Business Ethics and Sustainability Financial Market

Question: Talk about the Business Ethics and Sustainability for Financial Market. Answer: Presentation: Business morals are significant any kind of business around the world. In the given case likewise there are some moral gave that has been watched. The principal moral issue emerging, for this situation, is the straightforwardness (Gavai, 2010). There are two sorts of paces of premiums kept up by the bank one is for the investors and another is for the borrowers. Additionally, the banks likewise have an alternate pace of premium picked up in situations when they are putting the cash of the clients in the market to support the banks. There is likewise an alternate rate engaged with the instance of the bank to bank exchanges. Along these lines, for this situation, this was the principle issue where various banks of London couldn't keep up the straightforwardness of the rates to LIBOR. The second was that they couldn't keep up their dedication either to the clients or to the administration. The distinction in the rates likewise carried misfortune and awful name to their name in the busin ess sectors. Numerous banks were associated with this embarrassment. The third was that they turned out to be narrow minded in considering themselves in the market than of the clients (Duska, 2000). The most significant business ethic is a fulfillment to the clients and keeping up faithfulness with them. However, here in the previously mentioned case the financiers just idea of their benefit. Indeed, it is significant for any firm to take a gander at their benefit scale yet not at the cost the confidence and unwaveringness of the clients. In any business the principal standards are genuineness. Hence, there is additionally an adage Trustworthiness is the best approach, which is the main inclination for any firm. This thing ought to be kept up by any firm up to a degree. It is realized that each business has some standard avoided the law however it isn't business strategy. The business morals are significant for a business. What's more, here in the matter of bank unwaveringness and g enuineness is the fundamental wellspring of pay and picking up clients and furthermore popularity (Ethical Issues in Business: Perspectives from the Business Academic Community, 2004). The Traders Ability to Impact the Interest Rate Benchmark Represents a Conflict of Interest. Talk about. The above proclamation is genuine on the grounds that in any business there ought to be a morals and approaches that ought to be followed generally by all the business firms in general. Consequently, every nation has its own guidelines and guidelines for the agents. The merchant ought not get the entire position, in regards to, rules for maintaining the business. Here in the given case, the principle issue was that the dealers were given the full right and authority of setting paces of premiums in the market (Duan, Wei, Chen, 2014). Each dealer will consider their own advantage. What's more, on the off chance that the dealer is unscrupulous, at that point he won't reconsider before with his clients moreover. Here LIBOR had given the freedom to the brokers for setting their paces of offered interests. So the brokers while playing with the business morals even overlooked one thing that, it is the bank's rates which decide the financial status of the nation. The LIBOR includes numerous banks exchanges and their rates decided. Thus, playing with the standards would not just cut down the economy of the nation yet in addition of the world in general as in light of the fact that banking includes enthusiasm of the clients as well as of numerous corporate firms attractive sums dealings (Vasudev Rodriguez Guerrero, 2014). Along these lines, it is supported if the full authority of anything ought not be given to any firm in general. This declines their dependability and genuineness towards the sellers. Since a merchant can just consider the benefits, thus, it might happen that while pondering the benefit of their firm they may very well disregard or ignore the interests and obligations of them towards humankind and government and the world. Here, the benchmark of setting the rates was given to them. Along these lines, this is the thing that occurred at long last, what we give the name of outrage (Bahaji, 2014). In the above outrage, it was seen that the brokers separately pondered their benefit issues. Here the financiers contemplated their own advantages and advantages. The control of the rates was likewise one major issue. For developing their business they even attempted to control the rates (Chang Gong, 2013). Not just that they even attempted to energize other with respect to control of their rates to expand the overall revenues. Numerous large names of banks like Citigroup, Royal Bank of Scotland and Deutsche Bank were engaged with this outrage. Their eagerness drives them and furthermore their nation to such a degree of embarrassment. The goal of the merchants was not in any way perfect in the above case. They were exceptionally ravenous and egotistical individuals who just idea about their own enthusiasm of advantages. They were least made a big deal about their environmental factors. It is extremely evident where there is a major measure of cash included it winds up into a few or the other outrage (Cohen Khermouch, 2002). A genuine calling includes a few ethics morals that gives it the notoriety and popularity. On the off chance that there is no genuineness in any business, at that point that business doesn't prosper far later on. Here we see that for the time being the merchants had earned a ton by discarding the clients, dumping the administration, jettisoning between bank connections however toward the end, the outcome was true to form. They all needed to pay billions of cash fines (Springer, 2016). There were numerous lawful claims forced on them. Their name additionally got terrible in the market. It requires some investment to raise any business and proceed with it in the market. However, it can take just a couple of moments to lose everything that likewise at one go. Recovering everything will resemble beginning from zero. Supposing that somebody is new in the market individuals give them a possibility and on the off chance that they like it, at that point they acknowledge that firm and depend them with confidence. In any case, in the event that a decent firm loses its name, at that point it gets hard for any individual to put confidence that firm once more. The brokers needed to pay for their once profited firm by losing a tremendous measure of cash as fine. Utilitarianism - It is genuinely said that As you sow, so you procure. Here in the above case, we see that whatever the dealers had done for the sake of benefit was really their individual avarice in each phase of association. They needed to confront the results which were without a doubt stunning. They needed to pay a lot of fines which included a huge number of cash. In certain banks, it was seen that when they really got the chance to comprehend the disaster they have come up to, it was past the point of no return (McConnell, 2013). They couldn't do anything. They were additionally forced with lawful charges and fines. Thus, every broker should consider the results before settling on any negative methods for business. Deontology - The ethical morals of each individual get influenced when the idea goes to the huge measure of cash. In any case, this isn't pertinent for all the people. This is on the grounds that ethical morals fluctuate from individual to individual. This has no connection to the firm or organization in the person in included. On the off chance that an individual is straightforward, at that point nobody can demolish his morals with any measure of cash or extravagance. Be that as it may, on the off chance that an individual is exploitative, at that point, the individual in question can show deceitfulness in any capacity. Here additionally something very similar occurred. In the above case, no individual can be accused for the incidents in the records. The laborers overall are to be accused (Ashton Christophers, 2015). Ethicalness morals - Though the facts demonstrate that the goodness morals of each individual stays same regardless of what occurs. Be that as it may, it isn't completely evident. Some of the time in the event that an individual is working in any firm, at that point that individual has no independence there. The individual in question needs to submit to the happenings in their firm whether it is loved or not loved. In any activity, each individual needs to tune in to their seniors. So regardless of whether the lesser imagines that the choices taken aren't right or attempts to restrict anything then that individual needs to lose the employment. In this way, in some cases requirement for the activity likewise drives individuals in the way of negative deeds. Henceforth it very well may be said that in the above embarrassment, likewise individuals who were gotten together with the firm yet might be not be remembered for the outrage however needed to languish over all (CRISP, 2010). Banks are controlled by individuals and individuals are covetous of cash. In this way, the merchants can't just be accused for the outrage. The enthusiasm of the broker likewise achieved this embarrassment. Each bank proprietor contemplated the benefit of their bank. In addition, the individuals working in the bank likewise thought that it was productive for them so they additionally held hands with them with no hesitation. Each individual element of the bank took an enthusiasm, beginning from the higher to the lower post are included the accomplishment of this outrage. Nobody at any point contemplated the results they may need to look toward the end (Hicks, 2010). The activity of the merchants is to exchange cash. It is their obligation to consider the cash as it were. The brokers work under the bank for cash dealings. They affirm the managing, get their offer and run off. It is the banks which remain. The firm consistently needs to confront the outcomes. Toward the end the dealers didn't need to pay the fine, the brokers needed to. The dealers demonstrated them the negative way and took their offer. Be that as it may, the bank needed to endure toward the end. So no individual can be accused in these cases. It goes like a chain of faults (Banker, examiner, or speculator?, 2011). End As it is told before likewise that it take seconds to lose trust however it takes a very long time to make it. What's more, losing the made trust and recovering it is another huge obligation and difficulty. Like, on account of setbacks the entire firm including each worker needs to pay for it, comparably while getting back the trust likewise every individual needs to invest their push to recapturing it. It is consistently a collective endeavor (Farla, 2014). While recovering trust the underlying period of picking up trust, before all else, appears to be simpler. It implies that individuals feel that when they had begun the busin

TEDDY BOYS (YOUTH SUBCULTURE) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

TEDDY BOYS (YOUTH SUBCULTURE) - Essay Example They take emblematic implications and become blemish for the individuals who abhor it and a token of distinguishing proof and acknowledgment into the fellowship for the individuals who are a piece of that gathering. The Teddy Boys subculture developed during the 1950s in England (Hazlehurst and Hazlehurst, 1998). Basically it was a response to the limiting space and declining status that the working class English individuals were given. Building up a subculture is inescapable, as Dick Hebdige writes in his book Subculture: The Meaning of Style (1979), that â€Å"modes† and â€Å"categories† acquired from the old people no longer serve the necessities of another age. The Teddy Boy subculture picked up roots during post-world war Britain (Hazlehurst and Hazlehurst, 1998), to speak more loudly against the social shamefulness that was tormenting Britain. It rose from the working white collar class and strived to show signs of improvement economic wellbeing (Hazlehurst and Hazlehurst, 1998). The Teds were initially called the Cosh Boys later Daily Express named the Edwardian looking young people as Teddy Boys (Robertson, 2007). The ‘Teddy Boys’ was the first with recognizable posses that wore comparative attire. The exemplary Teddy Boy look would be the drake coat and ‘brothel creepers’ for footwear. To start with there were curtains and drainpipe pants for the Teds (Marko, 2007). Later this look was moved up to wraps with neckline, sleeve and pocket trimmings. The pants got smaller with crepe soled shoes (otherwise called the creepy crawly smashers). The haircut was intensely gelled (lubed) with a quiff formed into a DA, all the more prevalently known as the ‘duck’s arse’ (Marko, 2007). The ‘Edwardian’ style received by the Teds was a ‘take’ on the sort of garments worn by a specific segment of the British armed force (the Guards) after WW2, with intentional references back to when the high society were ‘in charge’. Worn by the watchmen the style had solid

Midterm Message

Midterm Message As all students at the University of Illinois know, its time for midterm exams. I personally have two this week and had one the previous week. Upon transferring to the university, I was worried about how different the difficulty and environment of the test taking would be, and thankfully, I was wrong. After taking my first midterm in Math 415 and studying previous midterms given in my other classes, I have come to realize the testing here is the same, if not easier than what I experienced at the College of DuPage. This is not a bad thing, either, as it means that the teaching is better or the emphasis is less on memorization and more on understanding, which appeals to students like me whom apply better than memorize. Also, it seems most tests are taken  in the afternoon, which allows for last minute touch-ups or glances at difficult material. The midterms also usually cover the material the teacher stresses or uses in PowerPoints, which makes what you read in the book extra enrichment in mastering the core material. With that said, you are overly prepared to take most midterms if you complete all of the work, but sometimes if you need to bridge a gap, all you should do is see the teachers assistants or the teacher. Therefore, when a midterm comes up at the University of Illinois, you should not worry because there are not tricks or stretches in the information given on the tests, only lectured information that is intended to be used with ingenuity. With that said, I would like to conclude  that no one should be intimidated by the midterms at the University of Illinois as a current student or transfer. The purpose of tests, in my mind, is to see that you can apply and manage what you have learned in a class and not purely memorize material. The University of Illinois and I certainly agree in that regard, which makes testing less frightening for someone with an imperfect memory, as we all have, and that person  still capable of succeeding on exams. Pictures courtesy of: tamaramccleary.com, play.google.com, wtax.com, and me Jacob Class of 2018 I am a transfer student studying Engineering Physics in the College of Engineering. I started with the Illinois Engineering Pathways program through the College of DuPage. I am from Naperville, Illinois.

Should Marijuana Be Legal - 1453 Words

Marijuana is arguably the most controversial drug in history. In general, when someone hears the word â€Å"drugs† they think of a terrible substance that will destroy the human body. However bringing up marijuana, many people think of different things. Some think of a degenerate hippie, but many Americans simply do not know what to think, and bringing up the legalization of the substance is even more controversial. There is a large group of people that believe the legalization of marijuana is pointless and only serves the purpose of making people unhealthy, but at the same time there are many that believe its legalization will solve many problems in America. Marijuana should be a legal, regulated drug because of its long history, the United†¦show more content†¦Woodward challenged the propriety of passing legislation based only on newspaper accounts and questioned why no data from the Bureau of prisons or the Children s Bureau supported the FBN s position.† (Ma rijuana Use Should Be Decriminalized.) Not only is this a clear reason for the court s decision to be revisited, but it is a question that has gone without a good answer for far too long. Another reason that marijuana should be legalized is the clear connection, it would have on our economy. Now it is no secret that the United States is in debt, but it is less known that marijuana can be a key component in fixing this problem. There are currently â€Å"...30,000 prisoners doing time for marijuana-related charges†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (The War on Drugs Should Not Include Marijuana.) A large part of our economic crisis has to do with the overcrowding of our prisons. Each person in prison is taking taxpayer money that could certainly be better used for a number of things; such as better education, better healthcare, and more. The people arrested for marijuana charges are typically normal American people that used the drug to relax or get rid of stress. They are not drug dealers or violent deg enerates that deserve to spend time in prison away from their families. There is also the issue of how much it costs the government to keep marijuana away from people. â€Å"...a significant chunk of the ONDCP’s funding has also gone toward mediaShow MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legal?1609 Words   |  7 PagesMs. Fingarson English 11 March 9th, 2017 Junior Research Paper: Marijuana Should Be Legal. According to world recognized American Scientist Carl Sagan â€Å"the illegality of cannabis is outrageous, an impediment to full utilization of a drug which helps produce the serenity and insights , sensitivity and fellowship so desperately needed in this increasingly mad and dangerous world†. These are just some of the benefits of Marijuana along with many others. All you have been taught about cannabis inRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?1060 Words   |  5 PagesMedical Marijuana Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United Sstates (Wagner).. Marijuana is commonly used becauseThis it is because marijuana is easy to get and doesn’t have the visibly dangerous effects that other drugs like cocaine and heroine have. However,But does that mean marijuana is harmless to the human body? There are some people and studies that believe it is harmlessso. Sanjay Gupta, MD, Chief Medical Correspondent for CNN, wrote the following: â€Å"Frequent marijuana useRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?986 Words   |  4 Pages smoking pot in California, is legal. On Tuesday, November 8, 2016, California became the fifth state to legalize the recreational use of pot. By a margin of about 56% to 44%, voters passed Proposition 64. With its passing, California is now among states like Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska who have also legalized marijuana. â€Å"Marijuana could become quite the cash crop† said Richard McGowan, a professor at Boston College and expert in the field of marijuana legalization. While many peopleRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?1230 Words   |  5 PagesCannabis Can The marijuana movement is more prevalent now than ever. Just recently, two other states have joined Colorado and Washington in the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana. On the other hand, the state of Florida did not pass the bill to approve medical marijuana. Although more and more states have begun to see the benefits in legalizing marijuana, many states maintain the view that smoking marijuana is criminal despite the many advantages it poses. Marijuana offers medical andRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?997 Words   |  4 Pagesof the topics; write a thesis statement and complete the introduction 1. Marijuana should be legal, because it is harmless, and it is an effective medicine for many kinds of diseases. - Marijuana should be legal due to its variety of health benefits - Marijuana is an effective medicine for many kinds of diseases - Marijuana legalization would help boost the economy Thesis Statement: Why shouldn’t marijuana be legal due to its variety of health benefits, its effectiveness for combating manyRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?864 Words   |  4 PagesCannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a preparation of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or medicine. Marijuana smoking remains the most prevalent form of illicit drug use in the United States and has even been legalized medicinally in twenty-four states. Four of these states, including Colorado and Washington, have legalized marijuana for recreational use. This means that it is treated like a controlled substance, like alcohol or tobacco, and anyone theRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?1630 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana has been a hot topic of conversation over the last few years, as some states in America have legalized it medically and recreationally. By discussing the legal aspect of marijuana, the economic benefits, medical usage and how marij uana affects the family, we can see the positive and negative impact that marijuana has on sociology. Except for a few select states, marijuana usage, sale and distribution of marijuana is in some manner illegal. As a result, there is immense legal considerationsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal?1610 Words   |  7 PagesSince the very first day marijuana began dominating our country over 30 years ago, federal control of the drug has been the topic of an continuing arguments. Marijuana is a crushed up blend of dried out herbs, seeds and stems of the plant cannabis. Most people inhale it in the shape of cigarettes for pleasure and relief. Should marijuana be made legal? Advocates of the drug argue that there are multiple medical advantages and that tobacco and alcohol are far more harmful for us than the drug itselfRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal? Essay1261 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana is safer than tobacco and alcohol, more beneficial and healthier too. Marijuana, unlike tobacco and alcohol, never causes serious illnesses like cancers of the lungs, throat, and mouth, cirrhos is, dementia, or anything else. In actuality, medical marijuana is used to treat cancer cells. â€Å"The earliest use of cannabis as a medicine is attributed to the legendary Chinese Emperor Shen Nung, who is thought to have lived around 2700 BC.. Cannabis sativa is thought to have been grown for at leastRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal? Essay965 Words   |  4 PagesShould Marijuana Be Legal? In order to start a discussion about whether marijuana should be legal, we must first begin with the history of marijuana. How long has marijuana been around? The earliest recorded use of marijuana is from the island of Taiwan off the coast of mainland china over 10,000 years ago in the Stone Age (Marijuana, 2014). They wove their clothes and made their shoes from hemp. The first paper was made from a combination of crushed hemp fibers and mulberry tree bark. This

Salvador Allende Essay - 1712 Words

A nation’s sovereignty and self sufficiency is all dependent on said nation s economy, a nation with a doomed economy is bound to fall and fail its people. Such is the case with the South American country Chile, in 1973 under President Allende’s socialist regime. Salvador Allende was the short-lived president of Chile ruling from 1970 to 1973. During Allende’s reign, socialist destruction ensued, with crime breaking out frequently, complete totalitarian rule with all forms of media being regulated and controlled by a marxist government, a grief-stricken economy, as well as the abolition of all free trade, with tariffs up to 100%, extremely crippling the Chilean society and economy. As Chile was in shambles, it was inevitable a revolution†¦show more content†¦Jose Pinera of The Atlas Society exclaims that â€Å"From 1973 to 1989 (Pinochet’s years of ruling), a true revolution took place in Chile, involving a radical, comprehensive, and sustained move toward free markets. This Chilean revolution doubled Chile s historic rate of economic growth (to an average of 7 percent a year from 1984 to 1998 Pinochet’s final term), drastically reduced the proportion of people living in poverty.† (Pinera). Pinochet created a free market to allow businesses to operate in a non-marxist fashion, whilst also drastically decreasing the poverty rate by 7% each year for 14 years. Once Pinochet removed tariffs entirely, free trade was prevalent within Chile, making Chile a more advanced city economically. Tyler Cowen, writer for The Marginal Revolution states in his article â€Å"How Good Was Pinochet For The Chilean Economy?† that during Pinochet’s regime â€Å"Chile moved from very high tariffs to virtual free trade. The Chilean economy diversified and became far less dependent on copper; this included some moves to hi-tech and light industry.† (Cowen). Pinochet’s vigorous advancements of the Chilean ec onomy, including his removal of a marxist trade system, remarkably enhanced Chile’s economy, renewing it to a state of great strength, while also introducing new foreign products into Chile now that foreign trade was possible under a freeShow MoreRelatedAmerican Politics During The Nixon Administration1429 Words   |  6 PagesThis Extended Essay will examine how American domestic politics during the Nixon Administration influenced the role of the U.S and more specifically the C.I.A in their role in the Chilean coup of 1973. Throughout this paper connections will be drawn between various corporations which had a significant stake in Chile’s industry and economy before the coup occurred and their subsequent relationships with different members of the Nixon Administration or those in places of power such as the directorRead MoreSocio Economic Status And Health1748 Words   |  7 Pagesand the association between socio-economic status and health could be viewed as a cla ssical problem in medical sociology that dates back the mid-19th century works of Friedrich Engels, Rudolf Wirchow and Salvador Allende. These scholars writing during the early years of capitalism (Salvador Allende is an exception as to this trend as he studied the social origins of illness in the later times and a different geographical context) noted that the structures of oppression and features of urban life wereRead MoreThe International Telephone And Telegraph Company1336 Words   |  6 Pagesnot favorable to their affairs. An obvious case of Chile in the early 1970s, the International Telephone and Telegraph Company (ITT) has collaborated with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) supported the overthrow of the government of Chile Salvador Allende who supported the transfer of businesses to the state (nationalization) and the International Telephone and Telegraph Company (ITT) afraid that their investments in Chile is wasted. Forasmuch, the highest purpose all of the big companies isRead MoreWhy Is There No Free Trade Agreement Between North And South America?2417 Words   |  10 Pagesof 800 million and a GDP of about $11 trillion, making it the largest freed trade area in the world. (Barlow 1:2001) The FTAA has struggled to see any changes and the deadline passed being unnoticed in 2005. This essay will discuss why there is no FTAA between the Americas yet. The essay will show how history can affect states decisions. It will look at what the FTAA would bring to both North and South America (NA SA), while looking at individual states cases. It will conclude by looking at whatRead More The War in Iraq Being an Oil Currency War Essay4124 Words   |  17 Pagesadministration is the impending phenomenon known as Global Peak Oil. This is projected to occur around 2010, with Iraq and Saudi Arabia being the final two nations to reach peak oil production. The issue of Peak Oil has been added to the scope of this essay, along with the macroeconomics of `petrodollar recycling and the unpublicized but genuine challenge to U.S. dollar hegemony from the euro as an alternative oil transaction currency. The author advocates graduated reform of the global monetary systemRead MoreInstitution as the Fundamental Cause of Long Tern Growth39832 Words   |  160 Pagessituation in Chile in the early 1970’s. Salvador Allende was elected President with a majority of the popular vote. The formal political institutions of democracy in Chile allocated power to him to propose legislation, issue decrees, etc. Consequently, even though he did not have an absolute majority in congress, Allende had a great deal of de jure political power. Political power is not just de jure however; it does not simply stem from political institutions. Allende, despite being empowered under theRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 PagesPHILADELPHIA Temple University Press 1601 North Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122 www.temple.edu/tempress Copyright  © 2010 by Temple University All rights reserved Published 2010 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Essays on twentieth century history / edited by Michael Peter Adas for the American Historical Association. p. cm.—(Critical perspectives on the past) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-4399-0269-1 (cloth : alk. paper)—ISBN 978-1-4399-0270-7

Disease Research Free Essays

The ten leading causes of death in the United States of America as of 2005 are heart diseases, malignant neoplasm, cerebrovascular disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, unintentional disease, diabetes mellitus, influenza and pneumonia, Alzheimer’s disease, nephritis and nephrosis, septicemia, intentional self-harm. I preferred diabetes mellitus because I think this kind of disease should be given much emphasis and attention from the government. Diabetes mellitus is a type of disease in the pancreatic area. We will write a custom essay sample on Disease Research or any similar topic only for you Order Now In this disease, the pancreas does not properly generate insulin. When the body cannot generate enough insulin, hyperglycemia and other related disorders will occur in our metabolism. Diabetes can cause harm in other body organs when complications will arise. First of all, it causes damage to the kidneys which are responsible for the absorption of waste products in our body. Damaged kidneys then causes the end stage renal disease in which the kidneys are destroyed mutely. This then causes the nephrons to worsen which leads to other diseases such as hepatitis to arise. When this happens, the person now has two or more diseases to worry about. Today, it is estimated that 20. 8 million Americans suffer from diabetes. Out of this 20. 8 million Americans, 6. 2 million are undiagnosed. When diabetes goes unnoticed, prevention and early treatment would be impossible. If diabetes is not treated properly, it will then lead to life-threatening complications as mentioned earlier. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the disease will rise to more than 50% in the next 10 years if ignored. According to the United States National Diabetes Fact Sheet 2005, â€Å"Overall, the risk for death among people with diabetes is about twice that of people without diabetes of similar age. † (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention American Diabetes Association, 2005) One major cause of diabetes is an individual’s diet. Since in the United States most follow the â€Å"Western-style† diet in which almost everything is sweet (having lots of sugar in it), it is suggested that people should watch their diet more. However, there is little understanding of the mechanisms in diabetes at present. Unwatched diet may cause obesity which then causes some organs to become larger and cannot function properly (Giurini, Cook, Cook, 2007). Thus, the government must pay their attention on funding research on diabetes because first, more than 20 million people in the US suffer diabetes at present and will increase in the next 10 years; second; most people do not know that they have diabetes; and third, diabetes causes complications and even death when not treated properly and continued unnoticed. People should be well-informed about diabetes so that they will know how to diagnose, prevent, and treat diabetes.   Reference: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Diabetes Association. (2005). United States National Diabetes Fact Sheet. Retrieved. from. Giurini, J. M., Cook, E. A., Cook, J. J. (2007). Diabetes: the latest trends in glycemic control. Clin Podiatr Med Surg, 24(2), 159-189.    How to cite Disease Research, Essays

Fraud Prevention and Management Recommendations free essay sample

The purpose of this Fraud Prevention Plan is to set out the approach to dealing with fraud risk within our organization. In order to prevent the types of frauds that have already occurred within our organization it will be necessary to create â€Å"a culture of honesty, openness, and assistance†¦.. fraud prevention is where the big savings occur† (Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman, 2012, p. 03). What is required is the implementation of a comprehensive hiring, fraud, and ethics training program with strong controls, with punitive treatment of fraud offenders. â€Å"Research confirms that anyone can commit fraud. Fraud perpetrators usually can’t be distinguished from other people on the basis of demographic or psychological characteristics. † (Albrecht et al. 2012, p. 33). The value of an effective fraud prevention program requires several components. The lack of fraud prevention leads to enormous risk. The corporation will need to install processes and controls to ensure that honest people are hired. When candidates are going through our interview process they will need to be thoroughly vetted on the accuracy of their work history, education, and stated accomplishments. In addition to the standard practiced of contacting references provided by the candidate, these referenced individuals will be asked to provide additional references. The result of checking references provided by the initial reference will in many instances allow for greater insight into the true character of the candidate. The Director of Human Resources should investigate the potential of having a pre-employment Business Ethics Assessment completed and evaluated for each potential new employee. The assessment will measure each candidate for knowledge of the application of ethical principles in various workplace situations, such as whistle-blowing, conflicts of interest, policies, ethical issues, and honesty (SHL Global, 2012). Consistent use of such assessments pre-hire will enable the firm to hire the most honest people. Criminal and credit history background checks are a critical component to our proposed fraud prevention plan, enabling the firm to identify â€Å"high risk† individuals prior to extending an offer of employment. In addition to stringent hiring practices the corporation will institute a fraud awareness training program for all employees as part of our efforts to create a â€Å"low-fraud atmosphere†. (Albrecht et. al. 2012, p. 103). Senior management must establish a positive work environment by creating a formal code of conduct that sets the expectation for high ethics, stating what is and is not acceptable within our enterprise. Section 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is a â€Å"Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers† that requires that every public company to create, disseminate to all employees, and religiously enforce its ethical code (Albrecht et. al. 2012, p. 107). Ideally the Code of Ethics should be reviewed and signed by all employees on an annual basis. Albrecht et al. (2012, p. 106) provides an example of a company issuing small cards to every employee to carry on their person. The card lists several reporting options for employees who suspect fraud is taking place. One of the options to report suspected fraud is for employees to contact an external, anonymous ‘hotline’ to communicate their suspicions. These actions combined with regular messages on fraud awareness and non-tolerance will help to decrease our incidents of fraud loss. Executive and mid-level managers need to create and preserve an open-door policy as an important element to assist in our fraud avoidance program. Easy access (open door) policies prevent fraud and allow managers to become aware of employee pressures and their possible rationalizations that contribute to fraudulent activities. Many times employees commit fraud because â€Å"they feel they have no one to talk to† (Albrecht, et. al 2001, p. 111). Management must be open to honest discussions with employees about issues concerning the employee, and be ready to recommend counseling or an approved corporate Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP’s can help troubled employees with problems caused by gambling, substance abuse, money issues, health, family, and other pressures that enable them to rationalize fraudulent activities. A good internal controls system will prevent the type of fraud the firm has previously experienced. According to the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO), the CEO has ultimate responsibility for any internal controls system. â€Å"More than any other individual, the chief executive sets the tone at the top that affects integrity and ethics and other factors of a positive control environment† (COSO, 1992). The control environment will set the overall tone of the organization that is established by senior management and runs throughout the management structure. A good accounting system is another important element of the control system to provide timely information used for decision-making. The Internal Auditor, Audit Committee, Director of Corporate Security, and Corporate Legal Council will need to work together to identify methods to assess risk and implement the appropriate controls. Basically there are only five types of control activities: segregation of duties, authorizations, physical controls, independent checks, and documentation† (Albrecht et. al. 2012, p. 114). The first three controls are preventative controls while independent checks and documentation are detective controls. Once established these controls need to be monitored and tested regularly for effectiveness. Had these controls been in place earlier the recent fraudulent activities of inventory theft, kickbacks, and enhanced earnings might have been prevented, or at least been identified earlier resulting in a reduced loss to the firm. The company has experienced prior internal control weaknesses, which strongly contributes to creating a high fraud environment. â€Å"When internal controls are absent or overridden, the risk of fraud is great† (Albrecht et al. 2012 p. 143). The Director of Internal Audit working closely with the Audit Committee can create and implement internal controls consisting of the control environment, accounting system, and control procedures. Aspects of the internal controls will be segregation of duties, physical safeguards, independent checks and monitoring, proper authorizations, documents, and records working in conjunction with a robust accounting system. Resilient internal controls are an important deterrent to fraud. Strong internal control can prevent or detect most types of misappropriations of assets and fraudulent financial reporting. Some examples of internal controls are mandatory vacations and job rotations, surveillance techniques, management review, segregation of duties, password protection on computer files, and physical safeguards on physical assets. An information system with a poor audit trail provides opportunities to conceal fraud. Audit trails need to be incorporated in our internal control system. â€Å"Close monitoring facilitates early detection† (Albrecht, et. al. 2012, p. 118) and can discourage fraudulent activities as employees realize they are being monitored and are loath to be exposed as being a thief. Similarly, having a monitoring system combined with a â€Å"whistle blowing† program will allow the organization to detect frauds early while losses are minimal. Our whistle blowing system needs to provide for anonymity, be easily accessed by employees, and ideally be managed by an independent entity, i. e. legal counsel or an outside third party organization. Finally the whistle blower program will feature prompt follow up on all reported frauds with corrective action implemented promptly to encourage additional use of the program. One of the most important factors of our program to eliminate fraud is the expectation of severe punishment. â€Å"One of the greatest deterrents to dishonesty is fear of punishment† says Albrecht. Simply terminating the offender is not significant as â€Å"real punishment involves having to tell family members and friends about the dishonest behavior† (Albrecht, et. al, 2012, p. 119). Legal Counsel must develop a robust prosecution policy that is publicized to all employees frequently about how unauthorized borrowing or theft of company assets will not be tolerated. These publications need to be depersonalized to disguise the identity of the perpetrator(s), to avoid potential slander and/or libel litigation (Albrecht et al. 2012 p. 123). The best way to prevent negative stories in the media is to avoid frauds in the first place. â€Å"A good Code of Ethics combined with a strong policy of punishment helps eliminate rationalizations† Albrecht states, and will prevent the frauds and resulting negative publicity the Board of Directors wishes to avoid. However all of the above actions need to be enhanced by proactive fraud auditing. Fraud auditing activity will create awareness in employees that their activities are subject to review at any time. A vigorous fraud auditing program involves four major steps: (1) identifying fraud risk exposures, (2) identifying the fraud symptoms of these exposures, (3) building audit programs to proactively search for symptoms and exposures, and (4) investigating fraud symptoms identified. A comprehensive approach to create programs and policies that prevent fraud require an understanding of the Fraud Triangle (Albrecht, et. al. 2012, p. 34) and the motivations that cause employees to commit theft. Engaging policies to prevent fraud will require a commitment starting from senior management and integrating throughout the organization. Management needs to establish a widely publicized policy of being notified when an employee who is not prosecuted for committing fraud, versus being notified only when an employee is being prosecuted. Senior managers must be the leaders of ethical behavior. â€Å"Top management cannot accept expensive perks and gifts from vendors and others and not expect employees to do the same† (Albrecht et al. 2012, p. 123). Employees must see that managers are setting the example for fraud avoidance. They need to be aware that management from the Board of Directors, top and middle managers, and control groups such as auditing committees, Corporate Security, and legal / regulatory compliance managers consider fraud avoidance a high priority. Significant time and resources need to be directed to instituting a comprehensive fraud education initiative that includes not only our internal workforce but also all vendors. Our plan should be reviewed consistently, especially after significant industry or corporate events such as layoffs, a hiring surge, or significant growth). The most comprehensive fraud prevention plan can be overtaken by fluctuations in the enterprise environment if the plan’s effectiveness isn’t regularly monitored and adapted to these changes. Monitoring via internal and/or external auditors, combined with education and whistle blowing programs will create a low fraud tolerance environment. â€Å"Employees and vendors who know that an effective monitoring and reporting system is in place are much less likely to commit fraud than are individuals who work in high fraud environments† (Albrecht et al. 2012, p. 123). Reporting discovered fraud activity to management will include Corporate Security, the Audit Committee, and the Human Resources Director, with notifications to the CEO and Legal Counsel. When fraud is reported or otherwise discovered the lead investigators will be assigned by the Director of Corporate Security working in conjunction with the Director of Internal Audit. Once the investigation is complete and a fraud event has been confirmed, a strong prosecution is recommended. Possible referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency(s) will be considered. The single greatest factor in deterring dishonest acts is the fear of punishment† Albrecht et al. 2012 p. 124). It is not possible to have a â€Å"zero fraud† environment. Stealing inexpensive office supplies is fraud. Due to the low costs these frauds are not considered seriously. However, once a fraud is perpetrated without a reaction the fraudster will continue to commit more frauds of ever-increasing magnitude. Albrecht et al. 2012 states â€Å"gone are the days when prosecution resulted in adverse publicity. Most people realize that fraud exists in every organization. (p 124). Should fraudulent activity be revealed and an investigation launched by Corporate Security and/or Internal Audit managers, there are four types of evidence that should be accumulated (Albrecht et al. 2012, p 80). This evidence may include testimony gathered from employees via interviews, interrogations, and honesty tests. Documentary evidence will include written or electronic materials. Physical evidence such as letters, purchase orders, shipping and inventory records, and any other tangible items associated with the dishonest acts. Finally personal observation of suspected fraudsters may be incorporated by the investigators (invigilation, surveillance, and covert operations) to augment the legal case against the perpetrator(s) of the fraud. Albrecht et al. (2012) cautions â€Å"because of the sensitive nature of fraud investigations, fraud investigators must exercise extreme care in how investigations are conducted, who knows about the investigations, and the way investigations are described. † Predication must exist before any fraud investigation is initiated. The goal of any fraud is to uncover the truth, and to confirm or deny if the suspicions of fraud are accurate. The potential for a suspected fraud to be an unintentional error or mistake by an employee is significant enough to avoid hasty conclusions without a vigorous investigation to confirm the facts of the suspected fraudulent activity. Disciplinary action may be taken against employees who are confirmed to have failed to comply with the company Code of Ethics, or violated any applicable law or regulation (American Express, 2006). Disciplinary measures will depend on the circumstances of the violation and will be applied in a manner consistent with the Company’s policies and/or any applicable laws. Termination is an option as is civil or criminal prosecution. In order to avoid false accusations, consideration will be given to whether or not a violation was intentional, as well as to the level of good faith shown by an employee in reporting the violation or in cooperating with any resulting investigation. Clear communication will be provided affirming that punitive action will be taken against any employee who directly participates in, authorizes, directs, approves of, conceals, or deliberately fails to report actions that violate the Code or applicable law or regulations. In addition, persons who violate any law during the course of their employment may be subject to criminal or civil penalties, as well as payment of civil damages to the Company or third parties. Preventing fraud is more cost effective than trying to recover assets after the fact. According to the 2012 Report to the Nations study published by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), a staggering 40 percent of organizations did not recover any of their losses (ACFE, 2012). An article in Business Finance in May 2008 (Skalak, 2008) stated that the average cost of one incident of fraud is $3 million. The three identified frauds committed within our organization can be estimated at $10 million. At a profit margin of 10% we would need an additional $100 million of top line revenue to recover from this theft! A fraud prevention plan, properly designed and implemented, will support our organization’s efforts to mitigate losses due to occupational fraud. These initiatives may not stop fraud from occurring altogether. However â€Å"organizations with active plans which include anti-fraud controls, report lower losses and faster detection† (Plante Moran, 2012). An effective fraud prevention program is crucial to our organization to enable the firm to deliver quality products and services to our clients, and to maintain the confidence of all stakeholders. The Board of Directors must understand the fraud and corruption risks that our business faces and ensure that effective measures are in place to prevent, detect and respond quickly and appropriately to fraud and corruption. A timely approval by the Board to implement this fraud prevention initiative is strongly recommended.

Explore the phenomenal box office success of blockbuster films Jaws and Star Wars and how they forever changed the film making industry Essay Example

Explore the phenomenal box office success of blockbuster films Jaws and Star Wars and how they forever changed the film making industry Paper Contemporary cinema today is a fierce market. Most Fridays of the week see a new release featuring our favourite stars on the big screen, in the next highly anticipated movie. The seasons, Summer and Winter also see the years biggest movies hit the screen in order to satisfy our entertainment needs. However, the movie industry hasnt always operated in this way. In the early stages of cinema, our much loved multi million dollar Blockbusters were only a thing of dreams, from the incredible special effects to the massive budgets. This essay aims to explore the impact of Blockbuster films and how they have changed modern cinema, with reference to the hugely popular Star Wars franchise, and the Jaws movies. The essay will also explore the effects these films have left on popular culture, and if they still exist today.The term blockbuster simply defines as a form of media that sustains widespread popularity, achieves enormous sales figures and creates a cultural phenomenon. The beginning o f this new blockbuster era was pioneered by, Steven Spielbergs Jaws and George Lucas Star Wars franchise, both of which were released in the 1970s. The movie Jaws is about a number of shark attacks taking place on the beaches of the U.S.A, in which a $3000 bounty is offered for the animal, in which sparks off a frenzy of people attempting to hunt for the shark. The Star Wars movies tell the story of Luke Skywalker, and his fight against the evil Darth Vader and the Empires efforts to rule the galaxy.Both movies were a huge success, with Jaws being the first movie to earn over $100 million dollars at the box office, and eventually grossing over $470 million dollars worldwide. Star Wars however topped its success, by earning around $775 million dollars worldwide. Before these films, the term Blockbuster simply described the film by box office sales success, rather than its cultural phenomenon and influence on other mediums.One way in which these films changed the film making industry was through the way of merchandising. If the actual movies themselves didnt make enough money (despite doing so), the merchandise for each film would have helped. Merchandise ranges from action figures to video games to sequels and soundtracks (in which John Williams composed the soundtracks to both films). The soundtracks themselves are easily recognisable when listened to, and are so around the world. The iconic string section in Jaws when the shark is ready to hunt down its prey, to the grand orchestral opener to Star Wars, as the introduction rolls down the screen.According to Filmtracks.com, movie music before these films, soundtracks had begun to take on pop route and avoid orchestral music, until the score for Star Wars was written. The themes such as the title music and the imperial march are something of a cultural nature due to their popularity. For example, if anyone was to imitate the tune, we as a culture associate this with bad news or a bad person. The soundtrack has been released a total of six times, with re-mastered tracks and additional audio tracks. Even a disco version of the song was mixed and played in clubs a year after the films release. John Williams furthered his movie soundtrack career by providing soundtracks to countless movies, including Home Alone, Superman and the Harry Potter Movies.Altogether since 1977, Star Wars merchandise alone earned around $13.5 billion (NPR News 2007) in retail sales. Dale Pollock (author of Skywalking, an unauthorised biography of George Lucas) stated that It was much more than just action figures and toy sets It was merchandise in more variety and volume that Hollywood had ever seen. (Pollock, D, 1999). For the first time in 1977, toy stores such as Toys R Us had shelf and isle space just for movie tie ins thanks to Star Wars merchandising. With products such as this available, it helps keep the franchise alive as more than just a film, and allows the consumer to be Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader and let the movie live on. The merchandising continues today, as more and more various products are made, such as video games like the Lego Star Wars series, and further toys and action figures from the prequel films made in the 2000s. This form of mass merchandising is still happening today with other blockbuster movies, such as Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) movies and The Dark Knight (2008).The impact that these movies have left on popular culture, are also a force to be reckoned with. Both movies are frequently parodied in other forms of media. For example, the T.V series Family Guy frequently parodies the Star Wars trilogy in various episodes. Also, the T.V show dedicated a whole 45 minute, special episode named Blue Harvest, which parodies the whole of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and are currently working on finishing up the parody trilogy by repeating this with the remaining two movies.With this in mind, we can use this example and relate it to Christian Metzs (1974) theor y of genre cycle changes. He argued that through a genres lifetime, it would go through 4 stages of changes, which can be down to technology (introduction of sound and colour) or contemporary issues (World War I, II, AIDS, Terrorism etc). These include the Experimental Stage, The Classic Stage, The Parody Stage and The Deconstruction stage. Metz suggested that the Experimental movies were very early on, and dynamic in which case we could use Frtiz Langs 1927 movie, Metropolis. Star Wars would then fit into the Classic stage, as the successful codes and conventions of early sci-fi films are taken and built on until made more formulaic. The parody stage is where the films clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s are made fun of or to re-engage with the audience, in which we can use the previous example of Family Guy, or Mel Brooks sci-fi comedy, Spaceballs. The Deconstruction stage is when the generic elements are placed out of context, for example, Kurt Wimmers Equilibrium (2002), where the mise en scene is sci-fi, yet the story is dealing with other issues, such as emotion and fascism.A strong sense of Star Wars popular culture impact was discovered in the British 2001 census. An Internet campaign that spread via email encouraged the public to identify their religion as Jedi or Jedi Knight in the other religion section. According to the BBC, the number of people in the U.K that were faithful to the Jedi religion that year was around 390,000 strong.Both movies also showed new technological innovations and furthered some already used.Jaws used rare filming techniques such as the reverse dolly zoom, originally used in Alfred Hitchcocks movies. This is when the dolly on which the camera is held moves backward on its track, whilst the camera zooms in on the face. This is used when Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) spots danger in the sea during the beach scene. Special effects were further improved with the use of animatronics. The mechanical shark, named Bruce (Times online) was actually three sharks, used for different movements. One of these was just for use in the water, improving technical areas of special effects.Star Wars special effects however have changed the movie industry forever. The effects used in the movie were way ahead of its time and have set a certain standard for future film productions.The use of foley sound is one of these. Foley sound is when sounds effects are recorded in a studio and then later placed in the film. For example, the sound of the Tie Fighter spaceships in the movie are actually noises of a bellowing Elephant and the sound of the character Jabba The Hut moving is actually the sounds of a trash can filled with wet towels.Throughout the film, Lucas used a variety of special effects techniques, new and old combined. From the use of puppets, animatronics and stop motion animation, to the use of green screen and CGI. People were willing to pay the ticket price to simply witness in awe the effects that Lucas had brought to t he screen with his special effects production company, Industrial Light and Magic. This company in itself has had a massive impact on the movie industry alone, regardless of the Star Wars movies, as it has provided special effects for countless movies and Hollywood Blockbusters. These include E.T, Star Trek Movies, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Jurassic Park and Men In Black just to name a few from Industrial Light and Magics impressive C.V. These movies clearly range from the origins of sci-fi that they were created to work for, and are now a more general company rather than a niche in the sci-fi genre. The movie trilogy also created the company Skywalker Sound, that have also progressed to work on such movies as Speed (1994), Forrest Gump (1994), Titanic (1997), Fight Club (1999) and even video games, such as Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008) and the Mercenaries (2005) games series. Therefore without Star Wars, these effects companies wouldnt have helped create films thro ugh time.Although with this in mind, many re releases of the original Star Wars trilogy have been issued with improved Special effects, CGI and sound. These are included years later in the special edition video and DVD versions. George Lucas stated that There were various things I wasnt happy with, special effects, scenes that hadnt been included due to money and time. (Star Wars Special Edition Video Interview). Many hardcore Star Wars fans and purists argue that the films shouldnt have been tampered with and left alone, however if they had not been restored, the original films would have deteriorated with age. Also from the same video, Rick McCallum, the producer of the special edition video stated that: if they had not been restored for this particular edition, they might not have been available ever again.With other versions of these films in mind, fans of the original Star Wars trilogy became very critical when regarding the later made prequels of the movies, especially episode I, The Phantom Menace (1999). A re edited version of the movie was created entitled, Episode 1.1: The Phantom Edit, that was allegedly better than Lucas version. The revised version contained the more promising footage from the movie. Tapes of the movie were quickly circulated through the underground scene of die-hard Star Wars fanatics.However, although with special effects making the visuals impressive, we could say that this could diminish the plots and storylines to these films.We could apply this with Vladimir Propp (1928) theory on narrative structures. He studied the narrative structures of Russian folk tales and discovered that regardless of individual differences in plot, settings, genre etc such narratives share common features, particularly character types. I shall apply his list of character types to the Star Wars movies (although may change over the course of the trilogy) in the table below.

buy custom The Obama Health Care Bill essay

buy custom The Obama Health Care Bill essay Introduction The presidents proposal on the Health Care Bill is meant to make insurance more affordable to the Americans by reducing the tax on the middle class while improving on the health insurance market and fostering a greater accountability. It is also preordained to provide means to the end of discrimination and limit the strain on the budget. It provides more stability and security to those who already have the health insurance, a quality and affordable solution to those who do not have a health care insurance yet. For the Americans in general, it intends to offer a less costly health care to the families, businessmen, and government. The law is set to affect various groups, namely the American families, children, young adults, early retirees, women, rural Americans, small businesses, Asian Americans, Latinos, African Americans, Veterans, and Americans with disabilities among the other groups. Its impacts on the groups For the physicians, the work will become more difficult as they will be imperiled to more state principles and oversight. The bill provides for more bureaucracy as in under the sections 3002, 3403 and 6301 which complicates the existing payment rules for the doctors. The new law provides no Sustainable Growth Rate Formula (SGR) fix. Besides, Congress has revealed no preference to find a solution for the ruined SGR formula minus contributing to the federal deficiency instead of approving fiscal castigation and insisting on a frank restructuring of the Medicare program (Tony M.d., 2011). The purpose of th bill should be the improvement of the doctor-patient relationship rather than the third party as proposed. It does not provide a solution for the doctors most pressing concerns such as offence reform. To the families, the bill undermines the role of parents. It states that the beneficiary clinics must respect parental consent and notification laws that are not inconsistent with Federal law. This gives the teens more voice to engage into activities that may affect them negatively without the consent of their parents. The new PRE program offers $75 million annually for the endowments to aid states moderate pregnancies and resulting births among teenagers (Aaron Cato Institute, 2009). It, however, does not give the incentive to the states to attain this objective without increasing the number of abortion rates. The law gives a penalty to marriage by providing for a lower tax on divorced than on married couples. The senior is another group that is affected by the bill. The bill restricts them from access to the physicians by the third party that negotiates almost everything without their consent. Moreover, they are more likely to pay high taxes and have limited choices of the insurance premiums of their choice (Pipes, 2010). For the small businesses, the bill adds a load of work onto their budget by subjecting them to insure their employees. This is an advantage to the employees at the first glance but, considering that their pay will be subjected to cater for the insurance, they may have to pay for expensive health care insurance though their employers are without a voice. Thhe choice of their insurance will be left to the employers to decide and can be worse than they could have had it were it of their own control. For the Rural Americans, the law provides a financial relief for both the families and their seniors. It ensures that they have a variety of choices and secure insurance cover. It as well works on providing more doctors to the people at affordable premiums. It embarks on preventive care by ensuring the elimination of the co-payment programs that were inconvenient to the people. It aims at eliminating the insurance company discrimination while providing competitive services. For the Americans with disabilities, the bill provides a long-term insurance support eliminating the insurance company discrimination while expanding the Medicare program. The bill exempts churches and religious institutions from the health care coverage. It tends to assume that the church members belong to a particular group and are well catered for. This might not be the case and thus there is a need to properly define the standings. Conclusion As much as the Obama Health care bill proves to be giving new solutions to the different existing groups of citizens, it still has a lot to be amended. It should be reviewed for a better response to the needs of the citizens. Additionally, it should answer the questions that could arise in both the present and the future times. Finally, a clear definition of each group should be provided so that everyone is at a position of benefiting fully. Buy custom The Obama Health Care Bill essay

Economics of State and Local Governments Research Paper

Economics of State and Local Governments - Research Paper Example ative inflation period during the same period, which stood at 9.06 percent, calculated by using consumer price indices for January 2013 and January 2009 (Griender). The Texas government applies sales and use taxes at the final points of sale. Consumers are taxed for the goods and services they purchased outside Texas and used within the state of Texas. The sales and use tax is the highest tax revenue for the Texas government. In the fiscal year 2014, the Texas government collected approximately $19 billion in state sales taxes. Texas charges an average tax of 6.25% for all foods (Griender). The government set the rate in the year 1990, and there have not been any changes in the rates since then. Cities, transit systems, districts in the state and counties may impose the local taxes, which may be up by another 2 %. Majority of Texas residents pay total sales taxes of 8.5%. There are, however, many goods that are exempted from this tax. These commodities include motor vehicles, crude oil, mixed drinks, insurance premiums, and aviation fuel. This is because these items are taxed under other provisions. The Texas state aims at increasing sales tax revenue and removing the exemptions. The government also puts various measures to improve collections. Some of these measures include examination of funds from sales tax, tightening the eligibility for exemptions as well as scrutinizing applications for tax refunds on items meant to be tax-free. Texas state government collects various fees that are charged to people operating motor vehicles within the state. The largest source of these records revenues is the car registration fees and permits, which are meant for special vehicles such as vehicles with excess weight and size. Motor vehicle fees generate about $2.4 billion in a fiscal year (Griender). The 82nd legislature has powers to consider proposals that aim at increasing the motor vehicle registration fees. According to estimates from the Texas Transportation

Genetics and Crisis Intervention Research Paper

Genetics and Crisis Intervention - Research Paper Example The nurse spoke to Kim kindly and provided information pertaining to various types of aneuploidies, their clinical presentation and complications. The nuchal test was suspicious of aneuploidy and maternal serum markers hinted at the presence of some aneuploidy. Kim was 14 weeks pregnant now and the obstetrician advised amniocentesis to confirm the diagnosis. Kim underwent the procedure and the nurse told her that she had to wait for a week for the report to come. One week later, the obstetrician confirmed that the amniocentesis report was suggestive of Huntington's disease. Kim felt disastrous. She was referred to a genetic counselor. The genetic nurse took a detailed history and went through the medical reports and noted them down. Kim enquired the nurse about implications of Huntington's disease and whether she should opt for abortion. Discussion The profession of nursing has labored continuously to document a wide and yet full range of nursing diagnoses, various nursing interventi ons and patient outcomes. This has been possible because of a steady knowledge base of the profession and continuous assimilation of new knowledge by means of nursing research. One such new area in which the profession of nursing has begun to get involved deeply is genetics (Carroll-Johnson, 2000). When nurses work in genetic diseases detection and management units, they are likely to come across patients and parents who will ask them about genetic disorders related questions especially in relation to a particular disease like Aneuploidy and Hungtinton's disease. In case of fetal diagnosis one question that plaques the nurses is "Is the diagnosis right? How sure are you that the diagnosis is correct?" This is more so because there is no particular symptomatology in this case and the diagnosis is often made after getting clues from routine screening. Also, in several genetic related conditions, the advice is to terminate the much awaited pregnancy, shattering the dreams of the young couple. It thus becomes difficult on the part of the nurse to convince the parents that such a decision must be taken in the best interests of both the parents and the child. Nurses, because of their proximity of the patients and easy approachability are likely to be hovered with more questions and doubts from the patients and it is obliging on the nurses to answer the question in the most understanding manner. Thus, even nurses must have appropriate knowledge about various genetic disorders that may be encountered in their clinical practice (Kirk, 2006). According to the Genetics White Paper (DOH, 2003) advances in the knowledge and also the understanding of various genetic problems, disabilities and diseases have contributed towards more accurate diagnosis with better personalized prediction of risk, better preventive strategies, improved treatment modalities and newer drugs and therapies. Such an enhanced improvement in diagnosis and prediction has already made a great impact in the clinical practice of genetics. Advances in genetics have made it possible to provide more insight into the genetic component of the disease and also various environmental triggers of the condition (Kirk, 2006). With reference to nursing in the field of genetics, seven-point competence standards have been outlined. The nurses must be able to identify patients who might benefit from various genetic

Child Rights On Decision Making Young People Essay

Child Rights On Decision Making Young People Essay Children have the same rights as adults. As a vulnerable group, children have particular rights that recognize their special need for protection and also that help them develop their full potential. Children are not helpless objects of charity or a property of their parents. They are recognized as human beings and the subjects of their own rights. A child is an individual, a family and community member with rights and appropriate responsibilities for his or her age and development stage. Children should enjoy the basic qualities of life as rights rather than privileges accorded to them (CRC 2006) Every child whether a boy or girl irrespective of age is unique and has important value as a human being with the right to respect for their human dignity. It has a right to be heard and to be considered in all matters and decisions that concern him or her, a right to be listened to and to be taken seriously (CRIN, 2002). This increases mutual respect and understanding between children and adults. Childrens participation protects them more effectively from abuse and exploitation. When we understand and respect childrens own experiences, we are able to create better protection mechanisms and the children themselves can act as active agents in their own protection. This helps to develop and build recognition of children as independent bearers of rights with a sense of identity and a positive implication for their self esteem (CRIN, 2002). Childrens rights are defined in a wide spectrum of economic, civil, political and social rights. These rights have been labeled as the right to protection and right to empowerment. Some of these rights are: Right to provision: Children have a right to be provided with a good standard of living, education and services, health care and a right to play. These include access to schooling, a balanced diet and a warm bed to sleep in. They also have a right to be protected from neglect, abuse, discrimination and exploitation (CRC, 2006) Children also have a right to participation. They have a right to their own programs and services and to take part in them. This includes decision making and involvement in libraries. Some rights allow children to grow up healthy and free. This include; Freedom of speech, Freedom of thought, Freedom from fear, Freedom of choice and to make decisions and Ownership over ones body. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) provides a framework for addressing not only rights to child protection care and adequate provision, but also for participation. A child who is capable of making his or her own views shall be assured by the parties of the state a right to express them freely (CRC, 2006) The views of the child are given weight according to the maturity and age of the child. A child can participate in the sense of taking part or being present or participate in the sense of knowing that ones actions are taken note of and may be acted upon. The extent to childrens participation will vary between and within societies (CRC, 2006) There has been a clash between the childrens protection and participation rights. Protection rights protect the children against exploitation and abuse for the best interest of the child while participation rights allow children to take part in decisions concerning their lives and a right to freedom of conscious and to hold an opinion. Adults and their childrens views may not always coincide. Many childrens wishes and views are ignored by the adults for the best interest of the child. For instance; Every child is entitled to acquire a name and a nationality. All children registration should be upon birth. The childs name, birth date and parents names are recorded. When a child is given a name at birth, he or she is not given an opportunity to choose a name for himself or herself. The parents do this for the best interests of the child. The child may however, decide to change its name upon reaching the age of maturity. In this case the child is denied a right to participate in choosing its name at first but at later stages of development; the same child can participate in the same by changing to its desired name (CRC). A child has a right to be protected from all forms of punishment or discrimination regardless of their age, race, sex, religion, status, their expressed opinions, activities and beliefs of the family members. As much as a child has a right to religion, to express their opinion, or equality regardless of their age, these are sometimes restricted by their parents or legal guardians. For instance, a child is not at liberty to join a religion cult without the parents interference. It is not because the child is denied its freedom to worship but its for the best interest of the child (CRC). Children also have a right to get and share information and to express them. In exercising this right, they are supposed to be careful not to damage themselves or the freedoms, rights and reputations of others. They may share information through talking, writing or drawing. A childs wishes may be ignored if it is for the best of the child. For instance, a child may be denied the right to express dislike or hatred towards a particular person by hauling insults at the person. On the same, the child may be restricted on the manner of expression. For instance through shouting or screaming or demanding instead of asking politely (CRC). Children have a right of association. They have a right to meet and to join groups and organizations. Not all groups joined by children are acceptable by their parents or guardians; this brings a clash between the childrens right of association and prevention of joining them. Children are also restricted from joining into these groups if they stop other people from enjoying their rights. For instance a rioting group which will probably cause peace disturbance to others, or an outlawed group will not be acceptable that the children join (CRC). Children have a right to privacy. They are protected from attacks in their way of life, their name, families and homes. However, their way of life can be invaded by their parents or guardians if its for their best interests, for instance, when parents suspect that the child may be involved in drugs or other unlawful activities they may be forced to ransack the childs room or personal effects (CRC). Its a right for the children to access information. This they get through the radio, newspapers, television, internet and childrens books. They have a right to choose what kind of information they would like to access and in which manner. However, not all information is suitable or helpful to them (CRC). Most of the information provided by the mass media especially the radio, television and internet is unsuitable to children. It may contain violence, obscenity or strong language. Since these are harmful to the children they dont have a right over them and so their parents or guardians have to protect the children from such by deciding on what is good or bad for them. The parents also have to protect on what their children browse on the internet since they can access pornography or sites with violence which are harmful to the child (CRC). It is a childs right to live with its parents. The child can however be separated from the parents when the conditions are not favorable for the child. Such conditions may be neglect or abuse by the parents or separation by the parents hence the state has to decide on which parent has to live with the child. If the child has no parents the state decides on a home or an institution for the child to live. In this case the child may not have much of a say in the choice of who to live with. Sometimes children run away from their birth homes to live with their relatives or even live on the streets. This may be as a result of poverty or rebellion. The best interests of the child are considered first before the child is taken back to its parents home (CRC). Conclusion Children have a right to participate in decisions that shape their life and therefore should be given a chance to express their own opinion. However, this right is only exercised considering the maturity and the best interest of the child. Not all decisions that a child makes will be supported by their parents or guardians. For instance, a child cannot make a decision not to go school. For the best interests of the child the child will be forced to attend school.

Biological Anthropology

Gonzalez, AureaMarch 6, 2013Question #1 For many years biological anthropologists have been trying to identify race through genetics but race is not determined biologically. The closest aspect to a biological feature in grouping people is cline; geography making people of the same area in the world similar. Human variation, however, is classification of skin color, eye color; characteristics that are genetic and unchanging genes. Genetic traits have nothing to do with race; it influences the idea of it. Mutations cause variation. An example of this would be with how sunlight affects skin tone because of dark and light melanin.Race cannot be naturally divided into groups because it is an arbitrary, modern idea; a social construct based on ethnicity, social reform, and culture, otherwise known as The Great Chain of Being. Constant change in the world, such as migration and reproduction, brings diversity upon us. Jim Brown, in The Power of Illusion, specifically says, â€Å"Race has ch anged as a definition in this country. † The world is always changing; people will continuously try to identify race through genetics, but it never will be proven biologically because it’s merely a cultural classification.Also, in the film, a group of students try to find out who they might be closely related to, based on mitochondrial DNA. A black girl believes she is more closely related to another black boy in the class. When they matched the MTDNA, they found out they were wrong. Some had the same number and pattern of MTDNA that others across the country had. This proved race had nothing to do with genetics. Scientists have tried to see differences in athletic ability according to race. However, there is no biological explanation for why someone of one race might be more athletic than someone of another.If a white person ran in the mountains with high altitude, he would have greater lung capacity than someone who ran an average racetrack. Nutrition and adaptation a ffect genetics, bringing about variety of human beings. If a black person grew up with great nutrition, he was likely to be taller and healthier than someone who might not have access to nutrition. Therefore, race cannot determine specific differences between one another because access to food affects variation. It’s important to remember the difference between race and human variation because everyone should be treated equal.Although there is internal variation within the human species, that doesn’t define race, yet human variation. [400 words] Gonzalez, AureaMarch 6, 2013Question #2 The origin of walking on two feet goes back between 10-3 MYA. There are numerous ways to diagnose bipedalism with skeletal remains. The foramen magnum is where the spinal cord meets the skull and passes on to the brain. It is able to determine whether or not a skeleton was bipedal because if the spinal cord is located directly beneath the skull, rather than its back, such as the chimpanze e, it is proven to have walked on two legs.Also, you can infer that the skeleton was bipedal because thoracic kyphosis, the slight backward curve of the vertebrae to which the ribs attach, do not develop until one begins to walk upright. Lumbar lordosis, the forward curve of the lower portion of the back, is more robust in females than in males for ability to balance to support a baby during pregnancy. Angle of the femur is another way to prove bipedalism. If the angle is increasingly wide, the skeleton was bipedal because it allows more balance with the broaden hips, versus a chimp with a straighter angle of a femur, causing the wobble when walking on two feet.Increase in leg length is another way to prove bipedalism. Apes had longer arms than legs, proving knuckle-walking, and spending more time swinging in trees walking on the ground. The fossil Lucy was the first bipedal skeleton found in Kenya which dates back to 3. 6 MYA. She’s considered the first bipedal skeleton beca use hips down, she had the body of a human, however hip up, using her brain size, she was considered ape. Salem, aka Lucy’s baby, had a preserved skull, milk teeth, tiny fingers, a torso, a foot, and an extremely tiny kneecap which helped archeologists say she was about three years old when she died.Salem differed from Lucy, having a face, while Lucy’s head was barely found, and had ape-like shoulders, telling us tree climbing was still a part of its nature, supporting the theory of A. afarensis. Bipedalism was a positive adaptation in human evolution because of survival. Keeping cool from changing landscapes and climates was an important factor in endurance running. With the shedding of hair on our bodies from evolution, sweating was our new found air conditioner, allowing the human species to run in the day and keep cool at the same time, making it easier to hunt protein, meat, the greatest source of nutrition. 400 words] Gonzalez, AureaMarch 6, 2013Question #3 Sever al methods were used for the excavation of the African Burial Ground in 1991. After using large machinery and shovels to get through the first few feet of dirt, dental tools and brushes were used to find the remains of skeletons carefully. Soil marks in the dirt from decayed wood where a coffin once was were visible to determine where to locate the heads and bodies of the skeletons. Photos were taken to preserve the history before excavating, for excavation is destructive, destroying information due to damaged remains.Archeologists were able to infer a lot about some of the bodies found such as age, sex, and culture. Two thirds of the adults were identified male, one third being female, and forty-five percent of the excavated bodies, children under twelve years old. Sex was able to be determined through pelvis shape. The wider the angle of the pelvis, it was determined to be female, the thinner the angle, it was male. Another way to identify sex with the pelvis is the pubic archâ₠¬â„¢s shape. If the arch seems like a circle, it is female, if it seems heart-shaped, it is male.Teeth give indication of age, but aging can also be caused by environmental stress. Teeth also played a cultural aspect in these people’s lives. Shape of the teeth told archeologists whether or not they were born in Africa or kept practicing their culture while they were alive. Filing of the teeth into hourglass and peg shapes showed tribal affiliations in West Africa. Thus, historical data and these observations tell us the bodies were indeed African. Dr. Blake, in African Burial Ground, An American Discovery, suggests a man in his thirties had the vertebrate of an eighty year old man.Vertebral Lipping can be caused by standing all day, adding pressure to your spine, but carrying heavy loads can crush your spine at a quicker age. This showed us that this man was very hard working. Also, some bodies were buried with shroud, which indicated that they were extremely poor, while a wo man was found buried with a lace of beads that were a waist decoration indicating she wasn’t as poor as the others. In October of 1992, more than four hundred skeletons were removed. The discovery of the African Burial Ground reminds us today of enslaved relatives that were almost forgotten due to the building of our city. [398 words]

Economics Of Mexico Essay

A federal constitutional republic located in North America, Mexico is surrounded by Belize, Guatemala and the United States. This Latin nation has about 11 million people in population. In nominal terms, Mexico’s economy stands as the 13th largest in the whole word according to the World Bank. It stands as the 11th largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity. Mexico is considered to be an upper middle income economy based from its region and income as classified by the World Bank. Mexico practices a free market economy system and they rely mostly on their export sector as it has provided the country great economic success over the years. Mexico is extremely dependent on the exports to the U. S. hence its economy is strongly connected to the business cycle of the United States. As the economy of the U. S suffers, Mexico also endures the economic crisis that the U. S economy bears. Mexico’s services also contribute a bigger share in the country’s total gross domestic product. In 2006, the country’s real gross domestic product grew by 5. 1%. In 2007 and 2008, it raised to about 3. 3% and 1. 3% respectively (Diaz 245). Mexican government officials are expecting a 4%-5% growth in the economy for this year (2010). The trade regime of Mexico is among the most open internationally. They have free trade agreements with about 44 countries including Canada, the European Union, and the United States. The Mexican administrations following the 1994 crisis have provided improvements for the nation’s macroeconomic essentials. The economy of Mexico comprises fast developing modern service as well as industrial sectors, with rising private ownerships. The current administration of Mexico has extended and expanded competition in telecommunications, ports, electricity generation, railroads, airports, and natural gas distribution, as it aims to upgrade the infrastructure of the country. Macroeconomic, financial and welfare indicators Mexico suffered the gravest economic crisis in the years 1994-1995. 50% of the country’s total population fell into poverty during those times. Poverty was alleviated during Zedillo’s and Fox’s administration because of NAFTA and other trade agreements that were initiated during those terms. The macroeconomic finances of Mexico were also restructured resulting to decline of the poverty rate of the country. According to the World Bank, the poverty rate of Mexico was reduced from about 24. 2% in the year 2000 to only 17. 6% four years after (2004). Most of this decline came from the rural districts of Mexico whose poverty rate was reduced from 42% down to 27. 9% in a span of four years (Lustig 175). Urban poverty on the other hand was idled at 12% from the years 2000-2004. The World Bank also declared that 17. 6% of Mexico’s total population in 2004 lived in severe poverty, while 21% lived in average poverty. The CIA Factbook also had their own figures, as it reported that 13. 8% of Mexico’s population during that year was living under the poverty line, making this judgment based from the food-based poverty. In 2006, the Gross Domestic Product of Mexico in purchasing power parity was approximately at US $1. 353 trillion (Lustig 212). The World Bank declared that in 2007, the country had the second highest Gross National Income in terms of market exchange rates in Latin America next to Brazil. Mexico is considered to be an upper middle-income nation because of its GDP. According to World Bank, Mexico’s population (2008) is at 106,350,434. Their GDP (PPP) in 2009 was at an estimate of $1. 459 trillion. Remittances are huge contributors to the growing Mexican economy. These are the contributions sent by Mexicans who live in other countries, generally in the United States, to their relatives and families back in Mexico. These contributions are substantial and in 2005, these remittances reached about $18 million. In the year 2004, Mexico was the tenth biggest source of remittances after their other sources of income such as manufactured goods, oil, electronics, industrial exports, automobiles, food, construction, heavy industry, financial services and banking. Remittances were even bigger than tourism expenditures and it stood for 2. 1% of Mexico’s GDP. The increase in foreign income has been outstanding. Income inequality as well as regional differences has been a constant dilemma in Mexico. Quintana Roo is one of the states with the highest GDP growth rates at 9. 04% followed by Baja California with 8. 89%, and San Luis Potosi with 8. 18% (Moreno-Brid & Ros 194). Mexico’s economy has been less centralized ever since the 1980s era. Amongst the federal units in Mexico, the Federal District had the highest GDP per capita in 2000, with US $17,696. However, the annual rate of Gross Domestic Product in the Federal District has been the smallest amongst all federal entities during 2003-2004 at only 0. 23%. Radical decrease has been observed in the industrial and agricultural sectors. Nonetheless, the Federal District of the nation still contributes for the 21. 8% total GDP of the country (Walton 166). Industry One major breakthrough in the industry sector of Mexico came from the trade liberalization that the country has undertaken. Almost 90% of all export earnings in 2000 came from this undertaking. The current major industries include automobile and aircraft industry, cement & construction industry, food and beverages, petrochemicals mining, tourism and consumer durables. The automobile industry is by far the most successful and most important industry in Mexico. Since the 1930’s, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler (The Big Three), have started creating plants in Mexico. The 1960’s and 1970’s came and other internationally renowned automobile manufacturers like Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Honda, operated inside Mexico. The success of the Mexican automobile industry can be attributed to its difference with other Latin American countries. Mexico is not a mere assembly manufacturer; in fact, the industry produces advance and complex technological components for automobiles and engages in some research and development pursuits. Besides, because of the high requirements of North American components in the industry, even European and Asian parts suppliers have extended into Mexico. However, the local manufacturers are actually relatively small in size compared to the international brands. The local manufacturers only account for a fraction of the massive industry that is the automobile industry. Some of the mainstays of local automobile manufacturers include DINA Camiones S. A. de C. V. , a truck and busses company operating for almost 50 years now; Vehizero and Mastretta, which builds hybrid trucks and evolving sports cars respectively. Furthermore, new car manufacturers keep on joining the tight competition in the Mexican automobile industry (Lustig 246). Mexico has other large industries that includes Cemex, which is the third largest cement corporation in the world; companies like FEMSA which other than owning breweries and OXXO convenience store chains, is also the second-largest Coca-Cola bottler in the world; alcohol beverage companies that include world-renowned companies like GrupoModelo; Gruma which accounts for the biggest supplier of corn flour and tortillas in the world; and other high-tech industrial producers which according to the World Bank account for almost 1/5 of the country’s total exports (Moreno-Brid & Ros 278). Mexico is also focusing in the development of an aerospace industry and a jet aircraft and helicopter jet fuselage assembly. With the arrival of foreign companies like Bell, Bombardier, Cessna and MD Helicopters, the aircraft and regional jet fuselages industry in Mexico has been in high hopes. Likewise, local companies emerged such as Aeromarmi and Hydra Technologies which builds light propeller airplanes and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) respectively. Furthermore, companies like KuoAerospace that builds parts for aircraft landing gears and Frisa Aerospace that builds jet engine parts for the new Mitsubishi Regional jet are also emerging players in the growing industry of aerospace. Another thriving industry in Mexico is the Maquiladoras. Maquiladoras are Mexican factories that import raw materials and produce goods for export. They have been a Mexican landmark trade. Free trade also boosted this industry that since NAFTA, real income from the maquiladora sectors has increased by 15. 5% since 1994. The non-maquiladora industries in Mexico were actually left by the maquiladora sector for it has been since the 1960’s that their products can enter the U. S. duty free as part of the 1960s industry agreement (Lustig 289). Finally, other industries in Mexico includes the food manufacturing industry, that by international companies have strived while local companies have failed to develop; a developing computer industry led by LANIX that now has two manufacturing plants in Mexico and Chile; a new industry that is Robotics, where Mexico’s robots are being developed for future years for advanced commercial applications. Illegal immigrants immigrating to the USA For so many years now, Mexicans have illegally immigrated into the United States. One notable reason is the close proximity between the two nations and the apparent difference in the quality of living between the two countries (Borjas 64). Many Mexicans come from the destitute towns of Mexico are dreaming the â€Å"American dream† hence the strong desire to cross borders. For most people, having a low-paying job in the United States is still much better than a stable job in their home land. In the 1980s period, the United States witness a considerable rise in the number of illegal immigrants coming from Mexico (Hellman 89). This immigration influx did not come from just a specific region from Mexico but from all the communities all over the nation. Mexicans have an average wag of about $4. 15 per hour and those individuals working in the agricultural sector receive even less (Borjas 101). People in Mexico who are working may survive with such pay alone, however those with families especially those with more kids find it difficult to survive with the average pay that the Mexican government provides. The unemployment rate of Mexico is about 5. 6% (2009) but about 25% of the working Mexicans are considered underemployed (Diaz 145). As the government continuously provide and create jobs, these are still not enough to meet the rising demand of the Mexicans. The low pay that the Mexicans get, stop them from having even the most essential and basic necessities. Hence, a lot of Mexicans regardless whether they’re from the small or big cities, see the United States to be extremely desirable. Even though there have been treaties like the NAFTA or North American Free Trade Agreement that allowed American companies in the country, jobs are still not enough and several wages are still comparatively low. Illegal immigrants are most likely individuals with lower skill levels meaning that they end up having jobs in construction, landscaping, agriculture, household services, restaurants, and low-end manufacturing in the United States. The United States Department of Homeland Security together with certain advocacy groups have been condemning a program of Yucatan, a state in Mexico, and a federal Mexican agency which allows Mexicans to directly migrate and reside in the U. S. According to the Homeland Security and advocates, the assistance that the Mexican program provide includes recommendations and suggestions on how to get across the United States border unlawfully, where to enroll their children, and find proper healthcare (Borjas 188). Accordingly, identity cards are also given out by the Mexican federal government to the Mexicans who live abroad. The giving out of Matricula Consular or Consular Registration are strictly opposed by advocate groups. These identifications card given by the Mexican government via its consulate offices reveal that the holder is of Mexican nationality but is living outside the country. Through this identification card, illegal immigrants can open bank accounts in the United States as it is accepted in many financial establishments. Most Mexican immigrants still choose to work in the United States and other countries in order to improve their way of life. Illegal immigration in the United States has becoming to be more and more difficult due to advanced infrastructure, technology, and enforcement. In the past year (2009), the number of immigrants has declined due to the economic slowdown of the United States. Nevertheless, thousands of immigrants are still yearning to cross borders and get a job. Immigrants sometimes pay smugglers or â€Å"coyotes† in order to help the cross borders. When a Mexican has successfully immigrated to the United States, he aims to work hard in order to send money back home in Mexico. A part of an immigrant’s desire is to bring more of his family members to the U. S. This is why remittances in Mexico stands at a great value since immigrants are increasing in number. Most of these illegal immigrants live a better life away from their home country. Mexican immigrants benefit from the high value of living in the United States, and in a way the United States economy also benefit from these illegal aliens. These immigrants are willing to take any job in the United States even the more dangerous ones. Aside from the, American employers are also able to get workers at lower costs since Mexican immigrants are also open to low-paying jobs since what’s important to them is to be on the U. S. territory. The United States economy also benefits as these immigrants pay for Social Security. No matter what jobs or little benefits these immigrants may get, they are still grateful for the opportunities that await them in the United States. Little by little, and over time, these Mexican immigrants are able to save more than enough in order to alleviate their living conditions. Some immigrants eventually gain permanent residency (through green card) and possible citizenship status. Mexican immigrants have a particular belief that coming to the United States can be the solution to their search for a much better life. Comparing the Gini Coefficient and Lorenz Curve with USA and other Latin American countries (2) As the way of living between Mexico and the United States can be observed, statistical data establish these observations. The Gini coefficient measures the inequality of a distribution in different disciplines such as health science, chemistry, ecology, and economics. It is usually used in measuring inequality of wealth or income. Canada and European countries have Gini indices of around 24 and 36 between them. Mexico and United States on the other hand have Gini indices that are both over 40, signifying that the inequality between Mexico and United States is very great. In 2002, Mexico ranked as the 15th country with the greatest inequality with a Gini index of 53. 1 (Walton 122). The Lorenz Curve is also used in establishing the proportionality of a distribution. It is usually associated with income distribution computations and often used in analyzing inequality. Using the Lorenz Curve, Mexico’s average income in their rural area was at 1,221. 9 pesos in 2005 while the urban side was at 3,002. 7 pesos (Diaz 191). The inequality of income distribution in Mexico is so great that finding establish that even if Mexico is a relatively rich nation compared to the other developing countries, severe poverty is felt in the rural area. The social stratification dilemma of Mexico still haunts the nation to the present day. Over the years, the lower class has always been the ones who cultivate the lands that are owned by those belonging in the upper class. At present, land ownership is still the grounds for wealth amongst the Mexicans. Though, the industrial transformation in Mexico’s economy has also brought in wealth amongst the citizens. Sadly, only 10% of Mexico’s population is wealthy. The 30% belongs to the middle class while the whole 60% of Mexico’s population are poor. These Mexicans are usually those industrial workers or peasant sector (Moreno-Brid & Ros 214). The income distribution of Mexico is very unevenly distributed with the wealthy 10% owning 38% of the nation’s income (2000). The middle 30% owns the 36% of income while the poorest 60% shares 26% of the country’s total income. The distribution of consumption or income by percentage (survey year 1995) is as follows: Lowest 10% – 1. 4 Lowest 20% – 3. 6 Second 20% – 7. 2 Third 20% – 11. 8 Fourth 20% – 19. 2 Highest 20% – 58. 2 Highest 10% – 42. 8 This data was from the 2000 World Development Indicators [CD-ROM] and it refers to income shares by percentiles of the Mexican population and is ranked according to per capita income. It doesn’t take an expert to figure out the huge disparities between the poor and wealthy in Mexico. No need to check the indexes of housing, education, and health, to understand the uneven distribution of income. In recent years, relentless poverty remains to be one of the enduring problems of Mexico’s economy. Unemployment rate increases and the poor do not get any kind of welfare compensation. The economic policies of Mexico have worsened the situation like inflation has battered the real wages of those poor people. Every time a new administration begins in Mexico, different programs have been proposed to address the basic needs of the poor. Oftentimes these programs have worked for the time being and at times, they failed. With the inequality of income distribution and other social issues haunting the Mexican economy, it seems that the situation of the country is worsening. Agriculture The Mexican agricultural sector is one of the biggest in the world and it has become a very significant factor in the whole economy of the country. In the beginning the agriculture of Mexico was not very flourishing but as soon as the Mexico Revolution was over a restructuring and improvement in the agricultural sector was made. This reformation took place after the 27th edition of the Mexican Constitution was released. Before the 1990s, the Mexican government focused and encouraged their agricultural sector into planting crops such as beans and corn only. After 1990, they have restricted the import of such crops from other countries through the implementation of particular acts and policies. Following that change in the agricultural sector, Mexico’s agriculture has increased but their percentage of Gross Domestic Product had declined (Lustig 123-124). Mexico is the number one country in producing avocados, lemons, chayote, limes, onions, as well as the seed of Safflower. The country is ranked second for their production of dry fruits, peppers and chilies, and Papaya. Their production of chicken meat, whole beans, asparagus, mangoes, and oranges, ranked them at third worldwide. Mexico is known for the variety of fruits that they are capable of producing. The country experiences one of the best weathers of all time hence they are able to produce such various types of fruits. Their fruit production has given a huge impact on their economy for years. Various organizations are also present in Mexico in order to help the farmers in whatever they may need during their agricultural productions. NAFTA is a type of organization that has help Mexican farmers and the Mexican agriculture prosper. Trade and trade agreements Mexico in general is an export oriented nation. Its economy heavily relies on trade. Mexico was the 15th largest merchandise exporter in the world in 2005, and 12th biggest merchandise importer. The trade activities of Mexico increased five times from 1991 to 2005. Mexico is the biggest importer as well as exporter in the whole Latin America. Mexico exported about US $213. 7 billion in 2005 alone; approximately just equal to the sum of all Argentina’s, Brazil’s, Uruguay, Venezuela’s, and Paraguay’s total exports for that year. The trades of Mexico however are closely tied to its North American neighbors (Lustig 184). About 50% of their imports and 90% of their exports are traded with Canada and the United States. NAFTA or the North American Free Trade Agreement has not produced a change in the trading of Mexico. The trade between Mexico and the United States from 1993-2002 increased for about 183% and in Canada with 165%. However, the other trade agreements that Mexico has shown even more remarkable outcomes. Their trade with Chile increased at about 285%, with Honduras at 420% and in Costa Rica at 528%. With the same time phase of 1993-2002, Mexico’s trade with European Union rose 105% (Walton 210). In 1986, Mexico became part of GATT or the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. At present the country is an active and productive member of the World Trade Organization. Mexico has about 12 free trade agreements with 44 nations. Some of their most notable trade agreements are as follows: Nicaragua in 1998, Chile in 1999, Israel and the European Union in 2000, Uruguay in 2004, and in 2005 with Japan. One of their most known trade agreement is the NAFTA with Canada and the United States in 1994 and the Group of the three or Grupo de los tres with Venezuela and Colombia in 1995. Venezuela however terminated their agreement by the year 2006. Mexico has publicized their desire of being an associate constituent of Mercosur. Mexico has also begun to form deals and negotiations with Peru, Singapore, South Korea, and Australia. NAFTA The NAFTA or North American Free Trade Agreement is an arrangement signed by the administrations/governments of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The agreement was launched on January 1, 1994 and it outdated the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement that Canada and the U. S had. The trade block between these 3 countries had the largest combined PPP (purchasing power parity) GDP in the entire world, and ranked 2nd largest in terms of nominal GDP (Cameron 86). The aim of this agreement was to get rid of the barriers of investment and trade between Canada, USA, and Mexico. The implementation of the agreement on the 1st of January in 1994 immediately had its effect as tariffs were eliminated on more than one half of the imports coming from Mexico and over one third of the US exports that were going to Mexico. This agreement also aims to abolish non-tariff trade barriers. By far, the NAFTA is the most significant trade agreement that the Mexican government has signed. NAFTA is more inclusive than the other trade agreements that Mexico is involved with. NAFTA has two supplements which are the NAALC or North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation and NAAEC or North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation. The NAAEC supplement of the agreement was an answer to the environmentalists’ interests and worries that companies would move and transfer to Mexico or that the United States would drop its standards if the three nations did not attain an agreed and undisputed guideline or parameter on the environment. Its goal is to be more than just a series of environmental rules, but also address environmental and trade concerns through the establishment of NACEC or North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation. The NADBank or North American Development Bank was also formed to assist and finance ventures that concern the reduction of pollution. All these have provided great economic advantages and benefits to Mexico. The NAALC supplement’s goal was to form a foundation for mutual aid between the three countries in resolving labor problems and promoting greater support among social groups and trade organizations. The huge amount of trades between the United States and Mexico had led to a few trade disputes concerning comparatively small amounts. These disagreements were in general settled by NAFTA panels or WTO or by way of negotiations among the two nations. The total benefits of NAFTA have been measured and reported by numerous publications. They have evaluated the positive effects that NAFTA has provided Mexico. Poverty rates in Mexico have declined and the real income wages have increased even after the economic crisis in 1994-1995 (Cameron 134). However, NAFTA has not been enough to create an economic union nor to lessen the poverty rates significantly or to further increased rates of growth. The fall in real wages and absence of secured, well-paid jobs are serious difficulties that the Mexico’s workforce has been facing. While NAFTA has been beneficial to some sectors of Mexico’s economy particularly the maquiladora industries, NAFTA has also in a way increased inequality and decreased the job quality and incomes for the great majority of Mexican workers (Cameron 197). In more ways than one, NAFTA has stopped the progress of development. An example would be the stagnation of the industrialized share of employment that led to the regression of some sectors. NAFTA has provided several of the most vital challenges for the development of Mexico for the 21st century. The question is whether or not Mexico, under this agreement, can revive the slowed down development of its economy and find a means to restructure and redistribute the benefits of the consequential growth. Future of Mexico’s Economy The Real GDP of Mexico has fallen last year (2009) to 6. 6% because of the collective effects of the global financial crisis that have severely affected the US imports and manufacturing. Nonetheless, significant growth in non-oil exports and manufacturing is expected in 2010, as prompted by the rising US manufacturing and trade. The GDP of the country is expected to demonstrate a solid growth in the near future, suggesting in part how essential activity dropped in 2009. Continuous strong links with the economy of the United States will drive Mexico’s economic stance for the near future. US manufacturing and imports are expected to bounce back from the horrible fall down as witnessed in 2009. Mexico must be more competitive in order to increase and improve the market share of their exports to the United States and to better influence and control its liberal net of free trade agreements. Works Cited Borjas, George. Mexican Immigration to the United States (National Bureau of Economic Research Conference Report). Illinois: University Of Chicago Press, 2007. Print. Cameron, Maxwell. The Making of NAFTA: How the deal was done. New York: Cornell University Press, 2002. Print. Diaz, Araceli. Economic Growth and Income Inequality in Mexico: A Panel Data Approach. Germany: VDM Publishing, 2010. Print. Hellman, Judith. The World of Mexican Migrants: The Rock and the Hard Place. A New Press, 2009. Print. Lustig, Nora. Mexico: The Remaking of an Economy. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 1998. Print. Moreno-Brid, Juan Carlos, & Ros, Jaime. Development and Growth in the Mexican Economy: A Historical Perspective. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print. Walton, Michael. No Growth without Equity: Inequality, Interests, and Competition in Mexico. World Bank Publications, 2009. Print.