Mckinsey Report July 2012

Day of reckoning for European retail banking McKinsey report July 2012 The dynamics of the global banking sector have been in flux since the beginning of the 2008. Irate creditors everywhere have called for more stringent regulation to ensure that that the interests of financial institutions are more closely aligned with those of their customers and shareholders. The global, European and national authorities have responded with vigour and the regulatory reform to which all banks, wholesale and retail, will be subject in the coming years will have an important impact on their bottom line. The single biggest cause of a reduction in retail banks’ ROE will come from the global regulatory mechanism Basel III, which will place greater capital requirements on banks and more emphasis on adequate funding and liquidity. Furthermore, three important European regulatory instruments, the EU Mortgage Directive, the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) and the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), Payment Service Directive, will also considerably diminish ROE. Finally, the implementation of new national regulation will create further downward pressure on ROE, though this will vary considerably from country to country. This report provides estimates on the impact on capital, revenues, costs and profit margins of all the relevant regulations on each product (both asset- and liability-based) in each of the four biggest European markets – France, Germany, Britain and Italy – which combined constitute 66% of the EU27 retail-banking market. ROE is the standard metric used and the report calculates the cumulative effect of all regulation as if it were all put in place immediately, using 2010 as the baseline year. The paper reaches some important conclusions. Firstly, with regard to national and continent-wide retail banking markets, ROE will fall from approximately 10% to 6% when all four markets are taken as a whole. Below is a breakdown of the effect in each of the national markets: Country France Germany Italy UK ROE Pre-Regulation 14% 7% 5% 14% ROE Post-Regulation 10% 4% 3% 7% Delta -29 -47 -40 -48 The impact in the UK is particularly caustic as national regulation is extensive. In terms of the effect of regulation on the different product offerings of retail banks, asset-based products are generally the harder-hit. In the UK and France, mortgages and small-business loans will be the most adversely affected. Similarly in Germany mortgages, personal and small-business loans will be the most negatively influenced. In Italy, the value of every asset-based product will be impaired. The disheartening truth of the matter is that across the board the ROE of asset-based products will fall below 10%, which is currently the estimated cost of equity for retail banks. On the other hand, liability-based products will prove more resilient. Deposits will become more valuable to retail banks as they are an advantaged form of funding and liquidity under new regulation. Geographically speaking, in France and Germany only investment products and debit cards will be negatively affected and in Italy most liability-based products will escape relatively intact. However, once again domestic regulation in Britain will play a role in reducing retail banks’ ROE, to the extent that all liability products in the UK will be adversely affected. An important section of the report discusses global systemically important financial institutions (GSIFIs). Such pecuniary establishments are considered too interconnected and universal to be subject to the new regulation imposed on smaller-scale retail banks. The Financial Stability Board has therefore proposed additional capital requirements for G-SIFIs, which will induce a further reduction of their ROE of anywhere between 0. 4 percentage points and 1. 3 percentage points depending on the institution. In addition, it will be obligatory for all G-SIFIs to prepare a recovery and resolution plan (RRP) that will provide a strategic map for authorities to wind down the bank in the event of dissolution. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) is also developing new global rules on risk IT for G-SIFIs which are expected to be issued by the end of 2012. Such regulation will mean that these organisations will be subject to exhaustive supervision and many ad hoc requests, thus amplifying costs and absorbing management resources. The general conclusion of this paper is that it is improbable that banks across the board in Europe will return to pre-regulation ROE levels in the short to medium term. The UK will be particularly adversely affected due to its inflexible domestic regulation. Nevertheless, the paper proposes four mitigative measures retail banks can employ in order to cushion the blow of new regulatory forces on their ROE levels. The first is â€Å"Technical Mitigation†, which essentially involves improving efficiency of capital and funding. Secondly, â€Å"Capital – and funding-light operating models† seek to further improve funding efficiency and reduce risk-weighted assets (RWAs) by implementing changes to their product mix and characteristics and ensuring more vigorous pursuit of collateral and better outplacement of risk. Thirdly, and although they will be severely limited in doing so by regulatory authorities, banks can execute â€Å"repricing† in order to compensate the shortfall in ROE. The paper predicts more repricing in fragmented industries, which implies that the scale of repricing will be limited in the UK, a highly concentrated industry. Types of repricing include new fee-based pricing, modular pricing, partial performance remuneration and value-added packages. Finally, and perhaps most dramatically, financial institutions can engage in â€Å"Business-Model Alignment. Such restrategizing would involve two principle shifts. The first centres on a new, rigorous focus on ROE in retail banks, meaning greater investment in management systems and strengthening their resource allocation processes. The second important shift can be denoted as â€Å"Sustainable Retail Banking,† and comprises four key elements: expansion into new revenue sources, creation of advice for which customers w ill pay, reconfiguration and refocusing of the distribution system to render it leaner and simpler and cutting absolute costs by 20 – 30%. By exercising the above levers, retail banks can create a bulwark against the weight of new regulation and cushion the inevitable reduction in their ROE. Anticipatory forward-planning of mitigation measures is central in adapting to the new regulatory environment engulfing retail banking and will help banks that are fully committed to returning to pre-regulation ROE levels to achieve their post-regulatory reform potential.

Defense Information System

Defense Information System (DIS) refers to a military global protected telecommunication network that simplifies the conveyance of information in a worldwide space. It is driven by transmission requirements, security demands, and geographical needs of the targeted end-user groups (Soomro 2016). Centrally, it is designed and managed to provide a long-haul information transfer. Furthermore, it is configured to provide a more sophisticated point –to-point exchanged voice and data, teleconferencing video and image services. The DIS offers an integrated operational standard user services to satisfy the connectivity requirements. It is a digital-based defense strategy, that facilitates access to vital information across the globe through efficiently designed services such as information assurance, data services, multinational sharing of information and computer hosting. Moreover, DIS forms a key spectrum of military force operations which include defensive tactics, humanitarian efforts, offensive tactics as well as counterterrorism (Stahl, 2008). The ultimate goal of Defense information system is to help in achieving information governance by providing an effective infrastructure that may be of an advantage to the user in a combat.On the other hand, ethics refers to the prescribed code of conduct which are morally justified to administer the defense information system. Major ethical issues involved herein include privacy of information, Access to information, information accuracy and right to Intellectual property. Rapid growth in information technology through its improved dimensions for communication, computation, surveillance, retrieval and storage has sounded an alarm on privacy matters (Kizza, 2007). This is to say that, the unethical retrieval of data and access to information by unauthorized persons has greatly threatened the privacy of integrated security systems networks. Therefore, principles of ethics agitates for protection of privacy policies in relation to access of every sensitive information. Information accuracy is another ethical issue of concern. Upholding to an inaccurate information is misleading hence, it is a sole responsibility of the defense information system to be vigilant in pursuing the accuracy of its information. Imperatively, they should be certain that their information are based on facts as opposed to fiction (Stahl, 2008). The final ethical issue in defense information system is the right of intellectual property. This forms the most complex right faced by many in the contemporary society and the military is not an exemption. Substantial ethical concerns surrounding this stem from the information traits which makes it transferable. Any Defense Information system information is believed to be costly (Stahl, 2008). Furthermore, once produced, it is easier to copy and transfer to others. This makes it difficult to safeguard such information due to its intangible nature. It is worth noting that several institutions such as copyrights and patents have come in to managed and protect the rights of intellectual properties. The worldwide process is narrowing the space steadily as a result of what Kant describes as the public use of reason. Information Technology has greatly improved the effectiveness of the Defense Information System. It has enabled quick decision making through enabled rapid access to functionalities of creating, finding, using and sharing of the needed information. Quicker access to information by commanders from anywhere has also improved control and commanding. Additionally, it has also accelerated the speed of actions thus heightened the ability to coordinate all security issues across the globe. Other expeditious contributions of information technology on DIS includes improved cyber security, improved information security postures, as well as the defense effectiveness. However, the state territory is privately constrained by certain interests which differ from the individual reflection concerning the general subjects in a public domain. The greater disparity therefore emanates from the free public use of internet and other media due to their enormous private control. Since information is provided on demand in our cloud computing era, access to web-based tools by users via browsers has led to abstraction of customer details, which has raised questions of privacy and transparency. Ethics in relation to privacy of information for both individuals and organizations have been heavily affected negatively as a result of technology (Mingers, 2010). On this aspect, cyberspace has posted more security threats to nation-states in a context of increased dependency of worldwide networks and computer based interactions. Cyber-attacks, scams, image manipulations, infringements to computer systems and copying particular unauthorized software demonstrates the unethical practices facing the defense information system unit. It is therefore imperative for stiff ethical measures to be put in place to hasten security of the nation states with the advancements in technology. Contemporarily, no state agency can apply control to privacy to prevent the exposure of one's close secrets to others (Zizek, 2013). Regarding to the larger size of data, computers have failed to interpret and register multi-millions of data therefore making it difficult to detect suspicious message making state communication of information more unsafe. However, the defense information system has not been much helpful due to increased illegal malpractices according to Snowden and other whistleblowers. On this regard, denouncing of the public authorities and engaging in public use of information has greatly threatened the secrecy of individuals (Snowden, 2013). In conclusion, defense information system is a telecommunication network enabled system designed to simplify the transfer of information across the globe. It was majorly implemented by the military operational forces in United States which include defensive tactics, humanitarian efforts, offensive tactics as well as counterterrorism. The ultimate goal was to achieve control of information by providing an effective infrastructure for users in a combat and to improve on the general security across the globe. However, ethical issues in defense information system include Privacy of information, accuracy of information, access to information and the Property right. Despite of the drawbacks, DIS has remained focused to work with the new technological innovations and achieve their set missions.

Monitoring Individual Accounts Receivable Accounting Essay

The name that looms largest in early accounting history is Luca Pacioli, who in 1494 first described the system of double-entry clerking used by Venetian merchandisers. Of class, concerns and authoritiess had been entering concern information long before the Venetians. But it was Pacioli who was the first to depict the system ofA debitsA andA creditsA inA journalsA andA ledgersA that is still the footing of today ‘s accounting systems. The dual entry system was foremost used in Genoa, Italy around the thirteenth century and was farther polished in Venice. Luca Pacioli wrote about the â€Å" Method of Venice † in his 1494 book, The Summa and this caused him to be called â€Å" the male parent of accounting † . This method called for three books to be used when entering minutess ; a memoranda book, a diary and a leger. Entries where posted from the memoranda book to the diary with debits on the left and credits on the right. A test balance was required at the terminal of a fiscal period. TheA industrial revolutionA spurred the demand for more advancedA cost accountingA systems, and the development of corporations created much larger categories of external capital suppliers -A shareownersA and bondholders – who were non portion of the house ‘s direction but had a critical involvement in its consequences. The lifting public position of comptrollers helped to transform accounting into a profession, foremost in the United Kingdom and so in the United States. In 1887, 31 comptrollers joined together to make the American Association of Public Accountants. The first standardised trial for comptrollers was given a decennary subsequently, and theA foremost CPAs were licensed in 1896. With the Industrial revolution concerns expanded to great size, both in footings of gross revenues, purchases and staff. These larger concern required capital and capital required investors who in bend required proper coverage of financess. They were besides capable to increased authorities ordinance and revenue enhancement. Accounting kept on progressing to the present twenty-four hours and involves the standardisation of reportingA and the development of international accounting criterions. The cognition economic system along with the on-going information engineering alterations is impacting the manner we are making concern. We are going clients of each other, and the economic value concatenation is incorporating our concerns with our providers, clients, and authoritiess. As accounting is concerned, these peculiar alterations are being reflected in the present tendencies of switching our attending from an disused quantitative attack to a qualitative compulsion where quality, client satisfaction, and invention become the most of import constituents. What is Accounting? Accounting is by and large considered to be the procedure of maintaining path of a concern ‘ fundss by logging itsA histories collectible, A histories receivableA and other fiscal minutess – frequently with accounting. Accounting is besides a profession consisting of persons holding the formal instruction to transport out these undertakings One portion of accounting focal points on showing the information in the signifier of all-purpose fiscal statements ( balance sheet, income statement, etc. ) to people outside of the company. These external studies must be prepared in conformity with by and large accepted accounting rules frequently referred to as GAAP or US GAAP. This portion of accounting is referred to as fiscal accounting. Accounting besides entails supplying a company ‘s direction with the information it needs to maintain the concern financially healthy. These analyses and studies are non distributed outside of the company. Some of the information will arise from the recorded minutess but some of the information will be estimations and projections based on assorted premises. Three illustrations of internal analyses and studies are budgets, criterions for commanding operations, and gauging selling monetary values for citing new occupations. This country of accounting is known as direction accounting. Another portion of accounting involves conformity with authorities ordinances refering to income revenue enhancement coverage. Today much of the recording, storing, and screening facets of accounting have been automated as a consequence of the progresss in computing machine engineering. What is bookkeeping? Bookkeeping involves the recording, hive awaying and retrieving of fiscal minutess for a company, non-profit-making organisation, single, etc. Common fiscal minutess and undertakings that are involved in bookkeeping include: Charging for goods sold or services provided to clients. Recording grosss from clients. Verifying and entering bills from providers. Paying providers. Processing employees ‘ wage and the related governmental studies. Monitoring single histories receivable. Recording depreciation and other seting entries. During the clerking procedure the bookkeeper must pay attending to inside informations on papers that is base for recording ( for illustration, amount, kernel of dealing, spouse of the company ) . In some legal systems there are prescribed demands sing information that must be included in papers. If all necessary information is non included, so papers may be invalid and can non be used for clerking. There are two bookkeeping systems: single-entry clerking system and double-entry clerking system. Single-entry system normally is used by persons and double-entry system is used by companies. A individual that does clerking is called bookkeeper, while a individual that does accounting ( uses informations provided by bookkeeper to fix revenue enhancement studies ) is called an comptroller. Bookkeeping requires cognition of debits and credits and a basic apprehension of fiscal accounting, which includes the balance sheet and income statement. The relationship between accounting and clerking. The footings accountant and bookkeeper are frequently used interchangeably, but they are non the same business. Bookkeepers are the line employees of the accounting map, executing invoicing, paysheet, hard currency aggregation and other everyday undertakings. Accountants supervise bookkeepers and have many other duties. Accountants and bookkeepers are responsible for entering the day-to-day activities of a company in the accounting records. These minutess are normally recorded by concern rhythm, and in larger companies a separate employee may be in charge of each rhythm. Everyday minutess are normally recorded by the bookkeepers, and more complex minutess are recorded by comptrollers. In fact, bookkeepers in organisations may be referred to as accounting clerks. Accountants vs. bookkeepers Book maintaining is merely record of dealing, but accounting is immense scientific discipline of recording, categorization, analyze and summarizing of concern dealing and reading of different consequence. 2. A book keeper ever works under caput comptroller and book keeper is frequently said history helper. 3. Calculation of revenue enhancement and filling of revenue enhancement return is the portion of responsibilities of comptroller. But, he can take aid from book keeper for tracking the sum of the incomes of concern. 4. Book maintaining is merely similar machine work in which book keeper passes the verifiers into books but accounting work is to the full professional and need high experience for analysis and reading of fiscal statements. 5. Most hard portion of book maintaining work is to rapprochement of bank history with base on balls book, hard currency balance with physical hard currency in manus, stock in books with physical stock in Go down. Most hard work of comptroller is to do concluding history and analysis of fiscal statements. Both bookkeepers and comptrollers play a cardinal function in your concern. The chief users of accounting information Accounting is frequently called the linguistic communication of concern because all organisations set up an accounting information system to pass on informations to assist people make better determinations. The accounting information system serves many sorts of users who can be divided into two ( 2 ) groups: External and Internal users. External information users External users of accounting information are non straight involved in running the organisation. Yet many of their of import determinations depend on specially information that is dependable, relevant and comparable. They include: Stockholders ( investors ) Lenders Customers Directors Suppliers The media Lawyers Each external user has particular information demands depending on the types of determination to be made. Lenders ( Creditors ) They loan money or other resources to an organisation. Lenders look for information to assist them assess whether an organisation it likely to refund

Texas Instruments Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Texas Instruments - Case Study Example Despite the sceptical outlook that a majority of executives had with respect to ERP, it was chosen as the methodology that could bring answers to the issues Texas Instruments faced in the late 1990s. As the case study outlines, the executives at TI felt that granted the fast paced trend of information technology, it was necessary for the company to make some considerable changes as to their methods and processes, in a manner that would allow them to compete more favourably in their market. According to the authors Sarkis et. al, TI was facing some serious issues in handling large international orders and delivery demands. For instance, the study refers to a Taiwan customer asking for product orders to be made in California and delivered at a given location to be decided just before delivery time. Such procedural complications in the ordering procedure would cause logistics issues that would eventually impact delivery time. As pointed out in the study, TI was facing several similar pr oblems where the customer requests would be delayed as the information system in place was not flexible enough to streamline the ordering process or to meet customer demands adequately. The executive decision to invest 250 million dollars in a brand new web based ERP system was made to help address the several issues caused by the internal and incompatible information systems used for inventory, manufacturing, and sourcing. Consequently the overall decision to implement a novel IS strategy to better meet customer demands was handled properly. In implementing a web based ERP system, the company would help reorganize the many processes that tie suppliers, manufacturers, and resellers on a worldwide scale, and thereby meet market demands in a preferred fashion to become competitive again. In upgrading their internal information system, I believe TI executives made the right choice in partnering with Andersen Consulting for their consulting expertise in the area. Considering the size and impact of the project in the long term, it makes perfect sense to consider that managers would employ significant resources to plan and execute this strategy for an up-to-date information system capable of handling customizable orders in an effort to enhance overall customer satisfaction and loyalty to the company. The team in charge of the project, after meeting and evaluating the solutions of several vendors, eventually choose the SAP solution for its ability to handle large amounts of data. Due to the widespread nature of the project, reli ance and pragmatism of the solution become imperative to make the transition to a more productive system. In considering the processes involved in the decision making for the adoption of the SAP based ERP system; there are few objections when taking into account the pre-established goals of the company. However, in considering the results that came off the newly implemented system, there were some methods and processes that could have been considered for a better turn out. In fact, Texas Instruments experienced issues of delivery and lower productivity immediately after product launch within their enterprise. As reported in the study, it appears that the 13,000 thousand users of the ERP system were not properly trained on the new system prior to its implementation. The previous reasoning would explain in part the apparent low productivity pattern which occurred during the "go live" phase of the ERP system. The report

Excutive summary-Global Strategic Management Essay

Excutive summary-Global Strategic Management - Essay Example The article highlights the major proponents of change and gives critical insight into the innovative approach that enables the businesses to compete against their rivals. The article succinctly argues that in the contemporary environment of globalization and recessive economy, the businesses need to evolve strategies that cater to the masses and meet the changing need of the people. The article also emphasizes that cost innovative strategies have become essential for businesses to maintain competitive advantage. The various means the businesses can effectively survive and maintain market position is moving away from premium products and make efforts for mass production of goods and services that are customised to the changing demands of current cash strapped customers. People want more value from the competitively priced goods. Another cost effective way the businesses are adopting is shifting their manufacturing and R&D facilities to the emerging new economies where the production and research cost is considerably low. The article also proposes that the emerging markets are crucial in the era of globalization and can be defined as the new area with high income and where the demand for the product can be created with relative success. Thus, the businesses must expand their operations in developing economies like India and China and exploit the market conditions. Last but not the least important are the innovative marketing techniques that need to be adopted to reach the masses. Hence the authors have suggested communication through alternative channels like posters, carry bags, luggage carts etc where the companies can put their name. These are low cost advertising channels and eminently suitable for the current recessive trend. I agree with the authors concern for adopting creative approach to sustain business in difficult time. While many big corporations and multinationals have found it hard to survive in the

Movie Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Movie Assignment - Essay Example ’s son, Michael, is critically ill of heart disease and he has already been taken to hospital (Crisis of Hope Memorial Hospital) by his parents; Michael needed heart transplantation. Unfortunately, Michael’s parents are unable to raise the required money, and they have already exhausted all the possible means to raise the $750, 000 required for Michael’s name to be included in the list of patient’s waiting operation. John Q had to decide on whether to transfer Michael to another hospital (County Hospital) or to use any other possible mean to have his son operated. Michael would most likely die if his parents transferred him to a County Hospital because the County Hospitals would not have been able to operate him. Desperate to see his son treated, John Q decided to use violence so that his son could be treated; John held hostage the stuff and the patients in the Emergency Room hostage so that his son could be treated. Eventually, John’s plan succeede d and his son was operated. In this movie, John had also attempted to commit suicide so that he could donate his heart to his son. Having analysed the situation in which John Q found himself, it is clear that John Q did not act with integrity. This is because integrity demands that one should act in the right way and a manner consistent with the prevailing rules and laws. Although John Q was desperate to have his son treated, and, although his plan of resorting to violence finally worked, John’s action of resort to violence, however, were not in line with the rules and the laws of the hospital. For this reason, therefore, John Q did not act with integrity. John also did not act with integrity by attempting to commit suicide so as to donate his heart to his son. This is because, rather than attempting to commit suicide, John could have let the hospital look for the heart for the transplantation. John’s wife, Denise, also did not act with integrity in the movie. This is because Denise collaborated with John

Hispanic Diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hispanic Diversity - Essay Example Diverse workforce acts as a competitive advantage to the companies. To a large extent organizational performance depends on handling its diversity issues. For selling products and services companies needs to handle many diversity issues because of their wide range of diverse customers. Organizations need to know diverse language, cultures, customers etc for fulfilling the needs and requirements of their customers and employees. This facilitates the company in achieving their goals and objectives (Jose 141). When a company understands the diverse needs, expectations and requirements of its organizational members and customer then it can enhance its business process and services which facilitates the firm in improving its performance and holding its place in the competitive global market. People of different cultures and countries are presently residing in U.S. Spanish people are presently dominating the U.S market. Business people, students, serviceman etc reside in U.S. Other than Spanish, people from another country like China, Latin America etc reside in the U.S. the basic differences among these people are in their culture, customs, habits etc. Hispanic people have covered the maximum part of U.S market. Hispanic people are very much associated with their family, unlike the present American people. The Spanish and Latinos people take care of their parents when they grow old. But the people of other cultures residing in America are very much concerned about themselves. American society believes in individualism but Hispanic people believe in collectivism. People of different income level stay in the U.S which enhances the socioeconomic differences in this state (Maffi 140). The market and workplaces of U.S are characterized with all of these differences for which companies operating in U.S market are trying to manage diversity issues.

Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 9

Research - Essay Example Decision-making is paramount during the times of drastic changes in the organization as it determines the success or the failure of the organization. Decision-making ensures that the steps taken in the change process have been researched on and are confirmed to work under specific circumstances. According to the article, â€Å"A Novel Trauma Leadership Model Reflective of Changing Times† by Cecile D’Huyvetter and Thomas H. Cogbill, change should be done according to the various generations that exist in the organization. Although this may be applied in large organizations that have employees with diverse age groups, it is applicable in most large health institutions. The findings in this article provide clear directives on how different generations should be treated because they prefer different leadership styles. I would apply these findings according to the generations. Application of these findings could ensure that the organization is in a better situation to make comprehensive and cost effective leadership models that ensure provider satisfaction at work. Most organizations have two different generations; the generation X and generation Y (DHuyvetter & Cogbill, 2014). These generations are usually very comfortable at using technology and have a habit of c onstant communications; therefore, I would use technology to communicate easily and affordably with them. Since this generation prefers work and life balance, they prefer a group approach to completing tasks. This is because they interact well with others. Therefore, ensuring that the organization fosters teamwork when dealing with these age groups would indicate effective decision making and change would be accomplished with reduced effort in the organization. Since these groups also prefer the absence of hierarchy, I would also make a good decision of such a favorable workplace to be

Chose one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chose one - Essay Example A child must get familiar with a language sample. Then subtle samples are used to detect whether a child can identify the segments as a part of the initial segment. Children try to develop an understanding of ambiguous instructions which in most cases are designed to have a grammatical choice. Infants detect statistical properties of co-occurrence. This means they segment a group of novel words in a gradual manner. The thesis of this essay is to give information on how children acquire language. As children advance in age, they start to detect the probability of syllables to predict each other. They start to detect word boundaries by considering syllable pairs. Infants as young as 8 months can perform these computations within a span of two minutes. Infants are able to soak up the meaningless events and to structure linguistics rapidly to make relevant meanings within units. During this stage, infants are said to develop the capability to detect musical tones that are used for word s egmentation. This includes the ability to track the structure of statistics within a sequence of absolute pitches. This helps in developing the tone structure. The next stage of acquiring language is establishing the distribution of elements and grammatical endings. They get introduced to the use of connectors. This helps in establishing the meaning of combinations in the process of utterance. This enables children to use the grammar meaningfully and to determine with actions of other people within each statement when there is need. Parsing process is used at this stage to ensure that children comprehend language by assembling strings. Rational conceptions and computed through assembling of language strings. The next stage in the process of linguistic development between birth and language maturity involves discovering the raw materials of gestures and sounds of the language being learnt. This entails learning how the sounds and gestures are assembled and try to map them onto usable meanings. This is said to happen simultaneously. The children start to integrate their learning capacity. They also start to crack the code communication codes. When the children are between 18 to 30 months old, they start to progress from first words. They become sensitive to grammar. This happens as the content of word vocabulary tends to increase at a faster rate. Some words start to be acquired depending on the frequency of their use. Children attach function to words in a gradual manner. This introduces children to the use of interrogative words like ‘who’. Parents are known to provide the initial information that leads to word production. Language development is tied to brain development. Children develop meanings from the familiar words. This involves neural arrays and patterns in the process of developing complex meanings in the human mind of a child. The brain of the children at the stage plays a central role in the process of ensuring words and meanings are i nterconnected. The neural grammar that exists is used to recognize the new words that are expected to build the language of a child. The late stage of acquiring language entails acquiring the structure of sentences. This stage is followed by comprehension. Children at their stage can respond to utterances and patterns of normal speech. This includes differentiating between meaningful and non meaningful sentences. This happens because children can understand sentence structures even before they can

Muslims are Bearing Most of the Historic Burden of European Racism Term Paper

Muslims are Bearing Most of the Historic Burden of European Racism - Term Paper Example Being the continent that experiences the highest inward migration, Europe should be least concerned by prejudicial perspectives towards immigrants. For example, in the case of Britain, many of the immigrant groups come from their former colonies, including the Caribbean, India, and Pakistan; lately, there are labor migrants coming in from Poland. In the case of Germany, many foreigners are those from Turkey, after they went there as temporary labor migrants. These examples demonstrate that the perception of foreigners as outsiders do not ordinarily depend on their origin, country of birth or citizenship. Additionally, foreigners belonging to non-Christian backgrounds are quickly considered outsiders, due to the overwhelmingly Christian orientation of Europe. For example, France has the highest ratios of Muslims, making about 10 percent. In the Netherlands and Germany, Muslims comprise about 7 and 6 percent of the general population.   In 2008, the European Commission created a special account of the discrimination experienced in Europe, using the measured survey branded, â€Å"Eurobarometer’. It was meant to establish the number of people that view themselves as members of minority groups. The report, also, explored the prevalence of the experiences of discrimination among the groups considered foreign or outsiders. The figures reporting the contact of individuals with outside groups, from the Eurobarometer show that 61 percent of Europeans reported having acquaintances from other religious groups or the people from other ethnic origins.

Post-16 option Essay Example for Free

Post-16 option Essay POST 16 – OPTIONS Post 16 options are given to young people and adults after they finish year 11 from school. Each post-16 option offers you different qualification opportunities and a different mix of teaching methods and assessment. Post 16 options comprises on: STUDY FULLL TIME 6th form or college Take up an Apprenticeship, Traineeship or Supported internship Take a part-time education or training course if you are employed or volunteer for more than 20 hours per week STUDY FULL TIME Schools, colleges and training providers offer a range of subjects and courses in which a student can study full-time. It normally requires to have at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C and at least grade B in any specific subjects one chooses. 6TH FORM COLLEGES A sixth form college is an educational institution in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where students aged 16 to 19 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A-levels, BTEC and the International Baccalaureate Diploma, or school-level qualifications such as GCSEs. In England and Wales, education is only compulsory until the end of year 11, the school year in which the pupil turns 16 (although this is changing in August 2013 to compulsory education until year 12 and by 2015, education will be compulsory until year 13) In the English and Welsh state educational systems, those wishing to continue may either stay on at a secondary school with an attached sixth form, transfer to a local sixth form college, or go to a more vocational further education college, although, depending on geographical location, there may be little choice as to which of these options can be taken. In the independent sector, sixth forms are an integral part of secondary schools (public s chools), and there is also a number of smaller-scale independent sixth form colleges. Students at Sixth Form College typically study for two years. Some students sit AS examinations at the end of the first year, and A-level examinations at the end of the  second. In addition, in recent years a variety of vocational courses have been added to the curriculum. There are currently over 90 sixth form colleges in operation in England and Wales. Most perform extremely well in national examination league tables. In addition, they offer a broader range of courses at a lower cost per student than most school sixth forms. In a few areas, authorities run sixth form schools which function like sixth form colleges but are completely under the control of the local education authorities. Unlike further education colleges, sixth form colleges rarely accept part-time students or run evening classes[citation needed], although one boarding sixth form college exists. Take up an Traineeship, Apprenticeship or Supported internship Traineeship It makes one get ready for work or for doing an Apprenticeship. They last from six weeks to six months and provide essential work preparation training, literacy and numeracy skills and work experience to get an Apprenticeship or other job. Apprenticeship In an apprentice ship one has to work for an employer and train to do a specific job at the s Apprenticeships at three levels: a, Apprenticeship b, Advanced Apprenticeship c, Higher Apprenticeships Entry requirements for these apprenticeships is one must be 16 or over, living in England and not in full-time education. There are now nearly 200 types of Apprenticeship from engineering to boat building, veterinary nursing to accountancy. Options depend on experience and what is available locally. There is no set time for completing an apprenticeship. Most take between one and four years, depending on the level of learning capabilities. As well as working alongside and learning from experienced staff, there will be off-the-job training, usually on a day-release basis at a local college or specialist training facility. The qualifications will be a study for a work-based qualification at level 2, 3 or 4, a technical certificate relevant to to the subject chosen occupation, such as BTEC or City Guilds award and Functional Skills qualifications. More studies included for certificates or other qualifications that are required in chosen occupation. Assessment includes a mix of observation by an assessor, the assessment of a  portfolio of evidence and examinations. Supported internship Just for students with learning difficulties or learning disabilities who want to get a job and need extra support to do this. They last for at least six months and are unpaid. Work experience and an employer trains students to do a job role. Students also get to study for qualifications or other courses to get ready to take up a job. Work or volunteer while studying or training part-time It is a combined training or studying for a qualification and work at the same time. It doesn’t have to be a paid job, student can volunteer on a project or with a charity, or get a work-experience placement in a career or job area that interests them. Colleges and training providers offer a wide range of training courses which are part-time including A levels and work-related qualifications like BTECs or NVQs. BTEC’s- are usually studied at school or college they are work based qualifications that are a mix between practical and theory and some work experience. NVQ’s- these can be taken either at school/college, through a placement or in the work place.

Causes and Spread of Infection Essay Example for Free

Causes and Spread of Infection Essay 1. Understand the causes of infection. 1.1 Identify the differences between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Bacteria – a single cell micro-organism that gets its nutrition from its surroundings and can only be seen under a microscope. Viruses are disease producing agents far smaller than bacteria. They are enclosed in a protein coating which makes them more difficult to destroy. Fungi – are included in the plant kingdom but are quite different from green plants. The basic unit of a fungus is a hypha which is a hollow tube. The hyphal threads spread out over and into the food material making a visible mesh or mycelium. Some fungi mass together to create toadstools. They spread by releasing spores into the environment. Parasites – an organism that feeds and is dependant of its host. 1.2 Identify common illnesses and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Bacteria – Lyme disease, Tuberculosis, tetanus, MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus) Viruses – polio, Norovirus, common cold, flu, chicken pox Fungi – tinea pinus, athletes foot, oral thush Paracites- worms, ticks, lice, mites 1.3 Describe what is meant by ‘infection’ and ‘colonisation’. Infection – is a invasion of a host organisms bodily tissues by a disease causing organism. Colonisation – occurs when any one or more species populate a specific area. 1.4 Explain what is meant by ‘systemic infection’ and ‘localised infection’. Systemic infection – affects a number of organs or tissues or affects the whole body e.g. type 2 diabetes, aids and hyper tension. Localised infection – confined to one organ system or area in the body e.g. absess, boil, sprain. 1.5 Identify poor practices that may lead to the spread of infection. Not wearing personal protective equipment such as disposable gloves, disposable aprons, washing hands and disposing of clinical waste in the correct way. 2. Understand the transmission of infection. 2.1 Explain the conditions needed for the growth of micro-organisms. * Psychrophiles grow below temperatures of 20Â °c * Thermophiles grow above temperatures of 45Â °c * Oxygen, pathogens vary in their oxygen requirements * Food * Most foods naturally contain suffucant moisture to provide bacteria with the water they need in order to grow 2.2 Explain the ways an infective agent might enter the body. * food/drink * natural orifices * inhalation * ingestion * inoculation 2.3 Identify common sources of infection. Droplets produced by coughing or sneezing, in air and dust, in water/food, carried by animals and insects. 2.4 Explain how infective agents can be transmitted to a person. * food/drink * air/dust * touching contaminated items * cross contamination * direct (person to person) * animals and insects 2.5 Identify the key factors that will make it more likely that infection will occur. * Open wounds/sores * Vulnerability/low immunity (children, babies, elderly) * People already suffering from health problems * Stress (suppression of immune system) * Poor practice and infection control

Political Stability A Big Positive For India Essay

Political Stability A Big Positive For India Essay The relationship between political stability, freedom and economic performance has raised many debates in economic literature in the past decades. There is a commonly perception that the reliable political environment is a necessity condition for economic development, many researchers tried to examine such a perception empirically both in a global and regional context, they suggest that political instability, by creating uncertainties in political and economic environments, distorts economic decisions, including investment, production, and labor supply, and thereby reduces long-run growth. However, much of the empirical literature has failed to find a significant, negative relationship between political stability and growth. In the other hand, democracy is valued independently of its effects on material well-being. Equal participation in elections (voice) and in the evaluation of government officials (accountability) is universally perceived as a precondition for social justice. Stud ying the effects of democracy on economic growth, because it focuses on its material consequences, is often deemed a futile endeavor. The purpose of our paper is to examine the effects of political stability and democracy on economic growth as an indicator of economic performance in the Mediterranean Sea countries .We have used panel data technique to estimate our model for 21 countries in the region during 1996-2004 period. The paper is organized in 5 sections. The next section is review of literature, then we would introduce our model and data collection, in the fourth part the results of estimation have presented and finally we indicate our concluding remarks. What is political stability? The political stability is generally speaking political stability is positive factor for the sovereign ratings. Because of strong mandate, next government will have a better opportunity to execute its policy agenda. Economist conferences today successfully organized the first INDIA FORECASTING FORUM. The conference themed Taking charge in Turbulent Times presented a unique opportunity to hear experts from the Economist Group assess the actions and policies of the new Government during its first 150 days. The conference saw the presence of various business leaders discussing the impact of the global downturn and the policies and reforms required to put their respective industries on track for rapid sustainable growth. The report released by EIU today stated, The Economist Intelligence Unit believes that there is unlikely to be a sudden rush to implement comprehensive liberalizing policies. This is not only because the governments foremost concern is maintaining domestic economic stability in a time of general economic uncertainty, but also-perhaps more importantly-because there remains resistance to reform within Congress and among its core supporters, particularly in rural areas. Indeed, support for maintaining the status quo has risen in some quarters because India has weathered the global recession far better than most countries, bolstering the argument that Indias slow and at times unsteady process of liberalization is in fact a blessing rather than a curse. In short, the reconfirmation of the Indian National Congress as the main governing party means that economic policy will remain broadly consistent with the direction that has been pursued over the past five years. The administrations top priorities will continue to be mitigating the effects of global economic recession on India and delivering populist measures designed to help the common man. MATERIALS AND METHODS Measures of political stability: This study created an index using proxy variables for political stability during 1990-2005. Our purpose is to measure the effect of political instability on growth related variables through this index. This study used the following measures to create the index for political stability in a long period 1990-2005 in selected ten Asian economies at various income levels. Longevity of the government: stands for the number of times the ruling party was changed during the selected period. It indicates the continuity of government policies. When the number of time increase political stability decreases. It indicates that the stability of the government is weakened. How much time a party take to rule over the country. Election density ratio (EDR):- election density ratio =the research period is divided by number of times general election were held. A country that holds several elections in a given period is politically unstable. Higher the value of EDR greater the countrys political stability. Lower the value of EDR the political governments instability is greater. Increase in the number of political parties: The increase in the number of parties or alliances, having at least two seats in the national assembly also indicates political instability. Strength of ruling party: average of the percentage of the seats the majority party that was in power for more terms during the period had in the national assembly. It indicates that within the period, what percentage of the total seats it got in the national assembly. And finally we take the average of the percentage. It indicates the strength of leading party in a country. Military expenditure as a percentage of GDP: military expenditure is an indicator of peace, thus political stability, in a country. We take the change in military expenditure as percentage of GDP between 1985 and 1995 fiscal years for all countries. Index of democratization: it measures the extent of democracy. Higher the degree of competition and participation, higher the level of democratization in a particular political system. Competition is defined as the electoral success of small parties. Percentage of the population that actually voted in this election is used as the measure of the degree of electoral participation. Generally, in middle income developing countries, greater democracy indicates higher instability of the government and less democracy greater stability. Number of persons internally displaced: it indicates that the country is afflicted with internal social political problems. Higher number indicates political instability and less number the political stability. All the above variables of measures which determine the political stability of country are transformed as a one index called index for aggregate political stability. What is the cause of political stability? Political stability is the most important attribute of a modern state, save for liberal democracy. In order to analyses and explain the phenomenon of political stability, this paper draws its statistical data from the Norris cross- national subset. However, it needs to be said that a complete analysis of all the factors affecting political stability can neither be collected nor analyzed. It needs to be said that there are a wide variety of variable that influence political stability. The political stability depends upon the rule of law. Political stability is also dependent on economic aspects. The reason is obvious that people are encouraged to invest and trade when they are confident in the future and few things seem more likely to undermine business and consumer confident than the view of political instability and sudden changes in the economic. Trade is an indicator for how developed the society is; if there are certain goods produced which other countries cannot produce because of their lack of technical advantage. Political stability and economic growth The political stability influences economic growth. It is called politicalization of the economic growth. Institutional framework for economic growth can be facilitated by the social capability, social infrastructure, good governance and rules and regulations. The growth of any country depends upon his political stabilities because development takes place when single partys rules over the country, many ruling parties are object to development in their states. If we want to see the development in our country its totally depend upon the political situation of that country. POLITICS OF INDIA The politics of India take place in a framework of a federal parliamentary multi-party representative democratic republic. India is the worlds largest democracy. In India, the Prime minister of India is identified as the head of government of nation, while the President of India is said to be the formal head of state and substantial reserve power, placing him or her in approximately the same position as the British monarch. Executive power is enforced by the government. It can be noted that federal legislative power is vested in both the government of India and the two characteristic chambers of the Parliament of India. Also, it can be said that the judiciary is independent of both the executive and the legislature. Looking at the constitution, India is a nation that is characterized to be sovereign socialist secular democratic republic India is the largest state by population with a democratically-elected government. For most of the year since independence, the federal government has been guided by the India National Congress (INC). In India the two largest political parties have been the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiye Ajanta Party (BJP). Presently the two parties have dominated the Indian politics. However, regional parties also exist. The year 1996-1998 was a period of turmoil in the federal government with several short-lived alliances holding sway. The BJP formed a government briefly in 1996, followed by the United Front. Coalition that excluded both the BJP and the INC. In 1998, the BJP formed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with several other parties and became the first non-Congress government to complete a full five- year term. In the 2004 Indian election, the INC won the largest number of Lok Sabha seats and formed a government with a coalition called the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), supported by various parties. In the 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, it won agai n with a surprising majority, the INC itself winning more than 200 seats. At the federal level, India is the most populous democracy in the world. While many neighboring countries witness frequent coups, Indian democracy has been suspended only once. Nevertheless, Indian politics is often described as chaotic. More than a fifth of parliament members face criminal charges. Role of political parties As like any other democracy, political parties represent different sections among the Indian society and regions, and their core values play a major role in the politics of India. The government runs by the representatives of the political parties who have been elected through the elections. India has a multi-party system, where there are a number of national as well as regional parties. A regional party may gain a majority and rule a particular state. If a party represents more than 4 states then such parties are considered as national parties. Formation of coalition governments reflects the transition in Indian politics away from the national parties towards smaller, more narrowly-based regional parties. Some regional parties, especially in South India, are deeply aligned to the ideologies of the region unlike the national parties and thus the relationship between the central government and the state government in various states has not always been free of rancor. Disparity between the ideologies of the political parties ruling the center and the states leads to severely skewed allocation of resources between the states. Political issues Social issues. The lack of homogeneity in the Indian population causes division between different sections of the people based on religion, region, language, caste, and race. This has led to rise of political parties with agendas catering to one or a mix of these groups. Some parties openly profess their focus on particular groups and some other parties claim to be universal in nature, but tend to draw support from particular sections of the population. Internal security is also threatened as incidences of political parties instigating and leading violence between two opposing groups of people is a frequent occurrence. Economics issues Economics issues like poverty, unemployment, development are main issues that influence politics. The economic policies of most other parties do not go much further than providing populist subsidies and reservations. Party funding Political parties are funded by contributions from party members, individuals and organization which share their political ideas or who stand to benefit from their activities or government publics funding. Political parties and factions, especially those in government, are lobbied vigorously by organizations, businesses and special interest groups such as trades unions. Money and gifts to a party, or its member, may be offered as incentives. Public financing for parties and candidates during elections has several permutations and its increasingly common. There are two broad categories of funding, direct, which entails a monetary transfer to a party, and indirect, which includes broadcast time on state media, use of the mail service or supplies. According to the Comparative Data from ACE Electoral Knowledge Network, out of a sample of over 180 nations, 25% of nations provide no direct or indirect public funding, 58% provide direct public funding and 60% of nations provide indirect pub lic funding. Some countries provide both direct and indirect public funding to political parties. Funding may be equal for all parties or depend on the results of previous campaigns or the number of candidates participating in an election. Frequently parties rely on a mix of private and public funding and are required to disclose their finances to the Electoral Management Body. Sometimes the political parties collect their funding by forcing or indulging the common people. Economy in India The economy in India is the eleventh largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and the fourth largest by purchasing power parity (ppp). Following strong economic reforms from the socialist inspired economy of a post- independence Indian nation, the country began to develop a fast- paced economic growth. India was under social democratic based policies from 1947 to 1991. Since 1991, continuing economic liberalization has moved the country toward a market- based economy. By 2008, India had established itself as the worlds second fastest growing major economy. However, the year 2009 saw a significant slowdown in Indias GDP growth rate to 6.8% as well as the return of a large projected fiscal deficit of 6.8% of GDP which would be among the highest in the world. Indian democracy: This article is about Indian politics, government and law and relation between them. This article deals with factors correlating the three with each other. India is a constitutional republic consisting of 28 states and seven center-controlled union territories with New Delhi as the nations capital. It is the seventh largest and second most populous country with roughly one sixth of the worlds population, making it the largest worlds democratic country. It is one of the worlds oldest civilizations with a rich and varied cultural heritage. It has achieved widespread socio-economic progress during the last 62 years of its independence. From self- sufficiency in agricultural production to space exploration, India is competing effectively with other developed nations. GOVERNMENT Constitution The government of India is framed according to the constitution. The architects of Indias constitution, through drawing on many external sources, were most heavily influenced by the British model of parliamentary democracy. In addition, a number of principles were adopted from the United States Constitution, including the separation of powers among the major branches of government, the establishment of a supreme court, and albeit in modified form, of a federal structure (a constitutional division of power between the union [central] and state government). The mechanical details for running the central government, however, were largely carried over from the Government of India Act of 1935, passed by the British Parliament, which served as Indias governing document in the waning days of British colonial rule. The new constitution took effect on January 26, 1950 and proclaimed India a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic. With 444 articles, 12 (later 12) schedules, and 97 amendments, it is one of the worlds longest and most detailed constitutions. The constitution includes a detailed list of fundamental rights, a lengthy list of directive principles of directive principles of state policy (goals that the state is obligated to promote, though with no specified timetable for their accomplishment), and a much shorter list of fundamental duties of the citizen. The constitution has fostered an increasing concentration of power in the central government-especially the office of the Prime Minister. This centralization has occurred in the face of the increasing assertiveness of an array of ethnic and caste groups across Indian society. The government has responded to the resulting tensions by exerting authoritarian, albeit constitutional powers. Together with the publics perception of pervasive corruption among Indias politicians, the states centralization of authority and increasing resort to coercive power have eroded its legitimacy. Law commission After independence, the constitutions Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy gave a new direction to law reform geared to the needs of a democratic legal order in a plural society. Though the constitution stipulated the continuation of existing Laws pending amendment or repeal, there had been demands in parliament and outside for establishing a central Law commission to recommend updating of the inherited laws to serve the new country. The Government established the First Law commission of independent India in 1955. The ministry of law reviews the commissions reports, consulting with the concerned administrative ministries, submitting them to the parliament from time to time they are cited in courts, in academic and public discourses and are acted upon by concerned government department depending on the governments recommendations. Factors affecting political stability The success of democracy in India defiles many prevailing theories that stipulate preconditions. Indian democracy is best understood by focusing on how power is distributed. Religion Religion is a major cultural influence and also plays an important role in politics. Political party support greatly depends upon religion. The main religions are Hinduism and Islam and many political parties are identified by the religion of their supporters. Unlike religions such as Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, Islam is not based on Hinduism. Many national religious issues are the key points of the success in elections. Caste The caste system crosses religious boundaries to infect both Hindu and Islamic peoples. Hindus have four main castes and hundreds of sub-castes. Many political parties draw supporters from specific caste or sub- caste. Population India is the second most populous country of the world after china. The one billion-plus population has challenged the countrys ability to provide jobs, health care, and education. Slowing population growth has been a major issue for the government. Its not an issue for the government because they think that the votes being produced. Development India is still an emerging country. Making the pace and shape of development a major concern. India began as explicitly socialist nation and continues with a large public sector and many constraints on private enterprise, although the recent government has reduced some of these restrictions. Their reward has been faster economic growth, particularly through the growth of the trade-oriented industry. Some recent governments got removed because economic growth was too low. Regions India is very densely populated. Some advocate splitting some twenty-eight states and seven union territories. International issues The nations success in developing an international information technology sector, recent wars with Pakistan, Indias role in the world economy and world affairs redefined nationalism in India. People generally support those parties who maintain and enhance Indias role in world affairs. Other factors Factors such as education, corruption, womens issues, student politics, and criminalization of politics, leadership strategies and the design of political institutions affect national and local politics. Economic growth: Economic growth is the increase of per capita gross domestic product (GDP) or other measure of aggregate income. It is often measured as the rate of change in real GDP. Economic growth refers only to the quantity of goods and services produced. Economic growth can be either positive or negative. Negative growth can be referred to by saying that the economy is shrinking. Negative growth is associated with economic recession and economic depression. In order to compare per capita income across multiple countries, the statistics may be quoted in a single currency, based on either prevailing exchange rates or purchasing power parity. To compensate for changes in the value of money (inflation or deflation) the GDP or GNP is usually given in real or inflation adjusted, terms rather than the actual money figure compiled in a given year, which is called the nominal or current figure. Economists draw a distinction between short-term economic stabilization and long-term economic growth. The topic of economic growth is primarily concerned with the long run. The short-run variation of economic growth is termed the business cycle. The long-run path of economic growth is one of the central questions of economics; despite some problems of measurement, an increase in GDP of a country is generally taken as an increase in the standard of living of its inhabitants. Over long periods of time, even small rates of annual growth can have large effects through compounding (see exponential growth). A growth rate of 2.5% per annum will lead to a doubling of GDP within 29 years, whilst a growth rate of 8% per annum (experienced by some Four Asian Tigers) will lead to a doubling of GDP within 10 years. This exponential characteristic can exacerbate differences across nations. Indias Economic Growth since 1980 India Economy Growth: The rate of growth improved in the 1980s. From 1980 to 1989, the economy grew at an annual rate of 5.5 percent, or 3.3 percent on a per capita basis. Industry grew at an annual rate of 6.6 percent and agriculture at a rate of 3.6 percent. A high rate of investment was a major factor in improved economic growth. Investment went from about 19 percent of GDP in the early 1970s to nearly 25 percent in the early 1980s. India, however, required a higher rate of investment to attain comparable economic growth than did most other low-income developing countries, indicating a lower rate of return on investments. Part of the adverse Indian experience was explained by investment in large, long-gestating, capital-intensive projects, such as electric power, irrigation, and infrastructure. However, delayed completions, cost overruns, and under-use of capacity were contributing factors. Private savings financed most of Indias investment, but by the mid-1980s further growth in private savings was difficult because they were already at quite a high level. As a result, during the late 1980s India relied increasingly on borrowing from foreign sources. This trend led to a balance of payments crisis in 1990; in order to receive new loans, the government had no choice but to agree to further measures of economic liberalization. This commitment to economic reform was reaffirmed by the government that came to power in June 1991. Indias primary sector, including agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and quarrying, accounted for 32.8 percent of GDP in 1991. The size of the agricultural sector and its vulnerability to the vagaries of the monsoon cause relatively large fluctuations in the sectors contribution to GDP from one year to another. In 1991, the contribution to GDP of industry, including manufacturing, construction, and utilities, was 27.4 percent; services, including trade, transportation, communications, real estate and finance, and public- and private-sector services, contributed 39.8 percent. The steady increase in the proportion of services in the national economy reflects increased market-determined processes, such as the spread of rural banking, and government activities, such as defense spending. Despite a sometimes disappointing rate of growth, the Indian economy was transformed between 1947 and the early 1990s. The number of kilowatt-hours of electricity generated, for example, increased more than fiftyfold. Steel production rose from 1.5 million tons a year to 14.7 million tons a year. The country produced space satellites and nuclear-power plants, and its scientists and engineers produced an atomic explosive device (see Major Research Organizations, this chap.; Space and Nuclear Programs,). Life expectancy increased from twenty-seven years to fifty-nine years. Although the population increased by 485 million between 1951 and 1991, the availability of food grains per capita rose from 395 grams per day in 1950 to 466 grams in 1992. However, considerable dualism remains in the Indian economy. Officials and economists make an important distinction between the formal and informal sectors of the economy. The informal, or unorganized, economy is largely rural and encompasses farming, fishing, forestry, and cottage industries. It also includes petty vendors and some small-scale mechanized industry in both rural and urban areas. The bulk of the population is employed in the informal economy, which contributes more than 50 percent of GDP. The formal economy consists of large units in the modern sector for which statistical data are relatively good. The modern sector includes large-scale manufacturing and mining, major financial and commercial businesses, and such public-sector enterprises as railroads, telecommunications, utilities, and government itself. The greatest disappointment of economic development is the failure to reduce more substantially Indias widespread poverty. Studies have suggested that income distribution changed little between independence and the early 1990s, although it is possible that the poorer half of the population improved its position slightly. Official estimates of the proportion of the population that lives below the poverty line tend to vary sharply from year to year because adverse economic conditions, especially rises in food prices, are capable of lowering the standard of living of many families who normally live just above the subsistence level. The Indian governments poverty line is based on an income sufficient to ensure access to minimum nutritional standards, and even most persons above the poverty line have low levels of consumption compared with much of the world. Estimates in the late 1970s put the number of people who lived in poverty at 300 million or nearly 50 percent of the population at the time. Poverty was reduced during the 1980s, and in 1989 it was estimated that about 26 percent of the population, or 220 million people, lived below the poverty line. Slower economic growth and higher inflation in 1990 and 1991 reversed this trend. In 1991, it was estimated that 332 million people, or 38 percent of the population, lived below the poverty line. India Economy Growth Farmers and other rural residents make up the large majority of Indias poor. Some own very small amounts of land while others are field hands, semi-nomadic shepherds, or migrant workers. The urban poor include many construction workers and petty vendors. The bulk of the poor work, but low productivity and intermittent employment keep incomes low. Poverty is most prevalent in the states of Orissa, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, and least prevalent in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. By the early 1990s, economic changes led to the growth in the number of Indians with significant economic resources. About 10 million Indians are considered upper class, and roughly 300 million are part of the rapidly increasing middle class. Typical middle-class occupations include owning a small business or being a corporate executive, lawyer, physician, white-collar worker, or land-owning farmer. In the 1980s, the growth of the middle class was reflected in the increased consumption of consumer durables, such as televisions, refrigerators, motorcycles, and automobiles. In the early 1990s, domestic and foreign businesses hoped to take advantage of Indias economic liberalization to increase the range of consumer products offered to this market. Housing and the ancillary utilities of sewer and water systems lag considerably behind the populations needs. Indias cities have large shantytowns built of scrap or readily available natural materials erected on whatever space is available, including sidewalks. Such dwellings lack piped water, sewerage, and electricity. The government has attempted to build housing facilities and utilities for urban development, but the efforts have fallen far short of demand. Administrative controls and other aspects of government policy have discouraged many private investors from constructing housing units. Liberalization in the Early 1990s Increased borrowing from foreign sources in the late 1980s, which helped fuel economic growth, led to pressure on the balance of payments. The problem came to a head in August 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait, and the price of oil soon doubled. In addition, many Indian workers resident in Persian Gulf states either lost their jobs or returned home out of fear for their safety, thus reducing the flow of remittances (see Size and Composition of the Work Force). The direct economic impact of the Persian Gulf conflict was exacerbated by domestic social and political developments. In the early 1990s, there was violence over two domestic issues: the reservation of a proportion of public-sector jobs for members of Scheduled Castes (see Glossary) and the Hindu-Muslim conflict at Ajodhya. The central government fell in November 1990 and was succeeded by a minority government. The cumulative impact of these events shook international confidence in Indias economic viability, and the country found it increasingly difficult to borrow internationally. As a result, India made various agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMFsee Glossary) and other organizations that included commitments to speed up liberalization. In the early 1990s, considerable progress was made in loosening government regulations, especially in the area of foreign trade. Many restrictions on private companies were lifted, and new areas were opened to private capital. However, India remains one of the worlds most

Role of Women in Shakespears The Taming of the Shrew :: The Taming of the Shrew

Role of Women in The Taming of the Shrew "The Taming of the Shrew" is a great example of Shakespear's use of women. Shakespeare indeed does transcend the stereotypes of his own time. In Shakespeare's, "The Taming of the Shrew" the relationship between the sisters Katherine and Bianca appears to be strained with rampant jealousy. Both daughters fight for the attentions of their father. In twisted parallel roles, they take turns being demure and hag-like. Father of the two, Baptista Minola, fusses with potential suitors for young Bianca and will not let them come calling until his elder, ill-tempered daughter Katherine is married. The reader is to assume that meek, mild-mannered, delicate Bianca is wasting away while her much older, aging, brutish sister torments the family with her foul tongue. Katherine seems to hold resentment toward Bianca. Her father favors Bianca over Katherine and keeps them away from each others' torment. When gentlemen come calling, Bianca cowers behind her father and Katherine speaks up for herself. "I pray you sir, is it your will to make a stale of me amongst these mates?" (1.1.57-58) Bianca and Katherine dislike each other feverishly. Katherine torments Bianca with words and physical harm. She binds her hands, pulls her hair then brings her forth to her father and the gentlemen callers. Bianca denies liking any of the visitors and portrays herself an innocent that merely wants to learn and obey her elders. She says, "Sister, content you in my discontent to your pleasure humbly I subscribe. My books and instruments shall be my company, on them to look and practise by myself." (1.1.80-84) Because Katherine speaks freely and asserts herself she is labeled as "shrewish." When Hortensio describes her to Petruccio, he spews out that she is "renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue." ( 1.2.96) He gilds the lily further by clearly telling of her fair fortune if suitable man comes courting and wins her hand in marriage. Petruccio sees dollar signs and rushes onwards in grand dress and fluently gestures to court the gracious "Kate." When he first begins his ritual of winning the family and Katheri ne to his love, he is seeking his fortune in her dowry. The mention of her being at all undesirable does not put rocks in his path.

Analysis of Shawshank Redemption Essay -- Essays on Film, Movies

The movie of the Shawshank Redemption is based on a short story by Steven King. The movie shows how prison life affects prisoners during their sentence in jail and after when they are released. The director concentrates mostly on the personal cost of adapting to prison life and how some convicts, once they conform, lose the ability to survive beyond the barbed wire and iron bars. As a character puts it, ‘These [prison] walls are funny. First you hate them, then you get used to them, then you start to depend on them.’ The director shows us to what extent prisoners can be made to ‘depend on them’. The two episodes that I will analyse are examples of two different ‘paths’ prisoners can take once released from prison. One is to survive and live their life, another is to give up and end it. In the movie Red, a prisoner at Shawshank says, ‘get busy living or get busy dying’. This quote plays an important role in the movie because Red and Brooks, two important characters who get out of jail have to make the choice to either ‘get busy living or get busy dying’. Red and Brooks are characters with many similar traits and have gone through many of the same circumstances. Both entered the confines of Shawshank Prison youths but left its walls as old men. They have seen many prisoners come in and out. They spent decades behind the dull enclosure and got used to it. They have adapted themselves to the concepts of routine, forced conformity, power abuse and have lost all elements of individuality within themselves. Red says â€Å"you come here for your life and that’s exactly what they take from you†. The episodes of the release of both men contri... ...ds hug, the camera pulls back, revealing the wide, distant horizon of the blue Pacific with no end in sight. No longer are the Red and Andy confined by walls and iron bars nor watched on by guards. Both are free. Brooks had attained the limits at prison, he had become institutionalised and once released had found the only way out was death. Red, on the other hand, had hoped, and hope had led him to freedom, to happiness, to redemption. Through the themes and the cinematic decisions applied in these two episodes the director has made these vital to the understanding of the movie. He has given two examples of the extreme situations to which prisoners go depending on their emotions. One of the emotions is yet one of the main themes of the movie, hope, and in my opinion it has been brought up extremely effectively.

Sonnet Analysis - Fair Is My Love, by Edmund Spenser Essay -- Sonnet e

This sonnet is an anti-love poem that ironically shows how the fairness of a lady is contingent upon nature's blessings and her external manifestations.   The Spenserian style brings unity to this sonnet, in that it's theme and rhyme is interwoven throughout, but the focus of her "fairness" is divided into an octave and a sestet.   The first eight lines praise her physical features (hair, cheeks, smile), while the last six lines praise her internal features (words, spirit, heart).   This sonnet intentionally hides the speaker's ridicule behind counterfeit love-language, using phrases like: "fair golden hairs" (line 1), and "rose in her red cheeks" (line 3), and "her eyes the fire of love does spark" (line 4).   This traditional love language fills pages of literature and song, and has conventionally been used to praise the attributes of a lover; but this sonnet betrays such language by exhibiting a critique rather than commendation. This sonnet appears to praise the beauty of a lady but ironically ridicules her by declaring that her "fairness" is contingent upon nature, physical features, and displaying a gentle spirit, which hides her pride. The first line begins: "Fair is my love, when " (line 1), and it's an idea that is shown five times in the sonnet (see lines 1,3,5,7,9). At first glance, many readers will find this phrase to be quite endearing, but the speakers actual intent is to prove over and over again that her "fairness" is contingent "when" certain events happen.   For example, she is fair "when her fair golden hairs. . . [are] waiving" (lines 1-2); and "when the rose in her red cheeks appears" (line 3); and "[when] her eyes the fire of love does spark" (line 4).   The poet is very precise in using the term "fair" which ... ...eems more astonishing.   This sonnet mocks this woman by pretending to praise her, all the while proving that her fairness is contingent upon certain external manifestations.    The fact that the beloved has a "gentle sprite" does not matter much because she is prideful.   The subtle language of the sonnet hides the speaker's ridicule, just as her smile hides her pride.   The author uses economic, oceanic, and nautical imagery to show how her fairness is merely revealed through temporal circumstances, and never makes mention that she is "fair" alone.    The ridiculing nature of this sonnet is greatly revealed through the repeated term "Fair, when," and through the central phrase: that her "cloud of pride, which oft doth dark" (line 7). Work Cited Fair Is My Love, by Edmund Spenser http://www.bartleby.com/331/122.html Sonnet Analysis - Fair Is My Love, by Edmund Spenser Essay -- Sonnet e This sonnet is an anti-love poem that ironically shows how the fairness of a lady is contingent upon nature's blessings and her external manifestations.   The Spenserian style brings unity to this sonnet, in that it's theme and rhyme is interwoven throughout, but the focus of her "fairness" is divided into an octave and a sestet.   The first eight lines praise her physical features (hair, cheeks, smile), while the last six lines praise her internal features (words, spirit, heart).   This sonnet intentionally hides the speaker's ridicule behind counterfeit love-language, using phrases like: "fair golden hairs" (line 1), and "rose in her red cheeks" (line 3), and "her eyes the fire of love does spark" (line 4).   This traditional love language fills pages of literature and song, and has conventionally been used to praise the attributes of a lover; but this sonnet betrays such language by exhibiting a critique rather than commendation. This sonnet appears to praise the beauty of a lady but ironically ridicules her by declaring that her "fairness" is contingent upon nature, physical features, and displaying a gentle spirit, which hides her pride. The first line begins: "Fair is my love, when " (line 1), and it's an idea that is shown five times in the sonnet (see lines 1,3,5,7,9). At first glance, many readers will find this phrase to be quite endearing, but the speakers actual intent is to prove over and over again that her "fairness" is contingent "when" certain events happen.   For example, she is fair "when her fair golden hairs. . . [are] waiving" (lines 1-2); and "when the rose in her red cheeks appears" (line 3); and "[when] her eyes the fire of love does spark" (line 4).   The poet is very precise in using the term "fair" which ... ...eems more astonishing.   This sonnet mocks this woman by pretending to praise her, all the while proving that her fairness is contingent upon certain external manifestations.    The fact that the beloved has a "gentle sprite" does not matter much because she is prideful.   The subtle language of the sonnet hides the speaker's ridicule, just as her smile hides her pride.   The author uses economic, oceanic, and nautical imagery to show how her fairness is merely revealed through temporal circumstances, and never makes mention that she is "fair" alone.    The ridiculing nature of this sonnet is greatly revealed through the repeated term "Fair, when," and through the central phrase: that her "cloud of pride, which oft doth dark" (line 7). Work Cited Fair Is My Love, by Edmund Spenser http://www.bartleby.com/331/122.html

Gcom 123 Study Guide

Study Guide for GCOM 123 Students are recommended to know this information for class tests and the final exam. Fundamentals of Communication Chapter 1: Competent Communication What are the most common myths about communication? Explain the differences between the three models of communication: linear, interactive, and transactional. Define the basic communication elements contained in the communication models (channel, sender, receiver, message, encode, decode, context, fields of experience, noise, and feedback) Explain the two aspects of every message: Content and relationship.Understand the communication competence model. How could you enhance your communication competence? What differentiates a constructive communication climate from a destructive communication climate? Chapter 2: Perception of Self and Others Define the perceptual process. What is a perceptual schema (prototype, stereotype, and script)? How is self-concept developed (reflected appraisal, significant others, and s ociety)? What are some of the influences on perception (gender, culture, past experiences, mood, and context)? What is self-disclosure? Define the concepts of depth and breadth in terms of self-disclosure.What are the guidelines for offering and receiving self-disclosure? Why is reciprocal sharing important? Define the term â€Å"self-serving bias†. What is the self-fulfilling prophecy? What does it influence? Define the process of attribution? How does the fundamental attribution error impact competent communication? What is empathy? Chapter 3: Culture and Gender Define what culture is. Explain how culture influences communication. Define ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, and multiculturalism. Explain the major differences between individualistic and collectivistic cultures.Explain the major differences between low-power distance and high power-distance cultures. Explain the major differences between feminine and masculine cultures. How does culture influence nonverbal com munication? Chapter 4: Language Explain the nature of the relationship in languages from phonemes, morphemes, syntax, and semantics. Define the four essential elements of all languages (structure, productivity, displacement, and self-reflexiveness). Explain the abstracting process (sense experience, description, inference, and judgment). Explain the two versions of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.Explain how connotative meaning differs from denotative meaning. What is the difference between a fact and an inference? What are jargon and euphemisms? Chapter 5: Nonverbal Communication What are the differences between verbal and nonverbal channels of communication? What are the functions of nonverbal communication (repetition, substitution, regulation, contradiction, accentuation)? Explain the major types of nonverbal communication (kinesics, paralanguage, territoriality, proxemics, and haptics). Can you identify the kind of nonverbal communication exhibited in an example? Chapter 6: Listenin g to OthersDefine listening by its basic elements (comprehending, retaining, and responding). What are the types of listening (informational, critical and empathic)? What are the most common problems that thwart competent informational listening (conversational narcissism, competitive interrupting, glazing over, pseudo-listening, and ambushing)? What are the most common listener response styles used in empathic listening? Interpersonal Communication Chapter 7: Power Define power. Explain the difference between assertiveness and aggressiveness. What are the major power resources (expertise, legitimate authority, reward, punishment, personal qualities)?How is power indicated in communication (verbally and nonverbally)? Chapter 9: Interpersonal Conflict Management Define conflict. Differentiate between destructive and constructive conflict. Define the three internal relational dialectics (openness-closedness, novelty-predictability, and autonomy-connection). How do we address these rel ational dialectics? Define the five most common conflict negotiation strategies (accommodating, avoiding, controlling, compromising, and collaborating). Group Communication Chapter 10: The Anatomy of Small Groups Define what a small group is. What are the advantages and disadvantages of small groups?What is cohesion? How is it developed? What influence does cohesion have on task and social dimensions of small groups? What are group norms? What is a small group role? What is the difference between formal and informal roles? Explain the difference between the three types of informal group roles (maintenance, task, and disruptive). What is leadership? What are the different approaches to leadership (traits, styles, and situational)? Define the major leadership styles (directive or autocratic; participative or democratic; laissez-faire, and situational). Chapter 11: Effective GroupsExplain the distinctions between a team and a group. What is brainstorming? What is critical to its succes s? Explain the steps in the Standard Agenda. Explain the differences between the major forms of decision-making (majority rule, minority rule, and consensus). What are the benefits and disadvantages of consensus? What is groupthink? How might groupthink be avoided? Public Speaking Chapter 12: Preparing Speeches What are the components of audience analysis (demographics, values, beliefs, & attitudes)? What elements of speech making are influenced by audience analysis (preparation and presentation)?Define the general purpose, specific purpose, and central idea in public speaking. What should be considered when choosing a topic (speaker, subject, and person addressed)? How does one avoid plagiarism? What are the types of supporting materials used in speeches? What are the criteria for evaluating supporting material? What are the basic elements of a competent outline (symbols, coherence, completeness, balance, and division)? Identify the organizational pattern used in speeches (topical, spatial, causal, chronological, problem-solution, and Monroe’s Motivated Sequence)?Chapter 13: Presenting Speeches What is speech anxiety? What are some guidelines for managing speech anxiety? What are the critical elements of a speech introduction? What are the critical elements of a speech conclusion? What is the difference between oral and written styles of speech making? What impact do various delivery considerations have on an audience (eye contact, vocal variety, verbal fluency, poise, dynamism)? Explain the differences between the major delivery styles (manuscript, memorized, extemporaneous, and impromptu). Chapter 14: Informative SpeakingWhat distinguished informative speaking from persuasive speaking? What is a transition? What is necessary for an appropriate or effective oral citation? What are the types of visual aids that can be used during a speech? What are guidelines for the competent usage of visual aids? Chapter 15: Persuasive Speaking Define persuasion. Wha t are the primary dimensions of credibility (competence trustworthiness, dynamism, and composure)? Define the three Aristotelian modes of proof (ethos, logos, and pathos). Identify propositions of fact, value and policy.

London 2012: Did the Olympics benefit all, or leave a legacy of widening social inequality?

The Olympic Games have become a much sort after event by cities around the world. It is seen as an opportunity for the city not only to enhance and broaden its profile, but showcase its potential as an attractive place for investment (Hiller, 2006, p.318). This essay will explore the sociological impact that the Olympics have had on the city of London and its occupants. It will be argued that while there are numerous positive short term effects that come with hosting the Olympics, not only are the positive long term effects few and far between, but there is a number of negative effects impacting those belonging to the lower socio-economic group.By examining what has occurred in London and comparing this particular Olympics to some past cities that have played host (Barcelona, Sydney, Athens etc), this essay will show that while stimulating economic growth, contributing to the short term happiness of the inhabitants and more recently, promoting environmental sustainability, the Olympi cs generally bring few benefits for socially excluded groups. Firstly, by looking at the history of the five London borough’s to be transformed by the Olympics, we will examine whether class theory is still a relevant issue for London and if Marx and Webber’s ideas are still applicable.The argument will then be divided into economic, social, cultural and political spheres, with each being discussed in terms how they were affected by hosting the Olympics in London. The Olympics may be of only short duration; however its impact and meaning may exist far beyond the event itself for the host city (Hiller, 2000, p.440). The most visible of these impacts relates to the infrastructural improvements. All host cities carry out extensive regeneration of urban areas and in London most of this â€Å"clean up and reorientation of city spaces† occurred in the  five East London Olympic host boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Greenwich. (LERI, 2007 , p. 5).Traditionally, East London has been the heart of manufacturing and industrial work; it has been home to London’s working classes and has remained relatively poor compared to the rest of the city. In the last decade improvements in infrastructure and the regeneration of London’s docklands has seen the boroughs become socially polarised with small pockets of relative affluence surrounded by the still high concentration of relative poverty. The present day London is vastly different to Marx’s 19th century version, yet the re-emergence of class as a defining factor has seen a new generation of those once again being influenced by his writing and evolutionary vision.Marx believed that class is best understood in terms of economic factors; his theoretical model is of a two class structure of owners and non-owners (Habibis & Walter, 2009, p. 18). Today’s London is not that different, austerity measures and rising unemployment have deepened the gulf divid ing the haves and the have nots. In the New York Times, an article by Katrin Bennhold (2012, April 26) states More than a third of British land is still in aristocratic hands, according to a 2010 ownership survey by Country Life magazine.In the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition cabinet, 15 of the 23 ministers went to Oxford or Cambridge. With this in mind, Webber’s multidimensional model of inequality and his argument that it is power rather than class that ultimately determines the distribution of resources in society (Habibis & Walter, 2009, p.19) can be used to explain how London is currently being governed. Webber placed much emphasis on the market and in doing so was able to account for the importance of non-material resources, such as education and skills. Most of those living in the East London in the lead up to the Olympics were young, lacking a proper education or skill base and therefore had little or no relationship to the market, and so, no power.Like Webber , Bourdieu also believed that non-economic factors were important as sources of social power (Habibas & Walter, 2009, p. 50). He would have made much of the fact that, of London’s elite and those who currently hold power, most attended the same prestigious private schools, therefore creating â€Å"social and cultural capital† to use as a resource that few in the eastern boroughs could even dream of. In the lead up to the London 2012 Olympics the world was confronted with what has become known now as the  Global Financial Crisis (GFC). This economic depression led to an increase in unemployment and poverty throughout the world, particularly in the case of those already belonging to socially excluded groups.Social exclusion relates not only to economic disadvantage but includes the exclusion of people or groups from participation in mainstream social and economic life (Habibis and Walter 2009, p.78). The impact of the GFC was reported as leaving a whole generation of y oung people with opportunities that don’t live up to their aspirations, to the point where they may abandon hope for the future at all. The crisis means they almost invariably face fewer and less well paid entry-level jobs at every level, from graduate openings to factory work (Apps, 2011).This unrest led to the London riots only 12 months before the city was to host the Olympics. London’s Olympic bid was promoted as being aimed directly at developing an extensive renewal process to address the social and economic problems faced by those living in the eastern boroughs (LERI, 2007, p. 5). In economic terms, the infrastructural developments and large building projects are important because of their ability to attract investment and increase employment opportunities. For London, the games related construction activity is estimated to support a  £13.5 billion contribution to the UK GDP and the equivalent of 267, 000 years of employment in the UK economy between 2005 and 2017 (Oxford Economics, 2012, p.2).However, national figures from December 2012 show a decline of 25 000 construction jobs during the year (Moulds, 2012). In the lead up to the Athens Olympics in 2004, employment went up by 7%, however once the games were over Greek industry lost 70 000 jobs, mainly in construction (LERI, 2007, p.55). The economic benefits from the flagship developments and major projects are supposed to filter down to all groups over time, yet for socially excluded groups, there are often no benefits. Instead, the impacts are often negative, with house prices rising and the cost of living increasing. â€Å"Those who benefit are the existing asset holders and affluent middle class† (Ryan-Collins & Jackson, 2008, p.4). The social and cultural impacts of hosting the Olympics have in the past been more about the ‘feel good’ aspects of the games (Smith, 2009, p.117), than any particular form of social sustainability.Past Olympic host cities, particul arly Atlanta, Athens and Sydney, have attempted to use the games as an opportunity for long-term social legacies. However research suggests that  Sydney was the only city where a legacy for a socially excluded group (the Homelessness Protocol) was lasting (Minnaert, 2011, p.370). For East London, three important changes have taken place since the Olympics. Firstly, transport services to the area, especially Stratford have been dramatically improved. Secondly, in order to compete with the huge new Westfield shopping centre, the local Stratford shopping centre was given a makeover, yet is still providing cheap, affordable goods for low income families.And finally, local schools have benefitted to the extent that they have lifted their performance from very poor to be able to compete with the national levels (Power, 2012). Minnaert (2011, p.363) has recognised three growing Olympic legacies for socially excluded groups; skills/volunteering, employment, and sports participation. The O lympics has been acknowledged as providing volunteering programmes that improve skills and employability, yet Hiller (2006, p.320) highlights that the model for the Olympic volunteer is best suited to primarily white collar workers.The vast majority of London’s unemployed are young, with a poor education and little skill base. As pointed out by Habibis and Walter (2009, p. 134) ours is a knowledge based society and those who possess the knowledge and skills (the highly educated) are the ones who gain access to the rewards. The same issue applies when reviewing the idea of increased employment opportunities for the host city population. Whilst it is abundantly obvious that yes, there are more jobs, most are not evenly distributed; employment opportunities usually benefit those who already have the skills and education required to seek and obtain work, with or without, these increased opportunities (Minneart, 2011, p. 363).The economic impact of the London 2012 Olympic and Para lympic games (2012, p.32) states that 3000 previously unemployed workers (70% of them from the host boroughs) were employed in the construction of the Olympic Park and Athletes village, yet these jobs are unlikely to be permanent as research into the legacies of the Barcelona and Athens Olympics suggests that job creation tends to be temporary, often filled by migrant and transient workers, with little or no change in overall employment rates (East Thames Group, 2007 p.4).One of London’s promises during the bidding for the 2012 Olympic games was to inspire a new generation to take up sport (DCMS, 2012, p.3). In the past  the Olympics has been linked to increased participation in sport (Minnaert, 2011, p.363), yet there is little to suggest that these new participants are from any socially excluded groups. Although money, or lack of it, may play a part in this, another inhibiting factor is that sport involvement is also linked to cultural capital (Minnaert, 2011, p.363). Bou rdieu used cultural capital to refer to a form of value associated with consumption patterns, lifestyle choices, social attributes and formal qualifications (Habibis & Walter, 2009, p. 48). It is comparable to other resources like economic capital in that it not only impacts lifestyles but also life chances.Bourdieu believed cultural capital could be converted to economic capital through education. By sending their children to expensive private schools, working class parents can purchase the cultural power needed to move into middle class jobs (Habibis & Walter, 2009, p.109). It is still too early to tell whether London has succeeded in getting more people to take up a sport, but evidence suggests that in the past the Olympics has failed to show sustained participation once it is over (Minnaert, 2011, p. 363).Those who make the decisions in London today hail not from backgrounds that anyone in East London could possibly relate to. The current UK conservative-liberal coalition govern ment is comprised mainly of the affluent, privately educated, upper class. They and the global business leaders of the world were the decision makers for the London Olympics and decided how London was to be changed and regenerated. Western nations are currently seeing a rising influence of neoliberal discourses where the shift to a market influenced distribution has taken the place of a state related redistribution (Habibis & Walter, 2009, p.105).Indeed the London Olympics has even been called the Neoliberal games (Renton, 2012). Renton (2012) argues that with all the corporate sponsorship from entities such as BP, McDonalds, and Rio Tinto, the 2012 Olympic games are a reflection of the injustices and inequalities of the current economic system.One of the five government promises of the Olympic legacy was to demonstrate that the UK is a creative, inclusive and welcoming place to live in, visit and for business (LERI, 2009, p.6). Yet in the lead up to the games, there was suggestions of ‘social cleansing’ occurring as councils attempted to  relocate those claiming the housing benefit to areas outside the city (Bowater, 2012). There is also still debate over whether the Olympic legacy of affordable housing will eventuate. Affordable housing was also meant to be one of the legacies of the London Olympics, yet with the recent cap on the housing benefit, many are doubtful that those with low income will be able to remain in the regenerated areas (Moore, 2012).In conclusion, it is noted that while hosting the Olympics boosts a cities international profile, particularly regarding investment and tourism it does not benefit all. While some improvements have been seen in the host boroughs like better school performances, more hopefulness and resilience, the increasing global financial strain is causing cuts to funding and resources that may now turn the clock back and leave these areas even worse off than they were before the Olympics. The lasting legacy could be that with the local sporting facilities removed to make way for the large Olympic complexes, many will no longer be able to afford to use them.With class still playing such an important role in determining life chances, particularly in London, the need to build a social system where education and skills acquisition are genuinely based on meritocratic principals rather than class hierarchy is the only way that inequality can be reduced. The Olympics has always been based on such meritocratic principals and it is the socially responsibility of those in power to see that as so much public investment is spent on financing such a large event, that it can only be justified if all benefit by being completely socially inclusive.