HOW FREE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITES HELP YOUR WRITING

HOW FREE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITES HELP YOUR WRITING The federal government sponsors top-notch websites free for the searching. But why search the federal government websites instead of just googling your question? The answer lies in quality. These websites contain trusted sources and the top experts in their fields.   Of course, non-fiction writers should be acquainted with them, but they can also aid the fiction writer who has a question/problem. Once you choose a website, the searching process is guided so you don’t have to be a subject expert yourself to use them. A sampling of these free subject databases and examples appears below. Multidisciplinary:   http://usa.gov   A primary source for access to U.S. government documents. It is a â€Å"portal† which searches all agency documents at once in a unified way. As an example of how a fiction writer would use usa.gov, maybe Hope Clark’s Carolina Slade would need to know about the disease that killed Jesse Rawlings’ hogs. Just search â€Å"domesticated hogs diseases South Carolina† for a possible answer. As an added bonus, the portal lists U.S. government grants. Just enter â€Å"grants writers† and your state name. Criminal Justice: National Criminal Justice Reference Service https://www.ncjrs.gov/app/abstractdb/abstractdbsearch.aspxNCJRS services and resources are available to anyone interested in crime, victim assistance, and public safety including policymakers, practitioners, researchers, educators, community leaders, and the general public. Authors of murder mysteries can find source material here, for example, the murder rate in Detroit or any major city. Education: ERIC eric.ed.gov/ERIC is the world’s largest collection of education literature, containing more than 1 million records of journal articles, research, reports, curriculum and teaching guides, conference papers, books, and more and more full text. It covers preschool through higher education. An example of its use might be to find the relationship of an autistic child with his classmates for a character study. Medicine: There are two excellent medical databases MedlinePlus nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/and PUBMED ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ MedlinePlus is the National Institutes of Healths website for patients and their families and friends. It brings the layperson information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information. It helps you learn about the latest treatments, look up information on a drug or supplement, find out the meanings of words, or view medical videos or illustrations. You can also get links to the latest medical research on your topic or find out about clinical trials on a disease or condition. This source is especially good for drug side effects and overdose information, again for those murder mysteries. Find the lethal dose of a drug for a fictitious poisoning. It contains medical encyclopedias for diseases your characters may suffer. More technical than MedlinePlus, PubMed comprises more than 21 million   records for

Compare and Contrast Locke to Hobbes

Compare and Contrast Locke to Hobbes Free Online Research Papers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were two of the greatest political and philosophical thinkers of their time and ours. Ideas like these have shaped governments throughout history and still hold true today. They had extremely different views on government, but the bases of their arguments were similar. They used reason to justify their ideas, rather than divine right. Although both men acknowledged that there was a God, He played a very small part in their ideologies. The philosophers each had an impact on the world. John Locke’s ideas influenced the United States Declaration of Independence, Federalist papers, and the Constitution. Thomas Hobbes’s ideas refuted England’s parliament. Hobbes and Locke agreed that some type of ruler would be necessary, whether it be an absolute monarchy or a form of democracy. Although Locke and Hobbes agreed on some subjects, the majority of their philosophies differed greatly, such as the type of ruler that they agreed was needed. Thomas Hobbes believed that a ruler with absolute control was necessary, while John Locke held that government should be at least partly be influenced by the people. Locke also believed that the people had the right and responsibility to overthrow their government if their needs are not being satisfied. On the contrary, Hobbes was more pessimistic. He believed in the Social Contract, thinking that once people handed their will to a ruler by putting them in power, that ruler had total power over them and could not be overthrown. Hobbes believed that this transfer of power was how man is able to get out of the state of nature and formed society. John Locke also believed in the social contract and the state of nature, but he opposed Hobbes’s position on these issues. Locke thought people could live in peace in the state of nature, because everyone was equal and had a conscience to guide them. Locke disagreed with Hobbes’s assumption that the state of war and the state of nature were the same. He felt that people could go without a leader by using reason in its place. The state of war would only occur when they tried to force things on each other. Locke thought that when that happened people had the right to wage war, as an act of defense. I feel that the reason the philosophies of Locke and Hobbes clashed is that their views of man kind were polar opposites. John Locke kept an optimistic view point, considering man kind good, independent, and equal from birth, and the choices made from then on to be able to change this image. He also felt that humans could only understand and sympathize with things that they had experienced, but also could learn from mistakes and interactions to improve themselves. Thomas Hobbes’s view point was very different. He reasoned that humans were not unlike animals, and were fearful and predatory. Hobbes held that man kind was evil and constantly in opposition to the rest of mankind. He also felt that humans had an innate motivation to feel pleasure and cause hurt. Research Papers on Compare and Contrast Locke to HobbesAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeQuebec and CanadaBringing Democracy to AfricaCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenCapital PunishmentThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationUnreasonable Searches and Seizures19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided Era

General P.G.T. Beauregard in the Civil War

General P.G.T. Beauregard in the Civil War General P.G.T. Beauregard was a Confederate commander who played a central role in the opening months of the Civil War. A native of Louisiana, he saw service during the Mexican-American War and, in 1861, received command of Confederate forces in Charleston, SC. In this role, Beauregard directed the bombardment of Fort Sumter which opened hostilities between the Union and Confederacy. Three months later, he led Confederate troops to victory at the First Battle of Bull Run. In early 1862, Beauregard helped lead the Army of Mississippi at the Battle of Shiloh. He career stalled as the war progressed due to his poor relationship with the Confederate leadership. Early Life Born May 28, 1818, Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was the son of Jacques and Hà ©là ¨ne Judith Toutant-Beauregard. Raised on the familys St. Bernard Parish, LA plantation outside of New Orleans, Beauregard was one of seven children. He received his early education at series of private schools in the city and spoke only French during his formative years. Sent to a French school in New York City at age twelve, Beauregard finally began to learn English. Four years later, Beauregard elected to pursue a military career and obtained an appointment to West Point. A stellar student, the Little Creole as he was known, was classmates with Irvin McDowell, William J. Hardee, Edward Allegheny Johnson, and A.J. Smith and was taught the basics of artillery by Robert Anderson. Graduating in 1838, Beauregard ranked second his class and as a result of this academic performance received an assignment with the prestigious US Army Corps of Engineers. In Mexico With the outbreak of the Mexican-American War in 1846, Beauregard gained an opportunity to see combat. Landing in near Veracruz in March 1847, he served as an engineer for Major General Winfield Scott during the siege of the city. Beauregard continued in this role as the army commenced its march on Mexico City. At the Battle of Cerro Gordo in April, he correctly determined that the capture of La Atalaya hill would allow Scott to force the Mexicans from their position and aided in scouting routes into the enemy rear.  As the army neared the Mexican capital, Beauregard undertook numerous dangerous reconnaissance missions and was brevetted to captain for his performance during the victories at Contreras and Churubusco. That September, he played a key role in crafting the American strategy for the Battle of Chapultepec. Battle of Chapultepec. Photograph Source: Public Domain In the course of the fighting, Beauregard sustained wounds in the shoulder and thigh. For this and being one of the first Americans to enter Mexico City, he received a brevet to major. Though Beauregard compiled a distinguished record in Mexico, he felt slighted as he believed that other engineers, including Captain Robert E. Lee, received greater recognition. Fast Facts: General P.G.T. Beauregard Rank: GeneralService: US Army, Confederate ArmyBorn: May 28, 1818 in St. Bernard Parish, LADied: February 20, 1893 in New Orleans, LANickname: Little Frenchman, Little Napoleon, Little CreoleParents: Jacques and Hà ©là ¨ne Judith Toutant-BeauregardSpouse: Marie Laure Villerà ©Conflicts: Mexican-American War, Civil WarKnown For: Battle of Fort Sumter, First Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Shiloh, and the Battle of Petersburg Inter-War Years Returning to the United States in 1848, Beauregard received an assignment to oversee the construction and repair of defenses along the Gulf Coast. This included improvements to Forts Jackson and St. Philip outside of New Orleans. Beauregard also endeavored to enhance navigation along the Mississippi River. This saw him direct extensive work at the rivers mouth to open shipping channels and remove sand bars. During the course of this project, Beauregard invented and patented a device dubbed a self-acting bar excavator which would be attached to ships to aid in clearing sand and clay bars. Actively campaigning for Franklin Pierce, whom he had met in Mexico, Beauregard was rewarded for his support after the 1852 election. The following year, Pierce appointed him superintending engineer of the New Orleans Federal Customs House. In this role, Beauregard helped stabilize the structure as it was sinking into the citys moist soil. Increasingly bored with the peacetime military, he considered departing to join filibuster William Walkers forces in Nicaragua in 1856. Electing to stay in Louisiana, two years later Beauregard ran for mayor of New Orleans as a reform candidate. In a tight race, he was defeated by Gerald Stith of the Know Nothing (American) Party.   The Civil War Begins Seeking a new post, Beauregard received aid from his brother-in-law, Senator John Slidell, in obtaining an assignment as the superintendent of West Point on January 23, 1861. This was revoked a few days later following Louisianas secession from the Union on January 26. Though he favored the South, Beauregard was angered that he was not given a chance to prove his loyalty to the US Army. Leaving New York, he returned to Louisiana with the hope of receiving command of the states military. He was disappointed in this endeavor when overall command went to Braxton Bragg. Turning down a colonels commission from Bragg, Beauregard schemed with Slidell and newly-elected President Jefferson Davis for a high post in the new Confederate Army. These efforts bore fruit when he was commissioned a brigadier general on March 1, 1861, becoming the Confederate Armys first general officer. In the wake of this, Davis ordered him to oversee the escalating situation at Charleston, SC where Union troops refused to abandon Fort Sumter. Arriving on March 3, he readied Confederate forces around the harbor while attempting to negotiate with the forts commander, his former instructor Major Robert Anderson. Fort Sumter after its capture by the Confederates. Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives Records Administration Battle of First Bull Run On orders from Davis, Beauregard opened the Civil War on April 12 when his batteries began the bombardment of Fort Sumter. Following the forts surrender two days later, Beauregard was hailed as a hero across the Confederacy. Ordered to Richmond, Beauregard received command of Confederate forces in northern Virginia. Here he was tasked with working with General Joseph E. Johnston, who oversaw Confederate forces in the Shenandoah Valley, in blocking a Union advance into Virginia. Assuming this post, he began the first in a series of squabbles with Davis over strategy. On July 21, 1861, Union Brigadier General Irvin McDowell, advanced against Beauregards position. Using the Manassas Gap Railroad, the Confederates were able to shift Johnstons men east to aid Beauregard. In the resulting First Battle of Bull Run, Confederate forces were able to win a victory and rout McDowells army. Though Johnston made many of the key decisions in the battle, Beauregard received much of the acclaim for the victory. For the triumph, he was promoted to general, junior only to Samuel Cooper, Albert S. Johnston, Robert E. Lee, and Joseph Johnston. Sent West In the months after First Bull Run, Beauregard assisted in developing the Confederate Battle Flag to aid in recognizing friendly troops on the battlefield. Entering winter quarters, Beauregard vocally called for an invasion of Maryland and clashed with Davis. After a transfer request to New Orleans was refused, he was dispatched west to serve as A.S. Johnstons second-in-command in the Army of Mississippi. In this role, he took part in the Battle of Shiloh on April 6-7, 1862. Attacking Major General Ulysses S. Grants army, Confederate troops drove back the enemy on the first day. General Albert S. Johnston. Library of Congress In the fighting, Johnston was mortally wounded and command fell to Beauregard. With Union forces pinned against the Tennessee River that evening, he controversially ended the Confederate assault with the intention renewing the battle in the morning. Through the night, Grant was reinforced by the arrival of Major General Don Carlos Buells Army of the Ohio. Counterattacking in the morning, Grant routed Beauregards army. Later that month and into May, Beauregard squared off against Union troops at the Siege of Corinth, MS. Forced to abandon the town without a fight, he went on medical leave without permission. Already angered by Beauregards performance at Corinth, Davis used this incident to replace him with Bragg in mid-June. Despite efforts to regain his command, Beauregard was sent to Charleston to oversee the coastal defenses of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. In this role, he blunted Union efforts against Charleston through 1863. These included ironclad attacks by the US Navy as well as Union troops operating on Morris and James Islands. While in this assignment, he continued to annoy Davis with numerous recommendations for Confederate war strategy as well as devised a plan for a peace conference with the governors of the western Union states. He also learned that his wife, Marie Laure Villerà ©, died on March 2, 1864. Virginia Later Commands The following month, he received orders to take command of Confederate forces south of Richmond. In this role, he resisted pressure to transfer parts of his command north to reinforce Lee. Beauregard also performed well in blocking Major General Benjamin Butlers Bermuda Hundred Campaign. As Grant forced Lee south, Beauregard was one of the few Confederate leaders to recognize the importance of Petersburg. Anticipating Grants attack on the city, he mounted a tenacious defense using a scratch force beginning on June 15. His efforts saved Petersburg and opened the way for the siege of the city. As the siege began, the prickly Beauregard fell out with Lee and ultimately was given command of the Department of the West. Largely an administrative post, he oversaw the armies of Lieutenant Generals John Bell Hood and Richard Taylor. Lacking manpower to block Major General William T. Shermans March to the Sea, he was also forced to watch Hood wreck his army during the Franklin-Nashville Campaign. The following spring, he was relieved by Joseph Johnston for medical reasons and assigned to Richmond. In the final days of the conflict, he traveled south and recommended that Johnston surrender to Sherman. Later Life In the years after the war, Beauregard worked in the railroad industry while living in New Orleans. Beginning in 1877, he also served for fifteen years as a supervisor of the Louisiana Lottery. Beauregard died on February 20, 1893, and was buried in the Army of Tennessee vault at New Orleans Metairie Cemetery.

Tiempo demora papeles para hijos de ciudadanos EE.UU.

Tiempo demora papeles para hijos de ciudadanos EE.UU. El tiempo que se demora la tarjeta de residencia permanente conocida como green card para los hijos de los ciudadanos americanos depende de diversos factores como la edad y el estado civil, es decir, si estn solteros o casados y, en algunos casos, incluso de la nacionalidad del hijo pedido. En este artà ­culo se explican las tres grandes categorà ­as que determinan los tiempos de demora en las peticiones de padre o madre ciudadano a su hijo o hija: hijos solteros menores de 21 aà ±os, hijos casados de cualquier edad e hijos solteros mayores de 21 aà ±os. Sin embargo, se comienza explicando que, en ocasiones, no es necesario pedir los papeles porque los hijos son ya ciudadanos estadounidenses aà ºn cuando no nacieron en EE.UU. Se finaliza explicando por quà © los mexicanos pueden tardar mucho ms que las personas de otras nacionalidades, el caso de peticiones a hijastros y referencia a peticiones de residentes a hijos. Cundo los hijos de ciudadanos son tambià ©n estadounidenses Antes de iniciar el proceso de solicitar los papeles para los hijos, los ciudadanos estadounidenses deben verificar que dichos hijos no son ya ciudadanos de pleno derecho. Y es que cuando un nià ±o o una nià ±a nacen en otro paà ­s pero tienen padre o madre estadounidense es posible que sean ciudadanos de EE.UU. por derecho de sangre. Cabe destacar que las leyes han cambiado a lo largo del tiempo y que en el pasado se pedà ­an otros requisitos. El documento fundamental para probar la ciudadanà ­a americana en este caso es el reporte consular de nacimiento en el extranjero. Adems, en el caso de adopciones internacionales por parte de un ciudadano, en mayorà ­a de los casos los nià ±os adquieren la ciudadanà ­a americana automticamente. En una minorà ­a de supuestos, los menores ingresar a Estados Unidos como residentes permanentes y se debe tramitar posteriormente solicitud de ciudadanà ­a. Demora de papeles para solteros menores de 21 aà ±os A la hora de pedir la residencia permanente para hijos por parte de ciudadano, la tramitacià ³n ms rpida es la que se hace para los hijos solteros menores de 21 aà ±os. Se les considera familiares directos del ciudadano y por eso la demora solamente alcanza al tiempo de trmite de los papeles. Dicha demora va a depender de la carga de trabajo en el centro del USCIS al que le corresponda tramitar la solicitud. Asà ­, en el momento en que se escribe este artà ­culo, el centro de Vermont se est demorando entre 4 y 7 meses en tramitar la peticià ³n mientras que el de Potomac, que es el que ms retraso acumula, entre 9 meses y medio y un aà ±o. Cabe destacar que no se puede pedir centro de procesamiento sino que la peticià ³n se tramita en la que toca por ley. Adems, si el hijo est en Estados Unidos y puede ajustar el estatus, despuà ©s de aprobarse la peticià ³n de la solicitud hay que computar el tiempo para el ajuste. Si est fuera de EE.UU. y se sigue el procedimiento consular, hay que calcular unos seis meses desde que se obtiene la aprobacià ³n de la solicitud al momento de finalizar todos los trmites en el consulado. Por à ºltimo, en las peticiones de green card la edad es fundamental. Es importante conocer en quà © casos la edad se congela y se pueden obtener los papeles solicitados y en quà © casos se pierden los derechos. Demora de papeles para hijos solteros mayores de 21 aà ±os En este tipo de peticiones la demora es larga y comprende dos fases. En primer lugar, se trata de esperar a que USCIS apruebe la peticià ³n. Aquà ­ hay grandes diferencias entre los centros de procesamiento. Asà ­, en el momento en que se escribe este artà ­culo el centro de Texas se est demorando entre 6 meses y medio y 8 meses y medio en aprobar o negar la aplicacià ³n. Sin embargo, el centro de Vermont se est demorando entre 67 y 87 meses en tramitar la solicitud de papeles por parte de ciudadano para hijos solteros mayores de 21 aà ±os. Pero es que adems, despuà ©s de la aprobacià ³n por parte de USCIS hay que esperar bastante ms. Esta categorà ­a forma lo que se conoce como Preferencia 1 o F1 de las visas de familia. Se conceden 23.400 por aà ±o fiscal y como hay ms peticiones que visas de inmigrante disponibles en esta categorà ­a, eso quiere decir que hay que esperar a que llegue el turno y se procesen todas las peticiones ms antiguas. Para tener una idea de cunto es en la actualidad esta demora, lo mejor es consultar cada mes el boletà ­n de visas que publica el Departamento de Estado. En el momento de escribir este artà ­culo, en la categorà ­a F1 de hijos solteros de ciudadanos se estn tramitando las peticiones presentadas hace 6 aà ±os y medio para los casos de pedidos de Espaà ±a y de Latinoamà ©rica, excepto Mà ©xico. Para el caso de Mà ©xico, se estn tramitando las peticiones presentadas hace 20 aà ±os. Hijos casados de ciudadanos americanos de cualquier edad Esta categorà ­a se conoce como F3. Tambià ©n se otorgan anualmente un total de 23,400 visados de esta clase. La demora aproximada es de doce aà ±os para los espaà ±oles y latinoamericanos, con la excepcià ³n de los ciudadanos de Mà ©xico, para los que la demora es de 20 aà ±os. Como en el caso anterior se puede consultar las demoras aproximadas consultando el boletà ­n de visas.  ¿Por quà © los mexicanos esperan ms en categorà ­as F1 y F3? La razà ³n por la que la espera de los mexicanos es mayor a la del resto se debe a que no se permite que ningà ºn paà ­s se lleve por aà ±o ms del siete por ciento del total de las visas de inmigrante disponibles para esas categorà ­as. Y como la demanda en Mà ©xico es tan grande por eso se producen estas demoras tan largas. Demora de papeles para hijastros de ciudadanos Los estadounidenses pueden pedir los papeles para la tarjeta de residencia para los hijos de su esposo o de su mujer extranjeros. La condicià ³n fundamental es que el matrimonio haya tenido lugar antes de que los hijastros hubieran cumplido los 18 aà ±os de edad. Los requisitos varà ­an si los hijos son solteros y menores de 21 aà ±os o si son mayores de esa edad o estn casados. La situacià ³n diferente de los hijos deresidentes permanentes El caso de los hijos de los residentes permanentes es muy distinto. El tiempo que  se demora la peticià ³n de un residente para sus hijos  es ms larga y adems estn excluidos de las peticiones los hijos casados de cualquier edad. Consejospara migrantes Si se tienen dudas y no se sabe cul es el lugar adecuado para obtener la respuesta, consultar esta lista completa de telà ©fonos a los que marcar, segà ºn el tipo de inquietud que se tiene. Si los hijos estn en edad escolar es conveniente conocer cà ³mo funciona el sistema educativo de los Estados Unidos. Por à ºltimo, es aconsejable tomar este test sobre la residencia permanente porque es una forma fcil y divertida de aprender aspectos fundamentales sobre la green card. Cuando ms se sepa, mejor. Puntos clave demora peticiones papeles de ciudadano para hijo Hijos solteros menores de 21 aà ±os: aproximadamente 12-18 mesesHijos casados mexicanos: ms de 20 aà ±osHijos casados otros paà ­ses: 6 aà ±os y medio - 7 aà ±osHijos solteros mayores de 21 aà ±os mexicanos: ms 20 aà ±osHijos solteros mayores 21 aà ±os otros paà ­ses: ms de 12 aà ±os Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal.

Metamorphosis Franz Kafka Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Metamorphosis Franz Kafka - Essay Example ver, the much she takes care of her brother by providing him with food, making his room cozier to adapt in his transformed body as well as trying to keep his shreds of human left in him alive, shows that she is indeed of a caring character. However, her stage in life, as a young adult, demands that she engage in responsibilities such as getting her family and consequently sustaining it. By so doing, she endeavors to generate income to provide for her family. As much of these happen in Grete’s life, she slowly gives up caring for Gregor, with the excuse that she has income generating activities as her priority in order to meet the needs of her family. Dehumanization emerges when she gives up caring for her brother to chase worldly things such as money. This is the chief cause of Gregor’s death as he dies out of starvation. Gregor’s transformation is what creates conflict in the text. It elicits varied responses from those people in his life. There is alienation in the form of the distance that is created between him and them after the transformation. He feels as if in he is caged in a prison of his new body while, on the other hand, his family and friends struggle with feelings of sympathy and revulsion towards Gregor. Gregor’s death resolves the conflict caused by his transformation. The setting plays an important role in the reinforcement of the theme and characterization. Gregor’s bedroom in which he wakes up from a dream and finds himself transformed forms the boundaries of Gregor’s activities. One learns of Gregor’s character through his interaction with much of what is found in this room. Also important in the development of characterization is the entire building that houses the members of Gregor’s family. In communicating the theme of dehumanization, the author employs various literary devices that include symbolism, metaphors, foreshadowing among others. For instance, the picture of the woman in furs which Gregor clings to when things are

Inflation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Inflation - Essay Example The concept if inflation is indeed an important component considering how it influences many aspects of life. The paper seeks to delve into the causes of inflation in order to illuminate the factors which lead to the persistent increase in the prices. In the same way, it will provide an analysis into some of the effects of inflation while focusing on the different types of inflation arising from different economic situations. Introduction Inflation is described to be a rate in which the overall price of goods and services is increasing while the purchasing power decreases in an economy (Nicholson 57). Inflation usually causes money to lose its value. This comes about in that as inflation increases, currency only buys a small percentage of goods compared to what it used to when there was no inflation. This happens due to the increase in the money supply which is measured by the producer price index and the consumer price index over time. When inflation rises in an economy in higher ra tes, it leads to adverse effects in the economy. However, mild inflation in the economy can lead to positive effects such as creation of employment. To keep the rates of inflation low, monetary authorities usually central banks are given the responsibility of controlling prices. This paper will discuss various causes of inflation, types and the effects that it has in the economy. Causes of inflation One of the causes of inflation is cost-pushing. This is a case where companies incur a lot of costs in running their operations. Hall states that these higher costs are usually brought about by workers or trade unions pushing for their wage increase (163). When they receive the increase, the impact is felt by the consumer in that it transfers the cost to the consumer by increasing the costs of goods and services. This tendency is characterized by an increase in wages irrespective of the productivity. Productivity normally remains the same which leads to the increase in the prices of good s and services in order to counter the effect. When a lot of firms increase wages in the same manner and pass the effect to the consumer in terms of high prices, this the leads to inflation. Another cause of inflation is demand-pull. This is a case where the overall demand exceeds supply and is normally brought about when an economy experiences full employment. The demand can be in terms of goods and services or it can as well be the demand for labor. When the demand exceeds supply in the market, the suppliers have a tendency of increasing the prices of commodities. This is because of the surety that their goods will sell at whichever cost due to scarcity. If the supply of the goods remains low over a period of time, this leads to inflation because the prices will keep on getting higher and higher. This can also portray itself where employers demand more workers than what they can get. In turn, they increase their salary in order to attract more labor which leads to inflation in the long run. Exchange rate is another cause of inflation. This comes about when a nation has increased exposure to the foreign market. It is one of the critical factors that determine the rate of inflation. If the rate of exchange suffers, the local currency loses value to the foreign currency. This leads to the foreign goods becoming expensive to the local consumers which simultaneously lead to the local goods becoming cheap to the consumers in the overseas markets. In simple terms, the import price gets higher than the export price which leads to inflation. National debt is another cause of inflation. If a country has a higher debt, then this can accelerate the levels of inflation to higher rates. This leads to inflation because, if the debt increases, the government of the country is left with two options; to either print more money to pay off the debts or to increase the taxes which will lead to higher revenue hence provide means of settling the debt. Increase in tax is passed dow n to businesses that in turn increase

Developing Countries and Financial Liberalization Essay

Developing Countries and Financial Liberalization - Essay Example Asia has long been home to world’s most dynamic economies. The last decade has shown us a broad flowering of entrepreneurship throughout Asia in the face of different challenges. Factors attributed to this trend include a huge wave of private equity and venture capital funding, but more importantly, regulatory laws for financing and capital acquisition were eased and the less stringent rules governing the listing of young companies at the various stock markets helped in many companies getting the money they need for business (Robinson, 2005). The ease of getting loans and the financial liberalization process helped the growth of Pacific Rim for countries such as China, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan and even Japan. In particular, after the Second World War, Japan came to represent a model of economic development. Of course the massive gains made by the economy were based on the manufacturing of electronics and automobiles but the financial liberation process certainly helped the cou ntry gain its footings after the destruction it experienced (Herring, 2006). Similarly, Hong Kong has always been rated as one of the more free economies and even though it went through a change of government i.e. from Britain to China, it has retained the financially liberal attitude of the British economy rather than the controlled system of the Chinese. Taiwan can also be put on the list of countries benefiting from financial freedom. Although it has had a share of political instability and outright threats of invasion from China, it has led the way in semiconductor and IC manufacturing (Bremmer & Zakaria, 2006). Perhaps the biggest surprises resulting from the process of financial liberation are the giants that started emerging in the early 1990s, China and India (Hubbard, 2005).