Rethinking corporate governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rethinking corporate governance - Essay Example Jeswald (2002) defines corporate governance as the relationship existing amongst the management, Board of Directors, shareholders, and other stakeholders that revolves around exercising authority, direction, as well as control in an economy or organization. From the perception of Clark, WÃ ³jcik and Bauer (2005), it is true that there is need for economies and organizations to rethink on how to direct, control, and exercise authority in a bid to enhancing sanity within their environs. According to Veasey (2005), every stakeholder has a right to ensure corporate governance compliance within nations or organizations. Indeed, with current happenings in the business environment there is a need to rethink corporate governance. Whilst focusing on rethinking corporate governance various questions of concern arise. First, what as been the impact of ineffective corporate governance on economies and business organizations within the contemporary business environment? Second, what is the relationship between corporate governance and performance within business organizations and economies? Third, what practices result to ineffective corporate governance within the business contemporary? Fourth, what are the practices that organizations and nations should engage in with a view of enhancing effective and efficient corporate governance? Fifth, how will rethinking corporate governance influence the performance of business organizations and nations especially given the turbulences and dynamisms within current business environment? I propose to majorly dwell on the third questions. Identifying some of the practices that have caused ineffectiveness and inefficiency in corporate governance will be a foundation to understanding how individuals, institutions, organizations, and nations can rethink and restructure their corporate governance. In order to attain this, I will have to collect data on various nations and organizations that have failed in corporate

Antitrust Practices and Market Power Essay Example for Free

Antitrust Practices and Market Power Essay Apple was investigated, as well as several publishing companies for conspiring to keep e-book prices high. Amazon is the biggest retailer of e-books, and the publishing business has been thrown into chaos by the popularity of e-books. Publishing companies used the old publishing model of selling e-books like print books where the publisher sells the book to the retailer, like Amazon or Apple, at about half the price of the cover price and the retailer can sell the book at whatever price it chooses. (Chen Bosman, 2013) Apple entered into contracts with publishers that use an â€Å"agency model† to price e-books. This meant that publishers would set the price of e-books, and the retailer would get 30% of the sale price as profit. Apple also stipulated that publishers could not set a price lower than the price in Apple’s e-book store. (Chen Bosman, 2013) This action by Apple was investigated because the primary purpose of these contracts was to keep the e-book prices higher, and to reduce competition between booksellers. Amazon, the giant in the market, would not be able to compete on price, and e-books would cost consumers more. Identify some of the costs (pecuniary and nonpecuniary) associated with the antitrust behavior (firms having power in the market). Additionally, note the specific antitrust act (Sherman Act, Clayton Act, etc.) under which the violation was investigated. The pecuniary cost of the actions of Apple is that consumers will pay more money for books, and Apple, as well as other book sellers, will not have to compete on price with Amazon who dominates the market. This will cost Amazon, and booksellers and publishers may make more money at the expense of consumers. The non-pecuniary cost will be that books will not be as available at low prices to consumers who want them, but cannot afford the price. Price fixing is a violation of section 2 of the Clayton Act of 1914. This act prohibits price discrimination that is not based on cost differences that reduces competition. (McConnell, Brue, Flynn, 2012) Given your research and findings, are monopolies and oligopolies (firms demonstrating power) always bad for society? Be sure to provide real world examples of where this may be the case to strengthen your position. Provide at least one example of a case where having a monopoly or oligopoly may actually benefit the society. According to my research in this case, Amazon’s demonstration of oligopoly power is good for society because e-book prices are lower when Amazon tries to block other competitors from entering the e-book market, and more e-books are then available to the public. This is a good real-world example of the positive influence that an oligopoly can have for society, and an example of how regulation is needed, and anti-trust laws, when oligopolies use collusion to compete instead of letting the free-market operate. References Chen, B. X., Bosman, J. (2013, June 2). E-book antitrust trial of Apple to begin. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/ McConnell, C. R., Brue, S. L., Flynn, S. M. (2012). Economics (19th ed.). Retrieved from http://devry.vitalsource.com/#/books/0077587766/pages/50192724

Use of Symbols and Symbolism in The Great Gatsby Essay -- Great Gatsby

Symbolism plays an important role in any novel of literary merit. In his novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald uses symbols to portray events, feelings, personalities and time periods. Throughout the narrative, Fitzgerald uses strong contrasting symbols such as West Egg and East Egg. His superior use of other predominant symbols such as color and light are also evident throughout the novel. The story begins as the narrator, Nick Carraway, describes his arrival to West Egg. One can immediately spot "new-money Gatsby and no-money Nick on one side of the bay and old-money Buchanans on the other" (Tanner x). The superiority of East Egg to West Egg is instantly apparent and has much meaning. East Egg represents the high class, the dignified and the elite. The people who live in East Egg come from wealthy family lines. In opposition to this, West Egg represents the newly rich or those with almost no money at all. There is much arrogance and disdain between these two groups as can be noted on page 16 of the novel when Jordan Baker "remarks contemptuously" on the fact that Nick lives in West Egg. The symbolism of eggs can be further explained. During one of Gatsby's parties, Nick is offered an egg. He cracks it open and finds a beccafico, a delicacy, and a treasure. Tanner remarks on this striking parallel to the "New World". If one looks at America and what it has created, does one see a "disgusting, aborted, stunted and still-born thing, fit only to be thrown away? Or a treasure, something special (...) and marvelous and rare?" (x). The Eggs in the novel represent the two parts of America: one (East Egg), materialistic, superficial and self-indulgent and the other (West Egg), which is always awaiting the coming of someth... ...ott Fitzgerald's Criticism of America." Modern Critical Interpretations: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 11-27. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. England: Penguin, 1990. Tanner, Tony. "Introduction." The Great Gatsby. Author F. Scott Fitzgerald. England: Penguin, 1990. vii-lvi. Way, Brian. "The Great Gatsby." Modern Critical Interpretations: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. 87-108. Hack, Robert and Libby Stockstill. "Colour in The Great Gatsby." http://www.nmusd.k12.ca.us/cdmhs/gatsbycenter/roberthack&libbystockstill. November 29th 1997, 5:16pm. O'Brien, Meghan et al. "Colour Imagery in The Great Gatsby." http://www.nmusd.k12.ca.us/cdmhs/gatsbycenter/meghanobrien/gg.html. November 29th 1997, 5:23pm.

The Impact of Tourism on Benidorm

Map of Benidorm Before the tourist hype Benidorm was a small fishing village, with a relatively small population – whose main income was obtained through fishing the local coast, the Costa del Sol – but quickly became Spain's biggest holiday resort for people from foreign countries, and at its peak, it was attracting four million tourists each year.Benidorm in the 1960’s Between 1930 and 1970 it became one of the most visited tourist destinations. The fact that it’s in one of the most southern regions of Spain and is faces the sun is one of the many reasons so many people were drawn to Benidorm. Another reason it became so popular is the fact that it is only a 2-3 hour flight from most places in Europe and it’s cheap and affordable for most families. For the majority of the local people tourism is their income in one way or another, with 85% of income being from tourism. Benidorm is the most affluent area of Spain due to tourism. There is loads of work for the local people and most are flexible due to their nature. There is also a sense of globalisation as people get to get a taste of a different culture for example eating in foreign food restaurants. Overcrowding in Benidorm There is however some major negative impacts of tourism in Benidorm, for example it is overcrowded, the population has increased from 700,000 to 110,000,00. A lot of the negative impacts effect the local environment such as hardly any of the beach is natural and is constantly having to be replenished due to erosion mainly due to humans. There is also too much rubbish to deal with and roads are congestion due to too many cars and too little busses. Local people who aren’t that wealthy may also struggle to fins houses as house prices have increased due to the high demand for second homes, people are also reliant on tourism and there is a loss of independence. Over the last few years Benidorm has been trying to shake of the â€Å"lager lout† reputation it became to develop mainly due to amount of British tourist go there just to party and become disorderly. Tourism officials decided they did not want that label and wanted to make it more family friendly and are determined to shake the bad reputation they have developed due to the amount of drunken people. There are plans to build more 4-5 star hotels to regain the tourist they had started to lose due to their bad reputation

Horror Essay

Schlenz 1 Jarid Schlenz Professor Fahey English 1A 13 October 2011 Horror Movies Scare Us So Why Do We Watch Them? Scary, creepy, and downright disturbing images have existed in film, art, and literature as long as we have had the ability to invent them, perceive them and construct them. Not only have they simply existed, but they permeate these mediums: â€Å"horror has become a staple across contemporary art forms, popular and otherwise, spawning vampires, trolls, gremlins, zombies, werewolves, demonically possessed children, space monsters of all sizes, ghosts, and other unnameable concoctions† (Carroll, 51).Horror is easily accessible to appease a growing appetite for scary in society. But why? Why would we want to put ourselves through the terror and agony of sitting on the edge of our seats, heart racing, sweaty palms, eyes squinted? It is one of the most frightening experiences to be at the mercy of someone or something else, yet we do it constantly and voluntarily. One of the reasons why we may feel the need to watch this genre of movie is to simply gain the excitement of living on the edge. Another may include the curiosity of the unknown, the unexpected, and the unseen, all of which are elements that that make a good horror movie good.While at the same time there is a need to watch others feel helpless, act under pressure and deal with the. Even the appeal of seeing a new creature or monster brings people to watch horror movies. But the unifying pull lies in the ability of experiencing something new without losing control. Schlenz 2 One reason often used to explain the desire and need to watch horror movies stems from physical reactions. There is the appeal of the adrenaline rush, which gives horror movies the same draw as a roller coaster at a theme park.The difference, however, is that horror movies lack the real danger of things that normally give humans an adrenaline rush. Even a roller coaster, which simulates deathly falls and flying at i ncredible speeds, contains the real danger of death if it malfunctions. But the act of watching a movie contains no danger. Still, â€Å"when people watch horrific images, their heartbeat increases as much as 15 beats per minute†¦ their palms sweat, their skin temperature drops several degrees, their muscles tense, and their blood pressure spikes† (Sine, 2). The affects of the scenes people watch are there, without any of the actual danger.This allows people to experience the thrill, high energy, and, perhaps, new sensations of being out of control, without ever relinquishing control of their surroundings and lives. More than just physical reactions, though, horror equally appeals to and disturbs the mind. One of the primary appeals, mentally, about horror is the unknown. The unknown, unexpected, and unseen disturb our sense of safety and comfort and our ideas of how the world should work. They take away the rules we use to deal with reality and make the familiar become unfamiliar. In the unknown anything could happen and anything could emerge from the darkness.The unknown takes away control, but it also excites curiosity. Our imaginations are so quick to run away with what is being presented to us that we are left clinging to our seats in desperation. Everything known comes from the unknown so it has an endless power to keep our attention. With our attention captive, and our minds guessing, the unknown allows movies to employ shock. Our stomach plummets when the killer rises again after being smashed in the head, shot, and pushed down the stairs. Unnatural creatures and occurrences make us feel uncomfortable and Schlenz 3 confused.This is sometimes referred to as the â€Å"shock horror,† or the â€Å"employment of graphic, visceral shock to access the historical substrate of traumatic experience† (Lowenstein, 37). Shock horror intensifies the adrenaline and physical reactions to horror by engaging the mind as well. Many movies also c ombine shock horror with a sense of surrealism. The surrealist movement in art and film takes the familiar and adds a sense of distortion or unknown. Surrealism â€Å"might be better understood as a violent, embodied assault on the social structures propping up modernity,† (Lowenstein, 37).Again, people are drawn in by curiosity, captivated by the unknown aspect of surrealist images, and horrified by the results. When you watch a horror movie, most of the time you start to feel compassion for the victim and start to wonder how you would handle the situation and what you would do differently. It is hard to watch a horror movie and not get emotional as you start to ponder these questions and then feel sorry for the victim for having to go through the traumatic ordeal. A feeling of helplessness is usually portrayed to the audience and nothing could possibly feel worse than the inability to affect your own fate.In horror movies there is a complete lack of power on the victim†™s part, they are going to die, the question is when. We can relate to the anguish of helplessness as we all have felt helpless at times. The victims in horror movies are typically helpless because they are under so much pressure. With the slow build of tension becomes the increasing need to do something. When we see a character buckle under the pressure we feel some king of affection for them and when we see the characters rise under pressure you feel yourself urging them on.Pressure combined with urgency can push a character to accomplish great feats. When we begin to sympathize with the victims or characters the movie can become quite intense. With danger comes a heightened awareness that enhances all emotions, positive Schlenz 4 and negative, drawing attention to every detail. The threat of death often drives people to celebrate life, so we see romance running hand and hand with horror at times. Intensity of emotion and sensation drowns out common sense and this overloading of the senses can appeal to those used to living calmer lives.Horror movies have the ability to scare you half to death and after watching a horror movie one know that there is no way that they am going to sleep for at least another few hours. A horror movie works by engaging a basic defense mechanism; if there’s something out there to get you, you don’t let your guard down, and you certainly don’t shut off your brain for a few hours. You know that it was just a movie, but some part of your brain, perhaps the part that has the fight or flight reflex, keeps telling you that you are not going to sleep yet, it isn’t safe and that there is something strange in the corner of your room.You know that it is just your coat but you can’t seem to convince yourself, it wasn’t there last night, you don’t even remember putting it there. Eventually you get up and turn the lights on, confirm that it was just your coat and put it away in the closet. How ever, you are still not safe because now your brain has fixated on something else. Don’t be embarrassed to feel this way. No matter how scared someone gets when they watch horror movies they are still compelled to watch another one. One enjoys pushing their limits and finding out just what they can stomach is an intense adrenaline rush.Being scared is fun but only as long as they know that in a few hours it will all be over and they will come out alive and unharmed. Schlenz 5 Works Cited Lowenstein, Adam. Films without a Face: Shock Horror in the Cinema of Georges Franju. University of Texas Press, 1998. Carroll, Noel. â€Å"The Nature of Horror† The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism. Blackwell Publishing, 1987 Briefel, Aviva. â€Å"Monster Pains† Film Quarterly. University of California Press. Spring 2005 Sine, Richard. â€Å"Why We love Scary Movies. † October 8, 2011.