World Bank and IMF

World Bank and IMF Introduction Often times, the world has suffered terrible financial crises. The most severe being the 2007-2008 global financial crisis. Every time, a financial crisis has struck, economic policy makers meet in a conference like they did in 1944 in Bretton Woods conference (Hellener, 2010, p. 1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on World Bank and IMF specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the crisis has been recurrent regardless of the many policies that have been formulated. The failure of the policies in implementation has more often been blamed on policy mistakes made by developing world where the crisis emerges from (Hellener, 2010, p. 10). Out of this, the solution in 1980s was perceived could originate from loaning the developing countries. International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank were given the role of protecting global market from sovereign defaults and promote the adjustment programs in developing cou ntries (Hellener, 2010, p. 9). This paper will seek to evaluate the effects of IMF and World Bank in the developing countries. IMF and World Bank effects on Developed and Developing Countries Both IMF and World Bank definitions of developed and developing counties are based on either high or low capital incomes which in turn depict the degree of interaction into the global financial system. Their definitions have created an aspect of losers and winners (Esty, 2002, p. 2) where the developed countries are the winners, and the developing countries are the losers. The developing world has been placed in a losing position; most often than not, they are in need of support as they do not meet the set standards of the definition. It has always been an unfair judgment as the benefits of global trade may not be fairly distributed because not in all countries people are able to access free trade and fair economic growth (Esty, 2002, p. 3). Therefore, the developing countries are the ones who have been utilizing the policy set in Bretton Woods conference of borrowing, and thereby, giving IMF and World Bank a great chance of influence as policy enforcers. The influence of IMF and World Bank has greatly â€Å"contributed to the strengthening of the macroeconomic framework of member countries, reducing the public sector deficits and public debt accumulation, improving monetary control and reducing the distortions and dislocation of resources brought about by high rates of inflation† (Buira, 2003, p. 1).Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This has set the developing countries at a vulnerable position where they are the ones always borrowing money from the developed countries in order to pull up their economies. The capital flow ceases to be from the developed to the developing as the developing repays the loan. Most countries, for instance, have tri ed to use the â€Å"theory of the second best† but have been greatly opposed by IMF. The theory works when a country in a crisis through government intervention improves its welfare by the introduction of another country that is performing better economically (Buira, 2003, p. 1). This move was criticized by IMF even after Asia blaming the crisis on the speculative global financial flows (Hellener, 2010, p. 10). With such a kind of interference, Asia was not in a position to fill up the economic gap that was there hence the reason for its continued deterioration in the economy. The idea of â€Å"market mechanism† developed in both IMF and World Bank operations have posed a very bad inequality problem for the countries that participate in the global financial markets. This is because, for a country to be considered as developed or developing there are factors like locality, population, and available resources that need to be considered. For example, it will be unfair to judge a country that does not participate in international trade for lack of resources to a country that has oil, gold and other minerals, which facilitate the same. There is, therefore, a global inequality as 20% of the world population takes 80% of the global resources while the rest is shared the remaining 20% of the world population. No wonder the gap between the 80% of the population that lacks even the basic amenities gets (Danaher, 2001, p. 25). However, time has revealed the hidden tricks played on developing countries. For example, in 2007-2008 during global financial crisis, China by market capitalization remained the only one that had the three largest banks. This exposed the U.S., having been one of the countries considered to be developed dependent on foreign support from China and elsewhere (Hellener, 2010, p. 11). This makes it illegitimate to consider US and Britain as having more economic power than China. There is a call to policy makers and financial analysts to q uestion the stability of the developed countries without the support of the developing countries. The cited example proved that financial flow is from the under developed to the developed world which leaves the developing world with more needs than the developed world yet they contribute a lot to the global economy.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on World Bank and IMF specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The policies of IMF and World Bank to rely on market solutions and international trade have been challenged with time. A country’s economic power cannot be categorized by what the market produces as the market only achieves certain goals. This has caused its fault in evaluating the market failures that cause limited resource circulation in the developing countries (Buira, 2003, p. 3). For example, in a continent like Africa with a stable local economy had not suffered a financial crisis before the global trade came in. Everything was traded locally and there was no lack. One did not need to have money as the mode of trade was barter trade. Global trade has brought everything to tumble as the currency stability cannot be predicted. The U.S. dollar being the standard global currency keeps on fluctuating in value hence affecting the countries whose currencies are weaker than the dollar. This causes a great inequality where the market favors those with money as they make more money from the people who do not have. To sum up, the poor get poorer and the rich get richer, finally making it difficult for the gap to be bridged (Danaher, 2001, p. 32). World Bank and the IMF are the most powerful enforcers of growth and a system of measurement that hides the social and environmental cost of market-led growth. Any eminent change from them will flow down to every other person and foster economic progress (Danaher, 2001, p. 32). To regain their position to the public that has lost trust in them as economic leaders, they will be needed to start by correcting the mistakes they have done in setting unrealistic policies, which at the end get challenged every time there is a crisis. They also need to get back to the public where they, together with the public, will look for solutions that will operate at all times without subjecting any given country to any more financial risk. Conclusion From the discussion, it is evident that IMF and World Bank have contributed greatly to the widening of the gap between the developed and the developing counties. This comes about from their definition of the two, creating a superiority factor whereby, and countries with highest global finance interaction are being considered as developed.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The consideration has created financial inequality where the developed countries, which have the least population, enjoy the biggest share of the global economy while the rest remains to share the remainder. The results of this are that the rich countries continue becoming richer, and the poor countries get poorer. However, this has been challenged as it was analyzed in 2007-2008 that the developed countries actually depend on the developing counties. There is, therefore, a need for the World Bank and IMF to revise their policies and get back to re-establishing the developing countries’ economy. They should device a way where the resources in the developing countries will remain with them to help them further in development. References Buira, A 2003, Challenges to the World Bank and IMF: developing country perspective, Wimbledon Publishing Company, London. Danaher, K 2001, 10 Reasons to Abolish The IMF and World Bank, Seven Stories Press, Washington, D. C. Esty, D 2002, †˜The World Trade Organization’s legitimacy crisis’, World Trade Review, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 7–22. Hellener, E 2010, ‘A Bretton Woods Moment? The 2007-2008 crisis and the future of global finance’, International Affairs, vol. 86, no. 3, pp. 619–636.

Irony in The Most Dangerous Game

Irony in The Most Dangerous Game Free Online Research Papers â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† is a suspenseful, ironic, action-thriller. I thought the author successfully created an attention-grabbing plot. The story included some very interesting characters, though there were few; General Zaroff, the owner of the mysterious Ship-Trap Island and the hunter in the Game; Ivan, the enormous, brutish Cossack, Zaroff’s servant; and Rainsford, the hunter turned hunted and main character of the story. Three of the many ironies in this book include: 1) the fact that Rainsford, being a hunter, became the hunted; 2) Rainsford didn’t care about the prey he hunted and how they felt, but in the end, he realized how an animal at bay felt; and 3) the setting, Ship-Trap Island, is used by the general as a means of trapping ships. It is apparent in the very beginning of the story that Rainsford is a hunter that believes hunting is â€Å"the best sport in the world†. He claims that â€Å"The world is made up of two classesthe hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are hunters.† He says this in the exposition of the story. After this statement, he proceeds to fall off the yacht and swim to assumed safety aboard Ship-Trap Island where he meets General Zaroff. Here, Zaroff provides Rainsford with room and board and treats him with the utmost respect. Slowly, Zaroff reveals his true nature and tells Rainsford of his activities on the dreaded island. He informs Rainsford that he hunts humans for sport and Rainsford is his next target. The hunter became the hunted. The second example of irony goes hand-in-hand with the first. In the very beginning of the story, Rainsford believes that no one should care about how prey feels and that they have no understanding of what’s going on. His partner, Whitney, believes that prey only understands one thing, fear. Rainsford merely laughs at this proposition until he is hunted by Zaroff. After three long days of being chased all across the small Ship-Trap Island, Rainsford finally understands. He realizes how prey feels and what drives them, fear, as Whitney said. Rainsford now knew the terror a beast at bay feels. The third example of irony is quite interesting, in my opinion. The setting of the story is on a small, remote Caribbean Island deemed Ship-Trap Island. No one really knows why the island has such a name, for no one has ever left the island alive to tell the tale. What is intriguing is that not only is the island known for trapping ships, the General actually uses the island itself to capture the ships. The island is shaped in such a way that there appears to be a channel that travels through it. The General built a lighthouse that shines upon this apparent channel where there are actually jagged rocks that could tear any ship apart. It is his way of attracting new targets for him to hunt. If you ask me, it’s really quite genius. As one can plainly see, â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† is a story filled with many subtle examples of irony. Only three are explained in this essay, but there are many located throughout the story. The story is quite thrilling in that it is a hunt. Any hunt is suspenseful, for the hunter, the hunted, and even the uninvolved bystander (in this case the reader). It is an excellent short story. Research Papers on Irony in The Most Dangerous Game19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayTrailblazing by Eric AndersonThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsThe Hockey GameMind TravelBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XWhere Wild and West MeetEffects of Television Violence on Children

Right to Die - Financial Objections Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Right to Die - Financial Objections - Essay Example And each new day makes it less and less likely. Her eyes are closed, but its not just that. Her face seems dead. She just has the same look all the time, like she was when she first collapsed. Its sort of a smile, but I think its a grimace. But it never responds, never changes. Its like looking at a corpse thats just barely breathing. Then the money problems make it so much harder. I wouldnt want my Mom to die because its hard to pay for her, but it just is. Her money is starting to run out. The ventilator, the doctor visits, the nurse checkups... they cost, and insurance doesnt cover it all. Im working two jobs to cover it. One of my jobs has insurance, but one pays just about minimum wage. I work the graveyard shift. I cant even be there to hold her hand because it costs so much money. American Hospice Foundation. â€Å"Coma and Persistent Vegetative State: An Exploration of Terms†. Cheryl Arenella, MD/MPH. http://www.americanhospice.org/articles-mainmenu-8/caregiving- mainmenu-10/50-coma-and-persistent-vegetative-state-an-exploration-of-terms . Web. Accessed

IT - System Testing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IT - System Testing - Research Paper Example 1. Functional Testing System functional tests overlap with acceptance tests such that the same tests can apply for both categories. They are both a demonstration of the systems functionality. They are performed to ensure that the behavior of the system is consistent with the requirement specifications set out earlier in software development. All the functional requirements that are set out for the system must be achieved by the system (Burnstein, 2003). A good example is where a financial system is required to allow customers to set up accounts, add, modify, and delete entries into the account, and make printouts. The functional test must ensure that the system can perform these tasks effectively. The functional tests are black box in nature such that the focus is on the inputs and proper outputs for each of the functions that are identified earlier in the requirements. It also takes into consideration improper and illegal inputs which must be tested on the system and their results o bserved to be consistent with the required functions (Myers, Sandler, & Badgett, 2011). ... 2. Performance Testing There are two types of requirements for systems: the functional requirement that describes the functions that the software should perform and the quality requirements that describe the quality level expected for the software such as memory use, response time delays etc. The aim of performance tests is to find out if the software meets the performance requirements (Burnstein, 2003). These tests also tell the testers if there are any other hardware factors that might impact on the system’s performance. It allows for testers to tune the system i.e. optimize the allocation of system resources and to predict future performance levels for the system and this is especially important in planning for subsequent releases (Craig & Jaskiel, 2002). It is important that performance objectives be clearly articulated by the user in the requirements document and also in the system test plan. These objectives must be quantifiable. At the end of the testing the tester will know for example, the CPU cycles used, the actual response time in seconds etc. These are then evaluated with reference to the requirement objectives (Myers, Sandler, & Badgett, 2011). Resources for performance testing must be allocated in the system test plan. The resources include the following: a source of transactions to drive the experiments, that is, a load generator; an experimental testbed that includes hardware and software the system-under-test interacts with and these include special laboratory equipment and space that must be reserved for the tests; instrumentation or probes that help to collect the performance data. The probes may be hardware or software in nature; and a set of tools to collect store, process, collect and interpret data (Gomaa, 2011). 3.

Vitamin K Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Vitamin K - Essay Example Later, after several weeks, Dam found severe bleeding among the chickens, thus discovered the need for the coagulation vitamin. At present, vitamin K is introduced to newly born babies hours upon birth in order to prevent bleeding in the brain. Babies are said to have very low levels of vitamin K in their body after they are born (Croucher & Azzopardi, 1994). Breastfed infants are more prone to the deficiency because infant formulas have high levels of vitamin K compared to breast milk. Croucher and Azzopardi (1994) mention that due to low levels of coagulation vitamin in their body, late haemorrhagic diseases have been discovered in breast fed infants who received a single oral dose of vitamin K. As such, repeated dosage is recommended for breastfed babies as a standard practice in many countries such as the U.K. and the U.S. Golding, Greenwood, Birmingham and Mott (1992) report a decreased risk of cancer among infants whose mothers were given vitamin K during labor. However, there is a tendency for the presence of intramuscular vitamin K compared with babies who were given oral vitamin K and those who did not receive vitamin K at all.

Ethical Principals for Protecting Research Participants Essay Example for Free

Ethical Principals for Protecting Research Participants Essay Participating in a research study is an opportunity for people to contribute to the advancement of healthcare practice or other measures. Researchers typically collect data from a population of people that share common characteristics that make them appropriate subjects for the area being studied. In order to assure that participants are adequately protected, a set of ethical principles should be adhered to by all research facilitators. â€Å"The Belmont Report articulates three primary ethical principles on which standards of ethical conduct in research are based: beneficence, respect for human dignity, and justice† (Beck Polit, 2006). The principle of beneficence serves to minimize harm to participants, maximize the benefits of the study, and protect the participant from any form of exploitation. â€Å"In research with humans, harm and discomfort can take many forms: they can be physical, emotional, social, or financial† (Beck Polit, 2006). Facilitators of any research study must be conscious of this and use strategies to alleviate potential of such harm. Ethical researchers must be prepared to terminate their study if any evidence of distress on the participants is discovered. Another duty that researchers face is to protect participants from exploitation. â€Å"Involvement in a study should not place participants at a disadvantage or expose them to situations that they have not been prepared† (Beck Polit, 2006). In summary, participants must feel secure that the information they provide will not be used against them in any fashion. The second ethical principle addressed by The Belmont Report is the respect for human dignity. Study participants have the right to self-determination, or the capability to control their own activities. This right encompasses the ability to ask questions, refuse to provide information, or even withdraw from a study without consequences. The entitlement of self-determination also includes the freedom from being coerced into participating in a study, such as an economically disadvantaged person being offered a large stipend to participate. This may be seen as placing this individual under undue pressure to participate in the study. The principle of the respect for human dignity also includes the right to full disclosure. This allows a person to make informed, voluntary decisions regarding the study they are participating in. â€Å"Full disclosure means that the researcher has fully described the nature of the study, the person’s right to refuse participation, the researcher’s responsibilities, and the likely risks and benefits that would be incurred† (Beck Polit, 2006). The last ethical principle delivered in The Belmont Report pertains to justice. This principle ensures participants’ rights to fair treatment and the right to privacy. Justice promotes duties to neither neglect nor discriminate against individuals. â€Å"The principle of justice imposes particular obligations toward individuals who are unable to protect their own interests to ensure they are not exploited for the advancement of knowledge† (Beck Polit, 2006). Researchers must also acknowledge the participants’ right to privacy. They must ensure that their research is minimally intrusive and the participants’ privacy is respected throughout the study. People that partake in a study should expect that any information they provide will be kept in strict confidence. There are designated procedures in place to ensure participants’ satisfaction of a study upon completion. One such task is the risk/benefit assessment. â€Å"Such an assessment is designed to determine whether the benefits of participating in a study are in line with the costs, be they financial, physical, emotional, or social† (Beck Polit, 2006). Researchers can also offer a debriefing session after data collection is complete. This allows participants to ask questions or air complaints pertaining to the study. Researchers can demonstrate their interest in study participants by offering to share findings with them once the data has been analyzed. Lastly, facilitators should refer participants to appropriate health or psychological services as deemed necessary. Bibliography Beck, C. and Polit, D. (2006.) Essentials of Nursing Research: Methods, Appraisal, and Utilization. (6th ed.) Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins.

Plains Indians Essay -- essays research papers

For many tribes of Plains Indians whose bison-hunting culture flourished during the 18th and 19th centuries, the sun dance was the major communal religious ceremony . . . the rite celebrates renewal - the spiritual rebirth of participants and their relatives as well as the regeneration of the living earth with all its components . . . The ritual, involving sacrifice and supplication to insure harmony between all living beings, continues to be practiced by many contemporary native Americans. -Elizabeth Atwood LawrenceAs the most important ritual of the nomadic Plains Indians, the Sun Dance in itself presents many ideas, beliefs, and values of these cultures. Through its rich symbolism and complicated rituals we are able to catch a glimpse into these peoples' view of the world. A Sun Dance is held when a man feels the need to be a dancer to fulfill certain wishes, primarily "for his deliverance from his troubles, for supernatural aid, and for beneficent blessings upon all of his p eople." (Welker) It is this dancer who usually bears the expenses of the Sun Dance (Atwood), including a feast for all that comes to the celebration. (Welker) Motivations behind the Sun Dance varies slightly between tribes. The Crow held the ceremony to seek aid for revenge for family members killed in warfare. The entire event surrounding the Sun Dance generally lasts from four to seven days, though longer events exist. On the first day a tree is selected to serve as the sun-pole, the center pole for the Sun Dance Lodge, or New-Life-Lodge, as called by the Cheyenne. (Atwood) The selection of the tree is usually done by the eldest woman of the camp, who leads a group of elaborately dressed maidens to the tree to strip off its branches. On the next morning, right as the sun is seen over the eastern horizon, armed warriors charge the sun-pole. They attack the tree in effort to symbolically kill it with gunshots and arrows. Once it is dead it is cut down and taken to where the Sun Dance Lodge will be erected. (Schwatka) "Before raising the sun-pole, a fresh buffalo head with a broad centre strip of the back of the hide and tail (is) fastened with strong throngs to the top crotch of the sun-pole. Then the pole (is) raised and set firmly in the ground, with the buffalo head facing ! toward the setting-sun." (Welker) The tree represents the center of the world, connect... ...mbolism and ritual involved with the Sun Dance we can more fully understand the character of the Plains Indian cultures. The Sun Dance shows a continuity between life. It shows that there is no true end to life, but a cycle of symbolic and true deaths and rebirths. All of nature is intertwined and dependent on one another. This gives an equal ground to everything on the earth. "Powerful animals exhibit both physical and spiritual powers, just as the medicine man and shaman do, and as do the grains of tobacco in the sacred pipe." (Smart p. 527) However, just like the rest of nature, humans must give of themselves to help keep the cycles of regeneration going. SourcesAtwood-Lawrence, Elizabeth. The Symbolic Role of Animals in the Plains Indian Sun Dance. http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/psyeta/sa/sa1.1/lawrence.html (Feb 3, 1997) Eliade, M. (1975). Myths, Dreams, and Mysteries. New York: Harper and RowKehoe, Alice B. (1992). North American Indians A Comprehensive Account. New Jersey: Prentice-HallSchwatka, Frederick. (1889-1890). The Sun-Dance of the Sioux. Century Magazine. Pp. 753-759.Welker, Glenn. The Sun Dance http://www.indians.org/welker/sundance.htm (Jan 7, 1996)