Essay on Poverty and Income Inequality in China - 1348 Words

Another Inquiry on the Economic Welfare and Poverty in China The trade-off between economic growth and redistribution has become one of the major notes concerning the emerging economies of post-Cold War world. Adding to this struggle the urge to integrate into the international system while keeping the balances right at home has been another macro-level concern. In conjunction such liabilities not only necessitates the examination of fiscal and structural reforms but also the international trends as well within an historical framing. For that matter the case of China is fascinating in terms of blending these elements of economic and political changes in the last 30 years. However this attempt is not without a cost. This paper aims to†¦show more content†¦The decreasing role of the state in economic activities seems to be the major cause of this unbalanced trend. These changes cover a decrease in state-owned enterprises, the increasing number of laid-off workers and the structural deficiency of the government to provide anti-poverty pr ograms . On the international scale Fulong Wu Ningying Huang argue that the industrial shift from labor-intensive to very competitive capital and technology-intensive sectors was another reason for China to fail achieving the balance between growth and redistribution . The consequences of these changes are the increasing rates of unemployment in the late 1990s and the inability of the working class to rapidly adapt to the demands of the employment market. The rapid economic growth was perceived as an airbag against the threat of urban poverty. However the gradual alienation of a particular segment of the unemployed alarmed the officials about the irreversibility and respective social tension in the society. Fulong Wu Ningying Huang defines those as the â€Å"outsiders† of the Chinese society who are living in the poverty line of $1 (PPP) as determined by the World Bank. Those outsiders have no hope of returning to the labor market. For that matter there is defined a new urban poverty in China that could even impede the economic growth if remained neglected. In such circumstances withoutShow MoreRelatedPoverty Inequality And Economic Growth1466 Words   |  6 Pagespurpose of this essay is to investigate the extent in which poverty, inequality and economic growth are related. These three dimensions are regularly perceived as indices of the complex and multidimensional concept of ‘economic development’. This term i s not black and white however: it is a concept that is more than just merely income analysis. Poverty can be broken down into two separate definitions: absolute and relative. Absolute poverty describes the position of an individual who is living on lessRead MorePoverty And Poverty1487 Words   |  6 PagesGlobally, poverty is a prevailing social and economic concern. In pure economic terms, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO, 2017) defines income poverty as a failure of a family’s income to meet a federally established threshold. The World Bank’s definition of extreme poverty is living on less than US$1.90 per day (World Bank, 2017), which was decided on using the purchasing power parity exchange rates to convert the line into the US dollar, and into the currenciesRead MoreThe Inequality Of Poverty And Deprivation Throughout The World1368 Words   |  6 PagesWhen most people see these kinds of poverty – and there are many different levels and layers of poverty and deprivation throughout the world -- they think first about the glaring inequalities of income and wealth, both within and between countries. But inequality is only part of the story, and depending on the place and the time period in question, it may not be the most important part of the story. It may be that other policies, in addition to redistributing income directly, have a vital role to playRead MoreIndustrialization And Poverty1445 Words   |  6 PagesPoverty is the greatest challenge for the least developed countries. Industrialization is one of the effective ways to reduce poverty. Poverty can be reduced by economic growth and equality. Industrialization is a process where primary goods are used to produce manufacturing goods, sometimes human labor is replaces by machines and robots. Income per capita increases because of industrialization. The industrial revolution of 18th and 19th century has occurred because of major industrial shift in westernRead MoreSimilarities And Differences Between China And Australia1236 Words   |  5 PagesSimilarities and Differences between China and Australia’s Economies Introduction The Chinese and Australia economies have many similarities and differences, including the size of the economies, growth rates, unemployment, inequality, standard of living, environmental issues and the roles the different governments have in influencing and modifying these factors of the economy. Size of Economy The GDP is the total market value of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. China’s GDPRead MoreDeveloping A Economically Developed Countries1649 Words   |  7 Pagesincreasing, with more than a third of the national income condensed in the top 10% of the earners. The research shows that Ireland is now the most unequal country in the EU, with focus on unequal distribution of incomes. The article also states that with one in five workers are on low pay, the Irish system is on the threshold of its ‘breaking point’. According to The Economist, on 28th June, 2014, Netherlands has been fighting against inequality for the past few years owing to the differential taxationRead MoreHow Globalisation has affected developing countries in the Asia - pacific region1609 Words   |  7 Pageseconomy. China, which is one of the developing countries, is said to be the next economic super power. Many guru economists such as Lawrence Summers predict that in the opening decades of the 21st century, china will match the US and Japanese economies. China currently ranks seventh strongest economy on a global scale. China s economic success has not been confined to raw economic growth, especially with a huge trade surplus of over 40 billion according to world guide from 1998. China has an annualRead MoreThe Impact Of Development Strategies On Economic Growth And The Quality Of Life For An Economy Other Than Australia1159 Words   |  5 Pagesand reverse negative impacts of globalisation and increase income inequali ty and environmental consequences. Economic growth is a quantitative measure of the increase of GDP over a period of time. A rise in economic growth means that there is an increase of a nation’s economic capacity. Over the past 30 years, China’s economy has had an sustained growth rate of around 9% since the late 1970s , bringing millions of people out of poverty. One of the strategies undertaken to promote high economicRead MoreImproving The Standard Of Gross Domestic Product1201 Words   |  5 PagesTo keep the economy running smoothly, to maintain price stability and to alleviate poverty are the main goals for formulating policies around the world. The experiences of every country are various as different patterns of economic development. Although it is widely accepted that the reduction of poverty accompanies the economic growth of a country, which encourages many countries, especially some developing countries, to concentrate on improving the standard of gross domestic product (GDP), it isRead MoreThe North American Free Trade Agreement897 Words   |  4 Pageseconomic inequality. Many critics of globalization argue that the western model for development has failed to anticipate and act on the previously mentioned issues. There have been positive and negative outcomes from globalization and trade agreements. Some of the negative outcome s have been environmental degradation and inequality. There has been unsustainable growth partly because environmental degradation has been coupled with economic growth. The measurements of GDP and growth of income per capita

The Flaws Of Arrogance In Oedipus Rex By Sophocles

Benjamin Whichcote once said, â€Å"None are so empty as those who are full of themselves.† The words ring true through the character Oedipus whose tragic flaw of arrogance brought his downfall. In his timeless play, Oedipus Rex, author Sophocles unflinchingly illuminates the haughtiness and hubris displayed by the hero Oedipus. Through his candid exploration of the ship/captain and light/dark motifs, Sophocles makes an effort to ultimately bring the reader to the realization that arrogance creates an illusion to the truth and the potential dangers such pride poses for both the guilty party and those for whom the arrogant are responsible. Oedipus’ extreme pride and arrogance created an illusion for himself in which he lived blind to the†¦show more content†¦His arrogance restricts Oedipus from accepting the reality of the prophecy, ignoring the gravity of the situation as well as his own responsibility and duty to his people. Oedipus’ failure to acknowledge his horrifying revelation of murdering his father and sleeping with his mother until the very end, oppressed both himself and his people. Lines 16-17 of Oedipus Rex state, â€Å"Thebes is tossed on a murdering sea, And cannot lift her head from the death surge.† The lines show the state in which Thebes resided, fell upon Oedipus’ shoulders as its leader. The people of Thebes suffered because of Oedipus’ failure to accept that he was the one for whom the prophecy was intended. His failure to see the truth of the prophecy directly resulted in the city of Thebes suffering from a plague. Sophocles uses the ship/captain motif s to represent the adversity the protagonist faces with his country, as a result of Oedipus’ own tragic flaw. Every bit of destruction was the fault of Oedipus unwilling to own up to his crimes. Furthermore, Sophocles’ exploration of the light and dark motifs to show the results of the character’s illusions. Oedipus’ misconception of himself is represented many times with the motif of light and darkness. After Oedipus finds out about the truth of the prophecy, he compares his punishment and suffering to the dark night. (Sophocles pg. 71) â€Å"O cloud of night, Never to be turned away: night coming on, I can not tell how: night like a shroud!† Failing toShow MoreRelatedThroughout most famous Greek literature, a great hero usually saves the day. In the story of900 Words   |  4 PagesIn the story of Oedipus though, the good man with one minor flaw goes through great pain. This pain in the play Oedipus Rex is the focal point for the whole play. Almost every aspect of the play builds up and foreshadows Oedipus’ fall from power, and entry into pain. Sophocles in his tragedy Oedipus Rex creates a mood of dramatic irony using the dualities o f sight and blindness, and light and darkness. This dramatic irony highlights Oedipus’ hamartia and in doing so Sophocles enhances his messageRead MoreThe Role of Faith and the Gods in Oedipus Rex Essays1713 Words   |  7 Pageshands? Sophocles, in his work Oedipus Rex, establishes a view that gives fate, which is created by the gods, a seemingly inescapable characteristic over man. The role of fate is clearly defined, through the fulfillment of divine prophecy, and Oedipus’ inability to recognize prophecy as a realistic source of knowledge, as a fate that strikes a delicate balance with the free will of man. The balance stricken between fate and free will, in Sophocles’ mind, is portrayed through Oedipus’ fatal flaw, whichRead More Use of Character Flaws and Literary Devices to Teach Morals in Oedipus Rex1290 Words   |  6 PagesCharacter Flaws and Literary Devices to Teach Morals in Oedipus Rex      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex is an excellent example of how an author can use literary techniques and personality traits to teach a certain moral or theme.   In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles communicates his themes and morals to the reader through the character flaws of Oedipus, a tragic hero.   The most prominent character flaw that Oedipus possesses is his excessive arrogance. One way this flaw is displayed is Oedipus repeatedRead MoreOedipus Tragic Hero Analysis936 Words   |  4 Pagesdownfall. This concept could be correlated to the acclaimed work of Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, whereby the epitome of a tragic hero is created in the main character, Oedipus. Moreover, Sophocles has characterized Oedipus to be the embodiment of a respectable leader, possessing both extreme pride and relentless determination, which later proves to be the fatal flaw leading to his eventual, inescapable demise. This is due to how Sophocles codified this moral, or community standard, in his Theban TrilogyRead MoreOedipus Reaction Paper639 Words   |  3 PagesReaction Paper on Oedipus The King World Literature Oedipus the King, also known by the  as Oedipus Rex, is an   tragedy  written by  Sophocles.  It was the second of Sophocles s  three Theban plays  to be produced, together with Oedipus at Colonus  and then  Antigone.  Oedipus Rex  chronicles the story of  Oedipus, a man who becomes the king of Thebes who was destined from birth to murder his father  Laius  and marry his mother  Jocasta. The play is an example of a classic tragedy, noticeably containing anRead MoreA Comparative of Shakespeares Othello and Oedipus Rex1511 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare’s Othello and Oedipus Rex In Shakespeare’s work Othello: The Moor of Venice, Othello’s over trusting nature was revealed when his trust in false accusations about his wife Desdemona’s unfaithfulness causes him to kill her and himself, conveying Othello as a tragic hero. Oedipus, the main character in Oedipus Rex, is characterized as a tragic hero when he tries to run away from his fate and finds out that the cause of his fate was his attempt to escape it. Oedipus Rex and Othello share a commonRead MoreOedipus Rex as Aristotalian Tragedy1506 Words   |  7 PagesOne may argue that the Greek playwright, Sophocles modeled his play Oedipus Rex on Aristotles definition and analysis of tragedy.Since according to Aristotles definition, A tragedy is an imitation of action that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished artistic ornaments, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not narrative with incidents that evokes pity and fear of a persons emotions. Also Aristotle identifiedRead MoreOedipus Rex Research Paper1035 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus Rex Oedipus Rex is one of the most well written plays. Oedipus Rex has a tragic flaw which leads to his destruction. Oedipus’ flaw leads him to suffer and arouses Pity and Fear from the crowd; Scared that it could happen to them. The Unity of Plot has a beginning, middle and end, along with that Oedipus grows in knowledge about his birthing, but is ignorant for not realizing he brought the problems on Thebes. Oedipus is a confident, wise and strong-willed character, but these characteristicsRead MoreOedipus Rex Vs. Antigone1417 Words   |  6 PagesComparative Essay 11-20-01 Oedipus Rex Antigone It is only natural that an author use similar vessels of literature, such as figurative language, literary devices, and elements in his/her work. It is even more apparent between works that are connected by character, time, and theme. Sophocles did this when he wrote Oedipus Rex and Antigone. When comparing the two pieces, it becomes evident that very similar vessels connected these very different plays. Sophocles uses a specific type of figurativeRead More Oedipus the King - The Character Transformations of Oedipus Essay1250 Words   |  5 PagesOedipus the King - The Character Transformations of Oedipus Through the character of Oedipus, Sophocles shows the consequences of defying the divine order. Oedipus served Thebes as a great ruler, loved by his subjects; but, like most in the human race, he slipped through the cracks of perfection. Oedipus had many faults, but it was primarily the tragic flaw of hubris, arrogance from excessive pride, which doomed his existence, regardless of the character attributes that made him such

Machiavelli perspective on globalization Essay Example For Students

Machiavelli perspective on globalization Essay Practically nothing is known of Nicolo Machiavelli before he became a minorofficial in the Florentine Government. His youth, however, was passedduring some of the most tumultuous years in the history of Florence. He wasborn the year that Lorenzo the Magnificent came to power, subverting thetraditional civil liberties of Florence while inaugurating a reign ofunrivaled luxury and of great brilliance for the arts. He was twenty-fiveat the time of Savonarolas attempt to establish a theocratic democracy,although, from the available evidence, he took no part in it. Yet throughhis family, he was closer to many of these events than many Florentinecitizens. The Machiavelli family for generations had held public office,and his father was a jurist and a minor official. Machiavelli himself,shortly after the execution of Savanarola, became Secretary of the SecondChancery, which was to make him widely known among his contemporaries as theFlorentine Secretary. By virtue of his position Machiavelli served the Ten of Liberty and Peace,who sent their own ambassadors to foreign powers, transacted business withthe cities of the Florentine domain, and controlled the militaryestablishment of Florence. During the fourteen years he held office,Machiavelli was placed in charge of the diplomatic correspondence of hisbureau, served as Florentine representative on nearly thirty foreignmissions, and attempted to organize a citizen militia to replace themercenary troops. In his diplomatic capacity, which absorbed most of his energies, he dealtwith the various principalities into which Italy was divided at the time. His more important missions, however, gave him insight into the court of theKing of France, where he met the mightiest minister in Europe, Cardinal dAmboise. On this occasion he began the observation and analysis of nationalpolitical forces, which were to find expression in his diplomatic reports. His Report on France was written after he completed three assignments forhis office in that country; the Report on Germany was prepared as a resultof a mission to the court of Emperor Maximilian. The most important mission, in view of his later development as a politicalwriter, was that to the camp of Cesare Borgia, Duke Valentino. Under theprotection of his father, Pope Alexander VI, Cesare was engaged inconsolidating the Papal States, and Machiavelli was in attendance upon himat the time of his greatest triumph. Machiavelli had served audiences withCesare and witnessed the intrigues culminating in the murder of hisdisaffected captains, which he carefully described in the Method Adopted byDuke Valentino to Murder Vitellozzo Vittli. As the Florentine Secretary,he was present a few month later in Rome when the end of Cesare came to passwith disgrace following the death of Alexander VI. During his diplomatic career Machiavelli enjoyed one outstanding success. Largely through his efforts, Florence obtained the surrender of Pisa, whichhad revolted from Florentine rule and maintained its independence for years. Although he did not achieve any other diplomatic triumphs, he was esteemedfor the excellence of his reports and is known to have had the confidence ofthe president of Florence, the Gonfalonier, Piero Soderini. But with therestoration of the Medicis to power in 1512, Machiavellis public careercame to an abrupt end. His attempts to prove his talents to the new rulerswere ineffectual. His appearance as a former gonfalonier man castsignificant doubt on his work and he was removed from office and exiled fromthe city for one year. He was imprisoned and tortured for allegedly beinginvolved in a conspiracy against the new government. His release requiredthe intervention of Giovanni de Medici himself, albeit after his ascensionto the papacy. On release from his dungeon, Machiavelli with his wife and children, retiredto a small farm not far from Florence. Dividing his time between farmingand petty dispositions, he commented that, possessing nothing but theknowledge of the State, he had no occasion to use it. His only remaininglink the official world was through his longtime friend, the FlorentineAmbassador to the Pope, to whom he wrote of public affairs and, strangely,his more romantic encounters. His letters reveal the inner dichotomy ofthis man. He wrote, at the threshold I take off my workday clothes, filledwith the dirt and mud, and don royal and curial garments. Worthily dressed,I enter in the ancient courts of the men of antiquity, where I am warmlyreceived. I feed on that which is my only food and which was meant for me. I am not ashamed to speak with them and ask them the reasons for theiractions, and they, because of their humility, answer me. Hours can pass,and I feel no weariness; my troubles forgotten, I neither fear poverty nordread death. I give myself over entirely to them. And since Dante saysthat there can be no science without retaining what has been understood, Ihave noted down the chief things in their conversations. It was throughthese discussions that the concept of The Prince took form. Largely because of the fame he had acquired as a writer, Machiavelli wasasked by the Medici rulers to give advice on the government of Florence. Heused the occasion to re-state and defend republican principles. He was alsocommissioned to produce a history of the city, and did so in his FlorentineHistory. He was finally appointed by Pope Clement VII to organize a citymilitia, such as he had defended in previous writings, but the lack ofassistance from men with whom he was assigned the task led to littleproductivity. Finally, his efforts bore no fruit when the troops of EmperorCharles V sacked Rome. Monte Python Compare Scenes To Real Life. EssayThe author touches on the subject of whether it is advantageous for aleader to be hated and despised by his subjects. He addresses with manyexamples, the fate of rulers who, upon finding their land threatened byexternal forces, seek to rely on the capabilities of the citizenry. It isin this light that the need to maintain the goodwill of the masses is mostevident. Whereby a leader establishes good and sound laws then maintainsthose laws upon the entire populous, this leader will be loved and adored byhis subjects, and may seek their aid in times of strife. But, having provided a workable background for this mans work, I seek todiscover whether the laws of the past on the rule of kingdoms still holds tothe test, or whether it has been replaced, either for good or for temporarytenure. In the early 1950s the nations of the world banded together anddeveloped a forum in which each, great or small, could voice theirparticular grievances and expect to be heard. This organization, the UnitedNations, still stands as testimony to the belief that the closest definitionof violence is the breakdown of communication. But it has morphed into thevery international enigma Machiavelli warned. Almost to a fault the beliefof Machiavelli was each ruler could and should provide the best means ofgovernance for his country. It is the advent of globalization and theuni-polar mechanisms put in place by non-accountable unions such as theWorld Bank, the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, theWorld Health Organization, and the U.N. Security Cou ncil that constantlydevalues the leeway and options of each countries populace. The SecurityCouncil smacks of the worst in Orwellian more equalism. Every country hasa seat at the table, but only some, those with the power to utterly destroyneighbors, may have a special seat. Then when other countries seek the samerecognition, India and Pakistan, the rules are changed by the status quo. The World Bank establishes objective ratings for the credit and solvencyof nation-states, but has anyone seen a global decision in the last 50 yearswithout political considerations? The people of Austria chose a leader in ademocratic, open election, followed by the threat of economic constraints bythe remainder of the EU because of the fear of radical idealism. NATOdropped bombs on a sovereign country in an effort to stop a self-definedethnic cleansing, which turns out to be a euphemism for the same migrationof people from a dangerous situation that has gone on since man began towage war. It is in this fray of differing logic and changing reasoning for armedintervention that Macheavellis teachings seem so distant from the world inwhich we live. Even in this seemingly endless string of examples andreferences, a question remains unanswered. Will the end result of thissingle super power era, with the support of its allies and followers, theeconomic stranglehold wrapping itself around the globe, and the culturaloneness of the developing young men and women lead to the emergence of asolid, almost utopian world where everyone must resort to debate andcompromise to overcome differences? So many foundations of conventionalwisdom lead us to remember that nature abhors a vacuum, and that each risingpower has met the same familiar fate. On the upswing of the national growthand development, one can always find the antithesis of the selected country. This implied struggle lays the groundwork for a national unity, a unity ofconsciousness against an enemy of the state. And where this enemy lacks,either internally or externally, groups of others form together as raindropscreating a river, to right the scales that have been human existence. Inthis context, the writings of Machiavelli dictate the pendulum will returnafter a time, and all will be as it was. However, each of the pillars ofpossible change is currently owned by either the great superpower, again weare reminded that this power operates on the premise of republican idealsnot individual leader characteristics, or a conglomerate of leadingnation-states determined to preserve their status in the internationalarena. Politically, culturally, and economically, saving only the continuedfragmentation of religious beliefs on the planet, we have witnessed theamalgamation of these pillars into the new world order. We are left toponder the significance of our ascendancy. Does the natur e of man, and thedesire for one to live his or her life by separate concepts of civilizationand the cultural identity this allows, force us to eventually tear apartthese artificial binds with one another? Or have we reached the turningpoint in our discovery that human life, regardless of the differences seenby the eye, will be the defining characteristic, and the artificiality ofnationalism and borders will fade into the history as feudalism and thepre-Copernicus understanding of the solar system? Will Machiavelli beproved timeless, or time spent?References and cited works:Words/ Pages : 2,717 / 24