Amazon Kindle And Its Innovativeness Free Essay Example, 1750 words

Amazon Kindle The following parts of the paper will focus on the product innovation strategies and programmes behind the development of Amazon Kindle. The Amazon Kindle is an e-book reader designed by the multinational electronic commerce company Amazon. com. This device enables users to browse, read, and download digital books, magazines, and newspapers on wireless connectivity (Amazon. co. uk). An E Ink electronic paper display is used in this hardware device and this feature minimises the power usage to a large extent. This innovation has greatly assisted the Amazon. com to stimulate its business activities by offering improved shopping facilities to users. The company’s reports show that different user friendly features of this device have attracted a large number of new customers to Amazon. com Amazon Kindle: A Substantial Innovation Evidently, this product development process comes under substantial innovation. Substantial innovation assists a firm to bring dramatic changes in its business performance by exploring potential business opportunities that are likely to lead the industry with a competitive advantage over rivals. As experts point out, â€Å"substantial innovations are mid-level in significance both to customers who benefit from them and to the sponsoring company that believes they will significantly help the firm grow and create new wealth† (Tucker, 2008). We will write a custom essay sample on Amazon Kindle And Its Innovativeness or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Although this type of innovation does not fall under the category of breakthroughs, it enables organisations to meet or exceed its goals for growing business, increasing market share, and lowering cost of operations. Under this type, substantial improvements in a firm’s existing product lines or services greatly aid the firm to achieve customer loyalty. It is expected that there would a considerable increase in the sales revenues of Amazon. com with the introduction of this new e-book reader. In the view of Epps (as cited in Shaer, 2011), the Amazon. com would sell between 3 and 5 million Amazon Kindle Fire (a version of Kindle) units before the end of 2011. Many other marketing experts strongly support this opinion by pointing to the fact that this device possesses a variety of competitive advantages over its competitive substitutes. It is widely expected that the newly designed hardware device would raise challenges to iPad, a tablet comput er of Apple Inc, because the Fire is about half the size of the iPad and it is sold at less than half the price of the iPad. The Amazon. com charges a price of $199 for the Kindle Fire whereas the cheapest iPad is sold for $499 (Yahoo Finance, 2011).

Blood Pressure Regulation - 1269 Words

Blood pressure regulation and changes occurring after increase in blood pressure Each time the heart pumps, it sends blood all over the body to supply organs and tissues with oxygen and nutrients. The strength of the force created as the heart pumps blood into the vessels together with the vessels’ resistance to the blood flow is defined as the body’s blood pressure (Darovic, 2002). A normal range blood pressure (BP) must be between 100-130mmHg systolic (when the heart is beating) and 60-90mmHg diastolic pressure (between heart beats) (Sherwood, 1997). Many factors can change blood pressure, including exercise and diet. The regulation of BP within the body is tightly maintained by nerves, hormones and renal control in relation to three†¦show more content†¦These signal messengers will rapidly communicate with the autonomic neural system, in order to decrease sympathetic influence on the heart and blood vessels and increase parasympathetic activity, so that mean arterial blood pressure returns to its normal. By releasing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (Ach), parasympathetic nerves will decrease the frequency of the action potentials of the sinoatrial (SA) and the atrioventricular (AV) nodes, found in the heart. This mechanism will decrease cardiac output by reducing the number of heart beats and the organ’s force of contractions (Milnor, 1990). Parasympathetic activity will also expand vessels, decreasing their resistance to blood flow and therefore decreasing total peripheral resistance. As veins get wider, they will retain blood causing a reduction in venous return to the heart. Decreased amount of blood in the ventricles at the end of diastole (period between contractions of the heart) will consequently decrease cardiac output and blood pressure (Constanzo, 2012). Electrolytes such as sodium and chloride are essential as they help to maintain body’s water balance. However, excessive dietary intake of salt increases the amount of water retained by the body and as a result increases blood volume (Thomas and Bishop, 2007). When the heart senses the rise in blood volume, atrial and brain-type natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) are synthesized and released. TheShow MoreRelatedBlood Pressure Regulation By Christopher B. Evans2294 Words   |  10 PagesBlood Pressure Regulation Christopher B. Evans AHPH-545, Salisbury University Introduction Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels and usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. Blood pressure is routinely regulated in order to direct appropriate amounts of nutrients and oxygen to specific tissue types. For example, when exercise requires additional supplies of oxygen to skeletal muscles, blood flowRead MoreMedical Case Study1511 Words   |  7 Pagespresented in the ED with a history of chronic alcoholism, diabetes mellitis type 2, aortic valve stenosis and shortness of breath. He states that he cannot catch his breath and has constant burning chest discomfort for one week without substernal chest pressure. He reports coughing with production of sputum and denies having these symptoms before. He does drink alcohol (including today) and admitted to drug use (marijuana). He developed worsening respiratory distress in the ED and was placed on a BipapRead MoreThe Physiological Effects of Ren ovascular Hypertension (Renal Hypertension) on the Body1673 Words   |  7 Pageshypertension, is a condition in which chronically elevated high blood pressure is caused by a narrowing of the renal arteries. The renal arteries are the arteries that bring blood to the kidneys (9). This blood is processed by which the kidneys filter the blood, removing some substances and sometimes adding others. The kidneys also have several functions, which can be negatively affected by renovascular hypertension. One function is the regulation of water and ion balances within the body. In order to doRead MoreCase Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus1323 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Diabetes mellitus is a chronic health condition associated with high concentrations of glucose in the blood and urine. The effective function of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems is essential in the control, communication and movement of the body. Cindy Openshaw’s case of Type 2 diabetes mellitus poses a negative influence of the successful function nervous and musculoskeletal systems. In regards to Cindy Openshaw, the functioning of her nervous and musculoskeletal systems willRead MoreAn Individual’S Health Is Dependent Not Only On The Behavioral1330 Words   |  6 Pagesimplementation of health interventions were smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.15 It is important to note, however, that while the Finnish people did display a high risk for CVD based on a few key risk factors, they did not exhibit other risk factors for the condition, such as inactivity or obesity.9 The aforementioned immediate risk factors prevalent within Finland were strongl y correlated to the lack of smoking regulations and influence from the powerful diary industry in the countryRead MoreChronic Elevated Systolic Blood Pressure And Risk For Development Of Coronary Heart Disease1469 Words   |  6 PagesBackground information Heart rate is defined as the number of contractions the heart carries out in one minute. Blood pressure has two measurements: systolic blood pressure, or the pressure exerted on the artery walls during cardiac systole, and diastolic blood pressure, or the pressure exerted on the artery walls during cardiac diastole (American Heart Association, 2014). Blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer in millimeters of mercury, or mmHg, whereas heart rate is measured using aRead MoreLiterature Review : High Blood Pressure1107 Words   |  5 PagesLiterature Review High blood pressure, also known as Hypertension (HTN), is the most predominant culprit to global morbidity and mortality. Its prevalence varies with age, race, lifestyle, family history, obesity, stress, environment and certain chronic conditions. Although there is a decrement cases noted over the last decades, the prevalence in children and older adults has significantly increased in both developed and developing countries, hence, constitute an alarming public health concernRead MoreTypes Of Hypertension And Secondary Hypertension1434 Words   |  6 PagesPathophysiology The amount of blood the heart pumps and the amount of resistance the arteries have to blood flow determines the blood pressure. High blood pressure results when the heart pumps more blood through narrowing arteries. There are many physiological mechanisms involved in maintaining a normal blood pressure, and the upset of any of these mechanisms may play a role in the development of hypertension (Beevers, Lip, O’Brien, 2001). Normal blood pressure for adults is a systolic readingRead MoreA Vasoplegic Syndrome Case997 Words   |  4 Pagesinvasive blood pressure and central venous pressure monitoring. Patient had an uneventful intraoperative course till about 3hrs into the intraoperative period when a gradual fall in blood pressure to 60/40 mmHg was noted despite central venous pressure being maintained between 10-14cmH2O and only about 300ml of operative blood loss. The reduction in systolic pressure did not respond to crystalloid fluid boluses. Hence a decision was made to start dopamine and noradrenaline. Blood pressure did notRead MoreSymptoms And Treatment Of Hypertension1599 Words   |  7 Pagesbody alike. Hypertension occurs when an individual has abnormally and excessively high blood pressure, in which stress is highly related to. High blood pressure can be perilous because it makes the heart work even harder in order to pump blood into your body, which ultimately leads to heart failure or other illnesses such as kidney disease and strokes. Approximately 29% of Americans suffer from high blood pressure; alluding to one in three adults having hypertension. A possible explanation as to why

Views on Curtural Globalization - 1040 Words

In the past, it was really hard to spread a culture one country to around the world. However, nowadays, we enjoy music, food, movies, and practice other religions from different cultures around the globe. This is all due to cultural globalization. Cultural globalization is spread of ideas and values via Internet, popular culture, international travel, and immigration. Immigrations are one of the best methods to spread a culture because the immigrants can practice their culture everyday and share with the natives. Unfortunately, however, there are three contending views of cultural globalization and I decided to examine the views in London and in Strasbourg. The first view is that the racism always follows the immigrants. In London,†¦show more content†¦Western argues, â€Å"their parents, perhaps projecting their own anxieties, sometimes verbalize concern about their British-born children’s alleged lack of belonging† (Western, 262, 1992). However, for the secon d generations, it is a different story. Their home is where they are born and raised, England. Western states, â€Å"When I’m in Barbados, I say to one of my friends, I’m going back home tomorrow. I don’t say I’m going back to England. No, I’m going back home, because I live here. I’ve spend more of my years outside it [Barbados]† (Western 259, 1992). The immigrants from North Africa in Strasbourg have similar concerns regarding their â€Å"home†. They consider their home to be Strasbourg whether they are first generation or second generation. The first generation had stayed in Strasbourg too long. Their children and grandchildren were born in Strasburg and because they stayed in Strasbourg, they don’t have any friends back in their homeland (Western, 199, 2012). From these there views, the racism is best interpretation of experiences of immigrations of newcomers in both London and Strasbourg. In London the immigrants ex perienced racial discrimination against them. For example, in London, drunken white passenger in a bus harassed a black man and when the police came, the police mistreated the black man by saying, â€Å"get down the fucking stairs† and never gave an apology (Western, 221, 1992). However, the racism in London is lessened according

Freedom Writers Reflective Free Essays

Freedom Writers Reflection The movie â€Å"Freedom Writers† has many differences and similarities between various cultures. In Mrs. G’s classroom there are several mixed cultures and gangs in the class. We will write a custom essay sample on Freedom Writers Reflective or any similar topic only for you Order Now Each of the cultures sit with what is their culture and gang. None of the cultures communicate with each other but only talk about one another and how much they hate each culture that is not their own. Each individual in the classroom has to deal with his or her own problems outside of school and home. For example Ava has to deal with a shooting that happened at a gas station with her father. She knows that her dad and his gang did it but the cops think that another black man in the gas station did it. She has to go on trial and tell her story of what she saw. In the end she tells on her father and she almost dies because what she did was disrespectful to her and her fathers gang. Even though the gangs and cultures don’t see eye to eye in the movie they all have things in common. They are all in gangs, each have their own stories to tell, each deal with the shooting of others and their friends, each want to communicate to others, and each want to be respected. Not a single person believes in these students except Mrs. G and Ms. Gies. When the students get to meet Ms. Gies they each get to listen to her story and each of theme realize that they can communicate and get along with other cultures no matter skin color, gang member, or even past history. Each student wants to share this with other students and other cultures and Ms. Gies can see this and she knows that the students will eventually tell their story and reach out to others. That these students are heroes willing to step out of the comfort zone and go beyond others. That is why they are heroes in her eyes. On the other hand there is the department of chair and honors teacher whom doesn’t believe in these students. They don’t understand the different culture and gangs. They only believe in their culture. They think that each culture is the same and that is that each student is dumb and will end up dropping out of high school or be dead. They don’t think that these students are worth anything. The main person that does believe in theses students are Ms. G. she takes the time to understand each and every student’s culture and personalities. She doesn’t think that her culture is any better than any other culture. She believes in these students and pushes them to do their very best. She knows that they are smart and can do better than what others think. She teaches the students about the holocaust because it is similar to their real lives that they are living now. Each culture wants to take over the other and become the best. It is genocide to them. She gives them a book to read that is not their level but just because she knows that they are interested in learning about this past history and how it relates to them they read it and understand it. Ms. G is an amazing teacher because she helped to change the student’s lives around. She saw the spark that they each had and she pushed them to reach out and speak out to other students and other cultures. She never gave up on the students but only believed in them. She helped get all their academic grades up, and most of all got the different cultures to communicate. She helped them to set the example for the future. This movie relates to real life. In the work field you will be working with many people from many different cultures. You cant be biased of any person cultures or not communicate with different cultures. Get to know the other person culture you may be surprised how much you have in common with that person and their culture. How to cite Freedom Writers Reflective, Papers

Ethical Staff Practices for Australian Hotel Industry

Question: Write about theEthical Staff Practices for Australian Hotel Industry. Answer: Introduction The hotel industry in Australia is one of the most competitive sectors of the economy. The country is associated with over 10,000 hotels in different categories. The sector, therefore, employs thousands of workers directly while others access jobs indirectly through the extended supply chain framework (AHA, 2010). The highest source of revenue for most of the hotels is the sales from liquor, which accounts for over 50% of the generated profits. On the other hand, hotels with gambling units enjoy over 30% income from the different activities associated with the established facilities (AHA, 2010). Moreover, the total expenditure of hotels in the Australian economy averages to $515.6 million annually, which explains why the sector is a major contributor to the GDP of the country. The level of competition emanating from the local and global trends and the changing customer expectations has generated the need for an advanced approach to hotel management, which span through strategic plann ing and development, client services, and sustainable human resource management (Nankervis, 1990). Moreover, the industry is subjected to regulations that govern the operability of the corporate affairs such as the interrelation with the customers, the suppliers, the shareholders, the states, and the employees. The existence of the regulations ensures that the operations of the hotels are within the local and international quality requirements (AHA, 2010). Such tendencies are mandatory for all investors in the sector irrespective of the scale of exploitation. One of the key concern in the sector is the contribution of employees to the level of success needed to generate growth and high revenue. Therefore, the big concern in the industry is an approach to human resource management that can encourage employee motivation and commitment to transform the performance outcome (Baum et al., 2016a). This paper presents a critical literature review regarding the level to which the hotel sector in Australia is practicing ethical staffing requirements. The paper looks at four key research pub lication regarding ethical staffing practices in the hotel industry in the country, where the discussion is based on the following two hypotheses. H1: A fair treatment of all employees occur within the five-star hotels in Australia. H2: Unethical and illegal practices of employing students prevail in Australian hotel industry. Ethical Staffing Practice in Hotel Industry The operations of hotels in Australia and other countries are governed by the enacted code of ethics relevant to the industry. One of the key guideline adopted among the developed economies is the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and Hospitality Sector among the European countries. In Australia, the hotel sector is required to adhere to policies that guarantee effectiveness and ethics based on the interaction with the stakeholders. The Australian hotel investors are therefore required to ensure that the customer satisfaction is effective through efficient service and safety operations, employees are satisfied through the safe working environment, and that the suppliers and shareholders are contented through sustainable engagements. Worth pointing out is that the relationship between the management and the employees in the hotel sector in the country are bound to requirements such as privacy, confidentiality, employee rights and privileges, safety and health, and fair compensation. The Australian Hotels Association has been instrumental in assisting the investors to adhere to the set standards and measures as described in the National Policy Industrial Relation codes. The organization plays a critical role in policy implementation in the country. Therefore, AHA plays a crucial role in developing, encouraging, and ensuring fair workplace relations that do not exploit employees (AHA, 2015). Moreover, the association protects the needs and interests of investors in the sector against unhealthy regulations. Scholarly Review Baum and the colleagues from major European countries (2016) carried out a thematic analysis of the correlation between sustainability needs based on the United Nations targets and the tourism and hospitality workforce. The scholars evaluated how the need for sustainable workforce and human resource practices in the hotel sector in the main countries such as Korea, China, Scotland, Australia, Malaysia, and New Zealand has been a dimension of the economy that has been neglected over the years (Baum et al., 2016). The researchers pointed out how the hotel sector employees are vulnerable to human resource malpractices. Worth revisiting is that the employees in the hotel sector across the globe have been facing staffing challenges such as the poor working environment, lack of concern for gender and minority groups, overdependence on seasonal jobs, lack of established career structure, escalated labor turnover, and low work status (Wood, 1997; Lucas and Deery, 2004; Baum, 2007; Baum, 2015; Kusluvan et al., 2010; Baum et al., 2016b). The factors identified in the research had also been documented in other analysis specific to different countries. The level of implementation of the intervention mechanisms to guarantee sustainable human resource practice in the hotel sector has been contrary to the increasing challenges as noted in Australia and Scotland (Solnet et al., 2014). Moreover, Nankervis (1993) examined the factors that are critical in enhancing the level of productivity in the Australian hotel sector. The study looked at the role of human resource management in improving the output of the industry. The research revealed that several factors have contributed to the inability of the sector to enhance the performance of the economy. Some of the identified shortcomings were market instability, oversupply accommodation, and human resource practices that limited employee productivity. Other factors such as gender imbalance and poor working environment also featured as elements of a degrading human resource management approach (Nankervis, 1993). On the other hand, Poulston (2008) reviewed the working conditions of an employee in the hospitality sector. The study was based on the views of employees regarding their dissatisfaction levels. The evaluation process included the exploration of the hotel workplaces with the objective of determining the unfair practices, unethical activities, and illegal dealing and process that jeopardize the working environment. The study revealed how most hotels did not prioritize the hygiene factor for employee safety and health. The scholar also showed, based on qualitative analysis, how motivational interventions have little influence on performance and commitment of employees whenever their health and safety are at risk (Poulston, 2008). Furthermore, Paulston (2010) also examined the implication of ethics in commercial hospitality based on the contribution and responsibility of the hotel managers in ensuring ethical standards. The research included the evaluation of the ethical problems associated with the hotel sector in the country. The study identified poor pay, unsafe working environment, sexual abuse among female staff, neglect, and lack of motivation as part of the unethical human resource practices that are overlooked in the hospitality sector across major economies such as Australia, New Zealand, Korea, and China (Paulston, 2010). The study concluded that the managers are aware of the unethical practices but are reluctant to take corrective measures. Critical Review and Emerging Trends The above studies have provided analytical details regarding the level of ethical practices in the hospitality sector. The studies have shown how the human resource approach in the hotel industry has been associated with several unethical practices. The working environment has been characterized by poor measures to encourage employee productivity. However, the level of implementation of the ethical practices differs based on the scale of operation of the hotels. Depending on the nature of the hotel sector in Australia, organizations can be classified into small scale and large scale enterprises. Most of the organizations operating on limited capital and market coverage find it a challenge to adhere to staffing ethics because of the cost of operation. Such tendencies encourage the increase in unethical behaviors. Moreover, in line with the qualitative analysis of the scholarly publications, business operating on high capital of investment such as the five-star hotels have the capacity to incorporate modern employee management practices that improve the working environment and the rate of turnover relevant to the targeted output. On the other hand, the existence of ethical malpractice in the sector can be linked to the nature of recruitment and retention associated with the organizations approach to human resource management. The research evaluation pointed the high number of female employees. The rate of discrimination and harassment is, therefore, a common phenomenon. Moreover, some of the organization have resorted to employing students through the work-study programs. The part-time employment of college students has encouraged the development of unethical practices such as poor remuneration, limited employee development approaches, and abuse of workers rights and privileges. Furthermore, most firms have inclined towards the hiring of semi-skilled workers based on the lower level of pay they will demand as opposed to trained professionals. The variability is seen for most small-scale hotels when compared to the five-star investments. Therefore, the possibility of unethical practices being advanced towards the uninformed workforce is high. Such tendencies are encouraged by the existence of poor sensitization programs within the working structure, which promote the prevalence of unethical staffing practices. There is a need for a comprehensive work structure to ensure that the employees are aware of their rights and privileges to understand their working environment and contribute towards safety, health, and development of workers and the organization. Furthermore, Paulstons studies in 2008 and 2010 pointed out the effect of human resource management approach. The conclusion of the survey showed that the administrators and managers have the tendency to neglect the implementation of corrective measures regardless of being aware of the unethical human resource practices. Factors such as the cost of implementation especially for small hotels as well as the perception of employees as a liability rather than an asset has encouraged such inclinations (Poulston, 2008; Poulston, 2010). However, the studies did not point to the negligence of the employees regarding the prevalence of unethical staffing practices in the hotel sector. The study only looked at the contribution of the manager in advancing the ethical malpractices. Employees may consider working in hostile environment whenever the option of leaving the job or raising the concerns regarding their experiences may jeopardize their job security. Such possibilities could also emanate from the lack of qualifications to seek alternative opportunities. Therefore, employees may choose to persevere the conditions, which is a situation the management can take advantage and neglect implementing transformational changes to improve working conditions. Such tendencies could explain the increasing hiring of college students and existence of part-time jobs in the sector as a measure to cut down the cost of operation. Conclusion In conclusion, the Australian hotel sector is one of the advanced hospitality industries in the world. The sector contributes to the economy development through employment and revenue generation. The existence of regulations regarding the framework of operation in the hotel sector is meant to ensure that the activities and the interaction between the business and the stakeholders are based on ethical standards. However, the Australian hospitality industry is associated with staffing malpractices that are against the employee-business guidelines. Although the five-star hotels and others operating on significant capital and serving extended size of the market have adhered to the required standards, some small hotels employ students and refer part-time employment as opposed to job security for the hired workers. Nevertheless, based on the reviewed studies, it is the responsibility of both the employees and the employer to ensure that the required working environment and productive relat ionships are established. The Australian Hotel Association has been keen in bridging the gap between the delivery of service and compliance with the set regulations and standards of human resource management. The organization ensures that the member hotels attain their profitability as well as achieve excellent employee satisfaction. References AHA, 2010. More than just a drink and flutter: An Overview of The Australian Hotels Industry April 2009. Available at: https://aha.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/PWC-Hotel-Industry-Report-20092.pdf AHA, 2015. Policy Statement Industrial Relations. Available at: https://aha.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/AHA-National-Policy-Industrial-Relations.pdf Baum, T., 2007. Human resources in tourism: Still waiting for change. Tour. Manag. Vol. 28, pp. 13831399. Baum, T., 2015. Human resources in tourism: Still waiting for change - A 2015 reprise. Tour. Manag. Vol. 50, pp. 204212. Baum, T., Cheung, C., Haiyan Kong. H., Kralj, A., and Mooney, S., 2016a. Sustainability and the Tourism and Hospitality Workforce: A Thematic Analysis. Sustainability, Vol. 8, p. 809. Available at: www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Baum, T., Kralj, A., Robinson, R., and Solnet, D., 2016b. Tourism workforce research: A review, taxonomy and agenda. Ann. Tour. Res. Vol. 60, pp. 122. Kusluvan, S., Kusluvan, Z., Ilhan, I., and Buyruk, L., 2010. The human dimension: A review of human resource management issues in the tourism and hospitality industry. Cornell Hosp. Quart. Vol. 51, pp. 171214. Lucas, R. and Deery, M., 2004. Significant developments and emerging issues in human resource management. Int. J. Hosp. Manag. Vol. 23, pp. 459472. Nankervis, A. R., 1990. Servants or Service: Perspectives of the Australian Hotel Industry,Working Paper No. 73, August, School of Business, University of Western Sydney: Sydney. Nankervis, A. R., 1993. Enhancing Productivity in the Australian Hotel Industry: The Role of Human Resource Management,Research and Practice in Human Resource Management, 1(1), 17-39. Poulston, J. M., 2008. Working conditions in hospitality: Employees views of the dissatisfactory hygiene factors. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality Tourism, Vol. 10, Iss. 1., pp. 23 43. Poulston, J. M., 2010. Ethics in commercial hospitality. Workshop working papers, Paper number 10292, CAUTHE. Available at: https://aut.researchgateway.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10292/1605/CAUTHE.03.pdf?sequence=6 Solnet, D., Nickson, D., Robinson, R., Kralj, A., and Baum, T., 2014. Discourse about workforce development in tourism - An analysis of public policy, planning, and implementation in Australia and Scotland: Hot air or making a difference? Tour. Anal. Vol. 19, pp. 609623. Wood, R., 1997. Working in Hotels and Catering, 2nd ed.; International Thomson: London, UK.

Overview of the Netherlands Economy

Introduction The Netherlands is one of the states forming the European Union. It is exhibiting economic growth and stability due to foreign trade. In the European Union, the Netherlands ranks 5th in economic status and development because it has stable industrial development, minimal inflation, low unemployment rates, considerable surplus in trade, and it plays a central role in transportation in Europe. The Netherlands has well established industries in petroleum refining, chemicals manufacturing, food processing, and electrical machinery.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Overview of the Netherlands’ Economy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These industries contribute significantly to economic growth and development in the country. Moreover, the Netherlands depends on agriculture as an economic activity that contributes significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP). According to Organization for Econom ic Corporation and Development (OEDC), mechanization in the agricultural sector enables the Netherlands to employ about 2.5 per cent of labor force and generates surplus products for exports (9). With the population of approximately 16 million, the Netherlands has the potential to sustain its economic growth amidst intermittent global economic crises. In a bid to enhance understanding of the Netherlands’ economy, this essay provides an overview in aspects such as GDP growth, inflation trends, unemployment rates, major industries, exports versus imports, and trading partners. GDP Growth Over the last few decades, the GDP of the Netherlands has been fluctuating in response to prevailing conditions of the world economy. The Netherlands is very sensitive to the world economy because it relies mainly on trade, which is subject to international factors of trading. In 1970s and 1980s, the Netherlands experienced economic crisis that slowed its GDP growth and caused economic stagnati on. In response to the economic crisis, the government put appropriate measures in place to reduce the impact of global economic crisis. â€Å"Emerging from deep recession and high unemployment in the early 1980s, the economy shifted to a pace of growth more rapid than that in neighboring economies, and posted a rise in employment close to that in the United States† (Bakker, Halikias, Martijn, and Watson 1936). The outstanding economic performance occurred due to policy reforms, which tighten public expenditure, enhance fiscal regulation, and control labor markets. Since 1988, the GDP of the Netherlands showed an average growth rate of 0.6 per cent, while peaking during 1996 to 2 percent. In the 21th century, the GDP growth rate stagnated at below 1.0 per cent and experienced growth rate of -2.2 per cent in March 2009. The negative growth rate of the GDP occurred due to global economic crisis of 2008, which shook the world markets tremendously. As the Netherlands relies on fo reign trade, global economic crises have considerable impact on its economy.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The European Commission posits, â€Å"In the second half of 2011, the Dutch economy experienced a sharp downturn, recording negative q-o-q growth of 0.4 per cent in the third quarter and 0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter† (31). The sharp decrease in the GDP growth rate in 2011 implies that the Netherlands is battling with impacts of recession on the economy. In 2012, the Netherlands’ economy still experienced negative GPD growth rate due to reduction in consumer confidence. Projections show that the GDP is going to increase gradually due to measures that the government has put in place to cushion itself from global economic crises. The government has carried out reforms in sectors such as labor markets, consumer markets, fiscal sector, agricultural sect or, tourism, and manufacturing industries to boost its GDP growth in the coming years. â€Å"The economy has benefited from globalization via stronger international trade and higher foreign direct investment† (OECD 8). Globalization compels companies to look for new markets while becoming innovative in production of new products. Additionally, regulation of fiscal markets has a significant impact in improving the stability of an economy against turbulent global economic dynamics, which experience periodic recessions. Therefore, projections show that the Netherlands GDP will grow gradually and by 2015, it should be having a growth rate of about 2 per cent, the way it peaked in 1996. Inflation The economy of the Netherlands has experienced marked inflations during the past decade. The trends of inflation have been in tandem with global inflation driven by the variation in oil prices. In 2001, the inflation rates increased to about 9 per cent and then decreased to about 3 per ce nt in 2008. Fluctuations in inflation rates have considerable impact in the economic growth and development because they affect the stability of an economy despite the fact that necessary fiscal measures are in place to check variation. Owing to the global economic crisis of 2008, the Netherlands continued to experience its impacts as reflected in the 2011 inflation. In response to the global economic crisis, â€Å"domestic demand slowed as business investments were scaled back and private consumption declined†¦inflation edged up under the influence of higher energy prices, reaching 2.5 per cent in early 2012† (OECD 9). Increase in oil prices causes considerable inflation because the Netherlands depends on petroleum products as a source of energy in transport and manufacturing industries. Projections indicate that inflation rates are going to decline and stabilize following reforms that the government has initiated. Regulation of consumer markets, enhancement of internat ional trade, and stabilization of oil prices are some of the reforms that will reduce and stabilize inflation rates at normal levels, which are in tandem with the European Union states.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Overview of the Netherlands’ Economy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The European Commission notes, â€Å"Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) inflation is expected to decline in 2011 to 2.0 per cent on average in 2012, mainly as a result of subdued domestic demand† (31). As the Netherlands is encroaching into world markets and gaining large market share, predictions show that inflation rates will decline and stabilize for many years, unless global economic crises shake the markets and cause destabilization again as experienced in 2008. Unemployment Economic stability that the Netherlands experienced in the past decades has enabled it to reduce the rate of unemployment. Across Europe, the Netherlands prides in having one of the lowest employment rates in the late 20th century. As Bakker, Halikias, Martijn, and Watson point out, â€Å"Emerging from deep recession and high unemployment in the early 1980s, the economy shifted to a pace of growth more rapid than in the neighboring economies, and posted a rise in employment close to that in the United States† (1936). Owing to economic growth that stabilized over a long period, the Netherlands has been in apposition to create more job opportunities, which lead to a significant decline in unemployment rates in the late 20th century. Currently, the Netherlands has the highest employment rates given that the economy is stable and is growing gradually in spite of economic challenges that threaten it growth. OECD notes, â€Å"The Dutch labor market has been one of the strongest in the OECD, characterized by low unemployment and high employment rates† (28). Moreover, the labor market shows participation rate of 75 per cent by female workers, thus making the Netherlands to rank 9th in the OECD in female participation in labor force. Projections indicate that the labor market will reap significant benefits in the global labor markets due to globalization factors that seem to favor the Netherlands. Major Industries Transportation and agricultural industries dominate the industrial sector of the Netherlands. In the transport industry, the country has an extensive system of transport on the sea and land. Rotterdam, the largest seaport in Europe, provides massive transport of goods in and out of Europe through the sea. Rotterdam is a gateway to the European continent given that a significant amount of goods both exports and imports pass through the seaport. It has the capacity to hold cargo of about 430 million tons per year, thus contributing to the development of trade and shipping industry.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, rail and road transport has developed to Rotterdam, which has opened Europe for entry and exit of goods. In transportation, â€Å"containers mainly go by road transport (57 per cent), followed by inland shipping (33 per cent), and rail transport (10 per cent), which indicates the Netherlands has elaborate transport network† (OECD 45). Thus, European countries depend on the Netherlands’ transport system in exporting and importing goods through Rotterdam. Agricultural industry is one of the largest industries in the Netherlands. The agricultural sector has a significant contribution to the GDP because it provides raw materials to the food processing industries, and consequently increases exports. Additionally, the petroleum industry has marked impact on the economic growth and development because it provides energy to industries and generates petroleum products for exports. Smidt and Wever assert that the petroleum industry has great significance to economic gr owth and development because it is under the influence of international fuel prices, which change intermittently in response to global market prices (21). Currently, the Netherlands is technically a hub of oil and natural gas, where energy industries across the world converge and transact their businesses. Exports and Imports The Netherlands has reaped considerable benefits from exports of goods in its major industries such as agriculture, petroleum refining, food industries, and transport industry. OECD notes, â€Å"The Dutch export market performance has been relatively good with an overall gain in the export market shares over the past decades, in contrast to the falling export market shares experienced in many other OECD countries† (14). The seaport of Rotterdam positions the Netherlands strategically in the world markets thus allowing it to export its goods and services conveniently. In the aspect of imports, the Netherlands benefits from cheap goods and services that em anate from developing countries, which have emerging economies. The Netherlands imports goods such as crude oil, natural gas, pharmaceutical products, chemicals, clothing, and machineries (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 1). Since the Netherlands has fewer imports than exports, its GDP has been growing gradually, except in times of economic crises caused by escalating oil prices. Therefore, economic growth and development hinges on the major export products that leading industries produce in the Netherlands. Trading Partners Major trading partners of the Netherlands are Belgium, the United States, China, Australia, France, and Japan. The major products that the Netherlands exports to these trading partners include machinery, petroleum products, processed foodstuffs, chemicals, and electronics. In contrast, the major goods that its partners trade in include clothing, crude petroleum, pharmaceutical products, machinery, and foodstuffs. In the multilateral relationships, the Ne therlands has made significant economic gains. Oosterbaan and Windt state that openness to international markets is a considerable factor that determines economic growth and development of a nation (31). In this view, many trading partners have enabled the Netherlands to improve its economy through international trade. Assessment of Economic Prospects Evidently, the Netherlands is exhibiting stable economic growth and development because the government has made significant economic reforms. The economic reforms aim at stabilizing labor markets, expanding international market share, regulating fiscal markets, and enhancing multilateral relationships. Moreover, the strategic location of the Netherlands in Europe enables it to link up with many countries, and thus it is a business hub in Europe. Since the Netherlands has elaborate transport system, it serves the entire Europe by connecting it to international markets. Specifically, the seaport of Rotterdam plays a central role in stimu lating economic growth in the Netherlands because it allows the passage of imported and exported goods. The development of international trade is majorly a consequence of Rotterdam because it accommodates about 430 tons of cargo annually. Conclusion The Netherlands has a relatively stable economy when compared to other European states as it ranks 5th in economic growth and development. Minimal inflation rates, low unemployment rates, high GDP growth rate, and stable industrial development characterize the economy of the Netherlands. The country has well established industries in agriculture, petroleum refining, chemicals manufacturing, food processing, and electrical machinery. The industries have enabled the country to generate high innovative products for exports, which have contributed to increased GDP, and consequently economic growth. Trading partners such as Germany, the United States, China, Japan, France, and Australia have enabled the country to enhance its international li nks, which are essential in trading. Overall, projections show that the economy of the Netherlands will continue to increase in the coming years due to economic reforms that the government has undertaken. Works Cited Bakker, Bas, Ioannis Halikias, Jan Martijn, and Maxwell Watson. The Netherlands:  Transforming a market economy, New York: International Monetary Fund, 1999. Print. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 2011, The Netherlands: Facts Sheet. PDF File. Web. European Commission 2012, Interim Forecast: Economic and Financial Affairs. PDF File. Web. OECD. OECD Economic Surveys: Netherlands 2012. London: OECD Publishing. 2012. Print. Oosterbaan, Maaike, and Nico Windt. The determinants of economic growth, New York: Springer, 2000. Print. Smidt, Marc, and Egbert Wever. An industrial geography of the Netherlands: An  International perspective, London: Taylor Francis, 1990. Print. This essay on Overview of the Netherlands’ Economy was written and submitted by user Legend Sanford to help you with your own studies. 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Best Essay Topics to Write Your Essay On

Best Essay Topics to Write Your Essay OnIf you have a wish list of topics to write your essay on, then you will likely want to go with the classic topics like 'the history of American soldiers,' 'the history of American women,' and the more contemporary topics like 'the housing market'hunger in America.' Those are the areas that seem to have a lot of intrigue attached to them and that is certainly a possibility when you put some thought into them.I would say that the best topic to write an essay on is the one that has a strong connection to your interests. Many people write essays just because they want to; but if you have something to say, why not just write it down and let yourself be creative? The problem is that a lot of people who start out with this technique end up with an essay that is not interesting.These essay topics that you choose should actually flow well together. This is why I recommend that you first put together a list of your interests and then begin your brainstor ming. Do not worry too much about making sure that your topic is diverse; after all, there is no point in writing an essay if it is just about you. You need to keep in mind that once you find your interest, you will want to let yourself be creative when creating your essay.The other thing to keep in mind when you are picking essay topics is that it may be difficult to find out what kinds of topics are popular. For example, you can look at newspapers or magazines to see what subjects are getting the most attention. A good way to narrow down your choices is to ask yourself what kinds of topics tend to get the most mentions online.These potential essay topics may not be familiar to you, but they are important for you to choose. You may have already read and heard many people talking about these topics, so you know that they are not necessarily boring. You might even have your own stories, experiences, or thoughts about the subject, so this could be a good starting point.Most importantl y, make sure that your essay topics do not contain information that is confidential. People who are writing papers for school often do not have very much time to really cover up the details of their lives. When you choose your essay topics, make sure that you cover all the necessary information that you need for the assignment.Also, make sure that you actually get your essay topics completed before you start the assignment. This is usually a sign that you are too busy to do the writing; this is another reason why you might not want to use your favorite topic.