The Economics of Money, Banking, and Financial Markets Essay

The Economics of Money, Banking, and Financial Markets - Essay Example Taking into consideration the impact of political, social and economic factors on the establishment and growth of foreign ventures, it is paramount for company directors to ensure coverage of wide areas during the risk analysis process. One of the benefits of risk analysis is that it provides directors with adequate knowhow on goods and services to offer as well as choices of location. In addition, it helps company owners with policies that are vital for operations of a company. Similarly, risk analysis helps companies to be compliant with laws in foreign countries. This report analyzes economic risks, political risks, business environment risks and currency risks that we need to consider before our company embarks on establishing a joint venture in Nigeria. Economic risks One of the major factors that affect the growth of Nigeria economy is poor planning by the government. This has not only resulted to high level of unemployment but also a reduction of household’s income thus lowering the consumer’s purchasing power. For example, the revenue generated by the country’s extensive oil industry is not effectively managed thus increasing the poverty level in the country. In addition, the country has small arable land thus lowering the total food production. As a result, the country has reduced exports thus lowering the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Another area that is negatively affected by poor government planning in Nigeria is infrastructure system. For instance, the country has poor road system making it difficult to assess rural areas as well as expanding business activities. It is worth to note that for any country to develop, competition is vital since it allows innovation and production of wide range of products in the market. However, a major obstacle affecting Nigeria economic prosperity is lack of genuine competition. As a result, market forces do not play a vital role to regulate the economy. In the same way, the country leaders are significantly engaged in controlling the economy an aspect that is contrary to the Adam Smith ideology of not allowing governments to interfere with economy (Dwivedi, 2001). Macroeconomic imbalances are another challenges facing Nigeria. For example, new ventures have the risk of facing unstable inflation and excessive borrowing by the government. Additionally, the government has failed to commit itself to address the macroeconomic challenges thus leading to larger deficit in the government budget. Political risks In order to establish a profitable business venture, it is imperative for investors to consider the political situation of the country they wish to invest. It is vital to note that even though a firm can have adequate finances to cater for its own internal security, political instability in a country can negatively affect the operations of a company resulting to its closure. This implies that as we focus on entering the Nigeria market, it is fundamental to analyze the pol itical factors of the country thus identifying the obstacles or the benefits that our firm is likely to face. One of the major political aspects that are notable in Nigeria is the rivalry that exists between the North and Southern residents. This was catapulted by the policy that was applied by British government that included use of direct rule on the southern region and indirect rule in the Northern area. Not only has the rivalry between the

Critically discuss the use of standard deviation as a risk indicator Essay - 1

Critically discuss the use of standard deviation as a risk indicator for investment purposes - Essay Example A greater standard deviation implies a greater volatility. More the volatility, more the risk. Generally, high risk is associated with high returns and high losses. Therefore, a fund with higher average returns and lower volatility is the most preferred option. However, such an ideal situation rarely materializes and the investors have to strike a balance between returns and risk due to volatility. Standard deviation acts as a useful tool in achieving this balance. Standard deviation is not a failsafe method for risk measurement. Standard deviation has an inherent limitation that it is based on analysis of past data. That is why it is also known as historical volatility. The allocation of assets in a stock or fund in the past may be entirely different from the situation today. Therefore, past performance would not be a suitable indicator of future performance. In this case several external factors would have to be considered and standard deviation may fail to give desired results. Standard deviation does not give information about the current debt structure of the company. It does not take into account the recent changes. For example, a certain company may have an average debt of 30% of the total capital structure over the past 20 years but suddenly over the past year the company has taken a large amount of debt which has take it to 60%. This would have an impact on the financial condition of the company and stockholders are bound to suffer. However, a standard deviation would still show a decent amount of volatility in accordance with previous debt structure. This leads us to the interpretation that standard deviation alone should never be used as a risk indicator. Many analysts believe that standard deviation is a measure of volatility and not of risk. This has to do with the fact that risk means different things for different people. For some investors, risk implies losing all of their investment, for others a negative return

Passing by Nella Larson Gender Analysis Essay

Passing by Nella Larson Gender Analysis Essay Nella Larsen was an American writer of the Harlem Renaissance. One of her novels, Passing, took place New York society during the 1920s. The story surrounds the reunion of two women, Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield and their struggles they face because of passing. Through Passing, Nella Larsen demonstrates the challenges that the gender constructs during the time as women are powerless against race and men. Irene and Brians marriage symbolized the different roles of women and men in their home. Although she told Clare that she had all the things she wanted and that did not need to pass as white, Irene still struggled with her marriage and the control of her sons. In the beginning of Passing, Irene recalled the memory of meeting Clare Kendry in Chicago after receiving letter from her. Unplanned, Irene saw Clare in Chicago and was disturbed by her. After dropping Clare out of her mind, she turned her mind to her lovely family, To home, to the boys, to Brian. Brian, who in the morning would be waiting for her in the great clamorous station. She hoped that he had been comfortable and not too lonely without her and the boys (Larsen P1 4). It seems that she has found a destination where she can find her own peace and comfort solution for all her troubles she has. This quote reveals the message that the women should be expected to find their love and their solutions to their problems. This als o shows the expectations society has for women. Home is where the women should be at. Throughout Passing, Larsen starts to unveil pieces of her complicated mind and thoughts of Irene. For example, when Larsen brought up how women think about their husbands That craving for some place strange and different, which at the beginning of her marriage she had had to make such strenuous efforts to repress, and which yet faintly alarmed her, though it now sprang up at gradually lessening intervals (Larsen P1 4). Even though she made Brian stay in New York for his job, which showed some power over Brian, but overall she is powerless against Brian in many aspects as explained, She was, to him, only the mother of his sons (Larsen P3 1). This unveiled the point of view men have about marriage in this society. Women think that children, kids, babies can fill up the cracks of their own marriage. The power of the women in their own family, where they have to depend on their husband in everything, seems to fade every moment: She closed her unseeing eyes and clenched her fists. She tried not to cry. But her lips tightened and no effort could check the hot tears of rage and shame that sprang into her eyes and flowed down her cheeks; so she laid her face in her arms and wept silently. (Larsen P3 1). Irene couldnt do anything but think and endure the pain that she went through, thinking about Brians affair, that she still has to stay with him whether he had an affair or not. Until this point, Larsen has shown the perspective, the struggles of the women when they depend on men to survive. Clare Kendry reveals the expectations of women in society and symbolizes the power struggle of the women in society. She has taken a risk by passing and living in a white society. She has put herself in a dangerous situation to bring her access to power and to the higher class in the society. She represents the need for power of women in society, striving for equality. Like Irene, Clare is helpless and powerless against her husband, John Bellew in her own home. She is catlike (Larsen P1 1), trying to hide her own identity because of her own sake. Her true root goes with her gender and drags her down to the bottom against John. She had to accept everything John said. During the reunion with her old friends, Gertrude and Irene, John came into the room, with a surprise greeting that startle everyone, Hello, Nig, (Larsen P1 3) despite not being aware of Clares background. The racist term has offended anyone that has a black background. Gertrude and Irene who had caught her lip between he r teeth and sat gazing at husband and wife, (Larsen P1 3) and even Clare, but she did not do a thing. She knew that if she stood up against him for calling her that, her perfect white life would be over. She knows she has no power over her husband. Later in Passing, John Bellew found out the original root of Clare. Clare herself was speechless, stood at the window, as composed as if everyone were not staring at her in curiosity and wonder, as if the whole structure of her life were not lying in fragments before her. She seemed unaware of any danger or uncaring. There was even a faint smile on her full, red lips, and in her shining eyes (Larsen P3, 4). She finally realized that she was free of him and free of being powerless against her husband. Everyone in the room stood up for her. Even though she felt liberated for an instant, she knew the intolerance of Bellew would cause a tragic end to her. She stood there, next to the window, frozen. The next thing, she was gone. She fell thro ugh the window, which had freed her from the pressure of her husband, as the pressure the expectations on the women of the society had put on them. The end of the story portrays the pressure of the women in their own home, society, which in some ways death is the only solution; they had to follow every single word of men, who is portrayed in the story as more a power creature. Clare Kendrys husband, John Bellew represents the power of the man against the women in the familys structure. Passing is the story about the life surrounds two main character, Clare Kendry and Irene Redfield but it portrays them as powerless creatures that struggle in identify themselves in their own society. It also portrays the picture of men as power creatures against women, as if they are the gender slave owners where the women are the gender slaves. John Bellew is the perfect figure that is portrayed in this story, symbolizing the power of the men in society. Clare Kendry, fearing that John might figure out her original root, shrinks herself into a small creature, powerless, helpless against him. This situation symbolizes the ideology in the familys structure of power in the society, where men are always in charge of the house, and women have to follow what they said. When he came into the room during the party, his greeting to Clare was, Hello, Nig (Larsen P1 3). Despite the f act that he didnt know about Clare and her friends background, the greeting still heated up their anger. Even though it was very offensive, Clare and her friends still could not do anything about it. This shows the power of John over all the women, as the only man in the room. His power controls Clare in everything, where she had to be careful what she did that include her racial root. Nella Larsen has portrayed the power that men have and abuse it in their own household or even in the society in general. Even though Passing is a novel that surrounds the racial issues during the 1920s, the story still has a different approach to its theme. Rather than focusing on race, it focuses on the gender challenges in relationship, marriage, or even in society overall between men and women. Through the novel, Nella Larsen has showed the purposes of men and women in society where they support each other not abusing the power they had. She also proves the false beliefs that society has in their family, where men have to be in charge of their household.

Reducing Sex Segregation at Work and Home :: Womens Studies

Reducing Sex Segregation at Work and Home Paula England in her article "Work for Pay and Work at Home: Women's Double Disadvantage" treats women's lives in our society. She presents us a double disadvantage in women's lives: disadvantage at work and disadvantage at home. A sex segregation exists. Almost all jobs are filled by one of the sexes. Because of socialization and employer's discrimination there is a gap in earnings between men and women. Also at home women do the bulk of child rearing and other work. Compared to 40 years ago the men have increased their contributions at home. Also sex segregation and the pay gap are reduced, but they still exist. However, because roles are changing the truth is in most families people are now negotiating about the work at home. According to David Molpus, studies show that especially among two-job couples there is an agreement about equal sharing at home when the man and the woman both work full time. Mothers and fathers find different ways to contribute to childcare and other household work. They like equal parenting and don't want to leave their children in the hands of strangers. Equal sharing at home gives the fathers opportunity to stay more with their children and to know more about their lives. To do so, working-class couples try alternating their work shifts, and middle-class couples try working at home for one or two days. They both share enjoyment and the sacrifices of their family. I like and support the changes that are taking place now in our society. Equal sharing in both child rearing and domestic work is the best thing couples can do in their family. Children at home are such a joy and happiness. They need both the mother and the father to take care of them. I think the parents should have the same feelings. It is so important for fathers to spend more time with their children, to know what they like and dislike. This way they will enjoy their kids and their love. It is a sacrifice for some parents to work different shifts, but sacrifices also keep the family close. When you go home tired from work, their hugging and kissing is such a joy and rest for you. Smiles in their faces are love and life. Fathers that share child rearing have more love in their family. Also equal sharing in other domestic work like cooking and cleaning, fixing things and paying bills or shopping is important for family.

Guide for Writing Project Proposals

Guide for Writing Project Proposals This is a summary of how to write good, concise proposals for course projects. The focus of this summary is on programming or implementation projects, but the general ideas can be applied to most proposals. The recommended lengths of sections are given assuming a document length of 2 to 5 pages. Use appropriate scaling for longer proposal documents. Sample Outline The following is a sample outline for a project proposal.Note that all questions for a section may not apply to your proposal, and should be used as a general guide only. 1. Introduction (1 or 2 paragraphs) 1. Motivation Sentence 2. Summarize the problem (1 or 2 sentences) 3. Summarize the solution (1 or 2 sentences) 4. Describe format of rest of proposal (sections, etc. ) 2. Motivation (1 to 3 paragraphs) 1. What is the history of the problem? 2. Why is this problem interesting? 3. When and why does the problem occur? 4. Is the problem already solved? What is done now? 5.Are there any si milar systems or solutions to the one you propose? If so, reference and very briefly explain them. 6. Are there are possible improvements to current solutions? 3. Project Summary (1 paragraph) 1. What in general will this project achieve? (Do not delve into details or timelines. ) 4. Project Details 1. Architecture and Environment (2-3 paragraphs + figures) 1. Describe the project environment (software, hardware, languages, organizations, etc. ) 2. Diagrams and figures are useful here if appropriate. . What software, hardware, or tools will you use? 2. Implementation Issues and Challenges (2-3 paragraphs) 1. What will be the most difficult issues and challenges in the implementation? 2. How are you using or extending current tools/systems for your problem? 3. What makes your project unique? 3. Deliverables (3-5 paragraphs – point-form may be used for some of the description) 1. What will the project produce? (program, report, etc. ) 2. Describe in relative detail the features of each of the project's products. 3.You may wish to separate deliverables into phases and indicate optional components given time. 4. Emphasize what your project contributes or achieves! 4. Timeline (1 paragraph – point-form is suitable) 1. Provide an estimated timeline of project deliverables and important dates. 5. Conclusion (1 paragraph) 1. Summarize the project including the problem, motivation, and proposed solution, and re-state important (planned) contributions. 6. References 1. List references used to compile proposal and references that will be used for project (if already known).

History and Literature V.S. Science and Mathematics Essay

Nowadays, students have the rights to choose different subjects they would like to study at university. Some like science subjects can register to study science and mathematics; meanwhile, some will prefer to study about history and literature. Personally, I think that it is more important for every student to take part in history and literature class since these subjects will educate students about the past of history and give them rich sources of culture values. Most importantly, history is all records of the past about our country. Learning this subject, students will know about the historical development process of country, such as, when our country established, how our ancients had defended the enemy bravely. All of those like real evidences to tell us again about their sacrifices for the country’s independence and freedom for the next generations. Knowing thoroughly about history teaches us about the loyalty, and how great the deaths of the last generations are. Today, we do not have to go to battle to fight again the enemy, but it is very important to help country become powerful on the economic battle after long time our country underwent the severe war. If every student understands history of their country, they will recognize the importance of their roles in the common development process of country by studying well and become successful people in the future. That will be grateful awards for those who have commit themselves for country’s liberty in the past. Besides that, literature is also important to learn at university since it is the great cultural materials from the past to now. Unlike history teaches us historical stories, literature educates us about cultural values. Through great verses, or poses, we learn about the beauties around our life, our family, such as the motherhood, neighborhood, and couple love†¦. Whenever I read a nice verse about homeland, I feel very exciting and become loving my homeland more and more. All of them are really the vital â€Å"food† for our mental life which cannot obtain by simply studying equations or algorithms in mathematics. In conclusion, I think history and literature would be put in the curriculum in university since it is very necessary for all of us to know about history of country. Moreover, they also teach us valuable lessons about culture values in life which I sure that if our study is without literature; our culture must be very different and boring.