Sunday, January 26, 2020

Relationship between development and freedom

Relationship between development and freedom Sen, A (2001). Development as Freedom. Oxford. Oxford University Press. Chapter 1. The author conceptualizes development as ‘the gap between an exclusive concentration on economic wealth and a broader focus on the lives we can lead (p.14) emphasizing that the theory of development goes well beyond wealth accumulation and gross national product growth. The chapter examines the relationship between development and freedom, the way in which freedom is a component of development and an extensive view of ‘freedom encompassing both opportunities that people have and processes that allow for ‘freedom of decisions. The main arguments of the author is that development should be assessed by ‘freedom of accessibility to factors such as social opportunities, health care, clean water, economic security, civil rights and political freedom. Lack of accessibility means ‘unfreedom. Development therefore should mean that people can live the lives they want to live and precisely, how can a nation say in all entirety that it has ‘freedom when its citizens cannot afford the very basic necessities of life or fulfill the rights they are entitled to? Sen goes on further to compare different views of poverty in both developing and developed nation by analyzing ‘freedoms through values, poverty and inequality, income and mortality, markets and freedom, tradition and culture. The author sees the process of development beyond economic growth or physical and human capital and concludes by linking the understanding of a broad view of the development process to the substantive ‘freedoms of people. Sens write up contains intriguing views but he hasnt mentioned what justifies his classification into these ‘freedoms i.e. experience of developing countries, factual historical evidence or how far ‘freedom has progressed within each context he identified. His definition is quite different from Rapleys in which Rapley describes development as more concerned with flexibility and adaptability (Rapley 2007 pp 5) and so raises a question. Can development be measured only by individual happiness without economic growth and stability? Happiness, in my opinion is geared more towards Rapleys definition and should be adapted into the process of economic growth. Willis, K. (2005) Theories and Practices of Development. London. Routledge. p. 32-42. Willis chapter 2 of theories and practices of development analyses development theories and practices and how these theories were attached to the economic, social and political theories that developed in Europe from the 18th century. Williss interpretation raises some interesting facts about historical development of theories and she divides her study into various theories. The classical economists such as David Ricardo, an advocate of free trade and Adam Smith, in his famous book, Wealth of Nations ‘responded to the trade focus of economic policy at that time (p.32) when trade was a major factor of economic growth. Here, protectionist measures such as high tariffs were highly used by merchants. Willis goes on to say Adam Smith was not in favour of this form of regulation and that it was harmful to the countrys economic growth. Instead, greater focus on production and division of labour which will be regulated by the ‘invisible hand of the market (p.33). The Great depression of the 1930s and other economic happenings gave rise to Keynes argument of the free market not necessarily a positive force but government intervention in the promotion of economic growth while postwar reconstruction period was a time to reflect on the economic crises that occurred at that time and provide solutions to their re-occurrence. This led to the creation of the Bretton woods institutions to assist in the promotion of ‘stable economic growth within a capitalist system (p. 36) Willis describes the linear stages theory and makes emphasis on Rostow, the American economist and political theorists stages of Economic growth to development. Here, development was seen as a state where a large number of the population could afford to spend largely on consumer products and development was viewed as modern, moving from agricultural societies to an industrial economy. While she tries to decipher early theoretical ideas, Willis has not made clear linkages between some of these theories and how they have come to evolve in economic debates and discussions over time. Chang, H., and Ilene G. (2004) ‘Reclaiming Development from the Washington Consensus, Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, 27(2), 274-291. The fundamental of this article is to correct the notion that there is no alternative to the Washington Consensus. The authors argue that ‘neoliberal policies have failed to achieve their goals in developing world (p. 274) and so discuss the major development myths for justifying neoliberal policies that have been harmful to developing world and perhaps as a complacency to the reader, possible alternatives to these policies. These myths, evaluated individually, describe how these policies have lacked credibility. Myth 1; In contrast to the neoliberal policy success, the reality is that the policy has not promoted its main aim of economic growth. Myth 2; Developed countries gained success through free market policies whereas records claim they relied upon interventionist policies for development. Myth 3; Only neoliberal policies can succeed in todays global environment whereas in fact there is evidence of ‘continuing institutional and policy divergence across national boundaries (p. 277) Myth 4; Discipline imposed by international institutions to keep them honest whereby placing policy making authority in the hands of these organizations. Myth 5; The East Asian model cannot be replicated when in fact most developed countries utilized this model. Myth 6; Developing countries should imitate the Anglo American model of capitalism which fared poorly in the economic boom of the 1990s. The authors went ahead to put forward alternative policies for faster economic development which includes the financial system providing adequate finance quantities for investment projects at appropriate prices, enforcing strict laws on new foreign loans incurred by domestic borrowers, defocusing on budget balance and maximizing FDI potentials to promote economic and industrial development in developing countries While arguing for these policies, it will be sensible to note that economies are different and there can be no ‘best practice policy that everyone should use (Chang 2003). Policies for development should not be ‘fixed but depend on stages of development of a developing nation and other factors such as resource capacity, economic, political and social conditions. Pender, J. (2001) ‘From Structural Adjustment to Comprehensive Development Framework: Conditionality Transformed? Third World Quarterly, 22 (3), 397-411. Pender reviews how the World Banks approach to development has changed over decades and brought about important shifts to its conditionality approach. In the light of new changes between the 90s and today, the World Bank formulated a Comprehensive Development Framework, based on a relationship of partnership to replace its erstwhile structural adjustment lending (p. 397). The author examines why the World Banks perspectives of development changed through different periods; In the 1980s to early 90s, GDP was used as a measure of development as the Bank was mostly concerned with rapid economic growth and sustenance for least developed countries (LDC) and the adoption of policies such as restriction of state spending, controlling inflation, commodity exports and privatization as factors to achieve development. The 1990s drew lack of confidence in these policies and there were strong doubts about its competence judging from the success of the Asian Economies that developed rapidly without the World Banks policy prescriptions. This informed the Bank to change its 1980 view about minimal state role in development and that ‘growth by itself is not enough (p 401). Thus in 1990, a formulation of an approach based on both ‘labour intensive growth and ‘widespread provision of basic social services (p.401). In spite of these alterations, there were criticisms that the Bank reforms were not aiding Africas growth but rather, increasing stagnant economies through the implementation of the Banks policies. According to Pender, the Bank lost confidence in its policy framework in early 1995, with the Asian miracle and LDCs failure and was forced to critique its own policies and re-orientate. This modification was experimented between 1995-1997 with ‘improvements in the understanding of economic development and poverty reduction as the central focus. The author gives clear informed views of the process of policy change within the World Bank at different times but fails to analyze the impact of this new focus of poverty reduction and its success to the development of todays third world countries. Chang, H. (2003) Kicking away the ladder. Development Strategy in Historical Perspectives. London, Anthem Press. Chapter 1. Changs analysis centers around one question, ‘How did the rich countries really become rich? He uncovers some myths about developed countries developmental experience and argues that developed countries did not develop through the same policies that they recommend to the developing world. This pressure from developed countries to the developing world to adopt a set of ‘good policies that they adopted when they themselves were developing is faced with criticisms because ‘historical evidence suggests otherwise and goes on to say that they are trying to hide the ‘secret of their success (p. 2). Some of these policies include liberalization of trade, privatization, restrictive macroeconomic policies and deregulation but facts show that most of the developing countries used export subsidies and industry protection, industrial policies that the WTO disapproves in the present world. The USA and UK were examples of ardent users of these same ‘policies frowned at in contrast to the free trade policies and free market they preach. Chang quotes List, the German economist that ‘Britain was the first country to perfect the art of infant industry promotion which is the principle behind most countries journey to success (p. 3). He argues that developed countries, while alleging to recommend good policies to developing countries are actually trying to ‘kick away the ladder of their own economic development. A conclusion is drawn on some methodological issues of David Ricardos neoliberal policies to Friedrich Lists infant industry argument that while developed countries preach Ricardo to developing nations, they actually pursued Lists policies in the past. Although Chang did not confront and compare works of economic historians e.g. L.E Birdzells How the West grew rich in relation to his How did the rich countries really become rich to identify similar or different conclusions, his examination of historical materials to reach important and interesting conclusions is a contribution that is immensely valuable to the current debates on development that will evidently challenge contemporary policies and enrich development theory. REFERENCES Chang, H. (2003) Kicking away the ladder. Development Strategy in Historical Perspectives. London, Anthem Press. Chapter 1. Chang, H., and Ilene G. (2004) ‘Reclaiming Development from the Washington Consensus, Journal of Post Keynesian Economics, 27(2), 274-291. Pender, J. (2001) ‘From Structural Adjustment to Comprehensive Development Framework: Conditionality Transformed? Third World Quarterly, 22 (3), 397-411. Rapley, J. (2007) Understanding Development: Theory and Practice in the Third World (3rd edition). Colorado. Lynne Reinner. Sen, A (2001). Development as Freedom. Oxford. Oxford University Press. Chapter 1. Willis, K. (2005) Theories and Practices of Development. London. Routledge. p. 32-42.

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Poem Analysis: Boy with His Hair Cut Short

How do you see the world around you? As a beautiful paradise, or a grim failure? In â€Å"Boy with His Hair Cut Short†, we are given a glimpse into the life of a boy looking unsuccessfully for a Job during the â€Å"Great Depression†. While the boy remains doubtful that hell find a Job, his sister provides him with an optimistic viewpoint in hopes of giving him a glimmer of hope. In â€Å"Furniture Art†, we are introduced too girl who Is Interviewing her neighbor, Mr.. DuPont, for a project about deferent worldviews. Mr..DuPont shows her that the world truly Is a beauteous place, we simply need to open our eyes to see It that way. Though the sister and Mr.. DuPont both have a similar worldview, Mr.. DuPont's worldview Is more realistic. In â€Å"Boy with His Hair Cut Short†, the boy comes home after yet another unsuccessful day of Job-seeking. Even though he's crestfallen, his sister offers to assist him by cutting his hair shorter. While she cuts his hair , she continues to encourage him by telling him that â€Å"they can't keep turning you down; the finest gentleman's not so trim as you'† (18-19).But then we learn that this optimistic and hopeful demeanor is simply a facade, and that she feels just as hopeless as she does, when we read â€Å"meeting/ her earnest, hopeless look† (22-23). Upon reading this, we discover that she tries to look at a doubtful situation with a happy-go-lucky, unrealistic attitude. In â€Å"Furniture Art†, the narrator is working on a Socials project, in which she must interview a neighbor about their view of the world, and contrast it with her own.While interviewing him, she learns that English 10 Training Papers 2006/2007 Page 22 our supposedly good planet may not be so great, unless we look at it in a different way. Mr.. DuPont goes on to explain that Just because we have the money to buy stuff doesn't mean that we'll be happy, and that there is more to life Han materialistic purchas es. The narrator learns throughout Mr.. DuPont's interview that â€Å"the world is beautiful if you can see it that way, but no less or more than it already was†. 53) In the end, even though she got a â€Å"C+† on her project, the narrator finds that her new view of the world is invaluable. The worldview expressed in this story is more realistic because it addresses the major problem of our society, greed, and shows us to appreciate the world's natural beauty instead. Poem Analysis: Boy with His Hair Cut Short By mariachi â€Å"Boy with His Hair Cut Short†, we are given a glimpse into the life off boy looking fitful that he'll find a Job, his sister provides him with an optimistic viewpoint in who is interviewing her neighbor, Mr..DuPont, for a project about different worldviews. Mr.. DuPont shows her that the world truly is a beauteous place, we simply need to open our eyes to see it that way. Though the sister and Mr.. DuPont both have a similar worldview, Mr. . DuPont's worldview is more realistic. Gentleman's not so trim as you! † (18-19). But then we learn that this optimistic and hopeful demeanor is simply a facade, and that she feels Just as hopeless as she does, when we read â€Å"meeting/ her earnest, hopeless look† (22-23). Upon reading this,

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Social Issues Topics List at a Glance

Social Issues Topics List at a Glance For this reason, you can pick from a variety of topics when mandated with writing an essay on social problems. For Writing a Good Essay you need to choose great topics. You can depend on the ideal essay help online. To begin with, your essay is supposed to deal with a particular social, psychological or anthropological matter. Many events reported in the mainstream or societal media are related to a wide range of current social difficulties. It appears unlikely, for reasons that'll be discussed within this guide, that the debate is going to be resolved soon. Even with the endless arguments that the subject of media bias generates, it's worthwhile to take into consideration why the issue matters, to outline the key points of view on the problem, and to recognize the important ideas connected with those viewpoints. The social issues research papers may appear easy to write in comparison with different topics, but still it demands an extremely creative strategy, a tremendous quantity of curiosity and capacity to think beyond the box and search info in unconventional sources. In addition, it affects how folks react to certain scenarios. There are quite a few other issues which are rubbing citizens the incorrect way. Various people can hold different and strongly-held views, which aren't easily changed. Our technicians will kindly answer every one of your questions. You probably wind up doing these things quite readily, often without even thinking. There are a number of ways to measure this. There are lots of young people around who do not desire to accept things as they are. You're building a photo of a social issue, and you will need to bring up every potential side of the story. Even in some instances, they buy the merchandise against their inner will. There are an assortment of methods people use to combat social difficulties. There are many and in many instances, on account of the excellent diversity we've got in our nation. Any effort to control its spread must take into consideration the intricate social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects where the disease is embedded. Social Issues Topics List: No Longer a Mystery It will also assist in resolving a number of the elaborate social and ethical difficulties. The root cause of social problems is due to unemployment, which is additionally a social problem itself. The cir cumstance is even direr when there is just one parent. Each circumstance differs. Such families are thought to be dysfunctional since they are uninterested in knowing about their child activities in school. Splitting up of somebody's parents is a traumatic experience for each child. Students have a propensity of postponing their assignments on account of the distractions caused by their fun life. The following are learning resources associated with social difficulties. Here are a few examples of problem situations and ways that you can provide help. It's important not just for physical fitness, but for mental development too. When deciding on your social problems topic, don't forget that it's always much better to write about something you're already more or less acquainted with. In addition, countries that allow multiple political parties and absolutely free expression of speech have just one more issue in regards to tackling a number of the issues that plague its society. The Chinese are an essential key to political and financial stability. Developing nations face a number of problems. Understanding and improving the manner that social things interact with different forces is vital to our future. Anyway, you'll certainly like our price policy. The Supreme Strategy for Social Issues Topics List In reality, youth today will graduate from college with a number of degrees and still cannot locate work that pays enough to sustain a good way of life. Kids, kids and youths of the nation are future of the country so they're the primary target to enhance awareness about any social problems. India has a sizable migrant population.

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Commonly Confused Words Formally and Formerly

The words formally and formerly are near-homophones: they sound almost the same. Their meanings, however, are different. Definitions The adverb formally means in a formal way or following accepted forms, customs, or conventions.   The adverb formerly means previously, in the past, at an earlier (former) time. Also see the usage notes below. Examples Henri  Rousseau is known as a self-taught painter, which means that he never  formally studied art.Placing the thesis at the  opening starts the essay with  a strong statement, providing a clear direction and an outline of the supporting evidence.  However, if the  thesis is controversial, it may be  more effective to open with supporting details and confront readers objections before formally announcing the thesis.(Mark Connelly,  The Sundance Writer, 5th ed. Wadsworth, Cengage, 2013)Peoples names escaped me and I began to worry over my sanity. After all, we had been away less than a year, and customers whose accounts I had formerly remembered without consulting the ledger were now complete strangers.(Maya Angelou,  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Random House, 1969)Running down the length of the island is a cement wall. If the illegals (currently undocumented workers;  formerly wetbacks) are walking north and a Border Patrol vehicle happens along, they simply h op over the wall and trot south.(Luis Alberto Urrea, Across the Wire: Life and Hard Times on the Mexican Border, 1993) Usage Notes The adverb formally is a word that implies doing things in accordance with set routine, something that is laid down by convention or enmeshed with a network of other requirements. Wearing a dinner jacket would be labelled formal wear, the new railway station will be formally opened by the mayor, and the prose of Edward Gibbon is formally complex.  Formerly, also an adverb, relates things back to the past, to some former situation or context.(  David Rothwell, Dictionary of Homonyms. Wordsworth, 2007)Look at the two words with the suffix removed--formal, former. Think of formal invitations, formal dress, formality. In each of these is the idea of proper manner, politeness, doing things according to form. Former has to do with time, or order of sequence. Thus we say On a former occasion he talked about Italian lakes. We mean that he talked about Italian lakes on a previous occasion. In a similar manner we say Formerly he worked for Sage Allen. You would never think of writing form erlity for formality; then why is it that sometimes you substitute formally for formerly? Perhaps you do not, but many others do.(Alfred M. Hitchcock, Junior English Book. Henry Holt and Company, 1920) Practice (a) This simple cafe in the center of the city was _____ a swank restaurant with  candle-lit tables, a small orchestra, and exorbitant prices on the menu. (b) In the old days, both men and women  were expected to dress _____  for dinner. Answers to Practice Exercises (a) This simple cafe in the center of the city was formerly a swank restaurant with  candle-lit tables, a small orchestra, and exorbitant prices on the menu. (b) In the old days, both men and women  were expected to dress formally  for dinner.

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The Effects Of Parents And Family Communication On Teenage...

Parents are men and women that come together to teach their child or children right and wrong in life. Parents play a big role in their children lifestyle and honestly it can affect the child’s future. As the child matures into a teenager they develop physically and mentally changes. One big fact a teenager faces is sex. Sex can be a very beautiful thing if taught correctly, but can also be very terrifying, especially if you do not know consequences about it. Parents often run away from the sex talk or just figure if the child takes a sex class they will comprehend better. They do not understand by taking the class it is more biology perspective than an emotional one. Another reason parents avoid this talk is because, they feel like their child is too young to understand what is happening. â€Å"To better understand the impact of parents and family communication on teenage sexual activities, research needs to consider both the content and quality of adult– youth commun ication.† This study used young women aged 19–29 years, who reï ¬â€šected on their premature growth, to collect independent data for evaluation related to family communication that was identified as inï ¬â€šuencing their youth romantic and sexual activities. The study used open-ended questions and inspired each participant to share their standpoints. Fliers were posted in the city family planning clinics and on university campuses. † Recruitment ï ¬â€šiers noted that the goal of the study was to explore positive and negativeShow MoreRelatedThe Dangers Of Early Sexual Activities848 Words   |  4 PagesStates has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates, with the highest group beginning the Hispanic American community. To what degree are the parents involved in communicating to their teenage girls about sex, and are they providing the proper information to help protect their teenage daughters from pregnancies and STD’s? Academically this issue will continue to be exami ned, so that we can learn to help educate young teen students about the dangers of early sexual activities and how to help prevent teenRead MoreTeen Pregnancy : A Social Issue1371 Words   |  6 Pagesfinancially prepared to be parents at such a tender age. Through various research studies a plethora of determinants has pin pointed teens unprecedented pregnancies. One cause of this problem is the apparent indication of social separation or disadvantage. Within this issue you would find poverty, single parent households, educational disadvantages on the parents behalf, a lack family/parental support, and unemployment. A child’s educational performance, inappropriate sexual acts, and inferior apprehensionsRead MoreTeenage Pregnancy Is A Major Concern Today s Society1352 Words   |  6 PagesTeenage pregnancy is a major concern in today’s society; there are many factors in a teen’s life that can cause pregnancy. In addition, multiple challenges and hardships w ill come with teenage pregnancy not only for the female, but also for the male. Being a parent is very demanding and can be hard. The difficulties that come with an unplanned teenage pregnancy can have profound effects on their life. Their physical, mental, and emotional health will be affected by the sudden news that they willRead MoreThe Problem Of Teenage Pregnancy1720 Words   |  7 Pages Like Amy and Loeber (2009), when it comes to the ecological paradigm of teenage pregnancy, Corcoran, Franklin, and Bennett (2000) also believe one’s socioeconomic status is a huge factor that contributes to this problem. A person’s socioeconomic status a lot of times determines â€Å"education, expanded family size, single-parent household structure, and lessened resources in terms of employment and income.† These three authors claim that educational performance and goals â€Å"dictate the potential costsRead MoreThe Importance of Sexuality in the Development of Adolescents943 Words   |  4 Pagesof girls have reported to having sexual intercourse by the time their high school careers have ended. How does communication affect adolescent sexuality? A study conducted by Cornell University finds that if parents maintain a positive relationship after adolescent first sexual activity is discussed, it will reduce risks associated with sex. The authors studied changes in adolescents’ relationships with their parents before and after the adolescent’s ï ¬ rst sexual initiation. The study included 13Read MoreThe Importance Of Good Communication Between Parents And Children For Safe Sex Education Essay1111 Words   |  5 PagesLohan, M. Parents constructions of communication with their children about safer sex. Many writing and studies have been made about the importance of good communication between parents and children for safe sex education however few studies explain how specifically they should do. Most parents recognize willing to communicate with their children about sexuality but really only a minority speaks directly about contraceptive methods. SLO #2 Grossman, M.J., Frye, A., Charmaraman, L. Family homeworkRead MoreTeenage Pregnancies And Std Contraction1342 Words   |  6 Pagesranking in rates of teenage pregnancies and STD contraction. What is it about the US and its approach to sexual education that produces such numbers amongst its youth? The prevailing sexuality education system in the US is abstinence-only sex education programs. Abstinence-only-until-marriage education in schools is highly destructive to its students in multiple ways. Abstinence-only sexuality education does more harm to students than good, and is shown to have adverse effects on its students. TheRead MoreThe Effects Of Media On Teen Pregnancy1085 Words   |  5 Pagesaround 2006 and 2007 when the producers launched the first show 16 and pregnant. This lead to questioning if the hit TV show was affecting the young viewers sexual habits. Parents should enforce what their kids watch on TV, parents definitely have a say in what their underage kids can and can’t watch. There is evidence that raises concerns on sexual behavior. There are ways to reduce the bad impact media can provide for young viewers. We can increase the benefits media can provide to help prevent teenRead MoreShould Tennagers Be Allowed to Get Birth Control Without Parent Consent?1727 Words   |  7 PagesShould Teenagers Be Allowed to Get Birth Control without the Permission of Parents? KaTrina Bacon English 215 February 2, 2012 Dr.Sharonda Johnson Should Teenagers Be Allowed to Get Birth Control without the Permission of Parents? Of all the many controversies that have affected the United States in the past decades, birth control has been one of the more important topics. Some popular birth control methods are the female and male condoms, and the birth control pill. Even though both ofRead MoreCauses of Teen Pregnancy Essay1472 Words   |  6 Pagesworld’s purpose is not to down teen parents but to find out why the problem is continually occurring and what strategies can be taken to prevent it. There are a variety of reasons why early child-bearing is still on the rise but some of the main reasons are lack of parental guidance, the temptation to explore sexuality, living in poverty, and not realizing the effects a child will have on their life. All teenagers will have the desire to want to indulge in sexual behavior, but they need to have self-control

Monday, December 16, 2019

Analysis of the Digital Audio Player Industry Free Essays

Digital technology is major breakthrough continues to grow in a fast pace. Several technology firms have explored on the potentials and opportunities of venturing to digital technology. Among digital innovations, digital music players are regarded as the most dynamic. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of the Digital Audio Player Industry or any similar topic only for you Order Now This observation is evident in the growth of these gadgets in terms of sales and production. The digital music industry has established its presence and is becoming an influential economic booster. In addition, the influx of digital music players in the market suggests the positive demand among music consumers. Moreover, the clients being served by digital music players have expanded. Aside from music enthusiasts, digital music players are being used by various segments of the market that includes students, schools, public institutions, and even commercial organizations. II. Issues and Concerns The features of digital music players are the main reasons why players have gained market recognition. Digital music players are portable and require less space. Flash disk players are handy and can be carried to any points. Hard disk players are simply inserted in computers. Consumers are freed from the usual hassles experienced when buying similar products. In addition, digital music players only require small batteries to function. Unlike other gadgets, these players can be played even in far-flung areas. Digital players also come in varied memory sizes. Users who prefer more songs in their players can acquire players with high memory. Aside from those functions, flash disk players can be used to save documents and other important files. Although digital music players are created out of advance technologies, these gadgets are still considered as cheap. Digital music players cost less and are maintained easily. Before, music lovers prefer collecting compact discs of their favorite songs. The existence of digital music players eliminates the idea of stacking the discs in shelves. Instead, music enthusiasts can just collect their chosen music and store in the player. It saves space and reduces the financial burden of users. Moreover, consumers can simply collect more songs through the players without buying more discs. Some digital player makers offer free songs through their websites. Digital music players are one of the most hyped gadgets in the market. Every digital music player maker ensures that their products are well exposed in various target points. These companies have enough resources to fully advertise their new products. The most common form of promotion is through television and print. These makers see to it that their digital music players are well covered by media outlets. Another method of advertising the players is through the Internet. Product websites have been created by these makers to provide information and after sales support. Among the music gadgets available in the market, digital music players have a reputation of adding personal touch. Other music gadgets only include limited songs. But the songs in digital music players are preferred by the users. This is an important aspect that has driven digital music players to success. The players are user-friendly and consider the choice of the users. Digital music players are more than just gadgets but are also personal preference. Despite recent success, the digital music player industry has pressing concerns that are needed to be resolved. The most evident issue in the industry is the emergence of knock-offs. Some individuals and groups are destroying the credibility of digital music player makers by producing their own fake versions. Piracy is a major concern that has affected the industry for years. These fake versions are sold cheap in the market. Consumers who lack the knowledge on authentic digital music players end up buying knock-offs. As a result, users of fake players experience malfunctioning of gadgets. Competition is a positive aspect of the industry. The definition of competition changes when an alternative music player comes into the picture. As digital music players were emerging, there were few who warned the makers about Apple’s version. After the iPod was launched, digital music player makers noticed the decreasing market share of their products. The presence of the iPod is an obstacle in the industry. The Apple gadget has successfully replaced digital music players as the primary music gadget. There are worse news for digital music player makers as the iPod continue to improve its features. III. Recommendations The strategies of digital music player markets have to evolve on product development, marketing and piracy. Manufacturers have to improve the research base to determine possible changes in their current players. The development has to embrace the movements in technology and consider the preference of the users. Continuous monitoring of competitor performance is also important. This will allow makers to develop better players. In marketing digital music players, manufacturers have to define their targets. Despite iPod’s ascendance, it is still dubbed as expensive. This means that a great portion of the market can only afford other music players. Makers have to focus more on the lower earning bracket of the market. Because these consumers have no resources to purchase an iPod, then a digital music player is the best alternative. The marketing initiatives of digital music makers have to emphasize on the gadget’s reputation as a low cost option. It is important for digital music player manufacturers to fight piracy. The most effective way to limit its effects is to a rigorous information campaign. The digital music player makers have to ensure that consumers are aware of the original players and knock-offs. Government policies will also help the industry in solving piracy. Laws on intellectual property rights and prosecution of violators are possible steps for the government. Finally, the continuous public support for authentic digital music players have to be sustained. Conclusion It is undeniable that the digital music industry will remain upbeat. Users keep on growing and product development is a priority among makers. Digital music players are also being exposed to other markets. But there are concerns that have to be resolved. The iPod is still the main competitors of the industry. Piracy persists and damages the reputation of digital music player makers. The way to overcome these adversities requires the participation of the industry and its stakeholders. The possible courses of action involve aggressive information drives, accurate market targeting, and legislations to challenge piracy. References Harvard Law School, (2000), Digital Music: Problems and Possibilities, Date accessed: 10 November 2007, from: http://www.law.harvard.edu/ MP3 Players, the Basics and History, Date accessed: 10 November 2007, from: http://www.mp3playerlimelight.com/ USA Today, (2005), Firestorm rages over lockdown on digital music. Date accessed: 10 November 2007, from: http://www.usatoday.com How to cite Analysis of the Digital Audio Player Industry, Essay examples

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Net Neutrality Essay Example For Students

Net Neutrality Essay INTRODUCTION The emergence of the Internet and the World Wide Web brought upon a medium of communication with a range of opportunities for the world. However, this medium is, in due course, subject to the control of a few major companies. The enigma of information flow is the central concern of net neutrality. Consumers, competition and network owners would benefit directly from the regulation of network neutrality because it would provide a positive impact to those parties as well as provide equality. CONSUMERS The Internet came to be because of the user. Without the user, there is no World Wide Web. It is a set of links and words all created by a group of users, a forum or a community (Weinberger 96). The concept of net neutrality is the affirming concept behind the openness of the net (Vinton Cerf). Vinton Cerf stated, â€Å"The Internet was designed with no gatekeepers over new content or services. A lightweight but enforceable neutrality rule is needed to ensure that the Internet continues to thrive† (Vinton Cerf). Moreover, consumers would be protected under a monopolistic market due to network neutrality (Opposing Views). The Open Internet Coalition on Opposing Views.com state that in a perfect world there would be a variable amount of high-speed broadband competitors offering consumers plenty of choices. This would provide a market-based check on violations of Net Neutrality so consumers could pick a provider that respected the open concept. However, the world is imperfect and a mediator is needed to ensure networks remain open and the incentives to innovate and invest will continue to exist (Opposing Views). Lastly, there is an existence of fast and slow lanes without the implementation of network neutrality (Owen 7). This . .ng principles. It is an implementation of the Internet’s freedom. Moreover, net neutrality regulates service providers, not the internet. The regulation of network neutrality would propose a positive induction in the aspect of internet freedom (Weitzner 22). The main concept of regulation is the underlying basis of the net neutrality debate. It would provide a positive impact to all parties, if implemented. CONCLUSION Although the net neutrality debate didn’t come into the spot light so long ago, it has sparked controversy in the communications world. This concept provides a positive impact to the consumers, competition and network owners/internet service providers. It broadens the aspect of equality, which the open Internet was first based on. The profound effects on the aforementioned players provide a supported purpose to regulate the notion of net neutrality.