Hopis Anthropology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hopis Anthropology - Essay Example Consequently, the view on the Hopi people’s origin is also a major question that is to be sought. The subject is relevant especially in the contemporary society since an academic study of past events and the origin of humanity are critical in enhancing cohesiveness. Hopi people should understand their past dealings and origin to pragmatically define their future. Anthropology enables individuals to establish the meaning of the archeological sites and cultural practices thus enables them to nurture the practices (Kuwanwisiwma, 161). The key perspectives of the subject appertains to enhancing understanding of the Hopi people on their origin, the significance of the archeological artifacts, ancestral sites and cultural practices. This is to; avoid erosion of their social and cultural heritage that contributes in enhancing mutual coexistence. However, critics oppose the understanding and advancement of past dealings asserting that the practices are part of the old order that does not hold relevance in this century. As noted, Hopi immigrants originated from Sipaapani (place of emergence) and travelled buried and lived in Hopistutskwa-Hopiland with their ancestors. The cultural landscape of the region is identified by landforms that hold great association with deities. The landscape also holds historical events, rivers, springs, shrines and the Itakuku as termed by the Hopi people that mean â€Å"our footprints† (Ferguson & Roger, 99). It is imperative to note that the cultural sites and events were crucial in executing traditional rituals including ceremonies. The footprints that include the pottery, stone tools, the ruins of former settlements and diverse artifacts are significant monuments that present undisputed proof of ancestral migration.

The Mending Wall Essay Example for Free

The Mending Wall Essay A stone wall separates the speaker’s property from his neighbor’s. In spring, the two meet to walk the wall and jointly make repairs. The speaker sees no reason for the wall to be kept—there are no cows to be contained, just apple and pine trees. He does not believe in walls for the sake of walls. The neighbor resorts to an old saying: â€Å"Good fences make good neighbors.† The speaker remains unconvinced and mischievously presses the neighbor to look beyond the old-fashioned folly of such reasoning. His neighbor will not be swayed. The speaker envisions his neighbor as a living relic from a justifiably outdated era, an example of a dark-age mentality. But the neighbor simply repeats the saying. Review The image at the heart of â€Å"Mending Wall† is striking: two men meeting on terms of civility to build a barrier between them. They do so out of tradition, out of habit. Yet the very earth conspires against them and makes their task Sisyphean. Sisyphus, you may recall, is the figure in Greek mythology condemned perpetually to push a boulder up a hill, only to have the boulder roll down again. These men push boulders back on top of the wall; yet just as inevitably, whether because of the hunters or sprites or at the invisible hand of nature, the boulders tumble down again. Still, the neighbors persist. The poem, thus, seems to be based on three themes: barrier-building (segregation, in a sense), the doomed nature of this activity, and our persistence in this activity regardless. The speaker may dislike his neighbor’s pointless wall-building, may observe the activity with humorous indifference, but he himself goes to the wall at all times of the year to mend the damage done by hunters; it is the speaker who contacts the neighbor at wall-mending time to set the annual appointment. Which person, then, is the real wall-builder? Looking at it from a different perspective, the building of walls, both literal and figurative, mark the very foundation of society. Figuratively, rules and laws are walls; justice is the process of wall-mending. The ritual of wall maintenance highlights the dual and complementary nature of human society: The rights of the individual are affirmed through the affirmation of other individuals’ rights. In this way the neighbor’s need for wall-mending seems justified.

Essay --

Eric Lopez Professor Katie Albany English 1101 18 December 2013 The Ins and Outs of an Computer Hardware Engineer Introduction Computer hardware engineering is a major where people deal with various parts of computer hardware like motherboards and microchips in multiple ways and want to see beyond the computer parts to look at the ins and outs of it. They are the ones that produces the technology that remains a big phenomenon all over the world from personal computers to cell phones, and continues to improve on it for generations to come. They use this knowledge to do multiple things including helping consumers with their computer problems, analyzing public data to determine what the public needs and how to make it happen, and produce their own computer hardware by planning their own designs to produce new hardware for commercial, consumer, and military use, test it out, and then distribute it out for use. Paragraph #1 But what would a computer hardware engineer be without the important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) you’ll need to succeed in this field? In terms of knowledge, you are pretty much required to know a bit about math, science and even some ELA, as the principles of these subjects allow computer hardware engineers to read special technical symbols, calculate computer data and come up with the best solution to a technical problem properly and economically. You also need to have some understanding of the ins and outs of computer technology. You can get a fresh start in high school by taking advanced courses of math and science, while also taking classes relating to computer software, hardware, programming, and networking to know about stuff you never knew about and even if you are aware of these topics, it is ... ...† according to WiseGeek. They will repeat the whole procedure again and again, constructing new gadgets to comply with the new advancements in technology while at the same time, bettering existing computers to allow it to work with the new computer technology. Conclusion creation of their own original products, as they go and produce their own things, they have to go through a process to make sure that the final product is fully tested and top quality; they think about various things about it like the parts required to They also help maintain other people’s computers by troubleshooting the device in many ways like using their mind, research, and proper testing of various computer parts to determine the reason for the problem whether it’s their own creations or producing computer peripherals. through the they create their own computer products engineers

Coney Island and Victorian Culture Essay

Coney Island at the turn of the century was a bustling and growing place. People of all classes traveled from New York City as well as other parts of the world to take part in the famous amusements that helped to loosen the tight corsets of Victorian gentility. Inspired by the Columbian Exposition in 1893 George Tilyou began to build a park on Coney Island beginning with the Ferris Wheel similar to that featured at the exposition which was designed by the Pennsylvania Steel Company. By 1895 Tilyou opened Steeplechase Park and began to fill it with acts and side shows thus inspired by his travels a few years prior. While concentrating on the appeal to all walks of life Tilyou acquired A Ride to The Moon from Fredric Thompson and Elmer Dundy who built the ride specifically for the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. A short season later in 1902 Thompson and Dundy left Steeplechase to create Luna Park taking the amusement with them. Playing off the most popular sport on Coney Island, Tilyou obtained a mechanical horse race that took riders on a thirty second ride around a track complete with hills and sharp turns. Other attractions added to the park included the Human Roulette Wheel which threw riders in all directions and Earthquake Stairs which jostled climbers and challenged them to descend a shaking stair case. These attractions as well as the wild side shows caused people to throw off all conventionality and made them rub elbows with other classes while having unrestricted fun. While Steeplechase drew visitors to the peninsula it also increased in the popularity of swimming or bathing as it was referred to in Victorian speak. People on a hot New York day adventured to Steeple Chase and the beach by various means of transportation. Donning the latest in bathing fashions people enjoyed more unrestricted fun regardless of any class system in the water. Although Victorians looked down their noses at the amusements and public bathing, people still flocked to the beaches and splashed in the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Ruckus rides and the ability to socialize appealed to the younger generations looking to toss off the oppressive garbs of Victorian gentility and just have plain unrestrictive fun. In 1907 tragedy struck Steeplechase as fire ravaged the park leaving a smoking ruin. In the efforts to still turn a dollar Tilyou charged admission to the ruins of the once great park. During the rebuilding, Luna Park benefited from the loss and treated guests to a modern park with rides to thrill everyone. The â€Å"old-fashionedness† of Steeplechase was challenged as Luna Park, the most modern of it’s time dazzled park goers with electric lights and tall white towers bathed in bright bulbs. This enabled the park to operate at night. But still people remained loyal to the original amusement park they knew so well even though built anew from smoldering ruins. George Tilyou sadly passed away in 1914 after seeing his park through another fire in 1911 which claimed Dreamland. Luckily enough the winds shifted and spared his park from a second disaster. By 1914 the amusement park began to fall out of favor. The once well loved and most visited park suffered a loss in the visitors during the hot New York summers. Steeplechase continued to operate and help people socialize and essentially come out of the tight bonds of gentility by offering a carefree time with out restrictions. Then on New Year’s Eve 1964 the last light was turned off for the final time at the ill fated old fashioned park. Luna Park on the other hand was not as popular as the original park but provided new wonders for those curious and daring enough to seek it out. Created after the Beaux-Arts movement of the time Thompson an erratic architect began to design the park as a world where someone could be lost in fantasy. By opening day on May 16th 1903 Luna Park opened its doors to the wonderment of many people seeking out entertainment and new amusements to help them shed the conventionality of the structured Victorian world. Here we can clearly see where still Steeplechase was cherished like a child hugs a ragged teddy bear but the new adventure which was named Luna was embraced for its latest technologies that Steeplechase clearly was lacking. With over 1 million lights, long distance telephone service, telegraph and radio services Luna Park became a city with in a city. With Thompson and Dundy’s success in creating illusion rides for the park guests they still relied on others as well. When they left the employment of Tilyou after the 1902 season they brought their famed â€Å"Ride to the Moon† amusement with them. Counting on its fame from Steeplechase park and the illustrious past of being featured at the Pan-American Exposition in 1901 the creators hoped it would bring the crowds in. With more and more people seeking a day at the park and on the beach both parks helped make Coney Island known world wide and soon became a top tourist destination. At a time when high society still held restrictions of how men and women should act in public in high regards, more and more people used these parks as a way to shed the restrictions of society and seek titillating amusements and fill curiosities each other had that Victorian culture had suppressed over the years with rules and barriers against those who dared to go against the prim and proper societies. Technology in these times were changing and what better place to display these but at amusement parks and expositions. Younger Victorians embraced these changes and viewed them as a move toward the future. We can clearly see where walls were broken down between classes while all walks of life frolicked on the beaches of Coney Island, screamed on the same rides, and traveled faster than they ever had in their lives. Luna Park and Steeplechase side by side were wonderful examples of old an new. While people still embraced the old curious onlookers sought out attractions that displayed futuristic gadgets. By the creation of the final park Dreamland in 1904 tourism and the shedding of Victorian genteel ways were in full swing. Dreamland brought more pleasure seekers to the peninsula and more bathers to the sea shore. The park was built by William Reynolds who is best known for his crooked dealings with Tammany Hall. Dreamland became the park to rival the other 2 on the peninsula. It is said that the park would be anything unlike the modern world has seen. The main tower of Dreamland had a beacon that shined out to sea and confused many ships coming into port. The amusement park sparkled as guests promenaded through the many attractions and thrill rides. With Dreamland promising amusement in a more dignified way the creators tried to offer Culture to those who visited the park. Providing a grand ballroom and upscale restaurants from around the world Dreamland attempted to cater to the upper class leaving lower classes to attend the older less dignified parks. The developers still provided rides and attractions that rivaled the other parks and even stole ideas from them as well. Americans were fascinated by disasters. Fighting the Flames was a good example of this as New Yorkers were most familiar with tenements catching fire and many people dying. People could identify with this ride. As tenement style buildings covered in asbestos were set ablaze, firefighters came to the rescue of the tenants who jumped to their safety in huge nets below. With rides like Shoot the Chutes guests at Dreamland were still treated to rides that caused them to throw off all conventionalities. Dreamland with its intentions to preserve all that is roper and dignified still provided outrageous outlets that caused people to smile and scream like they never had before. Sideshows still prevailed like Bostock’s Circus and Captain Bonavita’s Lion Show. They treated guests to clowns, wild animals, and daring stunts which caused people to gasp and look on in awe. Dreamland gave people a look at the world in their own backyard. Rides like Touring the Alps which provided ride rs with a simulated ride through the Alps complete with blasts of cold air to the Japanese Tea Room which gave people a look at cultures foreign to their own. The achievements of creating an atmosphere of wonderment and awe like that of the previous expositions held in Chicago and Buffalo, Reynolds achieved ultimate success in helping people question their hum drum ways and rules that bound them tightly. On May 27 1911 the wonderment that was known as Dreamland came to an end when it burned to the ground. Complaints by the fire departments that fought the flames were low water pressure. It was said that Reynolds built the park so fast that he built over fire hydrants. The mistakes and rush to greed cost him his park only seven short years later. The fire although sparing because of the winds did not leave Thompson’s railway alone. Sadly but fortunately that was one of a few external victims of the fire caused by greed. Fred Thompson found General Manager Samuel Gumpertz staring blankly at the ruins. Reynolds decided not to rebuild the park and Gumpertz opened a freak show in a large tent. This was the beginning of the end of Coney Island, the most famous playground of the early 20th century. Luna Park and Steeplechase continued to operate through many changes of attractions. The 1920’s ushered in rides like The Wonder Wheel and The Cyclone. It is joked immigrants who came to this country saw The Wonder Wheel first before seeing the Statue of Liberty. Still The Wonder Wheel is a wonderful example of freedom through good times and laughter and the shedding of old ways to a new life. By the close of the season of 1946 Luna Park could no longer afford to keep its gates open to the dwindling visitors. That which was new and exciting became old and worn out. Steeplechase continued to operate and pride itself of being risen from the ashes still provided visitors with aging and familiar rides. By the opening of Astro Park in 1962 this began to spell the end of the turn of the century amusements. At the stroke of midnight New Years Eve 1964 the last light was turned out on the oldest amusement park of the time leaving behind a legacy of fun and a little known waltz written for the opening of Dreamland entitled â€Å"Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland†. By looking at the amusement parks of the early 20th century we can clearly see where proper Victorians were given the opportunity to shed the constrictions of a culture that forced them into a protected part of society. Here creators of parks provided a person all types of amusements and bathing which for proper Victorians swimming with people of the opposite sex was just scandalous. Many of the older generations still held fast to their convictions of manners and proper ways. In many ways Coney Island was a petrie dish for societies and cultures. Could they truly leave behind the tight corsets and stiff collars to have fun with all folks of all classes with out concern for class stratification due to wealth, power or even dress? The writer of this believes yes. This was a place where society began to leave behind their constrictions and just have plain fun. Therefore unmaking Victorian culture as it was known.

Learning disabilities and special education

The Article on Learning Disability provided by Psychology Today details the various dimensions of learning disability which thrusts on the following: its definition, symptoms, causes, and treatment. To start off, learning disability refers to the child’s difficulty of translating to their brain what their visual and auditory senses produce. The symptoms of this disorder are categorized into the following: â€Å"language disorders, developmental speech disorders, academic abilities disorders†, and the other category which includes certain coordination disorders and learning handicaps not covered by the previous terms. There is no single concrete explanation to why this disorder has developed but several theories accounted several factors such as errors in fetal brain development, genetic, use of alcohol and drugs, problems during pregnancy, and toxins in the child’s environment. All of these factors contribute to one’s understanding of the existence of such kind of disorder. Several steps have been taken to minimize the adverse effects of this learning disorder such as medication and therapy (MedicineNet Inc, 2002). From a psychological standpoint, I appreciate the various theoretical offerings on the causes of learning disorder of this article. However, I believe that one of the important dichotomies in psychology was underrated by this work, i.e. the genetic vs. environment consideration. Although genetic factors complemented by the cellular basis of learning were considered, the social environment of the child definitely plays a role here as well. This article should have explored on this aspect too. Psychological studies, indeed, have shown that both genes and environment are major determinants of many major human processes (Smith et al., 2003). In addition, the socialization process goes with it too. Although this article is mainly about learning disabilities, the inclusion of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, though spurious for this matter, is a beneficial one. It was able to present how learning disability becomes an inevitable consequence of the presence of ADHD. Further, it goes to show several remedial processes that one may undergo to defeat the effects of ADHD and learning disorder – such as medication, therapy, and educational options. The social impact of learning disorder was also mentioned in this article, which is a valuable aspect to look on. Children who suffer from this disorder also suffer from frustration and low self-esteem. Indeed, this is serious matter. The good thing is that several laws have been passed in relation to this problem. First, children with this disorder are guaranteed of free public education which is intended to respond to their specific needs (MedicineNet Inc, 2002). This is supported by a particular stipulation under section 200.2 of Part 2 Regulations of NYS school codes which specifies that an arrangement of special education programs and services for a preschool student with a disability shall be made. This is a very important undertaking in relation to the development of children with learning disorder (New York State Education Website, 2005). This regulation acknowledges the differences of children’s learning development and gives special focus and treatment on children with deficiency on this. How valuable is this if you would ask me? Very much as it goes to show that the state moves toward the enrichment of every member of the society and further, this move minimizes the inequality set forth by this kind of disorder. This claim can is substantiated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which ensures equal job opportunity among people with learning disorder. This also orders employers to make reasonable accommodations to workers with this disorder (MedicineNet Inc, 2002). The importance of parental and academic factors in the detection of learning disorder, which was highlighted in the article, can also be seen on the Individual evaluation and reevaluation stipulation under 200.4 which states that developmental and educational information of the student must be gathered plus a physical examination, observation of the student in the educational placement, and a social history are all required (New York State Education Website, 2005). The need for social history underscores the importance of the child’s social environment as a determinant of LD, which is concurrent with the previous point that I have raised. Second, the importance of parental role was accounted for in this stipulation. The information gathered from the parent is required in the evaluation of students with learning disability. In conclusion, learning disability is as crucial as how we perceive it to be. It affects an individual’s normal functioning; and worse, it affects the attainment of one’s fullest potential. But on a lighter note, several measures have been formulated. Thus, the partnership of parents, teachers, and the state is an important element in assisting children with learning disorder. Further, this partnership has the capacity to help these children in attaining their precious little dreams. REFERENCES New York State Education Website (2005). Regulation of the Commissioner of EducationPart 200- Students   with Disabilities. Retrieved October 27, 2006 from Smith, E.E. et al. (2003). Atkinson & Hilgard’s Introduction to Psychology 14th edition. Australia: Thomson & Wadsworth.

Economic analysis and competition in oligopolistic firms

Economic analysis and competition in oligopolistic firms Introduction In the world of business, there are various structures that are used to organize the various establishments according to the extents of their involvement. Oligopolies are one such classification and these are well present in countries all over the world. This essay seeks to illustrate how elements of economic analysis can be used to explain the competitive aspects of business entities that take the form of oligopolies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Economic analysis and competition in oligopolistic firms specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To this end, a description of the term economic analysis and what it entails shall be provided alongside a complete detailing of all aspects of oligopolies. A section of the paper shall be dedicated to explore the possible impacts of long term strategic commitments on the competitive position of an oligopolistic firm. Finally a conclusion shall be provided and which sha ll serve as a summation of the arguments presented. Economic analysis Because of the scarcity of resources, the basic human needs and desires tend to be limited by a number of factors including the purchasing power and the pricing of commodities and services. Economic analysis is the process of assessing the supply and demand patterns as well as the options which customers are exposed to and the incentives that drive them to make certain purchases (Boulding 1966). This is therefore an analysis of how resources are utilized by a certain group of people. The field of economic analysis is divided into two main categories. These are economic feasibility analysis and economic impact analysis. These two are briefly explained below: Economic feasiblity analysis Business establishments and state organisations tend to go through periods of uncertainty where great risk-taking measures are required particularly when it comes to the decision making process regarding long-term strategies such as the introduction of new products (Schermerhorn 1978). For a proper economic feasibility analysis to be carried out, it is imperative that the individuals involved in conducting the study commit themselves to ensuring accuracy in the prediction of demand. To this end, it is necessary that the economic patterns as well as the purchasing power of consumers be taken into account (Schermerhorn 1978). Once the demand aspects have been dealt with, then the supply requirements can be studied and in this regard the firs have to find out which resources would be required for them to achieve their objectives. The feasibility study must also include an analysis of competitors and their basic business strategies. The economic impact analysis This refers to intense research processes carried out with an aim of providing an estimation of the economic impact of a business establishment to the region in which it is based (Pleeter 1980). The consequence of an economic occurence is a total of the cum ulative direct and indirect effects on the population. These effects are estimated by studying the levels of taxation rates, spending chains and saving patterns. These are elements that can only be analysied through scientific surveys in the target populations.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Oligopoly An oligopoly is a type of market structure where a number of large enterprises exercise dominance in the market (Friedman 1983). The business establishments in this type of market are usually big companies which have a lot of resources for investment and which generally tend to command larger market values. Such companies are also very well known in the world market because they tend to spend a huge percentage of their profits on marketing and advertising. There are two main types of oligopolies. These are the impure oligopoly and the pure oligopoly (Peeples 1989). T he impure oligopoly mainly deals in a variety of products or services while the pure oligopoly mainly deals in the type of product that has no major difference from those produced by other companies in the same line of business (Friedman 1983). Such homogeneous products include the likes of steel and wheat. In an oligopoly, there are very few sellers gunning for the biggest share of the market and this is primarily because they tend to invest a lot of resources in their daily operations. On average, most oligopolies tend to have between three and four key players (Baye 1999). The primary feature that characterizes oligopolies is the aspect of interdependence between the companies involved. A basic oligopoly will tend to be made up of very few large enterprises (Friedman 1983). Each player in the oligopoly plays a very distinct role such that any of its actions will have a significant impact on the market conditions. Economic analysis comes in handy to explain the influences of vario us companies in the oligopoly especially in the view of the fact that the other companies in competition are fully aware of their rivals’ market actions (Peeples 1989). This means that in order for an enterprise to pursue a particular market action, the institution has to consider all the possible counter-reactions by each and every member of the oligopoly. This sort of strategization likens decision making in an oligopoly to a chess game in which an player has to analyze all the possible moves and countermoves by his/her opponent before establishing a plan for attaining his/her objectives. For instance a company intending to reduce its pricing structure in order to woo more clients has to take into consideration that competitors in the same market might counter the move by reducing the prices even further. A good example is the ongoing price war between the largest mobile telephony providers in the East African country o Kenya (Zain and Safaricom) where Zain out of nowhere c ut all calling rates by 50%, a situation that forced their rivals, Safaricom to cut down their charges as well. This kind of interdependent competition has the negative effect of reducing the price to ruinous levels. Economic analysis helps understand the difference between oligopolies and monopolies in this respect of interdependence. Economic analysis helps provides an understanding of profit maximization strategies. In oligopoly markets the companies involved are generally fully aware of their competitors’ weak points. As such, the enterprises in competition will tend to exploit such weaknesses to their own advantage regardless of the fact that such actions could spark instances of unfair competitive practices.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Economic analysis and competition in oligopolistic firms specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Economic analysis helps scholars understand is aspect of competition by illu strating how oligopolies raise their profit levels by ensuring production happens at the point where marginal costs and expenditures intersect (Baye 1999). It is also through market analysis that it is easy to understand that oligopolies are able to sustain great profits by the companies acting as price setters as opposed to price takers. In some instances, firms in an oligopoly can join forces in a secret association that would see them control the market and retain the prices at an all time high (Hirschey 2009). Such cartels result in consequences similar to those of monopolies since they tend to discourage competitive tendencies (Hirschey 2009). Economic analysis comes through to provide explanations to how certain companies in the cartels conduct themselves especially since disagreements in such arragements can result in price wars breaking out. Once an oligopoly has been well established, it assumes the form of an elitist club where new entrants have to go to extensive lengths to prove their worth (Puu and Shusko 2002). In other words there are very many barriers to entry. Economic analysis helps further understand this aspect of entry by laying emphasis on the primary barriers which include economies of scale and idea licensing. Similarly, concepts of economic analysis will contribute to understanding further why the enterprises that have already established ground in the oligopoly will make all necessary efforts to ensure that nascent companies are discouraged or destroyed. In this regard, the incumbent firms can easily maintain long-run large profits by ensuring that no sideline companies enter the market to cause a split in the profits. For the sake of economic security, governments have also been known to deny some companies entry into certain lucrative business ventures. Economic analysis also explains that consumers generally tend to have limited information as regards the pricing structure and therefore will fall victims to the oppressive prices e stablished by oligopolies (Baumol and Blinder 2008). Leaving the market is equally as challenging as the entry and from the principles of economic analysis it has been established that this is due to the fact that such an exit can end up causing a lot of economic challenges for the economy of the country where the firm is located (Puu and Shusko 2002). Effects of competition in oligopolies The primary effect of competition by oligopolies is unending rivalry among the companies involved (Puu and Shusko 2002). This rivalry mainly arises from price wars necessitated by firms cutting down prices with an aim of getting an unfair advantage on their competitors.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, their are other forms of competition which dont necessarily involve the pricing structures, top on the list being advertising and differentiation (Hirschey 2009). Big companies tend to invest huge amounts of money in promotional campaigns which tend to work in their advantage mainly because they already have secured their own portions of the market. It is however easier for companies to lose this portion of the market than to gain bigger portions and this is the main reason why firms have to constantly make the consumer aware of their presence. Advertising remains the primary way for established companies to maintain their competitive lead. In the field of economic analysis non-price competition is considered to be one of the key oligopoly models and this is because of the benefiting effects that it gives companies (Fudenberg and Tirole 2002). As far as the price wars are concerned, one economic analysis model that can be used to explain market phenomena is the kinked deman d curve model (Fudenberg and Tirole). This model is based on the fact that oligopolists tend to appreciate that when one firm lowers its prices, other enterprises will follow suit for fear of losing their market share (McEachern 2008). When prices are decreased by a relatively large percentage, the effect is a comparatively small rise in sales; a phenomena known as inelastic demand (Baumol and Blinder 2008). However, when one firm decides to raises its prices, other firms will generally tend to ignore this and hope that the can take advantage of the situation to attract customers who will basically tend to go for the lower prices. A relatively small rise in price will come with a sharp decline in sales; a condition referred to as elastic demand (Baumol and Blinder 2008). Even in the most competitive oligopolies, their tends to be one company that commands the biggest share of the market and as such tends to set the price for the rest of the market. This aspect is explained by an eco nomic analysis model called price leadership where the rest of the companies in the circle have to wait for the dominant firm to set the price for them to follow (Fudenberg and Tirole 2002). This is a very common model because companies generally have the tendency to match prices with the largest enterprise in the business. As such when this large player decides to drop the prices to ridiculous levels, the other enterprises have no option but to drop theirs as well. As far as long term strategic commitments on the competitive position of an oligopolistic firm are concerned, there are two basic outcomes that can be arrived at. First, is that the market will gradually align itself to accord such companies superseded advantage over their competitors (Baye 1999). For instance, if a company decides to suddenly reduce the prices of its products by 40%, there is a chance that the competing oligopolies will reduce their prices to match this figure or to an even lower figure. However, due to the fact that the reduction is of high proportions, other companies may not have the financial potential to drop their prices to such extents and consequently the firm that dropped its prices will gradually gain in terms of customer drain from competitors and will hope to retain these customers in the long-term. The other effect of long term strategic commitments is that the desired effect may not be attained and the company ends up losing heavily (McEachern 2008). Drawing from the above example of a 40% price reduction, customers may not be interested in shifting their loyalty from the other competitors in the oligopoly because of the quality of service they have been getting. Under these circumstances, the company which dropped its prices may not be in a position to break even and because of pride issues, the company will not be in a position to raise its prices once its plan backfires. Conclusion This essay has extensively analysed the importance of economic analysis in explaini ng certain behaviours of oligopolies. Various analytical models have been used to provide logical explanations as to the behaviours of companies in this business structure. Aside from this, a section of the presentation has been used to elaborate on the impact of strategic commitments on the competitive positions of companies. In conclusion, it is worth noting that oligopoly is a very common market structure which tends to come with difficulties in evaluation. With companies getting bigger and acquiring more power and with the world becoming a global village on a daily basis it is almost guaranteed that this structure will in the coming years be the basic market structure. Reference List Baumol, W.J. Blinder, A.S., 2008. Economics: Principles and Policy. Connecticut: Cengage Learning. Baye, M.R., 1999. Oligopoly. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press. Boulding, K.E., 1966. Economic analysis. United States: Harper Row. Friedman, J.W., 1983. Oligopoly theory. Cambridge: CUP Archive. Fudenberg, D . Tirole, J., 2002. Dynamic models of oligopoly. United Kingdom: Routledge. Hirschey, M., 2009. Managerial economics. Connecticut: Cengage Learning. McEachern, W.A., 2008. Economics: A Contemporary Introduction. Connecticut: Cengage Learning. Peeples, J.V., 1989. Oligopoly. New Mexico: New Mexico State University. Pleeter, S., 1980. Economic impact analysis: methodology and applications. Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. Puu, T. Shusko, I., 2002. Oligopoly dynamics: models and tools. New York City: Springer. Schermerhorn, R.W., 1978. Economic feasibility analysis: what is it and how should it  be done. Hawaii: University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service.

Marine Biodiversity essays

Marine Biodiversity essays If New Zealand had no restrictions or control over the fishing industry, then fish might start appearing as a rare species on cute-endangered-animal posters. By government control of fisheries, we can help to ensure the future biodiversity of our waters. Biodiversity means having a large range of organisms living in an area. This is important for keeping a large range of fish and wild organisms in New Zealand seas. By controlling commercial and recreational fishing, the government can help to maintain biodiversity. For this reason in June 2000, the government allowed $14.1 million to go towards research for increasing our insight into marine ecosystems. A range of laws are set down by the Ministry of Fisheries help to regulate fishing. The key to this is the 1986 Quota Management System, introduced for the management and conservation of commercial fisheries. There are rules such as closed areas and seasons for different species fishing, fish size limits, mesh size limits for trawler nets, trawling area restrictions and total volumes allowed to be caught. These volume regulations are the Total Allowable Catch (TAC), which limits numbers of fish that can be caught by fishers and the Total Allowable Commercial Catch specifically for commercial volumes. The TAC is re-evaluated and determined each year through scientific research into the abundance and survival of different fish species. There are also restrictions for recreational fishing, because these fishers have almost as much impact on fish populations as commercial fishers. The rules for recreational fishers include things such as size restriction: in the North Island snapper shorter than 27cm long must be thrown back; bag (volume) limits, net size limits, controlled areas and not selling or trading catch. Gear restrictions also apply for things like the size of net mesh and lobster pots. Infringement fees are the penalty for anyone ...