Beautiful Disasters: Pearl As A Living Breathing Scarlet Letter :: essays research papers

Sometimes beauty is found in places as unexpected as a rosebush growing outside of a prison in a puritan colonial village. Pearl Prynne is an unearthly beautiful child with a wild spirit born under unimaginably sinful conditions, all of which are somehow related to the ideas, actions, and views of others on Hester’s punishment. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Pearl serves as Hester’s living, breathing Scarlet letter. Pearl evokes the same emotion and reactions from the townspeople, as does the scarlet letter. The people look at the slight sense of pride Hester has in her letter in the same way they look at the way Hester lets Pearl do whatever she wants. They feel Hester isn’t fit to raise the child. The extremity of gossip from the females of the village in the beginning of the book is only matched by the amount that Pearl’s wild attitude stirs up later on. Hester’s â€Å"A† is the example for all of what sin is. The â€Å"A† makes Hester much avoided and the parents tell their children to watch out for her. Theses same parents say the same things to their kids about avoiding Pearl, who is infamous for her uncontrollable behavior with her peers and other adults. Just as infamous as Hester’s â€Å"A† for the wild sinful actions it symbolizes. Like Hester’s scarlet letter, Pearl shows extreme beauty in a form that is not traditional, positive, tame, or fully accepted. When Hester crafts the â€Å"A† that she has to wear on her chest, She uses a deep, passionate shade of red and embroiders it very intricately with bright gold thread. The â€Å"A† was meant to mark Hester in a negative manor; its purpose is to let everyone know that Hester is a sinner. Hester takes something extremely negative and makes it appear as passionately beautiful. Hawthorne portrays Pearl in a very detailed specific manor, meant to put emphasis on the similarities between Pearl and the â€Å"A†. She is the symbol of Hester’s sin but the tone that is used when referring to her makes her out to appear as a stunningly beautiful creature. The narrator states, â€Å"There was a trait of passion, a certain depth of hue, which she never lost† ( ). Even the adjectives he uses in describing Pearl suggest something color related (â€Å"hue†). There is a feeling of wildness and uncontrollably in Pearl’s appearance; more specifically in her eyes.

‘Araby’ by James Joyce Essay

What impression of Dublin and its people does James Joyce give in his story ‘Araby’? James Augustine Alrysius Joyce, an Irish writer, was born in Dublin 2nd February 1882 and died in Zurich, Switzerland 13th January 1941. He was born into a well-off Catholic family and was the eldest surviving child; two of his siblings died of typhoid. Joyce was originally educated at Clongowes Wood College, a boarding school in County Kildare, which he left at the age of 6 because his father could no longer pay the fees. James Joyce studied at home for a brief period of time before being offered a place in the Jesuits’ Dublin School. At the age of 16 he rejected Catholicism which changed his life completely. At the age of 20, after graduating from the UDC (University College Dublin) he left for Paris and tried studying different occupations like teaching, journalism and even a doctor. At the age of 21 he returned to Ireland after receiving news that his mother was diagnosed with cancer. After she had died James Joyce became a heavy drinker but gradually stopped as he got over her death. He then stayed in Dublin for a period of time from 1904-1907 writing the â€Å"Dubliners† and also started many other books. The book â€Å"Dubliners† is a collection of short stories and â€Å"Araby†, like all of them, have â€Å"paralysis† meaning that they can’t leave Dublin. For example in the short story â€Å"Clay† Maria has the chance to make a new life and leave Dublin but turns it down because she is too scared. This also occurs in â€Å"A Painful Case† and â€Å"Eveline†, as they don’t have to courage to leave Dublin. In the short story â€Å"The Boarding House†, Bob Doran wishes to leave Dublin but can’t because he is trapped inside marriage. Most of the short stories, unlike â€Å"Araby†, go in circles, for instance, â€Å"Two Gallants† when Lenehan just wanders around Dublin. This also occurs in â€Å"The Dead† because a horse just goes around and around in circles, and also in â€Å"An Encounter† when a pervert tries to stop but end back in the same perverted world. At the end of the short stories James Joyce always write an epiphany, which is a revelation, but in all but one story the revelation is only noticed by the reader but in â€Å"Araby† both the reader and the protagonist – the protagonist is the main character – have an epiphany – an epiphany is a moment of revelation, usually at the end of the story. In the streets of Dublin James Joyce writes them as being â€Å"blind†, meaning that it’s a dead end and there is nothingness, it also means that you can’t escape and there is nowhere to go (there is no way of getting out of Dublin). The main reason is that there is no vision, meaning that you can’t see how terrible and run down Ireland really is. He describes all things by the colours â€Å"brown† and â€Å"yellow† that symbolises human excrements. He writes â€Å"the lamps of the street lifted their feeble lanterns†, the word â€Å"feeble† shows that the light is not even strong enough to even penetrate the darkness. â€Å"Jostled by drunken men and bargaining women†, the word bargaining in this case can mean two things. The first meaning of it is that they are just selling items and changing the prices of them, and the second meaning is that the women are bargaining for their bodies, they are prostitutes. There are â⠂¬Å"street singers† who sing about the problems in Ireland. Also that weather is always extremely violent, and this is shown by the words â€Å"cold air stung us†, â€Å"rain impinge upon the earth† and â€Å"the air was pitilessly raw†. Religion in Dublin is exceedingly poor. In the second paragraph it says â€Å"a priest, had died† showing that the faith in Dublin has disappeared off the face of the earth. Inside the house of the dead priest there were books that were â€Å"curled and damp† meaning that the interest in them was lost. The books were â€Å"The Abbot† which is a religious story, â€Å"The Devout Communicant† which is a book on how to receive Holy Communion well and the last one â€Å"The Memoirs of Vidocq† which is about a thief. The books are muddled up indicating that religion in Ireland is a sham. When it talks about the priest again it first says â€Å"very charitable priest† making you think that the priest was a good man, and suddenly says â€Å"in his will he had left all his money to institutions and the furniture of his house to his sister† presenting the complete opposite. This means that the priest was only charitable went he knew he was dieing and he wasn’t a nice man. In the dead priest’s â€Å"wild garden† there is an apple tree in the centre signifying the Garden of Eden which is a source of evil. In a bush in the garden, there is a â€Å"rusty bicycle-pump†, this can denote three things. The first description of the bicycle-pump is that there is no escape because, if you can’t pump up your tires, then you can’t go anywhere. The second explanation represents the snake, or Satan, in the Garden of Eden because the pump is approximately the same size a snake. The last reason, symbolizes a heart, meaning that, because the heart is not pumping, there is no love or life in Dublin, symbolizing that everything is hopeless. A good part in the story when you know that religion is just a phoney in Dublin is when the boy’s Aunt says â€Å"I’m afraid you may have to put off your bazaar for this night of Our Lord† actually saying that he should just forget about it in a nasty way. Although she I using religious word she is using them without kindness, meaning that she is not caring about him. The family life in Dublin isn’t very pleasant either. In the beginning of the book, the boy says â€Å"if my Uncle was seen turning the corner, we hid in the shadow† indicating that he doesn’t live with his parents, and also that he’s scared of him. On the night of the bazaar his Uncle came home late, â€Å"I heard him talking to himself† meaning he was obviously drunk and had forgotten all about Araby. The love in Dublin is bland. For the boy he loves and stalks â€Å"Mangan’s sister†. She is called thins because he doesn’t actually know her name so he names her â€Å"Mangan’s sister†. He defines her as â€Å"light† because he thinks of Dublin as the dark and Mangan’s sister as a light to brighten up Dublin. When he looks at her â€Å"her dress swung as she moved her body, and the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side†, she is describes as lively and everyone else is not. â€Å"Followed her†, or stalking her is the meaning, â€Å"I kept her ‘brown’ figure always in my eye†, â€Å"brown† indicating that she is actually just an ordinary person with nothing special about her. Within one paragraph there are five words â€Å"chalice†, â€Å"prayers†, â€Å"praises†, â€Å"tears† and â€Å"adoration†, he describes her with religious word, and because he left Catholicism she is now his secular religion (one without God). She is also like music to his ears because it says â€Å"my body was like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires†. Also showing that he uses her in a secular religion is a sentence saying â€Å"I pressed the palms of my hands together until they trembled, murmuring: ‘O love! O love! many times† showing that he worships her a lot. â€Å"At last she spoke to me†, this is the moment he was waiting for the whole time. She then talks about â€Å"Araby† and says she can’t go. While she was talking to him â€Å"she turned a sliver bracelet†, silver indicating bright. In two sentences he uses six words to describe how radiant and bright she is and how drawn he is to her, they are â€Å"light†, â€Å"lamp†, â€Å"white†, â€Å"lit†, â€Å"lit† and â€Å"†white†, repeating â€Å"white† and â€Å"lit†. â€Å"Waking and sleep thoughts† and â€Å"chafed against the work of school† imply that he can’t do anything besides thinking about Araby and Mangan’s sister, and it also says â€Å"I strove to read† hinting the same thing. â€Å"Lie at the window† signals that he stalks and spies on Mangan’s sister, and he is â€Å"singing† because he is happy about getting Mangan’s sister a present. Lastly he has a sexual desire for Mangan’s sister because it says â€Å"border below the dress† suggesting that he is growing quite fast and is into the puberty stage of life. â€Å"Araby† is a fair or, a â€Å"bazaar† – which is a foreign word from the east. In the boy’s eyes, â€Å"Araby† is an exotic place that gets away from all the darkness of Dublin. Also Araby is close to the word Arabia which is in the east signifying that it’s exotic, rich. And because it is in the east it signifies that the sunrise comes from the east, representing a new day, a new hope, a new light. Also Jesus resurrected in the east, epitomizing a new beginning or day. When he eventually arrives to Araby, he goes around the stalls and finds that most of them are closed. There is one that is open but when he sees the people at the stall he discovers they all speak in English accents indicating that the bazaar is not exotic at all. A â€Å"young lady†, who is probably a prostitute, because she is seen flirting with two men at the same time, asks the boy if he wants to buy anything but he says â€Å"no, thank you†. And from this, all of his dreams end because, the items are too expensive and mundane. At the end of the story there is an epiphany, which is the moment of revelation, to both the reader and the protagonist, because usually the epiphany is only recognisable to the reader. On the second from last paragraph at the end it says â€Å"complete darkness† signifying that all hope is gone. The whole of the last paragraph says â€Å"gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger†, this is the exact moment when he realises that all Dublin was in vain and all he did was in vain. He figures out from this that there actually is no love, no romance and no chivalry.

Minimum Wage Is The Price Floor For Jobs Essay - 1239 Words

Minimum wage is the price floor for jobs. Many people are either for it or against it, however not denying the fact that it is very important to employees. Because, minimum wage creates a pathway for workers to sell their labour though getting paid less, businesses willingly hire them and workers gain experiences. Yes, in many ways it can benefit both the employers and the employees but there is always a down side to it. When it comes to revenue businesses can only spend so much and it does not benefit the employees in the long run due to cost push inflations and poverty. A study based on minimum wage jobs from 2001-2012 in UK and Romania indicates how minimum wage have an effect on these countries. Youths are also being affected by minimum wage jobs. The article â€Å"Effects of rising minimum wage: theory, evidence and future challenges† closely examines the minimum wage â€Å"based on the contribution of theoretical and empirical research† in the EU countries such as the UK and Romania, and comparing them to the US. They were able to come to the conclusion of the Uk s minimum wage being slightly higher than the USA at 46%. Largest benefit was the gap reduction in the lower wages and a 5% increase of the lowest revenues. Romania stood out the most out of all the EU for minimum wage evolution and the effect of its policies on the labor market in more reasons than one. Using normal values when looking at an economy with high inflation rate is not relevant. Minimum wage wasShow MoreRelatedMinimum Wage And Its Effect On The Workplace886 Words   |  4 PagesPrice floor is most commonly defined as a government price control that establishes the minimum allowable price that can be charged for a particular good or service (Ragan, 2013). The most popular and recognisable examples of a price floor is minimum wage. Fundamentally, a minimum wage is the lowest hourly wage that employers can legally pay their employees (MCEE, 2008). For much of the past cen tury, the minimum wage has been a controversial subject among policymakers and economists around the worldRead MoreMinimum Wage At The United States1129 Words   |  5 Pagesintended to raise the current minimum wage floor of $7.25 in the United States stalled in Congress. As the November election approaches, many Democratic senate members are placing the issue of minimum wage at the forefront of their election campaigns, hoping to sway working-class voters in their favor. The issue of minimum wage has become a matter of politics, politics which far overshadow the far more pertinent concern of minimum wage’s economic effects. Minimum wage is a complex issue, and understandingRead MoreU.s. Federal Minimum Wage Essay1162 Words   |  5 PagesFederal Minimum Wage is $7.25 per hour. In just two years from 2013, the demanded from advocates for raising minimum wage rose from $9 to $15. However, raising the minimum wage is more complex than simply raising the number of federal sta ndard of pay for employees. Relative control groups and other market activities play a part in the outcome of the minimum wage. For example, one instance of market activity was observers said that raising the minimum wage did not hurt individuals; however, wages wereRead MoreThe Minimum Wage Is A Good Or Not? Essay1265 Words   |  6 Pagestopic of minimum wage. What is it? Why people talk so much about it? Why should you care about that topic or even pay attention to that? This paper will try to answer the question of why increasing a minimum wage is a good or not so good idea. I. Definition and history of the minimum wage. Let’s start with the definition of the minimum wage. Minimum wage is defined as a legally mandated price floor on hourly wages, below which non-exempt workers may not be offered or accept a job (Minimum Wage 2015)Read MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Price Control1467 Words   |  6 PagesPrice controls are a type of government regulation used to establish a maximum price that can be charged for goods and services. Price controls have both advantages and disadvantages for consumers and producers. Price controls prevent money loss on both sides and help find an equilibrium for producers and consumers in the market. There are two different barriers to price controls: price ceilings and price floors. A price ceiling it put in place to regulate how high of a price can be charged for aRead MoreMinimum Wage And The Wage1437 Words   |  6 Pages Minimum wage was established on October 24, 1938 after President Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act. (Grossman) Minimum wag e was set to allow working class citizens an opportunity to work a reasonable amount of hours for pay that would enable individuals to maintain a minimal quality life. In today’s economics minimum wage is used as a price control or price floor that the government enforces. A price floor is a minimum price for a product or service above the market’s equilibrium priceRead MoreRaising The Federal Minimum Wage1225 Words   |  5 Pages Study shows that wage increases do lower poverty, by 2.4% if wage at $8.00, consistent with other studies. (Washington Post/ Arin Dube) 1. Raising the federal minimum wage doesn’t cause substantial unemployment as most economists agree, including over 600 economists who wrote a letter to Congress urging a wage increase, and the Economic Policy Institute. A. Identify shortcomings of the opposition (fallacies they make, or weaknesses in the evidence they use) 1. Arin Dube’s study would be great,Read MoreMacroeconomics: Should Minimum Wage Be Raised?823 Words   |  4 PagesCase for More Than the Minimum Wage, written by Peter Coy on February 13th, 2014. The article starts with talking about President Obama’s 2014 State of the Union address calling for an increase in the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. There was also a reference in the 2013 State of the Union address, but at that time it was to raise the minimum wage to $9.00 per hour. Where do these numbers really come from? Are they arbitrary or is there an economic rationale? The minimum wage has been on politicalRead MoreMinimum Wage : Low Skilled And Young Workers1553 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Minimum wage, a program created to help the poor, has every contrary effect to its well intentions. Throughout the history, people who hurt the most during minimum wage hikes are the low-skilled and young workers. Drastically raising minimum wage is meaningless as high inflation usually comes alongside with wage increases. Past economic statistics have shown that the rate of increase in inflation usually outpaced the rate of increase in minimum wage. Thus, the real value wage workers receiveRead MoreHistory of Minimum Wage1137 Words   |  5 Pagesdefinition of Minimum Wage is â€Å"an amount of money that is the least amount of money per hour that workers must be paid according to the law† (Minimum wage). Minimum wage, like other laws, are used to keep the economy in line. Minimum wage laws were invented in Australia and New Zealand with the purpose of guaranteeing a minimum standard of living for unskilled workers. (Linda Gorman) Minimum wage puts a price on the ser vices one offers. Many different principles can be used to explain Minimum wage and explore

Supervisory Roles And Theories Of Motivation - 1370 Words

Supervisory Roles and Theories of Motivation Shalita D. Spratt BSHS/425 August 12, 2014 Dr. Michele Howser Supervisory Roles and Theories of Motivation INTRODUCTION To be a great supervisor, one should also posses leadership traits. Webster defines the word lead as â€Å"to act as a guide or â€Å"to guide and leader as â€Å"a person who leads, directs, commands, or guides a group or activity† (AFPAM 36-2241, 2013, p. 219). The supervisor must be able to motivate, encourage and empower members of their organization. In the management of Human Service programs, a supervisor has various roles that he or she must function within. In doing so, there are key supervisory processes that are influenced by theories of motivation. This paper discusses the roles of a supervisor who draws on empowerment, as well as, discusses theories of motivation used to achieve organizational effectiveness. Additionally, this paper will discuss the Human Resource Model and how this theory of motivation is used. Furthermore, this paper provides insight on why this theory was selected, as well as the anticipated benefits and challenges. Furthermore, this paper provides information on how principles of motivation can be applied within an empowerment environment and how motivational theory supports an organizational culture in the human services profession. In the Human Services profession, â€Å"people† are the assets that determine our successor failure. Being a great supervisor as well as a greatShow MoreRelatedSupervision And Motivation Go Hand1219 Words   |  5 PagesSupervision and motivation go hand in hand in their theories. The supervisor needs to follow the theories of motivation to establish themselves as productive supervisors in human services. The supervisor has to recognize the different supervisory roles and apply them in the right situations. I will be discussing the important elements concerning the supervisory process and how they are influenced by the motivation theories. And I will discuss different motivational theories that correlate motivation and supervisionRead MoreThe Theory Of Job Enrichment And Job Design Essay780 Words   |  4 PagesWritten Assignment – Unit 7 - Motivation Theories This paper will look at motivation theories and their application to practical problems in work settings. The paper will examine the theory of job enrichment and job design. It will analyze a case study by Elizabeth Layman (2011) and will also be complimented by a relevant professional article by Elizabeth Forrestal. Introduction According to Carpenter, Taylor and Erdogan, (2009, page 336) the motivation concept of job enrichment entails â€Å"A jobRead MoreDefine Leadership And Contrast Leadership And Management1162 Words   |  5 Pageswith the goal of meeting external organizational goals. Leadership, on the other hand, derives from internalizing organizational goals, creating them anew, challenging, or changing them. A leader might serve in a supervisory role, but perhaps for different reasons and different motivations than the manager. Leadership is characterized by the articulation of an organizational vision, introduction of major organizational change, providing inspiration, and dealing with highly stressful and troublesomeRead MoreThe Concept Of Self Actualization878 Words   |  4 Pagesconcept of self-actualization, as discussed in the assigned article, is, at its core, a tool through which individuals achieve well-being by reaching their fully-functioning human potential. (Deci, Ryan, Guay, 20 13). Although self-determination theory does not use the specific term â€Å"actualization† of human potential, it does suggest that the highest psychological state for an individual is to be â€Å"full functioning,† or using all â€Å"capacities for experience, connection, and proactivity.† (Deci, etRead MoreOccupational Stress and Scientific Monitoring1518 Words   |  6 Pagesthey tend to perform better. As there is a perceived relationship between occupational stress and need to supervise employee, there is strong need to explore the possibility of any such relationship. It is because; organisations can mould their supervisory techniques so that employees perform better. In the present challenging world of 21st century, organisations are concerned about performance improvement of their employees and want to leave no stone unturned for it. Aims and Objectives As mentionedRead MoreMy Position As A Drug And Alcohol Case Manager802 Words   |  4 Pagesoutlined several core competencies of competent supervisors, of which I have included the most relevant to my situation below: †¢ Have attitudes and traits consistent with the supervisory role, such as sensitivity to individual differences, motivation and commitment to supervision, and comfort with authority inherent in the supervisory role †¢ Appreciate the process of [professional] development and how it unfolds in supervision †¢ Can evaluate a supervisee’s counseling performance fairly and accurately andRead MoreThe Integrated Developmental Model ( Idm ) Essay1093 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout this peer supervisory relationship, I continued to use the Integrated Developmental Model (IDM) as a framework to guide my supervision sessions. According to McNeill and Stolberg (2016), learning new skills, theories, and intervention strategies often result in substantial confusion and anxiety in the early development of clinical psychologist. Since the beginning of this peer supervisory relationship, my peer supervisee continuously demonstrated high level of anxiety related to her overallRead MoreThe Relationship Between Job Satisfaction And The Organizational Culture1992 Words   |  8 Pagesclimate (Tsai 2011). McPeak 3 Creating a positive work environment involving reinforcing supervisor behavior is necessary to be studied. In Kohli’s article â€Å"Some Unexplored Supervisory Behaviors and Their Influence on Salespeople s Role Clarity, Specific Self-Esteem, Job Satisfaction, and Motivation† the effect of supervisory behaviors and job satisfaction, which was shown to be related to the work environment by Tsai, is measured and explored. The main behaviors of supervisors and their effect onRead MoreManagement Styles And The Type Of Style1370 Words   |  6 Pagesdifference when it comes to rendering ethical decisions. Good leaders do not think about themselves, but rather, their actions and decisions are in the best interest of the organization, its shareholders and stakeholders. There will be an array of supervisory leadership styles, and that particular style will impact a subordinate’s work ethics as they look up to you as a source of guidance and leader. It is a moral obligation for supervisors at all ranks in a police department; to instill positive andRead MoreDebbie s dilemma week 4 assignment 2 Essay752 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿ Debbie’s Dilemma Ja’kaye Robinson Professor Vince Ochotorena HCA340: Managing in Health Human Services November 19, 2014 Use Herzberg’s two factor theory to explain Debbie’s level of motivation. According to Herzberg two factor theory there are â€Å"two issues that play an important role in the workplace experience: hygiene factors and motivational factors†( Fischer and Baack, 2013 ). Hygiene factors contains wages, hours, working conditions and relationships with supervisors.

Meriton Ruhani. Bio. April 3, 2017. Evolutionary Success.

Meriton Ruhani Bio April 3, 2017 Evolutionary Success There are many definitions of success when it comes to the evolution of living organisms: number, diversity, size, distribution, longevity, evolutionary history, generalization, specialization, even usefulness to humans. Throughout history, groups or individual species, have faced many challenges on Earth. All animals have adapted differently to the constantly altering living conditions. Some have been immensely superior to others in their ability to survive and rule all forms of life. Their complexity varies, but because of their ability to adapt, it’s what has made these species successful. Adaptation is an evolutionary process that allows animals to become superior in a particular†¦show more content†¦Generally, people underestimate its importance to Earth and our lives. It is a biological blueprint for countless other species. Earthworms are found in the phylum Annelida. () They can vary in size. Their bodies are segmented which allows them to compartmentalize. The number of segments the species is born with will stay the same throughout their life. Normally, the number of segments found is similar within specimens. Remarkably, earthworms have the ability to regenerate lost segments. () They play a key role in regenerating and displacing soil. Earthworm activities changes both physical and chemical characteristic of soil. They help convert organic matter to humus. Additionally, they ingest other particles (sand grains) and when it is digested and excreted, it is accessible for plants to take advantage of its minerals and nutrients. Physically, the earthworm creates tunnels for air and water to navigate the soil. () They play an essential role in fighting erosion and are vital to plant growth. Healthy soil is depended on a thriving worm population. The ability to break down organic matter and excrete nutrients makes the earthworm valuable to restoration projects. Some people have employed earthworms to prepare soil for the return of native flora. Individuals that utilized this idea have seen better results in the return of their soil ecosystem than previously used methods. The number of

Relationship Characteristics Free Essays

1. According to p. 117 in Ch. We will write a custom essay sample on Relationship Characteristics or any similar topic only for you Order Now 5 of the textbook, what are the four characteristics that define intimate relationships? Why does building relationships involve a degree of risk? The four characteristics that define intimate relationships are emotional availability, emotional attachment, and behavioral interdependence. When you meet someone new rather it is an intimate relationship or building a new friendship, it is always hard because you have to build trust and get to know that person. Then there is always the possibility of rejection, betrayal, or disappointment. People’s expectations sometimes set them up to be hurt and then sometimes their expectations are â€Å"reasonable† but the other person is just hurtful. Whenever 2 people are involved, you have but so much control over what will happen 2. Refer to Table 5. 2 on p. 132 in Ch. 5 of the textbook. What are three characteristics of a healthy relationship? Why is it important to be aware of the unhealthy characteristics of a relationship? Three characteristics of a healthy relationship are trusting and being honest with yourself and each other, resolving conflicts in a rational, peaceful way, and lastly practicing safer sex methods. It is important to beware of the signs of unhealthy characteristics for yourself and also for maybe a loved one or a friend. When someone is in a unhealthy relationship sometimes it can lead to more violent things such as suicide, death, or any act of violence. So knowing the signs in the long run can help saving a life. Also read  Driver’s Ed Module Reflection Journal 3. According to p. 119 in Ch. 5 of the textbook, there are bonds that are common to both friends and lovers. What are the five common bonds? The five common bonds that both friends and lovers have in common are nurturance, enhancement of personal well- being, mutual regard, mutual trust, and lastly security. How to cite Relationship Characteristics, Papers

The Mexico Peso Crisis

Question: Discuss about the Mexico Peso Crisis. Answer: Introduction In the period early 1990s the economy of Mexico seemed very healthy. The country was recovering after the lost decade of 1980s. The decade of 1980s was lost to debt crisis of 1982 and also the steep fall in oil prices during 1986. The economy as stated earlier, in early 1990s seemed pretty healthy as inflation had reduced substantially, the foreign investors were pumping money into the country and the reserves of the central bank were soaring in billions. Coupled with favorable economic situation, the proposal to reduce trade barrier with biggest trading partner United States also led to foreign fund inflows. The agreement to reduce trade barriers were finally passed when the agreement took place through North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in the year 1994 (Boughton, 2012). However less than 12 months the country was facing economic disaster. In the month of December, 1994, the government had to devalue its currency namely peso. The financial crisis which took place led to very high inflation and pushed the economy into a severe recession (Boughton, 2012). So what is this currency crisis which led to such a drastic change in the economy? What were the possible reasons which led to such an economic disaster? In this paper we will look at all the aspects which lead to crisis and will also look at the steps which were taken to come out of the crisis period. What went Wrong for Mexico in 1994? Passing of NAFTA, coupled with strong economic situation was a favorable situation for Mexico. The reforms taken by the Government such as restructuring of foreign debts, reduction in budget deficits and privatization of government entities also made the situation more favorable. One of the biggest problem which occurred in Mexico was the overheating of the economy in a situation when the currency was tightly controlled. However the currency was not ready to face the heat of opening up of the economy. Exchange Rate System of Mexico Mexico had a crawling pegging related exchange rate system. Under this system the government intervention insured that the exchange rate traded in a narrow band of the target rate, however the band was raised slightly every day to allow gradual depreciation of peso. However on the counter side the in real terms the peso was appreciating, which was the main reason for the high current account deficit. The current account deficit increased to $20 billion in 1993 compared to $6 billion in 1989 (Gandolfi, 2014). Rise of Political Instability The first set of shock started when there was a political rebellion in the province of Chiapas. This raised serious doubts about the political stability of Mexico. The political rebellion which occurred against the ruling party raised concern about the political stability of the country. However the initial reaction to this rebellion didnt led to capital flight from Mexico. Later a much more severe political shock took place when the presidential candidate of the ruling party, Luis Donaldo Colosio was assassinated on March 23rd, 1994. He was considered to be the one who will lead the country post the next elections. This created a financial panic as investors withdrew fund due to political instability. As we can see from the below graph, the reserves of the currency depleted during this period as government had to intervene heavily to maintain the value of peso. As per the Central bank of Mexico estimates, Mexico lost $11 billion as reserves during one month (Boughton, 2012). Rising of Interest Rates in Mexico As the peso depreciated sharply, the interest rate in Mexico started rising sharply. After the assassination of the political leader, the interest rate in Mexico 28 day cetes averaged 16.4% in the month of May, 1994 compared to 9.5% of the same paper in February, 1994. The sharp rise in interest rate was signs of the fact that people were charging hefty interest to support pesos valuation. The confidence in the economy has shaken post the development of political instability (Kemme, 2016). Other Factors Some other factors which dented the investor confidence during the same period were resignation of few ministers, kidnapping of a prominent businessman. All these factors combined together contributed to market jitters which in short term hurt the market badly. After the kidnapping of the prominent businessman of Mexico, the reserves fell by $2.5 billion dollars in period of three weeks (Gandolfi, 2014). The exchange rate were already at the top level of the target band rate and hence it was not depreciating further. Final Nail in the Coffin The final nail in the coffin was placed in the system when Deputy Attorney General Mario Ruz Massieu, brother of assassinated president made some huge accusations and finally resigned from his post. He made claims which targeted important people of the ruling party, stating that they were behind the assassinations of his brother. He further went on to say that these were the people who were also obstructing all kind of investigations in the matter. Such huge disarray and fights among the top government officials of Mexico dented investor confidence (Boughton, 2012). Rise of Interest Rate in United States The biggest external shock which hit the economy of Mexico during 1994 was the rise of Interest rate in its biggest trade partner United States. The Federal Reserve of United States raised its fed rate target in the month of February, 1994. This happened for the first time since the recession of 1990-91. The Federal fund rate increased to 5.5% in late November which was substantial increase of 300 bps from the low in the year 1993. The rise in fed target rate also lead to substantial jump in long term interest rate in the United States. Mexico policymakers responded to the same using some temporary measure and did not take any concrete policy level changes. The balance of payment situation started worsening with the rise of Interest rate in the economy(Turk, 2013). So was the Devaluation of Peso Unavoidable? The financial meltdown hit Mexico big time. However a question which has been asked for last 20 years is whether the devaluation was unavoidable. The current account deficit was increasing quarter over quarter for Mexico as the peso was considered to be overvalued. The current account deficit situation of the country was indicative of the fact that currency needed devaluation. Senior economists in the country has given enough indication from early 1993 that there is a need to bring pesos value to its real level (Kemme, 2016). However the Government paid no heed to it and the Current Account Deficit continued rising and as a result reserves kept depleting. So on 20th December, 1994, Central Bank of the country devalued peso and as a result of fear among investors, the risk premium for the country rose sharply. What was the Countrys Reaction to the Capital Flight? The devaluation of the peso and the resultant increase in the risk premium led to sharp capital flight from the country. To arrest the capital flight, the Central Bank of Mexico raised the interest rate. The rise in interest rate increased the cost of borrowing and hence hurt the growth in the economy. Since the investors feared investing in the country, Mexico was not able to place its debt in the market. As a result of this they didnt had dollars to serve the debt and faced default. The economy faced hyperinflation and mutual funds across nations started liquidating their holdings. After 2 days of havoc in the economy, Mexico allowed peso to free float in the market from December 22, 1994. This saw further depreciation in the value of peso (McNamara, 2015). Spread of Contagion to other Countries The moment the crisis shaped up in Mexico, mutual funds across the world started liquidating their holdings from other developing nations. Most of the funds left the emerging markets and the crisis created a contagion as it reached markets of Asia and Latin America. This often historically is referred to as tequila effect. In a globalized scenario it has been seen that fund movement is so interlinked. This is termed as tequila effect. Major mutual funds across the world started withdrawing money from the countries where risk premium was comparatively higher. This as a result created a panic among such markets and many currency crisis which stemmed later in these economies often find their route from this crisis. Lets say the East Asian currency crisis which came to forefront in 1996 also finds it route from the capital flight which started post the peso crisis (Kemme, 2016). Bailout Aministered by IMF United States was the biggest trade partner to Mexico and the country also felt the heat of the crisis in the big way. Finally President Clinton decided to intervene and planned a bailout for Mexico to the tune of $50 billion which was to be administered by International Monetary Fund (IMF). This was also supported by G7 countries. The objective of the bailout was to increase the investor confidence in the Mexican economy and hence reducing the risk premia that the investors were commanding from the country. The bailout came with a condition which desired that Mexico need to implement strong market related fiscal and monetary controls. The country still refrained from balance of payment related reforms but ultimately it led to free floated currency (Kemme, 2016). Economic Impact There were severe economic impact of the whole series of event on Mexican Economy. The economy went into recession, it didnt recovered till the early parts of next decade. The countrys GDP declined sharply and the financial sector faced the maximum brunt. Many of the big banks collapsed as low quality assets led to high provision requirement and ultimately banks went belly up. Thousands of mortgages across the countries were not repaid as citizens of the country couldnt keep pace with the rising interest rate. Mexico also faced a period of hyperinflation, high unemployment and poverty also rose in the country (Turk, 2013). Conclusion The Mexico currency crisis is a classic example of how things can go from good to worse if short terms measures are used to plug problems. The Mexico was growing at a fast pace but the fact that country kept the currency rate pegged for long, didnt implemented structural reforms resulted in ultimate collapse of the market. The economy as stated earlier, in early 1990s seemed pretty healthy as inflation had reduced substantially, the foreign investors were pumping money into the country and the reserves of the central bank were soaring in billions. Coupled with favorable economic situation, the proposal to reduce trade barrier with biggest trading partner United States also led to foreign fund inflows (Kemme, 2016). The recovery in such cases can be very long and a generation of people in the country completely lose the means to live. In the globalized world how situation spread fast to all markets was also visible in the crisis. The markets similar to Mexico, which faced the same ris k premia saw a sharp capital flight. This resulted in crashing markets and economies facing huge problem. The countrys GDP declined sharply and the financial sector faced the maximum brunt. Many of the big banks collapsed as low quality assets led to high provision requirement and ultimately banks went belly up (Kemme, 2016). One can learn from such instances that long term market reforms need to be implemented for market development. In the short run when economies witness momentum, it is important structural reforms and controls are not compromised (McNamara, 2015). References Boughton, J. M. (2012).Tearing Down Walls: The International Monetary Fund, 1990-1999.Washington, DC: International monetary fund. Gandolfi, D., Halliday, T., Robertson, R. (2014). Globalization and Wage Convergence: Mexicoand the United States. Kemme, D. M., Koleyni, K. (2016). Exchange Rate Regimes and Welfare Losses from ForeignCrises: The Impact of the US Financial Crisis on Mexico.Review of InternationalEconomics. Kirton, J. (2016). G8 Financial Crisis Governance.Journal of European Social Policy,26(3), 1-20. 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