Human Nature in Shakespears Plays Essay Example for Free

Human Nature in Shakespears Plays Essay Topic- in Shakespeare’s plays how is his unusual detailed knowledge of nature as well as of human beings shown? Shakespeare was a man who deeply loved nature and the beauty of it. He was not just an author who experienced and enjoyed nature but also as someone who studied, understood and knew nature intimately. In this essay there will be discussions about how Shakespeare would often use examples from nature to describe the nature of human beings in his plays and how did he show a deep understanding and knowledge of human nature which he would put that deep knowledge in his plays and poems. Shakespeare’s greatest influences were the works of other great writers as well as from variety of books, and plays which he used as subject materials for his own plays. He got most of his ideas from existing written literature. All of his plays were based on British history, adjusted to suit the occasion. He also drew ideas from many things that he grew up with, like his love for nature gave him several ideas how to write some of his plays and poetry. Besides this, he got many ideas from his childhood as his father is known to have often told him ‘bedtime stories’. Shakespeare may have got inspirations from nature and some ideas of characterizations from real life experiences but his plots where never made from events that happened in his life. Two of his favorite writers were Geoffery Chaucer (1340- 1400) and Plutarch (46-120). Chaucer, who was the first poet ever to be buried at the â€Å"poet’s corner† in Westminster Abby was from a wealthy family where his father was as a deputy to King Edward the third’s butler. Chaucer’s poetry was in Middle English and he was known to be one of the finest poets in England. Shakespeare admired him and many of the sources of his plays came from Chaucer’s poems. Plutarch studied philosophy and he taught it as a teacher in Rome where he earned the admiration of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. Plutarch’s work was translated by Sir Thomas North which had become very popular in Renaissance England. His translations were then used by Shakespeare himself as sources for many of his plays like Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus, Timon of Athens, etc. The way Shakespeare examined and admired nature was quite different from regular viewers. His way of seeing nature was deep and he would use it in many other forms as well. He would usually find ideas for his poems by what he saw and nature was the biggest part that inspired him how to write his poems and plays. For example in one of his plays named King Lear, the concept of nature is considered to be the groundwork of the whole play. From Kingship through to personal human relations, to the views of the empire, from the representation of human nature to the animal imagery, there was nature filling every line of King Lear. Nature is a socially constructed concept which is made in order to legitimize the existing social order. By drawing a brief sketch of the political and social beliefs of the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages, it will be at the same time outlining the arguments for believing that nature truly is the socially constructed concept. The Elizabethan and Jacobean age was a time of change and disorder. They were not known for their unity. Elizabeth had her subjects worry about who would succeed her as she was not married, therefore there was no heir to carry on with the throne. ‘Kings are justly called Gods for that they exercise a manner or resemblance of divine power on the earth. ’ This quote was taken from the speech of James I where he describes the divine rights of Kings. James I had succeeded Elizabeth I to be the first Stuart King. Although he had the Kingship, he still was not able to overcome the political and financial problems of the state. In order for the continuation of his reign, the unity and harmony of the state and nature was of great importance. He legitimized his power by naturalization. Therefore by ‘nature’ everyone has its place, and knows the duties and obligations to that place, and those who have power cannot be questioned which are the divine rights of Kings. The belief in the social order restricting from the natural order is an important concept to hold when probing the idea of nature being utilized to maintain the status quo. The interdependence of man and nature as a theme is explored in King Lear. Men are always represented in the relation to the divine hierarchy which is the physical world and the world of animals but they are never represented in isolation. It becomes easier to understand the actions of Lear with the almost constant references to nature, once the concept of correspondence between man’s nature and the natural world is understood in terms of legitimizing the social order. In King Lear, the tragedy shown in the play is when Lear tries attempting to overthrow the ‘natural’ social order by handing over his crown to his daughters. Once disorder is initiated by Lear’s revocation of his powers and rights as King, disaster in corresponding hierarchies follow. Lear’s abandonment of his power is in direct opposition to the concept of the Divine Right of Kings. According to the laws of nature, it was impossible for Lear to stop being a king, because that was his rightful position by divine ordination and in fact throughout the play he is still referred to as the King, even though he has divided his crown. Also Lear is unable to stop seeing himself as the King, which can be seen from his banishment of Kent, soon after he has relinquished his powers: Hear me, recreant, on thine allegiance, hear me: That thou hast sought to make us break our vows, Which we durst never yet, and with strained pride To come betwixt our sentence and our power, Which nor our nature, nor our place can bear, Our potency made good take thy reward. King Lear (1. 1. 169-173) In this speech Lear not only uses the power of the King which he no longer holds to banish Kent, but he also, unknown to himself, explains why he cannot or should not divide his kingdom, for it goes against both his ‘nature’ and his ‘place’ to divide his ‘power’ from his ‘sentence,’ which is exactly what he does, thereby attempting to deny his nature and position. Aside from the natural position of Kings the natural social order can also be seen in terms of power relations between characters: King over subjects, fathers over daughters, husbands over wives. This naturalization can be seen as being represented by the character of Lear. He possesses his daughters, because he controls over them, therefore it is only ‘natural’ that they should proclaim their love for him. Cordelia’s refuses this which is therefore shocking to Lear and he calls her ‘a wretch whom nature is ashamed’. (1. 1. 213-214) The animal imagery that is shown in King Lear indicates the unnaturalness of a character‘s behavior in comparison to how they should behave if they observed the natural social order. This contradiction again underlines the distinction between nature and the ‘natural social order’. Shakespeare was good in phycology and describing the human character. He did not state many new ideas of human nature in his place as much as he did on the personalities and behaviors that all human beings have. There still are experts that claim that Shakespeare was the ‘inventor of human nature. However, these were Shakespearean experts and not the experts in psychology or human personality. It was not that Shakespeare new more things around him than other people but it was how he saw and examined things and people around him. In many of his plays and poems he showed deep knowledge of human nature. The way in which we experience fear, love, hatred, jealousy, despair, or anything else one can name. The way he wrote it and staged it would leave many artists in the dust and that the meaning of his work would stay with readers and viewers while everything around them changed. Shakespeare managed to grasp what it took to shape the essence of human nature in many of its aspects and drop it into text and drama in a way that would draw our ears, our eyes and our hearts. Unlike psychology, Shakespeare tries attempting to understand why people do what they do. He simply outshone most others, in many times and many places, at drawing portraits of the mystery of human behavior. Shakespeare used to combine nature and human nature together in many of his plays and poems. He used to describe human behavior by relating them with nature. In one of his plays known as Troilus and Cressida, he quotes the following: Let not virtue seek Remuneration for the thing it was; For beauty, wit, High birth, vigor of bone, desert in service, Love, friendship, charity are subjects all To envious and calumniating time One touch of nature makes the whole world kin, That all with one consent praise new-born gawds, Though they are made and moulded of things past, And give to dust that is a little gilt More laud than gilt oerdusted. (3. 3. 169–179) This quote was spoken by the character known as Ulysses where he says this to the great Greek warrior Achilles who did not participate in the Trojan War because he contained a broken pride and was in love with a Trojan. He did not understand why he was not liked by the other Greeks and Ulysses tried to get Achilles mind back into action by giving him an uncomplimentary lecture on human nature. In the seventh line of Ulysses’ quote, he speaks about the ‘touch of nature’ which means ‘natural traits’. These are vital characteristics that make us all in this world kin. The phrases nowadays used for our ‘touch of nature’ as warmth or generosity or any other romantic ideal is different from how Ulysses describes it. He sees unanimity in our gaudy originalities as our ‘touch of nature’ is a short memory. The past deeds of Achilles, like beauty, wit, love, and so on, are subject to the ravages of time. In other words, it is our nature to forget these types of faded glories because they do not seem important anymore as there are bigger things that should be remembered instead of wasting it on these small glories that will be slowly forgotten in the future. Shakespeare’s unusual yet deep ways of describing human nature through his characters in his plays were unique. From the way he wrote his plays and poems, it would almost feel like to the reader and viewer that he lived in another type of world and that he saw everything around him very differently from normal people. He was very good in describing what he felt through what he saw as well. In one of his well-known plays called Hamlet, one of Hamlet’s quotes he says as following: What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like a god! The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals—and yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me— nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so. (2. 2. 303–312). This passage exemplifies how Hamlet says that man is like an angel or god in apprehension. The ‘quintessence of dust’ states that from all God’s work, Man is one of the noblest. Despite all this nobility, Hamlet is not delighted by all this grace or beauty of man. This is one of the moments where his sincerity is genuinely in question as he explains this to two of the king’s followers or ‘parasites’ as he seems them as, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He feels like there is nothing in Denmark for him and that it feels like a prison to him where he is stuck in following his uncle’s orders and wished that there was another choice for him to follow instead. Even though Man is described as the beauty of God’s works, from what he sees man as in his life gives him another image of human nature.

An Analysis Of Shanghai Volkswagen

An Analysis Of Shanghai Volkswagen Shanghai Volkswagen is one of the largest single foreign-invested projects ever conceived in China and has proven to be a successful development. Com- pared with Beijing Jeeps course, the German ventures progress was steady and smooth. In 1997 Shanghai Volkswagen headed the list of the top 500 foreign-funded enterprises operating in China. It is a joint venture between Volkswagen of Germany and Shanghai Automobile Industry Corporation. It posted a 21.3-percent rise in sales of its Santana model for the first seven months of 1997 in comparison to the same period in 1996 and reported a 10- percent increase in net profits for 1997 to 472.6 million renminbi. This will further the ventures reputation as the most successful partnership in Chinas car industry (Woodard 2002, p 39). Volkswagen has an aim as part of its global competition strategy to build up a business base in the Far East that will limit the dominance of Japanese firms. Its strategy is for China to become a big export base for the whole of Southeast Asia. In the year 2003 Volkswagen wants to be able to go to Japan with German-engineered cars that are produced in China. Officially, the company plans to produce nearly 700,000 cars by 2000 (Ball McCulloch 2005, p 77). However, the vision calls for at least a million cars. Shanghai Volkswagen was built on a more solid mutual foundation than the Jeep venture. In October 1984 a joint-venture agreement was signed between Volkswagen AG (VW AG) and a consortium of Chinese partners led by the Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corporation (SAIC), the Bank of China, and the Chinese National Automotive Industrial Corporation (CNAIC). Literature Review The agreement, valued at I billion renminbi, established a twenty-five-year Sino- German partnership with 50-percent equity provided by VW AG, 25 percent by SAIC, 15 percent by the Bank of China, and 10 percent by CNAIC. Initial equity from the partnership was used to finance the renovation of production facilities, to import production lines from Brazil, and to import the Santana completely knocked-down kits (CKDs). The new joint venture was christened Shanghai Volkswagen (Raveed Renforth 2007, p 49). Over the previous five-year period, the Chinese consortium had negotiated with more than eight international automobile manufactures before opting for a partnership with Shanghai Volkswagens German parent. As the second automobile joint venture in China after Beijing Jeep, the joint venture planned to manufacture automobiles and engines and was granted a special tax relief under Chinese guidelines for advanced technology partnerships: a standard two-year tax holiday and a special six- year reduced tax rate exclusive to Shanghai Volkswagen, all in exchange for promised technology transfer (Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Ltd. 2004, p 23). West German experiences with Socialist East Germany have contributed to an understanding of command economies and their shortcomings (Raveed Renforth 2007, p 48). Therefore, Volkswagen representatives already knew what and how to negotiate with the Chinese partners. The contract they negotiated with the Chinese was notable for attention to detail, and for its ability to predict future difficulties. On one part of the contract, the Germans insisted on the assembly of imported CKD kits (The Economist 1990, p 16). Other parts of the contract also demonstrated Volkswagens foresight. Anticipating the problem of paying for imported kits with Chinese renminbi remittances, the contract allowed Shanghai Volkswagen to convert RMB into German marks at the prevailing official exchange rate until the venture had produced 89,000 cars (Bates et al. 2008, p 6-7). Such a clause would help protect the company against foreign exchange shortage that could possibly occur within the venture. The contract took into account the need to localize the Santana model. According to the agreement, however, responsibility for providing quality parts made in China rested squarely with the Chinese; Volkswagen had no obligation to hasten the process (Woodard 2002, p 41). To help balance the foreign exchange flowing out of China to pay for kit imports, the contract called for the venture to purchase engines produced in Shanghai to be used in cars manufactured in Europe (Hook 2001, p 10). The earnings generated from such exports would support the use of foreign currency by Shanghai Volkswagen for importing the kits and later the foreign components used for assembly in China. In addition, the price Volkswagen would pay for each engine was predetermined. The primary concern was the possibility for localization. Localization was planned to start immediately in order to reduce the foreign exchange expense of importing the Santana kits from Germany. It was planned to reach a local content of 20 percent in 1988, 32 percent in 1989, and 84 percent in 1990 (Frisbie 2003, p 4). The negative factors were poor local supply, the Chinese partners existing technical capability, and foreign exchange. Volkswagen also worried about the effect poor-quality products would have on the companys reputation. At this time China was not known for its ability to manufacture complex products with dependable quality. The industrial infrastructure in the auto- mobile industry was poor. Components were imported because local suppliers could not manufacture them to the requisite quality standards. Imported components faced high import tariffs of 25 to 40 percent (The Economist 1990, p 16). The technical standards of Chinese automobile-component suppliers in 1986 were nearly thirty years behind component manufacturers of Europe, Japan, and the United States. Even some simple materials, such as sandpaper for polishing cars and major items such as batteries, had to be imported. Although an automobile industry did exist in China, quality parts were hard to find (Raveed Renforth 2007, p 47). The problem was the development of local suppliers who could make components to Western standards. Furthermore, Volkswagens technical staff found it difficult to communicate Volkswagens concept of quality to the Chinese autoparts manufacturers. Since Shanghai is the most developed industrial area in China, it was expected that car components could be locally made there in the near future (Hofstede 2006, p 25). Local supply was therefore expected to improve, but it would take time. In fact, the development of local capabilities was incredibly important to their ability to compete in the market and has proven to be the most troublesome feature of Shanghai Volkswagens short history. In order to increase the value of an automobile from China-based factories, and to prove that the Chinese automotive industry could indeed compete with foreign suppliers, Volkswagen worked with their European parts manufacturers to encourage their entry into China. Volkswagens technical staff sup- ported the m by assisting with the identification of possible Chinese partners for the various parts to be manufactured. Also, Shanghai Volkswagen encouraged Chinese suppliers to forge cooperative relations with peer parts makers from abroad. From Volkswagens supplier group, suitable partners were chosen by Chinese suppliers and formal joint-venture relations between foreign and domestic supplier firms were signed. In order to assure quality improvement, Shanghai Volkswagen rated its suppliers (Woodard 2002, p 43). The joint-venture contract specifically charged the Chinese with responsibility for providing parts of acceptable quality. It categorized its suppliers into A, B, or C classes: A suppliers produced parts of export standard, B suppliers produced parts used for the domestic market that were not yet of export quality, and C suppliers produced parts below even first-rate domestic standards (Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Ltd. 2004, p 45). Because of Shanghai Volkswagens strict quality control and demands, it rewarded its suppliers handsomely. This reward would provide an incentive to the supplie rs so that they would maintain their quality standards. Shanghai Volkswagen promised to pay its suppliers a purchase price capped at the price of a similar import, in addition to custom duties (Ball McCulloch 2005, p 112). It guaranteed a profit for every manufacturer in its parts-supplier network. Furthermore, Shanghai Volkswagen organized their suppliers into the Santana Localization Community. The community served to forge closer ties between Shanghai Volkswagen and its suppliers, and more important, among the suppliers themselves. The organizing principle behind the localization community was the relentless pursuit of quality (U.S. China Business Council 2008, p 5). Throughout the barrage of Chinese criticism over localization levels, the Germans refrained from making their problems public. Volkswagen officials patiently allowed the Chinese to find a solution to problems. On the Chinese side, the government granted some incentive for the Germans to increase local content. After 40 percent of parts were localized, the imported parts were no longer considered CKD kits and were then taxed at a lower rate. Similar tax reductions were made once the 60- and 80-percent localization barriers were crossed. Although there were some components and tasks that were still impossible to source in China, the progress of localization did quite well (Hofstede 2006, p 8). Research Questions And Objectives To prove that German patience paid off in the long run. Local content was 70 percent after the engine and gearbox were localized in 1991. The company reached its goal of 80- percent local content in 1993 (Bates et al. 2008, p 8). By the end of 1995, 90 percent of the components were locally sourced. In the Changchun plant, local content was 40 percent for Audi and 60 percent for Jetta. The company had strong, reliable dealer and supplier networks in place. Shanghai Volkswagen made a profit largely because they were able to provide a substitute for imports from Japan, and because they were assisted by the high import tariff set by the Chinese government (Hofstede 2006, p 23). To prove the logistical importance of the Guangdong factory. It initially appeared to be a logical site for the new factory. The province had one of the highest standards of living in the country and had acquired extensive experience with joint-venture projects. Moreover, with Guangdong far from Beijings watchful eye, Peugeot officials anticipated a greater degree of managerial autonomy than a plant in northern China might enjoy. Local government support for the joint venture also seemed strong. Yet these apparent advantages could not shield the Sino-French joint venture from its share of difficulties (United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations 2009, p 11). During the set-up phase, for example, Peugeot discovered that GPAC workers-formerly employed at the GAM bus and truck factory-had inadequate skills. Consequently, Peugeot had to spend more than anticipated, both on training PRC workers in Europe and sending French managers to the PRC. Commitments to localize parts production posed additional stumbling blocks for GPAC (United Nations Centre on Transnational Corporations 2009, p 6). Though the joint-venture contract called for GPAC vehicles to reach a 90-percent Chinese content level within five years of start-up, the French partner found few suppliers of quality parts in Guangdong and was prohibited by Guangzhou officials from sourcing from other regions in China. Peugeot, for its part, was slow to establish its own joint-venture parts manufacturers, a key to Volkswagen AGs success in Shanghai (Hook 2001, p 6). GPAC thus had to assemble automobiles largely from imported parts, which proved costly when the French franc appreciated some 110 percent against the renminbi in the late 1980s. The resulting rise in prices of imported parts, together with PRC localization and consumption taxes totaling more than 45,000 yuan ($12,000, based on the 1989 exchange rate) per vehicle, substantially raised the final prices of finished vehicles. In early 1990, for example, the companys model 505 station wagon sold for 200,000 yuan ($54,000), while Shanghai Volkswagen Co. Ltd.s Santana, which was subject to similar taxes, sold for 180,000 yuan ($49,000). GPACs growth slowed as a result (Ball McCulloch 2005, p 34). Stiff Competition GPACs troubles were aggravated by such stiff competition from Shanghai Volkswagen. The Santana had achieved 75-percent local content by 1992, and thus was able to keep production costs and sales prices relatively low. Though GPAC had reached similar levels of domestic content by 1994, its least expensive station wagon (in the year 1997) costs 170,000 yuan ($21,000, based on the 1997 exchange rate), compared with 135,000 yuan ($16,000) for the least expensive Santana model. Moreover, the quality of both GPAC parts and finished vehicles remained poor. Because the local government objected to sourcing from plants outside Guangzhou, GPAC was forced to use local parts that often failed to meet international standards. Some of Peugeots management decisions also contributed to GPACs competitive weaknesses. The company reportedly repatriated most of its profits and made relatively few changes to its 1980s era products, whereas Volkswagen reinvested profits and refined its production, introducing a new ÊÂ »Santana 2000ÊÂ » model in the mid-1990s. The GPAC sedan also had problems finding a market niche, as its large engines high fuel consumption precluded the cars use as a taxi, and its outdated design failed to attract Chinese buyers. When com- pared with the Audi 100, made in Changchun by a joint venture between Audi AG, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, and Chinas First Automobile Works (Group) Corp., the GPAC sedan lacked the prestige that status-conscious private or government consumers sought in a vehicle (Hofstede Bond 2010, p 12). GPAC also was not as high a political priority for Guangzhou officials as the Volkswagen plant was for the Shanghai government (Bates et al. 2008, p 10). While the Shanghai municipality invested 5 to 6 billion yuan ($600-$700 million) to aid Volkswagens endeavor, Guangzhou officials only contributed about 1 billion yuan ($120 million) to help GPAC (Sender 2007, p 90). Further, because of Guangzhous laissez-faire approach to production and consumption, city leaders were reluctant to urge government officials or ente rprises into purchasing GPACs vehicles. In Shanghai, by contrast, the citys taxi company was one of the largest purchasers of Volkswagen Santanas. Further, 1996 Shanghai municipal rules on engine size for taxis effectively eliminated Volkswagens competitor in the city, the Tianjin Charade, from the taxi business (Hofstede 2006, p 23). Ironically, while GPACs remoteness from Beijing protected it from central-government interference, the southern China venture also did not rank high on Beijings planning agenda. And the lack of a central-government partner meant PRC leaders did little to forestall the joint ventures decline. Many MNCs are approaching China as a long-term strategic market, and they are investing large sums of money to help build sustainable long- term positions. This can be a rational strategy. MNCs that do not consider exploring Chinas vast market with its emerging consumer base could be missing a tremendous growth opportunity. But some MNCs take the long-term argument too far. The traditional belief that a firm has to be around a long time to get results is not necessarily right in all cases. Long-term success is best achieved through measurable short-term results (Sender 2007, p 91). It is true that Shanghai Volkswagen, Matsushitas TV tube factory, Charoen Pokphands animal-feed ventures, and Otiss elevator plant are all early entrants that are growing at double-digit rates. But Peugeot entered the Chinese market at the same time as Volkswagen, and it has lost tens of millions of dollars each year since 1995. Kraft entered China more than ten years ago, and all of its plants are now rep orted to be losing money (Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Ltd. 2004, p 66). In a volatile market such as Chinas, sustainable long-term positions are necessarily built on a series of successful short-term moves. Short-term results can help build brand recognition, attract local talent, and secure support from the parent company. They can create a virtuous cycle (Frisbie 2003, p 4). By contrast, when MNCs see no positive short-term results, a vicious cycle could arise. Rather than revise the companys strategy, managers typically justify poor performance with the argument that China is a long-term market. Patience and longevity are not enough. In fact, many MNCs accomplished great short-term success. For instance, Ericsson, the Swedish telecom company, acquired 40 percent of the cellular handset market, worth $4 billion, in only three years. Kodak gained a 15-percent share of the $500-million film market in less than two years. Tingyi built a $500-million instant-noodle business from nothing in just four years (Daniels Radebaugh 2004, p 45); its average operat ing margin over that period was more than 20 percent. Many of these successes can be attributed to recent moves these companies have made, not to how long they have been in China. These examples show how MNCs can plan for success by making smart short-term moves, thereby helping to establish new rules for the game (Karp 2002, p 74). Their successes are also founded on their continuous learning in the market and their ability to react correctly to changing dynamics. Performance is driven by an adaptive strategy that can be implemented rapidly. In this respect, recent developments in the cellular handset market are particularly instructive. Continuous learning and adaptability is essential to manage the vastness of the market and the rapid rate of change (Hofstede Bond 2010, p 52). This is difficult in an environment like China, where Western managers face exceptional language and cultural differences, and doubly difficult because consumer demographics and tastes are constantly changing. Krafts Tang was successful at the start, but carbonated drinks and fruit juices were quickly substituted for it. Motorola was very successful with male consumers, but Ericsson took advantage of the demo- graphic shift in the cellular handset market toward women (Daniels Radebaugh 2004, p 62). As Ericssons success dramatically sh ows, in an emerging market, effective learning is essential. Although Peugeot and Volkswagen entered the Chinese automobile market at roughly the same time, their performances have differed dramatically. Volkswagens revenues have grown at a compounded annual rate of 77 percent since 1985. Sales exceeded $2 billion by 1995. Today Volkswagen has expanded its capacity to 300,000 cars; the company produces close to 200,000 cars per year. It enjoys more than a 50-percent share of the passenger car market and earns a double-digit after-tax profit. By contrast, Peugeot built a 90,000-car capacity and sold only 2,000 cars in 1996 (Bates et al. 2008, p 9). Research Plan Perspective The factors are labeled as political, legal, cultural, economic, historical and geographic. This paper addresses the six environmental factors as they apply to IJVs in the Peoples Republic of China. Examples are drawn from an active IJV in Shanghai. Much of the information on this IJV was gathered during a research visit to the manufacturing facility during spring. Data gathering techniques included an on-site interview in Shanghai and material secured from corporation and government agencies (Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Ltd. 2004, p 2). Why have scholars avoided looking closely at the Chinese bureaucracy? First, the Chinese system has, until recently, been quite difficult to penetrate. Chinese citizens were to avoid divulging state secrets to foreigners (Manguno 2003, p 8); even general communication with such outsiders was discouraged. Much of the relevant information, then, was found in statements of the top leaders, published in newspapers or journals or broadcast over the radio. Foreign researchers in the 1960s and 1970s found that exiles and migrants from southern China to Hong Kong were also good sources, but the scarcity of central government bureaucrats among their numbers made many types of focused, in-depth interview research nearly impossible (Sender 2007, p 90). Data Collection Methods, Access and Sampling Strategy Although China remains a relatively secretive society, the amount of personal contact allowed with foreigners has vastly increased. The requirement for efficient functioning of economic transactions forces the Chinese to be more open in publicizing their bureaucratic procedures. In other words, even in the face of the June 1989 crackdown on dissent, it is now easier to gain access to the lower levels of power than in the years preceding the economic opening to the outside world (Frisbie 2003, p 4). Lins conclusions included lists of the positive and negative factors Americans faced in choosing to invest in China. He also made some comparison of Chinese and American attitudes toward the joint ventures. He omitted, though, focus on misperceived and misunderstood actions related to divergence in the long-term goals of the two sides (Manguno 2003, p 7). Ball and McCulloch, (2005) analyzed cultural expectations in conducting business in China. 20 He investigated Chinese feelings toward various nationalities, and used these results to predict the future success of some eighteen different nations and regions in trade relations with China. Although this work was useful for examining the Chinese attitudes toward the outside world, no comparison was made of foreign perceptions of and approaches to the Chinese side. Business journals present a further source of empirical data. Publications such as The China Business Review and business school magazines feature articles tailored to potential future investors. Availability of space and the general scope of these journals, however, tend to prohibit a fully developed theoretical analysis of Chinese industrial development (Hofstede 2000, p 32). Earlier studies also failed to employ Jerviss ideas of misperception. Considering the great differences in culture and past practices of the Chinese and foreign automotive representatives, it would be surprising if misunderstandings did not cloud the stimuli foreigners exerted on the Chinese policy makers. To further utilize Jerviss work, one should also consider the influence of misperception between higher and lower levels of the Chinese political system. Finally, the motivational elements of wishful thinking may also distort the policy process at many levels of the Chinese bureaucracy (Daniels Radebaugh 2004, p 12). My own approach seeks to build on the theoretical framework of Sender and Hook and the analysis of Hofstede on, while adding new empirical data in a different industrial sector, that of the automobile industry. In doing so, this thesis will take into account several variables that shaped both the political and the economic development of the Chinese automotive sector (Hofstede 2000, p 32). Four case studies look at the stimuli of domestic and foreign economic forces, and discuss their effect on the Chinese central government (Hofstede Bond 2010, p 11). The empirical parts will also examine the bargaining that took place between central and local politicians, and the misperception that affected the policy process. Finally, the studies shall note the differing policy outcomes for the four automotive ventures, and try to make projections of their future progress based on past experiences. Ethical Considerations Peugeots poor performance appears to have been caused by its repeated inability to learn in, and adapt to, a rapidly changing environment. As Volkswagens success demonstrates, the Chinese automotive industry is attractive, and Peugeot began its operations in China with plenty of advantages (Mowery 2008, p 3). Its joint venture was set up in the wealthy south, which has a more entrepreneurial culture because of its proximity to Hong Kong and because of the early promotion of the reform policies of the late Deng Xiaoping. By contrast, Volkswagens joint venture was established in the more conservative Shanghai region. Until the mid-1990s Shanghais economy was dominated by loss-making state-owned enterprises, and the city was not allowed to implement aggressive reform policies (Hofstede 2006, p 13). Yet Peugeot was not able to exploit its advantageous position in the south and did not learn how to succeed with commercial customers. In the 1980s automobile industry experts predicted that growth would be driven by consumer wealth and consumer demand. But the market in China remained commercial (U.S. China Business Council 2008, p 12). Even now, the vast majority of Chinese consumers cannot afford to own cars: More than 70 percent of cars in China are purchased by commercial companies. Volkswagen was quick to adjust its assumptions and operating paradigms; Peugeot was not. To serve the commercial market, Volkswagen built an aggressive distributor network and sales force (Hook 2001, p 32). Conclusion The company recognized that commercial buyers were less price sensitive than other consumers, given that they needed and were willing to pay for high-quality after-sales servicing. Volkswagen was able to push volume through its distributors and achieve critical mass. This growing volume allowed Volkswagen to realize considerable scale economies, thereby allowing it to drive down prices. Because Peugeot never man- aged to develop an effective approach for commercial buyers, it never generated the prices and profits needed to motivate distributors (Woodard 2002, p 2). Without this high-channel profit, it was unable to attract capable and aggressive distributors and could not develop a reasonable service network. Peugeot also failed to learn other important lessons. An understanding of the development of down- stream industries, for example, was crucial in identifying and promoting potential demand. Volkswagens partner lobbied the government to support the establishment of taxi companie s in Shanghai. Although consumers could not afford to buy private cars, their demand for taxi services supported the growth of taxi companies, which did buy cars from Volkswagen. Peugeot did not follow a similar strategy. The company was unable to secure a dominant position in its home province in China. Hence, it never achieved critical mass and a competitive cost position to grow its operations to a national scale. Losses piled up, and after a twelve-year stay in China, Peugeot exited the market.

Man Vs. Himself In The Scarlet Letter by Hawthorne :: essays research papers

A great deal of blood has been shed and many wars have been fought during the history of civilization; however, man’s greatest battle and most formidable enemy is only himself. This has been made only more evident with the passage of time and the development of the human character. However, one factor that has remained constant in the human character through this development is conscience. Conscience can be man’s saving grace or his damning affliction; its presence may simultaneously purify and mar. As contradictory as this may sound, it has been explored in depth by Nathaniel Hawthorne who chronicles one man’s battle against himself in The Scarlet Letter. In this novel, an anguished Arthur Dimmesdale struggles to pacify his conscience and withhold the secret of his sin from being known. As his conscience continues to consume all that is his very essence, Arthur Dimmesdale illustrates Hawthorne’s theme of a sin-stained conscience and redemption only through truth. The novel begins to delve into the heart and conscience of Arthur Dimmesdale when Roger Chillingworth questions him about his thoughts on sinners and their secrets. Feeling full well the torment of his own secret, Arthur proclaims that those who hold such "miserable secrets†¦will yield them up that last day†¦with a joy unutterable." By this expression, Arthur offers a glimpse into his tortured heart and shows how heavy a burden his secret is. When Chillingworth further inquires about such sinful secrets, Arthur holds his hand to his breast, a motion that he carries out as "if afflicted with an importunate throb of pain." Evidently Arthur does this frequently, and the reader is presented with the thought that this gesture possibly is not done as much out of physical suffering as spiritual suffering. Not only is the health of Arthur’s body in question, but the condition of his heart, his soul, is dubious. A supernatural light is later shed upon this question as Chillingworth uncovers the secret Arthur had tried to keep intact. It is visible to him as he pulls aside Arthur’s ministerial robe: a scarlet letter A upon his chest. Although Hawthorne lets this aspect of the novel remain ambiguous, this engraving on Arthur’s chest suggests that the burden of his sin had seeped so deeply within him, it has now forced its way outside; it is at all his levels. At this point in the novel, Arthur’s sin had begun, if it had not already succeeded, in consuming him. Arthur’s conscience was now stained with sin, and its weight will

Ponder the Meaning of Life With 1984 and The Matrix Essay example --

The film The Matrix, directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski, may seem to be a unique, original storyline to the untrained viewer, but the story of a totalitarian government and a hero who attempts to save the people is far from this. In reality, there are so many similarities that can be seen in other texts that were written and filmed before that it cannot be ignored. In particular, George Orwell’s 1984 has a similar government that controls its people and a â€Å"hero†, Winston, who is also searching for the truth. Winston lives Oceania where Big-Brother and â€Å"The Party† schedule your entire lives telling when to sleep, eat, and work and keep you under constant surveillance. This is similar in The Matrix, where most of the humans lived in a computer-programmed world which is also constantly surveyed by government authorities. The Wachowski siblings’ film, The Matrix, connects with the concept of dystopia as expressed in George Orwell’s novel, 198 4, by referring to a totalitarian government and the lack of choices, which it accomplishes through the introduction of new surveillance technology, comparing two worlds, and a hero’s journey to liberate the people. The use of new surveillance technology in both 1984 and The Matrix helps to make a world in which people are truly living under complete control believable. In The Matrix, it is possible to hack into the Matrix world, but the government is easily able to detect where the hack is happening and catch up to the hackers. One example in the film is when Neo goes with Morpheous and his crew back to the â€Å"Matrix† world and the government agents quickly catch up with them, breaks into their â€Å"warehouse†, and nearly stops them from leaving to go back to the real world. The government is an omn... ... point that the Wachowski’s are making: freedom and choices give life meaning. We can easily see how the Wachowski’s drew from similar ideas as Orwell in 1984, but has a more hopeful ending. Both texts use surveillance to show how the people are under complete control and show us a world where people believe the lies and are trapped in. The one major difference is that one text does not give us hope and belief that things can be changed, while the other one does. The Matrix does that latter. They give us hope by showing characters that live in a real world with freedoms and are happy. Neo’s life does have a meaning and a purpose. Without seeing the same conclusion in 1984, but with a depressing ending, one would not be able to see as clearly in The Matrix that having freedom and choices is what gives life meaning and we must strive to always keep our freedoms. Ponder the Meaning of Life With 1984 and The Matrix Essay example -- The film The Matrix, directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski, may seem to be a unique, original storyline to the untrained viewer, but the story of a totalitarian government and a hero who attempts to save the people is far from this. In reality, there are so many similarities that can be seen in other texts that were written and filmed before that it cannot be ignored. In particular, George Orwell’s 1984 has a similar government that controls its people and a â€Å"hero†, Winston, who is also searching for the truth. Winston lives Oceania where Big-Brother and â€Å"The Party† schedule your entire lives telling when to sleep, eat, and work and keep you under constant surveillance. This is similar in The Matrix, where most of the humans lived in a computer-programmed world which is also constantly surveyed by government authorities. The Wachowski siblings’ film, The Matrix, connects with the concept of dystopia as expressed in George Orwell’s novel, 198 4, by referring to a totalitarian government and the lack of choices, which it accomplishes through the introduction of new surveillance technology, comparing two worlds, and a hero’s journey to liberate the people. The use of new surveillance technology in both 1984 and The Matrix helps to make a world in which people are truly living under complete control believable. In The Matrix, it is possible to hack into the Matrix world, but the government is easily able to detect where the hack is happening and catch up to the hackers. One example in the film is when Neo goes with Morpheous and his crew back to the â€Å"Matrix† world and the government agents quickly catch up with them, breaks into their â€Å"warehouse†, and nearly stops them from leaving to go back to the real world. The government is an omn... ... point that the Wachowski’s are making: freedom and choices give life meaning. We can easily see how the Wachowski’s drew from similar ideas as Orwell in 1984, but has a more hopeful ending. Both texts use surveillance to show how the people are under complete control and show us a world where people believe the lies and are trapped in. The one major difference is that one text does not give us hope and belief that things can be changed, while the other one does. The Matrix does that latter. They give us hope by showing characters that live in a real world with freedoms and are happy. Neo’s life does have a meaning and a purpose. Without seeing the same conclusion in 1984, but with a depressing ending, one would not be able to see as clearly in The Matrix that having freedom and choices is what gives life meaning and we must strive to always keep our freedoms.

The Lack of Nutrition In Africa Essay -- Nutrition

In Africa there are about 276 million individuals who are affected by lack of nutrition. Moreover, 399 million individuals live on one dollar a day in Africa. Developing countries carries 90% of the disease burden, yet benefit from only 10% of the resources allocated to health (Kinabo, 2001), even though the majority of the population is located in these countries. Approximately â€Å"43% of the children in the developing countries experience stunted growth due to malnutrition, and 36% of the children are underweight† (Bone and France, 2003). There are many organizations trying to improve the overall lack of nutrition in Africa. Despite the great number of organizations minor changes in the affected population has changed. A few deficiencies have even seen an increase. Malnutrition is increasing â€Å"due to HIV/AIDS epidemic and the changing global environment in socio, politico and economic relations† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 114). Therefore, good nutrition needs to be empha sized due to it links directly with the economic issues within the country. Additionally, the ability to increase the budgets for governments to address health, education and nutrition on account of education is great device to help the population understand the importance of nutrition within their daily lives. The great lack of sufficient nutrition in Africa is outrageous. Malnutrition â€Å"in various forms exist and persists in all countries of Africa† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 103). There is a different problem issue within different countries that is directly linked to the development of the country. For instance, â€Å"the type of malnutrition that exists in Seychelles and Mauritius is that of obesity and associated diseases† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 103). The most common nutritional problems... ...ese deficiencies. Although the main step that should be taken is that of withdrawing individuals who are particularly skilled for another countries benefit, which would reduce the â€Å"brain drain† and allow the individuals to help develop their country within Africa. Works Cited Bone, P. and France, K. (2003). International harmonization of food and nutrition regulation: the good and the bad. Journal of Public Policy and Marketing 22(1): 102-110. Retrieved from JSTOR database. World hunger and poverty facts and statistics (WHPFS). (2011). Hunger Notes. Retrieved from http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm#What_are_the_causes_of_hunger Kinabo, J. (2001). Nutrition in africa in a global economy: perspectives challenges and opportunities. African Study Monographs, 22(3): 103-122. Retrieved from ProQuest Database. The Lack of Nutrition In Africa Essay -- Nutrition In Africa there are about 276 million individuals who are affected by lack of nutrition. Moreover, 399 million individuals live on one dollar a day in Africa. Developing countries carries 90% of the disease burden, yet benefit from only 10% of the resources allocated to health (Kinabo, 2001), even though the majority of the population is located in these countries. Approximately â€Å"43% of the children in the developing countries experience stunted growth due to malnutrition, and 36% of the children are underweight† (Bone and France, 2003). There are many organizations trying to improve the overall lack of nutrition in Africa. Despite the great number of organizations minor changes in the affected population has changed. A few deficiencies have even seen an increase. Malnutrition is increasing â€Å"due to HIV/AIDS epidemic and the changing global environment in socio, politico and economic relations† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 114). Therefore, good nutrition needs to be empha sized due to it links directly with the economic issues within the country. Additionally, the ability to increase the budgets for governments to address health, education and nutrition on account of education is great device to help the population understand the importance of nutrition within their daily lives. The great lack of sufficient nutrition in Africa is outrageous. Malnutrition â€Å"in various forms exist and persists in all countries of Africa† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 103). There is a different problem issue within different countries that is directly linked to the development of the country. For instance, â€Å"the type of malnutrition that exists in Seychelles and Mauritius is that of obesity and associated diseases† (Kinabo, 2001, p. 103). The most common nutritional problems... ...ese deficiencies. Although the main step that should be taken is that of withdrawing individuals who are particularly skilled for another countries benefit, which would reduce the â€Å"brain drain† and allow the individuals to help develop their country within Africa. Works Cited Bone, P. and France, K. (2003). International harmonization of food and nutrition regulation: the good and the bad. Journal of Public Policy and Marketing 22(1): 102-110. Retrieved from JSTOR database. World hunger and poverty facts and statistics (WHPFS). (2011). Hunger Notes. Retrieved from http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm#What_are_the_causes_of_hunger Kinabo, J. (2001). Nutrition in africa in a global economy: perspectives challenges and opportunities. African Study Monographs, 22(3): 103-122. Retrieved from ProQuest Database.

Coke vs Pepsi Essay

Pepsi has historically targeted a young audience especially since the 1980s .Many of their ads were usually aimed at teenagers and even younger groups by introducing fun, sports and music in their ads and this still hasn’t changed in 2014.Pepsi has consistently found new ways to adapt to each generation and found great success through it. But most of the credit comes from their segmentation methods. Pepsi has a Behavioral segmentation that contains customers usage. They range customers usage from light to occasional drinkers. They also look at customers purchase behaviors trying label them as instinctive or planned buyers. A good example of a planned buyer and a purchase occasional buyer would be somebody having a get together or a party where the customer chooses to buy Pepsi products to quench their thirst after a exciting fun time. Pepsi also has a Psychological segmentation that focus on a lifestyle and personality. Pepsi has created a motto for themselves called Live Now, but they say that its not just a motto but a mindset. So you already know that they had to have a segment of people that share their same belief. These customers are usually fun sophisticated people or cool teenagers. Pepsi’s final segmentation is Geo-demographic which mostly focuses on the urban areas around the world .which make a lot of sense because most people believe that the cities is where the most fun and big event occur at. As well as finding this particular demographic ages 18- 25 ,which are considered to be young cool sophisticated people that just want to live now. Coca Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands.But for some reason Coca Cola doesn’t have a specific target segment but adapt its marketing strategy by developing new products, which really means their segmentation are really broad. Generally, Coke does not have a specific target because they are really trying to addressed everyone. Coca Cola also doesn’t try to target a lifestyles, but they are seeing more and more busy lifestyle and mobile generation that are considered to be the most important part of Coke’s consumers. Coca cola also doesn’t care about a customers occupation but found out that mainly students and family oriented people buy Coca Cola products. Coca Cola also sees that their main consumers are 12-30 years old people and even though there is no specific product or communication for less than 12 or more than 30, the brand succeed in reaching them, through partnerships from six flags,restaurants, fast foods such as McDonald’s or Loyalty from customers. Finally, Coca Cola consider each customer as a target and a potential consumer. All age groups are being targeted but the most potential is the age group from 18-25 that covers a good amount of the age segments. How do their segmentation strategies differ? Their segmentation strategies differ in a big way because Pepsi used the segmentation method to target their customers ,but Coca Cola didn’t really structure a segmentation method to target their customers with .They mostly used the positioning method to grow their company. Pepsi focus on customers that wanted to live now ,a more exciting life. While Coca Cola just wanted everybody to enjoy a Coca Cola product, living your life even if its boring or exciting they didn’t care, as long as you had a coke in your hand.

Economische En Sociale Geschiedenis

Samenvatting Economische en Sociale Geschiedenis 2013 INHOUD: 1. Samenvatting Boek â€Å"Before the Industrial Revolution† M. Cipolla 2. Kleine samenvatting Boek â€Å"Arm en Rijk† D. Landes 3. Samenvatting algemene hoorcolleges: Migratie & Interbellum 1. Samenvatting Boek â€Å"Before the Industrial Revolution† M. Cipolla Part I CHAPTER 1: Demand (pages: 3 t/m 52) Spain census of population, 1789, lot of population estimations are rough and not precise. Small societies. Not very large growth of population in 18th century. Low fertility or high mortality is the cause of slow growth. So population of preindustrial Europe remained relatively small. more in chapter 5). Normal mortality occurs in normal years. Catastrophic mortality occurs in calamitous years, it far exceeded current fertility. Always drastic fluctuations of population. Needs: depend on population size, geographical factors, and structure of population by age/gender/occupation & sociocultural factors . Cultural factors forbid/duty to do certain things. As long as a person is free to demand what he wants, what counts on the market are not ‘needs’, but ‘wants’. Wants are both expressed by individuals and society but only have limited resources, we have to make choices.Wants become effective demand when they are backed by purchasing power. (expressed by purchasing power). Purchasing power is based on income/distribution of income (public/private) & level and structure of prices. Income and distribution: Incomes can be divided in wages/profits/interests and rents. Preindustrial Europe was a striking contrast between the abject misery of the mass and the affluence and magnificence of a limited number of very rich people. Lyon & Florence 10% of the population controlled more than 50 % of the wealth assessed. Other measurement of wealth: bags of grain. (reserves).Gregory King made accurate calculations of national income, putting to good use all the material h e had available in addition to his personal observations. Poverty and unequal distribution of wealth and income. People with no income at all beggars. In France at the end of the 17th century, beggars counted for 10 % of the population. Most people lived at subsistence level, no savings or social security to help them in distress, only hope was charity. In different European cities, there were different percentages of â€Å"beggars†. Many fluctuations in unemployment figures. In years of famine (hongersnood/schaarste) high numbers of poverty.Income can be earned or transferred. Transfers: voluntary transfers (charity/gifts) & compulsory transfers (taxation). Many people left things behind for charity when they died. Also disasters and feasts served to accentuate charity. When people died from a disaster, their belongings went to the church/hospitals. Besides charity, gambling and dowries were forms of voluntary transfers, they could affect productive activity. Compulsory tran sfers; taxation on the one hand, plunder and theft on the other hand. Theft on low-class people because of: famine, inequality of income. Noble people also: earlier centuries of middle ages.Ransom (losgeld), large transfers of wealth. In early periods, great importance of alternatives to trade. After 10th century, trade expanded and concentrated in cities. (Permanent fairs). Types of demand: Demand for production goods, demand for services, demand for capital goods. 1. Demand for consumption goods 2. Demand for services 3. Demand for capital goods Demand can also be divided into: 1. Private internal demand 2. Public internal demand 3. Foreign demand Private demand: the lower the income, the higher the percentage spend on food (logic). The poorer the country, the higher the percentage spend on food of total expenditures.The lower the income, the more spend on poorer foods, such as bread (stijfselachtig voedsel). Rich people, less amount of total income on food. Symbolic value of food in preindustrial Europe. Rich ate a lot. Somethimes too much. Purchase of clothing was luxury. Epidemics, clothing of deads were passed over, which spread the epidemics. Plagues. People lived in small houses with many families. (rents were very high in large towns, compared to the wages). Milanese Public Health Board issued rules for living, but poverty stood in the way of wisdom. Rich had domestic staff. Low wages favoured the demand of domestic services.Wages only did not represent the total expenditures on them. costs of food/living/heating and other items provided tot servants by their employers. Income not spend on consumer goods and services is naturally saved. Nobody saves to the same extent: 1. Level income 2. Psychological/sociocultural factors 3. Income distribution. Obvious when income is high that there is more possibility of saving. Rich people could invest an amount saved of their income. (Cornelig de Jonge van Ellemeet for example). National saving in England at the end of the 17th century amounted to less than 5 percent of national income.Very unfair divided income distribution. Even though England was one of the richest preindustrial societies, NO high concentration of income. Preindustrial societies were in a position to save only if they succeeded in imposing miserably low standards of living. Flow of monetary income becomes circular savingwill be converted into investment. Hoarding: preindustrial Europe, large amounts of monetary savings were hoardeddid not reach financial market (under matrasses/socks for example). A lot of hoards were accidentally discovered. Hoarding because of fear (robbery and plundering). Beginning 11th centrurydis-hoardingdivine activities.Building cathedrals, helping the poor, religious building. 11th & 12th century financed through dis-hoarding. Investment euphoria. Public demand: Arose from the 11th century, only 5-8% of national income. Before the 18th century public and private demand were different to distingu ish. Distinction: presence of CHURCH as patrimonial & economic entity. Level and structure of public demand: a. â€Å"income† public power (derive from: taxation, public loans (forced), state property exploitation, gain of the mint) b. â€Å"wants† of those in power (war/defense/court/civil administration/festivities) c. he price structure and of the community they control Public powers can increase taxes; income is function of their â€Å"wants†. Public Debt= invention of Italy city-states. Moneys lent to the state by private citizens, mostly forced loans. Citizen would receive interest on the sum lent. Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance the public powers managed to broaden the tax base & to raise the rate of taxation. Parties Casuelles were in France the fiscal bureaus. In England and France the revenues of the Crown rose. But also rising prices, growing population, increased wealth.Fiscal privileges for the nobles (adel) hit the poor hardercomplaints! From 12th century sometimes administration was done by noblemen (no salary). A major expenditure of public money were embassies (representation). But military expenditure surpassed by far all the other expenditures. Also medical and educational services rose. Ethical & social valuepaying with public money so that ANY person (rich or poor) could get education or treatments. For example in Milan in 1288 had 3 of such surgeons. 1324 18 of such surgeons in Venice. Education: in the Middle Ages only private education (few).When communes arosepaying teachers with public money. Public schools arose rapidly. After 11the century. Education is investment in human capital. Guns & warships unattractive form of capital, capital goods middle 15th century public expenditure. Demand of the church: Church is important economic entity in preindustrial Europe. Donations from counts/barons, unable to manage land themselves so they donate to church. Very large magnitude of such estates. Before the 11th century. Following centuries nobles/wealthy donate buildings and lands to the church. 16th and 17th centurygrowing size of land holdings.Every now and then , however, church fell upon hard times in which bad administration affected property Reformation was worst period before 18th century. dissolution (ontbinding) of monasteries. A lot of monasteries (kloosters). By 1550 nothing was left of English monasteries, all possessions dispersed. Lots of income for Crown (benefit from sales). ReformationLombardy(-ije) before countries affected by Reformation. Reformation cuts into further growing of lands & possessions of church. The distribution of wealth within the church reflected the unequal distribution of wealth in society as whole.Foreign demand: Network of exchanges with other economic systems (goods/services/wealth/capital & metals). Import/Export = foreign trade. Exports are the response to foreign demand. Demand largely on food and textiles. End 16th century, clothes 80% English export. High transportation costsquality products, well do could afford these products. Industrial revolution made it possible to buy foreign made products easier. Import/Export could be measured by total GDP. (GNP). England best country with statistics on foreign trade. Henry VII (15th centrury) 300. 000. 17th century 9,5 million, increase in volume foreign trade.In Portugal, ancient manufacturers destroyed. Trade consequences depend on qualitative structures of certain trade. CHAPTER 2: The factors of production (pages; 53 t/m 96) Input is made up of factors called â€Å"factors of production†. Labor (ARBEID): divide people in consumers/producers & ages of people. Preindustrial 1/3 under 15. 60% 15-60 years old before 19th century. Difference between preindustrial & industrial societies = composition of dependent population (consumers but NOT producers). Nowadays productivity is very high, ratio of dependency 50-65%. Preindustrial: work till dead, start younger than 15.Chil d labor fields; summer. Bad treatment + female labor (agricultural/spinning/weaving). Wet nurse: sells food (mother’s milk) & cares for infant (service). Of economical and social importance. Sectors of activity: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary. Primary: Agricultural; low productivity, high % of total people worked in Primary sector not all sunk, kill and eat it, very vulnerable†¦ Working Capital: consists of stocks and inventories. (raw materials, semi-finished goods, finished goods). Stocks of foods, spared from consumption capital. Creating stocks costs money. Nowadays: ratio working capital to fixed capital is reduced. 2012, doomsday preppers however still exist;-)). Working capital is continually turned over. Continually coming back for reinvestment disinvestment is easier. STOCKS can be sold. QUESTIONL: Why low levels of production of preindustrial societies and a vicious circle of poverty? investment was so limited because opportunities for productive investment were extremely limited. Not so much because of poor potential of saving. Natural resources (NATUUR): non reproducible capital. Not infinite!!!! Land is a natural resource. Mineral deposits of: silver, gold, tin, copper, iron, etc.Medieval people were conscious about pollution more than during Industrial Rev. (Pitcoal). Forestsrules of cutting and planting trees. Later the rules became less important to the Europeans (during M. A & Renaissance). A lot of brick and marble in Italian culture because they exhausted their forests very early. Energy of water and wind for land-based activities (used on the spot), so manufacturers were located were mills could be build. Organization: labor, capital and natural resources must be combined in organizational forms which vary according to technology, the size of markets and the types of production.Different forms of organization can coexist. Preindustrial manufacturing was concentrated on the workshop. Craftsman. Dependent on who gave order (merchant s with warehouses). Mining and shipbuilding sectors. Modern capitalism manufacturing or trading sectorsled to modern capitalism. CHAPTER 3: Productivity and Production (pages; 97 t/m 114) Production is the outcome of all individual and social choices acting on both the demand and the supply side. Labor, capital and natural resources are INPUTS of production. Output emerges from their combination of use. Determinants: better education, economies of scale, technological development, etc.Entrepreneurial activity is a necessary ingredient, but not a sufficient one+ human vitality of whole society. Medieval and Renaissance productivity levels: technological progress. Agriculture (Slicher van Bath): between 1200 and 1700, grains yielded per seed planted rose. Fluctuation because natural resources, poor control over forces of nature. Animals poor fedless milk from cows, little meat. Weavers : low labor productivity meant that production processes were labor-intensive. Building industry: li ttle improvement on productivity. Other sectors noticeable improvements during MA & Renaissance. Gutenberg 1440: printing press (drukpers).The main reason for productivity gain was technological progress. Still low compared to industrial society. Not only quantity is important n measuring productivity, quality also important, but less records available. Positive production: greatest part of production in preindustrial Europe: food, textiles, buildings and domestic services. The: foreign trade. Many people produced locally. Negative production: the deliberate destruction of men and whealth & pollution and the destruction of the environment. Destruction of men and wealth for political or religious reasons. Assasins, Arsonist, Bomb-throwers. War!! -> Labor (the military) and capital (weaponry) with the avowed intention of destroying. Industrial army greater destructive power. Preindustrial: scarcity of capital. Plague destroyed men, not capital. Livestock killed, acres burned, vineyard s destroyed. a. destruction of natural resources b. pollution of the environment with the waste products of consumption c. pollution of the environment with undesirable by-products of productive activities d. damage to the health of those engaged in production In preindustrial societies less capacity for negative production. But even preindustrial societies managed to mismanage. 6th century increased use of coal in England. Domesticindustrial. (Fumifugium 1661. J. Evelyn). Miners, Gilders, Potters, Sulfur workers, Tanners, Glass-workersconcern for working conditions of labor. Part II CHAPTER 4: The Urban Revolution: The Communes (pages; 117 t/m 122) After fall down Roman empire, cities fell with it. Economic decline. North improved position, contact with south. Muslim invasion. Depressed and depressing world, rise of cities between the 11th and 13th centuries represented a new development, which changed the course of history. Differences between parts of countries and countries. Mas sive migratory movement.Towns grew because populations grew, high fertility & people from rural areas to cities. Migration: push & pull factors. Town was a place for innovation, economic and social advancement. Nobles took residence in the city (Italy). Cities became seats and centres of the power of the triumphant bourgeoisie. Citie WALLS. (protection). Towns were very different in medieval and renaissance period. Emegence of towns was a social and cultural revolution. Unique personal status for people living in cities. Burgers†¦ Italian cities attack and conquer the surrounding territory ( conflict with central power of Empire).Germans not!! France got a monarchy very soon. England, cities developed slower, very few revolutionary characteristics. Horizontal arrangements, co-operation among equals: university, fraternity, gildthe commune were the institutions created by the new outlook and which reflected new ideas. QUESTION: How did cities emerged from a portus (Belgian histo rian) beside a feudal castle of rising again from the foundations of a Roman town, was core of new society. Between 11th & 13th century. CHAPTER 5: Population: Trends & Plagues (pages; 123 t/m 136)Beginning new millennium, thin scattered population 35 million total. 1000-1400 population grew. Black dead came back in 1348, wiped out people. Also: wars, famines & epidemics struck again. En of 15the century 80 million. 16th century substantial growth. Beginning 17th100 million. Population of preindustrial Europe remained young and small. High fertility and high mortality. Marriage: manay people lived in celibacy (celibatair). Avoided for economic reasons. Age of marriage differs from time, class and country. Average age marriage around 25. Many people which DID married made it up for the unmarried.Number of children born still very high. High fertility because of youthful age structure and high mortality. QUESTION: Which types of mortality can be distinguished? Normal and catastrophic mortality. Normal mortality happens to occur in normal years. free from calamities (infants and adolescents) but WITH poverty.. While catastrophic mortality also took adults. Preindustrial societies were very vulnerable to calamities of all sorts. (WARS, FAMINES, PLAGUES (EPIDEMICS)). People literally died of hunger. Famines contributed directly to increase in mortality but also indirect by encouraging epidemics.Epidemics contributed most to the frequency and the intensity of catastrophic mortality. Balck Dead 1348. But also evey year an epidemic. Tyfus, bacteries, plaag, etc. Low growth rates. Begin 14th century several areas overpopulated, to prevailing levels of production and technology. Demographic growth big, public health development small! Effects of epidemics on given population are determined not only by the # people killed, but also by distribution of age (fertility). Normal mortality usually lower than fertility, but after a catastrophe start all over again. Citites surv ived because of flow from country to city.Epidemics after 18th century subsided. Pandemics. Mortality no longer assumed catastrophic proportions. Disappearance of plague after 17th century. Reasons: better building, burying corpses, disappearance of black rat? –> onverdedigbaar! BUT: ecological revolutiondemographic revolution, due to technological and economic achievements of western Europe. CHAPTER 6: Technology (pages; 137 t/m 159) Technological developments 1000-1700: Romans ->Watermills, slave labor (cultural reasons for development stagnations). BUT: we always think of machinery as we think of technology.Romans were very good in : organization of military, administration, architecture, road construction). Main technological developments 6th-11th century: watermills, plough, crop rotation, horseshoe, methods for harnessing draft animals. NOT inventions but increase in USE. All agricultural and strengthen each other. Many horses used, better capital. Alos IRON for equipme nt. Also developments in human capital and water power, watermill used for all kinds of productions. Also Windmillsirrigation end of 12th century. In 1745 a FANTAIL , sails into the wind automatically, 1st example of automatic control in machinery. 300 the compass, more mathematical navigation. Ship as capital greater value. Inventions: spinning wheel and spectacles (BRIL). Beginning 14th century: clocks, firearms and canal locks. Ship building: ship skeleton first during later middle ages. 15th centuryfull-rigged ships, all kinds of winds sailable. Time of voyages diminished + costs reduced. systematic knowledge of winds. Naval guns were build out of bronze. 16the centurycasting iron guns. This before mentioned provided a basis for expansion overseas. Technological innovation: printing (Gutenberg) bible, before printing was very expensive.Press opened up vast new horizons and opportunities in the fields of knowledge and education. Spread rapidly. Spinning wheel China 11the century, Europe 12th century. Innovation: small steps through numerous minor experiments. After the industrial revolution modern science. Windmill originally Persianvertical axis, European horizontal axis worked much better. Paper originally Chinesespread to Muslim empire. European paper produced with machines driven on watermills. After 12th century passion for mechanization of all productive processes. LABOR SAVING DEVICES.Mechanical clock for examplefirst measuring time in different ways, from 13the century need for solution measuring time because of mechanical outlook from people. Spread of clock: churches, public buildings, etc. Consequences of mechanization: in a number of sectors gains were achieved + mechanical outlook reinforced more and more. Logical consequence that follows is a mental outlook, which takes centuries to develop. Also feared as a source of possible dangerous disturbances. Scarcity of labor caused by epidemics one factor; but were many more and complex factors. Also mental attitudes and aspirations.WHY Europe so favourable to change? We do NOT know. The spread of technology: 12th – 15th century Italians leas technology invention. 16th-17th century Dutch and English. Through ages; main channel for diffusion of innovation has been migration of people. = migration of human capital. Sometimes things kept a secret when economic interest were at stake. Spread: migration of craftsman to other parts of country or other countries skilled labor migration. Push and pull factors, bad for economy of home country when people moved to other country. Sometimes punishments because of skilled movement.DRANG NACH OSTEN; Dutch people went to east because of fertile ground. Bologna attracted artisans in exchange for privileges. Depends on circumstances if invention takes place in host country of skilled laborers. Qualities that make people tolerant also make them receptive to new ideas. CHAPTER 7: Enterprise, Credit & Money (pages; 160 t/m 182) Enterprise a nd credit: Business techniques; organization of fairs, accounting techniques, insurance, etc. Many techniques developed between 11th and 16th century in Italy. From 16th centuryDutch and English; great trading companies.Lack of productive investment because of hoarding etc. But cities grew and credit developed very rapidly. Sale credit, therefore consumption became higher. Commenda: partnership contractsone or more give a SUM, used by other in business†¦instead of hoarding for example. Some as stock exchange, small and large savings. From 15th compagnia (coastal cities). Inland grew companies better†¦less risks (pirates, bad weather, etc). Involvement of shareholders unrelated to original family marked end of first phase in company history. End 13th century; entries publicly authenticated. Italians: double entry bookkeeping. 6th/17th oversea trade, expansion demand capital. Companies createdEast India Company, stocks and shares. Commenda: not possible without MUTUAL TRUST & honesty in business. Development civil/criminal legislation. Monetary trends: Start 11th century economy + monetary system developed. Middle Ages + Renaissance only coins. Chinese 13th century paper money already. Gold measured in carats, pure measure of gold and silver. Is intrinsic value. During Middle Ages and Renaissance monetary systems progressed. Before 1000- denariuscould work in primitive economies. Silver, 1 coin only.Until the 16th century until the Germans invented a way to mechanize the minting process involving a watermill. Many goods instead of cash (horses, weapons, etc. ) Growing demand for money after 11th century. 2 standards for coins (fineness, weight) !! Extreme: in Germany every prince or individual town strok OWN coins. M=P+(C+S) P:marketprice, M: amount someone brought in, C:charge minter, S:left of worth metal Devaluationsincrease amount in circulation= bring more metal in increase P English relatively strong coin. France unstable (1290) devaluation and r evaluation, economy suffered in France.Also due to 100 year war. Countries coinage shouldn’t belong to a king. Italy different gentler downwards devaluations than in France. Grossi, Piccioli, of denarius new phase with â€Å"multiples† of 1 coint. Bimetallic: system with silver AND gold started in Italy. Supply of metals due to discovery of African coast (Portugese; 1457, cruzado). Afterwards silver founded in parts of Germany, rush towards heavy & chunky coins. Silver â€Å"Guldiner† in Germany. Spanish came back from America with gold/silver = Real of Ocho (Eight). 16th /17th century = intrinsic fineness. 2th century and onward banking activity deposits = intangible = ink. Money. Bankers appeared money changes: intermediaries for public & mints. Depositors/bankers/payees. Bankers always hold certain amount of cash delivered to them in case people want to withdraw it. Just a fraction of total amount in KAS. –>reserve. This is the origin of bank money. In England goldsmiths who collected deposits and created money. Bank money positive development. QUESTION: Were there any economical drawbacks? Many panic, wars, high risks of losing money. Hurry to banks to collect deposits.Not all money was there because bankers only hold a â€Å"fraction† of total deposits. The rest was in investments and loans. Many banks went BANKRUPT. CHAPTER 8: Production, Income & Consumption (pages; 183 t/m 208) The great expansion: 1000-1300: Phase of expansion: new technologies/growth of towns/new sociocultural environment/increased division of labor/monetarization of economy/stimuli to saving, all these factors encouraged economic expansion. 1000- when European development took off, cultivation of land. Fertile land, NEW land. The Christian Reconquista made important progress in Spain. Territory got re-conquered.Drang nach Osten(12-13th century). As the Germans advanced, new cities were founded. By 1300 the movement had slowed down. The German eastw ard expansion was demographic, economic, political and religious in character. Very good land in the east (better capital and techniques brought with them). Expansion to Central Europe, Baltic countries. Everybody in Europe benefitted from it. Untill Ind. Rev. economy remained agricultural. Rebuilding new city walls. As were leading sectors there were leading areas. Northern Italy, bridge between Europe and north Africa. Coastal republics and important crossroads.Seafaring activity was greatly extended. Economic trends: 1300-1500: CHAPTER 9: The Emergence of the Modern Age (pages; 209 t/m 233) 2. Samenvatting Boek â€Å"Arm & Rijk † D. Landes * 1. Ongelijke bedeeldheid natuur * 2. Omgaan met natuurlijke gesteldheid: Europa en China * 3. Europa’s eigen weg * 4. De uitvinding van het uitvinden * 5. De ontsluiting van de wereld * 6. Naar de Oost * 7. Van ontdekkingen tot wereldmacht * 8. Bitterzoete eilanden * 9. Heerschappij in de Oost * 10. Gewinzucht * 11. Golconda * 1 2. Winnaars en verliezers: de balans van de wereldmacht = t/m blz 202 1. Ongelijke bedeeldheid natuur:Invloed van geografische factoren, met name klimaat. Hierarchy betreft gunstig klimaat. Inkomen per hoofd bevolking in rijke landen in de gematigde streken. Onderontwikkelde in tropen of subtropen. Geografische gesteldheid is 1 van de factoren. Eenvoudige rechtstreekse verbanden: klimaat, in warme landen is werken zwaarder, hitte, lichaam. (neem als voorbeeld siesta). Slavernij in warme streken, anderen doen het werk. AC verscheen pas laat. In Amerika al eerder. Klimaatregeling kostbare techniek, weinig armen kunnen zich dat veroorloven. Arbeidsproductiviteit in warme landen lag LAGER.Complexe en indirecte verbanden: Hitte zorgt ook voor verbreiding van voor de mens schadelijke levensvormen. Slakkenziekte (parasieten) , malaria etc. Geneeskunde grote vooruitgang geboekt bij bestrijden dergelijke ziekten. Kolonisten brachten artsen mee, hierdoor inheemse langer leven. Zuigelingsterft e erg minder. Contrast echter nog steeds schrijnend. Tropenziekten + geneeskunde (inheems). Waterregenwoud, veel regen korte tijd, verpest alle vruchtbarheid etc. Uiterste: droge streken. Opslag zou oplossing zijn, maar enorm snelle verdamping. Rampenvijandig klimaatook in rijkere landen, Amerika orkanen bijvoorbeeld.Afrika: sterftecijfer blijft hoog ondanks vooruitgant, ook mede door bevolkingsexplosie. Opvallend verschil in werkkracht en efficiency tussen gematigd en tropisch klimaat. voedingspatroon NOEM EEN DIRECTE EN INDIRECT VERBAND WAAROM WARME LANDEN HET ZWAARDER HADDEN? [zwaarder werken in hitte, AC duur, slavernij] & [hitte zorgt voor verspreiding schadelijke levensvormen] 2. Omgaan met de natuurlijke gesteldheid: Europa en China: Europa: betrouwbare en gelijkmatige waterval + gematigde temperaturen. Voedselvoorziening in handen van mensen met vruchtbare grond. Mediteraanse zee, minder regen, slechtere grond betere bomen en veeteelt.Hierdoor achterstand Zuid-Europa, ook do or culturele factoren. Waarom kwam Europa zo traag op gang na Egypte en Mesopotamiegeografische liggingLigging in wouden/bossen, epidemieen/pandemieen/hongersnood/plagen/oorlogen. Later, technologie om land te bewerken, oorlog te voeren, meer mestmere voedsel, geen wormziekten die China wel teisterden. Europeanen waren gezonder. Echter zeer vruchtbaar slib in oosten. Overstromingen en droogte perioden in China/India. Grote bevolkingsdichtheid, er werd snel getrouwd. Europa pas laat trouwen. China: tussen 1000-1300 verdubbeling bevolking, daarna afname door epidemieen.Steeds meer landbouw nodig om mensen te voeden. Agrarische revoluties. Trokken van noord naar zuid. Uitbreiding graanschuur en enorme concentratie op rijst. Arbeids en waterintensief energiemodelhydraulische samenleving eigen arbeiders, sterke overheid, niet westers. Werd ook tegengehangen. Tijd tot tijd, zonder autoriteit. WAT IS EEN HYDRAULISCHE SAMENLEVING? GEEF VOORBEELD†¦Een  hydraulische samenleving  (ook bekend onder de termen  watermonopolie-rijk  of  hydraulische these) is een sociale of overheidsstructuur, die haar macht ontleent aan de exclusieve controle over de de toegang tot water.Ten grondslag hiervan ligt meestal de noodzaak tot gecoordineerde  irrigatie  of gecontroleerde overstromingen, waardoor centrale planning en een hiertoe gespecialiseerd overheidsapparaat een belangrijke rol gaan spelen. ] 3. Europa’s eigen weg: In de 10e eeuw had Europa net een lijdensweg ondergaan van plunderingen, roof, oorlogen. Noormannen naar zuid-europa en oosterse contreienRussen. Geduchte en wrede plunderaars. Hongaren vanuit het Oosten, bleven niet lang. Hierna, door afwezigheid van agressie kon Europa groeien, mede door ondernemingszin (niet vanzelfsprekend).Tussen oude mediterrane wereld and moderne Europa zit overgangstijdkwam nieuwe samenleving op gang. Orientaals despotisme (alleenheerschappij). Hierdoor niet mogelijk eigen gang te gaan, belemmerde dus de onderneming szin. Middeleeuwen tijd van overgang, Eigendom was recht!!! Europa zag niet toe, reguleerde niet en onderdrukte niet, China wel wat betreft eigendom. Ook despotische regeringen in Europa, maar ingeperkt door de wet. Chinamuren om mensen bij zich te houden, niet overlopen naar rivalen†¦Als er in Europa rivaliteit was tussen landen, goed jegens burgersanders konden ze overlopen.Er ontstonden gemeenten als marktplaatsen. Knoopplaats tot handel met platteland (hogere status). Heersers gaven macht aan stedelingen en buitenluiomdat dat meer oogst opleverde en tevens macht heerser uitbreidde. Middeleeuwen Europa: economische revolutievoedsel, landbouwmethoden, INNOVATIE ipv UITVINDINGEN. WAAROM SPREEKT MEN LIEVER OVER INNOVATIE DAN OVER UITVINDINGEN? [nieuwe methoden stamde al uit eerdere tijden, neem windmill (vertical/horizontal axis voorbeeld OF Ploeg op wielen door Germanen meegebracht]