Economic Policy Essay

The essence of economic policy in the areas of urban housing, urban education, and urban transportation in the United States National Government is cored on the achievement of trade targets. Boosting its market efficiency and redistribution of supply and services grounded on public values are its primary interest (Feldstein, 1999). These economic policies make up a part of the body of agenda. These are of regulated policies prepared by the Federal Reserve System headed by the President of the United States of America and the legislative branch of government (Poole 1999). Body At the outset, economic policies are decisions. President Harry Truman was a decision maker of the land in his time (Mankiw, 1998). He mentioned of his need to find one-armed economist (Mankiw 1998). This is a manifestation that the concept of economic information is ambivalent (Mankiw, 1998). Decisions are taken initially based on individual principles of: trade offs in efficiency and equity, cost of something versus opportunity cost, marginal changes to a plan, and response of people to trade offs (Mankiw, 1998). Subsequently, societal interactions principles are considered based on: trade, markets, and governmental market policy (Mankiw, 1998). Finally, national economy is considered upon the principles of: production of goods and services, inflation, and tradeoff between inflation and unemployment (Mankiw, 1998). Three of the economic policies Of the United States of America National Government are in the areas of urban housing, urban education, and urban transportation. These are parts of the regulated competitive industries (Feldstein, 1999). The urban housing policy covers private and social benefits of homeownership (Haurin, 2003). Bush said, homeownership is the core American values of individuality, thrift, responsibility, and self-reliance (Haurin, 2003). It represents a pathway to pride and prosperity for many families, encourages values of responsibility and sacrifice, creates stability for neighborhoods and communities and generates economic growth that helps strengthen the entire nation (Haurin, 2003) Dietz and Haurin (2003) however showed that 25% more of spouses in owner-occupied households work or are employed. They also have to face up to inevitable tax revenues through mortgage deductions (Haurin, 2003). While the data presumes that the rest of the population in owner-occupied households does not work, this would mean, this group is above average income in the strata of society. The next issue then is to know why were governmental supports for homeownership projects in the scale of billions of dollars far exceeded expenditure on education (Haurin, 2003) when most homeowners have beyond workers financial capabilities. Were the determinants of families becoming homeowners covered by public policy (Haurin, 2003)? What economic public policy would justify lumping up of burdens on homeowners who are mere workers? What economic public policy would explain governmental support to boost the status of those who can afford a home? Would this public policy be in consistent with the targets of government as pronounced by the President? Enhancement of market efficiency is focused on: developing performances of industries by eliminating anticompetitive elements; providing consumer protection like making informed choices possible; and ensuring product cost would include externalities (Feldstein 1999). While redistribution of resources and services anchored on the policy of collecting higher taxes from those who earn more to provide for those who earn less (Feldstein 1999). These policies however are often influenced by international institutions like the International Monetary Fund or World Bank as well as political beliefs and the consequent policies of parties. Housing Policy for example is usually analyzed in economic industry, as a form of market. Market leads to efficient allocation through a complex process of matching supply and demand. This depends on competition, good information, the existence of multiple suppliers, and the existence of different multiple purchasers. At the beginnings of the 21st century the demographical changes in the United States shaped housing consumption (Masnick, 1990). This is marked though by the big problem in urban housing policy which became inadequate for the increased number of houses required to support increasing population (Masnick, 1990). The number of homeless people is constantly increasing annually (Masnick, 1990). Homelessness became a very complex problem (Masnick, 1990). This means, if there were not enough places for people to live, then there are really those who does not have any shelter of their own (Masnick, 1990). The housing market bloated beyond previous policy allocations (Masnick, 1990). As a consequence, those who were not originally included generally became the poorest constituents of society (Masnick, 1990). Subsequent to demographical changes is the alternative of the homeless to find shelter in temporary shanties on unoccupied lands (Dunleavy, 1981). This led to problems of land entitlements (Dunleavy, 1981). Squatters over time on squatted settlements built more stable houses (Dunleavy, 1981). Homelessness often led to development of individual characteristics such as alcoholism, psychiatric illness, unemployment, and marital breakdown (Dunleavy, 1981). The situation is further aggravated by the decrease in privately owned housing programs (Dunleavy, 1981). The local governmental systems then were obligated to absorb the market (Dunleavy, 1981). As it turned out, it is cheaper to buy houses than to rent (Dunleavy, 1989). Housing conditions in many cities which were particularly unsatisfactory being old and in poor condition were improved (Dunleavy, 1989). Looking back, series of policies since the late 1960s focused on the problems of deprivation in inner city areas (Dunleavy, 1989). Much of the concern was with the inner cities growth which was an attempt to produce an acceptable racial policy. Despite this, ethnic minorities have had no proportionate share of resources from policies for the inner cities (Dunleavy, 1989). However, local government economic policies today are more focused, and greatly in consistent with constant changes in the societal demographics regardless of ethnicity (Gabriel, 1990). Another consideration however must be made. This is because of: the limited availability of affordable rental units, mortgage finance, reduced housing and income assistance to very low income populations, problems of public housing, low income housing preservation, issues of equal opportunities in housing and housing finance market (Gabriel, 1990). Thus it could be said that housing trends are developed largely because of statistical increase in the number of people as well as their movements for relocation needs (Masnick, 1990). The individual household needs were then used as the foundation for the modification of housing policy. This is in addition to the different economic changes which were built-in, in the shifting demographic landscape (Masnick, 1990). In the area of education, improvements must be made in urban education policy (Hess, 2001). Urban districts are now facing hazardous problems in educating young people because of the lack of support from the local government (Hess, 2001). Many buildings in urban public schools are very old (Hess, 2001). Because of this, despite the big number of public schools in the United States, only one-fourth of the country’s students are attending the classes throughout districts (Hess, 2001). These are the main problems of the district official in the urban public area (Hess, 2001). They are unable to comply with the needs of their student population Hess, 2001). The rates of dropout students are also increasing (Hess, 2001). The urban education policy that would most likely fit implementation will be one that is site-based management throughout the district (Hess, 2001). This will allow officials and teachers at the school level to focus more on the specific needs of the students (Hess, 2001). Educational reform efforts and policy initiatives are now under way that shows commitment in improving the quality of education. It will include the proper raising of the student outcomes in the urban districts (Hess, 2001). A key issue though in urban education policy is the potential impact of market-based reforms (Hess, 2001). It will require more than the application of additional money in improving the quality of urban education (Hess, 2001). Allocations of school funds must be centered on the functions of instruction, administration, operations, and maintenance of almost the same statistical number of clients (Picus, 1996). Urban transportation policies must likewise be modified as societal demographics evolved (Norton, 1955-1970). Many states have still no urban freeways (Norton, 1955-1970). The ever increasing numbers of privately owned cars warrants improvement in policies (Norton, 1955-1970). Evolving Americans have to face up to transport problems in the cities (Norton, 1955-1970). The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1944 made a beginning at bringing highways to the city (Barranda, 2004). It set aside 25 percent of federal highway funds for urban projects and called for the designation of a â€Å"National System of Interstate Highways† (Barranda, 2004). Although funding of these projects in the late 1940s and early 1950s was at more than two and a half times the prewar levels, total annual federal highway appropriations remained a half billion dollars or less (Barranda, 2004). The problem was that while government and industry both wanted highways, neither wanted to foot the bill (Barranda, 2004). Industry opposed excise taxes and tolls, while government opposed special bond issues and debt increases (Barranda, 2004). Divisions between pro-highway industries impeded their ability to lobby for an effective highway program (Barranda, 2004). However, eventually, the highway system that the government-industry partnership built was urban (Barranda, 2004). The unique degree of private participation in U. S. ransportation policymaking, and a federal policy treated all transportation problems as matters for highway engineers to solve (Barranda, 2004). In 1954, President Eisenhower suggested that â€Å"metropolitan area congestion† be â€Å"solved† by â€Å"a grand plan for a properly articulated highway system (Larsen, 1995). In 1956, the House Committee on Public Works urged â€Å"drastic steps,† warning that otherwise â€Å"traffic jams will soon bring down our growing economy (Larsen, 1995). The demise of the highways-only policy stemmed also from serious flaws in the policy itself (Larsen, 1995). At the end of World War II, the federal government began a significant intervention in urban transportation (Larsen, 1995). It was one which had increased to enormous proportions by 1960 (Larsen, 1995). But the funds were provided exclusively for the construction of urban highways (Larsen, 1995). Thus, urban transportation systems necessarily became imbalanced in favor of automotive transport (Larsen, 1995). Even the automotive transport systems were imbalance too (Larsen, 1995). Inequality was brought about by the ways in which federal dollars were allocated (Larsen, 1995). For example, while new freeways were providing automobiles unprecedented ease of access to cities, substantially, less federal allocations was provided for the downtown streets that had to bear the increased load (Larsen, 1995). No budgets were also allocated to provide the record numbers of cars for parking areas (Norton, 1955-1970). The US new urban transportation policy serves greater idea in resolving congestion problems in the cities (Barranda, 2004). Highway-Only Policy is one of those new integrated ideas (Barranda, 2004). Industry, not government, took the initiative in proposing that highways go downtown (Barranda, 2004). Eisenhower’s coalition was composed of industries â€Å"associated with the highway problem† and â€Å"interested in highway development,† in the words of the Clay Committee report (Barranda, 2004). Although the Clay Committee conferred with the American Railway Association in drafting its report, this group was the only one of twenty-two trade organizations consulted which had an interest in rail transport (Barranda, 2004). Fourteen of the groups consulted were expressly concerned with roads (Barranda, 2004). But these industries were not simply developing a highway policy (Barranda, 2004). This is their foundation in creating a new national transportation policy (Barranda, 2004). However, many cities in the United States have recently built light-rail systems to combat congestion problems and at the same time avoid pollution (Barranda, 2004). To some critics oppose this policy is not fit because of the function in some small downtown areas (Barranda, 2004). The application of this light-rail however, after its almost universal domination in the 20th century is one of the greatest twists in transportation history. This application policy is an exclusive idea whose time appears to have come (Barranda, 2004). Local government now hopes that the light-rail will gain moderate transportation that will reduce the traffic problems around the country (Barranda, 2004). Fighting congestion was the main rationale for making American highways enter cities to a degree unmatched elsewhere in the world (Barranda, 2004). The consequences of the improved policies ultimately transformed U. S. urban transportation system (Barranda, 2004). Critics of the policy, in government, and outside of the government circles achieved broad bases of support by confronting this problem (Barranda, 2004). Expertise in urban transportation matters, which had been the exclusive domain of highway industry, emerged in other institutions, both governmental and private (Barranda, 2004). The road builders’ promises to end congestion, to keep downtowns vital visibly failed to pan out (Barranda, 2004). In brief, the vigor of the government-industry partnership that brought the freeways into the cities did not last, but is envisioned to trigger interest on alternative prospective partners (Barranda, 2004). Conclusion The basic portfolio principles of economics provides conceptual structures underlining maintenance of flexibility of economic policies whether it is in housing, education, or transport, or even in prices where speculators are left with the liberty to discern and give value to market stocks so long as it is within the economic parameters of the United States of American government, its Federal Reserve System, its legislature as well as its executive governmental administrators that works within the framework of Federal Democracy.

Advertising Strategy Used by Old Navy to Target Young Male Customers Essay

Advertising Strategy Used by Old Navy to Target Young Male Customers - Essay Example With the suggested demographics, psychographics and lifestyle elements already selected for this targeted consumer, it appears that you have decided that he is young and virile, has changing tastes and is very much into fashion trends, is a typical metro-sexual living a college life on campus or off it. As members of this young community, the minds of people like Mike are always changing as they are swayed by the latest trends on the move, with the I-Phone, the Internet and the I-Pad very much a part of their lives. With opinions on social media dominating their tastes and choices, it is a wise move to have targeted the bulk of your advertising budget towards the Internet and social media network advertising. Opening pages on Facebook and Twitter has become a necessity now rather than an exception. With millions of users not only in the USA but right across the world, social media pages, opinions and advertising is the way to go nowadays and I commend the new advertising agency for r ecognizing and helping you capitalize on this trend. I noticed that the new advertising campaign makes use of online video instead of television. This would be in line with the viewing habits of the young teenagers and adolescent group that the company wants to target for increased business. I might add that this is a very good strategy and is well timed too, as industry analysts have noted that the market for men’s apparel was up 3.3 percent last year, compared to the average rise of 1.9 percent in shopping for clothes for both sexes. It was also seen that in the three months of the year ending February 2011, the sales in men’s apparel was 12 percent higher than last year. Consumer analysts have also noticed that as men are taking more and more interest in their wardrobes, they tend to order similar pieces in a variety of colors if a style and a cut suits them. This is what is likely to boost men’s clothing sales even in a recession. The only thing that I do no t like about the present advertising strategy for men’s clothing is that the ads have not been tastefully made. Of course I understand that they are meant to be humorous, but as any sane person and especially a stand-up comedian can tell you, it is really hard to make people laugh. In fact it is an art form that the likes of Eddie Murphy, Danny Kaye, Buster Keaton, Robin Williams and even Charles Chaplin took years to perfect. No one finds the same things funny, and most of us laugh at different things at different times. When you make an ad for young men’s clothing and want to connect it to humor, there is a danger that your product too will not be taken seriously at all. The ad for Super Tool is really pathetic and needs to be taken off the air immediately. Frankly I fail to see the humor in it at all! Some scenes are images have decidedly religious inferences-like the man with the sheep that reminded me that Christ was the Paschal Lamb of God or the papal style head gear that is worn by the model in the beginning of the advertisement. The entire ad consists of disjointed scenes and elements that are intriguing but have no connection and no purpose. A very disappointing ad if I may say so, in fact disgusting and easily forgettable (Advertising Age, 2011). I would suggest a complete remake from scratch and more cleverly made.

For or Against the thesis of The Dumbest Generation by Mark Bauerlein Term Paper

For or Against the thesis of The Dumbest Generation by Mark Bauerlein - Term Paper Example This was supposed to be a boon to the mankind, but is slowly turning out to be a bane. Lately, many researchers and experts have raised doubts over the positive impact of these technologies. One such argument is raised by Mark Bauerlein (2009) in his book â€Å"The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Dont Trust Anyone Under 30)†. The main thesis of the book is clearly stated in its subtitle: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Dont Trust Anyone Under 30). Bauerlein (2009) argues that the Millennials (generation born in 1980’s and 1990’s: age group of 12 – 30 years) have access to more technology and information than any other generation in the past, but they fail miserably to use that technology and information. They have failed to use the advents of the digital age to expand their knowledge and skills. Instead, the digital age seems to have contracted their knowledge and skills. This paper is an agreement with the above thesis and is aimed at proving the thesis right. The paper argues for the thesis of the book: â€Å"The Dumbest Generation†. The argument is supported by the numerous peer-reviewed articles. One of the main reasons that Bauerlein points out which has resulted in the poor state of the millennials is the fact that the digital media is intrinsic in nature. Books have been one of the main tools of passing on knowledge through the generations. But today’s under 30’s generation do not read books at all. Veteran English teacher Kelly Gallagher has pointed out that there is a widespread lack of interest in reading among students. Students read very less and as a result have no ability to comprehend what they read. As a result of lesser reading, there is a gap in the prior background and knowledge that the students posses. Hence, they are able to read what’s on the page but fail to understand or comprehend what it is.

Real Time flash flood forcasting Research Proposal

Real Time flash flood forcasting - Research Proposal Example Such a plan is aimed at raising the preparedness levels and making response activities by the local authorities’ and the general public more efficient especially during a flash flood3. Such plans integrate the use of technological variables of weather forecasting and GIS-based system for data management processing. This research is aimed at contributing to the development of integrating flash flood management plan in some flood prone areas. The most important things about planning for a flash flood is warning the general public and the response to the floods ensuring that loss of lives and property is minimal. Warnings about flash floods are transmitted by the meteorological departments and the hydrological services in various countries. In all flood management plans, organization and dissemination of information to warn the people is the most important thing4. The first element of a flashflood management strategy is finding out about all those who are at risk and whatever else is at risk. Risk is determined through assessing by establishing the hazards, the levels of exposure and the vulnerability of the people. The hazard entails the magnitude and the probability of occurrence of the flood5. This information can be given in form of maps which outline the borders of the areas at risk and their expected velocity6. Exposure on the other hand is the information of all those who are in danger as well as all what is in harms way. Vulnerability entails the expected losses which are looked at in terms of the geophysical, economic and the societal attributes of a given region. By establishing all the three elements enables those involved in the flood management to adopt the most effective strategies, be it to deal with engineering problems or dealing with the social challenges7. To establish the extent of the three elements, a risk analysis must be conducted. Metrological and hydrological data is essential in determining the hazard levels of an

Market research assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Market research - Assignment Example This study analyzes three different scenarios for the formulation of the best research strategy to be used din the data collection and analysis phases of the study. The target respondents for this scenario are residents of the Lochiel Park as they are the ones affected because they live there and benefit from the sustainable technologies offered at the Park. Sampling will be done through systematic Sampling that relies on arranging the study population according to some ordering scheme and then selecting at regular intervals through that ordered list, starting with the first project then proceeded with the selection of every 4th projects in the project list (Association for Qualitative Research, 2002). Qualitative research approach is the most appropriate research type for this scenario with the use of phenomenological research that aims at identifying the experience of the residents in the area (Hennink, 2011). The main reason or the choice of qualitative research in the study is that the research deals with the opinions, views, and feelings of the residents on living at the park. The choice is also pegged on the fact that the aim of the resea rch is to explore a given phenomena, which is the experience of the residents living at the Lochiel Park and not testing a hypothesis (Gehlbach, 2012). The appropriate data collection method for the use in the study is in-depth interviews and questionnaires for the study the research to get the views of the researchers on the research topic. The sample size has to be a small sample, preferably 40 to allow for the in-depth interviews and questionnaires to be filled by a sample of the residents at Lochiel Park due to high time requirements for the data collection method and to allow the researcher to get all the information for the formation or a required valid conclusion. This will also allow the

Privacy-Enhancing Security Mechanisms Research Proposal

Privacy-Enhancing Security Mechanisms - Research Proposal Example There also exist some privacy-preserving protocols that are being widely used in different technologies, such as, wireless sensor networks, mobile computing, and data mining operations. In this paper, we will discuss the technique to design a reliable and efficient privacy-preserving scheme in order to ensure increased security of data over the network. Problem Statement The problem statement for the research paper is: "Design and analysis of privacy-preserving network and cryptographic protocols" Conceptual Framework Aim of the Research In realistic networked environments, data security is the main focus of the management. Although there are several protocols and security mechanisms available for the protection of sensitive information, yet the security of the networked environments cannot be fully guaranteed. Generation of a reliable secret key can play a considerable role in this regard which should encrypt and decrypt the data while ensuring data integrity and authentication. The re is a need to design and implement privacy-enhanced cryptographic protocols using private handshaking, which should be able to provide optimum security to the sensitive information being transferred using mobile and messaging services. We will focus on designing a new pair wise key management scheme, which will include the properties of digital signatures and blindness along with the use of private handshakes. The key management scheme will make use of Boneh and Shacham's group signature scheme to ensure privacy and security in wireless networks. Literature Review Das and Giri state that pair wise key establishment enables sensor nodes to communicate securely in a sensor network with other nodes with the use of cryptographic techniques. Bista and Chang state, â€Å"Many wireless sensor network (WSN) applications require privacy-preserving aggregation of sensor data during transmission from the source nodes to the sink node†. Privacy is integral for wireless networks and ins tant messaging. Patil and Kobsa state, â€Å"Inadequate support for managing privacy could lead to suboptimal use of IM and thereby undermine its benefits†. Privacy-preserving network protocols play an important role in ensuring securing of data being transferred over the network. Privacy-preserving authentications achieve traditional goals as well as privacy of the authenticator and the verifier (Xu and Yung). Two of the main Privacy-Preserving Network Protocols include TOR and Off-the-record messaging. Off-the-record messaging techniques will be used because it enables private conversations over the wireless networks using the concept of encryption, authentication, deniability, and perfect forward secrecy. Cryptographic protocols will also be an important part of the research because they use such algorithms which ensure security of information over the network. â€Å"For the past three decades, a wide variety of cryptographic protocols have been proposed to solve secure c ommunication problems† (Shin). â€Å"Modern cryptography is concerned with the construction of systems that are robust against malicious attempts† (Goldreich). Cryptographic protocoal serve good when used in combinations, such as, ? 1, some ? 2s. â€Å"Although cryptographic protocols are typically analyzed in isolation, they are used in combinations† (Guttman). Lindell and Pinkas state, â€Å"Cryptographers seek to make secure protocols as efficient as possible in order to minimize the performance gap between secure and naive

Introduction to Marketing PowerPoint Presentation

Introduction to Marketing - PowerPoint Presentation Example outsourcing social media marketing services from the social media companies that have since been established and now, looking to dominate the industry. The overall market size for the social media advertising companies cannot be estimated precisely because to do so, one will need to count the ever-growing number of companies and institutions being established daily, and who essentially need to market their products. Thousands of existing companies and institutions are already outsourcing social media services, so an estimate of 50% of all businesses countrywide would be an appropriate market size, for now. 1. Placing adverts for companies and institutions on all the six most popular social media platforms. These include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Plus+ and You Tube. The choice of platforms to use depends on the social media sites preferred by the client and most importantly, the nature of products and serviced being advertised. 2. Content creation and campaign management services. In an effort to marketing a particular product or service, there has to be a campaign to sensitize its use and the content in that campaign needs to be original. 4. Research, monitoring and analysis of social media marketing.- success depends on your ability to measure and understand your efforts. Community measurement is an essential tool in social media marketing. 2. The top areas businesses want to flourish in are tactics and engagement processes - At least 89% of companies want to use the most effective social tactics and engagement plans for their social media audience. 4. Businesses want to make the most out of Google+ - While 54% of big corporations are using Google+, 65% of smaller companies want to know more about it and 61% plan on increasing Google+ activities this year. 5. Podcasting is on growth trajectory-Though only 6% of companies have utilized podcasting in their advertising, 21% plan to increase their podcasting activities this year. That is