Abstract This paper examines how the trend of globalization fueled by new technologies and an ethic of free-trade continues to connect the nations of the world in unprecedented fashion and how Globalization relies heavily upon the spread of free-market capitalism. It evaluates how globalization is merely Americanization on a global scale and how for Muslim nations, this is a particularly alarming prospect. It examines how Muslim conceptions of human rights, gender equality, democracy and modernization do not often concur with those of the United States and the West- particularly among Islamist fundamentalists. It analyzes how the fruits of globalization such as technology, international business opportunity and access to foreign goods do tempt many Muslim leaders, thus causing a troubled split within Muslim states.
From the Paper "In these early years of globalization the cultural exchange has been decisively one-sided, with Western media images and icons infiltrating the fabric of Muslim society. In most cases, the Western value structure is inconsistent with its Muslim counterpart. Western conceptions of gender, for example, do not always gel with Muslim conceptions. Women, under Islam, are meant to be cherished; the Prophet Mohammed offers this prescription: ?Treat your women well, and be kind to them." However, Muslim society has, in many cases, used the tenets of Islam as a means to subjugate women, usually in ways the West deems wildly inappropriate. Polygamy, though uncommon, does have a basis in Islam. As do arranged marriages, which are still very prevalent in Muslim society. Muslim women are often veiled from head to foot as a testimony to their deep modesty, and in many societies the slightest indiscretion can result in severe punishments. In Pakistan, for example, it is possible for a woman who has been raped to be legitimately charged with committing zina, which refers to any form of sex out of wedlock. If she is a married woman, rape is considered adultery and can result in her being stoned to death. If she is unmarried, the rape is considered mere fornication, punishable with 100 lashes and many years of prison. In Iran, as another example, girls are legally declared fit for marriage by the age of nine, and can be sent off as brides with men five times their age."
Abstract A review of Karl Marx's "The Communist Manifesto". Written by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in 1848. The writer claims that this book has grown into the most influential, most criticized and most well-known political pamphlet ever written. This paper explores how Marx and Engels describe the process by which humanity has become divided into two distinct and opposing social classes: The proletariat - the property-less working class and the bourgeoisie or the property-owning class.
From the Paper "The Communist Manifesto" opens with the assertion that "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles"(p. 57). From this, the essence of the Manifesto is derived. Marx and Engels present humanity as divided most distinctly along lines of social class. As the world has traversed into modernity, the nature of this distinction has simplified."
Abstract This paper briefly analyzes Karl Marx's Labor Theory of Value. It looks at the way that it is introduced in "The Communist Manifesto" in 1848 and the discusses how the ideas developed in his book "Das Kapital"
From the Paper "Karl Marx, champion of the fabled proletariat, criticized capitalism as a means of alienating man from his labor. Specialization and the division of labor, bourgeois control over the means of production, and the advent of machine-powered industry all combined to establish capitalism as the enemy of the common workingman. In the new configuration, capitalism concentrated wealth and property in the hands of the few, while the labor of the many sustained the system. Marx's Labor Theory of Value deals with the nature of proletarian labor, and how it suffers under the capitalist construct."
Abstract A review of the Ford Motor company which since its beginning, has produced some 270 million cars, or enough to put every person in the U.S. behind the wheel of a Ford. The list of Ford's accomplishments is satisfactory. It is the world's largest truck maker and lags behind General Motors as the largest manufacturer in the world. This paper looks at Ford's merger strategy and current business outlook.
From the Paper "This automotive juggernaut got its start in 1908 when Henry Ford built his Model T on a moving assembly line that revolutionized both car making and manufacturing. In fact, by 1920 some 60% of all vehicles on the road were Fords. In 1922, Ford bought Lincoln, and in 1938, the company introduced the Mercury. However, by this time the company had lost market share to GM and Chrysler."
Tags: car, industry, manufacturing, vehicles, management, merger, business, henry
Abstract By the year 2005, more than 60 percent of the American workforce will be women. However, the questions remain: What part of that percentage will be managers? And, does the "glass ceiling" really exist?To determine if the "glass ceiling" is, indeed, real, this analysis focuses on that question. The paper examines one industry -- commercial airlines and examines the role of women at Delta Airlines in the United States and Air France in France.
From the Paper "It is apparent that the lack of women in senior management positions in both airlines is a confirmation of Adler and Izraeli's 1988 seminal study that detailed corporate opinions of dealing with the two contrasting views of male-female management "equity," assuming a similarity between male and female contributions, and ?complementary contribution," assuming a noted difference between male and female management contributions. The challenge, say the authors, is for the corporation to strive to recognize the value of these differences (Adler & Izraeli, 1988)."
Tags: discrimination, Joan, Juliet, Buck, Sharon, I., Wibbem
Abstract Certain ideas about the relationship between education, poverty, and employment opportunities are assumed by much of society. Firstly, it is assumed that gaining a formal education is a key to achieving advancement and to attaining employment opportunities. Poverty is seen as reducing one's ability to gain an education, just as gaining an education is seen as a way of overcoming poverty. The social importance of education is emphasized again and again in the literature on education and also in the literature on various social problems. This paper examines the writings of several writers including Jonathan Kozol in his book "Savage Inequalities" and Jean Anyon in "Ghetto Schooling". The paper discusses how these writers analyze these issues in various ways.
From the Paper "Education as it is formulated in theory is based on a number of familiar assumptions in American society, assumptions about intelligence, the profession of teaching, and public policy concerning the structure and financing of education, all of which enter into the sense of school as a fairness zone. The first assumption is that intellectual ability is a quality that an individual possesses as the result of biogenetic causes and that the individual develops or fails to develop as a matter of personal volition."
Tags: Supreme, Court, segregation, Sol, Stern, William, Henry
An in-depth study examining the transition in automobile manufacturing from a mass production approach to a lean manufacturing approach, due to the effects of globalization.
Abstract The context of the problem investigated in this study is the contemporary automobile manufacturing approach where the competitive environment is increasingly global in character. Each automobile manufacturing operation in a single country is, in effect, in direct competition with counterpart operations in every other country wherever automobile manufacturing occurs. The problem is examined in the context of an automobile assembly plant of the TBC Company. The on-rush of economic globalization persuaded all American automobile manufacturers that a completely new approach to manufacturing was required in place of the hodge-podge of mass production and Japanese khan bhan techniques that had developed. The result of this conclusion was the development of lean manufacturing. The problem investigated in this study involves the transition in manufacturing from a mass production approach to a lean manufacturing approach. The main characteristics of the problem addressed are (1) materials management, (2) engineering changes, (3) machine, equipment and facility readiness, (4) labor flexibility, (5) outsourcing, and (6) cycle-time management.
Table of Contents:
Problem Context and Characteristics
Literature Review, Best Practices and Focal Organization Characteristics
Research Design
Gap Analysis
Conclusions and Recommendations
From the Paper "The greater choice of suppliers in international markets makes it possible to reduce costs and improve the quality of procured materials. In relation to production, the generation of economies of scale can be realized either through (1) the concentration of all production activities or through (2) the construction of a number of plants according to the needs of specialization. Production in decentralized plants can facilitate the attainment of several objectives, including (1) lower costs, (2) learning curve economies, (3) the establishment of a company in foreign markets, (4) the introduction of new products, and (5) technical leadership (Gulati, 1995)."
Abstract This paper compares exchange rates between Australia, Great Britain, and Japan from February 28th, 2003 and August 28th, 2002. Analysis of where a company could focus its export business based on past, current and 180 days forward exchange rate trends and other factors is then examined. Finally, a memorandum to convince management that establishing an export business to one of the countries is a good idea is included. The paper includes graphs.
From the Paper "A basic precept of economic theory is that currency depreciation encourages exports and improves a nation's trade balance. (Blaine, 1996) However, currencies began to float freely, more or less, in 1973 thus causing the link between exchange rates and trade flow to become very tenuous. (Blaine, 1996). The rapid increase in international capital flows is one reason attributed to this tenuous condition; capital flows are much more sensitive to minor changes in exchange rates compared to trade flows, especially in the short run. Therefore countries that attempt to boost exports by making their currencies weaker can experience negative results such as large inflows of foreign direct investment, large outflows of foreign portfolio investment and domestic flight of capital. (Blaine, 1996) The growing importance of multinational corporations in determining international trade patterns is another factor. Global production and distribution networks act to replace exports from the home countries of the multinationals thus replacing exports with local production in foreign markets."
Abstract This paper reviews how Kmart is currently being squeezed by Wal-mart, Target, Kohl's and a host of other discount establishments. The writer explains why the company now risks becoming irrelevant in a discount store world that has moved beyond them. The writer argues that had Kmart taken to heart certain key microeconomic concepts and applied them consistently they could possible have avoided this current state of affairs. These concepts are discussed.
From the Paper "Kmart certainly has its work cut out for itself. But how did it arrive at this state of affairs? Kmart declared bankruptcy in 2002 - the culmination of a number of bad decisions starting in the late 1980's and 1990's. The company had expanded rapidly, seeking to build up "a portfolio of category-dominant chains to complement its core business, the Kmart discount store." (Conrad, Hanson & Hoffman, 2001, p. 2). This strategy appears to have been an attempt to gain economies of scale. However most of these acquisitions had to be sold off as the economies of scale turned to diseconomies. There followed a concerted attempt to reorient the company back to the original discount store strategy."
Abstract This paper explores Mexico's demographics and key economic statistics and activities to assess this country's current circumstances and to make predictions for its future prospects. The writer argues that while the recession is negatively impacting most countries, it's more important to understand if they are prepared to emerge as stronger economies when the recovery takes place. It states that indicators such as infrastructure, resources, and trade policies hold the answer to this question.
From the Paper "In 2002, Mexico's population totaled 103,400,165. At this time, the population growth rate was 1.47 percent and the birth rate was 22.36 births/1,000. The majority of Mexicans, 62.7 percent, are between the ages of 15-64 (male 17,310,230, female 16,630,935). Approximately 32.8% are 0-14 years old (male 31,552,877, female 33,246,668), and only 4.5% are 65 years and over (male 2,069,826, female 2,589,629). According to the U.S. Department of State, almost 70% of the population lives in urban areas in 2000. Because of the lack of job opportunities, many Mexicans have emigrated from rural areas such as the underdeveloped southern states and the crowded central plateau to either more industrialized urban centers or developing areas along the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexico City's population is a huge problem, with more than 18 million residents, making it the largest concentration of population in the Western Hemisphere. Rural population density was estimated to be 98 people per square kilometer in 1997. "
An examination of the hegemonic stability theory which maintains that the presence of a powerful institution, with strong leadership and the power to impose sanctions, becomes even more necessary to maintain a liberal world economy.
Abstract This paper examines the theory of hegemonic stability and how it applies to the current climate of globalism. The first part of the paper traces the early roots of hegemonic stability theory, and how hegemons have regulated the international liberal economy through various historical periods. The second part examines the growing critiques to hegemonic stability theory. In the last part, the paper looks at the new theories that have been proposed to shed light on the new economic order, and compares how these new theories compare to the theory of hegemonic stability.
From the Paper "One of the earliest proponents of hegemonic stability theory was Charles P. Kindleberger, who maintained that the only way to ensure stability within the international economy was for a single country to "assume responsibility for maintaining a relatively open market" (cited in Lake, 147). For Kindleberger, a country's ability to stabilize the international economy rests largely on its size and its position within the larger economic system. Small states that cannot affect the international economy are ?free riders.? Middle-sized states that are big enough to cause damages but not substantial enough to stabilize the economic order are considered "spoilers" (Lake, 147).
Finally, the large states have both the size and the capability to stabilize the international economy. Therefore, only these states should assume the mantle of leadership (Lake, 157). Robert Gilpin further refined Kindleberger's original formulation by proposing a more nuanced view of the interrelationship between nation states. First, Gilpin challenged the primacy assigned to the economic system by recognizing a reciprocal relationship between the market and the policies of nation states. While states may set rules for investors and multinationals, the state policies, interests and actions are themselves shaped by economic and technological forces (Gilpin 24)."
Abstract This paper examines why the World Trade Organization is an important part of the international trade system. The paper discusses, why, since its inception, the WTO has been praised by its many supporters who feel that it protects and promotes free trade and vilified by its staunch detractors who feel that smaller countries are often under represented when it comes to matters involving world trade.
From the Paper "GATT, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, was formed in 1947 to regulate international trade. For forty years GATT members met from time to time to negotiate lower trade tariffs on goods. With the Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-92), GATT expanded to include other interests, such as the "harmonization" of standards, free global investment and intellectual property rights. (Hoekman et al., 1995) The so-called "new GATT" led to the creation of the of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in January 1995, to oversee many aspects of international trade. The result is assurance. Consumers and producers can enjoy secure supplies and a wider array of finished products, components, raw materials and services that they use. Producers and exporters know that foreign markets will remain open to them."
Abstract The author writes this essay comparing and contrasting three works, including that of Ronal Moe, around the idea of privatization, or "contracting out." The author also expresses an opinion of the effects of privatizing social services. Although the federal government has given many of their programs to the private sector, history reveals that the idea of privatization has not always been widely accepted. Nevertheless, the "movement" seems to allow the government to cut costs, all the while, weakening their power over these programs. The writers of the three works discussed would debate these issues. Despite the private sector's efficiency, privatizing social services could have a negative effect on disadvantaged clients.
From the Paper "There has been continued debate over the issue of the privatization of public administration. Privatization can be generally defined as "any public policy decision that involves a reliance on a private means to achieve a pubic end." In Ronald Moe's "Exploring the Limits of Privatization," he examined the need for mutual coexistence and linkage between the public and private sectors while describing the limitations of privatization from a legal perspective. In "The Privatization of Correctional Facilities," Quinlan, Thomas, and Gautreaux provided an overview of the theory and the history of correctional privatization as an introduction to detailed information for the procurement and contracting process in the area of corrections. Both of these works can be compared to that of the "State and Local Fiscal and Privatization Trends" where Chieppo, Montague, and Savas discussed the experiences of different states and their desire, or lack thereof, to privatize government agencies. These three writings are similar in content; however, there are some portions where the ideas of they contrast."
Tags: chieppo, contracting, moe, montague, privatization, ronald, savas, services, social
Abstract This paper basically begins with a brief introduction to social security and how the money is distributed. It then gives a list of stakeholders (people interested and effected by the outcome of social security), with explanations of why they are stakeholders. The paper then describes the three main alternatives to the present system (raising taxes, cutting benefits or privatization). The author of the paper then proposes a solution to the social security problem (with costs, benefits and reasons for choosing the solution).
From the Paper "The future of Social Security has become an important topic of debate around the nation. Social Security, a pay-as-you-go system, is expected to start paying out more in benefits than it collects in taxes by 2017. The program is financed by 12.4% payroll tax which is divided between the employee and the employer. Social Security needs to be reformed, and it needs to be done quickly. America will face a crisis in the upcoming decade if nothing is done to improve the system."
This paper explains what the trade deficit is, what causes it and how and why it is growing at the rate that it is. It discusses whether or not the trade deficit presents any kind of problem or risk to our economy as well as some possible solutions.
Abstract Hearing media reports of America's trade deficit most people are led to believe that it represents a drain on our economy and is caused by unfair trade practices of other nations. This paper explains why these notions are not entirely true. Both the upside and the downside of the trade deficit are discussed. It explains why foreign investments are the driving force behind the trade deficit, why protectionist policies are not effective in reducing it, and why it is part of a growing economy. It examines the potential risk inherent in an ongoing trade deficit and discusses what our government could do to bring it under control.
From the Paper "The United States' trade deficit, also known as the current account deficit, is a measure of the balance of the flow of goods, services, and investments between the United States and the rest of the world. In other words it is the difference between how much we are selling to the rest of the world and how much we are buying from the rest of the world. A country that is selling more than it is buying is said to have a trade surplus. A country that is buying more than it is selling is said to have a trade deficit. The United States has been running a trade deficit for many years and in recent years it has been rising rapidly."
