International Trade Essay Example for Free

International Trade Essay Relation between trade and world output International trade represents the exchange of goods/raw materials and also manufactured goods (and services) between countries. This situation occurs since a country has particular products or services that are much better than other countries in terms of quantity, price quality, or any other measurable factors. This idea further refers to a notion of competitive advantage. This condition encourages countries to trade their goods and services with other countries to take benefit from the countries that can produce goods more effective and efficient. In the past decades, the increase of international trade has driven the integration of the world economy. Moreover, within 1980 and 2002, the volume of world trade has raised relative to world output. This condition exists because the traded goods have become cheaper relative to those goods that are not traded. Furthermore, the condition occurs due to the influence of three factors characterize the increase in trade as following The decreasing costs of trade. In transportation, communication and search, currency exchange and tariffs are all factors that influence when trading goods internationally. Within the past 20 years, these costs are falling; suggesting that there would be an increase in the volume of trade. Second factor is the fact that tradable goods sector experience improved productivity growth. According to studies, it is found that productivity growth tends to be higher in the tradable goods sector than in the non-tradable goods sector. This situation will in turn increase the ratio of trade to output. The third factor is the increase of income per head. The increasing income will likely drive   consumers to shift their spending away from basic food and clothing products and into manufacturing goods, which offer more differentiation, diversification and international trade. Broad pattern of international trade Historically, trade has taken part since the existence of human being. While trade is not limited within countries, it develops into what we know as international trade or trade conducted among countries in the world. Paul Krugman and Maurice Obstfeld (1997) reveal that countries involved in an international trade based on two common reasons. First, they have goods that are different from others. Second, countries trade to achieve economies of scale in production. To understand the international trade, there is a theory called pattern of international trade as suggested by several scholars. In the Ricardian Model, for example, international trade exists when each country exports goods in which it has a comparative advantage and the existence of international trade is due to international differences in the productivity of labor. Second approach is from two Swedish economists, Eli Heckscher and Bertil Ohlin. Instead of solely determined by labor productivity as in Ricardian model, Heckscher-Ohlin theory emphasizes that comparative advantage is influenced by the interaction between nations’ resources (Krugman and Obstfeld, 1997). Relation between trade and world output The increasing oil price becomes critical and major problems of world economy. Its negative impacts seem to be the factors that haunt either industrialized countries or the developed ones. It is due to the negative impacts can lead severe international economic recession. People around the world would never forget such economic recession happened in 70’s. In the U.S. in order to reduce the dependence towards fossil fuel, they develop the alternative energy including the use of bio fuel. However, more than 90% of palm oil, raw material of bio fuel, is produced by Malaysia and Indonesia. If the two countries do not do trade with the U.S. for palm oil, the country may not offer bio fuel to their customers. Reference: Krugman, Paul R., and Maurice Obstfeld. (1997). International Economics: Theory and Policy. Addison-Wesley Dean, Mark and Maria Sebastia-Barriel. (2004). Why has world trade grown faster than world output? Retrieved January 21, 2008 from http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/qb/qb040304.pdf Wild, J. J., Wild, K. L., and Han, J. C. Y. (2006), International Business: The challenges of globalization (3rd ed.) (Chapters 4 – 6). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson-Prentice Hall.

Andrew C :: essays research papers

Andrew Carnegie was an intelligent Scottish immigrant that excelled in the steel and oil industries. He provided our country with inexpensive steel that allowed other industries to thrive. Carnegie was also a generous and well-known philanthropist.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland November 25, 1835. His parents, William and Margaret Carnegie, were impoverished iron mill workers. They immigrated to the United States in search of employment and opportunities in 1848.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Andrew Carnegie obtained a variety of occupations since his first arrival to America. His first job, at age thirteen, was a bobbin boy in a local cotton mill. At fifteen, Carnegie delivered telegrams for the Western Union. This job paid twenty-five dollars a month, which was considered a phenomenal amount of money at this time. At age 17, Carnegie had a job with the Pennsylvania Railroad. This job involved sending and receiving telegrams to benefit each train’s safety; he was now earning thirty-five dollars a month.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the 1850’s the major form of transportation used was the railroad. People would take the train for traveling to different areas around the country. Unfortunately, the ride to these distant destinations was quite uncomfortable. The passengers’ complaints increased. Theodore Woodruff developed sleeping cars that introduced passengers to more comfortable rides. Through the persuasion of his boss, Carnegie bought a share in this particular company while working for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Carnegie’s boss urged him to purchase one-eighth share in this company. The share’s money supply sharply increased due to the excessive amount of railroad companies that wished to please their passengers. From the success of his stock with the sleeping car company, Carnegie was able to place his money in other lucrative opportunities. At the age of twenty-four, Carnegie was soon aware of the oil being utilized by the Seneca Indians in Titsuville, Pennsylvania. Realizing his opportunity, Carnegie decided to buy land in a near by area. The oil on the land provided Carnegie and his brother with an ample supply of money. The land itself had increased in value by 125%. In 1870, Carnegie changed his job to become an iron master. Carnegie transposed the old iron making procedure with his new routine. He assiduously combined three ingredients – iron ore, coke, and limestone – to produce an essential product.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Iron manufacturers discovered that certain ores shouldn’t be combined with each other. By hiring a chemist, Carnegie’s ores were assorted into their specific group. Carnegie was then the first iron mill owner to have a chemist.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Carnegie assisted many companies with the makings of bridges, locomotives, and other products that relied on iron.

Global warming and immigration Essay

Climate change is the long term alteration of global weather patterns particularly temperature and storm activity which occur as a result of the greenhouse effect. With scholars predicting deterioration in global environmental conditions in the 21st century, we must focus our attention on the implications this situation will have particularly to human population and settlement. The resulting displacement has led to a rise in â€Å"environmental refugees† as more communities leave their homes in search of alternative sources of livelihood. (Ketel, 2004, p. 2) Immigration due to Global warming A study by the United Nations reveals that human migration caused by global warming is expected to surpass all previous displacements. The effects of flooding, desertification and environmental pollution are partly or wholly credited to global warming (Ketel, 2004, p. 15). In countries such as Zimbabwe and Bangladesh which experience perennial flooding, community based and non-governmental organizations are collaborating with the local communities to raise awareness on disaster preparedness and disaster management practices. The Zimbabwe Case study Most of north and eastern Zimbabwe has been demarcated as flood prone areas, particularly the districts of Mzarabani and Guruve located within the low lying Zambezi basin. Initially, these areas were sparsely populated due to adverse environmental conditions that rendered them uninhabitable. However after realizing that the area had a high economic potential, the government opened it up for agricultural exploitation and settlement a condition that has exposed its inhabitants to floods and mudslides. Successful undertakings Since 2008, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has participated in relief efforts to provide assistance to families in these areas such as providing blankets, tarpaulins, mosquito nets and water purifying tablets as well as coordinating information on the number of displaced people and where they have been resettled. Community based projects have been initiated aimed at empowering the local community with the skills to withstand flooding thereby mitigating its effects. Structural measures were aimed at constructing dams and channels to control run-off during the rainy season while non-structural measures focused on resettlement, forecasting and setting aside areas to settle the displaced. (Madamombe, 2005, p. 18) In early 2007, such efforts bore fruit as hundreds of families were safely evacuated into Arda Estates of Mzarabani District following devastating floods that swept away over 600 homesteads in Chadereka Village. The displaced families were then allocated small plots within the Estates for subsistence farming while the remainder had to rely on handouts from NGOs such as Catholic Development Commission (CADEC) and IOM. Assistance required in undertaking program These projects required some level of assistance in the form of multi-sectoral meetings on flood management, funding, campaigns and governmental legislation on disaster management. The Zimbabwe government introduced the Civil Protection Act, the Water Act (1998) and the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Act each aimed at addressing an action plan of action for disaster management/mitigation. Zimbabwe is also a member of the Zambezi Action Program (ZACPRO), an initiative which aims to integrate all countries lying within the Zambezi basin to utilize it as a shared resource. However, each country follows its own policy on managing its portion of the Zambezi basin. (Madamombe, 2004, p. 3) Shortcomings The Zimbabwe government faced a variety of hurdles in its resettlement efforts; inadequate funding, disease, resistance from local families and logistical barriers. The government’s expenditure on disaster management is quite minimal and hence in a major catastrophe, private sector and international community would have to be approached for assistance. (Madamombe, 2005, p. 20) Since resettlement is a recurrent process, most displaced families returned to their homes preferring to risk another flood than surrender their dignity and independence by living in resettlement camps. Conflicts due to poor vetting of displaced persons led to undeserving cases receiving handouts while the genuine cases remained in despair and uncertainty. Greater effort is therefore required in undertaking civic education to curtail the humanitarian situation from spiraling out of control. References Ketel, H. (2004). Global Warming and Human Migration: Climate Change, Human Systems and Policy. Oxford, UK: Eolss Publishers. Madamombe, E. (2004) Zimbabwe: Flood Management Practices – Selected Flood prone areas Zambezi Basin. Switzerland: World Meteorological Organization/Global Water Partnership. Madamombe, E. (2005). Associated Programme on Flood Management: Overview Situation Paper on Flood Management Practices. Switzerland: World Meteorological Organization/Global Water Partnership.

A Brief History of Womens Property Rights in the U.S.

Today, its easy to take for granted that women can take out a line of credit, apply for a home loan, or enjoy property rights. However, for centuries in the United States and Europe, this was not the case. A womans husband or another male relative controlled any property allotted to her. The gender divide concerning property rights was so widespread that it inspired Jane Austen novels such as Pride and Prejudice and, more recently, period dramas such as Downton Abbey. The plot lines of both works involve families made up solely of daughters. Because these young women cant inherit their fathers property, their future depends on finding a mate. Womens right to own property was a process that took place over time, starting in the 1700s. By the 20th century, women in the U.S. could be property owners, just as men were. Womens Property Rights During Colonial Times American colonies generally followed the same laws of their mother countries, usually England, France, or Spain. According to British law, husbands controlled womens property. Some colonies or states, however, gradually gave women limited property rights. In 1771, New York passed the Act to Confirm Certain Conveyances and Directing the Manner of Proving Deeds to Be Recorded, legislation gave a woman some say in what her husband did with their assets. This law required a married man to have his wifes signature on any deed to her property before he sold or transferred it. Moreover, it required that a judge meet privately with the wife to confirm her approval. Three years later, Maryland passed a similar law. It required a private interview between a judge and a married woman to confirm her approval of any trade or sale by her husband of her property. So, while a woman may not have technically been allowed to own property, she was allowed to prevent her husband from using hers in a way she found objectionable. This law was put to the test in the 1782 case Flannagans Lessee v. Young. It was used to invalidate a property transfer because no one had verified if the woman involved actually wanted the deal to go through. Massachusetts also took women into consideration regarding its property rights laws. In 1787, it passed a law allowing married women, in limited circumstances, to act as femme sole traders. This term refers to women who were allowed to conduct business on their own, especially when their husbands were out to sea or away from home for another reason. If such a man was a merchant, for example, his wife could make transactions during his absence to keep the coffers full. Progress During the 19th Century Its important to note that this review of womens property rights mostly means white women. Slavery was still practiced in the U.S. at this time, and enslaved Africans certainly did not have property rights; they were deemed property themselves. The government also trampled on the property rights of the indigenous men and women in the U.S. with broken treaties, forced relocations, and colonization generally. As the 1800s began, people of color did not have property rights in any meaningful sense of the word, though matters were improving for white women. In 1809, Connecticut passed a law permitting married women to execute wills, and various courts enforced provisions of prenuptial and marriage agreements. This allowed a man other than a womans husband to manage the assets she brought to the marriage in a trust. Although such arrangements still deprived women of agency, they likely prevented a man from exercising total control of his wifes property. In 1839, a Mississippi law passed giving white women very limited property rights, largely involving slavery. For the first time, they were allowed to own enslaved Africans, just as white men were. New York gave women the most extensive property rights, passing the Married Womens Property Act in 1848 and the Act Concerning the Rights and Liabilities of Husband and Wife in 1860. Both of these laws expanded the property rights of married women and became a model for other states throughout the century. Under this set of laws, women could conduct business on their own, have sole ownership of gifts they received, and file lawsuits. The Act Concerning the Rights and Liabilities of Husband and Wife also acknowledged mothers as joint guardians of their children along with fathers. This allowed married women to finally have legal authority over their own sons and daughters. By 1900, every state had given married women substantial control over their property. But women still faced gender bias when it came to financial matters. It would take until the 1970s before women were able to get credit cards. Before then, a woman still needed her husbands signature. The struggle for women to be financially independent of their husbands extended well into the 20th century.