The East Asian Model of Development and Financial Crisis Essay Example for Free

The East Asian Model of Development and Financial Crisis Essay The East Asian miracle is often quoted as an example of how countries can register fast paced growth through focused and concentrated growth in industry and trade. However, in the last few decades, countries that have grown at varying paces and this rate of growth has varied in different environments. The East Asian tigers, ruled by authoritarian regimes, grew at an astounding pace in the decades of the sixties and the seventies. While authoritarianism worked well in this region, dictatorial regimes in Uganda, Bhutan and Myanmar failed. Przeworski and Limongi (1997) show how political freedom enables the optimal use of resources in any country. Interest groups exert pressure on governments and ensure widespread and sustainable growth. Free market based economies work on the principles of rule of law, property rights and enforcement of contracts. This way growth is robust and is not vulnerable to shocks that are inherent in a globalizing world. The East Asian countries, including Japan, went through a financial crisis as foreign investment flows got reversed, currencies were devalued and balance of payments suffered. This crisis was the result of a long history of economic inefficiencies helped by regimes that were often corrupt, interventionist and politically entrenched. It is against this backdrop that people all over the world started questioning the entire east Asian model, which till the early nineties was seen as an efficient system that had enabled a large number of poor countries develop their industry, trade and economy at a pace rarely seen before. Economic development and liberty There are those who argue that democracy is inefficient and is prone to market failures. Governments are seen as enforcement agencies that ensure redistribution of wealth. Lipset (1959) and Sen (1999) have argued against this proposition and shown that it is indeed democracy that fosters economic growth. Those who argue in favour of authoritarian rules have one extreme example of Singapore that they often quote. Lee Kuan Yew the first Prime Minister of Singapore who believed in authoritarianism authored the Lee paradigm, and under him Singapore became a prosperous nation. Researchers have examined the Lee paradigm to check whether authoritarian regimes have fostered greater growth and development when compared to democratic structures. According to Haizheng and Zhenhui (2007) who have worked on this model to check whether authoritarian regimes have fostered greater growth and development than have democratic structures, there are indeed a few examples of countries like Singapore and South Korea that have shown impressive growth under authoritarian regimes. However the correlation between authoritarianism and economic growth is not robust. There are counter examples like Botswana and India where economic growth has been spectacular within democratic frameworks. Sen (1982) goes further to argue that there are enough examples of countries where authoritarianism or the lack of a democratic structure has actually resulted in economic decline. In countries like Niger, Ethiopia, Sudan and even in China, famine and hunger took hundreds of lives and an authoritarian regime could do little to avert the crises. He states further that democratic institutions such as a free press, a vigilant opposition and regular elections ensure that the democratic process keeps the political economy alert. Lobbies do exist, interest groups try to steer the political economy in certain ways, but the interplay of all stakeholders ensures that democracies throw up issues that are of common concern. Howlett and Ramesh (2003) point out that it is often seen that individuals, groups, classes, and states participate the democratic policy process. Their own interests often guide them. However when these come together, it is the institutional mechanism of a democratic framework that ensures a stable outcome. Government and the Economy Governments and political policies are important influences on businesses worldwide, impacting on the competitive context in which business strategies are implemented. Over the last couple of decades, economic reforms leading to privatization and liberalization have further increased this influence. Donaldson Preston (1995) have pointed out how as the impact of business on societies grows, companies experience varying and increasing demands from diverse stakeholders. Politics is the stage on which these diverse stakeholder demands are ultimately met with. Success requires active participation from both businesses and governments. Further as Tushman Anderson (1997) show, modernization and strategic dependence on new technologies has become central to markets in many economies. These new technologies create regulatory challenges that again require political responses that can affect the viability and profitability of the business. Governments thus influence the ability of businesses to improve profits and therefore the ability to exert political influence in technologically dynamic sectors becomes an important capability. Again, globalization has greatly improved the chances of conducting business internationally, allowing companies to widen their portfolios and enter into global markets. The significance of governmental policy therefore again assumes great significance in matters of export import regulations, duties etc. (Ohmae, 1999). Democracy and Government What is the better option A strong centralized power controlling all resources versus private players given the freedom to decide what and where to invest? There are a number of people who keep insisting that a dictatorship is what the country requires. Arguing against them is the lot that states categorically that a democratic system that guarantees liberty is what is essential for growth. Economic growth implies the efficient use of available and scarce resources. The argument between those who support a centralized planned and tightly controlled allocation of resources versus those who believe in the market to efficiently allocate resources goes on. Apart from the political concerns, economists have been looking at this issue for a while now. Ronald Coase (1960), a Nobel prize winner in Economics had argued in his famous transaction cost analysis, that there is a cost that society bears when the government allocates resources and this leads to inefficiency. Governments have no way of knowing who will use resources most efficiently and in most cases allocate resources to inefficient players. Other economist have points to the tragedy of the commons, where the absence of clearly defined property rights leads to free rider problems and over exploitation of resources. The question therefore is whether markets should be left free to correct themselves or to have a stringent regulatory mechanism in place that ensures consumer welfare through controlling dominance and capture. In the current scenario then, what exactly is the nature of relationship between governments and businesses? Though the balance has tilted towards the private sector and private enterprise by and large, the state still holds considerable powers over business activities. Doris Fuchs (2005) talks about the different aspects of power that businesses hold in the global economy. Fuchs explains that those who argue stating that there is no business influence on politics should note that the opposite is the case, in countries like those in East Asia. Development of any economy depends on the growth in income, employment and opportunity. These are a direct outcome of investments made, technologies used and markets created. In all these, it is important to look at the roles that the state and the private players play. Governments foster an investment climate that encourages capital flows, incentivise production, builds capacities and enables markets to develop. Cooperation between private business and the government paves way for the efficient markets to develop where demand is created and supply increased to maintain equilibrium. Several examples of such collaborative ventures can be seen especially in large infrastructure developments see across the world. The first example of such a collaboration was seen at the twentieth century when in the US an entire railroad industry developed. Private public partnerships have also been widely used to tackle rising pollution levels and the need for tighter environment protection. The first wave of environment protection saw governments work with a slew of stringent laws and regulations. Then came the non governmental organisations that lobbied against polluters. NGOs, government and civil society work as levers for promoting a greening of industry. Lehmann (2006) uses the Danish example of the Green Network, to demonstrate how new forms of co-operation between public authorities and private companies are arrived at. The conclusion is that through dialogue, reflexivity and the establishment of an enabling environment, public–private partnerships can become useful vehicles in societies move towards the use of environmentally sustainable technologies. Conclusion Democracy, as a form of governance that guarantees political freedom, has long been viewed with suspicion in certain quarters. Various economists have explained how a strong property rights regime within free markets is the best way of guaranteeing efficient resource sharing. Any political regime that interferes with the market then abides by its own rules that could very well be steered in inefficient ways through coercive power that some constituents possess. However, the free market argument has its critics, who ague that some people tend to capture all resources and this results in exploitation of a large group of underprivileged people. Governments, in such cases, are unable to implement rules and the market fails. Gunnar Myrdal had coined a term called â€Å"soft states† in his book â€Å"The Asian Drama†, where the argument was that some states because of their governance structures, history and culture are unable to implement tough action and therefore cannot regulate markets effectively. This has been shown to be big reason for authoritarian states to move fast by way of economic growth, as they were able to take stern steps that are required to ensure growth and development. However the correlation between authoritarianism and economic growth is not robust. Democratic institutions such as a free press, a vigilant opposition and regular elections ensure that the democratic process keeps the political economy alert. In terms of issues that relate to public resources, especially the environment, the tragedy of the commons is a prevalent phenomenon and as Hardin (1968) explains, it is the lack of private incentives and state inefficiencies that play havoc with public goods. The environmental decay and abuse that is seen in authoritarian regimes that have no space for protest and counter opinion ensures that there is no political interest in protecting the environment. In democracies however, lobbies do exist, interest groups try to steer the political economy in certain ways, but the interplay of all stakeholders ensures that democracies throw up issues that are of common concern. It is often seen that individuals, groups, classes, and states participate in the democratic policy process. Their own interests often guide them. However when these come together, in a rule of law mechanism that guarantees equality in the eyes of the law, it is the institutional mechanism of a democratic framework that ensures a stable outcome. The East Asian economies developed without such a framework and therefore, as the economy grew, it also became fragile. The effect of a shock like that seen during the financial crisis therefore affected all segments of the society and the economy. That is why, it is important that economies today are built on robust fundamentals of an enabling market mechanism and not on tight governmental control and intervention.

The Portrayal Of Women In Film Film Studies Essay

The Portrayal Of Women In Film Film Studies Essay I have chosen the following question. To what extent do you agree with the statement that the female in film is on display, passive and purely there because of her to be looked-at-ness? Women in my opinion have been the subject of eye candy in films and are not that often respected. Yes, there are a number of films about the power that woman can show along with the control to be on a par with men. But, they still show them as voyeuristic and sexual items. Most of Hollywoods films have men in control and makes use of the male gaze (that is, the audience sees what they see about the female). Women are characteristically on the receiving end of that gaze. According to Mulvey: In a world of sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy on the female figure which is styled accordingly. In my paper and my assessment of females on display I will be looking mainly at Tomb Raider (Simon West, US, 2001) about the adventures of Lara Croft. The character is played by and stars Angeline Jolie. I will also take a look at another film also starring Angelina Jolie Mr and Mrs Smith (Doug Liman, USA, 2005). Firstly Tomb Raider. This film follows the success of a popular video game where as an adventurer you are taken through many seemingly impossible swashbuckling events to win the game. Like other characters, she must save the world. But when interviewed about her movie and her part in it she even talks about her to-be-looked at character. Angelina Jolie states Cmon, Im not so flat chested to begin with, she said. So it wasnt like we had to completely change me. You know, we just had to enhance me a little. Im a 36C. Lara, shes a 36D. And in the game, shes a double D, so we took her down some. But we did give her a bit of padding there. For me, it was simply one size, so it was like having a padded bra. So we are looking here at an almost virtual body that can satisfy desires and highlights her enthusiasm to play a real human but at the same time to invest erotically in a fictional character. Can we see anything else at times other than her being on display? We are also looking at Tomb Raider as a voyeuristic gaze. Although Lara Croft is a woman she is giving us the female version of Indiana Jones but she lacks the fully realized three-dimensional qualities male counterparts usually show, as she is seen as Incredibly hot-n-juicy, and although playing probably the best action heroine the quality of the story dictates that she alone is probably the reason to see this movie. It appears that despite the move towards a masculine role as a woman the effort to mould her into a positive figure is difficult in a society because she is a woman. In an influential academic paper in 2002, Helen W. Kennedy said the question surrounding Lara Croft was simple is she a positive role model for young girls or just that perfect combination of eye and thumb candy for the boys?. It appears that (West) the producer wanted to set the film in a marketable form potentially appealing to both male and female audiences. Particularly to at the time girlpower and the emerging ladette culture. This as Helen Kennedy says centres around playing lads at their own game but still seen primarily addressing a male audience. Lets look at the first five minutes of Tomb Raider it gives an appropriate insite into what is to be seen in the rest of the film. The opening sequences spend a lot of time focussing on Laras body. To begin with the shot of her face is from a particularly low angle, perhaps to express her dominance over the impending scene, but is more likely for the audience to see empathised breasts. It goes on to show several gratuitous shots of Laras crotch and thighs. What is also interesting is that the sound has been exaggerated and the moans and screams while Lara is fighting the robot have clearly been digitised louder, thus supporting Mulveys theory of voyeurism. Take a look at the photo below of Lara Croft. Notice she looks directly at you as a person and could be construed as a gesture of her awareness of herself as the object of the male gaze. (2001) Tomb Raider [online image] http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/LetsCutTheBS/news/?a=7733 (Accessed 30th April 2010) Another film with Angelina Jolie that represents a completely different type of format is Mr and Mrs Smith (Doug Liman, USA, 2005). This time the film is about a bored married couple who are surprised to learn that they are both assassins hired by competing agencies to kill each other. Whereas Lara Croft was shown very much eye candy, in this film the attempt is to show empowerment of woman to do the same role as a man. Uunfortunately Hollywood still insist on showing the female character as a tasteful, soft-core fantasy. Jolie (Janet Smith in the film) is depicted as a fiery, professional assassin. Just where the point in the film of her wearing a PVC corset with a little matching micro-skirt thing, bears no relationship at all to the genre the film is trying to depicts. This time looking at a still from the film which is themed as a nonstop action movie like the Bourne identity series (Doug Liman, USA, 2002) Angelina Jolie is still shown in parts of the film as a voyeuristic woman on display. (2005) Mr and Mrs Smith [online image] http://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/still/mr_mrs_smith07.jpg (accessed 4th May 2010) Conclusion Of course I appreciate these are my personal opinions and how I see womans role in the film industry. One question comes to mind-why cant women be portrayed as strong, intelligent and empowered as well as being sexually attractive? I am not trying to say that women have to be either stupid, pretty, ugly or clever. I am not saying that beautiful women cant be empowered and vice versa, what it is merely questioning is why the film makers feel the need to spend more time focussing on the body, appearance and sexuality of the female characters than they do the male characters. There needs greater focus on the characters intelligence or ability and more focus on the aesthetic than on the plot itself. Which, really, is the reason most people go to watch a film in the first place. Bibliography Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema (1975) Laura Mulvey Originally Published Screen 16.3 Autumn 1975 pp. 6-18 http://www.jahsonic.com/VPNC.htm Lara Croft: Feminist Icon or Cyberbimbo?- Helen W Kennedy Originally Published-School of Cultural Studies, University of the West of England. pp. 4-5 http://www.gamestudies.org/0202/kennedy/ Mr and Mrs Smith (2005) Copyright  © The 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved. pp. 5 http://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/still/mr_mrs_smith07.jpg Movie minutiae Lara Croft Tomb Raider 2001 Originally published by Vivien Cuttle, 15th February 2008. pp.1 http://blogs.abc.net.au/articulate/2008/02/movie-minutia-1.html Back to the future for Lara Croft Originally published by the BBC on 10th May 2007. pp. 1 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6641833.stm

Competitive Environment For Proton Company

Competitive Environment For Proton Company The first Malaysia national car is PROTON. The main competitor in Malaysia in term of automobile companies and affordable car is PERODUA. The competitive environment as we can see approximately in Malaysia is affordable car where all native of a Malaysia can buy it and the car maintenances also cheap. You see, the porter five are been applied for more obviously because the competitive environment not only about the competitor. It can be about the economic decline, natural misfortune and etc. Porter five 1. Competitive Rivalry 2. Threat of New Entrant 3. Threat of Substitutes   4. Buyer Power 5. Supplier Power Competitive Rivalry   In Malaysia, after PERODUA that is main competitor for proton , there is not too much competitor around affordable car. The low cost car as mentioned above is not have a lot of competitor in generally. The affordable car in Malaysia has a more potential to sell compared to luxury car that only specific people are used it. A family will have more than 1 car. Definitely, the first car they will choose the cheaper car and affordable car. New Entrant has a high threat    Recession the economic will be a big threat for PROTON. We know that, all big company will facing over budget or does not achieve the sale for that year. The government will lose a lot of money cause of policy and shareholders. By the way, economic downward tendency actually comes suddenly without notice. High threat from Substitutes Malaysia has tow national car. First : PROTON , second : PERODUA. The substitutes will high in term of car model and some of them looks similar. Buyer Power Buyer will choose the cheap car for the first car and buyer also actually are fragmented. Therefore , it will not has much influence.   Supplier Power Nowadays compared to the many years ago ,this is not giving a big threat for PROTON. http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Competitive-Environment-For-Proton-Company/365979?topic International Market for Proton The objectives of the Malaysian National Car:   à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Rationalize the local automotive industry à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Spearhead the development of a local component industry and to enhance greater use of local components.   à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Encourage the upgrading of technology, engineering knowledge and technical skills of the countrys workforce.   à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Assist and develop Bumiputera (the indigenous people of Malaysia) participation in the automotive industry.  [1] http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Proton-International-Market/148903 Swot Analysis For Proton Holding As a Government connected Company, Proton is protected in term of financial capabilities. Furthermore, as the first  national automotive manufacturer they have more than 20 years of experience and backed by the more than 1000 suppliers and highly concentrated distributed the service and distribution way out. As financial year ender 31  March 2006 denoted, the net value of asset is more than RM 5 billion while the liabilities is only about RM 2 billion. Proton had begun on a project with the Lotus. Group to improve a hybrid vehicle proficient of running on both gasoline and electricity and others special projects that are concentrating on technology development. This program direct to raise high the technology to a level that is on par with their global rivals by creating an alternative vehicle for the future which provides customers with less fuel consumption, decrease emanation and uncompromising performance. The increase numbers of substantial order by the different overseas markets were far in surplus of the number shipped, the difference was due to restrictions in the supply chain. There is no uncertain that demand for Proton cars in the overseas markets exists. As such, looking forward into financial year 2007, the company predicts a meaningful improvement in the number of Proton cars sold overseas. http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Swot-Analysis-For-Proton-Holding/429480 The weaknesses of Proton Holdings Berhad PROTON was incorporated on 7 May 1983 with three primary national policy objectives: To spearhead the development of component manufacturing industries, to acquire and upgrade technology and industrial skills within the automobile manufacturing industry and to strengthen the international competitiveness of Malaysias industrial capability. The failure by Proton to find a foreign partner is a warning signal that it is no longer a competitive and economically viable entity with current market situation and questionable management decisions that causes Proton to lose money when other finds profits. Therefore, Proton Holdings Berhad needs to consider a foreign partnership to further improve on its quality and service to the buyers. Khazanah Malaysia, the Malaysian governments investment arm, holding about 42.74% of Proton, followed by the Employees Provident Fund with 15.4 per cent and Petronas with 7.9 per cent. Price/Earnings: Not Meaningful Price/Sales: 0.3x (2/5 points) Price/Book: 0.4x (2/5 points) Price/Cash Flow: Not Meaningful TEV/Sales: 0.1x (3/5 points) A merger has its advantages economies of scale, market domination, etc. but an enlarged national car company could create many duplications i.e. product, dealers network, vendors etc. Proton is finding it tough to trim its network of suppliers and distributors. National car company Proton Holdings Berhad once dominated with a majority share in the market. It has since not only lost that majority, its sales in unit terms have even dropped below that of unlisted Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Berhad (Perodua). UMW Holdings Berhad is the biggest in the sector, with a market value of RM5.9 billion, compared with Protons RM1 billion. Although, UMW has an important oil and gas division, it derives most of its profits from its Toyota division, the most profitable in the industry. In contrast, Proton reported a loss of RM75 million in the October December quarter last year. It is exceeded in market value by Oriental Holdings Berhad (RM2.3 billion) and DRB-HICOM Berhad (RM1.4 billion), both of which are diversified motor-based groups. In my conclusion, Proton should continue to seek strategic alliances and further expand its market globally due to the termination of talks with Volkswagen AG in the year of 2007. In my point of view, Proton needs to basically integrate more into the global supply chain and the global market. Basically, we have not attained the kind of export penetration projected when the company was established. Global motor vehicle industry was undergoing a consolidation and Proton should be part of this trend. We need to be part of the bigger family in a way that works for us. Till date, we did not have any clarification regarding The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) submit its report on Proton Holdings Berhads sale of Italian motorbike manufacturer, MV Augusta to GEVI s.p.a at one euro to Parliament because Proton had acquired a 57.75 percent stake in MV Augusta in December 2004 for 70 million euro (RM367.6 million). http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_weaknesses_of_proton_holdings_berhad Swot Analysis Of Proton Holding Berhad Originally conceived by Malaysias Prime Minister of the day, Dato Seri Mahathir Mohamad, PROTON Bhd was incorporated on 7th May 1983 with the aim of building a national car. Two years later, On 9th July 1985 the Proton Saga was officially launched. It was Malaysias first domestically produced car and is still sold in Malaysia and other countries today. The original factory plant, covering 99,400 sq m, is situated at Shah Alam near Kuala Lumpur in central Malaysia. The site also houses an engine and transmission factory, a castings plant, RD centre and a semi-high speed test track. The factory is currently producing 240,000 units per annum. Opened in 2005, a state of the art assembly plant was constructed at Tanjung Malim, 60 miles north of Kuala Lumpur. This area has been named Proton City and consists of 500 hectare site containing the factory, plant, housing, a university and other commercial buildings to accommodate component suppliers. This plant produces the three newest model ranges, the GEN-2, Savvy and Satria Neo. Protons total workplace in Malaysia totals just over 6,000 personnel working in all areas of vehicle design, RD, production and manufacturing. With a solid base built up since 1983, Malaysias car manufacturing industry is progressing rapidly.   Proton tool a major step forward in upgrading its engineering capabilities when it acquired a share in Lotus are closely involved in Protons new model development, with a team of engineers permenantly based at the design and development centre in Malaysia. The Company has come a long way since 1983, PROTON was publicly listed on the Kuala Lumpur stock Exchange in 1992, and today, Proton cars are exported to mor than 50 countries worldwide. Key export markets include Australia, Singappore, the far East and the UK, where during 2009 it celebrates 20 years in the market place.   Since 1989, Proton Cars (UK) Ltd have been offering the British public reliable value for money vehicles. http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Swot-Analysis-Of-Proton-Holding-Berhad/378043?topic Swot Analysis On Proton The Benefits of Training for SCI Patients The benefits of cardiovascular exercise and training can be easily noted by comparing trained SCI athletes with untrained SCI patients. It must be noted (and will be further discussed later) that training benefits are somewhat contingent upon the level of spinal cord injury. A study by Bhambhani, Holland, Eriksson, and Steadward (1994 p. 260) investigated physiological responses during wheelchair racing comparing quadriplegics to paraplegics. They found the peak values of V02, heart rate, and VE which were obtained during incremental velocity wheelchair exercises to be significantly higher in paraplegics than quadriplegics. No significant differences were found between these groups for 02 pulse (which is the oxygen utilization per heart beat). These findings are consistent with other researchers who investigated the same responses for these two groups (Eriksson, Lofstom, and Ekblom,1988 p. 145). This is a citation. If you are using books, or internet, you must put in your essay:- (authors name, year, and page no)   If you are using business magazine, you must put in your essay:- (author, business magazines name, year, and page no) The previously mentioned study by Eriksson et al (1988) also investigated the aerobic power during a maximal exercise by comparing trained versus untrained quad and paraplegics. They found peak V02 differences to be as high as a 38% increase for trained athietes versus nontrained. They noted that a well trained quadriplegic individual is physiologically comparable to an untrained paraplegic with a low level injury, therefore, physical training can largely reduce the differences between quadriplegics and paraplegics. Also by comparing the trained paraplegic athletes to non trained able bodied persons, the able bodied persons achieved only a slightly higher V02 peak, again pointing out the benefits of training. http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Swot-Analysis-On-Proton/455442?topic Proton Berhads Swot Analysis If Expends Its Operation To India A SWOT Analysis of Proton Holding Berhad will be carried out to to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in this project. The report will be separated into 2 parts. Firstly this report will discuss about the profile of Proton Holdings Berhad and nature of its business in order to analyse the internal factors. In the second part, SEPT Analysis will be carried out to analyse the related external factors in India in sectors of Social, Economy, Politic and Technology. At the end, the result of SWOT analysis will be presented accompanied by recommendations to expend its operation internationally into India. Proton Holdings Berhad à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Proton is a Malaysian national automobile manufacturer. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Proton Holdings Berhad is the holding company which is listed on the Bursa Malaysia. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ 14,706 Proton cars were exported in 2006 to other countries/ à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Proton exports cars to the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Australia and the company is aggressively marketing its cars in several other countries including the Middle East. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Proton cars has also been exporting a small volume of cars to other countries like: 1. Singapore 2. Brunei 3. Indonesia 4. Nepal 5. Sri Lanka 6. Pakistan 7. Bangladesh 8. Taiwan 9. Cyprus   10. Mauritius à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Proton has never succeeded to export their car to the US, because the cars required many changes to meet American safety standards in order to secure coverage from auto insurers and satisfy legislative requirements. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ In some countries,    Proton cars suffer somewhat from a poor public image because of their designs. Strengths   à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Proton has over 20 years of experience in Automotive industry à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Many cars are exported by Proton to many countries every years, proves that proton has the experience of exporting cars. http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Proton-Berhad-s-Swot-Analysis-If-Expends/218124?topic

Wheel chair tennis :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tennis Populations 1. Wheel chair tennis 2. Hearing impaired 3. Learning disabilities   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wheelchair tennis won’t come easy to a new comer but with practice you can only get better. I would rate wheelchair tennis not a 1 or 2 (easy) because its hard to do two things at once. Positioning yourself in a wheelchair to hit a tennis ball before it bounces twice can be difficult. I would rate this activity a 3 due to having tennis skill and wheelchair handling capability. Wheelchair tennis is for every level but to have the basics of moving around the court and learn how to hit different types of shots with a tennis racquet can be challenging.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wheelchair tennis started in 1976, when Brad Parks introduced the potential of this new sport. Since 1976, wheelchair tennis has been the fastest growing and one of the most challenging and exciting of all wheelchair sports. It has provided opportunities for many disabled people to enjoy competitive tennis, as well as sharing experiences with both able-bodied and disabled friends of all age groups.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A little over a decade later since it was first introduced, with its fast growth and popularity, the IWTF (international wheelchair tennis federation) formed in 1988. The new sport grew throughout the country and even overseas. As fast as the sport grew one of the major problems was lack of equipment. Over the year, many players have donated their old wheelchairs to new and developing countries to help them start a wheelchair program. Wheelchair tennis has the same rules as a regular tennis game, except the only rule difference is the ball can bounce 2 times instead of once.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Mission statement for Wheelchair Tennis: The ITF is the international governing body for tennis, including wheelchair tennis. It aims to provide, promote and develop opportunities for men, women and children with disabilities to participate in recreational and competitive wheelchair tennis at all levels from novice to the professional player. As the governing body of tennis, the ITF provides a leading role in the administration of wheelchair tennis. The ITF aims to ensure that a fair and equal opportunity is provided for all those entitled to play under its eligibility rules and that the Rules of Wheelchair Tennis are implemented according to the standards expected of an international body. The ITF aims to work together with National Tennis Federations, National Disabled Sports Organizations and National Wheelchair Tennis Organizations to provide opportunities for all involved in wheelchair tennis and to encourage integration with able-bodied tennis whenever possible.

Poes Fall of The House of Usher Essay: A Psychological Piece

The Fall of the House of Usher as a Psychological Piece This essay examines "The Fall of the House of Usher" from the viewpoint that none of the events really happened -- or if they did, were exaggerated by the fear felt by the characters.   The essay proposes that the action took place in the mind of the narrator and discusses the dream imagery present in the story and how this supports this theory.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While discussing "The Fall of the House of Usher," Thompson investigates the idea that the story is not really a truthful tale - that is, a re-telling of events that the narrator experienced - but is rather the result of a "mutual hysteria of the narrator and Roderick Usher."   Basically, he asserts that the narrator and Usher are both so filled with fear that they imagined the events, or else there is a logical explanation for the things that happened while the narrator stayed at the House of Usher.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thompson's first point reminds us that the narrator of this story attempts to rationalize many of the spooky things that he witnesses at the house.   This is in contrast to the fact that Usher's mind is obviously disintegrating throughout the tale.   Thompson claims that Poe uses the "apparent" rationality of the narrator to "heighten the irrational."   By instilling in the reader a sense of coherence, the weirdness of the situation and the mental state of Usher are more noticeable.   Also, Thompson mentions that an integral part of the tale is the "mechanism of fear itself," which begins with Usher and spreads to the narrator.   This feeling of fear, he claims, is what gives us the basis for reading this story as a psychological thriller rather than a series of events that actually happened.   Thompson looks at p... ...ndriac," which might be how people of that time period referred to mental illness. Many people seemed to believe that Usher really suffered from mental illness rather than a physical ailment. And lastly, the possibility of incest between brother and sister, and other generations of Ushers, was discussed. This stemmed from the part of the story that talked about how the Usher family tree did not branch out much. Some people took this to mean that not many people were brought in from outside the family. I think this is very plausible, and is actually what I always thought was at the core of this story. I think that the two siblings are more than just brother and sister, and found this to be one of the more interesting discussions we had.    Works Cited Thompson, G.R. "Explained Gothic," Poe's Fiction.   University of Wisconsin Press, 1973.   Pages 87-97.   

End of History Economics Essay

The set of short essays in question–compiled into a single essay by Foreign Policy–states the facts correctly about the current economic depression (they refuse to call it that, they opt for the less alarmist term of â€Å"recession†). But merely stating the facts correctly completely misses the point. Most couch-potato news junkies already know everything that is present in this essay. But that’s exactly the point: the essays in question here cover up more than they reveal. Their job–or so it seems–is to calm a public that might begin to ask fundamental questions about capitalism and globalization. The facts are clear: the structures and attitudes behind the facts are not. This is the purpose of this review. The facts are the following: that the economic depression will continue. Due to globalization, a depression or recession is not merely American or western, but it is global. Many economies in the developing world, through pressure from the US and the IMF, have linked their economies to the US market, which means, as a result, to the US dollar. These economies are talking given the fall in American consumer spending. The dollar has been wildly overvalued in recent years, but, in a recession of global proportions, running to the dollar for protection seems to be a popular–albeit irrational–option. The increase in the value of the US dollar means several things. On top of the already deep depression, food prices will begin to go up. This is social disaster, and not just for the US. Rises in food and transport mean that millions of economically marginal families will go into permanent decline and default. It means that the families that have already seen their homes foreclosed and dreams dashed will not be able to recover. As banks no longer lend as much, investment and spending are choked off, making recovery that much harder. The conclusion of all this is that the depression is here to stay. But the very last thing the writers in this essay want to deal with are the structural reasons for this decline and its global scope. The objections to the approach of this essay will now follow: 1. Not a single one of these writers mentions the word â€Å"gold. † For a long time, prices of gold have skyrocketed. The reason is not hard to see: gold is stable, it retains its value, it is a universal signal that something is not right with the globalist economy. God is a safe investment, far more safe than the dollar. But apparently, this is invisible to the authors. 2. The above authors have adeptly avoided the basic structural issues at work. a. First, that the basic contradiction in American capitalism is that excess production needs to be continually mopped up by wild consumption. As a result, American capital has gone insane in hiring PR firms and advertising agencies to create demand. b. The global economy is dependent on this artificially expanded and inflated demand, since these economies are export oriented, and that is economic code for â€Å"dumb Americans need to go into debt. † Without constant and deepening debt, the production not merely of American firms, but also the economies of the development world (largely shaped by American financial and political power), cannot sell their wares to the US and EU markets. c. Therefore, the basic contradiction is clear: debt drives the economy, but debt cannot last forever or get infinitely deeper. Therefore, global depressions and radical structural â€Å"re-adjustments† are a â€Å"normal† part of economic life. Put more succinctly, the entire artificial creation of demand is a scam designed to make a handful wealthy, while the remainder of the population drown in debt. Such a situation can only but deepen the already outrageous distinctions among classes in American and European life, as the majority default, while the liquidity becomes more and more monopolized by an oligarchy. The money here is not â€Å"lost, it merely changes hands. Well then, who now has it? The question is not even brought up, let alone answered. Money in these things is never â€Å"lost,† gone down some financial black hole: it changes hands. But the political and social implications of such a question cannot be realistically dealt with by major establishment publications such as FP. 3. But it gets worse: the contradiction in the relations between consumption and debt at the root of the economy is also related to the US dollar and its foreign holdings. Stephen Roach reminds American readers that home construction and personal consumption make up a whopping 80% of the US GDP. This means that no amount of â€Å"restructuring† can deal with the contradiction above. The contradiction lies at the very heart of the US economy and the global system, itself fashioned by the US. But its relation to the dollar is another matter. Most major trading states with the US such as China, South Korea or Saudi Arabia have been stocking dollars for decades for the purpose of facilitating trade with the US as well as maintaining a safe investment. But this is a major crisis that is closely connected to the credit contradiction, and the fact that it is avoided in the article mentioned cannot be an accident. The major trading partners of the US have trillions of liquid dollars in its banks. If the dollar weakens, or is replaced by the Euro for global trade, or that financial markets become regionalized (e. g. locally dependent on the Yuan or ruble), that liquid remains relatively worthless in foreign banks. Therefore, if the American economy is no longer the market of choice, due to the fact that credit cannot be extended any farther, then those now useless dollars will be ejected. That ejection, even by the most optimistic economist, can only means not merely the collapse of the US economy, but the collapse of the globalized economy as well. The notion, common to all the above authors, that the economy will eventually â€Å"recover† is a matter of dogma: it is not argued, merely assumed. But this is an assumption with a strong base. It is assumed because the alternative in unthinkable: a restructuring of the global economy based on regional or national lines, based around local production and occasional import substitution. Most economists are not even trained to handle such contingencies, and it is just not part of their vocabularies. But it is a necessity if the global recession turns into a major depression, and national states and regions begin being forced to protect their own populations instead of being part of the IMF/US led global economic system, where the irrationality of the American consumer and the amoral manipulation of the American elites mean the destruction of families and societies across the globe. They assume that globalization is â€Å"inevitable† and morally correct, and hence, that there is no other option. Theirs is the infamous â€Å"end of history† thesis of the official American ideologies at George Mason University: American empire is providential and has been crated by the â€Å"forces of history. † All moral problems have been solved and liberal democracy, anti-nationalism and globalism are here to stay. The subconscious acceptance of this fantastic view of history and American life colors all establishment writing on this subject. There is no real connection between university based economics and the average American. The former does not write for the latter, but for the system as a unit, more and more isolated from the average American family. Therefore, the question here is not merely an economic one, but a political one: there are now two Americas: the wealthy elite, university professors and TV talking heads on the one side, and the vast bulk of the (globe’s) population, on the other. They live two different lives: one suffers for the enrichment of the other. The global economy will not â€Å"bounce back,† as the nature of the current recession is built right into its assumptions and maxims. The job of modern economics, or so it seems, it to make sure that the average American consumer does not know that.

Of Mice and Men †the American Dream Essay

The term American dream may not be used too often any more, but especially in the 1930’s it was a very motivating term for the working class. Whether their dream was to own their own company, support their family or even just own a piece of land to call their own, the thought of having a dream that they could fulfil if only they worked hard enough was keeping them moving forward. George and Lennie’s dream was the latter, they longed to own a piece of land, to have animals, and live so no one would have control over them. But throughout the course of the novel, some of their choices adjust the final outcome of their dream. By the end of Of Mice and Men Lennie and George’s dream has been altered in many ways. Although Lennie was killed in the end of the novel, a version of his dream still came true. The basis of Lennie’s dream was that he would be safe from harm and people running after him and that he would be stopped from hurting anyone accidentally. By killing Lennie, George gave him what it was he wanted, even if he didn’t realize it at the time. â€Å"Ever’body gonna be nice to you. Ain’t gonna be no more trouble. Nobody gonna hurt nobody or steal from ‘em† (Steinbeck 106). Without Lennie living, he would no longer be wanted by the people from Weed for accused rape. He would also be spared from Curley and his revengeful killing, because of the accidental killing of Curley’s wife. George knew what he had to do but he didn’t want Lennie to feel any pain in the process. â€Å"Shoot him right in the back of the head†¦he wouldn’t feel nothing† (Steinbeck 45). The way Carlson shot Candy’s old dog was the same way that George shot Lennie. Right in the back of the head he said softly† (Steinbeck 107). The method he used to end Lennie’s life was much more merciful and humane than Curley’s plan. George also wanted Lennie to be at peace, thinking about their dream, their ranch, before he died. Killing Lennie was George’s only option. If Curley had gotten to him he would have had a painful death and even in the possibility of Lennie’s escape, he would eventually be tracked down and killed or sent to an asylum because of his mental disabilities. Because of George’s death and the circumstances they put themselves in, Lennie did not get to see the day that they owned a ranch, but he did ultimately get his dream. We never find out for sure if George fulfills his dream and gets a ranch, but even thought Lennie died, he still has an opportunity to achieve this dream. Lennie is now not driving George out of his jobs and on the run. â€Å"You can’t keep a job and you lose me ever’ job I get. Jus’ keep me shovin’ all over the country all the time† (Steinbeck 11). Since George could keep a job without Lennie, he would be able to get the full stake of pay each month for his ranch and raise the money quicker. He also still has the support of Candy. â€Å"S’pose I went in with you guys. Tha’s three hundred fifty bucks I’d put in. I ain’t much good, but I could cook and tend the chickens† (Steinbeck 59). Not only could George keep a job but he could also have a much more leisurely life. â€Å"I could get along so easy and so nice if I didn’t have you on my tail. I could live so easy and maybe have a girl† (Steinbeck 7). Without having to care for Lennie, George would be able to relax and live a more normal life as a worker. Because of Lennie’s death George may even be able to get the ranch faster and by doing so still achieve a version of the American dream. The American dream is a motivation for many characters in Of Mice and Men but through a series of events, not all their dreams remain the same by the end of the novel. George and Lennie’s dream was their ambition, their reason to keep persevering. They always had it as their ideal, their goal to strive for. If they could just own a ranch they would be happy. But throughout the novel, Lennie is killed and his dream is fulfilled by not having life at all. George’s dream is now altered because Lennie would not be a part of it. Even Crooks had a dream, to go in on the ranch with George, Lennie and Candy, but because of his race, he had to realize that his dream could not be that lofty and his dream was forgotten. All during the novel, the message that is portrayed is that the American dream that is fulfilled is not the same as the dream they originally began with. Throughout the duration of Of Mice and Men, many versions of the American dream demonstrated motivational objectives for the characters. Lennie longed for peace and safety. George wished to have a leisurely life and Crooks hoped for a world where he was not discriminated against. Throughout the novel, these dreams were changed and sometimes even forgotten. Because of this, Steinbeck gives the impression that the American dream can never truly be fulfilled to the dreamer’s original standards.