buy custom Health Issues Faced by Australian Women essay

buy custom Health Issues Faced by Australian Women essay Background and Introduction The research paper is going to delve into the health issues that women face from all around the world, specifically Australia. Violence against women still remains one of the serious and pervasive issues that affect individuals, communities, and also the social fabrics of the societies that people live in. A look at the Australian population reveals that one in every three women aged above 15 years experience a form of physical assault, while over half of all women in Australia have had at least one physical or sexual assault in their life. The intimate violence that occurs in marriages is the main contributor to death, illness and disability causes reported among the Victorian women aged 15 to 44 years. It is estimated that most of this violence occurs in homes among the married couples with the males being aggressive towards their partners, hence causing serious injuries to the women (Vic Health 2009, p.16). There are also other types of violence that women receive outside marriage, such as violence by the family member, a family friend, a colleague at work, an acquaintance, or even a stranger. This type of mens violence towards women occurs across all the society, both in the private and the public sector. This type of violence is widespread, systematic, and it is also culturally entrenched; hence, it is being recognized as the worlds most pervasive human rights violation. Violence against women simply means any type of act of gender-based violence that may result in, or likely to cause, a physical, sexual or the psychological harm or some suffering to the woman, including acts of threats, coercion or the arbitrary deprivation of the liberty, may it be in public or the private life (Open Element 1995, p. 32). Violence against women has some significant and often devastating consequences to the victims, which may include homicides, suicides, poverty; social, mental, and physical health problems. In the research conducted in 2009, the economic cost of mens violence against women and also their children was estimated to be around $13.6 billion in Australia alone, a figure that was quite alarming. The causes of violence against women are quite complex, and it is agreed by many people that this violence causes some type of gender inequality. It is stated that violence against women is a form of crucial social mechanism in which women are forced into subordinate positions as compared to the men (Marcus 2007, p. 27). Impacts of Gender Violence The violence that women receive has impacts on their physical and the mental well-being. It brings about immense suffering, destroys families, damages the communitys image, and also reduces the opportunity for the victim to live a fulfilling and meaningful life. This fear alone may alter the womans behaviour, affect her feelings of personal safety negatively, hence limiting her abilities in participating fully in social activities, as compared to men. When it comes to the intimate partner type of violence, it leads to some physical health effects that may eventually contribute to death, disabilities, and also illnesses among the Victorian women aged below 45 years. The long-term effects of the physical type of violence include pain and fatigue, allergies and respiratory disorder problems, breast cancer, eyeight problems, and even hearing difficulties. In addition to this, the women who are victims of the intimate partner violence also have the chances of contracting sexually transmit ted infections and also, to some extent, experience miscarriages, as compared to those women who do not experience such types of violence (The National Council 2007, p. 12). Violence also increases the chances of victims having poor mental health and wellbeing. The women who have experienced gender violence suffer from poor mental health effects, such as depression and anxiety. Some studies done around the Melbourne area indicate that such women are diagnosed with depression. Violence against women may also result in suicide, psychiatric disorders, phobias, and also post-traumatic stress disorders. The studies conducted in 2005 on the Victorian women found that: i) Approximately one in every three victims of sexual assault experienced some changes in their eating/sleeping habits, home security, and leisure activities. This was a result of the fears or the injuries caused by violence against them. ii) Approximately one in every five women victims of gender violence have changed their work or study routines because of the injuries inflicted on them by the incident (Mouzos 2004, p.11). The Current Situation and Mechanism to Reduce Violence against Women The women who face gender violence from their spouses end up being victimized with the children too and often move out in search of refuge. They become homeless, which means the loss of the family home, independence, networks, social support, and resources for schooling of the children. The research conducted by FACHSIA between 2005 and 2006, among the people living in Melbourne state (Victoria city), found that women account for 42 per cent of the total population in search of accommodation, while a 60 per cent of these women had run out of their violent spouses at their original family homes. The same research firm had earlier done research on the total number of women seeking accommodation in the period between 2003 and 2004, whereby it reported 33 per cent of the women population to have run away from their male spouses. This figure is almost double, hence showing the aggravating situation with gender-based violence against women. In light of this, some measures have to be put in place to reduce such cases (Vic Health 2004, p. 13). Because of the alarming rise in cases of gender violence, the Victorian Law Reform Commission conducted some family violence project in 2008. The results came up with a strict recommendation to protect the victims. According to the results, in case where a partner is violent, he should be the one to leave the family, but not the victim. The Commonwealth Office that deals with the womens issues has also identified two types of assistance to the women who are victims of domestic violence. Such assistance is: i) Provision of the safe, secure and affordable housing to the women victims of gender violence, and ii) Provision of the individualized and open-ended assistance, which includes the outreach services that shield the women and their children from the violent world for as long as they are in need for it (Community Indicators 2004, p. 23). The Possible Options for the FFuture Outcome Justice and the legal system are one of the main causes for the increased gender violence against women. It is reported that the Melbourne state legal system discourages women from seeking legal interventions. The legal system here requires that women should produce evidence and be cross-examined before they can be helped. This issue exacerbates many womens feelings of abuse. Another factor that aggravates the issue is that the perpetrators of sexual assaults that married women may report are not always convicted. However, only around three per cent of the sexual cases reported are determined through cross-examination, especially in the young girls (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005, p. 28). The judicial system and the government also do not provide people with the protection they require. The evidence for this is seen in the report conducted on the Melbourne state administration. The Safety Survey indicated that 20 per cent of the women that were going to report the violence cases had already received some restraining orders earlier, and were still being victimized since no effective action was taken. The study also raised some concerns on the time needed for such cases to reach courts, save for the disrespectful and damaging treatment that these women end up receiving in courts. This demoralizes many women from seeking justice since they fear being victimized further. The study also goes ahead to state that when the government puts more emphasis on protecting women, especially through reforming the justice system and ensuring harsh penalties to perpetrators, the figures of reported violence cases will undoubtedly reduce to nearly 2 per cent in ten years to come (Depart ment of Health and Aging 2009, p. 19). Recommendations Serious reforms have to be implemented by the Australian government in their judicial systems. This will ensure justice is fully delivered to the victims and, as a result, the violent partner will be punished for his actions. Some fear will also be inflicted on the perpetrators since they might shy away from the harsh penalties awaiting them in courts. The research done on Melbourne city (Victoria State) also found out that there were no free, legal aids present for women, which in turn made women shy away from courts due to the high fees of the legal system. It, therefore, is recommended that the Australian government should at least introduce some legal aids in the system to help the poor women get justice. Finally, new policies, legislations, and strategies ought to be put in place to ensure there is sustainable housing for women and children. The evidence for this is seen in a small research conducted in the Victorian families that showed that staying in their respective homes undoubtedly helped the women in planning and making more considered choices concerning their futures. Thus, the main issue in providing more policies is to ensure that women maintain their homes for as long as possible. Another recommendation that the government needs to review is the violence law act. This act should explicitly include the exclusion order that serves as a possible intervention against the gender-based cases that occur in families. After all these measures are put in place and become the law, it is estimated that there will be less than 1 per cent of the gender-based reported cases in the near future. Buy custom Health Issues Faced by Australian Women essay

Leaf Scorch Tree Disease - Prevention and Control

Leaf Scorch Tree Disease - Prevention and Control Leaf scorch is a noninfectious condition caused by an unfavorable environment - there is no virus, no fungus, no bacterium to blame. It can not be helped by chemical control so you will have to discover the underlying causal factor which can be drying winds, drought, root damage and other environmental problems. Still, infectious diseases can attack the tree and make the condition even worse. Major target trees are Japanese maple (plus several other maple species), dogwood, beech, horse chestnut, ash, oak and linden. Symptoms Early leaf scorch symptoms commonly appear as yellowing between veins or along leaf margins. The problem is not often recognized during this early stage and can be confused with anthracnose. The yellowing becomes increasingly severe and tissue dies at leaf margins and between veins. This is the stage at which injury becomes easily noticeable. Dead tissue can often appear without any previous yellowing and restricted entirely to marginal areas and tips. Cause Scorch usually is a warning that some condition has occurred or is occurring that is adversely influencing the tree. It could be that the tree is not adapting to the local climate or has been given unsuitable exposure. Many of the conditions are the result of water not making it into the leaves. These conditions could be hot, drying winds, temperatures above 90 degrees, windy and hot weather following a long wet and cloudy period, drought conditions, low humidity or drying winter winds when soil water is frozen. Control When leaf scorch is noticed, leaf tissue has usually dried past the point of recovery and the leaf will drop. This will not kill the tree. Several steps can be taken to prevent more severe damage. Deep watering will help with moisture uptake. You need to make sure lack of water is the problem as too much water can also become a problem. Spring application of a complete fertilizer may help but do not fertilize after June. If the root system of a tree has been injured, prune the top to balance the reduced root system. Conserve soil moisture by mulching trees and shrubs with rotted leaves, bark, or other material.

Professional development for strategic managers Essay

Professional development for strategic managers - Essay Example An individual must, of course, sustain all of the mandated academic talents associated with the entire business value chain, including fundamental knowledge of strategic planning, implementation, control and evaluation. Further, the individual seeking the role of strategic manager must identify with cultural issues, the external environment related to stakeholders/shareholders and consumer demand, as well as the fundamental skills that are provided by sociological and psychological curricula. Outside of these academics-based learnings are more complex understandings of the self as it relates to emotional intelligence, motivational factors that drive goal attainment and learning, as well as having a practical understanding of personality constructs and learning style. There are countless theorists that can describe the systems view of the strategic management process, however transposing theory to practical application in the real-world business environment requires a talented blend o f knowledge and self-understanding. The report highlights literature regarding specific aspects of achieving success in the role of strategic manager, supplemented by a forthright self-analysis of skills development and capabilities in order to determine strengths versus weaknesses in priority aspects of skills associated with strategic theory and application. The student created a pre-set list of criteria, based on consultation with considerable secondary resource studies, that would be most critical for an honest self-assessment. In order to fully measure areas requiring development, the student needed to examine the structural, interpersonal, cultural and adaptive behaviours needed to become a successful strategic manager and leader. The assessment, in order to create a realistic and priority personal development plan, required consultation with theorists and case studies involving change management, developing and evaluating quality control systems, the psycho-social elements of management and interpersonal relatio nship development, as well as various literature on effective teaching and learning as these are fundamental in being a strategic practitioner. Besides the student’s many personal strengths in multiple areas, the following were identified as requiring re-assessment and development to attain success in the strategic career role. These include: The ability to teach others in team-focused environments Effective promotion of change leadership philosophy Teaching others to assess and analyse qualitative and quantitative research data Improvement of knowledge regarding cultural diversity principles Advanced development needs in psycho-social learnings for leadership improvement Outside of the more structural and systems view of strategic

How Does Elementary School Teachers Attitudes Impact Students Behavior Research Paper

How Does Elementary School Teachers Attitudes Impact Students Behavior - Research Paper Example Another research conducted also revealed that the action of teachers towards students with high achievers reflected high expectations, academic demand, special privileges and better opportunities. The researcher found that gender was controlled by teachers whose perceptions towards the behavior of students revealed significant component of their scholastic judgments. It was also found positive academic results led to academic oriented behaviors, which reflected high levels of performance in schools. Lastly, it was reported that through use of TSRQ, the performance level of students varied significantly depending on the attitude of their teachers. How Does Elementary School Teachers Attitudes Impact Students Behavior Introduction Teachers play significant roles in the classroom and they manage student behaviors in order to enable them achieve their academic goals successfully. The environmental settings where successful classroom management is carried out are bound to contribute to th e success of students. A number of researches have been conducted on the way elementary school teacher’s attitudes impacts student behaviors. This is because the influence of teachers’ attitudes inside and outside the classroom determines the performance of students. ... The aim of this research is to offer varied literature review on the way elementary school teachers’ attitudes can impact student behaviors. Literature Review Varied literatures have made significant efforts of revealing the way teachers’ attitudes in the elementary school impacts student behaviors. Pelletier (2002) argues that Supportive instructors leads to less student control. A few research studies have attempted to analyze the role of the ecological settings that influence instructors to embrace autonomy supportive or controlling conducts towards students. However, many researchers have made significant steps towards revealing whether teachers create a climate, which is primarily controlling or oriented towards supporting autonomy. For instance, some higher authorities impose regulations or restrictions that determine the way teachers should control their students. The research study conducted revealed that teachers were responsible for the students’ perfor mance from lower levels up to the high standard levels (Pelletier, 2002). Similar field research experiments were conducted and it was discovered that teachers who were externally pressured to produce better results in the learning institutions were more controlling and less effective than teacher who only helped students without controlling them. Pelletier (2002) examined the way instructors’ enthusiasm could either impact directly their coaching or arbitrate the effect between circumstantial dynamics and coaching conducts. For instance, rewarded teachers enabled students to make more errors while in an attempt of trying to employ a particular learning skill. The study research conducted observed that participants who were taught a certain skill by an extrinsically motivated teacher reported

Effective Time Management Essay Example for Free

Effective Time Management Essay Through the use of modern technology, businesses have an easier way of collaboration. However, with this easier method of collaboration, this means the potential of being a busier business professional. Within a business management system, there is the constant need of needing to have effective time management within the organization. A key priority to effective time management is to identify and correct time wasters. One type of time wasters is an external environment. External time wasters are interactions that occur between two business professionals. The interactions can be between anyone outside and inside the organization, regardless of who it is within the organization (co-workers, managers, business partners, etc. ). A very common means of communication is the telephone. While telephones can be necessary for communicating, they can lead to distraction of issues that are not part of the core task or completely unnecessary (Cooper, 2000. )A key function of time management, regardless of the communication method is to make sure it affectively addresses the task of getting things done. In the case of inbound phone calls, it is imperative to thing and prioritizes as one speaks. When dealing with complex and time-consuming answers, the receiver of the inbound call should tell the caller about how the answer is complex. It is then important to determine from the caller when the receiver should call he or she back to discuss more of the complex answer. In addition it is imperative to paraphrase and summarize the key points while being on the phone. This serves two functions. One of them is that it keeps someone who either chats or strays away from important points of business communications. The second is that it focuses on establishing the key agenda for a business meeting. Another example of a common external environment distraction is email. For the busy business professional, there can be a time of literally going through hundreds of emails a day. When developing a simple and effective email reference system, it is necessary to understand the difference between reference information and action information. Reference information refers to receiving emails that are not required to complete an action. The purpose of reference information is the storing of emails that can be used later (Sapadin, 2006. ) The stored emails can either be an email folder or somewhere easily accessible (such as a documents folder, intranet site, etc. ) Action information is emails that are necessary for completing a task or project. These types of information are stored in a to-do list or a scheduled calendar. In order to effectively communicate via email, it is fundamental to have an easy method of transferring messages from the email inbox into an email reference system. Once there is a successful way of filing referenced information, emails that has an action item can be concentrated on. In addition to having an effective organizational system for email, it is necessary to schedule an uninterrupted time for processing and organizing email. When processing email, it is valuable to use the â€Å"Four Ds for Decision-Making† model. This tool is valuable for processing email and deciding if it is actionable, reference material, or not necessary. (Allen, 2001. )The 4D’s of the decision making model are deleting, doing, delegating, or defer it. With deleting, it can create the fear of deleting an email for important items. However, it is absolutely necessary to determine if the information is honestly usable for the email receiver. In order to determine if it is usable, the first step is to see if the objective is meaningful. The next step is to determine if the information is not available elsewhere. Then, it is to be determined if the information is to be used within the next six months. Finally, the last step is to determine if there is required information to keep. If the answers to all of these steps are â€Å"no,† the best action is to delete it. With the doing part of the 4D model, it is to be determined if an action can take less than two minutes. If it can, then the email receiver should simply complete the task. Delegating can yield to great help within the decision making model. If the task can take longer than two minutes and someone would be available to complete the task, it would be best to hand the message to the recipient. Let’s suppose that the email can’t involve doing, deleting or delegating it. Then, the next step would be to defer the task. Once deferring a message, it can be turned into either an actionable task or an appointment (which can be handled within an email suite such as Microsoft Outlook. ) Time wasters can also be within an internal environment. These characteristics can include procrastination, poor scheduling, and lack of self-discipline. It can also include failure to plan, set priorities, or delegate. The first step towards the right direction of internal time wasters is to set a goal. That way a destination is set in order to make the best use of time. When setting goals, they should be put in writing and reviewed frequently. From these goals, a daily â€Å"to-do† list should be used within the workplace. By referencing Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto’s 80/20 rule , 80 percent of what happens in the workplace is the result of 20 percent effort. This would mean by incorporating goals, someone can be 80 percent effective, by simply accomplishing completion for 20 percent of goals. In order to be effective, it is necessary to concentrate on the most important items first. When scheduling, a block of time should be reserved without interruption (Sandberg, 2004. ) With the power of habit, it makes accomplishing a to-do list more doable. When facing big projects, it is easier to break them into more manageable sizes. A common overlooked goal setting is to forget scheduling long-term goals. Those are also important as they relate to the health and relationship of individuals. In conclusion, sometimes saying â€Å"no† is needed when someone is overwhelmed to more jobs than he or she is committed to. References Allen, D. (2001). Getting things done: the art of stress-free productivity. New York: Viking. Cooper, C. L. , Rousseau, D. M. (2000). Time in Organizational Behaviour. Chichester: Wiley. Sandberg, Jared Though Time-Consuming, To-Do Lists Are a Way of Life. 2004, September 10) The Wall Street Journal. Sapadin, L. (2006, August 30). Time management. Washingtonpost. com. Retrieved from http://go. galegroup. com. db24. linccweb. org/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7CA150674268 v=2. 1u=lincclin_spjcit=rp=AONEsw=w

Essay --

Let’s Improve our Writing through Reading Do you know that successful and famous writers read a lot! They read different types of materials ranging from books, magazine, newspapers etc. Why do they read a lot? Does that indicate something and have a meaning? Reading a lot help the reader to understand and get the art of language. In addition, it helps the reader appreciate the finer words. Reading a variety of written materials motivates the reader. It helps the reader to identify a gap which provides the reader with a chance to address the issue that has not been addressed by other writers, while failure to read variety of written materials limits a person’s vocabulary. This might kill the dream of becoming a successful writer. A person yearning to become an author must make reading a habit and personal passion. This is through looking for reading materials and creating much time to reflect on the reading. Students must be ready to read widely. This is through combining both old and current pieces of writing. This would help students to understand the progress that has been made by authors. This is important in helping the reader to come up with a unique piece of writing that will catch the attention of people and make a change in the society. Reading increases students’ confidence, knowledge, skills, and strategies. As a result, for students to become successful writers they need to read a lot; write down and note as many point and vocabularies as possible and sharpen both reading and writing skills as much as possible. When a student is young, the student is unable to write effectively, as the student is exposed to reading materials, the writing skills become more effective. This is the case for a person or student who is pl... ...s and journal etc. to obtain new ideas in different and variety of fields, learn new vocabularies and fall in love with writing. When reading, it’s important to write down and note the important points and ideas. In addition, it’s important to write down your own thoughts and ideas as they come. These are important in composing your ideas into a piece of writing. When reading, ensure that you analyze the character, plot or theme. This is through breaking down the book. As a reader, you should analyze why the writer make the choices in his book, how did the character convey their qualities and how did the book start of lay out the whole plot. In addition, it’s important to understand how the theme was portrayed in the book. This helps reader to be able to understand how to draft an attractive theme, plot and qualities of the characters. This makes you a great writer.

The Empire and Colonialism in Asia

Modern European empires came about because of the desire for the wealth to be had from overseas trading and markets. European countries that acquired empires did not plan these conquests. Europe was trading with Asia and other parts of the world long before modern empires arose. The success of early trading and the need to expand their markets led the powers of Europe to find the means to secure overseas lands for their exclusive use. Also the fierce competition between European countries for trade and world markets led to the securing of overseas interests which led to empires. Economic expansion played a key part in the building of European empires. â€Å"An empire is a system of interaction between two political entities. One is dominant and exerts political control over internal and external policy, the other is weak. † Imperialism is the desire to control colonies or dependencies and imperialism is how empires are formed. European countries had to have the power to dominate other societies. Attributes that European countries had to encourage imperialism and empire were a centralised government, differentiated economies and a shared political loyalty. Military strength was vital too, both on land and on the sea. qualities, but they also had to have the drive to acquire an empire. Control of a vast empire fed into national pride. Colonialism was the policy used to expand a country's influence and power. When a foreign power rules another group of people (usually separated from them by an ocean) a colony is formed. The ruling power usually sent its own people to govern. This was allowed to happen by virtue of the ruling country's advanced state of technology and more complex society. Europe was lured into the outside orld through the prospect of trade. Colonies provided many economic benefits such as sources of raw materials, markets for surplus goods, new goods that could be traded to other countries (such as diamonds, gold and spices) and investment opportunities. There were other reasons for expansion such as security considerations and spreading religion, but it was the huge economic benefits that fueled the fire of imperialism. The Portuguese and the Spanish began their quest for empire in the fifteenth century and they were closely followed by the British and the Dutch in the seventeenth century. This desire for expansion was known as capitalism, the drive to search for overseas profits, raw materials and markets. Once trade was established, the struggle for power and control of trade between European countries led to the expansion and protection of overseas interests. This protection and expansion led to the creation of empires. The Iberian empires of Spain and Portugal both set out to trade with Asia for exotic goods such as silks and spices. Notions of empires and conquests did not come until after trade was established and successful. Portugal began trading along the west African coast hile in search for a trade route to the rich markets of Asia. In 1498, Vasco da Gama found that route rounding the Cape of Good Hope and sailing to India. The Portuguese had successfully established a monopoly of trade in Asia. Pedro Alvares Cabral sailed in 1498. He was supposed to follow da Gama, but got lost and ended up in Brazil in 1500. Soldiers and settlers were sent to these lands to help solidify Portugal's hold on the valuable territories. Portugal had colonies in Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Sao Tome, Principe, Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia and China By the middle of the 1500's. They were threatened by the Spanish arriving close by in the Philippines in 1565. () Bases and administrative centres were set up in Ambonia and Tidore and Portugal had a strong hold on India in Bengal. Portugal gained enormous wealth from these lands. They obtained gold and participated in the slave trade from Africa. They also got gold and diamonds from Brazil. The spice trade from Asia was very lucrative. Portuguese planters in these lands contributed also to the overall wealth of the country. Portugal overextended itself, however, and was invaded successfully by Spain in 1580. England, the Netherlands and France were able to steal away parts of the empire during this time. After regaining its independence, Portugal never really rose to its former glory. It was constantly under attack by Spain for many years. It did hold onto many of its colonies until the mid 1970's, but the people of those colonies did not allow Portugal to take all of their wealth as it had done before. Spain had also set out to trade in Asia, but they were sidetracked by Columbus' discovery in 1492. Columbus was trying to bypass the monopoly Portugal had over trade in the East. Instead he enabled Spain to build an empire which included Mexico, Central America, most of the West Indies, the Southwestern portion of what is now the United States and the western part of South America. The Spanish exploited the Caribbean and the Americas for economic advantage. The Spanish Empire also included Portugal, present day Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, and the Philippines. Spanish colonies were set up to keep control of trade and resources after threats from the Dutch and the English. Also colonies were set up to support the home economy. Many wars and poor management led to the decline of Spain's control of this vast empire. Much land and military resources were lost when Spain came out on the losing side of several wars. Many of the people in the colonies revolted against harsh Spanish rule. Cuba, the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico were the last of Spain's valuable holdings to go after their defeat in the Spanish-American War in 1898. Economic interests for Spain were at the head of expansion. Gold, silver and precious stones were seen as the â€Å"treasure† of the Spanish Empire. Both Portugal and Spain initially set out to trade and profit from Asia nd only advanced towards empire when their economic After 1600, northern European countries began trading overseas regularly and started to develop economic interests that led to empires. The English and the Dutch saw how lucrative Spanish and Portuguese colonies were and they developed aspirations of their own. The Dutch East India Company and the English East India Company emerged in the early seventeenth century as major powers to take trade away from Portugal and Spain. The English and the Dutch used their dominant naval forces to remove Spain and The English gained power in India over the Portuguese. They acquired Madras and Bengal. The English were only interested in trading with the East, not in colonising the area. They made agreements with the rulers of India for favorable trading conditions. When the Mongul rulers of India began to lose power, then the English East India Company stepped in and took over to protect its economic interests. England did settle extensively its colonies in North America and parts of Africa. England, weakened also by many wars, lost or gave independence to most of its empire. The Dutch by virtue of their superior navy were able to create a tremendously extensive empire in the East. The Dutch captured the fort on Ambonia from the Portuguese and the Portuguese ended up losing their stronghold, Malacca. The Dutch East India Company set up headquarters in Batavia (which is now called Jakarta) in Indonesia. They had exclusive trading rights with Japan and also controlled Ceylon and the southern tip of Africa. They colonized New Netherland which is New York today. The Dutch fought many wars and were finally defeated by the English in 1784. Ten years later they were invaded by the French. Most of their possessions were confiscated during this time. rivals in trade so they had to establish footholds in rder to preserve their trading. The Dutch had settlements in Batavia and control of trade in the far east. The English acquired Madras and Bengal. England ended up ruling over India to protect profitable trade, not for glory or sovereignty. There was no movement of population into India and only after a century and a half did anything besides trade play a part in relations with India. These footholds resulted in empires, but they were conceived in order to maintain economic advantage in the east. European empires hold their roots in early trade and the search for overseas markets. John Cuningham, an conomist, suggests that evolution of empire is due to † gradual extension of commerce [and] advent to trading companies coupled with the desire to enrich power and prestige of the mother country. I agree with this statement because of the origin of trade that European empires had. European countries began expansion in search of riches like gold and diamonds, trade like spices and silk, and land to grow valuable crops like coffee. They only resorted to control when their economic enterprises were in danger. Empires developed as a means of economic expansion to enable European countries to maintain their profits, raw materials and markets.

Economic Crisis and Response in the Philippines Essay

The Global Economic Crisis pulled countries down from around the globe to a recession. Wide-ranging declines in many aspects of growth characterize the overall impact it had had on the global scale. Following the Asian economic crisis in 1997, the present global economic crisis imposes new challenges to the Philippines as a developing country. Following are expositions of the macroeconomic impacts of the crisis in the Philippine setting, its implications in the prevalent poverty scenario, and policies and programs undertaken by the government in response to the crisis. Overview of the Global Economic Crisis The 2008 global economic crisis started upon the bursting of the US housing bubble, which was followed by bankruptcies, bailouts, foreclosures, and takeovers of financial institutions and national governments. During a period of housing and credit booms, banks encouraged lending to home owners by a considerably high amount without appropriate level of transparency and financial supervision. As interest rates rose in mid-2007, housing prices dropped extensively, and all institutions that borrowed and invested found themselves suffering significant losses. Financial institutions, insurance companies, and investment houses declared either declared bankruptcies or had to be rescued financially. Economies worldwide slowed during this period and entered to a recession. The crisis, initially financial in nature, has now taken a full-blown economic and global scale affecting every country to the left and to the right of the United States, and wreaking havoc in the level of both industrialize d and developing nations. The Philippine Situation before the Crisis The Philippines has long been undermined with long-term structural problems such that sustainable economic development is yet to be a dream come true. According to the pages of Philippine economic history, the country has been dominated by a sequence of growth spurts, brief and mediocre, followed by shard to very-sharp, severe, and extended downturns—a cycle that came to be known as the boom-bust cycle. As such, economic growth record of the country has been disappointing in comparison with its East Asian counterparts in terms of per capita GDP. What makes matters worse is the seemingly perennial  impoverished state of its inhabitants, that is, in 2007, an absolute poverty incidence of 13.2 percent—higher than Indonesia’s 7.7 and Vietnam’s 8.4 percent—has been recorded, and thus giving further testimony of the unequal distribution of wealth that keeps growth and development a far reach for the Philippines. Macroeconomic Impacts of the Crisis The Philippines, points Professor Diokno of the University of the Philippines, has been affected by the crisis in a decline in three aspects: exports, remittances from overseas Filipino workers, and foreign direct investments. Heavily dependent on electronic and semiconductor exports, the Philippines has seen a downward trend in its export earnings as countries in demand of these exports are now in recession. The recession has also put to risk the jobs in the developed countries which include those where migrant workers are employed. Consequently, OFW remittances decreased and grew a meagre 3.3% in October 2008. Foreign direct investments (FDI) lowered because of investors losing confidence in the financial market. Lower FDIs mean slower economic growth. Impacts of Asset Markets, Financial Sector, and Real Sector The freeze in liquidity in US and European financial markets reversed capital flows to developing countries and induced a rise in the price of risk which entailed a drop in equity prices andexchange rate volatility. However, following the effects of an increase in the foreign currency government bond spread, the Philippine stock market was actually one of the least affected by the crisis with the main index of the stock market dropping only by 24 percent, a relatively low percentage change in comparison to those of other countries across Asia. Similarly, from the period between July 2008 and January 2009, the peso devaluated only by 3 percent which explains why the peso was one of the currencies least affected by the crisis. This minimal effect on the stock market and the Philippine peso can be attributed to the recovery of asset prices across the Asia-Pacific region recovered in early 2009 as foreign portfolio investments surged. Financially, the banking system in the Philippines has been relatively stable, because of reforms that were put in place since Asian financial crisis in 1997. Maintenance of high levels of loan to deposit ratios together with the decline of the ratio  of nonperforming loans to total loans kept profitability of local banking generally high despite the crisis. To the country’s fortune, no meltdowns occurred as during the previous 1997 Asian crisis. Fall in the growth rate of personal consumption and expenditures and fixed investment assail 2008. Personal consumption expenditure, the largest contributor to GDP growth, behaved a downward trend from a sharp drop from 5.8 percent in 2007 to 4.7 percent in 2008, and 3.7 percent in 2009. GDP growth during fourth quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009 fell to 1.7 percent, a staggering fall from 5.7 percent average for the three previous years. Furthermore, a contraction of 29.2 percent in the manufacturing sector involving electricity, gas, water, trade and finance services. The service sector also had its share of downturns as growth in the fourth quarter and first quarters of 2008 and 2009, respectively, suffered from a meagre growth of 2.1 percent, a far contrast from the 6.7 percent average from the last three years. However, the Philippines has generally endured the least declines in comparison with other East Asian countries despite recorded declines. For instance, OFW remittances, though at a slower pace, still grew in the first half of 2009. Impact of fiscal deficit and external accounts To counter adverse effects of the crisis, the Philippine government felt the need to increase its expenditures. Apart from government expenditure, of primary concern was the weak revenues generated by the government with fiscal deficit reaching P111.8 billion in the first quarter of 2009 as compared to P25.8 billion in the same period of the previous year. Despite suffering the least in terms of the stock exchange and financial markets among East Asian countries, the Philippines lagged in tax effort in comparison to other nations. Meanwhile, private sector flows in the external account declined and led to a net outflow of $708 million in 2009, a sharp turning away from a net inflow of $507 million in 2008. This eventually led to a fall in stock prices and depreciation or devaluation of the peso. Poverty and Social Impacts Impacts on households and communitiesAn increasing number of the Filipino workforce has become frustrated due to unemployment and low standards of living in the country. Thousands of Filipinos leave the country every day to  seize better income opportunities and promise their children a better and secure future. Moreover, around five million of Filipino children are unable to go to school and are forced to work on the streets or in other various workplaces where they can find some food or other means to fill their appetites. Impacts on wealth and income and its distribution across different social divisions The country was having sound economic indicators before the 2008 economic crisis. Average income per capita was increasing while poverty incidence showed a downward trend. Average income per capita rose by 2% in 2007 and 2008, whereas poverty incidence dropped from 33.0% in 2006 to 31.8% in 2007 and 28.1% in 2008. Output growth plunged in 2009, causing real mean income to fall b y 2.1%, resulting in an upward pressure on poverty incidence (grew by 1.6%). Most hit are households with associations to industry resulting in the average income to drop to levels below that of 2007. Similarly, wage and salary workers were hit significantly. Surprisingly, the poorest 20% did not suffer the same fate they suffered in crises past. Clearly, the global economic crisis put a halt on the highly promising growth trend of the Philippine economy and forced 2 million Filipinos into poverty. Coping strategies i. Finances According to recent studies (2009), close to 22% of the population reduced their spending, 11% used their existing savings for consumption, 5% pawned assets, 2% sold assets, 36% borrowed money and 5% defaulted on debts. ii. Education To reduce spending, households had to risk the quality of education of their children. Some children were transferred from private to public schools, while some were withdrawn from school. Moreover, parents reduced the allowance of the students, and resorted to secondhand uniforms, shoes and books. iii. Health Coping strategies may have negative effects on their long-term health as these affected households commonly resort to self-medication, or shift to seeing doctors in government health centers and hospital. Many households in the urban sector shifted to generic drugs while rural households tended to use herbal medicines. Policy Responses Efforts of poverty alleviation, reduction, eradication The Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) was implemented during  the Ramos Administration and later on continued by the following administrations to help reduce poverty in the country and improve on the economic welfare of the Filipinos. The Ramos Administration (1993–1998) targeted to reduce poverty from 39.2% in 1991 to about 30% by 1998. The Estrada Administration (1999–2004) then targeted to reduce poverty incidence from 32% in 1997 to 25-28% by 2004, while the Arroyo government targeted to reduce poverty to 17% by creating 10 million jobs but this promise was not fulfilled by the administration. As for the current Aquino Administration, the 2011-2016 MTDPD is still being drafted. President Benigno Aquino III has plans to expand the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program from 1 to 2.3 million households, and several long term investments in education and healthcare. Also, last September 2010, Aquino met with US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, duri ng the signing of the $434-million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant in New York. The MCC grant would fund infrastructure and rural development programs in the Philippines to reduce poverty and spur economic growth. Macroeconomic and Social Protection programs To respond to the recent financial crisis, the Philippine government, through the Department of Finance and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), crafted a PhP 330-billion fiscal package, formally known as the Economic Resiliency Plan (ERP). The ERP is geared towards the stimulation of the economy through tax cuts, increased government spending, and public-private sector projects that can also prepare the country for the eventual upturn of the global economy. The implementation of ERP is spearheaded by NEDA with the following specific aims.To ensure sustainable growth, attaining the higher end of the growth rates; To save and create as many jobs as possible; To protect the most vulnerable sectors: the poorest of the poor, returning OFWs, and workers in export industries; To ensure low and stable prices to supports consumer spending; and To enhance competitiveness in preparation for the global rebound. Regional responses Poverty incidence remains to be one of the highest in the region with the  continued low domestic private investment. To overcome legal, political and institutional constraints, regional financial cooperation must be encouraged. The ASEAN+3 financial cooperation can promote further the development of domestic financial markets to facilitate the intermediation of Asian savings within the region, as well as attract foreign investment. Such alternative sources of funding would reduce Asia’s reliance on foreign currency borrowing and along with, the risk exposure of the region to maturity and currency mismatches.Moreover, the Network of East Asian Think Tanks has recently proposed the establishment of the Asia Investment Infrastructure Fund (AIIF) to prioritize the funding of infrastructure projects in the region to support suffering industries. The AIIF, as well as multilateral institutions especially the Asian Development Bank, also promotes greater domestic demand and intra-r egional trade to offset the decline in exports to industrialized countries and narrow the development gap in the region. Prospects for Growth in the Future Poverty reduction for the Philippines in the years to come is promising, bearing in mind where she left off prior to the economic crisis. Nevertheless, it is still a tough challenge. Figures persistently reflect a Philippine poverty reduction campaign that pales in comparison with other ASEAN countries. In addition, a blistering population growth rate sinks more Filipinos below thepoverty threshold placing the country’s laudable long term economic growth under its shadow. Taking into account that the Philippine economy has a significant reliance on remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), past threats demonstrated the resiliency of the Philippine economy despite external shocks. In spite of the disaster in Japan (3rd largest market for Philippine exports) and the geopolitical tensions in West Asia, the Philippine economy looked unfazed. New York-based Global Source Partners stated, â€Å"The Philippine economy has already proven to be quite resilient in the face of varied external shocks in the past, especially bolstered by a strong external position and capable monetary management. This time should not be much different.† The new administration of President Benigno â€Å"Noynoy† Aquino III faces three key constraints on Philippine growth: Tight fiscal situation due to weak revenue generation Poor infrastructure (i.e. transportation, power, etc.) Pessimism in investment resulting from corruption and political instability Fortunately, the government offers various projects to loosen these restrictions. Data from the quarterly ING Investor Dashboard Survey showed stability in investor confidence for the Philippine economy over the first two quarters of 2010. She even scored a 157 in the third quarter of the same year. This is well on the higher percentiles of the â€Å"optimistic† range and a mere 3 points from the â€Å"very optimistic† level. These figures emerge in the midst of decrepit infrastructure and a lack of efficient institutions. Subsequently, the prospect of the Philippine economy improving into the â€Å"very optimistic† range is very bright. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda declared that the Philippine economic competitiveness score improved from 56.526 the previous year to 63.291 in 2011 (based on The World Competitiveness Yearbook). Lacierda also boasts of infrastructure improvement pr ojects of the Department of Public Works and Highways scheduled to commence within one or two years. He attributes the stepping up of our competitiveness rating to the public-private partnership (PPP) projects next year. These projects raise optimism for the post-crisis economy of the Philippines ————————————————- Fiscal policy of the Philippines From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Fiscal policy refers to the â€Å"measures employed by governments to stabilize the economy, specifically by manipulating the levels and allocations of taxes and government expenditures. Fiscal measures are frequently used in tandem with monetary policy to achieve certain goals.†[1] In the Philippines, this is characterized by continuous and increasing levels of debt and budget deficits, though there have been improvements in the last few years.[2] The Philippine government’s main source of revenue are taxes, with some non-tax revenue also being collected. To finance fiscal deficit and debt, the Philippines relies on both domestic and external sources. Fiscal policy during the Marcos administration was primarily focused on indirect tax collection and on government spending on ecnomic services and infrastructure development. The first Aquino administration inherited a  large fiscal deficit from the previous administration, but managed to reduce fiscal imbalance and improve tax collection through the introduction of the 1986 Tax Reform Program and the value added tax. The Ramos administration experienced budget surpluses due to substantial gains from the massive sale of government assets and strong foreign investment in its early years. However, the implementation of the 1997 Comprehensive Tax Reform Program and the onset of the Asian financial crisis resulted to a deteriorating fiscal position in the succeeding years and administrations. The Estrada administration faced a large fiscal deficit due to the decrease in tax effort and the repayment of the Ramos administration’s debt to contractors and suppliers. During the Arroy o administration, the Expanded Value Added Tax Law was enacted, national debt-to-GDP ratio peaked, and underspending on public infrastructure and other capital expenditures was observed. Contents [hide] * 1 Revenues and Funding * 1.1 Tax Revenue * 1.1.1 Income Taxes * 1.1.2 E-VAT * 1.1.3 Tariffs and Duties * 1.2 Non-Tax Revenue * 1.2.1 The Bureau of Treasury * 1.2.2 Privatization * 1.2.3 PAGCOR * 2 Spending, Debt, and Financing * 2.1 Government Spending and Fiscal Imbalance * 2.2 Financing and Debt * 3 History of Philippine Fiscal Policy * 3.1 Marcos Administration (1981-1985) * 3.2 Aquino Administration (1986-1992) * 3.3 Ramos Administration (1993-1998) * 3.4 Estrada Administration (1999-2000) * 3.5 Arroyo Administration (2002-2009) * 4 References * 5 External links ————————————————- Revenues and Funding[edit source | editbeta] A comparative graph of Revenue and Tax Effort from 2001-2010[3] A comparative graph of Tax and Non-Tax Revenue contribution from 2001-2010[4] The Philippine government generates revenues mainly through personal and income tax collection, but a small portion of non-tax revenue is also collected through fees and licenses, privatization proceeds and income from other government operations and state-owned enterprises. Tax Revenue[edit source | editbeta] Tax collections comprise the biggest percentage of revenue collected. Its biggest contributor is theBureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), followed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Tax effort as a percentage of GDP has averaged at roughly 13% for the years 2001-2010.[5] Income Taxes[edit source | editbeta] Income tax is a tax on a person’s income, wages, profits arising from property, practice of profession, conduct of trade or business or any stipulated in the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (NIRC), less any deductions granted.[6] Income tax in the Philippines is a progressive tax, as people with higher incomes pay more than people with lower incomes. Personal income tax rates vary as such:[7] Annual Taxable Income| Income Tax Rate| Less than â‚ ±10,000| 5%| Over â‚ ±10,000 but not over â‚ ±30,000| â‚ ±500 + 10% of the excess over â‚ ±10,000| Over â‚ ±30,000 but not over â‚ ±70,000| â‚ ±2,500 + 15% of the excess over â‚ ±30,000| Over â‚ ±70,000 but not over â‚ ±140,000| â‚ ±8,500 + 20% of the excess over â‚ ±70,000| Over â‚ ±140,000 but not over â‚ ±250,000| â‚ ±22,500 + 25% of the excess over â‚ ±140,000| Over â‚ ±250,000 but not over â‚ ±500,000| â‚ ±50,000 + 30% of the excess over â‚ ±250,000| Over â‚ ±500,000| â‚ ±125,000 + 32% of the excess over â‚ ±500,000| The top rate was 35% until 1997, 34% in 1998, 33% in 1999, and 32% since 2000.[7][8] In 2008, Republic Act No. 9504 (passed by  then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) exempted minimum wage earners from paying income taxes.[9] E-VAT[edit source | editbeta] The Expanded Value Added Tax (E-VAT), is a form of sales tax that is imposed on the sale of goods and services and on the import of goods into the Philippines. It is a consumption tax (those who consume more are taxed more) and an indirect tax, which can be passed on to the buyer. The current E-VAT rate is 12% of transactions. Some items which are subject to E-VAT include petroleum, natural gases, indigenous fuels, coals, medical services, legal services, electricity, non-basic commodities, clothing, non-food agricultural products, domestic travel by air and sea.[10] The E-VAT has exemptions which include basic commodities and socially sensitive products. Exemptible from the E-VAT are:[11] 1. Agricultural and marine products in their original state (e.g. vegetables, meat, fish, fruits, eggs and rice), including those which have undergone preservation processes (e.g. freezing, drying, salting, broiling, roasting, smoking or stripping); 2. Educational services rendered by both public a nd private educational institutions; 3. Books, newspapers and magazines; 4. Lease of residential houses not exceeding â‚ ±10,000 monthly; 5. Sale of low-cost house and lot not exceeding â‚ ±2.5 million 6. Sales of persons and establishments earning not more than â‚ ±1.5 million annually. Tariffs and Duties[edit source | editbeta] Second to the BIR in terms of revenue collection, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) imposes tariffs and duties on all items imported into the Philippines. According to Executive Order 206, returning residents, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW’s) and former Filipino citizens are exempted from paying duties and tariffs.[12] Non-Tax Revenue[edit source | editbeta] Non-tax revenue makes up a small percentage of total government revenue (roughly less than 20%), and consists of collections of fees and licenses, privatization proceeds and income from other state enterprises.[13] The Bureau of Treasury[edit source | editbeta] The Bureau of Treasury (BTr) manages the finances of the government, by attempting to maximize revenue collected and minimize spending. The bulk of non-tax revenues comes from the BTr’s income. Under Executive Order No.449, the BTr collects revenue by issuing, servicing and redeeming government securities, and by controlling the Securities Stabilization Fund (which increases the liquidity and stabilizes the value of government securities[14]) through the purchase and sale of government bills and bonds.[15] Privatization[edit source | editbeta] Privatization in the Philippines occurred in three waves: The first wave in 1986-1987, the second during 1990 and the third stage, which is presently taking place.[16] The government’s Privatization Program is handled by the inter-agency Privatization Council and the Privatization and Management Office, a sub-branch of the Department of Finance.[17] PAGCOR[edit source | editbeta] The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) is a government-owned corporation established in 1977 to stop illegal casino operations. PAGCOR is mandated to regulate and license gambling (particularly in casinos), generate revenues for the Philippine government through its own casinos and promote tourism in the country.[18] ————————————————- Spending, Debt, and Financing[edit source | editbeta] A comparative graph of National Revenues and Expenditures from 2001-2010[5] A comparative graph of Domestic and External Sources of Financing from 2001-2010[5] A comparative graph of Total National Debt from 2001-2010[19] Government Spending and Fiscal Imbalance[edit source | editbeta] In 2010, the Philippine Government spent a total of â‚ ±1.5 trillion and earned a total of â‚ ±1.2 trillion from tax and non-tax revenues, thus resulting to a total deficit of â‚ ±314.5 billion.[5] Despite the national deficit of the  Philippines, the Department of Finance reported an average of â‚ ±29.6 billion in Local Government Unit (LGU) surplus, which is mostly due to an improved LGU financial monitoring system which the government implemented in the recent years. Efforts of the monitoring system include â€Å"debt monitoring and creditworthiness monitoring system, effective mobilization of second generation funds (SGF) to promote LGU development, and the implementation of a Land Administration and Management Project (LAMP2) which received a ‘very good’ rating from the World Bank (WB) and Australian Agency for International D evelopment (AusAid).†[20] Microfinance management in the Philippines is improving substantially. In 2009, the Economist Intelligence Unit â€Å"recognized the Philippines as the best in the world in terms of its microfinance regulatory framework.† The DOF-National Credit Council (DOF-NCC) focused on improving the state of local cooperatives by developing a supervision and examination manual, launching advocacies for these cooperatives, and pushing for the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008. A standardized national strategy for microinsurance and the provisions of grants and technical assistance were formulated.[20] Financing and Debt[edit source | editbeta] Aside from Tax and Non-Tax Revenues, the government makes use of other sources of financing to support its expenses. In 2010, the government borrowed a total net of â‚ ±351.646 billion for financing:[21] | Domestic Sources| External Sources| Gross Financing| â‚ ±489.844 billion| â‚ ±257.357 billion| Less: Repayments/Amortization| â‚ ±271.246 billion| â‚ ±124.309 billion| Net Financing| â‚ ±218.598 billion| â‚ ±133.048 billion| Total Financing| | â‚ ±351.646 billion| External Sources of Financing are:[21] 1. Program and Project Loans – the government offers project loans to external bodies and uses the proceeds to fund domestic projects like infrastructure, agriculture, and other government projects.[20] 2. Credit Facility Loans 3. Zero-coupon Treasury Bills 4. Global Bonds 5. Foreign Currencies Domestic Sources of Financing are[21] 1. Treasury Bonds 2. Facility loans 3. Treasury Bills 4. Bond Exchanges 5. Promissory Notes 6. Term Deposits In 2010, the total outstanding debt of the Philippines reached â‚ ±4.718 trillion: â‚ ±2.718 trillion from outstanding domestic sources and â‚ ±2 trillion from foreign sources. According to the Department of Finance, the country has recently reduced dependency on external sources to minimize the risks caused by changes in the global exchange rates. Efforts to reduce national debt include increasing tax efforts and decreasing government spending. The Philippine government has also entered talks with other economic entities, like the ASEAN Finance Ministers Meeting (AFMM), ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers Meeting (AFMM+3), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and ASEAN Single-Window Technical Working Group (ASW-TWG), in order to strengthen the countries’ and the region’s debt management efforts*.[20] ————————————————- History of Philippine Fiscal Policy[edit source | editbeta] Marcos Administration (1981-1985)[edit source | editbeta] The tax system under the Marcos administration was generally regressive as it was heavily dependent on indirect taxes. Indirect taxes and international trade taxes accounted for about 35% of total tax revenue, while direct taxes only accounted for 25%. Government expenditure for economic services peaked during this period, focusing mainly on infrastructure development, with about 33% of the budget spent on capital outlays. In response to the higher global interest rates and to the depreciation of the peso, the government became increasingly reliant on domestic financing to finance fiscal deficit. The government also started liberalizing tariff policy during this period by enacting the initial Tariff Reform Program, which narrowed the tariff structure from a range of 100%-0% to 50%-10%, and the Import Liberalization Program, which aimed at reducing or eliminating tariffs and realigning indirect taxes.[22][23][24] Aquino Administration (1986-1992)[edit source | editbeta] Faced with problems inherited from the previous administration, the most important of which being the large fiscal deficit heightened by the low tax effort due to a weak tax system, Aquinoenacted the 1986 Tax Reform Program (TRP). The aim of the TRP was to â€Å"simplify the tax system, make revenues more responsive to economic activity, promote horizontal equity and promote growth by correcting existing taxes that impaired business incentives†. One of the major reforms enacted under the program was the introduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT), which was set at 10%. The 1986 tax reform program resulted in reduced fiscal imbalance and higher tax effort in the succeeding years, peaking in 1997, before the enactment of the 1997 Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP). The share of non-tax revenues during this period soared due to the sale of sequestered assets of President Marcos and his cronies (totalling to about â‚ ±20 billion), the initial efforts to deregulate the oil industry and thrust towards the privatization of state enterprises. Public debt servicing and interest payments as a percent of the budget peaked during this period as government focused on making up for the debt incurred by the Marcos administration. Another important reform enacted during the Aquino administration was the passage of the 1991 Local Government Code which enabled fiscal decentralization. This increased the taxing and spending powers to local governments in effect increasing local government resources.[22][24] Ramos Administration (1993-1998)[edit source | editbeta] The Ramos administration had budget surpluses for four of its six years in power. The government benefited from the massive sale of government assets (totalling to about â‚ ±70 billion, the biggest among the administrations) and continued to benefit from the 1986 TRP. The administration invested heavily on the power sector as the country was beset by power outages. The government utilized its emergency powers to fast-track the construction of power projects and established contracts with independent power plants. This period also experienced a real estate boom and strong foreign direct  investment to the country during the early years of the administration, in effect overvaluing the peso. However, with the onset of the Asian financial crisis, the peso depreciated by almost 40%. The Ramos administration relied heavily on external borrowing to finance its fiscal deficit but quickly switched to domestic dependence on the onset of the Asian financial crisis. The administration has b een accused of resorting to â€Å"budget trickery† during the crisis: balancing assets through the sales of assets, building up accounts payable and delaying payment of government premium to social security holders. In 1997, the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP) was enacted. Republic Act (RA) 8184 and RA 8240, which were implemented under the program, were estimated to yield additional taxes of around â‚ ±7.4 billion; however, a decline in tax effort during the succeeding periods was observed after the CTRP was implemented. This was attributed to the unfavorable economic climate created by the Asian fiscal crisis and the poor implementation of the provisions of the reform. A sharp decrease in international trade tax contribution to GDP was also observed as a consequence of the trade liberalization and globalization efforts in the 1990s, more prominently, the establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and membership to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The Ramos administration also provided additional incentives to export-oriented firms, the most prominent among these being RA 7227 which was instrumental to the success of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.[22][23] Estrada Administration (1999-2000)[edit source | editbeta] President Estrada, who assumed office at the height of the Asian financial crisis, faced a large fiscal deficit, which was mainly attributed to the sharp deterioration in the tax effort (as a result of the 1997 CTRP: increased tax incentives, narrowing of VAT base and lowering of tariff walls) and higher interest payments given the sharp depreciation of the peso during the crisis . The administration also had to pay P60 billion worth of accounts payables left unpaid by the Ramos administration to contractors and suppliers. Public spending focused on social services, with spending on basic education reaching its peak. To finance the fiscal deficit, Estrada created a balance between domestic and foreign borrowing.[22][23] Arroyo Administration (2002-2009)[edit source | editbeta] The Arroyo administration’s poor fiscal position was attributed to weakening tax effort (still resulting from the 1997 CTRP) and rising debt servicing costs (due to peso depreciation). Large fiscal deficits and heavy losses for monitored government corporations were observed during this period. National debt-to-GDP ratio reached an all-time high during the Arroyo administration, averaging at 69.2%. Investment in public infrastructure (at only 1.9% of GDP), expenditure for economic services, health spending and education spending all hit an historic-low during the Arroyo administration. The government responded to its poor fiscal position by under-spending in public infrastructure and social overhead capital (education and health care), thus sacrificing the economy’s long-term growth. In 2005, RA 9337 was enacted, the most significant amendments of which were the removal of electricity and petroleum VAT exemptions and the increase in the VAT rate from 10% to 12%

20 Highest Paying Jobs With the Highest Growth

20 Highest Paying Jobs With the Highest Growth Whether you’re entering the job market or are just looking for a change, The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great source of information to  aid you in your job search. You can find details on employment rates, jobs, and industry specifics. And now with the changing political climate, it has become more important than ever to keep an eye out for trends that may impact your job search. That being said, the BLS has projected the top 20 highest paying jobs that are expected to grow in the next 10 years. Take a look at the chart below for specifics.If you’re interested, you can apply below.1. Accountant and auditors2.  Combined food preparation and servers3. Computer systems analysts4. Construction laborers  5. Cooks, restaurants  6. Customer service restaurants7.   First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers  8. General and operations manager9. Home health aides10. Janitors and cleaners  11. Laborers and freight  12. Licensed practic al and licensed vocational nurses  13. Maids and housing cleaners  14. Medical assistants15. Medical secretaries  16. Nursing assistants  17. Personal care aids18. Registered nurses  19. Retail salespersons  20. Software developers  Source:[bls.gov]

Madam C.J. Walker, Innovator and Beauty Mogul

Madam C.J. Walker, Innovator and Beauty Mogul Madam C.J. Walker (December 23, 1867–May 25, 1919) was the business and chosen name of Sarah Breedlove McWilliams Davis Walker, who, along with friend and business associate Marjorie Joyner, revolutionized the hair care and cosmetics industry for African-American women early in the 20th century. Madam Walker was a self-made millionaire who leveraged her beauty product company to give African-American women a source of income and pride. Fast Facts: Madam C.J. Walker Known For: Businesswoman and self-made millionaire in the cosmetics industry for African American womenBorn: December 23, 1867 in Delta, LouisianaParents: Minerva Anderson and Owen BreedloveDied: May 25, 1919 in Irvington, New York.Education: Three months of formal grade school educationSpouse(s): Moses McWilliams (1884–1888), John Davis (1894–1903), Charles J. Walker (1906–1912)Children: Lelia McWilliams (known later as ALelia Walker, born 1885) Early Life Madam C.J. Walker was born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867, in a one-room cabin on the former plantation owned by Robert W. Burney in rural Louisiana near the town of Delta. The Burney plantation was also the site of the 1862–1863 Battle of Vicksburg. Sarah was the youngest of five children of Owen and Minerva Anderson Breedlove, and the only one of those children born after the Emancipation Proclamation and therefore born free. Her mother Minerva died in 1873, possibly of cholera, and her father remarried and then died himself in 1875. Sarah and her older sister Louvenia survived by working in the cotton fields of Delta and Vicksburg in Mississippi; her sister eventually married Jesse Powell, who Madam Walker later said abused her. Marriage and Family In 1884 at the age of 14, Sarah married laborer Moses McWilliams, in part to escape Jesse Powell, and she gave birth to her only child, daughter Leila, on June 6, 1885. After her husbands death (or disappearance) in 1884, she traveled to St. Louis to join her four brothers who had established themselves as barbers. Working as a laundrywoman, she managed to save enough money to educate her daughter and became involved in activities with the National Association of Colored Women. In 1894, she met and married fellow laundry worker John H. Davis. During the 1890s, Walker began to suffer from a scalp ailment that caused her to lose some of her hair, a condition likely caused by the harshness of the available products and her profession as a laundrywoman. Embarrassed by her appearance, she experimented with a variety of home-made remedies and products made by another black entrepreneur named Annie Malone. Her marriage to Davis ended in 1903, and in 1905, Walker became a sales agent for Malone and moved to Denver. Madam Walkers Wonderful Hair Grower In 1906, Sarah married newspaper advertising salesman Charles Joseph Walker. Sarah Breedlove changed her name to Madam C.J. Walker and founded her own business. She sold her own hair product called Madam Walkers Wonderful Hair Grower, a scalp conditioning and healing formula. To promote her products, she embarked on an exhausting sales drive throughout the South and Southeast, going door to door, giving demonstrations and working on sales and marketing strategies. In 1908, she opened a college in Pittsburgh to train her hair culturists. Eventually, her products formed the basis of a thriving national corporation that at one point employed over 3,000 people. Her expanded product line was called the Walker System, which offered a broad variety of cosmetics and pioneered new ways of marketing. She licensed Walker Agents and Walker Schools that offered meaningful employment and personal growth to thousands of African-American women. Although she did have some store-front beauty shops, most Walker Agents ran their shops from their homes or sold products door-to-door. Walker’s aggressive marketing strategy combined with her relentless ambition led to her becoming the first known female African-American woman self-made millionaire. Death and Legacy Having amassed a fortune over a period of 15 years, she became an important member of New Yorks Harlem society. She built a fabulous mansion on the Hudson River in Irvington, New York, completed in June 1918 and called Villa Lewaro (a reference to Leila Walker Robinson suggested by friend Enrico Caruso). The 34-room, 20,000 square foot Italianate-style residence was a gathering place for friends and colleagues in the Harlem Renaissance, including W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes.   Walker also became involved in charities, contributing scholarship funds to Tuskegee Institute, raised funds to help establish a YMCA for black youth, and delivered lectures on political, economic, and social issues for various black institutions. She was, however, growing ill. Diagnosed with nephritis in November 1917, Madam C.J. Walker took ill while on a business trip to St. Louis and was quickly taken home in a private railroad car. She died on May 25, 1919, in Irvington at the age of 52. Her prescription for success was a combination of perseverance, hard work, faith in herself and in God, honest business dealings, and quality products. There is no royal flower-strewn path to success, she once observed. And if there is, I have not found it. For if I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard. Improved Permanent Wave Machine Long after Madam Walkers death, her empire persisted, producing and selling beauty care products until the 1980s. Marjorie Joyner, an employee of her empire, invented an improved permanent wave machine. This device was patented in 1928 and was designed to curl or perm women’s hair for a relatively lengthy period of time. The wave machine turned out to be popular among white and black women and allowed for longer-lasting wavy hairstyles. Joyner went on to become a prominent figure in Madam CJ Walker’s industry, though she never profited directly from her invention. The invention was the assigned intellectual property of the Walker Company. Sources Bundles, ALelia. On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker. New York: Scribner, 2001.Higbee, Mark David. W. E. B. Du Bois, F. B. Ransom, the Madam Walker Company, and Black Business Leadership in the 1930s. Indiana Magazine of History 89.2 (1993): 101–24.Lowry, Beverly. Her Dream of Dreams: The Rise and Triumph of Madam C.J. Walker. New York: Random House, 2003Stille, Darlene R. Madam C.J. Walker: Entrepreneur and Millionaire. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, 2007.

MARKETING PROJECT Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MARKETING PROJECT - Research Paper Example Clients of fast foods usually make orders at a given counter and proceed to pay prior to eating. The industry of fast food in the US had approximately 300,000 units in year 2009 and the franchises attached to them were in above 100 other global nations. The revenue generated from the industry was about USD154.7 billion in year 2008. The industry of fast foods was prospected to record about USD157.2 billion in sales in year 2009, which would translate to a 4.2% rise from the amounts posted in 2008. Since year 2007, the industry was experiencing a continual type of growth rate, while the industry of fast food continued to escalate in value by 4% over the same period. The forecasts state that the industry of fast foods would grow by around 4% per year in the next three years. Consumers of fast foods as well continue to want value for their invested money in terms of healthier options as well as the responsibility of the company in picture to the environment. (franchisedirect.com, 2009) (a) Global Economic Situation The rise in the number of chains of fast food chains in the US has also been witnessed elsewhere in the foreign countries. As Allen and Albala wrote their book the companies of fast food in the US formed what the entire globe had. This phenomenon of chains of fast food companies has been seen to saturate in the regions of North America and Western Europe alike and as a result they have been spread to other areas of the world which are witnessing high rates of economic growth like Asia and Eastern Europe. The two authors also continue in their study to point out the fact that, if these fast food chains are aiming at surviving in the foreign, then they ought to adjust their menus to suit the tastes of local people. An example at hand is that of the sale of duck soup in Beijing. Despite the high levels of growth, restaurants of fast foods have been facing the cynics’ wrath, where sometimes they have been blamed for the rise in malnutrition negative impacts like obesity, though. (Allen and Albala, 2007 p160) (b) Business life cycles As economic cycles of booms and recessions continue being a phenomenon of business environment setting in during the days Mercantilists, these cycles have become for frequent and shorter in time durations. The explosion of information technology and the following boom in the recent past periods reflect the high speed at which global economies can rise. Various organizations like in the industry of fast foods, which have moved in the direction of consumer preferences to maturation of their products’ life cycle, have as well experienced a boom. Due to this, it has reached its peak and now the trend is that of approaching a trough as the consciousness of consumers with regards to health escalates. (Secord, 2003 pp221, 222) (c) Rates of Interest Interest rates affect consumer expenditure trends. If the rates of interest are reducing, then there is an easier accessibility to funds in turn increasi ng the demand for various products. The products for which demand is affected are especially fixed assets like homes, cars and capital investments. On the other hand, if the rates of interest are on the rise, there will be slower economic growth and this affects investment levels. Socially, there is a change in