This paper answers five questions on monopolies, monopolistic competition, and oligopolies in terms of the Microsoft case based on the text by Schiller "The Macro Economy Today".
Abstract This paper is structured as five questions about monopolies, monopolistic competition, and oligopolies, based on the Microsoft situation, and whether or not it is a monopoly. The required text is "The Macro Economy Today", by Bradley R. Schiller. The first question covers the Microsoft current situation and its history. The second question defines a monopoly, the third question covers the situation of oligopoly as applied to the Microsoft situation, and the fourth question pertains to the condition of monopolistic competition as relevant to the Microsoft case. Finally, the fifth question looks at deregulation of the Microsoft. This paper is a useful resource material on the subject of Microsoft and monopolies.
Table of contents
I. Introduction
II. Answer 1: Microsoft's history and current situation regarding the monopoly issue.
III. Answer 3: A concept from the chapter Oligopoly? to the Microsoft situation:
IV. Answer 4: Monopolistic competition in Microsoft's situation
V. Answer 5: Deregulation of businesses in Microsoft's situation:
From the Paper "Answer 1: Microsoft's history and current situation regarding the monopoly issue.
The case against Microsoft started back in the early 1990. The first major issue, which started it all, was the fact that Microsoft was that Microsoft had been using its powers in the operating system market to force computer manufacturers to put its Internet Explorer on all personal computers on which they installed the windows operating system. This was making it very hard for other smaller players, such as Netscape, who also had an Internet browser to compete. This was just one of the many things that Microsoft was said to be doing wrong. The antitrust case by the US Department of Justice against Microsoft was accusing Microsoft of firstly, thwarting competitors in the operating system market, by making banners of entry in the market. These include exclusive bargain purchase agreements with all, or most major computer manufacturers. It also accused Microsoft of using its monopoly position in the marketplace to gain unfair advantages in the marketplace. Also, a trend was that Microsoft was also accused in this case of buying out competitors. "
This is a research proposal that was done to look at the effects of poverty on immigration in Canada. The proposal attempts to answer the question: Why are Canada’s immigrants more likely to end up in poverty than native-born Canadians.
3,660 words (approx. 14.6 pages), 6 sources, 2001, $ 101.95
Abstract This is a research proposal that was done to look at the effects of poverty on immigration in Canada. In Canada, immigrants are more likely to live under the poverty line than native Canadian-born citizens. The proposal attempts to answer the question: Why are Canada's immigrants more likely to end up in poverty than native-born Canadians. It is a qualitative proposal, which includes a literature review. The author discusses census data and utilizes interview questions and answers. The proposal was written in first person narrative, and is 13 pages long, including bibliography as well as a potential newspaper ad for gathering applicants to the study.
From the Paper "This study will hopefully show why it is that immigrants to Canada , at least those who arrived since 1981, are more likely to live in poverty than native-born Canadians. It will attempt to find possible solutions to prevent this from happening to future immigrant populations, whether the problem lies in the hands of the immigration system, or if it has to do with something else. Optimistically, my study will also serve to educate the public and policy makers to adopt different views on immigration and immigrants than the ones currently harbored by many. In my opinion, education of the public and lawmakers will prove crucial after the findings to start finding ways to make some changes to get these people out of poverty, which would benefit everyone."
Abstract This paper states that a logically more rigorous approach would be to ask "Who Dies" when Death occurs. The author looks for answers from psychology, religion especially the Prophets, and extensively from philosophy. The paper points out that although we may never know the answers to these questions, there is no question that people's fear of death only adds to their suffering with a multitude of effects.
From the Paper "What does the observed dependence of mind upon matter prove if not the mortality of the soul? Wait. First, just what do we observe? We observe the physical manifestations of consciousness (e.g. speech) cease when the body dies. We do not observe the spirit cease to exist, because we do not observe the spirit at all, only its manifestations in the body. Observations of the body do not decide whether that body is an instrument of an independent spirit, which continues to exist after its body-instrument dies, or whether the body is the cause of a dependent spirit, which dies, when its cause dies. Both hypotheses account for the observed facts."
This paper is a collection of answers to five questions based on the classic book, "A Concise History of the Middle East" (6th edition) by Arthur Goldschmidt, Jr..
Abstract This paper answers five questions based on Goldschmidt's history of the Middle East. The author, for example, when asked --- "How do you square the Muslim notion that they are governed by God (Allah), not man, with the military nature of virtually all of the Middle Eastern states"" --- answered that many Muslims believe Allah endorses their self-preservation at all costs; thus, their warlike nature is endorsed by their religious beliefs, and by necessity, and they continue in fighting today. The author concludes that as long as the Arab nations cannot accept one another and cannot accept the influence of other nations, Muslim or not, there will be continued strife in the area.
From the Paper "Attempted reforms from the west were unsuccessful in the Ottoman and Persian empires for a variety of reasons. In the Ottoman Empire, reformers such as Russia were not the best choices to choose as allies. Russia had fought the Ottomans often, and when the Empire turned to Russia as a European protector, the Russian motives were certainly not in the Ottoman interests. The Ottoman pact with Russia also alienated other European countries that might have been better influences on Ottoman reforms. As the author notes, "Unfortunately, Britain's insistence on upholding Ottoman territorial integrity was on a collision course with Russia's attempt to win more influence in the Balkans. The crash was the Crimean War of 1853-1856" (Goldschmidt 152). There also was another vital influence from the European powers which doomed western reform. A proclamation was issued which guaranteed all Ottoman subjects equality; the Muslims did not want the Jews and Christians to share the same rights and status, and so the Muslims revolted. The reforms of the Ottoman Empire failed mostly because they chose the wrong ally, and the Europeans did not understand the culture and beliefs of the Muslim race, and so they tried to issue reforms that could not survive in the Muslim culture. "
Tags: war, self-preservation, russia, ottoman, persia
Abstract The following questions are answered in a short answer format, 1) Explain the critical comparison of materialism and the theories of the views of the universe and the view of man. 2) Explain Western society's shift from theism to deism that led to naturalism which logically leads to nihilism. Elaborate on how one view leads to another and ends up with nihilism's loss of an abyss for human significance, truth, and moral values. 3) Explain materialism, and with it a statement of some of the reasons why one would choose materialism as a worldview. 4) Explain how to deal with war in the light of the set of materialism. 5) Explain how materialism affects one's actions regarding people in the workplace.
Abstract This paper explains that the "Leadership Practices Inventory", an instrument that would help determine leadership practices and capabilities, is based on Kouzes and Posner's "The Five Practices". The author points out that being a good leader starts with two things, being able to provide a vision for your subordinates and making sure that this vision is shared by all your subordinates, which means that they will be able to work together to make that vision possible. The paper relates the author noticed a reticence by the test taker to go for the extreme answers, which means that the individual stayed away from the 'almost never' or 'rarely' statements and from the 'very frequently' and 'almost always' ones, sticking with average answers; this tendency may have influenced his results. Charts
Table of Contents
Model the Way
Inspire a Shared Vision
Challenge the Process
Enable Others to Act
Encourage the Heart
Conclusions
From the Paper "Let's first analyze the three statements for which you have scored a 10. First of all, you almost always "follow through on promises and commitments". As a leader, this means that your subordinates will always count on your word and will trust you with it. If we have the example of military leaders, when trusting the general was usually equivalent with the differences between life and death, we may have an idea about the importance of trusting that what your team or group leader is saying will prove right. In an organization, where the team leader is often the connection between team members and top management, following through on promises and commitments means that you trust your leader to represent you before the top management team and you trust him or her to take decisions for you there. Further more, you trust that these will be the ones you yourself would have taken."
Abstract This paper explains that Frederick Douglass, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Marie Montessori and Paulo Friere each gave a different view of how education should be achieved; however, each began with the assumption that education was a thing to be desired. The author points out that the desire for education is as integral to being a human as the desire to eat and breathe. The paper concludes that education strives to provide us with possessions that are worth having, answers to the question of what we should seek to find in life and how we should go about finding it once we know; the desire to find answers is how we achieve the full potential of the human spirit.
From the Paper "Upon gaining an education and putting it to use in the world around him, the final step is for the student to use his knowledge to ensure the emancipation of his soul. Three of the authors mentioned used a similar metaphor- that of slavery. After reading essays about Catholic emancipation, Frederick Douglass writes, "They gave tongue to interesting thoughts of my own soul, which had frequently flashed through my mind, and died away for want of utterance" (270). By learning about the experiences of others, Douglass is forced to examine his own desires, most importantly, the desire to be free from slavery."
Abstract This paper provides brief synopses of the most important issues for the U.S. economy. Written in a question and answer format, the paper answers ten questions about deficits and balanced budgets. The questions are:
(1) Why is a balanced budget, and possibly a balanced budget amendment necessary...Or is it?
(2) What is macroeconomics, and does it really affect the average citizen?
(3) Why did we have budget deficits for so long?
(4) Is there a way to cut spending and still cut taxes, and keep the surplus as well as getting the budget balanced?
(5) Is there such a thing as a really "fair" taxation system?
(6) If it is sort of unethical to borrow money and not repay it, how can the government do it?
(7) What would you do if you were asked to create a fair and equitable budget strategy, what would you advise?
(8) You say there have been budget shortfalls for years, and now in the last couple of years, all of a sudden, there is a surplus. So, why am I and my family not feeling the benefits of this surplus?
(9) I keep reading about this new European currency called the "euro" and the problems in Japan and how it might affect the trade balance and the stability of the dollar. Is this anything I should be worried about? Or is it just another game for economists to quibble about?
(10) You had to consult a number of books and articles from so-called experts for this assessment of our balanced budget needs. Have you really learned anything?
From the Paper "Americans are basically naive about economics. Politicians and Economists duel about surpluses, deficits, the fate of Social Security, interest rates, international trade, and so on. We see headlines that scream that 400,000 new jobs cause fears of interest rate increases, The next day, the headlines about the slowing of new jobs seem to indicate the same (or other) "fears". After more than a generation of budget deficits, now we have surpluses, and the arguments rage about what to do with them. The fact is, a very small, privileged few (Alan Greenspan, head of the "Fed" is one) know what is going on and why, and, furthermore, what to do about it."
This paper reviews five scholarly studies in an effort to answer the question of whether or not individuals can be friends after ending a romantic relationship.
Abstract This paper relates that one of the most enduring questions regarding life, love, and the perpetuation of the growth of the individual through developed interpersonal communication, is whether or not there can be friendship after a romantic relationship has ended. This paper asserts that popular contemporary opinion, as well as anecdotal evidence, has a mixed answer. One side says a couple can never go from being lovers to friends and it's unhealthy to try. While still others say that becoming friends is the only realistic way to recover, in the long term and learn from what went right wrong in the relationship. However, the paper shows that there is also a popular idea that becoming friends after a breakup just depends on the individuals involved, the depth of the relationship, and the manner in which the relationship ended. This work reviews five scholarly research articles seeking out definitive qualitative and quantitative evidence for the answer to this question.
From the Paper "The findings of the article lead some credence to the idea that the individual's level of distress post break-up and the eventuality of the relationship ending in the two people being friends has significant correlation to the length of time since the break-up, the level of health in the relationship, the perception of individual investment in the relationship and most importantly whether the two individuals were friends before they became romantically involved. The hints then that this work offer to the broader question is then relatively easy to assess, the most important factors in order are, if the individuals were friends before the romantic involvement, the time it has been since the relationship ended, and lastly the level of overall health and satisfaction that existed in the relationship while it was still intact. (Sprecher, Felmlee, Metts, Fehr & Vanni 791-809) The equation is then rather simple, if there is a basis for friendship, a healthy overall relationship and if enough time has passed there is a good chance that a post-relationship friendship will develop that could potentially lead to a lasting social development phase that helps both parties navigate the rights and wrongs of the relationship and possibly change themselves for the better, for the next relationship. The equation is the opposite, if it is to soon emotionally, the relationship was overall unhealthy and lastly if the two people have little if any basis for a friendship in the history of their time together then a friendship will not likely be even worth attempting. (Sprecher, Felmlee, Metts, Fehr & Vanni 791-809)"
Tags: interpersonal, communication, opinion, evidence, review, research
Examines the case for drug prohibition against the backdrop of the historical examples of alcohol and cigarette prohibition, arguing that complete prohibition is unlikely to succeed today.
3,575 words (approx. 14.3 pages), 19 sources, 2001, $ 99.95
Abstract This paper addresses the common question in public policy on how best to restrict the proliferation of addictive substances in society: drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. The author examines the policies ranging from complete prohibition to the legalization of non-addictive drugs. This paper draws on the historical examples of alcohol and cigarette prohibition to argue that the complete prohibition of drugs is not the best answer to the drug problems faced by significant numbers of Americans.
From the Paper "Many legislators advocate the prohibition of addictive substances as the best way to limit their consumption and the myriad social and economic ills that accompany it. This zero-tolerance ideal was the basis of the noble experiment of alcohol prohibition during the 1920s, the ban on cigarettes in Canada and 15 American states at the beginning of this century, and, perhaps most pertinently, the War on Drugs that we currently find ourselves embroiled in. Drawing primarily on the ideas formally presented by Chester Barnard, this paper will dissect the historical example of alcohol prohibition in the 1920s in order to demonstrate that prohibition is a poor approach towards tackling the consumption and sale of harmfully addictive substances because of the manifold obstacles to implementation that stand in the way of its success."
Abstract This paper analyzes the question through philosophical, medical, and semantic rationale. It shows why many would argue against the fact that blind people can technically visualize color, but it also contends that many blind people have vividly described color and the how it effects all the senses.
From the paper:
"The question at hand is, "Do blind people (from birth) have a concept of color"? In answering this fairly, I must be extremely careful not to think myself superior, nor to dare think that I know better what is happening inside the mind of my blind neighbor than she herself may do. However, this is a question that seems to have long plagued philosophy, and it remains a profound metaphor for the relationship between experience and understanding. Therefore, it must be approached with both an eye to the actual experiences and thoughts of those who have been born blind, and to the long held ideas of science and philosophy."
Abstract This paper looks at the school of analytic philosophy by examining the writings of different philosophers in order to show how they answered questions about human thought. The role of mathematics, language analysis and linguistic analysis in this school of philosophy are examined in detail. The author also looks at the identity theory, and how it is defined by the different philosophers.
From the Paper "Linguistic analysis as a method of philosophy is as old as philosophy itself and was practiced by the Greek philosophy: Several of the dialogues of Plato, for example, examine the ways in which certain terms and concepts may be clarified using a form of analysis that Frege and Kripke would feel perfectly comfortable with. The 20th century revival of these concerns was influenced by the British empirical tradition of John Locke, George Berkeley, David Hume, and John Stuart Mill and by the writings of the German mathematician and philosopher Gottlob Frege (Munitz, 1971, p. 199). The precision of mathematics and links between mathematical concepts and idealized forms of linguistic expression are thus central to many of the arguments."
Abstract The following paper examines how the imagination was used as a tool to discover whatever Emily might have been able to find about life after death. Emily's views changed from poem to poem depending on her mood and what she wanted to believe at the time. This paper shows how Emily Dickinson felt about the uncertainty and uncontrollable aspect of death, with reference to her poetry.
From the Paper "Emily Dickinson is one of the most mysterious, yet profound poets in history. She was considered the poet of dread. Clark Griffith a well-known critic of Emily's poetry says: ?Emily knew no aspect of existence which did not, sooner or later, strike her as fundamentally dreadful.? He believed her vision was one of hell. Emily lived a very secluded life. The only time she left her home for any length of time was to attend a term at Mt. Holyoke College. She spoke to visitors through a screen, or from an adjoining room in her home. The importance of this aspect of her life is that this seclusion was a necessary condition in the creativity of her poetry. Emily's dreadful poetry many times had themes such as death and immortality. She was obsessed with these subjects and died still searching for answers to them. She admits her preoccupation with the thought of dying and with the grave ??when the Grave and I-/ Have sobbed ourselves almost to sleep,/ Our only Lullaby.? (Richard Chase) Here she is saying that her thoughts of death are the only thoughts that put her to sleep. I am going to show through two of her most analyzed poems how she tried to analyze death and immortality."
Abstract This paper examines the article, "Five Critical Questions," that appeared in the February 7 issue of "Business Week." The first question, asked and addressed by Stan Crock is, "What Kind of Superpower" will America be in its future? The second question asked by Pete Engardio, deals with "What's Next for the Global Economy"? The third question, asked by Paul Starobin, is "What is Moscow's New Role"? The fourth question, asked by Dexter Roberts, is "How does China Play its Hand"? The fifth and final question as asked by Stanley Reed is: "Will the Arab Nation ever Change"? These questions and their answers are an attempt at understanding the tragedy of September 11.
From the Paper "The first question, asked and addressed by Stan Crock is, "What Kind of Superpower" will America be in its future? In the past, America has often claimed not to be a hegemonic or imperialistic nation, and Republicans such as Bush have generally refrained (at least in theory) from global government, internationalism, or "nation-building" and tended towards isolationism. However, in the wake of a perceived active and growing terrorist threat, Bush is pushing America towards sweeping international power. He suggests that terrorist activity would be cut by aiding foreign governments in improving border controls and intelligence, overhauling their judicial system, and helping them to track the financial activities of citizens suspected of crime or terrorism, and providing military support for anti-terrorist or counter-revolutionary measures. Much of this would be done in cooperation with the World Bank. It's unclear how far he will take this, as both many American citizens and foreign powers have deep reservations about such global controls."
Tags: 911, 11, september, global, regional, terrorism, terror
