Of Mice and Men Themes Dreams, Weakness, Nature

Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, tells the story of two migrant farm workers in California. By exploring themes such as the nature of dreams, the relationship between strength and weakness, and the conflict between man and nature, the novella paints a compelling and often dark portrait of Great Depression-era American life. The Nature of Dreams George and Lennie share a dream: to own their own land, allowing them to live off the fatta the lan. This dream comes up repeatedly throughout the novella in conversations between George and Lennie as well as with other farm workers. However, the significance of this dream differs depending on which character is discussing it. To innocent Lennie, the dream is a concrete plan. He truly believes that he and George will someday have their own farm with plenty of alfalfa and rabbits. Whenever Lennie feels scared or worried, he asks George to tell him about the farm and the rabbits. Hearing George describe the imaginary farm comforts and reassures Lennie. The farm plan is supposed to be a secret, but Lennie accidentally lets it slip during a conversation with Crooks. Crooks rejects the dream immediately. He tells Lennie that people are always making big statements about getting land or going to heaven, but that [n]obody never gets to heaven, and nobody gets no land. It’s just in their head.† For Crooks, there is no point in dreaming—dreams dont offer solace because he is certain that they wont come true. George has yet another relationship to the dream. For most of the novella, it is unclear whether he truly believes that the farm dream will become a reality, or whether he simply talks about it to keep Lennie happy and to pass the time. At the storys end, however, it becomes clear that for George, the dream was never a potential reality. Up until the instant he shoots Lennie, George is telling him about the farm theyll have one day. In this moment, George knows that Lennie will never see the farm, but still uses the dream to keep Lennie calm; Lennie, on the other hand, truly believes that he will one day be tending rabbits on the farm that George describes. This moment perfectly symbolizes the conflict between Georges skepticism of the dream and Lennies innocent hopes about the dream, as well as the violent power of the former over the latter. Strength vs. Weakness Violence is never far away in  Of Mice and Mens hardscrabble world, and one of the most important themes is the uneasy relationship between strength and weakness. The theme plays out in the behavior of most of the characters. Curley, a physically diminutive man, uses his position of authority on the farm to assert his dominance over the others. Curleys wife silences Crooks through racial slurs and violent threats, despite being physically weaker than him. And Carlson, one of the ranch hands, shoots the elderly dog owned by Candy, who happens to be an aging handyman himself. The theme of strength vs. weakness is most apparent in the character of Lennie, a man who is himself both strong and weak. Physically, Lennie is by far the most powerful man on the farm. However, his demeanor is gentle and often fearful—he doesnt want to fight the other men—and he has a mental disability that leaves him dependent on George. This tension between strength and weakness is highlighted when Lennie, who adores delicate objects and small creatures, interacts with animals. When the novella begins, George and Lennie are sitting by the side of the road, and Lennie is petting a dead mouse (he loves to feel soft materials). Later, Lennie gets a puppy from one of the farm workers. He adores the small creature, but he accidentally kills it by stroking it too strongly. This situation is repeated—with graver consequences—when Lennie breaks Curleys wifes neck while stroking her hair. Because he fails to understand his own strength, Lennie kills physically weaker beings: the puppy and Curleys wife. These mistakes ultimately lead to Lennies own death, as George shoots him in an effort to protect him from Curleys wrathful mob. In the dog-eat-dog (or, perhaps more accurately, man-crush-dog) world of Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, strength in the form of mental and emotional toughness is essential, and the weak cannot survive. Man vs. Nature The novella begins with a passage describing an idyllic riverbank, where the golden foothill slopes curve up to the mountains and the warm water slip[s] twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight. When humans enter the scene, however, the passages tone shifts: there is a path beaten hard by boys and an ash pile made by many fires. This early passage demonstrates the uncertain (and potentially harmful) relationship between the natural and human worlds that arises throughout the novella. The characters in Of Mice and Men work on a ranch—one of the most fundamental examples of humans exerting control over the natural world. Lennie and Georges desire to own land again reinforces this theme; their image of success and fulfillment involves dominance over nature. However, the relationship between man and nature is not as clear-cut as these examples might suggest. Sometimes, humans destroy nature unwittingly, like when Lennie kills the puppy. On other occasions, humans destroy nature for morally ambiguous (maybe even natural) reasons, like when Carlson shoots Candys old dog in order to put it out of his misery. Lennie himself reflects some aspects of the natural world, as he seems largely unaware of many social constructs of the human world. Ultimately, the moment that most blurs the line between the human and natural worlds is Lennies death at Georges hand. The scene asks us to consider whether it is natural for George to kill Lennie for his own protection (to put him out of his misery), or whether the killing is an act of societal intervention. The novellas conclusion suggests that the distinction between human society and nature—and between mice and men—is, perhaps, not so great after all.

The Parallels Between Animal Farm and Soviet History...

The Parallels Between Animal Farm and Soviet History Prior to writing Animal Farm, George Orwell had stated: History consists of a series of swindles, in which the masses are first lured into revolt by the promise of Utopia, and then, when they have done their job, enslaved over again as new masters Together this statement and Soviet History provided a basis for a political allegory which is depicted through Animals and tells of the tribulations which surround certain political ideals. In many ways, the story parallels to an era of soviet history from the revolution in 1917 to the Teheran Conference in 1943. When many critiques review this book they fail to realize how each significant detail parallels to an entity in†¦show more content†¦This is in fact a witty and ironic example of specious Marxist polemics: A Birds Wings, Comrades is an organ or propulsion and not manipulation, It should there be regarded as a leg.(pg 31, Orwell) As the animals had their anthem known as the beast of England, the communist also had an anthem known as Linternationale (1848). The Animal anthem actually paraphrases several components of the Linternationale. In this magnificent fable, there lie many small similarities between Russian history and the Animal farm. In the prologue to Animal Farm George Orwell puts in writing: Although various episodes are taken from the actual history of the Russian Revolution, they are dealt with schematically and their chronological order is changed. As there are countless similarities a few significant ones are: the human beings are the capitalists, the animals are communists, the wild creatures who could not be tamed and continued to behave very much as before are the muzhiks or peasants, the pigs are the Bolsheviks, The Rebellion is the October Rebellion, the neighbouring farmers are the western armies who attempted to support the Czarists against the Reds, the wave of rebelliousness that ran through the countryside afterward, is the abortive revolutions in Hungary and Germany in 1919 and 1923; the hoof and horn is the hammer and sickle, the Spontaneous Demonstration is the May Day celebration, the Order of the GreenShow MoreRelated Messages of George Orwells Animal Farm Essay1412 Words   |  6 PagesOrwells Animal Farm Though Animal Farm can be considered nothing more than a charming animal fable depicting a doomed rebellion, its origin is actually of a more serious and political nature. It is not only the tale of Napoleon and Animal Farm, but a satire and commentary on that of the Russian Revolution, Stalin and Communism. For a person to gain a true understanding of Orwells meaning in Animal Farm, it is best that he or she has an understanding of the political parties and history surroundingRead MoreAnalysis Of George Orwells Animal Farm1711 Words   |  7 Pagescharacter because his actions and bad deeds provoked the animal rebellion, similarly to how Tsar Nicholas II ignorance led his abdication, ending the Romanov rule and replacing it with the new Bolshevik government (Krieger 185). Moreover, in the story, the animals replaced what used to be â€Å"Manor Farm† to â€Å"Animal Farm†, and Orwell does this to resemble the transformation of Russia’s government. There are othe r events in the story that parallel the true events that resemble Tsar Nicholas. For exampleRead MoreAnimal Farm: An Allegory of Russian History Essay903 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal Farm is an allegory of the period in Russian history between 1917 and 1944. It is a satirical story written in the form of an animal fable. In writing Animal Farm as a fable, George Orwell is able to present his subject in simple symbolic terms by treating the development of communism as a story that is taking place on a single farm with talking animals. The characters of Animal Farm represent figures in Russian history during the Russian Revolution. Places, objects, and events of theRead MoreAnimal Farm By George Orwell Essay1430 Words   |  6 PagesAnimal Farm is of course, a satirical allegory, very specifically of the Russian Revolution and of Stalin (Napoleon in the book), but more generally of revolution, the idealism of utopias, and the way in which people take control of societies founded on principles of equality. It is a satirical allegory of Soviet totalitarianism. Orwell based major events in the book on ones from the Soviet Union during the Stalin era. Orwell, a democratic socialist, and a member of the Independent Labour PartyRead MoreAnimal Farm Or Ussr Part II1243 Words   |  5 Pages10 10 April 2015 Animal Farm or USSR Part II Animal Farm written by George Orwell is a hopeful novel about a group of animals that overthrow their farmer and create an animalistic government. Much like All the King’s Men a novel by Robert Penn Warren, Animal Farm has strong political undertones relating to the the skewed government of Soviet Russia. Throughout the book many animal characters can be identified with the political leaders and influences throughout Soviet Russia. According to NewRead MoreThe And Its Impact On Modern Society1578 Words   |  7 Pages The entirety of the story was written from the perspective of the â€Å"surrounding farmers† from Animal Farm. 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This essay will discuss what opportunities Animal Farm provides Orwell by writingRead MoreOrwells Comparing Animal Farm and The Russian System Of Communism971 Words   |  4 PagesOrwells Comparing Animal Farm and The Russian System Of Communism Animal Farm is a satire and prophecy of the Russian revolution, which was written by George Orwell in 1945. George Orwell was a political satirist who led a somewhat strange life. His original name was Eric Arthur Blair, which was later changed to his familiar pen name for its manly, English, country-sounding ring. He was a lonely boy and had many uncertain jobs until he finally became a writer, crossing Read MoreRevolutions Everywhere!: Animal Farm by George Orwell873 Words   |  4 Pages Revolutions are a big part of our world and throughout history, for thousands of years, we have experienced more of these uprisings than we can keep track of. Revolutions are necessary to bring change to a country’s government unwilling to listen to its people. When a government becomes a tyranny, it’s time for a revolution! A revolution aims at overthrowing a government or a certain part of one and this is important to us in order to repair a country undergoing abuse of power on its citizens.Read MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm2708 Words   |  11 PagesLuke Shadley 20th Century Russia 10/16/14 Orwell’s Animal Farm: Fact and Fiction, Caution and Critique George Orwell’s Animal Farm is, first and foremost, a political satire warning against the pursuit of utopian desires through unjust and oppressive means. Operating under the pretense of an animal fable, Orwell disparages the use of political power to poach personal freedom. He effectively alerts his readers to the dangerous price that can accompany the so-called â€Å"pursuit of progress†. And

Qnt565 Free Essays

University of Phoenix Material – Sonya Cargill 11/12/12 Week Five Calculations Read the following scenarios, and answer the accompanying questions. 1. Statistics students were asked to fill a one-cup measure with raisin bran, then tap the cup lightly on the counter three times to settle the contents. We will write a custom essay sample on Qnt565 or any similar topic only for you Order Now If necessary, they were instructed to add more raisin bran to bring the contents exactly to the one-cup line, then spread the contents on a large plate, and count the raisins. The 13 students who chose Kellogg’s Raisin Bran obtained the results shown below: 23334436294231336136342324 †¢ Calculate the mean, median, and mode. Is the distribution skewed to the left or to the right? Mean: 34. 5, Mode: 23,33,36, Median: 33 The mean is greater than the median†¦. therefore the distribution should be skewed to the right. †¢ Which is the best measure of central tendency and why? Mean – the data doesn’t have any real outliers and is roughly symmetric. Calculate the standard deviation. Why is there variation in the number of raisins in a cup of raisin bran? Why might it be difficult for Kellogg’s to reduce variation? Standard deviation is: 10. 3087. The variation in the number of raisins in a cup of raisin bran could be a result the size flakes or possibly the size of the raisins that may skew the numbers from being equal. 2. The following are monthly rents paid by 30 students who live off-campus. 730730730930700570 901030740620720670 560740650660850930 600620760690710500 730800820840720700 †¢ Find the mean, median, mode, and standard deviation. Mean: 725 Mode: 730 Median: 720 Standard Deviation: 114. 28 †¢ Describe the typical rent paid by a student. 720 †¢ Do the measures of central tendency agree? Explain. Yes, they are pretty close to each other (mean, mode, median) in range. †¢ Are there outliers or unusual data values? No †¢ Do you think the data could come from a normal population? Yes How to cite Qnt565, Papers

Internet Addiction for Behavior and Social Network- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theInternet Addiction for Behavior and Social Network. Answer: Introduction Addiction is a specific type of brain disorder that is characterized by the obsessive engagement in satisfying stimuli in spite of unfavourable consequences (J Kuss et al. 2014). Despite of the involvement of several numbers of psychological factors, a particular biological procedure is induced by the repetition of exposure to an addictive stimulus. This type of brain disorder forces the victim to be addicted to any particular thing or place. One of such dangerous and infamous addiction is in the connection of Internet (Kuss, Griffiths and Binder 2013). This addiction is extremely common in todays world and is especially found in the youth or young generation. The following report outlines a brief description about the addiction in Internet. There are several harmful effects due to this addiction (Kardefelt-Winther 2014). This report focuses on the various causes and effects on modern society and how this addiction is affecting the youth generation. The report will also discuss about the probable and available treatment interventions for the Internet addiction. Discussion Internet Addiction Internet Addiction Disorder or IAD is the characterization by poorly or excessively managed behaviours, urges or preoccupations about the utilization of Internet. This can lead to distress or even impairment (Brand, Young and Laier 2014). Internet addiction can be referred to the obsessive requirement to be present online in such a way that it can be interfered with normal life and which can negatively affect acquaintances. There are various types of Internet addiction. They are as follows: i) Cyber Relationships: This is one of the most important type of Internet addiction. Cyber relationships is the addiction to all types of social networking sites, social media, messaging, chat rooms and many such things to such a point where online friends or virtual friends become more vital than the real life relationships (Kuss et al. 2013). The victim of this type of disorder is more interested in cyber or virtual relations, rather than affected with his or her own family or friends in real life. ii) Cyber Sex: This is the second type of Internet addiction that focuses on the compulsive utilization of the Internet pornography, adult fantasy and adult chat rooms (Young 2015). This obsession about cyber sex affect the youth generation in concentrating in their studies. Internet Compulsion: This is the third type of Internet addiction. The compulsion over Internet lead to constant gambling, online gaming, visiting auction sites, stock trading and many more and thus, the victim is constantly affected with the Internet connection (Starcevic 2013). This type of Internet addiction often result to various job related issues and financial problems. iv) Online Shopping: This is another type of Internet addiction and here the victim is constantly visiting and shopping from the online stores in all over the world. Online shopping often lead to financial crisis and the victim is affected by this. v) Internet Surfing: This is the fifth type of Internet addiction, where the victim is obsessed with the Internet surfing. He or she surfs the Internet and is obsessed with web surfing or any type of database searching (Cheng and Li 2014). This often leads to productivity of low work and lower social interaction with friends and family. Thus, this affects his personal, professional and social life. Causes of Internet Addiction There are various important causes of the Internet addiction. These are the sole reason ns of enhancement of Internet addiction is spread in all over the world. The most important and the most significant causes of the Internet addiction are as follows: i) Loneliness: This is the most important cause of internet addiction for the youth generation (Goel, Subramanyam and Kamath 2013). When the victims do not have someone to talk with or share their problems, they often end up in the virtual world of Internet. ii) Depression: This is the second important cause of this type of addiction. Victims are often depressed and they try to find peace and bliss in the cyber world. Overwhelmed: The third major cause of Internet addiction is being overwhelming. Statistics denote that around 35% of the youth generation spend their time on Internet, as they are overwhelmed with any kind of topic or situation (Lortie and Guitton 2013). They want to share their experience and want the people to know about their life and activities. This type of addiction is mostly seen in children, young adults or people aging between 20 to 30 years. iv) Introvert: This is again one of the major causes of Internet addiction. Many people or children are introvert in nature. They face problems in sharing their feelings or issues with others in face-to-face meetings (Starcevic 2013). However, they can speak freely when they are in the virtual world. These types of individuals spend most of their time online and are affected with Internet Addiction Disorder. Effects of Internet Addiction on Modern Society The above-mentioned causes clearly depict that there can be serious issues due to this type of harmful addiction. Although, Internet has various advantages, there are several disadvantages or demerits for this Internet addiction. The major disadvantages for the Internet addiction are as follows: i) Isolation: This is the most significant disadvantage of Internet addiction. The person is addicted to this type of connectivity and he spends most of his or her time alone by locking himself in a particular room. Due to his isolation, his social life is affected. ii) Health Problems: The second disadvantage of Internet addiction is poor health. This type of Internet addiction often leads to extreme health issues or problems (Goel, Subramanyam and Kamath 2013). It has been noticed in recent statistics that most of the health problems of the youth generation is due to Internet addiction. Poor eye sights, migraines, spondylitis, back pain, neck pain are some of the major health problems caused by Internet connection. Life Interference: It has been noticed that some of the addicts are losing their jobs or failing in classes as they are spending most of the time on online activities. Often people are not present in schools, colleges or work places since they are completely indulged in online activities. iv) Aggressive Behaviour: This is again one of the major disadvantages of Internet addiction. People are turning aggressive when they are interrupted or disturbed while present on the Internet (Starcevic 2013). Moreover, they are not paying attention to their family or friends and are thus being totally separated from the rest of the world. These effects have totally conquered the world and are responsible for many of the cyber crime or depression. Available Treatment for Internet Addiction The addicted people are required to be treated as soon as possible so that they are not affected any more (Winkler et al. 2013). This is only possible with the help of medical science and psychologists. Medical science is conquering the world by its amazing therapies and invention. The available treatments for the Internet addicts are as follows: i) Group and Family Therapy: This type of therapy is considered as the best therapies in the world. Family therapy refers to the quality time spent with the victim by counselling him or her (Young 2015). It has been noticed that the victims believe their families more often than any other doctors or nurses. If the victim does not have a family, his friends can also do the same task. This reduces his depression and he is able to share his problems. ii) Dialectical Behavioural Therapy: DBT is a cognitive behavioural treatment that emphasizes training classes on group skills and individual psychotherapy (Lortie and Guitton 2013). These classes help the victims to learn as well as utilize innovative strategies and skills for developing a successful life. When the victim is learning new skills, he is diverted from the world of Internet. Art Therapy: This is a specific form of psychotherapy that involves encouragement of free self expression with the help of art skills like painting, singing, moulding and many more. This also reduces the addiction of Internet. Recreation Therapy: This type of therapy uses recreation and several other activity based interventions for addressing the assessed requirements of individuals, who are suffering from psychological problems (Ko et al. 2013). Recreation therapy mainly helps to build confidence and restore gross motor skills. Conclusion Therefore, from the above discussion it can be concluded that, addiction is the most dangerous and harmful brain disorder for any individual. It causes and brings out various disadvantages, which can cause extreme harm to the society. The most significant disadvantage of this addiction is distraction. People are distracted with this di0soirder and thus often face problems in concentrating in work or studies. Addiction can be featured by the compelling engagement for fulfilling the demand or satisfying the stimulus. A person is usually addicted to anything; right from a small pen to a building. The most dangerous or significant addiction in todays world is with the connectivity of the Internet. The most affected people in this type of addiction are the children and youth generation. They face problems in concentrating on studies and thus their career is affected. The above report has provided a concise description regarding the Internet addiction. Moreover, this report has also mentio ned about the several causes that are the sole reasons for this type of addiction. The effects of Internet addiction on the modern society are also given here. The report has also described about the treatments that are available for removing this type of addiction from any particular individual. References Brand, M., Young, K.S. and Laier, C., 2014. Prefrontal control and Internet addiction: a theoretical model and review of neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings.Frontiers in human neuroscience,8, p.375. Cheng, C. and Li, A.Y.L., 2014. Internet addiction prevalence and quality of (real) life: a meta-analysis of 31 nations across seven world regions.Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking,17(12), pp.755-760. Goel, D., Subramanyam, A. and Kamath, R., 2013. A study on the prevalence of internet addiction and its association with psychopathology in Indian adolescents.Indian Journal of Psychiatry,55(2), p.140. J Kuss, D., D Griffiths, M., Karila, L. and Billieux, J., 2014. Internet addiction: a systematic review of epidemiological research for the last decade.Current pharmaceutical design,20(25), pp.4026-4052. Kardefelt-Winther, D., 2014. A conceptual and methodological critique of internet addiction research: Towards a model of compensatory internet use.Computers in Human Behavior,31, pp.351-354. Ko, C.H., Liu, G.C., Yen, J.Y., Chen, C.Y., Yen, C.F. and Chen, C.S., 2013. Brain correlates of craving for online gaming under cue exposure in subjects with Internet gaming addiction and in remitted subjects.Addiction biology,18(3), pp.559-569. Kuss, D.J., Griffiths, M.D. and Binder, J.F., 2013. Internet addiction in students: Prevalence and risk factors.Computers in Human Behavior,29(3), pp.959-966. Kuss, D.J., Van Rooij, A.J., Shorter, G.W., Griffiths, M.D. and van de Mheen, D., 2013. Internet addiction in adolescents: Prevalence and risk factors.Computers in Human Behavior,29(5), pp.1987-1996. Lortie, C.L. and Guitton, M.J., 2013. Internet addiction assessment tools: Dimensional structure and methodological status.Addiction,108(7), pp.1207-1216. Starcevic, V., 2013. Is Internet addiction a useful concept?.Australian New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry,47(1), pp.16-19. Winkler, A., Drsing, B., Rief, W., Shen, Y. and Glombiewski, J.A., 2013. Treatment of internet addiction: a meta-analysis.Clinical psychology review,33(2), pp.317-329. Young, K., 2015. The evolution of Internet addiction disorder. InInternet addiction(pp. 3-17). Springer, Cham.

Indian Economic Environment Essay Example

Indian Economic Environment Essay Companies and their suppliers, marketing intermediaries, customers, competitors, and publics all operate in a macro environment of forces and trends, increasingly global, which shape opportunities and pose threats. These forces represent â€Å"non-controllables†, which the company must monitor and to which it must respond. The beginning of the new century brought a series of new challenges: the steep decline of the stock market, which affected savings, investment, and retirement funds; increasing unemployment; corporate scandals; and of course, the rise of terrorism. These dramatic events were accompanied by the continuation of existing trends that have already influenced the global landscape. Within the rapidly changing global picture, the firm must monitor six major forces: demographic, economic, socio-cultural, natural, technological, and political-legal. Economic Environment- The available purchasing power in an economy depends on current income, prices, saving, debt, and credit availability. Marketers must pay careful attention to trends affecting purchasing power, because they can have a strong impact on business, especially for companies whose products are geared to high income and price-sensitive consumers. India’s economy has been showing vibrancy of growth from 1991 ever since the government initiated programs to ease control on industry and commerce. In 1998-1999, the GDP of the country was estimated to be Rs. 17,410 billion, at current prices. By the year 2006-2007, the GDP was estimated to be Rs. 41,000 billion. We will write a custom essay sample on Indian Economic Environment specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Indian Economic Environment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Indian Economic Environment specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer By applying the purchasing power parity (PPP) method, India’s GDP is estimated to be about $3. 319 trillion, making India the fourth largest economy in the world. GDP has also been growing at more than 7% per annum. The per capita income is also estimated to be increasing at the same rate. In addition, India has healthy foreign exchange reserves to cover the county’s imports for nearly one and a half year. Inflation has also been showing a healthy trend of less than 5%. These figures indicate that India has strong economic fundamentals that suggest a positive climate for business growth. India was under social democratic-based policies from 1947 to 1991. The economy was characterized by extensive regulations, protectionism, public ownership, corruption and slow growth. Since 1991, continuing economic liberalization has moved the country toward a market-based economy. A revival of economic reforms and better economic policy in 2000s accelerated Indias economic growth rate. In recent years, Indian cities have continued to liberalize business regulations. By 2008, India had established itself as the worlds second-fastest growing major economy. Indias large service industry accounts for 55% of the countrys Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while the industrial and agricultural sector contribute 28% and 17% respectively. Agriculture is the predominant occupation in India, accounting for about 52% of employment. The service sector makes up a further 34% and industrial sector around 14%. Previously a closed economy, Indias trade has grown fast. The Economic Survey for 2009-10 presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament on Thursday has revealed Indias share in world merchandise exports after remaining unchanged at 1. 1 per cent between 2007 and 2008, reached 1. per cent in 2009 (Jan-June) mainly due to the relatively greater fall in world export growth than India. Income Distribution- Macro economic indicators of the country provide the overall health of the economy as well as direction of economic growth. A marketer needs to understand the distribution of income to reach more meaningful conclusions about taking spe cific decisions. In India, we see that 77. 7% of urban households in India have a monthly income of up to Rs. 3000. Urban households with a monthly income between Rs. 3001 and 6000 are estimated to be about 16. 2% and another 4% with a monthly household income of Rs. 001-10,000. Only about 2. 1% of urban households have a monthly income over Rs. 10,000. Income distribution of households in India has been changing significantly over time. Households belonging to the lower income segment have been steadily declining over the years, and the middle income households have been showing an increase. These are the results of economic growth. The NCAER (_) has classified Indian consumers into five categories destitute (annual household income of Rs. 16,000; not active participants in market exchange for a wide range of goods), aspirants (annual household income of Rs. 6,000-22,000; new entrants into the consumption systems due to increase in their real income), climbers (annual household in come of Rs. 22,000-45,000; have desire and willingness to buy, but have limited cash at hand), consuming class (annual household income of Rs. 45,000-215,000; households that form the majority of consumers; have money and are willing to spend), and the rich (those who have money and own a wide range of products). The patterns of income distribution in urban and rural areas also vary. SECTORS- †¢ Industry and services Industry accounts for 28% of the GDP and employ 14% of the total workforce. However, about one-third of the industrial labour force is engaged in simple household manufacturing only. Economic reforms brought foreign competition, led to privatization of certain public sector industries, opened up sectors hitherto reserved for the public sector and led to an expansion in the production of fast-moving consumer goods. Post-liberalization, the Indian private sector, which was usually run by oligopolies of old family firms and required political connections to prosper was faced with foreign competition, including the threat of cheaper Chinese imports. Business services (information technology, information technology enabled services, business process outsourcing) are among the fastest growing sectors contributing to one third of the total output of services in 2000. The growth in the IT sector is attributed to increased specialization, and an availability of a large pool of low cost, but highly skilled, educated and fluent English-speaking workers, matched on the demand side by an increased demand from foreign consumers interested in Indias service exports, or those looking to outsource their operations. In 2009, seven Indian firms were listed among the top 15 technology outsourcing companies in the world. †¢ Agriculture India ranks second worldwide in farm output. Agriculture and allied sectors like forestry, logging and fishing accounted for 17% of the GDP in 2009, employed 52% of the total workforce and despite a steady decline of its share in the GDP, is still the largest economic sector and plays a significant role in the overall socio-economic development of India. Yields per unit area of all crops have grown since 1950, due to the special emphasis placed on agriculture in the five-year plans and steady improvements in irrigation, technology, application of modern agricultural practices and provision of agricultural credit and subsidies since Green revolution in India. †¢ Banking and finance Prime Minister Indira Gandhi nationalized 14 banks in 1969, followed by six others in 1980, and made it mandatory for banks to provide 40% of their net credit to priority sectors like agriculture, small-scale industry, retail trade, small businesses, etc. o ensure that the banks fulfill their social and developmental goals. Since then, the number of banks has been increasing in the country and the population covered by each branch has decreased. Since liberalization, the government has approved significant banking reforms. While some of these relate to nationalized banks (like encouraging mergers, reducing government interference and increasing profita bility and competitiveness), other reforms have opened up the banking and insurance sectors to private and foreign players. †¢ Natural resource Indias major mineral resources include coal, iron, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium, chromite, limestone and thorium. India meets most of its domestic energy demand through its 92 billion tonnes of coal reserves (about 10% of worlds coal reserves). Indias oil reserves, found in Mumbai High, parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and eastern Assam, meet 25% of the countrys domestic oil demand. Indias total proven oil reserves stand at 11 billion barrels. In 2009, India imported 2. 56 million barrels of oil per day, making it one of largest buyers of crude oil in the world. The petroleum industry in India mostly consists of public sector companies such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). There are some major private Indian companies in oil sector such as Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) which operates the worlds largest oil refining complex. †¢ Pharmaceuticals India has a self reliant Pharmaceuticals industry. The majority of its medical consumables are produced domestically. Pharmaceutical Industry in India is dotted with companies like Ranbaxy Pharmaceutical, Dr. Reddys Laboratories, and Cipla which have created a niche for themselves at world level. India including China, Brazil, Turkey, Mexico, Russia and South Korea are called â€Å"pharmerging† countries. Today, India is an exporter to countries like the United States and Russia. In terms of the global market, India currently holds a modest 1-2% share, but it has been growing at approximately 10% per year. External trade and investment ? Global Trade Relations Indias economy is mostly dependent on its large internal market with external trade accounting for just 20% of the countrys GDP. Until the liberalization of 1991, India was largely and intentionally isolated from the world markets, to protect its economy and to achieve self-reliance. Foreign trade was subject to import tariffs, export taxes and quantitative restrictions, while foreign direct investment (FDI) was restricted by upper-limit equity participation, restrictions on technology transfer, export obligations and government approvals. Indias exports were stagnant for the first 15 years after independence, due to the predominance of tea, jute and cotton manufactures, demand for which was generally inelastic. Imports in the same period consisted predominantly of machinery, equipment and raw materials, due to nascent industrialization. The Indian export has grown by 22. 5 per cent at $16. 64 billion in August 2010. India is a founding-member of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) since 1947 and its successor, the WTO. While participating actively in its general council meetings, India has been crucial in voicing the concerns of the developing world. For instance, India has continued its opposition to the inclusion of such matters as labour and environment issues and other non-tariff barriers into the WTO policies. ? Balance of payments Since independence, Indias balance of payments on its current account has been negative. Since liberalization in the 1990s (precipitated by a balance of payment crisis), Indias exports have been consistently rising, covering 80. % of its imports in 2002–03, up from 66. 2% in 1990–91. Indias growing oil import bill is seen as the main driver behind the large current account deficit. Although India is still a net importer, since 1996–97 its overall balance of payments (i. e. , including the capital account balance) has been positive, largely on account of increased foreign direct investment and deposits from non-resident Indians; until this time, the overall balance was only occasionally positive on account of external assistance and commercial borrowings. As a result, Indias foreign currency reserves stood at USD 283. 5 billion at the end of December 2009. [pic] Due to the global late-2000s recession, both Indian exports and imports declined by 29. 2% and 39. 2% respectively in June 2009. The steep decline was because countries hit hardest by the global recession, such as United States and members of the European Union, account for more than 60% of Indian exports. However, since the decline in imports was much sharper compared to the decline in exports, Indias trade deficit reduced to 252. 5 billion rupee. Indias reliance on external assistance and commercial borrowings has decreased since 1991–92, and since 2002–03, it has gradually been repaying these debts. Declining interest rates and reduced borrowings decreased Indias debt service ratio to 4. 5% in 2007. In India, External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs) are being permitted by the Government for providing an additional source of funds to Indian corporates. The Ministry of Finance monitors and regulates these borrowings (ECBs) through ECB policy guidelines. ? Foreign Direct Investment In India As the fourth-largest economy in the world in PPP terms, India is a preferred destination for foreign direct investments (FDI); India has strengths in telecommunication, information technology and other significant areas such as auto components, chemicals, apparels, pharmaceuticals, and jewelry. Despite a surge in foreign investments, rigid FDI policies resulted in a significant hindrance. However, due to some positive economic reforms aimed at deregulating the economy and stimulating foreign investment, India has positioned itself as one of the front-runners of the rapidly growing Asia Pacific Region. India has a large pool of skilled managerial and technical expertise. The size of the middle-class population stands at 300 million and represents a growing consumer market. Indias recently liberalized FDI policy (2005) allows up to a 100% FDI stake in ventures. Industrial policy reforms have substantially reduced industrial licensing requirements, removed restrictions on expansion and facilitated easy access to foreign technology and foreign direct investment FDI. The upward moving growth curve of the real-estate sector owes some credit to a booming economy and liberalized FDI regime. In March 2005, the government amended the rules to allow 100 per cent FDI in the construction business. This automatic route has been permitted in townships, housing, built-up infrastructure and construction development projects including housing, commercial premises, hotels, resorts, hospitals, educational institutions, recreational facilities, and city- and regional-level infrastructure. A number of changes were approved on the FDI policy to remove the caps in most sectors. Fields which require relaxation in FDI restrictions include civil aviation, construction development, industrial parks, petroleum and natural gas, commodity exchanges, credit-information services and mining. India has been ranked at the third place in global foreign direct investments in 2009 and will continue to remain among the top five attractive destinations for international investors during 2010-11, according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in a report on world investment prospects titled, World Investment Prospects Survey 2009-2011 released in July 2009. India attracted FDI equity inflows of US$ 2,214 million in April 2010. The cumulative amount of FDI equity inflows from August 1991 to April 2010 stood at US$ 134,642 million, according to the data released by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). The Indian rupee is the only legal tender accepted in India. The exchange rate as on 23 March 2010 is 45. 40 INR the USD, 61. 45 to a EUR, and 68. 19 to a GBP (British pound). The Indian rupee is accepted as legal tender in the neighboring Nepal and Bhutan, both of which peg their currency to that of the Indian rupee. The Rupee hit a record low during early 2009 on account of global recession. However, due to a strong domestic market, India managed to bounce back sooner than the western countries. Since September 2009 there has been a constant appreciation in Rupee versus most Tier 1 currencies. On 11 January 2010 Rupee went as high as 45. 50 to a USD and on 10 January 2010 as high as Rs. 73. 93 to a British Pound. The RBI, the countrys central bank was established on 1 April 1935. It serves as the nations monetary authority, regulator and supervisor of the financial system, manager of exchange control and as an issuer of currency. The RBI is governed by a central board, headed by a governor who is appointed by the Central government of India. According to The Times of India, a majority of Indians have per capita space equivalent to or less than a 10  feet x 10  feet room for their living, sleeping, cooking, washing and toilet needs. and one in every three urban Indians lives in homes too cramped to exceed even the minimum requirements of a prison cell in the US. The average is 103  sq  ft (9. 6 m2) per person in rural areas and 117  sq  ft (10. m2) per person in urban areas. Around half of Indian children are malnourished. However, India has not had famines since the Green Revolution in the early 1970s. While poverty in India has reduced significantly, a 2007 report by the state-run National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS) found that 65% of Indians, or 750 million people, lived on less than 20 rupees per day with most working in informal labour sector with no job or s ocial security, living in abject poverty. Since the early 1950s, successive governments have implemented various schemes, under planning, to alleviate poverty that have met with partial success. All these programs have relied upon the strategies of the Food for work program and National Rural Employment Program of the 1980s, which attempted to use the unemployed to generate productive assets and build rural infrastructure. In August 2005, the Indian parliament passed the Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, the largest program of this type in terms of cost and coverage, which promises 100 days of minimum wage employment to every rural household in all he Indias 600 districts. Recent statistics in 2010 point out that the numbers of high income households have crossed lower income households. Agricultural and allied sectors accounted for about 60% of the total workforce in 2003 same as in 1993–94. While agriculture has faced stagnation in growth, services have seen a steady growth . Of the total workforce, 8% is in the organized sector, two-thirds of which are in the public sector. From 1983 until 2000, Indias Unemployment Rate averaged 7. 0 percent reaching an historical high of 8. 30 percent in December of 1983 and a record low of 5. 99 percent in December of 1994. The labour force is defined as the number of people employed plus the number unemployed but seeking work. The non-labour force includes those who are not looking for work, those who are institutionalized and those serving in the military. [pic] Indias labor force is growing by 2. 5% annually, but employment only at 2. 3% a year. Unemployment in India is characterized by chronic or disguised unemployment. Government schemes that target eradication of both poverty and unemployment (which in recent decades has sent millions of poor and unskilled people into urban areas in search of livelihoods) attempt to solve the problem, by providing financial assistance for setting up businesses, skill honing, setting up public sector enterprises, reservations in governments, etc. Child labor is a complex problem that is basically rooted in poverty. The Indian government is implementing the worlds largest child labor elimination program, with primary education targeted for ~250 million. Numerous non-governmental and voluntary organizations are also involved. Special investigation cells have been set up in states to enforce existing laws banning employment of children (under 14) in hazardous industries. In spite of the high growth rate in India, the country still continues to be a low-income country since decades. Though it is believed the country could be a â€Å"motor to the world economy† if it fulfills its growth potential. In order to achieve its growth potential, things needed to be done are: o Improve Governance Raise Educational Achievement o Increase Quality and Quantity of Universities o Control Inflation o Introduce a Credible Fiscal Policy o Liberalize Financial Markets o Increase Trade with Neighbors o Increase Agricultural Productivity o Improve Infrastructure o Improve Environmental Quality. ? Agriculture The low productivity in India is a result of the following factors: o According to India: Priorities for Agriculture and Rural Development by World Bank, Indias large agricultural subsidies are hampering productivity-enhancing investment. Overregulation of agriculture has increased costs, price risks and uncertainty. Government interventions in labor, land, and credit markets are hurting the market. Infrastructure and services are inadequate. o Illiteracy, slow progress in implementing land reforms and inadequate or inefficient finance and marketing services for farm produce. o The average size of land holdings is very small (less than 20,000  m? ) and is subject to fragmentation, due to land ceiling acts and in some cases, family disputes. Such small holdings are often over-manned, resulting in disguised unemployment and low productivity of labour. o Adoption of modern agricultural practices and use of technology is inadequate, hampered by ignorance of such practices, high costs and impracticality in the case of small land holdings. o World Bank says that the allocation of water is inefficient, unsustainable and inequitable. The irrigation infrastructure is deteriorating. Irrigation facilities are inadequate, which result in farmers still being dependent on rainfall, specifically the Monsoon season. A good monsoon results in a robust growth for the economy as a whole, while a poor monsoon leads to a sluggish growth. Farm credit is regulated by NABARD, which is the statutory apex agent for rural development in the subcontinent. Indias population is growing faster than its ability to produce rice and wheat. The most important structural reform for self-sufficiency is the ITC Limited plan to connect 20,000 villages to the Internet by 2013. This will provide farmers with up to date crop prices for the first time, which should minimize losses incurred from neighboring producers selling early and in turn facilitate investment in rural areas. ? Corruption Corruption has been one of the pervasive problems affecting India. The economic reforms of 1991 reduced the red tape, bureaucracy and the License Raj that had strangled private enterprise. Yet, a 2005 study by Transparency International (TI) India found that more than half of those surveyed had firsthand experience of paying bribe or peddling influence to get a job done in a public office. The Right to Information Act (2005) and equivalent acts in the Indian states that require government officials to furnish information requested by citizens or face punitive action, computerization of services and various central and state government acts that established vigilance commissions have considerably reduced corruption or at least have opened up avenues to redress grievances. The 2009 report by Transparency International ranks India at 84th place in terms of corruption and states that significant improvements were made by India in reducing corruption. Education India has made huge progress in terms of increasing primary education attendance rate and expanding literacy to approximately two thirds of the population. The right to education at elementary level has been made one of the fundamental rights under the Eighty-Sixth Amendment of 2002. However, the literacy rate of 65% is still lower than the worldwide average and the country suffers from a high dropout rate. ? Infrast ructure In the past, development of infrastructure was completely in the hands of he public sector and was plagued by corruption, bureaucratic inefficiencies, urban-bias and an inability to scale investment. Indias low spending on power, construction, transportation, telecommunications and real estate, at $31 billion or 6% of GDP in 2002 had prevented India from sustaining higher growth rates. This has prompted the government to partially open up infrastructure to the private sector allowing foreign investment which has helped in a sustained growth rate of close to 9% for the past six quarters. Some 600 million Indians have no mains electricity at all. While 80% of Indian villages have at least an electricity line, just 44% of rural households have access to electricity. India has the worlds third largest road network in the world. Container traffic is growing at 15% a year. Some 60% of India’s container traffic is handled by the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Navi Mumbai. Internet use is rare; there were only 7. 57 million broadband lines in India in November 2009, however it is still growing but at a slower rate. Most urban cities have good water supply water 24 hours a day, while some smaller cities face water shortages in summer season. A World Bank report says it is an institutional problem in water agencies, or how the agency is embedded in the relationships between politics and the citizens who are the consumers. ? Labour laws India’s labor regulations  Ã¢â‚¬â€ among the most restrictive and complex in the world  Ã¢â‚¬â€ have constrained the growth of the formal manufacturing sector where these laws have their widest application. Better designed labor regulations can attract more labor- intensive investment and create jobs for India’s unemployed millions and those trapped in poor quality jobs. Given the country’s momentum of growth, the window of opportunity must not be lost for improving the job prospects for the 80 million new entrants who are expected to join the work force over the next decade. ? Economic disparities One of the critical problems facing Indias economy is the sharp and growing regional variations among Indias different states and territories in terms of per capita income, poverty, availability of infrastructure and socio-economic development. Six low-income states Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh are home to more than one third of Indias population.

Homelessness1 essays

Homelessness1 essays In our days we see more and more often people living in the street with no place to live and spent the night, especially in big cities, unsecured and usually with no food. These people are homeless. First we have to find the reasons that cause homelessness. Many believe that homeless people have no family or someone to care about them, or they lost their money and their fortune for some reason. Lot of them its true that they dont have anyone to take care of them, and live in public homes spending the night there and get some food by special restaurants which the state provide for them. The strange thing is that event how they have suggestions to get some work they refuse to earn some money and prefer to live in the streets. Many of them they chose to be homeless while other the born from homeless parents. Its true that these people usually have low educational back round and they dont really care about finding a job. Others are addicted to drugs and spend their time by committing crimes like stole and selling drugs. But what it can be done to get a solution for those people? Firstly the state has to provide a lot of places for them where they can find a secure place to live, we have to offer jobs to them and give them the chance to get their own money. We have to give them the chance to improve their knowledges so they get chances for a better job and way of life. ...

Technological Convergence in Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Technological Convergence in Business - Essay Example In addition, it can be observed that one of the majority productive benefits that latest technology has provided in interpersonal and e-communication aspects of business department now is definitely the pace of communication among businesses. Since the time required in initiating and getting communication from diverse business units has lessened during the previous few decades. Thus, this thing just confirms that since latest technology progresses, with the pace of the business communication capabilities having great influence on interpersonal communication aspects (Free Articles Directory., 2011). This paper will discuss how key technological events in the last century have changed the way business communication is done by the businesses. Overview During the previous few years, people’s way of communication has altered extremely. Latest technologies which were on the bounds have turned into adamantly a majority. In this e-communication era the development of the internet tech nology has been contrasted with the discovery of the printing-press with respect to its basic affect on how business information is created, utilized and distributed across the world. In addition, this worldwide system and its connected technologies have had an immense influence on business communications, and, next to this, evolutions in the areas of digital imaging technology, digital information processing and storage, and development computerization have expressed again how businesses communicate at every phase of the development (Moukoko, 2011). Moreover, at the moment in this competitive environment every business (regardless of its nature and size) enjoys some type of web based or online existence, offering their clients access to a strong and unlimited client support. Currently, the United Kingdom invests 30 billion yearly on online businesses. In this scenario, e-commerce structures imply that clients are able to buy products and valuable services by clicking a button, and that the company is able to design an impressive performance of client actions. The entire of these technology based evolutions have modernized business communications approximately further than conviction. These capabilities have enhanced interpersonal skills and electric communication in business infrastructure. Furthermore, to improvise business interpersonal skills and e-communication the technology of social networking is possibly the majority modern exhortation within business communications. At the present, companies know that websites similar to Twitter and Facebook are advertising areas they are able use, as well as that they may perhaps as well utilize these websites for networking purposes in addition to clients’ dealings. Thus, due to massive innovations in technology business communications has altered much, and will persist to act as technology develops (Moukoko, 2011). In this era technology looks to be overexcited because of steady developments. Innovative tec hnologies are being introduced continually, as well as the influence this can have upon the field of business communication is immense. Since technology persists to go ahead, it is imperative to appreciate the implication of technology inside the area of business communication. In the business communication technological convergence brought following innovations: (eHow, 2011; McGrath, 2008; Management Study Guide, 2011) Pace Because technology has developed a