Abstract This paper examines the need for service level agreements. It discusses different types of agreements and how to develop an effective agreement. It also explores the use of service level agreements during the negotiating process, and measures the effectiveness of SLAs.
From the Paper "Whenever a purchase is made companies or individuals have expectations regarding the performance of the purchased good or service. Ideally every purchase works a percentage of the time that the user expects it too but such ..."
Tags: service level agreements, information technology, SLA
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of non-competition agreements in business to protect trade secrets. The paper focuses on the legal aspect of non-compete agreements. It also mentions state and local laws regarding restrictions.
From the Paper "In legal jargon, a non-compete agreement is a covenant or contract not to compete. An individual signing it agrees not to compete with your employer by engaging in any business of a similar nature as an employee an independent contract ..."
Tags: non-compete, legal, agreements, business law, state law, local law, hiring
Abstract This paper reviews the 1989 U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and the costs and benefits to Canada. It discusses the purpose of the agreement and criticisms of CFTA as subjecting Canada to U.S. cultural imperialism. The author contends that the elimination of tariffs is a positive aid to the Canadian economy.
From the Paper "The Effect on Canada of the Free Trade Agreement. The Canada-U S Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) became effective on January. The primary purpose of the agreement was to create a trading zone free of prohibitive and protective tariffs between the two countries. While ..."
Abstract This paper discusses the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was was introduced in 1994. It examines how, before and after its introduction, there were many concerns that it would be harmful and not helpful and how, despite these concerns, it was introduced. It looks at how, almost ten years later, it appears that the NAFTA has been a big success. While there are also some negatives, the benefits are so great that the few problems are minor. It considers NAFTA to show where it came from, what it achieves, and what benefits it has provided.
Outline
First Stages of the North American Free Trade Agreement An Overview of the North American Free Trade Agreement A Brief History of the North American Free Trade Agreement The Successes of the North American Free Trade Agreement Economic Benefits
Manufacturers
Agriculture
Benefits for all Businesses
Global Trading
Environment
Labor
Consumers
Conclusion
From the Paper "The NAFTA began in 1990 when President George Bush announced that one of the government's goals was to establish a free trade zone for the Americas. At this time, free trade agreements had been created in other parts of the world for some time. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was created in 1960 and had been working on creating a European free trade zone since then. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was created in 1967 and had been working on creating free trade zones across Asia since then. In 1990, this was giving European and Asian countries an advantage that America did not have. This resulted in Bush's plan to create a North American trade zone."
Abstract In this article, the writer claims that properly administered, articulation agreements can provide students with the framework they need to ensure they receive credit for coursework accomplished at community colleges, while providing the receiving institutions with the reassurance they require to grant such credit. The writer notes however, that improperly performed, these agreements can actually do more harm than good. To determine how they are intended to operate in practice, this paper provides an overview of articulation agreements and their impact on community college enrollment in general, with an emphasis on North Carolina community colleges in particular. An analysis of the relevant literature is followed by a summary of research in the conclusion.
Contents
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Constraints to Developing Effective Articulation Agreements.
Conclusion
From the Paper "The role of the community college in the baccalaureate education process has traditionally been associated with the first two years of college; therefore, state policies and articulation agreements have focused on connecting a prescribed sequence of lower-division courses at the community college with upper-division courses at four-year institutions. In their traditional roles, community colleges provide a starting point to higher education; community college students earn at least 12 credit hours at the community college, then transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor's degree. This role recognizes that a substantial percentage of American students will begin their higher education and complete a substantial number of credits at the community college; 12 credit hours has been established as the minimal equivalent of full-time enrollment for one semester, as a basis for classifying a student as a community college transfer ."
Abstract This paper examines how the free trade agreements in America affect the labor unions, and the small farmers; mostly middle class to lower class persons. It explains that the people who stand to gain the most are those with high positions in corporations, who, thanks to Free trade agreements, can wipe out small competition, and are able to make their own shipping agreements for less money with farmers and manufacturers in less industrialized countries. The paper discusses how the new agreements, which make tariffs on the imported goods low to keep them cost effective, will ultimately crush the small farmer between the giant agribusinesses and the new Central American imports. The paper also looks at instances where labor unions and farmers protested in the hopes of gaining political support, but their attempts to influence policy have been largely ineffective.
From the Paper "Free trade agreements have become more common in the U.S. during the last half century, leading to disputes on whether or not those agreements are actually beneficial to our country. Free trade allows countries to trade unique products that cannot be produced in or found in their own countries. Free trade also allows them to be sold at reasonable prices to the consumers. The disadvantages of free trade are that there are also many products that can be produced in multiple countries. Some countries can produce these products cheaper. This can cause huge economic issues/problems for the people who were originally making this product."
Abstract This paper discusses the NAFTA trade agreement which removed most barriers to investment in between Canada, the United States and Mexico. It studies the positive and negative effects of this agreement from the point of view of each of the three countries involved. It analyzes several sources on this issue including excerpts of speeches by world leaders. The author concludes that the verdict on this agreement, if it is good or bad for the region, has yet to be seen.
From the Paper "The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect January 1, 1994. The North American Free Trade Agreement allows US companies to sell their goods in Mexico tariff-free. It also allows Mexicans to set up low-wage factories to produce their goods to sell in the United States duty free. [Dowling, 1996]. This agreement removed most barriers to investment in between Canada, the United States and Mexico. Its intention was to boost the economies of all three countries by expanding their potential markets and allowing them to take advantage of what each of the other two countries had to offer. Since its adoption, its effects have been debatable, especially concerning safety and environmental issues in the United States and the effect on the Mexican Peso."
Abstract This paper explains WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), negotiated in the 1986-94 Uruguay round of talks, which introduced intellectual property rules into the multilateral trading system for world-wide trade, apply to all WTO member countries and protect copyrights, trademarks, geographical indication, industrial design, patents, and trade secrets. The author points out that TRIPS had a unequal impact on developed and developing countries because the developing countries rely more on the production and export of consumable goods, while the developed countries, particularly the European Union and United States, rely on export-based revenues from copyright licensing, which means the TRIPS Agreement actually works against the developing countries by driving up their import bills and resulting in greater transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich countries. The paper recommends that a completely new international trade agreement should be negotiated; the developing countries should be well-advised to be better prepared and more assertive in the next round of trade negotiations and should be better off if they avoid the temptation of accepting short-term gains in exchange for long-term losses.
Table of Contents
Overview of TRIPS
Basic Principles
Transition Period
Areas of Application
Enforcement
Impact of TRIPS on Developing Countries
Application of TRIPS on Medicines
Biopiracy
Terminator Crops
Why Did the Developing Countries Agree to TRIPS?
The Other Side of the Picture
Conclusion
From the Paper "Even low-technology products, e.g., as brand-name clothing and agricultural products such as new varieties of grains and plants have value-added to them due to research, design and innovation. Creators of such products, whether they are companies, individuals or nations, ought to have the right to stop others from using their 'brainchild' and to have the right to negotiate a mutually acceptable compensation if others desire to use their inventions. Such rights have come to be known as "intellectual property rights." It is generally acknowledged that the protection of "intellectual rights" is an incentive for innovation that benefits the society as a whole."
An analysis of the obstacles to free trade between the U.S. and Egypt, the opportunity for the U.S. and Egyptian companies under a free trade agreement, and a pragmatic political implementation strategy.
Abstract Shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush announced that the U.S. would strive to create a Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) to promote economic development as a means of reducing poverty, thus eliminating a major source of anti-Americanism. However, the political stipulations attached to MEFTA have diminished the ability for its immediate creation. This paper shows that, instead, recent attention has been given to creating multiple, bilateral, free trade agreements, which will eventually agglomerate into MEFTA. Egypt has long been one of the closest Arab allies for the U.S. and is the most important political force in the Arab world. The paper explains that, without the creation of a bilateral free trade agreement with Egypt, the expansion of MEFTA is unlikely. That being said, creating a free trade agreement with Egypt is fraught with complications and equally endowed with opportunity. The issue remains contentious, yet practical, given the appropriate support. Most importantly, it offers an opportunity to redirect the course of Arab-American relations toward a more symbiotic course.
From the Paper "The paradox of Egypt, being one of the world's oldest civilizations, having relations with the world's newest global power, the United States, offers an intriguing respite in the arena of international affairs. In recent years, many countries have made mutually beneficial trade a top priority of their foreign policy. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the European Union (EU), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and others have all proven both the merit and the inherent dangers of free trade. While the industrialized regions of the world have taken the lead and reaped the early benefits of extended free trade, many developing regions, notably the Middle East have been neglecting the opportunity. Now, with the proposition of a United States-Egypt Free Trade Act, supported by President Bush's plan for a Middle East Free Trade Area and the existing US-Egyptian Trade and Investment Framework Agreement as well as precedent-making Free Trade Acts with other Arab countries, the possibility for a significant change in the economic relationship between the United States and Egypt is at hand. Hence, taking into consideration the gravity of the current circumstances of international affairs in the region in addition to the economic implications, the United States and Egypt should pursue a free trade agreement with provisions to make it mutually beneficial as a mechanism of development and benevolence."
Abstract The paper explains that a bilateral air transport agreement (ATA) is a convention signed by two countries by which they allow one another unrestricted civil aviation within their national boundaries. They grant each other rights to transport and take on and off, passengers, mail and cargo on their air route and territory. The paper discusses how such an agreement has both positive and negative effects, but the paper reveals that the positive outnumber the negative ones and make the contract beneficial for the development of the airline industry, economy, tourism and international relationships. The paper explains that the majority of the bilateral air service agreements must have been beneficial for both parties, since once they expired, new alliances were negotiated and formed.
Outline:
Executive Summary
Opinions and Arguments in Favor of the ATA
Rights Granted to the Parties by the ATA
Protection Issues
Unfair Competition
Monopoly
Protectionist Policies
War and Natural Calamities
Opinions and Arguments Against ATA
Restricted Pricing
Suggested Solution
Frequency on a Route
Offshoring jobs in the Airline Industry
Conclusions
From the Paper "There are two main reasons that support the forming of bilateral air transport agreements. First, the governments of the countries involved in the alliance believe that an international agreement and partnership could help protect themselves from numerous enemies and unfair competition.
"The second argument has a rather administrative nature and it regards the air transport companies and the travelers. In this order of ideas, the airline companies would be granted access to several airports and would be able to compete on the air services market by promoting lower prices and higher quality. Clients would be able to choose from a wider range of air transport providers the company that best met their financial and quality demands. This way, customers would be able to choose "the lowest prices that are not discriminatory.""
Abstract This paper discusses the history and effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It describes the aims of NAFTA, as well as how it was to implement its agreements. It then looks at some of the many positive outcomes from the NAFTA agreement, particularly the economic growth of the three nations involved, and briefly describes the reasons for some of the strong opposition to NAFTA.
From the Paper "It is hard to overlook the fact that since NAFTA was signed, there has been economic growth in all three nations, and a huge increase in the standard of living in Canada and Mexico. NAFTA has helped to integrate these three economies. Canada and Mexico have benefited the most with a free trade with the largest economy in the world, while the U.S. has gained rewards from the unhindered access to the Canadian and Mexican markets and products. Imports have grown under NAFTA, but more importantly, U.S. exports have grown tremendously and without NAFTA the U.S. would not have had these expanded export opportunities. NAFTA serves as a model and foundation for U.S. efforts to achieve trade liberalization. This will help the move toward a free flow of agricultural products between more countries. Negotiations are underway with the U.S. and Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua will strip away remaining trade barriers, eliminate tariffs, open markets and promote investment and economic growth for all countries involved."
Abstract This paper extensively analyzes the bottom line of the Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). Though the paper looks at the agreement from both participant-country's perspectives, it lingers more on the Philippine's viewpoint - a show of how third-world countries are not really disadvantaged despite some downsides. The paper then takes a turn and looks at the entirety of bilateral agreements to judge their effectiveness, in light of this example.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
A Closer Look at JPEPA
Issue against JPEPA
Final Judgment on JPEPA
From the Paper "Both Japan and Philippines realize the importance of Information and Communications Technolgy (ICT) in local and international businesses today. Because of this, JPEPA proposes to promote the development of ICT through electronic commerce, promoting the use of ICT-related services to consumers, human resource development related to ICT, formulation and development of network security system and research and development. If these are properly implemented, then more people will be expected to have a better knowledge in applying ICT."
Examines President Clinton's acceptance of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) through a discussion of Robert Putnam's two-level game theory.
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the link between international policy, especially international economic policy, and domestic issues. The writer notes that Robert Putnam has developed the view that a President negotiating an international economic agreement stands in two spheres. He deals in the international arena, and he deals in the domestic arena. The writer maintains that the negotiation and adoption of NAFTA fits the two-level paradigm that Putnam developed. Indeed, it shows that often American presidents can secure international agreements more easily than domestic compromise. In this case, Bill Clinton had to build a coalition to get NAFTA through. The writer concludes that negotiating the supplemental agreements proved easier than getting the enabling legislation through Congress.
From the Paper "It was a difficult issue for Clinton, because labor opposed the pact vehemently, while business interests thought it was a major breakthrough.
"On September 8, Bush released the text of NAFTA, a 7-inch thick document. Trying to fend off Clinton, Bush criticized him as indecisive on the pact. Notably, Mr. Bush had early secured extraordinary legislative authority to negotiate NAFTA. The President would submit the Agreement, which had in effect been given prior approval by the Congress. The key vote would come later, when Congress would adopt or reject enabling legislation that would put the Agreement into effect. While the legislation could supplement NAFTA, it could not contradict it."
An examination of how the World Trade Organization agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) has changed the way medicines are handled in the international community.
Abstract This paper discusses the World Trade Organization agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, which is also known as TRIPs. The paper first discusses the history of the agreement and the aspects that the laws encompass. The paper then focuses on how the TRIPs agreement has changed the way medicines are handled in the international community.
From the Paper "The TRIPs agreement has changed the way medicines are handled in the international community and has also changed the way intellectual property rights are handled. The compulsory licensing provision has made it possible for people in less fortunate countries to produce their own anti-AIDS drugs, since they are so expensive to get from other countries. This was done in an attempt to neutralize the monopoly that developed countries have on this industry, but it has thus far not been successful. WTO member nations are constantly looking to outdo one another economically, which leads to many disputes between member nations. With this agreement, countries can produce patented material without permission if the circumstances are right. While this is a step in the right direction, many member countries still cannot afford to produce the vast amounts of medicine that is needed to end these health epidemics. Likewise, parallel importing has created a system where countries can shop around for the best prices on certain products and are not forced to purchase these products directly from the manufacturer. The international community should support one another in order to ensure that proper healthcare is available to all countries who have signed in to the WTO because only this will ensure the long term survival of the pact."
Abstract This paper represents the North American Free Trade Agreement and its involvement in the corporate community. The author answers the questions of what NAFTA does for big business, and how it sometimes can interfere with other regional pacts signed in Latin America.
From the Paper:
"Back when trade between two nations was mainly influenced by special interests, the experts and lobbyists agreed there could be no other way to trade. This is no longer the case in today's global market. Corporations must now compete globally and adhere to stringent rules of trade. The reason for this is back in the 1950's the Gross Domestic Product was just four percent, in comparison today it is at a staggering thirteen percent. Another reason for this climb is because of international capital flows, which then can range from a production standpoint, for example, building factories, to pursuits of very speculative ventures of betting against a country's own currency. These areas have to a point, grown even more robustly. Although still another is that all areas covered under trade agreements have broadened from mainly traditional concerns with numerous tariffs, taxes, and quotas to cover labor, outside environmental problems, and state regulated health regulations. This is where NAFTA came into play."
Tags:agreements, business, corporation, economics, trade, latin, america, north
