MICROECONOMIC REPORT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

MICROECONOMIC REPORT - Essay Example It is in this context that mergers, diversifications and rapid expansion at the industrial level are often argued as the symbolic representation of capitalism as a measure for economic development (Pacione, 1985). Notably, this particular understanding has been considered when selecting articles for this assignment. In this regard, it has been observed from the articles reviewed that the government can also play a vital role in terms of formulating adequate guidelines and deregulation systems in order to develop the country’s economic position. Article 1: â€Å"America's Big Banks are Back on Top† As revealed in the article by The Economist (2013), after a remarkable invasion of financial crisis in the year 2008, the American banks have re-established their real role in the Wall Street’s financial environment in the current year. The banking institutions of the US have faced dramatic alterations owing to incessant instability on investments since the last five ye ars. The volatility within the financial performance has also been observed in the financial institutions due to the rapid pace of fluctuation on the global financial movements and variations in the financial portfolio of the global banking institutions (The Economist, 2013). ... overnment have occupied a number of steps in the midst of the financial crisis in the year 2008 with the intention to deal with the financial crisis faced by the country. The crisis initiated in America’s real estates and banking as well as the other financial institutions expansion to the world economy deciphering greater sustainability (Poole & William, 2010). Few of the major decisions of the Federal Government focusing on considerable changes and development of the financial rules by the banking institutions have made the great recession to an end at a much earlier phase than the expected stipulated period. For instance, the Emergency legislation passed by the U.S. assembly in the year 2008 and in the early quarter of 2009 focused on assisting the financially declining phase of various industries in the economy. Additionally, few of the other major initiatives that developed by the federal government as explained in the article The Economist (2013) have been illustrated he reunder. Avoiding breakdown of the major financial institutions Reducing the impact of the limitations of US financial institutions Providing instant incentives to consumer spending through raising after-tax household income Providing temporary funds to the state and the local government in order to reduce the needs and the spending during the recession period Looking after the newly laid off workers and members of other economically vulnerable populations taking anti-poverty measures Making available of federal endorse for infrastructure investment Source: (Poole & William, 2010) Furthermore, as noted in the article, The Economist (2013), in accordance with the recessionary effects in the global financial position, along with the US, the UK financial institutions have also faced severe

Emerging influences in the United States healthcare system Essay

Emerging influences in the United States healthcare system - Essay Example re organizations influence trends in service delivery since every other organization combines business strategies that help in the best performance of the institution (Bowden & Smits, 2012). This paper attempts to analyse to what extent workforce tsunami, Hospital Acquired Conditions policies and Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award system influences current trends in the United States healthcare system. It is evident that there are a lot of skills that the old workers in America have accumulated over time; but in the next ten years or so, this story may hit the economical headlines and human interest. People talk about age as just being a number, but at the same time I think this saying should only work best during birthdays because aging as far as the American workforce is generally concerned is becoming an economic threat. This factor, generally referred to as the workforce tsunami, cuts across all businesses and workplaces, including the human healthcare facilities. These facilities invest so much in the old, trusting them for their long term experience without considering the fact that a time will come when most of these old employees will pass on. This occurrence will have the risk of greatly affecting the American workplaces and facilities in the healthcare system may lack workers for an unknown period before the right experts are obtained to replace the aging and perishing g eneration. This basically will have a potential detrimental impact on the lives of Americans, especially those in their sick beds during such an unfortunate occurrence (Laing eta al., 2009). Realistically and evidenced by statistical data, it is expected that about 10,000 baby boomers will continue turning to that age of sixty five years every year until we get to 2030. A more realist observation is that about a quarter of a million of all Americans find themselves celebrating sixty five years of age on monthly basis. Looking at these figures may not indicate a great impact, but the

Significance of Product Life Cycle

Significance of Product Life Cycle The concept of product life-cycle highlights that sooner or later all products die and that if management wishes to sustain its revenues, it must replace the declining products with the new ones. The product life-cycle concept indicates as to what can be expected in the market for a new product at various stages. i.e., introduction, growth, maturity and decline. Thus, the concept of product life-cycle can be used as a forecasting tool. It can alert management that its product will inevitably face saturation and decline, and the host of problems these stages pose. The product life-cycle is also a useful framework for describing the typical evolution of marketing strategy over the stages of product life-cycle. This will help in taking sound marketing decisions at different stages of the product life-cycle. After a product has been developed, it is launched in the market with the help of various promotional devices such as advertising, sales promotion, publicity and paresonal selling. In other words, product development must be followed by the successful introduction of the product in the market. For this, planning for introduction of the product starts during the process of product development itself. Every firm makes sale projections during introduction, growth and maturity stage of the product life-cycle. To acheive the projected sales target, it formulates promotional, pricing and distribution policies. Thus, the concept of product life-cycle facilitates integrated marketing policies relating to product, price, place and promotion/distribution. The advantages of PLC to a firm are as follows: When the product life-cycle is predictable, the management must be cautious in taking advance steps before the decline stage, by adopting product modification, pricing strategies, style, quality, change, etc. The firm can prepare an effective product plan by knowing the product life-cycle of a product. The management can find new uses of the product for the expansion of market during growth stage and for extending the maturity stage. The management can adopt latest technological changes to improve the product quality, features and design. STAGES IN PRODUCT LIFE-CYCLE Product life cycle comprises four stages: Introduction stage Growth stage Maturity stage Decline stage product-life-cycle-stages-plc Fig 1: product life-cycle Product Life Cycle (PLC) Introduction stage EXAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS http://www.ithappensinindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/BPL-Television.jpg BPL TELEVISIONS Many products generally have a characteristic known as perishable distinctiveness.ÂÂ   This means that a product which is distinct when new degenerates over the years into a common commodity.ÂÂ   The process by which the distinctiveness gradually disappears as the product merges with other competitive products, has been rightly termed by Joel Dean as the cycle of competitive degeneration.ÂÂ   The cycle begins with the invention of a new product and is often followed by patent protection, and further development to make it saleable.ÂÂ   This is usually followed by a rapid expansion in its sales as the product gains market acceptance.ÂÂ   Then competitors enter the field with imitation and rival products and the distinctiveness of the new product starts diminishing.ÂÂ   The speed of degeneration differs from product to product.ÂÂ   While some products fail immediately on birth or a little later, others may live long enough.ÂÂ   BPLs picture in pi cture TV was eliminated at the introduction stage itself.ÂÂ   The innovation of a new product and its degeneration into a common product is termed as the life cycle of a product. There are five distinct stages in the life cycle of a product as shown below : Introduction. Research or engineering skill leads to product development.ÂÂ   The product is put on the market; awareness and acceptance are minimal.ÂÂ   There are high promotional costs.ÂÂ   Sometimes a product may generate a new demand, for example, Maggi.ÂÂ   Volume of sales is low and there may be heavy losses. Growth. The product begins to make rapid sales gains because of the cumulative effects of introductory promotion, distribution, and word-of-mouth influence.ÂÂ   High and sharply rising profits may be witnessed.ÂÂ   But to sustain growth, consumer satisfaction must be ensured at this stage. Maturity. Sales growth continues, but at a diminishing rate, because of the declining number of potential customers who remain unaware of the product or who have taken no action.ÂÂ   Also, the last of the unsuccessful competing brands will probably withdraw from the market.ÂÂ   For this reason, sales are likely to continue to rise while the customers for the withdrawn brands are mopped up by the survivors.ÂÂ   There is no improvement in the product but changes in selling effort are common.ÂÂ   Profit margins slip despite rising sales. Saturation. Sales reach and remain on a plateau marked by the level of replacement demand.ÂÂ   There is little additional demand to be stimulated. Decline.ÂÂ  Sales begin to diminish absolutely as the customers begin to tire of the product and the product is gradually edged out by better products or substitutes, for example, dial telephones and petrol jeeps. http://www.mbaknol.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/product-life-cycle.jpg Time Fig 2: product life-cycle of BPL TVs There are several reasons why the life-cycle of a product tends to be short :ÂÂ   (a) continuous research for product development, (b) simultaneous attempts by several companies in the same direction, and (c) tendency of a new idea to attract competitors.ÂÂ   Improvements offered by one company are likely to be met and, if possible, exceeded by competitors in a relatively short period.ÂÂ   If a competitor hits upon a real improvement (perhaps based on an entirely new technology) and he markets it well, both sales and profits of the original technology) and he markets it well, both sales and profits of the original product innovator may decline drastically. It may be noted that products may begin a new cycle or revert to an early stage as a result of (a) the discovery of new uses, (b) the appearance of new users, and (c) introduction of new features. As the distinctiveness of the products fade, the pricing discretion enjoyed by their producers gradually declines.ÂÂ   This is what happened in the case of many products like ball-point pens, transistors, radios, etc.ÂÂ   Throughout the cycle, changes take place in price and promotional elasticity of demand as also in the production and distribution costs of the product.ÂÂ   Pricing policy, therefore, must be adjusted over the various phases of the cycle. Product life-cycle concentrates only the life-cycle of a product beginning with its introduction into the market to the post-marketing phase.ÂÂ   However, a series of processes are to be undertaken by the management even prior to the introduction of a product in the market.ÂÂ   These processes include exploration, screening, analysis, development, testing, etc.ÂÂ   The concept of product life-cycle may be used as a managerial tool. Marketing strategies, however, have to be changed with changes in the phase of the life-cycle of a product.ÂÂ   An understanding of the cycle is helpful to the managers for a rational understanding of the future sales activities as also planning of marketing strategies.ÂÂ   Hence, PLC is synonymous with the pattern of demand for a product over time. The length of time that a product spends at anyone stage varies from product to product.ÂÂ   A product might not pass through every stage in the cycle.ÂÂ   Some products, for instance, might not get past the introductory stage, while others might not get past the growth or even the maturity stage.ÂÂ   There might be still other products that might pass through the introduction to maturity stages but might take a longer period to reach the saturation stage and hence might take a longer period to reach the decline stage.ÂÂ   Some products, for instance, might not get past the maturity stage.ÂÂ   There might be still other products that might pass through the introduction to maturity stages but might take a longer period to reach the saturation stage and hence might take a longer period to reach the decline stage.ÂÂ   Some products might even hustle through the entire cycle in an amazingly short period.ÂÂ   In certain cases, there might even be a repos itioning of a product, which might trigger off a new growth cycle.ÂÂ   http://www.dineshbakshi.com/phocadownload/product-life-cycle.jpg ÂÂ  Fig 3: product life-cycle of Facebook

An Analysis of Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Othello Essays

â€Å"Think on thy sins† (5.2.43) he says, â€Å"They are loves I bear to you† (5.2.44) I respond. â€Å"Ay, and for that thou diest† (5.2.45). There is no pleading with my lord, his once amorous filled eyes are now brimming with anger, and anguish. This whole conversation has turned my mind into mush. How can he think that I would ever love Cassio? Is it not plain that he, Othello, is my lord and the only object of my affection? Does it not matter? I think it doesn’t. Othello’s whole body is shaking (5.2.50) and his eyes are rolling (5.2.41), these signs do not bode well for my life. Worse yet, he has already had Cassio killed. â€Å"Oh, banish me, my lord, kill me not!† (5.2.88) I beg, â€Å"Down, Strumpet,† he is undeterred (5.2.89). â€Å"It is too late† (5.2.95). I am not sure if I thought that, or if Othello said it. Either way, it is too late. His strong, calloused fingers are clutching my throat, violently squeezing unt il all of the air leaves my lungs. Spots- I see spots. Brightly colored yellow, red and blue spots. The spots grow and take shape. Images and scenes from my life are passing before my eyes, and then it hits me. â€Å"O, falsely, falsely murdered!† I cry (5.2.126). Emilia is here, â€Å"†¦ Sweet Desdemona, O sweet mistress, speak!† she begs (5.2.131). I must tell her, â€Å"A guiltless death I die† (5.2.132). â€Å"O, who hath done this deed?† Emilia inquires (5.2.133). She has to know the truth, â€Å"Nobody, I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell† (5.2.134-135). As the saying goes, hindsight is always twenty-twenty. For Desdemona, this is especially true. Desdemona was innocent and naà ¯ve to a fault. Her determination to mend the relationship between Cassio and Othello, only served to nourish the seed of doubt that was planted in Othello’... ... the light of heaven I know not how I lost him† (4.2.152-153). Once Iago planted the seed, created the story and showed Othello that Cassio had the Handkerchief, Desdemona was rendered guilty. It did not matter how much Desdemona protested, or denied the story, Iago’s reputation as an honest man superseded Desdemona’s reputation as a woman who, according to Iago, â€Å"†¦so young could give out such seeming, to seel her father’s eyes up close as oak, he thought ‘twas witchcraft† (3.3.213-215). Desdemona’s final line in the play shows that she believes she was responsible for her own death. In truth, however, the only sin Desdemona ever committed was bearing loves to the moor of Venice. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello, Moor of Venice. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Julia Reidhead. New York: .W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2008. 2119-2191. Print.

Health and social care Unit 4 P2 Essay

The development of individuals can be affected by a number of life factors which include genetic, biological, environmental, socio economic and lifestyle factors. All these life factors have a large variety of influences which will affect individuals and how they develop through the life stages. The first life factor is the genetics of an individual, a genetic influence which could affect the development of someone could be the predisposition to a particular disease such as Down syndrome. This particular disease is a chromosomal disorder and a genetic condition that typically causes some level of learning disability and a characteristic difference in physical features. These typical difficulties which are involved with this disorder affect the everyday life of the individual. With this disorder causing some level of learning disability, this will affect the way the child develops as a young person in regards to their education. This particular condition leads to much impairment in both the cognitive ability of the individual and also the physical growth too. Individuals with Down syndrome can have many different abnormalities which can affect their general health and bodily function. People with the condition have increased risk of gaining respiratory and hearing problems and epilepsy. With all these increased risks being involved with this condition, it shows in many ways how the condition can affect how individuals develop throughout their life. Their childhood will be difficult due to the teaching they will have, this will therefore affect their adulthood as they won’t have the same life knowledge as other adults. Their adolescence will be different and more difficult for them as they won’t have the same life as a teenager would in regards to developing the relationship side of life and beginning to explore their body in ways young adults do as changes begin. The long term outlook for an individual with Down syndrome is seen unlikely to be long. This particular condition is seen to slow the individual down and the health problems along with the condition jeopardize their life. This therefore affects the  development through the older adulthood life stage as they may not get to this age to experience this. The next life factor is biological influences that can affect the overall development of an individual as they go through all their life stages. Foetal alcohol syndrome is a biologic condition which can affect the development of a person from the minute they are conceived within the womb. This particular syndrome is a pattern of mental and physical defects that can develop a fetus in association with high levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. This particular condition can stunt the fetal growth or their weight which therefore affects the development of a child into adulthood as they have a stunt of growth. The consumption of alcohol whilst pregnant can damage neurons and the brain structures of the fetus. This therefore affects how the infant develops once born and can reduce the time it takes for the child to learn how to walk and talk. Fetal alcohol syndrome can create a collection of primary cognitive and functional disabilities, some of these including poor memory, attention deficits and impulsive behaviour. These disabilities can affect the childhood development as the schooling of the individual can become increasingly difficult and take longer, and as a result of trouble with learning at a young age it can affect the way the development throughout the other life stages occurs. As well as the disabilities that can occur above, there are secondary disabilities which can affect the development of a person. Examples of these are mental health problems and drug and alcohol addiction which can affect the development of adulthood as you don’t get to experience having a family and relationships as drug and alcohol addiction will affect the way you live and also your bodily functions which may decrease the chances of having a family. The appearance of you may also affect your older adulthood as the misuse of alcohol and drugs during your life can make you look older than you and also the long term illnesses may affect your chances of living longer. Access to employment and income is a potential influence of an environmental factor which can affect the development of people. Individuals who do not have enough income to look after themselves let alone their children still  insist on having children. This however is a downfall in today’s society as it leaves an increased possibility for difficulty in family life. No employment leads to no income in a family home, this can affect the way an infant is brought up in regards to being looked after and being fed. It may also lead to infants being put in care as parents can’t look after them properly and ably which already leaves room for the development of the child to be decreased due to them not having the care from their own parents at a young age. No employment or income can also affect childhood as this is the start of education, with no income families can’t afford to send their child to school and pay for their lunches or their essentials they may need for educational purposes. With no income it can also affect the way the child is treated at school, they may become a bullied individual as they may not have what other children may have. Adults who live a life with no employment and income can result in depression; this then leads to poor mental health and low self esteem which is the belief that you are inferior to others. Depression and stress can cause a poor diet and also for individuals not to take care of themselves like they should which will result in a lower expectancy of life for older adulthood. Another life factor is socio economic which could include the education of people. Individuals with few or no qualifications which they should have attained at childhood and adolescence from going to school and higher education are more likely to be unemployed or employed in low paid work. It is said that the education of individuals at childhood depends on the family they grow up in. As families with higher incomes than average usually get better paid jobs than those who live in families with low incomes. It also depends on the encouragement you get as a child and adolescence to whether you do well in education. Peer pressure is also a tough thing to overcome at adolescence which can interfere with the grades you attain within education. Those who don’t get the qualifications they want usually find adulthood to be difficult as they don’t have the income they would like for them to have a nice house and big family. This links in with no income or employment and again results in the likelihood of older adulthood to be lower in life expectancy due to not being able to afford a healthy lifestyle due to the failing of not attaining the qualifications within education. Lastly is the lifestyle of an individual which can affect the development of them throughout their life stages. A particular lifestyle influence could be nutrition and dietary choices individuals all make. Many people may choose to eat a diet that includes unhealthy fatty, salty or sugary foods. Other people may eat unhealthy foods because of convenience and cost. People with low income will find it harder to travel to supermarkets and stock up on cheaper food. Low income may also push people to choose an unhealthy diet because it can be harder and more expensive to choose a healthy one. This however will cause problems for individuals in the long run. If families have a poor income and therefore don’t choose a healthy diet for their families it results in children having poor diets which can affect the growth development of them as individuals. But also affect the brain and how it functions which can affect the child’s education. Other families might choose to give their children what they need in regards to nutrition and dietary choices, but not themselves which can cause people becoming obese and therefore affecting their lifestyle and development. If people become obese they usually become lazy and therefore don’t keep healthy and fit, this can affect the lifestyle of older adulthood as unfit and unhealthy elderly people can result in younger life expectancy as illnesses might take over elderly individuals. Overall it is clearly seen that there are many life factors that can influence the development of individuals and also the life expectancy of these individuals also. This is why it is important to have healthy lifestyles and to do the best you can throughout life to get the best out of it.

Compare and Contrast Walter Mitty with Rip Van Winkle Essay

â€Å"May Day! May Day! We’re going down!† Right before impact you are awaken suddenly by a tapping on your shoulder by your teacher and a class full of laughing peers. It happens to everyone at one point or another. Every high school student has been succumbed to a wild daydreaming adventure. In the short story, â€Å"The secret life of Walter Mitty† by James Thurber, a man by the name of Walter Mitty can hardly tell reality from his vivid imaginary dreams which undertake him spontaneously as he feuds with his nagging wife. In a very similar short story, â€Å"Rip Van Winkle† by Washington Irving, the main character Rip Van Winkle slips away from his domestic problems with his wife to a place of serenity where he can sleep in the peace and quiet of the Catskill Mountains. These two stories possess many striking similarities yet there are many differences between them which make them unique. Similarities run wild between these two stories. The most noticeable trait in which both stories possess heavily is the portrayal of the wife. In â€Å"Rip Van Winkle†, Rip’s wife is a nagging, mean old hag who gets her kicks out of bossing him around and taking him away from his fun with the neighborhood children and his dog. An extremely strong connection can be made from the wife of Rip to the wife of Walter Mitty. Mitty’s wife is obviously a control freq who always has to have things her way, and if things fail to lean in her favor then all havoc breaks loose. â€Å"Not so fast! You’re driving too fast!† said Mrs. Mitty. â€Å"What are you driving so fast for? (Thurber 2)† Another large similarity between Walter and Rip are their overwhelming tendencies to avoid any form of laborous activity pertaining to their own benefit by choosing to do something a little more exciting and fun. In Rip’s case, he simply leaves his wife and his h ouse with his dog, Wolf, to escape all of the responsibilities his wife imposes on him to be in the peace of the forest where he can relax for awhile. â€Å"Rip Van Winkle, however, was one of those happy mortals, of foolish, well-oiled dispositions, who take the world easy, eat white bread or brown, whichever can be got with least thought or trouble, and would rather starve on a penny than work for a pound. (Irving 4)† Walter Mitty is sidetracked every time he is told to do something by falling into a new daydream. His wife often has to tell him to do a particular activity multiple times before Mitty makes a formidable attempt at completing it. â€Å"When he came out into the street again, with the  overshoes in a box under his arm, Walter Mitty began to wonder what the other thing was his wife had told him to get. She had told him, twice before they set out from their house for Waterbury. (Thurber 5)† These two characters go hand-in-hand with one another, yet there are still significant details about each one which make them unique. Although very similar, these stories possess many distinct differences which separate them from one another. The first and foremost is the time in which each takes place. â€Å"Rip Van Winkle† is set in the colonial days from pre-Revolution to post-Revolution while â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty† is set in the roaring ’20s of the 20th century. The main characters also have their own unique attributes as well which helps to distinguish them from each other. Walter Mitty is more of a dreamer and oddball, and uses his dreams to escape from his troubles and worries of the day. Rip Van Winkle is more of a playful, joyous person who just outright despises his home. He works extremely hard for other people and is always there to help others out yet he refuses to make any tangible efforts to get things done around the house. â€Å"In a word Rip was ready to attend to anybody’s business but his own; but as to doing family duty, and keeping his farm in order, he found it impossible. (Irving 3)† Obviously another significant detail which separates these stories is how Rip Van Winkle falls asleep for 20 years and sleeps through the Revolution, waking up only to find that everything he had once known is gone for the most part. He awakes to learn that his wife has died and this actually made him happy. Walter Mitty does not despise his wife in the same way. Mainly, Walter Mitty is just slightly annoyed by her antics and her need for control. This detail probably poses the biggest separation between plots of the two stories. Differences are noticeably large and significant when comparing these short tales. Though very similar indeed, these two stories are in fact very different from one another. The main characters of the two run parallel in description and action yet the plots seem to stray away from one another. â€Å"Rip Van Winkle† and â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty† are two very unique and priceless pieces of American literature.