English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

English - Essay Example And then there are occasions when expectations are heavily betrayed. My emotions are not a science. I would much rather place them loftily on the pedestal of art. They are free, function for their own wellbeing, and can hardly be stopped, even when I wish not to feel anything as I recently learned. I used to confidently categorize myself as a rational person and chose not to give into my petty emotions when I could avoid it. However, unfortunately, I experienced, this is not always the case. A recent, very strong emotional reaction I exhibited led me to re-evaluate myself and question whether I truly am as rational and immune to ‘silly’ emotions as I believed myself to be. A very close friend had been searching for a silver pendant with a Christian cross insignia. After failing to find one she felt exhibited her simplicity (most of them were too decorative for her), she gave up. Only a few days before her birthday, I managed to find a sleek yet simple silver cross and excitedly told her that I had bought it for her birthday. On our next phone call, she informed me she bought the exact same pendant that she happened to find at the mall for herself. On the phone, I said nothing. Made light of it, as if it were not a big deal, and as if it did not bother me that she chose to lower the significance of my gift by getting another one herself. I was to drop by her place for her birthday, and that is what I still intended to do. Emotional reactions can occur when an individual â€Å"chooses to react emotionally rather than react adaptively to a situation†. (Mascolo & Griffin, 149) And this is indeed what I chose. So on that celebrative day, I arrived at her place which was full of guests, most of them whom I knew. As I entered, I could feel a change come over me. I felt surly, annoyed, and vindictive. I behaved moodily with the

Rent Seeking in Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Rent Seeking in Economics - Essay Example Upon analyzing the given case scenario, it is clear that rent seeking in economics happens because of the imperfection within the economic and political markets (Pasour, p. 124). It simply means that the presence of political and economic corruption promotes the strengthening of rent-seeking behavior among the local and international business people. On the contrary, the chances wherein the market will be dictated freely by the movements of supply and demand increases in case of the absence of lobbying, bribery, and political corruption. In a free market economy, movements in supply and demand dictate the market prices of goods and services. In the absence of a direct government regulation, sellers will have to encourage the buyers to purchase the products and services they offer to the public by making the market price more attractive. Because of the presence of political and economic corruption, it is not easy to control unfair business practices. It is difficult to abolish the pre sence of rent-seeking behavior because of self-interests among the government officials and the business people within a market economy. In line with this, government officials who have the political power to either grant tax protection or give monopoly right to a large corporation is often tempted to accept irresistible offers or bribes coming from the big-time players in the business world. As a way of earning more money, business people would always grab the chance of becoming protected by the government officials whenever possible. Since the general public is the one who votes for the members of the government officials, rent seeking behavior in economics terms does not always occur as a collective decision-making process but a larger context of public choice. This makes rent-seeking behavior a major public choice problem.  Looking back at the card game experiment our team had in class, the practice of rent seeking behavior is not possible since the experimental case study has dictated all the conditions behind the game. No matter how hard we try to manipulate the game, there is no other way our team could win the contract but luck. In case our team gets lucky enough to be randomly selected by the local government, we win the contract. If not, our team will always have to pay the paper work and legal fees even without winning the license.

Can poverty be stoped in Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Can poverty be stoped in Africa - Essay Example But such basic causes are quite intractable and not easily eradicated. In most cases, the causes and effects of poverty interact, so that what makes people poor also creates conditions that keep them poor. Primary factors that may lead to poverty include (1) overpopulation, (2) the unequal distribution of resources in the world economy, (3) inability to meet high standards of living and costs of living, (4) inadequate education and employment opportunities, (5) environmental degradation, (6) certain economic and demographic trends, and (7) welfare incentives" ( Microsoft Encarta 2006 ). Just like many third world countries, Africa is not exempted from incurring debts. Many western governments have made promises to either reduce or remove the massive burden of debt in Africa. Yet, in most African countries, the people still devote most of their land planting and producing cash crops to pay off these debts. However, the debt is so enormous that the possibility to pay the debt off is next to impossible. This creates a vicious cycle in Africa's economy, with the government and its people burrowed deeper into this situation. The phenomenon of jobless economic growth that increases income inequalities and generates too few jobs for low income groups poses a serious threat to the well-being of many nations, both North and South. Government policies should consider not only aggregate economic impact but also the distribution of employment. Socially responsible venture capital and microcredit initiatives can foster employment-generating businesses that complement the local culture and environment. .b. Rout out corruption, which harms society as a whole. Corruption, both in government and business, places heavy cost on society. Businesses should enact, publicize and follow codes of conduct banning corruption on the part of their staff and directors. Citizens must demand greater transparency on the part of both government and the corporate sector and create reform movements where needed. b. Broaden access to education and technology among marginalized groups, and especially among girls and women. The educational attainment of women has strong bearing on the well-being of their families, and efforts to improve education for women and girls must be strengthened. At the same time, steps should be taken to ensure that the current revolution in information technology benefits marginalized groups. This must begin in school. c. Improve government capacity to provide universal access to essential goods and services, including potable water, affordable food, primary health care, education, housing and other social services. Governments around the world have made commitments to this through the 20/20 Initiative, which calls for 20% of national budgets and 20% of foreign aid to be spent on human services. But raising adequate

Business Law Problems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Law Problems - Essay Example They argue that people making contracts should take consideration of possible changes in the future in making a contract. Take, for example, two people, where one is a supplier of goods while the other is the buyer. Assuming that the goods or services are to be delivered over a period of time, the costing of the product or service may be affected by economic changes like inflation2. The figure has been changed by about five to ten percent per year for the above. In that situation, the value of goods in this year would not be the same with the value the following year and the year after. In the case of Tabor and Martin, Martin can legally collect the a hundred dollars for the remaining contract because Tabor agreed to the terms. The recent contract or agreement precedes any prior agreements and would not matter whether Tabor had been informed prices would change or not. 3 Soberness: legal experts argue that people abiding through a contract should be sober before signing the agreement. In addition, they should have enough time to go through the contract and raise any contentious issues in the contract. The contentious clauses and issues should be changed for the better of the contract to be binding. Some people have been very crafty and take advantage of others when they are not sober. The example question of Kira selling her diamond necklace to Charlotte for just a hundred dollars yet it is worth thousands of dollars, shows the consequences of signing a contract when intoxicated too well. When a person has signed a contract, it is assumed that they read through the contract and were comfortable with every clause in the contract and that is why s/he signed. Therefore, Kira selling her necklace was a done deal, as long as she signed a contract, and Charlotte can prove. Her necklace could not be returned, even when she offered to refund the money she h ad

The similarities, and differences, between the philosophies of John Term Paper

The similarities, and differences, between the philosophies of John Rawls Theory of Justice, Adam Smith Theory for Moral Sent - Term Paper Example In the end what we have in Gates creative capitalism is an extrapolation of earlier theories, customized and set to the more practical tune of direct intervention and redistribution. Rawls and Gates’ in the Looking Glass Bill Gates and creative capitalism in relationship to Rawls’ Theory of Justice provides the basis for comparison between pure social theory and practical application. Not that the two always coincide, and certainly not that either necessarily agrees with the other implicitly. Yet both Shaw and Barry put forth the proposition that Rawls’ ideas [like those of Gates] ‘touch a responsive chord† (Shaw and Barry:128). Rawls’ concept of society â€Å"as a cooperative venture† (Shaw and Barry 129) resonate throughout Gates 2008 remarks before the World Economic Forum. As social contract theory, both Gates and Rawls call for a rethinking and extension of original social contracts proposed by earlier philosophers. But perhaps the most significant connection tying the two emanates from Rawls’ theory â€Å"that social and economic inequalities are justified only if those inequalities benefit the least advantaged members of society† (Shaw and Barry 129). ... (Gates, Economic Forum: 1) Guth goes further in his criticism, referring to Gates’ proposals for creative capitalism as a â€Å"revision of capitalism† (Guth par 1), a concept never popular with purists. It can also be said that in rethinking the terms of capitalism vis a vis the world’s poor, Gates returns to Rawls’ concept of original position. Beyond mere philanthropy--a term often used to describe Gates work--he is offering the wealthiest an opportunity, as Rawls’ theory suggests, to gather, think and discuss the meaning of true social justice [in economic terms] (Shaw and Barry 133). Rawls rather naive conclusion, however, that those discussing original position must not be conscious of social status runs counter to Gates’ full acknowledgement of social level and his direct appeal to the wealthiest. Stating the two great forces of human nature as† self interest and caring for others† (Gates, World Economic Forum: 3), Gates ag rees with Rawls at least regarding self interest as a driver, taking the theory of what makes capitalism tick a step further in proposing that â€Å"The genius of capitalism lies in its ability to make self interest serve the wider interest† (Gates, World Economic Forum: 3). Regarding the thrust of both Rawls’ theory and creative capitalism, it is difficult and wrong to declare that one or the other is based on pure reason or pure sympathy. Yet in analyzing Rawls and Gates one might tend more toward judgments of reason over sympathy as the catalyst for their proposals. Gates, however, at times tends toward the latter in his declaration that the poor of the world have not enough resources to sustain them.(Gates, World

Can poverty be stoped in Africa Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Can poverty be stoped in Africa - Essay Example But such basic causes are quite intractable and not easily eradicated. In most cases, the causes and effects of poverty interact, so that what makes people poor also creates conditions that keep them poor. Primary factors that may lead to poverty include (1) overpopulation, (2) the unequal distribution of resources in the world economy, (3) inability to meet high standards of living and costs of living, (4) inadequate education and employment opportunities, (5) environmental degradation, (6) certain economic and demographic trends, and (7) welfare incentives" ( Microsoft Encarta 2006 ). Just like many third world countries, Africa is not exempted from incurring debts. Many western governments have made promises to either reduce or remove the massive burden of debt in Africa. Yet, in most African countries, the people still devote most of their land planting and producing cash crops to pay off these debts. However, the debt is so enormous that the possibility to pay the debt off is next to impossible. This creates a vicious cycle in Africa's economy, with the government and its people burrowed deeper into this situation. The phenomenon of jobless economic growth that increases income inequalities and generates too few jobs for low income groups poses a serious threat to the well-being of many nations, both North and South. Government policies should consider not only aggregate economic impact but also the distribution of employment. Socially responsible venture capital and microcredit initiatives can foster employment-generating businesses that complement the local culture and environment. .b. Rout out corruption, which harms society as a whole. Corruption, both in government and business, places heavy cost on society. Businesses should enact, publicize and follow codes of conduct banning corruption on the part of their staff and directors. Citizens must demand greater transparency on the part of both government and the corporate sector and create reform movements where needed. b. Broaden access to education and technology among marginalized groups, and especially among girls and women. The educational attainment of women has strong bearing on the well-being of their families, and efforts to improve education for women and girls must be strengthened. At the same time, steps should be taken to ensure that the current revolution in information technology benefits marginalized groups. This must begin in school. c. Improve government capacity to provide universal access to essential goods and services, including potable water, affordable food, primary health care, education, housing and other social services. Governments around the world have made commitments to this through the 20/20 Initiative, which calls for 20% of national budgets and 20% of foreign aid to be spent on human services. But raising adequate

The similarities, and differences, between the philosophies of John Term Paper

The similarities, and differences, between the philosophies of John Rawls Theory of Justice, Adam Smith Theory for Moral Sent - Term Paper Example In the end what we have in Gates creative capitalism is an extrapolation of earlier theories, customized and set to the more practical tune of direct intervention and redistribution. Rawls and Gates’ in the Looking Glass Bill Gates and creative capitalism in relationship to Rawls’ Theory of Justice provides the basis for comparison between pure social theory and practical application. Not that the two always coincide, and certainly not that either necessarily agrees with the other implicitly. Yet both Shaw and Barry put forth the proposition that Rawls’ ideas [like those of Gates] ‘touch a responsive chord† (Shaw and Barry:128). Rawls’ concept of society â€Å"as a cooperative venture† (Shaw and Barry 129) resonate throughout Gates 2008 remarks before the World Economic Forum. As social contract theory, both Gates and Rawls call for a rethinking and extension of original social contracts proposed by earlier philosophers. But perhaps the most significant connection tying the two emanates from Rawls’ theory â€Å"that social and economic inequalities are justified only if those inequalities benefit the least advantaged members of society† (Shaw and Barry 129). ... (Gates, Economic Forum: 1) Guth goes further in his criticism, referring to Gates’ proposals for creative capitalism as a â€Å"revision of capitalism† (Guth par 1), a concept never popular with purists. It can also be said that in rethinking the terms of capitalism vis a vis the world’s poor, Gates returns to Rawls’ concept of original position. Beyond mere philanthropy--a term often used to describe Gates work--he is offering the wealthiest an opportunity, as Rawls’ theory suggests, to gather, think and discuss the meaning of true social justice [in economic terms] (Shaw and Barry 133). Rawls rather naive conclusion, however, that those discussing original position must not be conscious of social status runs counter to Gates’ full acknowledgement of social level and his direct appeal to the wealthiest. Stating the two great forces of human nature as† self interest and caring for others† (Gates, World Economic Forum: 3), Gates ag rees with Rawls at least regarding self interest as a driver, taking the theory of what makes capitalism tick a step further in proposing that â€Å"The genius of capitalism lies in its ability to make self interest serve the wider interest† (Gates, World Economic Forum: 3). Regarding the thrust of both Rawls’ theory and creative capitalism, it is difficult and wrong to declare that one or the other is based on pure reason or pure sympathy. Yet in analyzing Rawls and Gates one might tend more toward judgments of reason over sympathy as the catalyst for their proposals. Gates, however, at times tends toward the latter in his declaration that the poor of the world have not enough resources to sustain them.(Gates, World