Conduct of Monetary Policy in Kuwait Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Conduct of Monetary Policy in Kuwait - Essay Example The International Monetary Fund (IMF) noted: "The fastest pace of economic expansion since the 1990 Gulf war, combined with the oil-related terms of trade gains, has boosted per capita income by 34.5% during 2003-04 and helped build up assets for future generations at a record pace." It added: "With oil prices likely to remain firm over the medium-term, Kuwait's medium-term outlook has improved and is likely to remain favourable, supported by large fiscal and current-account surpluses, and low inflation. The Kuwait economy is characterized by sound creditworthiness which in turn reflects sustained macroeconomic stability, good governance, twin surpluses (the government budget and current-account), manageable domestic debt (17% of GDP in 2005), the sophisticated banking sector and huge net (official) external assets. Overall GDP growth has been increasing at a steady rate from 2001 to 2005 due to the stability of the money supply. Through a judicious application of effective open market operations, the central bank was able to mop up excess liquidity in the system resulting in a stable economic growth. The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) has imposed a ceiling on the credit to deposit ratio. It was implemented in order to address prudential concerns over rapid expansion of credit to the private sector in recent years without a parallel increase in bank deposits. Kuwaiti banks are, however, heavily capitalised and liquid. The capital adequacy ratio remained comfortable (17.3% as of end-September 2004), well above its minimum regulatory level (12%). In 2004-05, asset quality improved further and net profits and returns on equity/total assets also rose significantly. The Kuwait central bank had reined in liquidity growth in order to attain macroeconomic stability. This policy resulted in a minimal incr ease in M2 supply from 9646.3 million Kuwait dinar (KD) in 2001 to 10401.2 million KD in 2002. This strict monetary policy resulted in a high increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 11584 .5 million KD in 2002 to 14253.5 million KD in 2003. At the same time, inflation remained at respectable levels from 0.89 percent to 0.98 percent during the same period. The GDP climbed steadily from 14253.5 million KD in 2003 to 17466 million KD in 2004. The M2 supply increased only slightly from 10401.2 million KD in 2003 to 11655.2 million KD in 2004. The GDP scored a big leap from 17466 million KD in 2004 to 23588 million KD in 2005. Steady monetary policies kept the M2 supply level from 11655.2 million KD in 2004 to 13088.2 million KD in 2005.On the macroeconomic front, the authorities have pursued prudent monetary/fiscal policies, thus underpinning price stability and the exchange rate peg. Consumer price rises have averaged just 1.4% annually over 2000-05, thanks to a str onger currency and subdued import prices. The Kuwait central bank has maintained very stable exchange rate levels to maintain stable inflation rates. This effective policy has resulted in minimal inflation rates. The Kuwait dinar has been appreciating vis-a-vis the US dollar from 2001 to 2005. The exchange rate was 307.36 dinar to 1 US$ dollar in 2001 compared to 299.7 dinar to 1 US$ in 2002. Inflation rate at 2002 was only .89 percent. The local currency further appreciated from 299.7 dinar to 1

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Essay Example for Free

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Essay Superstition, for the Ibo people provides explanations to unexplained phenomena. For example, their idea of the obanje explains a woman who has the misfortune of many children repeatedly dying as infants. The Oracle gives the Ibo people a way to feel connected with the gods. For the Ibo, the Oracle functions as a way to explain events, as well as a way to predict the future. The Ibo people go to the Oracle for advice. In some other cultures, people pray to their deity to be guided in the right direction or to understand why things happen the way that they do. When the Ibo people want to know what they must do, in an unclear situation (such as how to handle Ikemefuna), they consult the oracle. Most superstitions in the Ibo society are based on lack of knowledge about something. Superstition, in most societies, functions as an explanation for that which we cannot explain with science or logic. It also functions, sometimes, as a form of entertainment and as a way of promoting cultural unity. For example, the ritual involving ancestral spirits coming out to scare the women serves to promote togetherness in the community, to entertain, and to maintain religious and spiritual worship. Another superstition that the Ibo hold is that if you answer, yes? to a call from outside, it could be an evil spirit tricking you. It seems to be that this superstition serves a main purpose of making the people wary. Superstitions evolve from unanswered questions. In Ibo culture, things happened that the people did not understand. A woman would bear two children who looked alike. Perhaps the Ibo people were afraid of this occurrence and gradually began to believe that twins were evil. There is also the Ibo concept of the obanje, a wicked child who dies as an infant, only to reenter the mothers womb repeatedly, causing the parents pain and strife. Without modern medical technology, how would people explain a particular womans children always dying as infants? The Ibo people turned to superstition and folklore. It is not clear from where belief in the Oracle evolved. It seems, however, that this has been a tradition that has been passed on from many generations. A possible explanation would be that long ago one priest or  priestess was receiving many questions from villagers. Unsure of what to do, this priest may have gone into a dark cave to be alone and to try to find the answers from the gods. Perhaps the priest felt a special spiritual energy while inside of the cave, and determined that this must have been a place where he could communicate with the gods. Although the actual origin may be different, many superstitions evolve from this similar type of curiosity and searching for truth.

History of the Independance Movement :: Essays Papers

History of the Independance Movement One of the most important forces that governed the course of Cuba’s colonial history was the concept of racism. From the moment that Christopher Columbus ignored the presence of indigenous peoples, and claimed the island for Spain on his first voyage in 1492, to the day Carlos Manuel de Cà ©spedes began the first revolution to independence, there was a strong tradition of separation and objectification (Franklin 1,4). Diego Velà ¡zquez was appointed governor of Cuba in 1511 (Franklin, 1). He founded the first European settlement, Nuestra Senora de la Asuncià ³n de Baracoa, on the Northeastern coast of the island. The European settlement of the Nuestra Senora de la Asuncià ³n was established in the middle of a pre-existing indigenous settlement, from which it got the name Baracoa (La Rosa Corzo, 35). Similar situations occurred in many of the other original settlements, such as the town of San Salvador de Bayamo. Christian prefixes were added to the indigenous names of towns. Europeans settled the center of these villages and natives were moved to the outskirts (La Rosa Corzo). During the fist one hundred years of colonization, the Native American population was greatly reduced, and gradually replaced by African workers (36). However, the pattern of settlement remained a constant. In a 1605 census two per cent of the total population was considered Indian, and thirty-six percent were African slaves. Most of these Indians lived outside of major cities under the jurisdiction of their own tribal leaders (36). As the French, Dutch and British began their exploration of the Caribbean, Spain was encouraged expedite its settlement of its existing colonies. Rapid settlement, coupled with Charles III’s 1789 policy of free trade in African slavery, led to the development of plantations, and a slave society (Howard, 2). By the beginning of the nineteenth century the stage was set for Cuba to become the biggest sugar producer in the world. The previous leading producer, San Domingue had almost lost its hold on the sugar trade altogether, due to the revolution. The United States was newly independent form European rules and looking for new trade partners; there was an opening in the market.

Climate Change Impact On Agriculture In Pakistan Environmental Sciences Essay

Climate alteration is a phenomenon that arises due to emanations of nursery gases from fuel burning, deforestation, urbanisation and industrialisation, ensuing fluctuations in solar energy, temperature and precipitation. ( Upreti, 1999 ) . It is a existent menace to life which mostly affects H2O resources, agribusiness, coastal parts, fresh water home grounds, flora, woods, snow screen, and geological procedures such as thaw, land sliding, desertification and inundations all of which have long-run affects on nutrient security and human wellness. ( G.Malla.2008 ) . Climate alteration is a planetary issue ; debated on at all foreparts whether it ‘s political, economic or scientific. Climate must be prevented from farther harm. Before the terminal arrives, there is a demand on all degrees of society to understand clime, the factors behind alteration and its impact on our agribusiness and economic system. It is a good known fact that agribusiness is the anchor of Pakistan. Agriculture and agri-related activities form 80 % of the state ‘s economic system. Agriculture is relatively more sensitive to alterations in clime, and can be impacted badly due to events such as ill-timed rainfalls, utmost temperatures and carbondioxide concentrations. A demand arises to closely detect the environment and take up necessary steps for undertaking these challenges. This research work is an effort to turn to the issues and jobs faced by Pakistan ‘s agricultural sector and happen the necessary solutions.2. Statement OF THE PROBLEM:Pakistan ‘s economic system and prosperity is closely linked to its agribusiness. Pakistan ‘s economic activities relate straight or indirectly to agricultural sector. Agricultural sector is dependent on nature. The unsure alterations in nature i.e. altering in precipitation form, highly high and low temperatures, cyclones, electrical storms, fluctuati on in H2O degree, impurification of air, H2O and dirt, have made agribusiness and agri-production a ambitious issue. Unusual heavy rain storms in 2010, which resulted in inundations and deformation of agribusiness and belongings, are an illustration of clime alteration. The loss to the economic system and the people agonies are still remembered and unforgettable. It is the demand of the twenty-four hours to carefully detect clime alteration, the causes of utmost conditions events and happen the necessary solutions to the jobs. Issues sing susceptibleness to extreme climate conditions should be addressed with earnestness to salvage Pakistan ‘s agricultural sector and accordingly the national economic system. This research survey is an effort in turn toing and finally work outing the jobs faced by Pakistan ‘s agribusiness sector due to unsure climate revolutionization.3. Aim:Sing the importance of agricultural sector for the economic system and nutrient demands of Pakistan, there is a demand for dependable estimations of major harvest production under varied clime alteration commissariats and fortunes. Although clime is an unmeasurable fact that is affected by assorted factors i.e. Carbon dioxide concentration in ambiance, temperature fluctuations, precipitation rates, H2O degree, dirt eroding, salt etc. The factors that are straight set uping harvest production are temperature and precipitation rates. This research survey will analyse harvest production with temperature and precipitation rates. The nucleus intents of this research survey will be as under ; 1. To detect the tendency of clime alteration from the last three decennaries i.e. from 1980 to 2010 ; 2. To analyse temperature and rainfall, as the cardinal factors set uping agricultural production, with the major hard currency harvests and nutrient harvests in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa ; 3. To look into the likely impacts of recent and predicted future clime alteration on different harvests production ; 4. To size up different adaptative schemes in get bying with the ruinous conditions of environment and bettering the entire harvests yield ;4. Significance:Pakistan is an agricultural state ; climate alteration impact on agricultural sector is a serious issue that demands immediate attending. This research survey chiefly focuses on the impact of clime alteration on agricultural sector of Pakistan such as ill-timed rainfalls and temperature fluctuations that finally consequences in either drawn-out drouths, unalarmed inundations, addition in dirt erodings and lessening in land productiveness, which finally consequences in the migrations and desertification. The state ‘s socio-economic apparatus suffers the most that leads to a weak state. The most recent impact of clime alteration was seen in July 2010, when inundations destroyed 1000s of small towns all over Pakistan. The greatest hit among them was Khyber Pakhtunkhawa ( KPK ) . The nucleus intent of this research survey is to analyse the temperature and precipitation effects on agricultural green goods in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa. Major harvests will be taken up in this respect, to analyse them in relation with temperature and precipitation from 1980 to 2010. Predictions of temperature and precipitation will assist us accommodate in the hereafter with utmost cropping and harvest home seasons. Prevention can be done before catastrophe work stoppages to safeguard the involvement of a hapless husbandman.5. RESEARCH Question:This research survey will endeavor towards happening replies to the undermentioned inquiries ; 1. Be at that place any possible harm caused by clime alteration to Pakistan ‘s economic system as a whole and agribusiness sector in peculiar? 2. What are the impacts of 2010 inundations on the production of major harvests in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa? 3. Are at that place any adaptive schemes to climate alteration that can assist rural communities strengthen their capacity to get by with catastrophes? 4. What should be the future land-management accomplishments of husbandmans to climate alteration? 5. What measures should be taken in the hereafter to diversify the support of the hapless husbandmans?6. Methodology:The methodological analysis to be adopted for this survey will be as under ; Major factors set uping clime alteration on agricultural sector are temperature and precipitation rates. Harmonizing to the works physiology literature, works development is a additive positive map of temperature, within a scope of temperature between lower limit and maximal thresholds ( Ritchie and Smith, 1991 ) . Keeping this in head, the econometric theoretical account used for analysing the clime impact on agricultural sector will use both maximal and minimal temperatures, which are positively related to harvest ‘s output. Furthermore, precipitation rates set uping harvests outputs will be captured by the relevant econometric and mathematical equations. The information sing the temperature and precipitation variables will be obtained from Pakistan Metrological Department. The information for the entire output of assorted harvests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ( KPK ) will be attained from the Pakistan Federal Bureau of Statistics. Climate alteration tendency will besides be observed by prosecuting different econometric and statistical techniques and processs. The econometric theoretical account used in the research survey will be analyzed with the aid of econometric package ; SPSS or SAS. The elaborate analysis of the econometric theoretical accounts will be explained and decisions will be drawn from it. The socioeconomic impacts on people every bit good as on the development of state will besides be addressed. Future recommendations every bit good as the adaptative schemes for hooking with utmost environment conditions will besides be given.7. PROVISIONAL Chapter STRUCTURE:The proposed chapter construction of the survey will be as under ; Chapter I ; Agriculture sector and its importance to the economic system of Pakistan. Chapter II ; Climate alteration and its impact on Pakistan agricultural sector. Chapter III ; Agricultural production in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa as affected by the alteration in climatic conditions ; Reappraisal of the major harvests over the last three decennaries. Chapter IV ; Analysis and probe of the major harvests of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa with climate alteration factors, utilizing Econometric techniques. Chapter V ; Reasoning the survey ; assorted adaptability and compatibility schemes in relation to climate alteration will be discussed.8. LITERATURE REVIEW:Agribusiness is highly vulnerable to climate alteration. Higher temperatures finally cut down outputs of desirable harvests while promoting weed and pest production. Changes in precipitation forms elevate the short-term harvest malfunction and declines long-term productions. Although there will be an addition in some harvests production in some parts of the universe, the overall impacts of clime alteration on agribusiness are expected to be negative, intimidating planetary nutrient security. International Food Policy Research Institute ( 2009 ) conducted a survey that concentrates on assorted agricultural sector issues in Asia and the Pacific. It presents indexs of exposure, sensitiveness, and adaptative capacity of agribusiness sector in the part. Those indexs underline the exposure of the agribusiness sector as a beginning of support and nutrient security for many people. This survey besides represents huge heterogeneousness in farming systems across Central, East, Southeast, and South Asia and the Pacific Islands. It besides highlights many other facets of exposure to climate alteration across the part that includes undernourishment, poorness and decelerate productivity. , all of which are aggravated by the effects of clime alteration. Neil Leary and Jyoti Kulkarni, ( 2007 ) , work is based on a combination of instance surveies from different parts of the universe. These surveies have debated clime exposure to impacts from clime fluctuation and alteration. The possible results from exposure to climate jeopardies and clime alteration are identified as high-ranking concern in these studies.. It includes H2O scarceness that retards advancement towards development ends, losingss of full ecosystems and their species, more frequent and greater loss of life in coastal zones, land debasement, nutrient insecurity and dearth, loss of supports and increase in infective disease epidemics. All of these are possible results of exposure to climate jeopardies. It is a beginning of greater information as it has addressed clime alteration impacts on all foreparts of life whether it is societal, economic or political. Santiago Olmos ( 2001 ) provides an lineation of version issues, capable to climate exposure literature and clime treatments. This paper covers appraisals of clime exposure in assorted parts of the universe and developing states in peculiar. The paper besides discusses some of the bing resources that can be used to carry on clime exposure appraisals and version work. The current research work is alone in the sense that it will indicate out the impacts of clime alteration on the agricultural sector of Pakistan. More specifically, major countries of concern will be the climate impact on harvests outputs in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa over the last three decennaries. The direct and indirect societal and economic impacts of clime alteration will besides be analyzed in this survey. Adaptive and preventative steps in hooking with utmost clime conditions will besides be given in this research survey.

Patterns in Strategy Formation Essay

A critical summary of the article â€Å"Patterns in strategy formation† written by Henry Mintzberg, published in Journal Management Science Vol. 24, No. 9, (1978) A short overview The paper,†Patterns in strategy formation†, outlines a new kind of description to the much misunderstood process of strategy formation in organizations. After giving a short summary of the theme, the author, Henry Mintzberg, describes the term â€Å"strategy† and shows how the definition leads to the choice of a research methodology. Following this, he details the four steps of research methodology. With to completed, major studies about two organizations (Volkswagenwerk and the United States government in Vietnam) Mintzberg analyzes three central themes. The first is that strategy formation can be viewed as the interplay between a dynamic environment and bureaucratic momentum, with leadership mediating between the two. Second, that strategy formation over periods of time appears to follow distinct regularities, for example life cycles or change-continuity cycles within life cycle. And third the study of the interplay between intended and realized strategies may be central to the strategy formation process. Definition of strategy and the research methodology In the first section of the paper, Mintzberg describes the term †strategy†. Strategy is generally defined, whether in game, military or management theory, as a deliberate, conscious set of guidelines that determines decisions into the future. In common terminology, a strategy is a plan. Mintzberg illustrates that defining strategy as a plan is not sufficient, because if strategies can be intended, surely they can also be realized. A definition that encompasses the resulting behavior is therefore required. The author proposes to define strategy in general as a pattern in a stream of decisions. To clarify this definition of strategy, he introduces a few illustrations. For example, when Picasso painted blue for a time, that was a strategy †Blue Strategy†. This definition of strategy necessitated the analysis of decision streams in a organizations over time periods to detect the development and breakdown of patterns. Therefore Mintzberg subdivided the analysis of the studies into four central steps. 1st step: Collection of basic data. 2nd step: Inference of strategies and periods of change. 3rd step: Intensive analysis of periods of change. 4th step: Theoretical analysis. After giving a brief review of the periods of strategy in two organizations, using the terminology of the research, the author comes to the core of the paper, which is the presentation of some theoretical conclusions about strategy formation. Strategy formation as the interplay of environment, leadership and bureaucracy Mintzberg outlines strategy formation in most organizations as the interplay of three basic forces revolving around the dynamic environment that changes continuously but irregularly, organizational management or bureaucracy that attempts to stabilize the actions of the organizations whilst operating in the dynamic environment, and leadership of the organizations whose role is to mediate between the two forces. From this point of departure, the author provides a definition of strategy and of strategic change. †Strategy can then be viewed as the set of consistent behaviors by which the organization establishes for a time its place in its environment, and strategic change can be viewed as the organization’s response to environmental change, constrained by the momentum of the bureaucracy and accelerated or dampened by the leadership†. Mintzberg illustrates, that the two organizations (Volkswagenwerk and U.S. government in Vietnam) are stories of how bureaucratic momentum constrains and leadership dampens strategic change. In 1965, for example, when the United States government escalated the Vietnam war in a way that made the escalation inevitable, the new leadership, named Johnson, dampened the strategic change, under the environmental and bureaucratic pressures. Also in 1960, when action was needed in the face of an increasingly changed environment, the central leadership of Volkswagenwerk was not forthcoming. Patterns of strategic change According to Mintzberg, patterns of strategic change are never steady, but rather irregular and ad hoc, with a complex intermingling or periods of change, continuity. Even so, he recognizes some patterns in strategy formation that may enable organizations to understand better their strategic situations. The first pattern is the life cycle of an overall strategy, based on four phases: conception, elaboration, decay and death. The author illustrates that the case of Vietnam represents the classic strategic life cycle. The second pattern is the presence of periodic waves of change and continuity within the life cycle. This second pattern suggests that strategies do not commonly change incrementally. Rather, change takes place in spurts, each followed by a period of stability. Mintzberg notes, that nowhere is the change-continuity cycle better demonstrated than in the stepwise escalation of the Vietnam metastrategy. According to the author, the reason for the periods of change and continuity is that human do not react to phenomena continuously, but rather in discreet steps, when changes are large enough to be perceived. In a similar manner, strategic decision processes in organizations are not continuous, but irregular. Based on both studies, Mintzberg notes, that there are dangers in incremental changes. He argues that strategy-makers seem prepared to assume positions in incremental steps that they would never begin to entertain in global ones. On the other hand, global change is very difficult to conceive and execute successfully. According to the author, this is perhaps the strategy-maker’s greatest dilemma. The danger of incremental changes versus the difficulty of global changes. Interplay between intended and realized strategies The author identifies two kinds of strategies: intended and realized. He illustrates, that these two can be combined in three ways: Intended strategies that get realized, which are called deliberate strategies (e.g. the Volkswagen strategy of 1948 to 1958). Intended strategies that do not get realized, which are called unrealized strategies (e.g. Kennedy’s intended strategy of 1961 of advising the Vietnamese). Realized strategies that were never intended, which are called emergent strategies (e.g. the U.S. strategy of finding itself in a fighting instead of advising role). Furthermore, Mintzberg argues that it is possible to find a number of other relationships between intended and realized strategies, such as intended strategies that, as they get realized, change their form and become emergent; emergent strategies that get formalized as deliberate ones; or intended strategies that get overrealized. This view challenges the tenets of planning theory, which postulates that the strategy-maker formulates from on high while the subordinates implement lower down. Mintzberg argues that this dichotomy between strategy formulation and strategy implementation is a false one under certain conditions – e.g. the formulator isn’t fully informed or the environment isn’t sufficiently stable -, because it ignores the learning that must often follow the conception of an intended strategy. According to Mintzberg, another important point is that the formalization of an emergent strategy as the new, intended strategy is hardly incidental to the organization. The author states that the very act of explicating an implicit strategy changes fundamental the attitude of the bureaucracy and of the environment. He further argues that the very fact of making a strategy explicit provides a clear and formal invitation to the bureaucracy to run with it. But the author also notes that sometimes it can be risky to make strategy explicit, notably in an uncertain environment with an aggressive bureaucracy. He makes the point that the strategy-maker may awake one day to find that his intended strategy has somehow been implemented beyond his wildest intentions. It has been overrealized. Conclusion and critique on the paper In my estimation, the paper †Patterns in strategy formation† is very well-written. The author, Mintzberg, first describes what the paper will be all about. After that, he introduces the theme, strategy as a pattern in a stream of decisions, and shows how this definition leads naturally to the choice of a research methodology. After that, he explains the four steps of the analysis he will use to reviews the major periods of two organizations (Volkswagenwerk and U.S. government in Vietnam). By using these major studies he arouses the reader’s interest and creates a fundamental basis to examine and prove aspects, that strategy formation can be viewed as the interplay of environment, bureaucracy and leadership, that that strategy formation appears to follow distinct regularities and that the study of the interplay between intended and realized strategies may be central to the strategy formation process. Furthermore, he admits that this studies constitute a limited data base, but they do call into question a number of assumptions about the process of strategy formation in organizations, e.g. that a strategy is not a fixed plan, that dichotomy between strategy formulation and strategy implementation is a false one under certain common conditions or that it can sometimes be risky to make strategy explicit. Some general conclusions suggested by these studies are complex and very difficult to understand but, nevertheless, the well-disposed reader understands the approach. This is mainly because, he explains his statements on this two studies closely. To sum up, the paper is well-structured and of a good concept. Furthermore, the paper ties in with very important and interesting research-fields in strategy management.

Drinking age debate Essays

Drinking age debate Essays Drinking age debate Paper Drinking age debate Paper How Old is Old Enough? Drinking Age 11/11/2011 How old is old enough to have an alcoholic beverage? Iris Cummings The legal drinking age is a topic that has come up for, and will continue to come up for, many years. The main question that needs to be answered is what is it that determines when a person is able to drink. Should we continue to base the drinking level on age or should we look at other characteristics. Those enrolled in the military have special benefits when it comes to drinking. In the year of 2011, the legal drinking age in the United States for all non-military people is 21 years of age. There is research for both sides of the spectrum. Some believe that the age should be lowered from 21, while others believe 21 is the perfect age. Then there are the people who say that the drinking age should be taken even higher than 21 . Some want the drinking age to be as high as 25. Will lowering the drinking age stop teens from binge drinking? If we take the drinking age higher, will it simply cause rebellion in the teen world? Many feel as though the law of 21 before drinking saves 1,000 deaths per year. The numbers of teens killed in alcohol related accidents have ropped somewhere from 11-16 percent since the 21 law have been implemented. Taking on higher drinking ages allows for a low intoxication level. For instance, in Georgia, where 21 is the legal drinking age, the blood alcohol level to be considered intoxicated is sitting at 0. 08 percent. In places such as New Hampshire, where Arizona is the legal drinking age, blood alcohol content level is listed as high as 0. 15 (Carter). These levels start to become dangerous when one realizes that one drink can cause a persons blood alcohol content to be 0. 2. If teen blows even 0. 1 into a breathalyzer, it is a crime of underage drinking. The punishment of underage drinking includes a large fine and even Jail time (Ash). It is taken very seriously in order to encourage teens to not even take that one sip betore they are ot age. It we were to lower the drinking age below 21, there is research that shows binge drinking in teens will rise to an alarmingly high rate within a single year. It would also lead to a negative impact on the cognitive development among our countrys youth. The brain is not fully developed during a persons teen years. Drinking too early could cause a permanent slowness in the rate of brain development and would be reflected in the education realm. Underage consumption of alcohol could cause handicaps that affect the consumer for years to come. A host of research formulated in a news paper by Andy Lewis, the ERLCs research editor, shows that lowering age restrictions for alcohol consumption would not reverse negative trends but enhance them, a fallout for youth and society that would only snowball. Among his findings, Lewis found that a lowered legal drinking age Would result in drinking at ven younger ages, increased cases of drunken driving, more vehicular accidents, and higher levels binge drinking, especially among teenagers. (Bond) Many cases of binge drinking come from college students between the ages of 18 and 20 years old. Lewis thinks that lowering the drinking age would encourage even younger age groups to incur binge drinking. He believes that teens as young as 13 years old will be involved in the peer pressure to drink. This could cause more alcohol related accidents because it involves drinking large amounts of alcohol very quickly. A 13- ear-old does not have a fully developed frontal lobe and even without alcohol will make some decisions that are not in ones best interest. The influence of alcohol working against an underdeveloped mind and underdeveloped motor skills it leads to disaster. There will always be an age implemented in the law for drinking, but some feel as though the law does not apply to them. How is it that 18-year-olds get alcohol when they are not even old enough to walk into a liquor store? Those who use their ID to obtain alcohol for younger individuals are breaking the law. The adopted slogan is Its your ID, you use it. There are cases where parents allow their children and other peoples children to drink at their expense. They argue that what goes on in the walls of their own house is their business and that it stays within the walls. They feel like the children are not in harms way because they are in the house and are being watched. What these parents apparently fail to realize is that Just because it goes on in the walls of their house does not all of a sudden make the law disappear. It is still illegal and is a serious charge against them if taken to court. Ash, P. , and Levy, D. T. The Minimum Legal Drinking Age and Traffic Fatalities. Rockville, MD: NIAAA, 1986. Print. Bond, J. , and Jones, B. Raising the Legal Drinking Age. Columbia, SC: SC Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, 1983. Print. Carter, R. A. Legal Drinking Age. Albany, NY: Legislative and Governmental Services: 1983. Print. Bibliography Legal Drinking Age. Albany, NY Legislative and ernmental Services: 1 Powers, Rod. U. S. Military: Military Drinking Age. (http://usmilitary. about. com/library/ polls/blmildrinkingage. htm)web. Oct. 14 2011

5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas

5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas 5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas 5 Sentences Repaired by Correct Use of Commas By Mark Nichol 1. â€Å"Students write a third essay regarding the impact of geography on history and culture.† The implication of this sentence is that students produce three essays on the topic in question. But if the preceding text refers to differing topics for the first two essays, the sentence suffers from insufficient differentiation. This revision specifies that the third essay’s topic differs from those of the others: â€Å"Students write a third essay, this one regarding the impact of geography on history and culture.† 2. â€Å"Students participate in a workshop on learning to research effectively and refine their search with a professional researcher.† The relationship between the verb phrases in this sentence is unclear: Do students first participate in a workshop and then refine their research, or do they participate in a workshop about researching effectively, during which they also refine their search? Either way, the sentence, because of the ambiguity, is erroneously organized. If the former meaning is intended, the sentence should read, â€Å"Students participate in a workshop in which they first learn to research effectively and then refine their search with a professional researcher.† If the latter meaning is the correct interpretation, it should read, â€Å"Students participate in a workshop on learning to research effectively, and then refine their search with a professional researcher.† 3. â€Å"He invoked the dreaded comparison with Mary Smith, only Jones has been more successful in her sport than Smith.† Because of the paucity of punctuation in this sentence, the sentence could be read as containing a comma splice, an error in which a comma is incorrectly employed in place of a more substantial punctuation mark. But if a semicolon or a period separates the two clauses, and the second element (depending on which punctuation mark is used, an independent clause or a separate sentence) seems to imply that no one other than Jones has been more successful than Smith, a non sequitur results. It’s much more likely that only serves as a less formal synonym for however. However, just as when that word is used, the sentence still requires stronger punctuation to clarify its function: â€Å"He invoked the dreaded comparison with Mary Smith; only, Jones has been more successful in her sport than Smith.† The semicolon seems too formal for the casual only, though; a dash seems more appropriate. Either way, however, only must be set off from the following statement by a comma: â€Å"He invoked the dreaded comparison with Mary Smith only, Jones has been more successful in her sport than Smith.† 4. â€Å"She also uses a Geiger counter, which measures radiation; motion detectors; barometric-pressure monitors; and thermometers.† This sentence, containing four listed elements only one of which, the first, is modified is hampered by the notion that because of that extra phrase, the usual commas must be promoted to semicolons to bear the burden of supporting the sentence’s structure. When used with such short phrases, however, the semicolons seem overbearing. The simple insertion of the conjunction plus, which serves to provide more distance between sentence elements than the standard and, obviates the complicating semicolon solution: â€Å"She also uses a Geiger counter, which measures radiation, plus thermometers, motion detectors, and barometric pressure monitors.† (Notice that, for euphony, I’ve reordered the additional list items according to the number of syllables in each item.) 5. â€Å"The majority has upheld the act in whole, not by relying on an expansive reading of the commerce clause, but on Congress’s firmly rooted power to tax.† The initial proposition in this sentence, â€Å"The majority has upheld the act in whole not by relying on an expansive reading of the commerce clause . . .,† is a continuous thought, and there is no reason to include punctuation within it. But there’s a larger problem: The sentence is not parallel. Relying should be repositioned to serve both propositions (those beginning â€Å"not on† and â€Å"but on†), because the structure of the two phrases, in the original sentence respectively headed by â€Å"not by† and â€Å"but on,† is discordant. The solution, which (like â€Å"not only . . . but also† constructions), requires no internal punctuation: â€Å"The majority has upheld the act in whole by relying not on an expansive reading of the commerce clause but on Congress’s firmly rooted power to tax.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:How to Format a US Business Letter44 Resume Writing TipsOne Scissor?