Mental Illness Is A Bitch - 1251 Words

Mental illness is a bitch â€Å"Nobody will ever pay you a million dollars for your pictures. These are words my father said to me once.That has stuck with me for over twenty years. I have been a amateur photographer and also personally living with a mental illness. I always wanted to be a professional photographer what I really was interested in was traveling to places around the world take amazing images like the ones I would see in magazines. I had stacks of Popular Photography and Outdoor Photographer that I would read over and over until they would fall apart some of them were years old reading about composition, lighting, and other technical aspects of photography. I would also read books about people that had real adventures like Peter Jenkins a man who walked from New York to Oregon in the 1970 s. My first real experience with photography I was handed a rangefinder by my high school girlfriend to this day I remember the words said to me here see what you can do. Today, I don t know where she is, trust me that s ok. Fuck, that girl broke my heart. What I do know is that day my world changed in how I saw the world. When I looked through that lens the world was isolated that was crazy can t remember what the first thing I saw was what I did know is that I knew what I wanted to do. I do have my favorite photographers like John Shaw. He showed me how beautiful nature was. Yes, there are others today that I like but he was the first. At some point I stayed withShow MoreRelatedComparison Between Pale Horse, Pale Rider By Katherine Ann Porter And The Snows of Kilimanjaro By Ernest Hemingway679 Words   |  3 Pageswoman, his companion on the wild African safari, his remarks were very cruel and harsh, for example you bitch, you rich bitch. Perhaps the inspiration of Harrys character came from Hemingway who was misogynist himself. Harry blames his failure on everyone but he havent got the cpurage to face reality and blame himself, she shot very well this good, this rich bitch, this kindly caretaker and destroyer of my talent. Both stories are nonchronological, filled withRead MoreDiscussion of Love in Raymond Carvers What We Talk About When We Talk About Love952 Words   |  4 Pagesare drinking gin and tonics and talking about love. The first discussion is about Terris ex husband, Ed. Ed is the guy she was with before Mel McGinnis. It is a sad story. She says, that night Ed beat her, he told her, I love you, I love you, you bitch while he pulled her around the room. Terri considers that what Ed felt for her was love. And then Terri continues with her story. He stalks Mel and Terri, at that time Mel was divorcing his ex wife and living together with Terri. It’s a really complicatedRead MoreA Interview About Dissociative Identity Disorder Essay1563 Words   |  7 Pagesproject I chose to interview a childhood friend of mine who later in life was diagnosed with as multiple personalities. Today, the metal illness is known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Living with multiple personalities is difficult for the individual, but also the family around them. Life can be strange or difficult at times, but like with any other mental disorder, learning how to cope and understand the disorder can help the individual and the people around them. 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Patient Rights were nonexistent, people were disposed of at the â€Å"sanitarium† they were locked up, chained to wallsRead MoreGeorge Kesey s One Flew Over The Cuckoo s Nest1094 Words   |  5 Pagespsychologically challenged. In Ken Kesey’s controversial novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, the constant question being asked by everyone is whether or not McMurphy is just an irrationally drunk ch aracter or is he actually struggling with deep-seated mental issues. However, instead McMurphy is reckless, foolish, and arrogant in his actions For that reason McMurphy, by manipulating his peers and in comparison to other characters is not insane, rather he is a power-hungry, trouble-starting, scallywagRead MoreTypes Of Discrimination And Stigma Around Mental Health1100 Words   |  5 Pages There are many types of discrimination and stigma around mental health. So damaging, it impacts 63% of individuals living with mental illness alone. Social stigma holds people for believing they can live a fulfilled existence in spite of diagnosis and symptoms of mental illness. The number of studies showing what it’s called â€Å"diagnostic overshadowing† that is, over attributing a patient’s symptoms of a particular condition, in many cases, it means the medical morbidity of being undiagnosed andRead MoreOn Golden Pond Essay870 Words   |  4 Pageswas agree with he r father and remembers her past relationship with Mr. Norman, and never being like friends as he is with Bill. She tells her mother about her marriage with Bill and she is sure her father will not be happy because he is a â€Å"son of a bitch†. That moment her mother Ethel slaps her telling her that he is her husband and it was a big wake up to Chelsea. All Chelsea wanted was to have father-daughter relationship and she wants to be free of madness and come to see them more often insteadRead MoreIt Was A Normal Day For Dr. Allison Winters884 Words   |  4 PagesIt was a normal day for Dr. Allison Winters or so she thought. She showed up to South Brook Clinic,a state funded mental institution for the mentally ill who have committed violent or other serious crimes. Dr. Winters wasn’t expecting anything new to happen today.Nothing exciting ever really happens there because due to the fact the patients she talks to are usually so heavily medicated they don’t do any thing other than babble about impending armageddon and sometimes they d drool occasionally

Computer Communication - 4004 Words

Section 1 Introduction 1.1 COMMUNICATIONS Computer communications is the process of sharing data, programs, and information between two or more computers. We have discussed numerous applications that depend on communication systems, including: †¢ E-mail – Provides a fast, efficient alternative to traditional mail by sending and receiving electronic documents. †¢ Instant messaging – Supports direct, â€Å"live† electronic communication between two or more friends or buddies. †¢ Internet telephone – provides a very low cost alternative to long-distance telephone calls using electronic voice delivery. †¢ Electronic commerce – buying and selling goods electronically In this chapter, we will focus on the communication systems†¦show more content†¦LANs are widely used by colleges, universities and other types of organizations to link microcomputers and to share printers and other resources. The LAN represented is a typical arrangement and provides two benefits are Economy and flexibility. People can share costly equipment. For instance, the four micro computers share the laser printer and the file server, which are expensive pieces of hardware, Other equipment or nods may also be added to the LAN – for instance, more microcomputers a mainframe computer or optical disk storage devices. Additional t he network gateway is a device that allows one LAN to be linked to other LANs or to a larger network. For example, the LAN of one office group may be connected to the LAN of another office group. There are a variety of different standards or ways in which nodes can be connected to one another and ways in which their communications are controlled in a LAN. The most common standard is known as Ethernet. LANs using this standard are sometimes referred to as Ethernet LANs HOME NETWORKS While LANs have been widely used within organizations for years, they are now being commonly used by individuals in their homes and apartments. These LANs called home networks allow different computers to share resources including a common Internet connection. Computers can be connected in a variety of ways including electrical wiring, telephone wiring and special cables. One of the simplest ways however isShow MoreRelatedComputer Networking and Communication1065 Words   |  5 Pages A computer networking and data network is a telecommunication network that allows the computers on a network may be linked through cables, telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared light beams. This facilitates communication and resources sharing within huge amount of people in deferent location. Best known as Internet, is the computer network established using either cable media or wireless media. The only system been used before 19th century was postal system, and it would take severalRea d MoreEssay on Computer-Mediated Communication 793 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Just imagine your day to day activities at work, home or school without the use of the internet and other Computer Mediated Devices? I am sure you will all be horrified if we were left without these necessities that have become an essential part of our every activity. Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) has resulted in the concept of the global village which augers well for businesses by providing larger markets for products and services, increased production and creating strongerRead MoreFace to Face Communication Versus Computer Mediated Communication1754 Words   |  8 PagesFace to Face Communication versus Computer Mediated Communication In the 21st century we are now living in, the rapid advancement of technology has completely changed our lives, especially the tools we use to communicate. 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Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) is a hobbled form of interpersonal communication, therefore when using CMC, I should take into consideration the many restrictions and dimin ished aspects of CMC makingRead MoreComputer Communications: Bus Network1342 Words   |  6 PagesComputer Communications: Bus Network Bus Network, in computer science, a topology (configuration) for a local area network in which all nodes are connected to a main communications line (bus). On a bus network, each node monitors activity on the line. Messages are detected by all nodes but are accepted only by the node(s) to which they are addressed. Because a bus network relies on a common data highway, a malfunctioning node simply ceases to communicate; it doesnt disrupt operation asRead More New Computer-based Communication Technologies Essay2160 Words   |  9 PagesToday’s organization has access to communications technology that only a few short decades ago would have seemed like science fiction. From mobile devices more powerful than the first personal computers to the ability to create a team that never physically meets and resides in different parts of the world, the possibilities are vast. The issue for the modern manager then, is not only to understand these underlying technologies and the possibilities they provide, but also to stay cognizant of theRead MoreNonverbal Cues Of Computer Mediated Communication1862 Words   |  8 Pagesarticle â€Å"Type me How You Feel: Quasi-Nonverbal Cues in Computer-Mediated Communication,† Carter explores the implications associated with nonverbal perceptions in type written communication. In today’s age, interaction comes in many forms; as societies progress technologically, so does the ex change of language through text based messages also referred to as Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC). Non-verbal communication is interpersonal communication through visual, body gestures, and facial expressionsRead MoreThe Between Self Disclosure And Computer Mediated Communication Essay1573 Words   |  7 PagesThis article explores the difference between self-disclosure in Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) and Face to Face Communication (FTF). More specifically, this article focuses Joseph Walther’s Hyperpersonal Model from 1996, and presents an attributional extension on the model. The article begins by discussing the presence of self-disclosure on the internet, stating that â€Å"self-disclosure is rife in profiles for online dating† and that â€Å"the average Facebook user discloses approximately 25% of theRead MoreFace-to-Face Communicatioin vs Computer-Mediated Communication1498 Words   |  6 Pages Advances in communication technology will come at the expense of face-to-face communication. Do you agree? 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Importance of Verbal vs. Non Verbal in Cross Cultural Communication Free Essays

Is verbal communication more important or non-verbal in cross-cultural communication? This debate has ignited the scholars all over the globe. Many theories and studies have been conductive to find their relative importance. Words are used to express whatever one wants to say but they can have different meaning and connotation across various languages, countries and cultures and therefore can be misleading. We will write a custom essay sample on Importance of Verbal vs. Non Verbal in Cross Cultural Communication or any similar topic only for you Order Now On the other hand body movements, expressions and gestures have generally the same connotations across cultures but can also contrasting meanings. This paper will attempt to prove it through scholarly articles, authentic research and examples. In order to understand the topic and elaborate on the essay, first some key words shall be defined: Culture is defined as everything which is socially learned and shared by the members of a society. Everything in this definition includes a vast range of topics such as knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, values, ideas and many other capabilities (Horton Hunt, 2004). According to Lustig and Koester (1993), communication is defined as ‘symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual process in which people create shared meanings’. Therefore cross cultural communication or inter culture communication refers to sharing of ideas, values etc. amongst people from various cultures. This means that people from different cultures seek to understand what others communicate and what their messages signify (Reisinger, 2009). On the other hand, intra-cultural communication refers to sharing and understanding of messages of people within a culture. Verbal communication is the use of spoken words to convey a message whereas non-verbal communication as the movement and use of the body parts to express a message. Verbal Communication leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation: Verbal communication generally leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Mostly every culture has a different language, dialect, accent and jargon. Therefore, cultures differing in language will tend to make different sounds while speaking and sequencing of words will also vary (Reisinger, 2009). For example, Australians pronounce the word ‘chips’ as chip i. e. exactly how it is spelt (from an Australian perspective) , however in comparison , natives of New Zealand pronounce chips as heard by an Australian as ‘chaps’. The word ‘chaps’ has a different meaning to an Australian, compared to a New Zealander and thus will lead to inappropriate communication. Also one idea or product may be described by different words across different cultures. For example what Britishers call chips, the Americans call French fries (Reisinger, 2009). Employing translation experts in international communication is a common practice but there are many words that when translated to another language loses their real meaning (Browaeys, 2008). For example the sentence ‘My name is Lars, I live on the second floor’ when translated to German is ‘Mein Name ist, ich leben im zweiten Stock Lars’ which when translated back to English is ‘My name is, I lives in the second stick Lars’. This shows that due to translation many words can lost their meaning and communication would not be effective. Also sometimes people can easily translate one language from the other but they do not understand the true meaning of the word used. For example, Japanese seldom use the word ‘no’ in their conversations but use ‘yes’ (hai) a lot in their conversations. Here using of ‘yes’ means that they’ve heard what has been said rather than agreeing with what has been said (Knotts Hartman, 1991). The same words can also have different meanings in different cultures (Reisinger 2009). For example, an American electronics firm marketed a photocopy machine in Chile with the name ‘Roto’. It was learned afterwards that ‘Roto’ means broken in Spanish (Ferraro 2010). Literature is filled with examples of global organizations with international communication blunders. The example discussed above highlights that translator knew the language but then even unintended messages were communicated to the local people. The grammatical and translation rules were followed but then even blunders were made. According to Ferraro (2010), in order to effectively communicate in international environment, there is no solution other than to learn the language. Complexities of Non-Verbal Communication: According to a study, only seven percent of communicated meaning is from verbal communication, the rest is from non verbal communication. This factor highlights the importance of using non-verbal cues in successful communication (Shick, 2000). Many facial expressions such as anger, fear, happiness etc. are universal. Therefore many people believe that non-verbal cues are excellent source of communicating internationally. The facial expressions must be same but the cause of these expressions may vary from culture to culture. Also many gestures and body movements have different meanings across different cultures (chapter 14). For example, in France firm handshakes are considered to be impolite whereas in Brazil handshakes are firm and exuberant. In order to give emphasis, Italians and Israelis use hand gestures a lot whereas Chinese do not use gestures at all (Shick, 2000). Silence is also a form of non verbal communication (Shick, 2000). In some cultures using verbal communication is more important than using non-verbal communication. Western cultures use direct words and explicit meaning that show true intentions and desires. While in East Asian countries such as Japan, Korea and China, an indirect style of verbal communication is used and they instead resort to non-verbal signal. Asians emphasize silence over words whereas Americans believe words are very important. Western cultures places due emphasis on choosing words appropriately whereas in eastern culture people believe that silence is a form of communication. They communicate by saying as less as possible and at times nothing as well. The meaning is in silence or saying as little as possible (Reisinger 2009). Culture variations exist regarding ‘touching’ in personal interaction. In Middle East and Latin America people prefer high physical contact while people in Northern Europe and America prefer low physical contact. Culture also differs as to where people can be touched. For example in China and many western countries, shaking hands among opposite gender is a norm whereas in Muslim countries it is not (Reisinger, 2009). Therefore in inter cultural communication it is important to understand the meaning of each gesture before using it. The same gesture can have very contrasting meanings across cultures. For example, pulling one’s eyelid with forefinger in France means, ‘I don’t believe you’ whereas in Italy it means ‘I’m keeping an eye on you’. Conclusion: Verbal and non verbal both have their pros and cons. The positives of one can translate into the negatives of the other. Therefore, excellence in both verbal and non verbal communication is required foe effective cross cultural communication. In this era of globalization, no business can sacrifice on inappropriate communication. Even if one universal language is used throughout cultures then even dialects and accents would vary which will lead to misinterpretation. How to cite Importance of Verbal vs. Non Verbal in Cross Cultural Communication, Papers

Transformation from the Ethics of Care - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the transformation from the Ethics of Care. Answer: Introduction Corporate governance refers to the set of policies and conducts which are used by an organization to direct and control the entire work process. The way in which authority and accountability flow between the stakeholders, Shareholders, CEOs and the various managers in the company is known as corporate governance (Tricker Tricker, 2015). The managers and shareholders have a common interest in respect to the companys growth (Beery Wilcox, 2015). However, the problem occurs when these interests diverge in their intentions and take a personal turn rather than the shared common goals. An organization must have one interest group that follows the common interest of companys growth so that in return they are served with better incentives for their hard work in taking the company to the dream position. The situation worsens when the interest groups are more than one and people are enriching themselves rather than the company. The managers or the moral agents of the company are far more exp ert and fluent with the aspects of management than the shareholders (Glinkowska, 2017). This can lead to them taking decisions that are meant for personal benefits rather than long-term benefits of the company. The report aims to shed light on the various issues of corporate governance together with the ethics that are to be maintained by the moral agents of the company. WorldCom and Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities faced decline due to their misconduct towards the ethics of corporate governance. The moral agents, namely Bernard Ebbers and Bernard Madoff of the respective companies will be taken into consideration for the report. The success of a company in the market and the extent of trust it garners among its shareholder depends on the various values that are to be maintained by the company agents to ensure stability in the market. The moral agents have the immense duty to abide by the ethics and to understand that they are responsible towards the all those who are associa ted with the company (Harris, 2013). The discussion will lead to a better understanding of the practical implementation of these ethics and guidelines that are to be followed by the morals agents of a company. Ethical Theories According to Goldman, ethical theories cover the field that systemizes, defends and randomizes the ideas of right or wrong behavior pattern A person who works as the agent of a company dealing with the moral aspects of the working process must have the capacity and ability to perform in a moral way and make proper moral judgments. The company executives who works as the moral agents are the ones who need to have a rational thinking base and the individual must always resort to ethical and virtuous practices. According to Melden, the ethical theories can be divided into two further segments- Consequentialist theories Non- consequentialist theories Consequentialism set of normative ethics believe that an action is judged as right or wrong by the result it creates after implementation. This set of theorists believes that it cannot be decided that a decision taken up by a moral agent was wrong unless we find the results from the decision taken (Carlson, 2013). It is often found that at times the moral agents take some harsh decisions that are not abiding by the ethical code but they end up adding positively to the company. Hence, only the outcome decides if the step taken was right or wrong. The consequential theories are- Egoism Utilitarianism Egoism theory is a consequential business theory that pursues self-interest as the primary target (Broad, 2014). The theory is an opposite of altruism, as the latter believes in the benefit of others rather than the benefit of self in the ethical egoism theory (Salmieri, 2015). The individual gain is the biggest motive that fuels the egoist moral agents and this leads to realization of the fact that an egoist is not selfish. However, the words egoist and selfish are relatively similar but it is not necessary for an egoist to be selfish. The egoists pursue individual advantage and if this can be done by helping others than that is what they will do so that the ultimate benefit is associated to them. It does not necessarily mean that egoists behave maliciously and treacherously with others. There are two kinds of egoists: Personal egoist who only care for their own interests, and the impersonal egoists, who are those individuals that claim that the chasing ones interest will motivate t he entire the group (MacDonald, 2015). Utilitarian theory of business ethics refer to the theory that suggests that the selection of a decision depends on the extent of benefit it will incur to the maximum number of people. A decision will be taken for the maximum benefit and whatever is decided will be regarded as the ethical decision if it results in incurring the maximum benefit for the people associated with it (Neher Sandin, 2015). The short-term benefits are targeted or the long-term ones remains a foremost concern of utilitarian theory being in practice. As it is, something that is targeted for the maximum benefit hence the duration of the benefit ripped from the decision is something that the executives must be concerned with while using this theory in their work process. The non-consequential theories of refer to the set of business theories that fall under the set of normative theory. This set of theory belives that a decision should be taken keeping in mind the goodness and morality rather than always thinking of the possible outcome that may profit or loss. The theories are based on the moral goodness and badness of a decision that will be taken by the company moral agents. The Non-consequentialist theories that are applicable in business are as follows- Virtue theory Kants ethics Ethic of care Virtue theory is a non-consequential business ethic that deals with making decisions based on certain virtues that ensure the desired result. The virtue in virtue theory lies in selecting the trait that is required to select between the extreme points of decision making that involves either courage or cowardice in the managers part (Bell, Dyck Neubert, 2017). The agent is continuously involved in finding a way to get a balance between the two extremes. The various virtues that guide the decision making process are courage, integrity, wisdom and fairness. Virtue ethics pursues morally approved excellence to achieve flourishing. According to Vaughn, the virtues taken into consideration can be divided into two categories: self-regarding and other-regarding. The main feature of this practice lies in its core concept of development being a fundamentally moral process. Kants theory of business ethics deals with the need of the human being to respond to the moral needs firstly without any second thought. If there is a need to do something that is moral an immediate moral requirement then the individual should look no further and do the duty. Kant believed that human beings are blessed to have a rational thought system and they should use it to the greater extent because no other being in the world has that ability (Bowie, 2017). Kants idea of categorical imperative is something that he refers to as universal law. For all human beings the categorical imperative has to be the same so that people respond morally to the requirements that arise in their immediate surroundings (Kant, 2014). The decision making process of the managers must be inclined towards the idea of categorical imperative. People should not be treated as resources that will help in meeting the ultimate goal, a morally healthy bond and thinking has to be kept so that people do not lose their trust on the organization and they do not further feel being only used for the advantage of the company. The critics have argued that whether the categorical imperative will always lead to the betterment of the company is a huge question that can never be answered with any surety. A person being used as means is a concept that is under the scanner to get a better idea that what Kant actually meant by this use that he refers to. Ethics of care is an approach that is distinctive to moral theory that gives importance to responsibility, relationship and concern unlike the utilitarianism or the deontologism (Barnes, Conradi Vosman, 2015). This concept is relevant for people who care for other individuals and are so much eager to be of help that they can even break rules and ethics just to be morally correct. The ethics of care theory questions that whether the justice is being conveyed correctly to the person along with ensuring equality. This thought and ethical practice has emotions attached to it, as the person thinks himself in place of the sufferer and takes the decision based on the emotional impulse that comes in the mind (Muhtadie et al., 2014). The suffering of any person is not to be withstood by those who follow this theory in their business practice. However, the critics have rightly pointed that such a thought will restrict an individual from thinking rationally in situations that may be extremely emotional in nature. Individuals with emotional mindset may indulge in taking regular wrong decisions due to the constant emotional pressure put on them. It can be the a weak point that will be regularly used by people to get their task done by the person. Proper application and understanding the actual need to use the theory ultimately depends on the person who will take the decision. Application of ethical theories Corporate governance and the ethics that are related to it are the most important part of organizations sustainability in the market. A breach in these ethics can lead to serious consequences on part of the organizations overall image and position in the market. Below listed are two recent case studies that prove the above statement. Bernard Madoff Bernerd Madoff was the CEO of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities. The company was popular among people at a time for providing high returns on the investments that would be made in it. The rates of return were very consistent and high. People started realizing that this entire money making scheme may be part of Madoffs greater plan of running a Ponzi scheme amidst the people (Ponzi, 2015). The level of assurance for the unrealistic returns that the investments were paying was something that raised many eye brows and lead to many investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The competitors in the market were alarmed by such rates of return that were nowhere close to what was being prevalent in the regular market scenario. It was furthermore discovered that fake trading was being practiced on Madoffs name to generate money to refund to the people who were investing in the scheme. The trading was doubted to be taking place through an independent third party and n ot directly on Madoffs name (West, 2017). As the investigations progressed, SEC could not find sufficient evidence to show that Madoff was running a ponzi fraud and this lead Madoff to using this clean image to popularize his investment schemes more. The stunt allowed him to add credibility to his investment ideas and he presented those in a way that everyone realized that the schemes were good and had nothing wrong about them because the SEC could not find anything. On part of the SEC it can be seen that they did not indulge into the deeper aspects of this case to find out the actual ponzy scheme that was being operated by Madoff to gain profit for the investments. Madoff was an egoist person to the core and only thought about achieving wealth and creating a huge image in the market as someone who could sense the financial trends in the market. His ideas are consequentialist in nature and follow the lines of egoism closely to achieve faith in the market and create an image of dependability. He was also held responsible for mishandling huge amounts of money of investors for personal benefit. For him nothing ever existed than his happiness and financial greed. Being an agent of the company and dealing with the moral and immoral practices in and out of the company, Bernard Madoff was completely immoral and had no wish to work for the betterment of the company (Monaghan OFlynn, 2017). Breaking the ethics lead to massive debacle in the company image and the company had to finally come down in front of the law. Dismissing the non-consequentialist idea that was propounded by the greatest minds like Kant leads to many levels of imbalance in the entire work process. The agency managers should learn and follow the non-consequential theories that enable a greater sustainability to the organization. The morality of the company should remain same in every situation and the requirements of others should be seen as the foremost concern when it comes to taking decisions. It is not always the case that taking a consequentialist decision or strategy leads to loss but when personal motives are imbibed then it leads to devastating outcomes such as the case of Bernard Madoff (Baron, Zhao Miao, 2015). Bernard Ebber (WorldCom fraud) The WorldCom fraud was one of the biggest public accounting fraud in the history of global corporate. There was found more than $11 billion of fraudulent entries in the accounts of WorldCom. The fraud amount was so huge that it made up about 29% of the annual revenue for the year 2002 (Wisner Brown, 2015). The fraud was a joint action by the top-level accountant and managers of the WorldCom and the person heading this fraud was Bernard Ebbers, the CEO of WorldCom. The organizational control was weak that allowed such fraud to happen inside the company and as because it was a top-level conspiracy, nobody from the organization even tried to whistle blow the entire thing out in public. The company started schemes that reversed allowances to the customers and this allowance was without any strong justification. The motive for such a huge fraud had two intentions Corporate and Personal. The company had a down and degrading economical situation, they were nowhere near meeting the Wall St reet expectation from them, and to hide these discrepancies they came up with the idea to fraud the financial reports that became their corporate motive. On the other hand, the personal motive included the enrichment of personal wealth and power with the use of corporate assets. According to Gottschalk, Bernard Ebbers pursued power and advancements in the professional career and for that purpose; he manipulated the numbers largely in the financial reports. Ebbers filled up the expenses of the company as its investments, which lead to inflated figures in the profit of WorldCom (Kashyap, 2017). The inflated figures allowed the company to gain a heightened status in the market and impressed everyone with such a huge growth in their economics. Bernard gimmicked the finances to prove that the company was speeding to victorious growth whereas the truth was something else and WorldCom was deteriorating every passing day in its financial aspects. The image of a company rests on the shoulder of those who are at the position of creating a better company profile in the market. The company has a face that earns trust from those in the market. It takes years to build the relationship that enables a company to work with profit and popularity in the industry it is catering. The public relations of the company maintains this image but the top level officials are the actual face representatives of the large companies that exist in the business. Bernard Ebbers was in such a position for the WorldCom and his extensive misuse of the power led to the complete abolition of the company from the market as people lost faith in it. Being egoist in nature, Ebbers only pursued his self-interest and the motive was extremely selfish in the decisions he took for the company. The consequences were not aligned to the needs of the people associated with the company and this immoral approach ultimately lead to the fall of WorldCom. The lack of transpar ency in the organizational structure leads to the prevalence of the misconduct inside the company. No one even raised a voice against the practice and the fact was that people were not even aware of the practice that was going on constantly in the company. Every member should be well communicated with the company in entirety; Ebbers intentionally weakened the internal communication so that people were mostly left in dark about the fraud in accounts. The lack of ethical constraints on the part of Ebbers was clear because he did not care what others will go through due to the steps he were taking in pursing his own goal and the greater good of the company was being led down. Conclusion The corporate governance allows for a better functioning of the entire organization and it is further ensured by the use of ethics that are necessary to ensure a proper functioning of the system in a moral direction. Both the cases that were studied in the report give an idea that when the codes of ethics are broken, the corporate governance is pushed to negligence the entire organization suffers from losses, and a complete disruption in the work system occurs. Both the Bernards were found chasing their own accomplishments and this pursuance of self-interest led them to taking resort to many unethical practices that completely devastated the company image in the market. Bernard Madoff and Bernard Ebbers were both egoist in nature and they were personal egoist. While we see that Madoff was providing out successful returns to his investors that made him impersonal to certain extent but for the larger part he is found to be a personal egoist because he wanted to establish his image as s omeone who is blessed with the understanding of the investment market. Bernard Ebbers on the other hand is an absolute personal egoist and he only manipulated the figures in WorldCom reports to show that he was superior than others in the trade and people would consider him a successful CEO of the company because he attained such huge growth. The motive was to meet the expectation of the Wall Street but the way taken to meet the expectation was unethical inflation of the profit figures in the accounts of WorldCom. This was done without keeping in mind any future aspect of the practiced manipulation, Ebbers was blinded by the greed to increase wealth and gain more power in the industry. What ensued as a result was the fall of WorldCom from being one of the most successful telecom companies to being reputed as a company that lead recorded one of the biggest financial frauds in America and the entire corporate globe. To conclude it is evident that malpractice and ignorance towards main taining transparency in the corporate governance and misconduct of the business can lead to complete destruction of a companys image and position in the market. Pursuance of personal interest does lead to extensive loss to the company in totality and should be avoided at any cost. The egoism theory is something that should not be always regarded as negative; both the cases show an egoist approach of the agency manager towards the working style and target of the company being aligned to personal targets and fulfillments. It is to be noted that there are more people around the globe with a egoist approach and in those cases the personal interest is directly aligned to the betterment of the company in totality and hence leads to better consequences after their successful implications. Reference Barnes, M., Conradi, E., Vosman, F. (2015). Deliberation and Transformation from the Ethics of Care. Baron, R. A., Zhao, H., Miao, Q. (2015). Personal motives, moral disengagement, and unethical decisions by entrepreneurs: Cognitive mechanisms on the slippery slope.Journal of Business Ethics,128(1), 107-118. Bell, G. G., Dyck, B., Neubert, M. J. (2017). ETHICAL LEADERSHIP, VIRTUE THEORY, AND GENERIC STRATEGIES.Radical Thoughts on Ethical Leadership, 113. Berry, J. M., Wilcox, C. (2015).The interest group society. Routledge. Bowie, N. E. (2017).Business ethics: A Kantian perspective. Cambridge University Press. Broad, C. D. (2014).Five types of ethical theory(Vol. 2). Routledge. Carlson, E. (2013).Consequentialism reconsidered(Vol. 20). Springer Science Business Media. Glinkowska, B. (2017). Qualities of manager-leader of the near futureresults of the research.Management,21(1). Goldman, A. I. (2015).Theory of human action. Princeton University Press. Gottschalk, P. (2018). Sample of US Investigation Reports. InInvestigating White-Collar Crime(pp. 95-119). Springer, Cham. Harris, J. (2013). Ethics is for bad guys!Putting the moralinto moral enhancement.Bioethics,27(3), 169-173. Kant, I. (2014). The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative.The Ethical Life: Fundamental Readings in Ethics and Moral Problems, 87-99. Kashyap, R. (2017). How World-Com Pulled a World-Con? Finding Facts within Fiction!!!(Presentation Slides). MacDonald, J. B. (2015). Analyzing the Effects of Egoist and Utilitarian Evaluations on Subjects Responses to (Un) ethical Salesperson Behavior. InProceedings of the 2000 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference(pp. 282-287). Springer, Cham. Melden, A. (2013).Ethical theories. Read Books Ltd. Monaghan, L. F., O'Flynn, M. (2017). The Madoffization of Irish society: from Ponzi finance to sociological critique.The British journal of sociology,68(4), 670-692. Muhtadie, L., Johnson, S. L., Carver, C. S., Gotlib, I. H., Ketter, T. A. (2014). A profile approach to impulsivity in bipolar disorder: the key role of strong emotions.Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica,129(2), 100-108. Neher, W., Sandin, P. (2015).Communicating ethically. Routledge. Ponzi, A. G. M. S. (2015). Scheme in Eastern Europe. Salmieri, G. (2015). Egoism and Altruism.A Companion to Ayn Rand, 130. Tricker, R. B., Tricker, R. I. (2015).Corporate governance: Principles, policies, and practices. Oxford University Press, USA. Vaughn, L. (2015).Doing ethics: Moral reasoning and contemporary issues. WW Norton Company. West, J. (2017). The Dialogues of Bernie Madoff's Ponzi Fraud: An Exploration of the Discourses of Greed, Cliques, Peer Pressure, and Error.International Journal of Semiotics and Visual Rhetoric (IJSVR),1(1), 47-55. Wisner, D. L., Brown, B. A. (2015). Corporate Toxicity: The WorldCom/MCI Scandal.

The True Cause Of The Civil War Essays - Slavery, Abolitionism

The True Cause Of The Civil War The True Cause of the Civil War Between the economic, political, and social quarrels that evolved throughout the 1850's, the North and the South underwent many changes that led to the start of the Civil War. The most attributing factor to this war was that of a moral dispute between two sections who both wanted different things. Slavery became the issue that spread across the nation and was disputed back and forth between the North and South sections of the country. Abolitionists were focused upon in the North and tried to get their message across to those owning slaves in the South. They expressed moral disapproval but engaged in few out-in- the-open activities. To the extent that there was an organized antislavery movement, it centered on the concept of colonization-the effort to encourage the resettlement of American blacks in Africa or the Caribbean. (Brinkley, American History 342) Among these Abolitionists, was a famous U.S. journalist who published The Liberator and helped lead the successful Abolitionist campaign against slavery in the U.S. In his first issue of The Liberator, he boldly states his opinion on the issue of slavery: I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation....I am in earnest-I will not equivocate-I will not excuse-I will not retreat a single inch-AND I WILL BE HEARD. (www.britannica.com) The Civil War forced Garrison to choose between his pacifist beliefs and emancipation. In December 1865 he published th e last issue of The Liberator and announced that his vocation as an abolitionist is ended. (www.britannica.com) When the issue of slavery peaked, the South decided that the best bet would be to secede. As for the entire issue of slavery, basically the South wanted and needed it and the North did not want it at all. The South was going to do anything they could to keep it. This was the issue that overshadowed all others. (www.ask.com) During the 1850's the South had about 4 million slaves. These slaves were very valuable to the slaveholding planter class. They were a huge investment to Southerners and if taken away, could mean massive losses to everyone. Slaves were used in the South as helpers in the fields in the cultivation of tobacco, rice, and indigo, as well as many other jobs. The South especially needed more slaves at this time because they were now growing more cotton then ever because of the invention of the cotton gin. Cotton production with slaves jumped from 178,000 bales in 1810 to over 3,841,000 bales in 1860. Bibliography www.pinzler.com www.ask.com [emailprotected] History Essays

Ancient Egypts 1st Intermediate Period

Ancient Egypt's 1st Intermediate Period The 1st Intermediate Period of ancient Egypt began when the Old Kingdoms centralized monarchy grew weak as provincial rulers called nomarchs became powerful, and ended when the Theban monarch gained control of all Egypt. Dates of the 1st Intermediate Period of Ancient Egypt 2160-2055 B.C. Herakleopolitan: 9th 10th Dynasties: 2160-2025Theban: 11th Dynasty: 2125-2055 The Old Kingdom is described as ending with the longest-reigning pharaoh in Egyptian history, Pepy II. After him, building projects in the cemeteries around the capital of Memphis stopped. Building resumed at the end of the 1st Intermediate Period, with Menhotep II at Deir el-Bahri in western Thebes. Characterization of the 1st Intermediate Period Egyptian intermediate periods are times when the centralized government weakened and rivals claimed the throne. The 1st Intermediate Period is often characterized as chaotic and miserable, with degraded art- a dark age. Barbara Bell* hypothesized that the 1st Intermediate period was brought about by a prolonged failure of the annual Nile floods, leading to famine and collapse of the monarchy. But it was not necessarily a dark age, even though there are bragging inscriptions about how local rulers were able to provide for their people in the face of great adversity. There is evidence of thriving culture and the development of towns. Non-royal people gained in status. Pottery changed shape to a more efficient use of the pottery wheel. The 1st Intermediate Period was also the setting for later philosophical texts. Burial Innovations During the 1st Intermediate Period, cartonnage was developed. Cartonnage is the word for the gypsum and linen colored mask that covered the face of a mummy. Earlier, only the elite had been buried with specialized funerary goods. During the 1st Intermediate Period, more people were buried with such specialized products. This indicates that the provincial areas could afford non-functional craftsmen, something that only the pharaonic capital had done before. Competing Kings Not much is known about the early part of the 1st Intermediate Period. By the second half of it, there were two competing nomes with their own monarchs. The Theban king, King Mentuhotep II, defeated his unknown Herakleapolitan rival in about 2040, putting an end to the 1st Intermediate Period. Herakleapolis Herakleopolis Magna or Nennisut, on the southern edge of the Faiyum, became the capital of area of the Delta and central Egypt. Manetho says the Herakleapolitan dynasty was founded by Khety. It may have had 18-19 kings. One of the last kings, Merykara, (c. 2025) was buried at the necropolis at Saqqara which is connected with the Old Kingdom kings ruling from Memphis. First Intermediate Period private monuments feature the civil war with Thebes. Thebes Thebes was the capital of southern Egypt. The ancestor of the Theban dynasty is Intef, a nomarch who was important enough to be inscribed on the walls of Thutmose IIIs chapel of royal ancestors. His brother, Intef II ruled for 50 years (2112-2063). Thebes developed a type of tomb known as a rock-tomb (saff-tomb) at the necropolis at el-Tarif. Sources: Bell, Barbara. The Dark Ages in Ancient History. I. The First Dark Age in Ancient Egypt. AJA 75:1-26.The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. by Ian Shaw. OUP 2000.

Response Sheet Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Response Sheet - Essay Example The watch house is crusty with peeling paint and is filled with clustered tools, fishing books and kerosene lanterns. She is only provided with little amenities that she appreciates. Their tour guide plans their days visit and prepares for them a wonderful lunch. Later in the day, they visit the white sand bitches of Cobb Island. Her photographer and the tour guide opt to enjoy a ride on a speed powerboat, and she enjoys the rhythm of the salt marsh and the soft splash by the boat paddles as they cut into the muddy water (Burnett, Retrieved from ). She also describes other sounds around the place. The writer says that Bill shows them the diamond terrapins and the beautiful scenery carries her away. They later return to the island, and they walk around the shore looking for shells. Dave explains to them the geography behind the shape of the island. They enjoy the scenery at the end of the shore as they listen to the sounds from the breaking waves and shells. The writer asks about the presence of sharks, and the guide assures the that they are rare on the island They return to their boat and being afraid of the coming tides they paddle back to the watch house. They enjoy a delicious dinner cooked by a local caterer. By this time, the writer and her photographer have collected many times from the shores. Evening comes, and the writer enjoys the glow from the planets and stars. The  next  morning they wake up to a set of beautiful sunrays, which reflects the water surface prompting them to take photographs (Burnett, retrieved from ). Later, they pack up their belongings and take a boat to the mainland. She still enjoys the views of the island and does not want to leave  the place. The writer enjoys her visit and promises herself to come back

Close reading a poem and thesis-driven essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Close reading a poem and thesis-driven - Essay Example The negative disposition intensified due to the dominance in her life. As such she perceives her problems as resulted to by the parent. Sylvia uses similes, allegories, various types of rhymes as well as enjambment between stanzas in reinforcing the contrasting themes of love and hate. Sylvia uses allegories and similes when she makes references to the Nazi of Germany. In doing this, she directly compares her relationship with her father to the relationship between a Nazi and a Jew. There are many circumstances where the persona or the poet mentions the Nazi of Germany or makes statements that allude to the Nazi regime. The poet says, â€Å"Not God but a Swastika† (46). Swastika was a symbol associated with the Nazi Germany. Through referring to his father as a Swastika, he tends to associate him with the Nazi Germany. Therefore, she indirectly refers to the symbol of the Nazi to depict the weakening bond between her and her fathers as she grows old. Another instance where the author mentions Nazi Germany is when she uses it to refer to the fear that he had for her dad. The narrators’ fear of the father compares to the Jew’s fear of the Nazi in the period of the Holocaust. Even though the Nazi Germany is not mentioned directly, the following lines insinuate that the poet made a direct reference to the Nazi. When the speaker elucidates the relationship between the Nazi-Jew cases she explains, â€Å"I thought every German was you / and the language obscene. Chuffing me off like a Jew The poem also uses nursery rhyme motif significantly to foster her message. In the very beginning, the poet mentions the lines, â€Å"You do not do† twice repeatedly. The verse portrays the seriousness of the narrator. She introduces the difficult or hard time that his father created. Additionally, the poet in describing his father says, â€Å"And your Aryan eye, bright blue† (43-45) The rhyme displays widespread

Most people believe they directly and completely perceive the world Essay - 1

Most people believe they directly and completely perceive the world that surrounds them - Essay Example It is the very sense that causes us to come up with innovative things and creative ideas. Often, we come across illusion images concentrating upon which for some time, we acquire the image in our eyes that we retain for some time, though there are none other than biological reasons behind this. The images are reflected against plain white background for a matter of seconds. As we see around after that, the memory of the image fades away. Contexts in which stimuli are experienced greatly affect human perception and remembrance of those stimuli. This was confirmed in a research conducted by Palmer. In his study, Palmer first made the research participants see a kitchen scene, and the participants were immediately then shown a loaf of bread, a drum and a mailbox (Sternberg, Mio, and Mio 112). Later when the participants were asked to memorize the things they were shown, all of them remembered the loaf of bread much better than the other two things because the loaf of bread was consistent with the context that the participants were originally shown. Taking the results of this research into consideration, it can be safely said that human perceptions of things are determined by the contexts in which they experience the stimuli. The doctrine of constructivism makes a lot of emphasis upon the meaning. Constructivism, is in itself a theory that revolves around learning. The main idea behind the doctrine of constructivism is that an individual constructs knowledge on the basis of his/her mental activity. The doctrine of constructivism considers learners as the organisms that actively seek knowledge and meaning. Initially, meaning is constructed in such a way that its relationship is very weak with reality, like the mindset of children, who are in constant phase of discovering the world and perceiving it. However, with the passage of time, as an individual gains more and more experience, the concepts become

Asteroids, Meteoroids, Meteors, Meteorites and Comets

Asteroids, Meteoroids, Meteors, Meteorites and Comets Introduction Shooting stars is one of the most beautiful phenomenon, so that most people would make efforts to see this view and scientists have done many researches about it. Many reasons of shooting stars are consist of comets, asteroids, meteors and meteoroids. However, behind this beautiful phenomenon, these four kinds of stars can make unpredictable influence and in different level of damages to the universe. Comets are invisible except unless they near the sun. Comets are mixture of ice (water and frozen gas) and dust, comets have several distinct parts, including nucleus, coma, hydrogen cloud, dust tail and ion tail. The main body of comet is called the nucleus, which can contain water, methane, nitrogen and other ice. Asteroids is a small rocky body orbiting the sun large numbers of these, ranging enormously in size, are found between the orbits of mars and Jupiter, though some have more eccentric orbits. Asteroids are minor planets, especially that inner solar system. The larger ones hav e also been called planetoid. Meteors are formed as dusts, also called as meteoroids. When they rub with atmosphere, they will create light and heat, and finally burn as light. This phenomenon is called meter shower. The meteorites are the central part of Meteors or Asteroids and it is major material about human research universe at first time (Sun, 2017). Comets A comet is a small part of solar system main, mainly by the ice and a small amount of dust and rock mixed (SPACE FACTS, 2017). Comets have several different parts: nucleus, coma, hydrogen cloud, dust tail, and ion tail (NINE PLANTS. 1994-2015). The nucleus is usually considered a solid part of the centre of the comet, the core is constituted of rock, dust and frozen gas into a small asteroid. The coma is the evaporation of the nucleus, whose shape and size are closely related to the distance from the sun. In general, the closer to the sun, the greater the coma, the diameter of up to hundreds of thousands of kilometres, and sometimes with the sun, or even more than the sun (The Plants 2010-2017). In the coma outside the composition of the cloud by the hydrogen atoms, this is a hydrogen clouds. The Dust tail is composed of dust, collar is yellow, is the suns photon under the radiation pressure to repulsion the formation of dust, this is the most protruding part of the comet. The ion ta il consists of ionic gases, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon, hydrogen and other ionized molecules (Calvin J. Hamilton. 1995-2010). The comets orbit is mostly parabolic or hyperbolic, with a few oval-shaped. At present, it has been found that there are more than 1700 comets running around the sun. The famous Halley comet around the sun week for 76 years (SPACE. 2017). The comet is made up of frozen gases, rock and dust, and when the comet approaches the star, the comet material sublimates, forming a hazy coma around the ice nucleus and a tail of a thin matter stream. Due to the pressure of the solar wind, the tail is always pointing to the direction of the sun to form a very long tail. Comet tail is generally tens of millions of kilometres long, up to hundreds of millions of kilometres. The shape of a comet like a broom, so commonly known as broom stars(Sea and Sky 1998-2016).The comet does not have a fixed volume, it is very small when it is away from the s un; close to the sun, the coma becomes bigger than before, the comet becomes longer and the volume becomes very large. The maximum length of the tail can reach more than 200 million kilometres. The quality of the comet is very small, and the average density of the comet is 1 gram per cubic centimetre. Coma and comet material is extremely thin, its quality only the total mass of 1 to 5%, or even small (Bill Dunford. 2011). Asteroids Asteroid is a little rough body circling the sun substantial quantities of these, running hugely in size, are found between the circles of blemishes and Jupiter, however some have more unusual circles. Space rocks are minor planets, particularly that internal close planetary system. The bigger ones have additionally been called planetoids. These terms have truly been connected to any galactic protest circling the sun that did not demonstrate the plate of a planet and was not saw to have the qualities of a dynamic comet. As minor planets in external close planetary system were found and found to unstable based surfaces that look like those of comets, they were frequently recognized from space rocks of the space rocks belt. Space rocks allude to the minor planets of the inward close planetary system incorporating that co-orbital with Jupiter. Ceres was the principal space rock to be found, it was found in 1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi and it was thought to be another planet. This was escorted by the revelation of other comparable bodies, which, with the gear of time, had all the earmarks of being purposes of light, similar to stars, demonstrating next to zero planetary plate, however promptly recognizable from stars because of their obvious movements (NASA, 2010). Trojans are incorporated bodies caught in Jupiters fourth and fifth LaGrange focuses, centaurs (bodies in circle amongst Jupiter and Neptune), and trans-Neptunian objects(orbiting past Neptune) in our meaning of space rock as utilized on the site, despite the fact that they may all the more accurately be called minor planets rather than space rocks(NASA, 2010). The principle contrast amongst space rocks and comets is their organization, as in what they are made of. Space rock are comprised of metals and rough material. Both space rocks and comets were framed right on time in the historical backdrop of the close planetary system around 4.5 billion years prior. Space rocks framed significantly nearer to the sun, where it was too warm for frosts to stay strong. Comets framed more distant from the sun where frosts would not dissolve. Comets which approach the sun lose material with each circle since some of their ice melts and vaporizes to shape a tail. Meteors Meteor is a particle which is broken from an asteroid, orbiting the Sun, and it is also called meteoroid. Meteor will burn itself as it reaches the atmosphere of Earth. At the same time, this action produces a shooting stars effect. Besides, if a meteor has not completely disintegrated when it enter the atmosphere, it will become a meteorite which is the core of meteor (Collins, 2010). Meteor is normally formed by many different sources, including the dusts of comets and asteroids, and more, this is because, when these sources pass through the Earth, they would create dust (Clain). Each day, scientists estimate that there are between 1000 to 10000 tons of meteors which will hit the atmosphere of the Earth. Before they hit the surface of the Earth, they would burn out and become shooting stars (8 Planets). Moreover, meteor will create a light path when it enters the atmosphere. Sometimes, the light, which is created by the action and also called fireball, would bright than the brightest planet, Venus. However, this light disappeared as soon as the meteor burnt out (Sun, 2017). According to NASA, scientists usually name a new meteor shower from the constellation it comes from. Take Perseids as an example, Perseids occurs in Perseus, as a result, it is named Perseids. In addition, there are approximately 30 meteor showers, which are visible to the observers on Earth, occurring annually. Some of these meteor showers might have been approximately a hundred years. For instance, the Perseid meteor shower, which was first discovered and recorded 2000 years ago in Chinese annals, occurs in every August. Compared to asteroids, comets and meteorites, meteors could not create as huge damages as asteroids, to the Earth or universe as it just simply made up of dust. Besides, meteors and meteorites can pass through the atmosphere, while comets and asteroids cannot. However, the time when asteroids pass through the atmosphere and reach the Earth and it caused the extinction of dinosaurs (Carr, 2016). According to a scientist Nicola David (2013), although there is an explosion which happened in Russia in 2013, but there are a few solutions to solve this problem is that to change the orbit of the meteor temporarily in order to avoid its collision with the Earth. However, this solution cannot be made sure that this meteor would hit the Earth again months or years later. Meteorites We can say meteorites is meteor, but the meteorite is the central part of meteor or asteroids because it is planetary embryos that didnt grow big enough to become planets in their own right. Actually, the meteorites major divide four kinds-stony meteorite, pallasite, iron meteorite and mix meteorite (Heide, 1964). It will be born when the meteor through Earths atmosphere, meteors shell is dust so it will be broken. Stony meteorites major element is rock, iron meteorites major elements are different metal, pallasite meteorite is belong mix meteorite (Heide, 1964). Pallasites are a beautiful olivine crystal formed in rock or metal meteorites. (Sun.org, 2017). Some of stony meteorites- Is a kind of meteorite from the universe formed by the ball, from the space floating dust and stone, meteorite attracts these things with itself to form a larger object, such as asteroids and meteorites (Heide, 1964). Meteorites research value is very high, some of them will be 400 million years ago, the protection of their own meteorite particles so it retained a lot of dust is the original information of our early solar system, so it is very important for the universe research (Sun.org, 2017). Pallasites are especially fascinating. The olivine crystals in a metal or rock matrix are the boundary between the silicate mantle and the centre of the mantles (Sun.org, 2017). If cut into thin slices, it will be showing different colour from yellow to green (Sun.org, 2017). Per the speculation that meteorites from universe used by the scientists, the core of the earth is form by iron and nickel (Sun.org, 2017). Meteorites is major research resources for scientists to do some research (Dalrymple, 1991), because It is like a tree of the same record of their own life course, through research, scientists can get information on the surrounding earth space around the sample (Lauretta and McSween, 2006). Scientists want meteorites to research since they are first material that was formed in our early solar system, almost 4.6 billion years ago, We will never be able to hold a piece of core in our hands, but we can explore the metal cores of protoplanets and asteroids (Sun.org, 2017). The same metal meteorites also has some slight radiation, so he can also be used for radiation research. Conclusion To summarise, comets, asteroids, meteors and meteorites are essential particles to form the universe. Comets characteristics are orbit and distance between the comet and the sun. The comets orbit is divided into three kinds, parabolic, hyperbolic and oval-shaped. On the other hand, comets are more close to the sun, the volume is bigger than before, however the comet and the sun have long distance, the comet volume is small. Meteors are consisted of dust which from comets and asteroids. Besides, it will create a light trail when it enters the atmosphere. Compared to asteroids, meteors can make less damage to the Earth. Meteorite is the core of meteor, but their size is not big enough to form a planet. Because of the material of meteorite, many scientists would be interested to do research about it. References 8 Planets, (2017). Facts About Meteors and Meteorites | 8 Planets. [online] 8planets.co.uk. Available at: http://www.8planets.co.uk/facts-about-meteors-and-meteorites [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. Carr, K. (2016). Meteors Space Shooting Stars Quatr.us. [online] Quatr.us. Available at: http://quatr.us/physics/space/meteor.htm#topbar [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. Caltech, (2017). Ask an Astronomer. [online] Cool Cosmos. Available at: http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/ask/181-What-is-the-difference-between-an-asteroid-and-a-comet- [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. Clain, A. (1995). Meteor Interactions with the Atmosphere. [online] Minerva.union.edu. Available at: http://minerva.union.edu/claina/ [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. Collins, N. (2017). What is a meteor? [online] Telegraph.co.uk. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/8190587/What-is-a-meteor.html [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. Dalrymple, G. (1991). The age of the earth. 1st ed. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press. Davis, N. (2017). Explaining meteors: are we in danger?. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/nov/28/meteors-impact-tracking-space-guard [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. Dunford, B. (2011). Comets In Depth | Planets NASA Solar System Exploration. [online] NASA Solar System Exploration. Available at: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/comets/indepth [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. Hamilton, C. (2017). Comet Introduction. [online] Solarviews.com. Available at: http://solarviews.com/eng/comet.htm [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. Heide, F. (1964). Meteorites. 1st ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Knight, J. (1998). Comets The Solar System on Sea and Sky. [online] Seasky.org. Available at: http://www.seasky.org/solar-system/comets.html [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. Lauretta, D. and McSween, H. (2006). Meteorites and the early solar system II. 1st ed. Tucson, Ariz.: University of Arizona Press. NASA, (2017). [online] Available at: https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/741990main_ten_meteor_facts.pdf [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. NINE PLANT, (1994). Comets facts, pictures and information. [online] Nineplanets.org. Available at: http://nineplanets.org/comets.html [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. SPACE FACTS, (2017). Comet Facts à ¢Ã‹Å"„ Interesting Facts about Comets Space Facts. [online] Space Facts. Available at: http://space-facts.com/comets/ [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. SPACE, (2017). Comets: Facts About The Dirty Snowballs of Space. [online] Space.com. Available at: http://www.space.com/53-comets-formation-discovery-and-exploration.html [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017]. Sun.org. (2017). Asteroids, meteoroids, meteors, meteorites, comets. [online] Available at: http://www.sun.org/encyclopedia/asteroids-meteoroids-meteors-meteorites-comets [Accessed 6 Mar. 2017]. The Plants, (2010). [online] Available at: https://theplanets.org/comets/(K.E., 2016) [Accessed 7 Mar. 2017].

Shoeless Joe Essay -- essays research papers

Imagine your fate and future resting in the hands of one man’s judgment. This was actually reality for Shoeless Joe Jackson. Many argue that he was one of the best ever to play the game of baseball and was the greatest natural hitter of all-time. Yet, surprisingly, you will not find him among the familiar faces at the Hall of Fame. He was permanently banned from baseball, as well as seven others, for allegedly helping to throw the 1919 World Series.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Joe Jackson was born on July 16, 1888 in Pickins County, South Carolina. He was the oldest of eight children and grew up the son of a cotton mill worker. He began working in the mill at age thirteen and never learned how to read or write. He played baseball in his spare time, and his exceptional skills landed him in the minor leagues by the age of eighteen. He first entered professional baseball in 1908 with Greenville in the Carolina Association. It was during this same year that he received the nickname â€Å"Shoeless† Joe after he had just bought a new pair of spikes. They wore blisters on his feet and they hurt so badly that he just played in his stocking feet. Although he played only one game without the spikes, he was known as â€Å"Shoeless Joe† from then on (McGee 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shoeless Joe made his major league debut later that year, in 1908, with the Philadelphia Athletics. He only played there a short time before being transferred to the Cleveland Indians. Finally, in 1915 he was sold to Charles Comiskey and the Chicago White Sox. It was here that he played his last few years of professional baseball and his life would be forever changed.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  From the years 1917 to 1919 the Chicago White Sox were by far the dominant team in baseball. It is speculated that they could have â€Å"gone on to become one of the greatest teams in history† (Schwalbe 2). However, despite having the most talented team around, Charles Comiskey paid his players considerably less than any other winning team (Durst 2). Due to the oppression they were under, the player’s morale began to decrease as their need for money increased. They considered going on strike, but were talked out of it by their manager, â€Å"Kid† Gleason. They remained desperate until first baseman Chick Gandil met with a notorious gambler named â€Å"Sport† Sullivan. The White So... ...t up and protect his own reputation. Comiskey’s lawyer acted as Joe’s lawyer also, although he was really only trying to protect Comiskey. In modern day, Joe would have had his own lawyer from the beginning and Landis would have been convicted of contempt of court since he went against the court’s ruling and banished the eight players for life. Joe would not have had to prove his innocence. Instead, someone would have had to prove him guilty. Clearly, this could not have been achieved. There is no evidence that he did anything wrong, and his statistics clearly support the opposite. Alongside, his performance in the 1919 World Series, Joe’s career batting average of .356 is the third best of all-time (CMG 1). On top of this, he led the league in triples eight times and held the throwing record for distance. It is a shame he was never inducted into the Hall of Fame because of one man’s judgment to ban him from the game. Part of Joe’s last words were â€Å"I’m going to meet the greatest umpire of all – and he knows I’m innocent.† (McCroskey 1). He passed away on Decem ber 5, 1951, and will remain, although often disparaged and misunderstood, one of our national pastime’s greatest legends.

Hsm 230-Week 5 Assignment: Hhs Law Profile Paper

Health Insurance Portability 1 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Name University Class Professor Date Health Insurance Portability 2 The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was established in 1996 to protect the rights of individuals when receiving services from health organizations. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ensures privacy and confidentiality of individual’s health information. Health information could be protected on paper, oral communication, or electronically.If an individual’s privacy is violated in any way that individual has the option to file a complaint against the offending office. The Office for Civil Rights assists individuals with complaints by investigating them. If necessary the Office for Civil Rights will impose a fine for violating the Privacy Rule Provision. Criminal violations of this law are referred to the United States Department of Justice for investigation and action (Unite d States Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). The Privacy Rule imposes rules that healthcare workers must abide by to protect patient’s information. By doing this the Privacy Rule dictates how atient’s information could be handled in pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare industries. Patients have access to their medical records if copies are needed or if mistakes are found. There could be a monetary charge for copies but patients should receive copies within 30 days of the request. If a medical provider requires sharing of the patient’s information; this request must be approved by the patient in writing. This notice is usually provided by the healthcare organization to the patient upon their first visit. This notice allows the patient to appoint any person whom he or she wishes to have access to their medical files.A patient could amend or omit information at any time. Patients would sign or initial this document generated by the organization w hich was Health Insurance Portability 3 formatted per HIPAA guidelines. If the document is amended in any way the patient must be presented with the updated document and given the opportunity to review and sign it. The Privacy Rule imposes limits on how the information is shared. To provide the highest quality of care; this rule does not permit any medical staff that is directly working from the patient to share information with another staff that is working directly with the patient.This could include physicians, nurses, and other medical providers that treat the patient. If any other provider that is directly working with the patient requires the medical information the patient would need to sign a consent form. A form usually called â€Å"release of information† would be completed and would specify which information could be shared. By specifying which information could be shared is another way for the patient to protect their information. For example if a patient is apply ing for life insurance they could consent for the life insurance company to have access to their medical lab work.The patients file could include more extensive history such as mental illness or surgical history, but this information would not be shared. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability law affects day-to-day operations in many ways. The Privacy Rule ensures that various healthcare providers have policies and procedures as to different ways to protect a patient’s information. Different agencies such as health insurance organizations, pharmacies, and physicians have procedures as to how to protect information.These various healthcare workers have requirements that are flexible to permit different healthcare workers to implement them as necessary for their practice. Covered medical personnel could limit the use of information as required. In addition, healthcare organizations are Health Insurance Portability 4 required to take additional steps to maintain pat ient privacy and confidentiality. These steps include but are not limited to: written privacy procedures, employee training, and hiring a privacy officer (to oversee that a high level of care is provided).If a consumer feels that his or her privacy has been violated they have the right to file a complaint. This complaint can me submitted directly to the offending provider or can be submitted via mail, or electronically to the Office for Civil Rights. The Office of Civil Rights provides adequate space for the consumer to explain why he or she feels her information has been used without proper consent. A consumer may also receive information on how a complaint may be filed The Office of Civil Rights provides this chart of penalties that could be assesses:A large penalty may be assessed if found guilty up to $100. 00 per violation, up to $25,000 per year, for each requirement or prohibition violated. Criminal penalties apply for certain actions such as knowingly obtaining protected hea lth information in violation of the law. Criminal penalties can range up to $50,000 and one year in prison for certain offenses; up to $100,000 and up to five years in prison if the offenses are committed under false pretenses; and up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison if the offenses are committed with the intent to sell, transfer or se protected health information for commercial advantage, personal gain or malicious harm. (United States Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act was designed to provide a consistent amount of protection in the exchange of data for a patient. When the regulations were implemented it became obvious that there was much to do. There were many holes in the system Health Insurance Portability 5 when it came time to protect patient medical information.It was found that the security requirements would apply to all medical personnel. This legislation provided a system that protects everyoneà ¢â‚¬â„¢s rights. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also establish protection from discrimination based on the information in the records. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act serves to protect patient’s right by setting a standard of practice for ensuring the privacy of client’s information. A client may select whom he wishes to have access to his personal information by signing a waiver of consent.The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act also would conduct an investigation of any claims of violation and â€Å"holds violators accountable† (HHS. Gov, 2008). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance impacts all departments that have interaction with a client’s personal information like medical staff, medical records, billing, etc. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability law is inconvenient at times but it is also necessary to protect our information from being used in a way that we do not wish.Health Insurance Portability 6 References Department of Health and Human Services (2008) What does HIPAA privacy rule do? Retrieved September 26, 2008, from http://www. hhs. gov/ Manning, S. S. (2003). Ethical leadership in human services: A multi-dimensional approach. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. United States department of health and human services. (2008). United States department of health and human services. Retrieved September 25, 2008, from Department of Health and Human Services: http://www. hhs. gov/ocr/hipaa/

Pds in India Essay Example

Pds in India Essay Example Pds in India Essay Pds in India Essay Research Paper No. 2006/98 The Public Distribution Systems of Foodgrains and Implications for Food Security A Comparison of the Experiences of India and China Zhang-Yue Zhou1 and Guanghua Wan2 September 2006 Abstract A comparative study of the public distribution systems of foodgrains in India and China is expected to reveal lessons and experiences that are valuable to policymakers. This is particularly important for developing countries in their endeavour to ensure food security. This paper undertakes such an exercise. The main features and developments of the two public distribution systems are first highlighted. This is followed by a comparative analysis of their similarities and differences. The role of public foodgrain distribution systems in ensuring food security is then evaluated. Finally, policy implications are drawn. Keywords: public distribution system, food security, poverty, food subsidy, India, China JEL classification: I31, I38, Q11, Q18 Copyright  © UNU-WIDER 2006 1 School of Business, James Cook University, Australia email: zhangyue. [emailprotected] edu. au; 2 UNU-WIDER, Helsinki, email: [emailprotected] unu. edu This paper was prepared for the UNU-WIDER project on Hunger and Food Security: New Challenges and New Opportunities, directed by Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis. The project was carried out in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). UNU-WIDER gratefully acknowledges the financial contributions to its research programme by the governments of Denmark (Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Finland (Ministry for Foreign Affairs), Norway (Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Sweden (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency- Sida) and the United Kingdom (Department for International Development). ISSN 1810-2611 ISBN 92-9190-882-7 (internet version) Acknowledgements We wish to thank the participants at the Jaipur workshop for their comments on the paper. In particular, we wish to thank Dr Benjamin Davis of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Professor S. S. Acharya of the Institute of Development Studies (Jaipur) for their constructive and helpful suggestions. Acronyms APL BPL FCI PDS (families) above poverty line (families) below poverty line Food Corporation of India public distribution system FAO Food and Agriculture Organization MSP minimum support price PL480 global food aid programme established by the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 into law as US Public Law 480, commonly known as PL480 TPDS targeted public distribution system (of India) The World Institute for Development Economics Research (WIDER) was established by the United Nations University (UNU) as its first research and training centre and started work in Helsinki, Finland in 1985. The Institute undertakes applied research and policy analysis on structural changes affecting the developing and transitional economies, provides a forum for the advocacy of policies leading to robust, equitable and environmentally sustainable growth, and promotes capacity strengthening and training in the field of economic and social policy making. Work is carried out by staff researchers and visiting scholars in Helsinki and through networks of collaborating scholars and institutions around the world. www. wider. unu. edu [emailprotected] unu. edu UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) Katajanokanlaituri 6 B, 00160 Helsinki, Finland Camera-ready typescript prepared by Liisa Roponen at UNU-WIDER The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s). Publication does not imply endorsement by the Institute or the United Nations University, nor by the programme/project sponsors, of any of the views expressed. Introduction The issue of food security has been around for a long time and the right to adequate food and to be free from hunger have been repeatedly affirmed in a number of documents adopted by the United Nations (e. g. , the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1966, and the Rights of Child in 1989). Nev ertheless, by the early 1990s, there were still more than 800 million people, mostly in the developing countries, who did not have enough food to meet basic nutritional needs. This led the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to assemble a World Food Summit in 1996, in which 194 countries took part and during which the Rome Declaration on World Food Security was drawn up. The World Food Summit called on the international community to cut the number of hungry people by half to about 400 million by 2015. However, the progress towards achieving the target, as reviewed in the World Food Summit: Five Years Later in June 2002, remained disappointingly slow (FAO 2002). According to FAO (2004: 6), in 200002, the number of undernourished people worldwide remained as high as 852 million, including 815 million in the developing countries. The number of people undernourished in India and China, the world’s two most populous countries, currently stands at 363 million (two-thirds are in India), accounting for 43 per cent of the world total (FAO 2004: 7). Sources of food insecurity for both countries, i. e. , huge population, limited agricultural resources, and unstable and unpredictable world markets, still prevail, presenting potential threats to national food security. Looking into their past practices, especially the access to food by the poor, may reveal valuable experiences and lessons. In this paper, we focus on the institution of the public distribution systems of food in these two countries and discuss how these systems have helped to improve food security. 2 Inception and evolution of the public distribution systems Adequately feeding the huge populations in India and China has been a challenge. At the time of independence of the Republic of India and the founding of the People’s Republic of China in the late 1940s, both countries ncountered severe shortage of food. Since then, governments have made considerable efforts to improve food production and great achievements have been made. In both countries, the supply and reach of food are more comfortable, famines rarely occur, and large foodgrain imports are not required. One of the important policy instruments is the use of the public distribution systems (PDSs). In this section, we hi ghlight how the PDSs are operated in each of the two countries. Due to significant reforms to the PDSs in both countries in the early 1990s, we present the PDSs in two stages: the period up to the early 1990s and the period since the early 1990s. 2. 1 The public distribution systems effective until the early 1990s India In India, foodgrain is distributed through a combination of private markets and the public distribution system (PDS). The origins of the PDS can be traced back to the Second World War period. Before the war, small deficits in foodgrain supply already existed 1 and were met from imports. When the war broke out, imports became difficult and grain prices rose sharply (Suryanarayana 1985: 20). To ensure an equitable distribution of food, ration was introduced in 1942, with supplies from domestic procurement and imports, and distribution through ration shops. From December 1947 the government reverted to decontrol. However, prices had increased steeply by July 1948 and control was re-introduced in September 1948. A new scheme of distribution, the fair-price shop system, was established to ensure low market prices through large supplies to the market. In 1965 the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was set up with the goal of handling grain procurement, distribution, and building a buffer stock. In the same year, the Agricultural Prices Commission (now Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices) was set up to advise the government on prices to be paid to farmers. Around 1967/68, the name fairprice shop scheme was changed to the public distribution system (PDS) but the role and organization of the system remained unchanged. The PDS is run jointly by central and state governments. While the responsibility of the central government (through FCI) is to procure, store and transport grains from purchase points to central godowns (warehouses) across the country, the responsibility of state governments is to transport these commodities from central godowns and distribute them to consumers through the network of fair-price shops. Fair-price shops are owned privately or cooperatively and make profits from the commission on sales. They are licensed by state governments and principally distribute food items (wheat, rice, sugar, and edible oil) to customers at fixed prices. A shop Table 1 Government subsidy on foodgrain consumption in India * Subsidy: Year 1976/77 1977/78 1978/79 1979/80 1980/81 1981/82 1982/83 1983/84 1994/85 1985/86 1986/87 1987/88 1988/89 1989/90 1990/91 Note: * Rs million US$ million % of GDP 4,773 4,801 5,694 6,000 6,500 7,000 7,110 8,350 11,010 16,500 20,000 20,000 22,000 24,760 24,500 544 586 698 761 749 738 703 735 892 1,310 1,545 1,438 1,357 1,415 1,078 0. 53 0. 47 0. 52 0. 50 0. 45 0. 42 0. 38 0. 38 0. 45 0. 59 0. 64 0. 56 0. 52 0. 51 0. 3 Year 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 Subsidy: Rs million US$ million % of GDP 28,500 28,000 55,370 51,000 53,770 60,660 75,000 87,000 92,000 120,100 174,940 241,760 251,600 277,460 1,013 896 1,764 1,572 1,514 1,668 1,815 2,018 2,044 2,543 3,598 5,189 5,557 6,372 0. 44 0. 37 0. 64 0. 50 0. 45 0. 44 0. 49 0. 50 0. 48 0. 57 0. 77 0. 98 n. a. n. a. Financial year, April-March, subsidies on foodgrain include sugar for some years. All are at current prices. Exchange rates obtained from www//research. stlouisfed. org/fred2/categories/15, accessed on 13 July 2005. Source: GOI (various years). 2 covers about 2000 people. Any person with a designated residential address, rich or poor, urban or rural, can draw supplies from these shops. In 2002, there were about 474,000 shops, 75 per cent in the rural areas. The grains distributed in these shops are of fair-to-average quality. Many well-off people prefer to purchase on the open market for grains of higher quality albeit at a higher price. Pricing is crucial for PDS in India. It is based on current and anticipated open market prices. If prices are too high, the PDS cannot not justify its existence; if too low, a heavy financial burden ensues. When the price of grain is below its cost (procurement, storage, distribution, wastage, etc. ), a government subsidy results. Since the early 1970s, procurement prices were increased annually to ensure reasonable remuneration to farmers. However, the prices at which the PDS dispatched grains could not be raised accordingly. Despite periodical revisions of the centrally-set prices, they were generally kept below costs. Consequently, the subsidy has increased from Rs 67 million in 1970/71 to over Rs 10 billion by 1984/85 and Rs 25 billion by 1989/90 at current prices (see Table 1). The increase in subsidy has attracted much attention and criticism (Parikh 1994; George 1996). It should be noted that subsidy figures in Table 1 are not deflated. No comparable deflators are available for these two countries. Considering that both India and China experienced high levels of inflation during the periods covered, the subsidy in real terms would be smaller. Nonetheless, we calculated the proportion of the subsidy to total GDP and in India in most years it has been typically around 0. 5 per cent. The proportion is higher in recent years due to a higher level of public stocks. China When the Communist Party of China came to power in 1949, there was a food shortage caused by decades of war. The new government took various measures to promote grain production, crack down on hoarding and speculation, and establish as well as strengthen state grain organizations. By the end of 1950, the grain situation was basically brought under control and the state grain organizations had gained a commanding position in the grain market. China started its First Five-Year Plan in 1953. With economic reconstruction underway on a large scale, the demand for grain outpaced availability. In October 1953, it was proposed that the government procure grain directly for supply to consumers in urban areas through a ration system. This was endorsed by the government and implemented in December 1953. Consequently, the ‘unified grain procurement and sale system’ was established, and state grain agencies became the sole buyers and sole sellers in the grain market. Three kinds of buyers were covered by this system: (i) the non-agricultural population (urban) who were issued with grain coupons, (ii) the agricultural population who were engaged in non-grain production or did not produce grain in sufficient quantities, and (iii) other grain users (e. g. , restaurants, bakeries, and food-processing factories or factories using grain as input). An important element of the rationing system was that the grain coupons could be used in government grain stores, restaurants, and manufactured food stores, etc. Usually they could only be used within the issuing area (e. . , a city or a province) but a local grain coupon could be exchanged for a more general one (i. e. , issued by a higher level government) to facilitate travellers. The local grain coupons were usually distributed 3 monthly, but could be used at any time or within a specific period. Although varying across provinces/cities, the proportion of fine to coarse grains was often fixed for a partic ular location. Food items sold through government grain shops primarily included cereals (chiefly rice and wheat flour), other coarse grains, and edible oil. Up till the early 1990s, the system underwent few significant changes. These included: i) ii) iii) Per capita ration was reduced by one kilogram per month in late 1960 in response to the nationwide famine; There were three selling price increases in the mid-1960s; and In 1985, the selling price of grain supplied to qualifying agricultural population was increased to equal the procurement price (the non-agricultural population was still provided with grains at the unified selling price which was below its procurement price). In the same year, changes in the provisions for other grain users were also made. As a result of significant increases in the procurement prices of grains in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and with no increases in the selling price to the non-agricultural population, the government subsidy increased rapidly. By 1990 it had reached 27 billion yuan (see Table 2). This soon triggered much attention and debate within the country. Some advocated de-control over grain marketing, while others proposed that grain prices be determined by the market (see, for example, Liu et al. 1986; Cheng, Lu, and Yan 1987; Yu 1987). But many argued that China’s grain situation could not be left totally to the market because of the critical importance of grain in feeding the people and maintaining social stability (Liu 1986; Ma 1987). The government kept the selling price of grain unchanged in order to maintain social stability. Table 2 Government subsidy on foodgrain consumption in China * Subsidy: Year 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Note: * ? million US$ million % of GDP 1,114 5,485 10,280 14,222 15,619 18,213 20,167 19,866 16,937 19,543 20,403 26,252 26,761 706 3,666 ,719 8,322 8,232 9,194 8,638 6,747 4,894 5,237 5,468 6,965 5,580 0. 31 1. 36 2. 28 2. 92 2. 95 3. 07 2. 81 2. 22 1. 66 1. 63 1. 37 1. 55 1. 44 Year 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Subsidy: ? million US$ million % of GDP 26,703 22,435 22,475 20,203 22,891 31,139 41,367 56,504 49,229 75,874 60,544 53,524 55,015 5,005 4,059 3,891 2,338 2,735 3,734 4,972 6,807 5,947 9,165 7,315 6,467 6,647 1. 24 0. 84 0. 65 0. 43 0. 39 0. 46 0. 56 0. 72 0. 60 0. 85 0. 62 0. 51 0. 47 Calendar year, subsidies on grain, cotton and edible oil. Data excluding cotton not available. All are at current prices. Exchange rates obtained from www://research. stlouisfed. org/fred2/categories/15, accessed on 13 July 2005. Source: SSB (various issues). 4 2. 2 The public distribution systems since the early 1990s Clearly, both India and China had spent a large amount on subsidizing food consumption in the early 1990s. By then, however, majority of consumers in both countries were enjoying increased disposable income resulting from economic reforms and could afford foodgrains at market prices. To reduce the food subsidy, many argued that the PDSs need to be reformed so as to target specifically the poor and needy (Deng 1991; Jha 1992; Ahluwalia 1993; Pal, Bahl and Mruthyunjaya 1993). Since the early 1990s, both governments have reformed the PDSs but have chosen different paths. India has endeavoured to make the PDS increasingly targeted to the poor while China has tried to reduce the subsidy burden by cancelling the PDS. India Despite the heavy burden on the public exchequer, few in India have proposed reducing or dismantling the PDS in order to reduce the subsidy. Many agree that the PDS should be viewed as an instrument of income transfer in favour of the poor. From this perspective, existence of the PDS is justified on the ground of providing food security to the poor (Ahluwalia 1993; Dantwala 1993; Pal, Bahl and Mruthyunjaya 1993). Such a view is shared by the government, which believes that (i) eliminating the food subsidy is neither desirable nor feasible in the short and medium term although there is a strong reason to contain it, and (ii) the PDS, as it has now evolved and grown, needs to pay more ttention to the poor and vulnerable (GOI 1994: 66). Under such guidelines the government first launched a scheme in early 1992 to revamp the PDS in some 1800 backward and remote areas. Additional grains were allotted to the states at prices lower than the issue prices for normal PDS. During 1992-95, measures were undertaken to reduce the PDS entitlements to the non-poor or less poor population in an effort to reduce subsidies. Different types of ration cards (in different colours for different rations) were introduced for different groups of the population. In 1997, the government launched a revised scheme of distribution known as the targeted public distribution system (TPDS). Under TPDS, foodgrains were distributed under two-tier delivery system to households below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL), with each BPL family receiving a set amount of foodgrains per month at heavily subsidized prices (see Table 3). Under the TPDS, the amount of heavily subsidized grains supplied to each of the BPL families was set at 10 kg per month. This set amount, however, has varied over time since 1997, depending on the size of the buffer stock. When the stock level was high, it was increased in an attempt to reduce the stock; for example, in 2001 this amount was increased to 25 kg per month per family (GOI 2002: 128). It was further increased to 35 kg in 2002 (GOI 2003: 94). The price at which the grain is sold to BPL families is set to equal half of its cost. In practice, however, the issue price to BPL families is often less than this stipulated cost (Table 3), and in the earlier years, it was significantly less than half its cost. The issue price to APL families was intended to represent 90 per cent of the cost but in the past years the actual price was often below this target level. The share of grain to BPL families has also changed over the years, and is closely linked to the amount available in the buffer stock. In 1997-98, of the 17. 5 million tons of total BPL and APL allocation, some 41 per cent (7. million tons) were for BPL 5 Table 3 Costs and issue prices of wheat and rice in India (1991-2003) Wheat Cost (Rs/kg) 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 BPL APL 1998-99 BPL APL 1999-00 BPL APL 2000-01 BPL APL 2001-02 BPL APL 2002-03 April BPL APL July BPL APL Source: GOI (2004). 3. 91 5. 04 5. 32 5. 51 5. 84 6. 63 7. 98 Issue price Issue price/cost (Rs/kg) (%) 2. 80 2. 80 3. 30 4. 02 4. 02 4. 02 2. 50 4. 50 8. 00 2. 50 6. 50 8. 87 2. 50 6. 82 8. 58 4. 15 8. 30 8. 59 4. 15 6. 10 9. 15 4. 15 5. 10 4. 15 6. 0 45 56 45 67 48 71 11. 84 5. 65 7. 30 5. 65 8. 30 48 62 48 70 48 97 11. 96 5. 65 8. 30 47 69 28 77 11. 80 5. 65 11. 30 48 96 31 81 10. 74 3. 50 9. 05 33 84 72 56 62 73 69 61 31 56 9. 95 3. 50 9. 05 35 91 Cost (Rs/kg) 4. 97 5. 85 6. 65 6. 95 7. 63 8. 58 9. 37 Rice Issue price Issue price/cost (Rs/kg) (%) 3. 77 3. 77 4. 37 5. 37 5. 37 5. 37 3. 50 7. 00 76 64 66 77 70 63 37 75 population (GOI 1999: 69). In 2000-01, 18. 5 million tons (64 per cent) were allocated for distribution to BPL families, compared to 10. 3 million tons to APL families. Since the TPDS was implemented in 1997, over 60 million BPL families benefit from this revised distribution scheme every year. In addition to TPDS, the Indian government initiated or strengthened a number of schemes to further assist the very poor in the form of cheaper grains. In December 2000, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (grain scheme for the poorest of the poor) was launched (GOI 2001: 92). It seeks to identify the ten million poorest households out of the 65 million BPL families, and to provide them with 25 kg of foodgrains per family per month at a low price of Rs2/kg for wheat and Rs3/kg for rice. The Annapurna scheme, commenced in 2000-01, provides 10 kg of foodgrains per person per month free to indigent senior citizens above the age of 65 but who are not drawing pension under the national old age pension scheme. In August 2001, the Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (integrated rural employment scheme) was announced, under which states are provided with five million tons of foodgrains annually for undertaking work 6 programmes. Other existing welfare programmes were also strengthened to provide foodgrains to benefit the poor. These include the midday meal scheme, wheat based nutrition programme, scheme for supply of foodgrains to scheduled caste/scheduled tribe/other backward classes, the scheme for supply of foodgrains to indigent population living in welfare institutions (GOI 2002: 128). These schemes are used primarily (i) to make the TPDS more focused and targeted towards the poor, (ii) to increase the employment opportunities of the poor, and (iii) to help reduce the overstock of foodgrains in the central reserves. After revamping PDS in the early 1990s, rains are still supplied to consumers at prices lower than cost. Hence, the subsidy on foodgrain consumption remains. Since the introduction of the TPDS, the subsidy has continued to rise (Table 1) because the issue prices for grain for BPL are significantly lower than cost and the distribution of almost free grain has expanded through special schemes. China By the late 1980s and early 1990s, the issue of grain subsidy was receiving considerable atte ntion (Du 1989; Gu 1990; Ke 1990; Huang 1990; Deng 1991). In May 1991, the government moved to reduce subsidies for rationed grain by increasing the unified grain selling prices. But they were still below procurement prices. In April 1992, however, selling prices were further increased to equal procurement prices. Due to a succession of good harvests, market grain prices were low in the early 1990s, and were not much different from the prices of grain in government shops. Urban consumers bought more grain from the market to ensure better quality and selection. Further, the consumption of non-grain food in urban areas started to increase at the expense of foodgrain. This resulted in less importance being attached to the grain coupon and some urban residents started to sell coupons for cash. After certain experiments during late 1992 and early 1993, the state-operated unified grain sale system virtually disappeared around mid-1993. From October 1993, grain prices in the free market increased sharply and this was aggravated by panic buying. Having been sensitive to grain prices, the government immediately mobilized measures to cope with the price surge, including price ceilings on grain traded in the free market. Although grain prices were brought under control early December of that year through heavy administrative interventions, price fluctuations continued in some areas in the first half of 1994. From July 1994, grain prices rose again quickly all over the country. Certain areas reintroduced the coupons in late 1994 and by September 1995, about half of the 30 provinces restored the use of coupons (Anon. 995; Ka 1995). Prices were stable during much of 1995, thanks to additional grain imports and increased grain supply through government shops at subsidized prices. That year local governments were assigned the primary responsibility of handling grain matters under their jurisdiction. Consequently, the public distribution of grains differs across regions, although all regions procure grains under a quota regime at gov ernment-set prices. Some cities sell subsidized grains through government shops without ration; others apply the ration. A few cities, led by Shanghai and Beijing, also attempted to target the low-income population. This was later followed by other cities (Anon. 1996a, 1996b; Shen 1999). 7 However, the need for government provision of subsidized grain through its outlets did not last long. The grain supply in the market turned to abundance from 1996 and prices remained relatively low (Tian and Zhou 2005). For the majority of the population, buying grains at the market price was no longer a problem, although assistance was continued for some low-income consumers. However, approach to providing assistance started to change mainly in the urban areas and a cash income subsidy is currently provided to the needy instead of cheap subsidized foodgrain. From 1993, reform of the old social security system led to the establishment of a new social security system that is cash income transfer based. Since 1994, there has been an increased number of publications addressing China’s social security issues (see, for example, Ding 1997; Shi 1997; Yan 2003; Yu 2003; Guo 2004). Prior to 1994, attention was paid to social security issues by Beijing Review (1994) and Jiao (1994). Jiao (1994) points out that as a result of economic reforms, the old social security system could no longer ‘live up to its functions of promoting production and social stability, helping the underprivileged, and helping to guarantee a basic living standard for all’. It is interesting to note is that in recent years, increasing attention has also been paid to the establishment of a social security system in rural areas (e. g. , Yu 2003; Guo 2004). Wei (2003) attempts to address social security issues for rural migrants working in urban communities. In summary, the PDS in China gradually disappeared around the mid-1990s. Assistance to the poor was no longer provided in the form of subsidized foodgrain. Instead, under the reformed social security system it was gradually replaced with a cash income transfer. Government subsidy on grains, however, was not completely eliminated (see Table 2) but is being spent on maintaining stocks to cover any temporary market fluctuations and the occurrence of large-scale food insecurity. 3 Comparison of the PDSs: similarities and differences Originally introduced to combat food scarcity, the food distribution systems in both India and China have played an important role in ensuring an adequate food intake, particularly during periods of food shortage. Both countries supply their people with food at subsidized prices under a ration system. In this section of the paper, the two PDSs are compared and their similarities and differences are highlighted. 3. 1 The objectives of PDSs Both countries have chosen not to rely completely on the private market but to have instead a government food distribution system. The main objectives of the system in both cases are threefold: i) ii) iii) To contain rises in food prices and keep them within reasonable limits in the wake of production shortage and increasing food demand; To ensure availability of minimum amount of food at a reasonable price to those who do not produce it (or produce it in insufficient quantity); and To make food available at reasonable prices to low-income groups whose food security is most severely affected by high prices. 8 The system has evolved in both countries from a history of periodic food shortages and corresponding sharp price hikes in the private market system. The distribution mechanism also serves as an early warning and quick response system in case of local famine situations. 3. 2 The system The PDS included subsystems for the procurement, storage and distribution of foodgrains. Both countries took steps to involve the local/state governments in the system. China sought to establish a command position for government organizations in the grain market, and thus monopolized grain marketing. The government of India also tried the same but failed. Consequently, less than 10 per cent of the grain production in India is handled by the government and the rest is left to the private market. The Indian PDS does not attempt to meet the public’s entire grain requirement but the PDS is instead intended to cover a certain minimum of the eligible groups coming to the fairprice shops. In contrast, the Chinese government assumed responsibility for feeding the entire registered urban population. As a result, quantities andled by the government of India are much lower than those handled by the government of China (Figure 1). Figure 1 also shows that the quantities despatched through the PDS in India have varied, depending on grain availability and prices on the open market, while in the case of China, with the increasing urban population, the quantity of grains supplied through government shops rose continuously until the mid-1980s when additional agricultural market reforms wer e initiated (Figure 1). In China grains were procured by the local governments according to quotas as assigned by the national government. Total procurements and any imports were allocated to Figure 1 Quantity of foodgrains distributed through the PDSs * 120 100 million tons 80 60 40 20 0 19 84 19 86 19 98 20 00 19 80 19 82 19 88 19 90 19 92 19 94 19 96 20 02 India China Following the price surges in 1993, ration was reintroduced in some regions, and was carried out jointly by the central and local governments. The distribution of foodgrain by the various tiers of government gradually disappeared from 1993 onward. Data for 1994 and thereafter not available to the authors. Sources: GOI (2004); SSB (various issues). Note: * 9 different provinces by the national government, which also managed the stocks. In India the entire procurement process is the responsibility of central government through FCI, which constitutes a part of the farmer price support system. FCI, who handle the distribution to the states, also manages the stocks and distributions across godowns all over the country. Thus, the costs and subsidies involved in the operations of the PDS in China seem to have been shared between the national and provincial governments, whereas in India they are largely borne by the central government. 3. 3 Operation and performance Both countries’ food distribution systems, despite their various shortcomings, have played a significant role in distributing food to the people, particularly during shortages (Acharya 1983; Zhou 1998; Jharwal 1999; Swaminathan 2000; Zhou, Liu and Perera 2001). In addition, the public food distribution system has had a significant role in stabilizing prices in the market and this is particularly true in the case of India (Jharwal 1999). The unit cost of grain handled through the Indian PDS has been rising in recent years (Table 3). This is partly attributable to the high post-procurement cost and leakages to the open market (Ahluwalia 1993). In recent years, India’s excessive public stocks (Table 4) have added to the increasing cost of its PDS (GOI 2002, 2003). Table 4 shows that the actual stock in the beginning of 2002 was more than three times greater than the buffer norm. On the other hand, in China low operation efficiency is a key factor contributing to the increasing cost of its PDS. Although the government has gradually given up supplying grain to consumers through its outlets, it still procures grain for a buffer reserve and various other uses. Low efficiency is a significant contributor for the increasing subsidy. Table 4 Actual foodgrain stocks (wheat and rice) and minimum buffer norms, India Beginning of the year 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Source: GOI (various issues). Buffer norm 15. 4 15. 4 16. 8 16. 8 16. 8 16. 8 16. 8 16. 8 16. 8 Actual stock 20. 0 18. 3 24. 4 31. 4 45. 7 58. 0 48. 2 24. 4 21. 7 Excess (actual stock minus buffer norm) 4. 2. 9 7. 6 14. 6 28. 9 41. 2 31. 4 7. 6 4. 9 3. 4 The use of private sector The private grain sector, if properly regulated and used, can play an important role in the management of a country’s food distribution. India and China have treated the private sector differently. In China, private traders were subject to strict control and restrictions in the early 1950s, and were almost totally banned f rom trading grains from 10 late 1953 to the early 1980s. Since then, private traders have been allowed to trade in the market although they were constrained by many government regulations. In the late 1990s they were again prohibited from procuring grain directly from the producers although they were allowed to engage in other grain trading activities. A new policy was introduced in June 2004 which gave more freedom to private traders, allowing them to procure grain directly from the producers, subject to a licence. In India, there are fewer restrictions on private-sector grain marketing, and as a result, the private grain sector is well developed. Private channels have also helped the Indian government to cope with the highly concentrated market arrivals during the marketing season in states with a heavy surplus. . 5 Coverage and targeting The coverage of PDS is different in China and India. In China, the ration system favoured the registered urban population, irrespective of wealth. Deficit or non-grain producing rural households were also included. In India, both urban and rural households with designated residential addresses were entitled to subsidized grain, irre spective of income. However, during the 1990s, some modifications were introduced and entitlements to non-poor families were reduced. In India, despite the fact that the rural population is covered and some three-fourths of the fair-price shops are located in rural areas, the issue of whether the people in rural communities receive an equitable share of the benefits from the PDS has received much attention (see, for example, Dev and Suryanarayana 1991; Ahluwalia 1993; Dantwala 1993). In China, on the other hand, there have been very few arguments supporting the interests of the rural people, even when surplus grain was transferred to urban areas, leaving rural people without adequate stocks. Contrary to efforts in India, very few researchers in China have attempted to examine how the bias of the PDS implemented by the Chinese government have impacted on the rural populations of the country. 3. 6 Costs and policy responses In both countries a considerable amount of the budget is spent on food subsidies, and efforts have been made to reduce the public exchequer’s heavy burden. Each country, however, has chosen a different approach to deal with the subsidy burden. The Chinese government selected to reduce the subsidy by allowing its PDS to disintegrate, preferring instead to reform the old social security system and to establish a new system of cash income transfers to focus more on the needy. This transition may have been made possible by three factors. First, the majority of the urban population could afford to buy foodgrain at market prices. Second, the economy was strong enough to provide social security support (in the form of cash income transfers) to the urban poor; and finally, the strong grassroots administrative arrangements were useful in helping identify the poor. Although the government of India realized that there are compelling reasons for containing the subsidy, its elimination is considered as neither desirable nor feasible in the short and medium term (GOI 1994: 66). Rather than abolish the PDS in order to reduce the subsidy, the Indian government initiated policies to improve the efficiency of the PDS, including 11 better targeting of the poor and the vulnerable. This has led to the introduction of the TPDS in the late 1990s. There have been many attempts to address the effectiveness of the PDS of India, especially on its impact on the poor. See for example, Radhakrishna et al. (1997); Kozel and Parker (1998); Dutta and Ramaswami (2001); Zhou, Liu and Perera (2001); Dev (2002); Ramaswami (2004), and Jha and Srinivasan (2004). Findings are mixed, however. According to Kozel and Parker (1998), the TPDS is often cited by the poor as essential to their wellbeing. Zhou, Liu and Perera (2001) also indicate that the PDS in India has contributed to welfare improvement of the poor. Others, however, believe that the PDS has had minimal impact on the poverty and nutritional status of the population, and that it is not cost-effective (Radhakrishna et al. 997; Jha and Srinivasan 2004). Some argue that other anti-poverty programmes such as employment schemes could be more effective. 4 Impact of the PDS on food security Having compared the PDSs in the two countries, we now address the impacts of the PDSs on food security. 4. 1 National food security There is no doubt that the PDSs have contributed to national food security in both coun tries. Since consumers are assured of foodgrain supply, the PDS limits panic-buying during food shortage, and eliminates unnecessary fluctuations in the market. The buffer stock, a vital element of the PDS, plays a particularly important role. In China, the PDS helped the country to survive both domestic food shortages as well as the western blockage of food imports in the early 1960s (Zhao and Qi 1988). In India, the functioning of the minimum support price (MSP) and FCI, and the existence of buffer stocks made large-scale food imports such as those under the PL480 food aid programme unnecessary. Also, the stock release during consecutive droughts of 200103 helped to ease food shortage. With its buffer stocks, India has managed successfully to cope with the severe drop in grain output without having to rely on large imports. In 2003, India managed to net-export about 5 million tons of grains (GOI 2004: s-22). 4. 2 Food security of the general public In principle, the PDS in India is accessible to all people, rural or urban residents, rich or poor, provided that they have the designated residential address. In contrast, the majority of the rural people in China were excluded, but all urban residents, rich or poor, were cov ered. These measures have ensured a more equitable distribution of foodgrain to the general public, particularly important in times of severe grain shortages. India’s buffer stock level dropped from 61. 7 million tons in July 2001 (when the norm in July is 24. 3 million tons) to 20 million tons in April 2004 (the norm in April being 15. 8 million tons) (GOI 2004: 93). 12 The urban bias in China was unfair to its farmers. Nonetheless, the country has been able to sustain its population through several difficult times of food scarcity. In retrospect, this practice of milking the agricultural sector has enabled China to secure grain for urban distribution and to extract funds for industrialization, giving the country more momentum for development (Liu 1998). . 3 Food security of the poor When the PDSs were first initiated, there was no direct targeting the poor in either system. The poor were treated as any other eligible person. In China, while the majority of rural residents w ere excluded, the very poor were provided with various relief measures. Targeting the poor was gradually introduced in urban areas from the early 1990s as a means of reducing grain subsidy. The price surges of 1994 and 1995 led to supplies being rationed in some regions. During those few years, targeting was widely used (Anon. 1996a, 1996b; Shen 1999). In India, the PDS was indirectly targeted for the poor, as the provision of grain was only fair-to-average in quality, and wealthier customers could buy better quality grain on the open market. The system became more protective of the poor with the introduction of the TPDS in 1997. While Radhakrishna et al. (1997) claim that the impact of the PDS on nutritional status of the poor is minimal, Zhou, Liu and Perera (2001) find that the cereal consumption and nutritional intake of the poor has improved over time, thanks to the PDS. The Zhou study analyses food consumption and nutrition intake of the poorest 30 per cent of the population. It examines how the PDS may have affected the food consumption and welfare of the poor from multi-dimensional perspectives: between rural and urban regions, across states, and over time. According to Ramaswami (2004), targeting was achieved because the relatively rich voluntarily sidestep the programme. However, as the poor in India live in slums, they do not have the requisite designated address and may consequently not be able to take advantage of the PDS. Indeed, they may even be worse off, as PDS has induced higher open market prices (Dantwala 1967; Tyagi 1990: 88-99). 5 Policy implications 5. Subsidy on food can be a cost-effective way to help the developing-country poor The substantial food subsidy has attracted criticism in both countries, and the efficiency of the PDSs is often questioned. However, it must be recognized that the most essential part in the wellbeing of the poor is access to adequate food supply and that food needs to be obtained within a much stricter time con straint than virtually any other life necessity (Spitz 1985). Access to food (in the short term) can be arranged either through direct cash transfers within a well-established social security system, or through the provision of subsidized food by PDS. Direct transfers imply an effective income monitoring mechanism so that an income test can be applied, but most developing countries lack such a mechanism. Consequently, a government-administered system for distributing food at reasonable prices is a practical option to provide a safety-net to the poor. 13 Table 5 Shares of social security expenditure and foodgrain subsidy out of total government expenditure (at current prices) Expenditure on social security (excl. ubsidy on grains)(a Rs million Total government expenditure Rs million INDIA, 1992-2004 1991/92 1992/93 1993/94 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 10,470 12,910 14,440 17,410 26,000 27,830 29,440 33,310 48,340 33,770 37,130 32,060 33,670 Expenditure on social security (excl. subsidy on grains) ? million 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Notes: (a Year Subsidy on grains Rs million Social security Social security expenditure out of expenditure and grain total govn’t subsidy out of total expenditure govn’t expenditure % % 8,500 28,000 55,370 51,000 53,770 60,660 75,000 87,000 92,000 120,100 174,940 241,760 251,600 1,061,688 1,186,173 1,364,894 1,502,600 1,688,889 1,910,450 2,154,867 2,568,860 2,994,312 3,256,698 3,612,364 4,013,750 4,737,273 Total government expenditure ? million CHINA, 1993-2003 464,230 579,262 682,372 793,755 923,356 1,079,818 1,318,767 1,588,650 1,890,258 2,205,315 2,464,995 0. 99 1. 09 1. 06 1. 16 1. 54 1. 46 1. 37 1. 30 1. 61 1. 04 1. 03 0. 80 0. 71 3. 67 3. 45 5. 11 4. 55 4. 72 4. 63 4. 85 4. 68 4. 69 4. 72 5. 87 6. 82 6. 02 Year Subsidy on grains(b ? million 22,475 20,203 22,891 31,139 41,367 56,504 49,229 75,874 60,544 53,524 55,015 Social security Social security expenditure out of expenditure and grain total govn’t subsidy out of total expenditure govn’t expenditure % 1. 62 1. 64 1. 69 1. 61 1. 54 1. 59 1. 36 1. 34 1. 41 1. 69 2. 02 % 6. 46 5. 13 5. 05 5. 54 6. 02 6. 82 5. 10 6. 12 4. 61 4. 12 4. 26 7,527 9,514 11,546 12,803 14,214 17,126 17,988 21,303 26,668 37,297 49,882 Includes expenditure on (i) welfare of SC/ST and other backward classes and (ii) social welfare and nutrition. (b Includes subsidies on grain, cotton and edible oil. Data without cotton are not available Sources: GOI (various issues) for India, and SSB (various issues) for China. In developing countries like India and China, expenditures on food subsidy are a part of the country’s social security expenses. A comparison between social security spending in the USA, Australia, and Japan and food subsidy expenditure in China and India reveals that the expenditure of developed countries on social security is much higher than that of India and China on food subsidies (expressed as share of total government budget) (Zhou and Gandhi 2000). Whereas social security expenditure is 22 per cent in the USA, 35 per cent in Australia, and 22 per cent in Japan, food subsidy is only about 4 4-6 per cent in China and India. In both countries, even when all other social security expenditures are included, the proportion at about 6-8 per cent is still much smaller than that in the developed countries (Table 5). Given that the PDS is still being used in India, the country’s economists and policymakers need to evaluate the situation carefully when they embark on reduc ing the food subsidy. Efforts to reduce the subsidy purely for the sake of improving efficiency must take into consideration the cost of helping the poor in other ways. The experience of China clearly shows that while the foodgrain subsidy has dropped in recent years, total social security expenditures have increased in both absolute and relative terms (see Table 5, bottom panel). In contrast, even though the foodgrain subsidy has escalated recently in India, the social security expenditure has not increased. In balance, total expenditures for both social security and food subsidy have remained largely comparable to earlier years (see Table 5, top panel). For India, helping the poor through the PDS seems to be the appropriate approach. 5. The level of economic development and provision of food subsidy With regard to food security, the experience of China shows that when a country’s economic development reaches certain level, it is possible to shift from food subsidy to direct cash payments. In doing so, one needs to consider the general public’s ability to buy grain on the open market, and whether the truly poor can be identified witho ut unreasonable high administrative costs. China, with its history of a centrally controlled regime, has well organized administrative mechanisms in place that extended right down to street-level units. This helps to identify those in need with little extra costs. In India today, the majority of the population can afford to buy grain on the open market and in normal circumstances they do not need to rely on the PDS. The country’s economy is also in a much stronger position than earlier. However, India lacks the administrative facilities that could help to identify the poor and to administer income transfers in a cost-effective manner. Thus, the PDS is likely to exist in India for some time to come. 5. PDS is still needed in India In India, a large number of people are undernourished; India’s undernourished may well constitute the largest share of hungry people in any single country of the world. They all need to be provided with food. Given that identifying the poor and administering direct income transfers is likely to be costly, food subsidy with proper targeting remains a more cost-effective way to improve food security. Policymakers, economists, and the general pub lic should not be hasty in abolishing the PDS but should wait till the country is ready to make direct income transfers to the poor. Until such a time, it is imperative to improve the efficiency of the PDS to reduce or eliminate waste and leakage. In recent years, the demand for the PDS has been declining, largely due to income growth on one hand and a change in the structure of demand on the other. Indians are consuming less foodgrain per capita by substituting non-cereal foods (GOI 2002: 123). This decline may justify gradual reduction in the size of PDS operations. 15 Pilot programmes to reduce PDS operations or even shift to direct income transfers could be considered in regions or states where conditions permit. 5. A buffer stock controlled by the central government is essential In India, buffer stocks are a significant element in the operations of the PDS, and in efforts to smooth domestic market fluctuations. China, on the other hand, was unable to build a reasonably sized buffer stock until the mid-1980s (Zhou 1997), but since then the buffer stock has contributed importantly to the management of Chinaâ₠¬â„¢s grain economy. A buffer stock controlled by the central government is still the vital means of achieving food security in both China and India. This is true whether or not a physical PDS is maintained. In China, the PDS gradually disappeared, but the buffer stock system is still in place. Such a system is needed to deal with temporary market fluctuations and to handle any large-scale food insecurity. It would be to the advantage of both countries if they could learn from each other. India, on the one hand, could gain from China’s experience by learning to manage its buffer stock with more flexibility. Once the stock becomes excessive, different measures need to be exercised to dispose of the surplus, e. g. , exporting, as China did in 1998-2003, when it exported large quantities from its buffer stock, even though subsidy had to be provided. Excessive grain stock can also be used to produce processed foods or animal products. China, on the other hand, could benefit from India’s PDS administration by bringing transparency to its buffer stock management. Zhou and Tian (2005) attribute the high cost of maintaining China’s buffer stock to the lack of transparency. With transparency in its operations, China may not need to maintain such high volumes of buffer stock. Learning from each other could resolve the criticism often directed at the excessive amount of public stock in India or the lack of transparency in grain management in China. Interestingly, although China’s buffer stock is well over 100 million tons (exact figures not available from government sources), few have complained about excessive buffer stock (limited information published on the minimum norm). Quite the contrary, the Chinese are often concerned about grain security. In comparison, when India’s buffer stock was some 20-40 million tons over its norm in the past few years (15. 8 million tons in April and 24. 3 million tons in July), there was considerable outcry about the excessive stock. 6 Concluding comments In this paper, we examined the institution of the PDSs in India and China and discussed how the PDSs have helped these two populous countries to improve national food security, food security of the general public, and food security of the poor. Our analyses show that a PDS is a useful policy instrument, particularly when there is a shortage of food. It can also be a cost-effective measure to counteract poverty. Moreover, a buffer stock controlled by the central government is essential to ensuring and improving a country’s food security, regardless of whether or not a physical PDS is maintained. 16 The experiences of the PDSs in both countries under study could provide valuable lessons. 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