Becoming New Yorkers

Many changes happened in the world in the past years. One of the most notable modifications that are observed is the development of international relations that involves different countries around the globe. Almost every state are giving due importance in strengthening their diplomatic ties with other countries.This kind of practice only shows the increasing vitality of the interdependency and collaboration of each nation from another especially during this time of globalization. Another essential phenomenon that is also a clear implication of globalization is the immigration of the citizens of one country into another nation.There has been a dramatic increase in the immigration of people coming from developing countries to go to developed states in order to seek for greener pasture. Being the case, this kind of situation is also changing the very way of life of the countries that they go to. There are specific places in a certain country wherein the immigrants are concentrated. Due to the difference in cultures of the immigrants as well as the native born of the country that they went to, it cannot be prevented that an assimilation of culture will take place.Nevertheless, assimilation is most observable in the second generation of these citizens wherein an immigrant will give birth to her child in the foreign land and raise him or her with the values and principles of two different cultures. As such, the dominating existence of these immigrants will largely contribute in modifying the perspective of people with regards to different important issues in the place they are in. It can also reach a point that these second generation of citizens will create their own culture, which is a mixture of the way of life of their immigrant parents and the foreign country that they lived in.The phenomenon of immigration and the situation of second generation of this type of citizens are discussed in the book entitled â€Å"Becoming New Yorkers. † This book is a collec tion of the studies conducted by numerous researchers with regards to immigration and its effect in the certain places of a country were immigrants composed the majority of the population. Their study is specifically focused in the situation of New York, which is considered as one of places in the United States of America where immigrants are larger than the actual native-born citizens of the country.The methodology that the researchers use in the duration of the studies deal with qualitative case studies about second and â€Å"1. 5† generation immigrants in New York. 1. 5-generation immigrants are those people whose parents were immigrants but they were born or substantially raised in the United States (Kasinitz et. al, 2004). The participants of these studies are all young adults that are defining their path of life in a complex and often very tough city. Most of them considered themselves as very different from their immigrant parents.They work in various kinds of jobs and they have various educational opportunities. They view about race and ethnicity differently from their parents and they also have varying stand about important issues like love and marriage, relations with relatives, and the way to raise children. At the same time, only a minority of these young people considered themselves as â€Å"mainstream† Americans. In their everyday lives they have to establish a balance between the ideas of foreign-ness and native-born entitlement.It is a struggle between the statuses of an insider from an outsider. This eventually creates tension that is often referred to as the reason that makes them very much â€Å"New Yorkers† (Kasinitz et. al, 2004). In this case, it is vital that the concept of assimilation is discuss in order to understand the effects of immigration to the American culture and its citizens may they be native-born or immigrants. Assimilation is defined as the â€Å"process by which the characteristics of member of immig rant groups and host societies come to resemble one another† (Brown and Bean, 2006).It is also known as integration or incorporation. The process of assimilation has both economic and socio-cultural dimensions. It started with the immigrant generation and persists through the second generation and beyond (Brown and Bean, 2006). Social scientific observers that studied the last great wave of immigrants to the United States, which are largely European, assumed that assimilation was desirable and inevitable. Social scientists during the midtwentieth century perceived assimilation as synonymous to upward mobility.However, during the late 1960s, this idea was greatly debated because of the relation of assimilation with America’s loss of confidence in terms of the racial and ethnic problems that it brought about. It is at this moment that assimilation was greatly regarded as historically for â€Å"whites only† (Kasinitz et. al, 2004). Another issue that emerged with re gards to the concept of assimilation is the idea of â€Å"becoming American†. Critics of immigration believed that it is impossible to have immigrants that are 100 percent Americans and even their offspring cannot be considered as true Americans.On the other hand, the supporters of immigration believes that through time these immigrants will be able to acquire the American way of life and eventually forget and lose its ties with his or her native land (Kasinitz et. al, 2004). Similar with the arguments of the researchers of this book, I believed that it is indeed impossible for immigrants to become true or pure Americans. The recent developments in communication technology as well as the cheap cost of foreign travel even make it easier for immigrants not to lose their connection with their native land.In relation to this, I also believed that the process of assimilation indeed has its benefits and consequences. It is capable of creating conflict through the confusion of balan cing various cultures but it also creates spheres of cooperation that allow more people all over the world to relate and interact with each other. The outcome of the second generation’s assimilation is very difficult to foresee especially with the debate on the real meaning of assimilation in this present time.However, I deem that one thing is sure that assimilation will indeed produce cultural loses and cultural gains. References Brown, S. K. , & Bean, F. D. (2006). Assimilation Models, Old and New: Explaining a Long- Term Process. Retrieved December 19, 2008, from http://www. migrationinformation. org/feature/display. cfm? id=442. Kasinitz, P. , Mollenkopf, J. H. , & Waters, M. C. (2004). Becoming New Yorkers: Ethnographies of the New Second Generation. U. S. A. : Russell Sage Foundation.

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The current spot rate of UK ( £) to USA ($) is  £3:$1.5. The interest rates per annum are UK 5% & USA 9%. What will be the two-month forward rate (to the nearest two decimal places)? (FIB)4013204318000 £ :$1(2 marks) Q5. The current spot rate of UK ( £) is  £3. The inflation rate per annum of UK is 3% & the expected future six-month spot rate is  £3.06. Calculate the foreign annual inflation rate? (FIB)501656223000%(2 marks) Q6. Which of the following statements relates to International Fisher Effect? (MCQ)The exchange rates of countries depending on inflation ratesThe exchange rates of countries depending on interest ratesPrices are same to different customers in an economyNominal interest rate differentials between countries provide an unbiased predictor of future changes in spot exchange rates.(2 marks) Q7. Which of the following differences will result in an Expectation Theory? (MRQ)The difference in Inflation RatesDifference between Spot & Forward RatesThe difference of Interest RatesDifference between Spot & Future Rates(2 marks) Q8. Select the appropriate theory with the following statements. (P&D)Depreciation of forwarding rates will be due to high-interest rates Differences in nominal rates due inflation rates A commodity is priced same in every country The forward rate is a fair predictor of the spot rate in the future EXPECTATION THEORY PURCHASING POWER PARITY THEORY INTERNATIONAL FISHER EFFECT INTEREST RATE PARITY THEORY(2 marks) Q9. Patio Co. operates in the USA. They will be receiving a payment of  £2,500 from customers in four months' time. Calculate Patio Co.'s receipts in four months' time? Use the following rates. (MCQ)Spot Rate  £1.4/$ –  £1.6/$4 Month Forward Rate  £1.8/$ –  £2.0/$$1,786$1,563$1,389$1,250(2 marks) Q10. Fray Co is a USA based company ; imports Robots from China. The usual credit period is three months. Fray Co has to pay  ¥60,000. Calculate the loss/gain of the payment on forwarding contract? (MCQ)Spot Rate  ¥1.321/$ –  ¥1.521/$3 Month Forward Rate  ¥1.654/$ –  ¥1.854/$$7,085 (Loss)$9,144 (Loss)$9,144 (Gain)$7,085 (Gain)(2 marks) Q11. PXG Co, a UK based company has made $3,600 sale to its USA customer on credit. The current  £/$ exchange rate is  £6.4/$12.8. It is expected that UK  £ will strengthen by 15%, by the time USA customer pays. Calculate the receipts in  £? (MCQ) £244.57 £281.25 £489.13 £562.5(2 marks) Q12. The dollar is quoted at a $0.067 premium for the forward rate. The current exchange rate is $/ ¥ 1.0005 +/- 0.0045. What will a $4,900 payment convert at forwarding rate? (MCQ) ¥4,876 ¥4,920 ¥5,224 ¥5,274(2 marks) Q13. A UK based company Bib Co will receive a foreign payment of $2,000 in four months' time. The spot rate is $1.1/ £ – $1.4/ £. Calculate the income in four months' time using money market hedging? (MCQ) Borrow DepositDollar ($) 4% 5%Pounds ( £) 3% 2% £1,414.4 £1,419.4 £1,800 £1,807(2 marks) This information is used for Q14, Q15 ; Q16.A USA based company has to make a payment of  £95,000 in nine months' time. The spot rate is  £2.2/$ –  £2.5/$. Following details are:Borrow DepositDollar ($) 7% 5%Pounds ( £) 5% 3% Q14. Calculate the foreign payment using money market hedging? (MCQ) $37,164$42,232$43,816$44,449(2 marks) Q15. Calculate the foreign payment if the nine-month forward rate is  £2.37/$ –  £2.71/$? (FIB)3511551206500$ (2 marks) Q16. Calculate the gain/loss for the company for not leading the payment? (MCQ)$4,365 (Gain)$4,365 (Loss)$3,816 (Loss)$3,816 (Gain)(2 marks) Q17. Following statements relate to Forwarding contracts. (HA)An immediate binding contract TRUE FALSEThe forward rate is variable in nature TRUE FALSEThe timing of the contract is unknown TRUE FALSE(2 marks) Q18. A company wants to reduce its transaction risks when conducting business with foreign receivables/payables. Following statements are said by the directors during this years' AGM. Select the appropriate statements to reduce the risk. (MRQ) â€Å"The company should hold back its payments for few months†, this technique is Leading†The company should continue as normal†Ã¢â‚¬ I have some friends offshore who work in a bank, I may able to arrange a foreign account for the company† said by a director†The company should deal in the foreign currency only† (2 marks) Q19. Juab Co is a manufacturing company ; has a foreign supplier who supplies raw materials. Recently the supplier has now become a customer as well, who purchases Juab Co.'s finished products and sells in his respective country. Which technique of reducing risk is applicable for Juab Co? (MCQ) Money market contractLeading & LaggingForward market hedgingMatching & Netting(2 marks) Q20. Which of the following statements are true in relation to futures? (MRQ)Currency futures are standard contractsA high premium is paid initiallyFutures are available in all currencies offered by the bankFuture contracts are binding (2 marks) Q21. A company wants to hedge itself from any currency risk. They have decided to hedge themselves using currency futures. They have to make a payment in May of $36,000. The futures have a contract size of $15,000. Which of the following futures will they select? (MCQ)Buy three futures on MarchSell two futures of MarchBuy two futures of JuneBuy three futures of September(2 marks) Q22. Select the appropriate option in relation to futures. (HA) Transaction cost is lowest ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGEContracts are limited to some currencies ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGEThe exact date does not have to be known ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE(2 marks) Q23. Picots Co is UK based company which has a lot of foreign customers. It will be receiving a payment from USA based customer of $500,000 in five months. The company has been advised to use derivatives to hedge themselves against any currency risk. If they opt for currency options which of the following are correct? (MCQ)Buying a USA $ call option in the UKBuying a USA $ put option in the UKBuying a UK  £ call option in the USABuying a UK  £ put option in the USA (2 marks) Q24. Which of the following statements relate to currency options? (MRQ)In future the market becomes favorable and the company will face a loss because it is bound to the contractThey are negotiated Cannot be traded in all currenciesEasily arranged & Flexible (2 marks) Q25. Which of the following is incorrect for swaps? (MCQ)It is negotiated between two parties having their own spot rateIt has a nominal costIt is an over the counter dealIt has multiple markets (2 marks) Q26. Which of the following has a refundable cost? (MCQ)Currency FuturesForward ContractsCurrency OptionsCurrency Swaps(2 marks) FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK (ANSWERS) Q1. CEconomic risk is the variation in the value of the business due to unexpected changes in exchange rates. This is an indirect impact on Jacks business. Q2. BThey are making exchange losses when the accounting results of its foreign subsidiary are translated into the home currency. This is an indication of Translation Risk. Q3. AIt is a direct impact on Saito Co as the USA being home currency strengthens then foreign competitors Sakkara Co in Bangladesh is able to gain sales at your expense because your fish have become more expensive in the eyes of customers both abroad and at home. Q4.  £3.02Interest rate parity theory = 3 Ãâ€" 1+(9% Ãâ€" 212)1+(5% Ãâ€"212) =  £3.02 Q5. 7%Purchasing power parity theory = 3 Ãâ€" 1+(x% Ãâ€" 612)1+(3% Ãâ€"612) =  £3.06X% = 7% Q6. DThe exchange rates of countries depending on inflation rates (Purchasing Power Parity Theory)The exchange rates of countries depending on interest rates (Interest Rate Parity Theory)Prices are same to different customers in an economy. The law of one price. (Purchasing Power Parity Theory)Nominal interest rate differentials between countries provide an unbiased predictor of future changes in spot exchange rates. (International Fisher Effect) Q7. When these two will become equal, Expectation Theory arises. Difference between Spot & Forward RatesDifference between Spot & Future Rates Q8.Depreciation of forwarding rates will be due to high-interest rates INTEREST RATE PARITY THEORYDifferences in nominal rates due to inflation rates INTERNATIONAL FISHER EFFECTA commodity is priced same in every country PURCHASING POWER PARITY THEORYThe forward rate is a fair predictor of the spot rate in the future EXPECTATION THEORY Q9. DReceipts =  £2,500 à · 2.0 = $1,250Q10.Payment (Forward) =  ¥60,000 à · 1.654 = $36,276Payment (Spot) =  ¥60,000 à · 1.321 = $45,420Gain = $9,144Q11. AFuture Rate = $12.8 Ãâ€" 115% = $14.72Receipts =  £3,600 à · 14.72 = $244.57 Q12. DThe Spot rate = $0.996/ ¥ – $1.005/ ¥ -/+ 0.0045The dollar is at a premium so subtract it as if dollar strengthens then yen will weaken in the forwards market. The new Spot rate = $0.929/ ¥ – $0.938/ ¥ – 0.067Payment = $4,900 à · 0.929 =  ¥5,274 Q13. BBorrow Foreign Currency = $2,000 à · [1 + (4% Ãâ€" 4/12)] = $1,974Convert Foreign to Local = $1,974 à · 1.4 =  £1,410Deposit (Interest) = (1,410 Ãâ€" 2% Ãâ€" 4/12) =  £9.4Total Receipts =  £1,410 +  £9.4 =  £1,419.4 Q14. DDeposit Foreign Currency =  £95,000 à · [1 + (3% Ãâ€" 9/12)] =  £92,910Convert Foreign to Local =  £92,910 à · 2.2 = $42,232Deposit (Interest) = ($42,232 Ãâ€" 7% Ãâ€" 9/12) = $2,217Total Payments = $42,232 + $2,217 = $44,449 Q15. $40,084Payments =  £95,000 à · 2.37 = $40,084Q16. BQ17. An immediate binding contract TRUE The forward rate is variable in nature FALSEThe timing of the contract is unknown FALSE Q18.†The company should hold back its payments for few months†, this technique is Lagging (Incorrect)†The company should continue as normal† This refers the company should take no action (Correct)†I have some friends offshore who work in a bank, I may able to arrange a foreign account for the company† said by a director. This statement indicates opening a foreign bank account. (Correct)†The company should deal in the foreign currency only† The company could deal in home currency rather in foreign currency (Incorrect) Q19. DThis technique attempts to match the same foreign currency receipt & payments due at the same time. The netting of the intra debit & credit balances saving transaction cost & reducing risk. Q20.Currency futures are standard contracts, fixed limits specified (True)A high premium is paid initially, this is applicable in options (False)Futures are available in all currencies offered by the bank, Only in few currencies (False)Future contracts are binding, they have to be closed (True) Q21. CThe Futures can be bought or sold only four times a year which are March, June, September & December. Future contracts can be signed relating to a month after the date of receipt. They will buy two futures each of $15,000 and the remaining $6,000 can be hedged using other techniques. (E.g. forward contracts) Q22. Transaction cost is lowest ADVANTAGE Contracts are limited to some currencies DISADVANTAGEThe exact date does not have to be known ADVANTAGE Q23. BPicots Co will want to sell the USA $ when they receive the payment which is why they will use USA $ put (sell) option bought in the UK. Q24. In future the market becomes favorable and the company will face a loss because it is bound to the contract, this statement relates to future contracts They are negotiated, this statement relates to options (Correct) Cannot be traded in all currencies, it is a disadvantage hence this statement relates to options (Correct)Easily arranged & Flexible, this statement relates to swaps Q25. DIt has no markets; it is a tailor-made an agreement between two parties.Q26. ACurrency Futures, An initial margin cost which is refundableForward Contracts, has a transaction costCurrency Options, A non-refundable premium costCurrency Swaps, No initial cost

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The audit framework - Essay Example More focus upon ensuring the independence of the auditors is made. Limitations and restrictions upon the non-audit services provided by the auditors shall remove much of the threat to the independence of the auditors along with the alterations in the mandatory audit rotation. Making it more dynamic and competitive makes the audit market in the European Union much efficient. Encouraging joint audits shall be able to overcome the dominance of the big fours in the market and thus shall increase the competition in the market. The harmonization of the audit standards in the European Union shall be expanding the audit market in the European Union. With the enhanced supervision of the audit sector and much reforms made in the audit sector it shall be affecting various stakeholders and its impact along with the difficulties are elaborated. The long awaited audit reforms have been completed by the EU however now awaits their practical implication it would reveal their impact over the companies. Audit reforms are move that come after the financial crisis that corporates have faced and proximity seen in the relation of the auditors to their clients. Reforms are not only the challenge for the audit firms but also for the companies, they would be required to adapt to new regulations. Some of the factors that would deeply affect companies that undergo are discussed as follow: Even changing of engagement partner was considered auditor rotation however changed reforms require change in audit firm maximum after 24 years including extension period. Companies would have to be more vigilant in their choice of auditor as relationship would be of limited period (more than previous 3 years) and non-audit services would be restricted. Changing of auditors before 10 years would not be appreciated; reforms do not aim to increase the competition in the audit market thus the replacement during first

Principles of Persuasion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Principles of Persuasion - Essay Example This makes it a daily business as most of the clients that check in to the shop are convinced to settle for the available products and services. This is explicitly displayed in the Sears’ case where the salesperson used several principles of persuasion in selling a product to a client in need of a tractor. Principle of Reciprocation. Salespersons will try to help other people in the same way they would like to be helped. This is the case of helping a person when the salesperson would expect the same when shopping for some products and services that are needed. In this case, the salesperson was more than willing to help the client get the product. In the opening expression, the salesperson retorts â€Å"I’m here to help you find the right tractor for your needs.† In this statement, it is clear that the salesperson is willing to offer the services of helping the client find the appropriate tractor for their needs (Dillard and Pfau 518). In this approach, the client feels that the salesperson is positive about advising them on the best product. As such, the client pays more attention to the salesperson, which is the initial part in trying to record sales. In the client’s point of view, the salesperson is giving expertise solution and advice to get the best tractor for the job, since the client does not have knowledge or skills of the right tractor for the job. Nevertheless, the salesperson is supportive and helps the client as though it were the salesperson’s need for a tractor. Principle of Social Validation. Salespeople go to great lengths in ensuring they make sales by trying to know the social life of the clients. This is by engaging in some discussion about family, social life and other detailed approaches to life. In such an encounter, the client receives acceptance in the course of the transaction. In this case, it is openly seen that the salesperson was more concerned about the social life of the clients as compared to th e initial transaction of selling a tractor. During their lengthy talk, it is seen that they have the same hobbies and have a social life that is inclined to one side. This creates a bond between the salesperson and the client. As such, the client feels the connection and is willing to commit to the offer. Apparently, the client felt at ease making a deal with a salesperson that they had an array of activities and hobbies which were similar. As such, they belonged to a social group with the same aspects. This makes it easy to make negotiations and sales as they have a social understanding. Commitment and Consistency. The salesperson was quick to assert that the store had a number of tractors which were on sale. At this point, it is clear that the store has been offering products and services to the market for a long time as they have an array of products to offer. To make it clear to the client, the salesperson decided to take the client’s specification of the tractor in need (Dillard and Pfau 520). This eased the whole process as the sales person had to make a single choice. In proving consistency of the store in the market, the salesperson reiterated that the preferred model has been in the market for long, it is popular and preferred by many people. In showing commitment to the client, the salesperson offered a five-year warranty. This shows that the store would be liable for defects,

UK supermarket sector is an oligopoly Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

UK supermarket sector is an oligopoly - Essay Example The entire functioning in the supermarket is looked after by the Commission. Although the commission tries to disrupt the impacts of oligopoly, there is evidence that there is prevalence of oligopoly in the UK supermarket sector. This is because the supermarket sector in the UK is predominantly operated by a few firms, i.e. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and ASDA. The rapidity of the deliberation with regards to oligopolies concern has gained acceleration during the past five years. The supermarket sector in the UK falls under the category of grocery market that had accounted for a total market share worth  £146.3 billion in the year 2008. Supermarket sector is the largest sector among all other sectors under the grocery market in the UK and it accounted for a total of 73 percent of the sales in grocery market. In the UK grocery market, the three biggest chains are Tesco, ASDA and Sainsbury’s that accounted for a share of 67.9 percent (Li, 2008). In this research paper, the UK supermarket sector will be analysed with reference to the performance of the three giants in the market. The belief that the supermarket in the UK is dominated by oligopoly will be critically evaluated in this research paper. ... The most important characteristics of an oligopoly market are existence of a few firms, high barriers to entry or stiff competition and earning of high or above-normal profit. 2.1 Firms in the UK Supermarket It has already been mentioned earlier that the UK supermarket’s four biggest chains are the Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons. The share of these chains in total accounts to 67.9% of the grocery market. This data explains that more than half of the market share belongs to these chains and thus resembles the scenario of an oligopoly market. The data about the operational efficiencies of the three topmost chains will support the fact that the UK supermarket sector is an oligopoly. 2.1.1 Market Share and Performance of Tesco in the UK Market Tesco is the third largest retailer in the world and is the topmost in the UK; and at present it is observing a steady recovery in the consumer market segment in the UK. The expectation is supported by the sales figure during the period September-November, 2010. The market share of Tesco had grown up to 30.7 percent during the year 2010. According to the article published in Bloomberg Business week, the sales that boosted up during the period of Christmas last year had been initiated by the shift in the preference of consumers to products with better quality. The performance of Tesco in the UK market provides evidences of dominance in the supermarket sector (Shannon, 2010). 2.1.2 Market Share and Performance of ASDA in the UK Market ASDA, with a market share of 16.8 percent is the second largest operator in the UK supermarket sector. Although its performance level declined as it faced competition from its rival

Watersheds from Anacostia River in Washington DC to Chesapeake Bay Essay Example for Free

Watersheds from Anacostia River in Washington DC to Chesapeake Bay Essay Among many watersheds in Maryland District, the following are the noted ones which flow from Anacostia river in Washington DC to the Chesapeake Bay: Anacostia River Watershed, Mattawoman Creek Watershed, Potomac River, Middle Lower Tide Watershed, Piscataway Creek Watershed, Nanjemay Creek Watershed, Gilbert Swamp Watershed, Port Tobaco River Watershed, Zekiah Swamp Watershed, Wicomico River Watershed, Breton Bay Watershed, St. Marys River Watershed Anacostia River Watershed The Anacostia River watershed comprises of the Northease Branch, the Northwest Branch, and the Tidal River and is 176 square miles in area. Also it has 13 sub-watersheds in southeast Washington DC, Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties. The tidal Anacostia River flows 8. 4 miles through Washington, DC to join the Potomac River at Hains Point. The Anacostia Watershed is home to over 800,000 residents of Maryland and Washington, DC. Anacostia River water suffers from Wetland loss, deforestation, and urbanization. About 23 percent of the watershed area is impervious. Urbanization is dense on the east and west banks of the tidal river in Washington, DC, where more than 70 percent of the land is covered by impervious surfaces. Anacostia Watershed Restoration Committee (AWRC) is responsible for the ecological and economic importance of the river. All water runs downhill. Charles County is located in eight different watersheds including Nanjemoy Creek, Gilbert Run Swamp, Mattawoman Creek, Patuxent River, Port Tobacco River, Potomac River, Wicomico River and Zekiah Swamp. Mattawoman Creek Watershed Mattawoman Creek Watershed is a shallow tributary of Lower Potomac located in Prince Georges and Charles Counties. The total non-water area of this watershed is 60,300 acres. The Mattawoman Creek watershed is protected by forested lands. It supports a world class fishing industry. Mattawoman watershed contributes to biodiversity. About 5,900 acres are protected land and park land. A portion of the watershed is listed as impaired for nutrients and sediments. Piscataway Creek Watershed Piscataway Creek is a tidal tributary of the Middle Potomac River. The total non-water area of this watershed is 43, 579 acres. The drainage area is 39. 5 acres. Piscataway creek enters the Potomac river at Fort Washington. Piscataway Creek originates in the west and east of Andrews Air Force Base (AFB) in the vicinity of Camp Springs, Clinton, and Woodyard. On the southwest side of Andrews AFB, two branches join to form Tinkers Creek, a major tributary to Piscataway Creek. Surface water flows into Tinkers Creek, to Piscataway Creek, and eventually to the Potomac River. The watershed can be characterized as residential and forested. The density of population is high in the northern region. The source of potential microbial loading is from failing septic systems. The southern region is much more forested and agricultural than the northern region, with encroachment of rural development. Nanjemay Creek Watershed The Nanjemay Creek Watershed is a Tributary of Lower Potomac River. The total non-water area of this watershed is 46, 603 acres. The Nanjemoy Creek watershed is mostly of forest with 90% forested area within 100 meters of streams. About 10% of land in Charles County is cropland with approximately 2% harvested for corn or sorghum. The extent of potential atrazine exposure to riparian areas of Nanjemoy Creek is minimal. The types of riparian areas in the Nanjemoy Creek watershed are not sensitive to atrazine exposure. Therefore, the potential effects to riparian areas and dwarf wedge mussels are insignificant. Gilbert Swamp Watershed The Gilbert Swamp Watershed is a tributary of Lower Potomac River. The total non-water area of this watershed is 27551 acres. Port Tobacco River Watershed Port Tobacco River is a tributary of Lower Potomac. The total non-water area of this watershed is 28076 acres. The Port Tobacco River is approximately eight and a half miles long, originating from St. Charles City and joins the Potomac River. The river has navigable waters rich in fish and wildlife, and safe to visitors who come for swimming, water sports, hunting and fishing. The river is of historic importance because it provided access and residence to the first Maryland settlers. Port Tobacco River Watershed is home to bald eagles, blue and gray herons, osprey, deer, etc and other wildlife. The Port Tobacco River has excessive nutrients and suspended sediments. The water is murky and sub aquatic vegetation is disappearing. Also the shellfish population is greatly reduced. The ecological problems are serious, however the biological condition of the River is considered much worse. Significant toxic algae blooms and fish kills were observed in 2002 and 2003. It was a potential public health hazard due to the water and sediments of the river and its watershed. Potomac River Middle Lower Tide Watershed The Potomac River estuary extends for 117 miles from its mouth. Lookout on the Maryland side and Smith Point on the Virginia side, to its head-of-tide located approximately 0. 4 miles upstream of Chain Bridge in the District of Columbia. The surface area of all tidal waters, including Potomac River and the tidal Anacostia River, is about 434 mi2. The Lower Tidal watershed is impaired by nutrients, sediments, toxics, bacteria, and it impacts the biological communities. The Potomac River Middle Tidal watershed is impaired by nutrients, sediments, toxics, metals, Copper, and Lead, and it impacts the biological communities. Zekiah Swamp Watershed The Zekiah Swamp watershed is located in the central Maryland region of the Potomac River tidal estuary. The total non-water area of this watershed is 69,770 acres. The watershed drains south from southern Prince George’s County in Zekiah Swamp Run until it discharges into the Wicomico River at Allens Fresh. The Zekiah Swamp is non-tidal except for the southern-most portion of the watershed near the discharge to the tidal Wicomico River. Zekiah Swamp is impaired by nutrients, suspended sediments, copper, lead, selenium, zinc, and it impacts the biological communities. However, the waters of the Zekiah Swamp watershed has no signs of toxic impairments due to the nutrients. Wicomico River Watershed Wicomico River Watershed is a tributary of Lower Potomac. The total non-water land covered within this watershed is 69,770 acres. The Wicomico River watershed in Charles and St. Marys counties drains into the Potomac River and on to the Chesapeake Bay. The Wicomico enjoys good water quality and provides healthy finfish and oyster, and fishery for the local economy. The challenge lies in accommodating growth and change while protecting the traditional lifestyles for the farmers and foresters dependent on the watersheds natural assets. The Wicomico watershed is also home to the Zekiah Swamp, 104 miles of hardwood wetland, viewed as one of the most important ecological areas on the East coast. Breton Bay Watershed Breton Bay watershed is located in Potomac River basin. It has a non-water total area of 34,933 acres. The Breton bay watershed has problems with fecal coliform bacteria, nutrients and sediment. So far no human health issues due to water quality have been reported. Breton Bay watershed is 60% forested, 25% agriculture and 14% developed land. Much of the Breton Bay watershed is covered with intact forest, providing habitat for many forest interior dwelling species. It has sub-watersheds: Dirict Drainage Breton Bay, Lower MeIntosh River, Glebe Run, Headwaters McIntosh Brooks Run and Brunt Mill Creek St. Marys River Watershed Wicomico River Watershed is a tributary of Lower Potomac. The total non-water land covered within this watershed is 45,198 acres. The river is an earth fill embankment 38 feet high and 1670 feet long. The flood discharge facilities for the dam consist of the principal spillway comprised of a drop inlet spillway and two manually operated sluice gates, and a 300-feet wide emergency spillway located adjacent to the right abutment of the dam. Conclusion Water from all the above watersheds like Zekiah Swamp, Mattawoman Creek, Port Tobacco River, Potomac River as well as many others eventually enters into Chesapeake Bay carrying with it whatever it picks up along the way. References Anacostia Watershed Society (1998).Watershed Info. Retrieved April 5, 2009, from http://www. anacostiaws. org/About/watershedinfo. html Maryland Department of Natural Resources (2009). Watershed Profiles. Retrived April 5, 2009 from http://mddnr. chesapeakebay. net/wsprofiles/surf/prof/prof. html United States Environmental Protection Agency (2007, September 20). Decision Rationale Total Maximum Daily Loads of Fecal Bacteria for the Non-Tidal Piscataway Creek Basin in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Retrieved April 5, 2009, from http://www. google. com/search? hl=enq=UNITED+STATES+ENVIRONMENTAL+PROTECTION+AGENCYbtnG=Search

Is Beer Becoming More Concentrated Essay Example for Free

Is Beer Becoming More Concentrated Essay At first glance, the UK brewing industry might appear to be highly competitive, with many pubs in close proximity to one another and with many brands of beer and lager offered for sale. However, in reality most pubs are owned by the major brewers. Tied houses, as they are called, account for about 40 per cent of a brewer’s turnover, and sell only a limited range of the beers and lagers that are available. Consumer choice is clearly constrained. The oligopolistic nature of the brewing industry can be seen when we consider the market shares of the leading brewers (see table). In 1985 the three largest brewers held 47 per cent of the market. By 2001 this had grown to 73 per cent. What is also significant is that small independent brewers, which generally operate within a local or regional market, have seen a dramatic fall in their market share. With this huge growth in the market power of the major brewers have come large rises in the price of beer (even after taking inflation and tax increases into account). Prices in the UK have risen faster than anywhere else in Europe. Market shares of the largest brewers | |1985 | | |2005 | | |(%) | | |(%) | |Bass |22 | |Scottish-Courage |27 | |Allied Lyons (Carlsberg) |13 | |Coors (Carling, Worthington) |20 | |Grand Met (Watneys) |12 | |! nbev (Bass, Beck’s, Stella) |19 | |Whitbread |11 | |Carlsberg UK (Carlsberg, Tetley’s) |13 | |Scottish and Newcastle |10 | |Diageo (Guinness) |6 | |Courage |9 | |Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser) |2 | |Others |23 | |Others |13 | |Total |100 | |Total |100 | |3-firm concentration ratio |47 | |3-firm concentration ratio |66 | |5-firm concentration ratio |68 | |5-firm concentration ratio |85 | 1987, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, the forerunner to the Competition Commission (see section 6. 6), investigated the brewing industry and in 1989 issued the ‘Beer Orders’, requiring the large brewers to sell many of their pubs. The objective was to increase competition as smaller brewers and other companies and individuals bought these pubs and then stocked a range of beers. However, the hopes were ill-founded. The pubs that were sold were the least profitable, and many have since closed. There is thus now less competition between pubs. Also, about 40 per cent of UK pubs are now owed by large pub chains. The Beer Orders also required that over 10 000 pubs owned by the big breweries should stock ‘guest beers’ from rival breweries. But the big breweries responded by selling most of these pubs. In pubs not owned by the big breweries, and where there is the threat of genuine competition, the big breweries often supply their beers at lower prices, thus making it impossible for the smaller breweries to compete. The brewers, finding a reduction in their scope for achieving economies of scale from vertical integration (owning both breweries and pubs), have sought to gain economies of scale from horizontal integration (having a larger share of total brewing). Mergers and takeovers in the brewing industry have been common. For example, in May 2000 Interbrew (the Belgian brewer and owners of the Stella Artois brand) acquired Whitbread, the UK’s third largest brewer, and a month later acquired Bass, the second largest. This gave Interbrew nearly one third of the market. The acquisitions were referred to the Competition Commission, which recommended a break up of the new giant: a recommendation accepted by the government. In response, at the end of 2001 Interbrew (now called !nbev) sold most of the Whitbread division, including brands such as Carling, Caffrey’s and Worthington, to the US brewer Coors. In the light of this splitting of Interbrew, and feeling that this proved that competition policy was effective, the government in 2002 decided to scrap the Beer Orders. This was greeted with dismay by small independent brewers, which were already reluctant to expand, faced with the power of such massive competitors in both production and retail, with heavily advertised brands gaining larger and larger shares of the market. Small independent brewers are understandably reluctant to expand, faced with the power of such massive competitors in both production and retail, with heavily advertised brands gaining larger and larger shares of the market. |Questions | |1. What are the barriers to entry in (a) brewing; (b) opening new pubs? | |2. Do small independent brewers have any market advantages?

Boyle Heights Los Angeles Community Needs Assessment

Boyle Heights Los Angeles Community Needs Assessment Boyle Heights is a neighborhood located on the east side of Los Angeles (Healthy City, 2010). An initial assessment of the community revealed issues of poverty and crime. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Hollenbeck Division (2011), the majority of crimes committed in the Boyle Heights community are property crimes such as auto theft and burglary, however there are also violent crimes such as robbery and aggravated assaults (Los Angeles Police Department COMPSTAT, 2011). According to detective Antonio Macklin of the Hollenbeck police station in Boyle Heights, the majority of crimes are motivated by economic factors as Boyle Heights is a poor community (A. Macklin, personal communication, February 10, 2011). An initial drive and walk through the residential areas of the community of Boyle Heights revealed homes in various states of disrepair. The majority of houses are old. As one walks further along through the streets graffiti is visible. However, this is also a community rich in cultural history. A further walk through the community reveals a historical museum, Mariachi Plaza, Murals depicting Mexican American Culture, Catholic Churches, and family-owned markets, restaurants and clothing stores. Despite crime in the area, children are observed playing in the streets, in the local parks and in their backyards. The community does have various parks and recreation centers as well as community centers. Community Characteristics Physical/Geographical Boyle Heights is located in East Los Angeles and its geographical boundaries are demarcated by the City of Vernon to the South, East Los Angeles to the east, Lincoln Heights and El Sereno to the north, Los Angeles River and Downtown Los Angeles to the West (City of Los Angeles, 2005). For the purpose of this needs assessment, the boundaries of Boyle Heights were narrowed to boundaries as defined by the Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council website (2011) consisting of Marengo Street to the North, 25th street to the South, Indiana street to the East and the Los Angeles River to the West (Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council, n.d.). Boyle Heights is a mixture of residential areas, commercial areas, open space and public facilities (City of Los Angeles, 2005). According to data obtained from HealthyCity.org (2010), there are 12 Parks and Recreational Centers within a one mile radius of the Boyle Heights community. Additionally, Boyle Heights has a variety of small businesses punctuated by as sets in the community such as White Memorial Medical Center, the extension of the Metro Gold Line and Los Angeles USC Medical Center, which according to the President of the Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce, Alicia Maldonado, these assets have brought improvements to the community, jobs for the residents, customers to the retail establishments and better health care (Boyle Heights Chamber of Commerce, 2011, p. 1). Former resident of Boyle Heights, Geneva Garcia, who resided in the area from the 1950s until 2009, stated that independent of the presence of gangs and crime in the area, she has fond memories of her childhood and her life in Boyle Heights because of the many parks, recreational activities, sports and other community activities available to her (G. Garcia, personal communication, February 10, 2011). Ms. Garcia also confirmed that the majority of the community is Latino. This has further been confirmed through data obtained from the HealthyCity.org website and observation of the community. Historical Background According to the Boyle Heights Historical Society Website (2011), Boyle Heights was originally founded in the late 1800s. However, the neighborhood became recognized in the early 20th century as a neighborhood of immigrants (Boyle Heights Historical Society, 2011). During this period of time, Boyle Heights became a gateway for immigrants who could not live in downtown Los Angeles because of the racial segregation of Jews, Mexicans, Japanese and some Russians (Los Angeles Times Magazine, 2009). Although currently, Jewish, Japanese and Russian immigrants are not part of the make-up of this community, they are an important part of its history. According to The Boyle Height Project (2003), the Boyle Heights community has been a melting-pot of diverse cultures which need to be preserved and understood. Interviews conducted by the project in 2003 with previous residents of the area from Japanese, Jewish and Russian descent, indicate that these former residents of the area all bonded over b eing immigrants and victims of racial discrimination. This history of discrimination and disenfranchisement has carried over to the current population of the community which is Mexican-American, Latino and working class (The Boyle Heights Project: A Power of Place, 2003). Population/Economic/Political According to the HealthyCity.org (2010), the total population living in Boyle Heights is 50,155 with 91.66% of the population being Hispanic, 2.87% White and 1.58% Black or African American, which makes Boyle Heights a predominantly Latino community. Economically, Boyle Heights is an under-privileged community compared to similar neighborhoods in the area. According to HealthyCity.org (2011), families living below the poverty level in Boyle Heights is 28.40%. This is compared to a rate of 16.02% in El Sereno, 19.44% in Chinatown and 24.15% in Lincoln Heights, all of which are neighboring communities to Boyle Heights. This data indicates that Boyle Heights is the poorest of all the communities in the East Los Angeles Area comprised of zip codes, 90012, 90031, and 90032. According to the California Endowment website (2011), politically, Boyle Heights encompasses city council district 14 represented by Councilman Jose Huizar. Other political representatives at the local level include Co unty Supervisor, district 1, Gloria Molina and Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa (California Endowment, 2011). At the State level, Boyle Heights is represented by senators Gil Cedillo and Gloria Romero and State assemblymen, Kevin De Leon and John Perez (California Endowment, 2011). All elected officials representing Boyle Heights are part of the Democratic Party however, Boyle Heights political life is said to be dominated by a mixture of both, conservative and progressive politicians (California Endowment, 2011). Community Resources/Strengths and Needs Boyle Heights is a community with many different resources and strengths. This is a community with several service providers as identified through the Healthy City website (2010). A survey of the services and programs available indicates that there are at least 16 programs in the community for youth and families. Resources include various parks and recreational centers, community events such as summer lights in the park, museums, community centers, sports facilities, schools, a learning collaborative, commercial facilities, restaurants, and catholic churches each of which are a source of strength in the community. Also among the strengths in this community is HomeBoy Industries, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing services free of charge to youth and adults who no longer wish to engage in gang activity. Their services include but are not limited to school, job training and placement, counseling, and legal services (HomeBoy Industries, n.d.). Additionally, Projecto Pastor al at Dolores Mission focuses on underprivileged youth in the area and provides after school programs during the school year and a program called IMPACTO which provides outreach services, tutoring, personal development and a safe place for youth (Projecto Pastoral, n.d.). These two programs highlight the availability of programs and resources in this community. However, despite the availability of resources in the community, there is a prevalent need for economic development in the form of more jobs and economic opportunities for the residents of the area in order ameliorate the high poverty and unemployment rate. Furthermore, although there are an abundance of service providers in the area, there is no consistent collaboration between service providers, which is a need that should be strengthened in order to increase the effectiveness of services provided. Interview Section Interviews were conducted with several members of the community including a law enforcement officer, a service provider, a former resident who lived in the community in the 1950s and a mother currently living in the community with teenage children. Quotes and excerpts from the interviews are incorporated throughout the paper however, it is important to note that all of the individuals interviewed share common experiences, all of which take place in the neighborhood of Boyle Heights. The interviewees believe that young adults can prevent themselves from making unsafe choices by obtaining the following qualities: a good support system, recognizing and acceptance of their problems and participation in intervention programs to help them achieve a positive and healthier lifestyle. The interviewees believe that the presence of violence is evident in any community however, with awareness and appropriate prevention and intervention efforts, each individual has the power to make positive choi ces that lead to a lifespan of good outcomes as opposed to a lifespan of constant struggle with destructive behavior and engagement in violent crime. The Social Problem Boyle Heights is a diverse community with a rich history that includes a long legacy of gang activity as a community concern. These concerns have been highly publicized for decades (Los Angeles Times Magazine, 2009; Urban Institute, 2010; Advancement Project, 2006). According to LAPD Hollenbeck Division gang detectives, Boyle Heights has a higher gang population than any other neighborhood in the Los Angeles Area (Urban Institute 2010). The city of Los Angeles is considered the gang capital of the world (Urban Institute, 2010; Advancement Project 2006; R. Hernandez, classroom lecture, February 8, 2011). When Los Angeles Mayo Antonio Villaraigosa took office, a priority of his was to address the gang problem in Los Angeles (R. Hernandez, 2011). In order to accomplish this task, the Mayors office instituted the Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program or GRYD (Urban Institute, 2010; Advancement Project; 2006; R. Hernandez, 2011). The GRYD program is a targeted prevention and interv ention program aimed at reducing the gang problem in Los Angeles (Urban Institute, 2010; R. Hernandez, 2011). In order to accomplish this task, the advancement project divided gang impacted communities into GRYD zones (Advancement Project 2006; Urban Institute, 2010; R Hernandez, 2011). The neighborhood of Boyle Heights is GRYD zone and according to the Urban Institute GRYD Boyle Heights evaluation report (2010), in the mid 2000s there were an estimated 2,000 documented and suspected gang members from the major gangs in Boyle Heights including: Barrio Nuevo Estrada, Opal Street, Indiana Dukes, White Fence and 8th street (Urban Institute, 2010). The prevalence of gangs in the area was further confirmed by qualitative interviews with key informants in the area. These informants include Detective Antonio Macklin of the Hollenbeck Division who stated during an interview that gang related crime and violence has been an issue in the community although less recently than in previous years (A. Macklin, 2011). Geneva Garcia, former resident of the area stated that she recalls the presence of gangs in the neighborhood growing up and I also recall shootings, crime and violence (G. Garcia, 2011). Although she also stated that gangs were just part of the neighborhood and that for the most part they left residents of the area alone if you did not interfere with their activities. (G. Garcia, 2011). Geneva also stated that, in her opinion, gangs not only sources of crime and violence as publicized in the media but also sources of safety for the community. (G. Garcia, 2011). The perspective of Ms. Garcia seems to contradict most public opinion or official reports however, it is important to consider that Ms. Garcia was a resident of the area from 1950 until 2009 and therefore she represents an important perspective in this community. Furthermore, Ms. Garcias opinion correlates with findings expressed in the professional literature, namely, that gang concerns are multi-faceted with poverty being one of the main contributing factors (The Advancement Project, 2006; Urban Institute, 2010; Zimmerman et al., 2004; Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, 2004; Coughlin Venkatesh, 2003). According to research conducted by the Advancement Project (2006), massive job losses in East Los Angeles during the mid 1970s to the 1980s along with policies such as proposition 13, which cut property tax revenue, had an economic impact in the community that led to an increase in gang activity for economic reasons. Law enforcement officer Detective Antonio Macklin of the Hollenbeck police department further corroborated this impact, as did Rolando Cruz from Home Boy Industries, since both individuals were interviewed as part of this assessment. Each of these key informants advised that economic downturns correlate to an increase in gang activity. In fact, HomeBoy Industries, a non-profit organization in the area has a motto of Nothing stops a bullet like a job. During the personal interview, Rolando Cruz, the curriculum coordinator for said organization states that If someone is earning a decent paycheck in an honest way, there is no reason for them to be out there in the streets ( R. Cruz, personal communication, February 5, 2011). Although the gang concerns should not be oversimplified by reducing them to only economic terms, it is important to recognize that poverty is deeply interconnected with social issues such as gang involvement. Impact Gang involvement has negatively impacted the community of Boyle Heights. (The Advancement Project, 2006; Urban Institute, 2010; A. Macklin, 2011; R. Hernandez, 2011). In 2006, 14.3% of deaths in the Boyle Heights community were attributed to firearms (Healthy City, 2010). Additionally, there was a high percentage, 42.46% ,of non-fatal firearms incidents in Boyle Heights in 2007 (Healthy City, 2010). These statistics are augmented by recent crime statistics available for this community. According to the Los Angeles Times crime mapping system, during the past six months, from July 2010 to January of 2011, the rate of violent crimes in the Boyle Heights area continues to be higher than in neighboring communities such as El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, Downtown and Chinatown (Los Angeles Times, n.d.). The impact of violence and crime is significant in any community, however, the impact of violence and crime is greater in a community like Boyle Heights, which is a community with a high propor tion of youth, 32.87 % (Healthy City, 2010), low educational attainment as 42.25% of the population has less than a 9th grade education (Healthy City, 2010), a 46.36% unemployment rate (Healthy City, 2010), and a high percentage of families living below poverty level at 28.40% (Healthy City, 2010). All of these risk factors contribute to a community in which violence and crime are part of a way of life that takes young people away from more positive activities such as being engaged in school, seeking skills for employment and becoming involved in community activities which might lead to a decrease in gang involvement. The prevalence of risk factors in this community with its connection to gang activity is perhaps must poignantly described by Rolando Cruz of Home Boy Industries, who grew up in Boyle Heights when he stated that gang crimes, the evidence of high poverty rates, the low educational status, and the unemployment rates are familiar community issues from my past and scenes o f the present struggle in attempting to transform the troubling youth of the community into productive citizens. (R. Cruz, personal communication, February 10, 2011). Community efforts to address a reduction in gang activity include non-profit organizations such as HomeBoy Industries, The GRYD program through the Mayors office, which works on prevention and intervention with local service providers in the area, programs such as Boys and Girls Club, recreational programs through the many parks in the area, the Boyle Heights learning collaborative, and community events such as summer lights in the park (Healthy City, 2010; A. Macklin, 2011; R. Cruz, 2011; R. Hernandez, 2011). However, despite the progress made toward reducing gang activity and youth violence in the community, the question remains, how can this social problem be mitigated? Although there is no clear answer to this question, there is a theoretical lens that when applied to this social problem provides insight into the many components of this complex issue. Ecosystems theory provides this theoretical lens. Theory Ecosystems theory focuses on the interaction between the individual and his or her environment (Salkind, 2005; Miley, OMelia, DuBois, 2009). As such, ecosystems theory describes the behaviors of individuals, families, groups, organizations, local communities, and international societies as interconnected (Miley et al., p. 30). This is a helpful lens when analyzing a social problem since it conceptualizes behavior from the point of view that human behavior and interaction develops overtime and it is a response to external factors and sees behavior as adaptive given its context (Miley et al., p. 30). When applying this lens to gang activity and youth violence, one can see how gang involvement makes sense in a community where youth are raised with poverty, low educational attainment, few resources, violence as a way of life, labeling by law enforcement, abuse or neglect at home, immigration factors and multi-generational gang involvement. This has been corroborated by the professional knowledge base. In 2004, Zimmerman et.al published a study in which they interviewed adolescent middle school children about their beliefs and experiences surrounding gang involvement and gang violence. One of the most significant findings of the study is that childrens exposure to violence at home and in their community provided for a normative experience associated with violence and a tendency to lose sympathy for victims of violence (Zimmerman et al., 2004). Furthermore, Zimmerman et.al (2004) found that with regard to individuals who feel powerless within their social structure, the lure of violence and aggressive peer groups (i.e. gangs) might prove to provide a sense of personal security and power as one youth wrote Violence, is in a way, is power the power to rule people, if people are afraid of you, you have power over them, you can make them do what you want. (Zimmerman et al. 2004). Additionally, Coughlin and Venkatesh (2003), indicate that immigration factors are likely relevant to an increase in inner city gang affiliation and patterns of local gang activity may be mediated by cultural and social organizational processes such as segregation (Coughlin Venkatesh, 2003). This is true in the Boyle Heights community, a community historically made up of immigrants that were not allowed to live in downtown Los Angeles due to racial segregation. Upon the proliferation of gangs and violence in the area, violence as a normative factor along with other risk factors such as poverty, have continually interacted to sustain gang activity as a community concern. Given the complexity of gang involvement, the question of how to eliminate this problem remains largely unsolved. It remains to be seen what long-term positive outcomes prevention and intervention approaches such as GRYD will have on this important and relevant problem. One thing remains clear, prevention and intervention efforts must be targeted not just toward the individual but also toward the multipl e environments in which the individual functions. It further stands to reason that, through ecosystems theory, if community youth are exposed to more positive peer and community interactions, embracing a more positive approach to problem solving is possible. Approaches need to be targeted to the individual, the family, the schools, the community, and of course, national, state, and local officials in charge of making policies that can address the risk factors closely associated with gang involvement and institute protective factors that mitigate those risk factors associated with this social problem. Rationale for Action The prevalence of violent crime in Boyle Heights is correlated with the high degree of gang involvement in the area. Research by the advancement project (2006) and the Urban Policy Center (2010) Indicate that gangs are very much a part of the Boyle Heights Community. This is further validated by qualitative interviews conducted during the needs assessment for this community. Law enforcement official with the Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck Division, Deputy Antonio Macklin indicated during his interview that the majority of crimes committed in the Boyle Heights community are committed by Latino youth between the ages of 15 and 25. Furthermore, Rosalia Gonzales, a mother and resident of Boyle Heights since the 1960s indicates that she experiences frequent concern for her teenage son and daughter because of the pressure to be involved in gang activity in the neighborhood and fears her children being the unintended victims of violence in the community. Ms. Gonzales explicitly st ated that the majority of residents in Boyle Height are poor single mothers like herself and that it is sometimes extremely difficult to keep children in school and on a straight path, particularly when the peer pressure of gang involvement and the lure of easy money in a poor neighborhood seem much more appealing. (R.Gonzales, personal communication, 2011). Data from Healthy Cities indicates that 28.40% of the families in Boyle Heights live below the poverty level while 71% of families live at or barely above the poverty level. This is further augmented by the fact 46.36% of the population ages 16 and above are not in the labor force (Healthy Cities, 2010). These statistics mean that the vast majority of the residents in Boyle Heights are poor and unemployed that the low educational attainment in the community compounds this problem further. Given all of these compounding factors, the gang involvement issue cannot be easily addressed. A single point of intervention and prevention or a single level of intervention and prevention is not sufficient. A successful prevention and intervention strategy at multiple levels must be established. Although existing programs in the community such as the GRYD project, and community agencies such as HomeBoy Industries provide successful models of intervention, these models are primarily directed toward individuals who are already involved in gangs. A new model that integrates services at multiple levels and involves all members of the community must be integrated. A new approach would involve targeting youth in the community regardless of gang involvement and addressing the multiple compounding problems that contribute the gang involvement and violence. Services must be provided to families, individuals and the communities that help build a stronger, healthier community. Job opportunities, educational opportunities, music, arts, youth activities, family activities, community organizing, and counseling services, are all but a few of the many services that need to be integrated and coordinated in to a healthy community. Framework for Intervention Many of the city, county, and local government officials that service the Boyle Heights area are prominent Latin American individuals with a stated commitment to improving life among their constituents by ensuring access to government, education, employment and public safety. One of the most prominent stakeholders and a former resident of the Boyle Heights community is Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who was born in Boyle Heights in 1953. Mayor Villaraigosa is a proponent of a strong police force in Los Angeles County and for the reduction of crime, which includes gang-related crime. A key part of the Mayors strategy to combat the Citys gang epidemic is to establish GRYD zones in the communities most affected by gangs. In addition to an increased deployment of police, the GRYD zones will receive additional resources focused on prevention, intervention and re-entry programs for those involved or otherwise affected by gangs. This holistic approach is seen by experts as key to re ducing not only the crime rates, but also the membership of young people in gangs (Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor of Los Angeles website, 2007). The mayors GRYD program in the Boyle Heights area includes a prevention model that utilizes the support of the Hollenbeck Police Department. Since youth in gang-infested areas might be prone to mistrust of police authority, having a personal experience with a police officer that is supportive and enriching is one path to introducing youth to a positive adult mentor. The Hollenbeck Police Activities League (PAL) was established in 1992 and boasts that 85% of the youth in the PAL program attend college (Hollenbeck PAL, 2011). PAL youth also engage in enriching experiences with their peers. Walker and Mason (2001) stated that much of the research on youth delinquency has focused on community-level risk factors such as poverty and social disorganization (Walker-Barnes Mason, 2001, p. 1815). However, they proposed that youth were at higher risk for gang involvement if there was a lack of effective parenting coupled with a high exposure to delinquent peers. Walker and Mason discovered that youth who reported gang involvement often did not include their mothers as one of the most influential people in their lives. Further, they found that authoritarian parenting styles were less effective in reducing youth gang involvement but parents who practice higher levels of behavioral control and warmth were related to lower initial levels of gang involvement and gang delinquency (Walker-Barnes Mason, 2001, p. 1826). In addition, lack of parental involvement also indicated increased risk for gang involvement. Therefore, positive parenting approaches are an essential component to an effective prevention strategy. Evidence based research such as Positive Peer Culture (PPC) proposes that troubled youth need more than technique; they need transformative experiences with other people (Laursen, 2010, p. 38). Participation in a PPC model of prevention could primarily be targeted toward at-risk youth although one could argue that all of the youth in the Boyle Heights community could be at risk because of the high incidence of gang involved youth. The PPC model proposes to provide youth with opportunities for empowerment and altruism, which increases self worth and connections with others and with their communities. The PPC model further indicates that youth need to feel that they are in a supportive and safe environment therefore this model should be used in conjunction with therapy and not as a replacement for therapy (Laursen, 2010, p. 41). PPC could be offered as an extracurricular after school activity and if successful could be integrated into the school curriculum as an elective course for jun ior high or high school students. There are two additional models of intervention that could be used in conjunction with the PPC program depending on the specific needs of the youth involved. First, the Equipping Youth to Help One Another (EQUIP) model is a derived from the PPC program in which individuals turn from antisocial and self-destructive behavior to behavior that helps others and themselves (Leeman, Gibbs, Fuller, 1993, p. 282). Leeman et al indicate that the EQUIP model is more effective with youth who often lack the helping skills and moral maturity that they need to help others and who might also benefit from learning appropriate ways of self-control since this model incorporates elements of anger management training (Leeman, Gibbs, Fuller, 1993, p. 282). Secondly, Aggression Replacement Therapy (ART) is an evidence-based intervention that utilizes a parental component that entices parental involvement with the agreement that the affected youth will be suspended or disciplined for a shorter duration (McGinnis, 2003, p. 164). The premise for utilizing programs targeted at pre-delinquent youth and including their families is to prevent the draw of social inclusion toward negative peer influences. The PAL program boasts success by providing at risk youth with positive adult mentors and peer interaction and is one of only two prevention initiatives identified in the Boyle Heights GRYD program. For a community that has such a high incidence of gang involvement, this is insufficient. Therefore, it is reasonable to enlist the inclusion of family members so that a parent or caregiver could also provide youth with a positive and nurturing adult role model. This in conjunction with a culture of positive peer influences in the school setting might prove to provide a positive trajectory for youth to attain a healthy, educated and successful start toward a safer and more productive future for them and for their community.

Personal Strengths and Weaknesses Essay -- essays research papers

Personal Strengths and Weaknesses What are my personal strengths and weaknesses? When I think about this question, the first thing that comes to mind is a job interview. I, like most people, find this simple question to be the most stressful moment of any interview. I want to give an answer that is imaginative but does not give the interviewer a bad impression of myself. In this paper, I will describe my strengths and weaknesses as I would to a job interviewer. I will give specific examples of my strengths and place a positive spin on my weaknesses. When deciding which strengths you want describe to an interviewer, you should make a list, choose three to five of those strengths that match the job posting, and give specific examples of that strength (Martin, 2005). I can easily tell you that my greatest strengths are the core values that I was instilled with during my service with the United States Air Force. Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all [I] do (USAF, 1997); these are my strengths that I bring to every job or task I do. Integrity first refers to a willingness to do what is right, even when no one is looking (USAF, 1997). Integrity also means optimizing your job tasks and assisting coworkers in optimizing their job tasks. For a manager, integrity is motivating your team so that they understand the importance of their job so that they are willing to do their jobs, even when you are not looking. Service before self refers to the fact that professional duties take precedence over personal desires (USAF, 1997). In the business setting, service before self means finishing tasks or jobs before you go home at the end of your shift and not leaving them for someone else to finish up. If it is Friday afternoon and I have been given a task, I will always finish my job then, even if it means starting my weekend late. Service before self also means that you should never call in to work just because you do not feel like coming in. I have never taken a personal day at any job I have ever worked. Excellence in all [I] do refers to the development of a sustained passion for continuous improvement and innovation (USAF, 1997). One example of this is my attending the University of Phoenix; I wish to improve my job skills and marketability. In the business setting, this also means that if there is ever a task that I did not complete to the stan... ...eople for the first time. Interpersonal skills, like any skills, will only improve with practice and feed back. One nice aspect of my current position is that it requires me to speak with new people on a daily basis to accomplish my job assignments. I also get a chance to practice my interpersonal skills while attending the University of Phoenix. With every new class I enter, I am required to deal with new people in different settings. In summary, assessing strengths and weaknesses during a job interview is something that no one should take lightly. By giving my interviewer a well thought-out response, I can let the interviewer know more about myself and help he or she see that I am the right fit for the job. By letting my interviewer know about my weaknesses, I let him or her know that I am not perfect but that I am continually working to improve myself (Martin, 2005). References Martin, L. (2005). What Are Your Greatest Strengths and Weaknesses? Retrieved on June 5, 2005, from http://interview.monster.com/articles/biggest/. United States Air Force. (1997). United States Air Force Core Values. Retrieved on June 5, 2005, from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/cv-mastr.htm.

Foreign Investment In Brazil :: essays research papers

INTRODUCTION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"For those who believed that Brazil would forever be the country of the future, I have a piece of bad news. The future has finally arrived.† For years, the largest and most industrialized nation in Latin America has been known as the country of tomorrow. That slogan may soon be out of date. Under the guidance of former finance minister and current president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, this tenth largest economy in the world, once known for its high tariffs and even higher inflation, has entered a period of steady growth, the fruit of a newly-stable political and commercial environment. In combination with the upturn in its economy, Brazil’s demonstrated preference for foreign products and strong direct investment presence bode well for expanded sales of equipment and services in future years. EMERGING SECTORS   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Access to Brazilian markets in most sectors is generally favorable, and competition and participation characterize most markets by foreign firms through imports, local production and joint ventures. Many sectors such as healthcare, the environment, transportation, telecommunications and financial services, have been growing at a phenomenal rate and opportunities to further expand trade and investment are highly encouraged. Healthcare Technology   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Brazil is an excellent market for U.S. manufacturers of health technology products and services. In the medical device sector, the products that should have the best long-term prospects in Brazil are medical imagining equipment, electro-diagnostic apparatus and technologically advanced disposable medical products. In the pharmaceutical sector, long-term prospects for over-the-counter drugs and vitamins are excellent because of the high cost of private medical assistance and a growing trend towards home treatment. In the healthcare services sector, the best market opportunities include the following areas:  hospital management and consulting services  training for allied health-care personnel  hospital renovation  health maintenance organizations In order to provide more efficient health care, the Brazilian government has begun to reform the country’s entire medical care delivery system. It has decentralized the system, giving more autonomy to the states and cities in the planning and controlling of local health care programs. Overall, improvements in Brazils public healthcare sector, coupled with its trade liberalization measures, should improve the prospects for U.S. technology firms in the Brazilian market. Environmental Technology   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Brazilian market for environmental technology had an estimated value of over $1 billion in 1994. However, the National Department of Sanitation and Environmental Equipment estimates that the total investments needed to equip Brazil with necessary pollution control supplies and services amounts to over $19 billion.

A Destructive Tornado Essay examples -- Descriptive Essay Examples

A Destructive Tornado Tornadoes are one of the deadliest and most unpredictable villains mankind will ever face. There is no rhyme or reason, no rhythm to it’s madness. Tornados are one of the most terrifying natural events that occur, destroying homes and ending lives every year. April 29th, 1995, a calm, muggy, spring night I may never forget. Jason, a buddy I grew up with, just agreed to travel across state with me so we could visit a friend in Lubbock. Jason and I were admiring the beautiful blue bonnets, which traveled for miles like little blue birds flying close to the ground. The warm breeze brushed across the tips of the blue bonnets and allowed them to dance under the perfectly clear blue sky. In the distance, however, we could see darkness. A rumbling sky was quickly approaching. We continued down the infinitely long interstate towards our destination. Thunder clouds continued to rumble in, like an ocean tide rolling closer and closer to the beach front. Within minutes the entire landscape was calm and dark. It looked like a total eclipse of the sun, and the once ... A Destructive Tornado Essay examples -- Descriptive Essay Examples A Destructive Tornado Tornadoes are one of the deadliest and most unpredictable villains mankind will ever face. There is no rhyme or reason, no rhythm to it’s madness. Tornados are one of the most terrifying natural events that occur, destroying homes and ending lives every year. April 29th, 1995, a calm, muggy, spring night I may never forget. Jason, a buddy I grew up with, just agreed to travel across state with me so we could visit a friend in Lubbock. Jason and I were admiring the beautiful blue bonnets, which traveled for miles like little blue birds flying close to the ground. The warm breeze brushed across the tips of the blue bonnets and allowed them to dance under the perfectly clear blue sky. In the distance, however, we could see darkness. A rumbling sky was quickly approaching. We continued down the infinitely long interstate towards our destination. Thunder clouds continued to rumble in, like an ocean tide rolling closer and closer to the beach front. Within minutes the entire landscape was calm and dark. It looked like a total eclipse of the sun, and the once ...

Electric utility Essay

Doctor’s office – job shop or project. All patients do not require the same procedures, namely the service offered are custom in nature. Automatic car wash – assembly line flow. There is a linear sequence of operations common to all cars. College curriculum – can be any: Assembly line flow: if same curriculum is required of all students, batch: if curriculum is tailored to some degree, or project: if curriculum is tailored to individual students. Studying for an exam – project. The studying process is unique to each student for different, unique exams. Registration for classes – assembly line. All students must largely complete the same sequence of steps which vary little regardless of the program of study. Electric utility – continuous process as the product is highly standardized and can be automated to a great degree in order to better achieve a low unit cost. Q2. Why are assembly-line processes usually so much more efficient but le ss flexible than batch processes? Give three reasons. Reasons for efficiency, but less flexibility of the line than the batch process: a. Standardization of tasks b. Standard products c. Highly automated d. Specialized equipment e. Unskilled or semi-skilled labor Q3. The rate of productivity improvement in the service industries has been much lower than in manufacturing. Can this be attributed to process selection decisions? What problems would be involved in using more efficient processes in service industries? Yes, the rate of productivity improvement in the service industries can be partly attributed to process selection  decisions. Service industries typically select a batch or project process to provide customized service. This is usually less efficient than the assembly line or continuous process approach. The problems in using more efficient processes in the service industries are: Possible customer dissatisfaction with standardized product Need for extensive capital investment Need for high and stable volume, particularly without inventory Difficult to specify exact process sequence The customer can be involved in the process during production of the service and create unique demands or inefficiencies. Q6. Compare the expensive restaurant, fast-food restaurant, and cafeteria in terms of process characteristics such as capital, product type, labor, planning, and control systems. The project process, typically used for skyscraper construction, probably does lead to higher costs because the volume of skyscraper construction is low. To make a batch process preferred would require construction of some number of identical skyscrapers. This seems both unlikely and aesthetically undesirable. Perhaps, however, sections of skyscrapers could be standardized and produced by batch processes while still maintaining the appearance of unique buildings. This would be a modular approach to the problem. Q7. An entrepreneur is planning to go into the food business. How would he or she decide whether to open a cafeteria, fast-food restaurant, or fine restaurant? What factors should be considered in this decision? He would have to consider marketing operations, and financial aspects of the problem. The factors to be considered are: Cafeteria Fast Food Fine Restaurant Capital Requirements Heavy initial investment to set up cafeteria line. Low inventory. Medium initial investment, but higher inventory needs. Lower initial investment medium inventory. Market Conditions Need for large body of steady customers; mobile market. Inexpensive market. Competition very intense. Need for large and inexpensive market. Competition fairly intense. Need for expensive Less danger from competition. Labor Low skilled labor at low cost. Low skilled labor at low cost. Highly skilled cooks and waiters required. Technology Most risky. Less risky. Little risk. Q10. What are the strategies of the following organizations? Is the strategy defined in terms of product or process or both? McDonald’s. AT&T Telephone Co. General Motors. Harvard Business School. Distinctive Competence Product/Process McDonald’s Restaurant Fast, inexpensive, quality food, pleasant atmosphere . Product & Process AT&T Telephone Company Highest volume of calls Best technology Process Ge neral Motors Its reputation, number of dealers Product & Process Harvard Business School Case method Process Q12. A new business is considering starting up a new plant to produce low-volume, standard products. They are hoping that the business will grow and the products eventually will become successful and sell in high volumes. a. The business should consider using a batch process that is flexible enough to be modified into a line process when the products become successful and sell in high volume. b. The business should expect the need to invest more when it eventually uses a line process. It may be necessary to purchase special purpose equipment when the products sell in high volume for a long period of time. Lower skills, lower pay and more repetitive tasks may characterize the future labor force. Q1. Classify the following services by their degree of customer contact (high, medium, or low). Also, determine how much uncertainty the customer introduces into the system by the ability to make customized service demands (high, medium, or low). Check clearing in a bank. Bank teller. Bank loan officer. Customer contact customized service demands Check clearing in a bank Low Medium Bank teller High Low Bank loan officer Medium High Q5. Describe the service-product bundle for each of the following services: Hospital. Lawyer. Trucking firm. Trucking firm is tangible service – explicit service what the provider does for customer Hospital is psychological benefits – implicit service how customer feels after service Lawyer is physical goods – facilitating goods used during service or received by customer Q10. Why is the service-profit chain important to operations management? The service-profit chain model tries to link all the components required to make an organization successful. According to this model, a company that performs well in one aspect and poorly in another will eventually develop problems that affect the entire organization. This working model highlights the importance of the links between quality management, a good work force and exceptional service to the customer. Q14. How can we use the service matrix to improve service operations? The Service Process Matrix is a classification matrix of service  industry firms based on the characteristics of the individual firm’s service pr ocesses. The Service Process Matrix can be useful when investigating the strategic changes in service operations. In addition, there are unique managerial challenges associated with each quadrant of the matrix. By paying close attention to the challenges associated with their related classification, service firms may improve their performance. Also, the Service-System Design Matrix is a useful tool for understanding the different elements Service Design Matrix of a service system. Q16. What key factors are most firms seeking when they offshore services? Transaction-intensive services becoming commoditized. Professional services more commonly offshored High-end niche providers are globally dispersed Firms moving fast to scoop up global talent Collaboration and maintaining quality challenging with globally dispersed providers

Economics Commentary

Economics Internal sagaciousness Writing a Commentary on News article Task 1 Headline Pharmaceutical giant Paladol mistake its market by raising the footing on its best-selling headache alleviation tablet. Price piece of cake of implore (PED) is a measure of the responsiveness or predisposition of consumers to a alter in the hurt of a contingent considerably. In this article, Paladol elevated the worth of its outgrowth, which was a mistake there are a lot of opposite medicines for a headache and most of them would be cheaper which is what Paladol should prepare considered before raising their cost.PED= plowshare change in metre demanded parcel change in determine=%? QD%? P Cross-price springlikeity of demand (XED) measures the responsiveness of consumers of a particular faithful to a change in the price of a related satisfactory, two complements and backup mans. In this article, however, we bequeath be concentrate more than on the substitute ethicals. XED= Percentage change in step of fair APercentage change in price of good B=%? QA%? PB Substitute goods are goods or products that angiotensin converting enzyme might soft use in place of other because theyre so similar, an increase in the price of one may slip away consumers to switch consumption to the substitute.The substitution mental picture (which underlies the law of demand) states that as the price of a good strikes, consumers switch from other goods to this good because its price is comparatively lower. As the price of Paladol increases we can see the substitute effect, people switching from Paladol which is expensive to Tylonel, for example because its price is still the same which is cheaper than Paladol. Demand is a loop showing the various amounts of a product consumers want and can secure at differentpricesduring a circumstantial period of measure.When Paladol change magnitude its price for a particular headache respite medicine, consumers responded by d ecreasing their purchase of that expensive product, which change magnitude the metre demanded a movement up and left everyplace(p) along the demand curve. Consumers provide forthwith demand another good that is cheaper, a substitute, for example tylonel. represent A represents Paladol. As the price increase for the product the supply slacks (a shift of the supply curve to the left) because the producers want to make more benefit and increase their join revenue.However, the demand is lento decreasing for Paladol as people urinate that there are cheaper headache relief medicines a movement up and left along the demand curve as was mentioned earlier. So, consumers start switching to substitute goods. Graph B represents Tylonel (a substitute good for Paladol). As the demand for Paladol decreases, the demand for tylonel starts increase a shift of the demand curve to the right. This happens as its less costly for consumers.The total revenue for Paladol bequeath definitely dec rease due to the decrease in quantity purchased and that will also decrease their wage as the cost is now more than the sales. However, the total revenue for Tylonel will now increase in response to the decrease in Paladols decrease of quantity demanded. Paladol misjudged their market by thinking it has a comparatively inelastic demand and that if they increased their prices a little it wont change the quantity demanded by much.A mansion producing at a quantity and price combination along the inelastic regularise of its demand curve can eer benefit by reducing its take and increasing its price, since consumers will be relatively unresponsive and total revenues will so increasethat didnt work well up with Paladol. As their demand wasnt inelastic, that intend couldnt work out for them. They had a relatively elastic demand and one of the reasons of why they have an elastic demand is that they have a lot of substitute goods and competition in that particular good (headache reli ef medicines are very common).As a result of this misjudgment make by them, the quantity demanded decreased and caused a decrease in the total revenue and profit made by Paladol as well. Due to their detrimental decision, Paladol will certainly accept a loss which is a decrease in total revenue. However, their competition (firm of substitute goods) will gain more consumers thus increasing their total revenue. The consumers wont suffer or in other delivery they wont be modify by Paladols decision to ascent their price as they will have many substitutes to choose from.As Paladol is producing at an output and price combination along the elastic range, the firm could benefit if they change their prices again, this time by lowering them since consumers are relatively price sensitive and the percentage increase in quantity sold will exceeded the percentage decrease in price, meliorate the firms revenue figures and gift Paladol a competitive advantage over the market of headache med icines once again.