Free Trade as the Primary Force Driving Economic Development Essay

Free Trade as the Primary Force Driving Economic Development - Essay Example The theoretical literature available assumes certain conditions such as perfect employment which is not seen commonly in the real world. As a result, many of the theoretical assumptions come into conflict with empirical evidence. The theory may suggest that the reduction of barriers to trade can promote the welfare and economic progress, but evidence proves it otherwise. This paper presents the argument on the effects of free trade on the global economy and progress. The paper discusses the topic with supporting evidence from theories and empirical evidence. The tentative line of argumentation From a theoretical point of view: The characteristic rationale for the free trade originated in the 19th century when David Ricardo proposed the theory of comparative advantage. The theory of comparative advantage assumes that when a country exploits its factors of endowments and specializes in the production of certain goods, it can gain benefits from trading these goods. After Ricardo, a numb er of theorists built upon the theory and hence the Pure Theory of Trade came into limelight. Comparative advantage promoted that when countries are able to specialize, they can acquire a lower opportunity cost in the production of goods. The late 19th century saw the British increasing trade across the borders during the Great Famine in Ireland. It was then that the effects of free trade manifested itself with increasing income disparity. The uneven and disproportionate income distribution caused one million Irish to die of hunger and disease. Even Adam Smith, who is considered to be the father of free-market economics, contended that trade restrictions are incumbent in certain sectors like defense and navigation. The theory of comparative advantage does not provide the welfare benefits that it promises, particularly to developing countries. The theory necessitates perfect employment and if it is not present, as is the case usually, the country is worse off from trade liberalizatio n due to a large number of workers who are displaced (Costantini 1999). From an empirical point of view: One way of analyzing the effects of free trade on progress and economic development is through the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Agreement created a watershed in the global trade policy, primarily because of the widespread level of free trade that it created (Kose, Meredith, Towe & International Monetary Fund 2004). The postulations of the Agreement have been a contentious subject. The proponents of NAFTA contend that it has caused the Canada, Mexico and the US to increase employment, whereas the opponents argued that it would cause a loss of jobs in the US with workers moving towards Canada and Mexico. In one of the popular negotiation rounds of the Agreement, the Presidential Candidate H Ross Perot claimed that the reduction of trade barriers would cause the colossal sucking of jobs in the US to Mexico. Over the past 15 years, economists have developed contradicting opinions regarding the profitability of NAFTA to the signatories. Many economists contend that NAFTA has had a meager influence on the US economy (Brezina 2011). However, the opponents of NAFTA argue that the economy of the country is at the receiving end of the trade policies; this relationship has not proved to be beneficial. The NAFTA has created a disproportionate economic balance, with the investors gaining more from the Agreement as compared to advantages the workers and environment  derived.

Chinas One Child Policy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Chinas One Child Policy - Research Paper Example   Additionally, China's compulsory one-child population law was implemented in 1980. The same law punishes parents for having more than one child. The scientists from the Ministry of Aeronautics and Astronautics Department initially proposed the China's 1980 compulsory one-child population policy. The scientists capitalized on their missile construction concepts to prove their claim that China's compulsory one-child population policy will greatly benefit the residents. The family having less than two children have fewer rearing responsibilities. The parents have fewer growing up expenses to make in terms of the children’s educational needs. Scientific experiments are based on limited evidences. The scientists base their findings on the gathered evidences during the research. The Song Jian group of scientist incorporated their missile technology expertise to come up with China's compulsory one-child population policy. The Deng Xiaoping China government leaders were convinced by the scientific research findings of Song Jian’s group.China's compulsory one-child population policy was crafted based on some missile scientists’ many years of population-based findings. The findings were based on their 1960s and 1970s researches. The current China government under President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao prioritizes human rights and the value of people in enhancing the currently favorable China economy Human rights includes the right to have a second child (Chen 403).   The current China government encourages the grassroots level people to vigorously contribute to the nation’s current favorable global economic environment. The policy change was expected. The government leaders during the 1950s, 1960s were most soldiers. During Deng Xiaping’s 1980s, Chairman Deng Xiaoping persuaded China’s engineers to help in the political management of China’s growing population. Starting in 1990, the government leaders were compos ed of economics and public administration graduates. The graduates were managing China’s control of the normal Chinese citizen’s lives (Chen 403).China’s one child policy created a gender imbalance in China (Li, Hongbin, Zhang, Junsen, Yi, Junjian 1535). The one-child China population policy generated a population situation where there were 104 boys more for every 100 girls during the 1980s. The research further indicated that there were 107 boys for every 100 girls during the 1991 to 2005 era. The primary data came from China’s official statistics-based department, the China Health and Nutrition Survey. China Chairman Deng Xiaoping’s new one child policy focused on reducing the population in order because of the scarce food and other natural resources (Wong 1161). During Deng’s 1980 leadership, several China quarters opposed the one-child policy starting in 1980. The policy drastically curved the uncontrollably ballooning Chinese population . Abortions, effects of China's compulsory one-child Population Policy China's compulsory one-child population policy was implemented through forced abortions (Mosher 1558). The pregnant women were forced to abort their prohibited unborn children. The government forced the helpless women to abort their child during different stages of the mother’s pregnancy. Many women had no other recourse but to comply with the

The Ideal Classroom and School Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

The Ideal Classroom and School - Assignment Example This essay describes the role of education and how it can be assisted by the ideal classroom and school, ultimately concluding that such concepts are tied into present culture and needs and so should remain flexible. Ultimately, the construction of any ideal is dependent upon perspective and the ability to meet the needs of one's learners. It is therefore imperative that ideals are not copied from one place to another, but that each educator seeks their own answers. Many of the more pragmatic suggestions for creating an ideal classroom in research literature relate to secondary education, but interestingly the two projects currently attempting to construct an ideal classroom are focussing on the primary age range. With the practicalities of constructing an ideal classroom at an early stage in academic literature, a more philosophical approach is taken in this essay. From this perspective, practical ideas are discussed in terms of why they are thought to be ideal. As the notion of an ideal classroom is as much a theoretical as a practical concern, I do not judge the existing literature to be lacking as empirical research into an ideal classroom would be heavily dependent upon its culture and context, arguably suffering from a lack of generalisability from its very nature. The broader role of education discussed by Wragg in Moon et al. ... The broader role of education discussed by Wragg in Moon et al. (2002) includes flexibility, that the aim is simply to meet students' needs. While this slightly dodges a question by posing another question (e.g. who determines and limits the needs), the intent suggests that the concept of 'ideal' has to be a fluid one. An ideal classroom now may not be one in 20 years, nor is the ideal classroom for a London school necessarily ideal for a similar school in Hull. The concept of an ideal classroom and school may be culture bound as much as it is resource driven, so it is necessarily to strictly define for what purpose the classroom is 'ideal'. As with Moon et al. (ibid), this poses the question "ideal for what" To argue that education has changed so little over millennia suggests comparison to another field where little has changed, namely philosophy. Philosophy has value to society for its questions rather than its answers, and I would argue that education is very much the same. It is so much a part of our human and social condition that each generation must ask itself the same questions even if the answers are only temporary. If philosophy is the question of who we are, education represents who we want to be. In the thousands of years of human education, classrooms and schools are a relatively recent innovation. They arguably account for a small proportion of what is learnt through a lifetime, for example Moon argues that the challenge for formal teaching is how to transpose the extraordinary human capacity for learning, particularly in the young, to those artificial worlds we have created in schools and classrooms. (Moon et al., 2002 p.3) McIntyre illustrates this point by stressing that the "concept of teaching has no

#6 Dew Point Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

#6 Dew Point - Essay Example The dew point is a recommended indicator of the actual water vapor content of the air because variations in atmospheric pressure at the earth’s surface are quite minimal. Dew point is measured by an instrument called a Dew Point Meter. These instruments have a polished metal mirror which is cooled as air passes over it (Hens 2007). Essentially, the dew point is determined by finding out the temperature at which dew forms. These manual devices may also be used to standardize other types of instruments that measure humidity. Moreover, automatic sensors may be utilized in a control loop where a humidifier or a dehumidifier is used to manage the dew point of the air in a building or in smaller spaces used for manufacturing processes (Hens, 2007). A high dew point indicates that the air has high water vapor content while a low dew point indicates that the air has low water vapor content. When the air has high water vapor content and, correspondingly, a high dew point, it is said that the air is humid and people are most likely uncomfortable with such situations. This is because a person’s body is designed to use the evaporation of sweat to cool itself down during warm temperatures. However, evaporation largely depends on how much moisture the air already contains and how much more it can hold (Sills 2010). Thus, if the air is already saturated, a person’s sweat will no longer evaporate and so that person ends up sweating profusely. At certain cases where dew point is quite elevated, people suffering from respiratory ailments like asthma may even be in grave danger. The dew point is considered to be an important indicator of the atmosphere’s condition. It affects the living conditions of humans and animals alike and thus, it must be monitored closely using accurate instruments in order to provide necessary and appropriate advice to those who might need