Economic way of thinking

In addition to their Immediate effects secondary effects are effects of a policy change that might not be noticeable when the policy change Is Implemented 7. The value of a good or service Is subjective what one good Is worth to person A, may have a completely different value by person B (l Like pizza with extra cheese, I value It highly.You are allergic to dairy products, so you place a low value on a pizza with extra cheese) 8. The test of a theory Is Its ability to predict Positive and normative economics Positive economics – the study of â€Å"what Is† among economic relationships For Instance, positive statements can be statistically evaluated. Normative economics – Judgments about â€Å"what ought to be† In economic matters Normative statements merely reflect people's values – these statements cannot be proven true or false by economic thinking (think of It as a policeman's views on any matter – abortion, capital punishment, etc.Those p ollens cannot be proven right or wrong – they can merely be Judged) Economic way of thinking By gangplank 5. The acquisition of information is costly information can help people make better decisions, but information is a scarce good – the time it takes to search for the 6. Economic actions often generate secondary effects in addition to their immediate when the policy change is implemented 7. The value of a good or service is subjective what one good is worth to person A, may have a completely different value by person B (l like pizza with extra cheese, I alee it highly.You are allergic to dairy products, so you place a low value on a pizza with extra cheese) 8. The test of a theory is its ability to predict Positive economics – the study of â€Å"what is† among economic relationships For instance, positive statements can be statistically evaluated. Normative economics – judgments about â€Å"what ought to be† in economic matters proven tru e or false by economic thinking (think of it as a politician's views on any matter – abortion, capital punishment, etc. Those opinions cannot be proven right or

Honda Cars essays

Honda Cars essays In todays demanding car market, with so many different manufacturers of cars, which one do you choose? With more and more demand for powerful, fuel-efficient cars that dont cost an arm and a leg only one name stands out. This company is Honda motor Co.. Honda not only delivers outstanding performance and comfort ability but it also costs much less than its competitors. Also, all Honda motor vehicles are LEV (Low Emissions Vehicles) or ULEV. (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicles) Performance is a must in this fast paced market. Who wants a car that feels sluggish and cant ascend hills without flooring the car? This is where Honda leaves everyone in the dust. Honda developed VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic) system changes the phasing of the camshaft to provide the best timing relationship between the pistons and the valves in order to optimize the combustion chambers breathing and efficiency at both low and high engine speeds. This increased efficiency minimizes exhaust emissions and improves power delivery. Also if youre a car nut that just cant resist to modify your Honda, youre in luck. With so many different aftermarket performance parts companies out there, you can customize your Honda from mild to wild, depending on the persons tastes. You can turn your Honda into a pavement pounding, street prowling, canyon carving super car. With gas prices sky rocketing every year a car that consumes gas like a fat man at a buffet is not very economical nor is it good for the air that we breathe. Air polluting compounds are released into the air and contribute to smog therefore it is a health hazard. The US State of California is the leader in the field of emission legislation. Its "LEV" (Low Emission Vehicles) requirement, roughly equals to Euro 2000, will be effective in 2000. 3 years later, "ULEV" (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles) requireme ...

Montessori the Human Tendencies Essays

Montessori the Human Tendencies Essays Montessori the Human Tendencies Paper Montessori the Human Tendencies Paper The Human Tendencies â€Å"The love of activity, the yearning for freedom, the urge for obedience, the impulse to confirm to laws which are at the heart of all creation – these qualities make man the unparalleled work of Nature† (Montessori, M. , From Childhood To Adolescence, 1973) Discuss the eight human tendencies as developed by Dr. Montessori and her followers. Show how children show these tendencies during the three main stages of development. Discuss how you think knowledge of human tendencies helps us when educating children. Give examples to support your answer ******************************** One of the greatest discoveries made by Dr. Montessori was that all humans love certain tendencies of behaviour patterns. No matter where we live, no matter what our culture or ethnicity, we all follow the same natural laws that lead us to act or react in specific ways. We are all driven to communicate, socialise, initiate, explore, move, be exact, concentrate, repeat, discover order, achieve independence, personalise perfection, control ourselves and our work. Human tendencies are present at all ages of our lives but some are stronger than others during different development periods. The tendencies also vary in the way and strength in which they appear in different people but they all exist. And it is these tendencies which guide our development; which direct us to take or not to take a given action. What does Dr. Montessori mean by the word â€Å"Tendency†? A dictionary definition of the word is â€Å"A predisposition to think, act, behave or proceed in a particular way† (Oxford English Dictionary). Dr. Montessori noted that it was important that the correct environment was provided for each stage in order to allow the tendencies to be fulfilled. Human tendencies are creative impulses that guide human beings in the development of broad potentialities. Dr. Montessori believed that children are born with incredible learning potential and a desire to explore, discover and learn about their world. She believed that all children are born with potentialities, the ability to crawl, to walk, to talk etc. It is the human tendencies that guide them to these potentials. What are the â€Å"Human Tendencies†? Dr. Montessori identified eight areas: Exploration: This is the human tendency to explore and find out about our world and universe. [pic] Children are naturally curious and love to use their senses to learn more about the world around them. Our life around us is filled with sounds, scents, textures, tastes and colours. In the first stage children explore their immediate environment. As a baby the first few months you can explore by hearing sounds and seeing colours. As you grow exploration comes by tasting different foods, feeling different textures. A child likes to explore with his hands more than anything. – 12 years old the child explores by going out or by researching. This age of child loves exploring nature, going to the woods or going to the sea. As they grow they find more interest in searching the internet to increase their knowledge and they start to have a greater interest in personal and sexual relationships.. They explore society to try to find their own role in life. â€Å"There is no description, no image in any book that is capable of replacing the sight of real trees, and all the life to be f ound around them, in a real forest†. Maria Montessori  (1870 1952) Source: From Childhood to Adolescence (page 19) Orientation: This is the human tendency to want to know where we are in space, in time and in the structures of nature and of society. [pic] When a young child enters a new environment they often want to explore, look at and touch all around them. But they still look for familiar people like their Mom or Dad. As they grow they enjoy knowing where they live (their address, country and continent on a map). They also like to know where they stand with regards to social roles. They demand very clear guidelines and rules. Order: This is the human tendency to create orderly surroundings which is apparent in nature and which we have brought more thoroughly into our homes, business and everyday life. [pic] Children under 6 years of age have a very strong sense of order. They like to be neat or have things in order. It does not matter if it his toys, clothes, shoes, everything should be in the right place according to his mind. As they grow they lose some of the order but they still shine through with order in their homework. Eg. Mathematics, Chemistry etc. People prefer order to chaos and confusion. Order brings predictability and security. Order is essential to proper orientation. Work/Activity: This is a human tendency, to be active and seek satisfaction form work. People generally like to stay busy. For children, movement can be enjoyed for its own sake, rather than always having a goal or end product in mind. Even children who have very little to play with will find ways to be active through games, songs, dance, and pretend play. Humans feel worthwhile through their work. Work leads to a feeling of accomplishment and self-respect. [pic] Maria Montessori believed that it was through work that a child constructed his true self, free of defect or misbehavior. Repetition: This occurs when a child repeats a task over and over again, until they become familiar with it. Like an infant trying to lift his head over and over again until he gets it, and learns how to control his muscles. They then see the environment from a totally different view. [pic] Often it is with the intent to master the task, but even after mastery occurs, a child may continue to repeat the activity for the sheer pleasure of doing so. Older children can do the same with a ball. They repeat and repeat the same task until they improve their ball handling skills. Exactitude/Precision: Exactitude allows children to know how to know when perfection is achieved. [pic] This is the human mathematical mind that leads us into exciting scientific discoveries based on precise detailed observation. Have you ever seen a child get upset because something was put back in the wrong place? They are quite precise in the way they pick things up, in the way they describe things and in the way they notice details. Older kids may put precision into their school work by doing science work or chemistry projects. Instinctively humans seek to precise in their work, doing something exactly right brings enormous satisfaction. Communication: Humans delight in conveying thoughts, feelings, and information to each other. [pic] New born babies can not talk but they still communicate with us. They cry when something is wrong eg. a dirty nappy. They smile when they are happy eg. when you play with them. As times passes they learn to communicate with their hands and with an absorbent mind they learn to pick up the language in 1. 5 to 2 years. School kids aged 6 – 12 communicate through play dates with friends, telling us all that happened at school and through social outlets and team sports. Older kids like to learn something different. Their communication forms are different; it is more linked to phones, texting, computers and other forms of social media eg. facebook. Various types of communication include the written and spoken word, touch, facial expressions, gestures, art, music, dance and media. Communication is an essential human need; it is the link of understanding between people, both face-to-face and from generation to generation. Imagination: This is truly the characteristic that sets us apart from animals. We are able to visualize events that have not yet occurred; we are able to feel and xpress emotions that are not tangible. We can imagine something that exists only in our minds, and then take the steps to make it happen. e. g A child in the first stage can imagine playing as a doctor and having his toys as his patients. [pic] As they grow they can imagine that they grow up to be a doctor. The fire of imagination drives the child to seek knowledge with a huge thirst. It is an important part of the Mont essori Method, both for the 6 – 12 years old and the older teenager, to present the imagination with exciting facts. We often forget that imagination is a force for the discovery of truth. The mind is not a passive thing, but a devouring flame, never in repose, always in action†. Maria Montessori  (1870 1952) Source: The Absorbent Mind, Chapter, Through Culture and the Imagination, 1988) Once we are aware of the underlying that compels human development we will recognise them everywhere. The tendencies of humans are what compel babies to put everything they find into their mouths. They are the reasons that a young child wants to know how things are made and why children are filled with wonder when they enter a forest. They are the reason for our appreciation of a beautiful painting or a finely crafted piece of furniture; we recognise the repetition that went into the mastery and finally the reflection of a difficult skill. The prepared environment is built around these tendencies. Because of this, Montessori teachers do not need to force the student to work, the children are naturally drawn to the materials. For example the environment is safe and secure, filled only with the items that can be touched and manipulated by the child. When these basic human needs, these basic tendencies of human behavior are understood and respected, children become what Dr. Montessori called â€Å"normalized. † They have a sense of internal peace, joy, tranquility, happiness. They can concentrate. They can choose something to work on and complete the work they set out do. They have self-discipline/self-control, are independent, and are secure within themselves. They have a positive, balanced self-image, have healthy self-esteem, and are aware and considerate of others. They are the person we would all like to be. â€Å"In order to understand the child so as to be able to educate him, we must know life in its entirety† (Montessori, M. , unpublished lecture, London 1937) Bibliography Clare Healy Walls- At The Heart of Montessori 1 – Core Principles Original Writing Ltd, Dublin 2008, ISBN 978-1-906018-64-1 Clare Healy Walls At The Heart of Montessori 2 – Core Principles In Action Original Writing Ltd, Dublin 2008, ISBN 978-1-906018-65-8 Clare Healy Walls At The Heart of Montessori 4 – The Pre School Child (3 – 6 yrs) Original Writing Ltd, Dublin 2008, ISBN 978-1-906018-67-2 Clare Healy Walls Montessori in a Nutshell Hello Montessori Ireland, 2007, ISBN 978-09557168-0-5 The internet was also used as an aid in completing this essay.

Canadian Economic History

Canadian Economic History Introduction Canada, a country believed to have gotten its name by slip-up when a French explorer mistook the village word â€Å"Kanata† for â€Å"Canada†, is today one of the greatest economic hubs and the second largest country in the world.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Canadian Economic History specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The world sometimes jokingly refers to it as a country that runs from â€Å"sea to sea.† Diverse Aboriginal people predominantly inhabit Canada and it consists of 10 provinces and 3 territories, mostly dominated by the British and French settlers (Kalman 4-13). Through the Canada Act of 1982, the country strengthened its political muscles by becoming a federal state and placing Queen Elizabeth II at its head. It is today a â€Å"bilingual and multicultural state governed through parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy† (Cyr 41). The latter system is also the basis on which the executive, legislative, and judicial arms of state are founded. In addition, Canada stands out, within the continent and elsewhere in the world, as a country governed by economic transparency. The country also does satisfactorily well in the international rankings in major areas like political freedom, respect for human rights, education, and quality of life. Purpose of the Paper The purpose of this paper is to present an analytical examination of the â€Å"Canadian Economic History†. Canada’s economy is significantly one of the largest economies in the world today, with an approximately US$1.74 trillion nominal GDP. It is also one of the highest liberal economies across America and Europe as per the heritage index of economic freedom. Perhaps the major question is how Canada has made it this far economically. For many people, the answer could be the expansion of the political freedom in Canada, or the establishment of more democratic insti tutions, bringing about transparency in the economic sector. According to this paper, however, the answer lies in the economic history of the nation. This essay has thus been structured around the Canadian economic history, which has been broken down into smaller significant areas, supported with different valid facts. The first part, â€Å"staples thesis†, is used to explain the nation’s resource-based economy given the complexity in understanding it.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The second part looks at the major staple commodities in the country’s history, while the third and fourth parts review the major economic philosophies before and after the expulsion of the French traders from Canada. Other significant areas addressed, especially in the seventh and eighth sections, analyze Canada’s economic status during and after the two Wo rld Wars and their impact on the present economy. The overall analysis determines Canada’s growth to its economic history. The Staples Thesis The Canadian economic history stands out for the fact that all the economic frameworks that worked well in other nations, mostly in Europe, either failed to work in Canada or had little impact. A good example is Marxist economic classes, which failed to address the country’s resource-based economy. Its complex economic relationship with other countries developed after the Second World War, particularly with the US (Easterbrook and Watkins 259). Given the complexity in understanding the Canadian economy, a section of historians has always employed the staples thesis to address fully the economic history of the country. This school of thought, â€Å"staples thesis†, which primarily focuses on the economic geography of Canada, proposes that the Canadian economic history should be studied from the perspective of natural resour ces (Altman 230-55). Innis, one of the prominent scholars of this philosophy, argued that the country had economically flourished because of its staple commodities. He particularly listed fur, timber, fish, and agricultural products as major staple commodities that dared the economy into the international markets, especially in Europe and the United States. He further argued that, this economic partnership cemented the country’s cultural links in other major sectors. Within Canada, he argued, the different staple commodities led to the realization of different economies in the ten provinces. The economy of the Atlantic Canada, for instance, emerged from its trade in cod. The Western Canada heavily relied on wheat for its economy. In Central Canada, fur dominated the economy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Canadian Economic History specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The remaining provinces also had their own st aple commodities that propelled their economies (Altman 230-55). Innis, however, argued that the fur trade boomed the general economy of Canada. Inasmuch as the ports opened the region to the United States, fur cemented Canada’s relationship with European nations, especially France and Britain. The proponents of this school of thought thus argue that Canada managed to sustain its economy because of its exportation of staple commodities. Canadian Economic History Way before the arrival of British and French settlers into the country, Canada had a great and vibrant trade networks within its boarders, which were primarily dominated by â€Å"waterways†. The natives traded in furs, tools, fish, and decorative items. Mostly, the traders used small boats given the extensive body waters that border and crisscross the country. They also heavily relied on hunting and gathering for food and a variety of other important items. When French and British traders started arriving, the natives admired their alcohol, weapons, and jewels. In exchange of these products, they gave out pelts from their native beavers, which the European traders equally treasured. The result of this exchange led to profoundly strong economic and cultural relations between the natives and the European traders (Easterbrook and Aitken 23-50). Fur trade The fur trade was perhaps the most traded item that propelled the Canadian interior economy. The North American woodlands were full of many fur animals, and this element was an added advantage to the pelt industry for the natives, who were skilled hunters and gatherers would kill the animals and get pelt for the European merchants. In exchange, the natives got guns and textiles. They were also given luxury items like mirrors and beads from Europe (Carlos and Lewis 705-28). The other players in the fur trade were the woodsmen. They mainly brought pelts from the forest, through the Atlantic Ocean, to the major ports of Montreal and Quebec.Adve rtising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the early phases of the trade, the French mainly dominated the major ports and trading forts in the region. The British traders built more elaborate and parallel networks in other promising ports and forts to scuttle French domination and open trade to other regions. As a result, a boisterous contention developed between the two nations. Timber Timber was the prevailing staple commodity in Canada in the early 19th century. Previously only known to the domestic market, timber became a large export market for Canada in the nineteenth century as most European countries exhausted their supplies. As the 18th century set it, forest reserves had vitiated considerably in the Great Britain and thus it turned to Canada to replenish its supplies. The Royal Navy, which had been built using the great oaks, was already getting old and most of the materials could not be re-used. Timber was also an important commodity to Great Britain for its merchant shipping and putting up of new structures in its colonies. Even the United States, which still had some timber reserves, saw the inevitable inadequacy of its stock and thus turned to Canada. However, the Napoleonic Wars boomed Canada’s timber industry. British needed timber for its wars, but it had none. The other involved countries in the war also had little or none. Canada became the massive business for timber-trade. Almost every province exploited the timber industry making it Canada’s most important commodity. The Bank of Montreal and some of the largest towns in Canada were allegedly built with the money generated from the timber industry. Fish Industry Another important feature before the Second World War was the fishing industry. Actually, the first group of European settlers in the region ended up in Canada through the Grand Banks of Newfoundland in search of fish. Norrie and Szostak posit that soon after, many boats â€Å"especially from France and Great Britain, traversed the land through the Atlanti c Ocean and would stay there during the summer and leave with fish at the end of the season† (46). The other factor that also boomed the fishing industry in the region was the dire need of fish in the Catholic dominated countries. The land was mainly dominated by anglers from regions that had scarce supply of salt, like those from Northern France and Britain. They mainly preserved their fish by hanging them on fish-racks on the main land. Since this process took months, they also built structures that soon became permanent settlements for most of them. Farming and other Agricultural Products Canada was also popular for its agricultural products. The country mainly produced wheat and canola in large quantities enough to supply to its regional neighbors. The agricultural sector was mainly boomed by the timber industry. The timber trade required men to stay in one zone for quite a long time. Given that there were many of these zones, the country needed to supply the workforce wit h enough food. In the beginning, the lumber towns and zones mostly relied on the US for much of their food, especially barrels of pork, but the shipping cost became high. The only available option was to invest in locally produced goods. Ontario City took an interest in farming and other high-grade consumer products. The main objective was to grow crops that would be harvested within shorter periods. They also began keeping cows and rearing chickens mainly for the growing urban market and workers at the timber locations. This captive market became the basis for permanent settlements and opened the region to other new markets (Kaman 24-26). Wheat boom industry Astoundingly, Canada experienced its highest economic growth in the late years of 1890s up to the eruption of the First World War. This era was also the phase of an immense structural transformation of the Canadian economy. The period is sometimes referred to as the â€Å"Wheat Boom Era† because of the massive export eco nomy that was based largely on wheat. The staple commodity became the golden crop for the Prairie Provinces and the larger economy of Canada. The wheat industry also led to the construction of the Pacific Railway line easing the transportation of the commodity and other products (Ward 856-83). Major Philosophies in the Canadian Economic History Canada’s economy has progressively grown, taking into consideration different factors. It was not just about the booming staple industries, but also the philosophies that guided these industries. These philosophies include Mercantilism, Corporatism, and Capitalism. French traders and settlers mainly used the first two schools of thought, while the British colonialists introduced capitalism, which is still the dominant philosophy in Canada. Mercantilism and Corporatism The Canadian economy during the colonial times mainly hinged on two philosophies, viz. the mercantilism and corporatism. The economic idea of mercantilism revolved on the notion of reaping maximum material benefits from the colonized land, for the mother country, with little or no imperial investment on the land itself. This system was common amongst French, who dominated the region between 1613 and 1621. In 1627, King Louis XIII introduced another system, corporatism, to include its habitants. The idea was to encourage economic corporation with everyone on the land, and this idea culminated into what is today called Canada (Leslie 20). Capitalism Capitalism is Canada’s dominant economic philosophy. After the expulsion of the French from Canada and the repeal of Corn Laws, the British government opened the market to other settlers. The idea of ‘Capitalism’ came from the colonial business elites that had taken an interest in the country’s economic trades. Their main aim was to create a local financial system, and they ultimately manifested this ideology in the banking and insurance sectors. The Canada Banking Company (1792) , the Bank of Montreal (1817), and the Bank of New Brunswick (1820) are some of the major banking systems of the period. Insurance companies included Sun Life (1865), Mutual Life (1870), and London Life (1874). Another important manifestation of this system was the creation of the Montreal Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange (Easterbrook and Aitken 445). Economic lessons before World War II Confederation The repeal of Corn Laws and the expulsion of French from Canada taught Canadians a great lesson just on how far they could economically count on foreigners. In addition, the cancelation of the preferential treatment with Great Britain also taught them very hard economic lessons. The greatest lesson was to never rely on one market for economic prosperity. In 1854, â€Å"the country signed its first treaty with the US termed the Canadian-American Reciprocity Treaty (CART), which opened its economy to the United States market† (Martin 237). The treaty flopped later, bu t the countries maintained their economic relationship. Another important factor was the Great Depression. Based on its economic relationship with the U.S, Canada was badly hit by the crisis that had originated in the American markets. As the U.S economy began to collapse, it was clear that the Canadian economy was quickly going to follow suit. At the end of the depression, the wheat industry was almost falling apart. The country also lost 30 per cent of its workforce. A fifth of the population literally relied on the government for assistance. The crisis was far worse in rural areas. Almost two thirds of the rural populace became reliant on relief food. With the U.S raising tariffs in their market, the Canadian wages and prices consequently fell by significant margins. Foreign investments drastically reduced, rates of crimes increased, and the population growth severely narrowed down. The other threatening situation was the escalating rates of unemployment. After World War II Canad a’s economy today is one of the largest economies in the world, with approximately US$1.74 trillion nominal GDP. According to the research conducted in 2010 and 2011, the country was ranked as the world’s ninth and eleventh largest economy per income capita respectively. In economic freedom as per the heritage index, Canada is ranked the highest liberal economy across the entire North of American bloc and Europe beating major economies like the US and Germany. For instance, in 2008, the country imported record goods valued slightly over US$443 billion. Out of these, goods worth $281 billion originated from the US, $12 billion from Japan, and about $ 11.2 from the UK (Messick and Kimura 21-40). Canadian economy is a mixed economy relying mostly on its natural resources and international trade. On natural resources, Canada’s economy mainly relies on the logging and petroleum industries, which mainly come after manufacturing, mining, and service sectors. Of the thr ee sectors, the service industry stands out as the primary sector housing about three quarters of the country’s labor force. The country also exports energy, which is an uncommon phenomenon in first world nations. Presumably, the Atlantic Canada contains immense offshore-deposits of natural gas that are yet to be fully explored. However, the massive Athabasca oil sands position the country as the second largest home to verified oil reserves. Apart from the gas and oil industry, agricultural products also dominate the country’s economy. The country does well in wheat, and canola amongst others. Additionally, the country has erected major buildings in its towns because of timber the availability. Mining explorations have indeed made Canada a leading producer of zinc and uranium. The country also does well in gold, nickel, and aluminum. There are also leading signs that the country could be equally rich in lead, though the sector needs further exploration. The other remai ning major industries are automobiles and aeronautics. On the international trade market, Canada is one of the top 10 trading states in the world. It is a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), G7 8, APEC, UN, G20, and NATO. While these affiliations have contributed to its economic growth, its complex relationships, particularly with the US, have propelled Canada to great economic heights. Canada has long and significant relationship with the US dating back to the World War II. In 1988, the two nations signed another agreement, the Canada–US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which removed all the economic tariffs between them. In 1994, the two countries extended the olive branch to other countries in the North American region under the agreement of the North American Free Trade (NAFTA) to expand their free trade market. Through these accords, the country managed to pay all its national debts and considerably incr eased surpluses in its annual budget. Economic Recession The worst crisis in the Canadian economic history happened in 2008 during the global financial recession. By the end of the year, Canada was already recording one of the highest unemployment rates in the region. By the end of 2009, the country’s national unemployment figure had hit 8.6 per cent. Regions of Labrador and Newfoundland were the highest hit in terms of unemployment, with the rates shooting as high as 17 per cent. The only province that was not seriously affected was Manitoba, with a low unemployment rate of 5.8 per cent. Between 2008 and 2010, the country’s labor market significantly reduced. Approximately, about 224,000 permanent jobs were lost. Another 163,000 around the clock jobs (full time) were also lost. Going by the scales, between 2008 and 2009, the Canadian state lost about $464 billion. The amount lost for the fiscal year 2010 – 2011, translates into a federal debt of about $567 bill ion, a real scaring figure for an economy. Its foreign debt, as of 2010, had also risen to an estimated amount of $ 194 billion. However, comparing the Canadian economic situation at the end of the crisis with other G8 nations, one would say Canada had better structures to contain the situation. One of the reasons could be that the federal government had set aside some budgetary surpluses in the previous years. It could also be the country’s regulated banking sector, which many economists believe was a better bailout for the country under the financial circumstances. Again, prior to the crisis, the federal state had also put long-term structures and policies that probably helped to lower the national debt significantly. On an average assessment, the global crisis of 2008 had minimal destruction to the Canadian economy compared to the other G8 nations. As of this year (2012), the Canadian economy is doing well and the worst hit sectors during the recession are steadily stabili zing. The country is also reaching out to new partners, especially the Asian countries, to expand its market. The Canadian industries have â€Å"begun reaching out to the Asian markets in order to diversify their exports† (Heinbecker and Momani 161). In the recent months, for instance, there have been wide talks with China to build an oil pipeline between the countries in order to facilitate in selling out its reserves to China. Canada has also tightened its economic relationship with the US to propel its economy (Heinbecker and Momani 161). GDP Growth Rate Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in its entire economic history is estimated at an average growth rate of 0.83 per cent. The lowest GDP of -1.8 percent was recorded in 2009 during the global financial crisis, while the highest growth rate at an average of 3.33 percent was reached in 1963. As of the second quarter of this year, Canada’s GDP growth rate rose by 0.5 per cent from the rate of the previous qu arter. GPD growth rate is particularly important to the Canadian economy because it provides an aggregate measure of the country’s goods and services given its diverse and highly developed market (OECD 28). Conclusion Canada’s economy is one of the â€Å"largest economies in the world, with approximately US$1.74 trillion nominal GDP† (OECD 28). According to the research conducted in 2010 and 2011 respectively, the country was ranked as the world’s ninth and eleventh largest economy per capita income. As of the second quarter of 2012, the growth rate of GDP had risen by 0.5 per cent from that of the previous quarter. In economic freedom as per the heritage index, Canada is ranked the highest liberal economy across the North American bloc and Europe, beating major economies like the US and Germany. While the staples thesis argues that the Canadian economy primarily revolves on its natural resources, most analysts today believe that there is a great balance between the country’s natural resources and its international trade relationships. Altman, Morris. â€Å"Staple Theory and Export-Led Growth: Constructing Different Growth.† Australian Economic History Review 43.3 (2012): 230-55. Print. Carlos, Ann, and Frank Lewis. â€Å"Property rights, competition, and depletion in the eighteenth century Canadian fur trade: the role of the European market.†Ã‚  Canadian Journal of Economics 32.3 (1999): 705-28. Print. Cyr, Hugo. Canadian Federalism and Treaty Powers: Organic Constitutionalism at  Work. Brussels: Peter Lang, 2009. Print. Easterbrook, Thomas, and Hugh Aitken. Canadian Economic History. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1988. Print. Easterbrook, Thomas, and Mel Watkins. Approaches to Canadian Economic History:  A selection of Essays. Carleton: McGrill-Queens, 1988. Print. Heinbecker, Paul, and Bessma Momani. Canada and the Middle East: In Theory and  Practice. Canada: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2007. Print. Kalman, Bobbie. Canada: The Land. Alberta: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2009. Print. Leslie, Peter. Canada: The State of the Federation. Ontario: IIGR, Queen’s University, Print. Martin, Ged. Britain and the Origins of Canadian Confederation, 1837-67. Ontario: UBC Press, 1995. Print. Messick, Richard, and Kaku Kimura. World Survey of Economic Freedom 1995-1996:  A Freedom House Study. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 1996. Print. Norrie, Ken, and Rick Szostak. â€Å"Allocating Property Rights over Shoreline: Institutional Change in the Newfoundland Inshore Fishery.† Newfoundland and Labrador  Studies 20.2 (2005): 27-56. Print. OECD. OECD Regions at a Glance 2011. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2011. Print. Ward, Tony. â€Å"The Origins of the Canadian Wheat Boom 1880-1910.† Canadian Journal  of Economics 24.4 (1994): 856-83. Print.

1. What is Social Contract Theory and what are its strengths and Essay

1. What is Social Contract Theory and what are its strengths and weaknesses - Essay Example The social contract theory suggests that men being self interested can dominate his will in a civic society and hence a contract can avail justice. The social contract theory emphasis on the origin of the society. Social contract theory is a concept theory which is used in political science, sociology and philosophy. It is an implicit agreement between the state and citizens of the country to stay within the society without violating the contract. Social contract theory relies on an anthropological conception that man is either â€Å"good† or â€Å"evil†. The most famous philosophers of social contract theory are Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Jean – Jacques Rousseau. It is a theory which has its ground on democracy. According to this theory, the people abide by law to live in peace and harmony in a society. Social contract theory is a philosophical idea which propagates maintenance of society and law. According to this theory people in a state abide by a contract to agree upon laws and rules to live in a society. Usually it is a government which will enforce these laws in a society or state. The theory suggests that if someone violates the rules then he will punish. This contract theory can be changed if the people believe that the law needs a change. Social contract theory implies that without it the society will be in chaos and people would act according to their wishes and desires. For example, in case of natural disaster like flood or hurricane people would do whatever they like as no one is there to enforce law in a confused situation. The society need a contractual obligation which makes the responsible towards their action in the society and the social contract theory advocates it. Social contract theory explains that for a secured society a contract is necessary between citizens and state. Since men are born free, he has a tendency to violate natural laws and create conflicts and brutalities in a

Evil, a Challenge to Philosophy and Theology Essay

Evil, a Challenge to Philosophy and Theology - Essay Example As one of the giants of his field Ricoeur once again sets us thinking in his deep and mystical fashion which is so characteristic of his continental philosophy. His major works include masterpieces on existentialism, phenomenology, psychoanalysis, politics, religion and the theory of language. In Figuring the Sacred, Paul Ricoeur offers a "hermeneutic critique of different responses to evil,lament and blame,myth wisdom and theodicy."3 "Lament and blame ..Differentiates between evil as suffering and evil as wrongdoing if lament sees us as victims blame makes culprits of us Ricoeur observes that infact these two categories are always intertwined .We can feel guilty for committing an evil act while simultaneously experiencing seduction or invasion by an over whelming force outside us".4 Ricoeur's work discusses the entire intellectual and religious history of the west. In his essay "Evil, a Challenge to Philosophy and Theology" (1985) Ricoeur discusses how evil is symbolised and the problems behind such symbolisation. He has pointed out how the concept of "theodicy" becomes inadequate during such an analysis. Ricoeur deals with the haunting human dilemmas like guilt and lament and goes to profound depths making conclusions which are often subtle yet familiar to the seasoned critic who is almost always left speechless by his understanding of realms not yet explored in religious psychology and theology. The bo The book forms along with its essays a very thoughtful reading for religious people as well as the common lay people .Ricoeur reminds us of many things which we ignore like to the role of God in everyday philosophy and thought. With Ricoeur the title speaks for itself when life becomes the very tumultuous path to "figuring the sacred". The book constantly invokes a subtle awareness in the minds of the reader, reminding us to shield our thoughts from negativity and trivialization while we "figure the sacred" who actually lives within our hearts and minds. Bibliography 1. Book review by Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary,Decatur, GA available at http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1996/v53-1-bookreview4.htm 2. Figuring the Sacred: Religion, Narrative, and Imagination ,By Paul Ricoeur,Minneapolis, Fortress, 1995. 3. On Paul Ricoeur: The Owl of Minerva By Richard F. Kearney,pp

English literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

English literature - Essay Example The company has over five hundred employees, including well known designers in the region. Mr. Denzel Lawrence is the owner of that clothing line. The C.E.O of the company is Ian Beam. He is a brown and extremely tall Swedish gentleman, in addition to being down to earth. He cooperates well with all employees in that company. He owns a large mansion in New York City, where he lives happily with his cute wife, Diana. On this particular morning, he had several meetings with the designers in the company, to review some of the designs they had created that week. The meetings went extremely well, and Mr Ian was happy with the designs in place. Thus, he gave them a go ahead of putting those designs into clothes. As soon as the last meeting was over, his wife called and said, â€Å"Honey, I hope you are having a fantastic day at work. I just missed you and wished to hear your sexy voice again.† One could tell from the tone of her voice that they were madly in love. At the middle of t heir conversation, his secretary cut him short telling him that the boss, Mr. Denzel, wanted to speak with him. Therefore, he hurriedly wished his wife a fantastic day and rushed to find out what the boss wanted. Apparently, Mr. Denzel was equally a people’s person. He loved cracking jokes here and there to keep his conversations jovial. In addition, he was so in love with statues. His office was covered with a lot of statues of all shapes and sizes. One could think he was worshipping them. Later on in the afternoon, Mr Ian was scheduled to hold another meeting with other investors in the company. However, they called on time to cancel the meeting to the relief of the CEO. Therefore, he decided to take that golden opportunity to rush home early and surprise his wife. On his way home, he stopped near a flower shop to buy a bouquet of roses for his wife. Apparently, he was a frequent customer in that flower shop. This is because he loved giving his wife some flowers each time h e had that opportunity. He drove home smiling all the way, listening to some cool music. All through, he was fantasizing about the happy moments they would spend with his wife that afternoon. He anxiously opened the door to his luxurious mansion and went ahead to the kitchen first to take a cup of water. Surprisingly, he was very anxious to meet his wife that early. He laughed at himself quietly thinking aloud, ‘she is my wife for crying out loud and not a girl I just met and have a crush on hahaha.’ He was madly in love with his wife, so he tried to calm himself down by saying that probably that was the reason behind the anxious feeling he had. Some strange noises in the bedroom cut his thoughts short. He picked up some kitchen knife and tiptoed towards the bedroom. What he saw upon opening the bedroom door almost made him drop dead in disappointment: There was his wife in bed with another man! He thought: â€Å"What the hell? You mean Diana has been cheating on me al l through, and I have never suspected. Oh God, why was I so stupid and blinded by her sweet words?† He closed the door without uttering a single word and left quietly with painful tears on his eyes. On his way out, he saw a key holder with the name of his boss written on it. This made him even more confused. â€Å"Of all other people, why did she have to cheat on me with my own boss? Oh God, I thought my boss was my friend.† He just got into his car and drove carelessly with no direction in his mind. He was just driving to get as far away from his house as