Economics, Winning Bolivias Drug War :: essays research papers

Economics is Winning Bolivia’s Drug War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A 1998 article from the New York Times reported that Bolivia was winning its war against drugs as a result of two factors that influence the market for coca, which is used to make cocaine. First, Bolivian soldiers raided a number of coca plantations and destroyed the crops. Second, Colombians began growing more of their own coca and, as a result, now buy less from Bolivia than in the past. I am proposing that the basic principles of supply and demand are what helped to solve the drug problem. The following paragraphs will support my argument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Figure 1 shows the supply and demand curves before and after the changes occurred in Bolivia. As you can see, after the coca plantations were raided, the supply of cocaine was cut short, thus shifting the supply curve to the left. Also, because Colombians began growing their own coca, demand decreased for the cocaine from Bolivia, shifting the demand curve to the left also. To sum up, supply decreased from S to S1, because of the raids, and demand decreased from D to D1 because Colombians began to grow their own coca and didn’t need to rely as much on Bolivia. The diagram clearly shows that the quantity sold at P* decreased from Q* to Q** due to these two changes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to the article in the New York Times, the Bolivian government hopes these changes in the coca market will motivate coca growers to switch to a substitute crop such as pineapple. This is a possibility if the price of coca falls. If the price of coca falls, supply will also decrease because it won’t be as profitable to farm coca as it was before. The falling price would then trigger farmers to switch to another crop such as pineapple.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Bolivian government, hoping to eliminate the cocaine problem, indirectly turned to economics for a solution. That solution is a simple tale of cutting supply in a way that leads to a decrease in demand. That decrease came because Colombians couldn’t get the supply they wanted at the price they wanted to pay so they grew their own and helped eliminate coca growth within Bolivia. They can further solve the problem by perhaps raising the price paid for other crops so farmers will switch from growing coca to growing something else for a bigger profit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although farms in other South American countries grow acres and acres of coca plants, the raw material from which cocaine is made, today, Columbia is the leading Economics, Winning Bolivias Drug War :: essays research papers Economics is Winning Bolivia’s Drug War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A 1998 article from the New York Times reported that Bolivia was winning its war against drugs as a result of two factors that influence the market for coca, which is used to make cocaine. First, Bolivian soldiers raided a number of coca plantations and destroyed the crops. Second, Colombians began growing more of their own coca and, as a result, now buy less from Bolivia than in the past. I am proposing that the basic principles of supply and demand are what helped to solve the drug problem. The following paragraphs will support my argument.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Figure 1 shows the supply and demand curves before and after the changes occurred in Bolivia. As you can see, after the coca plantations were raided, the supply of cocaine was cut short, thus shifting the supply curve to the left. Also, because Colombians began growing their own coca, demand decreased for the cocaine from Bolivia, shifting the demand curve to the left also. To sum up, supply decreased from S to S1, because of the raids, and demand decreased from D to D1 because Colombians began to grow their own coca and didn’t need to rely as much on Bolivia. The diagram clearly shows that the quantity sold at P* decreased from Q* to Q** due to these two changes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to the article in the New York Times, the Bolivian government hopes these changes in the coca market will motivate coca growers to switch to a substitute crop such as pineapple. This is a possibility if the price of coca falls. If the price of coca falls, supply will also decrease because it won’t be as profitable to farm coca as it was before. The falling price would then trigger farmers to switch to another crop such as pineapple.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Bolivian government, hoping to eliminate the cocaine problem, indirectly turned to economics for a solution. That solution is a simple tale of cutting supply in a way that leads to a decrease in demand. That decrease came because Colombians couldn’t get the supply they wanted at the price they wanted to pay so they grew their own and helped eliminate coca growth within Bolivia. They can further solve the problem by perhaps raising the price paid for other crops so farmers will switch from growing coca to growing something else for a bigger profit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although farms in other South American countries grow acres and acres of coca plants, the raw material from which cocaine is made, today, Columbia is the leading

Nature and Nature in Cognitive Development Essay

Why are both nature and nurture important in perceptual development? How do both help a baby’s brain and sensory organs to develop?   The question of whether nature or nurture is more important in terms of perceptual development has bee long debated. In general, there are two theories that explain how humans develop these perceptions. The Nativists claim that our brains are built or hardwired to recognize certain stimuli by both design and construction. In contrast, an Empiricist would say that we learn through experience how to perceive things. There was an experiment done by Nativist researchers that sought to determine how very young mammals are able to perceive. The data concluded that early infants were able to perceive quite a lot before they really had a chance to learn anything. Gibson and Walk’s the â€Å"visual cliff† experiment was one such experiment, in this test both young animals and 6 month old human infants were taken to a side of a visual cliff, the test subjects would avoid the clearly deep drop. This indicated that children can perceive visual depth and that visual depth dominates even touch information. Additionally, studies have been done that show babies can recognize faces and that they often prefer the visual stimulation of carton faces as opposed to the same features arranged at random. In other tests it was shown that babies can also recognize whether or not and object is coming directly at their face or not. These experiments show that even the undeveloped infant brain has considerable capacity for perceptual capabilities. In contrast, several Empiricists experiments have been done as well. In one such study, scientists sought to determine the effects of depriving developing animals from perceptual stimulations. These tests have consistently shown that the longer the subject is deprived, the more severe the consequences. For example, humans are sometimes born without sight, due to a clouded cornea. Later in life some elect to have surgery to repair this clouded cornea. The result is sight, these people can see but they cannot perceive what it is that they see. As time goes on they slowly learn to distinguish one object from another, but this is however quite easily interrupted. Often changing an objects position or context is quite enough to slow down or prevent recognition. To conclude, although some argue that perception is due to nature, while others argue for nurture, it may in fact be that the two factors are interdependent and rely on each other. Support for this idea comes from an experiment that studied rats and found that those raised in a perceptually restricted environment had smaller brain development than those raised in an enriched environment, suggesting that while we are born with innate capabilities we need the environment to ensure we develop our abilities to perceive well. The perceptual capabilities we have at birth must be strengthened continuously through perceptual stimulation, furthermore, it would seem that perception in general follows the use it or lose it principle. Just as unused muscles become week, so to do our senses if left unused. Nature and nurture are both essential to health y perceptual development; stimulation begins in the womb and quickly follows all the way through adulthood. Sources . â€Å"Nature and Nurture in Perceptual Development.† . www.indiana.edu. Web. 11 Feb 2013. . . â€Å"Experiencing Sensation and Perception.† . physch.hanover.edu. Web. 11 Feb 2013. . Arterberry, M. â€Å"Perceptual Development.† . Colby College. Web. 11 Feb 2013. .

Should the Drinking Age Remain at 21 or Be Lowered to 18

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Alcoholism - Smart Custom Writing Samples

Alcoholism - Smart Custom Writing Genetically Modified OrganismsIntroduction Genetically modified organisms are organisms whose genes have been altered by use of genetic means. The safety of GMOs is a source of ongoing debate. This is because GMOs are produced by cloning of genes of different organisms and if done uncontrollably, then there is the fear of using untested GMOs. In this essay we will examine the pros and cons of using genetically modified soya beans. Genetically modified soy Soybean is among the world’s provider of oil and protein. The soybean was commercially grown in the US in the 1950s and today the American Soybean Association exports about 50% of the soybeans to Japan while the European Union is the second largest market for US soybeans. In 1997-1999, GMOs in the US accounted for two thirds of all processed foods and today it is estimated that in the US, 91% of the soybeans planted were genetically modified. Soybeans are used for a variety of foods including soy beverages, tofu, soy flour, soy oil, bread, pastries, snack foods, baked products and edible oil products. Thus the soy beans are quiet important as they support a variety of foods and also for exports (Butcher M.) The idea of introducing bacterial genes into soybeans to enhance their growth, add nutritional contents and make them resistant to pests and diseases has now become a common thing in plant technology. At the same time, the safety of these foods produced by technology has attracted a lot of debate. The idea of introducing bacterial genes into plants as natural pesticides to eliminate chemical pesticide has been hotly debated by concerned people over the consequences of consuming these natural pesticides (Butcher M.). So the question is; is GM soy a health risk? Experiments done suggest that offspring born from GM soybeans have a low birth weight, there’s a high risk of death for the young ones consuming soy foods. Although the GM soy has been linked to sterility and infant mortality, debate still rages whether the GM soy is safe for use by man. Efforts to control gene expression have also been frustrated in some quarters heightening the risk A research carried out in Russian academy of sciences revealed that women who consume GM foods are at a higher risk of endangering their unborn babies. The research conducted using rats as an example found out that more than half of the offspring of rats that were fed on soybeans died in the first three weeks after birth. This was six times more than those born to mothers on normal soy. It was also found that six times of those under the GM diet were underweight. This is really worrying especially to humans as the morphology and biochemical structures of rats and humans are very similar as they point to a risk of mothers and their babies on soybeans food. The above experiment was done by Russian scientists who added flour from GM soy (from Monsanto) to the diet of female rats and mated them two weeks later, they then continued to feed them on GM soy during pregnancy, birth and nursing. Others were given normal soybean diet. The results showed that within three weeks, 55.6% of offspri ng’s whose mothers were fed on GM soy died compared to only 9% on non-GM soy. Also six times of the offspring’s on GM soy influence were severely underweight (Lean G. 2006).  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conclusion The issue of GM foods in our midst has drawn a lot of heated debate whether they are safe to use or not. Although restructured to be; insect resistant, drought resistant and have additional nutritional diet the consumption of soybean has been put in doubt over some experiments that were done. The experiments although done on rats showed that the GM soy can increase infant mortality rates and also severely reduce the offspring’s weight. Thus the issue of using GMOs before they are fully understood is an issue that needs to be looked at carefully.

Education Of Gifted Essays - Intelligence, Anthropology, Free Essays

Education Of Gifted Essays - Intelligence, Anthropology, Free Essays Education Of Gifted Running head: GIFTED EDUCATION/CIVIL RIGHTS Education of Gifted Students A Civil Rights Issue? Article Critique Education of Gifted Students A Civil Rights Issue? This paper seeks to answer the question: Is the differential representation of the sexes and of racial and ethnic groups in educational programs for gifted students a civil rights problem? The author does a more than adequate job of presenting the arguments on both sides of the issue and drawing logical inferences. The article seeks to identify the actual dilemma and proposes possible approaches for resolution. Much of the school system today has been shaped by the civil rights laws of the past. The writer notes that the link these rights have to education is the pledge of an equal opportunity for all children to learn and be educated in this country. Schools must accomplish this without regard to race, creed or gender. The author notes that there have been references to the gifted programs being just another subtle form of segregation by the white upper-middle-class. These concerns arise from the fact that the representation of the sexes and of ethnic groups within the gifted classes reflects just such a phenomenon. The unjustified beliefs of genetic inferiority of some races have long since been denounced. These unfounded beliefs have been replaced by research which indicates that the genetic component of intelligence is augmented by the nurturing environment (or lack thereof) of a child. The paper sites twin studies, which give creedence to the genetic component of intelligence, and notes these differences apply within the different ethnic and racial groups. The author attributes an almost equal role to the environment of the child referring to nurturing as the crystallization of native abilities. Noting the differences between the sexes in math and verbal skills, the author seeks to validate this conception. The author sees the cultural values of society as an unavoidable encroachment upon the genders resulting in these differences. I beg to differ, as molecular and developmental studies have shown that there are structural and biological differences in the brains of males and females (Zhang, 1995; Palego, 2000). As a molecular biologist I would be more inclined to attribute differences to the biochemical aspects of development. The writer next addresses the inequities of intelligence tests and accurately identifies them as mere predictors of future academic performance. We are unable to measure native ability with these instruments but these devices do allow for a comparison of the developmental level of a child in the areas of core knowledge, reasoning and conceptual association. It is through these measures that predictions of future performance are made. The author now brings Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences into the debate. He uses the theory to propose expanding the definition of giftedness. Although I do agree in principle with Gardner's theory, the already limited

Analysis of Vietnam’s Economy

Analysis of Vietnams Economy Table of contents (Jump to) 1. Introduction 2. Why Vietnam – An overview 3. Theoretical literatures 3.1. Macroeconomic principles 3.2. Microeconomic principles 4. The level of unemployment and employment 4.1. Before the national reform – The beginning of the 1990s’ 4.2. After the national reform 5. Skills needed and skills gaps 5.1. Disadvantages 5.1.1. Low IT skill availability 5.1.2. Low English proficiency level 5.2. Advantages 5.2.1. High tech sector 5.2.2. Textiles and garments sector 6. Conclusion Bibliography 1. Introduction The trend of global outsourcing has accelerated the economic activities in developing nations. Developed nations countries have gained the economy of scales and performed major functions in the long-term basis. The advantages of outsourcing are to reduce business operation expenses and thus corporations can sustain competitiveness. The paper will discuss the Vietnamese economy, particularly skills needed and skills gaps, and the level of unemployment and employment. Some theoretical literatures will help explain the reasons and results of Vietnamese economic growth; the paper tries to access the underlying forces which have challenged Vietnam authority to change from the central control to the market economy. 2. Why Vietnam – An overview Vietnam officially becomes the 150 th member in WTO (World Trade Organization) on 11th January 2007. In order to join WTO, Vietnam government has to change its political, infrastructure and economic principals to fulfill the requirements of this international organization. ‘A sustained boom, with annual economic growth consistently around 7%-8% since 2000, has transformed Vietnam. It is over 20 years since Vietnam’s ruling communists abandoned collectivism and embarked on their doi moi market-based reforms, not unlike those China adopted a few years earlier.’ [1] Additionally, Vietnam economy has gradually changed in order to adapt and join the worl d economy. From the control economy as of the principal of the communist ideals, Vietnam has undergone the reform and has let its economy to react in accordance with the law of supply and demand. Accordingly, ‘Real GDP growth is forecast to be robust in 2007, at an average of 7% a year, and will be driven mainly by industrial expansion. Business sentiment and consumer confidence will remain resilient, boosting investment and consumption.’ [2] In fact, ‘Many Southeast Asian economies, namely, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam are emerging as an outsourcing destination for some Fortune-500 companies.’ [3] The data from the Vietnamese economy has strongly reflected how outsourcing impacts on the level of unemployment and employment and skills needed and skills gaps, since the economy has moved so fast to the integration into the world economy. Vietnam has positioned itself as a primary host by luring more investment than other emerging econo mies and developing nations in the region in the late 1990s. It is overtaking the Philippines and Indonesia. ‘By 2002, Viet Nam was the third largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in ASEAN [Association of South East Asian Nations], behind Singapore and Malaysia, strengthening its position as a significant investment base. Viet Nam has therefore achieved a key position both in terms of prime investment host within the region, and as a recipient of intraregional inflows.’ [4] 3. Theoretical literatures 3.1. Macroeconomic principles A concept of scarcity, relatively in relation to an entire country and its people, becomes a condition which individual producer and consumer have to face in every decision. The opportunity cost of each decision can be considered as subjective value that individual must scarify when making any decision for the next best alternatives.

Method of Calculating the Net Cash Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Method of Calculating the Net Cash - Essay Example The essay "Method of Calculating the Net Cash" talks about two companies - Ford Motor Company and General Motors which are found to be using the indirect method for calculating net cash being generated from their respective operating activities. Justifiably, it has been evident from the proforma of the cash flow statement that both the companies considered net income, instead of sales and revenue, to be the main element for determining the cash amount generating particularly from the operating actions, which related to the above discussed indirect method of computation.The most significant item in the financing section of both the selected companies is identified to be a dividend paid (cash), as they are bound to pay dividends to its shareholders for encouraging them to make further investments. The net cash provided by the operating activities of Ford reveals increasing trend within the last 3 years, as can be observed from the statement that the net cash in the year 2012 generated an amount of $9,045 million, which increased to $10,444 million by the year 2013 and $14,507 million in the year 2014. On the other hand, in the case of General Motors, a fluctuating trend in net cash provided by operating activities can be apparently noted. Justifiably, as per the statement, it has been recorded that the net cash has been decreased in terms of change during the period of 2012-2013, which stood at $1.4 billion, as compared to that of the period 2013-2014 that accounted to $0.9 billion.