Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Prison Term Policy Recommendation Paper

In September 2011 there will be a vote on a bill that will double the prison sentence of anyone committing armed robbery, in the state of Wisconsin. The hope of the bill sponsors is that the increased penalties will deter a person from committing armed robbery. Senator McKenzie is aware of popular support for the bill; however, he has asked for my recommendation of whether or not the measure will have any genuine deterrent effect on the rate of incidence. When State Senator McKenzie asked me for my recommendation, I looked for studies on the deterrent effect of lengthy sentences, for armed robbery. The studies I read indicate that, whereas there may be a slight decrease in recidivism, the reduction was not significant enough to indicate that a longer sentence has a significant deterrent effect on those commit armed robbery. The reduction of crime is not directly contributable to the length of sentence. Rather than focus, too intently, on studies of the deterrent effect of stiffer penalties, I believe that it is more important to look at the other factors, which may lead a person to commit an armed robbery. There are three criminology theories in particular, which may influence a criminal’s decision to commit a violent crime. The biological theory theorizes that some people are ‘born to be bad’; something in his or her biological makeup causes them to behave in a violent fashion. The rational choice theory theorizes that people have free will and, if they commit a violent act it is that they choose to do so. Finally, the psychological theory theorizes that there is a psychological deficiency that leads a person to commit criminal acts. What is Armed Robbery? To begin, it is important to understand why armed robbery should receive greater penalties than non-armed robbery. When a person commits armed robbery, he or she is using, or threatening to use, a weapon; the criminal is intimidating the victim into relinquishing his or her money or property (CriminalDefenseLawyer. com, 2011). When weapons are involved, the danger that someone will be seriously harmed or killed significantly increases. The purpose of the bill, on focusing on armed robbery, is to deter criminals from using violence in the commission of his or her crime. The main question to be considered is; why does a criminal commit an armed robbery? Understanding this question may eventually lead to the genuine determination of how to reduce and eliminate crime; three theories of criminal behavior in particular may hold the key. Biological Theories The first theory to consider is the biological theory. Is there something in the fundamental makeup of an individual that may lead him or her to violence and criminal activities? Cesare Lombraso, a 19th century Italian medical doctor, is one of the best known scientific biological theorists. One of his theories posited that, if a person had an underdeveloped brain (e. g. inferior brain) they would be incapable of conforming to the rules and laws of society; because they would be unable to understand why what they are doing is wrong. Lombroso performed autopsies on numerous criminals, including an Italian soldier who attacked and killed eight of his fellow soldiers, and found deformities of the criminals’ brains. This led him to conclude that a reason for the criminal’s behavior was that the criminal had inferior reasoning capabilities, and therefore, the criminal could not understand the difference between what is right and wrong (Schmalleger, 2009). A biological theory, by evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin, theorized that because life favors the strongest and best individuals, those who are able to attain power and possessions are most likely to procreate, thus continuing his or her genes. Animals, including humans, are driven to ggression, and crime, to improve his or her economic and social positions; to facilitate his or her search for a mate (Schmalleger, 2009). Lombraso and Darwin determined that biology is the cause behind aggressive and criminal behavior. Rational Choice Theory A second theory is the classical school of criminology referred to as the rational choice theory, or free will. This theory posits that a person chooses to commit criminal acts; that circumstances su ch as social and economic hardships lead a person to commit crime. The theory maintains that a person will consider the pros and cons of committing a criminal act; if the benefits outweigh the punishment, the person will commit the crime (Law Library: Free Legal Encyclopedia, 2011). According to this theory, a person with low social standing, and often impoverished would be more likely to commit armed robbery to improve his or her economic conditions, thus improving his or her social position. Classical theorists Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham were two theorists who believed that if the punishment were greater than the benefits of the crime, individuals would be deterred from committing criminal (Schmalleger, 2009). However, this theory does not appear to take into account the desperation factor; if someone is impoverished, possible living on the streets, his or her desperation for basic requirements may be such that there is no deterrent strong enough to stop him or her. Psychological Theory The third theory is based on psychological factors. Sigmund Freud and J. Dollard proposed theories that, when a person is significantly frustrated, over a long period, aggression is the natural outcome (Schmalleger, 2009). According to this belief, if a person lives in depravation long enough, the individual will eventually become frustrated enough that he or she may resort to armed robbery, to improve his or her economic status. Another psychological theory, which is popular in current times, is that violent video games, television, and movies, are the driving force behind violent criminal activity. Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman, a former assistant professor of psychology at West Point, calls video game, â€Å"hypnotic murder simulators† (Schmalleger, 2009, p. 231). This theory posits that people become desensitized to violence and lose perspective; they no longer see right and wrong, therefore they may resort to criminal activity to obtain what they want. Whether any, or all, of these theories have merit, it is clear that there are factors other than simple greed that can lead to a person committing a violent crime such as armed robbery. Without being able to narrow down the factors of why a person is likely to commit an armed robbery, it is difficult at best to determine what will deter him or her from committing the crime. It is my belief that too many factors contribute to a person’s decision to commit the crime, to believe that simply lengthening the sentence will be effective. Studies Two studies in particular, on the deterrent effect of longer sentences on criminals committing armed robbery, indicate that although there may be a slight deterrent effect, there is not a significant deterrent effect by increasing sentence length. In 2006, Italy passed a bill that gave clemency to thousands of criminals with three or fewer years left on his or her sentences. If the criminals were to commit any further crimes within the next five years, not only would the individual have to serve the sentence for whatever crime was committed, the sentence would be extended by whatever time had not been previously served (University of Chicago Press Journals, 2009). This gave three scientists, Francesco Drego, Roberto Galbiati, and Pietro Vertova the opportunity to study the deterrent effect of longer sentences on recidivism rates. In 2009, the scientists published their discoveries in the Journal of Political Economy; the results indicate that an increase of sentencing, by as little as one month, reduced the recidivism rate by 1. 3% in less serious crimes; however, for criminals committing more serious offenses, of which armed robbery is one, there was virtually no deterrent effect (University of Chicago Press Journals, 2009). Although this study is encouraging for less serious crimes, it does not indicate that there is a significant reduction of serious and/or violent crimes because of the longer sentencing. Another study conducted by the economists David S. Lee of Columbia and Justin McCrary of Michigan, focused on Florida recidivism rates, discovered that even though imprisonment and sentences increase from three to 17% after the age of 18, depending on the seriousness of the crime, there was no significant drop in recidivism rates when juvenile criminals transitioned to adult courts. It was, in fact, because the individual was incarcerated and unable to commit more crimes that there was a drop in criminal activity between the ages of 17 and 19 (Waldfogel, 2007). Conclusion There are too many factors, which may cause a person to commit an armed robbery, to believe that simply lengthening the prison term will be effective. If a person is biologically inclined toward criminal activity, longer sentences will not be sufficient to override his or her biological ‘programming’. If they have inferior cognitive abilities, because of underdeveloped brains, they will be unable to comprehend the significance of a longer sentence; a longer sentence would have no more significance to them than a shorter sentence. If the person has endured frustration long enough that they feel his or her only choice it to take what they want by force, they are unlikely to consider the prison sentence before they commit the act. Or they may determine that even if they are caught, at least they will have a roof over their heads, food on their plate, and clothes on their back, if they are sent to prison. For some criminals this may, in fact, be an inducement to commit the crime. If a person has become psychologically ‘warped’ by social media, they may have lost the capability to judge right and wrong, thereby losing the capability to consider the consequences of his or her actions; a longer sentence would not be sufficient deterrence. Finally, if the person has made the choice, of his or her own free will, to commit an armed robbery, even after weighing the pros and cons, doubling his or her sentence is going to have very little deterrent effect. Many criminals believe that they will not be apprehended; or they believe they will be able to reduce their sentence through a plea bargain. When a criminal chooses to commit a crime, they are also choosing to accept the penalty should they be caught. Of the three theories, I believe that a criminal who falls under the rational choice theory has the best chance of being deterred. This criminal is the one who is most likely to understand the significance of a longer sentence. However, as the Italian and Florida studies indicated, imposing longer sentences did little to deter violent criminals. As violent crime is not, in my opinion, a rational act, it is unlikely that armed robbers would fall under the rational choice theory; hence, they are unlikely to be deterred by doubling their prison sentence. My Recommendation While I do not believe that doubling the prison sentences of armed robbers will have a significant deterrent effect on armed robbers, I do believe that it will have an effect on the crime rate. If the criminal is incarcerated for a long period, they are unable to commit further armed robberies. They will be segregated from society, and will be unable to further victimize society. Society will also receive psychological benefits from the new law; they will feel comforted by the fact that the individual is no longer able to victimize society. As the bill has popular support, from both the legislature and the public, I recommend that Senator McKenzie vote to pass the bill, when it comes up for a vote in September 2011. References CriminalDefenseLawyer. com. (2011). Armed Robbery. Retrieved 10 January 2011, from http://www. criminaldefenselawyer. com/crime-penalties/federal/Armed-Robbery. htm Law Library: Free Legal Encyclopedia. (2011). Classical School of Criminology. Retrieved 30 January 2011, from http://law. jrank. org/pages/14359/classical-school-criminology. html Schmalleger, F. (2009). Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction, Fifth Edition. Retrieved 30 January 2011, from CJA 314. University of Chicago Press Journals (2009). Potential Criminals Can Be Deterred By Longer Sentences, Study Suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved 30 January 2011, from http://www. sciencedaily. com /releases/2009/05/090518111726. htm Waldfogel, J. (2007). The Irrational 18-Year-Old Criminal. Slate. Retrieved 30 January 2011, from http://www. slate. com/id/2158317/

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Guide Question Dragon Soup Essay

For Case (A) 1. Using Excel sheet provided, and the recommended consequential disclosures as a basis for your analysis, what recommendations would you give Phillips on each of the items listed below? In each case, justify your recommendations and estimate how much the decision will change the true value of the company and its value in the eyes of an investor in a private company. a. The lease or buy decision, including whether to structure an operating lease. b. The regular price of the soup, whether or not to run an end-of year promotion or target end-of-year inventory level. c. Whether or not to ask Dunwood to guarantee accounts receivable. d. Whether or not to reduce the end-of-year provision for bad debts due to recent strong collection experience. e. Whether or not to sell different investments and, if the recommendation is not to sell the mortgage-backed securities, how to value them on the end-of-year balance sheet assuming market conditions do not change. Given your recommendations, how m uch do you think a potential buyer will offer based upon a valuation earnings multiple of ten times sustainable earnings, plus the value of cash and marketable investments on the balance sheet? 2. In the case, Phillips questioned how far he should push the envelope. Why should he be concerned if all the actions you recommend are legal? Do you think the associated disclosures satisfy the SEC requirement that a company provides a narrative explanation of its financial statements that enables investors to see the company through the eyes of the management? For Case (B) As stated in the case, Kerr had given the task of valuing Dragon’s equity for possible acquisition, assuming a valuation of ten times sustainable earnings, plus the value of cash and marketable investments on the balance sheet. He understood that most companies preparing for the sale would â€Å"window dress† their financial statements. However, he had no reason to believe Dunwoody  and Phillips would do anything deliberately dishonest. In any event, it was Kerr’s job to try to unwind any such behavior to establish Dragon’s true value. 3. Using the Excel spreadsheet provided and the footnote disclosures it contains as a basis for your analysis, estimate the true value of the company in the eyes of an investor in a private company. 4. Assuming Phillips had prepared the forecasts for you, would you want him to join your team? Please justify your decision. Assuming you want to hire him, would you offer a similar payment structure to the â€Å"Tomato Farm† deal? Please describe how you think such a transaction should be treated in accounting terms. 5. The footnote disclosures in Excel spreadsheet are designed to generally satisfy the SEC requirements to provide a narrative explanation of a company’s financial statements, which enables investors to see company the through the eyes of management. What additional information would you like to see in the so-called â€Å"standard† disclosures? As part of your submission, please provide an Excel spreadsheet that justifies your answers. To the extent that you change any assumptions from those contained in the Excel spreadsheet provided to your group, please provide a detailed explanation of the reasons for these changes and details of the magnitude of their impact on the valuation you propose. If your valuation includes information and/or calculations that cannot easily be incorporated into the spreadsheet provided, please provide additional explanations with your submission MW PETROLEUM (A) JETBLUE AIRWAYS IPO VALUATION KOHLER (A) CONSOLIDATED RAIL For Case (A) For Case (B)

Opp Papers

Want to play on a truly global field? Here’s your chance to up your game to a new level. Job Title: Reports To: Job Band: Function: Location: Cabin Crew Purser Three (3) Operations Lagos Purpose Statement: To ensure passenger safety and comfort on board the aircraft and to provide the same with the highest degree of service and customer care in line with the company’s brand, service and people values. Primarily working in the Business and Economy section of the aircraft.Key Accountabilities: a) To ensure on board safety, overall welfare and comfort of passengers on board each flight. b) To offer exceptional service to customers that will encourage continued patronage of the Airline’s services. c) To ensure that where possible, service is recovered whenever there is a breakdown or service failure. d) To maintain currency of cabin crew licence and competency on all aircraft types included in the licence. e) Remain current on company’s instructions via Genera l Notices, SEP and AVMED manuals. ) To attend a pre-flight briefing and to answer a safety related question from the Purser in accordance with the Standard operating procedures described in the Air Nigeria Cabin Attendant Manual. Knowledge, Skills and Experience: Some of the required qualifications, skills & experience for the role are as follows HND or good University degree Completed NYSC Confident Swimmer Good spoken English Language Able to do basic Maths (currency conversion etc) Should possess qualities of diplomacyAble to do basic Maths (currency conversion etc) A good understanding of the French language and least one year customer would be an asset. Working Relationships: ? Internal: SEP/AVMED Instructors, Flight Deck crew, Crew Line Managers, Flight Service Managers, Pursers, Crew Control, Customer Services Agents, Catering unit and Engineering unit. External: Passengers, Catering Companies, Hotels ? Interested applicants who meet the above criteria should apply Method of Application: by writing a covering letter as to why you believe you should be a part of a winning team.Please attach a full length colour photograph of yourself and an updated curriculum vitae with copies of relevant certificates and submit at the Front Desk any of the following locations- Air Nigeria Office, 3rd Floor MMIA, Lagos or 9th Floor, Etiebets place, 21 Mobolaji bank Anthony way, Ikeja Other important information: NIL Take down date: November 23, 2010 Best regards, For: Air Nigeria Human Resources Department

Monday, July 29, 2019

Supplier Selection and Business Process Improvement Essay

Supplier Selection and Business Process Improvement - Essay Example This learn looks at the victory that TOFAS-FIAT Corporation has had in running supply chain in Turkey (Bashein, B. J., 2004, 7-13). In a globe where products are copied roughly as soon as they are introduced into the marketplace, building and supporting competitive advantage is a major anxiety for today's CEOs. For this reason, there is a strong link among how firms manage their people and the economic results achieved. Results from studies of five year endurance rates of initial public offerings; studies of productivity and stock price in large samples of companies from manifold industries; and detailed research on automobile, clothing, and other industries shows that considerable gains of approximately 40% can be obtained by implementing high performance management practices. a further purpose of this paper is to gain imminent into supply chain capability and the factors that enhance its development. If members of a supply chain are to thrive jointly they must acknowledge that a learning environment improves the overall effectiveness of the supply chain as well as the abilities of the individual members (Stump , R. L., 2001, 29-48). One important management practice for many companies is the relationship that they have with their suppliers. Supply chain partnerships are relationships between two or more independent entities in a supply chain to achieve specific objectives. Basically, these partnerships are generally created to increase the financial and operational performance of each channel. These objectives are accomplished throug

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Market Myths Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Market Myths - Essay Example Myth Number One is that some people equate investing in the stock market to gambling with their money. As a result of this fallacy, a significant number of individuals avoid the stock market. An understanding of the reasoning behind purchasing stocks needs to be well-known in order for an individual to understand how investing in them is different from gambling. It is important to remember that a share of stock represents partial ownership in a company, and it gives the person who owns the stock some of the profits that the company makes and allows that individual to share assets (Investopedia, 2008, pg. 1). "Too often, investors think of shares as simply a trading vehicle, and they forget that stock represents the ownership of a company. In the stock market, investors are constantly trying to assess the profit that will be left over for shareholders. This is why stock prices fluctuate. The outlook for business conditions is always changing, and so are the future earnings of a company" (Investopedia, 2008, pg. 1). It is a rather daunting task to determine the value of a company at any given point. The Random Walk Theory applies, and this theory states that "there are so many variables involved that the short-term price movements appear to be random (Investopedia, 2008, pg. 1). ... 1) Also according to the article by Investopedia (2008, pg. 2), "Gambling, on the contrary, is a zero-sum game. It merely takes money from a loser and gives it to a winner. No value is ever created. By investing, we increase the overall wealth of an economy. As companies compete, they increase productivity and develop products thatcan make our lives better. Don't confuse investing and creating wealth with gambling's zero-sum game." Myth Number Two is that the stock market is some type of fancy, executive club reserved for the wealthy and for brokers and that the average person cannot play, or at least cannot play very well. The fact is that brokers do not hold all of the secrets anymore. Thanks to advances in technology and the advent of the Internet, all of the forecasting a research tools that brokers use are available to the general public as well, and they are really easy to get at pretty much any retail store that sells books and electronics (Investopedia, 2008). "Actually, individuals have an advantage over institutional investors becauseindividuals can afford to be long-term oriented. The big money managers are under extreme pressure to get high returns every quarter. Their performance is often so scrutinized that they can't invest in opportunities that take some time to develop. Individuals have the ability to look beyond temporary downturns in favor of a long-term outlook" (Investopedia, 2008, pg. 3). The third market myth is that stocks that have risen high and fallen will rise again. This is not necessarily true. Investopedia (2008, pg. 3) offers the following example: "Suppose you are looking at two stocks: XYZ made an all time high last year around $50 but

Saturday, July 27, 2019

History of Environmental Education and Environmental Policies Essay

History of Environmental Education and Environmental Policies - Essay Example Today, an Environmental Education includes not only the technical impact that technology has presented, but also the responsibility that industry and individuals have in their approach to maintaining a sustainable geography that is productive as well as healthy. Modern attitudes towards an Environmental Education have been the result of an evolution in thinking towards the environment that has spanned the last two and a half centuries. Environmental Education traces its roots back to 1762 and the publication of Emile, a novel on educational philosophy that argued that education should focus on the environment (McRea). Wilbur Jackman's 1891 publication of Nature Study for the Common School initiated the Nature Study Movement that was pioneered by the American Nature Study Society headed by the naturalist Liberty Hyde Bailey (McRea). A greater environmental awareness was fostered in the United States by the Romantic Nature Movement and the Progressive Education Movement led by John Dewey (Haskin). In essence, "Environmental education did not spring forth fully formed from any one discipline, but rather as a product of a co-evolutionary process within science, public awareness of environmental issues, and educational ideas" (Haskin). The Dust Bowl of the 1930s was accompanied by an even greater awareness of our environment and the need for conservation and sustainability. The movement towards toda... Movement was spearheaded by Aldo Leopold, a Wisconsin educator that advocated an "an approach to science that merged environmental thinking, science and life practice" (Haskin). This thinking led to the first college degree in conservation at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1946 and the coining of the phrase 'environmental education' by Thomas Pritchard, Deputy Directory of the Nature Conservancy, at a meeting of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in Paris in 1948 (McRea). The next decade would see a greater public awareness of nature and the natural surroundings and a call for increased sensitivity and responsibility in our actions that affect our world's environment. These attitudes were brought into greater focus by the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, a critical review of the devastating effects that man and technology can have on the environment (Haskin). The modern environmental movement had been born and the first Earth Day in 1970 can be considered the birth of the modern national policies on Environmental Education, as well as environmental law and policy. Since the 1970s, environmental education has been addressed in the US and around the world based on a few basic principles. 1977 marked the world's first intergovernmental conference on environmental education held at Tbilisi, in the former Soviet republic of Georgia (Archie and McRea). The conference set forth five broad objectives for environmental education that the EPA agreed to and continues to support. These five principles are (1) Awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental challenges; (2) Knowledge and understanding of the environment and environmental challenges; (3) Attitudes of concern for the environment and motivation to

Friday, July 26, 2019

Compare and contrast how Marxist and foucauldian criminologist Essay

Compare and contrast how Marxist and foucauldian criminologist conceptualize power and their exercise of power in their analysis - Essay Example The modes of production in society consist of two elements: the means of production, which is constituted of technological, process and the relationship of various classes to the means of production whether they either own the means of production or work for those, who posses them. Since the ultimate economic source of surplus in society involves the amount of goods which is produced in excess of what the workers consume, there is a need to understand the difference between those who hold the means of production and those who work for them so as to be able to comprehensively understand who owns the surpluses in society. McLaughlin states that means of production in society can either be privately owned or not. In some societies, means of production are owned by state, for example in former soviet Union, in others they are controlled by small groups of workers for instance in Yugoslavia or collectively owned by units of workers, farmers, peasants and other classes in society for examp le in china This forms of production definitely produces different types of social relations and also lead to various forms of crimes an criminal law. McLaughlin et al notes that in capitalistic societies particularly where means of production concentrates on private individuals and there has been a development of divisions between the class that dominates, the owners of means of production and the class that is dominated, those working for the ruling class, the level of crime is very substantial and of high degree. This is because of the contradiction that is created by the capitalist system. (McLaughlin, 2003, p 250) To begin with, the first contradiction is that the capitalist enterprise tries to crate a desire among the class of workers to consume the products generated by their system. Many of this products don’t do not necessarily contribute to the improvement of peoples wellbeing and also have no value. For their system to be viable, they develop mechanisms to make the people utilise what they produce. In order for the capitalist to produce their goods, they make labour force to work diligently and over time. This helps the ruling class to accumulate more and more capital and maintain their position in society. Also to keep the workers at bay, the capitalist specialise in keeping a considerable proportion in society poor and miserable. This means that if the currently employed group of workers down their tools, and refuse to carry their duties as required by management, they are dismissed and the reserve work force waiting for the job takes over immediately. In the long run, the capitalist structures end up creating both a desire to consume and the inability for the large population of the people to earn the money required for buying necessaries need for life. The second contradiction about capitalism is that the categorization of society in two classes: one that owns means of production and a deprived group that inevitably works for wage so as t o survive leads to conflict between the two classes. These conflicts can be seen from rebellion and riots emanating from the proletariat. Also the state passes law to protect the interest of the ruling class, applies sanction to regulate the actions of proletarian which threatens the egoistic interests of the bourgeoisie .The proletarians who are caught jeopardising the interest of the ruling class are labelled to as criminal and their actions branded as crime. As capitalism

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Dividend Tax Cut Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dividend Tax Cut - Essay Example It was believed that in doing this, the overall U.S. economy would profit because investors would be encouraged and more open to invest in companies. "The tax-cut package enacted in 2003 reduced to 15 percent the top tax rate on long-term capital gains and corporate dividends" (Mintz 108). While this is a significant decrease, many citizens were led astray as to who would actually be benefiting from the package because the Bush administration pointed out that almost half of all American households held some form of stock. "What this statistic ignores, however, is that nearly two-fifths of this stock is held in retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs. This distinction is crucial, because capital gains and dividend income accruing inside these retirement accounts is not subject to taxation, and thus would not receive a tax benefit from the reduction in the tax rates on capital gains and dividend income" (Amromin 38). Therefore, the actual amount of citizens benefiting from this plan is significantly lower than what the American public was led to believe. Only the wealthiest of stock holders benefit from dividend income. Accor ding to the Tax Policy Center fifty four percent of all dividend income goes to households who make over one million dollars per year and the remaining goes to households that make over two hundred thousand. When looking at the big picture, these households only make up three percent of the country's population. "In contrast, only 11 percent of capital gains and dividend income goes to the 86 percent of households with incomes of less than $100,000. Only 4 percent of this income flows to the 64 percent of households that have income of less than $50,000" (Amromin 39). While this information proves that the wealthy are benefiting from the dividend tax cuts, the remaining majority if the population continues to pay a tax on their dividends. Another negative side affect to the passing of this tax cut package are the affects it will have on different private bond companies and charity organizations. "The stock dividend exclusion will hurt municipal and state bonds, it will reduce the attractiveness of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit amounting to 40,000 affordable housing units lost, and it will harm the marketability of the Historic Preservation Tax Credit, the New Markets Tax Credit and mortgage revenue bonds" (Cohen). In financially strapped cities throughout the country, many are turning to philanthropic foundations to substitute for the loss of government funds. "Many charities believe that the plan for the stock dividend exclusion is bad public policy in terms of equity and fairness in our tax system, and bad for charity and philanthropy" (Cohen). As for the corporations themselves, economic studies have shown that a decrease in taxes does not ultimately play any kind of role in whether corporations decide to pay out higher dividends. Many citizens are concerned that instead of issuing dividends to their shareholders, corporations will substitute "dividend payments for share repurchases, an alternative method of payout that boosts the price of the company's stock for shareholders" (Friedman). Like these "share repurchases", many companies who say they have undertaken the dividend policies have morphed them into one time offers, or special dividends

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

One Dark Night Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

One Dark Night - Essay Example ught about this many a time, but he always gently explained to be that he was only this way because he cared so much about me, and wanted to make everything perfect for me. Somehow, he always managed to convince me, either by sweet-talking me or by some sort of romantic gesture. And I always fell for it. Back at the time, I believe I knew in the back of my mind I was unhappy, but I wasnt willing to admit it even to myself. My appearance and behaviour did not give me away- I was always perceived as the perfect wife who mastered everything from cooking to doing the house chores and everything else (my husband also told me I was "not too shabby" between the sheets). I was constantly being flattered about the house, the food I prepared for our friends and often to my husbands business partners, and it was not uncommon for other men to stare at me and compliment me on my looks, sometimes in inappropriate ways I sort of enjoyed. Of course, my husbands reaction would always come shortly thereafter. He would always make sure that everyone knew that Im his wife, and always did it aggressively, telling the man who flattered me to back off because I am his. This was sometimes followed by a push or a shove. This seemed very bizarre to me, since my husband was anything but violence. I dismissed it by saying to myself that he loves me so much, that he would do anything to protect me, even if Im not in danger. And I also rationalized it by saying that his manly ego wont stand it if another man came on to his wife. In that way, I thought to myself, men arent any different than they were when mankind began. The male is always the dominant one, and doesnt let other men get to close to his wife. Thats why he "marks" her as his territory and guards her well. If only I knew beforehand how right I was†¦ But my husbands behaviour did not stop there. As a part of his wanting to make everything perfect (or in other words- exactly as he wants it), he would always criticize me about

MARKETING PLAN Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MARKETING PLAN - Term Paper Example These are individuals/ groups who wish to be in control of their spending, those who are budget conscious and are always in the lookout for good finds and bargains so they could maximize their budget. They will most likely shop in a supermarket that offers one of the lowest prices. They will be interested in a place that is haven for those who wish to stretch their budget. Target market includes both men and women who are contributing to the earnings of the household. They are the decision makers who are in control of identifying which products to purchase for the daily needs of the house. Secondary target market are the children and younger ones who also have great influence in the purchasing decisions of their parents/ guardians. Wal-mart will retail standard supermarkets, both dry and wet goods. It will carry a wide range of products, from beauty and health care, to kitchen items and food, and even garments and small appliances. It will also have a snack counter where shoppers could stop by while finishing their shopping. It will be offer a one-stop shopping convenience that will provide the customers with all the necessary items they usually shop for when visiting a supermarket. Wal-mart will be a warehouse type of supermarket experience. It will have wide aisles, spacious shopping areas that best suit those who buy items in bulk. The store is designed to make shopping comfortable for its customers. Pricing will be competitive – the management will ensure that the store offers the lowest in the industry. The store will also offer loyalty programs for those who are frequent buyers. It will give additional discounts to members of this loyalty programs. Wal-mart will do promotions through local television and radio advertisements. It will also place occasional advertisements in local newspapers on a regular basis. Wal-mart will also do below-the-line advertising via ad placements in billboards situated in key areas in the cities.

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Causal story paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Causal story paper - Essay Example This is indeed true for many Latin American nations that have a deficit of foreign capital and are under increasing pressure of going for market driven reforms. Irrespective of the governmental constraints and the increasing opposition of the private sector, a favourable interaction of many variables like the labour backed parties at home and the ties of the local trade unions to the foreign labour and human rights groups has pushed the state governments to opt for pro labour reforms. It is primarily owing to the dependent variable that is the labour backed local parties and the independent variable that are the foreign based labour and human rights groups that the trade unions in Latin America have been able to wrest out favourable reforms. The deregulation of economies and the immense pressure for free market reforms has proved to be very favourable for the trade unions in the Latin American nations that have a history of labour mobilization and organization (Murillo & Schrank 974) . ... Though the labour backed parties in Latin America have been trying hard to break in into new constituencies, yet they could not afford to ignore the traditional support of the independent variables like the organized labour that happen to be a ready source of support and vote. Thereby the local labour backed parties do make it a point to press the governments to opt for pro labour union reforms, because if they fail to do so, they fear losing the support of the organized labour in their constituencies that is historically organized and is capable of shifting alliances if the need be. Argentina happens to be a typical example of a Latin American nation where the governments irrespective of being pro liberalization had to pass pro labour union reforms under pressure from the local labour backed parties (Murillo & Schrank 988). In contrast the Latin American nations which have a tradition of labour repression, the pro labour reforms owe their origins to a different set of variables. The se economies with the enhanced liberalization have become increasingly export dependent and it is the markets like the US where the goods produced by these nations find the customers. Being cost sensitive the governments in these nations are traditionally averse to labour reforms. However, the dependent variables like the labour unions in these nations have wrested reforms by aligning with a different independent variable that are the labour and human rights groups based abroad. These foreign based labour and human rights groups exert a pressure on their governments to push the rogue nations to opt for labour reforms in lieu of getting access to the US

Monday, July 22, 2019

Palazzo Art History Essay Example for Free

Palazzo Art History Essay Context Few windows overlook the inner courtyard (cortile); the colonnaded walls are decorated on all sides by deep niches and blind windows, and the intervening surfaces are spattered by spezzato (broken and blemished plaster) giving life and depth to the surfaces. Function pleasure palace, or Villa Suburbana Description terms four exterior faà §ades have flat pilasters against rusticated walls Intent pleasure palace, or Villa Suburbana Palazzo del Te or Palazzo Te is a palace in the suburbs of Mantua, Italy. It is a fine example of the mannerist style of architecture, the acknowledged masterpiece of Giulio Romano. The official name, and by far the most common name in Italian, is Palazzo Te, but this may be a relatively recent usage; Vasari calls it the Palazzo del T (pronounced as Te), and English-speaking writers, especially art historians, continue to call it the Palazzo del Te. In Italian this now suggests use for tea-drinking, which may account for the divergence in usage. HideDescription Palazzo del Te is a square building, constructed 1524-1534 for Federico II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua. He decided in 1524 to build a pleasure palace, or Villa Suburbana. The site chosen was that of the familys stables at Isola del Te on the fringe of the marshes just outside Mantuas city walls. The architect commissioned was Giulio Romano, a pupil of Raphael. The shell of the palazzo was erected within 18 months. It is basically a square house built around a cloistered courtyard. A formal garden complemented the house. This was enclosed by colonnaded outbuildings terminated by a semi-circular colonnade known as the Esedra. Like the Villa Farnesina in Rome, the suburban location allowed for a mixing of both Palace and Villa architecture. The four exterior faà §ades have flat pilasters against rusticated walls, the fenestration indicating that the piano nobile is on the ground floor with a secondary floor above. The East faà §ade differs from the other three by having Palladian motifs on its pilaster and an open loggia at its centre rather than an arch to the courtyard. The facades are not as symmetrical as they appear, and the spans between the columns are irregular. The centre of the North and South facades are pierced by two-storey arches without portico or pediment, simply a covered way leading to the interior courtyard. Few windows overlook the inner courtyard (cortile); the colonnaded walls are decorated on all sides by deep niches and blind windows, and the intervening surfaces are spattered by spezzato (broken and blemished plaster) giving life and depth to the surfaces. Once the shell of the building was completed, for ten years a team of plasterers, carvers and fresco painters laboured, until barely a surface in any of the loggias or salons remained undecorated. Under Giulio Romanos direction, local decorative painters such as Benedetto Pagni and Rinaldo Mantovano worked extensively on the frescos. These frescoes remain today and are the most remarkable feature of the Palazzo. The subjects range from Olympian banquets in the Sala di Psiche and stylised horses in the Sala dei Cavalli to the most unusual of all — giants and grotesques wreaking havoc, fury and ruin around the walls of the Sala dei Giganti. Mannerisms most famous fresco: Giulio Romanos illusionism invents a dome overhead and dissolves the rooms architecture in the Fall of the Giants. These magnificent rooms, once furnished to complement the ducal court of the Gonzaga family, saw many of the most illustrious figures of their era entertained such as the Emperor Charles V, who, when visiting in 1530, elevated his host Federico II of Gonzaga from Marquess to Duke of Mantua. One of the most evocative parts of the lost era of the palazzo is the Casino della Grotta, a small suite of intimate rooms arranged around a grotto and loggetta (covered balcony) where courtiers once bathed in the small cascade that splashed over the pebbles and shells encrusted in the floor and walls. In 1630 Mantua and the palace were sacked by invading forces, the remaining population fell victim to one of the worst plagues in history. The Palazzo was looted from top to bottom and remained an empty shell: nymphs, god, goddesses and giants remain on the walls of the empty echoing rooms. Part of the Palazzo today houses the Museo Civico del Palazzo Te, endowed by the publisher Arnoldo Mondadori. It contains a collection of Mesopotamian art.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Status and Capacity Utilization in Small Scale Industries

Status and Capacity Utilization in Small Scale Industries ABSTRACT Over the past year, the global economic crisis has exerted considerable influence on many business organizations of any size. Large industrial establishments have attempted to manage this crisis in their own ways. Amid all this, SMEs are increasingly being brought into focus on account of their huge growth potential. The present study aims at examining the status of small industries, industrial policy and capacity utilization of small industries and the reasons for not utilizing it to the fullest extent. Capacity utilization has been examined taking into account the location of the unit, industry group to which it belonged, year of establishment, form of organization, investment in plant and machinery, the entrepreneurs background and various reasons specified by the entrepreneurs. This study is empirical in nature and it is based on the data collected with the help of questionnaire. Efforts are also being made to offer suggestions. Introduction Small and medium enterprises have an important role to play in the present context due to its capacity for employment generation, technological innovation, raising exports and developing entrepreneurial skills. They reduce regional imbalances. They have been accorded a strategic position in the successive five year plans towards fulfilment of our socio-economic objectives and helped to achieve our dictum of growth with equity. Since the early 1990s, Indian SMEs have been exposed to intense competition due to the accelerated process of globalization. But at the same time, globalization has brought new opportunities and challenges to Indian SMEs. India used to support small and medium industrial sector since independence compared to many developing countries. Series of institutions have been set up by the Central Government, State Governments, and provided financial assistance, technical consultancy, information, technical input, training, legal advice, and marketing support and helped in the healthy development and progress of small and medium industries. But a pertinent question that has often been emerged here, whether their capacity has been utilized to the fullest extent or not. Through this paper an effort is made to study the capacity utilization of small scale and medium industries. Meaning and Definition In the Indian context, we have not so far succeeded in giving a definition to small and medium industries. What is neither small nor large industries is being loosely defined as medium industries. Here, the term enterprise encompasses business, services and industries. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Bill, 2006, defined the segment on the basis of investments in plant and machinery. Small enterprises are those with an investment of not more than Rs 50 mn in plant and machinery, and medium enterprises with an investment of over Rs 50 mn but less than Rs 100 mn in plant and machinery. This definition has finally put the segment within a legal framework. Under the Act, enterprises have been categorized broadly into those engaged in (i) manufacturing, and (ii) providing/rendering of services. Both the categories have been farther classified into micro, small and medium enterprises, based on gross investment in plant and machinery for manufacturing enterprises, and in equipment in case of enterprises providing or rendering services, as shown in the following table. Insert Table 1 Here SMEs are not uniform across the globe. The way they are defined depends on th stage of economic development and the broad policy purposes for which the definition is used. The most commonly used definitions relate to either size of employment and or quantum of capital investments or fixed assets. As the process of economic development leads to changes in industrial sector shares in GDP and the contribution of sub-sectors within industry, the definition is extended to include not only manufacturing industries but all enterprises which fall within or below the defined cut off point. Small scale units engage themselves in various kinds of manufacturing such as manufacturing of metal alloys and products, machinery, electrical equipments, chemicals, drugs, electronics and miscellaneous products. But most of the small scale units have not been able to achieve capacity utilization to the fullest extent. A very few of them have been able to achieve a capacity utilization greater than 80%, as revealed by many surveys. Recent study conducted at Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts of Karnataka have indicated that more than 80 of the industrial units in the various industrial estates of the two districts are either closed or sick. The fact that the same scenario prevails throughout the country and the difference, if any, is only in degree and cannot be a consoling factor. We know that this situation is not good for the economy of the country and due to these financial institutions and the banks in the country themselves are becoming sick as it increases the non-performin g assets of industrial units and other enterprises. The position of Sick SSI and Weak and non-viable units financed by commercial banks are not encouraging. The following table throws light on the magnitude of sickness. Insert Table 2 here Despite several measures for the promotion of this sector, it is very disappointing to observe that its performance has not been satisfactory. The problems are many like finance, production, marketing, labour, which have resulted in under utilization of installed capacity. At the same time, power cut, lack of demand, lack of working capital are all hindering the full utilization of installed capacity. Objectives of the Study The present study is intended to examine the capacity utilization of selected small scale units in the Udupi Districts and to find out the reasons for it. The specific objectives are: To examine and project the existing performance level of industrial units in the study area. To investigate into the reasons for underutilization of capacity in the small scale units of target area. To examine the relation between the investment and capacity utilization. To examine the relationship between the age of the unit and the capacity utilization. to examine the relation between the background of the entrepreneur and capacity utilization To study the current status of the small and medium scale industries To study the industrial policy and importance of the small-scale industries. Limitation of Study The study is not free from limitations. Some of them are likely: Udupi district itself is not an industrialized area; hence based of this study we cannot make generalizations. The researcher collected data from only 100 respondents, out of which only 85 units responded. Few sample units did not maintain the books for recording their capacity utilization, production, etc. Hence collected data may be biased. Review of Literature A number of studies on the efficiency of small and medium industries were undertaken. Dhar and Lydall, Hajra, Sandesara (1966 and 1969) and Mehta studied the relationship between size and output-capital ratio by using the data from confederation of medium industries. Their report showed positive relationship. Bhavani (1980) conducted a detailed census of SSI units and concluded that the capital productivity of SSI units is lower than that of large scale units suggesting efficiency differences in line with the findings of Dhar-Lydall-Sandesara. Tambiinam T(2007) found out that the levels of productivity are higher in large enterprises (LEs) and foreign-owned enterprises than in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), partly because they have higher levels of technology capacity. He suggested that increasing the productivity of SMEs might be facilitated through improved knowledge or technology. Business outlook survey conducted by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) based on preliminary analysis of responses from 352 small and medium members reveals a dull scenario (June 2003). However, the small and medium industry foresees an improvement in the business situation in the coming years and expects an increase in turnover of production, profit margins, capacity utilization and exports. According to the information collected from Small Scale Industrial Centers, Government agencies for small scale industries and some of the associations of the small scale industries, no in depth studies have been made till now on the capacity utilization of small scale industries. Under utilization of capacity may be considered as one of the problems, but neither the entrepreneurs nor the concerned authorities have taken up this issue very seriously. Empirical studies in several countries show that SMEs are characterized by Lower and more variable profitability (Dunlop, 1992; Cosh and Hughes, 1993; Peel and Wilson, 1996); Lower liquidity (Gupta, 1969; Chittenden et ah, 1996); Lower use of long-term debt (Chittenden et al., 1996; Levratto, 1997; Audretsch and Elston, 1997); Lower leverage (Rivaud-Danset et ah, 1998); Higher short-term debt (Tamari, 1980; Cosh and Hughes, 1993; Rivaud-Danset et al., 1998). In one the study conducted by Prof. Jayachandran, Narendra Kumar and Dr. Himachalam at selected small scale units of Tirupathi Industrial Estate revealed that 50% of the SMEs were utilizing 25% to 50% capacity and the remaining 50% were utilizing 50 to 75%. None of the studied units was utilizing more than 75% of plant capacity. Further it revealed that age of the unit alone is not accountable for the extent of capacity utilization. They concluded that entrepreneurial talents and problems, which confronted the unit, also influenced the level of capacity utilization in the small scale units. From the above review, it is obvious that few research studies have been undertaken on the subject capacity underutilization in SMEs. Hence, there is a research gap necessitating further study, particularly SSI sector and the problems confronted by them. This paper throws light the status of small and medium enterprises and their capacity utilization. Research Methodology The present study aims at examining the status of small industries, industrial policy and capacity utilization of small industries and the reasons for not utilizing it to the fullest extent. Capacity utilization has been examined taking into account the location of the unit, industry group to which it belonged, year of establishment, form of organization, investment in plant and machinery, the entrepreneurs background and various reasons specified by the entrepreneurs. This study is empirical in nature and it is based on the data collected with the help of questionnaire. Attempts have also been made to extract the correct information through discussion with the entrepreneurs. Chi-square test is applied to study the association between capacity utilization and variables like location of the plant, investment, age of the unit and background of the industrialists. Besides the primary data, necessary information and data also collected through secondary sources like periodicals, reports, Government, publications of industrial association, research organization, and company documents. Documents are also collected from District Industrial Centre of Udupi and Industries Association, Manipal. In the study, convenience sampling of 85 units were selected. Heterogeneous sample units were selected for the study. Importance was given for the amount of investment on the units and the location as well. Present Study There are 15 medium scale industries existing in the District. Among them printing, fishnet, granite, water gel explosives are the major industries. There are 5629 tiny and small scale industrial units registered in the District. Total amount of Rs. 218.49 crores has been invested in these units generating employment for 34,123 numbers. Table reveals the number of SSI registered, the total investment and employment generation by this sector. Insert Table 3 here Table shows the list of existing medium scale industries up to 31-3-2008. Insert Table 4 here The District has only one industrial area and it is located at Shivally Manipal, about 5 kms from Udupi town. There are 3 industrial estates one at Shivally, Manipal in Udupi Taluk and the others at Koteshwara in Kundapur Taluk and Karkala in Karkala Taluk. The District has ports at Malpe, Gangolly and Hangarakatte. But these ports are not used for commercial transportation, for commercial transportation the nearest port is New Mangalore port at Mangalore. The District has the nearest aerodrome at Mangalore Capacity utilization in a sample survey conducted at Udupi District. The study is based on data collected from primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected from 85 Small Scale Industrial Units situated in an around the Udupi District. Table 5 shows the Capacity Utilization-Industry Group Classfication. Insert Table 5 here Table 5 shows that out of 85-sample units, 4 units (5%) utilized up to 25% while 13 units (15%) utilized between 26 to 50% of their capacities. 39 units (46%) utilized between 51 and 75% of their capacities and the remaining 29 (34%) utilized above 75%. It can be seen that nearly 20% of the sample units were not in a position to exceed 50% of their capacities. Insert Table 6 here Table 6 depict the capacity utilization of the units based on their location i.e. whether they are located in industrial estates, commercial area, residential area or non-residential area. Out of 55 units which were located in industrial estates 12 units (23%) used their installed capacities upto 50% only. In the case of units located in commercial area 2 out of 15 units (13%), residential areas 3 out of 9 (33%) and non residential areas all the 6 units utilizes more than 50% of their installed capacities. Insert table 7 here An attempt has been made to examine the direct reasons for utilizing the capacity to the fullest extent. The various reasons indicated by the entrepreneurs are presented in Table 7. Inadequate market demand and inadequate working capital were equally predominant reasons. 45 out of 85 entrepreneurs stated the above reasons. Irregular and inadequate power supply, reported by 13 entrepreneurs. Inadequate work force (12units), 8 units facing problems from brand products, 8 entrepreneurs stated other reasons like excess tax, technological problems etc. and inadequate raw material reported by 4 entrepreneurs. Out of 4 units which were utilizing their capacity upto 25 percent only 2 stated inadequate working capital as the reason for not utilizing their capacities while 2 units indicated inadequate market demand as the reasons. In the case of ancillaries, mother unit not buying as per the stipulated terms was reported by few units. Thirteen units utilized their capacity between 26 and 50 percent. Among these inadequate market demand appears to be the major problem compared to inadequate working capital. In the third category, 39 units utilized their capacities between 51 and 75 percent. Inadequate market demand posed a big problem compared to the problem of inadequate working capital. The former was reported by 15 units whereas the latter by 5 units. Inadequate workforce and irregular and inadequate supply of power were mentioned by 5 units each and 6 units stated other reasons. Among 29 units which were utilizing above 51 percent of their capacities on an average 5 each were facing the problems of inadequate working capital, inadequate workforce, inadequate market demand, problem of raw material supply, power cut, problems from branded products and other reasons were mentioned by three and two units respectively. The above analysis shows that the problems vary from unit to unit. The reasons could be the different types of growing needs. The analysis indicates that units at both lowest and highest extremes largely faced the problem of finance, whereas the units at medium level mostly faced the problem of marketing. In order of assess the impact, capacity utilisation was taken as the criterion in this study. The capacity utilisation level was divided into four categories: up to 25 percent, between 26 and 50 percent, between 51 and 75 percent, and above 75 percent. The capacity utilisation was examined vis a vis other variable which included the industry group to which they belonged, location of the unit, year of establishment, form of organization, investment in plant and machinery, age of the unit, background of the entrepreneur. The analysis of the study reveals that only 20 percent of the sample units were not in a position to exceed 50 percent of their capacities. But 65 percent of the sample units were unable to reach the 75 percent of their installed capacity. The study of Small Scale Units makes it clear that the form of organization, the area of location, investment in plant and machinery, the background of entrepreneur etc do not influence capacity utilisation. But the various reasons indicated by entrepreneurs say inadequate market demand, inadequate working capital, inadequate raw material inadequate workforce, power failure and competition from branded products were reasons for the underutilization of installed capacity. SUGGESTIONS In order to overcome the bottlenecks faced by the small-scale units following measures are recommended. Inadequate market demand and inadequate working capital are the major problems confronted by the small-scale units. Marketing problem includes inadequate market demand, fluctuations in demand, competition from large industrial units and etc. To solve the problem of inadequate or fluctuating market demand the Government agencies must give small entrepreneurs periodical training and educate them about modern marketing, using flexible pricing, promotion, incentive and other methods to increase demand including the different uses for the same product. Management Institutions can also extend their help to the small-scale units to modernize their marketing techniques. To solve the working capital problem it is better to take the help of professional financial experts say chartered accountants and cost accountants. As well as Institutes like Chartered Accountants or Cost Accountants and Financial Management Institutes should extend their assistance to the small-scale units. Proper manpower planning and adequate wages and salaries can overcome inadequate workforce. Power failure, inadequate supply of power, and load shedding must be avoided. Due to various reasons the Electricity Corporation is not able to prevent their occurrence. The concerned Governments should take interest to improve the power supply. Alternative sources of energy may be made available to the small-scale industries as a part of the National Energy Policy. Other causes such as excessive sales tax, procedural delays and practices can be removed by streamlining the tax structure and the office methods followed. CONCLUSION The cost and value of small-scale industries could benefit a large section of our countrys population, if the resources and efforts of small-scale industries could be more productively used. It is common knowledge that on the one hand surpluses generated are far below normal expectations and on the other obsolescence and industrial sickness among small scale industries threaten to become a net drain. Although the awareness of these issues is now more widespread, the problem of social and economic insecurity prevents effective measures from bringing about the change. The subject of fuller utilisation of capacity, modernization and productivity thus tend to be obscured. But the punishment for inaction will be very heavy. To avoid it the need to change now becomes imperative and unavoidable. Lack of real consultants is adding to the problem. The so called consultants who exist in large numbers, tend to indicate every project as viable as otherwise it affects their own viability and existence. They make every project a success on paper and in reality hardly 20% of the projects register success. The practice of starting enterprise based on exemptions and subsidies is adding to the problem. Thus a deep study of the capacity utilization in small industries is a crying need. The government policy also needs review in the interest of promoting fuller growth of small-scale units and making them viable. In the present study an attempt has been made to examine the capacity utilisation of small-scale industries in Udupi district and the reasons for not utilizing the capacity into the fuller extent. Capacity utilisation was examined taking into account the location of the unit, the industry group to which it belonged, year of establishment, form of organization, investment in plant and machinery, the entrepreneurs background and reasons indicated by the entrepreneur. Now in this era of socio-economic transformation and favorable conditions it is the turn of small-scale industries to rise to the occasion and tell the society that they are capable of producing results.

Was Karl Marx a Determinist?

Was Karl Marx a Determinist? The aim of this essay is to address to what extent Karl Marx could be considered a determinist. In doing so it will consider: (a) what constitutes determinism; (b) Marx’s theories on history; and (c) whether these theories are compatible with the notion of determinism. Precedence is given to section (b) due to the sheer volume of existing literature in this field. Analysis is limited to Marx’s personal theories on history as opposed to Marxist theory on history, as the latter is largely tangential to the issue in question.[1] (a) Determinism Determinism has many facets. In the broad sense it can be summarised as the philosophical proposition that every historical event is causally determined by an unbroken or predetermined chain of prior events. In rudimentary terms, therefore, determinism is the antithesis of free will – the notion that there is no predestined fate for mankind except that which it determines for itself. Determinism should not be confused with fatalism, which dictates that all future events are already predetermined and will definitely occur. Rather determinism is associated with and depends upon the concepts of materialism and causality. More specifically, it is economic determinism with which, rightly or wrongly, Marx has become associated. Economic determinism can be defined as a form of determinism which explains social structure and culture as a product of the social and technical organisation of economic life.[2] It essentially lends primacy to economics over politics in the development of human history. It has been interpreted as the belief that economic laws determine the course of history, in much the same way as Auguste Comte considered that laws governed society.[3] On a more elementary level, Fleischer writes that as self-preservation is the supreme instinct in man, therefore the entire pattern of human conduct must always have been governed by the fundamental laws governing survival – a dialectical process between man and nature. This reasoning gives rise to the conclusion that all elements of historical consequence result from economic determinism, or man’s instinctive effort to survive.[4] In order for us to understand Marx’s association with economic determinism, an analysis of his theories on history is essential. (b) Marx’s theories on history Jon Elster writes that Marx had ‘both an empirical theory of history and a speculative philosophy of history.’[5] It is the former, better known as historical materialism, which concerns us. Historical materialism as an explanatory system has been expanded and refined by many academic studies since Marx’s death in 1883, despite no formal exposition of the concept ever having been published by Marx himself.[6] It looks for the causes of developments and changes in human societies in the way in which humans collectively make the means to life, thus giving an emphasis, through economic analysis, to everything that co-exists with the economic base of society, such as social classes, political structures and ideologies. While Marx claimed only to be proposing a guideline to historical research, by the twentieth century the concept of historical materialism had become a keystone of modern Communist doctrine. An understanding of the origins of Marx’s attachment to materialism is essential in appreciating its concept. These origins can largely be attributed to his research on the philosophy of Epicurus and his reading of Adam Smith and other political economists. Historical materialism builds upon the idea that became current in philosophy from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries that the development of human society has moved through a series of stages, from hunting and gathering, through pastoralism and cultivation, to commercial society. Marx argued that the history of Western society had progressed though the following stages or ‘modes of production.’ Each mode of production had its own economic system which gave rise to a system of class division based around ownership of the means of production: (i) primitive communism (ii) slave society (iii)feudalism (iv)capitalism Marxists say that society moves from one stage to the next when the dominant class is displaced by a new emerging class. The final stage in the chain, communism (as we know it today), would eventually supplant capitalism on a global scale, and would therefore represent both the intended target and end result of social history. The fundamental theory of historical materialism stems from the fact that people must procure or produce the necessities by which they can survive and reproduce themselves. Human beings are producers, and their production consists of two distinct aspects: the material and the social. The material refers to the physical necessities of life. In producing physical necessities, human beings create the social form, within which they produce. The social form of production is a social process by which people cooperate (through a division of labour in more complex social forms) to produce the things they need. This aspect always involves the social relations of those involved. These relations crucially concern the control of the process of production and the distribution of its products. The material aspect of production implies a certain organisation of production, possession of the appropriate tools, and knowledge. This material aspect of production is known as the ‘productive forces .’ The social form in which people produce is called the ‘relations of production.’ Together, the forces and relations of production make up the ‘mode of production.’ The next stage in the argument is more controversial. Initially, the interacting factors in the productive system of a class-based economy, including the forces and relations of production, are in a state of relative equilibrium. The forces of production determine and limit or at least correspond to the relations of production. Let us consider an example to help make this relationship more transparent. The earliest humans reproduced themselves by hunting animals and producing simple crops. Such a society could not produce cars, computers or engage in the mass production we have today. They lacked the tools and knowledge to do so. Knowledge and tools are part of the productive forces, which constrain the nature of the relations of production. This material limitation on what earlier societies could produce also constrained the types of relationships that existed between people. However, at some point the expanding forces of production clash with the contracting relations of production . In mankind’s harnessing of technology, the forces develop more rapidly, and in a direction incompatible with the relations of production. As the capacity to produce expands, the ownership of the means of production contracts. Consequently, the forces of production can no longer freely develop within the confines of the class structure. This conflict between the forces and relations of production intensifies until, by means of revolution, the social relations are reorganised so as to harmonise with the productive forces. It is anticipated that mankind will ultimately establish control over the material powers of the economy.[7] Historians such as Jon Elster and David McLellan have scoured Marx’s writings for evidence of his rationale on historical materialism. Elster points to Das Kapital, Marx’s preface in A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, and what he refers to as ‘rambling, disconnected passages’ in The German Ideology as key sources.[8] He explains: Historical materialism is not simply a theory that accords a privileged place to economic factors. It is, more specifically, a form of technological determinism. The rise and fall of successive property regimes are explained by their tendency to promote or fetter technical change.[9] On Marx’s writings on the historical modes of production, Elster argues that Marx ‘does not provide applications and clarifications of the general theory.’[10] According to Elster, there is no suggestion that each of the three precapitalist modes of production (primitive communism, slave society and feudalism) divides into a progressive stage (in which the relations of production correspond to the forces of production) and a regressive stage (in which the correspondence becomes a contradiction). On the contrary, Marx consistently claims that technology was essentially unchanging from antiquity to the early modern period (with the exception of the invention of gunpowder, the printing press and the compass), and that the destabilising element in the ancient world was not the development of the forces of production but population growth. Elster is also critical of Marx’s account of the (then) impending transition from capitalism to communism. He argues that as Marx insisted that technical change in capitalism was accelerating rather than slowing down, he could not claim that capitalism was moribund in its stagnation. Rather, Elster insists, Marx would have to argue that the proletariat would be motivated by the prospect of a communist society which would benefit from technical change at an even more accelerated pace. This in itself is an unlikely motivation as people revolt when conditions deteriorate or when their expectations of improvement are not fulfilled, rather than when there is an abstract possibility of a society in which conditions could be even better than they are already. McLellan is less critical, appearing to methodically signpost the scholar through the confused abstracts. While he does not specifically mention determinism, he points to it by highlighting the inevitability of worldwide communist revolution above all else. He draws the reader’s attention to the following Marx quotations: Things have come to the point where individuals must appropriate the existing totality of productive forces not merely to achieve self-activity but to secure their very existence. In all appropriations up to now a mass of individuals remained subservient to a single instrument of production. In the appropriation by the proletarians, a mass of instruments of production must be subservient to each individual and the property of all. The only way for individuals to control modern universal interaction is to make it subject to the control of all. Communism is not [†¦] a state of affairs still to be established, not an ideal to which reality will have to adjust. We call communism the real movement which abolishes the present state of affairs. [11] The salient point here is that McLellan draws on these passages to illustrate that socialism for Marx was an economic reality rather than an ethical ideal. This represents a paradigm of determinism in Marx’s writing. The fundamental assumptions of historical materialism as viewed by Marx, irrespective of any period of history, can therefore be summarised as follows: humans are social animals who live in a complex society; human society consists of humans collectively working on nature to make the means to life; human society develops a complex division of labour; over time humans advance their harnessing of nature through the development of science and technology; human beings have the ability to reflect on their society and interaction with nature, but their thinking and organisation are always preconditioned by and dependent on the state of development of their society and of the power structures in their society. Let us now consider whether these assumptions are compatible with the concept of economic determinism. (c) Marxist theory and economic determinism As discussed in section (b), according to Marx, each social mode of production produces the material conditions of its reproduction, that is ideology (which encompasses all the political, law and cultural spheres). Thus ideology permits the mode of production to reproduce itself. Marx also believed that in the event of a revolutionary force changing the mode of production, the dominant class would immediately set out to create a new society to protect this new economic order. In the nineteenth century, Marx felt as if the bourgeoisie had essentially accomplished the establishment of a new societal and economic order, instinctively creating a society protective of their capitalist interests. This prompted Marx (and Engels) to direct this statement from the Communist Manifesto at the bourgeoisie: Your very ideas are but the outgrowth of conditions of your bourgeois production and bourgeois property, just as your jurisprudence is but the will of your class, made into law for all, a will whose essential character and direction are determined by the economic conditions of the existence of your class.[12] From this, it is argued that Marx and Engels did not believe men could arbitrarily choose any one of several forms of society, but only that one which promotes the prevailing mode of production. The very nature of man’s materialistic constitution requires that he do this. Marx hence criticised man’s alienation, a concept which he latter replaced by the critique of commodity fetishism. ‘Vulgar Marxism’ has considered that the relation between the economical infrastructure and the ideological superstructure was an unicausal one, and thus believed in economic determinism. This has been criticised by Marxist theorists such as Helmut Fleischer, who dismissed it as a form of economism or economic reductionism. He claimed the relationship is much more reciprocal and complex than unilateral determinism would have it. There are also scholars who reject this view. Fleischer highlights those who objected that economic determinism is a meaningless generality, and that any serious historical explanation of economic realities must also refer to non-economic realities. This becomes a more conspicuous problem when it is unclear which branch of determinism is implied. In this respect, when Marx writes of the ‘economic base’ and the ‘ideological superstructure’ of society, he was making a generalisation about the broad sweep of history, to the effect that people ultimately will follow their material self-interests, whatever else they may imagine about their motivations. However, according to Marx, the dynamics of history were shaped precisely by the clash of those interests (class struggle), and that clash could not be understood simply in terms of economic self-interest, because it also involved human traditions and values. The end result of economic determinism in this view is b oth economism (a narrow focus on how people earn their livelihood) and economic reductionism (the attempt to reduce a complex social reality to one factor – i.e. the economic – such that this one factor causes all other aspects of society). This plays directly into the hands of the business class, and ultimately ended in an anti-working class position, whereby the allegiance of the working class is merely a ‘tool’ to be used by the political class to modernise an economy, with the aid of forced labour if need be.[13] Taking the above points into account, it could be argued that Marx considered economic determinism as the creative force in human evolution. He clearly advocated a change in economic structure as the only feasible means by which to effect social change and to refine the intellectual make-up of humanity. His advocacy of the inevitability of worldwide socialist revolution and communist society could certainly be described as deterministic in outlook. At the same time it should be remembered that Marx was fully aware that the economic aspects of life did not constitute the sum total of mankind’s preoccupation and social make-up. On this basis, therefore, it would appear that Marx’s historical materialism is compatible with the specific notion of economic determinism, rather than falling under the broader category of determinism as a whole. Bibliography Berlin, Isaiah, ‘Historical Materialism’ in Tom Bottomore (ed.), Karl Marx (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1973) Easton, Loyd D. Guddat, Kurt H. (trans. ed.), Writings of the young Marx on philosophy and society (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1967) Elster, Jon, An Introduction to Karl Marx (Cambridge: CUP, 1986) Fleischer, Helmut, Marxism and History (New York: Harper Torchbooks, 1973) McLellan, David, The Thought of Karl Marx: An Introduction (London: Macmillan, 1971) Rader, Melvin, Marx’s Interpretation of History (New York: OUP, 1979) Web references Economic determinism, Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences, maintained by Athabasca University, Alberta, Canada (http://bitbucket.icaap.org) Karl Marx Friedrich Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party, Australian National University (www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/classics/manifesto.html) 1 Footnotes [1] It is almost impossible to discuss Marx’s theories on history without referring to Friedrich Engels, Marx’s lifelong friend, fellow philosopher and co-author of many works. The influence of Engels has been intentionally minimalised for the purposes of this essay as the issue in question refers to Marx alone. [2] Economic determinism, Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences, maintained by Athabasca University, Alberta, Canada (http://bitbucket.icaap.org, accessed July 28, 2006). [3] Helmut Fleischer, Marxism and History (New York: Harper Torchbooks, 1973), passim. [4] ibid. [5] Jon Elster, An Introduction to Karl Marx (Cambridge: CUP, 1986), p. 103. [6] Isaiah Berlin, ‘Historical Materialism’ in Tom Bottomore (ed.), Karl Marx (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1973), p. 56. [7] Isaiah Berlin, ‘Historical Materialism’ in Tom Bottomore, op. cit., pp. 58-60; Melvin Rader, Marx’s Interpretation of History (New York: OUP, 1979), pp. 12-14. [8] Jon Elster, op. cit., p. 104. Marx published A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy in London in 1859. Marx and Engles co-wrote The German Ideology during the spring of 1845. It was published posthumously by the Marx-Engels Institute in Moscow in 1932. [9] Jon Elster, op. cit., pp. 104-105. [10] ibid, pp. 106-108. [11] Loyd D. Easton Kurt H. Guddat (trans. ed.), Writings of the young Marx on philosophy and society (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1967), pp. 426, 467 et seq, reproduced in David McLellan, The Thought of Karl Marx: An Introduction (London: Macmillan, 1971), p. 36. [12] Karl Marx Friedrich Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party (first published 1848), accessed online at the Australian National University website (http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/ marx/classics/manifesto.html, July 30, 2006). [13] Helmut Fleischer, op. cit., pp. 45 et seq.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Origins of the Watch making Industry Essay -- Design and Technology

Origins of the Watch making Industry The production of watches was a major industry of Great Britain for hundreds of years. Watch making originated in Europe in the early 16th century, when coiled springs were first used to power clocks. Clocks were powered by weights originally, and therefore remained stationary. The springs meant that clocks could be moved for the first time, and soon, German clockmakers started to make very small clocks, which are considered as the earliest watches made. Watch making was the most advanced line of the clock making industry, which developed when Blacksmiths started introducing their skills with metal to clock making. Watches were being made in Great Britain from around the middle of Elizabeth 1 reign as Queen of England. (1533 – 1603) It is likely that the success of European Watchmakers encouraged British Watchmakers to start producing Watches to make sure they weren’t behind in technological developments. During this, watches were extremely expensive, and therefore quite rare, they were also quite inaccurate, and only had an hour hand. Most designs for early watches were for the watches to be worn around the neck, on either a cord or ribbon. This was because it was a status symbol to be seen wearing a watch and the watches were still pretty large, and couldn’t fit in the pocket very easily, if the clothes had pockets, as this was also a rarity. It was in the late 17th century that the watch making industry became a much more renowned industry in Britain. Evolution in watch design meant that watches soon became more accurate, which made them much more useful and as a result, the demand increased for British watches. Watch making in Prescot By the 18th century, Prescot was well established as the centre of watch making in England, and for 100 years after, Prescot would become world famous for its product quality. John Wyke and other famous watch makers started their businesses in Prescot, and at the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign in 1837, Watch making was renowned in Prescot. The area was already well known for its tools most importantly files, and metal works, which made it easier for business to thrive. Extremely high quality tools and metal were required by watchmakers so the industries were set up next to each other to make life simpler. Liverpool became a major c... ... into the Prescot watch making industry in an attempt to keep it competitive, it had all but gone from prescot by the mid 1880s. A decision was made to act, and T.P Hewitt was one of the founding members of the Lancashire Watch Company. The building was completed in 1889, and it was based on the American Factory system of manufacture, where complete watch movements were made, by machines, under one roof. The factory was fitted out with machines to produce the watch parts, powered by a steam engine called the Horologer (Horology is the correct name for the study and production of clocks and watches). They made a range of watches too suit all the poorest of pockets. It lasted into the 20th century and had some success, becoming a major producer of watches in Britain. However, foreign competition was too great and by that time, very well established. This combined with poor marketing, especially overseas led to the company being forced to close its doors in 1910. Some small workshops still produced time pieces in Prescot until the middle of the 20th century, but the watch making industry in Prescot effectively ended with the closure of the Lancashire watch company.

Friday, July 19, 2019

The Wedding Planner Essay -- Literary Analysis

Chaucer’s tale of courtly love may have been written in the fourteenth century, but the growth of love that occurs in the story is still a concept that can be seen in the twenty-first century. The script for The Wedding Planner, a 2001 romantic comedy, contains the following lines, said by father to daughter about the development of love in his arranged marriage: â€Å"I appreciated her. Then the appreciation grew to respect. Respect grew to like. Then like grew to love.† While Troilus fell head-over-heels in love with Criseyde, his beloved needed some time and persuasion to warm up to his affection. The processing of his wooing, her dancing around the potential for a relationship, and each of them coming to terms with his or her own feelings is exemplary of the journey from complete strangers to lovers in â€Å"heaven’s grace.† For Criseyde, appreciation really did grow to respect and then to like and, finally, to love. The full impact of the emotion that the lovers share is felt in Book III. By that point, Troilus has successfully wooed his sweetheart, and she has realized, wisely according to Chaucer, that â€Å"though he was not self-confident or tough,/ Nor tried to fool her with some fine address,† she loved him (Book III, stanza 13). Troilus spent two books playing a game with Criseyde and her uncle, Pandarus. He has written her letters and showed off in armor and paraded like a peacock all while being terrified that he was going to be unsuccessful in gaining Criseyde’s attention. In Book I, the reader is granted an insight into Troilus’ later fear of rejection, an insight that Criseyde is never privy to. Troilus has never been in love. In fact, he has scorned love, denied its worth in front of all his soldiers. When a man under his ... ...ore afraid† and Troilus â€Å"seem[s] inspired† (Book III, stanza 69). This is the true manifestation of courtly love; the man, the lover, motivated by a beloved, doting woman. On this journey from doubt to trust and from cynicism to confidence, both Troilus and Criseyde reach an ultimate bliss in one another. For a man who did not believe in love and for a woman who did not need a man, the journey was challenging and filled with resistance. The remarkable aspect of courtly love is that it defies expectations. With proper, unrelenting, and sincere wooing, as Troilus demonstrates, a champion can be won. Criseyde grew to love and lean on Troilus, and Troilus grew to believe in love. And all it took was 127 pages and two books to get there. Chaucer never said the journey would be short – or easy – just that it would â€Å"bring them to [the] heaven of grace† (Book I, stanza 6).

Thursday, July 18, 2019

The arithmetic checks

The arithmetic checks must be done for all leveling calculations When establishing the heights of new Tabs and other important points, only BBS and FSP should be taken and the rise and fall method should be used. The HIP method of calculation can be much quicker when a lot of intermediate sights have been taken and it is a good method to use when mapping or setting out where many readings are often taken room a single instrument position. A disadvantage of the HIP method is that the check on reduced levels calculated from IS can be lengthy and there is a tendency for it to be omitted.Precision of leveling As with all techniques used in engineering surveying it is important to estimate how accuracy of the measurements taken. An assessment of the quality of leveling can be made by calculating the enclosure for a line of levels. This is determined by comparing the reduced level of the closing bench mark with the level obtained for it by calculation from the staff readings. On constructi on sites ND other engineering projects, leveling is usually carried out over short distances and it can involve a lot of instrument positions.The allowable enclosure for a line of levels is given by: Allowable enclosure = ? ± m n Where, m is a constant and n is the number of instrument positions used. The value most often used for m is mm When the enclosure obtained from staff readings is compared to the allowable enclosure, if miniscule is greater than the allowable value the leveling is rejected and must be repeated. If the enclosure is less than the allowable value the leveling s accepted and the leveling is adjusted. The value of m depends on the site conditions.For example if the levels found are to be used for earth work excavations m might be mom. For setting out steel and concrete structures excavations m might be mm. In some cases m is specified in the contract documents. Specifications for leveling are also given in: BOSSES: building setting out and measurement ICE Desig n and Practice Guide: The management of setting out in construction BOSSES: Guide to accuracy in building Sources of error in leveling There are three main groups of errors that can occur when leveling.The most common errors fall into one of the following groups: 1. Errors in the equipment 2. Field or on-site errors 3. The effects of curvature and refraction on leveling Errors in the equipment Collimation error This can be a serious error in leveling if the sight lengths from one instrument position are not types of leveling all types of leveling, sight lengths should be kept equal, particularly back sights and fore sights and before using any level it is advisable to carry out a two-peg test to ensure the collimation error is within acceptable limits.Compensator not working For an automatic or digital level, the compensator is hacked by moving a foot screw slightly off level, by tapping the telescope gently or by pushing the compensator check lever to ensure that a reading remains constant. If any of the checks fail then the compensator is not working properly and needs to be repaired. Parallax This effect must be eliminated before staff readings are taken. Defects of the staff The base of the staff should be checked to see if it has become worn – if this is the case then the staff has a zero error.This does not affect height differences if the same staff is used for all the leveling, but introduces errors if two tiffs are being used for the same series of levels. When using multi-section staff, it is important to ensure that it is properly extended by examining the graduations on the other side of each section as it is extended. If any of the sections become loose the staff should be returned for repair. Tripod defects The stability of tripods should be checked before any fieldwork commences by testing to see if the tripod head is secure and that the base of each leg are secure.Field or on-site errors Staff not vertical As the staff is used to measure a vertical difference between the ground and the plane of collimation, failure to hold he staff vertical will give an incorrect readings. Since the staff is held vertical with the aid of a vertical bubble, this should be checked at frequent intervals and adjusted if necessary. Unstable ground When the instrument is set up on soft ground and bituminous surfaces on hot days, an effect that is often overlooked is that the tripod legs may sink into the ground or rise slightly when the reading is being taken.This then will alter the height of collimation and it is advisable to choose firm ground on which to set up the level and the tripod, and to ensure that the tripod is pushed ell into the ground. Handling the instrument and tripod As well as the vertical displacement, the plane of collimation of a level may be altered for any set-up if the tripod is held or leant against. When leveling, avoid contact with the tripod and only use the level by light contact.Instrument not level For aut omatic and digital levels this source of error is unusual, but for a tilting level in which the tilting screw has to be adjusted for each reading, this is a common mistake. The best procedure here is to ensure that the main bubble is centralized before and after the reading is taken. Reading and cooking errors Many mistakes can be made during the booking of staff readings taken with an automatic or tilting level, and the general rule is that staff readings must be carefully entered into the leveling table or field book immediately after reading.Weather conditions In strong winds, a level can become unusable because the line of sight is always moving and it is also difficult to hold the staff steady. For these reasons, it is not possible to take reliable readings under these conditions which should be avoided when leveling. And other hard surfaces to ensure that the base of the staff remains at the same eight in between a back sight and fore sight. When the tripod is set up in soft g round or on tarmac on hot days it may sink into the ground or rise slightly when readings are taken.This alters the height of collimation and causes errors. Try to set the level up on firm ground and always push the tripod legs well into the ground. The height of collimation may be altered if the tripod is held or pressed down Do not lean on the level, If the tripod is knocked it is necessary to re-level the instrument and repeat all the readings taken from that instrument position. Marking or recording the session of each change point on a long line of levels is advisable. If this is not done and the tripod is knocked all of the leveling will have to be repeated.Curvature and refraction Over long distances level and horizontal lines through an instrument will diverge because level lines follow the curvature of the Earth. This is a possible source of error in leveling since all readings are taken along horizontal lines instead of level lines. The difference between a horizontal and level line is know as curvature and is given by c = 0. 0785 DO Where, c = curvature in meters, D = sighting distance in km The correction for length of sight of mom is less than 1 mm. This correction is ignored for most leveling. The effect of refraction of the line of sight is to bend it towards the Earth.This is also ignored in most leveling. Whatever sight lengths are used, the effects of curvature and refraction will cancel if the sight lengths are equal. How to Reduce the Chance of Errors Occurring Leveling should always start and finish at bench marks so that enclosures can be detected. When only one bench mark is available, leveling lines must be run in loops starting and finishing at the name bench mark Where possible, all sights lengths should be below 50 m. The staff must be held vertically by suitable use of a circular bubble or by rocking the staff and noting the minimum reading.BBS and FSP lengths should be kept equal for each instrument position. For engineering applic ations, many intermediate sights may be taken from each set- up – under these circumstances it is important that the level has no more than a small collimation error. For automatic and tilting levels, staff readings should be booked immediately after they are observed. Use a digital level where possible as it sakes staff readings automatically The rise and fall method of reduction should be used when weighting reference or control points and the HIP method should be used when setting out.Other leveling methods Inverted leveling This is a leveling technique that is used to obtain the heights of points above the line of sight such as ceilings and undersides of bridges. To obtain these, the staff is held upside down in an inverted position with its base on the elevated points. An inverted staff reading is booked in a level table procedure is followed taking into account the minus sign. Never use an inverted staff eating as a change point because it is difficult to keep the staff in the same place for more than one reading.Exam Question: Supplement 2006 SQ A client has asked for an as-constructed drawing of a recently built industrial building. As part of the survey the following series of levels are taken. Prepare a report for the client showing the reduced levels of the manhole inverts and the calculated gradients on the sewer lines, and the soft levels on the building gutters. Example 2 Lets repeat the reduced levels part of the previous exam question assuming we were asked to use the rise and fall method instead