Quantitative Marketing Research

Quantitative marketing research is the application of quantitative research techniques to the field of marketing. It has roots in both the positivist view of the world, and the modern marketing viewpoint that marketing is an interactive process in which both the buyer and seller reach a satisfying agreement on the â€Å"four Ps† of marketing: Product, Price, Place (location) and Promotion. As a social research method, it typically involves the construction of questionnaires and scales. People who respond (respondents) are asked to complete the survey.Marketers use the information so obtained to understand the needs of individuals in the marketplace, and to create strategies and marketing plans. Contents [hide] †¢1 Scope and requirements †¢2 Typical general procedure †¢3 Statistical analysis o3. 1 Reliability and validity o3. 2 Types of errors †¢4 See also †¢5 List of related topics †¢6 References [edit] Scope and requirements This section is empty . You can help by adding to it. (July 2010) [edit] Typical general procedure Simply, there are five major and important steps involved in the research process: 1. Defining the Problem. 2.Research Design. 3. Data Collection. 4. Analysis. 5. Report Writing & presentation. A brief discussion on these steps is: 1. Problem audit and problem definition – What is the problem? What are the various aspects of the problem? What information is needed? 2. Conceptualization and operationalization – How exactly do we define the concepts involved? How do we translate these concepts into observable and measurable behaviours? 3. Hypothesis specification – What claim(s) do we want to test? 4. Research design specification – What type of methodology to use? – examples: questionnaire, survey 5.Question specification – What questions to ask? In what order? 6. Scale specification – How will preferences be rated? 7. Sampling design specification – Wh at is the total population? What sample size is necessary for this population? What sampling method to use? – examples: Probability Sampling:- (cluster sampling, stratified sampling, simple random sampling, multistage sampling, systematic sampling) & Nonprobability sampling:- (Convenience Sampling,Judgement Sampling, Purposive Sampling, Quota Sampling, Snowball Sampling, etc. ) 8. Data collection – Use mail, telephone, internet, mall intercepts 9.Codification and re-specification – Make adjustments to the raw data so it is compatible with statistical techniques and with the objectives of the research – examples: assigning numbers, consistency checks, substitutions, deletions, weighting, dummy variables, scale transformations, scale standardization 10. Statistical analysis – Perform various descriptive and inferential techniques (see below) on the raw data. Make inferences from the sample to the whole population. Test the results for statistical sig nificance. 11. Interpret and integrate findings – What do the results mean? What conclusions can be drawn?How do these findings relate to similar research? 12. Write the research report – Report usually has headings such as: 1) executive summary; 2) objectives; 3) methodology; 4) main findings; 5) detailed charts and diagrams. Present the report to the client in a 10 minute presentation. Be prepared for questions. The design step may involve a pilot study to in order to discover any hidden issues. The codification and analysis steps are typically performed by computer, using statistical software. The data collection steps, can in some instances be automated, but often require significant manpower to undertake.Interpretation is a skill mastered only by experience. [edit] Statistical analysis The data acquired for quantitative marketing research can be analysed by almost any of the range of techniques of statistical analysis, which can be broadly divided into descriptive statistics and statistical inference. An important set of techniques is that related to statistical surveys. In any instance, an appropriate type of statistical analysis should take account of the various types of error that may arise, as outlined below. [edit] Reliability and validity Research should be tested for reliability, generalizability, and validity.Generalizability is the ability to make inferences from a sample to the population. Reliability is the extent to which a measure will produce consistent results. †¢Test-retest reliability checks how similar the results are if the research is repeated under similar circumstances. Stability over repeated measures is assessed with the Pearson coefficient. †¢Alternative forms reliability checks how similar the results are if the research is repeated using different forms. †¢Internal consistency reliability checks how well the individual measures included in the research are converted into a composite measure.Internal consistency may be assessed by correlating performance on two halves of a test (split-half reliability). The value of the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient is adjusted with the Spearman–Brown prediction formula to correspond to the correlation between two full-length tests. A commonly used measure is Cronbach's ? , which is equivalent to the mean of all possible split-half coefficients. Reliability may be improved by increasing the sample size. Validity asks whether the research measured what it intended to. Content validation (also called face validity) checks how well the content of the research are related to the variables to be studied; it seeks to answer whether the research questions are representative of the variables being researched. It is a demonstration that the items of a test are drawn from the domain being measured. †¢Criterion validation checks how meaningful the research criteria are relative to other possible criteria. When the criterion is collected later the goal is to establish predictive validity. †¢Construct validation checks what underlying construct is being measured.There are three variants of construct validity: convergent validity (how well the research relates to other measures of the same construct), discriminant validity (how poorly the research relates to measures of opposing constructs), and nomological validity (how well the research relates to other variables as required by theory). †¢Internal validation, used primarily in experimental research designs, checks the relation between the dependent and independent variables (i. e. Did the experimental manipulation of the independent variable actually cause the observed results? †¢External validation checks whether the experimental results can be generalized. Validity implies reliability: A valid measure must be reliable. Reliability does not necessarily imply validity, however: A reliable measure does not imply that it is valid. [edit] Type s of errors Random sampling errors: †¢sample too small †¢sample not representative †¢inappropriate sampling method used †¢random errors Research design errors: †¢bias introduced †¢measurement error †¢data analysis error †¢sampling frame error †¢population definition error †¢scaling error †¢question construction error Interviewer errors: †¢recording errors cheating errors †¢questioning errors †¢respondent selection error Respondent errors: †¢non-response error †¢inability error †¢falsification error Hypothesis errors: †¢type I error (also called alpha error) othe study results lead to the rejection of the null hypothesis even though it is actually true †¢type II error (also called beta error) othe study results lead to the acceptance (non-rejection) of the null hypothesis even though it is actually false [edit] See also †¢Choice Modelling †¢Quantitative research †¢Qualitative research †¢Enterprise Feedback Management †¢Marketing research †¢mTAB †¢QuestionPro †¢Qualtrics Computer-assisted telephone interviewing †¢Computer-assisted personal interviewing †¢Automated computer telephone interviewing †¢Official statistics †¢Bureau of Labor Statistics †¢Questionnaires †¢Questionnaire construction †¢Paid survey †¢Data Mining †¢Brand strength analysis †¢NIPO Software †¢DIY research †¢SPSS †¢Online panel †¢Rating scale †¢Master of Marketing Research †¢Maximum Difference Preference Scaling †¢Urtak [edit] List of related topics †¢List of marketing topics †¢List of management topics †¢List of economics topics †¢List of finance topics †¢List of accounting topics [edit] References †¢Bradburn, Norman M. nd Seymour Sudman. Polls and Surveys: Understanding What They Tell Us (1988) †¢Converse, Jean M. Survey Research in the Unite d States: Roots and Emergence 1890-1960 (1987), the standard history †¢Glynn, Carroll J. , Susan Herbst, Garrett J. O'Keefe, and Robert Y. Shapiro. Public Opinion (1999) textbook †¢Oskamp, Stuart and P. Wesley Schultz; Attitudes and Opinions (2004) †¢James G. Webster, Patricia F. Phalen, Lawrence W. Lichty; Ratings Analysis: The Theory and Practice of Audience Research Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2000 †¢Young, Michael L. Dictionary of Polling: The Language of Contemporary Opinion Research (1992)

Colonization in Annie John Essay

Martha Lee ENG 92W 4/13/10 In Annie John, the lasting effects of Antigua’s colonization are reflected through Kincaid paralleling her own experiences with those of the West Indian colonies where she has lived. In, Columbus in Chains, the issues of Antiguan colonialism and postcolonial culture are apparent in the text, beginning with Annie’s discussion of the history of slavery in Antigua through Ruth. â€Å"l could see how Ruth felt from looking at her face. Her ancestors had been the masters, while ours had been the salves. She had such a lot to be ashamed of, and by being with us e very day she was always eing reminded† (Kincaid 76). Annie believes that Ruth possesses an innate sense of guilt because black people were once enslaved by white and everyone knew. She pities Ruth knowing that she knows less about the West Indies than them. Through the interaction of these two girls, Kincaid provides an individualized perspective upon the dynamics of life in a colonial state. Annie also briefly comments on the irony of colonization, considering that, â€Å"all of us celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday, but we, the descendants of slaves, knew quite well what had really happened† (Kincaid 76). The Antiguan children still celebrate even when they are aware that the British once enslaved them. Annie continues on the topic of colonization as she contemplates Columbus who returned to Spain imprisoned in chains. â€Å"King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella had sent [Columbus] back to Spain fettered in chains attached to the bottom of the ship. How I loved this picture†to see the usually triumphant Columbus, brought so low, seated at the bottom of a boat Just watching things go by’ (Kincaid 78). Annie enjoys seeing Columbus brought so low because he returned to Spain in the way that slaves were sent to the Americas. The phrase, â€Å"the great man can go nowhere† (Kincaid 78) resonates so strongly in her mind that she â€Å"[writes] it out with her fountain pen† (Kincaid 78). This act proves to be a heinous crime, that after the discovery by her teacher, Miss Edwards, â€Å"her whole face was on fire. Her eyes were bulging out of her head† (Kincaid 81). Miss Edwards is a representation of the English social order and has defined herself according to the rules of this order. Annie’s action against the discoverer of Antigua’s honor is against Miss Edwards’s system of belief so she refers to Annie’s action as blasphemous. (Kincaid 82). Because Columbus’s importance is essential to the colonial system, Annie’s act not only criticizes him, but also subverts the whole dominant colonial order. For this reason, Miss Edwards sees to it that Annie must be punished. Kincaid’s experiences clearly parallel the experiences of Antigua and it s colonization by its British protectorate. They are reflective of her own memories and feelings towards Antigua’s colonization, and through Annie John’s Journey, gives insight into how a once controlled culture seeks its independence.

Five External Elements In Organisational Environments Commerce Essay

Customers plays indispensable portion in every concern. Pull offing the client experience has become a serious organizational purpose. It ‘s a agency to protect and develop trade name trueness and therefore that person ‘s economic and advocacy value to the administration. Body store is a good established administration around the universe, which produces pure natural cosmetics for everyone. Because of high monetary values merely few clients can buy their merchandises, remainder prefer other trade names, which are available in low monetary values than Body store. That will impact the company by lower net incomes. Rivals: Rivals are administrations that produce goods and services that are similar to a peculiar administration ‘s goods and services. Presents, cosmetics are indispensable portion of the life, many rivals are entered into the market by presenting their merchandises with low monetary values to vie with others. Then, everyone could prefer those merchandises, which are available in market with low monetary value and same natural merchandises. That can be show difference in gross revenues of trade name of L'oreal. Economic forces: Economic factors have a enormous impact on concern houses. The general province of the economic system, involvement rate, phase of the economic rhythm, balance of payments, are cardinal variables in corporate investing, employment, and pricing determinations. The impact of growing or diminution in gross national merchandise and increases or decreases in involvement rates, rising prices are considered as premier illustrations of important impact on concern operations. To asses the local state of affairs, an organisation might seek information refering the economic base and hereafter of the part and the effects of this mentality on pay rates, disposable income, unemployment, and the transit and commercial base. The province of universe economic system is most critical for organisations runing in such countries. For illustration, during recession clip, adult female do n't travel to purchase expensive merchandises, so, prefer to purchase low monetary values merchandises. Technological Forces: Technological forces influence organisations in several ways. A technological invention can hold a sudden and dramatic consequence on the environment of a house. First, technological developments can significantly change the demand for an organisation ‘s or industry ‘s merchandises or services. Changing engineering can offer major chances for bettering end accomplishments or endanger the being of the house. Technological prediction can assist protect and better the profitableness of houses in turning industries. Social forces: Social forces include traditions, values, social tendencies, consumer psychological science, and a society ‘s outlooks of concern. Determining the exact impact of societal forces on an organisation is hard at best. However, measuring the altering values, attitudes, and demographic features of an organisation ‘s clients is an indispensable component in set uping organisational aims.( B ) Briefly explain in item one unpredictable dynamic external factor which adversely impacted in L'Oreal gross revenues of organic structure store trade name merchandises in 2008One of the major unpredictable dynamic external factor is recession. Recession is a lessening in the economic system of the state. Peoples stop purchasing cosmetics. That decreases the gross revenues and hard currency spending of Body store. Womans are regular clients for cosmetics, adult female do n't travel to purchase expensive merchandises, so, prefer to purchase low monetary value merchandises. That adversely decreased the gross revenues of organic structure store in 2008.( C ) Briefly explain the difference between a dynamic V stable component in the organizational environment impacting on L'Oreal. Give an illustration of each type of component.Dynamic elements:Suppliers Customers: Customers are really of import for any concern. L'Oreal cusmotics are rather expensive than other trade names, merely affluent people prefer L'Oreal trade names. Because of those cusmotics are made by nature elements, so they ne'er go back to pass money, whatever it is low monetary value or high monetary value. Rivals: Example of L'oreal rivals are Revlon, Shiseido Economic forces Technological forces Demographic forces Political forcesStable elements:Distributors Barriers to entry Social cultural factors2. ( a ) Briefly explain what company civilization is, it ‘s major dimensions and how a company can promote a positive civilization.Every workplace has a civilization Basically, organisational civilization is the personality of the organisation. Culture is comprised of the premises, values, norms and touchable marks of organisation members and their behavior. the corporate civilization is the operating work environment that is set and shaped by the executive: The manner people dress The manner people conduct their work The manner people interact with public. Company cultures develop and they change over clip. As employee leave the company and replacings are hired the company civilization will alter. If it is a strong civilization, it may non alter much. However, since each new employee brings their ain values and patterns to the group the civilization will alter, at least a small. As the company matures from a start up to a more constituted company, the company civilization will alter. As the environment in which the company operates alterations, the company civilization will besides alter. The company civilization will alter and it is of import to be cognizant of the alterations. Major dimensions of company civilization is Invention and hazard pickings Attention to detail Results orientation Peoples orientation Team orientation Aggressiveness Stability Those features can do company civilization strong. By offering publicities, fillips and increasing rewards can actuate employers into positive civilization. That will assist company turn strongly and maintain civilization alive.( B ) Brief explain what a learning company civilization is, and how company can make a learning civilization.An organisation ‘s â€Å" learning civilization † as its ability and willingness to encompass single and organisational acquisition as a strategic portion of its concern scheme. Learning company civilization describes company policies, environment, codification of frock, company profile. If we want to be successful at a company, and bask where we work, we need to accommodate to the company ‘s civilization. Companies look for the people for occupation who know and esteem the company ‘s civilization wage attending to expected norms of behavior physique and maintain positive working relationships with supervisors, colleagues and clients value constructive unfavorable judgment as a agency to better and enhance personal public presentation show involvement in the company keep a positive attitude company can make learning administration by following features: Personal command Mental theoretical accounts Team acquisition Construct a shared vision Systems believing Personal command: company allow directors to authorise employees and let them make and research something different to larn company civilization in order to develop company. Mental theoretical accounts: this theoretical account can make employee to make task better without find harder. Team acquisition: This method is more of import than single acquisition. All the determinations are largely made by squad. Team acquisition can better employee believing power by larning new thoughts. Systems thought: This is a conceptual model that allows people to analyze concerns as delimited objects. Learning organisations use this method of believing when measuring their company and have information systems that measure the public presentation of the organisation as a whole and of its assorted constituents. Construct a shared vision: This is really of import in actuating the staff to larn, that provides concentration energy for larning. Individual vision of employees are most of import in administration. The shared vision is frequently to win against a rival.

Discussion 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Discussion 3 - Assignment Example She entrusted her son’s life to that hospital for her to bring him in it the first place; only to come and be treated so unfairly. I think what the nurse should have done was speak nicely to the lady, be attentive, and have the courtesy to update her during the long wait. Making patients feel like unique individuals and giving them updates from time to time helps increase their satisfaction and might influence their healing (Diane 363). In this video, a worker is asked by his colleague to help her with medical coding. He later responds sarcastically that he does not remember when he last dealt on that area and even goes further to tell her that it is somebody else’s job and not his. The colleague then walks out of the room angry. My thoughts about this video are that the worker practically is not responsible, and it is like he does not know the reason he’s there in the first place. For him to refuse to help with the coding means that he has no interest in knowing how it is done because I feel he should have asked the lady for assistance instead of dismissing her like that. It is, therefore, important for a worker to understand his or her role within an organization to be able to perform well and

NONE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

NONE - Essay Example This is the most popular and long lasting pedagogic economic notion and the best example in the combination of both economic and moral arguments that economists based on. Some of the aspects of the concept of just price, such as the production cost and the biased efficacy concept of value continue to be controversial. One group of scholars is for the view that just price concept is purely the modern marketplace price and functions similarly in the competitive environment. While on the other hand another group argues that, the concept does not describe the current market and gives principles that contradict the modern developments in our economies. Traders must reach to an agreement in which both the seller and the buyer will consider it fair (Wilson 56). Thus, the concept of just price, which advocates for mutual benefit, is among the best bequest scholastics to the economic thinking. The theory plays a vital role in the process of price determination in the current market. Human beings depend on each other and it is therefore morally wrong to exploit others through unfair dealings. On the other hand, traders must understand that the main purpose of creating goods and services is to satisfy human needs therefore, there should be fair rules and regulations to ensure efficient production and distribution of commodities to the people. Every private owner selling something does not only deal with his commodity but also deals with the necessity, which is common to himself and the buyer (Monsalve 7). There are some circumstances in which the just price theory becomes irrelevant acting in opposition to fairness in the current economies. Some of these include the condition of high number of buyers and shortage of goods and services together with the mode of sales and high sums of money involved. When goods are sold on credit, the number of buyers increases because they will not need cash to buy the goods and there is the risk of damages that must be put

Cultural Awarenesss for the country of Germany Essay - 1

Cultural Awarenesss for the country of Germany - Essay Example However, practices such as the shaking of hands, mode of dressing, feeding habits and religious practices represent cultural practices. Consequently, these practices are not inborn; thus, they have to be developed based on various influences upon a person’s life. Culture is Social. This represents another characteristic of culture. It implies that culture cannot be isolated or individualized (Levine 6). Thus, culture is a collective and societal affair that involves socializing and interacting with different sets of people and communities. As a result, such interaction may result in the emergence of new cultural practices; thus, reinforcing the fact that culture is learnt and not inherited. Moreover, in regards to the sociological context, culture has to be shared. Hence, the beliefs, values and morals are shared by a group of people. Culture is Transient. This refers to the fact that culture has always been transferred from one generation to another. Accordingly, this can be achieved through various processes. For instance, children are able to learn numerous cultural traits from their parents through imitation (Philpott 206). This explains why those children who are brought up in abusive families often end up leading similar lives in their adulthood. Consequently, other modes of transmission of culture include use of language, poetry, literature and various forms of art. Culture is Continuous and Cumulative. This is owed to the fact that culture exists in a progressive state. Consequently, this phenomenon of culture changing with time contributes to its cumulative nature (Philpott 206). This is owed to the fact that human beings have the tendency to discover new inventions with the lapsing of time. Consequently, this results in the development of new cultural skills and knowledge; thus, creating a cumulative cultural process. For instance, during its

Background of Economic Factors Influencing Logistics Cost of Thailand Essay

Background of Economic Factors Influencing Logistics Cost of Thailand Steel Industry - Essay Example The main issue related to logistic is that the whole plan should be chalked out in an appropriate way so that the appropriate decisions related to raw materials; semi-finished and finished goods should be acquired or bought from, stored and delivered to. Many companies face day to day logistic issues, which may even be solved in a day or may even take quite a lot of time to get solved. Logistics are a backbone of any company and therefore it is very necessary for the company to have a fool proof system of logistics to avoid unnecessary costs (COYLE & COYLE, 2009). The logistics system of the company is made up by a set of onsite facilities that are linked with each other through the transportation services of the company. The onsite facilities of any company are the place where the goods are produced and packaged. The logistic system of any company is responsible for taking care of the following 7R’s. They should ensure the availability of the â€Å"Right product in the Right quantity, in the Right condition to the Right place at the Right time to the Right customer at the Right cost† (MULCAHY & SYDOW, 2008). ... A steel industry in a country means that the country is self-sufficient in its own main produce, it is the back bone of a country that is planning to progress. Majority of the third world countries’ first step to start their progress is to establish a steel industry. The steel industry boosts the infrastructure and the construction industry of the country. When a country becomes self-sufficient in the production of steel its economy gets a positive boost. It is the base of all industries and therefore, it is known as the key industry for other industries. It plays a very important role in the country development and the economic stability and sustainability of the developing country. Thailand and Steel industry Thailand’s government has realized the importance of development of the logistic channels for the steel industry. The economic factors that affect the logistics of the steel industry are factors like oil prices, and the number of labors that have been employed, t he current interest rate and the exchange rate. The Thai government has been looking for opportunities to create a more efficient logistic system and at the same time keep the restraining economic factors under control so that they can save costs. In the early 2000’s the growth of the steel industry was quite high, as the economic factors were all working in support of the industry. The oil prices were at a good rate and therefore the industry got the chance to save on it. They had hired quite a lot of employees as they were on the mode of expansion and had entered an era of economic growth. At that time the economic factors were all working in support of the logistic systems, but due to current sluggish situation of the economy there has been a recent decline in the progress of the steel

Standardized Tests and Informal Reading Assessments Essay

Standardized Tests and Informal Reading Assessments - Essay Example A standardized test is one that employs a standard method assessment. Such tests include CAT (California Achievement Test), STAR (Standardized Testing And Reporting). These tests are employed to determine if a student is fulfilling certain requirements ordained for his grade, age and intellectual level, and if he does so, he is promoted to the next grade. Some institutions use these tests along with other tools of assessment, while others simply rely on the test scores for assessing a student’s academic performance. Standardized tests are relied upon heavily for assessment purposes; yet there are many benefits as well as upsides associated with them Standardized tests are considered accountability tools for teachers and students (Meador, 2012). The syllabi taught vary from school to school, and also from teacher to teacher. So it is standardized tests that reconcile this gap and ensure that at least a particular guideline is followed regarding teaching and learning (Panday, 20 11). By comparing a child’s score with score from other subjects the tests are influential in highlighting the weaknesses and strong sides of a child; at the same time allowing for comparison of a particular subjects score, over time; allowing to infer improvement or (Popham, 1999). Since, these tests are standardized; they allow the scores of students to be compared from school to school or even at a larger scale like states; also allowing for data from social subgroups to be compared (Meador, 2012). Standardized Tests are helpful in testing and Judging a students’ Cognitive abilities and skills (Brassard & Boehm, 2008). Another important feature of standardized tests is that they are completely objective in nature; since, they are marked by computers; they grade every student on same terms and without biases (Meador, 2012). Standardized tests are also criticized by many academic highlighting many upsides in the tests and the assessment they provide. Over and over sta ndardized tests have been criticized as an inaccurate and limited means of assessing a students’ achievement and learning (Fairtest, 2007). Learning cannot be just established through a single measure, it is not uni-dimensional, and requires measurement of dimensions like creativity and ability to learn step-by-step etc. (Panday, 2011). Although standardized tests are capable of assessing a child’s cognitive abilities, yet they need t be culturally and linguistically just in order to do so, but that is not the case with standardized tests in schools, they are too demanding and are not an accurate measure, hence, requiring the use of other assessing mechanisms along with the tests to ensure proper assessment (Brassard & Boehm, 2008). Scores from these tests are considered representing a student’s educational and intellectual capacities, and thus results in their being allocated to inferior educational practices, taking away the opportunity to learn what their fel lows will be learning (Weaver, 1995). Standardized tests have also been criticized for leading the curriculum to be exam oriented; only topics covered in the exams are taught and limit the broader coverage and implications of education (Fairtest, 2007). Standardized tests also depict a false impression of being ‘objective’, when the only objectivity they have about them is that they are scored by computers, while their preparing and all the other procedures are carried out by people who belong to some group or the other

The Bridge On The River Kwai Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Bridge On The River Kwai - Essay Example The dependent groups of Colonel Saito and Colonel Nicholson are the soldiers and the prisoners of the camp. There are also personal roles which are played with Colonel Saito. Each individual that is a part of the orders of Colonel Saito take place under the legitimate power style. Those who are under Colonel Nicholson are under the use of referent power. Each individual falls under Colonel Saito, despite what their power is, has to follow specific orders, directions and expectations. This is based on Saito regulating and controlling everything in his power. This is opposed to Colonel Nicholson, who tries to use the institutions and the regulations that are a part of the camp as his basis for power. His identity is based on him moving in with the different soldiers and going through the same suffering, specifically to serve the army and to continue to follow the desired regulations. The influence tactics that Colonel Saito uses with others that are considered as his peers are based on using the institution regulations and orders that are associated with the camp and the army. Acting on these regulations and representing the institution, rather than himself, allows the specific tactics to be used.

Finding common ground Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Finding common ground - Essay Example Both its proponents and opponents are very vocal about their respective points of view. Some headway has been made as regards this issue within specific states in America. However, the jury is still out on certain contentious issues regarding this matter. These include matters such as; who has the right to define what a marriage is, should a judge decide on such matters, or should this decision be left to the public through a popular vote. In the Newsweek article by Anna Quindlen, the author starts by recognizing the significance of the ruling in Loving v. Virginia which stated that interracial marriages were not illegal as had earlier been ruled. Before this, it was considered a crime to be party to interracial marriage and Mr. Richard Loving and his wife Mildred Jeter were accused of miscegenation (Quindlen, 1). The Supreme Court ruled that marriage is one of the basic civil rights of man and cannot be denied on the basis of race. In this article the author who is a proponent of same sex marriage argues that in most cases the decision against same sex marriage are influenced by the financial factor and in most cases religion is only used as a scapegoat for the rejection of same sex rights(Quindlen, 2). The author argues that by continuing to refuse to legally recognize unions between individuals of the same sex, there are benefits that are being forgone such as the ability of these couples to adopt children and give them a better chance of advancing in life. The author also scoffs the notion that allowing homosexuals to adopt children will distort the image of marriage in the eyes of these children, arguing that heterosexuals have already done this on their own without much help from the gay community (Quindlen, 4). In the second article titled Interracial Marriage: Slippery Slope? By La Shawn Barber, the author argues that the decision in Loving v Virginia was totally justified and cannot be compared to gays demanding for the right to marriage (La

Social class Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Social class - Essay Example In order to understand these factors, it is imperative to begin by explaining the meaning of buyer or consumer behaviour. The main body of the paper will evaluate the role played by different factors in light of neuroscience. â€Å"Consumer behaviour comprises the behaviour patterns of decision units (individuals as well as families) which precede, determine and follow on the decision making process for the acquisition of need satisfying products, ideas and services,† (Strydom, 2004, p.2). On the other hand, McCarty & Perreault (1996) posit to the effect that the needs of the consumers, their motives, perceptions, attitudes, learning abilities and their personality have a bearing on their consumption patterns and buyer behaviour towards certain market offerings. Of notable concern is the fact that the consumers do not live in isolation from others and their buying behaviour is also impacted by factors such as culture and other social factors obtaining in their respective socia l environments. Aspects such as cultural and reference groups, family and the social class system impact on the buying behaviour of different people and these should be taken into consideration by the marketers. The study of buyer behaviour mainly draws from psychology with additional inputs mainly from sociology as well as Economics (Lancaster &Reynolds, 1999). Sociologically, the behaviour of people is shaped by factors such as friendship, love, status as well as self esteem among other factors while psychological factors are mainly concerned with attitude and perception developed by people towards something. There are several reasons why an individual may buy a particular product but the major one is to satisfy different needs as postulated by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (McCarthy & Perreault, 1996). Before making a decision to buy a certain product, a need must first arise and this need has to be satisfied. This in turn compels the individual to make a decision towards pu rchasing a product that can satisfy the need. According to Lancaster &Reynolds (1999), the buying behaviour of an individual is determined by factors such as perception, needs, motives as well as attitudes which are either directly or indirectly influenced by the individual’s ability to learn. A person first acquires buying and consumption knowledge about a particular product and this stage is mainly referred to as cognition. This process can be attributed to the cognitive theory which posits to the effect that that a considerable amount of learning takes place here due to the fact that the customer comes into contact with a certain product and develops a keen interest in it. Before making a decision to purchase that particular product, the customer first learns about the product to gain more knowledge and insight about it. According to this theory of consumer behaviour, the customer is viewed as a problem solver who first seeks knowledge in order to solve a problem through i nformation gathering. Mental processing is involved where the mind is manipulated in order to arrive at the desired goal. The power of reasoning is central in this process and it can be noted that as human beings we subconsciously learn about something through coming into contact with it. For instance, the buyers can learn about a product like toothpaste particularly Colgate through coming into contact with it since there are different brands. Knowledge about a product is created during the early

Genetically modified organism Essay Example for Free

Genetically modified organism Essay Genetically engineered food is an epidemic all around the world. There are factors that make these types of foods undesirable for many reasons. Public opinions on how genetically engineered foods will effect the consumer market and farmers cannot afford the new seeds that are genetically altered. There are many cons of genetically engineered food that have long term and short term risks. Some risks have been found by scientists while other risks are still unknown and will remain so unless a researcher tests for them. These foods have become very common in America as well as other countries. Almost every grocery store in the United States carries a wide array of food that has been genetically modified. Most of the genetically engineered foods in markets are not labeled to tell consumers they were altered in any way. Environmental risks are also a concern for genetically engineered food. Different animals, including farm animals or insects can be harmed from genetically engineered food. Genetically engineered food has negative effects on the human population. Genetically engineered food was first introduced into society in the early 1990’s. Many people today do not know what kind of extensive research and development goes into making these types of foods. Sharon Palmer, a reporter, writes that genetic engineering is either â€Å"Doomsday tech† or â€Å"biotechnology for the future† (Palmer 1). The process of altering an organism completely changes the original organism and transforms it into something new. This new way of altering an organism’s genetic makeup bypasses common breeding methods used by scientists (Genetically Modified Foods 1). The process of creating genetically altered food usually involves â€Å"identifying the genes governing a desirable characteristic in one organism, and inserting them into another in the expectation that the trait will be transferred† (Genetically Modified Foods 1). Sometimes the process of creating these organisms does not work so scientists have to do the process over again until they get a transformed organism. In 1973 scientists were able to achieve using another organism as a vector which essentially was the beginning of the development of genetically engineered foods. Although genetically engineered foods were not fully introduced until the early 1990s, they were in the process of becoming what society knows today. Newer techniques have been introduced that make it easier for gene insertion. This new method is the use of DNA bullets where â€Å"microscopic metal beads can be coated with DNA fragments, and then â€Å"fired† from a miniature gun into the host cell, where DNA may integrate into the genome† (Genetically Modified Foods 1). A few of the genetically engineered foods are soybeans, corn, canola, cotton, squash and papaya (Palmer 1). There are many other foods that people see on the shelves in grocery stores that may be genetically altered but these are some main ones. Statistics show that â€Å"an estimated 70 to 75 percent of all processed foods in U. S.grocery stores probably contain ingredients from GE plants† (Palmer 6). Many foods have been genetically altered to make them â€Å"better† or resistant to herbicides. Despite the fact that scientists consider these foods to be revolutionary there are hidden consequences to the development of such organisms. The public opinion on genetically engineered food is that it is not a good improvement. Many citizens believe that the introduction of altered foods is going to have negative side effects on everything. People feel that genetically engineered foods should not be put on the market until they have had adequate testing (Current Issues 3). Many of the alterations done to food have not had extensive research conducted to find harmful effects that they might have on humans and animals. Any research that had been done usually had negative effects but scientists found a way to â€Å"throw out† the research so that it would not go against genetically engineered food. Andrew Simms states that the â€Å"evidence of harm is not evidence of the absence of harm† (Simms 1). In Simm’s article he describes how consumers do not need genetically modified food. Scientists brought genetically engineered foods into the market and advertised them as a way to help the world. Different techniques can be used to approach the issue of world hunger. Introducing these foods to third world countries can only harm them not help them. There is a high cost of development for making genetically engineered foods. Also there is a monopoly involved with these foods. There are only a few corporations in the United States that are developing genetically altered seeds. This in turn drives up the price of the seed making it more expensive and poor farmers cannot afford to buy them (Current Issues 3). Farmers have lost billions of dollars because foreign buyers do not want to buy genetically engineered foods (Kupfer 1). Many states have passed legislation against having genetically modified foods. States do not think that genetically engineered foods can help anything except make things worse (Kupfer 2). Foods are altered to have different traits that would normally take a few generations to make but with genetically engineering their DNA scientists are able to do a lot more. Scientist use genetic engineering to make crops or animals drought tolerant and be able to tolerate pests. Consumers do not want crops that are mutations. They want natural crops and animals. Other public opinions on worldwide hunger are that GM crops will not change it. â€Å"People go hungry because they’re either poor, powerless, both, or have no land to grow food on† (Simms 2). Public opinion on genetically engineered food is that they do not want it. Many factors have led people to choose not to accept genetically engineered foods into their lives. Genetically engineered food effects everything in a negative way. There are cons to the development and introduction of genetically engineered foods into civilization. There are many risks involved with these types of foods that are unknown to the public. Scientists try to cover up the experiments they had on genetically altered foods because they had negative outcomes. In one study scientists fed corn to rats and then checked the rats’ livers and kidneys, particularly males, and the study revealed adverse effects. In another study conducted on GM foods many of the mice that ate the food developed health problems or even died during the experiment (Current Issues 4). The introduction of genetically engineered foods has been linked to the rising levels of food allergies in the United States. Genetically modified foods can effect organic foods if they are processed in the same place. Allergic reactions are greater since genetically engineered foods have been introduced (Smith 1). There are many environmental concerns as well. Although long term impact is unknown many researchers can conclude some of the negative side effects. A few difficulties have already developed. Plants can cross-pollinate with other plants around them which may seem like a great thing but it is not. Some plants are engineered to be pest resistant which seems good but in all actuality those plants can cross-pollinate with the weeds around them which in turn makes the weeds stronger and become more resistant to herbicides. The cross-pollination of plants creates a problem for farmers who then have to spend additional money to buy more herbicide to kill new weeds (Current Issues 3). Another common modification is adding a gene called Bacillus thuringiensis which is a bacterium that helps that plant develop poison that kills pests such as bollworms and stem borers. This seemed like a good modification by scientists but in fact the plant emits these toxins into the environment and it is deadly to all insects, not just the pests. Reports have been shown that these toxins from the crops also killed a large amount of butterflies (Current Issues 1). U. S. Government does not require reviews on genetically engineered foods. Genetically altered foods are not FDA regulated either. Foods are being modified without having adequate testing and then put on grocery shelves. People are eating food that they do not know whether or not it is safe. There are many other potential concerns with genetic engineering like an organisms genetic makeup, anti-nutrients, viral DNA, antibiotic resistant genes, absorbing genes, and allergic responses. Many genetically altered foods have been used as feed for animals as well. These animals have shown effects on body growth, changes in blood, kidney, pancreas, liver, erosion and necrosis of the gastrointestinal tract, and alterations in reproduction, development and mortality (Palmer 6). There are many unknown risks of genetically engineered foods. Unknown long term health risks have not been identified and cannot be identified until researchers conduct more research. Genetically modified foods are not something people should rely on in the future as their base food. There are risks today and also many other unknown risks. Genetically engineered food is a hazard to the human population. This creation was introduced to try and stop world hunger, make food cheaper to buy and many other reasons. These issues have not changed because of the introduction of genetically engineered food. The effects these types of foods have on humans and even animals can be harmful. Research shows that there are long term risks involved with genetically engineered foods. Potential cancers, diseases, environmental changes, and possibly a rising cost in food are all negative factors of genetically engineered food. Genetically engineered foods should be eliminated from people and animal’s diets. Works Cited â€Å"Genetically Modified Food. † Current Issues: Macmillian Social Science Library. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Nov. 2011. â€Å"Genetically Modified Foods. † The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather guide. Abington: Helicon, 2010. Credo Reference. Web. 05 November 2011. Kupfer, David. Genetically Modified Food Damages Trade with Other Nations. Genetically Modified Food. Diane Andrews Henningfeld, Ed. At Issue Series. Greenhaven Press, 2009. David Kupfer, The Genetic Resistance: Mendocino Is the First GMO-free County in the Nation, and I am Sure It Will Not Be the Last, Earth Island Journal, vol. 19, summer 2004, pp. 42-44. Copyright  © 2004 Earth Island Institute. Reproduced by permission. Palmer, Sharon, and Chris McCullum-Gomez. â€Å"Genetically Engineered Foods Update.. (Cover Story). † Environmental Nutrition 33. 7 (2010): I-6. Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. Web. 5 Nov. 2011. Simms, Andrew. Genetically Modified Food Will Not Ease World Hunger. Social Justice. David Haugen, Susan Musser, and Vickey Kalambakal, Eds. Opposing Viewpoints ® Series. Greenhaven Press, 2010 Andrew Simms, World Hunger Needs a Simple Solution Rather Than Hi-Tech GM Food, Guardian, (UK), August 4, 2003. Copyright  © 2003 Guardian Newspapers Limited. Reproduced by permission of the author Smith, Jeffrey M. Genetically Modified Foods May Cause Allergic Responses. Food Safety. Judeen Bartos, Ed. At Issue Series. Greenhaven Press, 2011. Jeffrey M. Smith, Genetically Engineered Foods May Cause Rising Food Allergies, Institute for Responsible Technology, May 2007. Copyright  © 2007 by Virago. Reproduced by permission by Time Warner Books UK.

EHS Standards Evaluation

EHS Standards Evaluation EH S Evaluation: The product should be evaluated with respect to environmental health and safety, such as handling instructions, personal protective equipment’s and deactivating agents should be determined and made available to every personnel who are making contact with the product. Depending on nature of product, the studies are performed to validate the deactivating agents and procedures. Although it poses additional cost and timing to technology transfer, but it is the first line risk assessment for technology transfer with intending of protecting those who will be producing the product. However during technology transfer the EHS system should be maintain standards across the company. The EHS standards to be maintained for the technology transfer are as follows: Management  Systems Standards These Standards provide the framework for EHS risk management, incorporating many key elements to successful EHS management such as regulatory compliance, risk assessment, communication, self-audit, and senior leadership engagement. Risk topic standards This group of documents sets expectations for management and control of many important EHS programs including workplace safety, occupational hygiene, fire and life safety, and environmental impact reduction. Program standards These standards address the key program areas , such as office safety, contractor safety, EHS risks from suppliers of material and services Raw material specifications: The raw material may seem like basic element in the manufacturing process but it can often provide most difficulty and unforeseen delays during technology transfer. Within the pharmaceutical industry there is a great emphasis on designing quality into a product by monitoring and controlling what is delivered for manufacture of the product meets the requirements for what is needed for manufacture of the product. However the material standards should meet according to their relevant regulatory bodies, but not to be excessive because this leads to the cost and potentially cause delays for technology transfer while waiting for superfluous testing results. Analytical Method Transfers Transfer of analytical methods should accommodate all the analytical testing required to demonstrate compliance of the product to be transferred with the registered specification Analytical methods used to test pharmaceutical products, starting materials, packaging components and cleaning (residue) samples, if applicable, should be implemented at the testing laboratory before testing of samples for process validation studies is performed A protocol defining the steps should be prepared for transfer of analytical methods. The analytical methods transfer protocol should include a description of the objective, scope and responsibilities of the specification of materials and methods; the experimental design and acceptance criteria; documentation (including information to be supplied with the results, and report forms to be used, if any); procedure for the handling of deviations; references; signed approval; and details of reference samples (starting materials, intermediates and finished products) Avoid pit balls during Analytical method transfer: The exchange of the relevant method information and subsequent compilation of the transfer protocol avoid a lot of foreseeable problems during method transfers. Nevertheless potential mistakes should be reviewed. These include 1) The calculation of the results. Calibration standards and correction factors Rounding Integration parameters(eg: minimum area, threshold, noise) Reporting imits, summation or averaging procedures 2) Availability of reagents, samples, and standard material. 3) correct shipment and storage. 4) Equivalent equipment Qualification, procedure and acceptance criteria Materials and carry over properties Temperature ranges Equipments: Equipment’s are a critical part of the transfer process. For technology transfer, technical information of products as well as those of manufacturing equipments are important. To establish equipments conforming to GMP, it is essential to obtain and understand information from RD process so that quality assurance of subject drugs can be secured and the equipments can comply with required conditions for manufacturing. For that purpose, the following technical information should be transferred. The RD department should clarify considerations of GMP compliance specific to subject drugs and manufacturing methods (manufacturing processes), and present them to a facility and equipment department. The facility and equipment department should establish facilities and equipments reflecting the above considerations, clearly details of the establishment and operational considerations of those facilities and equipments, and present them to a drug manufacturing department. The drug manufacturing department should fully understand the above information, implement validations, perform appropriate operations and controls in conformity to the established facilities and equipments, and records results of operations and controls. All systems need to be ready before validation batches can be produced. Systems checklist, agreement on acceptance criteria and commercialization, stability plan, agreement on annual revalidation and approval of the transfer report must be complete to move to the Process Validation. A systems checklist with quality assurance approval provides necessary documentation that was gathered in the transfer. This should include vendor audits, cleaning validation (residual solvents), Melamine requirements addressed, equipment qualification completed with operational ranges. BSE/TSE addressed, specifications and SOPs approved. Once raw materials and packaging components are released, the transfer final report is approved. With batch records approved, risk analysis complete, and stability protocol approved, Trackwise systems are set up. Documented evidence of all required systems is placed in a file. This file is then reviewed by QA prior to signature of the Validation protocol. The decision to commercialize validation batches is made by senior leadership based on a modified risk assessment. Included in the commercialization risk assessment are a review of the product trending report, a review of the process gap assessment and discussions with regulatory. The commercialization strategy also needs to meet the January 2011 FDA guidance for product commercialization. The stability protocol includes stability requirements for each of the countries the product will be marketed. This may require rental of stability chambers or space in stability chambers for years as the diverse stability requirements are reviewed. The stability protocol may also include expectations for product stability results in relation to commercialization. Looking ahead, planning needs to include agreement on annual revalidation and filing activities. Execution of the validation plan needs to follow the agreed plan. Typically a daily update meeting will be held to provide updates from the previous days activities and ensure all systems are a go for the daily activities. The validation team needs to act accordingly when issues occur. All deviations from the plan must be clearly identified and tracked for root cause analysis. System controls are intended to cover normal operations, external events need to be handled with facility policies and be included in the validation final report. Documentation Hundreds of GMPdocuments are required for process transfers. The Code of Federal Regulations provides a listing of expected documentation including: raw material and component documentation logbooks batch records laboratory records distribution records A complete list can be developed utilizing the process maps (see Gate 4) and standard documentation sets.Once the list is made, divide the documents into groups.Remember raw materials documents will probably be required first, but finished product testing protocols often require finished goods test procedures to be validated prior to accepting the product. The project schedule should provide insight into when documents will be required. The quickest way to complete the transfer is to reformat records from the sending site, but this practice often leads to non-conformances and issues because there is a lack of understanding content and history. Each document needs to be built with the foundation process map identified in Gate 4 and utilizing Subject Matter Experts (SME) identified as part ofGate 2.The control of the critical process parameters (CPP) must be understood and the control strategy needs to be included in the documentation to ensure product attributes are achieved. Agreement on terminology and format with quality and regulatory units helps ensure standardized documentation, which allows employees to follow repeatable processes.Each document should have a dry run with personnel who have not been exposed to the process, the related SME and a documentation author (if necessary).Pictures often help, but authors need to be mindful of what is in the background. For example, I once had a formulation tank CIPprocedure written with pictures taken in the tank manufacturers parking lot. Finally a document review team is formed with appropriate representation to ensure content is consistent with expectations.Often document reviewers lack the process understanding to assess technical details but can provide oversight for other requirements.The documentation tracking sheet should monitor status and escalation needs to occur if a maximum of two revision cycles is not achieved.

Impact Of Exchange Rate On Inflation In Pakistan

Impact Of Exchange Rate On Inflation In Pakistan Inflation exchange rate are two main factors of macro-economics. Inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods services in an economy by the passage of time. Exchange rate is very important factor in economic which impact imports exports of country. A country does not always want the exchange rate to fluctuate because an exchange rate influences the levels of its imports exports, which are the component of fiscal policy. Policy makers want to hold rate at a particular level or within a certain range in order to achieve given domestic policy goals related to the level of growth of GDP. In the perfect mobility the exchange rate movements and an adjustment of goods market is relative to asset market and consistent expectations. The extends that output responds to a monetary expansion in the short run, this acts as an effect on exchange depreciation which lead to an increase in interest rates (Dornbusch, 1976). There are three types of ways which gives stickiness in prices, the prices set by the firms in that currencies, the firms set the prices for currencies of consumers, or firms set the prices in the currencies of producers (Engel, 2001). When the exchange rates changes, the changes appear in the relative prices and make to generate additional uncertainty for equilibrium in markets. However, there is also defining that the changes in terms of trade play the larger role of changes in the exchange rates which affect the variability of exchange rates (Stockman, 1980). Inflation is one of the key indicators of the country and provides important information on the state of the economy and sound macroeconomic policies that govern it. Inflation is the production of the expenses of manner of things arise which leads to the advancement of the last in the price of meals. For example, if the matter is hardy and this leads to the increment of the price of the production of the costs of increasing, and in turn this leads to increasing prices to keep the crowd his profits. The discretionary nature of the existing monetary policy in Pakistan is inflation, and it is targeting to hit on the Pakistani economy by focusing attention on the monetary policy. So the government of Pakistan is to make monetary policy more transparent for achieving the explicit goal, and decreasing the inflation. Therefore, it is increasing the public understanding of the strategy of central bank to deliver the target, so the State Bank of Pakistan helps to provide an anchor for inflation expectations in the economy. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has achieving a low rate of inflation in a high priority, and also aims to support the national country objectives of Pakistan to meet the economic diversification and competitiveness in the form of export from the world. 1.2 Problem statement This study is to examine the impact of exchange rate on inflation in Pakistan economy. 1.3 Hypothesis H1: The Exchange rate explains the inflation. 1.4 Outline of the Study The variability of industrial production output higher in the regime of fixed exchange rates instead of regime of flexible exchange rates (Flood Hodrick, 1986). The effect of consumption goods purchases by the government is not the private utility, but per capita real government expenditure are the composite of individual consumption of goods. So notice that the demand of money depends on consumption of goods rather than income and that is the important distinction of closed economies (Obstfeld Rogoff, 1995). Pakistan major import is crude oil which is purchased in dollars. If foreign exchange rate increases, it has increased the cost of oil that has adverse impact on the economy of Pakistan. Inflation is also caused by international loans and the national debt. As nations borrow money, have to deal with the interest that the final prices increase as a way to keep up with debts. The main problem of Pakistan is external debt, which has altered the economic balance. The most immediate effect of inflation is the declining purchasing power of the rupee and its depreciation. This study has been helpful for economic policy makers, foreign investors, economic analysts, business students who are interested in macro-economics studies. This study identifies how two macro-economic factors are related with each other. 1.5 Definitions Variables: For this study the following variables have utilized:- Exchange Rates Independent Variable: The exchange rates are foreign exchange rate between two currencies. Every country has a foreign exchange market and is one of the largest markets in all countries of the world. It converts 3.2 trillion USD currency conversion. It has two types i.e. fixed and floating exchange rates. Meese and Rogoff (1988), it depends on fundamentals such as money supplies, real incomes, interest rates and inflation. Listen Read phonetically Dictionary View detailed dictionary Inflation Dependent Variable: Inflation has increased the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy by the passage of time. Price inflation measure is the rate of inflation, the annual percentage change in general price index (usually the Consumer Price Index) over time. Effects of inflation on the economy have manifold and simultaneously positive and negative. Negative effects of inflation include a decrease in the real value of money and other monetary items over time, uncertainty over future inflation which discourages investment and savings, and high inflation leads to shortages of goods if consumers begin hoarding out of concern that prices increase in the future. Positive effects include a development of economic recessions, and debt assistance by reducing the real level of debt. CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW The analysis of the monetary determinants of inflation is of obvious interest for the nations that pursue a policy of inflation targeting. This study focuses on Pakistani economy that is currently following an Inflation targeting approach or did so in the recent past. Currency stability plays an important role for the monetary authorities in this economy. Exception of real money growth rule is included in the estimation of Phillips curves for the four economies Bayesian model averaging (McCallum, 1999). Entrepreneurs seek stability in the course says that keeps the price of imported items from growth due to rupee depreciation, which is not only support the economy in general, but also exporters who use large amounts of imported cases in the production of exportable surplus. Since the beginning of this fiscal year, while the rupee has lost about 2.5 percent of its value against the dollar and its depreciation rate is unlikely to accelerate in the coming months due to continued inflow of foreign capital and funds. Also include the support of IMF, partial release of the fund, a coalition of U.S., which is part of its payment obligations by the Friends of Democratic Pakistan, extremely strong inflow of return of foreign workers of portfolio investments and possible pick-up in exports and foreign direct investment in the second half of fiscal year. Current rupee stability has helped in containing imported inflation and weakening inflation expectations. Bankers expect that trend continues throughout this financial year, a national unit is depreciated more than 7.0-7.5 percent during the entire fiscal year, against 19.5 percent last year. Businesses verify that the bankers are the forward currency cover in accordance with this expectation. What Pakistan needs today is not a platform to launch an economic revival program but what people need is an actual economic revival. The main problem of Pakistan is the foreign debt which has risen to unmanageable proportions in the last decade and the repayment of which has created turbulence in external balance of Pakistan to such an extent that it does not meet its minimum necessary development requirements. At present Pakistan cannot survive without fresh borrowings from foreign donor agencies. As emphasized by Choudhri and Hakura (2006), an important policy debate for the contemporaneous monetary and exchange rate policy implementations is to reveal the degree to which changes in exchange rates or import prices impact or pass-through into domestic consumer prices. Presently there are three rates of exchange i.e. the bank rate, the inter bank rate and the open market rate. The overall effect on the foreign exchange rates should not be more than 5 to 6 per cent as the increased inflow of foreign exchange have neutralize the effect of the increased demand of private imports. If the foreign exchange earners and remitters keep on getting a fair exchange rate for earnings, it is visualized that in the next few years exports can touch the $15 billion mark and overseas Pakistani remittances can fetch $5 billion. It was concluded that the exchange rate feed shock on domestic inflation, first at the level of prices of the manufacturer and then the level of consumer prices and the impact of shocks on the variables of price the various stages of the supply is different. The purchasing power parity theory doctrine means different things to different people. There are two versions of this theory that is called the absolute and the relative interpretation. The first version of purchasing power theory calculated as a ratio of consumer goods prices for any country that has tended to the equilibrium rates of exchange. In the second version of relative interpretation the rate of exchange rate have been determined between the two countries and quoted with general levels of prices of two countries. This version amend the international trade theory which have been the part of PPP, in which the non-traded goods (services) has been introduced, but the advantage is greater in regards of traded goods than non-traded goods, because of the assumptions of marginal rates of transformation. The relationship between purchasing power parity and exchange rates provides the international comparison of national incomes and living standards (Balassa, 1964). Lawrence (1976) gave another review of this purchasing power parity theory. It has define two applications in economics, the first application use of the conversion factor to transfer the data in one national way to another. The use of PPP is mainly the body of (index number theory) and applications of GDP that have improved over the years and path breaking studies in the area continue to appear. The second application of PPP did not have the widespread acceptance, which has remained the unsophisticated applications. Stockman (1980) develops the model of determination of prices of goods and exchange rates. The changes in commodity prices due to supply and demand affect the change in exchange rates by purchasing power parity deviations.The changes in exchange rates have failed to resemble the changes in prices of goods, because exchange rates more volatile than prices levels and inflation rates. The study proposes the equilibrium of exchange rates behavior and different international goods that have been traded. This relationship cannot exploited by the government, because greater the changes in terms of trade the larger the changes in exchange rates variability. The deviations from PPP persists that variation of exchange rates more than ratios of price indexes. The results found the two interpretation of the relationship between exchange rates and terms of trade. In the first, the causes that affect the changes in exchange rates also affect the change in terms of trade because prices of goods do not adjust to clear the markets. This interpretation also found in the research of Dornbusch (1976), and Isard (1977), the analysis formally differentiates the system with respect to exchange rates and allow prices to change but not the changing in asset stocks. The interpretation presented the elasticity approach of the foreign exchange market and the relation between the trade and exchange rates. Real supply and demand shocks affect prices and the derived demand of exchange rates. These changes in demand for foreign exchange result the supply and demand shocks and that should affect the equilibrium of exchange rates. In second interpretation the expected rate of change of exchange rates revealed on the forward foreign exchange market. This should be related the anticipated change in the terms of trade and the inflation differentials. A persuasive argument about the level of exchange rates is only associated with not causes of the relative prices changes. Bilson (1985) gives the empirical findings about macroeconomic and flexible exchange rate of the U.S dollar related to PPP theory. From the perspective of this research, the sluggish price adjustment in the commodity markets resulted in increased variability in exchange rates. For the demonstration of result it is important because the instability of floating exchange rate is due to the inherent differences between commodity and foreign exchange markets. The determination of the expected future rate is impossible, because it is more difficult to reject the forward parity condition. The major part of the forward parity is the variation in the premium is due to the forecast. The object of this study is to determine that if the forward parity failed is the cause of instability in the same way that the failure of purchasing power parity. The findings develop that currency risk premium is the important factor relative to floating rate system, and movement in the exchange rate are dominated by the non speculative activity and it has the adverse effect on world economy. Meese and Rogoff (1983) analyzed the outcome of sample forecasting accuracy on various models. The study estimated the horizons of the dollar with different country currencies, like Dutch mark, Japanese yen, and Britain pound that traded to weight the dollar exchange rates. It has also studied the flexible exchange rates with the monetary models of sticky price, so the model of sticky price, which incorporates the current account. The first model is structural models in which it requires to generate the forecasts of exchange rates and explanatory variables. It contains the explanatory power, but it is predicted badly because the explanatory variables are difficult to predict. The second is the univariate time series model in which it identifies a variety of prefiltering techniques involves differencing, de-seasonalizing and removing time trends. The relative performance of these techniques is of interest in itself. The third model use is the random walk model. It is also linked with this univariate time series model. It is used as the predictor of the current spot rate with the entire future spot rate, and it requires no estimation. In this study the performance of estimated univariate time series models or candidate structural model is no good instead it is worst. From a methodological stand point the view that the outcome of sample model fit is an important criterion when evaluating exchange rate, but the estimation of out of sample is failure with time series models that are well approximated the major country exchange rates. Feinberg and Kaplan (1992) evaluated and interact the real exchange rates index expectations is developed and used to explore the role of determination on domestic producer prices. The fact that time path of the exchange rate has directly affected the input costs, and the price of substitutes strongly. To examine the links between both actual and anticipated movements in the dollar and relative domestic producer prices, it chooses to analyze price responses to real exchange rate changes. The effect is dependent on the nature of substitutability between imports and domestic goods. The major finding is that the period of appreciation and depreciation over the past 10 years to inhibit the pass through in to domestic prices. In depreciation the market share to enjoy the continued good times kept prices other than expected. The theory of optimum currency areas, which is usually presented by the other name called flexible exchange rate system, but it is proponent as a device of depreciation that takes place of unemployment when the balance of payment is deficit and appreciation when it replaces inflation when it is surplus. The problem can be exposed and more revealed by defining a currency area within when exchange rates are fixed. Three answers can be given, first certain parts of the world are going through the process of economic integration, so new experience can be made and what constitutes the optimum currency area can be given the meaning of these experiments. Second those countries that have flexible exchange rates are likely to face problems with the theory of optimum currency areas, so these do not coincide the optimum currency areas with the national currency. Third the idea that illustrates the functions of currencies which have been treated in economic literature, and sometimes neglected in the problems of economic policy. In the currency area, countries with different currencies including national country currencies interact pace of employment in deficit, because there is the presence of inflation in the surplus countries. The argument for flexible exchange rate system is based on national currencies, and is valid about mobility of factor, so if it is high in the country and low in the foreign countries, the flexible exchange rates system on home country currencies has to work effectively. The concept of optimum currency area has practically applicable only in those areas, where the state has the political organization in the country. The factor mobility is most considered and is more relative rather than absolute concept, with both industrial and geographical factors. It is likely to change the alterations with time over time in conditions, with the conditions of political and economic stability. Money is the convenience that restricts the optimum number of currencies, so in terms of this argument the optimum currency area which is composed in number of countries (Mundell, 1961). In another review, the author defines the stabilization of capital mobility policy under the exchange rates which is fixed and flexible in the currencies markets. It concerns the theoretical and practical approach of the increased mobility of capital. Obstfeld and Rogoff (1995) analyses the global macroeconomic dynamics to supply framework based on competition and nominal prices. This study incorporates the prices rigidities that explain exchange rate behavior without insights of the intertemporal approach to the current account. The effects of macroeconomic policies on output and exchange rates have not been yet persuaded to abandon. The framework which integrated exchange rates dynamics and current account yields is a new perspective, it realize that when prices are sticky the government should spend on shock raises short run output and long run output. The assumption is that home and foreign government purchases the consumption goods that do not directly affect the private utility, but the per capita real government consumption expenditure is a composite consumption of individual goods. It explains that the composite consumption for the services is to balance the opportunity cost and notice that the money depends on consumption rather than income, that distinction is more important in closed economies. The results of this study develop framework that give new foundations about some of the fundamentals problems in international finance. It realizes that the existing Keynesian model is incomplete to offer a satisfactory treatment of exchange rates, output and the current account, but the model which is used in this study is more complex, because it yields simple and intuitive insights of monetary and fiscal policies. It can be extended in a number of dimensions, including non traded goods, market behavior, government spending, and labor market distortions and so on. It goes beyond the essentially statistical approach that handles the current account and exchange rates issues, most importantly this approach allows to analyze the welfare implications of policies. Melvin (1985) has regarded and focused that how the choice of an exchange rate system can affect the stability of the economy. The appropriate nature of the exchange rate system has differed of the disturbance to the economy. It presented the evidence that indicate that the approach is more consistent according to practice by actual country. The other approach is to reach the desirable price stability, in which some mechanism tells the floating rates superiority has become less in the face of monetary shocks. It finds that the flexibility in exchange rates depends not on openness and less important in the mobility of capital, but its positive effects were found for the economic development. The purpose of this study is to consider the determinants of exchange rates system choice, which indicates the theoretical approach with the country choices. The result found that the choice of an exchange rate system has the role of the disturbance to the economy. It suggests that the money shocks are the key of exchange rate system choice in an economy, in which it seeks to minimize the fluctuations in the country price levels. It also suggests that the greater the price shocks the more is a float, so it affects greatly domestic money shocks. Lothian and Taylor (1996) examines the real exchange rate behavior, and explains the variations in sample of stationary univariate equations in real exchange rates. The study investigates the additional insight in the exchange rates behavior that can be gained by considering the floating rate from the perspective of the data. These issues can be best understood on the subject of real exchange rates stability between the currencies of the major industrialized countries. Some of the pre-float studies support the fairly stable exchange rates in the long run. Subsequently, Dornbusch (1976), and Frenkel (1981), gave largely as the result of studies published, and reject the hypothesis of random walk behavior of real exchange rates. The PPP shows the empirical movements in real exchange rates were highly persistent and effective. Although the PPP is reject the hypothesis of non-stationary behavior of real exchange rates in the long run. The result of this study shows that the longest span of two countries exchange rates are significantly mean reverting. The first model result indicates the 80 percent of the variation in the exchange rates of the history data of two countries. By using of another model, the results explaining the performance of remarkably well in the floating, so that this model produce better forecasts of the actual exchange rates. In line with recent studies, it fined that this process of mean reverting is quit slow, with estimated adjustment of data. In the long run the PPP equilibrium is remaining a useful empirical approximation. Gerlach (1988) examine the dynamic interrelationship between innovations in monthly industrial production in a set of economies, specifically this study attempt the output fluctuations that have been correlated during the periods of fixed and flexible exchange rates. The current has to manage exchange rates flexibility that has reduces the interdependence across countries. It should follow the recent article of Flood and Hodrick (1986) in which it is argued that the variability have been higher during a regime of fixed exchange rates instead of flexible exchange rates, but the conclusion of author is striking so sharply. The results of this study of multiple country output movements under fixed and flexible exchange rates are clear. The variances of growth rates should be higher in the flexible exchange rates and in the fixed exchange rates periods. These variances are statistically significant related to the degree of openness and national income. Thirdly the output movements are correlated across countries under exchange rate regime, particularly the co movements in output are more important in the business cycle frequently during the recent years of managed exchange rates flexibility. CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODS 3.1 Method of Data Collection The Data of Consumer price index (Inflation) has been collected from federal bureau of statistics while the data of exchange rate has been collected from Pacific Exchange Rate Service, both are the secondary, published source of data. 3.2 Sampling Technique The sampling technique that has been applicable is convenience sampling as it is easily accessible to collect the relevant information from the source and it is inexpensive and hence, gets a gross estimate of the results. (What is The Advantage of Convenience Sampling, 2007-2010). 3.3 Sample size The sample size is selected on the basis of limitations and scope of the research therefore, Last 54 years i.e., 1947 2010, data of inflation and exchange rate is decided to be examined. 3.4 Research Model developed From the above defined and explanations of both the dependent i.e. inflation and independent i.e. exchange rates variables and also discussing the effects of exchange rate on inflation and how it have affects on economic of a country. In this study first analysis is the correlation between these two variables, and identifies the significant relationship. Then it analyzes and evaluates the empirical investigation in regression model as a statistical tool. The simple regression model which can be defined in the equation that represented below: Inflation = ÃŽÂ ²Ãƒ Ã‚ ¾ + ÃŽÂ ²(exchange rate) + ÃŽÂ µ Whereas, ÃŽÂ ²Ãƒ Ã‚ ¾ = the intercept of the equation. ÃŽÂ ² (exchange rate) = the changing coefficient of exchange rate. ÃŽÂ µ = the error term of the equation. From the above explained model, the study develop the following estimation and used for the establishment of the model. Therefore, all the compatible data has entered in to SPSS for statistical analysis. 3.5 Statistical Technique The statistical test that has been applied is single linear regression. This is because only one independent variable and one dependent variable to be used in this research. Frankel (1979) defined that most of the recent work on floating exchange rate goes under the name of the monetary or asset view. The exchange rate is moving to equilibrate the international demand for assets, rather than the international demand for the flow of goods. But with the asset view there is Chicago Theory in which assumes that prices are perfectly flexible. As the consequences when nominal interest rate changes, it has also reflect the changes in expected inflation rate, so as the domestic currency expected to lose value through inflation and depreciation. This is the rise in the exchange rates and gets the positive relationship between positive exchange rate and inflation. CHAPTER 4: RESULTS 4.1 Findings and Interpretation of the result The simple linear regression technique is used to determine the explanation of dependent variable i.e. inflation due to independent variable i.e. exchange rate. The analysis of the result is defined below: Accepted The hypothesis of this study is that exchange rate explains the inflation, which is being accepted and exchange rate is explaining inflation by 17.3%. These findings support to recent theories that suggested the foreign exchange market efficiency with the existence of risk at equilibrium. Wihlborg (1982) examined the relation of interest rates, exchange rate and currency risks in this study. It identifies the test which empirically shows the impact of currency on interest rates and exchange rates. In this study there are three different ways in which the importance of currency risks for interest rate and exchange rate determination. The results presented here that substantiate the changes in the level of currency risk have a non-negligible impact on the changes of exchange rates and on rates of interest of relative between currencies. CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION, DISCUSSIONS, IMPLICATIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH 5.1 Conclusion This study is concluded to examine the dependency of exchange rate on inflation by using the data of consumer price index (CPI) as inflation and the data of exchange rate on yearly basis. The result of this study is highly significant so that the hypothesis of this study is not rejected. The result shows that 17.3% variation in inflation is due to the exchange rate in Pakistan. The analysis of this study also shows that if exchange rate becomes zero, the inflation exist to some extent. For example, if one unit of exchange rate increases, the inflation increases only by 0.693 times. 5.2 Discussions This study has applied exchange rate as independent variable and consumer price index (CPI) as dependent variable. For the availability of data, all the data should be available on daily monthly and yearly basis, but the data is used in order to consistent as yearly basis. The regression model has been formulated for these variable relationship investigations. The study developed the hypothesis that the exchange rate explains the inflation in Pakistan, and the findings are supported by the analysis done by Balassa (1964), Meese Rogoff (1983), Frankel (1979), and Mc Callum (1999) etc. 5.3 Implications and Future Research The result also accompanies that the exchange rates are the strength of character of foreign exchange market in Pakistan, and it should effect on each of the related variables as an inflationary basis. Therefore the State Bank of Pakistan and Government officials should realize the role of exchange rates in the economy and try to maintain exchange rates to stop or decrease the consumer price index in Pakistan, so that the price range of every thing should be in range of common men. Also government should address the issues that why exchange rates increasing, and why the consumer price increases due to foreign exchange volatility. If the Government takes effective actions against these issues so it can also facilitate the investors to gain confidence in the foreign exchange market and local currency value is strong from other foreign currencies. This has turned Pakistani currency to be stronger, and which has boost the economic growth. In this study, only exchange rate is taken to predict inflation in Pakistan. But in the country like Pakistan inflation is predict by the various variables like interest rate, money supply, foreign trade and so on. So in the future research other variables should be included.

GERONIMO Essay -- essays research papers

More than 5,000 troops were under General Miles' command at that time, including elements of the 4th, 6th and 10th Cavalry. He gave the principal pursuit mission to the 4th because it was headquartered at Fort Huachuca, the base of operations for the campaign. The Army had permission to go to Mexico in pursuit. Captain Henry Lawton, commanding officer of "B" Troop, 4th Cavalry, was an experienced soldier who knew the ways of the Apaches. His tactics were to wear them down by constant pursuit. Stationed at the fort at that time were many men who would later become well known in the Army: Colonel W. B. Royall, commanding officer of the fort and the 4th Cavalry, who was responsible for the logistical support of the Geronimo campaign; Leonard Wood, who went along on the expedition as contract surgeon; Lieutenant Colonel G. H. Forsyht; Captain C.A.P. Hatfield; Captain J.H. Dorst; and First Lieutenant Powhatan H. Clarke, who was immortalized by the artist, Remington, for saving a black trooper during the campaign. With the fort as advance base for the pursuit forces, the heliograph communications network, which General Miles had established in Arizona and New Mexico, was used effectively for logistical purposes. However, the Indians and the Army were conducting their chase in Mexico where the system did not extend. So the most the heliograph could do in the campaign was relay messages brought by fast riders from the border. April 1, 1886 was the date that Captain Lawton led his troopers with two pack trains and 30 Indian Scouts through the Huachuca Mountains to Nogales, Mexico, to pick up Geronimo's trail. Though various units would join the pursuit later and separate to follow trails left by the Indians back and forth across the border, there were few times that Army troops and members of Geronimo's band would come face to face. Four Months later, Captain Lawton and Leonard Wood were sent back to Fort Huachcua, worn down by the rough country and grueling campaign. More than 3,000 miles were covered by the Indians and the Army during the chase, which took a month longer than General Miles had planned. The men had walked and ridden through some of the most inaccessible desert land in North America, in heat sometimes above 110 degrees. After Geronimo's surrender, "B" Troop of the 4th Cavalry was given the mission of escorting the Apache's to Flo... ...were killed by Mexicans in 1858, he participated in a number of raids against Mexican and American settlers, but eventually settled on a reservation. In 1876 the U.S. government attempted to move the Chiricahua from their traditional home to San Carlos, New Mexico; Geronimo then began ten years of intermittent raids against white settlements, alternating with periods of peaceful farming on the San Carlos reservation. In March 1886, the American general George Crook captured Geronimo and forced a treaty under which the Chiricahua would be relocated in Florida; two days later Geronimo escaped and continued his raids. General Nelson Miles then took over the pursuit of Geronimo, who was chased into Mexico and captured the following September. The Native Americans were sent to Florida, Alabama, and finally to Fort Sill, Oklahoma Territory, where they settled as farmers. Geronimo eventually adopted Christianity. He took part in the inaugural procession of President Theodore Roosevelt i n 1905. Geronimo dictated his memoirs, published in 1906 as Geronimo's Story of His Life. He died at Fort Sill on February 17, 1909.

Legal Progression of Marriage in America :: Essays Papers

Legal Progression of Marriage in America As the British colonies in North America took root, a great part of the economic growth in colonial society was predicated on the labor of imported African slaves. As the number of slaves increased significantly, especially in the southern colonies, a system of separation of the races was established. Since the beginning of the White and Black coexistence in America, Whites have suppressed the rights of Blacks in order to emphasize their racial superiority and to prohibit mixing between the races. In order to maintain their racial purity, Whites established laws making illegal the marriage of Blacks and Whites. Although anti-miscegenation laws were present in early colonial societies, the legacies have continued in the contemporary period. For example, Alabama amended its constitution in 2000 to acknowledge interracial marriages as valid and legal. For over 300 years, anti-miscegenation laws have remained generally the same, outlawing marriages between people of different races. Over time, however, definitions of who is Black have drastically changed, reflecting the status of Blacks’ in society. Anti-miscegenation laws during the era of slavery defined Blacks as having at least one Black grandparent, or one quarter â€Å"Black blood†. Later, these same laws during the Great Migration of the twentieth century, evolved to define Blacks by the â€Å"One Drop Rule,† a rule stating that one was Black if he or she had at least one Black ancestor. These laws, as represented in this paper and based on the policies of the colony and state of Virginia, were used to maintain a separation of races and, thus, to preserve the purity of Whites and to guarantee their system of White supremacy. Sent by King James I, The Virginia Company established the first colony in America in 1607 appropriately named Jamestown (History of Jamestown 1). It is generally accepted that the first Blacks were imported to America in 1619, only twelve years after the colony was established. At this point, no specific laws prohibited interracial relations, but societal taboos and religious doctrines were enough to separate Whites and Blacks from sexual contact. Such beliefs were noted in the proceedings between the governor and his council within the colony: In 1630, a man named Hugh Davis, accused of being sexual involved with a Black, was â€Å"to be soundly whipped before an assembly of Negroes and others for abusing himself to the dishonor of God and the shame of Christians by defiling his body and lying with a Negro† (Hall 602).

Chinese Traditional Religion Essay

Religious practice in China today has elements as old as the Shang and Zhou dynasties and, dating from the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE), is marked syncretism–the combining of different forms of belief or practice. A good example is the construction of temple altars. It’s not uncommon to find Buddhist and Confucian figures in a Daoist temple. Nor is it extraordinary to see a self-professed Buddhist offer incense at a Daoist temple to a historical figure known for his Confucian virtues. China has been a multi-religion country since the ancient times. It is well known that Confucianism is an indigenous religion and is the soul of Chinese culture, which enjoyed popular support among people and even became the guiding ideology for feudalism society, but it did not develop into a national belief. It makes the culture more tolerant to others, thus, many other religions have been brought into the country in different dynasties, but none of them developed powerful enough in the history of China and they only provide diverse people more spiritual support. Confucianism, not a real religion, is just an ethical and philosophical system, which developed from Confucius’ thoughts and later was treated as a kind of belief to educate common people. Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (â€Å"Master Kong†, 551–479 BC). The Confucius’ teachings contained the beginning of a system of thought and behavior that developed into a sophisticated ethico-religious tradition. Confucianism was adopted by the Han dynasty (206 B. C.E-220 C. E. ) as the intellectual basis for its system of government and its educational program for training officials. Confucius emphasized principles for self-guidance. The key to producing a harmonious life, he wrote, is in how we treat others–our ancestors, leaders, parents, spouses, neighbors, and friends. Two other concepts that were predominant in Confucius’s worldview were Tian (Heaven) and Dao (Way). His heaven represented a celestial power connected with the will of mighty ancestors, such as the widely known Yao, Shun, and Yu. The Way, on the other hand, constituted a natural path for humanity. Whereas Heaven emphasized choice, the Way required a yielding heart-mind (xin); both were crucial for achieving harmony in the earthly realm. Daoism is one of China’s major religions indigenous to the country. The primary belief is in learning and practicing â€Å"The Way† (Dao) which is the ultimate truth to the universe. Also known as Taoism, Daoism traces its roots to 6th Century BC Chinese philosopher Laozi wrote the iconic book Dao De Jing on the tenets of the Dao. In the 1,800 years, Taoism influenced the local culture deeply, especially on traditional medicine and literature. Based on some theories of alchemists such as Wei Boyang in Eastern Han Dynasty, different kinds of medicine prescriptions were created by Sun Simiao and many other doctors. In literature, many fictional characters are closely related with Taoism, such as the Jade Emperor. Their philosophies, though, are like two sides of a coin. Laozi emphasized harmony with the Dao–a referent to something that cannot be named–in order to achieve balance in life. To assist this process, Laozi taught his followers the concepts of non-action (wuwei) and shade and light (yin/yang–primordial, dynamic balancing of opposites). The principle of non-action meant that one should discern the natural course of things and cooperate with that movement. The teachings of Laozi and Confucius were not incorporated into a religious movement until the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). The result was a mix of philosophy and religion. Over the centuries that followed, both Confucianism (Rujiao—the teachings of the scholars) and Daoism (Daojiao—the teaching of the Way) developed elaborate rituals and sacred writings. To this day the philosophies of Laozi and Confucius, and the religious movements their lives and teachings inspired, exist in vibrant forms in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese culture as well. When first introduced, Buddhism faced competition from followers of Daoism. While Daoism (also called Taoism) is as old as Buddhism, Daoism was indigenous to China. Daoists do not view life as suffering. They believe in an ordered society and strict morality, but they also hold strong mystical beliefs such as ultimate transformation, where the soul lives after death and travels to the world of the immortals. Because the two beliefs were so competitive, many teachers from both sides borrowed from the other. Today many Chinese believe in elements from both schools of thought. Buddhism’s popularity, led to the quick conversion to Buddhism by later Chinese rulers. The subsequent Sui and Tang Dynasties all adopted Buddhism as their religion. The religion was also used by foreign rulers of China, such as the Yuan Dynasty and the Manchus, to connect with the Chinese and justify their rule. The Machus strived to draw a parallel between Buddhism. a foreign religion, and their own reign as foreign leaders. Despite China’s shift to atheism after the Communists took control of China in 1949, Buddhism continued to grow in China, especially after the economic reforms in the 1980s. Today there are an estimated 100 million followers of Buddhism in China and over 20,000 Buddhist temples. It is the largest religion in China. For most people in China, there is no problem with mixing religious practices. Unlike some other cultures, where religious syncretism and even tolerance are viewed with skepticism or condemnation, the Chinese have always had the ability to select the religious practices and teachings that work best for them at the moment. If a certain deity doesn’t answer a supplicant’s petition, then it’s on to the next temple and deity. In general religious pluralism simply adds to the many options from which the Chinese can choose on their journey toward a harmonious life.