Abstract This paper discusses the current state of poverty in China, the level of reduction in poverty the country has achieved, and what the country may be able to do about the issue in the future, noting that an issue to be considered when doing business in China is the degree of poverty faced in that country and how well China is doing at reducing the levels of poverty so as to bring the whole country to a new economic structure.
From the Paper "Two facts are well-known and accepted by most Americans: first, China is a huge country with a massive population; and second, China is a Communist country that may or may not be in transition to a more market-oriented economy. The size of China is one of the reasons why many U.S. companies want to do business there, for these companies see this huge population as a new consumer base. The U.S. government, and many other Western governments, support doing business with China from the view that this will help lead China to a different market orientation and will increase freedom in China over time."
Abstract This paper stresses that, although many economists point to China's rapidly growing economy and decreasing poverty rate, the figures on poverty in the country are still alarming, especially in the rural areas. The author points out that policy measures focusing on local poor regions should include promoting growth of resource improvement, rural education, labor issues and health, especially as sickness issues are one of the primary factors driving China's rural poverty. The paper relates that the bulk of povertyreduction techniques for China should involve taxation, international aid and the abolishment of the vast rural-urban segmentation characteristic of China, a situation that is being exacerbated by China's growing industrialization. The paper includes several quotations.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Poverty in China: Background
Poverty in China: Important Issues for Address
Policy Measures for Improving China's Poverty Conclusion
From the Paper "It is an unarguable fact that China's poverty problem is primarily rural. China is generally being effective in reducing its absolute poverty; however, relative poverty appears to be increasing. China's spread of poverty is highly regional. ... China's widening economic disparity is generally thought to exist owing to reform and structural changes within the nation that shifted "central planning to markets and from agriculture to manufacturing and services, and opening up to international trade and knowledge transfer." The nation showcases a distinctive lack of rural job opportunities under a climate of increasing industrialization."
Tags: rural, urban, health, taxation, international
Abstract This paper explains that the challenges faced by institutions pursuing the expansion of micro-finance in Pakistan are as complex and varied as the causes of poverty, which are lack of access of the poor to public services, poor governance, gender discrimination against women, and the absence of risk mitigation measures. The author points out that micro-finance provides very poor families with very small loans, also known as micro-credit, initial savings of $35, and a first-time loan of about $295, with an interest rate of 18-20% per annum, to help them engage in productive activities or grow their tiny businesses. Micro-finance also can include a broader range of services such as credit, savings, and insurance because the poor lack access to traditional, formal, financial institutions. The paper relates that commercial banks are well suited to providing micro-credit to the poor because they can handle large numbers of transactions and have the capacity to track a large number of loans; highly localized, non-government organizations (NGOs) also can play a vital role in the provision of micro-finance services, but they are riddled with institutional inefficiencies.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Poverty's Dimensions and Causes
Micro-Finance and PovertyReduction Role of Financial Institutions in Providing Micro-Finance
Challenges and Recommendations
Conclusions
From the Paper "Pakistan has seen steady growth in the agricultural sector, averaging over 4 percent per year from 1993 to 1999. Despite this, the incidence of poverty in rural areas increased by 7 percentage points over the same period. The overall growth of the sector is not translating into reduced poverty at the rural level. There are two possible reasons for this disparity. First, the unpredictability of the agricultural sector could have led to fluctuations of consumption in rural areas, as well as asset depletion of the rural poor as they continue to try and meet their consumption needs. Second, rural poverty is also closely linked to the distribution pattern of assets, especially land assets, which is a prevalent problem in rural Pakistan."
Abstract This paper proposes a research study on the link between economic development, information and communication technology (ICT) and povertyreduction, specifically in the country of Ethiopia. The paper provides a literature review and summarizes the findings. The paper discusses the results that show how ICT development and implementation has the potential to transform the economics of a country, specifically one such as Ethiopia. The paper notes that there are barriers to implementation but it has been shown that they could be overcome.
Outline:
Objective
Introduction
Research Questions
Review of the Literature
Summary of the Literature Reviewed
Methodology
From the Paper "The work of Ziadi and Kuofie (2006) entitled: "Impact of ICT on Organization in Tunsia" states the fact that in the face of changes that are economic and technological in nature companies become "more conscious of the importance of their structure, technologies and intellectual capital." These authors cite Zack (1999) in the statement of "This capital is considered as a not easily imitable competing weapon." Nonaka (1991) is cited in the statement of: "This is why the competitiveness of these companies is dependent on acquisition, creation, the localization and the renewal of the organizational knowledge." (Ziadi and Kuofie, 2006)."
Tags: Ethiopia, economics, telecommunications, digital
Abstract This paper discusses options for eradicating poverty. It describes the problems associated with poverty and how it is prevalent on a global scale. It then looks at general policy strategies with regards to povertyreduction and discusses some immediate responses to world poverty. The paper concludes by looking at specific policies towards global poverty and their shortcomings.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
The Reality of Poverty: Threats from Everywhere
The General Policy Strategy: Some Immediate Responses to World Poverty To Rescue Neo-liberalism: Embedding of Social Inclusion
The PRSP: Framework for Developing Countries? -Some Pitfalls and Weaknesses
Conclusion
From the Paper "Indeed, poverty anywhere is a threat to security everywhere. This just affirms the fact that poverty is severely widespread. So it is just right to think that the solution should not be a top-down approach. The project of 'inclusive' liberalism is still a top-down approach and therefore, it is not entirely 'inclusive.' But in spite of these failures, one must still value the attempts (though often failures) that is being made to avert further world poverty. Warts and all--even though there are questions about the real 'intentions' or motive of the neo-liberal framework, the important thing is that we have something to start with. We cannot undermine the value of this attempt of the neo-liberal framework to include. The only thing that is needed is a critical re-thinking of the whole discourse that would eventually 'include' everyone. The approach must be tilted--this time the poorest of the poor must be at the forefront. Anyway, it is them who are severely afflicted by this menace."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that the global economic structure, otherwise referred to as globalism or globalization, has seen increased attention being paid to poverty levels in emerging and developing markets. The writer maintains that understanding poverty and how to alleviate it is a critical component of joining the rank of first world nations. The writer points out that while the list of countries that have encouraged foreign investment and trade is growing, the fact remains that few have experienced the type of economic success that China and India have experienced. The writer argues that the discussion of poverty and its alleviation, vis-a-vis China or indeed any other emerging market, is really a discussion of how these economic structures are re-characterized in respect to the global economy. The writer maintains that the intent is to assist these markets with their internal economic structures, without compromising national integrity, so as to result in a more universal elevation of quality of life standards across the spectrum of their societies.
Outline:
Overview
China & Poverty Success Factors
The Global/Local Connection
From the Paper "By utilizing more accurate measures for poverty, the result is a decidedly different number relative to ascertaining the number of individuals living below the poverty line. The typical measure utilized by most Western nations and international organizations is the $1 per day measure of income which is the point at which individuals can adequately provide for themselves and their families at sustenance level and by this measure, China's poverty level increases dramatically. However, in spite of this divergence over the effectiveness in determining poverty levels, there can be no argument that China has made progress in alleviating poverty through a series of economic and development policy issues that has seen average wage increases for many .. "
Abstract This paper explains that viewing the Internet as only a marketing tool is a vast mistake because the Internet has vast applications to making the way of doing business not only easier and less costly, but also completely different than traditional banking. The author points out that Chinese banks, like the China Merchant Bank, will be able to strengthen relationships with existing customers by allowing them to access via its Website previously inaccessible decision-support information, such as detailed account reports, product specifications and interest rate comparisons at their own convenience. The paper, using many strategy analysis tools, concludes that e-banking is a viable solution to the problem of escalating costs of human tellers dealing with smaller depositors; therefore, Chinese banks, who are focused on ROI (return-on-investment) in order to prioritize and evaluate its goals, should develop an e-strategy.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Overall Review of E-Banking Industry
Customer Loyalty
Customer Needs and Meeting Them
Strategy for Building Customer Loyalty
China Merchant Bank
Risk Prevention in E-Banking of China From the Technical View
E-Supply Chain Management
Procurement
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
From the Managerial View
Strategic Plan
SWOT Assessment
Porter Five Forces
Porters Five Force Model
Customer Bargaining Power - High
Threat of Substitute Products and Services - Emerging
Supplier Bargaining Power--low
Threat of New Entrants - Emerging
The Overall Level of Rivalry - Moderate
Value Chain Model
Conclusions
From the Paper "Contrary to popular retail belief, customers are not looking for the lowest price. Thompson writes, "the savvy business can only be differentiated by price." Businesses need to take into an account not only the traditional way to compete with a commodity is to lower cost of manufacturing and then lower the price to drive additional sales to make it up on volume. A company should consider other factors like the value of their service or product but also to consider the value of add-ons to product. Such incentives can rationalize asking a higher price and the customer will be happy with additional quality found in the added value. Customers need to see the value, once they know it is there then the price is not an object."
Abstract This paper reviews how the Chinese government implemented a strict one-child policy decades ago in order to control its drastic population explosion. The author indicates that although the policy was enforced with reward and punishment, it has been largely successful. However, this policy, against natural process of reproduction, is creating serious social issues such as gender imbalance and orphans. The policy is very controversial due to its inhumane approach including mass sterilizations and forced abortions, and the policy also violates a human right of reproduction. This paper examines whether China can supply enough food, jobs and places to live for its people despite this policy and what problems China will face in the future.
From the Paper "More than a fifth of the world's population lives in China today. Even though Chinese government had implemented a fairly successful One-child policy, Chinese population will continue to grow until it is estimated to level off sometime before 2100. Chinese government was successful in making people believe that having more than one child is not good for China's future. On the other hand, strict and inhumane policy had raised some issues in terms of basic human rights in reproduction and also damage to traditional values. However controversial the policy was, it helped to control China's population growth. The question China must answer is; Can China support itself today, and in the future?"
Abstract This paper discusses how China's influence as an economic power has grown dramatically in the past few decades and how the Chinese have taken advantage of its seemingly endless pool of cheap labor to make itself the center of global manufacturing. The paper relates that this has led to heavy foreign investment, the opening of its economy, and a sharp rise in GDP per capita. The paper also discusses the domestic and foreign policy issues the US must tackle if it wants to retain its hegemon status.
From the Paper "Next, America must lead the global fight on global warming. Environmental issues are going to be at the forefront in the 21st century and the US must lead the way. The US is currently the leading culprit in carbon emissions which we need to drastically reduce. We need to heavily invest in renewable energy resources, both for the health of our planet and also to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Our industrial plants need to be retrofitted and modernized to cut down on their emissions. The US auto industry needs to raise fuel efficiency standards significantly and also develop cars that will eventually no longer need fuel. Furthermore, every community should have recycling facilities. Americans are filling up too many landfills. The US also needs to join the Kyoto Protocol and then improve on it. America needs to show that the long term interests of our planet greatly outweigh that of our short term economic interests. "
Abstract The paper examines the works of Maurice Meisner and Minxin Pei concerning the high social, political and economic price of China's approach to development. The paper then explains the phenomenon of Chinese consumerism that exists while millions struggle to obtain basic subsistence. The paper portrays the disparity in the American-style high consuming class and the working or unemployed poor.
Outline:
Introduction
Consumerism - Chinese Style
Disparities and Frustrations
Time and Unfulfilled Promises
Consumerism and Culture
Concluding Remarks
From the Paper "Meisner noted a small percentage of urban population are members of the nouveaux riches that support "the world's most rapidly growing market in luxury goods." (1999 534) Otherwise there is much conspicuous lesser spending. A report for business people planning to do retail business in the PRC in 2005 with China's permission of foreign distributors with World Trade Organisation membership stated that the Chinese consumer still shops daily, likes processed and packaged foods, expects shopping to be an outdoor, urban activity and favours products to do with sport, leisure and general convenience. (Iyengar 2004) Car ownership is proportionately low and the distances great so that distributors have to work hard, if promoting a new product in China, to see that it reaches every targeted region. Mail order business is unknown and Internet shopping just beginning. The leisure culture taking form in the 1990s showed little sign of declining. Consumers were less automatically taken by foreign manufactures but wanted goods that made their lives more convenient. A Euromonitor International article referred to a positive attitude in the PCR towards owning one's housing, letting housing out to others, high demand for household durables and leisure goods that allowed for a busier lifestyle. (2006)"
Abstract This paper discusses the controversial issue of poverty, poverty in the USA, what poverty in a developing country such as Ethiopia is, what the solutions appear to be for ending poverty, and who is ultimately responsible for poverty. The paper concludes that poverty is something best resolved through education and informational exchange across countries and that the blame for poverty should not be affixed to those who are poor, but to those in government whose poor decision-making have exacerbated poverty in some communities.
This paper examines "Big Dragon China's Future: What it Means for Business, the Economy, and the Global Order" by Daniel Burstein and Arne de Keijzer who both contend that China is well on its way to becoming the world's largest economy.
Abstract This paper reviews Burstein and de Keijzer's "Big Dragon China's Future: What it Means for Business, the Economy, and the Global Order" in which both authors predict that by the 2030s China will be the world's largest economy. This paper discusses the various companies that have suffered due to the shifting politics of foreign policy between China being in favor one day and out the next. This paper also details the views of Jeffrey Garten, a writer for "Harvard Business Review" who sees China as enticement for foreign investors, yet stresses caution should be used in developing any business relationship with China. This well-written paper covers several areas regarding China's economy including a U.S. initiative supporting China's membership in the World Trade Organization, expansion of U.S. public-private partnerships to invest and help solve particular problems in China and development of China's policy mutually with U.S. allies. "Big Dragon" profiles many individual Chinese entrepreneurs and others who are bringing a new China into being. This paper also focuses on Zhang Wei, one of China's more successful entrepreneurs, who went from government researcher to heading a company employing 400 in only three years. Despite the differences between practices in China and other countries, many corporations are willing to take a big gamble on China, seeing that their future is dependent on their performance in China.
From the Paper "Over the course of his history, Zhang has captured the essence of the Chinese business world of "catch-as-catch-can". His corporation has various types of holdings, often-different one from the other. Zhang has bridged the gap across the Pacific with the United States with his position of "master franchise holder in China" of an American company, Fun World. What makes this situation particularly unique is that it is one of the first companies in China "to buy an interest in a U.S. company." At the time Big Dragon was written, Zhang was "negotiating an arrangement that would shift manufacturing of all the equipment for the centers to China." Zhang hopes to take the U.S. company over altogether, including the export of the concept to "other countries and selling the franchisees Chinese-made equipment." Zhang has encountered some problems along the way, problems that are compounded by China's culture and lack of laws, which govern specific business issues. One is that franchisees have stolen the company name and have opened their own centers."
Abstract This paper examines a number of issues involving the poverty of children in the UK. First, the author examines statistics of poverty and its immediate consequences. Then the paper points out possible long-term consequences of children raised in poverty, such as health and education. Also considered are the causes of poverty. A study of the city of Derry and its children living in poverty is a focal point of the paper. The paper concludes citing the growing gap between those with viable incomes and those living in dire circumstances.
From the Paper "According to the Government, joblessness is the primary cause of poverty, thus helping people into the employment arena is central to its anti-poverty strategy (Tackling). Rather than targeting unemployment, the Government has targeted "joblessness,' with policies designed "not to create shops, but to influence who gets them and how well off people will be in work" (Tackling). The two key themes in the Government's active labor market policy are individualization of support to help people into work and the use of compulsion (Tackling). However, the Government has "introduced the toughest benefit penalties ever faced by unemployed people, and the extension of compulsion could distort an undermine the effectiveness of employment services" (Tackling). "
Abstract This paper researches the relationship between the United States and China in regards to trading policies. A brief description of the United States' foreign policy is provided followed by an examination of the US-China trade relation from 1979 to present. The context of the research centers around the four p's in trading; power, principles, prosperity and peace and how in each area China has maintained such variables in trading. The other issues that are discussed as integral to the relationship of US-China trade are US-Soviet relations in regards to the China Card, Tiananmen Square, human rights, and labor standards. The paper concludes that the relationship between the U.S and China as described in the paper is teetering and yet, because of the WTO and foreign investments such as Boeing, trade with China is inevitable.
Outline:
China's Trade
China's Trade Relations
China Card
Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989
Conclusion
From the Paper "The concept of trade between countries is one that has been prevalent since the shipping industry of early China. In fact China and its role with the WTO is one in which there exists strain. China became a member of the WTO in December of 2001. China had been an original member of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) but has since declined any efforts towards globalization. However, since its inclusion with the WTO in 2001 China is under specific WTO regulations. These regulations are highlighted as nondiscrimination in trading policies, market opening, transparency and predictability, undistorted trade, and preferential treatment towards developing countries."
Abstract This paper addresses poverty, both in the US and abroad. It presents statistics on poverty in the First and Third Worlds, as well as using portrayals of poverty in contemporary fiction and nonfiction: "Jihad vs. McWorld", "The Handmaid's Tale", and "The Bone People."
Tags: SOCIOLOGY / SOCIAL PROBLEMS, poverty in local
