ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Measuring Economic Performance Gross Domestic Product is a measure of economic performance that involves quantifying the value of final goods and services that are legitimately produced in a country. For the inclusion of goods and services in GDP numbers, they must be sold to final consumers. For example, crude oil sold to a refinery is not included, but petrol is included in GDP figures. In measuring economic performance, two approaches to GDP are used. The first one is the expenditure approach, which includes total spending on goods and services in a year. The second one is resource cost-income approach, which includes the sum of all the payments to suppliers of resources and other inputs used in producing goods and services during the year under the review (Sexton, 2012). Another measure of economic performance is the employment level, which involves the determination of the number of people of working age who do are unemployed but are actively seeking for work. Possible effects of unemployment on economic performance include low tax revenues, increased payment due to benefits, the decline in social welfare that leads to social costs, such as crime and family breakdowns, and the opportunity cost of foregone potential output that would have been realized if all the people were employed (Sexton, 2012). Inflation rate means a continuous rise in prices in the country for a given period, which affects the cost of living. Effects of inflation on economic performance include slowing down of investment as prices rise, the reduced balance of payment because of low domestic competitiveness, devaluation of the currency, and enlargement of the wealth gap between those with fixed income and those with high bargaining power (Sexton, 2012). Macroeconomics and Microeconomics Impact on Our Daily Lives Microeconomic variables impact on our daily lives by influencing our decision-making in terms of preferences of goods and services based on budget constraints. Here, consumers tend to allocate resources efficiently by prioritizing on needs that are the most important at a given time and then going for the less important needs and wants (Gans, King, Stonecash, & Mankiw, 2011). For example, one could be faced with the option of buying a house or starting up a business with a given amount of money. Here, by prioritizing on the house, one will sacrifice on starting a business and preceding potential income that would arise from the business. Alternatively, prioritizing on starting a business would make one forego owning a house and continue staying in a rented house. On a macroeconomic level, our daily lives and decision-making are influenced by the state of the economy. When economic performance is good, our lives and decisions are positively impacted, and living standards are improved. For example, during the economic boom, there is an increased investment that leads to the creation of more employment
Currently, the field of anthropological linguistics is significant in social sciences. Due to the process of globalization, various issues concerning language policies, languages interaction, and use began to emerge. Indeed, the methods and principles of the social sciences are valuable in defining and investigating these issues. As such, one specific issue that needs research is endangered linguistic minorities in Italy. Nowadays, Italy is inhabited by various groups of populations that belong to different peoples and cultures and speak non-Italian languages. As a rule, these are inhabitants of remote regions that have little or no influence on the government (Vizi, 2019). The rights and opportunities of these people are essential for understanding the general limits of language diversity and correct evaluation of the policies that aim to resolve the issue. Thus, the current state of research, as well as a question for further investigation, would be provided. For research of the issue, several primal resources were used. First of all, an important source was the one by Pipyrou (2017), which provided the information on the legislation that determines the language minorities policy in Italy. Moreover, the author described the poor condition of the Grecanici population. Next, Vollstädt (2019) revealed the perspective of Slavic minorities in Italy, as well as discussed the implementation of language policies. Finally, Vizi’s (2019) research was enlightening about the situation in Trento and Albanian-speaking communities, concentrating on the matter of cultural identity. The papers are similar in the questions of a legal system that controls language use in Italy. However, they demonstrate the perspective of various minorities and, accordingly, different experiences of language suppression. The sources are appropriate for investigating the issue due to the fact that they observe the situation from different points, and yet they provide essential explanations of the ongoing language phenomena. While looking for the sources, I tried to get information that could be compared, so that I looked for different language minorities. As a result, the most appropriate sources communicate the most relevant information about minorities. Certain social science principles apply to the issue that I have chosen to discuss. These include social institutions, social norms, and values. Social institutions are the structures that involve the cooperation of a certain population group and serve some purpose. The work of social institutions determines the representation of social phenomena. In turn, social norms are rules that arrange the interaction of a group, limiting or promoting some actions or traditions. Finally, the values represent the range of common interests in
Executive Summary Clothing business is one of the few businesses that will always be in the market. People wear clothes every day. The only question to answer is to know if the business can become the source of their clothing. Fashion Clothing business should engage the market through intensive marketing strategies. The plans will help the business to sell many clothes and hence make a profit. The cash flow projections and income statements reveal potential growth in the industry. Fashion Clothing has an investment of £200,000. The £150,000 the owners invested in the business went into the purchase of tangible assets. It uses the £50,000 as cashflow. Introduction Fashion Clothing is an online and mail-order clothing business. The financial requirements are capital, efficient production financial records, and good management of the same. The report indicates the forecast records for the business and its growth potential. Main Financial Findings Summary of the First 6 Months Business Operations Fashion Clothing needs to use five very essential records to the business. The opening statement of financial position helps to identify capital intensity, the availability of cash to run the business, assets, and the tools available for the firm to continue smoothly. The monthly cash flow forecast will help to indicate the expected monthly capital and expenses (Debrulle & Maes 2015). It also points out the availability of capital or the lack of it. Fashion Clothing management can make a decision on how to raise the capital for the following month. The projected income statement will provide information about the net sales, the cost of sales including purchases, and the expenses. It also shows the owners the operating margin of profit or loss and how it changes each month. The projected statement of financial position gives a record of all the business’s assets and liabilities. Projected cash flow shows the owners where the cash is in the business. Financial Accounting Statements The business owners have £200,000 to invest. By the month of July, they had bought the tangible non-current assets for the business worth £150,000. The remaining £50,000 was in the bank for further use as working capital. All the transactions go through the same bank (Krakel 2015). The opening statement in July 2015 at the start of business for the financial position would be as follows: Opening Statement of Financial Position at the Start of July 2015                                                                    £       ASSETS                                                                                                                                        July    Non-current Assets                                                         Tangible Assets                                                    150,
Introduction The automotive industry presents a variety of challenges and opportunities for companies. Tesla chose to become a technology developer focused on solving specific car-related challenges. The company implemented a strategy aimed at expanding the market, spurring innovation, and ensuring future growth. Its enviable position as an electric vehicle market leader has led to an increase in value, seeing as it offers a sustainable alternative to the internal combustion engine. Tesla’s dominance as an innovative giant has cemented its position as a global leader in the automotive industry. The Internal Combustion Industry versus the Electric Vehicle Industry The automotive industry is experiencing a transformation in drive train technology. Internal combustion engine vehicles have dominated the market over the last few decades. This is, however, bound to change because electric vehicles (EV) are gaining popularity. In 2017 over a million EVs were registered globally, with over 60% of the vehicles being operated in China (Casper & Sundin, 2020). The similarities between the electric vehicle market and the internal combustion market are numerous. First, they both cater to consumer preferences in terms of mobility solutions. In addition, manufacturers from both industries must partner with energy producers to facilitate fueling and charging options. There are some essential differences to consider when assessing the automotive industry. While internal combustion engines are dependent on fossil fuels, electric vehicles use renewable energy sources that have a limited environmental impact. The latter are often expensive to acquire compared to the former because the cost of research and development is extremely high. Finally, the electric vehicle industry requires immense infrastructural investment compared to its rival in terms of charging stations and support systems. Tesla’s Open Patents The decision to allow free access to Tesla’s patents was met with shock in the automotive industry. In 2014, Elon Musk announced that the company would not initiate patent lawsuits against individuals that intended to use its technology for legitimate applications (Grijalva, 2017). The declaration was an opportunity cost the organization was willing to take to facilitate the expansion of the electric vehicle market. Tesla held the view that patents stifle progress and enrich individuals in the legal profession as opposed to actual inventors (Grijalva, 2017). The company had few competitors because the market was in its infancy. The firm made the right decision when it allowed manufact
Introduction Fifth Third Bancorp, has performed beyond market expectations in the financial sector. The bank has managed to increase its revenues even though many other financial firms are struggling due to the slump in economic growth. Fifth Third Bancorp is lending out more money to investors after initiating several cost-cutting changes in its operations. The firm has managed to attract more borrowers from the energy sector due to its expansion in the last quarter of 2012. In the past, the firm focused more on commercial lending but the low demand for loans in the country encouraged it to expand into other areas of the market. The firm has carried out an expansion plan which has seen it extend its lending portfolio to target other corporate firms in the country. The firm also lends to healthcare firms, a shift that has brought it positive returns (Rieker). Impact of Cost Cutting Fifth Third Bancorp has increased the amount of money it lends out to borrowers. The firm experienced an increase of 5% on the money it lends out to borrowers. Commercial and industrial loans have risen by 14%, which shows that the decision to focus on new corporate clients by the firm has paid off. However, the firm’s profit has reduced by 2% because of the economic slump being experienced in all key sectors in the country. The firm’s decision to cut costs had a positive impact on its operations because it managed to reduce its expenses by 978 million dollars. The company’s net interest income was reduced by 1% because of poor growth prospects in the financial sector. Fifth Bank is one of the few financial firms in the country which has managed to register a positive increase in net interest income (Rieker). Financial Sector Slump Market analysts opine that the firm has attracted clients who left other banks because they were attracted to its services. Most corporate borrowers took loans from the bank to help them strengthen their operations. Financial analysts predict the economy will continue to experience a slump shortly, which will have a big effect on the financial sector. Interest rates are likely to remain low because many business firms are not interested in borrowing loans from lending institutions. Towards the end of 2012, many business borrowers were not willing to obtain credit from financial institutions (Rieker). More banks are following in the firm’s footsteps and they are implementing a raft of cost-cutting policies to reduce their operational expenses. BB & T Corp. and Key Corp. are some of the few financial firms which have registered positive growth in revenues after implementing cost-cutting measures. BB&T’s profits were reduced by 44% to 240 million dollars but its revenues grew by 5% to 2.42 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2013. Winston- Salem bank’s expenses rose by 2% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year. However, Key Corp’s first-quarter profit rose by 2% to 204 million dollars in the first quarter compared to last year. Key Corp’s revenues rose by 1.3% to 1 billion dollars. The firm’s operational expenses were reduced by 7.2%, in the fourth quarter of 2012,
Introduction Ronald Reagan had an incredibly diverse career that ranged from a Hollywood actor to governor of California and president of the United States. As an actor, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild where he worked with Errol Flynn and others to support the reforms that the actors strike had made available to young actors. As the president, he initiated the Strategic Missile Defense System or “Star Wars”, proposed bold programs to create the prosperous United States in a peaceful world, and brought about an end to the Cold War. Reagan believed that being the president was the greatest role that he played while he was often underestimated because of his history, however, he was one of the greatest presidents America has had. Main body Ronald Reagan’s life can definitely be considered a success story. His parents were poor and his father was an alcoholic, he went to an obscure college run by a religious organization and most of his classmates wanted to become teachers or ministers. His grades were never stellar and his goal after college was to become a sports announcer or an actor (Cannon, 34). When he graduated from Eureka College it was during the depths of the Depression job prospects were slim. During that time one-fourth of all Americans was out of work he convinced a radio station manager to hire him as a part-time sports announcer. A few years after that he took a screen test and became an actor. He became an expert on the film industry and president of the Screen Actors Guild which, he believed was one of the best forces for good in the movie industry. He led the guild in their only strike and when his films went out of style he switched to television (Cannon, 33). Ronald Reagan started his political career when he spoke on behalf of Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. Reagan’s speech was very powerful, however; Goldwater lost the election to Lyndon Johnson the following week. After giving that speech and others he was sought out by the Republican Party as the perfect individual to run against the incumbent governor Pat Brown. When he was running for governor his main campaign points illustrated in his Time for Choice speech in 1966 emphasized getting the welfare “bums” back to work and cleaning up the mess at Berkley. After his win in California Reagan worked to change the political landscape while knowing little about the legislative process used his time in California to learn the in’s and out’s of government. He left office after two terms with constructive changes in welfare, education, and tax legislation (Cannon, 12). During his terms in office both as a governor and president, his speeches followed several main themes. These themes included a love of country, distrust of government, glories of economic opportunity, the dangers of regulating business, and the wonders of free-market and trade (Cannon, i). The Iran-contra affair was a difficult patch in Reagan’s presidency when it was discovered. The affair was actually two-fold. The first was the administration’s covert program of arms sales to Iran in exchange for the release of the American hostages by the ter
The question of whether people should treat the others in a way they are treated by them has always been rather controversial. On the one had, it seems fair to do wrong in return, for if a person does something evil, he/she has to be punished for this. On the other hand, however, this in no way promotes public good because, if every person follows such a system, the evil will continue breeding evil and there will be no place for the good. In his moral argument at Crito Socrates expresses an idea that “neither to do wrong not to return a wrong is ever correct, nor is doing harm in return for harm done” (49d). By this argument Socrates aims to convince people that doing wrong in return only contributes into the society’s injustice. Socrates succeeds in making moral argument at Crito convincing for obeying the state and its laws through drawing parallels between the state and the parents, though calling for people’s patriotism, and though pointing at the possibility of choice which each state offers to its citizens. Firstly, Socrates’ moral argument about wrong-doing is convincing for obeying the state and its laws because Socrates draws a parallel between the relations of a person with his parents and the state with its citizens. This allusion creates an idea that every citizen owes his/her state, just like all the people owe their parents. For instance, when discussing the significance of laws, Socrates states, “We have given you birth, nurtured you, educated you; we haven given you and all other citizens a share of all the good things we could” (51d). This creates an idea that doing wrong to one’s state is inappropriate because, even if the state has wronged a person, he/she has no right to blame it for this for together with wrong-doing the state has brought the good to this person. Drawing parallels with family relations, as Socrates does it, facilitates the comprehension of this idea. For instance, the parents that have “nurtured” and “educated” their children meant them only good; they gave the children a chance for life and provided them with all the means to make this life better. However, the parents, just like other people, are capable of making mistakes, and this does not mean that their children should do them wrong in return. The parents did their best to improve their children’s lives and it is rather ungrateful to punish them for wrong-doing. The same goes for the state and its laws: the citizens are expected to obey these laws for they are meant to do good to them; when, for some reason, the contrary occurs, the citizens should not stop obeying them or try to destroy them for those were the state and the laws that begat them. Therefore, Socrates succeeded in making his argument convincing through drawing parallels between the state and the parents. In addition, Socrates’ argument
Introduction Tourism is a major economic driver in Singapore. According to the 2011 report from the Tourism Board, the country attracted 13,171,303 tourists, which was over twice the total country’s population ( Singapore Tourism Board 2013). According to economists, Singapore economy has grown at a fast rate in the past few decades due to tourism, which also has grown tremendously in the same period. Therefore, the economic growth can be linked to the growth of tourism. The Singaporean tourism board has been in the forefront in developing plans and strategies for improving the sector with regard to the type of tourism in question in a bid to incorporate other economic sectors in the planning exercise (Carrigan 2010). Consequently, the implemented plans over the past few years have earned Singapore a rise in the population of tourists that are received annually. In addition, the Singaporean government has been in the forefront in environmental conservation exercises, thus creating one the best environments across the world, which has enabled the county to earn a good reputation as a major tourist attraction site. The country has four official languages that enable the locals to communicate effectively with visitors. However, English is the main language used in the shopping and transport sector, which increases convenience to visitors. The government has enhanced basic infrastructural facilities in the country, which enable tourists to access and fully enjoy the major tourist attraction sites. Major Types of Tourism in Singapore The major types of tourism in Singapore include environmental, business, sports, and cultural tourism. To begin with environmental tourism, as aforementioned, the Singaporean government has policies that enhance environmental conservation in the country. There is a direct relationship between tourism and environmental conservation, as many tourists prefer visiting regions that have good environments for leisure. Singapore is a small country and the growth of its urban centres was achieved after clearing natural vegetation in large parts of the country. In order to regain environmental advantage, the government of Singapore introduced a network of greenery in the urban centres as a way of improving urban environments (YuChen 2010). This move has enabled the country to have one of the greenest cities in the world. The existing policies aim at enhancing environmental tourism in Singapore such as environmental friendly waste disposal mechanisms, which allow the country to improve its environmental serenity. This move has enabled Singapore to be ranked among the most visited countries for ecotourism together with Costa Rica, Thailand, and Nepal, as they are endowed with natural environments. The ability to conserve the environment led to the introduction of zoos in urban greenery centres that have been in the forefront in attracting both local and foreign tourists (Tse 2001). Business tourism is also a major tourist