The Coffee Crisis Essay Example for Free

The Coffee Crisis Essay Introduction In 2011, Diego Comin, Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, revised his 2009 case study on the Great Moderation (reproduced by permission for Capella University, 2011). The case explores whether or not the Great Moderation, defined by investopedia. com as â€Å"the period of decreased macroeconomic volatility experienced in the United States since the 1980’s [during which] the standard deviation of quarterly real GDP declined by half, and the standard deviation of inflation declined by two-thirds (para.1)† is still in effect. This paper will use evidence from research in a draft by Pancrazi and Vukotic (2011) that proposes â€Å"macroeconomic variables in the last thirty years have not only experienced a reduction in their overall volatility, but also an increase in their persistence (p. 2). † The 2011 research paper also purports that â€Å"by using a New-Keynesian macroeconomic model the responsiveness of output variance to changes in the monetary policy decreases with an increase in the persistence of technology (p. 2). † The result, according to Pancrazi and Vukotic, is an â€Å"overestimate† of the monetary influence and authority to â€Å"smooth out the real economic dynamics (p. 2). † The Great Moderation and the The Great Recession. Comin, in â€Å"The Great Moderation, Dead or Alive? † (Capella, 2011), quotes Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve: reduced macroeconomic volatility has numerous benefits. Lower volatility of inflation improves market functioning, makes economic planning easier, and reduces the resources devoted to hedging inflation risks. Lower volatility of output tends to imply more stable employment and a reduction in the extent of economic uncertainty confronting households and firms. The reduction in the volatility of output is also closely associated with the fact that recessions have become less frequent and less severe (p. 17). † Comin points out that these conditions existed until the Great Recession of 2007 when the U. S. and other countries experienced the longest period of recession and â€Å" the largest GDP contraction in the U. S. since the Great Depression (p. 17). In â€Å"Overlooking the Great Moderation, Consequences for the Monetary Policy† (2011), the researchers hypothesize that the â€Å"Great Moderation might have been fertile ground for the recent recession (p. 3), in that technology caused an â€Å"increased persistence in the macroeconomic variables (p. 4). † Macroeconomic Observations. To summarize Comin’s (2011) account of macroeconomic activity in the U. S between 1930 and 2010, when observing the GDP during this period, he says, â€Å"it is clear that since around 1984 it has been harder to observe large deviations from the average growth rate (p.17). † When examining other macroeconomic variables, Comin says that hours worked, consumption, investment, labor productivity, and total factor productivity (TFP), have, for the most part, â€Å"experienced stabilization by roughly the same magnitude, [where] the stock market has not stabilized significantly. If anything, it has become more volatile over the last few decades (p. 18). † Pancrazi and Vukotic focus their research on â€Å"studying the behavior of the total factor productivity (TFP) before and after the Great Moderation (p.4)†¦[by] using a basic New-Keynesian model featuring imperfect completion and price stickiness, [to ascertain] whether a change in the persistence of TFP affects the responsiveness of the real variables to the monetary policy (p. 6). † Their observations include an examination of the stability of TFP and an assessment that â€Å"a higher Microeconomic impact of the coffee crisis. The case study conveys that â€Å"coffee was the main source of income for roughly 25 million farmers, mostly small land holders, in Latin America, Africa, and Asia (p.1). † The coffee crisis created immense hardship for these small producers; â€Å"in some countries, farmers had been forced to take their children out of school and put them to work (p. 1). † One of the consequences of the coffee crisis that was less publicized was how larger farms and their workers were devastated. Large farms generally do not use non-cash family workers, like many of the smaller farmers do; as a result of the crisis, many workers were laid off, subsequently putting larger farms completely out of business. (Price, 2003) Where some producers chose to get out of the coffee business and venture into unknown territory with a new crop, others either attempted to break into the coffee â€Å"niche† market or decrease their outputs. (Line Tickell, 2003) In the ICO report on the impact the coffee crisis has had on poverty, the socio-economic impact reported by the respondent countries is filled with narratives that describe families and farmers who worked in the coffee industry unable to pay for medicine, food, and other essentials. Families are also reported to have migrated to cities, where there is typically no work for skilled farmers; some countries report that workers have migrated leaving their families behind. (Osorio, 2003) Solutions for long term sustainability. The case study presents an outline of solutions recommended by the ICO, Technoserve (as reported to the Inter-American Development Bank) and Oxfam. â€Å"The Coffee Crisis† states that, according to Oxfam, â€Å"the long run solution†¦was a commitment to ‘fair trade’†¦ a system in which a buyer in the first world agrees to pay third-world producers enough to support a decent living (p.5). † Oxfam says that â€Å"the fair trade movement was designed to provide an assured income and other benefits to the farmers associated with it (Line Tickell, 2003, p. 8). † Technoserve believes the following â€Å"three areas offer the highest potential for sustainable impact: 1. Increasing coffee consumption in producer countries and emerging market countries; 2. Assisting unprofitable producers of high-quality Arabica to move into higher-priced specialty coffees; and 3. Helping regions with a high concentration of marginal coffee producers who cannot differentiate their product or compete on price to diversify into other products and industries (para. 15 16). † In June, 2004, Nestor Osorio of the ICO presented to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) a report titled: â€Å"Lessons Learned from the Coffee Crisis: A Serious Problem for Sustainable Development. † In it he outlines the economic strategies he believed would prevent a future crisis and assist coffee producer toward long-term sustainability. Two proposed policies address the supply-demand problem: 1. To use the experience of the coffee crisis to create awareness – best achieved through the ICO – in national and international bodies of the danger of embarking on any projects or programmes (sic) which will further increase supply; and 2. Working to increase the benefits accruing from value-added products rather than traditional bulk commodity exports. Osorio recognizes the importance of â€Å"the need for market development to increase demand (p. 5)† also. He says that projects intended to benefit the supply chain should include actions from farmer to consumer, as well as farmer to exporter. These include: 1. â€Å"Support for the ICO’s Quality-Improvement Programme as a means of improving consumer appreciation and consumption of coffee; 2. Action to increase consumption in coffee-producing countries themselves, which should have a number of positive effects such as providing an alternative market outlet, increasing producer awareness of consumer preferences, stimulation of small and medium enterprises, etc. as well as acting to increase demand; 3. Action to enhance knowledge and appreciation of coffee in large emerging markets such as Russia and China, following the successful ICO campaigns in the 1990s; and 4. Protecting consumption levels in traditional markets through quality maintenance, development of niche markets and dissemination of positive information on the health benefits of coffee consumption. (p. 5-6). † Conclusion The coffee market has been described as an â€Å"imperfect market; a market that in recent years has failed – both in human and economic terms (Lines Tickell, 2003, p. 8). † The coffee crisis illuminated the impact the market had on international trade, national economies, businesses and families many in underdeveloped, low income countries. Because the regions where coffee can be grown are also many times third-world or repressed countries, coffee production is considered a humanitarian concern as well as an economic issue. Where an organization like Technoserve may lean toward business partnership solutions for the coffee industry, and Oxfam may concentrate on the humanitarian perspective, the International Coffee Organization appears to have taken a balanced approach in presenting the plight of coffee producers from both altruistic and economic perspectives. Where it is understood that many depressed areas and nations depend on coffee crops for sustenance, the ICO has taken a stand that the lessons learned from the coffee crisis must be solved with the tenets of economics, coupled with social responsibility, if families, farms, businesses and coffee-producing nations are going to achieve long-term sustainability. References Capella University. (Eds. ). (2011). MBA6008: Global Economic Environment. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Lines, T. , Tickell, S. (2003, May 1). Walk the Talk, Oxfam International Briefing Paper, May, 2003. Oxfam International | Working together to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. Retrieved May 5, 2012, from www. oxfam. org/sites/www. oxfam. org/files/walk. pdf Osorio, N. (2002). ICO. org Documents/Global Crisis. International Coffee Organization. Retrieved May 4, 2012, from dev. ico. org/documents/globalcrisise. pdf Osorio, N. (2003). ICO. org Documents/G-8. International Coffee Organization. Retrieved May 4, 2012, from dev. ico. org/documents/g8e. pdf Osorio, N. (2004). ICO. org Documents/UNCTAD. International Coffee Organization. Retrieved May 4, 2012, from dev. ico. org/documents/UNCTAD. pdf Prince, M. (2003, December 3). CoffeeGeek Coffee Crisis:TechnoServe Releases Fact-Based Industry Analysis. CoffeeGeek News, Reviews, Opinion and Community for Coffee and Espresso. Retrieved May 5, 2012, from http://coffeegeek. com/resources/pressreleases/technoservedec42003.

Anorexia and Bulimia - A Threat to Society Essay -- essays research p

In a society that discriminates against people, particularly women, who do not look slender, many people find they cannot - or think they cannot - meet society's standards through normal, healthy eating habits and often fall victim to eating disorders. Bulimia Nervosa, an example of an eating disorder that is characterized by a cycle of binge eating and purging, has become very common in our society. Although it generally affects women, men too are now coming to clinics with this kind of disease. This is not a new disorder. It can be brought on by a complex interplay of factors, which may include emotional, and personality disorders, family pressures, a possible genetic or biologic susceptibility, and a culture in which there is an overabundance of food and an obsession with thinness. Common signs of this problem are pre-occupation with the body, a need for control and perfection, difficult interpersonal relationships, and a low self-esteem. It seems that irrespective of the initial triggers, bulimia can become a rigid pattern, which is difficult to change. The purpose of this paper is to reason out why bulimia is detrimental to our society. It focuses on its bad effect to the health of an individual and to the society. Perhaps you do not have this kind of eating disorder but you are definitely affected by it. Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a secretive cycle of bingeing and purging. Binge eating is the uncontrolled consumption of large amounts of food lasting a few minutes to several hours. Purging or ridding the body of food eaten during a binge through self-induced vomiting, laxatives, fasting, severe diets, or vigorous exercise follows this. The cause of bulimia is really unknown. It may develop due to a combination of emotional, physical, and social triggers. The precise reasons for developing it are probably different for each person. Bulimia is more common in western societies, and some people link them to media images of thinness. Being thin is often linked to being successful. Bulimia may occur in several family members. People who have a mother or sister with an eating disorder are more likely to develop one, although it is not clear whether this is due to genetic factors or the learning of certain behaviors. Bulimia ner vosa can be extremely harmful to the body. The recurrent binge-and-pu... ...bulimia is and encourage them to fight this kind of disorder. If we will not work it out, this can influence more people leading to a malfunction society because we all know that bulimia is actually detrimental to our society. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Bulimia nervosa. Workplace Blues. Retrieved January 6, 2005, from http://www.workplaceblues.com/mental_health/healthcons.asp BUPA’s Health Information Team. (2003 November). Bulimia nervosa. BUPA. Retrieved January 6, 2005, from http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/pdfs/Bulimia.pdf Clark, D. & MacMahon B. (1981). Preventive and Community Medicine 2nd Ed. Boston: Little, Brown and Company. Eating disorder. Bambooweb. Retrieved January 6, 2005, from http://www.bambooweb.com/articles/e/a/Eating_Disorder.html Eating disorders. MoDMH: Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services. Retrieved January 6, 2005, from http://www.dmh.missouri.gov/cps/facts/eating.htm Eating disorders. Perth Clinic. Retrieved January 6, 2005, from http://www.perthclinic.com.au/treatmentprograms/eatingdisorders.html Mongeau E. (2001 February). Eating disorders: a difficult diagnosis. Vital Signs. Retrieved January 6, 2005, from www2.mms.org/vitalsigns/feb01/hcc1.html

Mars Company Plc Analysis & Description

Mars company PLC Analysis & Description Top of Form Aleksander Terzijew, you are signed in. |My Account Options | My Job Basket (0 items)|Sign Out * Job Search * My Jobpage Applying for: European Finance Development Programme 2011 (Job Number: UNI00330) Loading†¦ Step 5 out of 5|Print/E-mail | Beginning of the main content section. SummaryThis summary displays the information included in the job submission form. To modify some specific information, click â€Å"Edit† next to the relevant section. EditPersonal InformationAleksander Terzijew62 Blandford RoadManchester, M6 6BEPoland—Kujawsko-Pomorskie—[email  protected] om Home Phone Number| 07865963872| Mobile phone number| | Work Phone Number| | You can ask for your profile to be deleted, at any time by logging into the system and changing this box to DELETE MY PROFILE. If you choose to delete your profile, this will then disqualify you from any current roles that you have applied for. | Do NOT delete my pro file| Source Tracking Source Type| . Career Fair| Source| Manchester University| Education Institution| University of Salford| Programme| BUSINESS| Education Level| Bachelor's Degree| Average grade| | out of| | Start Date| -Jan-2007| Graduation Date| -Jan-2010|Institution| University of Salford| Programme| | Education Level| | Average grade| | out of| | Start Date| -Jan-2006| Graduation Date| -Jan-2007| Work Experience Current Job| No| Employer| Sage-COS| Position Title| Accountant| Start Date| -Sep-2009| End Date| -Oct-2010| Achievements| 16. 09. 2009 – 21. 10. 2010 Sage – COS Bookkeeping ; Consultancy Ltd gained a general Book – Keeping qualification on – screen simulations using Sage 50 Accounts software learned the principles of both manual ; software – based bookkeeping acquired a grounding in bookkeeping , accounting , payroll ; financial management | Current Job| No|Employer| Smart City Futures| Position Title| | Start Date| -Jul-2009| End D ate| | Achievements| 23. 07. 2009 Smart City Futures new conversations that tap into the unrealised potential of open innovation ; effective collaboration between Universities , Industry ; Government shared knowledge , experience , challenges ; failures ; explored collaborative solutions on Smart City Futures challenged traditional conference dynamics ; experiment with new formats more in tune with the connected world took an active part in non – hierarchical dialogue ; collaborative ideas generation | Current Job| No|Employer| Applied Language Solutions| Position Title| Freelance Interpreter| Start Date| -Jan-2009| End Date| -Nov-2010| Achievements| 06. 2009 – 2009 Freelance Interpreter – Applied Language Solutions interpreted within a variety of face to face ( on site ) settings , mainly between Public Service ; Private assignments ensured that the translations delivered are as accurate as possible assured that can handle all professional translation ; interpr eting needs ensured that at every point in the translation process , quality checks are built in | EditCover Letter Plain Text Cover Letter| |Attachments Relevant Files| File Name| Date| Comments| Yes| Cover Letter. docx| 30/Nov/10| | Yes| Alex CV. docx| 30/Nov/10| This file includes a curriculum vitae from which basic candidate information has been extracted. | | | | | EditQuestionnaire Please indicate your current location. (Address details and post code, we will use this when deciding on your assessment centre location). | 62 Blandford Road Manchester M6 6BE| Do you have a valid driving licence for the country to which you are applying? | Yes| If you answered No to the above question, please can you provide us with more detail.I don't have a current driving licence because:| N/A| Which of the following degrees do you currently hold or are expecting to achieve? | 2:1 or above| If you have indicated a non UK degree or equivalent, please enter the details below (what exams? where we re they sat? what was your grade? what is the grade scale? eg German Arbitur 1 – 4)| N/A| What level of UCAS points (excluding any gained through General Studies) do you have? | More than or equal to 300 points| Please use the space below to explain how you acheived your UCAS points or equivalents (what exams? here were they sat? what was your grade? what is the grade scale? eg German Arbitur 1 – 4, A-level Maths – A grade / 120 points )| Matura: English – 75% Mathematics – 80% Geography – 66% Cultural Studies – Very Good Business – Very Good Computer Science – Very Good Civil Defence – Good Social Science – Good| We require trainees to be flexible to relocate anywhere in the UK whilst completing their graduate programme. Are you prepared to do this? | Yes| Whilst at university , what has been the highest level of your involvment with clubs, societies or teams? Leader, president or team captain| Describe a time when you worked under pressure to complete a project or task. (Character limit 1500 inc. spaces) What made the situation challenging? How did you approach that challenges? What actions did you take to complete your project or task? | I was introduced to the analytical and financial techniques that are commonly used by commercial accountants and fund managers when planning financial strategy and portfolio investment. The project was given to submit within a week time. The challenging situation was the word count of 5000.I am not the guy who can type stories, I get the facts I try to make that short and clear. However this project needed to be done the way that teacher wanted. I am always motivated to achieve high results and I am always ready to work hard. I decided not to waste any time so I have took the necessary books and start writing the very first day. I have successfully completed the project with 76%. In thanks to this task I have sharpened focus on business operations and functional areas. I developed a wide range of personal skills vital to any business and management career.I have learned how to make extensive use of the time frame by planning everything in advance. | Outline an occasion where you found it difficult to establish an effective working relationship with a colleague. (Character limit 1500 inc. spaces) How did you build the relationship? What challenges did you face? How did your manage those challenges? What did you learn from the experience? | The most difficult time to establish an effective working relationship with my colleague happened ding my first year at the university. It was a group of five members with different backgrounds. I build the relationship by becoming their friend.It was not easy because each one of them was completely different. However they had one thing in common always ready to party. I already knew that it will be difficult to submit the project on time. However step by step I have became one of them by ma king a small party with all of the team members. Then I have introduced my plan how to deliver the project on time and achieve high mark. They trusted me and understood that it is crucial to work as a group not as an individual. I learned that sometimes you have to think outside the box and be creative to achieve an effective targets. Describe a time when you had to work hard to influence a group or a variety of individuals to deliver a project or achieve a critical objective. (Character limit 1500 inc. spaces) How did you influence the group? What was the most challenging thing about influencing them? How did you know you adopted the right approach? | At Salford University we had to work in groups of five or six people. Then select banking industry and establish what is the product range. Determine how those products are promoted to consumers. Finally Compare the practices against the theory in the context of the chosen organisation.To influence the group effectively I had crate so me database about my group members (nationality, age, hobby etc. ) To influence them they need to feel that I am one of them, which I did before choosing the team leader. The next day I was elected to be a team leader therefore I had many responsibilities. I have organised everybody by giving them specific targets to achieve. I was confirming that all of the members look through interim reports, which were spread through the group. Then I had to make sure that the group is functioning well and the bonding between the members is helping the group feel more comfortable with each other.The crucial and the most challenging thing about influencing them it was monitoring and creating positive image of the well going project even if there were some difficulties. I had to show that I am controlling everything and never panic, no matter what was happening. When the team understood that I can handle all of the issue by being calm and giving an appropriate feedback, I was fully trusted and the team members quickly adopted my approach. | | Powered by Bottom of Form Footer Menu * Legal * Site owner * Trademarks * Privacy * Site map *  © 2008 Mars, Incorporated and its Affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

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