Effects of Computers and Technology on Society Essay

The development of office computers in late 70s has made a major breakthrough in our present society. Although the earlier computers were used solely for the purpose of processing and transmitting military data, the realization on the use of computers bear out the office computers we have today. Office tasks have never been easier since the computers have been dedicated to complete such enormous and taxing jobs in data processing. Since then the work loads particularly in the office have become minimal and less stressful for the employees. Suddenly because of our innovativeness we began to explore more and come up with more sophisticated computers we use today. The earlier versions of computers were unpopular because they are bulky and with heavy features which makes them inappropriate for small offices. Thus most of them are installed on laboratories and engineering rooms. As computers continued to be innovated, their sizes have been greatly reduced but they are now faster and more reliable. They can now be used for word processing which is a very essential in processing documents. In the mid-80s the dimension of the computers continued to be lesser into portable desktops and can now be placed on top of office tables. Indeed they now evolved to be more compact, lighter, faster and more powerful. They can now run multiple programs and software at the same time. Then in the 90s the age of the Internet has arrived. From the introduction of powerful computers now comes the most usable means of transferring data and messages all over the world. Here is the now the world of the World Wide Web or the Internet. The Internet has developed into one of the most powerful medium for universal communication, mode of information provider, highway for electronic transactions and most convenient source for entertainment. The Internet link computers by phone lines and high speed digital lines which networked all computers that are spread out around the world. Technology which brought up the invention of the computer and the Internet has made everything possible. We have improved a lot by leaps and bounds. The Internet as today’s most ingenious form of technology has greatly influenced our lives. We can now find jobs just by browsing the Net, watch movies from different websites, search for anything and everything that is beyond our imagination, source out information on any subjects and conduct transactions with other people around the globe. It is now so easy to send messages just by typing our texts using our email address and with a click of a button can send the message to other emails. Transferring the message may just take few seconds. Another example to prove the efficiency of the Internet are the chat rooms that can transfer bulk of messages and pictures in seconds at the same time. These are only few but most usable contributions of the â€Å"technology† we use today. Since the Internet has become the highway for the largest and widest medium of communication and information exchange, business transactions and on-line commerce have developed into the most popular method in business operation. The largest online deals in the world such as the Stocks Exchange and the Foreign Exchange currency trading rely on the Internet to conduct business. In line with this technology, the computers, however, also became sophisticated and powerful to carry on the task of processing data and information hundred times better than what ordinary computers can do three decades ago. To frank and honest this is what people want – to invent and invest on technology to make things lot easier for us. Even ordinary house chores are now performed with the aid of the machines. We have invented washing machine, the dishwasher, the floor polisher, the air-conditioning system and the television for our entertainment. How wonderful it is to live in a world full of magic brought about by the gadgets, machines and equipment we make. But after all of these amazing things have been invented did it benefit the society in general? It is true that the inventions of machines have made things lot easier, faster and more precise. But do you know that since technology has greatly improved, millions of jobs have already been lost because they have become obsolete? As we advance in our future and develop more technology there is also displacement of man with their profession. We use to power everything by hand then by the machines and now by the computers. Why would manufacturing companies hire production people if they can mechanize and computerize every process in their factories? Why would car makers hire people for car assemblies where they can buy machines that are programmed and automated? Machines does not take their break, do not complain about abuse and no need for any insurance? Obviously because of our â€Å"technology†, people are getting phased out of their circulation and depriving them to earn their living. The computers, the Internet, the game gadgets, cell phones and accessories have also loosen our touch with the reality thus our bond with our families are also affected. The realization of the technology which has widened man’s contact into the outside world has in a way confined him to smaller virtual world that rely on technology alone and not on physical attributes (Ghimire 2006). On the side of the economy, however, the negative impacts are obviously caused by the advancing technology. It is true that many people preferred engaging on technology-based education have benefited with the continuing trend in science. But what happened to those who did not earned degrees or does not have knowledge with the trend? How can they cope up with the world that is being run by this technology? Would they remain to be at the bottom of the ladder because the skilled people take all the best opportunities? Since the early 70s, computerization started to liberalize workforce, American workers with non-degrees begin to feel the squeeze. This is because the technology has started to manage the world in a more synchronized and automated manner. The most favored jobs have turned the table in favor of the educated and the skilled. To cope up with the development, courses in relation to technical skills, computer and software engineering and programming were offered. Today, the people who dominate the highest income brackets come from among those who specialize in this field. The jobs for the unskilled have become leaner and the demand for their services was greatly reduced making them poorer, ignorant and unfit for employment. According to L. Mishel, Director for Research on Welfare Reform Network, the hazard on the development of information age is that while the technology can replace workers with cheaper cost, this trend might become self-destructive with the economy because there will not be enough purchasing power to push the economy onward while we lead our lives into the future. To ease the effect of technology on people, Mishel suggested that there must be political action to make societal evolution beneficial to everybody (Smith 2007). But although the technology has affected those who are untrained, the computers and the Internet have produced a digital world of information and accessibility. Almost everybody can now reach out to the Internet. You only have to go online to order goods, books, clothes or even groceries and it will be delivered directly to you. The Internet also benefits the older people because they can now email people they want to get in touch with. If you happen to feel sick and want to check for yourself about the symptoms you have you can check from the Internet to avoid health hazards. Moreover, the computers and the Internet have created a world full of opportunities. Jobs are being created and obtained everyday because there are always new jobs entering the Internet sphere. This is especially beneficial for those who have skills with regards to Information Technology. Based from the 2005 – 2006 National Association of Colleges and Employers, the regular computer engineer can earn more than USD53, 000 a year for their first year of employment while the entry level management can make up to USD 38,000 as well. Even small businesses have greatly benefits from this technology. Business owners can now advertise their product through many websites and can organize employee schedules with programs like Microsoft Excel. There are also online educations today that many universities offer and the opportunities are getting larger. It is projected that by the year 2009, one in every ten students will be enrolled in an online degree program. However, there are always disadvantages from the advantages. Now the backlash from this advantage does involve risk with every person registered on the Internet. Identity theft has always been the number one crime in the United States. Although programs are constantly created to protect users from Internet hackers and scammers, there are also lots of experts who use their knowledge to commit fraud in their favor. Billions of dollars are being stolen because of identity theft, scams and online fraud. Unfortunately only few of them are getting caught and usually the discovery was too late before the harm has been done. Even the movies and TV series which are supposed to be legally shown only on cinemas and televisions are also being shown on the Internet without proper license and agreement with the producers. Recently the Writer Guild of America demanded payments from the owner of the domains. In effect, the rights of producers, TV stations, actors and actresses are violated and the chances to earn from these shows are lost. Sadly as the worlds of computers are here to stay there are always dangers in getting scammed in every step of the way (Weidenfeld 2008). And so as the technology changes in its fast paced environment we, as users also changes as well. Let’s just hope that we could always cope up with any changes that the age of information and technology can bring us. There would be transformation and modification, of course but with less time to prepare we may probably make the wrong choices and our technology even it was intended to develop can destroy us (Graves 1990). Summary Computers and the Internet are two of the most brilliant discoveries of man. Life has never been easier with their aid. Computers are the most used and essential equipment in the office or even at home. Everybody almost have it because of its functionality and usage. The Internet on the other hand has succeeded in building gaps between people, races and cultures and provides us the opportunities to explore all things that exist here and beyond our world. But while we are joyful of the benefits of these forms of technologies not everybody is at their advantage. From the very first introduction of computerization, the untrained and the unskilled began to feel the hardships of being uncompetitive. The technology has created jobs according to its own trend. If you are unskilled and wants to earn a decent living you have to sweat it out to and can be able to earn minimum wage while the new generation of computer experts enjoy their chances in their virtual world. This is the general belief of some observers. Analysis According to the points presented, there are always advantage and disadvantage at any prevailing discoveries of man. Man is a very adaptable creature and he makes discoveries according to his needs. The Internet and the computers have naturally eased up our burdens with our jobs, communication and commerce. But with this technology there is the theory that lots of people still blame technology as the culprit in decimating their chances to be competitive. Accordingly, people living on rural societies as well as the older people and the unskilled feel that they are always left out with the technology making them helpless and useless. But my personal opinion relies not how quantitative the advantaged of technology to most people but how the technology could benefit all people in any society. Technology does shape our future but our future depends on every fiber in our society which means that the people alone are shaping the future not the technology. Technology is merely the product of our modernization and innovation that is continuously taking us higher to new realities and development. But we lest not forget that technology can also be erased, altered or reprogrammed because the society is making the technology themselves. However, the complexities of the issues discussed here is that has the introduction of the computers and the Internet really affected our society in general? True enough the untrained and the uneducated can find it hard to participate with the virtual world. But does technology was created to rationalize people according to their capabilities? I think not. Whether we like it or not our technology with computers and the Internet will continue to advance and so there are no chances in going back to pick those that have been left out. There are always two sides of the coin here. It is up for the people to choose. If we are people with strong mind and interest to cope up then we can be able to discover how wonderful the technology can bring. Computers and the Internet are not complicated, adaptable, beneficial and educating people continuously. Whatever jobs and opportunities you wanted can be found in the Internet regardless of what you can do. Just look around and observe. Even children, the elderly and disabled people can benefit from the technology. Education, jobs, opportunities and communication is now empowered by our technology. The old days of manual labor is almost over. We invent things to make things easier and there is nothing wrong with doing the job the easy way. If there are people who are against of this technology it maybe because they are closing their mind with it. The Internet offers all kinds of prospects in learning, opportunities and information. It is only right that we have to take advantage everything that it offers because for sure we would definitely grow with it References: Ghimire, Shakti. 2006. â€Å"Effects of Computers and the Internet on Society. † in Student Operated Press. Vero Beach, Florida: SOP. org. Graves, James. 1990. â€Å"Technology and It’s Effect on Society†. Smith, Hakeem. 2007. â€Å"How Emerging Technology Affects Modern Society. † Weidenfeld, Kelly. 2008. â€Å"Effects of computers and the Internet on society † Helium.

Marketing plan in mortgage services

Owning a home is an American dream that mortgage services is positioned to a lucrative business investment.   However, there are several factors that influence market decisions where market research can be useful.   One important area is researching about the historical and forecasted changes in market value.   When values are expected to rise, the firm has greater potential to be successful in its expansion plan.   People are motivated to mortgage home purchase when there is a likely price gain.Similarly valuable is to determine other economic indicators such as trends of wage rate, income taxes and also mortgage rate, down payment and monthly payment limits.   In expanding to four other states, there may be local policies and regulations that can modify economic characteristics from Idaho which could trigger different marketing strategies.   For example, declining salaries in one state can reduce ability of the market to pay monthly installments.There are also other alt ernatives to purchasing a primary or secondary home that minimizes the market for mortgage services.   In effect, the advantages and disadvantages of decision substitutes should be compared to home mortgage.   Factors to consider are the costs and tax benefit of home improvements, profitability of real estate investment trust (REIT) and buying-versus-renting performance.   There might be a need for the firm to search for other lenders that can offer more attractive provisions to outweigh the benefits of decisions substitutes.For example, longer mortgage period may be necessary to bring down monthly installments and be competitive to comparative monthly rental fees.   It is also helpful to gather information on population mobility (i.e. tendency to transfer to other states or countries) or the visitor performance on the four states.   When they are people have high mobility or the state does not receive substantial visits, the location is less attractive for homeowners whic h can suggest new strategies to the firm.Marketing MediumIn its expansion, the company is required to inform the market of its existence including its market position and branding.   Inability to establish good faith credentials to the market can lead to business failure.   It can tap useful business partners.   Local authorities and agencies that administer the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Veterans Administration (VA) loans are the primary channels of the firm since it offer services for FHA and VA loans.The firm can be also referred by home sellers to their clients which can lead to a win-win situation for all parties.   The company and home sellers can develop their market while clients are provided with value-added services with the opportunity to get financial support.   REIT and landlords can also supply the needed campaign because they too necessitate home appraisal for investment decisions.   Although they are not included in the customer list of the company, citing the firm as cost efficient provider of mortgage services is a mechanism in better servicing the interest of their investors/ occupants.Publicity can also provide the necessary marketing medium.   It can advertise the company on a wider scale without the communication to several parties rather than single marketing agency.   As an alternative, the company can develop its own publicity by designing an advertising or promotional campaign.   Local newspapers can highlight the services offered, target market, average mortgage rate and service fee that are offered by the firm.This can create initial perception about its positioning (e.g. low-cost service provider).   Feedback is important in any campaign to determine if the market has gained perception similar to what the company intends to be.   In this view, it is important to include in the newspaper ad contact details such as telephone number, website and address.   Getting the feedback is important since b eing a low-cost service provider can create impression that the service is inferior to others offering higher prices.Target MarketsBeing a low-cost service provider, the firm is expected to attract the low-income segment and parts of middle-income segment.   This is concretized by the fact that the firm is offering a start-to-finish approach where clients can have full services from loan application, home appraisal and contract delivery.   The work-oriented lifestyle of these segments can receive significant benefits of this approach since they can save time, money and simplify issues associated with home purchases/ loan.Primary and secondary homeowners are also target market.   The former are inexperienced and the consultancy services can serve as guide in decision-making.   In the contrary, the latter are experienced but are in need of refinancing services as they find a more attractive loan contract from different lender or have changed their mind regarding their initial home purchase.   Acquirer of leisure properties are also target market because the company has a portfolio of different lenders who can meet the requirements of such loan.As FHA loans will likely consist of low- and middle-income segment, VA loans bring forth a new segment.   This includes retirees and at least fifty year old people or their widows who intend to marry again.   The service that can be offered to them is advisory particularly on issues such as enjoying â€Å"double† exemption for capital-gain tax in case of selling a home which subsequently mean getting the exemption first before remarrying.   Further, older people have less time to manage their properties particularly researching, monitoring and evaluation of economic trends.As a result, most of their decisions are based on experience and judgment.   The company can intervene in this case in offering valuable services to contribute the missing link of older people’s considerations.   Lastly, the company can attract potential market that places their investments in stocks, bonds and mutual funds.   With lowest fees and integrated service, real estate investment has relatively lower transaction costs than other investment choices.4Ps and SIVA on Marketing PlanThe market research provides information that will shape the products of the company as they require adjustment based on state-specific factors.   It also contributes on pricing the service as low-price services may not appeal to the local market making the current position less effective.   Therefore, necessary promotions that can add value to the service can be initiated.   In using each marketing medium, the company can increase its presence and market penetration to each state.It can rationalize the need for publicity and additional expenses for advertising depending on the market behavior and strength of local housing authorities in influencing them.   For example, if housing is strictly regulated or supporting mechanisms are minimal, the company may likely opt to use the media in increasing awareness and demand.   By determining target markets, the scanning done in market research and identification of potential marketing medium will be evaluated based the characteristics of the market.   Target markets is the most crucial part of the marketing plan because it simplifies consideration of the factors in general environment and marketing medium to those that are only significant in influencing market behavior.Satisfaction of the market is addressed when the company offers products and services that are relevant to their current needs.   This includes augmenting loopholes of local housing authorities in providing related services and incentives.   Their interests are activated by actively establishing business partners through local housing authorities, home sellers, REIT and other parties related to housing sector.   Word-of-mouth marketing is acquired.   The value fo r money regarding the services of the company is aligned to the income situation of its target market which assures an effective strategy.   On the other hand, well-off segment would see the low-price service as opportunity to get a second opinion and increase lender alternative.   Finally, convenience in accessing the firm’s services is supported also by various marketing medium.ReferencesGeller, L. (2002) Response: The Complete Guide to Profitable Direct Marketing. New York: Oxford University Press.Hitt, M., Hoskisson, R. & Ireland, R. (2003) Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization. 5th Ed. South Western: Thomson Learning.Kotler, P. (2003) Marketing Management.11th Ed, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Artists and Collective Groups

Magiciens de la terre was staged by the curator Jean Hubert Martin on 14 August, 1989 in Paris. The exhibition portrays the work of hundreds of artists and collective groups from all over the world to create a juxtaposition effect. It aimed to eradicate the culture of ethnocentrism from the minds of people that was prevailing at that time. The European people back then would undervalue the art work of people from other cultures and values and none of the art exhibition would deal with the subject. Jean Martin took up the subject and portrayed over a hundred of artists at an equal level where 50 percent of the artists were non western. The attempt was made through the artistic representation that people cannot be discriminated based on geographical regions and they also deserve to receive equal respect from the society (Rapko, 2014). The curator chose to go for installation view for the exhibition in the gallery and selected the master work of Carl Beam and Richard Long. These works were chosen to signify the geographical regions across the world and renewed questions based on land and place and how the concept of art deals with the other geographical regions. The two works are being put together in a contrasting manner in order to make the audience think over the issues that have been prevailing in the society for such a long period. Richard’s long mud circle was made to hang near the Yuendumu community ground painting Yarla. Yarla is a traditional Australian piece of art that was made in the early centuries. The contrasting effect is created in order to showcase the issues that arise during the work. The exhibition also makes use of the Sarkis through showcases, screens, projections, reading tables and shelving (Friedel, 2016). Apart from that, unlike the traditional exhibitions, this exhibition also displayed how the preparation of the exhibition was carried out through a number of videos which shows that the work was not just taken abruptly and every projection has a reason behind it to be showcased. The exhibition layout and structure was not like a traditional finished exhibition rather the curator made sure to make the exhibition movable as much as he could in order to shed some light on the practices which were deep rooted in the European culture. The exhibition comprised of a number of texts and images to display the views of European people over the non western world. The non western artists were represented on the stage with full respect and dignity equal to their western counterpart. This act demanded their equal rights in artistic world from the European people. The scenarios in the exhibition were staged in a manner so as to show case the inequities of the world. The 113 artist were staged along with their geographical locations, biographies and artistic works from over 50 countries across the world (Africanah.org, 2016). The exhibition is displayed in parts to give a contrasting view of the world through portraying different artists from the world. Every act has a message at the end for the audience to ponder upon. The artists are from different geographical location from all over the world such is Australia, Tibet, China and many more. The exhibition makes extensive use of videos, documentary, images etc to highlight the ethnocentric issue. The exhibition starts with the Australian artists all together working on a painting on the ground. The artists talk to each other but their conversation which cannot be heard is not the focus here rather their art work ground painting is highlighted which is dreaming of rain. The scene depicts the hidden world of Dreamtime. The next part opens with a Chinese guy who first washes newspapers in the washing machine to make a wall installation out of it. At first, he tries to connect himself with the Taoist’s philosophy prevailing in China which does not encourage questions. The inability to seek answer from the philosophy disconnects him from the Chinese culture and he finds himself between the western artists with whom he reconnects himself. The third part shows some monks who are trying to create an art work with the use of dust and metal sticks. They work very hard to make the image and even start sweating in the process of making this complex art work. These people are actually working very hard and dealing with the complexities of the art work. The next part shows the conversation between two women American Indian and African. The African woman asks some questions related to a blanket to the other woman and after hearing the answer the African woman is relieved. The next scene portrays a father and a daughter making a sand painting and the same lady who portrayed as an American woman in the earlier scene is also standing there and watching them. The man erases the painting after showing it to his wife. The scene symbolizes that deletion of something would lead to creation of some other new possibility. The scene leaves a very deep message for the audience to think upon. The exhibition was under preparation for around four years with limited number of curators. The curators travelled across the globe for the exhibition to get themselves acquainted with the different socio culture and psychology of the people across the world. They travelled from North America to Australia, Japan, China, Tibet and other countries to explore the culture (Solal, 2016). The curator chose the installation mode of presenting unlike the traditional exhibitions, because he wanted to have a direct connection with the audience through the show. He did not want the audience to see the immovable objects through the finished objects which gives the feeling that they have been abruptly taken from their original context and the audience does not even get to know the real motive behind the scene. The installation approach gives the audience a different perspective of thinking by engaging it through different acts and scenes. The audience gets to understand the real essence of the different acts that the curator wants to portray. Since the light and technology was not even a close match that of today’s, still the curator made use of best of the technologies that were prevailing at that time. The extensive use of projectors to show the videos demonstrate that the best technologies were chose of that time. The screens were used for the reflection part. Then there was use of reading tables and shelves for the exhibition. The light technology used in the traditional art works of Richard Long ‘Red Earth Circle’ and Yuendumu, an Australian aboriginal community, is mesmerizing and demonstrates the excellent work of the curator. The work displayed by the curator is an excellent presentation of revolutionary art, which has become a global turn phenomenon in the history of the world. Around 300,000 visitors visited the exhibition and were amazed to see the art work by the curator. Though there was intensive criticism for the art exhibition by many critics for the theme being used. The work was criticized for hurting the religious sentiments of a number of people over the world (Modern, 2014). Though the curator clarified that the essence was to give the non western artist the respect they deserve and to not to focus on the mini details of the work and overlook them. Overall, the exhibition was an excellent effort by the curator through the extensive use of films, reference documents, notes and notebooks, films, catalogues and books, which shaped the concept of events. The visitors were enlightened by the field trips, the contact with the artists, the staging and the work of institutions. Rapko, J. (18 May 2014). The Design Isn’t Firm; Or, Why Do Curators Talk Like That?.NYAQ/LXAQ/SFAQ: International Art and Culture. Available at: https://sfaq.us/2015/05/the-design-isnt-firm-or-why-do-curators-talk-like-that/ [Accessed 12 December 2016]. Friedel, J. (12 August 2016). Magiciens de la Terre. Contemporary and Platform for International art from African perspectives. Available at: https://www.contemporaryand.com/magazines/magiciens-de-la-terre/ [Accessed 12 December 2016]. Africanah.org. (2 July 2014). Magiciens de la Terre, a look back at a legendary exhibition. Africanah.org.   Available at: https://africanah.org/magiciens-de-la-terre/ [Accessed 12 December 2016]. Solal, A.C. Revisiting Magiciens de la terre. Stedelijk Studies. Available at: https://www.stedelijkstudies.com/journal/revisiting-magiciens-de-la-terre/ [Accessed 12 December 2016]. Steeds, L. (2013). Making Art Global (Part 2) ‘Magiciens de la terre’ 1989. London: Afterall Books. Modern, T. (18 March 2014). In 1989 The Ambitious Exhibition ‘Magiciens De La Terre’ opened in Paris, presenting the work of over one hundred artists, half of whom were described as non-western. Biennial Foundation. Available at: https://www.biennialfoundation.org/2014/03/in-1989-the-ambitious-exhibition-magiciens-de-la-terre-opened-in-paris-presenting-the-work-of-over-one-hundred-artists-half-of-whom-were-described-as-non-western/ [Accessed 12 December 2016]. Modern, T. Magiciens De La Terre: Reconsidered. Tate. Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/magiciens-de-la-terre-reconsidered [Accessed 13 December 2016]. Former West. Magiciens De La Terre Jean-Hubert Martin Editions du Centre Pompidou 1989 ISBN 102858504989. Former West. Available at: https://www.formerwest.org/ResearchLibrary/MagiciensdelaTerre [Accessed 13 December 2016]. Critique d’art. From  Magiciens de la Terre  to the Globalization of the Art World: Going Back to a Historic Exhibition. Critique d’art. Available at: https://critiquedart.revues.org/8308?lang=en Accessed 13 December 2016]. JStor. Bilderstreit' and 'Magiciens de la Terre. Paris and Cologne. JStor. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/884068?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Accessed 13 December 2016].

Polychlorinated Biphenyl Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 188

Polychlorinated Biphenyl - Assignment Example Therefore, when we were digging through the building walls contaminated with PCBs, we had to be careful with how we were going to make the overhead bay extension in the Aluminum Casting plant. Basically, we first took precaution by wearing protective gears before going to the area. Next, to avoid any physical contact with humans, we used the help of an excavator which was manually controlled by a specialist. Basically, as we did the excavation, we managed to decontaminate the building wall by use of diesel fuel plus rags. The very purpose of the exercise was not to produce any liquid so that no one in that area could get exposure through breathing. After the exercise, we were left with two issues. How to dispose of the contaminated rags? and How to decontaminate the excavator?. These were challenging for us, but we opted to place the rages in containers and labeled with symbols that said hazardous. The very purpose of labeling the containers as hazardous was to avoid people from mistaking it from other containers while transporting and disposal. The containers had to be sealed tightly to ensure that in the event of the containers dropping off, they would not cause the contaminated rags to fall off. Another precaution that was used was the decontamination of the excavator which had been exposed as it bore through the contaminated building wall that had PCBs. The process of decontamination of the excavator had to be done by chemical means. In this process, we had to use chemical agents that caused dechlorination of the compound. Basically, the chemicals acted by breaking down the compound into chlorine and biphenyl. Furthermore, to ensure completed decontamination, we had to ensure that the excavator had been successfully removed from the warm zone so as not to contaminate the excavator again.

Judith Butlers 'Imitation and Gender Insubordination' Essay

Judith Butlers 'Imitation and Gender Insubordination' - Essay Example She is not a feminist. She departs from feminist theory to do other things. Drawing ideas from other writers and philosophers, her methods are rich and interesting and many feminists are struck and excited about her work. But other writers and thinkers see her ideas as taking away from the real and practical needs of women. Discussion Butler (1989) tries to ask essential questions. For example, she asks, once the subject "outs" her- or himself, is that person "free of its subjection and finally in the clear'?† (308). Or does the the subjection continue? But what does the following mean, characteristic of Butler's writing: "Can sexuality even remain sexuality once it submits to a criterion of transparency and disclosure .." (309) For something to determine itself, some other must exist to make this determination, and what is it this other? This other is a "prior to" and it is the most interesting thing which Butler says, I believe. Her thought is easily confusing unless one grab s hold of that idea. She is looking for the prior and I believe she is asking does whatever the prior is establish sexuality or is the prior already a sexually determined object. There is a danger that coming out "reinscribes the power domains that it resists" and that it is part of the "heterosexual matrix that it seeks to displace" (309). One must try to locate the "framework that privileges heterosexuality as origin". Butler would like to use the concept of the speech act (from philosopher John Austin) to say the way one creates being is the way in which one may create herself or himself. There is a difficulty perhaps always in this activity as one must ask who it doing the creating? From what position is the creating done, that of homosexuality or heterosexuality? I think it is important for Butler, because she wants to produce an original, defensible "I' that is thoroughly lesbian or homosexual, without the pejorative connotation. But that is her very problem. the pejorative co nnotation is already tied into the words and their origin from the heterosexual point of view. Butler would like to reach a non-reflexive position that perhaps is neither heterosexual nor homosexual. Butler has to establish, more or less a "private language", one that is not derived from the present language, because the present language already has the power relationships of sexual identities established in it - that is a man, and that is a woman. But Butler seeks "that grid of cultural intelligibility that regulates the real and the nameable' (312). 'Lesbian' exists as an 'abiding falsehood' in present discourse Hence as a falsehood, the being of lesbianism is denied, it has been erased from discourse. She and others must place it back, but it cannot be done under present 'existing regulatory regimes'. These regimes had wrongly created the category in the first place. There must be a prior for Butler. For example there is no prior to 'gender', hence the concept of ‘drag†™ itself is an original model, â€Å"gender is a kind of imitation for which there is no original â€Å" (her italics 333). Butler goes further and even makes heterosexuality a model for which there is no original. Her supporting writers then say that concepts of sexuality are socially constructed and not original forms that are necessary in some accepted way. She argues, "...there are no secondary consequences which retrospectively confirm the originality" of the original model (313). Because heterosexuality must always be in the act of replicating and emulating itself, there is always the risk that it will lose itself. I have a friend who says he must always prove to himself ‘not homosexual' by always repeating it or comparing himself to

Annotated Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Annotated Bibliography - Essay Example This book shows that how the activities like peer coaching, discussion among colleagues, reflective learning, and experience based recollection can help in staff development, and hence, human resource development. The book helps the reader to understand that the staffs in an organization have tremendous ability and potential to learn and grow if they reflectively interact among themselves. In this journal article, the importance of Resource-Based View (R-BV) in relation to strategy and analysis methods in an organization has been explained. The core competencies of human resource in an organization are identified as critical catalysts in the process of obtaining a competitive advantage. The article explores the role of human resource development in properly utilizing the technique of R-BV in deciding organizational strategy. In the book, the authors put forward the idea that employee behavior is crucial in assessing, implementing, designing, and evaluating the human resource development programs. Further, the book focuses on the techniques of employee orientation and socialization, coaching, training, and counseling. Importance of career management and development has also been explained from the employees’ perspective. The book serves as a valuable resource for designing employee training and development programs. This book has been written to elucidate certain critical ideas in relation to training and development processes. Training programs are crucial in human resource development, and hence the trainers should be properly guided and groomed. In this book, the writer has explained the utilization of performance gap analysis, which can help the trainers to ascertain the difference between actual and potential performances of their trainees. Hence, they would be able to contribute more analytically in the human resource development process. In today’s competitive and global environment, strategic analysis, implementation, and

The Batek of Malaysia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Batek of Malaysia - Research Paper Example The researcher states that the Batek of Malaysia are a kinship-based society, which means that it emphasizes nurturing and sharing. Batek parents spend a lot of time playing with their children of either sex and they also spend this time holding, cuddling and talking to them. Batek parents also do not use harsh disciplinary methods when scolding their children, as their vernacular term sakel, which means hit also means the same as kill, thus the idea of even hitting their children disgusts them. Moreover, Batek parents raise their children in the spirit of respect, care and affection, and the whole camp even shares their own time in order to facilitate care for the child and to feed them. Lastly, as the Batek children are growing up, they are usually made to engage in active play but not in an aggressive or competitive manner, as competition is simply outside of the Batek system of belief. The kinship system of the Batek, just like many of the contemporary foraging aboriginal groups of Southeast Asia, follows the kinship classification of the Inuit, where parents are different from uncles and aunts. The Batek society has the conjugal family as its basic unit, and this conjugal family is politically independent and economically self-sufficient. These conjugal families, which mostly consist of eight or more children each, live in a camp that in turn consists of two to fifteen families related by blood. These camps are classified by the Batek themselves as belonging to one of the three â€Å"river valley groups,† who, although practically indistinguishable, occupy the Aring, upper Lebir or lower Lebir watersheds. (Endicott, 1988). Generally, the Batek society fosters equality between husband and wife, and the married couple is always expected to show affection to each other (â€Å"The Batek De,† 2010). Political Organization The political organization of the Batek is relatively simple since the society is highly egalitarian. A closely-knit settled gr oup of Batek may be assigned a headman, who is tasked to represent the group and to act as its spokesperson in matters where the Batek have to deal with the non-Batek (â€Å"The Taman Negara,† 2010). The headman, who is called penghulu in the native Malay language, is usually chosen because he is believed to possess â€Å"charisma, extroversion, and a familiarity with the Malay language† (â€Å"The Taman Negara,† 2010; Endicott, 1988). The headman is usually appointed by the Malaysian government through the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in order to have a spokesman for the group of Batek and for the group to have someone to relay to them the sentiments or wishes of the non-Batek (Endicott, 1988). Moreover, the headman is expected to possess an in-depth knowledge of the traditions of the Batek community, and may at times, because of such knowledge, assume the title of â€Å"Tok Batin† or â€Å"Spiritual Elder† (Ahmad, 2009). Nevertheless, the hea dman can only act as a persuasive leader and not an authoritative one (â€Å"Batek,† 2011). On the whole, the Batek society exemplifies political equality and the basis of this is most probably the fact that the Batek do not foster the practice of imposing their will upon their fellowmen, and except for

Planning and Time Management in ABC, Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Planning and Time Management in ABC, Inc - Essay Example Robbins can analyze present use of time, prioritizing activities, using time management systems and techniques. Carl Robins has been a campus recruiter for ABC, Inc. for six months. Given this short span of time, he successfully recruited several new hires in his first recruitment effort. Carl Robbins hired 15 new trainees to work for Monica Carrolls, the Operations Supervisor. He scheduled a new hire orientation to take place June 15, hoping to have all new hires working by July. On May 15, Monica contacted Carl about the training schedule, orientation, manuals, policy booklets, physicals, drug tests, and a host of other issues, which Carl would coordinate for the new hires. Carl assured Monica that everything would be arranged in time. After Memorial Day, Carl was at his office and pulled out his new trainee file to finalize the paperwork needed for the orientation on June 15. While going through the files, Carl became concerned. Some of the new trainees did not have applications completed or their transcripts on file, and none of them had been sent to the clinic for the mandatory drug screen. He then searched the orientation manuals and found only three copies with several pages missing from each. Management is the process of planning, organising, leading and controlling all phases of business operation in order to achieve the objectives of that organisation. Effective management invariably results in business success, while ineffective management often results in business failure. Using the POLC Model of Management, the key components namely planning, organizing, leading and controlling involves the use of different skills. (Burns, 1978) Carl Robbins was assigned to arrange and prepare the orientation for the new hires. In the context of the case, Robbins is the manager for the task. Planning is an intellectually demanding process because it requires deliberate courses of action where decisions are based on purpose, knowledge and the considerable degree of estimates.     

Management of Health Programmes- Organizational Design and Culture - A Essay

Management of Health Programmes- Organizational Design and Culture - A Process Centered Concept (SLP) - Essay Example Health care management has acquired a qualitatively different character from the days of voluntary service of philanthropic spirit to present day business driven corporate spirit. In this Session Long Project (SLP) based on the general aspect of the knowledge of organizational design and culture, a practical example is given how one big pediatric hospital with stood the wind of changes from old style stable health practice to modern day market driven patient centered health care. The children’s hospital of our interest was started by a group of doctors around three decades back with the purpose of serving the society of course with an allied intention of making little bit fortune also. In this setup each unit head was master of ones own destiny. As shown by Mintzeberg (1973) the design and culture of the organization was largely purpose driven and the staff used to report to their respective unit heads (Mintzeberg, 1973). ... maintenance of doctors position,and that the human rights are above professional privileges" (Bethune& Hannat, 1998,p.103). The whole atmosphere was informal. In this conducive, idea driven environment the hospital prospered and became one of the best in country. Two Decades Later Now the hospital had several departments catering service in different streams of pediatric specialty. Most of the doctors who lived for the ideas they cherished were retired and the new generation was almost unaware on who's shoulders they areManagement of Health sitting. At the height of glory decay started. The previous purpose driven informal atmosphere became privilege for people with vested interest. Few individuals gained importance at the cost of process and function. Inflationary pressures coupled with mismanagement made the hospital costly. At the end of two decades there was utter chaos. Corrective Measures At this juncture series of measures were taken. First, a Director was appointed and every staff of the hospital were made accountable to him, including the unit heads. As shown by Mintzberg (1973) the work was organized on the process driven principle and everybody started reporting to the Director (Mintzberg, 1973). Second, monthly once a full day was devoted to the meeting, with parents of the children treated by the hospital the previous month. An interaction was setup between medical fraternity and patients. Customer satisfaction took precedence over revenue generation. A regular Public Relation Officer (PRO) was appointed. First time in the history of the hospital process was given equal

Ethical neutrality Essay Example for Free

Ethical neutrality Essay In what follows, when we use the term â€Å"evaluation† we will mean, where nothing else is implied or expressly stated, practical value-judgments as to the unsatisfactory or satisfactory character of phenomena subject to our influence. The problem involved in the â€Å"freedom† of a given discipline from evaluations of this kind, i. e., the validity and the meaning of this logical principle, is by no means identical with the question which is to be discussed shortly, namely, whether in teaching one should or should not declare one’s acceptance of practical evaluations, regardless of whether they are based on ethical principles, cultural ideals or a philosophical outlook. This question cannot be settled scientifically. It is itself entirely a question of practical evaluation, and cannot therefore be definitively resolved. With reference to this issue, a wide variety of views are held, of which we shall only mention the two extremes. At one pole we find (a) the standpoint that there is validity in the distinction between purely logically deducible and purely empirical statements of fact on the one hand, and practical, ethical or philosophical evaluations on the other, but that, nevertheless – or, perhaps, even on that account- both classes of problems properly belong in the university. At the other pole we encounter (b) the proposition that even when the distinction cannot be made in a logically complete manner, it is nevertheless desirable that the assertion of practical evaluations should be avoided as much as possible in teaching. This second point of view seems to me to be untenable. Particularly untenable is the distinction which is rather often made in our field between evaluations linked with the positions of â€Å"political parties† and other sorts of evaluations. This distinction cannot be reasonably made: it obscures the practical implications of the evaluations which are suggested to the audience. Once the assertion of evaluations in university lectures is admitted, the contention that the university teacher should be entirely devoid of â€Å"passion† and that he should avoid all subjects which threaten to bring emotion into controversies is a narrow-minded, bureaucratic opinion which every teacher of independent spirit must reject. Of those scholars who believed that they should not renounce the assertion of practical evaluations in empirical discussions, the most passionate of them – such as Treitschke and, in his own way, Mommsen- were the most tolerable. As a result of their intensely emotional tone, their audiences were enabled to discount the influence of their evaluations in whatever distortion of the facts occurred. Thus, the audiences did for themselves what the lecturers could not do because of their temperaments. The effect on the minds of the students was to produce the same depth of moral feeling which, in my opinion, the proponents of the assertion of practical evaluations in teaching want to assure – but without the audience being confused as to the logical distinctiveness of the different types of propositions. This confusion must of necessity occur whenever both the exposition of empirical facts and the exhortation to espouse a particular evaluative standpoint on important issues are done with the same cool dispassionateness. The first point of view (a) is acceptable, and can indeed be acceptable from the standpoint of its own proponents, only when the teacher sees it as his unconditional duty – in every single case, even to the point where it involves the danger of making his lecture less stimulating – to make absolutely clear to his audience, and especially to himself, which of his statements are statements of logically deduced or empirically observed facts and which are statements of practical evaluation. Once one has granted the disjunction between the two spheres, it seems to me that doing this is an imperative requirement of intellectual honesty. It is the absolutely minimal requirement in this case. On the other hand, the question whether one should in general assert practical evaluations in teaching – even with this reservation – is one of practical university policy. On that account, in the last analysis, it must be decided only with reference to those tasks which the individual, according to his own set of values, assigns to the universities. Those who on the basis of their qualifications as university teachers assign to the universities, and thereby to themselves, the universal role of forming character, of inculcating political, ethical, aesthetic, cultural or other beliefs, will take a different position from those who believe it necessary to affirm the proposition and its implications – that university teaching achieves really valuable effects only through specialised training by specially qualified persons. Hence, â€Å"intellectual integrity† is the only specific virtue which universities should seek to inculcate. The first point of view can be defended from as many different ultimate evaluative standpoints as the second. The second – which I personally accept – can be derived from a most enthusiastic as well as from a thoroughly modest estimate of the significance of â€Å"specialised training†. In order to defend this view, one need not be of the opinion that everyone should become as much a pure â€Å"specialist† as possible. One may, on the contrary, espouse it because one does not wish to see the ultimate and deepest personal decisions which a person must make regarding his life, treated exactly as if they were the same as specialised training. One may take this position, however highly one assesses the significance of specialised training, not only for general intellectual training but indirectly also for the self-discipline and the ethical attitude of the young person. Another reason for taking this position is that one does not wish to see the student so influenced by the teacher’s suggestions that he is prevented from solving his problems in accordance with the dictates of his own conscience. Professor von Schmoller’s favourable disposition towards the teacher’s assertion of his own evaluations in the lecture room is thoroughly intelligible to me personally as the echo of a great epoch which he and his friends helped to create. Even he, however, cannot deny the fact that for the younger generation the objective situation has changed considerably in one important respect. Forty years ago there existed among the scholars working in our discipline, the widespread belief that of the various possible points of view in the domain of practical-political evaluations, ultimately only one was the ethically correct one. (Schmoller himself took this position only to a limited extent. ) Today this is no longer the case among the proponents of the assertion of professorial evaluations – as may readily be observed. The legitimacy of the assertion of professorial evaluation is no longer defended in the name of an ethical imperative resting on a relatively simple postulate of justice, which both in its ultimate foundations as well as in its consequences, partly was, and partly seemed to be, relatively unambiguous, and above all relatively impersonal, in consequence of its specifically trans-personal character. Rather, as the result of an inevitable development, it is now done in the name of a motley of â€Å"cultural evaluations†, i. e. , actually subjective cultural demands, or quite openly, in the name of the teachers’ alleged â€Å"rights of personality†. One may well wax indignant over this point of view, but one cannot- because it is a â€Å"practical evaluation† – refute it. Of all the types of prophecy, this â€Å"personally† tinted type of professorial prophecy is the most repugnant. There is no precedent for a situation in which a large number of officially appointed prophets do their preaching or make their professions of faith, not, as other prophets do, on the streets, or in churches or other public places- or if they do it privately, then in personally chosen sectarian conventicles – but rather regard themselves as best qualified to enunciate their evaluations on ultimate questions â€Å"in the name of science† and in the carefully protected quiet of governmentally privileged lecture halls in which they cannot be controlled, or checked by discussion, or subjected to contradiction. It is an axiom of long standing, which Schmoller on one occasion vigorously espoused, that what takes place in the lecture hall should be entirely confidential and not subject to public discussion. Although it is possible to contend that, even for purely academic purposes, this may occasionally have certain disadvantages, I take the view that a â€Å"lecture† should be different from a â€Å"speech†. The unconfined rigour, matter-of-factness and sobriety of the lecture declines, with definite pedagogical losses, once it becomes the object of publicity through, for example, the press. It is only in the sphere of his specialised qualifications that the university teacher is entitled to this privilege of freedom from outside surveillance or publicity. There is, however, no specialised qualification for personal prophecy, and for this reason it should not be granted the privilege of freedom from contradiction and public scrutiny. Furthermore, there should be no exploitation of the fact that the student, in order to make his way in life, must attend certain educational institutions and take courses with certain teachers with the result that in addition to what he needs, i.e. , the stimulation and cultivation of his capacity for understanding and reasoning, and a certain body of factual information – he also gets, slipped in among these, the teacher’s own attitude towards the world which even though sometimes interesting is often of no consequence, and which is in any case not open to contradiction and challenge. Like everyone else, the professor has other opportunities for the propagation of his ideals. When these opportunities are lacking, he can easily create them in an appropriate form, as experience has shown in the case of every honorable attempt. But the professor should not demand the right as a professor to carry the marshal’s baton of the statesman or the cultural reformer in his knapsack. This, however, is just what he does when he uses the unassailability of the academic lecture platform for the expression of political – or cultural-political- sentiments. In the press, in public meetings, in associations, in essays, in every avenue which is open to every other citizen, he can and should do what his God or daemon demands. The student should obtain, from his teacher in the lecture hall, the capacity to content himself with the sober execution of a given task; to recognize facts, even those which may be personally uncomfortable, and to distinguish them from his own evaluations. He should also learn to subordinate himself to his task and to repress the impulse to exhibit his personal sensations or other emotional states unnecessarily. This is vastly more important today than it was 40 years ago when the problem did not even exist in its present form. It is not true – as many have insisted – that the â€Å"personality† is and should be a â€Å"whole†, in the sense that it is distorted when it is not exhibited on every possible occasion. Every professional task has its own â€Å"responsibilities† and should be fulfilled accordingly. In the execution of his professional responsibility, a man should confine himself to it alone and should exclude whatever does not strictly belong to it – particularly his own loves and hates. The powerful personality does not manifest itself by trying to give everything a â€Å"personal touch† on every possible occasion. The generation which is now coming of age should, above all, again become used to the thought that â€Å"being a personality† is a condition which cannot be intentionally brought about by wanting it and that there is only one way by which it can – perhaps- be achieved: namely, the unreserved devotion to a â€Å"task†, whatever it – and its derivative â€Å"demands of the hour†- may be in any individual instance. It is in poor taste to mix personal concerns with the specialised analysis of facts. We deprive the word â€Å"vocation† of the only significant meaning it still possesses if we fail to adhere to that specific kind of self-restraint which it requires. But whether the fashionable â€Å"cult of the personality† seeks to dominate the throne, public office or the professorial chair – its effectiveness is only superficially impressive. Intrinsically, it is very petty and it always has injurious consequences. It should not be necessary for me to emphasise that the proponents of the views against which the present essay is directed can accomplish very little by this sort of cult of the â€Å"personality† for the very reason that it is â€Å"personal†. In part, they see the responsibilities of the university teacher in another light, in part they have other educational ideas which I respect but do not share. For this reason we must seriously consider no only what they are striving to achieve, but also how the views which they legitimate by their authority influence a generation with an already extremely pronounced predisposition to overestimate its own importance. Finally, it scarcely needs to be pointed out that many ostensible opponents of the academic assertion of political evaluations are by no means justified when they invoke the postulate of â€Å"ethical neutrality†, which they often gravely misunderstand, to discredit cultural and social-political discussions which take place in public and away from the university lecture hall. The indubitable existence of this spuriously â€Å"ethically neutral† tendentiousness, which in our discipline is manifested in the obstinate and deliberate partisanship of powerful interest groups, explains why a significant number of intellectually honorable scholars still continue to assert personal preferences in their teaching. They are too proud to identify themselves with this spurious abstention from evaluation. I believe that, in spite of this, what in my opinion is right should be done, and that the influence of the practical evaluations of a scholar, who confines himself to championing them on appropriate occasions outside the classroom, will increase when it becomes known that, inside the classroom, he has the strength of character to do exactly what he was appointed to do. But these statements are, in their turn, all matters of evaluation, and hence scientifically undemonstrable. In any case, the fundamental principle which justifies the practice of asserting practical evaluations in teaching can be consistently held only when its proponents demand that the proponents of the evaluations of all other parties be granted the opportunity to demonstrate the validity of their evaluations from the academic platform . But in Germany, insistence on the right of professors to state their preferences has been associated with the very opposite of the demand for the equal representation of all tendencies- including the most â€Å"extreme†. Schmoller thought that he was being entirely consistent when he declared that â€Å"Marxists and the Manchester school† were disqualified from holding academic positions, although he was never so unjust as to ignore their intellectual accomplishments. It is exactly on these points that I could never agree with our honoured master. One obviously ought not in one breath to justify the expression of evaluations in teaching – and when the conclusions are drawn therefrom, point out that the university is a state institution for the training of â€Å"loyal† civil servants. Such a procedure makes the university, not into a specialised technical school- which appears to be so degrading to many teachers- but rather into a theological seminary, although it does not have the religious dignity of the latter. Attempts have been made to set certain purely â€Å"logical† limits to the range of evaluations which should be allowed in university teaching. One of our foremost professors of law once explained, in discussing his opposition to the exclusion of socialists from university posts, that he too would be unwilling to accept an â€Å"anarchist† as a teacher of law since anarchists, in principle, deny the validity of law – and he regarded this argument as conclusive. My own opinion is exactly the opposite. An anarchist can surely be a good legal scholar. And if he is such, then indeed the Archimedean point of his convictions, which is outside the conventions and presuppositions which are so self-evident to us, could enable him to perceive problems in the fundamental postulates of legal theory which escape those who take them for granted. The most fundamental doubt is one source of knowledge. The jurist is no more responsible for â€Å"proving† the value of these cultural objects which are bound up with â€Å"law†, than the physician is responsible for demonstrating that the prolongation of life should be striven for under all conditions. Neither of them can do this with the means at their disposal. If, however, one wishes to turn the university into a forum for discussion of practical evaluations, then it obviously is obligatory to permit the most unrestricted freedom of discussion of fundamental questions from all standpoints. Is this feasible? Today the most decisive and important political evaluations are denied expression in German universities by the very nature of the present political situation. For all those to whom the interests of the national society transcend any of its individual concrete institutions, it is a question of central importance whether the conception which prevails today regarding the position of the monarch in Germany is reconcilable with the world interests of the country, and with the means- war and diplomacy- through which these are pursued. It is not always the worst patriots nor even anti-monarchists who give a negative answer to this question, and who doubt the possibility of lasting success in both these spheres unless some profound changes are made. Everyone knows, however, that these vital questions of our national life cannot be discussed with full freedom in German universities . In view of the fact that certain evaluations which are of decisive political significance are permanently prohibited in university discussion, it seems to me to be only in accord with the dignity of a representative of science and scholarship to be silent about such evaluations as he is allowed to expound. In no case, however, should the unresolvable question – unresolvable because it is ultimately a question of evaluations – as to whether one may, must, or should champion certain practical evaluations in teaching, be confused with the purely logical discussion of the relationship of evaluations to empirical disciplines such as sociology and economics. Any confusion on this point will hamper the thoroughness of the discussion of the logical problem. However, even the solution of the logical problem will provide no aid in seeking to answer the other question, beyond the two purely logically required conditions of clarity and an explicit distinction by the teacher of the different classes of problems. Nor need I discuss further whether the distinction between empirical propositions or statements of fact and practical evaluations is â€Å"difficult† to make. It is. All of us, those of us who take this position as well as others, come up against it time and again. But the exponents of the so-called â€Å"ethical economics†, particularly, should be aware, even though the moral law is unfulfillable, it is nonetheless â€Å"imposed† as a duty. Self-scrutiny would perhaps show that the fulfillment of this postulate is especially difficult, just because we reluctantly refuse to approach the very alluring subject of evaluation with a titillating â€Å"personal touch†. Every teacher has observed that the faces of his students light up and they become more interested when he begins to make a profession of faith, and that the attendance at his lectures is greatly increased by the expectation that he will do so. Everyone knows furthermore that, in the competition for students, universities when making recommendations for promotion will often give a prophet, however minor, who can fill the lecture halls, the upper hand over a much weightier and more sober scholar who does not offer his own evaluations. Of course, it is  understood that the prohet will leave untouched the politically dominant or conventional evaluations which are generally accepted at the time. Only the spuriously â€Å"ethical-neutral† prophet who speaks for powerful groups has, of course, better opportunities for promotion as a result of the influence which these groups have on the prevailing political powers. I regard all this as very unsatisfactory, and I will therefore not go into the proposition that the demand for abstention from evaluation is â€Å"petty† and that it makes lectures â€Å"boring†. I will not go into the question as to whether lecturers on specialised empirical problems must seek above all to be â€Å"interesting†. For my own part, in any case, I fear that a lecturer who makes his lectures stimulating by the intrusion of personal evaluations will, in the long run, weaken the students’ taste for sober empirical analysis. I will acknowledge without further discussion that it is possible, under the guise of eliminating all practical evaluations, to insinuate such evaluations with especial force by simple â€Å"letting the facts speak for themselves†. The better kind of parliamentary and electoral speeches in Germany operate in this way – and quite legitimately, given their purposes. No words should be wasted in declaring that all such procedures in university lectures, particularly if one is concerned with the observance of this separation, are , of all abuses, the most abhorrent. The fact, however, that a dishonestly created illusion of the fulfillment of an ethical imperative can be passed off as the reality, constitutes no criticism of the imperative itself. At any rate, even if the teacher does not believe that he should deny himself the right of rendering evaluations, he should make it absolutely explicit to the students and to himself that he is doing so. Finally, we must oppose to the utmost the widespread view that scientific â€Å"objectivity† is achieved by weighing the various evaluations against one another and making a â€Å"statesman-like† compromise among them. The â€Å"middle way† is not only just as undemonstrable scientifically – with the means of the empirical sciences – as the â€Å"most extreme† evaluations: in the sphere of evaluations, it is the least unequivocal. It does not belong in the university – but rather in political programmes, government offices, and in parliament. IThe sciences, both normative and empirical, are capable of rendering an inestimable service to persons engaged in political activity by telling them that (1) these and these â€Å"ultimate† evaluative positions are conceivable with reference to this practical problem; and (2) that such and such are the facts which you must take into account in making your choice between these evaluative positions. And with this we come to the real problem.

Market Failure With Graphical Analysis Economics Essay

Market Failure With Graphical Analysis Economics Essay As Roral Coase indicated, the question to be decided is: Is the value of fish lost greater or less than the product which contamination of the stream makes possible. Thus, it is understand that concept of social efficiency is difficult to achieve because of unexpected costs. Government intervention to the economy can be justified when market fails to achieve social efficiency (Webster, 2003). Social efficiency occurs when marginal social cost (MSC) is equal to marginal social benefit (MSB) (Sloman and Garratt, 2011). The market demand curve reflects MSB from an economic activity and supply curve reflects MSC of it (Begg, 2009). Instead, markets do not always attain an efficient output because of under-production and over-production of some goods and services. Inefficient level of production causes deadweight lost which represents a decrease in total surplus and this is market failure (Parkins, 2012). Under these conditions, Pareto efficiency cannot exist. According to Verhoef (1997, p. 3) Pareto efficiency is, a feasible situation, usually in terms of the allocation of goods and production factors, for which exists no other feasible situation that is weakly preferred by all agents. So, he concludes that markets mostly fail to achieve Pareto efficiency. In the literature, the major causes of market failure are (Parkins, 2012; Sloman and Garratt; 2010; Bregg, 2009; Blink and Dorton, 2007; McAleese, 2004, Morey, 2012): Externalities Public goods Merit and De-merit goods Market power Factor Immobility Imperfect information The major causes of market failure with graphical analysis are discussed as follows. Externalities: Externalities are economic side effects and can be either positive or negative (Grant, 2003). Externalities are costs/benefits that are imposed on people who are not directly involved in economic activities (Henderson, 2005). Positive externalities (external benefits) have beneficial effects while negative externalities (external costs) have harmful effects on third parties (Grant, 2003). Externalities cause market failure since decision makers generally consider only marginal private cost (MPC) and marginal private benefit (MPB) (Grant, 2003). There are four main types of externalities (Sloman and Garratt, 2010): -Negative externalities of production -Positive externalities of production -Negative externalities of consumption -Positive externalities of consumption Production and consumption externalities cause differences between private and social costs of production and also private and social benefits of consumption (Margetts, 2012). Social cost equals to sum of private costs and external costs while social benefits equals to sum of private benefits and external benefits (Sloman and Garratt, 2010; Parkins, 2012). Negative externalities of production: Negative externalities of production occur when the production process imposes external costs on third-parties (Grant, 2003). It exists when MSC of production exceeds MPC of the firm. For example, the production of cars can cause air, noise and visual pollution. Pollution can be harmful for people who are living around the factory. In Figure 1, MSC of production is above MPC. If a factory is interested in profit maximisation, it produces at Q. It is not producing at Q1, where MSC is equal to MSB, so it is market failure. There is an over-production (Q-Q1) that means misallocation of societys resources (Blink and Dorton, 2007). Moreover, the overproduction (Q-Q1) causes welfare loss as well. Positive Externalities of Production: Positive externalities of production occur when the production or provision of some goods or services creates external benefits for third parties (Blink and Dorton, 2007). In this case, MSC of production is less than MPC. For example, if a car factory provides training to its employees, this raises costs of the factory but increases the productivity of workforce. If these employees leave that firm and start working in another firm, this creates benefits for new employers since they do not have to spend money on the training of their new employees. It is figured out in the following graph. In the figure 2, MPC is above MSC. So the car factory produces at Q which is less than the social optimum output level at Q1. Between Q1 and Q, there is a potential welfare gain which is shown by the highlighted area. If the output level increases from Q to Q1, welfare would be gained. In this example, there is underproduction or provision of beneficial output that means misallocation of societys resources and it causes market failure (Blink and Dorton, 2007). Negative externality of consumption: Negative externality of consumption occurs when the consumption of some goods and services impose external costs on third parties (Grant, 2003). It exists when MPB is greater than MSB. For example, the consumption of cigarettes has harmful effects on others who are not smoking, called passive smokers. This may cause cancer. In figure 3, MPB is above MSB. This means that consumers are trying to maximise their private benefits without considering the externalities they create. There is over consumption of cigarettes, so it causes welfare loss to the society. This causes market failure. The welfare loss occurs when MSC is not equal to MSB (Grant, 2003). Positive externalities of consumption: Positive externalities of consumption occur when the consumption of some goods and services impose external benefits on third parties (Grant, 2003). It exists when MPB is less than MSB. For example, consumption of health care provides benefits for the whole society. If a person is healthy he wont transmit diseases to others and healthy people will perform better. In figure 4, MSB is above MPB. The consumption of health services is at Q1 with price P1. On the other hand, the socially optimum output level is at Q2 where MSC is equal to MSB. If consumption of health care services increase, welfare would be gained. Public goods: The two distinct characteristics of public goods are; non-rival and non-excludable (Tataw, 2011; Griffiths and Wall, 2007; McAleese, 2004; Borooah, 2003; Parkin, 2012). Thus, public goods can only be provided by the government and some private firms that are subsidised by the government (Sloman and Garratt, 2010). Lighting and pavement can be given as an example of non-rival goods (Dewar, 2010). Consumption of non-rival goods by one person does not prevent others using/consuming those goods (Grant, 2003). Lighthouses and national defence are examples of non-excludable goods (Johnson-Lans, 2004). Once they are made available for someone, they become available for everyone (Folland et al., 2007; Henderson, 2005). This will give rise to free rider problem. Free riders are the people who receive the benefits from goods and services without paying for them. So public goods are like externality (Begg, 2009). Based on the above conditions, Tataw (2011, p. ?) concludes that, market failures arise because only a small quantity of public goods will be provided inefficiently in private markets. Merit Goods: Merit goods create positive externalities when they are consumed (Margretts, 2012). This means that MSB exceeds MPB. This is presented in figure 5. The benefits of merit goods are not fully esteemed by typical consumers (Tataw, 2011). This causes under consumption and under provision of merit goods. In figure 5, consumption of merit goods are at Q, that is below the socially optimum output level, so this means misallocation of societys resources and cause market failure. De-merit goods: Contrary to merit goods, consumption of de-merit goods have harmful effects on third parties and create negative externalities (Grant, 2003). Cigarettes and alcohol are examples of de-merit goods (Blink and Dorton, 2007). Consumption of alcohol may make the drinkers feel good but they can create disturbance in public places. This is indicated below. In figure 6, MPB exceeds MSB. The consumption of alcohol is at Q1 which is above the socially optimum output level, so there is over consumption. This creates welfare loss. Market Power: In an imperfectly competitive market, firms are not able to produce at socially optimum output level (Sloman and Garratt, 2010) and it causes market failure. For example, in a monopolistic market, there is a single producer who can achieve profit maximisation in a short-run (Margetts, 2012). In this situation, producers produce where MC=MR, and this is reflected in figure 7. In figure 7, monopolistic producer produces at Q1 which is profit maximisation level and it also represents privately optimum output level. Also, Q1 is below the socially optimum output level which is at Q2. In this scenario, benefits obtained by producers are much more than what consumers receive. This is represented by the deadweight loss and highlighted within the figure. Factor Immobility: Two main types of factor immobility are; geographical immobility and occupational immobility (Blink and Dorton, 2007). Immobility of resources, such as labour and capital, might result in misallocation of resources, an increase in unemployment level and productively inefficiency in the market (Grant, 2003). This is reflected in igure 8 with a PPFs curve. In figure 8, points on the curve represent the productive efficient levels. The point E represents the productively inefficient point (Grant, 2003). Imperfect Information: Buyers and sellers may have inefficient choices if they are not fully informed about costs and benefits of consumption or production of goods and services (Grant, 2003; McAlleese, 2004). Imperfect information makes it difficult for economic decision makers for equate marginal benefit and marginal cost, so this causes market failure (Blink and Dorton, 2007). For example, the contribution of the merit goods to consumers is much more than what they think (Grant, 2003). This is partly because of imperfect information (Riley, 2012). In figure 9, there is under consumption of merit goods. This prevents social efficiency and causes market failure. As a conclusion, todays environmental problems and monopolistic markets encourage government interventions and a need for a central authority to coordinate the market mechanism inevitable, after almost eighty years that was first introduced by Keynesian economics school of taught.