The Rood And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight - 933 Words

The Difference between Faith and Believing In The Dream of the Rood and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, both by anonymous writers, touch on Christian faith and believing in a higher power. These two literary text show how one’s beliefs can be tested when put in an unfortunate situation. In The Dream of the Rood, when the first speaker has the dream or vision it breaks down how Christian faith comes into play. The speaker looks at Christ differently, goes from wanting to be with more people, having friends again to giving his all to Christ. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, it is the same, Christianity wins over courtly values. When Gawain makes the decision to be a part the Green Knight’s game, taking that treacherous journey from home, he was doing it show how much of a great knight he was, but in the end it was not his sword that helped him make it back home. These tales show how a courtly heroic code of honor contests a Christian model of living. In The Dream of the Rood, the first speaker or dreamer shows you that he chooses Christianity over anything else when he says â€Å"I look forward constantly toward that time the Lord’s rood which I beheld before here on this earth shall fetch me away from this fleeting life and bring me then where bliss is eternal to joy in Paradise..† (Lines 135-140). That vision was like a beacon of hope the dreamer, being alone with nothing and no one, having a hint of something to lean or depend on gives them faith. The story the rood orShow MoreRelatedAn Assortment Of Heroism : Sir Gawain And The Green Knight1171 Words   |  5 Pagestales, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Beowulf and The Dream of the Rood each have particularly strong themes of heroism, though, they each have their own distinct idea of what heroism is, their own flavor one might say. It is partly because of their strong themes and ideas that they are still well-known and read today. A story without a theme or re al purpose has little to no value whatsoever. Perhaps the most notable thing to mention about the gallant character of Sir Gawain in Sir Gawain and theRead More Sir Gawain: A Man of Virtue Essay861 Words   |  4 PagesSir Gawain: A Man of Virtue Nobility, honesty, valiance and chivalry are the values instilled in Sir Gawain. He is a respected knight due to these characteristics. Both Sir Gawain and The Green Knight and in The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell present these qualities of Sir Gawain. In both tales, he proves these traits through many events. Sir Gawain and The Green Knight proves Sir Gawain’s nobility and honesty while The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell provides proof of his chivalryRead More Sir Gawain: The Ideal Knight Essay1158 Words   |  5 PagesSir Gawain: The Ideal Knight Throughout the Arthurian legends, Sir Gawain seems to be the epitome of a noble knight. He is always putting his king before himself, repeatedly sacrificing his own life in some way for King Arthur. He is an honorable knight that lives up to his word. This is evident in both Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell. In these stories, Gawain lives up to the expectations of a knightRead More Sir Gawain in Transition Essay1379 Words   |  6 PagesSir Gawain in Transition Sir Gawain has played a significant role in Arthurian legends since the Middle Ages. His first major appearance in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight depicts Gawain as a warrior rather than a womanizing knight like others from King Arthurs court. Even in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain focuses on his battle with the green knight rather than the advances of Bercilaks wife. During Gawains visit to Bercilaks castle, hisRead More Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay1991 Words   |  8 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight - Character Analysis of Sir Gawain The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell is a medieval romance poem written by an anonymous author. Sir Gawain is one of the major characters in the poem. He is a very likable personality. Sir Gawain represents an ideal knight of the fourteenth century. Throughout the story, we see Sir Gawain portrayed as a very courteous and noble knight, always trying to help King Arthur. The characteristics of Sir Gawain like kindness, generosityRead MoreChaucer And The Roman Catholic Church1994 Words   |  8 Pagesand how they prayed, the Roman Catholic Church obviously had a large influence. We know this today by simply reading the reading the literature from that period, whether it is simple poems like Beowulf or Dream of the Rood, or bigger stories such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. These stories are riddled with Catholic teachings and mentions, whether they re brought up in a good light, or a negative one. Oddly enough, we rarely see the latter. One of the few stories that do show Roman CatholicRead MoreLiterary Group in British Poetry5631 Words   |  23 Pageschronologically; for example, estimates for the date of the great epic Beowulf range from AD 608 right through to AD 1000, and there has never been anything even approaching a consensus.[2] It is possible to identify certain key moments, however. The Dream of the Rood was written before circa AD 700, when excerpts were carved in runes on the Ruthwell Cross.[3] Some poems on historical events, such as The Battle of Brunanburh (937) and The Battle of Maldon (991), appear to have been composed shortly after the events

Analysis Of Steven Levitt And Stephen Dubner And Freakonomics

In researching the important matters in life such as how to best format an online dating profile or finding the reasoning behind why employees in large corporations tend to steal bagels, authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner in their book Freakonomics claim to explore â€Å"the hidden side of everything.† The previous examples provided, including the various other topics that Levitt and Dubner touch upon in their book, are likely unimportant to the average reader and as a whole are without any obvious similarities. The authors even mention the lack of a common theme. They reason it by saying that in doing so, the direction of their book would then be guided by not a set theme, but instead by their curiosities. This is the non fiction version†¦show more content†¦After gaining access to relevant data sets and adjusting for certain variables the authors then interpret the data to arrive to often several conclusions. If possible, a fourth step is added where they incl ude a follow-up to their main idea effectively concluding the chapter. The format of Freakonomics: foundation, data experimentation, interpretation, and follow-up. Previously said, the first chapter of Freakonomics best demonstrates the format of each chapter. Because of that fact, it is also the most effective in analyzing Levitt and Dubner’s central argument of that data holds the power to unveil new truths of the world. To start the argument on the similarities of teachers and sumo wrestlers, the authors, following their format, begin by establishing the foundation of this chapter: incentives. They describe incentives as â€Å"a means of urging people to do more of a good thing and less of a bad thing† (Dubner and Levitt 17). And using several examples including experiments on late fees in day cares and small stipends for blood donations, the authors ensure that the reader understands the full effect of incentives: they explain the differences between the three type s of incentives, their applications in daily life, and the possible adverse effects of switching between two types of incentives despite any initial positive intentions. The authorsShow MoreRelatedChapter 3 : Conventional Wisdom1091 Words   |  5 PagesChapter 3: Conventional Wisdom Freakonomics was one of the best novels that I have ever read! I am truly amazed at how Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner compared their study and research to the economy that we live in today. Out of all of the chapters in Freakonomics, Chapter 3: Conventional Wisdom, is the one that stood out the most. This particular topic relates to the world in many different ways. Conventional wisdom is often wrong. Conventional wisdom can be described as the ideas or beliefsRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Freakonomics 1027 Words   |  5 PagesLanguage and Composition 3 August 2016 Freakonomics 1. Give the title, author, genre, and date of original publication. Freakonomics is the title of this nonfiction book; it was written by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. On April 12, 2005, by HarperCollins. 2. What is author’s purpose for writing the book? Write a paragraph summarizing the main argument or purpose. In this unique book, economist Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, an award-winning author and journalist teamRead MoreA Rogue Economist Explores The Hidden Side Of Everything By Steven Levitt Essay1537 Words   |  7 PagesAfter reading Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, it opened my eyes to the most interesting approach to the world. The book name in itself is an odd and unique title. It defines Steven Levitt’s irregular approach to the world of economics and makes you â€Å"forget your image of an economist as a crusty professor worried about fluctuating interest rates†, says Publishers Weekly. Steven Levitt focuses his attention on relevantRead MoreFreakonomics and Misconceptions of Economy Essay1244 Words   |  5 Pagesamazement: Freakonomics is said to unravel the untold stories of life. Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner break common misconceptions of economics by reveal ing its true science. Freakonomics shatters the view of economics being an arid study of finance and markets. They pull in information to make inferences on past occurrences subtly influence on the present. Freakonomics packs punches with its countless number of tables and figures, serving as concrete data to make their assumptions. Levitt DubnerRead MoreApplication of Freakonomics to Project Management1806 Words   |  8 PagesA Book Review of Freakonomics and Application to Project Management November 2010 Project Management Summary The idea to write Freakonomics began in 2003 when journalist and award winning author Stephen Dubner wrote a profile of economist Steven Levitt for the New York Times Magazine. At the time, Levitt, an Economics professor at the University of Chicago, was focusing his research efforts on answering unique and sometimes controversial questions concerning topics such as crime,Read MoreAnalysis Of Freakonomics958 Words   |  4 PagesThe movie â€Å"Freakonomics† by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner was a great way to bring light into the science of economics. The authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner would give two subjects that are unrelated to each other to give viewers an understanding of Freakonomics. This was a great idea because I would have never thought that a teacher and a sumo wrestler would have anything in common. Additionally, in the beginning of the movie the authors mention three types of incentives, whichRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Freakonomics By Steven D. Levitt1639 Words   |  7 PagesFreakonomics written by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. Copyright, 2005 by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. A non-fiction book about the intertwining discourses of pop culture and economics. Steven David Levitt is an American economist who is well known for his work that specifically focuses on crime, and the connection between legalized abortion and the effect it has on crime rates. Mr. Levitt is currently the â€Å"William B. Ogden Distinguished Service Professor of Economics† at theRead MoreSteven Levitt And The Link Between Legalized And Crime Rates1537 Words   |  7 Pages Steven Levitt was born May 29th, 1967 in Chicago. Levitt is an american economist that is known best from his podcasts, and books, Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics co-authored with Stephen Dubner. Steven Levitt is also known to study some very different topics such as crime and the link between legalized abortion and crime rates. Levitt attended the University of Chicago, the Chicago school of economics, and he attended Harvard University to receive his Bachelor s Degree and went on to MIT forRead MoreThe Book Freakonomics By Steven D. Levitt2418 Words   |  10 Pages The book Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner consists of a series of essays in which a journalist and an economist work collectively to find, by applying everyday economic principles, how the world truly works, which reveals some fascinating truths about the world. Some background history of the authors, Steven D. Levitt interviewed Stephen J. Dubner for New York Times Magazine and this is where they initially met and became good friends. With them having similar ideals aboutRead MoreAn Analysis of Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt1585 Words   |  7 Pagesthe best way of describing the unconventional method preferred by economist, Steven D. Levitt. While most economists measure social situations and present the data as numbers a nd graphs Levitt takes anomalies within the data to reveal truths obscured. It’s Levitt’s sociological take on economics that has set him apart from his peers with his heavy focus on incentives, choices, and the consequences they have. Freakonomics mirrors Levitt’s method since it’s a collection of stories he has uncovered or

Zappos.Com Case Essay free essay sample

Company achieved such a success due to its corporate culture and a value of extreme concentration on its customers. In the retail business on of the indicators of retailer success is the level of customer return and Zappos succeed to attain this indicator on a very high level. Corporate culture was about delivering WOW effect through service and hiring people who were passionate about service was the most important concerns of the top-managers. This WOW effect was delivering through many ways: from the speed of site loading, all-round telephone support, allowance for 365 days of return, extensive information about the products and fast site loading. That’s why customers were willing to make purchases more often. In my opinion, service is a very important part of providing sustainable sales growth for the company as it creates an image of reliable company which operates in the internet and helps people to choose between traditional shopping and e-shopping. This image while managed properly was a sustainable competitive advantage for Zappos. As it was mostly mentioned features of a corporate culture which provide this competitive advantage than we can say that corporate culture is a background for it. 2. According to the position of the company to retain loyalty of the customers and provide WOW effect through service, it became more important to use UPS as a reliable logistics provider and organize 1-day air delivery with no extra price. Therefore, I can assume that reducing marketing costs for gaining new customers were the right decision as long-term partnership with previous customers was able to generate profit and new customers in the long run perspective. From another side, Zappos was able to keep transportation costs on the constant level partly from the scale of the collaboration with UPS (as it was mentioned, Zappos has become one of the top three UPS shippers). And as it was estimated, UPS ground shipping was able to reach only 11% of Zappos’ customer within 1 day. Knowing the fact that consumers got used to high qualitative and fast delivery, this could significantly harm the perception of the brand by loyal customers. This is the reason why company didn’t refuse to provide one-day air shipping. . First of all, we should understand that in situation of crisis people are decreasing their spending on high-end products if they previously had opportunities for that. That’s why it can be suggested, that company should concentrate more on mass market products and decrease costs while being very careful about scalable expansion. As it was mentioned in the case, Zappos searched for opportunities to improve its supply chain without harmful effect on customer satisfaction. From this point of view, company can concentrate more on retaining loyal customers and acquiring new customers partly by providing promotional discount actions, but at the same time keep prices on the same level, otherwise it can create a sense of discounter among Zappos clients. 4. The most important concern while expanding such business as Zappos is retaining this WOW effect. There are many factors which could affect this service oriented culture negatively, so that company should understand that rapid expansion in the situation of crisis can be very risky. From the other hand, there is no need to add more product to its product range as its already sell shoes, clothing, handbag, accessories, baby products, beauty, entertainment, eyewear, home, jewelry, sporting goods, and watches. In my opinion, company can diversify its businesses by developing other e-platforms with mentioning that they are powered by Zappos. That means that company could partly avoid risks connected with brand perception and increases sales level by selling more products. 5. The environment of a more cost-conscious consumer can harm the business if it won’t be careful about its costs. The main idea here is to provide at least the same level of quality in service with constant rates. Zappos can lower transportation costs through developing closer relationships with transport companies (for ex. try to reduce shipment costs from UPS or use ground shipment when it won’t extend delivery time). Company can also provide selective discounts (for ex. providing promotion discounts for loyal customers or creating encouraging promotional events). They could also take into consideration competitors’ activities and offers in order to make sure that they provide the best prices or better opportunities for their clients. Zappos must take advantage of its other core competencies to ensure that the customer will choose to buy from Zappos as long as they are not paying more for the product. Probably, other variant to boost sales would be testing the system when customer have an opportunity to enjoy free shipping for a bit higher price, while company could gain profitability from a scope of the shipments. 6. First thing which comes to a mind is preserving Zappos’ corporate culture and brand on the same level as these things made Zappos that successful. In my opinion, it would be better to leave Zappos as an independent entity with its charismatic top-manager and founder Tony Hsieh while his forces led company to the leading position. Another thing to concern is a cost structure. One of the ways that Amazon tries to deliver a great customer experience is by offering low prices, whereas Zappos wasn’t ever been concentrated on price competition. This policy also shouldn’t be excluded from the Zappos future strategy as Zappos brand is more about service, but not a lowest price. Probably, another important step would be Zappos’ access to Amazon’ resources. They could be improvements and access to supply chain expertise, warehouses, suppliers and other advantages. Finally, Amazon could use Zappos for looking upmarket towards higher-priced goods. The high touch model obviously comes with higher costs. It’s much more attractive when selling a $400 pair of boots than a $29 pair of flip-flops. Zappos has already been rapidly expanding their product offerings so greater sales of fashion items like handbags and wallets are already steps in this direction.

The Men We Carry in Our Minds Summary free essay sample

The Men We Carry in Our Minds is an essay by Scott Russell Sanders on the roles and responsibilities given to men and women in different echelons of society. Writing from his own point of view, the author spends the majority of the essay comparing and contrasting the differing jobs of men and women, and then outlining the effects of those jobs on them. Sanders’ views on the responsibilities of women change over the course of his maturation, but his sympathetic view towards the labours of the common man remains the same despite realizing and even experiencing the plights of the average woman. The essay opens (apart from the retelling of a debate the author had with a friend of his) with a bleak portrayal of prisoners performing backbreaking work in the sweltering heat, with their bodies barely standing the crushing weight of the work. (Sanders, 324) The men are forced onward by shotgun-wielding guards. We will write a custom essay sample on The Men We Carry in Our Minds Summary or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This is a metaphor for the situation of most of the men the author knows growing up, as he describes several instances of men working tiring jobs their entire lives, only for their bodies to give out on them. The shotguns at their backs represent the bills to pay and the families to support. The author gives the lone exception of the soldiers he knew as a boy, but acknowledges that they too suffered under burdens; those of boredom, and the very real threat of deployment and death in wars they had no say in nor part in the starting of. As the author puts it, the bleak nature of men is â€Å"killing themselves or preparing to kill others. †(Sanders, 327) The second part of the essay is mainly devoted to women. The author, upon reaching university, becomes aware of the criticisms heaped upon men by the women there. Up until this point, he had thought that women were creatures of leisure, with time to visit friends and read books. He admits that women often â€Å"suffer from the bullying of men,† (327) and how they either fill thankless jobs at restaurants or as secretaries, or they waste away alone in empty houses. However, he ultimately trumps the notion that women have it worse than men, noting that the man carries the need to care for the family, and that any financial troubles are his, stating that he would sooner tend a home and children than a factory floor. His final thoughts are envious, contemplating the wealthy man, and how he seems to have no troubles. (328) Sanders regards this brand of man to be an enemy both to women and to the working class, due to his high station in society and role in creating the toil of men and women found in this essay. These are the two â€Å"men we carry in our minds:†(324) There is the wealthy oppressor thought of by some women, forcing the toiler on, shotgun in hand; and there is the labourer of the mind of the author, working on into decrepitude.

Economy of China Relationship with South Korea and the United States

Introduction This research paper explores the socio-economic history of China, covering a wide range of ideas that have significantly influenced the country’s economy. Importantly, the period from 1949 to present will be the epicenter of the analysis in understanding China’s economic history.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Economy of China: Relationship with South Korea and the United States specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Chinese economy since 1949 The period after 1949 was characterized by a wide range of changes that demonstrated a contrast of the previous period that the country had gone through[1]. Under the political leadership of a communist government, People’s Republic of China, the country experienced a new outlook as the government geared towards taking full control of the country. As a result, a chain of economic restructurings were undertaken including, land reform and gradual control of major Chinese economic sectors like heavy industry, energy, financial sector, railways, agricultural processing and communication among others[2]. Additionally, the government took control of the country’s international trade and regulation of tariffs in order to manage import and export trade. As a way of rehabilitating its addicted citizens, opium production was eradicated, with several programs being established to oversee the elimination opium addiction. A host of other social problems like corruption, diseases and homelessness that had rocked the country were contained by the new government. How was this achieved? To realize its success, the Chinese government adopted the Soviet-style of central planning for a period of five years, starting from 1953. This meant a lot of changes in the manner in which different sectors of the economy were managed. For example, all private enterprises were restructured and became state enterprises. In the agricultural sector, the government distributed land to the landless after it was brutally taken from landowners[3]. This was followed by formation of cooperatives and later advanced into communes in the year 1958. It is believed that this idea was part of Chairman Mao’s Great Leap Forward Movement. In this line of thought, it is imperative to mention that the Great Leap led to over twenty five million Chinese deaths from 1959 to 1962[4]. Economic Reform Like in other countries, politics and Chinese economic growth were strongly intertwined. This implied that political leaders influenced the economic path of a country and the likelihood of making progress under a particular regime. In 1978, the communist government was headed by Deng Xiaoping, whose major was role to implement economic reforms and achieve a market-oriented economy[5].Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This was believed to be the best time for reforms to be implemented because of four reasons. First was the unpopularity of the Cultural Revolution, which the Communist government and party, wanted to cut their relationships as the old regime in order to win the trust and support of people in the country[6]. The second reason was based on the experience of most government officials, who understood the need for economic planning as a way of realizing economic growth and stability[7]. They therefore accepted and embraced the change that was being propagated by the communist government. The achievements of the Four Tigers, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore, equally proved to the Chinese government and its people that a market-oriented presented more economic success opportunities than a planned economy[8]. The last reason why the economic reforms were inevitable was the public support as majority of people supported the government’s idea of adopting a market-oriented econom y. It is also important to note that the need for reforms in ownership of enterprises was an experimental way of approaching economic change in China. This is because the idea was to give authority to the government that would enable it to control production decisions and strategies other than being governed by a central planning system[9]. Additionally, the approach aimed at enhancing financial independence of people, through receiving their benefits after remitting levies to the government. In addition, the move was to usher in a contract responsibility system that was to affect specific enterprises, through a decision that was reached at in 1984[10]. Another important factor was price control for commodities around the country. The reforms were meant to introduce a new system that was to allow natural determination of price by allowing market forces like demand and supply to be appreciated. To achieve this target, the government adopted a two-year plan that was to oversee the all ocation of scarce resources in the country, which included foreign and local inputs that were being used to run state enterprises. This allowed the government to distribute the resources at a lower price compared to what was on the market. Lastly, the restructuring of state enterprises that was adopted in 1997 was quite significant as these institutions became share-holding companies[11].Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Economy of China: Relationship with South Korea and the United States specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Why Chinese Reforms Succeeded There are several reasons that explain the success of Chinese reforms, which were initiated by the Communist government in 1949. According to economists, the pragmatic nature of most Chinese leaders was a major boost as they rose above ideological restraints that were considered to be limiting factors[12]. Secondly, the absence of a blueprint to guide the e conomic agenda meant that most of the decisions were to be experimented since others had worked elsewhere successfully. For instance, reforming of enterprises was introduced gradually by targeting a smaller group before the same idea was extended to the entire population[13]. Due to this experimentation approach, Chinese economic reforms occurred systematically through steps that guaranteed success to the entire process. Another reason why economic reforms in China were successful was based on the experience of the Chinese people and government officials, who had tasted the inefficiency and failure of a planned economy[14]. This generation therefore had the passion to shift to another economic system that would allow development and not exploitation as it had witnessed during the Cultural Revolution. Related to this was the fact that the country was politically stable as the Communist Party remained in power, and had autonomy over economic sectors across the plane[15]. This augmente d the reform process without obstruction from any group. Above all, the political leadership of Deng was highly applauded for the Chinese economic success story. Although some top leaders were not willing to deviate from their traditional course, he managed to lead the Communist Party pragmatically and allowed the people to envisage the power of a market-economy. The Premier, Zhao Ziyang also played a key role in designing the reform strategy. The country continued nurturing brilliant leaders including Jiang Zemin, and Zhu Rongji. These represent an endless list of leaders who contributed to the economic gains realized in China since 1949[16]. China’s economy since 2000 Chinese economy has witnessed an array of trends since 2000. This was attributed to a number of factors including political and economic. The Communist Party implemented changes through constitutional amendments, to allow the government’s emphasis on certain sectors of its economic policy[17]. Through t his approach, the government worked towards creation of more jobs to fight unemployment, protection of the environment and rebalancing of income among its people to promote equity. These amendments were ratified in the year 2004 by the National People’s Congress[18]. Additionally, an economic program of five years was approved during the party’s Fifth Plenum that was held in 2005 and was expected to run from 2006 to 2010.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Between 1990 and 2004, China registered an economic growth of 10% annually, and this was noted as the world’s highest growth rate at the moment. The country’s GDP grew by 10%, 10.1% and 10.4% from 2003 to 2005[19]. Although this was the case, the government was committed towards cooling the country’s economy. In the year 2006, China was ranked third largest trading nation after the United States and Germany, after its total trade exceeded $1.76 trillion. According to the World Bank’s publication, China’s growth in 2007 was its highest after it hit a high of 13.1%. Based on these, it was argued that Chinese growth may have overgrown Germany’s with its informal economy accounting for a significant portion[20]. The graph below compares the GDP of China to other countries in 2010. Retrieved from: http://www.china-mike.com/facts-about-china/economy-investment-business-statistics/ Importantly, reforms in China have led to the improvement of sever al economic and social indicators. However, a sharp contrast continues to be observed between developed provinces and poor islands. According to a report released by the United Nations in the 2007, 130 million Chinese live in poverty, surviving on less than a dollar a day. Besides this, approximately 35% of the population survives on $2 a day. By 2007, many economists projected continuous growth of the country’s economy, even though the country is faced with a degraded environment and an aging population[21]. Like many other countries, China initiated its Economic Stimulus Plan that was aimed at mitigating the impact of the Global Financial Crisis that hit the world in 2007. This program targeted lowering of taxes, increasing housing affordability and infrastructural development in the country through improved ports, road and railway network. China’s economy has also been affected by natural disasters like the winter storms, earthquakes and floods of 2008[22]. Neverthe less, these had a mild impact on the country’s economy. In this line of thought, it is important to note that China was severely hit by the global financial crisis even though the government was swift to implement mitigation programs. In addition, taxation of companies is fixed at 25% even though those industries, which receive state support, are exposed to a tax fee of 15%. By the year 2009, China was ranked position 79 worldwide with regard to corruption and transparency, a common scourge haunting developing economies[23]. By the year 2010 China was ranked as the second largest economy after the United States with a GDP of $5.87 trillion, with analysts speculating the possibility of China overtaking the U.S. on global ranking. Another important fact about China is that it is the leading creditor in the world, owning over 20% of foreign owned Treasury securities in the United States. U.S.-China Economic relationships The two countries resumed their economic relationship in 1 972, and has expanded exponentially in the last three decades. Between 1979 and 2010, trade between China and America rose from $2 billion to $457, in 2010, indicating the mega significance of their association. The graph below trading activities between the two countries in 2010: Notably, China is the leading trading partner with the United States, a major export market and the main source of U.S. imports[24]. From this relationship, it has been observed that the United States imports a lot of products from China, as compared to what it exports to China. As a result, the American merchandise trade deficit has surged with more than $200 billion between 1990 and 2010. The table below shows U.S. Merchandise Trade with China: U.S. Merchandise Trade with China: 1980-2010 and Projections for 2011($ billions) Moreover, the economic integration between China and the United States has positively impacted the two sides, a phenomenon that has defined the relationship as complex. Similarly, Ch ina’s large population, coupled with a booming economy has turned into a lucrative export market for the United States[25]. In recent years, China has become the main destination for American exports while the U.S. on its side has increased its purchasing power by acquiring Chinese products, which are relatively cheap. Additionally, several U.S. firms have gained global competitiveness by offering low costs, realized through utilizing Chinese inputs or considering it the main destination for finished products[26]. Another way in which the two countries relate is through China’s ability to purchase U.S. Treasury Securities over years. The most economic impact of this is that it helps to lower the interest rates in the American market. From a critical angle, analysts argue that the current strong ties between China and U.S. have continued to expose most American firms to unfair competition since most of the products offered by the Chinese market have low-cost value. As a result, several U.S. firms have physically relocated to China, a move that haunts the American economy due to loss of jobs and manufacturing firms[27]. Additionally, it is viewed that the capability of China possessing huge holdings of U.S. government debt may give China leverage over the United States in future. It is however important to note that the relationship between the two nations has not always been smooth with several emerging issues. For example, the partial implementation of a market-oriented economy in China and its adoption of harsh economic policies generate economic friction[28]. China has remained adamant in allowing its currency to appreciate to market levels, has a mixed history on the implementation of its World Trade Organization obligations, poorly protects intellectual property and has discriminative industrial policies, which favor local firms at the expense of foreign investors[29]. Consequently, the United States responded in 2010 by launching three WTO d ispute resolutions against China. Some Congress members have argued that the Chinese policies are unhealthy based on the current performance of the U.S. economy. Due to the complex nature of the relationship, analysts affirm that several approaches need to be considered in dealing with the surrounding issues. Some of these include the use of WTO dispute settlement process, mixed policy formulation and U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue[30]. The table below illustrates projected economic growth for China, USA and other countries Retrieved from http://www.china-mike.com/facts-about-china/economy-investment-business-statistics/ China-South Korea political and economic relationship The relationship between China and South Korea has been described as warm. The two nations have engaged in a wide range of activities that are aimed at strengthening their ties. This is mainly through foreign trade between the two states and exchange programs among learning institutions. Importantly, recent years have seen a large number of businessmen from South Korea heading China. By 2004, trade between the two countries increased by 42% an equivalent of $90 billion based on the business level observed in 2003[31]. The two sides have also continued to nurture their political relationships by agreeing on certain issues like denying Japanese PM, Junichiro Koizumi an opportunity to visit the Yasukuni and strategizing oh how to approach North Korea’s determination to explore nuclear weapons[32]. On its side, China is considering a better way of engaging North Korea over the issue, and a better way of advancing economic growth without undermining political democracy. The two states generally deal with their issues through open discussions. This warm relationship has attracted Beijing to invest in North Korea, a country known for its natural resources like coal, gold, iron and affordable labor force. By the year 2005, Chinese investment in North Korea had been projected to be around $85 million. As a result, Beijing has become North Korea’s biggest international trade partner[33]. Kim Jung-Il cemented his country’s relationship with China by paying her rare visits. Notably, South Korea is keen on strengthening its association with China without undermining its link with the United States[34]. The economy of Hong Kong and Shanghai Chinese economic growth has impacted several parts of China including Hong Kong and Shanghai. As a result, Hong Kong has grown to become world’s most dynamic economy. In 2010, Hong Kong registered an economic growth of 6.8 % while inflation rose from 0.5% in 2009 to 2.4% in 2010[35]. Several measures have been erected to prevent the effects of economic crisis. Hong Kong is able to contain global changing times through low corruption, enough foreign exchange reserves, excellent banking system and a sound legal system. It has been maintained as a gateway to China government, measures that make it more attra ctive as a trading center. These include elimination of tariffs on goods from Hong Kong, standardization of regulations, improvement of infrastructure and reducing trade barriers. The 2011 GDP for Hong Kong was projected to be 5% up from 4.3% in 2010. Due to its attractive economic environment, Hong Kong is highly favored by the U.S. as a business center[36]. As mentioned above, China’s continuous economic growth has significantly impacted Shanghai, to become Chinese Trade, finance, culture and technology center. The city is China’s main industrial center, hosting 157 kinds of industries. Of importance is steel and iron, which are highly ranked in China. Car industry in Shanghai is equally booming with Dazhong Car Co Ltd producing over 200 cars annually. The region has a well established communication and transport network, facilitating its accessibility. As a result, Shanghai has risen to become China’s leading commercial center. Conclusion From this analysis, it is evident that China is one of the countries of the world with the most fascinating economic history. The country has undergone a series of transformations from Cultural Revolution to a market-oriented economy. During this process, China has initiated policies and established relationships with other countries like the United States and South Korea among others. These links have been essential in promoting the country’s economy. Bibliography Bartholomew, Carolyn. Report to Congress of the U. S. -China Economic and Security Review Commission. Pennsylvania: DIANE Publishing, 2010. China Mike. â€Å"Facts about China: Economy GDP 2010-2011.† China-Mike. 2011, http://www.china-mike.com/facts-about-china/economy-investment-business-statistics/ Chow, Gregory. â€Å"The Chinese Economy, 1901-2000.† Perspectives. 2012. http://www.oycf.org/Perspectives2/12_063001/chinese_econ.htm Chow, Peter. Economic integration, democratization and national security in East Asia: shifting paradigms in US, China and Taiwan relations. United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2007. Chung, Jae. Between Ally and Partner: Korea-China Relations and the United States. New York: Columbia University Press, 2008. Gabriel, Satya. â€Å"The Structure of a Post-Revolutionary Economic Transformation: The Chinese Economy from the 1949 Revolution to the Great Leap Forward.† Mount Holyoke College. 1998. http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/sgabriel/economics/china-essays/3.html Keidel, Albert. â€Å"China’s Economy: A mixed Performance.† China Business Review. 2001. https://www.chinabusinessreview.com/public/0105/keidel.html Keping, Yu. â€Å"Democracy in China: Challenge or Opportunity?† The President and Fellows of Harvard College. 2009. http://ash.harvard.edu/extension/ash/docs/democracyinchina.pdf Morrison, Wayne. â€Å"China-U.S. Trade Issues.† Congressional Research Service. 2011. www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33536.pdf Naughton, Barry. The Ch inese Economy Transition and Growth. New York: The MIT Press, 2007. Siregar, Reza. ASEAN and Korea: trends in economic and labour relations. Shanghai: Institute of Southeast Asian, 1997. Sutter, Robert. U.S.-Chinese relations: perilous past, pragmatic present. Maryland: Rowman Littlefield, 2010. Thomas, Stephen. â€Å"China’s Economic Development from 1860 to the Present: The Roles of Sovereignty and the Global Economy.† Forum on Public Policy. 2012. http://forumonpublicpolicy.com/archive07/thomas.pdf U.S. State Department. â€Å"Background Note: Hong Kong.† U.S. State Department. 2011. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2747.htm#econ Wolverson, Roya, and Christopher Alessi. â€Å"Confronting U.S.-China Economic Imbalances.† Council on Foreign Relations. 2011. http://www.cfr.org/china/confronting-us-china-economic-imbalances/p20758 Wong, Bin. â€Å"Transformations of china’s post-1949 Political economy in an historical Perspective.† Pacific E conomic Review 13, no. 3 (2008): 291–307. Footnotes Barry Naughton, The Chinese Economy Transition and Growth (New York: The MIT Press, 2007), 33. Yu Keping, â€Å"Democracy in China: Challenge or Opportunity?† The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2009, http://ash.harvard.edu/extension/ash/docs/democracyinchina.pdf Bin Wong, â€Å"Transformations of china’s post-1949 Political economy in an historical Perspective,† Pacific Economic Review 13, no. 3 (2008): 300. Stephen Thomas, â€Å"China’s Economic Development from 1860 to the Present: The Roles of Sovereignty and the Global Economy,† Forum on Public Policy, 2012, http://forumonpublicpolicy.com/archive07/thomas.pdf Yu Keping, â€Å"Democracy in China: Challenge or Opportunity?† The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2009, http://ash.harvard.edu/extension/ash/docs/democracyinchina.pdf Satya Gabriel, â€Å"The Structure of a Post-Revolutionary Economic Transformation: The Chinese Economy from the 1949 Revolution to the Great Leap Forward,† Mount Holyoke College, 1998, http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/sgabriel/economics/china-essays/3.html Gregory Chow, â€Å"The Chinese Economy, 1901-2000,† Perspectives, 2012, http://www.oycf.org/Perspectives2/12_063001/chinese_econ.htm Barry Naughton, The Chinese Economy Transition and Growth (New York: The MIT Press, 2007), 76. Satya Gabriel, â€Å"The Structure of a Post-Revolutionary Economic Transformation:The Chinese Economy from the 1949 Revolution to the Great Leap Forward,† Mount Holyoke College, 1998, http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/sgabriel/economics/china-essays/3.html Bin Wong, â€Å"Transformations of china’s post-1949 Political economy in an historical Perspective,† Pacific Economic Review 13, no. 3 (2008): 305. Barry Naughton, The Chinese Economy Transition and Growth (New York: The MIT Press, 2007), 100. Gregory Chow, â€Å"The Chinese Economy, 1901-2000,† Perspectives, 2012, http://www.oycf.org/Perspectives2/12_063001/chinese_econ.htm Stephen Thomas, â€Å"China’s Economic Development from 1860 to the Present: The Roles of Sovereignty and the Global Economy,† Forum on Public Policy, 2012, http://forumonpublicpolicy.com/archive07/thomas.pdf Satya Gabriel, â€Å"The Structure of a Post-Revolutionary Economic Transformation: The Chinese Economy from the 1949 Revolution to the Great Leap Forward,† Mount Holyoke College, 1998, http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/sgabriel/economics/china-essays/3.html Gregory Chow, â€Å"The Chinese Economy, 1901-2000,† Perspectives, 2012, http://www.oycf.org/Perspectives2/12_063001/chinese_econ.htm Yu Keping, â€Å"Democracy in China: Challenge or Opportunity?† The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2009, http://ash.harvard.edu/extension/ash/docs/democracyinchina.pdf Albert Keidel, â€Å"China’s Economy: A mixed Performance,† China Business Review, 20 01, https://www.chinabusinessreview.com/public/0105/keidel.html Barry Naughton, The Chinese Economy Transition and Growth (New York: The MIT Press, 2007), 103. Albert Keidel, â€Å"China’s Economy: A mixed Performance,† China Business Review, 2001, https://www.chinabusinessreview.com/public/0105/keidel.html Stephen Thomas, â€Å"China’s Economic Development from 1860 to the Present: The Roles of Sovereignty and the Global Economy,† Forum on Public Policy, 2012, http://forumonpublicpolicy.com/archive07/thomas.pdf China Mike, â€Å"Facts about China: Economy GDP 2010-2011,† China-Mike, 2011, http://www.china-mike.com/facts-about-china/economy-investment-business-statistics/ Ibid. Barry Naughton, The Chinese Economy Transition and Growth (New York: The MIT Press, 2007), 105. Wayne Morrison, â€Å"China-U.S. Trade Issues,† Congressional Research Service, 2011, www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33536.pdf Robert Sutter, U.S.-Chinese relations: perilous p ast, pragmatic present (Maryland: Rowman Littlefield, 2010), 190. Roya Wolverson and Christopher Alessi, â€Å"Confronting U.S.-China Economic Imbalances,† Council on Foreign Relations, 2011, http://www.cfr.org/china/confronting-us-china-economic-imbalances/p20758 Wayne Morrison, â€Å"China-U.S. Trade Issues,† Congressional Research Service, 2011, www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33536.pdf Roya Wolverson and Christopher Alessi, â€Å"Confronting U.S.-China Economic Imbalances,† Council on Foreign Relations, 2011, http://www.cfr.org/china/confronting-us-china-economic-imbalances/p20758 Robert Sutter, U.S.-Chinese relations: perilous past, pragmatic present (Maryland: Rowman Littlefield, 2010), 190. Carolyn Bartholomew, Report to Congress of the U. S. -China Economic and Security Review Commission (Pennsylvania: DIANE Publishing, 2010), 1. Reza Siregar, ASEAN and Korea: trends in economic and labour relations (Shanghai: Institute of Southeast Asian, 1997), 81. Jae Chu ng, Between Ally and Partner: Korea-China Relations and the United States (New York: Columbia University Press, 2008), 63. Wayne Morrison, â€Å"China-U.S. Trade Issues,† Congressional Research Service, 2011, www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33536.pdf Peter Chow, Economic integration, democratization and national security in East Asia: shifting paradigms in US, China and Taiwan relations (United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2007), 265. U.S. State Department, â€Å"Background Note: Hong Kong,† U.S. State Department, 2011, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2747.htm#econ Ibid. This research paper on Economy of China: Relationship with South Korea and the United States was written and submitted by user LeperQueen to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

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Edger Allen Poe Edgar Alan Poe was born in Boston in 1809, the son of itinerant actors. Both his parents died within two years of his birth. Edgar was taken into the home of a Richmond merchant, John Allan, although he was never legally adopted. His early work as a writer went unrecognized and he was forced to earn his living on newspapers, working as an editor in Richmond, Philadelphia, and New York. In 1836 he married his cousin, Virginia, who was then fourteen; she died eleven years later of tuberculosis. Poe died a few years later in 1849 and was buried in Baltimore beside his wife. His early work as a writer went unrecognized and he was forced to earn his living on newspapers, working as an editor in Richmond, Philadelphia, and New York. He is known as "The Portable Poe". After a reconciliation, Poe entered the Military Academy at West Point in 1830; he was dishonorably discharged in January 1831.... Free Essays on Edger Allan Poe Free Essays on Edger Allan Poe Edger Allen Poe Edgar Alan Poe was born in Boston in 1809, the son of itinerant actors. Both his parents died within two years of his birth. Edgar was taken into the home of a Richmond merchant, John Allan, although he was never legally adopted. His early work as a writer went unrecognized and he was forced to earn his living on newspapers, working as an editor in Richmond, Philadelphia, and New York. In 1836 he married his cousin, Virginia, who was then fourteen; she died eleven years later of tuberculosis. Poe died a few years later in 1849 and was buried in Baltimore beside his wife. His early work as a writer went unrecognized and he was forced to earn his living on newspapers, working as an editor in Richmond, Philadelphia, and New York. He is known as "The Portable Poe". After a reconciliation, Poe entered the Military Academy at West Point in 1830; he was dishonorably discharged in January 1831....

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