Social Media And Its Effect On Society - 1601 Words

Thank you for your recent editorial titled â€Å"Hazards of Social Media† on your LinkedIn page on February 10th, 2016. It was very interesting to read your perspective on social media and its effect on society. Having an undergraduate major in Psychology at the University of Southern California and currently conducting research on social media usage at the Brain and Creativity Institute of USC, I have spent significant time researching the issue of social media.Though I agree that social media can be hazardous if not used effectively, I would like to point out a few flaws in your arguments. I will also state some of the major benefits of social media, along with substantial evidence to back up my statements. First, you described how teens are often addicted to social media, which can cause their grades to decline. Your sentence in the second paragraph, â€Å"Students who use social media had an average GPA of 3.06 while non-users had an average GPA of 3.82 †¦ As a result, social media caused the decline in grades† is true based on the research study conducted by Kirschner and Karpinski you referenced later. However, if you take a detailed look at the research study, there are several flaws in this quantitative study. With my Psychology research background, I was immediately able to notice the correlational flaws in this study. While the research does prove that students who used social media more had lower GPAs, this does not mean social media use causes low grades or vice versa.Show MoreRelatedSocial Media And Its Effects On Society1597 Words   |  7 PagesSociety Crumbles into Smithereens One Post at a Time You are walking out of the new Star Wars movie, posting about how superb it was, when suddenly you are swooped up and thrown in the back of a vehicle. No one would have thought posting about how you were there earlier would provoke such a situation. After all, social networking is â€Å"safe† and â€Å"friendly.† Now, social media is defined as â€Å"A form of electric communication through which users create online communities to share information,† accordingRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effect On Society1711 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluence usually are not the first words you would expect to come to mind when thinking about the term â€Å"social media,† yet with a little digging you will soon realize it could be the perfect description. Social media can be defined as forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages and other content. Most often social media is understood as a p ositive concept because of the ways it has allowed us to attain cheap and easilyRead MoreThe Effects Of Social Media On Society1359 Words   |  6 PagesIn a broad sense, Social media refers to elements such as websites, television, blogs, IM, and other applications that enable users to create and share various forms of content such as messages, pictures, and information, or to be able to participate in social networking. Social media depends on web-based applications, which allow a high level of virtual interaction on various levels such as social, professional, and educational levels. Social media has had various contributions to the developmentRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effects On Society1592 Words   |  7 Pagesdevelopment of vast social media networks has improved our communications and interactions. These networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, are essential to how information is shared and criticized. The Social Media Handbook defines social media as â€Å"networked information services designed to support in-depth interaction, community formation, collaborative opportunities and collaborative work† (Hunsinger, 2014 p.1). Having an account or profile on these sites is more than a social norm; it is a requirementRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effects On Society1359 Words   |  6 PagesPeople may say social media is good for you but is it really? Everyday, everywhere I always see people on social media calling people bad names, not being able to communicate face to face with each other. Social media, social media, social media†¦ oh what is has done to the world, so many students grades have dropped, criminals PROMOTE crimes. Ultimately, what is at stake here is social media will one day take over the world. People’s safety will be in danger, crimes will increase, people will getRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effect On Society998 Words   |  4 Pagesis bound to be a shift in social norms. As the times change, so does societal views on acceptable values. One such possibility is the standard value accepted by mainstream society in which the way a female body is sexually portrayed in the media. It appears that society has not only accepted this standard, but has increasingly encouraged a more sexualized representation of the female body. Social media is an informational highway about what is accepted by the larger society and inferred by the individualsRead MoreThe Effects Of Social Media On Society Essay1644 Words   |  7 PagesSocial media has become prominent parts of life for many young people today. Most peopl e engage with social media without stopping to think what the effects are on our lives, whether positive or negative. Are we as a society becoming more concerned with Facebook friends than we are with the people we interact with face-to-face in our daily lives? What will the longterm effects of today s social media use be? There are many positive aspects, but there are equally as many dangers that come withRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effect On Society1151 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Media The Workplaces’ Largest Enemy Being employed means that an individual will in most cases have coworkers and bosses; the environment shared between the employees is known as the workplace. In the time before technology, people being fired from their jobs was not an unheard of situation. The difference now is people are being terminated from their jobs because of something they posted on social media. If this was not the case, it would set a precedent that posting inappropriate or hurtfulRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effects On Society Essay1396 Words   |  6 PagesIn our modern world, the use of social media is overwhelming and second nature due to the availability. Several people all around the world possess some form of an electronic device that is capable of accessing social media, rather it be Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and many more. â€Å"Technology’s rampant popularization over the past decade in terms of social media has meant that texting, Facebook, and Twitter have inevitable take n over as the most efficient ways of communicating with eachRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effects On Society1703 Words   |  7 PagesStrangely, being on social media for several hours daily is regarded as normal. Although social media use would be classified as a mainstream activity, that does not make common behavior the correct behavior. â€Å"Behaviors[sic] such as attempting to attract more followers about your life.† (Fishwick, 2016). Users today are more willing to participate in activities such as cyberbullying, or activities that could potentially harm others or themselves mentally or physically. Getting praise and compliments

The Mbti Assessment - 963 Words

Leadership: The MBTI Assessment The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a personality assessment that helps to assess one s psychological preferences based on a psychometric questionnaire. These preferences were extracted from the typological theories proposed by Carl Gustav Jung writings in his book Psychological Types . The MBTI focuses on normal populations and emphasizes the value of naturally occurring differences. [1] Also recognized commonly as a behavioral assessment tool, the MBTI uses a combination of 4 letters and each represent a clearly defined attribute. Altogether, the MBTI test consists of 16 different personality types that will describe one’s personality in alleged detail. The MBTI test has reviewed that I am†¦show more content†¦With critical feedback provided, one will be able to realize their potential essentially natural leaders, and also to reaffirm one’s focus on their strengths. As discussed, discretion may be necessary to protect one against undue reliance upon the MBTI especially in career choices. (Total Word Count: 711 Words) References: [1] Pearman R. R.; Albritton S. (1997), I m Not Crazy, I m Just Not You (First ed.), Palo Alto, California: Davies-Black Publishing. xiii. [2] Martin C.R. (1997), ‘Looking at Type, Judging or Perceiving’, Viewed 25th April 2011; lt;http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/judging-or-perceiving.aspgt; [3] DISC Personality test – Step 5: Understanding Personalities, Tools for The Successful Leader, viewed 25th April 2011; lt;http://www.leadership-tools.com/disc-personality-test.htmlgt; [4] Personality theory types and tests, Businessballs.com, viewed 25th April 2011; lt;http://www.businessballs.com/personalitystylesmodels.htmgt; [5]Kiersey D., ’Rational Portrait of the Fieldmarshal (ENTJ), Kiersey.com, viewed 27th April 2011; lt;http://keirsey.com/4temps/fieldmarshal.aspgt; [6]Butt J. (February 2005), ‘Extraverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging’, Typelogic, viewed 27th April 2011; lt;http://typelogic.com/entj.htmlgt; [7] (March 2010), ‘Hermann Brain DominanceShow MoreRelatedThe Assessment Of The Mbti Survey1780 Words   |  8 PagesWhen first responding to the survey to discover my MBTI score I was scared to determine what the outcome of the findings would be. For reasons such as, having a difficulty understanding the definition of certain words, or identifying both options. I had to look to others for assistance, whether it was them answering if for themselves, and then me identifying it for myself or asking some of those around me. Once the MBTI survey was complete, I discovered that I did not just fit one personality butRead MoreMbti Assessment : A Self Report Questionnaire852 Words   |  4 PagesMBTI is a self-report questionnaire designed to detect an individual personality type. By taking this questionnaire, someone can be able to understand their gifts, strengths, motivation and potential area of growth. MBTI assessment was developed in 1943 by Katharine cook Briggs and her daught er Isabel Myers. Their inspiration came from ideas of a Swiss psychiatrist named Carl Jung whose theory stated that people are innately different. His terms were people take information differently, see the worldRead MoreThe Myers Briggs Type Indicator ( Mbti ) Are Both Personality Assessments Essay1096 Words   |  5 PagesThe Birkman Method and The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) are both personality assessments. The Birkman Method is based on the theories of Dr. Roger W. Birkman and the work of Dr. Roy B. Mefferd, Jr. and Dr. Timothy G. Sadler. The MBTI is based on the theories of Dr. Carl Gustav Jung and the work of Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers. Both are non-clinical assessments. The working manuals for both assessments have recognized and documented, content, construct, criterion-related validitiesRead MoreAssessment of Gordon Gekkos Personality Using a Mbti Framework and Personality Type Theory2061 Words   |  9 PagesOliver Stone’s Movie â€Å"T he Wall street, Money Never Sleeps† using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) framework and Personality Type Theory. THE MBTI The MBTI is an instrument designed to evaluate people and provide descriptive profiles of their personality types. It classifies people into sixteen broad and distinctive personality types based on Carl Jung’s theory of perception and judgement. The MBTI model was developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Meyers. The two womenRead MoreThe Myers Briggs Type Indicator1413 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) â€Å"is an introspective self-report questionnaire designed to indicate psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions† (13). It is one of several personality assessments that is popular among modern mental health experts throughout the world. Currently, it is estimated that the MBTI is â€Å"taken by more than two million people per year and is translated into 16 languages (10). â€Å"The purpose of the Myers-Briggs Type IndicatorRead MoreRecruitment Selection: Myers Briggs1568 Words   |  7 PagesThe Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ® (MBTI) is a psychometric test used to measure psychological preferences in how a person makes decisions and perceives their surrounding environment. A mother-daughter pair, Katherine Briggs and Isabel Myers developed the test based on the typological theories of Carl Gustav Jung. After more than fifty-years of research and development, the MBTI has become the most wi dely used and respected personality tool. Eighty-nine companies out of the US Fortune 100 make useRead MorePersonality Type Assessment1336 Words   |  6 PagesPersonality Type Assessment (Week-2 Individual Assignment) CMGT/530 - IT Organizational Behavior July 1, 2012 Personality Type Assessment The first section of this paper details the elements that a personality type assessment typically measures. The second section contains discussion on the personality type assessment of the author of this paper. In the third and last section, the author shares how his personal assessment outcomes could affect his workRead MoreAnalysis of Three Interest Inventories Essay example1748 Words   |  7 Pagesfor resources to help my students choose a future career path. I completed research and found three popular interest inventories- the Strong Interest Inventory, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Clifton Strengths Finder. Each of the three assessments analyze the same general theme of interest, personality and career choice. I have analyzed each to determine the best interest inventory to use with my students. Test A: 1994 Strong Interest Inventory The Strong Interest Inventory was developedRead MoreUnit 3 Project Essay826 Words   |  4 PagesPS300 Unit 3 Project May 10, 2011 Unit 3 Project Part 1: (This section of the project should be 1-2 pages in length) What were the results of your MBTI assessment? The outcome of my MBTI assessment test resulted in the qualitative analysis of my personality type to be ENFJ (extraverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging). The strength of preferences in percentage form is as follows: †¢ 89%- Very extraverted personality, †¢ 25%- Moderately expressed intuitive personality, †¢ 75%- DistinctivelyRead MoreAssessment Tools Essay1622 Words   |  7 PagesRunning head: ASSESSMENT TOOLS 1 Assessment Tools Paper Liberty University EDUC 307 June 1, 2016 Abstract The beauty in teaching is watching the brains of your scholars grow with knowledge. As educators we frequently use various tools to assess the gains that our scholars make. In order to successfully instruct intentional lessons, it is important to collect data about scholar interests, ability/intellectual

Ethics and Communication Free Essays

RESEARCH PAPER ON: ETHICS AND COMMUNICATION Abstract It’s obvious that technology has played a huge role in the way we conduct business today. Have these technological advances created a new breed of easily distracted, inefficient employees? Are employees cheating their own corporations out of time, money, and overall productivity? Many agree that the advent of email, instant messaging, and the world-wide-web have created an easy way for employees to take unnoticed and unregulated personal breaks throughout the work day. Beyond the lack of productivity created by these employees, this type of behavior also has the potential to create other serious problems for the organization. We will write a custom essay sample on Ethics and Communication or any similar topic only for you Order Now For these reasons, many employers must decide whether or not to implement internet usage policies. Many of these policies may even use monitoring devices for email, IM, and website history. We will examine the ethics and the consequences of employees taking personal time on the company dime. Ethics and Communication: Personal Time on the Company Dime In the workplace, there are numerous ways for employees to communicate with co-workers, friends, and family. Traditional communication channels were limited to phone, mail, and face-to-face interaction. Technological advances over the last twenty years have given employees a surplus of new ways to communicate. Employees now have the ability to use e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, face-to-face video-conferencing, and networking websites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. All of these new electronic capabilities have enabled employees to contact friends and family within seconds. There is no question that these technological advancements have improved our quality of life. In contrast, they have also decreased the overall productivity of many employees. Employees across the globe are taking advantage of these available resources and using them for personal time at work. According to a survey taken in 2005 by Salary. com and AOL, more than 10,000 employees admitted to wasting an average of 2. 09 hours per day (Sahadi, 2005). This study showed that the time wasted by employees in 2005 totaled around $759 billion (Sahadi, 2005). These figures illustrate the economic severity of allowing employees to use their work time for personal reasons. Studies have shown that e-mail is the most widely abused way of stealing company time. According to a survey by Harris Interactive, â€Å"55% of the 1,711 respondents said that they send and receive personal  e-mail  on their work accounts. † (Schweitzer, 2007). This clearly lowers productivity. However, there are many other negatives associated with using personal e-mail in the workplace. Many viruses are spread through e-mail attachments. Viruses can destroy important files, hardware, and entire networks. Also many personal e-mail accounts are highly vulnerable to hackers who gain unauthorized access in order to steal financial data or critical trade secrets. An electronic disaster like this could cost a corporation millions of dollars. An additional nuisance caused by using work accounts for personal use is excessive â€Å"spam†, or junk e-mail. According to a study by Nucleus Research Inc. in 2003, the average employee receives 13. 3 spam e-mail messages per day (NRI, 2003). N. R. I. lso found that in 2003 â€Å"spam† will cost the average organization 1. 4% in productivity, or $874 per employee per year (NRI, 2003). As the research confirms, the use of personal e-mail at work has the potential to be devastating for corporations and its employees. The ethical option for all employees is to resist using work e-mail accounts for personal matters. Additionally, they should avoid using their personal e-mai l accounts at work. Instant messaging is a different tool that many employees utilize to chat with co-workers, family, and friends while at their desks. Instant messaging services such as AIM or Yahoo! Messenger offer free instant messaging by simply downloading the software. It enables employees to chat in real time with people all over the world. Unfortunately, these instant messaging services are highly unsecured. They are easy targets for hackers looking to steal important corporate information. These programs also allow the transfer of files from one user to another with ease. This makes the transfer of viruses just as easy. Also, IM’s are an easy way for disgruntled employees to spread confidential information to competitors (Gaudin, 2002). Many co-workers like to use instant messaging for its ease and speed when working on projects. However, some of these employees also use the technology as an electronic â€Å"water cooler† to gossip and chit-chat. They are now able to talk without having to keep an eye out for the boss; thus sacrificing productivity. Generally, instant messaging should be used very carefully by employees to avoid any of the headaches it can create. Many people in the U. S. spend a large amount of their free time surfing the web. This habit tends to transfer over to their work time. According to the 2005 Web@Work survey, â€Å"93% of all employees in the U. S. spend at least some of their time at work accessing the Web, up from 86% a year ago† (CNN, 2005). Of that 93%, they spend an average of 3. 4 hours per week surfing the internet for non-work related reasons (CNN, 2005). The survey also asked a very interesting question; â€Å"Which would you rather give up, your morning coffee or your internet connection at work? † (CNN, 2005). Over half of the respondents chose to give up their caffeine addiction; perhaps these employees are also â€Å"addictedâ€Å" to surfing the net. The most popular sites to visit among employees are news sites, online banking sites, and online shopping sites. Some employees even admitted to visiting pornographic websites while at work. Pornographic websites are breeding grounds for viruses, spyware, adware, and many other programs that can destroy company computers and networks. There are also legal issues that can arise from inappropriate â€Å"surfing†. If any other employees are exposed to these pornographic images, a sexual harassment complaint could be filed. The corporation can then be held liable. As an employee, it’s important to be ethical in the manner you use the internet. All employees need to understand that the websites they visit at work not only reflect themselves, but the company as a whole. All of the various problems associated with personal e-mailing, instant messaging, and surfing the web need to be addressed by management. First, it is important that the corporation has a strong code of ethics. Many of these issues could be avoided by implementing and enforcing a strong code of ethics throughout every level of the organization. The next step is to create an internet usage policy. There are many disagreements between managers regarding how strict these policies should be. For example, many employers advise a â€Å"zero tolerance† policy. This type of policy restricts any and all use of company resources for personal use. Some managers feel this type of policy is even more harmful to overall productivity than no policy at all. Geoff Haggart of WebSense comments; â€Å"The solution lies in balancing employees’ needs for personal use of the Web at work without draining overall productivity, morale of the company’s bottom line. (CNN, 2005). I agree with this rationale. I think the key is making sure that there is a limited amount of free time that employees receive in order to take care of appropriate personal matters while at work. Additionally, it is important that management is very clear in their definition of what is appropriate and what is not. There is no room for a gray area in a us age policy. After the guidelines are set, a monitoring system should be set up to enforce the policies. Many employees complain about the lack of privacy in monitoring employees. I agree that employers should try to keep employees happy; however, I feel this is a sacrifice that management should be willing to make. Either way, corporations have the right to monitor any employee’s e-mail and internet use. In my opinion, employee monitoring is necessary in order to protect the corporation from the many dangers of irresponsible internet usage. In conclusion, it’s important that employees and employers are on the same page when it comes to the responsible use of electronic resources. Employees should be ethical and monitor their own use of company resources for personal matters. Likewise, employers need to recognize that some employees need short breaks throughout the work day to stay productive. Like many things in life, a compromise between the two is necessary to ensure a pleasant and productive work environment. References Sahadi, Jeanne. (2005). Power Slacking On The Job. CNN. com. Retrieved September 17, 2009, from http://money. cnn. com/2005/07/08/pf/wastedtime_job/ Schweitzer, Tamara. (2007). Seven Out of 10 Employees Admit to Abusing Office Computers, Phones. INC. com. Retrieved September 22, 2009, from http://www. nc. com/news/articles/200701/workers. html Gaudin, Sharon. (2002). IM Security Risks Spark Workplace Monitoring Debate. Datamation. Retrieved September 25, 2009, from http://itmanagement. earthweb. com/secu/article. php/1458241 Spam: The Silent ROI Killer. (2003) Nuclear Research Inc. Retrieved September 26, 2009, from http://www. spamhelp. org/articles/d59. pdf Web surfing ‘as addictive as coffee’. (2005, March 19). CNN. Ret rieved September 26, 2009, from http://edition. cnn. com/2005/BUSINESS/05/19/web. work/index. html How to cite Ethics and Communication, Papers

Cause and Effect for Business Growth and Failure- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Cause and Effect for Business Growth and Failure. Answer: Causes of business growth and failure, marketing, business trends Failure in business is an aspect that mostly will be avoided but it should not be ignored as it could result in avoiding warning signs. A study depicts that 65% of new businesses strive for two or more years, 50% for four years, 40% for six years or more than that (Lussier, pg. 360-377). A cause effect analysis of several factors can depict business growth and failure rates by analysing marketing and business trends. While the effect that is analysed in the study is clear which is business failure, causes might be variable in nature as highlighted below from specific business trends. Failure in understanding customers and market: It is integral to understand competitive market space along with customer habits (Carroll, pag. 29-49). Developing an understanding regarding customers and their willingness to spend is analysing the market space and putting the best foot forward. Business trends can be understood by means customer and market. Business trend analysis needs to be understood in great details as it will determine success for the business and depict its sustainability for the future. Opening business in an unprofitable industry: While selecting the industry of operations, it becomes essential that ways in which sustainable growth can be attained be figured. This will allow positive cash flow for the business and allow to stay in the business. Even in case the business is stable, in an unprofitable industry it will not be able to gain much momentum or emerge as a competitive leader. Failure in understanding and communicating product: Customers needs to clearly understand their value proposition (Teece, pg. 172-194). Communicating effectively to customers allows developing a market connect. Product features and its core values needs to be appropriately communicated to its key customers such that customer can understand the values it can deliver. Post understanding of the products features, a customer will be ready to pay price for the product. Communication methods also needs to be ascertained and determined for establishing core competency. Inadequate financing: Every business requires adequate cash flows for staying afloat throughout its cycles and flow of business (Hughes, pg. 651-661). Having low balance in bank account can leave the business unsuccessful, sometimes it becomes difficult to get cash from money lenders as well. Reactive attitudes: Business needs to be responsive to market trends, cycles, sales cycle, technology to respond to competitive sphere. A key to business long-term profitability or success is in business. A business needs to provide a responsive attitude towards the market, and be industry ready to be able to emerge as a leader. Overdependence on single customer: Businesses needs to strategies to attract a large pool of customers. Businesses cannot overemphasize on one customer, who if walks out might leave the business hampered. More the customer spread for a certain type of business, greater will be the success determining businesses. No customer strategy: Customer influences is a key factor in every business. A business needs to realize the key factors which customers of the business likes or dislikes (Hatten, pg. 125-320). Having clear understanding regarding the customer can help develop a big role in the strategy and manage business effectively. \ Poor management: Business management includes a varied range of activities. Planning, organizing, controlling, communicating, directing and some other functionalities encompasses key roles for the business management. Successful companies have excellent management skills and resources that allows establishing their businesses in a positive fashion. No planning: In case a business cannot plan to establish itself and management it, it might eventually appear to be a failure (Cohen, pg. 238-429). Concrete actionable strategies allows businesses develop engagement, alignment, ownership for the organisation, creating sustainable features. A business is established on the plans it develops and on which it functions, hence planning encompasses key attributes of every business. Thus, in order to establish successful businesses there needs to be appropriate planning strategies implemented. Low Marketing: Businesses depends on their marketing activities which highlights the brand name for the business. Low marketing activities of businesses might make it less visible to its customers and attract less number of customers. Business trends can pick up in case of increased marketing activities of businesses, such leads to business prominence and development. Reference Lists Carroll, Archie B., and Kareem M. Shabana. "The business case for corporate social responsibility: A review of concepts, research and practice."International journal of management reviews12.1 (2010): 85-105.Cohen, B., Winn, M. I. "Market imperfections, opportunity and sustainable entrepreneurship." Journal of Business Venturing (2007): 29-49. Hatten, Timothy S.Small business management: Entrepreneurship and beyond. Nelson Education, 2015 Hughes, Mathew, and Robert E. Morgan. "Deconstructing the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and business performance at the embryonic stage of firm growth."Industrial marketing management36.5 (2007): 651-661 Lussier, Robert N., and Claudia E. Halabi. "A three?country comparison of the business success versus failure prediction model."Journal of Small Business Management48.3 (2010): 360-377 Teece, David J. "Business models, business strategy and innovation."Long range planning43.2 (2010): 172-194.

Agency Review Expectations

Agency Review Expectations Introduction This paper explores the United States (US) Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) as the main federal agency that enforces TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. In detail, this paper presents an overview of the agency, its successes, criticisms, tasks, and its usefulness to the workplace environment.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Agency Review Expectations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To have a balanced analysis, this paper also evaluates employer responsibilities in the enforcement of TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. A careful assessment of these analyses shows that although EEOC has its challenges, it is highly beneficial to prospective and existing employees in the American workplace. The Agency The EEOC reserves the right to enforce TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. Among other federal laws, this agency reserves the mandate to enforce other federal laws touchin g on employment in America. Since 1980, the agency has experienced significant fluctuations in the number of employees. Understandably, the workforce has been shrinking from a high of 3,390 employees in 1980 to 2,346 in 2012 (because of budget cuts) (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2013). As of 2013, the agency’s budget was $370,000,000. This is the highest budget allocation for the agency (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2013). The diagram below shows the budgetary and staffing statistics for the last four years. Year President’s Request (Value in millions) Enacted (Value in millions) Approved Staffing ceiling Actual End of Fiscal year Staffing 2010 $367,303 $367,303 2,556 2,385 2011 $385,303 $366,568 2,470 2,505 2012 $385,520 $360,000 2,571 2,346 2013 $373,711 $370,000 2,354 The annual increments in the number of employees and budget allocation have largely stemmed from the increased workload and cost of operations of the agency. The EEOC’s headquarter is in Washington D.C, but the agency also has more than 53 field offices around the country (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2013). List of Major Legislations Enforced by EEOC As a federal agency, EEOC enforces several legislations including TITLE VII OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, the PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION ACT, and the 1963 EQUAL PAY ACT (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2013). The AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACT, TITLE I OF THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, SECTION 102 AND 103 OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1991, SECTION 501 AND 505 OF THE 1973 REHABILITATION ACT, AND THE 2008 GENETIC INFORMATION NON-DISCRIMINATION ACTS are also other laws enforced by the agency (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2013). Most of these acts aim to uphold antidiscrimination laws in America. Monetary Awards and Concluded Cases EEOC has helped thousands of employees to receive fair compensation for unlawful employ ment practices. Regarding complaints raised against the improper administration of TITLE VII OF THE 1964 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, the EEOC has helped aggrieved employees to secure monetary benefits of 258, 600,000 (2012), 247,800,000 (2011), and 229,800,000 (2010) over the last three years (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2013).Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Employees have realized these benefits through the settlement of 79,310cases in 2012, 82,980cases in 2011, 77,644 cases in 2010 (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2013). The diagram below shows these statistics. Fiscal year FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 Resolutions 77,644 82,980 79,310 Monetary Benefits (Millions) $229.8 $247.8 $258.6 Besides the enforcement of cases involving the infringement of Title VII of the 1964 civil rights act, EEOC has also won other cases involving other infringements of employment law. For example, in 2012, the agency settled 977 cases involving sexual harassment charges (amounting to $43,000,000 in benefits). In 2011, the agency settled 1039 cases involving sexual harassment cases (as well) and secured $45,000,000 in damages for aggrieved employees. In 2010, the agency secured $41,200,000 for aggrieved employees through the settlement of 995 sexual harassment cases. Monetary benefits involving age discrimination have been slightly higher than those of sexual harassment have because in 2012, EEOC secured $91,600,000 in damages for aggrieved employees (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2013). This figure was slightly higher for 2011 and 2010 because the agency secured $95,200,000 and $93,600,000 in damages for age discrimination cases. These figures accumulated from the resolution of 27,335 cases in 2012, 26,080 cases in 2011, and 24,800 cases in 2010. There have been equally high monetary rewards secured by the agency for race-based cases. In 2012, EEOC secured $100,900,000 for aggrieved employees through the resolution of 38,426 cases. In 2011, the reward was equally high because the EEOC secured $83,300,000 after it resolved 40,534 cases. In 2010, the EEOC resolved 37,559 cases and secured $84,400,000 in damages (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2013). These statistics show that the agency has been relatively effective in undertaking its mandate. Discussion of Additional Responsibility to Employers Employers have different responsibilities in their organizations to ensure the full compliance with TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. Most of these responsibilities come at an additional cost to the employers. A notable cost is training. Employers have to ensure their staff and administrators are knowledgeable about the provisions of the act to ensure they do not infringe on them (Solotoff Kramer, 1994). Such training may include an understanding of gender, race, and identity disability laws (among other provisions covered by the act). It is also an additional cost to employers to keep records of their employees (and their possible demographics) (Solotoff Kramer, 1994). Such additional documentation may act as evidence to show how an employer complies with the provisions of the act, whenever there is a need to do so.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Agency Review Expectations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In extreme cases (when employers are found culpable of employment discrimination), they may have to pay litigation costs to the aggrieved parties. It may also come as an additional cost to employers if they have to investigate discrimination cases in their organizations (if they have an in-service dispute resolution mechanism before the issue escalates to the EEOC or any other external body). Generally, these costs outline additional obligations to employers under the enforcement of TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. Challenges Experienced by the Agency Like other government agencies that experience the kind of work that EEOC does, a huge backlog of cases is an ordinary problem. This problem is a historical one that has plagued the agency for decades. For example, Keeney (2012) says in 1972, the backlog of cases reached 100,000. These cases forced former president Gerald Ford to request for additional funding for the agency to clear this backlog. The backlog has been a persistent problem since then. The 2007/2008 financial crisis further deepened the agency’s problems because it led to budget cuts and staffing cuts. Consequently, observers say the Federal government is rendering EEOC to be inefficient because the agency has to outsource the services of third parties to help it clear its case backlog, while such parties may lack the training and standards of quality upheld by EEOC (Keeney, 2012). The year 2006 is a perfect example of how the federal government al most incapacitated the agency when a partial budget freeze made it impossible for the agency to seek new recruits to fill vacant positions in the organization (Lee, 2006). This problem arose when the agency had realized a 20% reduction in staff size in the last decade (the Bush Administration justified the budget cuts to increased defense spending). Since 2008, the agency has experienced significant challenges in investigating and concluding its cases, especially because its staff size had reduced by almost 25% and it was unable to pay most of its experienced investigators (Lee, 2006). Consequently, the backlog of cases grew by 26% from 2006 to 2008 (the current case backlog is about 80,000) (Lee, 2006). This analysis therefore shows that most of the challenges facing the agency have been cyclic (bordering inadequate budgeting, low staffing, poor investigations, and increased case backlogs). Conclusion After weighing the findings of this study, it is important to acknowledge that, l ike other government agencies, EEOC has its unique challenges. However, so far, EEOC has eliminated systemic patterns of discrimination by creating a punitive environment for employers who may want to perpetrate discriminatory practices in their organizations.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Based on the analysis of the number of solved cases, the EEOC has provided relief to thousands of employees. Indeed, through its administrative enforcement activities, more than 23,400 employees have received compensation through mediation, settlement, and conciliations. The downside to the existence of EEOC regulations is the need for lengthy and costly investigations to investigate baseless accusations. These lengthy and costly investigations affect employers and the EEOC alike because both parties automatically become part of the investigations. Particularly if the investigations affirm that an employer is innocent, they would amount to unnecessary wastage of time and resources for businesses. The existence of malicious employees who want to defame employers highlights the need to have a high threshold for cases brought before the EEOC. This situation could however lead to the inclusion of new standards for recruitment in the job market. Nonetheless, such an improvement should di scourage employees who claim damages when they have no basis for doing so. References Keeney, J. (2012). Enforcing the Civil Rights Act: Fighting Racism, Sexism and the  Ku Klux Klan. The Story of the Miami EEOCs First Class Action Trial. Sarasota, FL: Civil Rights Publishing. Lee, C. (2006). EEOC Is Hobbled, Groups Contend: Case Backlog Grows as Its  Staff Is Slashed, Critics Say. Retrieved from washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/13/AR2006061301418.html Solotoff, L., Kramer, H. (1994). Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the  Workplace. New York, NY: Law Journal Press. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (2013). Laws Enforced by EEOC. Retrieved from https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/

The Current State of Development in Latin America essays

The Current State of Development in Latin America essays In attempting to establish the current state of development in Latin America, historical chronology serves as the foundation necessary for a comprehensively logical position. Latin American development has evolved in distinct phases, which lead to the present day standings of the politics and peoples throughout the region. The culmination of distinct historical attributes: conquest, colonialism, mercantilism, captalism, industrialism, and globalism, serve as the developmental path from the past, to allow an understanding of the current state of development. In overview of this, as perceived by Latin American governments, the four primary areas of concern as reported from 1994, "Summit of the Americas" held by heads of 34 countries, were as follows: (1) preserving and strengthening the community of democracies of the Americas, (2) free trade area of the Americas (FTAA), (3) eradicating poverty and discrimination in the hemisphere, (4) education (Americas Net). Each issue examined by m embers of the summit involves aspects of politics and economics. The desired changes in Latin American society can be shown connected to these two subject areas, as held by authors Skidmore and Smith, "From modernization theory, we take the casual premise that economic transformations induce social changes which, in turn, have political consequences."(Skidmore and Smith, 10) The understanding of the historical background, an awareness of current political goals, and the incorporation of modern political and social theory allow an increasingly accurate depiction of the state of development in Latin America to be constructed. Development, largely defined as bringing to a more advanced or effective state, often stands as the product of the successful management and collaboration of economic, social, and political areas. The current state of development should, therefore, gauge today's level of success in creating a more advanced and effective state. In conside...

Love- Crime and Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Love- Crime and Society - Essay Example Generally, crime is defined as the activity involving harm to the society. The dimensions of the crimes are widespread throughout the society (Albanese, 2002 ). There is no single explanation to why the rate of crimes is rising day by day and that why the books and institutions of justice have failed to address the opportunity and the facilitating factors of crimes with respect to the behavioral uplift of the individuals. Not only the areas with a low intensity of social and financial individuals are notorious but the high society members have also been originated to be occupied in at least some of the criminal activities if not all. In this paper, I will be highlighting the main issues in my selected areas of study followed by the steps taken to change or improve the unwanted outcomes. My study and explanations are based on the following thesis statement. â€Å"Biological and psychological factors positively correlate with the dimensions of crimes in a highly specialized environment and are directly proportional to the opportunities and factors facilitating the rates of these criminal activities.† Around the world, in many years that have passed, it has been observed that the rate of crimes is most commonly based upon the fact that the people inhabiting a certain area get influenced by the behaviors of their significant others. The definitional issues relating to the age, gender and race are widespread. Blue-collar crimes and that of juvenile crimes usually fall in the category of age dimension. These are the rational street crimes including the shoplifting, kidnapping, rape and vandalism. These crimes usually do not get a mature backup. Various studies indicate that there is more of the under-aged society members involved in such crimes as compared to bigger members (Flowers, 2003 ). Those kids who are involved in criminal activities because of any social reason, when caught and released with a minor punishment are most likely to go back into the same

Analyse a Firm in the UK or EU Country with Micro and Macro Economics Essay

Analyse a Firm in the UK or EU Country with Micro and Macro Economics and a Recommendations of its Possible Strategies - Essay Example Contrary to wholesale firms, retail companies are required to cater to the needs of a local segment of the population. Accordingly, Tesco has concentrated on strengthening its local operations in the various markets. The company has designated a separate management team for its operations in the different markets. The core retail service business has been adequately supported by financial and information technology services. The firm has utilized its technical expertise and human skill resources from across the word to gain a strong foothold in the respective local markets. This has helped it to emerge as a successful international retail company. (Tesco Plc, 2011). The sales and profit growth of Tesco Plc during 2008-2011 can be observed from the table below: Table: Tesco Plc’s Sales and Profit Growth 2008 2009 2010 2011 Sales Growth of Tesco Group (including VAT) 11.1% 15.1% 6.8% 8.1% Sales Growth of Tesco UK (including VAT) 6.7% 9.5% 4.2% 5.5% International sales Growth (in cluding VAT) 25.3% 30.6% 8.8% 13.7% Profit Before tax 5.7% 4.1% 8.9% 11.3% Underlying Profit Before Tax 11.8% 9.8%s 8.7% 12.3% (Tesco Plc, 2011) Demand, Supply and Price Elasticity of the Retail Business The retail industry faces a strong market demand across the world. Though, consumers can buy necessary commodities at wholesale markets at a much cheaper price, they get ready access to these goods at the nearby stores. Wholesale markets in a particular city are few and far between. On the other hand, retail stores have been established in almost every neighborhood. Citizens get the daily provisions of their necessary commodities from the retail shops. Buoyed by the steady demand, their retail companies have established their retail chains across their markets. They maintain a steady supply of the retail products to their stores, so that the retail shops are never in dearth of the essential products which are in such high demand among the citizens. All tyhese factors have played a s ignificant part in Tesco Plc’s business. The price elasticity of the retail products and the retail industry in general can be said to be moderate. The various retail products are moderately sensitive to the changes in their respective prices. When one retail company increases the price of its retail products, the consumers always have the option of buying the products from another retail chain store. However, the necessary commodities like the food items sold through the retail stores have low prices elasticities. Customers will continue to buy them, even if their prices are increased. Since the retail companies offer a diverse portfolio of products through their stores, different products are endowed with different price elasticities. Thus, Tesco Plc remains very careful in devising its pricing strategies. Other International Businesses The company has forayed into online retailing services and financial services after evaluating that there was a strong demand for these new services in the international market. Tesco’s international businesses are characterized by a competitive outlook and a continuous endeavor to expand their scale of operations. This strategy has ensured a sound growth in worldwide sales, market shares, revenues and return on capital employed (Tesco Plc, 2011). Adopting Technology to suit Growth Requirements Tesco Plc is focused on expanding its scale of operations in all the aspects related to its businesses. It has

What has been the role of international trade in the development of Essay

What has been the role of international trade in the development of China in the past two decades - Essay Example Hence the people who were a victim of such social conflicts since two generations had a hope to prosper themselves despite of a weak economy caused by high inflation and their distorted homeland and transportation links. Therefore the Soviet example was embraced as a new political and economic model. Hence in early 1950's a new reconstruction program was taken up in economic and social areas. The new leaders were focused to restore economy, rebuilding war damaged areas and implemented leaderships in women, labors and other mass organizations as well. All this was done and attained through the control of politically loyal government sectors. In 1958, Mao announced a new economic program called "The Great Leap Forward" which was aimed to prosper the economy through industrialization and agricultural productions. Though The Great Leap Forward was not that fruitful the Chinese didn't lose hope and still worked hard to strengthen their agriculture and industry sector (OECD [1], 2006). It was in 1979 then when China rehabilitated and opened its economy and adopted more pragmatic approach on political and socioeconomic matters. This economic transformation had a reflective impact not only in China but on the world too. From the last two decades China has implemented market - oriented reforms which resulted not only in the largest reduction of poverty but also attained fasted growth in income levels as well. As a fruit of this hard and headstrong labor China today is the fourth largest economy in the world and has sustained an average economic growth of over 9.5% for the past 26 years. In 2006 its US $ 2.6b trillion economy was about one-fifth the size of the US economy. However by the late 1980s the economy was worked up with increasing rates of inflation. Due to which Austerity Program was introduced by the government of China by the end of 1988 (OECD [1], 2006). In early 1990s China's economy regained momentum. Deng Xiaoping a dominant leader of that time, in early 1992, made a series of political pronouncements designed to revitalize the economic reform and hence 'Social Market Economy' was formed. This resulted in a 10 year plan in the political system with bolder reform of the economic system. China is the world's most populous country. It is one of the largest producers and consumers of agricultural products. China is among the largest producers of rice, corn, wheat, soya beans, vegetables, tea and pork. And its major non-food crops include cotton, other fibers and oil seeds. Over 40 % of China's labor is engaged in agriculture though only 10% of the land is suitable for cultivation. Due to which its GDP contributes 13% because of agriculture. According to a survey China's cropland area is only 75% of the US total but still produces 30% more crops and live-stock than the US (Guo, 2006). Industry and construction comprises of 46% of China's GDP. Iron, steel, coal, aluminum mining, ore processing, machinery, textiles, apparel, cement, petroleum, fertilizers and chemical are foremost industries of China. Consumer's products have a wide range including toys, electronics, foot wear, automobiles and telecommunications. China's strength as an export-platform has contributed to increased incomes and employment. About 40% of GDP is the stases-owned sector. The chief driver of China's rapid economic growth is governed by the exports. For this China has pursued policies such as fostering development of foreign invested factories. Foreign invested factories assemble imported materials (components) into consumer goods for export by

Both home country and host country in FDI

Both home country and host country in FDI The unprecedented growth of multinationals is due to the concept of globalisation which has no boundaries or limits. Usually within countrys economy there are flows of goods, capital and technology. This leads to high competition in the industry and naturally companies tend to expand their business in order to survive in the global arena. The countries use Foreign Direct Investment as a key to internationalise their business. In order to understand the full meaning of FDI, let us see the definition. FDI is defined as the acquisition abroad of physical assets, such as plant and equipment, with operational control ultimately residing with the parent company in the home country (Buckley, p.35, 1996).In the past 25 years, FDI is growing at a much faster rate than trade and both of these have grown faster than world output (Kozul-Wright and Rowthorn, 1998). There are many factors contributing to the development of FDI. Some of them are Internet, technological advancement, flexible rules a nd regulations of the country and lesser communication costs. FDI stimulates competition, capital, technological and managerial skills which has a positive effect on both host and home countrys economic growth. The importance given to FDI by other country is astounding. One such example is US which has a separate department called Bureau of Economic Analysis. The department monitors FDI inflows and outflows and introduce FDI attraction schemes for successful results. (Graham Spaulding, 2005).This essay analyses various costs and benefits to home country and host country with suitable evidences. Costs and Benefits Let us discuss the costs and benefits of FDI to both home countries and host countries. Benefits of FDI to the host country Hill (2005) suggested that there are three main benefits to the host country derived out of FDI. They are resource transfer effects, employment effects and balance of payment effects. Whenever a company invests in a foreign firm, the resources are capital, technology and managerial skills. In terms of capital, the host country will have a higher financial status than the home country. The change in technology and managerial skills will have a drastic effect on the operations carried out by the company. In the host country due to FDI, it creates many employment opportunities through which the citizens of that particular country would be benefited. The balance of payments keeps tracks of FDI inflow and outflows through two types of accounts, current account and capital account. The current account is a record of a countrys export and import of goods (Hill, 2005) and the capital account maintain purchase or sale details of assets by the country. By using FDI, the country can achieve a c urrent account surplus (where exports are greater than imports) and reduce current account deficit (where imports are greater than exports). (Hill, 2005) Costs of FDI to the host country The negative effects are termed as costs. There are also significant effects which affects the host country. When a foreign firm establishes with the superior technological skills which can produce quality items at cheaper rates, it adversely affects the domestic producers. Balance of payments are also affected by inward FDI by two sources. When there is a initial capital inflow there must be subsequent capital outflow and this will be recorded as debits on capital account. The second source is due to import of goods from other countries which will be recorded as debits in current account. The foreign firm can alter the economic stability of a country as they will be focussing only on the profit. Eventually all the inhabitants of the country will have an emotional outbreak to apparent loss of national sovereignty. (Hill, 2005) Benefits of FDI to the home country The benefit to the home country also includes the factors similar to that of host country. In terms of balance of payments, what is debit to host country is credit to home country. The outward FDI also leads to creation of new job market with great expertise and necessary skills. Reverse resource transfer effect takes place whenever resources like managerial skills are transferred back to the home country. The profit of the foreign firm goes back to the home country unlike domestic producers which contributes to their country. The home country is exposed to create new market share and it is liable to create many in the future. (Hill, 2005) Costs of FDI to the home country Due to FDI, the home country is mainly affected by capital and employment. Suppose a country A decides to invest in country B, using its capital and technology there will be an addition of financial position to the host country than home country. Even in future, if the country A wants to make any advancement, much focus will be given to the company in country B and implement changes. As a result the production in home country decreases and it sometimes result in shutting down all its operations and completely concentrate on the host country. This badly affects the home countrys economy and employment. (Hill, 2005) Summary of costs and benefits To conclude the discussion of the benefits and costs of FDI, points are tabulated in Table 1 Table 1  Benefits and costs of FDI Benefits Costs Host country Financial resources of MNEs Access to new technology Training of local managers Job creation Capital inflows BOP credits from exports BOP credits from local production of parts Competition of local producers BOP debits on repatriated earnings BOP debits on MNE imports on components Perception of loss of national identity Home country BOP credits from earnings Creation of jobs in higher skill categories Exposure to new markets, managerial expertise and technology Protects market share in competition with other MNEs Initial investment a capital outflow BOP debits from input of low-cost goods Loss of exports for which FDI is a substitute Job losses in low skill areas Source: Hill (2005) The benefit of home country is the cost of host country and vice-versa. After researching for many years, economists have come to a conclusion that host country has more benefits than home country. This is because of three main reasons. The first one is that they own assets like technology and brand name. Second it is very easier to produce in a country where it is going to be marketed than producing in the home country and exporting as it save costs on transportation. It also rules out the problem of licensing and handling unnecessary pressures on production from the government. (World Trade Organization, 1996) The following sections are illustration of FDI costs and benefits. Renault-Nissan Alliance The Renault-Nissan alliance in 1999 is the first business-related and industrial partnership between France and Japan (www.renault.com). The alliance received a great attention as they created a very big impact on the Japanese car industry. Before the association, Nissan was about to bankrupt and incurred a dramatic loss of  ¥700 billion. When it was taken over by Renault with a new management team headed by Carlos Ghosn, a complete restructuring was done. The global work force was reduced by 10 percent, five factories were closed and Nissans shareholdings were sold. These were very high according to Japanese standards (Paprzycki, 2006). The outcomes were astonishing as they recorded consecutive profit in the following years with high operating margins and it was due to combined expertise and technology sharing (www.renault.com). The stealing of market share from its rivals Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi was a clear indication of its accelerated development (Paprzycki, 2006). From thi s, it is very clear that transfer of managerial skills will have a huge impact in the success of the industry. Mexican Maquiladores Maquiladores refers to an American company on the Mexican side of US-Mexico border. They are owned by US, Japanese and European countries. The reason for these companies to go to Mexico is due to inexpensive labour and low tax (www.about.com). Many US companies including GE, RCA, IBM, Coca-cola and Ford were the first to initiate production in Mexico. Japanese and Korean firms also became major investors in 1982. As a result, it had a positive reflection on employment. It rose from 100,000 in 1982 to 500,000 in 1992. The NAFTA implementation further boosted up to 1.3 million and the region reported for 40 percent of total Mexican exports. The amount of goods exported to US increased from $42 billion in 1993 to $166 billion in 2000. Fords plant in Mexico became the third largest foreign owned manufacturing operation in Latin America. (Jones, 2005) US -Malaysia FDI relationship The economy of Malaysia was badly affected by several recessions like worldwide oil crisis and Asian economic crisis. Its economy again rebounded in 1999. FDI became a key factor in countrys development. Anderson (1993) suggested few factors that attract FDI in Malaysia were undervalued currency, low cost of labour and fairly low inflation rate. Though there are many foreign investors, U.S. companies ranks first in FDI in Malaysia. The companies like Boeing, General Electric, R.J. Reynolds and Bechtel were major American investors. The government provided perfect climatic conditions for American firms to operate in Malaysia. The following factors attracted U.S. firms to invest in Malaysia. The government set up an Anti corruption Agency to prevent corruption in any form. It has the same legal structure so the investors had great convenience in handling their business following the rules and regulations enacted by the government. Moreover there was not any language issue as Malaysia i s an English speaking country. The investors got attracted towards the incentives provided through tax treatment and generous equity ownership. There were also some issues faced by foreign investors. Any foreign investor who wants to start industry must get proper approval from Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). The approval depends on various conditions which will be frustrating for investors. The other problem faced by investors was that they have to get work permit for foreign workers, which was a time consuming process. The government has several restrictions on total number of foreign workers on their land as it will have a direct effect on countrys employment opportunities (Prempeh Abenna, 2003). FDI has also negative impacts on home country. In case of Malaysia, the American investors violated both Human rights and Workers right. Malaysia faced a severe violation of human rights as pay was very much less than the minimum wage. The working conditions were also not employee friendly because of which workers faced several types of health problems. The company was against in forming labour union and when protested by the government, they complained that forming unions was a violation according to U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) requirement (Prempeh Abenna, 2003). McDonalds-a worlds largest chain of quick service restaurants McDonalds was started in a suburb of Chicago in 1955. It became the largest fast food restaurant and held one third of US market in 1990. McDonalds opened its branch in Canada in 1967 and later began to open in Europe by making joint ventures. McDonalds influenced the needs of locals and all other local fast food outlets in Germany and Netherlands faced a very tough competition. The local restaurants had to change their style to McDonalds in order to meet customer demands. After that, every step ahead was a success to the company. They had joint ventured with Japanese and very soon became countrys largest restaurant chain. (Jones, 2005) McDonalds operation in Russia, China and India was a clear indication of International expansion. They had 30,000 outlets in 120 countries and employed 250,000 people outside the United States. They established in all major cities and helped students to manage their living by providing part time jobs. Their international operations reported one half of McDonaldss revenues. As time changes, customer needs also changes. Now customers prefer to have a nutritious meal, so McDonalds used their marketing nuances to satisfy their customers. For example, in France items like salads, fresh fruits and Evian mineral water are included in the menu. (Jones, 2005) Conclusion In this essay, we have seen several factors that affect both home country and host country. Every company in the market sees to maximise the benefits and minimise the costs. The goal of achieving maximum profit influences every other decision while investing in a country. So far, we have seen the costs and benefits of home countries and host countries and real time examples are also cited. The primary factors that affect both home country and host country are employment, competition, economic development, technology and management. A success of an industry can be determined by how well these factors are managed by the country practising all rules and regulations adopted by the country in which operations are carried out. The governments also play an active role in framing rules and regulations to derive maximum benefit out of both FDI inflow and outflow. The negotiations are done on every agreement. Only if it is beneficial the operations are performed otherwise they are rejected at the initial phase itself. FDI is also used for improving the infrastructure of economically backward countries. The funding is done by world level organisations like World Health Organisation, World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The infrastructure is provided even in terms of upgrading medical facilities. For example, in Africa money and medicines are provided to eradicate diseases and in India several awareness programmes are being conducted about HIV prevention. The money invested in the country can also be used for constructing roads to remote areas which will help in transportation of medicines and in situations like floods and other natural disasters. It can also be effectively used for training unskilled labour by conducting educational programmes that would benefit them to get into any industry (www.economywatch.com). The extent to which a country can be benefited out of FDI is solely decided by the government and foreign firms. Many foreign firms involve actively in promoting social and enviro nmental factors. The government can give tax exemptions and other incentives for the companies that benefit their country.

Comparing Poor Mans Pudding, Bartleby, Ministers Black Veil, or Masqu

Lack of Epiphany in Poor Man's Pudding, Bartleby, Minister's Black Veil, or Masque of the Red Death In the Melville stories, "Poor Man's Pudding and Rich Man's Crumbs" and "Bartleby, the Scrivener", the narrators go through what appear to be life-changing experiences. Hawthorne offers a similar outline in "The Minister's Black Veil" as does Poe in "Masque of the Red Death". Yet, at the conclusion of each of these stories, there is no evidence to suggest that the narrator is affected by the differences (and perhaps similarities) of their lives and those less fortunate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In "Poor Man's Pudding and Rich Man's Crumbs" The narrator has the opportunity to absorb, as much as an "outsider" can, the heartache and trials of the lower class. While he cannot deny the experience of being in the Coulters home as thought provoking-- that appears to be all it is for him. "But the instinct of the poor is wiser than we think". He does not totally align himself with the upper class in the second part of the story but he will not refuse the benefits and privileges of wealth. He may be inwardly affected by the gluttony and callousness of the rich and the sympathetic circumstances of the poor, but any inward conversion is not exemplified in his outward behavior. ..Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed".Here, I believe, the reader is the one who is changed by the narrator's experiences an d the lack of change on the part of the narrator is upsetting to the reader. The reader is able to go with the narrator through both situations, but unlike the narrator, the reader is able to sympathize with th... ...ected by the differences (and perhaps similarities) of their lives and those less fortunate. They stand at the crossroad that would define their character and their future course of action. Some choose ambivalence, some choose to see and turn away, others may even convince themselves that they are actually better than they used to be. But without acting on any internal change these people have failed to convince the reader that they have been redeemed. Their inability or unwillingness to extend themselves to the cause of brotherhood and human kindness is their testament. The reader has no pity for these men, but unlike them the reader can internalize the lessons of their experiences and effect change in their own lives. Their failure to act is their greatest folly, but the reader can rise above these characters, recognizing their failure and take a different path. Comparing Poor Man's Pudding, Bartleby, Minister's Black Veil, or Masqu Lack of Epiphany in Poor Man's Pudding, Bartleby, Minister's Black Veil, or Masque of the Red Death In the Melville stories, "Poor Man's Pudding and Rich Man's Crumbs" and "Bartleby, the Scrivener", the narrators go through what appear to be life-changing experiences. Hawthorne offers a similar outline in "The Minister's Black Veil" as does Poe in "Masque of the Red Death". Yet, at the conclusion of each of these stories, there is no evidence to suggest that the narrator is affected by the differences (and perhaps similarities) of their lives and those less fortunate.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In "Poor Man's Pudding and Rich Man's Crumbs" The narrator has the opportunity to absorb, as much as an "outsider" can, the heartache and trials of the lower class. While he cannot deny the experience of being in the Coulters home as thought provoking-- that appears to be all it is for him. "But the instinct of the poor is wiser than we think". He does not totally align himself with the upper class in the second part of the story but he will not refuse the benefits and privileges of wealth. He may be inwardly affected by the gluttony and callousness of the rich and the sympathetic circumstances of the poor, but any inward conversion is not exemplified in his outward behavior. ..Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed".Here, I believe, the reader is the one who is changed by the narrator's experiences an d the lack of change on the part of the narrator is upsetting to the reader. The reader is able to go with the narrator through both situations, but unlike the narrator, the reader is able to sympathize with th... ...ected by the differences (and perhaps similarities) of their lives and those less fortunate. They stand at the crossroad that would define their character and their future course of action. Some choose ambivalence, some choose to see and turn away, others may even convince themselves that they are actually better than they used to be. But without acting on any internal change these people have failed to convince the reader that they have been redeemed. Their inability or unwillingness to extend themselves to the cause of brotherhood and human kindness is their testament. The reader has no pity for these men, but unlike them the reader can internalize the lessons of their experiences and effect change in their own lives. Their failure to act is their greatest folly, but the reader can rise above these characters, recognizing their failure and take a different path.

City Life Essay

Hello! I have a request for you to give me a feedback on my essay. Thanks in advance. Essay on city life see more:city living vs country living The migration from the countryside to city areas is merely a new phenomenon. This is a historic transformation on a global scale that consists of village culture being rapidly replaced by urban culture. Nowadays more than half of the world’s population lives in the cities. The majority of the people migrate of the better employment opportunities, the medical and educational facilities but there are also other reasons like the fun attractions of city life. City life is far more interesting and appealing to young people than rural life with its theaters, cinemas, night clubs, restaurants, shopping centers, places where you can practice some sport and get a professional to help you out with it and all sorts of other things you can imagine. Nevertheless urban life has its disadvantages too.Those ensue from the fact that inevitably life becomes more and more rapid in the city and that results in the way people act. They walk through life hurriedly without noticing the important things in life that are family and nature. They become more and more distant and loose their way to nature which leads to more and more medical conditions ensued by withdrawing from nature. Life in our cities will become more perturbed in the future. The main problem will be overpopulation therefore the streets will become crowded with people, it will take hours to get anywhere. Even if the traveling issues are solved overpopulation will result in many homeless people because there isn’t enough space for everybody even if skyscrapers are built to the sky. Other than that new technologies will develop even more and make life easier than today. In conclusion city life is very appealing but its developing rates are harmful for man’s survival and future. Future generations will have to solve this problem.

Free Essays on Diversification, Mergers and A cquisitions

1. Introduction Diversification, mergers or acquisitions since the 1980's, and even more in the late nineties, has become a growing trend for companies, both large and small, domestic and foreign, to form strategic alliances within their particular industries. There are many specific goals that companies may be looking to achieve by doing this, but the main underlying reason is to guarantee the long-term sustained achievement of "fast profitable growth" for their business. They have to keep up with a rapidly increasing diversified global market and increased competition. Nowadays, with the struggle for competitive advantage becoming stronger and stronger, it is almost essential to form alliances. Diversifying and expanding techniques such as mergers and acquisitions are very popular methods for forming these alliances. Basically stated, A merger is the combining of two or more companies into a single corporation. This is achieved when one company or business purchases the property or some other form of assets from another company. The result of this action is the formation of one corporate structure. This new corporate structure retains its original identity. An acquisition is a little different from a merger in that it involves many problems being "dissolved", and an entirely new company being formed. Much research and planning is required in the early stages of these processes, which starts with an acquisition strategy used in trying to find a suitable company to merge with. I have chosen to assess the automobile industry focusing on predominantly horizontal integration as one the preferred method of affiliation by global automobile players. 2. Successes and failures Some mergers, like marriages, are made in heaven. The union of two companies augments revenues, boosts profits, generates shareholder value and wins applause on the stock exchange. Other mergers – also like marriages –are made in hell. Turf battles break out... Free Essays on Diversification, Mergers and A cquisitions Free Essays on Diversification, Mergers and A cquisitions 1. Introduction Diversification, mergers or acquisitions since the 1980's, and even more in the late nineties, has become a growing trend for companies, both large and small, domestic and foreign, to form strategic alliances within their particular industries. There are many specific goals that companies may be looking to achieve by doing this, but the main underlying reason is to guarantee the long-term sustained achievement of "fast profitable growth" for their business. They have to keep up with a rapidly increasing diversified global market and increased competition. Nowadays, with the struggle for competitive advantage becoming stronger and stronger, it is almost essential to form alliances. Diversifying and expanding techniques such as mergers and acquisitions are very popular methods for forming these alliances. Basically stated, A merger is the combining of two or more companies into a single corporation. This is achieved when one company or business purchases the property or some other form of assets from another company. The result of this action is the formation of one corporate structure. This new corporate structure retains its original identity. An acquisition is a little different from a merger in that it involves many problems being "dissolved", and an entirely new company being formed. Much research and planning is required in the early stages of these processes, which starts with an acquisition strategy used in trying to find a suitable company to merge with. I have chosen to assess the automobile industry focusing on predominantly horizontal integration as one the preferred method of affiliation by global automobile players. 2. Successes and failures Some mergers, like marriages, are made in heaven. The union of two companies augments revenues, boosts profits, generates shareholder value and wins applause on the stock exchange. Other mergers – also like marriages –are made in hell. Turf battles break out...

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Elements and Genre Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Elements and Genre - Assignment Example It fulfills all expectations of romantic comedy movies without crossing genres. The movie The Imaginarium of Parnassus is an example of a science-fiction movie. Such movies have characteristics of high levels of imagination of things not likely to happen in reality. This movie qualifies to be in this genre since we find this aspect with the images formed. These include; enchanting meadows, mysterious forests that have ladders that go all the way to the sky and floating nymphs. Like the movie above, it fulfills all expectations of movies of this genre without crossing genres. Another film, Moulin Rouge – Silly Love Songs is an example of a music movie. The movie is full of sumptuous music and dance. The setting is the Montmartre Quarter of Paris. This movie fulfills all expectations of the movies of this genre. However, it crosses its genre since it has aspects of romance. It follows the love life of a poet who falls in love with Moulin Rouge meaning its genre can also be a romance

Comment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Comment - Essay Example The post further states that we should begin to be mindful of the waste we dump into our environment and stop giving much thought to the big cars we want to drive without caring about the effect it has in our environment (Kasting and Seifert 123). The importance of caring for our natural resources like the water catchment areas and reducing the rate of using fossil fuels to help restore our environmental sanity is also highlighted in this post. The industrial revolution increased the need for more raw materials and this prompted the increased degradation of our natural resources to help feed the demand for industrialization but at the expense of destroying our environment. Technological growth has also not had any significant impacts on the fight to end global warming but has created avenues for people to have shortcuts and cheats in accomplishing their tasks (Kasting and Seifert 123) In conclusion, I want to concur with the post that all the blame of the environmental damage so far done on our environment is on human beings due to the activities and inactivity towards preserving God’s gift to

Vietnams Confucian Heritage and Its Impact on Governance Dissertation

Vietnams Confucian Heritage and Its Impact on Governance - Dissertation Example It is clear to anyone who has observed the evolution of the world over the years that communism is a failure that still blinds people in some places around the world and that all cronies of communism have not amounted to much anywhere in the world. In stark contrast to this, those governed by the Western Capitalists or those who have been defeated in war by the previously mentioned have fared much better. The stark contrasts between North and South Koreas, former East and West Germany and the future rise of Japan after the Second World War are a clear testimony to the fact that pure communism was an evil that needed checking and restraining. Although in the present post-Vietnam era the misguided Islamists around the world remain vocal and critical of the West, blaming it for all of their self – induced abject failures they have no answers to provide about why their own religious civilization has never amounted to anything anywhere around the world. Surely, a people who were th e followers of the last guidance from the Creator of the Universe should have been able to demonstrate something to the world instead of espousing loathing, revulsion and an utter backwardness. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and no people can dump the reason for their failures on to others. Thus, it is likely that something broke down in Vietnam for it to have become a playground for superpowers, just as something distinctly rotten is apparent in Islamic societies. Economics and the distribution of resources have always profoundly influenced human societies and the world. Clearly, despite all attempts to blame the West for the paucity of Vietnam, it is the people of Vietnam and its leaders who must assume responsibility for its destruction when Vietnamese leadership sought to side with communism or capitalism instead of working for the good of the nation.

Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground Essay Example for Free

Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground Essay Fyodor Dostoevsky is one of the most influential authors in world literature. This Russian author had written several remarkable novels including Crime and Punishment, The Idiot and Brothers Karamazov. However, before the aforementioned novels were published, Dostoevsky had already gained critical acclaim and recognition for his work entitled Notes from Underground. This novel explores how the freedom of man is undermined by the atmosphere of rationality that dominated the 17th and 18th centuries. Through the novel’s protagonist, the Underground Man, Dostoevsky illustrates how real freedom is manifested in the defiance of reason. The period called the Enlightenment occurred throughout the 17th and 18th centuries (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). During this time, reason governed over every endeavor, and was valued above everything else. The period left no room for superstition or foolishness; rationality reigned supreme (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). Reason was the means in which man and society can develop for the better. European thought was dominated by materialism, liberalism and more importantly, utopianism (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). All of these movements were established on the belief that reasonable and natural-law theories could establish a perfect society (Emerson, 1992). Perfection was only attainable through the application of reason and the manifestation of â€Å"enlightened self-interest† (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). The prevalence of reason strongly influenced and inspired Dostoevsky to write Notes from Underground (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). However, the novel did not convey a message agreeable to the intellectual milieu; instead, it served to criticize its very existence. Notes from Underground is actually a response to another text, entitled What Is to be Done? (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ; Madden, n. d. ). It was written by N. G. Chernyshevsky and was published in 1863. Chernyshevsky was an advocate of â€Å"rational egoism,† a movement which fervently believed that perfection of life could be achieved through rationality and enlightenment (Madden, n. d. ). The â€Å"rational egoists† also upheld principles of natural law (Madden, n. d. ). Dostoevsky disagreed with the belief that rationality and enlightenment were the keys to perfection. He strongly believed that the nature of man was beyond those two elements. He acknowledged man’s capacity for both the rational and the foolish; he even upheld that the irrationality of man was more definite, while the rationality was merely added (Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). Moreover, Dostoevsky was convinced that laws of nature or the principles of reason were not capable of recognizing human individuality, personality, and more importantly, free will (Madden, n. d. ). These beliefs are embedded in the novel, a text which Rozanov considers a critique of reason as a means to perfection (as cited in Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). The novel, in the words of Wasiolek, showed how man can be both rational and irrational, as his actions are the result of the exercise of his own freedom (as cited in Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). Hence, the theme of freedom in the novel is the utmost disregard for reason and natural laws. The protagonist of the novel is the Underground Man, a forty year old man who used to work in civil service (Dostoevsky, 1992). For a protagonist, he is considered an â€Å"anti-hero† (Madden, n. d. ). He is also the antithesis of the time in which he lived; he disagreed with utilitarianism, which prevailed during the 19th century. Utilitarianism was characterized by utilizing â€Å"mathematical formulas and logical proofs† to equate one’s wants with his best interests (Madden, n. d. ). The Underground Man disagrees with this; he attests that man wants to exercise his freedom and could do so regardless if it agrees with his best interests or not. If it is man’s desire to act irrational, he could. Of course, acting irrational is not in anyone’s best interest. However, by being irrational, he was truly able to exercise his freedom. Actions based on desires, instead of reason, enable man to be free. Freedom is thus associated with acting without reason. So in an era where reason dominated, the Underground Man was rather unreasonable. By being unreasonable, he was able to be truly free. In the novel, the Underground Man asserts that science deprives one of freedom. Dostoevsky (1992) writes, â€Å"Science has managed by now to anatomize man to such a degree that we already know that all your wishing, your so-called free will is nothing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 29). The Underground Man then begins his attack on utilitarianism: If someday they should really discover the formula for all our whims and wishes—I mean, what causes them, what laws they’re governed by, how they develop and where they lead in one case or another†¦in other words, an actual mathematical formula—why, then man will perhaps immediately stop wishing†¦Who wants to wish according to graphs (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 29)? â€Å"Whims and wishes† in this quotation refers to the desires of man. The principles of utilitarianism are marked by analysis of people’s desires. These desires undergo scrutiny, as to determine if these desires agree with what is best for the people. However, the act of wishing does not involve analysis or scrutiny. One can desire something for no apparent reason. One may wish for something that may prove harmful in the long run. The exercise of freedom is spontaneous and non-regulated. If one has to base his or her desires from the graphs or formulas of science and math, they would no longer fall under the exercise of freedom. If one is to desire based on the graphs or formulas, it would not be an act of freedom any more. This is because there is imposition involved; the desires are imposed upon by the requirements of science or math. In this situation, the desires of man are dictated by the principles of reason. Thus, freedom disappears upon the use of reason. In the words of the Underground Man, â€Å"For if desires are one day brought into complete accord with reason, then we shall reason instead of wishing† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 30). The Underground Man continues his argument against utilitarianism by differentiating reason and desires. He states: You see, gentlemen, reason is unquestionably a fine thing, but reason is no more than reason, and it gives fulfillment only to a man’s reasoning capacity, while desires are a manifestation of the whole of life—I mean the whole of human life, both with its reason and with all its itches and scratches (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 31). In this quotation, the Underground Man affirms that while reason is important, it is not the most important thing. The desires of man, through which freedom can be exercised, have a much wider scope than reason. Therefore, the desires of man cannot be reduced to graphs and tables because it transcends them. The Underground Man uses the piano key as a symbol of how reason curbs man’s freedom: He will insist on clinging precisely to his own fantastic dreams, his most vulgar folly, solely in order to confirm himself that men are still men, and not piano keys, which may be played by the hands of natural laws themselves, but which are threatened by this very playing to be brought to a state where it will no longer be possible to wish a thing outside of graphs and schedules (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 34). Piano keys are pressed to make a sound in the process of playing the piano. These keys cannot produce sound on their own; they need to be touched and pressed. The analogy between the man and the piano key is what Dostoevsky used to illustrate his point. By measuring man’s desires with the graphs and formulas to determine whether or not it is in their best interests, man becomes a piano key. This is because man comes under the mercy of reason which plays him. To be manipulated by reason is to be bound by its laws; therefore, it is not freedom. The Underground Man believes that humankind values freedom over reason and best interests (Madden, n. d. ). Freedom means acting out of one’s desires or wishes whether or not the act spoken of is irrational or foolish. In the book, the Underground Man manifests his freedom through several examples. He had committed acts contrary to reason, making him a truly free individual. Hence, the Underground Man was successful in escaping the realm of reason he despises. The book starts with the Underground Man’s admission of a pain. He says, â€Å"I think that my liver hurts† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 1). Anyone who experiences pain will surely resort to measures to eliminate that pain. This is because pain is suffering, and nobody wants to suffer. In the instance that pain is felt, it is only reasonable that one seeks medical assistance by visiting a doctor. On the contrary, the Underground Man says, â€Å"No, sir, I refuse to see a doctor out of spite† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 1). This decision is obviously irrational, because he does not want to see a doctor to deal with the pain. In addition, he does not have a valid reason not to go to the doctor. One would presume that he simply takes pleasure in his own pain. A rational man would find this decision as preposterous, as no one ever enjoyed suffering from pain (Madden, n. d. ). However, what appears to be a manifestation of masochistic tendencies is actually the Underground Man’s exercise of freedom. Reason dictates that when one feels pain, that person should visit the doctor. As was earlier discussed, the Underground Man believes that reason limits freedom, because it only acknowledges the desires that would be in one’s best interests. The tolerance of pain and the derivation of pleasure from it is the Underground Man’s way of breaking free from reason. Surely, it is a foolish thing to do, but he does not want to conform to the dictates of reason. He values his freedom, so he refuses to act according to reason. He is a free man; he could do as he pleased. Even if it is contrary to his best interests in prolonging such agony, he still does it because he wished to do so. By tolerating pain and deriving pleasure from it, he successful avoids the system of reason. According to the Underground Man, â€Å"I know better than anyone else that I will only harm myself by this, and no one else. And yet, if I don’t seek a cure, it is out of spite. My liver hurts? Good, let it hurt still more† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 2)! The Underground Man proceeds with his painful endeavor, this time with a toothache. The fourth chapter of the book opens with his laughter: â€Å"Ha-ha-ha! You will find pleasure in a toothache next! And why not? There is pleasure in a toothache ache too† (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 14). Just like with the liver ache, the Underground Man allows himself to feel the pain of his tooth instead of seeing a dentist. He welcomes the pain, and refuses to seek treatment. A critic of the novel, Mikhaylovsky declares that the Underground Man â€Å"tortures because he wants to, he likes torture. There is neither reason nor purpose here, and, in the opinion of Dostoevksy, they are not at all necessary, for absolute cruelty is interesting† (as cited in Marder, Meyer, Wyshak, n. d. ). Indeed, this is true. The Underground Man does not subject himself to pain for a reason. In fact, he does so to do away with reason. He refrains from seeking medical treatment because he wants to. By indulging in his desire, he exercises complete freedom. Aside from the aforementioned tolerance of pains, the Underground Man had exercised his freedom through irrationality in other ways. He states: I would feel a certain hidden, morbid, nasty little pleasure in the acute awareness that I had once again committed something vile that day, that what had been done could no longer be undone; and I would gnaw and gnaw at myself in silence†¦until the bitterness would finally begin to turn into a kind of shameful, damnable sweetness (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 7). In this excerpt, the Underground Man expresses how he had realized his evil ways by contemplating what he had done. However, instead of wallowing in guilt, the realization ends up being a source of pleasure. How did the Underground Man manifest his freedom through this? The purveyors of rationality would insist that those who know what is in their best interests would not resort to baseness or frivolity. The Underground Man was aware of vileness of his actions; in a way, he was aware it was not in his best interests. However, he did not feel a sense of guilt. The realization of his action that started with bitterness eventually became that of sweetness. He knew what he had done was bad, but this does not change the fact that he derived pleasure from it. His reaction to such vile deeds set him apart from what reason dictates as proper. Because he did not follow the dictates of reason, he had exercised his own freedom through defiance. Reason makes one feel burdened when one commits a nasty or vile action. It supposes that rational ways should be observed, and a nasty or vile action is never rational. He sights an example when one is forced to apologize for a nasty deed. The Underground Man says: Generally, I could never endure saying, â€Å"Forgive me, Papa, I won’t do it again†Ã¢â‚¬â€and not because I was incapable of saying it, but, on the contrary, perhaps precisely because I was all too capable of it. And how I did it (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 16)! In this passage, the Underground Man expressed disagreement with repentance. He believes that one should not apologize for doing something. He finds apologies as deceiving; the claim to never do an act considered vile again seems insincere. In our freedom, we are all capable of doing these acts. Regardless if they are rational or irrational, we all have the capacity to act according to our own free will. The claim â€Å"I won’t do it again† is quite fraudulent, as it is quite understood that anyone can do anything, according to their free will. Thus, it is possible for one to exercise freedom and desire something which is not in one’s best interest. According to the Underground Man: And what if his advantage on a given occasion not only may, but must, lie exactly in choosing for himself the harmful rather than the advantageous? And if this is so, if there can be such an occasion, then the entire rule is shattered to smithereens (Dostoevsky, 1992, p. 22). The rule spoken of here is the belief that man would choose what is in his best interests. Again, the exercise of freedom lies in choosing or desiring something regardless of their nature. In the above quotation, the Underground Man affirms that there will be instances wherein man will choose what is harmful, instead of what is useful, to him. The moment such situation arises, the principle of reason will be disproved. The Underground Man does not believe in the principle that man will act according to what is in his best interests. Neither does he believe that man’s desires can be reduced to graphs of science nor formulas of mathematics. The concept of freedom for the Underground Man is that which is contrary to the dictates of reason. He does not acknowledge that man will commit acts that are in tune with his best interests. This would be a violation of his freedom, as the freedom presupposes one’s capacity for both the rational and the irrational. If one chooses to commit an irrational act, he is merely exercising his freedom. Did the Underground Man succeed in escaping the realm of reason he so despised? The answer is yes. His tolerance of pain and derivation of pleasure from suffering were direct defiance to reason. He had rendered himself completely liberated from the atmosphere of rationality. He did and thought as he pleased, whether or not it was in his best interests. Indeed, he had escaped, and is completely free. REFERENCES Dostoevsky, F. (1992). Notes from Underground (M. Ginsburg, Trans. ). New York: Bantam. (Original work published in 1864). Madden, C. (n. d. ). SparkNote on Notes from Underground. Retrieved March 29, 2008, from http://www. sparknotes. com/lit/underground/ Marder, J. , Meyer, M. , Wyshak, F. (n. d. ). Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground Study Guide. Retrieved March 29, 2008, from http://community. middlebury. edu/~beyer/courses/previous/ru351/novels/UGMan/ugman. html