Deepening Understanding Of A Topic Through Research Essay

Deepening Understanding Of A Topic Through Research - Essay Example This learning outcome provided insights in preparing a thesis statement, annotated bibliography, classical argument and reference list. These activities effectively helped in understanding plagiarism and styles of referencing. The activities helped in writing an appealing thesis statement, and an introductory paragraph. The activity on plagiarism, referencing annotated bibliography and classical arguments helped in attaining the goals of the outcome. All the assignment provided basics for understanding the learning outcome. The activity on annotated bibliography was surprising because it is done differently from other writing. In addition, activities on in-text citation and referencing provided insights on how they are done. In preparing a classical argument, for instance, I learned how to analyze and break down the argument, and how to state the argument in the essay. Application of group arguments could effectively be used to enhance the outcomes of this learning activity.This lear ning outcome effectively helped in writing a summary and strong response and preparing a situation paper. It also played a role in understanding how to write a progress report in light of ethical and contemporary issues. This activity helped in forming a creative or direct title and in clarifying the subject of the paper in the introduction. For this learning outcome, activities such as a summary and strong response, exploratory research and progress report, and classical argument were helpful in achieving the outcome.

Culteral and Ethical Factors for International Business in Brazil Essay

Culteral and Ethical Factors for International Business in Brazil - Essay Example Ethics plays a big role in the international affairs of multinational companies. A practice that a business would not even contemplate in its home country could be an acceptable method of doing business in a foreign country. For example many third would countries have governmental institutions which require money offerings to officials in order to be able to be able to realize business in the region. Certain countries have extremely low environmental standards. Companies are sometimes tempted to lower their standards, even though they have full knowledge that by doing so they will cause tremendous damage to the environment. Brazil has been highly influenced by its Europeans ancestors. The personal appearance of Brazilians which affects business activities in the clothing and apparels segments is geared towards a European style. Italian fashion is the preferred style of the urban Brazilian (CultureGrams World Edition, 2007). Businesses have also been greatly influenced by the country’s conversion into democracy in the late 1980’s. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil. Spanish is spoken a bit in Brazil in the bordering Spanish speaking countries. Male Brazilians greet each other with handshakes. Male to female and females among them greet each other with up to three kisses in the cheek or with a kiss in the head. Personal space is highly valued and when two people are speaking to each other it is considered very rude to walk near them. Gestures are utilized by the people to express their feelings. For example pulling down the lower eyelid with an index finger signifies disbelief or caution (CultureGrams World Edition, 2007). The educational system of Brazil is based on a primary and secondary school system. Children spend eight years in primary school followed by three years of secondary school. The national university system is very prestigious

The Town And Country Planning Environmental Sciences Essay

The Town And Country Planning Environmental Sciences Essay This paper is based on secondary research in to the justifications provided by the coalition government to support the introduction of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This research involved an analysis of the impact that the NPPF could have on major areas of debate such as: sustainable development, economic and social costs of the current system, business activity, and housing, benefits of Brownfield development, approval rates and non-planning consents. The old planning system was extremely complex and cumbersome, the system has become overloaded with central policy and guidance, with vast amounts of paperwork making it too cumbersome and unclear for councils, developers and local people to use effectively. The proposed new National Planning Policy Framework will consolidate over 1,000 pages of planning policy statements spread across some 40 documents into a single document of 50-60 pages around 5 per cent of the current volume of policy. To support the new Framework, there will also be a fundamental review of all the supporting documentation (which comprise a further 6,000 pages across a further 160 documents). The literature review looks at secondary sources and focuses on several topics that I felt would affect most people, namely: Sustainable development, is or was planning a barrier to growth, business activity, Impact of planning on housing and the economy, benefits and costs of Brownfield development and approval rates. The research findings demonstrated that the old system was in need of reform and that the National Planning Policy Framework theoretically will help the economy to grow out of recession by removing obstacles that ultimately cost money both for developers and local councils. The research also shows that the old planning system was a barrier to growth and resulted in unnecessary costs due to delays and uncertainty. Introduction Background Planning systems set rules and guidelines that influence the level, location and pattern of activity. The ultimate goal is planning to promote a balance of environmental, social and economic welfare that meets the needs of current and future generations. Doing so inevitably involves trade-offs, so any planning system has both benefits and costs. An important issue for policymakers and the public is whether the current system imposes costs which reforms could avoid. The new Government has made supporting sustainable growth and enterprise, balanced across all regions and industries, one of its top priorities. This means creating the right conditions for private enterprise and business investment. A well-functioning planning and wider consents regime is an essential component of the overall attractiveness of the business environment in the UK and the Government proposes to reform the planning system, creating a presumption in favour of sustainable development and providing more opportunities for local communities to determine the shape of the places in which they live. Reform of the planning system and of specific elements within it has been underway for some time, with the aim both of making it more efficient and effective and of ensuring that it is not acting as a barrier to investment and sustainable development Penfold Review of Non-Planning Consents 2010. The old System: The Town and Country Planning Act 1947 established a comprehensive and universal system of land-use control. The system served the key function of balancing public and private interests and was based upon a fundamental principle which still applies today, notably that private interests would need to be sacrificed for the public good as far as land-use issues were concerned. The old system that existed was a plan-led system where English local authorities determined land use plans in consultation with stakeholders with the resulting plans becoming the basis for determining planning applications. Development required permission, and development applications were considered with reference to the plan unless material considerations (determined by law) indicate otherwise. The old framework of local plans and binding national targets evolved over more than sixty years, and was subjected to considerable scrutiny and legislative change over the last two decades (The history of the English planning system in this paragraph was provided by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)). National government dictated the overall structure and direction of the system by enacting legislation that outlined just exactly what needed consent and how local policy shall be produced as well as producing national policy guidance to set out more detail on acceptable forms of development. Thus, the national government enjoyed a detailed level of intervention to setting the system up which ultimately allowed the government to influence its outcomes. The Town and Country Planning Act 1968 introduced a significant reform to the system of plan preparation, with the introduction of structure plans and local plans. These documents set out both strategic and longer-term planning objectives, such as major housing allocations or green belt identification and short term allocations for development on individual sites. This system was further consolidated in the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and in the Planning and Compensation Act 1991. The only other significant statutory reforms introduced between 1971 and 2000 dealt with the delivery of the planning function in the reform of the local government restructure the evolution of the old system can be seen in table 1. Unnecessary detail has resulted in a system which often contradicts itself and where important national policy is obscured by duplication. This has acted as a brake on growth, hindering rather than helping local communities to shape development in their neighbourhoods. This impact on the processing of planning applications causing confusion and delay within the system, and in some cases may discourage submission of planning applications (as a result of the direct costs of complexity that must be borne by developers and the indirect cost i.e. uncertainty associated with planning delay). Contradictions in policy often occur between policy documents and guidance. For example, Planning Policy Statement 5 (Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment) asks local councils to not validate planning applications where the impact of the proposed development on any heritage asset cannot adequately be understood from the information supporting the application. However, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) guidance on validation advises that inadequate supporting information is not grounds for invalidating applications (See Planning Policy Statement 5 paragraph HE6.3 and Guidance on information requirements and validation, paragraph 34). Duplication results in the same policy being unnecessarily repeated in a number of separate documents. One example of this comes from four different national policy documents (Planning Policy Statement 1: Planning for Sustainable Development, Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing, Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth and Planning Policy Guidance Note 13: Transport) which all contain similar policies which ask local councils to identify land which is accessible and well connected to a means of transport including walking, cycling, public transport and by car. This mass of guidance forms part of a system of top-down targets, which has grown up in recent years. Enforcement of these imposed rules or targets can be costly and/or ineffective. For example, the system of housing targets had to be policed by the Planning Inspectorate at a cost of approximately  £1m per year. The Planning Inspectorate had the power to impose housing numbers on local councils, who can face lengthy and costly appeals if their plans were judged to be inconsistent with national policy. The complexity and prescriptive nature of national policy has also led to local people becoming disengaged from the system. According to Ipsos MORI, only 15 per cent of people consider themselves to be involved in decision-making at a local level. Of those 15 per cent, the majority (9 per cent) consider themselves unable to influence decisions (Ipsos MORI (2010). Do the public really want to join the government of Britain?). Other research has shown that national targets decrease the attention decision-makers give to community groups (Murdoch, J. and Abram, S.). Studies also show that they were often presented with limited options, giving the impression that decisions have already been taken, or were consulted on abstract strategies (such as Regional Spatial Strategies) rather than plans for their local area (Baker, M., Hincks, S. and Sherriff, G.) Table 1: The English planning system since 1991: main reports, inquiries and legislation Report or Act Contribution Planning and Compensation Act 1991 Embedded the plan led system by making the plan the primary consideration in development control Driving Productivity Growth in the UK, McKinsey (1988) report Argued that the planning system was an important constraint on UK productivity Housing White Paper (1995) Introduced a 50 percent target for the proportion of new homes built on Brownfield land Planning Policy Guidance 6 (1996) Introduced the town centre first policy Urban White paper (2000) Focussed on urban renaissance and provided stronger foundations for Brownfield first approach to housing Planning Green Paper (2001) Argued that the planning system was too complex, slow and disempowering for participants; proposed simplifying the hierarchy of plans, shortening local plans and closer public engagement in plan making House of Commons ODPM Select Committee report on planning competiveness and productivity (2003) Concluded that planning was not a significant determinant of productivity and that outcome could be improved through further resourcing and better implementation of the current rules Barker Review of Housing Supply (2004) Recommendations include transferring benefits of development from landowners to affected communities and using market signals as a trigger for the release of additional land allocated for housing Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 Introduced statutory Regional Spatial Strategies and a sustainable development purpose to planning Barker review of Land Use Planning (2006) Numerous wide-ranging recommendations to improve the responsiveness and efficiency of the planning system and the efficiency of the planning system and the efficiency of land use Planning Act 2008 Created the Infrastructure Planning Commission Localism Act 2011 Abolished the Infrastructure Planning Commission and Regional Spatial Strategies; introduced Neighbourhood Plans and a new duty for local authorities to cooperate The government is seeking to reform Englands planning rules which currently involve: A hierarchy of planning policies national planning policy statements, until recently regional strategies and local development frameworks. Development control as the main mechanism for regulating local development. Section 106 (S106) as the main means of local value capture, complemented in 2010 by the Community Infrastructure Levy. Some national restrictions (e.g. Town centre first, Green belts, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs)). Figure 1: From Urban Planning Real Estate Development 3rd Edition by John Ratcliffe et Al The new system The National Planning Policy Framework was published with the main aim of replacing the previous system that had in some form or another been in place since the introduction of the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 whilst streamlining the actual planning process. This has been achieved through a number of methods such as: the removal of duplication from policy, the simplification of over 1,000 pages of planning policy statements spread across 40 documents in to a single document of 50-60 pages, the removal of unnecessary information that led to system that at times contradicted itself. The planning reforms brought about through the Localism Act and changes in national planning policy will reduce the level of central control, simplify the level of guidance and hand back more power to local communities. As an example, in the Localism Act, the Government has taken powers to scrap Regional Spatial Strategies and their housing targets and introduced a bottom up approach that enables local communities to decide the level of housing that is required in their area and share in the benefits of development. This is a fundamentally different approach based on councils being best placed to make local decisions, holding the knowledge and expertise of their area. Supporting and building on these changes, the Framework removes a large amount of central prescription, being clear about what is Government policy and giving councils greater discretion in those areas which national policy no longer covers. This will enable them to find innovative solutions and respond to the needs of their different communities. At the same time, local people will be encouraged to reengage in the planning process through improvements in collaborative democracy and new policy vehicles such as neighbourhood plans (NPPF Impact Assessment DCLG). The main elements of the Governments National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and associated reforms are: Significantly simplified national planning guidance (National planning policy is currently set out in over 1,000 pages of policy guidance and statements, with more than 6,000 pages of supporting documentation, contained within a total of more than 200 documents.) Devolved decision making, with local authorities drawing up local plans via community consultation, subject to the NPPF and fiscal incentives to encourage development. A presumption in favour of Sustainable Development, where this accords with local plans. If no up-to-date plans exist, then the default answer to sustainable development should be yes. Maintain all existing protected status that is Green Belt, SSSIs, AONBs and also retail town centre first restriction for retail development. In parallel with the NPPF, the government is also introducing: A reformed Community Infrastructure Levy as the main means of value capture, while limiting use of S106. Financial incentives for new housing through the New Homes Bonus, and for commercial development via the Business Increase Bonus. A Localism Bill and wider proposals for reforming the local Government finance. Aim This research seeks to analyse the validity of the justifications provided by the Coalition Government to support the introduction of the National Planning Policy Framework. Furthermore, this research seeks to investigate whether the claims made by the government that the old system was a barrier to growth and whether the National Planning Policy Framework will help the economy to grow and if so how. Objectives To carry out an extensive review of available literature sources with a view to critically assessing the articles. To investigate the claims made by the Coalition Government that Planning is a barrier to Growth. To arrive at a conclusion, as to whether the claims and the introduction of the National Planning Policy Framework were justified. To provide recommendations for further research that may be carried out that will provide a better assessment of how the National Planning Policy Framework has impacted the country and whether or not it can be deemed successful. Dissertation Structure The dissertation is structured in the following manner; Chapter 2- Research Methodology This chapter outlines and explores the methods utilised to conduct the research required to complete this dissertation. It explains the rationale behind the methodology of the research in detail. Chapter 3 Literature Review This chapter explores the claims made by the government and where possible puts forward evidence that contradicts and supports the views expressed by the government. Chapter 4 Summary and Conclusion This chapter provides a summary of the findings produced by this dissertation and also draws conclusions from the literature review, meeting the aims and objectives of the study as previously outlined. Additionally, the limitations of the research and data are explored. Chapter 5 Recommendation for further work This chapter outlines further research that could be carried out in order to further understand how the National Planning Policy Framework has impacted the economy, and whether it has been successful in achieving the coalitions targets. Research Methodology Research Strategy Academic literature has prescribed research a vast number of definitions, descriptions and concepts (Punch, 2000). However, throughout these definitions there is a general theme and academic consensus, that research is a process of enquiry and investigation, which through a systematic and methodical approach increases knowledge (Amaratunga et al., 2002). Furthermore, Hair Jr et al (2007), suggests that the definition of research can be further summarised as the discerning pursuit of the truth. In regards to the above, pursuit of the truth, the research methodology usually entails a three stage process to provide a robust and accurate analysis. Stage one, involves an initial in-depth literature review of the publications, (e.g. Estates Gazette and Property Week) published journals and academic text books, to interrogate and integrate ideas, whilst linking together concepts to provide an enhanced and informed base in which to comprehensively approach the aim of the dissertation (Naoum, 2007). The remaining stages of the research used a combination of both quantitative and qualitative approaches, with the aim of providing conclusions based on numerical findings which are based upon a natural and realistic environment. (Amaratunga et al. 2002). Yin (1994), states that a research strategy should be chosen as a function of the research situation. As such the research objectives had a material bearing that strongly influenced the methodology used. Adopting a predominantly quantitative approach to the methodology, provides a platform of scientific respectability, due to the way in which findings can be presented (Denscombe. 2000) and thus interpreted (Saunders et al, 2003). Quantitative research is objective in nature and can be defined as an inquiry in to a social or human problem, based on testing a hypothesis or a theory composed of variables, measured with numbers, and analysed with statistical procedures in order to determine whether the hypothesis or theory hold true (Creswell, 1994). Quantitative data is therefore not abstract, it is hard and reliable; it is the measurement of tangible, countable and sensate features of the world (Bouma and Atkinson, 1995). To this end it must be noted that a purely quantitative approch to data collection would be used when: you want to find facts about a concept, question or an attribute OR when you want to collect factual evidence and study the relationship between these facts in order to test a particular theory or hypothesis. In quantitative studies, the hypotheses, research questions and aims should be presented within a theoretical framework. A theory can be introduced as: A seried of hypotheses/sub-hypothesis in the form of ifthen logic statements OR a hunch (Naoum 2007). It is argued that to a certain degree quantitative research, fails to understand the deeper underlying factors of the subject matters and inadequately transposes its findings by way of explanation, despite its level of accuracy and validity (Denscombe, 2000). Qualitative research on the other hand is subjective in nature. It emphasises meanings, experiences that are often verbally described through structured or unstructured interviews and so on. The information gathered in qualitative research can be classified under two categories of research, namely exploratory and attitudinal. Exploratory research is usually employed when you have a limited amount of knowledge about your research topic. The techniques utilised for the process of data collection are usually either structured or non-structured interviews. The purpose of exploratory is usually threefold: firstly, to diagnose a situation; secondly, to screen for alternatives and thirdly, to discover new ideas (Zikmund, 1997, cited in Naoum 2007). Creswell (1994) writes: one typically finds research questions (not hypotheses) written in exploratory research. These research questions assume two levels (1) one or two grand tour questions followed by (2) no more than five to seven sun-questions. Attitudinal research on the other hand is used subjectively to evaluate the opinion, view or the perception of a person towards a particular object (either an attribute, variable, factor or question). Through obtaining the attitudes of individuals towards an object of choice, a process of interpretation can begin, enabling the findings to become data (Denscombe, M, 2000). As mentioned previously qualitative research doesnt tend to have clear rules on the use or placement of theory. Any hypotheses or theories that may emerge during the data collection and analysis phase of the research tend to be placed at the end of the study which require more quantitative testing. It should be noted that the research methodology is not without limitations. Data collection is split into two fields, primary and secondary, the latter of which involves the analysis of information that has already been collected within another study and is often referred to as desk study, it is aptly named secondary because it is concerned with analysing data for the second time (Sarantakos, 2005). Unlike secondary which is predetermined and dated, primary data compilation, also known as Fieldwork entails the collection of current up-to-date information directly from the source, first hand, which can be of a very specific nature. Research design Although various assessments of the planning system (both the NPPF and the old system) have been undertaken previously, there is limited research into the validity of the arguments presented by the Coalition government that demonstrates that the benefits of the NPPF will outweigh the costs of introducing a new system. To this end, the methodologies used within the previous studies were considered as appropriate templates, however, two research design methods were considered from which one was chosen: The first method considered was the analysis of data from local planning authorites, this method was deemed to be impractical as it was anticipated that obtaining actual data pertaining to major developments that could be used for case studies to assess the impact of the NPPF from local planning authorites first hand would be extremely difficult. Additionally in order to carry out the assessment thoroughly, the development would have to be assessed using both planning systems, only then would the benfits of the new system (if any) become apparent. The second method that was considered was the analysis of secondary data sources, in meeting the research objectives, the analysis of secondary data sources was deemed to be the most appropriate method of conducting the research required for this dissertation. The methodology ensured that the main points raised by the governemnt that supported the NPPF were discussed and critically analysed and also allowed any information that opposed or contradicted the governments views to be presented. Literature Review Sustainable Development National planning policy issued by central government sets out guidance to councils, applicants for planning permission and other users of the planning system, about the delivery of sustainable development through the planning system. Planning should help to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, securing net gains against the economic, environmental and social elements of sustainable development. The NPPF must set a clear framework for what development plans should contain and to this end the Localism Bill should be amended to ensure that sustainable development is at the heart of the planning system. Given the importance of the definition of sustainable development, we believe that the way in which it is expressed should be the subject of Parliamentary scrutiny, which would give the resulting definition greater weight than a policy requirement. We attach a draft amendment to the Localism Bill that would achieve this. (NPPF Impact Assessment) If this type of definition is not in statute then the NPPF will have to provide a clear focus for those involved in planning, drawing a distinction between how the term sustainable should be interpreted and evidenced in the development plan process and how it should apply when making determinations on applications. This is necessary due to the fact that development involves significant fixed costs that must be paid upfront and therefore it would extremely beneficial if the planning system could help to reduce or limit this level of uncertainty. Furthermore, planning decisions can generate large sums of money for those gaining planning permission to build. For both these reasons it is imperative that decision making is transparent and governed by a clear and concise set of rules. The previous system was so complex that it did not meet these criteria. The NPPF achieves this by vastly simplifying the rules and by introducing a presumption in favour of sustainable development. Local bureaucrats and politicians will no longer get to say yes or no to development on a case-by-case basis. Instead the presumption means that they have to say yes to things that are consistent with their local plan, however, it must be noted that the presumption does not apply where the adverse impacts of development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. Many other countries successfully run systems that are (at least) this permissive, but it is less clear that this principle can be brought in immediately, given that many local ar eas do not have up-to-date local plans. The NPPF will need to make the balancing exercise clear because there will be some cases where there is an unavoidable trade-off between local and national interests, for example, the government wishes to increase housing supply in England and improve the strategic infrastructure within the UK, these are both national priorities that affect specific local communities. Another reason why the NPPF will need to make the balancing exercise clear is because all too often, the limb of sustainable development that relates to the meeting of basic human needs (and in some case human rights) is sacrificed because of environmental concerns. By setting out a presumption in favour of sustainable development as a central feature in the NPPF, it places more requirements on the council to be proactive in identifying and addressing the need for sustainable development. Of course there will be costs associated with reform, however, the precise impacts of the policies will vary by location and are dependent on how local communities respond to the changes outlined in the NPPF. Further, given the inherent uncertainty in the housing market, capital markets and wider economy, it is difficult to isolate the impact of the changes proposed here from those wider macro-economic factors. Some of the benefits that will come from this presumption are reduced delays and uncertainty because where applications accord with the framework, there is likely to be some kind of impact on the speed with which decisions are made. As a result with more up to date plans adopted, the speed of obtaining planning permission (and therefore completing sustainable development) should be reduced. Even where up-to-date plans have not been adopted, the Framework provides a clear policy framework for investors and development control decisions, so that the benefits of reducing delays and uncertainty may to some extent be realised even before up-to-date, compliant plans are adopted by local authorities. However, even modest improvements in scheme delivery times as a result of the certainty provided by up-to-date plans could produce significant effects in terms of the efficiency by which those plans are delivered and substantial benefits to society as a result of development taking place sooner. There are other benefits associated with reduced holding costs land and other assets through the development management process; and land banks required by the uncertainty of development control and for sites that were rejected. For example, Ball (2010) notes that there are substantial holding costs associated with land banks required by the uncertainty of development control and for sites that were rejected. This could push financing costs from  £1bn to over  £2bn. Social impacts of Old System This section will aim to present a framework for thinking about the costs and benefits of the land use planning system. It will seek to outline how planning affects the wellbeing whilst summarising the evidence on the existence and relative importance. To some extent, the planning system exists primarily to improve the wellbeing of humans and is achieved through the development and implementation of policies that influence land use. As with many markets, the existence of market failures departures from ideal market conditions which include perfect competition and fully informed participants), and concerns over the distributional effects of unregulated land markets, provide the rationale for the planning system, or to put the argument another way, create the opportunity for government or collective action to improve outcomes in terms of wellbeing. The main policy instrument used by the English planning system to achieve this goal is regulation of the supply of land available for different uses. Broadly speaking, this regulation gives the planning system the ability to control where development can occur, how much of it there can be and what kinds of development there are although the powers of the system are asymmetric in the sense that planning can prevent but NOT ensure development. Another way in which planning can impact upon wellbeing is through economical means. Economists tend to think of wellbeing as depending on the consumption of goods, where the definition of goods extends well beyond things which can be purchased from retailers. A good is anything that contributes, positively or negatively, to human wellbeing, ranging from simple goods like an apple to the feeling of pleasure derived from knowing about the existence of a national park one may never visit. Planning can influence the availability and price of many types of goods, including through reducing the amount of some things which lower wellbeing. (Inexpensive Progress) Goods can be classified to their characteristics: externalities which can be positive (a pleasan

Sigmund Freud and the Oedipus Instinct :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Sigmund Freud and the Oedipus Instinct Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are through you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the houses of tomorrow, which you can not visit, even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. Kahil Gibran Freud is to Psychoanalysis what Socrates is to philosophy. The theory of psychoanalysis is primarily concerned with the development of the human personality; it was Freud who presumed that human personality is a tripartite system, consisting of the id, ego, and the superego. "The id is said to contain all the instinctual drives that seek immediate satisfaction and like a small child (they are said to operate on the "the pleasure principle"); the ego contains the conscious mental states, and its function is to perceive the real world and to decide how to act, mediating between the world and the id (it is governed by "the reality principle"). Whatever can become conscious is in the ego (although it also contains elements that remain unconscious), where as everything in the id is permanently unconscious. The superego is identified as a special part of the mind that contains the conscience, the moral norms acquired from parents and others who were influential in early childhood; thoug h it belongs to the ego and shares its kind of psychological organization, the superego is also said to have an intimate connection with the id, for it can confront the ego with rules and prohibitions like a strict parent" (Leslie Stevenson & David L. Haberman 155). If at an early stage the child is exposed to an environment that consists of overly aggressive and dominant parents the development of that child’s superego may become a tad bit tyrannical, causing an adverse reaction within the psyche of that child.

Globalization and the Good and the Bad Effect It Brings to the Economy and the Employment in Sri Lanka Essay

Introduction This assignment is done on Globalization and the good and the bad effect it brings to the economy and the employment in Sri Lanka. Main Date Source used was Wikipedia to gain the data of GDP, GDP per capita rates, unemployment rate, import & export rates etc. Defining of the terms economy, employment in the formal sector and informal sector is done to give meaning to the assignment. The economy and its structural changes and the contribution to the economy and comparison with another country is done. The country that has been taken into consideration as the comparison is Singapore. The reasons to compare with Singapore is that it has high rate of GDP per capita, GDP, export & income rates etc and it is a world leader in several economic areas. Economy & Employment in Sri Lanka An Economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labour, capital, and land resources; and the manufacturing, production, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area. A given economy is the result of a process that involves its technological evolution, history and social organization, as well as its geography, natural resource endowment, and ecology, as main factors. These factors give context, content, and set the conditions and parameters in which an economy functions. [Citation: Wikipedia] Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. Employment opportunity comes directly from investment (including foreign direct investment and investment bank) to gain excessive profit in a Business plan in the capitalist economy. [Citation: Wikipedia] Economy & Employment in Formal Sector & Informal Sector The informal sector or informal economy is a part of an economy that is not taxed, monitored by any form of government, or included in any gross national product (GNP), unlike the formal economy. Other terms used for informal sector can include the black market, shadow economy and the underground economy. The informal economy: * Do not have any rules or agreements in written form or implied terms. * Exists simply on verbal understanding. * Do not have fixed wages, fixed number of work hours and mostly relies on daily earnings where they are unable to do savings. * Sometimes the work environment is packed and unclean or untidy. * Socialization process of this sector is very poor when it comes to addressing their difficulties to another party for relief or redress. People working as small traders, home based workers, cobblers, labourers, small farmers and three wheel drivers are some employment belongs to informal sector. The formal economy: * Has a structured system of employment with clear rules and regulations, recruitment, agreement and responsibilities of jobs. * Relationship between the Employer and employee is through formal contract where each party is bound by the law of the country for any disputes arising. * Employees are required to work for fixed number of hours and receives fixed remuneration with additions to other perks. * Work environment is hygienic and decent. * Entitled to obtain leave, savings, loans etc. * Organized association or union is available to address grievances. * Covered by social protection such as insurance schemes, pension systems, gratuity etc. People working in the public sector, semi-government sector, private sector, government services, banks, universities, colleges, institutes etc belong to the formal sector. Sri Lanka consists of 65,610km2 total land area with a population of 20 million with three ethnic groups of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim. Sri Lanka has 92.5% literacy rate among the total population where youth literacy is 98% and computer literacy rate at 35%. The free education system was established in 1945 providing opportunities from primary to territory stage education. The public universities in Sri Lanka are 15. However, due to the gap in the demand and the supply of labour, new private institutions have immerged affiliation with other developed countries. As a result of globalization, students who are unable to enter into public universities get the opportunity to go to other countries on student visa with work permits to earn an extra income during studies. Due to government changes the education system is highly influenced and results in poor structuring leading student to migrate for higher education, sending local funds to another country influencing the economy and increasing the government deficit. After the independence (1948) the economy structures started to change with a nominal growth but once again due to the riots in 1983 and effects of war, growth came to diminish. In 2009 the war ended creating once again a rapid growth as the fastest growing economies. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) output is US$ 59.17 billion in 2011. GDP Per Capita PPP is US$ 1,402 in 2011. http://www.tradingeconomics.com/sri-lanka/indicators Sri Lanka – National Statistics | MARKETS| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | CURRENCY| 126.75| 127.55| 109.46| | | | Mar/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | STOCK MARKET| 5680.02| 5635.90| 6010.25| | | Index points| Mar/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | GDP PER CAPITA| 1402.12| 1295.75| 602.64| | | USD| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP PER CAPITA PPP| 5619.92| 5106.34| 2393.29| | | USD| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP| 59.17| 49.55| 11.40| | | USD Billion| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP GROWTH RATE| 4.80| 6.40| 6.44| | | Percent| Sep/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP ANNUAL GROWTH RATE| 4.80| 6.40| 6.44| | | Percent| Sep/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT| 6470617.00| 5534327.00| 840878.18| | | LKR Million| Jun/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | LABOUR| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | POPULATION| 20.87| 20.45| 15.75| | | Million| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | UNEMPLOYMENT RATE| 4.10| 3.90| 6.01| | | Percent| Sep/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | EMPLOYED PERSONS| 7430.00| 7236.00| 6294.82| | | Thousand Persons| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | UNEMPLOYED PERSONS| 308.00| 375.00| 614.00| | | Thousand Persons| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | WAGES| 68.30| 68.30| 80.41| | | Index Points| Nov/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | PRICES| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | INFLATION RATE| 9.80| 9.80| 10.57| | | Percent| Feb/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI)| 170.70| 170.00| 61.98| | | Index Points| Feb/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | EXPORT PRICES| 118.70| 107.70| 80.01| | | Index Points| Aug/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP DEFLATOR| 228.46| 211.83| 168.50| | | Index Points| Jun/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | IMPORT PRICES| 133.40| 117.60| 74.03| | | Index Points| Aug/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | PRODUCER PRICES| 220.21| 216.55| 56.12| | | Index Points| Feb/2011| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | MONEY| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | INTEREST RATE| 7.50| 7.50| 8.42| | | Percent| Mar/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES| 874510.80| 845353.30| 141026.03| | | LKR Million| Dec/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | INTERBANK RATE| 11.41| 11.35| 11.52| | | Percent| Aug/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | MONEY SUPPLY M0| 303095.00| 297324.00| 50021.34| | | LKR Million| Jul/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | MONEY SUPPLY M1| 450049.00| 430000.00| 118099.84| | | LKR Million| Dec/2012| MONTHLY| View| | | | | | | | | | | MONEY SUPPLY M2| 2593185.00| 2529800.00| 478073.30| | | LKR Million| Dec/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | TRADE| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | CURRENT ACCOUNT TO GDP| -7.80| -2.20| -5.94| | | Percent| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | BALANCE OF TRADE| -641.20| -992.90| -972.09| | | USD Million| Dec/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CURRENT ACCOUNT| -126325.90| -189897.00| -33677.92| | | LKR Million| Feb/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | EXPORTS| 871.00| 827.60| 1578.62| | | USD Million| Dec/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | IMPORTS| 1512.20| 1820.50| 2543.45| | | USD Million| Dec/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | EXTERNAL DEBT| 2981500.00| 2995800.00| 726582.34| | | LKR Million| Sep/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | TERMS OF TRADE| 88.90| 91.60| 112.22| | | Index Points| Aug/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GOVERNMENT| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | GOVERNMENT DEBT TO GDP| 78.50| 81.90| 92.63| | | Percent| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CREDIT RATING| 37.50| | | | | | | | View| | | | | | | | | | | GOVERNMENT BUDGET| -6.20| -6.90| -7.85| | | Percent of GDP| Dec/2012| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GOVERNMENT EXTERNAL DEBT| 2981500.00| 2995800.00| 726582.34| | | LKR Million| Sep/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GOVERNMENT SPENDING| 967702.00| 872610.00| 119258.79| | | LKR Million| Jun/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | BUSINESS| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | CAPACITY UTILIZATION| 83.00| 82.00| 82.00| | | Percent| Jun/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CAR REGISTRATIONS| 1880.00| 1718.00| 1575.43| | | Cars| Aug/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CHANGES IN INVENTORIES| 186318.00| 93498.00| 92964.91| | | LKR Million| Jun/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | HOUSING INDEX| 2390.00| 2811.00| 2817.60| | | | May/2012| QUARTERLY| View| | | | | | | | | | | INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION| 0.20| 4.10| 7.17| | | Percent| Jun/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CONSUMER| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | BANK LENDING RATE| 14.30| 14.40| 13.97| | | Percent| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CONSUMER SPENDING| 4568393.00| 3651578.00| 593007.09| | | LKR Million| Jun/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | PERSONAL SAVINGS| 15.40| 19.30| 16.69| | | Percent| Jun/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | Globalization & Sri Lanka In the 20th Century Sri Lanka had a Plantation economy where production and export was cinnamon, rubber and Ceylon tea. Due to the changes implemented on government economic policies and many industries were nationalised made a greater impact on main sectors of the economy. In 1977, Free Market Economy (Liberalization) was introduced to the country adaption of privatization, deregulation and promoting of private enterprises. Production and export of tea, rubber, coffee, sugar and other commodities remains there has been an increase in the industrialization on food processing, textiles, telecommunication and finance. Main economic sectors of the country are tourism, tea export, clothing, rice production and other agricultural products. In addition to theses economic sectors overseas employment contributes hugely to the foreign exchange mainly from the Middle East. Contribution to GDP from services sector is 60%, industrial sector 28% and agriculture sector 12%. The private sector contribution is 85% of the economy. According to internal sources, the per capita of Sri Lanka has double since the year 2005 and during the same time period a drop of 15.2% to 7.6% on poverty and a drop of 7.2% to 4.9% of unemployment indicated. 90% of the houses in the country are electrified. 87.3% has access to drinking water and 39% to pipe borne water. A drop in income inequality is also recognized. After globalization and the liberalization with the improvement on technology Sri Lanka’s cellular subscriber base increased in 550% growth from 2005 to 2010. Sri Lanka was the 1st country to introduce 3G (third generation), 3.5G HSDPA, 3.75G HSUPA and 4G LTE mobile broad band internet technologies. World economy forum has listed Sri Lanka ranking 52nd in the global competitiveness also 8th in the World Giving Index in charitable behaviour to the society. Although poverty has reduced to some extent the malnutrition among children still remains in a higher level reporting 29% of the children being under-weight and also a severe percentage being anaemic. Positive impact has occurred after ending of the cruel war towards the road network of Sri Lanka with the help of other countries human capital and technologies. Sri Lanka has 35 A grade highways and 1 controlled – access highway (E01) The railway network is operated by the state run national railway operator. The transport sector has not contributed much to the globalization where there are many difficulties faced facilitating society. There are three deep-water ports at Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee where Trincomalee port is recognized as the 5th largest natural harbour in the world. Newest addition is the port built in Hambatota. Earlier there was only Sri Lankan Airlines and one International airport in the country. But Air transportation has expanded to a new stage with the new international air port being built in Mattala, Hambantota and also domestic plane service to Jaffna & Colombo has being restarted with sea plane services attracting tourism to the country. This has helped to create many jobs in the service sector. With a grant of 20 million dollars from the US and assistance from China, a space academy is to be set up for launch of satellites of other nations and as well as for domestic purpose. On 26th September 2012, Sri Lanka launched its 1st satellite with the intention of more launches in coming years. Even though the national sport in Sri Lanka is volleyball, Cricket has played a major role by rising from underdog status to winning 1996 Cricket World Cup, creating more opportunity to attract foreign investments and other trades to the country. Hence, Globalization has supported to promote economy & employment of Sri Lanka towards a better growth and expansion. Singapore economy towards globalization Republic of Singapore is a Southeast Asian country which claimed independence from the British in the year 1963 and was separated from Malaysia two years later. It has a land area of 710km2. Just like Sri Lanka it has three ethnic groups, Chinese, Malays and Indians, totalling to population of 5 million. Before independence the GDP per capita of Singapore was US$ 511, this was due to the Suez Canal opening and being the British Naval Base in the region. After the independence a modern economy was created through foreign direct investments. Today Singapore has a highly developed market base economy and is one of the original Four Asian Tigers. Its economy is known as the freest, innovative, friendliest and most competitive one. Also Singapore is ranked as one of the least corrupted countries in the world. The GDP per capita is USD 33,529.83 in 2011 and GDP is USD 239.7 billion in 2011 according to the attached graph. Singapore claims to be the world’s fourth leading financial centre and its port is one of the five busiest ports in the world. The economy of Singapore depends heavily on exports and refining imported goods which contributed 26% GDP. When compared to Sri Lanka, Singapore has the third highest per capita income in the world (IMF) where Sri Lanka is placed at the rank of 144 (according to web sources). Transport service in Singapore is mainly by public bus or train. Very limited people have the opportunity to buy vehicles due to the high taxes imposed to reduce traffic in the cities and therefore, cut the waiting time and cost of fuel. Singapore has made extensive plans to improve peak hour capacity from 2015 to 2016 by adding more trains and upgrading the signalling systems where the waiting time will be reduced to no more than five minutes. But in Sri Lanka, the transportation plays a poor role where communities have to go through many difficulties in public transport systems. Because of such problems the Three Wheeler market came to immerge playing a major part in transport systems. Bus services in Sri Lanka are very poor and waiting time is between 15 to 30 minutes in some cases where train services are concerned, the waiting time is much more that the bus services. Railway systems have to be improved vastly to facilitate the transportation in the country where the Government has to seriously take actions in implementation of such plans. Importing goods and services in Singapore is lower than the export rate where in Sri Lanka importing (USD 1,512.20) rate is higher than the exporting USD 871) rate. Sri Lankan government should impose new laws on imports and provide opportunity for innovations and new products within the country where the deficit could be minimised. Improving exports would facilitate to foreign exchange. Toursim in Singapore is a main attraction and contributes largely to the economy and according to web sources 10.2 million tourists have visited the country in 2007. In 2005, the government leagalized gambling with the idea of attracting more tourist. Singapore is promoting a medical tourism hub with the expectation to serve to serve one million foreign patients annually since foreigners tend to seek more medical care in Singapore. Singapore also functions as an Education Hub where 80,000 international students were reported in the year 2006 and it has been increasing ever since. The infrastructure, science and technology plays a main role in Singapore. Internet in Singapore offer residential plans of speeds upto 1Gbit/s increasing exports and creating 80,000 jobs in 2006. Telecommunication include services over 6 million subscribers as sources say. Singapore plays the major role in international transport hub in Asia since it is positioned on many sea and air trade routes. It is recognized as the world’s biggest ship refuelling centre. Even though Singapore is smaller than Sri Lanka, they are consisted with 08 airports in the country with a network of 80 airlines connecting Singapore to 200 cities in 68 countries. SINGAPORE – NATIONAL STATISTICS | MARKETS| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | STOCK MARKET| 3283.85| 3269.95| 2382.15| | | Index points| Mar/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GOVERNMENT BOND 10Y| 1.56| 1.53| 3.05| | | Percent| Mar/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CURRENCY| 1.25| 1.24| 1.71| | | | Mar/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | GDP GROWTH RATE| 3.30| -4.60| 5.34| | | Percent| Dec/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP ANNUAL GROWTH RATE| 1.50| 0.00| 4.74| | | Percent| Dec/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP PER CAPITA| 33529.83| 32537.76| 13907.50| | | USD| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP PER CAPITA PPP| 61103.36| 57901.56| 28642.70| | | USD| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT| 341640.90| 331346.70| 92568.84| | | SGD Million| Jun/2012| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP| 239.70| 222.70| 51.84| | | USD Billion| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | LABOUR| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | POPULATION| 5.18| 5.08| 3.02| | | Million| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | EMPLOYED PERSONS| 3358.10| 3228.50| 2441.83| | | Thousand Persons| Dec/2012| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | JOB VACANCIES| 56400.00| 47300.00| 33332.61| | | Jobs| Aug/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | LABOUR COSTS| 129.90| 111.47| 96.48| | | Index Points| Nov/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | PRODUCTIVITY| -2.50| -3.80| 2.26| | | Percent| Nov/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | UNEMPLOYED PERSONS| 87.10| 87.40| 57.91| | | Thousand Persons| Jun/2012| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | WAGES| 4773.00| 4078.00| 2943.95| | | SGD| Nov/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | WAGES IN MANUFACTURING| 4903.00| 4057.00| 4354.69| | | SGD| Nov/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | UNEMPLOYMENT RATE| 1.80| 1.90| 2.53| | | Percent| Dec/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | PRICES| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | CORE INFLATION RATE| 0.20| -0.70| 0.54| | | Percent| Aug/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | INFLATION RATE| 3.60| 4.30| 2.82| | | Percent| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI)| 115.40| 115.18| 66.45| | | Index Points| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CORE CONSUMER PRICES| 113.11| 113.07| 92.60| | | Index Points| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | EXPORT PRICES| 97.07| 96.01| 126.74| | | Index Points| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GDP DEFLATOR| 115.53| 112.22| 86.86| | | Index Points| Nov/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | IMPORT PRICES| 97.50| 96.16| 95.82| | | Index Points| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | PRODUCER PRICES| 104.79| 102.60| 91.24| | | Index Points| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | MONEY| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | INTEREST RATE| 0.04| 0.05| 1.69| | | Percent| Feb/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES| 320732.80| 320506.30| 96071.84| | | SGD Million| Feb/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | INTERBANK RATE| 0.38| 0.38| 2.66| | | Percent| Feb/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | LOANS TO PRIVATE SECTOR| 290789.90| 284237.50| 149869.88| | | SGD Million| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | MONEY SUPPLY M0| 27479.40| 26361.30| 9284.27| | | SGD Million| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | MONEY SUPPLY M1| 144981.00| 140709.10| 27659.49| | | SGD Million| Jan/2013| MONTHLY| View| | | | | | | | | | | MONEY SUPPLY M2| 484447.30| 475392.50| 126823.47| | | SGD Million| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | MONEY SUPPLY M3| 495021.70| 485915.40| 138597.08| | | SGD Million| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | TRADE| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | EXPORTS| 42963079.00| 42836030.00| 17413779.37| | | Thousand SGD| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CURRENT ACCOUNT TO GDP| 21.90| 24.40| 10.91| | | Percent| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CURRENT ACCOUNT| 12814.60| 16976.50| 7104.59| | | Million SGD| Nov/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | IMPORTS| 39705603.00| 37883528.00| 17625168.62| | | Thousand SGD| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | EXTERNAL DEBT| 0.00| 0.00| 8.86| | | SGD Million| Dec/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | TERMS OF TRADE| 99.56| 99.84| 128.66| | | Index Points| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | BALANCE OF TRADE| 4687576.40| 3736394.50| -204106.69| | | Thousand SGD| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GOVERNMENT| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | CREDIT RATING| 98.60| | | | | | | | View| | | | | | | | | | | GOVERNMENT DEBT TO GDP| 100.80| 101.20| 84.89| | | Percent| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GOVERNMENT EXTERNAL DEBT| 0.00| 0.00| 8.86| | | SGD Million| Dec/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GOVERNMENT SPENDING| 6910.30| 7204.70| 3226.73| | | SGD Million| Nov/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | GOVERNMENT BUDGET| 0.70| 0.30| 9.94| | | Percent of GDP| Dec/2011| Yearly| View| | | | | | | | | | | BUSINESS| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION| -0.40| 1.30| 6.49| | | Percent| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | BANKRUPTCIES| 149.00| 195.00| 238.14| | | Companies| Dec/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | BUSINESS CONFIDENCE| -10.00| -10.00| 10.93| | | | Feb/2013| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CAR REGISTRATIONS| 4273.00| 3803.00| 6751.17| | | Cars| Jan/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CHANGES IN INVENTORIES| 5770.70| 1036.60| 380.44| | | SGD Million| Nov/2012| Quarterly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CONSUMER| LAST| PREVIOUS| AVERAGE| METER| TREND| UNIT| REFERENCE| FREQUENCY| | RETAIL SALES MOM| 2.10| -0.22| 0.63| | | Percent| Dec/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | RETAIL SALES YOY| -1.50| -1.20| 3.18| | | Percent| Dec/2012| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | BANK LENDING RATE| 5.38| 5.38| 6.79| | | Percent| Feb/2013| Monthly| View| | | | | | | | | | | CONSUMER SPENDING| 27426.10| 27008.00| 13037.62| | | SGD Million| Nov/2012| Quarterly| View| | Impact on economy and employment due to globalization: * Free trade can speed up production and labour costs including higher wages for skills, new technologies, expertise services etc. To level up with the globalized economy, more skills, knowledge, training and development have to given to the work force where they will be developed further and could attract the international job market. But at the same time it consists of a high cost to train the workforce and be competitive at the same time and retaining the trained people. * Globalization promotes employment opportunities towards international market where wealthy companies can profit and bring failure to smaller companies due to the inability to compete globally. In one way it creates multinational firm to expand more making them part of the globalization economy while opening room for the smaller companies to withdraw from the international trade. * The urgency to compete may lead to over use of natural resources to meet higher demands in the production process. * Due to globalization, Internet services have been extended in many ways to access many sites where youth in Sri Lanka nowadays spend most of their time in internet cafes with sighting illegal/improper web sites causing brain damage if engaged in a longer period. Awareness programs should be held and laws to be imposed to block such sites as illegal may lead Sri Lanka to a corruption free country to at least some extent. Rather the use of internet can contribute to enhance educational knowledge in a major way due to the easy access. Yet, Sri Lanka has the potential to create more jobs in the software and the tourism industry as many youth in the country plays an ‘idle’ time awaiting their Advanced Level examination results. Some drop out during university education trying to find jobs. [According to the Labour Force Survey (2nd quarter 2012) youth unemployment has a significant raise] Compared to Singapore, Sri Lanka, having the resources and the intellectual human capital is enriched with new innovations, researches and business investments to promote employment and economy through globalization and gradually receive better results in the coming years.

The Book of Genesis vs. the Epic of Gilgamesh

Two Different Books with Similar Stories The Book of Genesis and The Epic of Gilgamesh have many clear similarities. One major, noticeable similarity is that in both stories, there are flood legends. There is the legend of Noah and the Ark in The Book of Genesis and the story of Utnapishtim in The Epic of Gilgamesh. In both stories, a higher power wants to wipe out the human race and decides to save one person who is then assigned to build an ark to hold himself, his family, and one of each animal. There are also many specifics about this flood that the two stories have in common, not just the basis of the tale.For example, both stories tell of a long storm. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, it says: â€Å"Six days and seven nights the wind and storm† (Gilg. Tabl. XI, 127). In The Book of Genesis, it says: â€Å"rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights† (Gen. 7:12). In both cases, the story is specific about the number of days the storm lasted. Noah and Utnapishtim make sacrifices to their respective higher power– Noah to God and Utnapishtim to Enlil. In the story of Noah and the Ark, it says that he â€Å"†offered burnt offerings on the altar† (Gen. :20) which is a sacrifice to God. In the story of Utnapishtim, it says that he â€Å"offered a sacrifice† (Gilg. Tabl. XI, 155) by pouring a libation to Ea, which is a form of spiritual sacrifice. These stories do not exist for entertainment, they serve the purpose of teaching people lessons about humankind and God or the gods. These flood legends tell us about a couple of different religious beliefs of the ancient people, one being that people are instinctually bad. A higher power wanted to wipe out the human race in both legends because humans were doing wrong.If humans were good by nature, the higher powers would not have wanted to destroy them all. The stories of these floods also show flaws in the high powers. Usually the gods or God are considered to be perfect, bu t in this story we see that the higher powers do indeed make mistakes. They made the mistake of creating an earth populated by flawed people. This is important because it shows that not even God or gods can achieve perfection, and humans certainly cannot. Even though this still makes the gods better than humans, no one is perfect.These two stories are also very similar in their views of humans versus animals. In both stories, the higher power assigns a man to build this ark and lead a new world with his animals. This shows his authority over the animals. Since he and his family are intended to be the only humans after the flood kills everyone else, this makes the humans the leaders of the living beings. The stories send a clear message that humans are above animals and humans have power over all animals. This tells us that animals are not viewed as equals and certainly do not receive the same respect as humans in either culture.This explains why people eat meat, have pets, farm, or anything else humans do to control animals and establish a higher power over them. Although there are very major similarities between The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Book of Genesis, there are also many differences. One of the main differences is the attitudes about sex. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh sleeps with all of the women in the town that he rules. Also, after a successful journey with Enkidu, they reward themselves by having sex with prostitutes. Prostitutes are also seen as mystical and powerful.Even more different from the other story is that the gods in The Epic of Gilgamesh sleep with human beings. Sex is much more common and casual in this story. Also, because it is provided to the warriors as a reward for a successful journey, it makes sex almost a trophy. Overall, this tale makes sex out to be a spiritual, powerful, and pleasurable action. This is very different from The Book of Genesis. In The Book of Genesis, sex is not for pleasure. People are not supposed to h ave sex until marriage, and it is mainly for the purpose of procreation.This is very different from The Epic of Gilgamesh in which Gilgamesh sleeps with many women while unwed. The difference in sexual attitudes in the stories exemplifies how sex is viewed differently in different cultures. Some may see it as a form of pleasure, while others view it as a means for creating children. Another minor difference between the stories is the idea of immortality. In both stories, all humans are born mortal. Although Gilgamesh is 1/3 god and 2/3 human, he is still mortal because he can be killed. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim is given immortality by the gods before flooding out the human race.However, in The Book of Genesis, God does not give anyone the gift of immortality. This shows how the Christian culture believes that humans are far less powerful than God and they can never be anywhere near as strong and wise as Him. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, humans can be granted special powers by the gods, and Gilgamesh himself is part god. This puts far less emphasis on the division between humans and gods than The Book of Genesis. The obvious similarities between The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Book of Genesis tell us that the people of the world coming from different cultures still have many mutual beliefs.The similarities in the stories also show how important these stories are to people, since the beliefs are so widespread that multiple different variations of the stories have been written. It is clear that the people of the ancient world believed that the world was created by a higher power in a number of days, that a higher power created the human race, humans are very flawed, and many other mutual beliefs that can be found in The Epic of Gilgamesh and The Book of Genesis.