New York Times, New York Times

New York Times, New York Times Yesterdays New York Times had another article about the new SAT, and Marilee was quoted. Here are those paragraphs: The director of undergraduate writing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has also raised concerns about the test. After reviewing more than 50 sample SAT essays, the writing director, Les Perelman, was troubled by the correlation between their length and score. Were very data driven here, so were going to do our own correlation studies, said Marilee Jones, the dean of admissions at M.I.T., adding that she thought it was unfair to base decisions on a test that had not yet been shown to be a good indicator of a students abilities. M.I.T. will not consider SAT writing scores next year, but will require writing scores the following year. The university will not use the scores in admissions decisions until it is satisfied with the validity of the test. More on this over the coming year At this very moment, Im in MIT Room 10-250 with 500 or so other people listening to a speech by Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, talking about his new book, The World Is Flat. MIT President Emeritus Charles Vest introduces Friedman. A big crowd shows up for the lecture. Friedman gives a great talk! Lots of MIT bigwigs are here, including Charles Vest, Tom Magnanti, Dick K.P. Yue, Paul Gray, Alex dArbeloff, and many more. And, you can be here too soon, the webcast will be available at MIT World. EDIT: Friedman closes his talk: Go out and export hope, not fear. A great lecture all around.

Why Is Nike the Biggest Training Shoe Company in the World

Athletic shoes have become a basic part just about everyone s wardrobes. This is due to both the increasing numbers of people exercising and the trend towards casual apparel. One of the most popular brands in the world is Nike. Competition is strong at all levels within the industry, especially among the leaders. However, Nike has successfully differentiated from these competitors. This essay will concentrate on what makes Nike shoes standing out from the rest. Starting from making running shoes, Nike had branched out rapidly into an assortment of other sports as well as leisure markets. The firm appealed to the market on the basis of quality, technical innovation, and high performance, all of which attracted the serious athletes. This†¦show more content†¦The most important areas of product development like research and design align with the Nike objective to innovate and inspire. The company has completed countless hours of tests on how the human body moves. It is continuously making new discoveries that improve the products and its performance ability. Technology is a top priority with Nike. As technology is based on time, to have successful technology programs the company has to know what the world will want tomorrow and what resources will be needed. And it appears that Nike always has something new on the horizon. The company digs into any niche related to sports, including technological breakthroughs, retailing, sports manag ement and sports promotion. Depending on what information that they take in, they can make a product that will suit the current times as well as times to come. One of the best examples is the Air concept developed by Nike Ââ€" Air sole which contains pockets of pressurised gas increasing trainers comfort. As a result of devoting vast resources to the research and development, Nike continues to be the leader of quality products. The strategy, Nike uses to keep costs down is to contract with manufacturing companies located in countries where labour costs are cheap. In general, the manufacturing companies are located further from most customers, resulting in higher distribution costs. However, the financial benefits of outsourcing far outweigh costs of transporting.Show MoreRelatedWhy Trainers Are The Most Popular Shoes4015 Words   |  17 Pagestalk about the history of the trainers and how they developed from the normal plimsolls to the much fashionable and trendy sneakers of today. I believe that this area of research is important because trainers are the most popular shoes in present world but still not many people know about their history, I myself knew nothing about it until i researched about it, so I feel that one must know about the most popular shoes in present time. 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That make costumer, to recognize Adidas is three parallel stripes of the same color. Slogan: â€Å"IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING† 1. History 1949-2005 Due to the death of Adolf’s son (Horst Dassler), the Company was bought in 1990 by BernardRead MoreMarketing plan for shoes company -New Balance7828 Words   |  32 Pages1. Introduction Founded by William Riley in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Company, in Belmont, MA, New Balance manufactured arch supports and orthopedic shoes. During the fifties and sixties, athletes turned to the company for customized running shoes due to New Balances unique expertise in handcrafting specialized footwear. Paul Kidd bought the company in 1956 and increased the shoe-making sector as demand grew. Production of running shoes soon became the companys primary source of business. The

Creating A Sustainable Terrestrial Ecosystem Within A...

Mesocosm Lab Exploration Research Question: With the plants chosen, is it possible to create a sustainable terrestrial ecosystem within a sealed glass jar? Background Information The purpose of this experiment is to become familiar with how an ecosystem works, and discover the most sustainable kind of ecosystem. Based on knowing how an ecosystem works, predictions have been made that state if a terrestrial mesocosm is sealed for four weeks with plants inside, it can continue to live and thrive sealed from the outside environment because the plants will gain their moisture from the humidity left in the sealed jar. The plants will use photosynthesis and carbon dioxide in order to transform the carbon dioxide into oxygen and water. A mesocosm is any outdoors experimental system that examines the natural environment that is brought under controlled conditions. It is used to model a larger ecosystem. (Oxford Journals) Mesocosms help scientists as they allow a more accurate prediction of previously unpredictable events. (What is a Mesocosm) Mesocosms give scientists the opportunity to investigate the reaction of organisms to environmental change and have been used in experimental ecology since the early 20th century. They have been used for almost over a 100 years, but just recently became significant as a way of investigating certain ecological ideas. Mesocosms became more significant due to the study of climate change, since the late 90s. Through mesocosms, scientists are

Hungary’s Economic Crisis Free Essays

Last year, â€Å"Promising economic indicators† is a headline in the front page of a Hungarian newspaper. The economists, government representatives and many politicians said that Hungary’s economy is growing. Growing half times as it should be. We will write a custom essay sample on Hungary’s Economic Crisis or any similar topic only for you Order Now In reality and if economics can only speak, Hungary was in big trouble and in the verge of economic collapse last year. The economic crisis of Hungary led the resignation of Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany. Now, Hungary’s population is looking for the proper replacement for their Prime Minister. And they hope that whoever would be their Prime Minister will help them regain their economic stability. As economic crisis still exists in the country, many believed that the major factor that would determine the economic stability is its policies regarding their pensioners. Hungary’s total population of pensioners totaled for about 3 million which is about one-third of the whole population. Aside from supporting these pensioners, the government also pays for special benefits to accident victims, military and police veterans. The problem boils down to the public spending and finances. Pension is a heavy obligation that Hungary’s government is shouldering because of their policy regarding pensioners. Reforming the policy is not an option for the Socialist party of Gyurcsany because they protect the Socialist voting percentage which is mainly composed of retirees. Solutions should be done and we should try anything possible that will be in great help for the recovery of the nation. Possible solution is to cut the pension received by the retirees into much lesser amount. This would definitely be a great help in the recovery. One another option is to limit the pensions to those in proper age of retirees and not to those who were only taken their opportunity of having their pension because of undersized accidents. In the end, all should be working for the progress and recovery of this nation, not only the officials but also the people that are the ones greatly affected by the economic crisis. Any solutions can be beneficial and should be tried. How to cite Hungary’s Economic Crisis, Papers

Tariffs on Imports free essay sample

In simplest terms, a tariff is a tax. It adds to the cost of imported goods and is one of several trade policies that a country can enact. Tariffs are often created to protect infant industries and developing economies, but are also used by more advanced economies with developed industries. Here are five of the top reasons tariffs are used: Protecting Domestic Employment The levying of tariffs is often highly politicized. The possibility of increased competition from imported goods can threaten domestic industries.These domestic companies may fire workers or shift production abroad to cut costs, which means higher unemployment and a less happy electorate. The unemployment argument often shifts to domestic industries complaining about cheap foreign labor, and how poor working conditions and lack of regulation allow foreign companies to produce goods more cheaply. In economics, however, countries will continue to produce goods until they no longer have a comparative advantage (not to be confused with an absolute advantage). We will write a custom essay sample on Tariffs on Imports or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Protecting Consumers A government may levy a tariff on products that it feels could endanger its population. For example, South Korea may place a tariff on imported beef room the United States if it thinks that the goods could be tainted with disease. Infant Industries The use of tariffs to protect infant industries can be seen by the Import Substitution Industrialization (SIS) strategy employed by many developing nations. The government of a developing economy will levy tariffs on imported goods in industries in which it wants to foster growth.This increases the prices of imported goods and creates a domestic market for domestically produced goods, while protecting those industries from being forced out by more competitive pricing. It decreases unemployment and allows developing countries to shift from agricultural products to finished goods. Criticisms of this sort of protectionist strategy revolve around the cost of us besieging the development of infant industries. If an industry develops without competition, it could wind up producing lower quality goods, and the subsidies required to keep the state-backed industry afloat could sap economic growth.National Security Barriers are also employed by developed countries to protect certain industries that are deemed strategically important, such as those supporting national security. Defense industries are often viewed as vital to state interests, and often enjoy significant levels of protection. For example, while both Western Europe and the United States are industrialized, both are very protective of defense-oriented companies. Retaliation Countries may also set tariffs as a retaliation technique if they think that a trading partner has not played by the rules . For example, if France believes that the United States has allowed its wine producers to call its domestically produced sparkling wines Champagne (a name specific to the Champagne region of F-range) for too long it may levy a tariff on imported meat from the United States. If the U. S. Agrees to crack down on the improper labeling, France is likely to stop its retaliation. Retaliation can also be employed if a trading partner goes against the governments foreign policy objectives.Types of Tariffs and Trade Barriers There are several types of tariffs and barriers that a government can employ: Specific tariffs Ad valor tariffs Licenses Import quotas Voluntary export restraints Local content requirements Specific Tariffs A fixed fee levied on one unit of an imported good is referred to as a specific tariff. This tariff can vary according to the type Of good imported. For example, a country could levy a $1 5 tariff on each pair of shoes imported, but levy a $300 tariff on each computer imported.Ad Valor Tariffs The phrase ad valor is Latin for according to value, and this type vitrify is levied on a good based on a percentage of that goods value. An example of an ad valor tariff would be a 15% tariff levied by Japan on U. S. Automobiles. The is a price increase on the value of the automobile, so a $1 0,000 vehicle now costs $1 1,500 to Japanese consumers. This price increase protects domestic producers from being undercut, but also keeps prices artificially high for Japanese car shoppers. Non-tariff barriers to trade include: A license is granted to a business by the government, and allows the business to import a certain type of good into the country. For example, there could be a restriction on imported cheese, and licenses would be granted to certain companies allowing them to act as importers. This creates a restriction on competition, and increases prices faced by consumers. Import Quotas An import quota is a restriction placed on the amount of a particular good that can be imported. This sort of barrier is often associated with the issuance of licenses.For example, a country may place a quota on the volume of imported citrus fruit that is allowed. Voluntary Export Restraints (EVER) This type of trade barrier is voluntary in that it is created by the exporting country rather than the importing one. A voluntary export restraint is usually levied at the behest of the importing country, and could be accompanied by a reciprocal EVER. For example, Brazil could place a EVER on the exportation of sugar to Canada, based on a request by Canada. Canada could then place a EVER on the exportation of coal to Brazil.This increases the price of both coal and sugar, but protects the domestic industries. Local Content Requirement Instead of placing a quota on the number of goods that can be imported, the government can require that a certain percentage of a good be made domestically. The restriction can be a percentage of the good itself, or a percentage of the value of the good. For example, a restriction on the import of computers might say that 25% of the pieces used to make the computer are made domestically, or can say that 15% of the value of the good must come from domestically produced components. In the final section well examine who benefits from tariffs and how they affect the price of goods. Who Benefits? The benefits of tariffs are uneven. Because a tariff is a tax, the government will see increased revenue as imports enter the domestic market. Domestic industries also benefit from a reduction in competition, since import prices are artificially inflated. Unfortunately for consumers both individual consumers and businesses higher import prices mean higher prices for goods.If the price of steel is inflated due to tariffs, individual consumers pay more for products using steel, and businesses pay more for steel that they use to make goods. In short, tariffs and trade barriers tend to be pro- reducer and anti-consumer. The effect of tariffs and trade barriers on businesses, consumers and the government shifts over time. In the short run, higher prices for goods can reduce consumption by individual consumers and by businesses. During this time period, businesses will profit and the government will see an increase in revenue from duties.In the long term, businesses may see a decline in efficiency due to a lack of competition, and may also see a reduction in profits due to the emergence of substitutes for their products. For the government, the long-term effect of subsidies is an increase in the demand for public arrives, since increased prices, especially in foodstuffs, leave less disposable income. (For related reading, check out In Praise Of Trade Deficits. ) How Do Tariffs Affect Prices? Tariffs increase the prices of imported goods. Because of this, domestic producers are not forced to reduce their prices from increased competition, and domestic consumers are left paying higher prices as a result. Tariffs also reduce efficiencies by allowing companies that would not exist in a more competitive market to remain open. Figure 1 illustrates the effects of world trade without the presence of a tariff. In the graph, DOS means domestic supply and AD means domestic demand. The price of goods at home is found at price P, while the world price is found at P*.At a lower price, domestic consumers will consume Growth of goods, but because the home country can only produce up to Q, it must import Q- Q worth of goods. Figure 1. Price without the influence Of a tariff When a tariff or other price-increasing policy is put in place, the effect is to increase prices and limit the volume of imports. In Figure 2, price increases from the non-tariff P* to P. Because price has increased, more domestic impasses are willing to produce the good, so Q moves right. This also shifts Q left.The overall effect is a reduction in imports, increased domestic production and higher consumer prices. (To learn more about the movement of equilibrium due to changes in supply and demand, read Understanding Supply-Side Economics. ) Figure 2. Price under the effects of a tariff Tariffs and Modern Trade The role tariffs play in international trade has declined in modern times. One of the primary reasons for the decline is the introduction of international organizations designed to improve free trade, such as the World Trade Organization (WTFO).Such organizations make it more difficult for a country to levy tariffs and taxes on imported goods, and can reduce the likelihood of retaliatory taxes. Because of this, countries have shifted to non-tariff barriers, such as quotas and export restraints. Organizations like the WTFO attempt to reduce production and consumption distortions created by tariffs. These distortions are the result of domestic producers making goods due to inflated prices, and consumers purchasing fewer goods because prices have increased. (To learn about the Wets efforts, read What Is The World Trade Organization? )Since the sass, many developed countries have reduced tariffs and trade barriers, which has i mproved global integration and brought about globalization. Multilateral agreements between governments increase the likelihood of tariff reduction, while enforcement on binding agreements reduces uncertainty. The Bottom Line Free trade benefits consumers through increased choice and reduced prices, but because the global economy brings with it uncertainty, many governments impose tariffs and other trade barriers to protect industry. There is a delicate balance between the pursuit of efficiencies and the governments need to ensure low unemployment.

Free Essays on Global Trends 2015

Global Trends 2015: Life After Pax Americana Global Trends 2015 paints a picture, which I believe to be congruent with Charles Kupchan’s article â€Å"Life After Pax Americana. Population increases are predicted to increase by over 1 billion, yet globalization – the use of technology to make the globe increasingly smaller – continues to integrate and connect the globe. After assessing the drivers and trends discussed throughout the dialogue, I feel over the course of the next decade a global landscape will emerge in which, â€Å"power and influence are more equally distributed across the globe† (Kupchan). Global demographic trends remain a factor. â€Å"The world population will increase by more than a billion by 2015, with 95 percent of that growth occurring in the developing world.† Yet in the developing-world urbanization will continue to boom, with approximatly 20-30 million of the world’s poorest people migrating to urban areas each year. These global trends will have lasting implications that will vary by state and region. Economically poorer states, or those with weak governance and infastructure, will encounter additional strains on their resources, infrastructures, and leadership. Many will attept to cope with the effects of globalization, and some will fail. At the same time, â€Å"some advanced and emerging market states – including key European and Asian allies – will be forced to reexamine longstanding political, social, and cultural precepts as they attempt to overcome the challenges of rapidly aging populations and declining workforce cohort s. In these and other cases, dem! ographic pressures will remain a potential source of stress and instability.† (Defense Intelligence Agency) In general, globalization is a positive force that will increase most of the world’s population’s standard of living, but for some, â€Å"globalization will exacerbate local and regional tensions, increase the prospects and capa... Free Essays on Global Trends 2015 Free Essays on Global Trends 2015 Global Trends 2015: Life After Pax Americana Global Trends 2015 paints a picture, which I believe to be congruent with Charles Kupchan’s article â€Å"Life After Pax Americana. Population increases are predicted to increase by over 1 billion, yet globalization – the use of technology to make the globe increasingly smaller – continues to integrate and connect the globe. After assessing the drivers and trends discussed throughout the dialogue, I feel over the course of the next decade a global landscape will emerge in which, â€Å"power and influence are more equally distributed across the globe† (Kupchan). Global demographic trends remain a factor. â€Å"The world population will increase by more than a billion by 2015, with 95 percent of that growth occurring in the developing world.† Yet in the developing-world urbanization will continue to boom, with approximatly 20-30 million of the world’s poorest people migrating to urban areas each year. These global trends will have lasting implications that will vary by state and region. Economically poorer states, or those with weak governance and infastructure, will encounter additional strains on their resources, infrastructures, and leadership. Many will attept to cope with the effects of globalization, and some will fail. At the same time, â€Å"some advanced and emerging market states – including key European and Asian allies – will be forced to reexamine longstanding political, social, and cultural precepts as they attempt to overcome the challenges of rapidly aging populations and declining workforce cohort s. In these and other cases, dem! ographic pressures will remain a potential source of stress and instability.† (Defense Intelligence Agency) In general, globalization is a positive force that will increase most of the world’s population’s standard of living, but for some, â€Å"globalization will exacerbate local and regional tensions, increase the prospects and capa...

The Battle of Palo Alto

The Battle of Palo Alto The Battle of Palo Alto: The Battle of Palo Alto (May 8, 1846) was the first major engagement of the Mexican-American War. Although the Mexican army was significantly larger than the American force, American superiority in weapons and training carried the day. The battle was a victory for the Americans and began a long series of defeats for the beleaguered Mexican Army. The American Invasion: By 1845, war between the USA and Mexico was inevitable. America coveted Mexicos western holdings, such as California and New Mexico, and Mexico was still furious about the loss of Texas ten years before. When the USA annexed Texas in 1845, there was no going back: Mexican politicians railed against American aggression and fired the nation into a patriotic frenzy. When both nations sent armies to the disputed Texas/Mexico border in early 1846, it was only a matter of time before a series of skirmishes were used as an excuse for both nations to declare war. Zachary Taylors Army: The American forces on the border were commanded by General Zachary Taylor, a skilled officer who would eventually become President of the United States. Taylor had some 2,400 men, including infantry, cavalry and the new flying artillery squads. The flying artillery was a new concept in warfare: teams of men and cannons who could change positions on a battlefield rapidly. The Americans had high hopes for their new weapon, and they would not be disappointed. Mariano Aristas Army: General Mariano Arista was confident that he could defeat Taylor: his 3,300 troops were among the best in the Mexican army. His infantry was supported by cavalry and artillery units. Although his men were ready for battle, there was unrest. Arista had recently been given the command over General Pedro Ampudia and there was much intrigue and infighting in the Mexican officer ranks. The Road to Fort Texas: Taylor had two locations to worry about: Fort Texas, a recently-built fort on the Rio Grande near Matamoros, and Point Isabel, where his supplies were. General Arista, who knew he had overwhelming numerical superiority, was looking to catch Taylor in the open. When Taylor took most of his army to Point Isabel to reinforce his supply lines, Arista set a trap: he began bombarding Fort Texas, knowing Taylor would have to march to its aid. It worked: on May 8, 1846, Taylor marched only to find Arista’s army in a defensive stance blocking the road to Fort Texas. The first major battle of the Mexican-American War was about to begin. Artillery Duel: Neither Arista nor Taylor seemed willing to make the first move, so the Mexican army began firing its artillery at the Americans. The Mexican guns were heavy, fixed and used inferior gunpowder: reports from the battle say the cannonballs traveled slowly enough and far enough for the Americans to dodge them when they came. The Americans answered with artillery of their own: the new â€Å"flying artillery† cannons had a devastating effect, pouring shrapnel rounds into the Mexican ranks. The Battle of Palo Alto: General Arista, seeing his ranks ripped apart, sent his cavalry after the American artillery. The horsemen were met with concerted, deadly cannon fire: the charge faltered, then retreated. Arista tried to send infantry after the cannons, but with the same result. About this time, a smoky brush fire broke out in the long grass, shielding the armies from one another. Dusk fell about the same time as the smoke cleared, and the armies disengaged. The Mexicans retreated seven miles to a gulch known as Resaca de la Palma, where the armies would battle again the following day. Legacy of the Battle of Palo Alto: Although the Mexicans and Americans had been skirmishing for weeks, Palo Alto was the first major clash between large armies. Neither side won the battle, as the forces disengaged as dusk fell and the grass fires went out, but in terms of casualties it was a win for the Americans. The Mexican army lost some 250 to 500 dead and wounded to about 50 for the Americans. The biggest loss for the Americans was the death in battle of Major Samuel Ringgold, their best artilleryman and a pioneer in the development of the lethal flying infantry. The battle decisively proved the worth of the new flying artillery. The American artillerymen practically won the battle by themselves, killing enemy soldiers from afar and driving back attacks. Both sides were surprised at the effectiveness of this new weapon: in the future, the Americans would try to capitalize on it and the Mexicans would try to defend against it. The early win greatly boosted the confidence of the Americans, who were essentially a force of invasion: they knew they would be fighting against huge odds and in hostile territory for the rest of the war. As for the Mexicans, they learned that they would have to find some way to neutralize the American artillery or run the risk of repeating the results of the Battle of Palo Alto. Sources: Eisenhower, John S.D. So Far from God: the U.S. War with Mexico, 1846-1848. Norman: the University of Oklahoma Press, 1989 Henderson, Timothy J. A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and its War with the United States.New York: Hill and Wang, 2007. Scheina, Robert L. Latin Americas Wars, Volume 1: The Age of the Caudillo 1791-1899 Washington, D.C.: Brasseys Inc., 2003. Wheelan, Joseph. Invading Mexico: Americas Continental Dream and the Mexican War, 1846-1848. New York: Carroll and Graf, 2007.