Markets and Society

Introduction Markets and society is a topic that has triggered hot debate over the last couple of years in the social sciences scene. The relationship between the two is explained in theories, some of which were developed by Thomas Hobbes, David Hume and Adam Smith. These economists made major contributions in their times. The market is said to have notable contributions to the welfare or well-being of the society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Markets and Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is important to note that the welfare of an individual can be conceptualized in terms of materials; therefore, market and society contribute to welfare and well- being of individuals. Well-being can result from domains that are outside the market domain. In addition, there are some accomplishments within the market that are likely to contribute to the well–being, but they are not captured in welfare. However, well -being of individual will not be possible if they embrace luxurious life. They need to work hard so as to have a good living. Success in the market is all about hard work but not luxury (Hume, 1767). Markets have the ability to make new forms of authority in the society. This is because markets, as mentioned earlier, have the ability to exact some form of control. Markets can influence what is happening in the institutions, the forces of demand and supply, as well as deciding the management of firms. Theories are the main principles upon which markets operate (Hann Hart 2009). These theories were developed by a number of theorists long ago, but they have constantly been improved and enhanced to reflect today’s business environment. This essay gives an explanation and a critical evaluation of how markets create new forms of authority. In the discussion, the essay focuses on institutions, forces of demand and supply, as well as organizational management. Forms of authori ty in institutions Institutions have various forms of authority, and they have their own ways of developing and enforcing policies. In the recent past, most institutions have been highly dependent on the economy for their performance. The economy, on the other hand, has a direct relationship with the market performance. As a result, the performance of the market will be reflected on the performance of institutions, both in the private sector and the public sector. The market is, in most cases, dictated by the prices that exist during a particular time. On the other hand, the authority controls the organizational hierarchy (Fleischacker 2004).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The market has a significant influence on today’s politics. For instance, in the England, the unity between David Cameron and Nick Clegg was formed at a time when the economy of the country was not at its best. It was a gamble for the two leaders, where no one knew what the outcome of the coalition would be. Many people thought that the power sharing deal would not succeed. However, the two have stood against the odds and they are faring well. Their major objective was to reduce the deficit in the country as a step towards improving the economy and the markets in England (Gray, 2010). This bid led to the creation of an authority by the market that aimed its efforts at reducing public spending. If the public spending is reduced, this may have a negative effect on the market since many people will not spend on buying goods and services. Clegg was a supporter of market liberalism. Together with other economists such as Chris Huhne, Vince Cable, Clegg made contributions to the essays that talked about market liberalism (Gray, 2010). This group of economists aimed at affirming a version of liberalism that they believed had been lost. Liberalism supports free markets, as well as a small government. It also favours the freedom of lifestyle as well as the commitment to civil liberties. In liberalism, markets do not emphasize on the traditional hierarchies. This is an indication of how market can create authority in government institutions (Gray, 2010). Commerce is everywhere and it has an influence in all institutions, whether they are governmental or non- governmental, public or private (Montesquieu, Cohler, Miller and Stone, 1989). The issue of commerce and its influence in the society, as well as in authority can be traced back to the time of classical theories. The classical theories were developed by a number of theorists, including Adam Smith and Karl Marx among others. However, people have been said to value money, and in the process they tend to embrace virtues. Many evils have been associated with money. This has especially been on the rise during the recent times of globalization and increased competition in the market. Money has an influence on autho rity in that the top officials have work to do to ensure that the evil acts are reduced or eradicated (Montesquieu et al. 1989). In China, the economy became a force during the year 2001 at a time when America was experiencing economic bubbles. The economy later came under scrutiny in China, as well as abroad. There were claims that the reforms in China at the time were aimed at creating a socialist market economy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Markets and Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Many people in China decided to join commercial ventures, and it was claimed that money went on to replace Marxism and become like the China’s god. The economy of China was influenced by its growing market, both within and outside the country. The demand for China products was increasing rapidly, making China an economic powerhouse. As a result of the social market economy where people were focused on making mo ney, other vices in the system such as corruption as well as erosion of moral basis of the society started to increase. The level of inequality also went up. This called for the authority to take action and try to control the situation (Arrighi 2007). In the traditional European, commerce was not given much attention as it is now. People were focused on the pursuit for good society. This could be seen in the traditions of the classical Greece as well as the traditions of Christianity (Muller 2007). However, this changed when the society started focusing on market and abandoning the pursuit of good society. When capitalism came in, the virtues of the society started fading away. Hence, commerce can be viewed as having brought negative issues in the society but on the other hand, it has improved the welfare of individuals (Hann Hart 2009). Generally, the modern society has really changed as a result of capitalism. Most people tend to focus so much on commerce rather than the issue th at affect the society. The western nations are especially said to have become highly capitalistic (Trigilia Wiley InterScience, 2002). Supply and Demand The forces of demand and supply are the ones that dictate the economy of any nation. In a free market, the forces are free regulating. The law of demand indicates that ‘as the demand of a commodity or a service increases, the price also increases’. In a similar manner, ‘the price of the commodity or the service decreases as the demand decreases’. On the other hand, the law of supply indicates that ‘as the supply of a product or a service increases, the price goes down’. If the ‘supply decreases, the price goes up’. These laws are true only when all other factors are kept constant. Demand and supply have the ability to dictate the activity of the market.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Demand and supply dynamics should be allowed to take control of a free market. These laws create authority in the market. In some instances, the government can directly or indirectly intervene in the free market and influence the law of demand and supply. For instance, in the case of money market, the value of the currency increases as the demand increases. The value also decreases as the supply increases. The government may decide to increase the supply of currency to reduce the value and the cost of its imports (Strauss 2004). Demand and supply can be influenced by a number of factors. Some of the factors include interest rates, inflation, economic, as well as political factors. The market of the currency can create forms of authority in that if its demand goes down, the government will be compelled to find ways of improving that demand. On the other hand, the government may decide to reduce the cost of its exports by increasing the supply of its currency. This way, market demand and supply creates authorities whereby the policies of foreign exchange are changed. Demand and supply of any commodity or service has an upper hand in determining the authority to be adapted in a market. It is important to note that in a competitive market, there is no individual who directly inflicts significant authority in the market. It is the market itself that creates its own authority (Strauss 2004). A competitive market is made up of many buyers and sellers, who compete for the best deals. Sellers want to get the best prices in order to maximize their profits, while sellers thrive to get the lowest prices possible for high quality goods. Competitive markets work differently from other markets. However, they are easy to model. The model that describes these kinds of markets is the demand and supply model. This is a model that has the demand curve, the supply curve and shows the equilibrium price. The forces of demand and supply have more authority in the society nowadays as compared to the past. This is especially more common in the wealthy nations. The western countries which are more industrialized as compared to other nations tend to have markets which are highly advanced and which are ruled by the forces of demand and supply (Smith Bullock, 2007). Who becomes the manager in the firm? Management is said to be both an art and a science. Management is a science since one has to apply concepts as well as modules in managing any organization (Taylor 2012). Theories are also an important tool of management that the managers have to understand and apply effectively. Managers are faced with problems in their day-to-day duties, which they are required to solve through application of concepts and theory. The problems that the managers face may result from the market situation in which they operate. Therefore, the market becomes an important aspect in determining the manager who is fit for an organization during a given time. Similarly, the market situation may present itself in a manner that the manager is not able to handle. In such a case, the firm is likely to dismiss the manager and bring in a manager who can propel it forward. Therefore, the market creates a form of authority, whereby it is important in deciding the manager who takes over in the firm (Peeling 2005). The market does not only create authority in deciding the manager who gets in the firm, it can also create authority on the labour required in the firm. For instance, if the market demand goes down, the firm does not have to produce large quantities of goods to avoid surplus and save on holding cost, as well as opportunity cost of keeping a large amount of stock (Peeling, 2005). In addition, the firm may also want to cut on the amount of money spent on wages. The employee base may not be fully utilized when the demand is low. As a result, the firm may lay down some of its employees. On the other hand, if the demand is high the firm will have to produce more to meet th e market demand. The firm may, therefore, need to hire more employees. It is important to note that the manager in the firm should also have the knowledge and skills to help the organization meet the market demand. The manager who gets into the firm should have the knowledge and power to help the organization achieve its objectives. This is one of the major criteria that the organization employs in finding a manager. The market today is characterized by high levels of unpredictability. Despite this fact, managers are supposed and expected to be proactive. A manager who is not proactive will always be caught up by situations. Therefore, the market requires that the manager hired in the firm be knowledgeable and have the power to deal with the day-to-day problems. Conclusion Market has become significant in the society since it contributes to the welfare and well-being of the individuals. Markets have ways of creating new forms of authority. They create authority both within the organ izations, as well as in institutions. Markets can create new forms of authority through the forces of demand and supply. These studies were given important contributions by economists such as Adam Smith, Chris, Keynes and Karl Marx, among others. The economists explained how the market is controlled by the forces of demand and supply. A competitive market is one where the demand and supply are not influenced by any individual. The market can also create authority on the manager who reigns in the firm. The manager should have the knowledge and power to help the organization achieve its objectives. He should be proactive to be in a position to deal with the situations that face the organization. The market dictates the number of employees to be hired, as well as the manager who fits perfectly for the job of managing the firm. Reference List Arrighi, G 2007, Marx in Detroit, Smith in Beijing, Adam Smith in Beijing: Lineages of the twenty-first century, Verso, London. Gray, J 2010, Prog ressive, like the 1980s (Print version), vol 32, no. 20, pp. 3-7 Hann, CM Hart, K 2009, Market and society: The great transformation today, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Hume, D 1767, Essay II of the Refinements in the Arts, Essays and treatises on several subjects, Volume 1 Essays and treatises on several subjects, Essays and treatises on several subjects, Millar, London. Montesquieu, CS, Cohler, AM, Miller, BC, Stone, HS 1989, On the laws in their relation to commerce, considered in its nature and its distinctions, The spirit of the laws, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Muller, JZ 2007, Historical Backdrop: Rights, Righteousness, and Virtue, The Mind and the Market: Capitalism in Western Thought, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, New York, NY Peeling, N 2005, Brilliant manager: What the best managers know, do and say, Prentice Hall Pearson Education, New York, NY Smith, A Bullock, CJ 2007, Wealth of nations, Cosimo Classics, New York, NY Strauss, H 2004, Demand and supply of aggregate exports of goods and services: Multivariate cointegration analyses for the United States, Canada, and Germany, Springer, Berlin. Taylor, FW 2012, The principles of scientific management, The Floating Press, Auckland. Trigilia, C Wiley InterScience 2002, Economic sociology: State, market, and society in modern capitalism, Blackwell, Oxford. This essay on Markets and Society was written and submitted by user Mina Lester to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Pestel Analysis, Adidas Essay Example

Pestel Analysis, Adidas Essay Example Pestel Analysis, Adidas Essay Pestel Analysis, Adidas Essay Pestel Analysis Political Adidas need to be aware of the political state of the UK, the same for the all other countries where they have bases. As if the government is unstable, or there are any controversial policies, they may have a bad affect on Adidas. There is a stable political situation in the UK, as it has a democratic government, a democratic government is one that is decided, by people voting on who they want to run the country. This means that if a dictatorship was to emerge and started making decisions that the public didn’t agree with they would simply be voted out at the next election. This is good for Adidas when operating in the UK, as it is fairly unlikely that the government would suddenly introduce any controversial policies. This will be good for my product as it gives it firm ground to work on. There are elections every four years in the UK, with the next one in May 2005. This keeps everything functioning properly within the UK, as the government aren’t very likely to introduce any controversial policies, as they would be voted out at the next election. This is good for Adidas, as it means that the government aren’t very likely to introduce any drastic policies, which may affect them. The government also offers subsidies if organisations set up factories in areas of high unemployment, such as the north east of England and south Wales. An example of this is Sony setting up a factory in Cardiff. However, I don’t feel this would benefit Adidas, as there aren’t any advanced skills required for manufacturing football boots, and would therefore be a lot cheaper for Adidas to manufacture their products in countries outside of the UK, where there is no minimum wage. The minimum wage is quite a major constraint for Adidas in the UK, as this means they can acquire labour at nowhere near the cost they could in countries where there is no minimum wage. If Adidas could acquire labour at the same cost as they do in other countries, this would allows Adidas to cut out the transport costs of moving the produce to the UK, and could be spent on funding new products such as my own. If the UK government were to put a quota on Adidas products imported, only allowing a certain amount of Adidas products to be brought into the country each year. Adidas could overcome this by situating a factory in the UK, eliminating the quota, as if the products were being produced in the UK, there would be no need for produce to be imported from other countries. This wouldn’t be good for Adidas as they would either have to sacrifice their cheap labour, or sacrifice sales by abiding to the quota, either way losing money. This would have a bad affect on my product as Adidas would have less money to promote it. If the UK government were to assume a more market economy, where producers make goods in order to make a profit, and the state intervenes very little, meaning no state benefits, doctors’ fees and dentist fees. This would have a mixed affect on Adidas, as the working class would have less money to spend on products like football boots, as they wouldn’t have previously being paying high taxes, and these relatively low taxes will be replaced with large fees, as nothing is provided free by the state; this would have a bad affect on Adidas as they would lose sales from this area of the market. However, the more upper class people would have more money to spend, as fees they have to pay would not be as much as the taxes they are used to paying and therefore would have more money to spend on products like football boot, meaning Adidas would receive a greater profit intake form this area of the market. Overall, I feel this odes not affect Adidas too much as the decrease in sales from the working class would be balanced out by the increase in sales from the higher class. Economic Adidas are also affected by the state of the economy in the UK. The interest rate in the UK is currently 4. 25%, however it was 3. 75% around 6 months ago, and is probably rising to 4. 5% in the near future. This shows that the interest rate is not very stable and will make it hard for Adidas to plan ahead in terms of budget. Also, if the interest rate is too high and keeps rising, then the demand for products will fall, as it makes saving more attractive, and borrowing more expensive. Whereas if the interest rate is too low, people are encouraged to spend, as saving isn’t attractive. This means that there is more money going round in the economy and makes goods seem cheaper, this is bad for the economy as it causes inflation to increase. This is why it is important that the interest rate is stable. The UK’s interest rate isn’t very stable at the moment because it is quickly increasing, meaning that it may affect Adidas in regards to their sales. This helped me decide on my pricing strategy of competitive pricing, where I set my price in line with my competitors’, as if their products are selling, then there must be people willing to pay that amount for a similar product. However, if the interest rates continue to rise, this will make saving more attractive and spending less attractive, therefore I may have to reduce the price of my product to encourage more sales. If sales drop there will be two options for me in terms of promoting my product; I could cut down the amount of promotions used to sell my product, to maximise my profits; or I could invest more money to promote my product more and hopefully gain more sales. Before the interest rates rise even more I will research into new, cheaper materials to use on my product, which will function the same as the current materials used. Therefore, if interest rates rise and there are less sales made at the current price, I can make a larger number of sales by lowering the price of my product, and with the cheaper materials, it will allow me to make the same profits. Due to high interest rates, sales may drop, so I will be making my product widely available to maximise sales, these places including high street sports shops, the Internet and mail order catalogues. This will allow the product to be available to a large amount of people and anyone that wants the product, will be able to buy it easily with no hassle. Due to the UK’s interest rate rising quickly, there isn’t much inflation of prices within the UK, meaning that Adidas will be able to purchase their goods at a cheap price. However, sales will drop, as customers will be tempted to save rather than spend. Also, other counties from which Adidas get their raw materials may have prices that fluctuate a lot. Therefore, this would mean that Adidas’s prices might also fluctuate and would make planning ahead hard. To add to this there will be exchange rates that may change a lot, and on top of this there is commission to pay exchanging money from one currency to another, making selling and buying products overseas more expensive for Adidas. Another economic factor to be considered by Adidas is taxation. Taxation comes in two forms, direct and indirect. Direct tax is tax that can’t be avoided, an example of this is PAYE (income tax), where a percentage of everyone’s earnings are taken from them, this affects people’s PDI (explained below). Indirect tax is tax that can be avoided. E. g. VAT on a product, as this can be avoided by not buying the product. Another influence that the economy may have on Adidas is unemployment. As, if unemployment is high, then there would be less demand for their goods, this is because if lots of people are unemployed, then they aren’t going to have much money to spend on luxury items. Whereas, if unemployment was low then there would be a higher demand as people have got more spare money to spend on luxury items. Personal disposable income (PDI) is also a factor, which could affect Adidas. Personal disposable income is the money that someone has left to spend after deductions (tax, bills, food etc. ) have been taken off their net income. PDI is affected by things such as interest rates, taxation and inflation, which I have explained above. Basically, if people have more PDI then the demand for Adidas’s products should increase, and decrease if people’s PDIs are lower, due to the same reason as unemployment. Social As the UK has a wide selection of people from different social backgrounds, Adidas need to be aware of things like people’s religion, race, culture, ducation levels, population, gender, age distribution, buying habits and lifestyle. Therefore, I need to promote my product so that it appeals to the different social backgrounds of the UK, as this will maximise my sales and enable my product to fulfil its potential market share. The UK is becoming more and more dependant on the Internet, this means that the methods in which people buy goods are changing. Rather than using the traditional method of going to shops and buying products, more and more people are buying goods from the Internet. This is because people have less time on their hands and the Internet is the quickest and easiest method in which to buy goods. Adidas need to recognise this fact and I will be selling my product online. Another method commonly used in the UK to buy goods is mail order; I will also be using this method of sale so that my product is widely available to people with different kinds of buying habits. Adidas also need to recognise the frequency, or how often people tend to buy certain goods. For example most people would buy 1 or 2 pairs of football boots per season. Taking this into consideration, I will be investing money into promoting my product in the pre-season stage, as this is the time in which most people buy their football boots. Also, I will be updating my product at this stage (pre-season) each year for the same reason as above. I feel Adidas have already noticed the times at which they receive the most sales, as they use lots of advertising campaigns in the pre-season stage and also before and during large international football competitions such as the World Cup and the European Championships. Religion and culture are also considerations within the social section. In the UK there are a variety of religions and cultures including Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews and many more. I need to be aware of this and try and make my product cater for all these different religions. In the UK, generally there is a high education level, meaning that people will be more demanding. Therefore, Adidas won’t be able to get away with things in the UK, which they possibly could in other countries with lower education standards, so I will be promoting my product in a way which is not cheesy’ and in a way which customers cannot tell that the promotion isn’t just about getting customers to buy it. Adidas need to be aware of the areas within the UK with the highest populations, such as London (and the south east), the Midlands and the northwest to name a few. With this information Adidas know the best places to sell their goods as the more people there are, the more potential customers there are to Adidas. When situating my product, in terms of where it will be sold, I will be situating my product in areas such as London, Birmingham, Manchester and other large cities in the UK, as there are the highest amounts of customers in these places, in comparison to the countryside, and therefore will receive higher numbers of sales in these areas. The age distribution of the UK is getting higher all the time, as life expectancy in the UK is ever-increasing due to advances in medical facilities and living standards. However, this wouldn’t be much of an issue to Adidas, this is because Adidas is a sports company, and the majority of the market for sportswear is in the younger end of the market. Therefore, this issue shouldn’t affect me too much, as I will be targeting younger age groups. Leisure time is another consideration for Adidas, as people are becoming busier and are not having much leisure time. Adidas is a sportswear company and most people play sport in their leisure time, and if people’s leisure time is decreasing they aren’t going to have as much time to play sports. Therefore, if people haven’t got as much time to play sports then the demand for sportswear will go down. I can combat this issue by intensive promotions of my product aimed at the younger end of the market as these people have the most spare time and are more likely to buy the product especially if the promotions appeal to them. The final point is the fast food culture, which is arising in the UK. More people are becoming obese from a young age and many of these people then do not play sport, this is going to have an affect on Adidas as there isn’t oing to be much demand from the increasing amount of obese people in the sportswear industry. This could also have the opposite affect; as people that are obese or overweight may take up sport to try and lose weight, this would be good for Adidas, as these people may buy Adidas products to perform sports in. Technological Technological advances in things like machinery will have an affect on Adidas. Therefore Adidas need to be tuned in to new technology, which can speed up production, save energy or cut down labour required. If they weren’t aware of new technology in machinery they may ultimately go out of business due to other firms becoming more efficient and gaining more of the market. I will be staying up to date with technological advances by investing money into research in these areas. However, if Adidas were to fall behind the latest technology, this would have a bad affect on all products produced by Adidas as it means competitors would be producing more, and if they are all being sold, making a higher profit and achieving a higher market share. Technological advances in the actual sportswear is always getting better, such as t-shirts that move sweat away from the body, football boots that allow you to kick the ball with more power, swerve and precision etc. Adidas must make sure they keep up to date with all these advances. Also, I need to include all the latest technologies and features on my product to keep up with the market. If I wasn’t to do this, my product wouldn’t receive nowhere near the profits that could be achieved if these new technologies were included, therefore my product would benefit by including the latest technologies. The Internet is becoming more widespread within the UK, with millions of people using it every day within the UK alone. Therefore, Adidas need to make sure that they keep up to date with the Internet all the time. Also, I will be utilising the Internet by selling my product via this channel. Again, if Adidas don’t keep up to date, competitors will go ahead of Adidas, making catching up even harder, and ultimately a loss in sales. Environmental Adidas’s raw materials for football boots are taken from animals. This source is not very likely to run out because animals keep on reproducing. However, this could lead to problems with environmental campaigners. Adidas need to research different materials that aren’t taken from animals to cut costs and reduce harm to animals. If they didn’t then it would cause people like environmental campaigners to stop buying Adidas products, meaning Adidas and specifically my product would lose sales. To add to this are the factories where Adidas produce their products, these are generally in less economically developed countries, such as Indonesia, China and Vietnam, and have very poor working conditions for employees and very low pay. This isn’t good for Adidas as they get bad publicity for this and then people stop buying their products. It is debatable in this situation, as if they continue to exploit workers, they will get cheaper labour but a slightly smaller amount of customers, or they could maximise the number of customers by paying workers higher wages, but then they would not get cheap production costs, either way Adidas are going to slightly lose some money. This would have a bad affect on my product, as Adidas would have less money available t fund my product. Legal Adidas need to beware of all legal aspects that may be linked to the sportswear industry, as Adidas could get hefty fines if they do not comply with the law, legal constraints to be considered include: Press Complaints Commission (PCC) Trade Descriptions Act Sales and Supply of Goods Act Competition Commission Radio Authority Independent Television Commission (ITC) Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) In order to follow rules and laws set by the Press Complaints Commission, Trade Descriptions Act and Sales and Supply of Goods Act, Adidas have to ensure their products are of a high quality by ensuring it is produced with high quality materials and by well trained personnel. If they weren’t to do this, less people would buy the products as they would be of a lower quality and also Adidas would get fined due to breaking the rules of the above laws and commissions. This would have a bad affect on my product, as there would be less money available to fund my product and any promotions I wish to initiate. When Adidas are advertising over the TV, they need to acquire a broadcasting license for the advertisement, to stay in line with rules set by the Independent Television Commission. To acquiring this license Adidas need to make sure that the advertisement had no verbally or sexually explicit content otherwise the advert wouldn’t have had a license granted, meaning that the advert wouldn’t be seen by anyone and this may be reflected in a drop in sales. Also, Adidas need to make sure all their promotions give a true representation the products being advertised, as to not break the laws of the Trade Descriptions Act. Adidas need to make sure all of their retailers have sufficient knowledge of Adidas products in order to obey the Trade Descriptions Act, as if Adidas give the retailers sufficient information and they give customers incorrect information about the product, then it is the retailer breaking the Trade Descriptions Act rather than the manufacturer. Finally, the Equal Opportunities Act needs to be considered by Adidas, this stops Adidas from discriminating against things like gender, race, disability and criminal records. As if Adidas didn’t do this a large number of people wouldn’t buy their products if Adidas were prejudice to their gender, race, disabilities etc, therefore, they would lose money, which could have been spent on funding my product.

Fast Facts About Gerald Ford - 38th President

Fast Facts About Gerald Ford - 38th President Gerald Ford (1913-2006) served as the thirty-eighth president of the United States. He started his presidency in the midst of controversy after his pardon of Richard M. Nixon following his resignation from the presidency. He only served out the rest of his term and has the distinction of being the only president who was never elected to either the presidency or vice presidency.   Here is a quick list of fast facts for Gerald Ford. For more in-depth information, you can also read the Gerald Ford Biography Birth: July 14, 1913 Death: December 26, 2006 Term of Office: August 9, 1974 - January 20, 1977 Number of Terms Elected: No Terms. Ford was never elected to be president or vice-president but instead took office upon the resignation first of Spiro Agnew and then of Richard Nixon First Lady: Elizabeth Anne Bloomer Gerald Ford Quote: A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have.Additional Gerald Ford Quotes Major Events While in Office: Ford grants Nixon an unconditional pardon (1974)Campaign Reform Law (1974)Communist victory in Southeast Asia (1975-76)Helsinki Agreement (1975) Additional Resources and Information This informative  chart of Presidents and Vice Presidents  provides at-a-glance  quick reference information on the presidents, vice-presidents, their terms of office, and their political parties. Richard NixonJimmy CarterList of American PresidentsChart of the First Ladies

Venus Compared Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Venus Compared - Term Paper Example The ancient Greeks used it as a means of worship, honoring their gods and goddesses with as perfect representations as they could create. Inheriting that tradition from the Greeks, the Romans developed an artistic approach that would both honor their gods and commemorate cultural and individual achievements. It was here that the figure of Venus first came to life only to be subsumed by the Middle Ages and reborn in the light of the Renaissance which has itself been reflected in later periods. Even as the figure of the goddess herself remains relatively similar in terms of subject matter and context, depictions of Venus from the ancient period through the Renaissance and into the more modern age demonstrate vastly different approaches to the concept of female perfection. Such differences are easy to see when comparing the ancient Capitoline Venus (second century BC) with the famous Renaissance painting of her in Botticelli's painting "Birth of Venus" (1485) and the Botero's contempora ry statue of her in the form of the "Broadgate Venus" (1989). The Capitoline Venus is a marble statue created during the Roman era, probably during the 2nd century BC. The statue presents a very lifelike woman as she shyly prepares to step into a bath. She folds into herself a little bit, which is different from many of the other statues of the time which stood boldly nude and upright. Most of her weight is carried on one foot with her hips and shoulders twisted a bit in a counterpose position. Her shoulders curve in toward her chest and her upper body seems to hover over her lower body, as if she is attempting to protect it from prying eyes. This impression is heightened by her arms which fold inward with an obvious attempt at covering her breasts and pubic area even though she doesn't actually touch her body. Her pose suggests modesty and chastity, both characteristics she protects (Guerber, 1990). However, she is not the vision of perfection one might imagine. â€Å"Her modesty in covering her breasts with her hand only serves to emphasize them, while her head turns shyly to one side. However, the beauty of her body is impaired by the too large head weighed down by the hair and the common facial features† (Morton, 1990, p. 366). The beauty of her body suggests her divine nature as something worthy of worship while her pose, particularly as compared to other statues of the time, suggests her function; however, the not-so-perfect head may also be a reflection of the Roman's understanding that their gods and goddesses were not perfect. They had their own flaws, petty jealousies, and other weaknesses. The way this statue is made thus reflects the cultural beliefs in which it was made. Goddesses might be divine and have a degree of perfection well beyond the ability of normal women, but they still had their modesty, they still moved like mortal women, and they still had their own small flaws that got in the way. The period between the fall of Rome and the rise of the Renaissance saw very little art celebrating goddesses of any kind, so it isn't until the Renaissance that Venus was able to reemerge into the art world. When she did, she did so in a big way. Understood broadly as the goddess of love, Venus was reborn in statues and paintings throughout Italy with perhaps one of the most famous portrayals performed by Botticelli. While she had appeared in other works before him, Boticelli made a splash with his â€Å"Birth of Venus† (1485). In this image, Venus is again portrayed in the nude as she had been in ancient art, which was breaking the rules of the time as only divinities (Jesus, Mary, and the saints) were accepted when depicted nude. He did draw a line, though, in determining

Renewable Energy Literature Survey Dissertation

Renewable Energy Literature Survey - Dissertation Example It demonstrated how capital can be obtained for project financing through a combination of debt and equity investment, debt being available through bank loans, institutional debt or through public markets. The paper mentioned the possibility of procuring equity from internal or external sources in public and private markets, and sponsorship through developers, contractors, equipment suppliers, operators, off-takers and fuel suppliers, who are active equity investors. The factors limiting project finance of renewable energy power projects (REPP’s) were examined. The author indicated that resource and technology risks were high and that financial institutions lacked the experience in evaluating risks related to REPP’s. The author also noted that with the rapid change in technology and the shortage of REPP technology engineers, they would have lacked the technical expertise in this area to assess and monitor REPP’s. ... This therefore results in a smaller margin for project financing and consequently puts pressure on costs related to maintenance and overheads. The author also pointed out that government policies, which are often unpredictable, greatly affect the economies of REPP’s. The paper gave focus to the importance of equity, seeing it as the main protection against risks. Lenders will therefore favour equity contributions in the initial part of the project. Lenders see equity investment as a form of commitment by the developers and sponsors. The author also found that security was another significant consideration for the lender, so they would implement safeguards such as a fixed charge over the projects site; a floating charge over the assets of the projects company; requiring that all cash flow be paid into a project account where they would have control, and contingency funds in place for unforeseen problems. The experience and credit worthiness of all participants would also be con sidered by the lender. There financial strengths would be assessed and the ability of these parties to carry out their contractual obligations with the project company would be determined. The article highlighted a number of risks that should be considered. The risk areas include the project itself, technology, construction, fuel/resource, the market, regulatory risks, mitigation and pass through. Project risks affect the amount, timing and availability of funds for the project finance. For technology lenders want to ensure that it is tested and proven, and that it will not be obsolete anytime soon. In relation to the construction risks the paper looked at the probability of cost overruns and delays in completion; most importantly

Black Holes :: space black hole

Introduction Black holes are one of the more interesting topics in astrophysics. Even though they are commonly accepted as being real, their actual existence has yet to have been proven2. Black holes are objects that have such a concentration of mass that nothing can escape their gravitational pull once it crosses the black hole's event horizon or Schwarzschild radius. The Schwarzschild radius is the radius where, for anything inside, the escape velocity is greater than the speed of light. Since the speed of light is the maximum possible velocity, nothing escapes from a black hole. They are given their name from the fact that they do not emit any light, since light is also pulled into them. History The term "black hole" was first introduced in 1971 by John Archibald Wheeler1. The actual phenomena the term describes was theorized to exist back in 1916 by Karl Schwarzschild. Then, it was just a curiosity as a possible solution to Einstein's general theory of relativity which described gravity as a curvature of space-time2. It wasn't until 1939 that Oppenheimer and Snyder seriously considered the possibility that massive stars could collapse and become what is now called black holes at the end of their lives. Today, black holes are a commonly accepted theory that even the average person has some idea of what they are. There was even a recent Associated Press story about two black holes in the NGC6240 galaxy that scientists predict will someday merge. Properties Black holes have many interesting properties. The most obvious from their name is the fact that they can't be seen since no light is emitted from them. One of the ways they can be detected is by the x-rays given off by the matter being pulled into them before it crosses the Schwarzschild radius. As the matter is pulled in, it gains kinetic energy, heats up, ionizes, and when it reaches a few million Kelvin, emits x-rays3. Black holes can also be detected by the way nearby objects are affected by their immense gravity. As you get nearer to a black hole, light begins to be bent toward it. Black holes have a radius around them that forms what is called the photonsphere. At this point, photons of light can actually orbit the black hole4.

Compare and Contrast: Schools Essay

Choosing a college could be hard like if your choosing the University of Nevada, Las Vegas or University of California, Los Angleos. They have many similarities but there has to be something different about them that helps you choose a decision but you cant find it. Is it the environment that surrounds each of the schools. Maybe the different academics, does it have what I want to succeed in one day. Or what if it has the sports I love to play and watch and are they good at them. Choosing a college is a choice that is apart of your life forever. Its where one day you hopefully will get your degree and have the oppurtunities of a lifetime. Is the University of California, Los Angelos a better school then the University of Nevada, Las Vegas? The environment in Las Vegas is not as big and open as Los Angelos. They both have many simularites such as: the culture, opportunities, experiences, and walking distance in many places. But Las Vegas is known as sin city and if your for the partying, and having the fun its a great environment for you to be around. Like Los Angelos, Las Vegas is known to many big businesses. There are 20,000 people that attend this university which seems like a lot In contrast the University of California which is located in Los Angelos. When many people think Los Angelos they think gangs and violence but there is an up part to that. The University of California is one the highest known schools in the United States. The environment is a lot like Vegas but there are 40,000 people that attend the school and wheres there more people usually means more surroundings and a bigger space. It may have some of the same things like culture, opportunities , and experiences. Like UNLV, UCLA is a lot of walking distance from dorms to school, and many things in between those are things like food, gyms and etc. Vegas is a great place for learning; It has many things to offer just as well as Los Angelos. The environment is great but academics is the real reason you are going to college unless your the next Micheal Phelps, Lebron James , or another athletic star. In the University of Nevada they offer 220 undergraduate, masters , and doctoral degree program. It might offer less due to the smaller school. Unlv is based on a medical school. As for UCLA, it offers 5,000 courses that could end in 125 different majors. UCLA has a lot more to offer its not really based on just one thing. With the bigger classes it maybe a little crowed but the professors are there to help you. They may not care as much as they do it the classrooms but it would be your responsibility to go after to ask for help. Or even join tutoring which I’m sure is offered at both schools. With over 109 academic departments it would help you decided on what you want to do in life. Being Micheal Phelps, LeBron James, or even Alex Rodriguez, you would have to start somewhere in life. College is where everything hits the big time because the professional teams or even Olympics starts to really look at you. Both UNLV and UCLA have many sports to offer. The University of Nevada is the home of the red and silver Rebels. They offer the normal football , baseball, basketball, swim, golf, soccer,and etc. They do offer men cheer which not many schools do not offer. Although UCLA doesn’t offer male cheer it offers others things like track and field, mens volleyball, water polo, women gymnastics, women rowing,and women sand volleyball, otherwise it offers the same basic sports. UCLA is home of the blue and gold Bruns. They are very high in there division because of the level of talents they have on the field and/or courts. UCLA is a better school it offers a more experience environment that will prepare you more for the future, has a better verity of academics, and more sports to offer for the people who have dreams to become professional athletes. College is very stressful itself but finding one right for you is even harder. The University of Nevada in Las Vegas offers many things but; it isn’t just as big and have more opportunity then the University of California in Los Angelos. With the environment, academics, and sports its a bigger and better school. Some people might disagree but that’s what I think.