Capitalism Essays (935 words) - Economic Ideologies,

Capitalism The free market economy is a system devised to resolve the basic economic problem (resources having to be allocated to many competing users that have infinite wants) through the market mechanism. The centrally planned economy is an economic system where government go through detailed planning procedures to allocate resources in society. The Free Market Economy: The government provides public goods and services, but in order to pay for these the government need to raise some funds this is done through taxation. The government is also responsible for the issuing of money, it's value and keeping stable prices. The government are also responsible for ?free goods' (a good or service available in quantities larger than desired for zero price) if this is not regulated the free goods may be misused or abused. In a free market economy the government also has the right to eliminate any monopolies, so a fair competitive market can be maintained. The government can also control the activities of trade unions, this is because particular firms or trade unions may seek to gain control over individual markets. In the market economy the government should intervene as little as possible. Government regulation should be the minimum required to protect the orderly working of the market economy. The free market sees government spending confined to the spending of public goods. In a free market economy almost all factors of production (FOPs) are owned privately. The government have the responsibility to uphold the rights of the citizens to own a property; this is generally done through the legal system. Free enterprise exists in free market economies these are when the owner of FOPs and producers of goods and services have the right to buy and sell what the own or produce through market mechanisms. The government have little restrictions on what is brought and sold, and workers can work for whom the wish, no restrictions exist. Homeowners can sell their home as and when they wish and no one can say no as the choice is entirely theirs. Businessperson's and entrepreneurs can commence firms to their discretion. Consumers can purchase whatever they wish and no one can be told to buy one brand over another. Producers can produce whatever they want although it should be noted that they must produce a product that matches the consumers specification otherwise it will not sell. Competition between producers is permitted and it is this that leads to better quality products. In a wealthy free market economy, consumers are faced with many options and ?trade offs' (sacrificing on economic good for an other), firms compete with one an other on similar goods. The consumers with high income have more choice than others in the free market economic as they can afford the more high-end goods, such as luxury cars. Society is dealt with differently in each economy, in the free market economy price, disposable income (spending money) and utility determine whether a good or service is purchased. Centrally Planned Economy: This is quite different from the free market economy; actually it is almost the complete opposite. The centrally planned economy has resources allocated by the government through a planning process. In this economy, consumers are issued with a limited amount of money, which they can spend on a limited assortment of goods or services. At some stage a centrally planned economy's government could freeze prices so that goods and services are available to the consumers even though their budgets are restricted. However, this is likely to lead to everyone purchasing that product that has been priced low, and therefore demand would rise, which in turn would cause supply to fall. There are 3 types of actors in the planned economy, the planners (usually the government), consumers and workers. These actors are all working together in cooperation for the common good, not for self-righteousness. In the command economy all FOPs are owned by the state with the exception of labour (however labour services can be re-directed to the state). Also the command economy contains no private property. As resources are given to the consumer, sometimes this can lead to the state directing labour into jobs as well as telling consumers what to consume, however it is more likely that the government will go to the producers and tell them what to produce, this in turn determines the product available to the consumer. In the command economy there is little or often no competition and this causes substandard build quality of products, as consumer have to put up with what they are given. In a command

As You Like It by William Shakespeare Essays

As You Like It by William Shakespeare Essays As You Like It by William Shakespeare Essay As You Like It by William Shakespeare Essay Essay Topic: As You Like it A. The Forest of Arden at first glance, is a country life of arcadian contentment, rustic tranquility, a golden world in all its glory. A place to while away the hours like, the old Robin Hood of England. And so is portrayed and backed up with the seemingly content Duke Senior and his merry men. Duke Senior praises the effects of Arden on him stating its different virtues in the forms of a healer, a nurturer and a counselor. Its effects on the people who come from the court are drastic if not almost instantaneous and bring out some unique aspect of their personality which is not yet known. For Oliver and Duke Frederick, there is an almost impossible change for the better as Duke Frederick is converted both from enterprise and from the world. Furthermore the previously non-existent bond of brotherly love is created between Orlando and Oliver which in turn leads to Olivers conversion. In Rosalinds case, the Forest provides a source of unimaginable freedom to express herself without the barriers of court conventions (though this may be the result of the disguise alone). It is the place where she can love Orlando without the strict rules and regulations that governed her previous residence. Likewise Orlando is provided an escape from his brother oppression where he can leisurely convey his love for Rosalind. On the contrary, the Forest can divert from the pastoral convention as you peer into its harsh realities and its ill-effects on its limited population. Duke seniors opening speech was in reality an attempt to hearten his co-mates and brothers-in-exile. Although thinly veiled with heartening comments about the seasons icy fang as a counselor and the churlish chidings of the winters wind as a sweet use of adversity, it still remains that it is an icy fang and the winds do bite and blow upon his body. Although, the Forest of Arden does display salutary qualities when it comes to the characters outlooks and personalities, it is still a source of discomfort and physical pain, a barren desert. Another characteristic that is associated with Arden is its sense of camaraderie and of an egalitarian society. Where Duke Seniors court becomes a circle of brothers, where Oliver and Orlando become brothers once more, where Duke Frederick learns humility. But this is not completely so as we see an example of a cruelty and neglect in Corins master. Moreover Celia, a lively character in the opening act of the play progressively loses her energy as she loses her friend (Rosalind) to forest follies. The forest also comes across as primitive. This is proven by the venison of the forest. The poor dappled fools are subject to cruelty of the most primitive kind in their own dwellings. In conclusion, the Forest of Arden is in fact an ideal place for recuperation and introspection in the sense that many of the characters achieved transformations of sorts. However it is seen (with a few exceptions), that the characters of the play are unwilling to stay in the forest when presented with the alternative of the court. Therefore, the forest may be ideal, but is a short-lived idealness.

Overseas Trade, Slavery, War, And Taxation in the 18th Century Britain Essay

Overseas Trade, Slavery, War, And Taxation in the 18th Century Britain - Essay Example The availability of revenue allowed for Britain to maintain naval dockyards and barracks, pay wages, and supply food and munitions, through Effective action by armies and fleets. The interconnectedness of overseas trade, slavery, war, and taxation shall be addressed by this paper. It is important to note however, that British colonialism had an influential role in the linkage among the four factors. Alongside a renewed pressure with the unprecedented demands of war with revolutionary and Napoleonic France between 1793 and 1815 was the fiscal-military state of eighteenth-century Britain, in which taxation reached 20 percent of the national income of England.3 Taxes were normally between 8 and 10 percent throughout the 18th century. Along with the growing influence of Britain was a desire to protect strategic goods, encourage colonial trade or preserve domestic employment from foreign competition, which became issues of national, security and imperial preference. It was likewise import ant for Britain to establish its political life and to provide links between civil society and the state, which became the subject of the complex process of brokerage with trade interests.4 However, success in Britain's point of view did not only mean the availability of an increased flow of revenue but warfare as well, whereby large amounts were spent in a short period of time which far exceeded income. It may be inferred that Britain's goal to pursue warfare specifically with its long-term rival France and the corresponding pursuit to sustain taxation were towards the attainment of a more heightened objective, which was colonialism. Such trail towards colonialism is seen in Britain's concentration on taxing policies witnessed in the fiscal system becoming more dependent on excise duties, with tariffs and stamp of wealth declining an importance.6 Land tax was considered the most important direct tax in this period, which was seen to rise in line with rents, profits, and salaries.7 The restoration of the land tax to the real level of the 1690s was seen to solve all fiscal problems as argued by a radical pressure group in 1860, the Financial Reform Association. A range of assessed taxes supplemented the land, aiming to tap the income of the rich by taxing signs of conspicuous wealth and display such as male servants, carriages, and pleasure horses. However, an increasing reliance on indirect taxes ensued when land and assessed taxes declined and these indirect taxes took the form of excise duties on a limited range of goods as well as duties on exports and imports. 8 At the time Britain relied on indirect taxes, there was an expansion of a more effective 'handle' on the economy for trade. Likewise, a means of extracting revenue from expanding sectors of the economy was offered through imports of raw materials such as cotton. This scenario shows the interconnectivity between trade and taxation, complementing one with the other in sustaining a mercantile economy. Warfare contributed to the rising power of Britain towards acquiring more territories for its expansion and objectives of colonialism.