...Studies • Erasmus Mundus, Global Studies – A European Perspective • Public Administration • Social Science • EU-studies • Public Administration, MPA Course title: International Development Kind of assignment (48-hours essay, Methodological Workshop (5 ECTS) and synopsis): 48-hours essay Question number: 1 Student’s name: Edda Maria von Wildenradt Study card no./Birthday: 51970 Keystrokes/characters including spaces (Please look at the supplementary provisions for maximum-value): 14359 Submission date: 03-06-2015 Roskilde Universitet Den samfundsvidenskabelige bacheloruddannelse 2 In the following essay I will address some specific issues in the global South that are influenced by international trade and trade regulation. This essay will provide a critical perspective on how international trade and trade regulations function and by this rise following questions: Which consequences have the international trade and trade regulation had in the given periods? Who benefits from the international trade and trade regulation? And lastly, is international trade and trade regulation only designed to benefit one part of the world - the West? Why are some people rich and some poor? This question raises a debate with several of arguments of why that is. Some people believe it to be due to the poor’s behaviour and others sees it as a result of the relationship between the poor and the rich (O’Brian...
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...China and India have become the most important economic partners of Africa and their footprints are growing by leaps and bounds, transforming Africa's international relations in a dramatic way. Although the overall impact of China and India's engagement in Africa has been positive in the short-term, partly as a result of higher returns from commodity exports fuelled by excessive demands from both countries, little research exists on the actual impact of China and India's growing involvement on Africa's economic transformation. China and India are seeking many of the same goals in the African continent. Due to this there are a number of similarities in their foreign policy. Both use development assistance as means of facilitating trade and investment, as well as helping to secure access to resources. Whilst their project assistance is centered (to an extent) around different areas .China offers its expertise in infrastructure delivery whereas India’s aid programs are more designed around its own relative strengths in IT and services With an emphasis upon mutual respect and sovereignty articulated in both of their foreign policies, neither China nor India seeks to impose aid conditionality’s upon other countries. They have attempted to distance themselves from the formal terms of recipient and donor, and instead offer a significant degree of policy autonomy in their aid delivery. In this manner we are witnessing the rise of a new generation of donors that do not attempt to transform...
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...Is it true that Good Institutions Alleviate the Resource Curse? A Reassessment of Existing OLS Cross Country Evidence Malebogo Bakwena* Abstract The paper tests the hypothesis that the effect of resources on growth is conditional on the quality of institutions, by further building on Mehlum, Moene, and Torvik’s (2006b) influential work. Advances are made by re-testing the hypothesis, using: (a) a dataset of up to 53 countries over the period 1984-2003; and (b) a resource abundance indicator that focuses on non-renewable resources alone rather than the ones commonly used in the literature that include renewable resources, which are inappropriate. The empirical results of the paper confirm the hypothesis that resource rich economies are not destined to be cursed if they have good institutions. Keywords: World economic growth, resource curse, institutions * Senior Lecturer at the University of Botswana, Department of Economics, Private Bag 0022 Gaborone, Botswana. E-mail: thokweng@mopipi.ub.bw, Telephone: (+267) 3552151, Fax: (+267)3972936. 1 1. Introduction Contrary to conventional theory, a growing body of evidence suggests that economies with abundant natural resources perform badly in terms of economic growth relative to their resource poor counterparts—the so-called resource curse hypothesis. However, this general hypothesis is not robust. It clearly fails to account for the differing experiences of resource abundant economies. For instance, the theory, applied...
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...case study, it is clear that there are a number of drawbacks to globalisation. Hill (2014), describes globalisation as the merging of historically distinct and separate national markets into one huge ‘global marketplace’. Firstly, the case study argues that globalisation has had detrimental effects on the natural environment. An increase in transport between countries due to international trade has resulted in increased CO2 emissions. Huwart et al (2013) argues that the aeroplane has been the main mode of transport to characterise globalisation, seeing an increase in greenhouse gas emissions by 86% between 1990 and 2004 due to aviation. However, globalisation is not only effecting the natural environment, it’s also using up it’s finite resources more quickly. For example, China joined the world trade organisation in December 2001. By 2008, it’s coal use had doubled (Tverberg, 2013). The next drawbacks according to the case study are: local job losses (leading to devastation in local economies), exploited workers in LEDC’s and child labour. Globalisation transfers jobs from developed countries to less developed countries – known as offshoring. Cavusgil et al (2013:76) defines offshoring as “the relocation of manufacturing and other value-chain activities to cost effective locations abroad.” E.g. In the US, the % of US citizens with jobs began to drop around roughly the same time China joined the WTO in 2001. One of the main arguments against child labour is that it prevents children...
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...LECTURER Mr. CHIPAIKE DUE DATE 03 MARCH 2014 QUESTION CHINESE RESOURCE DIPLOMACY IS DETRIMENTAL TO LONG TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA.DISCUSS COMMENTS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................................................................................................................... Since the Tang Dynasty, Chinese activity in Africa has been seen and has grown exponentially in the past decade. China’s enhanced role within the global economy has profound political implications across the world, but takes a particular form in Africa. Recently, there has been an ongoing move by the Chinese to tap in and secure natural resources in Africa through the Chinese-African trade and diplomatic relations. Though its growing interest in Africa has resulted in huge capital flows into the continent and increased exports of natural resources from Africa, it is the purpose of this paper to determine if this relationship is creating shared prosperity for both countries. It is also vital to outline the contexts of African crisis and Chinese expansionisms. The paper also tries to explain how Chinese renewed interest in the continent has been manifested and provides an analysis of its main effects. However, though Chinese involvement in Africa is subject to debate, it certainly does no, to a greater extent, merit...
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...UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY- AFRICA THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF MENTAL ILLNESSES By Iman A. Murbe An essay submitted in Fulfillment of the ENG 2206 course 31st July 2016 THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF MENTAL ILLNESSES IN KENYA Kenya is one of the countries in the sub Saharan region in Africa. Being one of the developing countries, it is faced with challenges such as poverty, economic decline, and the lack of enough resources to meet the health needs and demands of the people. Mental health of the population is also included in the concern. There are very few organizations and facilities when it comes to mental health. It is an issue brushed aside and only brought up when one is exposed to people with it including friends or family...
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...crisis level in Africa and needs to be addressed by the United States. Efforts to teach the population AIDS prevention, reduce the price of certain medications, and influence the local leaders to teach their citizens about AIDS should be considered by the United States. Along with those efforts, the United States needs to help with the aftermath of the epidemic. In order to fully understand what the United States needs to do to help, we must first realize why the AIDS epidemic has risen to a crisis level in Africa. When the HIV virus matures it turns into what is known as AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). It is a life threatening disease that when contracted is eventually fatal. There are treatments and medications that can help slow the painful symptoms of the disease, but so far research has not found a cure. Since the early 80’s AIDS has become quite a scary issue because of its life-threatening nature. Unlike the common cold or other viruses transmitted through the air, AIDS is only transmitted by sexual contact or by the sharing of needles. AIDS, though a worldwide problem has now climbed to an epidemic level in Africa. CW Henderson, writing for AIDS Weekly, reports that, “70% of the world’s AIDS cases are located in sub-Saharan Africa”(20). Anderson goes on to report that, “The disease kills 6,000 people a day in Africa, has orphaned about 15% of children in the worst-hit cities, and by some estimates will lower life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa from 59 in...
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...healthcare systems in many parts of Africa are designed to treat acute communicable diseases, rather than preventable NCDs [5] in part due to resources [22]. As a result, equity in terms of access to health care is constrained by the fact that patients with cardiovascular risk burden make significant demands on already scarce health resources. The healthcare system in SSA is often challenged by lack of sufficient resources to provide adequate patient care. Both lack of institutional resources and up-to-date practical information for healthcare providers often jeopardizes patient care [99]. A review by Motala (2002) [100] noted that the increasing diabetes trends in Africa are influenced by inadequate health care infrastructure, inadequate supply of medications, and lack of available healthcare facilities and providers. Issues such as lack of protocols for diabetic complication evaluation and monitoring, little or non-existent referral systems, inadequate health facilities, and absence of multidisciplinary diabetic care teams also make diabetes care difficult [101]. Among diabetes patients in Mozambique and Zambia, patients in need of insulin were faced with the high cost of the medication when available but were also faced with lack of availability of insulin when needed [102]. Similarly, Whiting and colleagues (2003) [101] noted that the contextual, clinical, and health systems challenges to the delivery of health care for diabetes in Africa is influenced by several factors,...
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...GLOBAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS Chinese investments in Africa Why have Chinese companies found the emerging markets of Africa less risky and a more attractive proposition than western multinationals? Mohammed Hayath Nisar Ahmed MIB 35 – Group B Grenoble Graduate School of Business P a g e | 1 The distinct existence of Chinese multina‐ tional corporations on the global stage is al‐ tering the landscape of international busi‐ ness and politics. Western organizations, once with virtually undisputed command over the financial resources and requisite political ties to dominate global business, are now being challenged by a host of emerging country corporations with China being at the lead. Extremely competitive and strongly backed by the state, Chinese multinational corporations are on an acqui‐ sition spree that is bagging key resources and market share across the developing world. In many respects it is Africa, a conti‐ nent rich in natural resources and under‐ex‐ ploited markets that has only limited histor‐ ical ties to China, which is serving as an at‐ testing ground for the new Chinese multina‐ tional corporation. China’s investments in Africa have become ever more diversified in recent years. While oil and mining remain an important focus, Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) has flooded into everything from shoe manufac‐ turing to food processing. Chinese firms have also made major investments in Afri‐ can infrastructure, targeting key sectors ...
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...the daily life of those living in the old south and even those living in the Northern Stares. Focusing primarily on the Old Southern States it is easy to see that slavery heavily affected the social, economic, religious, and political aspects of old southern life. To begin, the economic effect that slavery had on the southern states were numerous. Slavery allowed for enormous profits to be made by the America. The free labor used to pick cotton and other crops made it very profitable for the plantation owners and the owners of factories in the northern states. Another economic effect was the development of the south. Because slavery made it so profitable to continue an agricultural society, the south found very little use for industry and following the example set by the North. The social effects of slavery were also varied. One of the most important was the structure of society. The South was primarily agricultural because it was so profitable. It was therefore not necessary to develop an industrial base for society. Another social effect was the racism created by slavery. This contempt created between the races was a result of the institution of slavery. The effects of this racism were perpetuated throughout society for a very long time and are seen in our not too distant past. Religion was also affected by slavery. The result of slavery on religion was the creation of new beliefs and traditions. The slaves in the south were exposed to religion in their daily lives...
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...Is tourism a blessing or a curse? Tourism is defined by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) as ‘a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes’ (UNWTO, 2014). It furthermore defines the people taking part in these actions as visitors either tourists or excursionists. Moreover, tourism exhibits the activities visitors experience (UNWTO, 2014). Increasing essentially in the second half of the nineteenth century (Cooper, 2012) tourism reached its peak of one billion visitors in 2012 (UNWTO, 2012). Regardless, the economic importance of tourism the need for a sustainable development and management increased worldwide (Cooper, 2012). Disproving the general believe of tourism harming the environment Mensah and Amuquandoh (2010) state that tourism is still seen as the greatest engine for an economy to generate quick revenue. The resulting question is now whether tourism can be seen as a blessing or a curse. This paper will provide an insight into the topic. It will be structured looking at the three areas of economic, cultural and environmental influence tourism has in different cases. Looking at the economic impacts of tourism an ever-increasing number of tourism expenditures can be listed (WTO, 2012). Due to a constantly growing number of destinations and investments in tourism the industry became a driver of economic progress. Creating...
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...1 The Impact of China-Africa Trade Relations: The Case of Angola By Dr Ron Sandrey Associate Trade Law Centre of Southern Africa Prepared for the African Economic Research Consortium Nairobi, Kenya November 2009 2 Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Hannah Edinger, Research Fellow, China Africa Network, Centre for Business and Academic Research, Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria; and Senior Manager & Head of Research at Frontier Advisory, for comments on a previous draft, and for research and editorial assistance. The author would also like to express gratitude to the African Economic Research Consortium for commissioning the research paper. 3 Table of Contents 1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………. 4 1.1 Problem Statement…………………………………………………………………... 4 1.2 Objectives of Report……………………………………………………………….… 5 1.3 Overview of Report……………………………………………………………….….. 7 2. Background………………………………………………………………….… 9 2.1 Angola & China Country Snapshots and the background trading relationship………………………………………………………………………….… 9 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.1.3 2.1.4 2.1.5 2.1.6 2.1.7 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.3 Angola – A Country Snapshot………………………………………………………….…. China – A Country Snapshot……………………………………………………………… Angola’s trade profile………………………………………………………………………. Angola’s trade profile with China…………………………………………………………. Angola’s other trade partners……………………………………………………………… Who are the gainers and losers from Angola’s increasing merchandise trade flows...
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...Global Economic Perspectives Exam II Objective List BASIC CONCEPTS * Exchange Rate Risk * Selling dollar-denominated bonds but not having dollar-denominated sales * China’s real estate bubble * How to avoid: * Currency swaps * Future markets * Currency pegs * Setting the currency equal to a specified value * What factors determine exchange rates (pegging and managed floats) * High interest rates Appreciation & recession – increased demand & price * Stronger currency favors importers (trade surplus) * Low interest ratesDepreciation & Expansion * Weaker currency favors exporters (trade deficit) * The role of the IMF * Make emergency loans to countries with balance of payment problems * Ensures stability of national monetary system * Fiscal Policy * Government changing taxes and/or government spending in effort to increase or decrease business activity * Expansionary FP leads to increased spending but downside is budget deficits * Contractionary FPleads to budget surpluses or smaller deficits * AKA Austerity (attempt to shrink growing deficits) * Monetary Policy * Central Banks changing the MS to increase or decrease the availability of credit in an effort to increase or decrease business activity * Primary tool is Open Market Operations * Buying and Selling short...
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...South Korea is one of the best cases of foreign aid, which was assisted by the other countries’ foreign aid like the U.S. Owing to foreign aid; South Korea has been able to become a developed country. Recently, South Korea wants to help undeveloped countries which such as Vietnam, Philippine and Myanmar. So, there is constant controversy concerning the foreign aid. Some of critic claims that South Korea gives little foreign aid to other countries. However, they say that South Korea wants to make profit use of foreign aid. Even though many experts support disadvantages of foreign aid, it also has many good ways to help undeveloped countries because it purpose is not profits but relief. Foreign aid can help support to poor countries’ economic system, education system, and medical services and provide food. According to Shah (2004), “Foreign aid, which can be defined as the transfer of money, goods, and services from one country to another, is an important part of the foreign policy” (para.1). The first foreign aid began in the immerse war. In “A Brief History of U. S. Foreign Aid” the author writes that “Foreign aid began in World War II and evolved through reconstruction after that war, through the Cold War, after September 11, and to the present day” (para. 1). Foreign aid has been around since just after the end of the Second World War. Today foreign aid can be given in a number of areas, including developmental, humanitarian, military, disaster relief, and security. Also,...
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...Rate: total population: 97.9%; male: 98.7%; female: 97.2% (2003 est.) Net Migration Rate: 0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Unemployment Rate: 18.1% (2009 est.) Gross Domestic Product per Capita: $33,700 (2009 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, other 6% Languages: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%; Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, and Basque 2% are official regionally Ethnic Groups: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types Capital: Madrid1 Trafficking Routes Given Spain’s proximity to North Africa, trafficking routes often include Spain as a destination or transit country onto the European continent. Trafficking victims, mainly young women, are recruited from Eastern Europe and South America with the promise of jobs in Spain. The traffickers then force the women into sexual servitude. The Canary Islands remain one of the most used routes for illegal immigrants from West Africa.2 Spain and Italy are among the major receiving countries for persons trafficked from West Africa in general and Nigeria in particular, either for labor, sex, or the removal of their organs.3 The sources of trafficking are not restricted to neighboring regions, as victims arrive from as far as East Asia.4 Factors That Contribute to Human Trafficking Infrastructure The main factor contributing to trafficking is the allure of a higher quality of life in a comparatively rich nation such as Spain. Victims can be promised transportation and 1 2 CIA, THE WORLD FACTBOOK 2010, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp...
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