Islamic credit cards Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Islamic credit cards - Essay Example Worthington has defined these cards as â€Å"Pay Later Cardsâ€Å", which facilitates the user to purchase any product or service without paying cash money. Fowler explains the credit cards as any coupon, single credit device, card or plate that can be used to get labor, services, goods or cash on credit. Such a card allows the user to make the required financial transaction without paying any money. The current technological development has given more powers to the buyer for purchasing goods and services on line. However, this requires an instrument that can facilitate payment to the seller at the time of such purchase. The credit card issued by a bank comes handy for this purpose as the buyer pays seller the required money through this card. Credit cards are secure as they replace cash which most of the people do not find safe to carry. In addition, carrying cash requires deep pockets and may create hassles. There are several reasons for the people to use credit cards. These include purchasing of foods and services, making necessary recharges, getting cash advances and enhancing the self-prestige. Credit cards have a long history as they have been in use since several decades. Their use started from United States in 1920s. Ritzer has named these cards as â€Å"American Icon†. During the early 20th century, credit cards were used for the first time in oil, automobile companies and general stores. Many writers have given credit to John Beggins of Flatbush National Bank in New York for inventing the first bank-issued credit card. The Banking Review’s Paper, FDIG informs that the idea of providing cash through a card goes back to 1800s era. However, the use of a bank issued credit card at different merchant outlets started only after 1950s. Bank Americard issued first VISA card in mid 1970s, while created the reputed credit card operation, called â€Å"VISA†. The scope of credit card use has widened now largely as

Drug Essay Example for Free

Drug Essay This paper will illustrate several aspects of how drugs affect our lives. Addiction philosophies including the psychology and physiology will be explained in an attempt to describe how drugs affect our bodies both physically and mentally. Secondly, different drug categories types will be covered including: stimulants, depressants, narcotics, hallucinogens, and cannabis. Each of these categories has different addiction potentials and effect levels including withdrawal symptoms. Finally, the abuse of prescription drugs and their effects will be discussed. Addiction is primarily psychological although addiction can be defined as the physiological changes in the body. Addiction continues to be considered as a social, cultural, genetic and experiential process as well. According to Lande, addictive behavior is seen as any behavior that gives temporary or short term pleasure and also provides relief from discomfort although there may be long term adverse effects. (Lande, 2012) According to Roy, addiction is generally described as dependence on any drug and results from substance abuse. Any drug or alcohol can produce addiction as can other things such as the internet, gaming, gadgets, chocolates etc. However the physical and psychological effects of drugs and alcohol are detrimental and actually result in loss of productivity, withdrawal and physical dependence and lack of attention and such other conditions. The primary feature of addiction is dependence as an individual shows increased psychological and physiological dependence on the substance he is addicted to and without the addictive substance the person is unable to return to normal life. Roy, 2009) Dependence on anything may not be too bad and some amount of social dependence is expected of us as social beings. However, when there is excessive dependence with inability to live without the substance in question, then withdrawal symptoms result and there are physiological changes in the body including pain and in some cases medical attention is required. Addiction is an extreme dependence that causes people t o lose sense of reality as people become crippled without the substance they are addicted to. Addiction leads to crime and anti-social behavior as addicts can resort to violent behavior, to stealing, to murder simply to attain their goal. Addiction to a substance could be separated from healthy use of the substance such as some amount of alcohol is considered acceptable and healthy in a social setting but being completely dependent on alcohol to that which amounts to addiction can have adverse social and personal implications for the individual. (Roy, 2009) Some of the common addictive drugs and substances are opium, alcohol, nicotine and barbiturates. Giving up any addiction, requires strength and this is largely the strength of the mind that aids in stopping any addictive behavior. According to Lande, if addiction is a disease, the cure of addiction or even its prevention is largely a psychological process suggesting that the mind is responsible for the addiction, the beginning of it and also the end of it. (Lande, 2012) These addictions affect the body in many different ways based on what type of drug the person has taken. According to a Medscape reference, stimulants are substances that induce a number of characteristic symptoms. CNS effects include alertness with increased vigilance, a sense of well-being, and euphoria. Many users experience insomnia and anorexia, and some may develop psychotic symptoms. Stimulants have peripheral cardiovascular activity, including increased blood pressure and heart rate. They encompass a broad category of substances, including those prescribed for medical conditions; those manufactured for illicit substance abuse; and those found in over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants, herbal extracts, caffeinated beverages, and cigarettes. Preda, 2011) Narcotics are another substance that is heavily abused in the workplace. Like many drugs persons taking narcotics can develop a tolerance as well as psychological and physical dependence. With this dependence, users must increase the dosage to gain the same effect. Some signs of narcotic abuse are analgesia, sedation, shallow breathing, slurred speech, and or/confusion. Withdrawal symptoms are usually severe and can be seen as early as 12-1 4 hours after the last dose. Symptoms of Narcotics withdrawal are irritability, craving, runny nose, muscle aches, and anxiety. Along with the previously mentioned symptoms are many complications such as infections, pneumonia, seizures, and constipation. (Zwanger, 2010) According to Doctor Parish, hallucinogens are a diverse group of drugs that cause an alteration in perception, thought, or mood. A rather heterogeneous group, these compounds have different chemical structures, different mechanisms of action, and different adverse effects. Despite their name, most hallucinogens do not consistently cause hallucinations, which are defined as false sensations that have no basis in reality. Often, they are more likely to cause changes in mood or in thought than actual hallucinations. (Parish, 2011) Hallucinogens have very specific symptoms that pose a particular physical risk. These include increased heart rate, high blood pressure, tremors, seizures, and even coma. In regards to withdrawal from the use of hallucinogens, these drugs do not seem to be physically addictive but may pose a psychological threat to users because they feel emotionally dependent on them. (eGetGoing. com, 2010) Approximately 2. Million Americans abused prescription drugs for the first time this year according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Most of these users were females between the ages of 12 and 17. The majority of abused prescription drugs were opioids which are also known as pain relievers. These drugs can be found in over-the-counter form or prescription. Most users begin with the over-the-counter variants but with continued use the user seeks stronger forms to curve their pain r elief needs. Using these drugs at a level that is above the prescribed amount can lead to liver failure, coma, and even death. Throughout this paper were references that illustrated the potential negative effects of drugs such as hallucinogens, stimulants, narcotics, and prescription drugs. The use or abuse of these drugs has significant effects both psychologically and physically. Withdrawals from these substances can be severe and potentially life threatening and should be monitored by medical personnel. Millions of Americans suffer from chemical dependency and threatens or livelihood as being a traditionally wholesome nation.

Birth Control Essay examples -- Contraceptives, Birth Control Essays

People have been having sex since the beginning of time; after all, how would we be here today if they had not. Yet, there has also been the pervasive problem of how to gain control over reproduction, in essence, how to prevent unwanted pregnancies. This is a challenge, even today, in an age of technological advancements, mass communication and education. However, through the years, the spread of information and awareness surrounding birth control has resulted in its increased availability and an improvement in the lives of both men and women. People are very clever and ingenious and have, throughout history, devised a variety of birth control methods. The earliest known contraceptive came from the Egyptian women of around 1500 B.C. They were thought to have created a suppository of crocodile dung and honey. The acidity of the crocodile dung could, potentially, kill the sperm, and the stickiness of the honey was supposed to stop the sperm from entering the woman (Wikipedia 2). Other forms of suppositories also were used, ranging from olive oil and honey, to cloths soaked in vinegar. Women also used a variety of herbal abortifacients (which are used to induce abortion). They are â€Å"part of a folk culture of herbal medicine handed down among women for thousands of years† (London 2). One example of an abortifacient is the ancient French and German use of the root of worm fern. It was commonly called the â€Å"prostitute root† by the French (London 2). More modern abortifacients include turpentine, castor oil and ammonia, to name a few. Frighteningly, the ingestion of small amounts of poison was another tried method, including mercury and arsenic. A list of various additional, popular contraceptive methods included â€Å"withdrawal ... ...being challenged. Works Cited: 1) Gordon, Linda. Woman’s Body, Woman’s Right- A Social History of Birth Control in America. NY: Grossman Publishers, 1976. 2) London, Kathleen. Yale- New Haven Teachers Institute. The History of Birth Control. 2004. http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1982/6/82.06.03.x.html 3) Oyler, Julie M.D. The History of Birth Control. University of Chicago Hospitals. 18 March 2003. http://imr.bsd.uchicago.edu/chiefs/History%20of%20Medicine/Birth%20Control_files/v3_document.htm 4) â€Å"Birth Control.† Wikipedia. 2004 Wikipedia- the free encyclopedia. 29 October 2004. 5) â€Å"Birth Control.† Houghton Mifflin. 2004 A Reader’s Companion to American History http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/rcah/html/ah_009600_birthcontrol.htm

Feminism in Virginia Woolf Essay

Virginia Woolf is regarded to be a modern literary figure. She was an English novelist and essayist who was a significant icon in London literary society. She was a member of the Bloomsbury group. Her famous novels are â€Å"Mrs. Dalloway†, â€Å"To The Lighthouse† and â€Å"Orlando† and the essay â€Å"A Room of One’s Own. † Contemporary feminists regard Woolf as an advocate of the movement. This paper will analyze Woolf’s background and some of her works to bring up points of her beliefs on the matter. Growing up in London, Woolf was influenced by a wide circle of Victorian society. Her father, Sir Leslie Stephen was an editor, critic and biographer. He had conections to numerous British writers including William Thackeray. Novelists such as George Elliot, Henry James, Julia Margaret Cameron, George Henry Lewes and James Russell Lowell often dropped by in their house. (Maze, 18, 1995) Woolf and her sister Vanessa were sexually abused by their half-brothers Gerald and George. According to modern scholars, this traumatizing experience triggered her nervous breakdowns. The deaths of her mother Julia Prinsep Stephen in 1895, her half-sister Stella in 1897 and her father in 1904 added salt to the wound. Woolf was institutionalized after her most alarming breakdown. (Maze, 20, 1995) Despite her mood swings, mental breakdowns and decline in social functioning, Woolf’s abilities to write remained. Biographers claim that Woolf’s marriage to Leonard Woolf was not consummated. According to them, she was a lesbian. Nonetheless, the couple had a tight relationship and often collaborated in the literature industry. Leonard Woolf was the publisher while Virginia Woolf was the writer. Hogarth Press published a majority of Woolf’s works. (Maze, 23, 1995) Woolf had a relationship with Vita Sackville West, an English poet and novelist. Their affair lasted for two years but thry remained friends. Other relationships with women were Madge Vaughn (the inspiration for â€Å"Mrs. Dalloway) and Violet Dickinson, a composer. There were also debates on whether Vanessa and Virginia also had an intimate and incestuous relationships or they were just close. (Maze, 24, 1995) Modern science explains Woolf’s disorder as a case of bipolar personality. On the verge of another nervous breakdown, Woolf commited suicide by drowning herself in the River Ouse. (Bowlby, 32, 1989) Students concentrating on Woolf and her works often analyze the lesbian and feminist themes in her novels, essays and short stories. For example, â€Å"A Room of One’s Own† discusses the difficulty female intellectuals and writers had to go through a time when men had more economic and legal power. What was instore for women in society and in education were unknown. This work exploited the obstacles, challenges and the anxieties of Woolf and other women writers during the 1930s. (Bowlby, 35, 1989) Women writers were afraid to write what they believed to be the â€Å"truth† because they were afraid that the academic world, which was made up by a majority of men, would disclaim their writings and describe it as mere opinions. A major problem of women writers in that decade was that tehyw ere not taken seriously. There was a disparity between male and female writers. The latter was said to be inferior. (Bowlby, 29, 1989). Woolf was a woman ahead of her time. One of the points she wanted to present was that a woman could be more than a housewife. She elaborated this by writing that women could perform the conventional duties in the household and have a career, in her case, an author, at the same time. She compared women who wait for the men to come home after work as objects, simply because they meet was was expected of them. (Lounsberry, 3, 1998) â€Å"Mrs. Dalloway† discussed themes on madness and feminism through two characters – Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith. Clarissa represents economic and sexual repression whereas Septimus is the remedy to depression and insanity. Septimus’ suicide was an allusion to Woolf’s constant struggle with manic depression. Like the character, Woolf also hallucinated that the birdes were singing Greek. There was also an instance when Woolf tried to throw herself out of the window, the exact same way she wrote Septimus’ death. â€Å"Mrs. Dalloway† also touched bisexuality through Sally Seton, Clarissa’s partner. (Lotz, 26, 2003) â€Å"To The Lighthouse† presented a new method on understanding thoughts. This is Woolf’s masterpiece and one of her best autobiographies. She suggested that by understanding thoughts, the writer must spend a good amount of time listening to her thoughts and studying how her words and her emotions affect her mind with what she saw. (Lotz, 27, 2003) In order to look into Woolf’s take on feminism and gender equality closer, scholars carefully analyze Woolf’s influential novel â€Å"Orlando. † This is a semi-biographical novel that was inspired by Woolf’s passionate relations with Sackville-West. It is the story of Orlando, a young English man who didn’t want to grow old. One day, he woke up and realized that he was turned into a woman. He still had the same intellect and same personality but he had a woman’s body. (Lotz, 28, 2003) Through this work, Woolf wrote a semi-autobiography that presented lesbian love to its readers. Because of the delicate subject matter, â€Å"Orlando† was banned in the United Kingdom. Also, â€Å"Orlando† started the trend of the non-fiction genre in literature. The novel is both transgender and transgenre. (Lotz, 29, 2003) Woolf is the first activist who vied for woman’s suffrage. Through her works, she changed the views and ideologies of women writers. Because of her, women were no longer annonymous. Most importantly, they were noticed and their works were regarded to be as the same level as those of male writers. (Lounsberry, 4, 1998) She set the groundwork for transformative social changes. Her beliefs which she wrote from 1920s to 1940 clearly indicated a movement that was heading toward the direction for women’s suffrage rights. Woolf’s writings on feminisms as indicated in her public letters and â€Å"A Society† assessed the development of the feminist subversion by male scholars. (Lounsberry, 5, 1998) â€Å"Three Guineas† is Woolf’s essay that has the most explicit and clear statement on feminism. It provides a meticulous and well-researched observation on the subject matter. Woolf also presented her relations with different women’s organizations which share her agenda. (Lotz, 30, 2003) This is Woolf’s feminist work that is uncompromising. She assaults the domination and privilege of men toward women. The details that are elaborated and sustained from beginning to end argue that women are still capable of maintaining a fervid argument which is relevant for feminism then and now. Woolf might have neglected class and sexuality in some of her feminist works because this was a problem during her time. However, she does her best to present to her readers her objectives on why she wrote her three guineas – which are democratization, education and public professional acivity. (Lotz, 31, 2003) By analyzing these three guineas and the possiblity of what can happen if a woman takes on the important roles that are associated to these, Woolf enriches the understanding of females everywhere. She takes into account the evolution and the development of feminism by combating the image that had been founded by males. (Lotz, 32, 2003) Woolf’s creations are long, scholarly and complex but when read with a feminist perspective, these are impressive and takes the reader into the author’s personality, convictions and beliefs. If she were alive now, she would prefer to be called a humanist than a feminist. Simply because she was not obsessed with women, she was merely hoping that women would have the same rights, honors and privileges as of men. By compassionately exploring Woolf’s feminism, literary scholars poke into her sexuality and psychology that surround and precede in all her works. She was once quoted saying that ‘the triumph of learning is that it leaves something done solidly forever. ’ She did exactly just that – with her works and her movement toward feminism. Works Cited Maze, John R, â€Å"Virginia Woolf: Feminism, Creativity and the Unconscious†, pp. 18 – 24, Free Inquiry, Vol 15, Spring 1995 Bowlby, Rachel, â€Å"Feminist Destinations†, pp 32 – 29, National Review, Vol 41, November 24, 1989 Lounsberry, Barbara, â€Å"The Tales We Tell†, pp 3 – 5, New Statesman, Vol 127, January 16, 1998 Lotz, Amanda D, â€Å"Communicating Third Wave Feminism and New Social Movements†, pp 26 – 32, Women and Language, , Vol 26. 2003,

Difference Between Slavery and Factory Workers Essay

One of the main things that could be compared between factory workers and slaves is the different working conditions that the two had and how they all suffered. Even though the factory workers were inside a building they suffered a great deal. The early factory system did not share its benefits evenly with every one. The owners grew plump with all the profit that they made, while the workers wasted away. All the workers were forbidden by law to form any type of union that would raise wages. This type of activity was considered to be criminal conspiracy. In the factory the people who were the most vulnerable to exploitation were the children. In 1820 a large portion of the industrial workers were children under the age of ten. These children some times got brutally whipped in special whipping rooms that the factories had. They were also mentally blighted, emotionally starved, and physically stunned. In the year of 1791 in the mill of Samuel Slater the workers consisted of boys and girls all under the age of twelve. The condition of the slave was a little different then the conditions of the factory workers. Majority of the slaves in the south worked in the cotton fields, which in 1840 accounted for half the value of all America exports. The slaves planted and picked all the cotton that formed the foundation of the 19th century, and the southern economy. Now since the slaves were exposed to the elements all the time a large portion of them was wiped out because of sickness and disease. Slavery rooted from racism and economic exploitation. In my opinion to call a factory worker back then a wage slave is a correct term to use for them. They were slaves in a factory. A large number of those workers were children under the age of ten, and some times they got brutally wiped. The workers were not allowed to form a union so obviously they were under paid and over worked.

International financial management

International financial management Concepts of Exposure Currency Exposure Risk The exposures caused by the unanticipated fluctuations in foreign currency rates and consequently, changes in the value of booked flow of finances are referred to as currency exposure risk. To overcome the currency exposure risks, businesses may use hedging technique or achieving efficiency in operational capacity of their businesses. These types of exposures are also referred to as cash flow exposures (Siddaiah, 2010; Eiteman, Stonehil, Moffett, 2010).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International financial management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Translation Exposure Risk Financial transactions of an organisation which are recorded in foreign currencies and are then converted into the local currency of an international business for presentation in the financial statements are subject to translation exposures. Worldwide, following techniques are used by multinationals for managing currency translation: Temporal method Current/noncurrent method Monetary/nonmonetary method Current rate method (Siddaiah, 2010; Eiteman, Stonehil, Moffett, 2010). Economic Exposure Risk The changes arising in multinationals’ future cash flows due to the changes in foreign exchange rates are referred to as economic exposure risk. Economic exposure can further be classified as operating exposure and transaction exposure (Siddaiah, 2010; Eiteman, Stonehil, Moffett, 2010). 2. If the exchange rate of EUR/USD was 1.2868 in 30 days then a loss of $10,000 i.e. the difference of $138,680 $28,680 would be recorded in the profit and loss account as an exchange loss for the period related to business dealing with the European customer (Madura, 2012). As DGP INC is a retail business operating in Europe and the Euro has shown appreciation against the US Dollar in the foreign currency market, it would directly effect DGP INC operations as it would be importing goods at a cheaper price. On the other hand, DGP receivables would be off lesser value as compared to their previous values. Such transactions effect entities’ economic activities (Apte., 2010). Translation exposure exists in transactions as now the receivable equal to Euro 1 is worth $1.28, whereas, before it was worth $1.38 to 1 Euro. 3. If the exchange rate was EUR/USD 1.4868 in 30 days, a gain of $10,000 would be recorded in the profit and loss as an exchange gain, i.e. the difference $138,680 $148,680. But here, the effects would be opposite as the scenario changed here as the Euro is depreciating against the Dollar. Now, DGP INC would be importing expensive goods and the receivable would be off greater value as it can be noted that the company would record a gain after translation, which would affect entities’ cash flowing activities (Das, 2013).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Translation exposure exists in the transaction as now the receivable equal to Euro 1 is worth $1.48, whereas before it was worth $1.38 to 1 Euro, but now the company would purchase less as now the Euro is worth less compared to US Dollar. 4. Company should use short hedge technique in order to reduce such risk by locking the amount of sale price with the buyer so that if there are any increase or decrease in exchange rates, it would not affect the sale price of the entity. To simplify, this hedging techniques allow a business to base its position according to the environment in the market on short term basis (Giddy, 2013). For example, to hedge funds of DGP INC during unfavourable market conditions, it may opt to go for locking transactions with clients in the international markets. Let us suppose, if DGP engages in business with ABC business across continent, than it would go for locking the amount of sale price with ABC. It is important to notice here that DGP should be efficient enough to gauge the market environment and anticipate a translation value that suits both parties and does not hurt their interest. Now, even if there are any unexpected changes in the exchange rate, the deal between DGP and ABC will stand as it is and the change in the exchange rate wouldn’t affect the sale price of the entity. To provide another example of avoiding exposure risks is the money market hedging technique for DGP future foreign exchange deals. Taking ABC INC as a client, DGP INC would sell its products to its client by borrowing the same value of sale receipts from a bank in ABC INC’s local currency and then pay out ABC INC’s local currency denominated amount for the purchased products. The cost involved in this transaction is the interest rate on ABC INC’s local currency loan, which is somehow less costly than the other hedging techniques. Reference List Apte. (2010). International Financial Management. New Delhi: Ta ta McGraw-Hill. Das, D. (2013). International Finance: Contemporary Issues. London: Routledge.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on International financial management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Eiteman, D., Stonehil, A., Moffett, M. (2010). Multinational Business Finance 12th Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Giddy, I. H. (2013, June 25). Corporate Hedging: Tools and Techniques. Retrieved from: http://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~igiddy/articles/hedging_techniques.html Madura, J. (2012). International Financial Management, Abridged Edition. NY: Cengage. Siddaiah, T. (2010). International Financial Management. New Delhi: Pearson Education India. International Financial Management Introduction In contemporary business environment multinationals are establishing their manufacturing plants in countries with cheap factors of production and whose international and local markets are booming; India and China are among the most favored countries by multinationals. Current campaigns to conservation the environment have grown renewable energy industry in different parts of the world.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on International Financial Management Rainbow Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Rainbow Power Company is an Australian multinational that manufactures and sells renewable energy products; the company wishes to establish whether it should follow other multinational strategy of establishing production lines in either China or India (Charles, 2011). This paper discusses the opportunities and threats that Rainbow Company could face after establishing production line in either India or Chin a; at the end of the report, the report will give recommendations to the company on the best country of the two to establish a production line. The nature of the renewable/sustainable energy technology market India and china have the potential of using renewable energy sources as they have solar, wind, water, and geothermal energy potentials. India and China have sunshine throughout the year a factor that favor a production of solar panels; India has the capacity of producing 250KWH per month with only Rs. 5 Lacs. China has over 400 photovoltaic (PV) which in 2007 was able to produce 1700 MWs of solar panels where 99% of them were exported. The main manufacturers of solar panels that the Rainbow would have to compete with include GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited, Yunnan Semi-conductor Parts Plant, and Guofei Green Energy Source. India is considered as the â€Å"wind Superpower:, the country has a potential of developing 45000MW from its 13 main states. Such a potential is the oppor tunity that Rainbow Company should utilize on and come up with gadgets to tap the potential. India has potential of producing hydro-energy with only 20% of the country’s potential having been utilized; this shows that if Rainbow was to venture in the market, there are some blue oceans that it can take advantage (Gevorg, 2011). China on the other hand has wind potential that in 2010 wind energy accounted for 41.8 gig watts (GW) of the national electricity production; the government has plans to have the production and use of wind energy increased to 100 gig watts (GWs) by 2015. With the prospects that the government has, Rainbow Company has the opportunity of selling its products to the fast growing demand of the renewable energy products. The chart below shows the tread of use of wind energy in china: Chart 1 Wind power in the PRC 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Capacity (MW) 1,260 2,599 5,912 12,170 25,100 41,800 Production (GW ·h) 1,927 3,675 5,425 12,425 25,000 India produces high fiber wastes from sugarcane, food grains, vegetables and fruits among other agricultural products; the wastes can be fermented to produce biogas that can be used as another source of energy. The main companies that Rainbow will have to compete with in India include Suzlon Energy, Moser Baer, Tata Power / Tata BP Solar, and Orient Green Power (Ranjini, 2007).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Chart 2 Ten of the largest hydroelectric producers as at 2009 Country Annual hydroelectric production (TWh) Installed capacity (GW) Capacity factor % of total capacity China 652.05 196.79 0.37 22.25 Canada 369.5 88.974 0.59 61.12 Brazil 363.8 69.080 0.56 85.56 United States 250.6 79.511 0.42 5.74 Russia 167.0 45.000 0.42 17.64 Norway 140.5 27.528 0.49 98.25 India 115.6 33.600 0.43 15.80 Venezuela 85.96 14.622 0.67 69.20 Japan 69.2 27 .229 0.37 7.21 Sweden 65.5 16.209 0.46 44.34 Currently China produces 197 GW of hydropower generating capacity; this only caters for the country’s power usage of 23%; with such a statistic, the country has potential of using more of the energy thus if rainbow was to establish its business in the country there are high chances that it will benefit from the increased demand of electricity (Gevorg, 2011). The country situation and risks in India and China According to Ease of Doing Business Index is an index created by the World Bank in 2011, for 183 countries India was ranked 134, 133, and 132 in the years 2008, 2009, and 2010 while China was ranked 79, 89, and 86 for the years 2008, 2009, and 2010; the index considered different parameters that are likely to affect business and new establishments. China and India have highly modern developed infrastructures; these are both of transport and those of communication. The systems are advanced so well that asses to the countrie s from any corner of the world is highly enhanced, the airports, the sea port, and internal transport are well managed and assessable. The communication network within and without is of high-tech. This is an asset to the business since it reduces the cost of doing business, on the other hand the international market are enhanced at all lengths. The sectors have seen the private and public participation, this boosts the efficiency of the systems and thus one can trade with approximate assumptions. There is what the government refers to as private public partnership that is aimed at maintaining the infrastructures. Chinese and Indian governments are offering incentives to those companies that are making products to increase the use of renewable energy. Indian policy on encouraging the use of renewable policy has been for long been influenced positively by world trade organization requirement. There are direct incentives that Rainbow is likely to get from the two countries governments. Some of the incentives are direct for example taxes and those to facilitate trade. The taxes that have been reduced include, corporation taxes, value added taxes as well as customs. An example to portray the above incentive is the Corporation tax of 15% that is subsidized from the general rate of 30% when an investment is done in the Special Economic Zones at the southern part of the country. For instance getting a visa and business permit to China is one of the simplest ways. No restrictions and thus trade is highly advantaged. This will be of great assistance in tapping world carpet business (Barney, 2007). Indian and Chinese financial sectors are well developed with the privatized and government participation in the sector. The banks are stable enough to sustain the growing economy. On the other hand, although this may not have a direct impact on our business there is the emergence of micro finance institutions in the country, the institutions are giving a lot of support to the small scale trader evident in the country.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on International Financial Management Rainbow Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thinking of the economy from that angle, it means that the manufacturing businesses will eventually benefit. Insurance companies are also a backbone of investment sector of an economy. The insurance companies are stable enough and can handle big losses without going under. At the same time, there are reinvestment insurance companies that help in maintaining stability even further. The banking sector has enabled firms to get loans at favorable rates. The insurance and the banking sectors will thus have a direct and indirect effect. From a direct point it means we stand to benefit the efficiency of this institutions and from an indirect point is that as the other sectors get empowered the benefit trickle down to my business. China was among the few world count ries who were able to record an increased economic growth; the exchange rates in the countries remained relatively stable than the case was for India. The type of FDI to further minimize risks The demand for reliable energy source in China has made the country’s government to develop some incentives to FDI to minimize their risk in doing business in the country. Some of the policies that the government has enacted include investment deductions, zero rating of photocell products and offering taxation holidays to foreign companies in the economy. The government of India on the other hand is sensitive on its needs to energy and seems to engage in transactions that involve the development of renewable energy sources; the government has joint ventures with renewable energy producers in the efforts of reducing risks associated with the business and encourage them produce further. In the Indian budget, the government allocates some funds for the use by renewable solar energy product s manufacturers in the efforts of supporting their moves and availing funds at an affordable competitive rate (Zachary and Katrin, 2008). Recommendation Considering the opportunities, threats, risks, and strengths of doing business in either China or India, it is highly recommended that Rainbow should establish an operating firm in China. Today in the world there has a large focus on trading with China. China is slowly portraying itself as the world economic driver; this means that each and every country, individuals and the companies are considering China as the trade partner, a thing that has boost in the economy of the country; companies in the economy not only depend with the local market for their business but has high access to international customers. The fact that each country is willing to trade with it has set the country in the pace, now heading to be a political neutral country. As nations get more confident in the country, the more they will be willing to trade with Chi na and thus the market stands to gain. This stands to have a positive effect on the business since we will not be depending on local market alone but the entire world (Easson, 2004)Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More China has come up as a bargaining market where traders interact as an open market. As the world come to fetch for varieties, we will be one of those variety providers. An example is the African countries that have diverted there trading to China and killing the predominant markets of the west. This has been as a partnership kind of trading where you will find contractors in Africa from china. The way the contracts are made is in such a way that there is a long relationship created. The growth rate of the economy of China has always, for the last three decades, remained on a positive note. There have even been some rates recorded as high as 12%. This is an element to show the strength of the economy as well as it gives us the hope of continuity in the market. This growth has enabled China to be seen as the emerging world economy. The rate of growth is another indicator of a stable political environment that encourages local and international investors to invest. With such a rate of e conomic growth it leads to the easy options of diversity of the business. When an economy is growing one major demand that will be there is demand for energy; this Rainbow will have ready market for its products. When comparing the ease of doing business between China and India, China is rated far better than India thus Rainbow can establish the business in the country easier (Reuvid and Li, 2005). Conclusion When multinationals are considering the country to develop a manufacturing plant they consider the business atmosphere in the country. When comparing China and India, it is advisable for Rainbow Power Company to venture in the Chinese market as the business environment is more favorable than in India. Other than normal business environment, Chinese government has projects to promote the use of renewable energy thus companies in the industry are benefiting government incentives and support. The fast economic growth rate of China is another opportunity that Rainbow can tap from t he Chinese market; China fast industrializing thus demand for energy keeps increasing. Growth in international trade also favors China than India, with the growth in international trade, Rainbow will benefit from local and international markets. References Barney, J. B. ,2007. Gaining and sustaining competitive advantage. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall. Charles, W.L., 2011. International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace. New York: McGraw-Hill. Easson, A.J. (2004) Tax incentives for foreign direct investment. Boston, Kluwer Law International. Gevorg, S.,2011. Unleashing the Potential of Renewable Energy in India. Geneva: World Bank Publications. Ranjini, M., 2007. Doing Business in India For Dummies. New York: For Dummies. Reuvid, J. and Li, Y., 2005. Doing business with China. London: GMB Publishing Ltd. Zachary, A. and Katrina D. , 2008. Renewable and alternative energy resources: a reference handbook. New Jersey: ABC-CLIO.

Which SAT Score Do Colleges Use

Which SAT Score Do Colleges Use SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Standardized test scores are an important component of the college application process. However, since most people take the SAT multiple times, it's not always clear which scores colleges will look at when judging an applicant's potential. In this article, I'll give you an overview of which SAT scores colleges use in the admissions process. The Basics When colleges look at your SAT scores, they will usually consider your composite score more strongly than the scores from individual sections.Some more specialized tech and engineering schools (think a school like MIT) will be interested to know what your Math scores are because these schools place a high value on quantitative reasoning abilities.However, they will still look at your composite score to make sure that your overall academic abilities will allow you to keep up in college. Schools may use different scores to judge your application based on what you decide to send them and what their individual score policies are.Some schools require SAT scores but use Superscoring and allow Score Choice, some schools ask that you send all of your SAT scores, and some schools don’t require you to submit the SAT at all.I’ll discuss the various possible scenarios in the next two sections. Score Choice and Superscoring Score Choice and Superscoring are two policies that will affect which scores colleges look at when evaluating your performance on the SAT.Score Choice is under your control; you can decide whether or not to send your scores from each test date to colleges.If you choose to send scores from just one test date, those are the only scores that a college will look at in judging your application. With Score Choice, you're only allowed to send full score reports.You can’t, for example, send your Math score from one test date and your Reading and Writing scores from another date.Score Choice is a good option if you performed particularly poorly on one test date and don’t want to advertise it to colleges.If you don’t use Score Choice when sending SAT scores to colleges, they will look at all of your test scores. In many cases, colleges will use a process called Superscoring to make judgments about your scores as a whole.Superscoring is when colleges combine your best score from each section on the SAT across different tests to create your best possible composite score. Say you took the SAT twice. The first time you got a 700 on Critical Reading, a 650 on Math, and a 710 on Writing, and the second time you got a 670 on Critical Reading, a 700 on Math, and a 750 on Writing.A college that uses Superscoring would take the 700 on Critical Reading, the 700 on Math, and the 750 on Writing and combine them into your best possible composite score of a 2150 rather than using the slightly lower composite scores of 2060 and 2120 from the two individual test sessions.See this article for a list of colleges that Superscore the SAT. In general, even if they don’t use Superscoring, most schools will look at your highest scores.Colleges don’t want students to get too stressed out about any one test date.Taking the highest score also means that colleges can boost their score statistics and improve their reputations, so it’s a win-win. Colleges will usually only look at the tip of your metaphorical SAT iceberg. What About the New SAT? With the arrival of the new SAT, there's another issue to consider: How will colleges view the new scores, and will they superscore between the old and new versions of the test if you submit both? The consensus is that colleges will NOT superscore between the two different versions of the test. The changes are too significant for superscoring between tests to be a valid method of assessing scores. You will be able to submit scores from both the old and new SAT (at least for the time being), but each set of scores will be viewed completely separately. Exceptions and Special Cases There are some exceptions to these general rules about which scores colleges consider.Some schools only look at Critical Reading and Math scores and don’t care about Writing scores (including the essay).There are a couple reasons why they might do this. Since the Writing section was only added in 2005, it doesn’t have as much data as Critical Reading and Math to back it up in terms of how accurately it predicts success in college. The Critical Reading and Math sections are given more weight because many colleges believe that a student’s level of college preparedness can be determined by looking at the scores for these sections alone.Critical Reading and Math scores are often used as benchmarks to determine whether a student should place out of introductory classes during their freshman year. Other schools don’t require you to submit scores at all!These â€Å"test optional† schools won’t look at any of your scores unless you decide to submit them. More and more schools have decided to loosen their standardized testing requirements based on these tests’ limited predictive value of success in college academics.These colleges want to give students a choice about how they present themselves in their applications.If a student feels that their test scores are not representative of their academic ability, then they may choose not to submit them.If you do submit your scores, you can expect these colleges to consider them just like schools that explicitly require SAT scores. Some schools are also â€Å"test flexible.†This means that they do require you to submit test scores in some form, but they don't have to be from the SAT or ACT.NYU, for example, will allow students to submit three AP test scores or three SAT Subject Test scores in lieu of the regular SAT or ACT.These policies vary from school to school, but they cater to students who want to demonstrate mastery in an academic area that's not explicitly covered by the regular SAT. There is only one college, Hampshire College, that is currently "test blind."This means that they won't look at any of your test scores in judging your application. DON'T SHOW ME YOUR SCORES! DON'T YOU KNOW I'M TEST BLIND Conclusion Most colleges will only see the scores that you want them to see.Through Score Choice and Superscoring, the vast majority of schools give you the option of sending just your best scores, or they will formulate your best possible score based on your performance across different test dates. For the most part, colleges are only looking at your best composite SAT score or a composite score that represents a combination of your best scores on each section of the test. You can submit both old and new SAT scores for the time being, but colleges won't superscore between the two versions of the test. Some schools don’t require you to submit the SAT or will only look at certain sections of the test. You should check the websites of the colleges that interest you to see whether they might have special policies towards test scores. With these types of schools, you have even more choice as to how you present yourself on your application. You can decide to leave your scores out of the equation completely. Which SAT score colleges use to judge applicants depends on the policies of each institution, but most schools that explicitly require you to send in your SAT results will use your highest scores. What's Next? Now that you know which scores colleges use in the admissions process, you can set a score goal for yourself. Read our article on what a good SAT score might mean for you. If you're currently working on improving your SAT scores, take a look at this list of quick tips that will help you adjust your strategy appropriately. The most important part of this whole process is sending in the score reports. Read more about how to send your SAT scores to collegesand whether you should send the four free SAT score reportsthat you get with each test. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today!