Hedge funds Essay Example for Free

Hedge funds Essay In order to better understand how hedge funds played a role in the recent crisis affecting the financial market, it is important to first understand how hedge funds work. Hedge funds are similar to mutual funds in that money is pooled from investors and then invested in selected financial instruments in order to gain a positive return. Hedge funds however are not monitored by the Securities and Exchange Commission since the securities they issue are considered as private offerings. In order to get the maximum return for their investors, hedge funds often employ strategies like investing in ventures that have high risk. One way of doing this is through derivatives. Derivatives are financial instruments that gets if values from the value of a particular underlying asset like bonds, exchange rates and commercial real estate loans. Another way that hedge funds obtain good returns is by employing the strategy of arbitrage. This is actually just exploiting the pricing inefficiencies with respect to certain related assets. A hedge fund for example can buy shares of a company from one exchange and then sell them to another which ensures profit. Aside from the strategies it implements, hedge funds typically face large risks themselves. This is because hedge funds are highly leveraged. Hedge funds borrow money that is greater than what was originally invested. It is not unusual therefore for a hedge fund to borrow $20 for every $5 that it gets from an investor. So how does all this fit in the recent crisis faced by the financial market? In order to answer that, one has to look at how subprime lending works. The basic premise of subprime lending is to provide loans to people who are not qualified to obtain them in the first place. These borrowers did not qualify due to some factors like credit history and income level, to name a few. In the past, when banks loaned money, it was the one who faced the possibility of default termed as a credit risk. Current practices in the financial market however have allowed banks to sell these mortgage payments as well as the credit risk involved to investors. This method is known as securitization. As a result, instead of having to face the credit risk alone, banks are now able to â€Å"spread† these risks to a large number of investors. The problem arose when lenders, who had initially obtained loans on the idea that they would be able to refinance them on more favorable terms, were now faced with higher interest rates. Consequently, prices of real estate dropped which lead to foreclosures and defaults. As a result, banks and other financial institutions were faced with losses leading to the financial crisis. Now as the banks continued to distribute the credit risks, these investment were considered high risk and high yield. Which of course made them lucrative for hedge funds. Thus as the risks related to these securities increased, it made them more viable to be placed with investors that had high leverage. Hedge funds became a likely source of investors since being unregulated, they had no need for capital requirements. Thus when these funds were unable to sell the subprime mortagages, especially since they were hoping to only hold it for a short time, they went out of business which actually contributed to the crisis. To get a better picture, let us look at two strategies employed by hedge funds already mentioned earlier. First is derivatives, particularly credit default swaps. Credit default swaps, or CDS as they are often called, are insurance contracts that are used to protect bondholders in the likelihood of default. CDS are considered as two-party contracts since a company that incurs a loss will be able to gain a profit somewhere else ensuring that there is no actual loss. Recent market practices however have allowed CDS to be used either speculatively or even as insurance to a specific credit risk. The problem thus arose when there was uncertainty as to who would pay for these losses. Such was the case with Lehman Brothers. Hedge funds, which are highly leveraged to start with, put investments in Lehman. It is possible that due to these investments, Lehman was also able to invest in CDS. When Lehman was unable to sell its CDS, it was eventually forced to file for bankruptcy. Another practice of hedge funds that could have contributed to the crisis is securitization. The market practice of allowing securitization also allowed the banks to put the debt that is associated with these same securities into SIVs or structured investment vehicles. SIVs are considered as entities that are in off-balance sheets. Because of these status, the increase in risk meant and increase in yield. Hedge funds therefore were drawn to these since by not being in the books, the requirement for capital reserve was circumvented. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is even quoted to have said that it was the securitization and not the loan that was the cause of the crisis. While we can conclude that hedge funds contributed to the current financial crisis, they are not the sole factor and possibly not the originator. Hedge funds by themselves also have positive impacts on the market. Because of their strategy of having arbitrage, they are actually helping reduce or even eliminate the mispricing that is currently prevalent in the markets. Despite being highly leveraged, hedge funds can actually provide the needed liquidity for companies. This was seen when the hedge fund Cerberus bought the ailing Chrysler company allowing for jobs to be saved. The practice of hedge funds investing in high risk investment have become a good source of risk transfer as well as diversification. While the crisis may not signal the end of hedge funds, only time will tell if they are truly a help to the market or a mistake. References: U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Hedging Your Bets: A Heads Up on Hedge Funds and Funds of Hedge Funds. Retrieved November 8, 2008, from http://www. sec. gov/answers/hedge. htm Research RECAP. (2007, December 21). Role of Hedge Funds in Subprime Crisis Examined. Retrieved November 8, 2008, from http://www. researchrecap. com/index. php/2007/12/21/role-of-hedge-funds-in-subprime-crisis-examined/ Federal Reserve Bank of New York. (2004, November 17). Hedge Funds and Their Implications for the Financial System. Retrieved November 8, 2008, from http://www. ny. frb. org/newsevents/speeches/2004/gei041117. html/

Free Speech, Censorship, and Self Determination Issues in Protests against the Chinese Government :: China Government Research Politics Papers

Free Speech, Censorship, and Self Determination Issues in Protests against the Chinese Government Introduction As a Chinese American, I have long admired the African American culture that spawned the civil rights movement. Here was a people buffeted by a history of discrimination that asserted its equal rights as men and women. Whether advocating nonviolence and integration or separation and violence if necessary, these men and women used and asserted their freedom of speech on the streets, in writings, and on the airwaves. Today we see China growing rapidly in economic power yet shaken by protests by workers displaced by the closings of state owned enterprises and migrant workers treated as second class citizens. We see organizations, from the Chinese Democratic Foundation to the Falun Gong, advocating and asserting human rights. The Chinese government has been relentless in "nip(ing) those factors that undermine social stability in the bud, no matter where they come from."(7) Many human rights organizations and dissident organizations have turned to the Internet to protest these government actions and to communicate, inform, and advocate their message to both the Chinese people and to the rest of the world. As a believer in protests and freedom of speech and someone who wants Chinese culture to grow, I should be a staunch supporter of these organizations and their actions. Yet, I am torn. What's Happening In China China is undergoing rapid and violent change. China has the fastest growing economy in the world, growing at 9.1% clip in 2003. SFGate recently reported on Shanghai novelist Mian Mian whose tale exposing an underground of rock, drugs, and promiscuity is reminiscent of America in the 60's. The number of Chinese Internet users is estimated at close to 80 million. A new generation of artists have appeared on the scene, wryly commenting on China's rapid change. China, nominally communist, seems freer than ever before and its future looks bright. Yet, you also hear reports of corruption, of large and growing underclass, and renewed repression. It seems that partly fueling China's engine of growth is a near inexhaustible supply of cheap and desperate labor spawned by the closing of state owned enterprises (S.O.E.s) and an impoverished rural population. These hardships have spawned a migrant labor population, estimated to swell to 100 million this year, that has flooded urban centers looking for work. These workers are denied education, medical care, pensions, are locked out of most jobs, and are vulnerable to labor abuses.

Plant Biotechnology

Define plant biotechnology. Using examples discuss how it is different from traditional / conventional methods plant breeding. Plant biotechnology has been defined as the integrated use of biochemistry, microbiology and engineering sciences in-order to achieve technological application of micro-organisms and cultured tissue cells in the transfer of genetic traits from one crop species to another to obtain transgenic plants that are of beneficial use to human kind (Lawrence . W; 1968).Heldt H and Heldt F (2005) defines plant biotechnology as the art and science to produce a genetically modified plant by removing genetic information from an organism, manipulating it in a laboratory and then transferring it into a plant to change certain of its characteristics. . Plant breeding is the science and art of improving crop plants through the study and application of genetics, agronomy, statistics, plant pathology, entomology, and related sciences (Kuckuck et al; 1991).Increased crop yield is the primary aim of most plant-breeding programs; advantages of the hybrids and new varieties developed include adaptation to new agricultural areas, greater resistance to disease and insects, greater yield of useful parts, better nutritional content of edible parts, and greater physiological efficiency. Humans have been improving crops for yield and other characteristics since the advent of agriculture. Plant biotechnology involves processes such as genetic engineering which involves the direct addition of foreign gene/genes to the genome of an organism.It is a type of genetic modification. Traditional plant breeding also modifies the genetic composition of plants. It involves techniques such as crossing and selection of new superior genotype combinations. Firstly traditional methods tend to breed plants that can sexually mate with each other. This limits the new traits that can be added to those that already exist in that species. Secondly when plants are crossed, many traits are transformed along with the trait of interest. Whereas genetic engineering, on the other hand, is not bound by these limitations.It involves the removal of a specific fragment of DNA from one plant or organism and transferring the genes for one of a few traits into another. No crossing is required hence the sexual barrier between species is overcome. It is more specific in that a single trait can be added to a plant (Bajaj . Y; 2001). According to Rost . T. I et al (2006), another difference between traditional plant breeding and plant biotechnology is the number of genes transferred to the offspring in each case. Plants contain approximately 80 000 genes which recombine during sexual hybridization.The offspring may therefore inherit around 1000 new genes as a result of this recombination. This is equivalent to a 0. 0125 % change in the genome. By contrast when a specific gene is transferred into a plant, there is a 0. 0025% change in the genetic information of the plant, it is argue d that plant biotechnology provides a more precise approach to crop improvements than sexual hybridization. Plant biotechnology through genetic engineering can cause harmful toxins to be produced by transformed plants, though it is still unclear whether it is due to the technique itself on the nature of the foreign gene.The introduction of a gene that it is known to encode a toxin in one organism will induce a similar effect when introduced into a different organism (Raven P. H et al; 1992). There has been a case where a transgenic soybean containing a gene from Brazil nuts elicited an allergic reaction in some people. The gene from Brazil nuts had been well characterized and its product known to cause an allergy, hence extensive laboratory tests. This illustrates why rigorous characterization of a gene is required before permitting its introduction into a novel species.However there is also the potential of toxic product being produced as a result of conventional methods of crop im provements. For example, in sweet potatoes where vegetative propagation is done, potato varieties with increased pest resistance have continually been selected as giving a higher crop variety. Those varieties contain high levels of natural pesticides, called glucoalkaloids. However these compounds are toxic to animals, so could have harmful effects when eaten.This demonstrates that the nature of the novel feature should be open to debate rather than the method by which it is introduced (Lawrence . W; 1968). The traditional methods of crop improvements are limited by the sexual compatibility of the plants involved; whereas with plant biotechnology through genetic engineering any characteristic from any organism of any species can be introduced into a plant. Plant breeders therefore have access to a much wider gene pool than they have using traditional crossing methods to develop a new variety.For example a rice gene responsible for defense against a disease causing fungus can be tran sferred to a banana susceptible to that disease. The intent is to protect the genetically modified banana from that disease and thereby reduce yield loss and number of fungicide applications. Another example is that genes introduced into plants to provide a resistance to the herbicide Round Up was isolated from bacteria. An insecticidal toxin used as a crop spray was also extracted from bacteria. Genetically modified maize is been grown which expresses this type of proteins.One major difference between traditional plant breeding and plant biotechnology; genetic engineering/ modification is that, while extensive restrictions are in place to limit the development and release of genetically modified varieties, those developed by sexual hybridization and mutagenesis are under no restrictions (Raven P. H et al; 1992). A major concern surrounding the cultivation of genetically modified crops is the possibility of cross pollination between transgenic and related crops.While this is clearly possible for some species, but not all crop species have native wild relatives with which they are sexually compatible meaning that the possibility of the production of â€Å"super weeds† is not possible. Plants such as carrots are allowed only to flower for seed production meaning that cross-pollination during normal commercial cultivation is unlikely. In plant biotechnology plants can be grown in artificial medium requiring less land mass to produce large amounts of crops in less time. Although it seems like a great alternative to the earlier methods, it can also be devastating.By growing plants at a faster rate there is a possibility of losing the essential vitamins and nutrients that are important for us. Transgenic plants are still a relatively new field and no concrete evidence for any of this existing but it is growing concern (Bajaj . Y; 2001). Heldt . H and Heldt . F (2005) says, the techniques of traditional breeding are very time-consuming. By making crosses, also a large number of undesired genes are introduced into the genome of the plant. The undesired genes have to be â€Å"sorted out† by back-crossing.Using plant biotechnology which involves the use of Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism it greatly facilitates/substitutes conventional plant breeding, because one can progress through a breeding program much faster, with smaller populations and without relying entirely on testing for the desired phenotype. RFLP makes use of restriction endonucleases enzymes which recognize and cut specific nucleotide sequence in DNA. The cut fragments are separated according to size by gel electrophoresis and made visible by hybridizing the plant DNA fragments with labeled DNA probes.The closer two organisms are related, the more pattern of bands overlap. With conventional breeding, the pool of available genes and the traits they code for is limited due to sexual incompatibility to other lines of the crop in question and to their wild relative s. This restriction can be overcome by using the methods of genetic engineering, which in principle allow introducing valuable traits coded for by specific genes of any organism (other plants, bacteria, fungi, animals, viruses) into the genome of any plant. According to Rost . T. I et al (1992), transgenes are inserted into the nuclear genome of a plant cell.Recently it has become possible to introduce genes into the genome of chloroplasts and plastids. Transgenic plants have been generated using methods such as agrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer, direct DNA transfer, particle bombardment and electroporation. References 1. Bajaj . Y. (2001). Transgenic Crops. Berlin. Springer. 2. Heldt . H and Heldt . F. (2005). Plant Biochemistry. 3rd edition. California. Elsevier. 3. Kuckuck . H; Kobabe G. and Wenzel G. (1991). Fundamentals of plant breeding. New York. Springer-Verlag. 4. Lawrence . W. (1968). Plant breeding. London. Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd. 5. Raven P.H, Evert . R. F and Ei chron . S. E. (1992). Biology of Plants. 5th edition. New York. Van Hoffman Press Inc. 6. Rost . T. l. , Barbour . M. G. , Stocking . R. C. and Murphy . T. M. (2006). Plant Biology. 2nd edition. California. Thomson Brooks/Cole. CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY NAME: Tanyaradzwa R Ngara REG NUMBER: C1110934J COURSE:Plant Biotechnology COURSE CODE: CUBT 207 PROGRAM:BSBIO Assignment: Define plant biotechnology. Using examples discuss how it is different from traditional / conventional methods plant breeding [25marks].

Immigration Restrictions Essay - 930 Words

Total inhalation of immigration would not be a healthy choice for the United States. However, setting out for stricter laws to become a citizen is in need. There are over 11.7 million illegal immigrants in the United States (poll 2011). Therefore, having restrictions on immigration overall can help the economy grow, security at airports, docs, borders, and on the streets would not only lessen the illegal immigrants around the country, but supply more jobs for Americans. Illegal immigrants not only live in the U.S, but are supplied jobs in which were made for American workers. Naturalization Act of 1870: Control Naturalization Process and penalization of fraudulent practices. The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) allowed the U.S. to suspend†¦show more content†¦(R. Stell) This is to help bring jobs back to the Americans and crack down on illegal immigrants. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952 brought all the various immigration laws together in one organized act. In 2009, out of all immigrant households, legal and illegal, with children (under 18) 57 percent used at least one welfare program, compared native households with children that came in about 39 percent. Fifty-two percent of households with children headed by legal immigrants were estimated to used at least one welfare program in 2009, compared to 71 percent for illegal immigrant households with children. Illegal immigrants generally receive benefits on behalf of their U.S.-born children. Due to low education levels more than half of the working immigrant households with children still accessed the welfare system during 2009 (Camarota). Cutting down on the amount of immigrants into the country can help to increase benefits for American citizens. This includes but is not limited to: food assistance, Medicaid, cash assistance, and public and subsidized housing. Security purposes would decrease the amount of unidentified immigrants. In 2011, ICE removed more than 396,000 individuals. ICE (United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is essentially the immigration cops and ensure that immigration laws are being enforced for public safety. It is one of the largestShow MoreRelated The Restriction of Immigration in the United States Essay665 Words   |  3 PagesThe Restriction of Immigration in the United States Immigration should be restricted in the United States. There are many political, social, and economic reasons why restrictions should be put on immigration. The United States Government and the welfare of its citizens are chaotic enough, without having to deal with the influx of thousands of new immigrants each year. Along with the myriad immigrants to the U.S., come just as many economic problems. Some of these problemsRead MoreTighter Border Restrictions Will Reduce Illegal Immigration Essay1677 Words   |  7 PagesOne of America’s many problems is the rise of illegal immigration. While steps have already been taken to reduce the number of immigrants coming through unlawfully, many are still entering. Such passage brings forth numerous problems that must be dealt with accordingly. Therefore, I propose tighter border restrictions as well as ways to offer more legal immigration to those who wish to enter the United States for residential purposes. By doing so, our country will become saferRead More Immigration Restriction Law of 1924 Essay788 Words   |  4 Pages The immigration act of 1924 was really the first permanent limitation on immigration. This limitation was like a quota system that only aloud two percent instead of the three percent of each foreign born group living in the United states in 1890. 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However, these legislations haveRead MoreRacism And The Immigration Restriction Act Of 19011432 Words   |  6 PagesRacism in Australia †¢ Effects †¢ Causes †¢ Where does racism come from? †¢ Who experiences racism? †¢ What can be done to fight racism? †¢ Where does racism come from? †¢ Graph †¢ Solution †¢ Conclusion †¢ Bibliography Racism Report INTO: The Immigration Restriction Act of 1901 led to the limitation of non-European migration, which became known as White Australian Policy .In 1901, 98% of people in Australia were white. Australia wanted to remain a country of white people who lived by British customs.Read MoreThe White Australia Policy, The Racist Country Its Academic Historians Have Condemned1775 Words   |  8 Pagesdecided to introduce the Immigration Restriction Act left Australia banning prostitutes, criminals, and anyone under a contract or agreement to perform manual labour within Australia which seems that Edmund Barton was doing his job and kept Australia safe but he was not. This is because, he did not stop there, he introduced a dictation test to exclude certain people by making them sit a written exam that they need to pass to be welcome in Australia voted by an immigration officer and majority of theRead MoreAustralia s International Relations Between Australia And Japan1234 Words   |  5 Pagescu rrently living in Australia. The Immigration Act 1909 - most popularly known as the White Australia Policy - which caused upset within Australia’s international relationships with Britain and Japan. This caused other nations to criticise Australia’s racial views and eventually immigration restrictions were gradually loosened and Australian’s began to be less fearful of people from a wide range of different countries and backgrounds. The big push for the Immigration Act 1901 in the first place wasRead MoreAustralia s Historical Fear Of Invasion951 Words   |  4 Pageswill briefly discuss foreign policy and the relation it has to the new fear of invasion. The policy that will be discussed is immigration restrictions and the treatment of people who have attempted to enter Australia informally. The history of Australia’s paranoia of invasion is stated by Nikos Papastergiadis to been evident back in 1901 with Australia’s first immigration act weighted by the paranoia of an Asian invasion of the geographical isolated Australia. Australia’s fears increased with theRead MoreCanada s Immigration System Lacks Heart879 Words   |  4 PagesCanada’s immigration system lacks heart, critics say, is an article filled with professional opinions and debates. These debates and opinions are regarding the humanitarian and compassionate side of immigration and refugee law in Canada. The article’s main purpose is to expose how Canada has changed its compassion for acceptance of refugees in recent years. Canada has always been recognized as an accepting and â€Å"go-to† country in crisis. However, in recent years, there have been changes. Refugee

William Shakespeare s Hamlet - Eavesdropping And Spying...

William Shakespeare uses eavesdropping and spying to advance the plot and enlighten the theme of revenge in his renowned play, Hamlet. Eavesdropping and spying can be seen in many instances throughout the drama, but examining two particular cases shows how the trickery progresses the plot and promotes revenge. The first espionage example is Hamlet being spied upon by Polonius as Polonius is attempting to discover the source for Hamlet’s madness. Hamlet’s anger resulting from these secretive acts advances the plot and the theme of revenge. The second situation in the play is Polonius listening in on Hamlet’s conversation with Gertrude in her chamber. He is killed as a result of his behavior, but his actions have everlasting effects, propelling the plot forward and promoting the ever-present need for revenge. As a part of Hamlet’s plan for revenge against his father’s killer, he fakes being insane. Busybody Polonius is curious about the source o f Hamlet’s madness and whether his condition is a result of Hamlet’s love for Ophelia. Polonius tells his daughter, â€Å"Ophelia, walk you here†¦ we will bestow ourselves,† explaining how he and King Claudius will listen to her conversation. Polonius and Claudius hide and Hamlet comes in to talk with Ophelia. Hamlet, although acting crazy, completely understands what is going on and calls Ophelia and the listeners out on their trickery. He says to her, â€Å"Go thy ways to a / nunnery. Where’s your father?† a comment that both shamesShow MoreRelatedHamlet s Biggest Flaw, Himself1451 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet’s Biggest Flaw, Himself The entire play of Hamlet by William Shakespeare, is based around the young prince Hamlet who has lost his father and is trying to avenge his death in any means possible. With this duty over his shoulders, it causes him to overthink every decision that he is trying to make and ultimately leads to his demise. Although everyone overthinks some situations, Hamlet would be known to have Generalized Anxiety Disorder in common time because whenever he starts to come up withRead MoreInsanity, By William Shakespeare Essay2235 Words   |  9 Pagesmentally ill.† In William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet†, there is much debate on whether or not Hamlet is insane. According to SparkNotes, William Shakespeare wrote â€Å"Hamlet† in the first part of the seventeenth century. Hamlet is the prince of Denmark, and the protagonist of â€Å"Hamlet†. Hamlet’s father gets killed by Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, almost immediately marries Claudius following Hamlet’s father’s death. Claudius then claims the throne, rather than Hamlet. Hamlet was betrayed

The Invention Of The Airplane Essay - 1437 Words

As technology has developed throughout the years, many forms of transportation have been invented and thoroughly advanced. The airplane is one of the inventions in transportation. The invention of the airplane is credited to Wilbur and Orville Wright, brothers from Dayton, Ohio. The Wright brothers were the first to successfully fly a sustained, controlled, powered, and manned airplane, which took place on December 17, 1903 (Crouch Jakab, 2003, p.131). Throughout World War I, the demand for airplanes grew; consequently, production and engineering rapidly improved (Crouch, 2003, p. 198). With the development of airplanes, airplanes went from a sport for the wealthy to a functional, efficient aircraft for carrying mail and passengers. Today, airplanes are used throughout the world for business and commercial purposes, as well as in the medical world (Woolford Warner, 2015, pp. 150-255). The invention of the airplane has been a benefit to society. Airplanes are a benefit to soci ety because they have increased businesses opportunities by a significant amount. The first sources of airplane business were through airmail. According to Dick and Patterson (2003), a quote from the first few pilots to send mail on September 9th, 1911 reads, â€Å"We believe this important event will become historical, and its development will lead to a revolution in the present modes of conveying communications between the peoples of the world.† This quote illustrates that from a very earlyShow MoreRelatedThe Invention Of The Airplane1401 Words   |  6 PagesAmerica has had multiple inventions in its short lifespan, but one stands out above the rest. The invention of the airplane in 1903 by Wilbur and Orville Wright was only the beginning of something that would change the world forever. The airplane is still used today to travel around the world at a much faster pace than a boat. While it has been used to mainly help people they are also used to hurt people. The army uses planes to drop bombs, shoot down planes and threats on the ground, and to surveyRead MoreThe Invention Of The Airplane1013 Words   |  5 Pages Airplanes are sometimes considered one of the most overlooked inventions. This is often because people overlook the power of airplanes. It is amazing to think how two brothers created something used by thousands of people a day. Airplanes are usually the quickest method of transportation for people traveling long distances. They can also be used to travel across large bodies of water, whereas, ships would take a much longer time. The invention of the airplane was not easy. Airplanes were also notRead MoreThe Great Invention of the Airplane1307 Words   |  5 PagesThe airplane is a very normal word today. But it is a new word at least a hundred years. Then I want to talk about airplanes’ history, airplanes’ companies, personal business, global trade, and the benefit for international students and traveling. In my view, those parts are very important about airplanes has changed people’s lives. A lot of people believe that airplanes bring many benefits to our life. I agree with this idea because airplanes are one of the greatest inventions of the twentieth centuryRead MoreAirplanes; The Invention of and How They Fly Essay1600 Words   |  7 Pagesto fly an airplane. However, it is a good idea to have good knowledge of aerodynamics and flight theory to be able to fly safely. There are four basic components in making an airplane fly, lift, drag, thrust, and weight. All of these work in unison to make a plane stay in the air. If one of the first three is taken out of the equation, gravity and weight will take over and cause the plane to descend. It is up to the pilot to understand how to make them equal in order to keep the airplane in flightRead MoreThe Invention Of Airplanes : The United States Of America And Great Britain1748 Words   |  7 PagesFor many people, it is hard to think of the current world without airplanes. This simple fact is what makes them so important to talk about in society. They might be overlooked sometimes, but they have added a lot to history and should not be taken for granted for what they achieve. To focus on a few countries, the United States of America and Great Britain, the invention of airplanes had some of its largest impact on them. Whether that be in terms of travel or warfare, these countries benefitedRead MoreBenefits Of Airplanes And Society Essay1396 Words   |  6 PagesThe Benefits of Airplanes to Society As technology has developed throughout the years, many forms of transportation have been invented and thoroughly advanced. The airplane is one of the inventions in transportation. The invention of the airplane is credited to Wilbur and Orville Wright, brothers from Dayton, Ohio. The Wright brothers were the first to successfully fly a sustained, controlled, powered, and manned airplane, which took place on December 17, 1903 (Crouch Jakab, 2003, p.131). ThroughoutRead MoreWhy Are Patents Important For Technology?1745 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: What is a Patent? (Natashua Hester) A patent is a limit of property rights that are related to an idea or an invention, which is granted by the United States Patent Trademark Office (Ji, 2011). Patents laws were created in 1787 by Constitution Article I 8 Class 3, which regulates commerce within a foreign nations, states and the trade of Indian tribes (Calvert, 2016). The U.S. Constitution Article I Class 8 stated that progress innovated by Science and Arts are secured by limitedRead MoreThe Airplane Has Changed The Course Of The Western World Forever888 Words   |  4 PagesJoshua Poirrier Mrs. Elliott English III 9 May 2017 The Airplane Effect Orville Wright once said, â€Å"The airplane stays up because it doesn’t have the time to fall.† The ingenuity of the Wright brothers’ airplane design has changed the course of the Western world forever. The invention of the aircraft positively affected American society by providing a quicker way of traveling, having an influence on warfare, and implementing a better economy in the United States. When the aeroplane was assembledRead MoreThe History and Development of Aircraft763 Words   |  4 PagesOne very influential inventions in the early 20th century is the aircraft. Ever since the design set by the Wright brothers, it has changed in both shape and size. Throughout history people have always found a reason to travel, and now this new type of invention is allowing people to travel farther and move faster. Everyone, no matter your color, race, or gender, is allowed to travel by this new form of transportation. The evolution of the plane played a major impact on the ability to travel, sinceRead MoreTransportation in the 1800s1136 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom the beginning of time, till now. I mean technology itself has transformed the word. New inventions are created each day, improving machines, and almost everything. Throughout history people have created things that have made life easier. Transportation has always been very important. It has been a huge part of history . Of course like every other resource it had its pros and cons. Automobiles, airplanes, boats, and trains during the 1800s were all being invented. Before life was harsh

Growth in Australian Agricultural Sector-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Growth in australian agricultural sector for export market. Answer: Introduction The agricultural sector is one of the key economic sectors for Australia from the point of view of International exports. Agriculture and the farm sector accounted for over 6% of the total exports of Australia . Agri-Exports from Australia must cope up with a dynamic economic and political world in order to maintain market share. This report is a snapshot of growth in agricultural exports from Australia. Agricultural Exports of Australia and their Growth Table 1 The Top- Five Agri-commodities Exported from Australia Commodity 2014-15 (in million A$) 2015-16 (in million A$) 2016-17 (in million A$) % share % Growth between 2012 and 2016 Beef 9,040 8,495 7,115 1.9 12.1 Wheat 5,528 5,096 6,073 1.6 -3.3 Meat (excl beef) 3,840 3,649 3,831 1.0 11.1 Vegetables. 1,236 1,936 3,271 0.9 22.5 Wool and other animal hair 2,782 2,872 3,263 0.9 4.5 (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2018) There are five agricultural commodities which are consistently in the twenty five most exported goods and services from Australia. These figures help understand the dominance of the agricultural sector in Australias exports. On a combined level, these commodities were responsible for over 6% share of the total exports from Australia by AUD. This analysis does not include wine because the exports of wine are not included separately in statistical tables but included under the alcoholic beverages. Nevertheless, Wine produced in Australia is exported globally and is a source of foreign trade. (Winemakers' Federation of Australia, 2014) Australia is also, a major exporter of horticultural products like fruits and nuts. (Aebischer, 2018) As seen above, agricultural exports are not only among the biggest commodity exports of Australia but are also growing rapidly. In general, Agri- export have outperformed other commodity exports from Australia.(Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2018) Factors Affecting the Growth of Exports A significant factor that affects growth of exports of the agricultural sector is the rate of exchange of the Australian Dollar. The Real Effective Exchange Rate is a good way to measure export growth. Graph 2: REER Comparison for Australia and USA . Source (The World Bank, 2018) REERis the nominal effective exchange rate (a measure of the value of a currency against a weighted average of several foreign currencies) divided by a price deflator or index of costs.(International Monetary Fund, 2018) Exchange rates reflect the countrys terms of trade. A better exchange rate leads to better relative prices. Growth in REER implies that exports became more expensive while it became cheaper to import goods. This is an indicator of the loss in trade competitiveness(International Monetary Fund, 2018) The increase in agri-exports have corresponded with the falling value of the Australian Dollar. In order to keep the competitiveness of agri-exports high, it is important to keep the value of the AUD in check. Trade Agreements and Partnerships Australias agricultural exports were pre-dominantly oriented towards the European markets in the past. However, this situation has been changing since mid-1990s. This has been due a number of reasons. One of these reasons being the rise of Asian economies like China and India as economic forces. (Department of Agricuture and Water Resources, 2017) Part of the reason for the decline in the share of Australian exports to the EU has been caused by excessive EU regulation and regulations that usually support agriculture from EU. Agricultural importa to EU are subject to several restrictive quotas, in-quota and out-of-quota tariffs . This could change with the ratification of the Transatlantic Trade Partnership Agreement (TPP). The TPP is a multi country free trade agreement which will allow Australia to export to several countries with low or no tariffs. (Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, 2017) Australia has bi-lateral trade agreements with USA and other countries. Trade agreements can be double edged swords as they not only allow exports without tariffs but also allow imports without tariffs. For example, wine is a significant agri-export of Australia. A free trade agreement with USA allows Australia to export wine to USA but also, allows for cheap wine from USA to be imported to Australia.(Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2017) International Trade Environment The international trade environment is currently volatile and moving towards protectionism. This may have both positive and negative effects on Australias agricultural exports. For example, if the USA goes ahead with protective tariffs on Chinese imports and China retaliates with the same, then there is a possibility of increasing exports from Australia to China. China is a major trading partner of Australia and an importer of commodities such as beef, wine etc.(Department of Agriculture and Water Reources ABRES, 2017) Climate Change Climate chain can negatively affect the agricultural supply chain. Hence climate Change is a credible threat to Australian agri-exports. (Batt, 2015) Climate change presents, not only a direct threat to crops but also indirect threats. For example, water resources are affected due to climate change which consequently increases the costs of irrigation which is turn, increases production costs.(Aebischer, 2018) Conclusion According to Department of Agricuture and Water Resources, (2017) earning from the agricultural sector are expected to be approximately AUD 48.5 billion in 20182019. It is expected that fruit and nut exports will also remain strong. Exports of the traditional commodities such as wool, beef etc. are expected to grow and remain unchanged. However, these analyses do not take into consideration the impacts of the dynamic political changes that are currently shaping up. It is clear, that the growth of agri-exports is shaped up by not the just the agricultural factors but also non-agricultural factors such as climate changes, free trade treaties and more. 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