to spend for the goods or services (refers to the shaded areas). The reasons of inefficiency occurs in supplying public goods is that, unlike price, quantity is not an effective market mechanism: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ For a given quantity, individuals will not automatically self-select their optimal price, but will instead wish to pay the lowest price possible when they cannot be excluded from consuming the good. Non-Excludability and Market Failure The primary cause of market failure involving public goods is non-excludable. Non-excludability means that the producer of a public good cannot prevent individuals from consuming it. Non-excludability is a relative, not an absolute, characteristic of most public goods. A good is usually termed non-excludable if the costs of excluding individuals from consuming the good are very high. Private markets always under produce non-excludable public goods because individuals have the incentive to free ride, or to not pay for the advantages they get from consuming the public good. With a free-rider problem, private firms cannot earn sufficient revenues from selling the public good to induce them to produce the socially optimal level of the public good. Figure 7.4 Optimal Provision of a Non-excludable Public Good, The Free-Rider Problem, and Market Failure PubD1 = Demand of one individual for public good X. D2 = Total Demand of two individuals for public good X. D3 = Total Demand of three individuals for public good X. D4 = Total Demand of four individuals for public good X. MC = Marginal cost of providing the public good X. The socially optimal level of public good X with four consumers is X4. (Note that the optimal level of the public good with a very large number of individuals is X max.) Because of non-excludability, markets may fail to provide X4.Under private markets, each individual may wait for the others to purchase the public good so that he/she can free-ride. In this case, the private market may provide no public good, because no one is willing to purchase it. For example, if individual decides to purchase (and the others free-ride), the private market will provide a level of the public good equal to X1, where the marginal benefit of the purchasing individual equals to the marginal cost of producing the public good. Notice that this is much less than the optimal level of provision of the public good, X4. Cause of market failure Market Failure is when a good is either over or under produced in a free market due to its externalities or other properties. This means that its ability to be used by more than one person at the same time, without any extra costs, makes it an unsuitable good to be produced by commercial suppliers. When demand is lowered, less will be produced, making the market fail. For an example, when a government subsidies for everyone to have enough of certain good or service, this is a market failure because demand still exists but supply is no longer limited for everyone who gets that product. Externalities are usually in all field of economic activity. Externalities are defined as third party or spill-over, the effects of production and consumption activities not directly reflected in the market. Negative externalities causes market failure because the graphs have failed to measure true products within the society. Failed to allocate resources efficiently and has overproduced goods with negative spillover effects. Negative externalities For example, the consumption of gasoline produces a negative externality in that people who do not use it (own a car) share the costs of the air pollution for which it is responsible. Negative externalities are also property rights problems. Social cost is equal to private cost to the firm of producing the gasoline plus the external cost to those bystanders affected by the pollution. Therefore, social cost exceeds the private cost paid by producers. . Price Social Cost Supply (private cost) Demand (private value) Q optimum Qmarket Quantity Figure 1 Figure 1 shows, the supply curve does not reflect the true cost of producing gasoline, the market will produce more gasoline than is optimal. Solving the negative externalities problem Top of Form Bottom of Form Government develop a product price via using taxes onto the consumption of that particular good. Due to the increase of taxation, consumption will decrease because fewer people will be willing to buy at a higher price, since the tax on the product may be more expensive than before. Furthermore, when the tax is increasing, this will cause the businesses to compete with each other on their prices. On the other hand, there might be some underground business causes products are expensive. The government can particularly tax certain private parties to reduce the amount of marginal private cost in order for it to equal to the marginal social cost for a negative production externality. By taxing a party, they will have a higher cost when producing their goods. Taxation can also provide a source of payment for public goods. e.g. we wouldnt have roads without taxes to pay for them. When a good has a positive externality, the government will often create a subsidy to reduce the effects of a ma rket failure. This means that the government will give money to the party that produces this positive externality, in order to encourage production. When subsidies are given, the producers have more money to produce their goods. This will increase production, bringing the marginal private benefits closer to marginal social benefits, decreasing the positive externality, and thus stopping market failure. One of the reasons contributing to a market failure is the unequal separation of market power. Market power means how strong is the firms influence on the market outcome, for example, the price of a good. Among all possible market condition, the one with most unequal market power would the monopoly market. A monopoly market means that the market has only one producer producing the goods, there is no other source of same or similar goods in the market. In this case, the particular producer would have absolute power to manipulate the price of the good in the market because consumers have no other choice but to buy the goods from that monopoly firm. The worst situation occurs when the goods sold in this particular market is basic necessary goods for the public, this is because the Price Elasticity of Demand (PED) for the good is so low, that the market would not be able to respond to the drastic change of price, if there is any. Price Quantity Q 0 S1 S2 DD S1 shift to S2 6 8 9 5 Figure 1 Figure 1 show that, the effects on the market outcomes when the demand curve is inelastic and supply curve is shifting to the left (from S1 to S2). The total expense increases from $40 to $45 after the firm raises the price from $5 to $9, even though the quantity traded decreases from 8 units to 6 units. If the market were a competitive market, such situation will not happen because as soon as the producer increases the price of good, consumers would switch their consumption onto similar goods produced by other producers in the market. When there is a market failure, government is then needed to interfere and hence improve the market outcome. A good way to prevent monopolization of an industry is via taking legal actions, for example, in South Korea, a Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act is introduced on 31/12/1980. The act was introduced to promote competition among firms and to protect the consumers in the country, hence providing the country a stable and balanced development o economics. Under this act, any company that attempts to combine with another company, regardless the process is done through merging, acquisition of stocks, business take-over, or any other method would be considered as breaking the law and legal actions would be taken by the government. This particular government policy would have a great effect on stopping markets to develop into oligopoly market or a monopoly market, however, in some cases the government actually gave a company the power to monopolize the business. In Malaysia, an el ectricity supplying company called Tenaga National Berhad (TNB) was appointed by the government to be the only official electricity supplier in the country, this was due to the high entry bounty and maintenance fees to run an electricity supplying company, companies other than TNB were unable to bear the high cost and hence the government appointed TNB as the only electricity supplier in the country and subsidy was provided to the company to reduce the cost. Of course in this case another law called price ceiling was applied to control the price of electricity bills in the country, and to prevent exploitation of the company on the residents in the country. Government Policies Price Control Price control is government interference in markets in which lawful restrictions are located on the prices charged. The two primary forms of price control are price floor and price ceiling. Price ceiling is a legal maximum on the price at which a good be sold. Price floor is a legal minimum on the price at which a good can be sold. Price controls enforced on an otherwise proficient and competitive market create imbalances (shortage or surplus) which leadineffectiveness. However, enforcing price controls on a market that fails to reachproficient (due to public goods, externalities, or incomplete information) can actual riseefficiency. Price controls have widely used to decrease inflation in economy. -Price Ceiling Figure 8.1 Pricing and quantity effects of a binding price ceiling on Rental From the figure 8.1, an equilibrium, Eo is occurs when supply curve intersects with demand curve in the free market. The initial price on rental is Po and quantity is Qo when the equilibrium is occurs. Rental control is a price ceiling on rent. According to rental control in New York, when the government enforced maximum price is lower than markets equilibrium price, as shown by the binding price ceiling in figure 8.1. Graphically, the price of rental decrease from Po to P1. Sellers can no longer charge the price the market demands but are forced to meet the ceiling price set by the government. A ceiling price can make sellers away from the market (decreases the supplied resources), while the lower price increases the consumers demand. Hence, the quantity of supply reduces from Qo to Q1 while the quantity of demand increases from Qo to Q2. When DD>SS, the ceiling is a binding constraint on the price and causes a shortages. A number of consumers willing to experience a long line for the product when they need to purchase. Sometimes governments merge price ceilings with government rationing programs to ensure the market will allocate the supply of goods efficiently. -Price Floors Figure 8.2 Pricing and quantity effects of a price floor on Wage Minimum Wage is approaching record lows in the United States. If no one earns any money except for one person, who earns all of the money, then the income distribution would be perfectly unequal. Governments make an effort to stop the poor from getting poorer, and the rich from getting richer in order to achieve an equilibrium in income distribution. Minimum wage laws have its greatest impact on the market for unskilled workers. Minimum Wage is one of the price floors in market. Minimum wage laws establish the lowest price of wages that all employers must pay for labor. The quantity of supplied labor is higher than the quantity demanded in the traditional minimum wage model. According to the figure 8.2, Minimum wage, P2 is above equilibrium price, Po and quantity, Qo when supply curve intersect with demand curve. Labor supplied and labor demanded can be prevented from shifting toward equilibrium price and quantity. Hence, surplus is occurs between quantity of demand, Q1 and quantity of supply, Q2. Minimum wage levels become the price floor and wages cannot fall below the floor price. Conclusion

The Power of a Symbol in The Yellow Wallpaper, The Glass Menagerie and

Years ago, Sister Mary Corita Kent, a celebrated artist and educator of the 1960’s and 1970’s stated, â€Å"A painting is a symbol for the universe. Inside it, each piece relates to the other. Each piece is only answerable to the rest of that little world. So, probably in the total universe, there is that kind of total harmony, but we get only little tastes of it† (Lewis "Quotes from Women Artists"). Nowadays, a painting is not the main form of art humans appreciate. In fact, literature of all sorts can be considered a different form of art and often found in literature are symbols. A "symbol" is an object, person or action which represents an abstract idea (Warren â€Å"English 102†). In literature, a symbol or set of symbols can have a wide range of meanings. For example, color is a universal symbol; some may say it is a general symbol for life. However, each color separately can symbolize something different depending on the context. Analyzing five pie ce of literature for symbolism, one will be able to gain a deeper understating of symbols. To begin, the short story by Charlotte Gilman, â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† uses the deteriorating wallpaper to represent the narrator’s failing mind. The narrator is suffering and is confined in an uncomfortable house in a room she did not choose; she becomes obsessed with the wallpaper of the room. As the yellow wallpaper represents the narrator’s mind, the statement made by the narrator, â€Å"The color is repellent, almost revolting; a smoldering unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight. It is a dull yet lurid orange in some places, a sickly sulphur tint in others† refers to the condition of her mind by suggesting her condition is revolting and unclean. She is fading away in the su... ...at could these five pieces of literature possibly have in common?’ The answer to this question is very simple, these pieces of literature each possess symbolic colors that represent something different. Yellow wallpaper represents a deteriorating mind, a shabby, black box represents a gruesome, sacrificial death, green is the physical representation of power and wealth in society, a mixture of blue and yellow represents the confusion of a clear sky with dead grass and ‘Blue Roses’ and Blue Mountain represent the longing someone feels for something they can never have. Perhaps a paining is not the only symbol for the universe. Perhaps every piece of literature is related to each other in such a way that by reading each piece of literature, one can connect the different symbols an author chooses to use and recognize the complex harmony that binds the literature world.

Accounting Standards in China and Australia

Until recently, China has used a set of accounting standards that were quite unique in their records.   These standards were the legacy of a socialist period in Chinese history and rather than keeping records of loss and profit for a corporation operating in China, they mainly concerned themselves with keeping track of all of the assets available to the corporation.By not keeping close tabs on the debts that a corporation owes, the accounting standards in China have long been considered lax by the outside world and have hindered international companies who wish to have headquarters in China.For instance, a corporation in China with holdings internationally, such as in the United States, must create end of the year accounting reports using the Chinese Accounting Standards, another set using the International Accounting Standards, and a third using the North American Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, creating an overload of work and an extreme cost to the corporation.Recently the Finance Department of Chinese Government has begun a process which will translate the current Chinese accounting methods from their archaic status to where they will more closely mirror the International Accounting Standards which incorporate the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.Previous to this decision to reform the way that Chinese corporations report their accounts, the Chinese system involved simply classification of ownership, industry, and government, giving companies an extreme amount of leeway in the ways in which they conducted business.   Now the Chinese government has instituted that each corporation must keep track of all debits and credits, report manufacturing costs as well as capital maintenance, and provide yearly financial statements.The first true accounting standards in China were implemented in 1997 and changes continue to be made to bring the country’s financial practices up to date.   Currently this transformation is still in progress, so any foreign company with a subsidiary in China must still comply with not only their country’s accounting practices but also with the Chinese straight line accounting practices which allow for a much slower depreciation of capitalized assets.For those wishing to not use the straight line method, the only way to use an accelerated accounting method with regards to Chinese holdings is to receive explicit permission from the Ministry of Finance.   Another difference in Chinese accounting methods is the difference in tax deductibility.For instance, China charges significant tax charges on intercompany transactions and treats transfer pricing of the upmost importance in order to receive a large cut of international taxes.   Incorrect interpretation of Chinese tax laws can lead to severe fines for corporations.In Australia, the corporate accounting practices previously used have also come under fire in previous years for being widely different from internationally accepted a ccounting standards.   In response, Australia began to work the internationally accepted accounting principles into their current system, effective January 1, 2000, and have also developed the Financial Reporting Council which is responsible for overseeing the accounting practices of both   public and private corporations operating in Australia.The previously lax Australian reporting standards which did not require corporations to conform to one specific type of accounting practices nor give stringent guidelines in so far as what reports were required by the government are being phased out by the International accounting standards which allow Australia to develop along with the global economy.Australia has also instituted an Australian Accounting Standards Boards to periodically re-evaluate corporate accounting practices in Australia as well as enforce the new standards being phased in.   Australia is working to harmonize their standards with those of the International Account ing Standards Committee and is also a part of the G4+1 global group which monitors the setting of international accounting standards.Works CitedAustralian Government. (2009, May 5). Australian Accounting Standards Board. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from Australian Accounting Standards Board: http://www.aasb.com.au/Home.aspxChina Accounting Standards. (2007, February 15). Retrieved May 5, 2009, from China Orbit: http://www.chinaorbit.com/china-economy/chinese-accounting-standards.htmlLehman Brown. (2009, February 12). Chinese Accounting FAQ. Retrieved 5 May, 2009, from Lehman Brown: http://www.lehmanbrown.com/FAQ-Acc.htmQueensland University of Technology. (2008, June 15). Accounting Standards. Retrieved May 5, 2009, from Queensland University of Technology Library: http://www.library.qut.edu.au/learn/type/accountingstandards.jsp   

Rules and Regulations of Youth Basketball

Rules and Regulations of Youth Basketball Team sports fill an important role in childrens lives. It teaches kids the importance of teamwork and provides an entertaining outlet for physical activity. Recreation is an important element in life and can help an individuals development both mentally and physically. Playing sports can also improve a childs self-esteem, help him develop strong interpersonal and leadership skills, and teach him the value of listening to his coach. Basketball is a fantastic sport for kids to play. Its relatively inexpensive and doesnt require much equipment. Most playgrounds, recreation centers, and gyms have basketball goals. At  least two kids and a basketball are all that are necessary to play. If youd like to get the kids in your neighborhood or homeschool group active, you may be interested in forming a basketball league. Before you get started, its important to understand the rules and regulations of youth basketball. Philosophy of Youth Basketball The philosophy of youth basketball is to offer the participants a high-quality program that will teach the basic fundamentals and the  offensive and defensive philosophy of the game. Learning good sportsmanship and teaching all participants to respect their coaches, officials, fellow players, and the rules is also an important part of youth basketball. Length of Playing Periods There will be four eight-minute periods for all divisions (except varsity and senior division). Varsity and Senior division will play four ten-minute periods. Every period will be on a running clock that is only stopped for timeouts and technical fouls. The Clock The clock will be stopped during the last two minutes of the game on all dead ball situations for all divisions (except Pee Wee division). If the point difference is ten points or more, the clock will remain running until the score arrives at less than ten points. Basketball Half Time The 1st and 2nd periods will constitute the 1st half; 3rd and 4th periods will constitute the 2nd half. Half time will be three minutes in duration. Timeouts in Basketball Each team will be allowed two timeouts in each half. The timeouts must be taken in their respective halves or they will be lost. There are no accumulations of timeouts. Player Participation Every player must play four minutes of each quarter, eight minutes per half for Pee Wee and Junior Varsity. Varsity and Seniors must play five minutes of each quarter, ten minutes per half. Every player must also sit out half of each period during the game, so as not to play the whole game, except in the case of injury or health problems. Sickness: Once the game has started and a player becomes sick or is unable to continue during a game, the coach of the player must enter, in the score book, the players name, time, and the period. The player will be ineligible to re-enter the game.Discipline: If a player misses consecutive practice without an excuse the coach will notify the site director. The site director will immediately notify the parents of the players. If these violations continue, the player will not be eligible to participate in the next game.Injury: If a player is injured and removed during a game, the player will be eligible to re-enter per the discretion of his/her coach. The partial period of play will constitute one full period for the injured player. Any player may be substituted for the injured player if the player participation rule is not affected. The player participation rules must be strictly enforced with  one full period of play for each player per half. Must Sit Rule: Every player must sit out at least half of the period. 20-Point Rule If a team has a 20-point lead at any time during the game, they will not be allowed to employ a full court press or a half-court press. No pressure is allowed. It is recommended that top players are removed and the substitutes play (only if player participation is not compromised). In the 4th period, and with a 20-point lead, the coach must take his top players out until the point difference is less than 10 points. Youth Basketball Pee Wee Division The Pee Wee Division consists of up to 10 players, ages 4 and 5,  with four players and coach on the court. Basket height:  6 feet, Basketball size: 3 (mini), Free throw line: 10 feet.​ Rules: The league will not adhere to a rule book. Since most of the participants do not understand fouls or violations, the officials will use their best judgment during the game. Penalties/violations will only be enforced if a player is gaining an advantage.Exception: Key violations - none and traveling - three steps.Defense: Teams may play zone or  man-to-man  at any time during the game. There are no limitations. Zone defense is highly recommended.Press: Teams may defend the ball only after the ball penetrates the half court line. The defensive players may not defend until the ball penetrates the half court line. No full court press.1st Pass/Back-court Rule: After the defensive player secures the  rebound, the 1st pass must be in the back-court, to the coach.Free Throws: Each player will shoot at least one free-throw prior to the start of play. Each successful free-throw will be recorded in the score book and count in the teams overall score. Officials will administer the fr ee throws. A player who missed will be allowed to shoot an extra shot to balance the team attempts, the free-throw line will be designated by the officials. A shooter may touch the line, but not cross completely over the line with his/her foot, on free-throw attempts. Players: Teams may have a maximum of four players on the court. The coach will be on the court on offense to help  dribble  and move the ball around. (The coach may not shoot the ball.) The coach may be on the court at the defensive end, may not play defense, and only coach defensively without physical contact. Youth Basketball Junior Varsity (J.V.) Division The J.V. Division consists of up to 10 players, ages 6 and 7, with five  players on the court. Basket height: 6 feet, Basketball size: 3 (mini), Free throw line: 10 feet Defense: Teams may play zone or man-to-man at any time during the game. There are no limitations. Zone defense is highly recommended.Press: Teams may defend the ball only after the ball penetrates the half court line. The defensive players must stay in the three-second area until the ball crosses the half court line.Foot in the Paint: Each defensive player must put at least one foot in the paint and stay in the 3-second area until the ball crosses the half court line.Three Second Violation: An offensive player may not be in the key (paint) for 5 seconds or more, This will be a violation against the offending team.Free Throws: Each player will shoot at least one free throw prior to the start of play. Each successful free-throw will be recorded in the scorebook and count in the teams overall score. Referees will administer the free throws. Both teams will shoot free throws at the same time but at different baskets. A player who has missed will be allowed to shoot an extra shot to balan ce the team attempts, the free-throw line will be at the dotted line inside the key. A shooter may touch the line, but not cross completely over the line with his/her foot on free-throw attempts. Youth Basketball Varsity Division The Varsity Division consists of up to 10 players, ages 8-10, with five  players on the court. Basket height:  10 feet, Basketball size: intermediate, Free throw line: 15 feet Defense: Any half-court defense may be played during the game.Press: Teams may full-court press only during last 5 minutes of the game. Any press is allowed.​Penalty: Only one warning per half for each half, a team  technical foul  will follow.Free Throws: The free-throw line will be at 15 feet. Shooters may touch the line but not completely cross over the line with his/her foot on free-throw attempts. Youth Basketball Senior Division The Senior Division consists of up to 10 players, ages 11-13, with five players on the court. Basket height: 10 feet, Basketball size: official; Free throw line: 15 feet. Defense: Teams must play man-to-man defense in the entire 1st half. Teams may play either man-to-man or zone defense in the second half.Penalty: One warning per team and then a team technical foul will be assessed.Man-to-man Defense: The defensive player must be within a six feet guardian position, A defensive team may double-team a player who has the basketball. Defensive team cannot double-team a player who does not have the ball. Officials will give one warning per half to each team. Further infractions will result in a technical foul.Press: Teams may employ a full-court press at any time during the game. During the first half, the teams must play only a man-to-man full court press, if they decide to press. Youth basketball is a low-cost team sport option that provides an opportunity for kids of all ages to reap the benefits of physical activity and sportsmanship. It also provides children the chance to learn the basics of the game so that those with the talent and inclination are ready to play at the high school level.

Definition and Examples of Agreement in English Grammar

Definition and Examples of Agreement in English Grammar In grammar, agreement is the correspondence of a verb with its subject in person and number, and of a pronoun with its antecedent in person, number, and gender.  Another term for grammatical agreement is concord. Basic Principles In English, agreement is relatively limited. It occurs between the subject of a clause and a present tense verb, so that, for instance, with a third-person singular subject (e.g. John), the verb must have the -s suffix ending. That is, the verb agrees with its subject by having the appropriate ending. Thus, John drinks a lot is grammatical, but John drink a lot isnt grammatical as a sentence on its own, because the verb doesnt agree. Agreement also occurs in English between demonstratives and nouns. A demonstrative has to agree in number with its noun. So with a plural noun such as books, you have to use a plural these or those, giving these books or those books. With a singular noun, such as book, you use a singular this or that, giving this book or that book. This books or those book would be ungrammatical because the demonstrative doesnt agree with the noun.–Jame R. Hurford, Grammar: A Students Guide. Cambridge University Press, 1994 Keeping Track of Details Agreement is an important process in many languages, but in modern English it is superfluous, a remnant of a richer system that flourished in Old English. If it were to disappear entirely, we would not miss it, any more than we miss the similar -est suffix in Thou sayest. But psychologically speaking, this frill does not come cheap. Any speaker committed to using it has to keep track of four details in every sentence uttered: And all this work is needed just to use the suffix once one has learned it.–Steven Pinker, The Language Instinct. William Morrow, 1994 whether the subject is in the third person or not: He walks versus I walk.whether the subject is singular or plural: He walks versus They walk.whether the action is present tense or not: He walks versus He walked.whether the action is habitual or going on at the moment of speaking (its aspect): He walks to school versus He is walking to school. Tricky Nouns Some nouns are commonly used with singular verbs although plural in form: Some nouns are commonly plural in usage, even though naming something singular.–Patricia Osborn, How Grammar Works. John Wiley, 1989 news, politics, economics, athletics, molassesnouns that state a given time, weight, or amount of energytitles of books, newspapers, television shows, even of plural formHis trousers were old and torn.The suds are almost down the drain.Scissors are a great invention.The contents were ruined. Examples Many dogs are made anxious by loud noises.An anxious dog is not able to focus and maintain attention.Dogs and cats are the most common pets.A dog and a cat are in our house.Usually, either the dog or the cat is in my room.Abandoning a dog or a cat is grossly irresponsible. Examples and Observations Bill Bryson The manager was one of those people who are so permanently and comprehensively stressed that even their hair and clothes appear to be at their wits end.–The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. Broadway Books, 2006 James Van Fleet I have read statistics that show only five out of every 100 people become financially successful. By the retirement age of 65, only one of these people is truly wealthy.–Hidden Power. Prentice-Hall, 1987 Maxine Hong Kingston She brought back another woman, who wore a similar uniform except that it was pink trimmed in white. This womans hair was gathered up into a bunch of curls at the back of her head; some of the curls were fake.–The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts. Alfred A. Knopf, 1976 Bell Hooks Feminist activists must emphasize the forms of power these women exercise and show ways they can be used for their benefit.–Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, 2nd ed. Pluto Press, 2000 Agreement in Radio TR: I dont know. Understanding guys dont mean you should live with them. SS: Lester... TR: What? SS: Understanding guys doesnt mean you should live with them. TR: Thats what I said. SS: Lester, subjects, and verbs have to be in agreement. The subject of that sentence is not guys, its understanding, and understanding, which is a gerund, by the way, is singular and it takes a singular verb. TR: I got no idea what youre talking about.–Tom Keith and Sue Scott in English Majors. A Prairie Home Companion, May 18, 2002

Pygmalion Social Class and Higgins Essay

Pygmalion Social Class and Higgins Essay Pygmalion: Social Class and Higgins Essay Pygmalion Professor Henry Higgins :Professor of phonetics, goes into the opposite direction from the rest of the society. The world hasn’t turned against him is because he is a kind man. He can be a bully. Eliza Doolittle -Her character becomes much more instrumental to fundamental after the ambassador’s party. When she decides to make a statement of her own dignity to Higgins, she becomes not a duchess but an independent girl. It makes Higgins sees Eliza differently as a creature worthy of his admiration. Colonial Pickering -A gentleman who is always considerate. He appears most of all to be a civilized foil to Higgins’ barefoot. When Higgins appears to teach Eliza pronunciation, it is Pickering’s thoughtful treatment towards Eliza that teaches her to respect herself. Alfred Doolittle -A dustman who seems free from fear in the society. He is merciless to offer selling Eliza to Higgins and get some money out of the circumstance. Through Higgins’ joking recommendation, he becomes a moral status. Mrs Higgins -the first and only character who qualms about the affair. She knows what will happen to Eliza. The strategies a character devises for getting what he or she wants. Compare the Class Systems and How They Promote Social Equality in the Play â€Å"Pygmalion† Upper class They stereotyped how the lower class lived and called them names such as â€Å"baggage† and â€Å"blackguard†. Shaw is very much a feminist by addressing Higgins and Colonel talking about women in Act 2. He mentions that the upper class are mean and not fair to others. In Shaw’s time of living, there were 3

To compare leadership styles and management styles of three Essay

To compare leadership styles and management styles of three universities in The USA and also to explore the gradual changes on management styles - Essay Example The theoretical framework of this study will anchor on various theories of organizational management. The theories shall be considered in terms of how they affect matters of policy and practice of management in the identified institutions. Case reviews on matters of educational management have revealed changing trends in leadership and management across the globe (Bush, 2010, p. 45). There is evidence of a determined shift from the traditional systems of leadership and management, which were more rigid as compared to the current ones that seem to be more flexible. The traditional systems mainly involved a vertical structure in leadership, wherein the leadership was at the top, making important policy and administrative decisions that affected the operations at all levels of the universities administration (Bush, 2010). Educational institutions that adopted exclusivist policies of leadership favored this system. The current systems have evolved to embrace horizontal structures of leadership where policy matters and decision-making are handled at multiple points of the organization’s structure (McCaffery, 2010). These more developed kinds of leadership and management entail some aspect of devolution where power i s distributed evenly across various academic institutions. Both systems have important strengths and weaknesses. The increasing clamor for liberties and the advocacy for rights of the minorities have had significant impact on the levels and nature of leadership in American universities (Bush & Coleman, 2000). Gender and ethnicity are some of the factors that have been brought within the umbrella of the management and leadership structures of American universities (McCaffery, 2010). Such leadership styles have impacted positively on the nature of leadership by embracing certain qualities that are essentially aimed towards

FOOD TAXES Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

FOOD TAXES - Research Paper Example In addition, those states which charge sales tax on food such as Arkansas and Utah subject food sales to local taxes. This leads to differences in the rates of taxes charged from one city to the other within the same state. Although some states do not charge tax on food, there are certain food items or products that are taxable. Each state has provided a list of these non-exempt products. For example, in Iowa, product such as chewing gum, dietary supplements and pet foods and supplies are subject to tax2. Currently, there is debate on whether or not states should start to charge ‘fat tax’. Many have argued that there is need to charge high tax on unhealthy products in order to reduce the occurrence of diseases like obesity and heart diseases. For example, in an article by Lara Salahi and Samantha Meaney (2012), the authors argue that adding tax on unhealthy foods and drinks will help reduce the cases of obesity and other diseases3. For instance, they argue that a tax rate of about 20 per cent in sugar-sweetened drinks could help reduce obesity cases by 3.5 per cent and also help to prevent close to 3000 heart-related

Poverty Economics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Poverty Economics - Research Paper Example The model of trickle-down effect of growth is found to be prevalent in practice in the real world. Under this model, the benefits of growth are mostly savored by the upper and middle classes of the society. The lower middle class and the grass root level receive very little benefits of this economic growth. This is due to the fact that there is serious problem of income inequality in most of the economies in the globe, particularly in the developing countries (Altmann et al., 2013). All the sectors in the developing economies are not equally developed and there is huge inequality in income in the countries. In the concerned article, the Chief economist of World Bank has mentioned that the Bank has placed two new objectives that it would strive to achieve. These two goals are â€Å"ending extreme and chronic poverty in the world by 2030, and promoting shared prosperity, defined in terms of progress of the poorest 40% of the population in each society† (Basu, 2013). ... factors that affect this growth rate are rapid technological development, improvement in productivity and the lowering in the number of people living below poverty across the world. During the 19th century and also in the first few decades of the 20th century, over 1.2 billion people in the world used to live below the poverty level (the poverty line is set at $1 per day). Currently, this percentage of population has fallen marginally. According to the theory of poverty line, the people living below poverty line have the purchasing power of less than $1 dollar per day. Additionally, it must be noted in this context that more than half of the population of the world lives below $2 dollars per day. The variables that measure poverty are under nutrition, poor health condition, poor level or absolutely no literacy, environmentally degraded and unhygienic living condition, low or no access to essential things in life (such as clean water) and lack of protection of fundamental freedoms or rights. Poor people all over the globe are characterized by the living condition in slum areas and under nourishment. Scholars and economists have univocally agreed that poverty is integrally linked with inequality in income distribution (Naranpanawa, Selvanathan & Bandara, 2013). One commonly used method of measuring the personal income statistics is the Lorenz curve. The Lorenz curve helps to analyze the percentage of income against the percentage of income recipients. The further the line is from the diagonal, the greater is the degree of inequality. The following diagram illustrates the workings of the Lorenz curve. Figure 1: Lorenz curve (Source: Anonymous, n.d.) The further the curve bends from the diagonal, the greater is the inequality in income level. The area between the two

Is International Trade Driven By Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Is International Trade Driven By Theory - Essay Example Events happen all around us at all times. Life is full of something either happening or not happening. Science makes an attempt to codify the related events and find reasons for events that happen regularly and develops what we understand a theory that describes and informs us of why these events happen or not happens. Kaplan (1964) and Merton (1967) state that theory is the answer to the questions of why. The study of the substance of causal relationships, identification of sequence and the schedules of events are highlighted by the theory which tries to portray systematic reasoning for both occurrences and non-occurrences. A theory is considered as strong when the essential and basic practice or progression is evident and collated. A theory is considered weak if these factors are missing. A theory will essentially be an explanation, a delight and a prediction of events (Weick 1995). This means that there will be the presence of logic, it will calculate, foretell and it will satisfy the curiosity even f it is contrary to expectations. A theory is also multi-directional. It may delve in itself to find deeper or finer meanings or it move in an upward or sideways direction to be a part of another concept. It is not so easy to define a theory, despite the above attempt, but it is easier to state precisely what a theory is not. Sutton and Staw, through the ASQ forum, have very aptly explained that a theory is definitely not references and data. These provide inputs but add no substance or value to the phenomena.

Collaborative writing Assignment against Euthanasia Essay

Collaborative writing Assignment against Euthanasia - Essay Example Besides, there are critical aspects of medical profession that need to be taken into consideration as far as doctor’s role in physician-assisted suicide is concerned (Jeffrey 76-8). The society put their trust on doctors as having moral responsibility of keeping the patients in state of life in line with their Hippocratic Oath. There are several arguments that attract the opposition against Euthanasia that seems real if given critical analysis. Legalizing euthanasia will create a legal loophole that can be misused by the doctors in regard to physician-assisted suicide. One such legal aspect is possible â€Å"slippery slope† from the process of euthanasia to murder. This will particularly target the poor and disabled people who may not sustain prolonged medical monitoring condition and expensive medical bills. The principle of life requires sustained help and medical support to an individual with the cardinal goal of saving life. In this respect, the aspect of socio-economic ability is not considered (Kopelman 87-9). However, in reality medical cost for some conditions requires funds which may exhaust a family and render the hospital or doctors financially incapacitated to continue offering services. For the poor and the handicap, this may compel the doctors to initiate physician-assisted suicide as a way of eliminating the cost factor. There is possible legal incentive that this doctor’s right may create to the insurance firms that may resort to termination of life with the aim of saving money. This is unfair and highly unethical in line with the common moral tenets of businesses practices and medical code of ethics. The aspect of deliberate killing of the poor and the disabled if this practice is legalized evokes the concept of Ethics which can effectively convince the proponents to think otherwise. According to Jeffrey (pg.20), â€Å"Clearly, it would be unwise to give doctors the power to issue lethal prescriptions for the

Reliance on National Test Scores in Admissions Essay

Reliance on National Test Scores in Admissions - Essay Example It is perfectly clear that people differ in the way they perceive and process information, and for some students, it may be difficult to deal with SAT and ACT just because they are presented in the form of tests. Also, depending on a person's temperament, time of information processing changes as well. What is more, while some people are able to deal with pressure they face while completing any important task, such as testing, others are more exposed to stress and cannot complete tests properly even though they have enough knowledge to do it. External factors depend on the character of the tests, on those who compose them, and on the society as a whole. For instance, it is believed that the results of these tests highly depend on a class a student belongs to: the richer the students' parents are, the higher are his / her scores. In addition to this, taking into account high stakes, people try gaming standardized tests, and quite often, they do it criminally. Therefore, there is no gu arantee that a student is as good at studying as his / her scores show. The second argument that explains irrelevance of standardized tests is that these tests lack content validity. Content validity is a very important characteristic feature standardized tests should have. It is defined as the extent to which a test represents the content of an area that is measured. SAT and ACT do lack this characteristic feature. The matter is that they leave out a significant portion of material covered while studying.

Is International Trade Driven By Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Is International Trade Driven By Theory - Essay Example Events happen all around us at all times. Life is full of something either happening or not happening. Science makes an attempt to codify the related events and find reasons for events that happen regularly and develops what we understand a theory that describes and informs us of why these events happen or not happens. Kaplan (1964) and Merton (1967) state that theory is the answer to the questions of why. The study of the substance of causal relationships, identification of sequence and the schedules of events are highlighted by the theory which tries to portray systematic reasoning for both occurrences and non-occurrences. A theory is considered as strong when the essential and basic practice or progression is evident and collated. A theory is considered weak if these factors are missing. A theory will essentially be an explanation, a delight and a prediction of events (Weick 1995). This means that there will be the presence of logic, it will calculate, foretell and it will satisfy the curiosity even f it is contrary to expectations. A theory is also multi-directional. It may delve in itself to find deeper or finer meanings or it move in an upward or sideways direction to be a part of another concept. It is not so easy to define a theory, despite the above attempt, but it is easier to state precisely what a theory is not. Sutton and Staw, through the ASQ forum, have very aptly explained that a theory is definitely not references and data. These provide inputs but add no substance or value to the phenomena.

Reliance on National Test Scores in Admissions Essay

Reliance on National Test Scores in Admissions - Essay Example It is perfectly clear that people differ in the way they perceive and process information, and for some students, it may be difficult to deal with SAT and ACT just because they are presented in the form of tests. Also, depending on a person's temperament, time of information processing changes as well. What is more, while some people are able to deal with pressure they face while completing any important task, such as testing, others are more exposed to stress and cannot complete tests properly even though they have enough knowledge to do it. External factors depend on the character of the tests, on those who compose them, and on the society as a whole. For instance, it is believed that the results of these tests highly depend on a class a student belongs to: the richer the students' parents are, the higher are his / her scores. In addition to this, taking into account high stakes, people try gaming standardized tests, and quite often, they do it criminally. Therefore, there is no gu arantee that a student is as good at studying as his / her scores show. The second argument that explains irrelevance of standardized tests is that these tests lack content validity. Content validity is a very important characteristic feature standardized tests should have. It is defined as the extent to which a test represents the content of an area that is measured. SAT and ACT do lack this characteristic feature. The matter is that they leave out a significant portion of material covered while studying.

Administrative Ethics Paper Essay Example for Free

Administrative Ethics Paper Essay Biomedical ethical issues are seen frequently in the news and are in constant scrutiny. The demand for social responsibility is high and available resources are limited. Health care leaders are faced with numerous administrative issues regarding patient privacy, research, confidentiality, and terminal illness. Much debate has surrounded medical spending on the terminally ill, such as the cost and allocation of resources toward end-of-life care. Choosing between prolonged life and quality of life are two difficult decisions to make. Nonetheless, it is difficult to base one’s opinion until cancer has taken over one’s life. A close look at administrative issues surrounding end-of-life care will demonstrate the impact on a population, ethical, and legal implications, potential solutions to the problem, and managerial responsibilities. The Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) is a part of the United States territory because it’s establishment of commonwealth in political union and is home to approximately 44,000 people (Central Intelligence Agency, 2012). Because of the increase in chronic diseases and lack of available resources, several residents are referred to go off the island to seek health care in Guam and Hawaii (Doty, 2012). However, the medical referral program has a crucial problem with financing because of the large amount already owed (Doty, 2012). Although a budget of $2. 5 million is allotted for health care expenses for the medical referral program, it only covers half of the costs incurred in 2011 (Doty, 2012). Therefore, officials viewed rationing of medical services necessary to keep costs at bay. Among the rationing of medical services is the allocation of resources to terminally ill patients. According to Doty (2012), a medical provider states, â€Å"As a community, we must address the reality of spending precious resources on end-stage patients who will die within a short amount of time with or without medical treatment. † The method of triage rationing raises ethical concerns because patients are treated as if they were soldiers out on a battlefield where only those with a higher chance of survival are saved. Although unspoken, the practice of rationing services is common in the NMI. The population is negatively impacted by the health care crisis and the lack of hospice care. Family members of ailing patients are seen holding signs requesting for donations so their loved one may receive off-island treatment (Doty, 2012, para. 33). Cost and allocation of resources are clearly administrative issues that need ethical evaluation. A senior administrator of the NMI seems lost at finding a solution and reminisces of the time when people accepted their fate and lived on the principle, â€Å"we live and die on our islands† (Doty, 2012). The ethical and legal implications of rationing health services have many facets. Generosity and independence are among the ethical principles associated with allocating health resources; however, that is not the case when resources are scarce and funding is limited. As demonstrated in the NMI, mainly the poor and middle class are subjected to health care rationing. Aside from the poor, people most affected by health care rationing are the elderly and disabled persons (Peters, 1995). It is unethical of those with tremendous discretionary power to favor the prestigious over the poor or disabled. However, rationing based on the ability to pay already exists and is completely legal, such as rationing care of Medicaid patients or rationing by insurance companies (Fremgen, 2009). Although some people may believe rationing health care is unethical, it is economically inevitable as the demand for scarce health care resources increase. Therefore, it requires ethical consideration when allocating health resources. According to the article, the proposed solution is a policy on medical care rationing (Doty, 2012). However, some politicians claim the unnamed policy is already put into practice. Furthermore, the administration proposes a tighter budget for the 2012 fiscal year but does not elaborate on how it will be accomplished (Doty, 2012). The manager of the medical referral services suggested to administration that the program be suspended and only used for emergency cases (Doty, 2012). However, no action has been taken to suspend the program. Another suggested solution is to place high emphasis on prevention and primary care to avoid excessive referrals during critical stages. Furthermore, hospice care is not available to everyone on the NMI, which if made an option, may minimize the health crisis by decreasing the demand of health care resources. Nonetheless, evaluating the effectiveness of treatment and cost is essential in allocating resources. Managers are responsible for implementing cost/benefit analysis to best use the institution’s resources. Peters (1995) states, â€Å"Cost-effectiveness calculations have the appeal of incorporating outcomes research, patient preferences, and expected costs into a rational and potentially sophisticated scheme for maximizing health care outcomes from the available resources. † However, cost/benefit analysis alone should not be the primary basis for allocating resources. Managers must also ensure health resources are distributed equitably. Nevertheless, a solid solution has not yet to develop as the situation worsens in the NMI. A leader’s responsibility and accountability for appropriately rationing healthcare is tremendous. Because resources are limited, leaders must diligently follow eligibility criteria that satisfy legal and social standards. However, the approach is not easy and frequent subject of debate. Some consider health resource allocation is necessary but others find it morally repugnant. Therefore, the manager’s responsibility toward allocation decisions requires evaluation of distributive justice principles for ethical dilemmas. For example, need, equity, contribution, ability to pay, patient effort, and merit are principles useful in determining resources allocation (Armstrong, 1998). Each patient situation has unique circumstances that require healthcare leaders to view subjectively. Nonetheless, leader’s responsibility is to set clear guidelines for allocating resources so health care providers can remain advocates for their patients. Allocation of medical services in poverty stricken NMI indeed has ethical and legal implications with no easy solution. The population is in dire need of distributive justice. Administrators are at a loss with the health care crisis of financial burden and limited resources. Nonetheless, health care leaders must fulfill their obligations to their organization and community by using ethical principles to guide them in making difficult decisions. Nevertheless, perhaps proposed solutions turned into policy may minimize the need for off-island medical referrals. Administrative issues surrounding end-of-life care demonstrated the impact on a population, ethical, and legal implications, potential solutions to the problem, and managerial responsibilities. Administration indeed has tremendous social responsibility.

Key Personality Attributes Of An Entrepreneur Business Essay

Key Personality Attributes Of An Entrepreneur Business Essay According to Carland et al. (1984:356), an entrepreneur is defined as an individual that establishes and manages a business for the principal purpose of profit and growth. Characterisation of the entrepreneur is by innovative behaviour and strategic management practices will be used in the business (Carland et al., 1984:356). Entrepreneurs have several personal characteristics that enhance their ability and enable them to be successful in whatever venture they decide to focus on. In this essay, entrepreneurship theory such as Mclelland, internal locus of control and Schumpeter will be used to form an analytical framework in order to critically analyse and evaluate the key personality attributes that prompted Victoria Tomlinsons entrepreneurial pursuits. Analytical framework: DREAM WILL TO ESTABLISH A PRIVATE KINGDOM INTERNAL LOCUS OF CONTROL NON-CONFORMIST NEED FOR ACHIEVEMENT PERSONALITY ATTRIBUTES = ENTREPRENEUR The analytical framework above reveals the personality attributes that make an individual become an entrepreneur and the attributes are illustrated from conception to the end process. It is made up of a combination of entrepreneurial theories that allude to the psychological traits of an individual. A variety of entrepreneurial theories will be used to explain the framework. Conception of the personality attribute of an entrepreneur is the will to establish a kingdom, followed by the need for achievement, then internal locus of control closely followed by non-conformist and finally the culmination of all the personality attributes lead to an entrepreneur. According to Goss (2005), Joseph Schumpeter suggested that one of the psychological traits of an entrepreneur is the will to establish a private kingdom. This is not only a personality attribute but it is a form of entrepreneurial motivation that can be found in entrepreneurs and individuals who might become entrepreneurs. In the framework above, it is highlighted as the first stage of one of many personality traits attributed to entrepreneurs. Goss (2005) argued that Schumpeters entrepreneurial motivation with regards to the will to establish a private kingdom is focused on an individual gaining and losing social status i.e. the motive is one gains power which protects one from the feelings of shame. Goss (2005) views Schumpeters three entrepreneurial motives from a sociological prism and not a psychological one. After much examination of Schumpeters writings, Goss (2005) arrived at the conclusion that social interaction and emotions are key variables in entrepreneurial actions. Also, Barnes (2000) views the motives from a sociological prism and argues otherwise that the drive to establish a private kingdom is based on an individuals independent ability to pursue a course of action. What remains to be seen is if this course of action is related to entrepreneurial actions. Need for Achievement was identified by David Mclelland (Kalantaridis, 2011). According to McClelland (1990), entrepreneurs have a high need for achievement and this was confirmed by Hansemark (1998) who carried out a research and found high levels of need for achievement in entrepreneurs. Hansemark (1998) argued that the need for achievement for an entrepreneur is based on an achievement motive to perform better than their previous performance or a need to be better than other that were before them. This motive can be learnt and it can be seen as an expectation. McClelland revealed one of the characteristics common in achievement motivated people are the desire for job relevant feedback i.e. how well one is doing? This is exhibited in Victoria who as the boss of her firm encouraged feedback from her employees on her performance in order to improve the person and set her sights on high but obtainable goals and vice versa for her employees. Rotter came up with Internal Locus of Control whereby individuals believe whatever happens to them is dependent on their actions (Kalantaridis, 2011). A high internal locus of control is found in entrepreneurs. This is a social learning theory of personality. Hanesmark (1998) suggests that locus of control is focused on the expectation of either success or failure in a judgement task. Hanesmark (1998) identified several authors that have found new entrepreneurs and existing entrepreneurs to have a high locus of control. Zhang and Bruning (2011) argued that individuals with a high level of internal locus control believe they can make things happen for their business and take responsibility for their successes and failures knowing the outcome is based on their actions. Kets De Vries (1977) argues that the entrepreneur is anxious, non-conformist and has a self destructive behaviour. The non-conformist according to Kets De Vries (1977) is seen as a way of exercising power and control in a vicinity recognised as dangerous and uncontrollable. One of the key personalities attributes that make up the analytical framework is need for achievement developed by McClelland. McClelland argued that entrepreneurs possess and exhibit a high need for achievement. The achievement motive deals with the psychology of entrepreneurship. Victoria has invested the time and effort in her skills, abilities and personal attributes in order to set up her Public Relations (PR) business. This was done by her being in charge and delivering a PR campaign for the National Association for Colitis and Crohns Disease (NACC). Need for achievement is satisfied by an intrinsic sense of success rather than an extrinsic one. Sagie and Elizur (1999) suggests that in entrepreneurs, the need for achievement is manifested in behaviours such as carrying out different tasks the outcome of which is uncertain, the entrepreneurs willingness to take responsibility for the consequences of their action and inconsistent behaviour is highly unlikely to be exhibited by entrepreneurs. According to Sagie and Elzur (1999), the need for achievement and entrepreneurial orientation revealed entrepreneurs were prompt in their ability to find solutions to problems, undertake personal responsibility for the outcome of their work rather than a shared responsibility. This was the initial case with Victoria, in that she chose to take responsibility for all tasks yet as time went by, she has increasingly delegated and responsibility is shared. Also, Victoria noted her love of problem solving and this characteristic has been on display in her business with regards to providing solutions for clients and meeting their needs. The need for achievement is a personality characteristic yet Zhang and Bruning (2011) suggest it can be obtained through education in the case of an MBA programme. Johnson (1990) reveals that a positive relationship between the need for achievement and entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurs firm will be both proactive and competitive in nature, therefore entrepreneurs need for achievement will affect firms strategy directly and the firms performance indirectly. Victoria exhibited an intense need for achievement due to the people in her family. Both parents are highly successful in their chosen career fields and her younger brother is equally successful and smart. Yet there was a yearning in her to match her familys success. The longing for individual success is translated into a high need for achievement in her academic studies while she was at school, in the corporate world working for top firms and now in her business as an entrepreneur. Zhang and Bruning (2011) suggests that personal characteristics of an entrepreneur like need for achievement and internal locus of control influence the organisation owned and controlled by the entrepreneur in a positive manner. Yet Zhang and Bruning (2011) argue that when entrepreneurs have a high need for achievement, they tend to focus more on meeting the needs of their customers through creativity and innovation. Entrepreneurs with a high internal locus of control believe they can make things happen in their firm and success is dependent on their actions. Zhang and Bruning (2011) argue that firms have a market-oriented organisational culture whose entrepreneur has a high internal locus of control, will be more in tuned with their own innovation and creative ideas, more internally driven and less willing to seek directions for the firm with regards to the future from customers, competitors or other entities. Zhang and Bruning (2011) suggest that there is a positive correlation between internal locus of control and entrepreneurship behaviour. Using the entrepreneurship theory of Internal Locus of control, Victoria believes that whatever happens to her in life is dependent on her behaviour and controllable by her actions. She believes she is in charge of her destiny. She commented that if you are good and honest with your clients, then good business will follow. Korunka et al. (2003) argument is personality characteristics seen in entrepreneurs are high need for achievement, a high internal locus of control and a medium propensity for risk due to increased security motive and favourable personal resources. Kets De Vries (1977) argues that entrepreneurs are anxious individuals, who are non-conformist, poorly organised and not a stranger to self-destructive behaviour. The attribute of non-conformist can be applied to Victoria yet the characteristics of poor organisation or self-destructive behaviour cannot be applied to Victoria as she does not portray these personalities. Although Victoria reveals she has an inner direction with self-reliance, she does not neglect interpersonal relations with her family, work colleagues and clients. Overall, the dream to establish a private kingdom, a high need for achievement, internal locus of control and non-conformist behaviour all contribute towards the personality attributes of an entrepreneur. In conclusion, entrepreneurs need to possess a high need for achievement and a high internal locus of control.

My Chautauqua Essay -- Personal Narrative essay about myself

My Chautauqua I have a tendency to forget to breathe when I'm sitting in my art history class. A double slide projector set-up shoots its characteristic artillery - bright colors, intense shapes, inscriptions in languages that are at times read merely as symbols by my untrained mind, archaic figures with bodies contorted like elementary school students on the recess monkey bars. I discuss Diego Rivera's "The Liberation of the Peon," Frida Kahlo's "Self-Portrait," and Anselm Kiefer's "To the Unknown Painter" with my classmates. The room is never silent as we marvel at these images. When the slide projectors give off that first glimmer of light, their Gatsby spot of a blurry green hope at the end of the dock, we depart on our collective imaginary field trips. The teacher doesn't need to coax, to pry, to pose multiple-choice questions. We are already on our way. I wander down the Hall of Mirrors in the French Palace of Versailles. Soon after I am thinking of the converse style, and recall that German Architect Mies van der Rohe has created the most simplistic a...

Capitalism vs. Communism :: Compare Conrast Comparison

Capitalism vs. Communism For many years the United States as looked upon communism as an evil and must not spread to other countries. The Cold War is a perfect example of this; we spent 40 years in terror due to this way of thinking. Now we understand that communism is not an evil just another way of organizing a country. Capitalism and Communism has its own ideas on how a government should run, whether it’s through advancement of people According to Minsky capitalism is not just the market economy, but it is also a financial economy (1). Minsky states that there are two sets of prices, first is the prices of current output, and second consist of the prices of assets (1). Capitalism is an economic system characterized by freedom of the market (essay.com 1). Capitalism is different from many other economic ideas by the fact that capitalism gives individuals freedoms with minimal government interference. In a market capitalist system, capital and land are private property (Haramis 1). From this enterprises can be formed by individuals by attaining land and equipment. An enterprise organizes and directs production. The United States is known as a post-industrials economy, this means that the United States is a service economy. There has been several different types’ capitalism that has influenced the world. First was Adam Smith’s idea about capitalism, which is proprietary capitalism. During this era of capitalism there were few corporations and probably none as we know them in our times (Haramis 1). The second form of capitalism is the progressive capitalist economy. In this form of capitalism, investment outputs are part of the current output (Minsky 2). Although capitalism has been through several changes throughout the years the capitalistic economy system has been the most influential economical as well as political system. Like capitalism communism also has many benefits for its people. First everyone has a job and is treated the same. Communism can be defined as an economic and political system in which facts of production are collectively owned and directed by the state (essay.com 1).

Brazil Employees Expectations Essay

In Brazil the maximum working hours per week are usually 40 to 44 hours, depending upon whether the employee works 5 or 6 days a week. The Brazilian Labour Law prescribes an annual vacation of 30 days which should be taken all at once or divided in two parts (one half must be of at least 20 days). Brazilian workers are eligible for full-time employment already at the age of 14 but there are certain protective regulations covering adolescents aged 14 to 18. Brazilian labour unions There are several thousand unions and umbrella organisations in Brazil which are supposed to support full-time workers. The Brazilian Trade Union Federation (Central Unica dos Trabalhadores) has made protection of employees and health policies one of its top priorities. Yet as most employees in Brazil work without an official work contract they have no access to the support of a labour union. Link: http://www.justlanded.com/english/Brazil/Brazil-Guide/Jobs/Working-in-Brazil Employment Agreements Since labor laws are statutory in nature, labor contracts must fit squarely within their narrow parameters. Employment contracts cannot deviate from the law in any way that waives, releases, or circumvents a worker’s rights. Some employers get creative and choose to frame the relationship as that of an independent contractor, rather than an employee. However, structuring the relationship in that manner has little effect if a Labor court finds that the independent contractor was in fact performing activities of an employee as legally defined. Courts will consider variables such as work hours, place of work, subjectivity to the employer’s administrative rules, reporting requirements, and compensation, among others, in determining whether the individual is indeed an independent contractor or in fact an employee. Unfortunately for companies, courts tend to favor protecting the employee and usually grant whatever statutory benefit for which the individual has petitioned. Employee Wages and Hours After your company has established the type of relationship that it will have with the individual, it must comply with strict labor requirements. In Brazil, the minimum wage (â€Å"salà ¡rio mà ­nimo†) is currently set by the federal government at R$545.00 per month, although some regions may require a minimum that exceeds this baseline. Accompanying the minimum wage is the concept of the workday, or jornada, defined as the time the employee is available to the employer, whether performing his function or not. A workday cannot exceed eight (8) hours per day and 44 hours a week. Employees whose working hours exceed the maximum hours of work prescribed by law earn overtime, one of the major sources of labor litigation. Generally, the employee will earn time and a half for overtime hours worked. However, if overtime is earned on weekends and holidays, then the employee will earn two times the regularly earned wage. Employees working on commission are treated no differently, and are entitled to either double or time and a half commissions for all overtime hours worked. The legal workday varies depending on the industry involved. For example, bank workers, telephone operators, and doctors enjoy shorter workdays. Shift workers are also subject to different standards. If an employee works any one shift (morning, afternoon, or night) on any given week, his or her shift must be limited to six (6) hours. Employee Benefits Brazilian employees enjoy many benefits. For example, Brazilian law calls for a â€Å"thirteenth salary† (â€Å"dà ©cimo terceiro†), plus 30 days of vacation time that all employees earn at the end of each year. Disbursement of at least half of the â€Å"thirteenth salary† must be made by November, or in the month when the employee takes vacation, if he or she has solicited the thirteenth salary in January. The last portion must be paid by December 20. Employers must also comply with social contributions and the FGTS (Fundo de Garantia por Tempo de Servià §o, or â€Å"Guarantee Fund for Time of Service†). Both regular earnings and the thirteenth salary are subject to the FGTS, which corresponds to an eight (8) percent withholding of the monthly salary plus 0.5 percent of social contribution by the employer. This fund provides financial support in certain employment termination situations. The federal government administers the fund through mandatory deposits in accounts opened by the employer for the employee’s benefit with the Caixa Econà ´mica Federal (one of the largest government-owned banks).

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Cam) Essay

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes a variety of interventions—from exercise and dietary supplements to stress management strategies, biofeedback, and acupuncture. These therapies—which come from many different disciplines and traditions—are generally considered to be outside the realm of conventional medicine. When used in combination with conventional medicine, they are referred to as â€Å"complementary;† when used instead of conventional medicine, they are referred to as â€Å"alternative.† In the United States today, approximately 75% of people with MS use one form or another of CAM, generally in combination with their prescribed MS treatments. Are CAM Therapies Safe to Use? Many people use CAM because they believe that anything sold over-the-counter at a pharmacy or health food store is healthy and harmless. However, unlike conventional medical treatments—which are thoroughly tested and carefully regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—most CAM therapies have undergone very little, if any, scientific study. So some may be completely safe while others may actually pose significant risks—for example, by producing serious side effects or interacting negatively with other medications a person is taking. Fortunately, a greater effort is now being made to find ways to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of various types of CAM. Why is Controlled Clinical Studies So Important? Carefully-designed clinical trials are the best way to determine whether a treatment is safe and effective. Here are the reasons why: * Because the course of MS is variable, and each person’s symptoms tend to come and go in an unpredictable way, the only way to determine the effectiveness of a treatment is to test it on a large number of people. * Because most people—regardless of the disease they have—will have a positive response to any new treatment they receive (even if it’s an inactive substance or placebo), the effectiveness of a new treatment can only be proven by comparing it to a placebo or to another treatment that has already been shown to be effective. * Because every treatment carries with it the risk of anticipated and unanticipated side effects, the only way to evaluate a treatment’s safety is to evaluate it in a large number of people over a sufficient period of time. Recommended Guidelines to Follow People who are considering using a CAM therapy should ask the following questions: * What does the treatment involve? * How and why is it supposed to work? * How effective is it? * What are the risks? * How much does it cost? The answers to these questions can help a person considering a CAM therapy to weigh the benefits against the risks. For those who decide to go ahead with the CAM therapy, here are some good, common sense recommendations: Keep your physician informed about everything you are taking. Not sharing this important information is like asking your physician to treat you blindfolded—and knowing everything you are taking will allow your doctor to alert you to possible side effects or drug interactions. Don’t abandon conventional therapy. The treatments your physician prescribes for you are the ones that have been evaluated in controlled clinical trials or accepted by the MS medical community as safe and effective therapies. So stay with your prescribed treatments even if you decide to add CAM to your treatment plan. Document the experience. Keep a detailed log of what you take or what is done and any changes you experience. Check out These Complementary Approaches to Physical Health and Emotional Well-Being * Food and Diet—Although various diets have been promoted to cure or control MS, no diet has been proven to modify the course of MS. MS specialists recommend that people follow the same high fiber, low fat diet that is recommended for all adults. * Exercise— Exercise offers many benefits for people with MS. In addition to improving your overall health, aerobic exercise reduces fatigue and improves bladder and bowel function, strength, and mood. Stretching exercises reduce stiffness and increase mobility. The physicial therapist can recommend an exercise plan to fit your abilities and limitations. * Stress management—The relationship between stress and the onset or worsening of MS is far from clear—and different types of stress appear to affect different people in different ways. But none of us feel our best when we’re stressed, so it’s important to find the stress management strategies that work best for you. * Acupuncture—Acupuncture is finding its way into Western medicine, with studies suggesting possible benefits for a wide range of problems. Definition of terms: 1. Alternative medicines – is any practice that is put forward as having the healing effects of medicine, but is not based on evidence gathered with the scientific method. Typically not part of conventional treatment, alternative medicine is usually based on tradition, belief in supernatural energies, pseudoscience, errors in reasoning, propaganda, or fraud. Alternative therapies lack scientific validation, and their effectiveness is either unproved or disproved. The treatments are those that are not part of the conventional, science-based healthcare system. 2. Complementary medicines – is treatment and medicine that you use in addition to your doctor’s standard care. 3. Dietary Supplements – dietary supplements are substances you eat or drink. They can be vitamins, minerals, herbs or other plants, amino acids (the individual building blocks of protein), or parts of these substances. They can be in pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid form. They supplement (add to) the diet and should not be considered a substitute for food. Importance of CAM in Clinical Pharmacy Studying CAM is important in clinical pharmacy since it is concerned with drugs. If you have a patient who does CAM system, then you can be aware of do’s and don’ts so you can perform a better patient counseling. Since CAM is not suggested, but at least you know it, then you can support your patients regarding that. Situational Analysis Talk to your doctor about risks and benefits of complementary and alternative medicine Work with your conventional medical doctor to help you make informed decisions regarding complementary and alternative treatments. Even if your doctor can’t recommend a specific practitioner, he or she can help you understand possible risks and benefits before you try a treatment. It’s especially important to involve your doctor if you’re pregnant, have medical problems or take prescription medicine. And don’t stop or change your conventional treatment — such as the dose of your prescription medications — without talking to your doctor first. Finally, be sure to keep your doctor updated on any complementary and alternative therapies you’re using, including herbal and dietary supplements.

Strategic Marketing Management of Nintendo Assignment

Strategic Marketing Management of Nintendo - Assignment Example Furthermore, members of this club have access to limited edition products that are not available to non members. Finally, the company sells video games that are segmented by games for Nintendo Wii, Wii U, DS and 3DS. Although majority of the games are sold through retailers, some are available for download on the company’s e-shop website. Current market/s including customer behavior issues, demand and trends The company uses differentiated positioning for its offerings. While the company has historically targeted the segment of gamers, it has recently shifted its attention to incorporate non-gamers. This segment comprises of families, women as well as individuals who are ‘not’ hard-core gamers. In other words, Nintendo now targets individuals who want quick-fix gaming solutions in addition to serious gamers (MaRS, 2012). This has been matched by a shift in the company’s value proposition which has evolved from the delivery of intensely realistic gaming expe riences to providing fun-filled family entertainment. The company soon realized the changing customer demographics and saw a large potential in the market for women and pensioners. As of 2010, Wii was presented by 90% of primary console female players (ESRB, 2010). Overall, women account for 40% of video game players (ESRB, 2010). This has opened up new markets for Nintendo, thereby reducing reliance on the market for hard-core gamers which has become highly competitive. While price and performance plays a key role in determining customer response to the company’s products, emotional attachment to the product is just as important in order to capture customer value. Furthermore, the company’s use... The researcher of this essay focuses on the analysis of the current business products and product lines that the Nintendo uses to gain benefits today. Nintendo seems to have used the latter with majority of its products carrying the â€Å"Nintendo† label. The product lines include the Nintendo Wii U, Wii, Nintendo 3DS as well as services such as Club Nintendo and Video Games. The Nintendo Wii comprises is a hardware – game box that is motion controlled and allows users to play games on it. The researcher presents tdifferent products of the company and states that the company also sells video games, that are segmented by games for Nintendo Wii, Wii U, DS and 3DS. Although majority of the games are sold through retailers, some are available for download on the company’s e-shop website. Current markets including customer behavior issues, demand and trends are later discussed in the essay. The researcher also describes how the Nintendo company uses differentiated pos itioning for its offerings, where price and performance plays a key role in determining customer response. Nintendo outsources its production, that is, it makes limited term contracts with various companies that manufacture its products in their factories. This is because the company had initiated a blue ocean strategy whereby it attempted at broadening its customer base. The researcher then concluds that Nintendo can capitalize on its core competency of being the pioneer in the video gaming industry - a competency which is both valuable and rare.