Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Combating Commodity Price Volatility In Australia

Combating Commodity Price Volatility In Australia Introduction It has been the wish of the France president to come up with collective solutions that have the ability of reducing excessive commodity price volatility. This is particularly in agricultural as well as energy product prices. This has been placed as being the first priority due to its effects on food security and world growth. The G20 has been the best forum for dealing with price volatility issues.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Combating Commodity Price Volatility In Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is because; the major stakeholders of oil and agricultural products markets are all G20 members. The France presidency has concentrated more on energy and agricultural products, whereby they want to improve regulations dealing with product financial markets. This is because such markets have been having no harmonized rules and regulations. Some of them even have no basic rules that govern mar ket abuse as well as price manipulation (Ambafrance-jp.org. 2011,) France also wants to increase transparency in markets for physical commodities. This is based on the fact that ,there isn’t no international data stating the supply and demand trends that can be termed as reliable, â€Å"on commodities markets hamper prices formation and increases volatility† (Ambafrance-jp.org. 2011). Another strategy proposed by French presidency is preventing and managing food crisis. The first response is increasing the supply of agricultural commodities in developing countries. However, the current food crisis have been stated to be as a result of lack of an international organization entitled with the responsibility of providing responses from governments, apart from channelling unilateral measures that are counterproductive. The usage of emergency and strategic food stocks in prevention of food crisis will only be successful, if and only if it is coordinated at the international level. Last but not least, â€Å"Stronger hedging instruments to protect the poor populations against excessive price volatility,† (Haig, 1966) is another strategy.Advertising Looking for essay on political culture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Being the president, France has been exploring different ways through which poor nations can be advantaged by the current financial insurance tools, which have the ability of protecting such countries from price hiking as well as events that impact harvests. To better recognize these strategies, G20 ought to copy what the Australia has dealt with price volatility. Price Shocks in Australia Although many studies have indicated that Australia experienced huge commodity price shocks just like other developing countries, it has been proved that, the government curbed volatility in a better way. In Australia, price shocks brought lots of impacts on resource allocation, di stribution as well as development in the last century. In combating such commodity price volatility, studies have argued the significance of tariffs, which aimed at offsetting industrialisation forces which originated from price volatility, and the significance of revenue booms to attain accumulation, and revenue burst in spending. Though the country has undergone greater commodity price volatility; especially between 1870 to1939, as compared to Latin American, Asian countries, Middle East as well as European periphery. But with such tools at hand, they were able to combat the situation. Since 1939, Australian price volatility has not been greater than other countries like US (Corden Gruen, 1970). According to available statistics from (Cashin McDermott, 2002) it has been revealed that, wool was the dominant export product. This is because, of the 70% of Australian export, 50 percent of them were made up of wool. Therefore, price shocks have been as a result of wool prices, even t hough mining and agricultural commodities had similar trends according to Gregory, (1976). However, wool price effects claimed a dominant position. On the other hand, the current booms have been as a result of mining and residual sector. As a result, wool and agriculture seem to be having no effects on the current commodity price volatility (Gregory, 1976) In addition, the category of residual export has been used in offsetting volatility in agricultural, mining and wool commodities. In the 20th century, the time Australia got industrialized, the export mix transformed to manufactures. As a result, though commodity price volatility was still an attribute of Australia, but its effects diminished in the 20th century.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Combating Commodity Price Volatility In Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This reduction is as a result of industrialization and post industrialization forces; â⠂¬Å"first, reducing export concentration, and raising the manufacturing export share and second, reducing the relative size of agriculture and mining activity in the economy, both serving to mute the impact of export price volatility in Australian markets† (Gregory, 1976) The Response of Australian Markets on Price Volatility By looking at structural change index and SCHEMP index, we can conclude that in those three price shocks that Australia underwent, there exists no significant difference in structural change during downsizing and upsizing. This has been attributed to secular manufacturing increase; commodity price volatility had very little effects on either deindustrialization or reindustrialization (Koren Tenreyro 2007). The major reasons that could have resulted to such a scenario are two. One lays on â€Å"development of fundamentals and favouring manufacturing, which completely swamped the impact of the commodity price shocks between 1945 and 1955† (Maddock, McLean, 1987). The second reason is based on market factors which did not play its allocative role as expected. The two reasons do not compete in any way, as similar situation seem to have happened in the recent mining price volatility. However, the â€Å"only exception to this rule appears to have been the 1920s where there does seem to be evidence of deindustrialisation on the commodity price upswing and reindustrialisation on the downswing† (Cashin McDermott, 2002) By looking at the factors that suppressed deindustrialization during price boom and reindustrialisation during price slumps, one might be confused in determining whether it was development basic which swamped the effects of price volatility or it were immobility factors (Koren Tenreyro, 2007). In 20th century, Australian immigration boom occurred; however, it occurred five years after the price boom. Though some parts of Australia like Queensland had specialized heavily on agricultural and wool products, high immigration rates were only reported in Western Australia. Moreover, higher immigration rates in this region, occurred during price burst, as compared to boom prices times.Advertising Looking for essay on political culture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As a result, immigration never played any role in price volatility. In general, labour markets have not yet responded sufficiently in the creation of industrialization and reindustrialisation in commodity price volatility (Hatton Williamson, 1998). By considering unemployment rate behaviours, price booms should have led to low unemployment rates and higher employment rates. This would have been the outcome in case labour would have been immobile. In case labour was mobile, then the rates would have been the same in the entire country. By looking at available statistics, it proves that labour was immobile. Major parts of the country that were mostly affected by price shocks experienced different rates during commodity price volatility. However, such differences can’t be predicted, as they seem to be ambiguous (Hatton Williamson 1998). In general, the labour market of Australia didn’t respond to commodity price volatility as they were inconsistent with conventional the ory predictions. There exist very little prove of industrial response along with structural change during price volatility. This suggests that, â€Å"long run economic fundamentals were swamping them. In addition, we find very little evidence that labour markets were responsive to these price shocks; labour migration during commodity price booms and busts was modest and inconsistent† (Maddock. McLean, 1987) Policy Reaction to Price Volatility in Australia There have been arguments that during commodity price volatility, higher tariffs were used to protect industries. As a result, price booms resulted to higher revenues, which were then used for infrastructural investments in the country, particularly in the industrialised estates (Anderson, 1987). Statistics shows that, tariffs increased sharply in Australia during commodity price booming. It is stated by Lloyd (2008) that, in 1921, â€Å"Customs Tariff increased on industries that had grown during World War I; the tariffs met with very little resistance as the proponents of protectionism used defence and national pride in the young manufacturing sector as additional justifications for protection† (Lloyd, 2008). In addition, the move was also supported by export booming states, as they appealed for fairness in the country. However, tariffs continued to increase during depression, and even after price burst. This was following the proposal made by (Brigden, 1925) that protection was raising wages, living standards as well as raising the level of employees working in high wage jobs. This proposal ended up being implemented as a way of redistributive instrument. One brief existed during Korean War, but great increase in duties happened in 1951-1952. However, it has been argued that tariff rate increase was as a result of an increase on dutiable goods import as compare to free import goods, other than a rise in tariff rates. The increase in imports was being paid for by great raise in demand for com modity export of Australia. However, such payment stopped immediately the boom termination occurred (Lloyd, 2008). It should however be understood that protection need went down; by the time Australia was entering post-industrial development stage. As a result, the service sector ended up becoming the most important sector either in employment or GDP shares. The outcome of this was, â€Å"the support for protecting manufacturing jobs to maintain high living standards faded. There was across-the-board cut in tariff rates in 1973 and the trend continued till the current boom† (Anderson 1987). In short, the response of the federal government to price shocks or volatility by raising tariffs, with the aim of preventing manufacturing unemployment as well as deindustrialisation was brought up by politicians as they though it will matter. In particular, this was during 1920s, the time when manufacturing sector was closely linked to national pride, defence and fairness. Apart from pre venting deindustrialisation, the policies of protectionists served the country well as a toll of reindustrialisation during depression times. However, the need for such policies ended up declining by the time the manufacturing sector was undergoing post war boom effects and in the recent past when the service industry was becoming one of the most significant industry (Brigden, 1925) It is true that the Australian government was enjoying revenue gains during export price booms. However, as stated earlier, revenues didn’t fall after boom, or during price burst. This suggests that the income revenues for the federal government were diversified appropriately to deal with the effects of price volatility of certain commodities. In addition, available evidence proves that, payment shares to both states and subsidies went up at this time. This suggests that, there were some efforts aiming at smoothening regional effects on downside of price volatility. It is stated that â€Å"The re venue growth rate during the Korean War almost doubled from 6.9 to 12.3 percent on either side of 1950, showing how unimportant commodity prices were as a determinant of government revenues by mid-century† (Bambrick, 1973) The recent price boom also led to an increase in government revenue and an increase in share transfer. This has been attributed to the goods and service tax (GST) introduction in 2000. This has been much helpful particularly in eliminating not only territorial and states taxes, but also in the elimination of levies and duties. However, with this policy it was aimed that the federal government will have to â€Å"return that revenue proportion to its states through the Council of Australian Government mechanism† (Corden Gruen1970). As a result the current redistributive share is not as an effect of conscious redistribution strategy, which is accelerated by commodity price volatility, though they are consistent. By comparing government investment growth during price booming, and revenue growth, studies have identified a higher government investment. As a result, studies have attributed this to expenditure smoothing policy. However, during price slumps government investments particularly in infrastructure sector collapsed. This fell has been attributed to fell in revenue growth. This can hardly explain the stabilization policy, but can easily explain the contrary. This brings us to the point that, there is no prove that, the Australian government used investment as way of dealing with commodity price volatility that occurred in 1920s (Koren Tenreyro 2007). During Korean War similar policy response occurred however, this time round government investment grew spectacularly, as compared to 1920s boom’s growth. At this time, the infrastructure sector like roads experienced drastic growth. However, government investment growth in other sectors like education has remained unmatched in the modern history of Australia. By looking a t the downside that occurred after 1920s and 1950s commodity price burst, it has been observed that government investment growth went down. â€Å"In contrast, the recent commodity price boom coincided with drop in aggregate government investments† (Bodie, Kane Marcus, 1999). This break can be explained by the government role ideological shifts, other than viewing it in terms of expenditure smoothening over commodity price volatility. However, the best evidence that will prove Australian policy response historical determination is the government’s response on the collapsing metal base prices. Conclusion With the strategies laid down by the Australian federal government, commodity price volatility that affected major product exports in developing countries, never impacted Australia greatly as compared to other countries, be it on aggregates like GDP or unemployment. This is not because the Australian markets were in a position of responding to external forces. But becau se, revenue was coming from many different sources, though some studies have refuted this point claiming that the Australian government didn’t use countercyclical investment policy to the maximum. Another reason that seems to have prevented greater impact was the fact that, the country was in a position to diversify revenue sources, hence mute the effects of price volatility. This is because, diversification â€Å"made the difference – a big and growing industrial sector before about 1970, and a big and growing service sector after about 1970. More efficient factor markets and better institutions didn’t seem to matter much at all† (Kose Reizman, 2001). List of References Ambafrance-jp.org. 2011, G20-G8 France. Web. Anderson, K. 1987, â€Å"Tariffs and the manufacturing sector,† in Maddock, R. McLean, I (eds.). The Australian Economy in the Long Run. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Bambrick, S. 1973. â€Å"Australian Price Levels, 1890-197 0,† Australian Economic History Review. 13(1), PP. 57-71. Bodie, Z., Kane A. Marcus, A. 1999. Investments. Sydney: Irwin McGraw Hill. Brigden, J. 1925, â€Å"The Australian tariff and the standard of living,† Economic Record. 1(1), PP. 29-46. Cashin, P. McDermott, J. 2002, â€Å"Riding on the Sheep’s Back: Examining Australia’s Dependence on Wool Exports† Economic Record. 78(242), PP. 249-63. Corden, W. Gruen, F. 1970, â€Å"A Tariff That Worsens the Terms of Trade.† In.MacDougall, A. Snape, R. (eds.). Studies in International Economics. Amsterdam: North Holland. Gregory, R. 1976, â€Å"Some Implications of the Growth of the Mining Sector.† Australian 30 Journal of Agricultural Economics. 20(2), PP. 71–91. Haig, B. 1966, Estimates of Australian real product by industry. Australian Economic Papers. 5(7), PP. 230-50. Hatton, T. Williamson, G. 1998. The Age of Mass Migration: Causes and Economic Impact. Oxford: Oxford Univers ity Press. Koren, M. Tenreyro, S. 2007, â€Å"Volatility and Development,† Quarterly Journal of Economics.122(1), pp. 243-287. Kose, M. Reizman, R. 2001, â€Å"Trade Shocks and Macroeconomic Fluctuations in Africa,† Journal of Development Economics. 65(1), pp. 55-80. Lloyd, P. 2008, â€Å"100 Years of Tariff Protection in Australia†. Australian Economic History Review. 48(2), pp. 99-145. Maddock, R. McLean, I. 1987, The Australian Economy in the Long Run. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Definition and Examples of Interrogatives in English

Definition and Examples of Interrogatives in English In English grammar, an interrogative (pronounced in-te-ROG-a-tiv) is a word that introduces a question  which cant be simply answered with yes or no. Also known as an interrogative word. Interrogatives are sometimes called question  words because of their function, or wh- words because of their most common initial letters:  who (with whom and whose), what, where, when, why, . . . and how).  Ã‚   A sentence that asks a question (whether or not it contains an interrogative word) is called an interrogative sentence. Etymology: From the Latin, to ask Examples and Observations Thomas Klammer and Muriel SchulzInterrogatives begin direct questions. In addition to signaling that a question will follow, each plays some grammatical role in the sentence that it begins. . . . Interrogatives also function to introduce indirect questions.Edward de BonnoIf you never change your mind, why have one?Charles De GaulleHow can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?Phil EverlyIve been cheated, been mistreatedWhen will I be loved?William FaulknerWhat are you talking so loud for Nancy? Caddy said.Who, me? Nancy said.And these last fifty thousand hours? These have been spent studying the sword?William GoldmanInigo nodded.Where?Wherever I could find a master. Venice, Bruge, Budapest.Rosa ParksHe pointed at me and said, that one wont stand up. The two policemen came near me and only one spoke to me. He asked me if the driver had asked me to stand up? I said, yes. He asked me why I didnt stand up. I told him I didnt think I should have to stand up. So I asked hi m: Why do you push us around? And he told me, I dont know, but the law is the law and you are under arrest. Walker PercyWhat is the malaise? you ask. The malaise is the pain of loss. The world is lost to you, the world and the people in it, and there remains only you and the world and you no more able to be in the world than Banquos ghost. Subordinating Conjunctions and Interrogative Words James R. Hurford[S]ome, but not all, subordinating conjunctions can also occur as interrogative words, e.g. when and where. Thus when is a subordinating conjunction in I was here when you came; but it is an interrogative word in When did you come?...Some exclamations begin with the words what and how, which are also interrogative words. Examples of their use in exclamations are What a lovely baby that is! and How prettily it gurgles! But these are not interrogative sentences. Moving to Why Mitchell Stevens[N]ow that who, what, when, and where  have been cheapened by overexposure on the Internet, why has gained value. It requires thought. It sometimes requires expertise. Yet it provides an element often missing in traditional  journalism: an explanation. When applied to sources,  . . . the why enables journalists to get beyond a simple stenographic report of who is asserting what. It enables them to move toward deeper understanding.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Analysis .... depend on the movie Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis .... depend on the movie - Essay Example The general public has been separated into intellectuals and proprietors, who live in comfort, and manual workers, who reside in its suburbs and whose single function is controlling the equipment that move the city (Minden & Bachmann, 2002). The movie revolves around two individuals; first, Freder, who was the son of the metropolitan’s chief planner, and second Maria, who is a young female from the working class and thinks that sooner or later a arbitrator will arrive to reconcile differences in the class. After understanding that Freder supports the employees, she believes that he may be the rescuer that she has visualized. â€Å"The most important feature of this movie is that the special effects utilized in this sci-fi classic were pioneering â€Å"at the time of the release and still have the power to amaze audiences† (Elsaesser, 2008). Metropolis features exceptional camera work and set designs that still amaze contemporary viewers with their visual impact - the m ovie has â€Å"cinematic and thematic bonds to German Expressionism† (Prestel Art Press, 1999), despite the fact that the structural design, as represented in the movie, emerges founded on present-day modernization as well as ‘Art Deco’.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Graffiti Art in Los Angeles Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Graffiti Art in Los Angeles - Research Paper Example While he began in these small venues, today Crash is recognized as one of the fathers of the graffiti art movement, and has had a tremendous influence on Los Angeles artists. In addition to being a highly influential graffiti artist, Crash curated the seminal 1980 Graffiti Art Success for America at Fashion MODA (Chang 2005). This exhibition launched the 1980s graffiti art movement that would spread its influence to Los Angeles. Another seminal graffiti artist that emerged from New York and would go on to influence Los Angeles artists was Fab Five Freddy. Fab Five Freddy was a member of the New York graffiti group the Fabulous Five. Freddy got his name for his consistent tagging on the number five on subway walls. Freddy became a part of the seminal New York film Downtown 81, as well as a number of other seminal pop art projects (Loos 2006). While New York foregrounded many of the aesthetic elements, Los Angeles would adopt these elements and implement them into their own unique styl e. In large part Los Angeles graffiti took on gang connotations. With the sprawling urban populace, gangland delineation became a prevalent issue and in many ways graffiti art was used to mark territory. Still, there also exists a wide variety of Los Angeles graffiti artists that are producing positive and cutting-edge graffiti art. Among the seminal Los Angeles graffiti crews are WISK, SER, CHAKA, SKEEZ, TRIAX and GESO (50mm Los Angeles, 2006). One of the prevalent artists in these regards is Riskyone. Riskyone started making graffiti art in the early 1980s and has continued until the present day. His style is brash and bright, and one can detect an influence by artists such as Keith Haring and New York graffiti artists. Prime-K2S is another prominent Los Angeles artist. Prime-K2S... While New York foregrounded many of the aesthetic elements, Los Angeles would adopt these elements and implement them into their own unique style. In large part Los Angeles graffiti took on gang connotations. With the sprawling urban populace, gangland delineation became a prevalent issue and in many ways graffiti art was used to mark territory. Still, there also exists a wide variety of Los Angeles graffiti artists that are producing positive and cutting-edge graffiti art. Among the seminal Los Angeles graffiti crews are WISK, SER, CHAKA, SKEEZ, TRIAX and GESO. One of the prevalent artists in these regards is Riskyone. Riskyone started making graffiti art in the early 1980s and has continued until the present day. His style is brash and bright, and one can detect an influence by artists such as Keith Haring and New York graffiti artists. Prime-K2S is another prominent Los Angeles artist. Prime-K2S exhibits a style influenced by modern computer technology, with much of his tagging be ing indicative of the typeface that word-processors demonstrate. In these regards, it’s a uniquely modern feel that distinguishes his work from other Los Angeles artists. Finally, Tolse, who is recently deceased, is also another seminal Los Angeles graffiti artist. While Tolse style is highly exuberant, he is perhaps most recognized for finding unique areas to tag. It’s clear that while New York foreground the graffiti art movement, Los Angeles artists adopted these styles and implemented them in their own work.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Goodness is operational Essay Example for Free

Goodness is operational Essay According to Dunn and US OSHA (2004), the above sentiments should stand because, at the end of it all, the US will have to use its funds treating the industrially injured immigrant as well. Again, failure to teach immigrants on OSHA policies simply because they are not US citizens is contradictive to the principle of egalitarianism, which the US claims to have been founded upon. The OSHA 2004 promises that there be the training of all employees in meat packing industry alike, so as to assuage oversight in meal packing therefore comes in handy. The proposal to have the lessening of the velocity of the line speed is also very tenable. This is because, the measure allows for the chance of mishaps to be nipped in the bud, in case of any eventuality. The gravity of the matter is seen in the fact that according to the OSHA 2001 Report, 21% of devastating industrial accidents are always seen to have been revertible, should the speed of the machines have been a little slower (OSHA 2001). Mintz (2004) postulates that the importance of the matter is seen in the fact that meat packing industries are always fitted with very sharp massive cutters. It is always a requirement that apart from the abating of the velocity of the speed lines, it is also expedient that every meat packing industry be fitted with automatic detectors and main switch that allows the disabling of the cutters and the speed lines whenever of an alert is issued or an anomaly occurs. Conversely, there are those such as Wang (2003) who point out that the lessening of the velocity of the speed lines in the meat packing factories also helps in warding off cases of overworking of employees. Wang (Ibid) points out that it is increasing the speed of the conveyors and speed lines that acts as an artifice for the employees and the top management to realize maximum productivity without having to necessarily increase the employees’ working hours. This proposal seems to be sympathetic to the well being of the employees. However, when the matter is closely scrutinized, one sees that the measure remains benevolent to all. The meat packing industry or company is also bound to earn a positive corporate image as a corporate entity that factors the welfare of the employees by not overworking them. The society in point is also bound to receive products from a company that produces quality based meat products since proper time is taken to pack meat products. In this case, matters touching on negligence and anomalies in packing are extirpated. However, it is important to note that the utilitarian doctrine of According to Putnam and Langerman (2002), the recommendation that stronger worker compensation laws be set in place is also necessary as it will allow for the setting of penalties that are commensurate too. The setting up of stronger worker compensation as is proposed by US OSHA and Consul Jose Cuevas will also be in instrumental in averting cases of employees being deluded by unscrupulous employers. In almost the same wavelength, the entrenchment of stronger compensation laws will ensure the extirpation of cases of negligence from the side of employers as the employers will seek to avoid the high charges being exacted on the meat packing industry in the form of fines or employee compensation. The validity of this measure is promising, due to the fact that ever since the creation of Section 1910 Subpart 1 of OSHA regulations, cases of employers neglecting the plight of their employees assuaged by 55% in the first year alone (Humphrey 2005). Although the principle of Utilitarianism of the proceeds being beneficent to all may seem to be antithetical against the above rationale, yet, it is important to note that seldom do companies that do not have moral and political good will attain ultimate good. Even if a corporate expedition such as the one listed above may portend some liabilities for the meat packing industries, the fact that it has good will towards employees will reward the company with good public relations. It is against the backdrop of the above situation that Emmanuel Kant, being a utilitarian, quipped that good is that which is totally akin to the concept of goodwill- not profit. This totally supports the deontological notion that all industrial measures to safeguard the safety of the worker, if the principle of intrinsic goodness is operational. It is also true that ever since the inception of Section 1910 Subpart 303 that regulates the working standards in industrial sector; there was a steep plummeting of cases of poor working standards as employers took to escape the legal dragnet by uplifting the working conditions. It can therefore be easily and rightly surmised that the entrenchment of policies that would allow the upholding of international standards in the meat packing industry will inculcate OSHA policies and ideal working conditions. At the same time, the internationalization of meat packing safety conditions will be instrumental in ensuring a healthy competition among different meat packaging companies.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Monopolies Essay -- Monopoly Business Marketing Essays

Monopolies What is a monopoly? According to Webster's dictionary, a monopoly is "the exclusive control of a commodity or service in a given market.† Such power in the hands of a few is harmful to the public and individuals because it minimizes, if not eliminates normal competition in a given market and creates undesirable price controls. This, in turn, undermines individual enterprise and causes markets to crumble. In this paper, we will present several aspects of monopolies, including unfair competition, price control, and horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate mergers. Unfair Competition Barriers to Entry. In general, a monopoly by one company possesses the power to create barriers to entry for competing companies in a particular market. Also, once a company has achieved a loyal following, it then becomes easy for that company to maintain control of the market. Thus, leading to elimination of potential competition. Increasing Returns. In some markets, the profits for high volumes of goods are extremely exaggerated. For example, in the manufacturing industry, each product requires a certain material and labor cost to produce it. Large companies are often able to under-cut competitors’ prices, drive them out of the market, and then raise prices again.1 Consequently, this increased volume increases profit, allowing such companies an even greater power. Incomplete Information. Often, once a company gains control of a particular market, that company does not disclose complete information in regard to their products. Such is the case in the current Microsoft antitrust case. Microsoft not only does not disclose complete information on their software products, but also goes one step further by making their software products incompatible with other operating systems. As a result, the consumer has no choice but to buy Microsoft software products exclusively. Once a company has successfully dominated a business market, they can use that control to move into other markets by:  · Squeezing out competitors  · Dominating sales of the product  · Controlling prices of the product  · Acquiring additional companies, inside and outside, of the field Enforcement. The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice is responsible for protecting the competitive process through enforcement of antitrust laws. The Division has challenged bar... ...titive effects. Third, the Agency assesses whether entry would be timely, likely and sufficient either to deter or to counteract the competitive effects of concern. Fourth, the Agency assesses any efficiency gains that reasonably cannot be achieved by the parties through other means. Finally the Agency assesses whether, but for the merger, either party to the transaction would be likely to fail, causing its assets to exit the market. The process of assessing market concentration, potential adverse competitive effects, entry, efficiency and failure is a tool that allows the Agency to answer the ultimate inquiry in merger analysis: whether the merger is likely to create or enhance market power or to facilitate its exercise. Conclusion No one company or individual should have exclusive control of a commodity or service in a given market. Prosperity in the high-technology economy of the 21st Century will depend on strict enforcement against monopolies that lessen competition along with continued encouragement of innovation. The Department of Justice must continue to open markets and ensure that they are competitive for the benefit of American businesses and consumers. Monopolies Essay -- Monopoly Business Marketing Essays Monopolies What is a monopoly? According to Webster's dictionary, a monopoly is "the exclusive control of a commodity or service in a given market.† Such power in the hands of a few is harmful to the public and individuals because it minimizes, if not eliminates normal competition in a given market and creates undesirable price controls. This, in turn, undermines individual enterprise and causes markets to crumble. In this paper, we will present several aspects of monopolies, including unfair competition, price control, and horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate mergers. Unfair Competition Barriers to Entry. In general, a monopoly by one company possesses the power to create barriers to entry for competing companies in a particular market. Also, once a company has achieved a loyal following, it then becomes easy for that company to maintain control of the market. Thus, leading to elimination of potential competition. Increasing Returns. In some markets, the profits for high volumes of goods are extremely exaggerated. For example, in the manufacturing industry, each product requires a certain material and labor cost to produce it. Large companies are often able to under-cut competitors’ prices, drive them out of the market, and then raise prices again.1 Consequently, this increased volume increases profit, allowing such companies an even greater power. Incomplete Information. Often, once a company gains control of a particular market, that company does not disclose complete information in regard to their products. Such is the case in the current Microsoft antitrust case. Microsoft not only does not disclose complete information on their software products, but also goes one step further by making their software products incompatible with other operating systems. As a result, the consumer has no choice but to buy Microsoft software products exclusively. Once a company has successfully dominated a business market, they can use that control to move into other markets by:  · Squeezing out competitors  · Dominating sales of the product  · Controlling prices of the product  · Acquiring additional companies, inside and outside, of the field Enforcement. The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice is responsible for protecting the competitive process through enforcement of antitrust laws. The Division has challenged bar... ...titive effects. Third, the Agency assesses whether entry would be timely, likely and sufficient either to deter or to counteract the competitive effects of concern. Fourth, the Agency assesses any efficiency gains that reasonably cannot be achieved by the parties through other means. Finally the Agency assesses whether, but for the merger, either party to the transaction would be likely to fail, causing its assets to exit the market. The process of assessing market concentration, potential adverse competitive effects, entry, efficiency and failure is a tool that allows the Agency to answer the ultimate inquiry in merger analysis: whether the merger is likely to create or enhance market power or to facilitate its exercise. Conclusion No one company or individual should have exclusive control of a commodity or service in a given market. Prosperity in the high-technology economy of the 21st Century will depend on strict enforcement against monopolies that lessen competition along with continued encouragement of innovation. The Department of Justice must continue to open markets and ensure that they are competitive for the benefit of American businesses and consumers.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Informal situational analysis †kia motors corporation Essay

An informal situational analysis is being conducted on KIA Motors Corporation to analyse critically the internal and external environment as it concerns KIA so as to determine its capabilities, customers, positioning and competitors within its business environment. It would also involve the marketing and business strategy of the organization, how they align to achieve profitability and/or market orientation, we would be able to discover after this analysis if KIA’s focus is on profitability or market orientation. Are they a market-oriented organisation? This exercise can be achieved by exploiting the SWOT analysis, PESTEL or the 3Cs analysis and this analysis would concurrently use 2 of them. KIA Motors Corporation was founded in 1944 to engage in the manufacturing and sales of automobiles starting from bicycles to passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, military vehicles and recreational vehicles while also investing in new technologies in the development and manufacture of eco-friendly cars. Kia Motors remains a driving force in Korea’s automotive industry with an expanding product line sold through a network of 4000 dealers, 20 sales subsidiaries, 141 distributors scattered across about 170 countries around the world. Its major brands are the Cerato, Soul, Rio, Picanto, Sorento etc. Kia’s management vision coined as – Innovation for Humanity tells a lot about its commitment to market orientation. 1. To grow the Kia brand to a world class level and become a leader in the global automobile industry. 2. To pursue â€Å"Customer Happiness† by providing the best technology and the highest levels of quality and service. 3. To work hard at growing out of conventional modes of thinking by being creative and spontaneous innovating 4. To achieve its long term vision by striving to satisfy the customer through technological innovation that respects people and nature. KIA Motors’ goal and mission statement is â€Å"to become a tier-one automotive brand by 2016 with a mission to become one of the most desirable brands in the automotive industry by providing a different type of driving experience that will enhance people’s lives and enrich them every day.† According to several researchers of marketing strategy, an organization that is highly market oriented and aiming at achieving above normal market performance and providing superior value to customers to achieve a competitive advantage is bound to make profit, however, profit ought not be the major focus above market orientation. Kia is able to inculcate the culture of market orientation which according to Kohli and Jarwoski (1990) â€Å"is the organization wide generation of market intelligence pertaining to current and future customer needs, dissemination of the intelligence across departments and organisationwide responsiveness to it† into the organization. Kia gathers intelligence on its present and future customers through using data as regards their family life, work, holidays, interests etc from reputable marketing surveys, it also gathers information on current and future weaknesses and strengths of its competitors and ensure all these information are properly disseminated to all departments of the organization inorder to each to position itself appropriately to achieve customer satisfaction and maintain competitive edge. There is a strong coordination between key departments ranging from marketing, branding& communications, finance to design departments. Therefore, there is a positive relationship between market orientation and profitability. The organization also as a matter of policy allocates up to 5% of its profits to Research & Development so as to continue to deliver sustainable superior value to its present and future customers even in the long run. SWOT Analysiss STREGHTS 1. Its marketing strategy that is focused on customer needs and desires. 2. Pricing 3. Style and Vibrant designs that provide appeal to the younger generation. 4. Increasing network of distributors and dealers worldwide. 5. Lower cost of production 6. Manufacture of hybrid electric vehicles (eco-friendly) and highly fuel efficient products that can match other international brands. WEAKNESSES 1. They need to improve on operational efficiency to meet both quantitative and qualitative standards 2. Inability to appeal to a broader audience 3. Quality 4. Low global awareness level OPPORTUNITIES 1. A shift in consumer preference for eco-friendly vehicles due to skyrocketing oil prices and increased pollution resulting in the depletion of the ozone layer. 2. Partnership with Hyundai in a single production line and plant will result in economies of scale for the KIA brand and allow it to continually focus on designs and marketing for new products. THREATS 1. Competition is becoming stiffer 2. Direct exposure to sharp changes in the price of raw materials or OEMs not manufactured by KIA could have a positive or negative impact on bottom lines and prices that hitherto used to be a selling point. 3. Vulnerability to natural disasters similar to that which affected Toyota in Japan. 3 Cs Analysis Company The marketing strategy of KIA as already mentioned above is directed towards meeting the needs and desires of its target customers. Marketing mix Product – Kia introduces a new model after about 18months of the last model launch which usually comes with an improvement with respect to interior and exterior specification which is meant to compete with other brands entering the market. The stages of the product life cycle being introduction stage, growth stage, maturity stage and decline stage. Therefore at introduction stage, sales are just beginning to gain momentum, awareness and education of customers on the product is just being done and the customer is beginning to take purchasing decisions. At this stage, Kia engages in aggressive and catchy adverts and mono fairs across countries to persuade potential customers to buy. And it can be said that Kia brand has an average life cycle of 3 years after which the customer is ready for a change of car. At the growth stage when Kia car owners have clocked 3 years on their former purchase, a lot of them are willing to buy the new model that has newer options and sales continue to climb at this stage, but at maturity, sales peak, and begin to decline which is when sales and profits are likely to decrease. Therefore, the organization upon studying the pattern of sales on the large variety of brands they have, adopt a production mix that emphasizes manufacture of higher selling products than products that have lower sales. Pricing – The company adopts different pricing for their products at different stages of their product life cycle by placing higher value on vehicles at introduction stage and depending on market response adjust the prices accordingly, however in order to penetrate the market as quickly as possible and deeply before competitors, it adopts the penetration pricing strategy. Also for each brand of car model, prices differ to allow consumers to decide at best suits their lifestyle and needs, for example, the Rio has 3 variants and with different prices from which a customer can choose from. However, the price of Kia vehicles ranges from $8,000 to $36,800 with the Picanto being the lowest of the range and the Sorento tops the range of products. Place – Kia is headquartered in Korea but has networks and is well represented across the world through 4000 dealers, 20 subsidiaries and 141 distributors with further expansion still ongoing. Dealers could make or mar the brand, and therefore, Kia ensures there is uniformity in the outlook of dealerships across the world, while ensuring standards are strictly adhered to. In trying to ensure customer service are not compromised, it is necessary for them to generate feedback from customers across the world concerning their Kia experience at all dealerships and also recognize those known to uphold the Kia standards. Promotion and Branding – Kia, in the last 10 years has spared no costs creating awareness of their products to the consuming public. Using not only the traditional approach of promotion and advertisement but also the use of social media and electronic digital marketing. The use of social media allows it to constantly connect with younger generations and enable it to receive and give feedback as efficiently as possible. At the introduction stage of a product is when large amounts of funds are invested in promoting to make consumers aware of the new product and its benefits. The company’s websites are also well developed to promote and advertise their products. They also get involved in endorsements and sponsorships of major events, sport teams, athletes, charity events etc. that they believe would sell the KIA brand. Kia has introduced a number of novel ideas into the automotive world market and have allowed the brand to be built since it was launched to the United States market in 1992 and to the rest of the world riding on the slogan â€Å"Power to surprise†. Its major emphasis on Design has also allowed it to carve a niche for itself in the market and the evolution of the brand. Therefore, they safely assume brand recognition has been achieved while not resting on its oars to gain market share by continuing to establish the best customer relationships. The branding strategy being deployed by Kia so far can be termed to be successful allowing it notch the 87th position on the 2012 Interbrand’s Best Global Brands survey far behind its benchmark competitors, Toyota at No 10 and Honda at No 21. Customer KIA’s marketing strategy is formulated in such a way as to address to 2 significant issues which the organization revolves round. Which customers do we want to serve? How do we intend to create value for the customers we want to serve? To answer the 1st question, KIA embarked on a process of market segmentation through market intelligence across 4 variables namely – geographic, demographic, psychographic and behavioural. Diagram 1 – Market Segmentation The 2nd question in formulating its marketing strategy is market differentiation and positioning which is being done through its major focus on its core strength which is cutting edge design and style. In 2006, Peter Schreyer, an award winning designer came on-board as Kia’s Chief Design Officer thereby completely turning around the entire product design line since 2009 to date and making KIA a world renowned automotive brand. Kia Motors UK is differentiating the product within the market by selling with a 7 year warranty that can be passed on to whoever the vehicle is transferred to, this is a novel and one of its kind in Europe. In Nigeria, Kia workshop is open Mondays through Sunday to cater to working class people that are unable to bring in their cars for service during workdays. Therefore, the KIA’s customer is the average middle and upper middle class with an average age of 40, upwardly mobile, male and female looking for the best value for money and located in all parts of the world. Competitors Kia’s major competitors are Hyundai, Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, Vauxhall. Toyota continues to lead the pack due to its high resale value that cannot yet be matched by Kia and also its reputation for safety. The selling point being adopted by this company to achieve competitive advantage is a better price offering, i.e better price for better styled product. However, the Kia brand is not yet known in major global cities and it is a known fact that they are lacking in global awareness for which the organization is already positioning itself to address. Inspite of being presently owned by Hyundai, Kia is still being seen as competition. Since the recession, Kia has stealthily grown its market share coupled with the Tokyo disaster which stalled Toyota production for a period, this allowed for a high growth rate for the brand in the last 5 years, but with the recent pick up of Toyota, Kia is likely to have a tough time in maintaining this growth rate which stood at 27% in 2010 against industry averages of 12%. Therefore, they continue to invest in capital expenditure, building of new plants, re-inforcement of the design centers to be able to churn out designs that would continue to project a dynamic and youthful brand, aggressively market and expand its presence across the world. CONCLUSION The business and marketing strategies of Kia are well aligned as analyzed above which is responsible for the success they have continued to achieve over the years as reflected in the gradual brand acceptance globally. Kia is customer and market oriented, it does not pay lip service to its goals and mission of ensuring it delivers excellent customer service and also getting to the top 3 automotive organization even though it may seem as an unachievable task, it still continues to position itself to bridge the gap. It is recommended amongst others that Kia improves on quality of its products, availability of OEM parts and spare parts, access to after sales service and all other factors that make the brand more attractive and also increase on its resale value which is presently nothing to write home about presently. It should also from time to time gather information on which cars are receiving more acceptance and ensure they are produced in quantities that would meet customer needs. As we speak, the Sportage is doing very well but supply remains low to meet up with demand. Kia also adopts the use of market share as a measure of brand equity measure which according to Aaker(1996) to be deceptive especially since Kia prices are lower relative to market prices, therefore it is also advisable to measure the relative market price at which the brand is being sold compared to industry market price. REFERENCES 1. Aaker, D. A., (1996) ‘Measuring Brand Equity Across Products and Markets’, California Management Review, 38 (3) pp.102-120 2. Interbrand, (2013) Best Global Brands 2012: The Top 100 Brands, Available at: http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/2012/Best-Global-Brands-2012-Brand- View.aspx, (accessed: 14/10/13) 3. Kia Motors Corporation- Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Kia Motors Corporation [online] Available at: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/74/Kia-Motors-Corporation.html [Accessed 14 October 2013] 4. Kohli, A. J. & B. J. Jaworski, (1990) ‘Market Orientation: The Construct, Research Propositions, and Managerial Implications’, Journal of Marketing, 54 (2) pp.1-18 5. Yu R.(2011), â€Å"Focused, feisty Kia bears down on its competitors† (online) Available at http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/MONEY/usaedition/2011-06-28-Kia_CV_U.html, (accessed 16 October 2013) View as multi-pages

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Using Animals in Disease Research

Using Animals in Disease Research People all over the world have different opinions on whether animal testing is an ethical way to research drugs and treatments or not. Almost every medical advancement has involved using of animals including discovery of penicillin, organ transplantation, vaccines etc. Scientists should use animals in disease research because nowadays it is the only right way to develop drugs, treatments and cures for diseases and to be sure that new products are safe to use.The first reason why animals should be used in lab testing is that it is the best way to do the research not on human beings but on something that is very similar to humans by chemistry, cell structure and organization. Only drug testing on animals will shows maximally closest result to what will happen in the human's body. Perhaps we weren't be able to cure even very common diseases in present-day medicine without using animals in researches. The second reason why scientists should use animals i n their researches is that animal’s rights are still protected and they don't feel pain during the testing.According to Foundation for Biomedical Research, the Public Health Service Act, Federal laws, and Animal Welfare act controls the removal of pain. All animals used in procedures always relieved from pain by anesthesia. A well-treated animal provide more reliable scientific results, which is the goal of all researchers. The last reason why using animals in research is necessary is that human beings are more important than animals. Animals quickly reproduce itself and they have short life cycle that help scientists to study effects of the drugs on several generations. Also animals can be donors of organs for humans.The society knows many facts in a last few years about transplanting of animal`s organs into human body. The opponents of using animals in disease research might say that scientists could discover drugs using alternative methods such as computer models. However, scientists should see the drug action in all system of living organism to be sure how it works. Using animals in lab testing and researches is necessary because alternative methods are currently not as reliable. Testing drugs and treatments on animals will someday help scientists find the cure for diseases like Alzheimer, AIDS, and cancer.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Controlled Environment Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers

Controlled Environment Essays - Free Essays, Term Papers Controlled Environment What controlled environment did you spend time in? How long? When I graduated from High School I entered into the Merchant Marine Academy at Fort Schuyler in New York. From then until I was in my mid thirties I was involved with ocean liners, tankers and ships. For periods of one year at a time I would be on a ship traveling the world, making shipments and patrolling the seas. The controlled environment was both on the ship and in the academy. Once on the ship I had to obey the rules and morals taught to us in the academy. Was there an effort to separate you from your former identity? No not really. Contrary to the NAVY, ARMY or Marines our boot camp was less severe and did not include such physical conditioning. Our personalities were not changed because we were not in combat and did not have to learn to be a killing machine. What were the most important rules you had to follow? Besides not falling in the water, we had to obey almost everything our captain told us. Our captain was like our parents his wishes were our commands. The captain set the standards and the rules for us to follow. What were the least and less important rules you had to follow? There was a uniform but it was not very important that we followed it. As an officer we had to look respectable but usually the uniform requirements were not met. We also had a curfew but that was rarely followed and it was rare for a person to get into any trouble for breaking curfew. What were some of the make-dos the inmates made up for their deprivations with? Since there was no T.V. almost every night after dinner we held chess and checkers tournament. The games were fast paced and mostly just for fun, no money was ever wagered. We also drank a lot of beer when we were at sea for extended amounts of time. Which were accepted by the authorities and which were not? Well the chess tournaments everyone enjoyed and were accepted by all, officers, Plebes and Captains. However drinking and other drug use was prohibited. Being caught with illegal drugs meant immediate dismissal from the corps. Being caught with alcohol meant some kind of military punishment(I never got caught). How did the inmates respond to their situation? Almost everyone on the ship enjoyed their work and being away from home. However after long periods, occasionally fights would arise and officers would end up with a black eye or broken nose. But on a whole it was usually pretty peaceful and an enjoyable environment. Do you consider your experience in the controlled environment beneficial? Absolutely, it taught me discipline and how to treat others. My experience also taught me to value what I have at home and didnt have when at sea. Do you miss the environment? When my kids are bothering me I miss the solitude of the open ocean. However, at the same time I have also had my fill of that lifestyle. Would you do it again? In a heartbeat. The person whom I interviewed is a very close family friend who entered in to the Merchant Marine Academy at the age of 18. I also interviewed another friend who was in the army and fought in Vietnam. Many of his answers coincided with those of Owen(from the merchant marines). Mikes experiences in the ARMY were a little more structured than Owens. But Mikes experience was not as enjoyable or beneficial. The benefits received from the ARMY were discipline and respect. As a sailor Owen also benefitted by seeing the world and experiencing many cultures while being in a controlled environment. Mike portrayed the ARMY to be a very structured environment, where everything that a soldier did was monitored and taken into account. The rules he had to follow were very distinct and if broken meant physical punishments (push-ups etc.). The ARMYs rules based around the constitution and defending our Nation. The Merchant Marine rules based around the safety of their officers and the good being tra nsported. Finally, contrary to Owens experiences Mikes, made an effort to separate him from his identity. Mike was reshaped from an average man to a killing machine. Through

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

How to Make Bismuth Crystals From Pepto-Bismol

How to Make Bismuth Crystals From Pepto-Bismol Pepto-Bismol is a common antacid medicine that contains bismuth subsalicylate or pink bismuth, which has the empirical chemical formula  (Bi{C6H4(OH)CO2}3). The chemical is used as an antacid, anti-inflammatory, and bactericide, but in this project, it is used for science! Heres how to extract the bismuth metal from the product. Once you have it, one project you can try is growing your own bismuth crystals. Bismuth Extraction Materials There are a couple of different methods for isolating the bismuth metal. One way is to burn Pepto-Bismol into a metal oxide slag using a blow torch and then separate  the metal from the oxygen. However, theres an easier method that only requires household chemicals. Here are the materials to extract the bismuth, without fire. Pepto-Bismol Tablets: You need a lot. Each pill contains 262 mg bismuth subsalicylate, but only about an eighth of the mass is bismuth.Muriatic Acid - You can find this in a hardware store. Of course, if you have access to a chemistry lab, you can simply use hydrochloric acid.Aluminum FoilCoffee Filter or Filter PaperMortar and Pestle - If you dont have one, find a baggie and a rolling pin or hammer. Get the Bismuth Metal The first step is to crush and grind up the pills to form a powder. This increases the surface area so the next step, a chemical reaction, can proceed more efficiently. Take 150-200 pills and work in batches to grind them up. Aside from a mortar and pestle or bag with rolling pin or hammer, you could opt for a spice mill or coffee grinder. Your choice.Prepare a solution of dilute muriatic acid. Mix one part acid to six parts water. Add the acid to the water to prevent splashing. Note: muriatic acid is the strong acid HCl. It produces irritating fumes and can give you a chemical burn. Its a good plan to wear gloves and protective eyewear when you use it. Use a glass or plastic container, as the acid can attack metals (which is the point, after all.)Dissolve the ground-up tablets in the acid solution. You can stir it with a glass rod, plastic coffee stirrer, or wooden spoon.Remove the solids by filtering the solution through a coffee filter or filter paper. The pink liquid is what you want to save since it contains bismuth ions. Drop aluminum foil into the pink solution. A black solid will form, which is the bismuth. Allow time for the precipitate to sink to the bottom of the container.Filter the liquid through a cloth or paper towel to get the bismuth metal.The final step is to melt the metal. Bismuth has a low melting point, so you can melt it using a torch or in a higher-melting-point pan on a gas grill or even your stove. As the metal melts, youll see impurities pool apart. You can use a toothpick to remove them,Let your metal cool and admire your work. See the beautiful iridescent oxidation layer? You might even see crystals.  Good job! Safety and Cleanup This project requires adult supervision. Keep kids and pets away from the acid and heat.When youre done, dilute the chemicals with large volumes of water before disposing of them. If you want to make absolutely sure the acid is safe, you can add a bit of baking soda to the dilute acid to neutralize it. Pepto-Bismol Fun Facts Interesting adverse effects from ingesting Pepto-Bismol include black tongue and black stools. This occurs when sulfur in saliva and the intestines combines with the medicine to form the insoluble black salt, bismuth sulfide. Although dramatic-looking, the effect is temporary. Sources Gray, Theodore. Gray Matter: Extracting Bismuth from Pepto-Bismol Tablets, Popular Science. August 29, 2012.WesoÅ‚owski, M. (1982). Thermal decomposition of pharmaceutical preparations containing inorganic components.  Microchimica Acta  (Vienna)  77(5–6): 451–464.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Women and careers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Women and careers - Essay Example Literature does not only show their differences in ideologies but it also reflects the similarities of such ideas among men and women in the past and present times. Today, the interest in the subject is becoming more and more intense as people seek to pursue all the happiness they can have in this world. One movie series that speaks about such especially concerning women is â€Å"Sex and the City†. It portrays the lives of four female friends who openly talk about sex and their relationship. It presents the concerns of women that men often ignore and disregard. Moreover, it also pictures how modern women value work and their womanhood in the pursuit of their happiness. The main characters, Carrie Bradshaw played by Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones, Kristin Davies as Charlotte York and Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes, in the movie series mentioned earlier perhaps reflects the modern women’s struggles that they often experience as they express themselves and assert their worth in the world. The four women who are all past the age of thirty try to live normal lives as all the others around them do. They work as professionals and compete with men in their work places but they also struggle with them when it comes to their relationships. They have different ideas about love and sex which portrays the different ideas of modern women. For instance, Miranda is presented as a successful corporate lawyer who worked so hard that she has forgotten all about marriage. In her mid-thirty, she was still unmarried. Jones on the other hand is an executive who tries to act like men do, having sex with them like the relationship is not about feelings and emotions or treating each other as lovers. In the first episode of season 1, the character of Jones is presented as the most liberated among the four friends and perhaps reflects many women in modern times who really think that they are competitive with men not only in terms of profession and achievemen ts but also in terms of sex. If men perceive women as sex objects, she believes that women could also do the same as evidenced by her advice to her friends. She even gives an example about how she goes about her relationships, mentioning Drew, an ex-lover whom she slept with for a time in her past and then left him matter-of-factly, forgetting about him just like when one changes her clothes and disposes them (youtube.com). On the other hand, York plays the romantic kind of character who thinks that sex should be expressed with love. She is quite the emotional kind among the friends and often brings about the other concerns, about the more important matters in the issues being raised among their discussions. In the example given above, she reacts with Bradshaw in clear bewilderment saying that they should consider love and romance also. Perhaps the attitude of women acting like men, thinking that they can be as unemotional when it comes to sex is just a facade to show their competit iveness. Although deep inside, women are hurting because they are treated like objects, they tend not to accept it but rather deny that they are really emotionally affected. In effect, they try to act as the men do and show that they can also hurt men. However, along the process, men are also hurt because they are also human beings who have feelings. Bradshaw verbally expressed her being a human being and asserted that she should be treated as such by her lovers like her long time lover, Big and still another lover, Alexander Petrovsky (youtube.com). Although men never show such concern or verbally express such feelings, they are not devoid of feelings so that they also need such attention. However, probably, what makes things