Globalisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Globalisation - Essay Example At the time, 'USA produced at least half of the world's manufactured goods and held half its reserves' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_sytem ). While the gold standard prevailed, currency exchange rates were more or less fixed, ensuring stability in world trade. Although expounding a liberal free trade and free market philosophy, the USA also is accused of being isolationist. 'America first' is a very powerful slogan. 'The historic insulation of the American economy from the global one stems from the size and physical remoteness of the U.S. market, which relies less on trade than virtually any other in the world. ' even a modest percentage of American GNP constitutes a sizable share of global economic activity. In the early 1950s ' American exports constituted more than a third of industrial exports, yet less than 5 percent of GNP' (http://www.lehigh.edu/'bm05/research/global15.htm ). This kind of hegemony of the US economy began to be eroded in the 1960s and 70s when financial capital in the form of international syndicates of the largest banks of the world undermined the stability of national currencies. There was speculation in currency trading at a time when the currencies of post-war Germany and Japan were becoming stronger vis-a-vis t he American dollar. There was also greater manufacturing successes and enhanced export potential evinced by Japan and the EEC as a trading bloc. Since then trans-national or multinational corporations have also complicated capital and currency movements across the world. A cogent reason for the U.S. planners to advance the concept of a liberal, free market international economic system was that, as the then US Secretary of State Cordell Hull (1933 - 1944) argued the perception that the main cause of two world wars of the 20th century were due to economic protectionism. Nazi Germany's exchange controls in the form of bilateral arrangements and the British Empire's Sterling Area, stood in the way of international free flow of capital and foreign investments. The U.S. indulged in the rhetoric that '' free markets (were associated) with material prosperity, stability, justice, democracy, human rights, international peace and more' (Moon, 1998). However, without government intervention vulnerable groups like unskilled labour find themselves outside the benefits accruing to countries in the wake of such liberalisation (vide The Stolper-Samuelson theory). The 'Heckscher-Ohlin trade theory' also predicts that 'inefficient sectors of the economy will suffer losses. ... As American supremacy ' eroded since the 1970s, greater vulnerabilities have produced dislocations in scattered industries, most prominently in textiles, steel and autos'(op. cit.). As a result of this ''vulnerability to trade competitors and its changing pattern of comparative advantage, American policy has become increasingly narrowly self-interested' (op. cit.). Outsourcing or offshoring are terms used to explain the migration of most of American service and technical jobs

Lysistrata Unbound fit as a prequel to Aristophanes' original play Essay

Lysistrata Unbound fit as a prequel to Aristophanes' original play - Essay Example She tries to achieve this by asking the Greek women to deny their husbands of sex until an agreement had been reached to ceasefire (Aristophanes 26). She had an arrangement with the elderly women in Athens to capture Akropolis, which serve as the central point of both the Athenians and the Spartans. The essence of the plan by Lysistrata was just to point out the negative effects of war on the women, as they seem to be more concerned about the welfare of the society. As the play progresses, the chorus of both the old men and women were involved in a confrontation and the women were victorious. In the course of the confrontation, the men made some remarks that seem derogatory and portraying the female race as a gender of no societal value, aside from their domestic functions as wives and mothers at home. This when compared to the ancient Greek society could create some kind of semblance in the way women are being treated as slaves and object of sex (Aristophanes 33). The crux of the wo men’s argument is the fact that they want to be recognized as an important element in the Greek society. They realize the impact of their hard work in the society and would not want the selfish interest of the men, whose quest for self glorification undermine the interest of the society at large. Lysistrata unbound by Machado Machado represents one of the modern adaptations of the original play by Aristophanes. The focus of the play by Machado was centered on a matron that was transformed by the current war situation tearing apart the family structure in the society. The play exonerates the will power of women as opposed to the notion presented in the Aristophanes’ original conception of male dominance. Machado added a feminist angle to the play, which serves as a basis for the differences from the original plot. The answer to question two The use of chorus in the play, Lysistrata unbound helps in the translation of the play to the audience in a clear and explicit mann er. Most Greek plays possess an element of dance and chorus which is more visible by the audience, but the difference with Lysistrata unbound is the way the chorus was employed as a unifying element that joins the dialogue between the women and older men. In the modern adaptation of the play, the chorus was employed as an element that helps interpret the tension and respite in the play. For example, the conversation between the chorus of old women and chorus of old men reflected the tension and respite that accompanied the act in the play. Thus, at some point, it functions as a sort of comic relief, which takes away the shine off the tensed atmosphere caused by the confrontation. While in the original play, the use of chorus signifies the rich Greek culture employed deliberately by Aristophanes to create an avenue where there would be an opportunity for both parties to confront each other. Without the chorus, there possibly could not have been any other avenue for the confrontation to take place. It would be quite irrational for the women to have taken arms against the Greek male whose main occupation is to execute warfare. A careful analysis of the chorus would point out the intention of Aristophanes in employing chorus as a dramatic element. In the course of the chorus, the women saw an avenue in which they could express their desires and anger at the male folks while the chorus of old men

Choosing Between Wants and Needs Research Paper

Choosing Between Wants and Needs - Research Paper Example Decisions stemming from standards of living are learned as an outcome of numerous factors like the family, social class, subculture, and culture (Chaudhuri, 2006). Ideas, concerns, and endeavors show how consumers face the difficulty of reaching an appropriate purchasing decision. This paper discusses the effect of self-perception and motives on the conflict between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’. The discussion seeks to identify the most effective marketing strategy in terms of consumers’ buying decision and behavior. Self-perception Views or perceptions serve as a primary component in the assumed risk of buying a product. Assumed risk embodies the uncertainties of the consumer or the conflict between consumer wants and needs. Several distinct techniques may be employed to lessen risk (Michman, Mazze, & Greco, 2003). Primarily, assumed risk can be lessened by a search for product reviews prior to the purchase. Moreover, the consumer can transfer from one form o f assumed risk to another form that is of less effect on the understanding of purposes if this technique is unsuccessful. Also, the buying transaction can be delayed, hence postponing a risk scenario. Lastly, the risk can be fully taken in by making the purchase. The way consumers make use of risk-mitigation or decision making techniques relies somewhat on lifestyle and character factors (Michman et al., 2003). The forms of assumed risk are a monetary loss, status/prestige loss, and time loss. Outlooks are influenced by personality, learning, demographics, social forces, and perception (Holbrook, 1999). Marketers attempt to build favorable consumer outlooks toward their products/services. Outlooks embody sentiments toward a good originating from values, ideas, and beliefs. As a result, consumers form beliefs and ideas about products/services and their features. Outlooks reveal the decision whether to purchase a want or a need. One of the most prominent models of linking outlooks to consumer behavior and decision making is employed by the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center (Michman et al., 2003). The purposes of consumer spending for expensive goods are examined. For instance, buyers are interviewed if they have a certain desire to make a purchase, a possible desire to purchase, an uncertain choice to purchase, or a certain objective not to purchase a new house equipment or car over a specific time period. Outlooks are normally very hard to alter, yet marketers may be capable of attaining the change in outlooks through open and effective communication, specifically if the perceptions of consumers about the product are inaccurate. The outlooks of consumers toward brands are relevant due to the fact that these outlooks do affect consumer choices and behavior. Change in outlooks requires transforming the motivational aspect linking the product/service to a specific class or occasion or altering perceptions about the products of competitors (Hol brook, 1999). Consumers nowadays formulate new techniques to confront the difficulty of deciding what to buy as environmental patterns, advanced technology, and the Internet transform or alter their outlooks and the value they assign to product features like user-friendliness and speed. Motives Marketers do not have the power to monitor or quantify motivation. A motive is a consumer decision’s internal status (Chaudhuri, 2006).

The L-Tryptophan Recall Essay Example for Free

The L-Tryptophan Recall Essay What L-Tryptophan is? Amino acids are naturally occurring component of human body. They provide the monomer units from which large proteins are synthesized. Amino acids are described as the nitrogen-containing organic compounds forming the building blocks of proteins. â€Å"They are essential to human metabolism, and to making the human body function properly for good health†. (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603/is_0001/ai_2603000153)    Amino acids are classified as essential and non-essential amino acids. Essential amino acids are those which are required to be included in the diet as body is not capable of synthesizing it. â€Å"Of the 28 amino acids known to exist, eight of them are considered essential, defined as those that can be obtained only through food. These essential amino acids are tryptophan, lysine, methionine, phenylalaine, threonine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine. The non-essential amino acids include arginine, tyrosine, glycine, serine, glutmamic acid, aspartic acid, taurine, cycstine, histidine, proline, alanine, and creatine, which is a combination of arginine, glycine, and methionine.† (http://www.findarticles.com/p/search?qt=tryptophanqf=allqta=1tb=artx=0y=0) Tryptophan (L-Tryptophan) is one of the essential amino acid encoded by the genetic code as codon UG. Tryptophan is found in protein rich foods. Its sources includes â€Å"oats, bananas, dried dates, milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, red meat, eggs, fish, poultry, sesame, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, spirulina peanuts and turkey†. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan) Tryptophan (L-Tryptophan) is used for treating Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, Aggression, Pain and many other neurological disorders. It is helpful for neurological disorders because tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitters used at almost all nerve endings present in our body.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The metabolite of tryptophan, 5-HTP can be obtained in capsule or tablet form from any pharmacist without a prescription since it was included under the Dietary Supplement Act. What Products Contain It and What Their Uses Are? As already mentioned, L-Tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin. Serotonin works in the body as an anti-depressant, pain and anxiety suppressor, or a sleep inducer. Therefore,  Ã‚   L-Tryptophan is found in many anti-depressant drugs such as Paxil and Zolof and even Prozac and thus when taken, produces serotonin. Other pharmaceutical products containing L-Tryptophan includes names like Xanax, Valium, Halcion, Dalmane, Codeine, Anafranil. Xanax, or alprazolam, also belongs to the class of drugs benzodiazepines. Xanax is used to treat anxiety. It acts on the brain chemicals which causes anxiety.   It should not be taken by pregnant or lactating women without prescription due to its harmful effects. Xanax can cause serious birth defects.   Xanax overdose is fatal and should contact your doctor immediately. Halcion also belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs.   Triazolam, the generic name for Halcion, is used for treating short-term insomnia. Dalmane, generic name Flurazepam hydrochloride, is used for treating insomnia. Insomnia is defined as difficulty in falling asleep or waking up frequently at night. Dalmane is usually used by people who have frequent insomnia or who have poor sleeping habits. It belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. It is a prescription drug and taken as prescribed by your doctor. Side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, falling, lack of muscular coordination, light-headedness, staggering. The side effects increases if it is combined with the following:- â€Å"Antidepressants such as Elavil and Tofranil Antihistamines such as Benadryl and Tavist Antipsychotic drugs such as Mellaril and chlorpromazine Barbiturates such as Seconal and phenobarbital Narcotic painkillers such as Demerol and Tylenol with Codeine Sedatives such as Xanax and Halcion Tranquilizers such as Librium and Valium† (http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/dal1113.shtml) Clomipramine, (brand name: Anafranil), is an anti-depressant used in treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).   It effects the serotonergic neuronal transmission by an unknown mechanism. Clomipramine should be avoided after myocardial infarction, liver damage, kidney damage, or glaucoma. The most noteworthy side effect of clomipramine known is seizures. Codeine is more commonly known as Empirin, Tylenol or Tylenol with Codeine Elixir. Codeine is an analgesic drug (narcotic pain reliever). It is used to treat all kinds of pain. â€Å"Codeine is frequently combined with Tylenol or aspirin for more effective pain relief.. EMPIRIN contains aspirin and is, therefore, not used in patients with a history of aspirin allergy†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Tylenol with Codeine tablets contain a sulfite that can cause allergic asthma and even life-threatening anaphylaxis reactions in susceptible patients.†   http://www.medicinenet.com/codeine/article.htm Other side effects are usually subtle including abdominal pain, constipation nausea, vomiting and sedation. Tryptophan was banned in the United States due to the endemic outbreak Eosinophilia- Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). â€Å"The ban is maintained till now and its availability is limited to the prescription drug (Tryptan), infant formulas, and enteral feeding products. Since 1994 tryptophan is available and marketed as a dietary supplement in the United States, while imported product remains limited by special regulations†. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_1_11/ai_n16126569 EMS (The Disease Caused By These Products) L-tryptophan is popular among health conscious individuals for treating pain disorders and insomnia. Contrary to its popularity, tryptophan metabolism includes a lot of disorders. Some of the diseases/complications involved in tryptophan metabolism include Eosinophilia- Myalgia Syndrome (EMS), Pellagra, and Hartnup Disease, eosinophilic fasciitis, bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP), acute eosinophilic pulmonary disease, and Hypercapnic respiratory. â€Å"The name pellagra comes from the Italian pelle, skin + agra, rough = rough skin, referring to the skin problems in pellagra†. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=10366page=7 Pellagra is defined by a deficiency of niacin (B complex vitamin) or tryptophan (an amino acid). It is characterized by the 4 D’s: diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, and death, usually appearing in this order. Other features are ulcerations within the mouth (glossitis), nausea, vomiting, seizures and balance disorder (ataxia). Niacin can prevent pellagra (and can cure it). Niacin is abundant in red meat, fish, poultry, and green leafy vegetables. Hartnup disease occurs when the essential amino acids such as, tryptophan, alanine, asparagine, glutamine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, serine, threonine, tyrosine and valine, are lost in the urine. â€Å"The clinical features of Hartnup disease are virtually identical to those of pellagra,† except the dermal findings are absent neuropsychiatric disturbances are more pronounced. â€Å"Cerebellar ataxia, psychiatric disturbances, and diarrhea are common†. (http://www.medstudents.com.br/nefro/nefro3.htm) Eosinophilic fasciitis is a syndrome effecting fascia. Fascia is a muscle tissue present underneath the skin. Fascia is inflamed and thickens. Rapid swelling occurs in the hands, arms, legs, and feet. The cause of eosinophilic fasciitis,however, is unknown. Eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, increases in the affected fascia and muscles. Eosinophils are associated with allergic-type reactions. Symptoms include tenderness and swelling of the arms and legs, thickened skin, muscle weakness and bone pain or tenderness. It is usually treated wit corticosteroid medications, which provides relief of the symptoms. Non-steroids anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) may also help. â€Å"Bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is an inflammation of the bronchioles and surrounding tissue in the lungs. BOOP may affect small areas of the lungs or the entire lung†. The pneumonia isnt infectious, but it is due to inflammation of the lung tissue around the inflamed bronchioles. The causes of BOOP are still unknown but it is predicted that is caused by certain medications, radiation therapy, organ and tissue transplantation or some connective tissue disorders, such as lupus. â€Å"Chest radiographic findings [are also] suggestive of L-tryptophan.†   Ã¢â‚¬Å"People with BOOP may or may not experience signs and symptoms. However, it can be detected on chest x-rays†. (http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/termsdefinitions/f/what_is_boop.htm) and (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0984/is_n6_v104/ai_14707382) â€Å"A cluster of four patients has been identified with pulmonary infiltrates, pleural effusions, hypoxemia, peripheral eosinophilia, and histologic evidence of pneumonitis and pulmonary vasculitis. In addition, these patients report ingestion of L-tryptophan-containing products at a time when the public was made aware of an association between the ingestion of L-tryptophan-containing products and the development of an eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome.† (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0984/is_n1_v99/ai_10489355) â€Å"Respiratory failure due to a disease of the muscles used for breathing (pump or ventilatory apparatus failure) is called hypercapnic respiratory failure. The lungs of these patients are normal. This type of respiratory failure occurs in patients with neuromuscular diseases such as myasthenia gravis, stroke, cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, postoperative situations limiting ability to take deep breaths, and in depressant drug overdoses. Each of these disorders involves a loss or decrease in neuromuscular function, inefficient breathing and limitation to the flow of air into the lungs. Blood oxygen falls and the carbon dioxide increases because fresh air is not brought into the alveoli in needed amounts. In general, mechanical devices that help move the chest wall help these patients.† (http://www.healthnewsflash.com/conditions/respiratory_failure.php#6) â€Å"Pellagra is now rare in developed countries which enjoy balanced diets and fortified foods, but it was once a huge public health problem in the US. Three million Americans contracted pellagra and 100,000 died of it from 1906-40.† (http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4821) The most well-known disease of L-Tryptophan metabolism is of the Eosinophilia- Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). â€Å"Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome is an immune mediated disease that  appeared in the United States as an epidemic in 1989. EMS resulted from ingestion of large amount of an amino acid, L-Tryptophan. Eosinophilia is an elevated level of a type of white blood cell called an eosinophil. Myalgia refers to muscle pain. Many Americans ingested the supplement regularly or occasionally during the 1980s, often upon the advice of a physician, for medical problems including insomnia, chronic pain, and depression†. http://eosinophilia-myalgia.swiftsite.com/) The overwhelming majority of persons who got sick with EMS had ingested contaminated L-Tryptophan eventually traced to one large petrochemical company, Showa Denko K.K., of Japan. Bottle labeling did not indicate the raw product originated in Japan, and nobody in this country, it seems, was told that genetic engineering had been used to manufacture the L-Tryptophan. â€Å"Evidence also shows that overloads of tryptophan supplements inhibit histamine degradation by increased formation of formate and indolyl metabolites, several of which inhibit the degradation of histamine, thereby potentiating its effects. Excessive histamine activity is known to induce blood eosinophilia and myalgia. Furthermore, patients with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation who do not have EMS also manifest greatly increased sensitivity to incurred tryptophan and histamine. Histamine disequilibrium appears to be a final common pathway for syndromes characterized by eosinophilia with myalgia.† (http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic693.htm) EMS is characterized by flu-like symptoms. â€Å"Intense muscle pain with spasms and contractures, burning rashes, breathing difficulties and elevated eosinophil (a type of white blood cell) count are also present†. http://www.iffgd.org/GIDisorders/Other.html â€Å"The skin and other organs get infiltrated by inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, and the connective tissue is often inflamed and fibrotic. Other chronic features include neuromuscular disease and cardiac disease†. http://www5.geometry.net/detail/health_conditions/eosinophilia_page_no_5.html It â€Å"causes permanent scarring and fibrosis to nerve and muscle tissues, continuing inflammation, and provokes a permanent change in the bodys immune system.† The body systems affected by EMS includes â€Å"neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal, dermatologic  and endocrine systems.† Over time, the cutaneous abnormalities tend to improve, but many EMS patients continue to experience muscle cramps, muscle pain, fatigue, and memory disturbances. There is, unfortunately, no cure for EMS. Research is being conducted to develop an animal model of EMS so that its pathophysiology can be studied and treatments can be developed. Actual Recall and What Happened When It Was Issued Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome appeared first in 1989 in Mexico. Three women were suffering from a mysterious, undiagnosable condition whose symptoms comprised of â€Å"muscle pain and a high Eosinophilia count (a type of white blood cell that is usually found when a toxin or parasitic infection is present). The one thing common among all of the women was L-tryptophan†. The product came from Showa Denko Inc, a Japanese company.   Showa Denko Inc was reducing their manufacturing cost compromising in its purification procedures and quickens the production process through genetically engineered bacteria. Consequently, contaminated batches of L-tryptophan were placed on the market. Within months, 37 people killed and over 1500 were permanently disabled when they used this product.   (http://www.nemsn.org/) â€Å"Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 1990, banned the sale of all over the counter L-tryptophan dietary supplements as it was found to be the common link in the EMS cases. Research was conducted to discover the cause of this illness. An unidentified impurity, called peak X, was found. The products were traced back to one manufacturer, Showa Denko KK (SDKK), one of Japans largest petrochemical companies†. (http://www.nemsn.org/) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA agreed to that instituted a recall.   â€Å"The Food and Drug Administration today expanded its recall of L-tryptophan to include even small dosages of the manufactured dietary supplements†¦.The recall applies to all L-tryptophan products in tablet, capsule, caplet, powdered or liquid form, along with multi-ingredient, non-protein supplements that also contain L-tryptophan. (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00064.html) Recall The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for guaranteeing the safety of the people of United States from the use of a variety of products, including drugs, medical devices and foods. â€Å"The FDA provides important and timely clinical information about safety issues involving medical products, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, biologics, medical devices, and special nutritional products, including medical foods and dietary supplements. The FDA issues and/or announces product safety alerts, recalls, withdrawals, and important labeling changes that may affect the health of all Americans.† (http://www.drugrecalls.com/drug_recalls.html) A Recall is defined as an action taken by the FDA to remove a product from the market. However, under the Federal, Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FDA can only request and not impose a firm to recall a product.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   FDA has no authority under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to order a recall, although it can request a firm to Recall a product. Under FDA’s regulation, a firm usually proceeds with a recall of a product voluntarily. It is because if they don’t comply FDA can seek a court order under the Federal Government to confiscate the product.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The recall of a defective or harmful drug or product is sometimes publicized in newspapers and in news broadcasts. The FDA publicizes a recall only when it believes the public needs to be alerted about a serious hazard. The FDA expects companies to take full responsibility for product recalls, including follow-up checks to assure that recalls are successful. After a recall is completed, the FDA makes sure that the product is destroyed or suitably reconditioned and investigates why the product was defective.† (http://www.drugrecalls.com/drug_recalls.html)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1989, an epidemic of a serious disorder called for eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) spread in the United States. It was associated with ingestion of large amount of essential amino acid L-tryptophan. Over 1,500 EMS cases were reported which includes 38 deaths.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After this incident, FDA imposed a recall on â€Å"all marketed products to which manufacturers had added [been] L-tryptophan†. Some particular medical foods or infant product essential for nutrition is were left. FDA also put alerts on the import of raw material used in association of L-tryptophan. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00259.html   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   EMS outbreak originated from a particular product coming from Japanese manufacturer. A lot of research has been done to know the exact cause of EMS; however, none of them has been successful. Yet, th e recall remains. Product Liability Laws Product liability comprises a number of laws and court rulings that apply to â€Å"manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, suppliers, retailers [who] are held responsible for the injuries those products cause†. The phrase is used to describe situations in which a person or property is injured or damaged in some way due to a defective product or service. Negligence, Breach of warranty and strict tort liability are the claims associated with product liability laws. In the US, product liability laws are determined at the state level and they vary from state to state.    Different elements are needed to be proven for each type of claim. However, â€Å"in any jurisdiction one must prove that the product is defective. There are three types of product defects that incur liability in manufacturers and suppliers: design defects, manufacturing defects, and defects in marketing†. Design defects are present before the product is being manufactured; manufacturing defects occur during the manufacturing process; and, defects in marketing occurs during the marketing process of the product where false information is given to the consumers.    (http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Products_liability#products_liability_law:_an_overview) Negligence Negligence is defined as when the product manufacturer is unable to provide the legal standards protecting individuals against his/her product. In order to win a lawsuit against another person or company for products liability action under the theory of negligence, â€Å"a plaintiff must demonstrate that the injuries complained of were caused by a defective product whose defect existed at the time of injury and at the time in which the product left a manufacturers control†. A plaintiff must show that the goods were unreasonably dangerous either for the use to which they would ordinarily be put or for some other reasonably foreseeable purpose, and that the unreasonably dangerous condition existed when the goods left the manufacturer. (http://www.legal-definitions.com/personal-injury-law/product-liability/strict-liability-and-negligence-theories.htm) Elements Of Negligence Involved †¢ Duty:- According to the tort law, a Duty of Care is a legal obligation imposed on an individual or manufacturer requiring them to exercise a reasonable standard of care while performing any acts that could harm others. Duty of care in law should be identified for an action in negligence. Breach: Once the duty of care has been established, the plaintiff must prove that defendant failed to perform the necessary action. There will be a breach of the duty of care if defendant failed to do so. †¢ Causation: According to negligence, causation in defined as a situation when it has been proved that defendant has caused some kind of harm to the plaintiff. †¢ Damages/Harm:- â€Å"Damages are compensatory in nature and not penalizing. This means the amount awarded should aim to compensate for the pain and suffering suffered by the Plaintiff.† (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negligence) †¢ Manufacturer liabilities:- As previously mentioned, manufacturer liabilities occur during the manufacturing process of the product. Subsequent liabilities of the distributors:- Distributors are held responsible if they provide false information, regarding the product, to the consumers. Breach of Warranty   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Breach of warranty is defined as the existence of defective goods at the time of sale. A warranty is violated and the seller may be held liable. Strict Tort Liability â€Å"Strict liability claims focus on the product itself. Under strict liability, the manufacturer is liable if the product is defective, even if the manufacturer was not negligent in making that product defective.† (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_liability#Products_Liability_and_Strict_Liability) FDA regulations (briefly discuss FDA’s view)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On March 22, 1990, the FDA banned the public sale dietary of L-Tryptophan completely. This ban continues today. Even small dosage of manufactured dietary supplements and manufactured L-tryptophan products in tablet, capsule, caplet, powdered or liquid form, along with multi-ingredient, non-protein supplements that also contain L-tryptophan,† come under this recall. â€Å"HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., said, We are confronted with a Major public health problem.   He warned, EMS can cripple.   It can cause great pain.   It can kill.   It has had long-term effects on some unfortunate individuals, and some patients are not responding to treatment.   I urge everyone to stop taking these supplements immediately. FDAs Nov. 17 recall was base on evidence from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and state public health agencies that EMS victims had intakes of L-tryptophan that ranged from 150 to 17, 000 milligrams a day.†(http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00064.html)   Class Action Suits Brought On By People Affected By L-Tryptophan Recall  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A tort is an unintentional violation of another persons rights, usually due to negligence. It is different than a crime, which generally is an intentional violation of anothers rights. A tort is subject to civil action and subsequent judgment for damages payable to the wronged party, whereas a crime is subject to criminal action and subsequent penalty. The Case: SHOWA DENKO K.K. v. PANGLE et al. (A91A1435)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (1991)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Product liability action. Catoosa Superior Court. Before Judge Tucker. Plaintiff: Juanita Louise Pangle Defendant: Showa Denko K.K. (Showa Denko), Natures Bounty, Inc., the Hudson Corporation, and Showa Denko America, Inc. (S.D.A.). In late 1989, the Plaintiff Juanita Louise Pangle, a resident of Georgia, suffered from eosinophilia myalgia syndrome. EMS resulted from ingesting a large dose of L-Tryptophan, an amino acid, in the over the counter food supplement. She and her husband filed a product liability case against: Nature’s Beauty, Inc., the pharmacy from where she purchased the food supplement; the Hudson Corporation, the manufacturers which produced and marketed the food supplement; â€Å"Showa Denko K.K. (Showa Denko), the Japanese company which allegedly produced the raw material used by the manufacturers of the tablets; and Showa Denko America, Inc. (S.D.A.), the New York subsidiary of Showa Denko which marketed and distributed the raw material to American pharmaceutical manufacturers. Showa Denko appeals the denial of its motion to dismiss on the ground that personal jurisdiction is lacking both under the Georgia Long-Arm Statute and pursuant to constitutional requirements of due process. The Georgia Long-Arm Statute requires that an out-of-state defendant must do certain acts within the State of Georgia before he can be subjected to personal jurisdiction.† (http://www.lawskills.com/case/ga/id/33636/) According to the evidence and investigations provided, S.D.A. distributes and markets L-Tryptophan and other products in the United States. S.D.A. works for Showa Denko.   Georgia Long-Arm Statute states that since S.D.A is subjected to jurisdiction because it performed an act for Showa Denko, Showa Denko will also be subjected to jurisdictions. (S.D.A. filed no motion to dismiss)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Showa Denko is a diverse manufacturer who manufactures and sells many different products throughout the United States. Records show visits of employees of Showa Denko to Georgia for trade shows or business purposes. Most of the business is related to the marketing of the product. This evidence was provided to prove that Showa Denko is subjected to a jurisdiction under the Long-Arm Statute.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Showa Denko,according to records, have contact with the University of Georgia. Jointly they were testing feed-grade L-Tryptophan on laying hens. Showa Denko objected to this allegation and pointed out that this issue has no link to the jurisdiction. However, there were do records present that contradicted this point. L_tryptophan used for marketing is similar to testing of feed-grade L-tryptophan for animals. This animal search was not enough to confer jurisdiction because plaintiffs’ injuries were not due to this act. â€Å"Several other jurisdictions in which Showa Denko has been named as a defendant in a case alleging injury after ingesting L-tryptophan have found Showa Denko to be subject to personal jurisdiction.† (http://www.lawskills.com/case/ga/id/33636/) Liability Joint Liability: In the case SHOWA DENKO K.K. v. PANGLE et al., Joint Liability has been put forward. Joint Liability is defined when more than one person is held responsible for the negligence act. In this case, it was not only Showa Denko that suffered the jurisdiction. Instead it liability was confirmed on all its, manufacturers and its suppliers. Vicarious liability: â€Å"Vicarious liability as also observed. It is defined as when a person is held responsible for the tort of another person, even though the person being held responsible may not have done anything wrong† http://www.duhaime.org/dictionary/dict-uz.aspx .    Damages According to the tort law, damages are compensated in the form of monetary to the plaintiff. â€Å"Damages, in a legal sense, are the sum of money the law imposes for a breach of some duty or violation of some right.† The types of damages: Actual or Compensatory Damage: these kinds of damages are compensated with the injured plaintiff. Consequential: Consequential damages apply to â€Å"damages claimed and/or awarded in a lawsuit which were caused as a direct foreseeable result of wrongdoing.† General: In General damages, â€Å"there is no evidence of a specific dollar figure.† Liquidated:- Liquidated damages are â€Å"contractually established damages† Nominal: â€Å"a small amount of money awarded to a plaintiff in a lawsuit to show he/she was right but suffered no substantial harm.† Punitive: â€Å"Punitive damages are considered punishment and are awarded when the defendants behavior is found to be especially harmful, but are normally not awarded in the context of a breach of contract claim.† Special: â€Å"damages claimed and/or awarded in a lawsuit which were out-of-pocket costs directly as the result of the breach of contract, negligence or other wrongful act by the defendant. Special damages can include medical bills, repairs and replacement of property, loss of wages and other damages which are not speculative or subjective.† Treble: Treble damage is when the â€Å"successful parties should receive some multiple of their actual damages.† (http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Damages#definition) and (http://dictionary.law.com/) Actual Damages That Were Rewarded Expectations Damages: Expectation damages are a form of damages occurring when the defendant party fails to fulfill the contract. Showa Denko failed to provide the required amount of L-tryptophan in his product. General Damages: In general damages losses are not quantified in monetary terms. For example; it consists of the actual pain and suffering caused by the negligent act. Also, it covers the future losses including the continuing pain and suffering. The plaintiff suffered from Eosinophilia- Myalgia Syndrome (EMS). A disease that altered their lifestyles. Hedonic Damages; Hedonic Damages refers to loss of enjoyment of life damages or damages distinct from the human capital value. Treble Damages:- â€Å"Treble damages, in law, is a term that indicates that a statute permits a court to triple the amount of the actual/compensatory damages to be awarded to a prevailing plaintiff, generally in order to punish the losing party for willful conduct. Show Denko had to may a large sum of money to the plaintiff to compensate for the damage. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treble_damages) Causes of Action â€Å"The cause of action according to the law is the ground on which the plaintiff files a lawsuit against the defendant. A Cause of action encompasses both the legal theory of what legal wrong the plaintiff claims to have suffered, and the remedy, which is the relief a court is asked to grant which is in the form of an Order of the Court instructing the defendant to do or not do something for the benefit of the plaintiff or an instruction in some cases to the plaintiff to do or not do something for the benefit of the defendant.† http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cause_of_action In this case, Fraud on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration can not be considered in this case. The reason being that, fraud is defined as the intentional deceit. In contrast it was proved to be negligence. Strict liability in tort is also in effect. Strict liability in tort refers to the damages caused to the consumer by the manufacture, distributor, and wholesaler of the product. Thus, in this case, the plaintiff filed a lawsuit giving negligence and strict liability a cause of action against the defendant. The plaintiff, in return of the losses, filed financial compensation. (http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Category:Overview)   Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The paper is concerned with an amino acid, L-Tryptophan, and its effects on general society. L-Tryptophan is required in the diet but it spread an epidemic in 1989. Eosinophilia- Myalgia Syndrome (EMS) was caused due to overdose of tryptophan in the dietary supplement.   The product came from Showa Denko Inc, a Japanese company.   Showa Denko Inc was reducing their manufacturing cost compromising in its purification procedures and quickens the production process through genetically engineered bacteria. Juanita Louise Pangle, a resident of Georgia, filed a case against Showa.  Ã‚   Due to the diverse and serious effects it produced, FDA banned tryptophan and placed a recall on all the products that contain it. All the over the counter food supplements had been removed. This recall is still in place, although, some changes has been made.    References John D Fernstrom (June 2000). Can nutrient supplements modify brain function?. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.Vol. 71. No. 6. Richard Alexander. Contaminated L-Tryptophan and 5-Hydroxy-L-Tryptophan, Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome [EMS]: The 1989 Epidemic and the 1998 Warning. The Consumer Law Page U. S. Food and Drug Administration (February 2001). Information Paper on L-tryptophan and 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan   Recall of L-Tryptophan http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/NEW00064.html. Accessed Februaary 4,2007.    Tryptophan – Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan. Accessed February 4,2007 Sepp Hasslberger   (July 16 2004) Tryptophan, Niacin Protect Against Alzheimers http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2004/07/16/tryptophan_niacin_protect_against_alzheimers.htm. Accessed on February 4,2007. Product Liability-Strict Liability -Negligence Liability http://www.legal-definitions.com/personal-injury-law/product-liability/strict-liability-and-negligence-theories.htm. Accessed February 4,2007. Law.com Law Dictionary http://dictionary.law.com/. Accessed on February 5, 2007. Category: Overview-Wex http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Category:Overview. Accessed February 5, 2007.    Vladimir Hegyi, MD, PhD, (December 4, 2006).Pellagra. http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic621.htm. Accessed on February 3,2007. Sherif Nasef, MD, (November 7, 2006). Eosinophilic Fasciitis http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic686.htm. Accessed on February 3, 2007. Gary R. Epler, M.D. (January 22, 2001). Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia. Internal Medicine. Volume 161 (2). Pages 158-164. http://www.epler.com/boop1.html Ira Jeffry Strumpf,   Richard D. Drucker,   Karl H. Anders,   Sylvan Cohen,   Oluwole Fajolu. (January 1991).Acute eosinophilic pulmonary disease associated with the ingestion of L-tryptophan-containing products.CHEST. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0984/is_n1_v99/ai_10489355. Accesses February 3. 2007. Robert K. Murray. Daryl K. Granner. Peter A. Mayes. Victor W. Rodwell.( 2003). HARPER’S ILLUSTRATED BIOCHEMISTRY. A Lange Medical Book. Anafranil, Clomipramine Pharmacology –Healthyplace.com http://www.healthyplace.com/medications/anafranil.asp#description. Accessed February 3, 2007. Codeine – Complete medical information regarding this narcotic pain reliever http://www.medicinenet.com/codeine/article.htm. Accessed February 3, 2007. Dalmane, Flurazepam hydrochloride, side effects, drug interactions, overdose, dosage http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/dal1113.shtml. Accessed February 3, 2007. Xanax http://www.drugs.com/xanax.html. Accessed February 3, 2007. WHF Foods: Tryptophan http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrientdbid=103 Accessed on February 3rd, 2007 Dietary Supplements: Making Sure Hype Doesnt Overwhelm Science http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/CONSUMER/CON00259.html Accessed on February 3rd, 2007 FDA Recall Policies http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/recall2.txt Accessed on February 3rd, 2007 Drug Recalls – What is a Drug Recall? http://www.drugrecalls.com/drug_recalls.html Accessed on February 3rd, 2007

The Evolution Of Canada :: Canadian Culture

The Evolution Of Canada Canada, independent nation in North America. A country rich in minerals and agriculture, it was settled by the French and English and became an independent Commonwealth country with a federal system of government, in which the provinces enjoy a large measure of autonomy. Land and Economy. The 2nd-largest country in the world (after the USSR), Canada occupies the N half of the North American continent, stretching E and W from the Atlantic to Pacific oceans, N from the 49th parallel to the North Pole, including all the islands in the Arctic Ocean from W of Greenland to Alaska. It is divided into 10 provinces, which are (E-W): Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Two territories--Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory--are in the N and NW. The outstanding geological feature is the Canadian Shield, a 1,850,000-sq- mi (4,791,500-sq-km) arc of Pre-Cambrian rock from Labrador around Hudson Bay to the Arctic islands. The Shield, site of once great mountain chains worn down and covered by the sea, contains valuable minerals--gold, silver, platinum, copper, nickel, cobalt, iron, and zinc--making Canada one of the most important mining countries in the world. The Shield's N portion is a treeless plain with permanently frozen subsoil; in its S section are forests. Extending from the Shield's W border to the Canadian Rockies are prairies more than 800mi (1,288km) wide that yield wheat, the dominant crop, and are centers of livestock raising. W Canada is a land of mountains with fishing, agriculture, and lumbering as important industries. With the development of major oil and natural gas deposits since the 1950s in the W, the now-dominant energy industry has resulted in dramatic economic growth there, and made Canada a major oil-producing country. The E provinces provide rich farm lands, forests, coal mines, and major fishing sources along the long coastline. Source of a route into the interior for early settlers, the St Lawrence-Great Lakes area is the most populous section of Canada as well as its economic and political center. It contains over 60% of the population. Abundant minerals have made Canada the world leader in the production of silver, nickel, potash, and zinc; second in gypsum, asbestos, uranium, and sulfur; third in gold, lead, and platinum; fourth in magnesium and fifth in copper. Timber is also valuable, and Canada is a world leader in newsprint production. The growth of manufacturing during the 1950s and 1960s changed Canada from a rural society to an industrial and urban country. Farming employs 7% of the working population.

Era of Good Feelings

Historians have traditionally labeled the period after the War of 1812 the â€Å"Era of Good Feelings. † Evaluate the accuracy of this label, considering the emergence of nationalism and sectionalism. The period of time labeled as the â€Å"Era of Good Feelings,† was a prosperous, but shortened period for America in which political strife had come to a halt and disputes had settled. The high morale after the war caused this era to be granted such a name. With James Monroe in presidency, and the country in peace, the issues of nationalism and sectionalism had been put on hold.Only for a short period of time would these issues diminish, and America would bounce back to its normal imbalances. James Monroe had a large impact on the length of time that this era had been sustained, although the tranquility could not be held forever. Evaluate the effectiveness of the Progressive Era reformers and the federal government in bringing about reform at a national level. In your answ er be sure to analyze the successes and limitations of these efforts in the period 1900 – 1920. The Progressive Era reformers and the federal government had a great impact on reform at the national level.Through Progressivism movements and the determination of these leaders, America would not be as technologically, socially, and politically advanced as we are today. The support that these reformers were given from the people had been a key factor in the success of their trials and tribulations. These people are the main reasons for which America has prospered. In bringing progressivism to a national level, they had succeeded. If they had not, would our world be what it is today? Analyze the responses of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration to the problems of the Great Depression.How effective were these responses? How did they change the role of the federal government? The responses of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration to the problems of the Great Depress ion had been prompt and well thought out upon the occasion. These responses had effectively brought America back into a prosperous country. He was able to restore the country and change society for the sexes and the races. His involvement in the Great Depression, made F. D. R. prepared and focused to drive America in the right direction.

International Economics of Thailand Essay

The country of Thailand is located in the southeast Asia region, south of China and immediately bordering Burma to the west, Laos to the East and Cambodia to the south. Around 65 million people inhabit Thailand with the capital and its largest city being Bangkok; the national currency is the baht. After a series of political and military turmoil thrashed the country in the mid 2000’s, December of 2007 earmarked the reinstatement of a democratic government as well as the inclusion of full democratic elections. The official language is Thai and has remained that since the country’s early beginnings. Buddhism encompasses most the Thailand’s population in terms of religion, nearly 95%, with all belonging to the Theravada denomination. On a global scale Thailand is quite a large country for how small it is geographically; it ranks 50th as far as total area, and is the 20th most populous in the world. Thailand is abundant in both land and labor factors of production. The land measures roughly 510,890 sq km and is full of natural resources such as tin, rubber, natural gas, timber, lead, fish, and many metals. The large amount of agricultural production lead to a GDP of $539.3 billion in 2009. The 2009 household consumption expenditure was 2.05% even though the real GDP growth rate was -2.2%2. The final factor of production for Thailand, labor, is another one of their most abundant resources. In 2009, the labor force was comprised of 38.43 million people. They were divided between 42.4% working in agriculture, 19.7% in industry, and 37.9% in services3. This is consistent with the large amount of arable land throughout the country. With much production occurring in the agricultural sector, is makes sense that Thailand exports agricultural commodities. The country also exports machinery and electronic components, and jewelry. The machinery and electronic parts are a major export because of the size of the labor force.  Jewelry exports are large due to the amount of natural metals and jewels found in the land. The exports drive the economy and account for more than half of GDP. In 2009, exports totaled $150.7 billion. The major importers are the United States at 10.94%, China at 10.58%, Japan with 10.32%, Hong Kong with 6.22%, and Australia importing 5.62%3. The global financial crisis of 2008-2009 severely hurt Thailand’s exports with most industries dropping a large percent. Imports were also affected the financial crises. in 2009, they totaled $118 billion. Most imports were in capital goods, intermediate goods, and raw materials. This is because of the lack of capital factors of production and the large labor force. Thailand imports from Japan (18.7%), China (12.73%), Malaysia (6.41%), United States (6.31%), and UAE (4.98%)3. [pic] It seems to be that the groups benefiting most from trade are the farmers and factory workers. The farmers have the largest labor force and therefore the highest amount of exports in the country. The factory workers are also benefiting from the import of cheap intermediate goods and raw materials from China and Malaysia. They then use the abundance of labor to produce machinery for export. In 2009, Thailand had a trade surplus of roughly $32.7 billion. Long before the liberalization of Thailand’s economy and its move to become an export-promoting economy in the mid 1980s, Thai governments have pursued Free Trade Agreements (FTA’s) and economic cooperation with fellow countries in the Eastern Hemisphere and of course, the USA. In 1967, Thailand help create the Association for South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN was founded to promote nation building, tackle communism and increase economic cooperation. This act has served as the foundation for establishing future FTA’s. Continuous dialog and a desire for economic growth led to the eventual signing of the ASEAN Free-Trade Agreement (AFTA). This paved the way for the elimination of tariffs for goods with 40% of its free on-board value having local input from ASEAN member countries (asean). Following the success of AFTA and its role in facilitating local  manufacturing industries, ASEAN countries sought to expand these FTA’s. This has led to signed FTA’s between ASEAN and China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, Thai and US authorities have been working on an inconclusive US-Thailand FTA since 2004. These agreements have grown Thailand’s export markets and such access to vast growing economies has allowed Thailand to quickly return to growth following the 2008 Global Recession. Unfortunately, with all the free-trade agreements, Thailand continues to have multiple barriers to entry for most foreign entrants and even some domestic ones. They are primarily in the service and transport sectors as well as sectors with significant local production. These include tariffs, quantitative barriers, customs barriers and taxation. Few of the most affected industries are finance, law, telecommunications, air and maritime transport, wood, textiles, transport equipment and professional services. In the finance industry, foreign investors are allowed a limited equity investment of up to 49% of the company. Any investment that amounts to greater than that is treated on a case-by-case basis by the government. In addition, foreign banks have limitations on their lending capabilities and the expansion of branches. Telecommunications also limits foreign investment and in addition to this, the government allocates frequency spectrum that have resulted in two telecommunications companies dominating the industry (Dee, 2004) (US Embassy, Bangkok, 2009). On the other hand, foreigners may own Law firms in Thailand, but only Thai-citizens may provide legal services. At-best, in certain cases, foreign citizens can serve in a limited capacity as a consultant. Such a nationality requirement extends to other professional services such as accountants and physicians as well where Thai-citizens have a higher priorit and only non-citizens that are a resident of Thailand and fluent in Thai are eligible. Industries such as wood and wood products (12.5% tariff), transport equipment (31% tariff) and textiles (25% tariff) continue to have import tariffs and licenses to encourage local production and ensure it is not  harmed. All of these tariffs are between 2 and 4 times the global average (Dee, 2004). Such tariffs are common practice all over the world to protect local businesses. In addition to these tariffs, Thailand’s barriers include several indirect methods that have a less tangible impact. Thailand’s complicated tax system is one such example. When one adds up the import tariff, excise duties and other sales tax on imported alcohol, the price is 400% higher. To complement these barriers, Thailand’s government adapted a â€Å"Buy Thai† policy, much to the resentment of foreign investors. In addition, the Customs department reserves the right to arbitrarily increase the import value of goods (US Embassy, Bangkok, 2009). Lastly, the lack of enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights and Patent laws cost US companies $400 million in 2007 (US Embassy, Bangkok, 2009). Pharma companies and Hollywood have had the most direct impact due to copyright infringements, delayed patents and its non-enforcement. Such haphazard barriers by the Thai government can dissuade potential investors. These barriers have a multi-purpose aim. Some tariffs are meant to be revenue generating tariffs, while others cost escalating. These cost-escalating tariffs stand to protect a local industry such as textile manufacturing, wood and timber logging. Barriers in the maritime and air transport have large capital requirements to enter it as well as a vested government interest in the form of state-owned airlines, airports and ports. Other barriers related to haphazard law enforcement and the â€Å"buy Thai† policy and seem less so economic barriers and more so politically motivated ones. A reversal in such barriers would allow air-passenger transport, maritime transport and communications to benefit the most and enable the finance, law and professional services industry to shore up its presence in Thailand while continuing to expand trade, commerce and therefore economic growth in the country. Simultaneously, the government aimed to stimulate domestic and foreign private investment over the coming decade by adapting Export Promotion (EP)  policies that decreased import tariffs, eliminated export tariffs and established the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI). While initial investments were aimed at domestic-market production, this quickly moved to export-oriented production that was not limited by the size of the domestic market. This led to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) ballooning from $40 million in 1970-1974 to $19 billion in 2006 (Kohpaiboon). Countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan had successfully adapted to export promotion policies while even more countries saw the negative effects of import substitution policies (South America). These polar effects point out the benefits of a trade-centered integrated economy. An exponential increase in FDI requires a stable banking system that is globally integrated. Unlike its Asian peers, almost half of Thailand’s 37 banks are foreign banks such as HSBC, Citibank and Standard Chartered. This has resulted in a strong banking system with assets worth 200% of GDP (Datamonitor, 2010). Other developing countries continue struggle with a government dominated banking system and low population penetration. Sustained growth in FDI has had spillover effects on Thailand’s human capital development and R&D projects to further aid economic growth. The BOI, since 2006 has been actively promoting R&D investments, bagging projects from companies such as Toyota, Honda and Siam Cement. In addition to this, the government has allocated $3 billion in the next 5-year plan for R&D projects with institutes such as Asian Institute of Technology taking lead (Datamonitor, 2010). Such spending has allowed domestic companies to adapt current technologies used world over while evolving new ones. This is a drastic change from the mid-1980s in Thailand when oxes and manual labor characterized agriculture and industry alike. In order for the results of R&D projects to be useful and then successful, an educated workforce is necessary. Starting in 1960, Thailand expanded its schooling system and made schooling mandatory for the first 7 years (Ministry of Education, 1998). A full generation later, the basic impact is visible. By 2006, Thailand boasted a 92% literacy rate, comparable in the region (Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Malaysia boast 90%+  literacy rates) and allocates 27% of its national budget to education (Malaysia allocated 20%) (UNDP, 2009). One current constraint is that 80% of the current workforce has had only primary education. However, the long-term impact of education should change this statistic over the coming decade and encourage further labor efficiencies. Unfortunately, a primary educated workforce is not Thailand’s main constraint to growth. In the years following a decade of high-paced growth, the Asian Financial Crisis, consequent political upheavals, natural disasters, corruption and such threatened to derail the Thai story of growth. In spite of all this growth, the high short-term external debt of its government nearly bankrupted Thailand, caused the stock exchange to lose 75% of its market value and devalued the then-pegged Baht by over 50%. The Thai economy came to a halt with layoffs across industries, depressed asset prices and a 12% cumulative drop in output for 1997-1998. This led to an inevitable $40 billion IMF-led rescue package for the most affected Asian economies (Hunter, Kaufman, & Krueger, 1999). The package allowed Thailand’s economy to stay solvent and resume growth only in 1999. The Asian Financial Crisis marked a start in Thailand’s sporadic political upheavals. This culminated in 2006 when Prime Minister Thaksin was removed from office in a bloodless coup while he attending the UN General Assembly in front of the world’s eyes. The 4 years since has seen scores of public demonstrations, 3 Prime Ministers and a riot culminating in the summer 2010 stand-off between the armed forces and pro-Thaksin demonstrators in central Bangkok. Meanwhile, neighboring countries such as Philippines, Vietnam and even Indonesia have moved toward political stability with their leaders transitioning their country into a period of economic growth (Marshall, 2010). These upheavals are a source of concern to international and domestic businesses and have a negative ripple effect through the economy. In fact, Thaksin is not the only corrupt politician to grace Thailand. Corruption plagues many institutions and bureaucracy’s there. Transparency international ranked Thailand 84th out of 178 countries on the Global  Corruption Index with China falling ahead in 78th position and India just behind in 87th place. Like most sizable developing countries, corruption is rampant in Thailand and other high-profile cases include the governor of Bangkok, Mr. Apirak. In 2009, the Thai government reported that the most number of corruption complaints within government agencies were filed against the Customs Department (Datamonitor, 2010). Taking cue from Singapore, Thailand must be more pro-active in reducing this rampant corruption in order to focus on economic and social development. Singapore along with New Zealand and Denmark topped the least for least corrupt countries (Zee News, 2010). Another growth constraint is natural disasters. In 2004, an earthquake followed by a tsunami caused widespread havoc and destruction. While Thailand’s direct impact was lower than Indonesia, with over 5,000 lives lost, 30,000 fishing boats and 120,000 tourism jobs lost, its effects cannot be ignored. Such continued disasters can hamper progress and instead undo years of economic development. Countries ranging from Indonesia to Seychelles were affected by this (United Nations, 2005). As the 1997 Financial Crisis demonstrated, Thailand is very integrated into the world’s economy. Therefore, with the arrival of the Great Recession in 2008, demand for its export-oriented production began to fall. Thailand’s dependence on exports put the country into a yearlong recession that it is now out of. In fact, Thailand is expected to grow at 4% this year. This quick recovery has been due to the deliberate public spending undertaken by the government. With the government undertaking a 5-year plan to boost infrastructure spending and reduce poverty, Thailand should see sustained growth over the coming years. As Thailand emerges from the Great Recession of 2008, there are several helpful pointers Thailand has taken from its experiences since the Asian Financial Crisis. The Thai government has learned of the benefits of a balanced budget, they successfully reduced government debt between 2002 and 2008, repaid IMF loans (2 years early) and regained growth. While corruption continues to exist, Thailand has an increasingly tougher National Counter  Corruption Commission and current Prime Minister Abhisit has proposed a Reconciliation Plan to create a more transparent, clean government. The tsunami has resulted in the implementation of an emergency alert system thereby preventing future calamities, social and economic losses. With a majority of new growth coming from Asia, Thailand is optimally situated as an export economy in the region. Strong historical ties to the US will ensure economic cooperation as the US economic recovery progresses. Continued spending on education will result in an efficient, productive labor-force allowing Thailand to grow from just an international finance center to an advanced technology driven, export oriented economy in the years to come. Economic policy outlook The government is pushing ahead with a major fiscal stimulus program worth Bt1.4trn (US$43bn), which is to run until 2012. However, the fiscal position is weak, and the government could struggle to finance the program in full without risking future financial stability. This second-stage stimulus program, known as Thai Khem Khaeng (Strong Thailand), centers on infrastructure projects as well as investment in agriculture, education and health. Owing to the fact that the government has only limited fiscal freedom (constitutional restrictions cap the budget deficit in any year at 20% of total expenditure), the majority of the programs spending is off-budget and is financed through increased borrowing. The government actually plans to reduce budgetary spending in fiscal year 2009/10 (October-September) in an attempt to contain the fiscal deficit, which ballooned in 2008/09 owing to a first-stage stimulus program that included cash grants and subsidies. The government is proposing another expansionary budget in 2010/11. As the economy begins to recover in 2010, the Bank of Thailand (BOT, the central bank) will begin to raise interest rates to contain inflation. As for the fiscal policy, the government will run a substantial budget deficit in 2010-11, but it should be narrower than in 2009, when it reached the equivalent of 4.4% of GDP. After reducing planned expenditure in 2009/10  by Bt200bn (US$5.8bn), the government proposes to increase it by about Bt400bn in 2010/11. It is also stimulating the economy with the Thai Khem Khaeng program of off-budget expenditure. Whether or not the program succeeds in stimulating growth, hinges mostly on its implementation. There is a risk that some funds will be lost to corruption or will be wasted, as was highlighted by a recent admission by the Comptrollergenerals Department that funding for projects previously rejected by the Budget Bureau had been approved owing to the government!s determination to proceed with economic stimulus. Assuming that the government receives full parliamentary approval to borrow another Bt400bn in the next three years, public debt could rise sharply relative to GDP in 2010-11. However, the finance minister, Korn Chatikavanij, recently said that as revenue growth so far in 2009/10 had exceeded expectations, the government might not need to borrow as much as it had originally planned. The BOT will begin to tighten monetary policy in second half of 2010 as the economy starts to recover and core inflation (which excludes raw foods and energy) accelerates. However, the central bank will not raise interest rates sharply, as there are still major risks to the recovery, and core inflation, which stood at 0.5% in January-February, remains at the low end of the official target range of 0.5-3%. The BOT has also expressed concern that prematurely raising the one-day repurchase rate†which stands at 1.25%, having been lowered by 250 basis points between December 2008 and April 2009†³could lead to inflows of foreign capital, pushing up asset prices to unsustainable levels and causing the baht to strengthen further. Works Cited CIA. (2010). Thailand. Retrieved November 20, 2010, from CIA – The World Factbook: www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html Datamonitor. (2010). Thailand, In-depth PESTLE Insights. Datamonitor. Falvey, L. (2001). Thai Agriculture: Golden Cradle of Millennia. White Lotus Co Ltd. Hunter, W., Kaufman, G., & Krueger, T. (1999). The Asian Financial Crisis: Origins, Implications and Solutions. 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