Is Policy Modeling an Art or a Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Is Policy Modeling an Art or a Science - Essay Example According to Clausewitz and Graham Scientific discoveries came from Art therefore, there is no Science without the mixture of Art (2008 pg. 82). Policy modeling can either be an art or science. Policy Modeling according to Estrada is an experimental research work supported by use of different qualitative models techniques and hypothesis to assess the cause of the past policy implications and the effect of the same to the society globally in the future (2010). The policy modeling can be further classified into several categories; communications, infrastructure and transportation policy modeling; energy; the domestic and international trade policy modeling; miscellaneous policy modeling; environmental and natural resources management policy modeling; fiscal and government spending policy modeling; labor, employment and population policy modeling; institutional, regulation and negotiation policy modeling; production and consumption policy modeling; monetary, banking and investment polic y modeling; welfare and social policy modeling; technological and R&D policy modeling; economic growth and development policy modeling. It is complex to understand the socio-economic of world’s environment, for example, the different behavior of subsystems, sectors, and regions within different time zones.

Commentaries on a company's performance over last 2 years Assignment - 1

Commentaries on a company's performance over last 2 years - Assignment Example This means that the company is in good position in respect to its debtors since lower receivable days indicates that the company takes less time to collect the receivable amounts. By faster receive of due, collection related problems get reduced, and also the company has improved its profitability and rate of return on investment by better management of funds receivable. Finally, payable days have been calculated which has increased in 2012-13 from the previous year. This means compared to previous year, Morrison has been delaying payment to creditors to conserve cash. This can happen because Morrison has good terms with vendors. Compared to the previous year, Morrison has been holding on to its cash for a longer period in 2012-13. In this section, horizontal analysis is done by measuring the amounts receivable and payable in the two concerned financial years. Amount receivable has reduced in 2012-13 which means that Morrison has shown a better performance in collecting debts this year. This means increased cash which can be used for operational purposes. On the other hand, amount payable has increased in 2012-13. As already explained Morrison may have been holding on to cash and delaying payments for operational purposes. In this section, profitability ratios have been calculated to determine the operating success of Morrison. There has been an increase in the gross profit margin from 1.76% in financial year 2011-2012 to 1.86% in 2012-13. This indicates that the company is enjoying an improvement in its market position, and is in a position to charge higher price for its products which in turn can result in enhanced revenues. However, there has been a 7 percent decline in EBIT (earnings before interest & tax) in 2012-13 from previous year. The major reason attributed is difficult conditions in the market. According to chief executive Dalton Philips â€Å"economic backdrop remains

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

Anthropology - Essay Example ma’s speech during the Democratic National Convention coupled with specific examples that relate to respective discursive Strategies as seen in the speech. Indeed, in his speech, Obama clearly applies at least two of this Discursive Strategies. In his speech, Obama uses the â€Å"narratives of belonging† strategy to construct â€Å"existential coherence.† Duranti presents this strategy as part of personal experiences that the political speaker possesses. Duranti establishes the fact that these experiences connect the speaker emotionally and morally to the present place and audience. This strategy shows that the political speaker is an ordinary citizen and will thus represent the audience ideally once elected. In his speech, Obama used the â€Å"narratives of belonging† strategy in various occasions. ... I have shared the pain of families who've lost their homes, and the frustration of workers who have lost their jobs.† (Fox News Web). As such, the use of this strategy clearly helps Obama to identify with the Americans, denotes his experience in handling national issues, and thereby convinces the audience that he will ideally represent them once reelected as the US President. Duranti consequently defines â€Å"the [use of] the present as a ‘natural extension’ of the past† strategy to construct â€Å"existential coherence† as a relation between present decision and experience. In various occasions during his speech, Obama demonstrated the use of this strategy. Indeed, he quotes that, â€Å"You know, in a world of new threats and new challenges, you can choose leadership that has been tested and proven. Four years ago, I promised to end the war in Iraq. We did.† He equally reminds the audience that, â€Å"I promised to refocus on the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11. And we have.† This experience gives him an edge over his political competitor. It clearly proves that he can deliver and out of his past successes, he is convinced to vie for the second time. He notes that he was able to kill Osama Bin Laden and thus presently focusses on defeating Al Qaeda and ending the Afghanistan war by 2014 once reelected (Fox News Web). As such, his experience drives his present decision to seek reelection with a goal of completing his mission. This generates a lot of conviction from the audience as it applauds Obama’s experience. In addition, he quotes that, â€Å"Now, I've cut taxes for those who need it, middle-class families, small businesses.† It

Macroeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Macroeconomics - Essay Example The organization of petroleum exporting countries decides by them the cost per barrel of petroleum. The present price of petroleum in the world market has skyrocketed in the last few years because the OPEC members have agreed to limit the output per country. Since the agreed output has been reduced, the prices of petroleum per barrel have skyrocketed for the past few years. A study of the non – OPEC member nations, government and other academic researchers have shown that the non OPEC member nations may have equal sales with the OPEC member states in 2010. The worst case scenario is predicted by some scientists showing the world’s population will squander the limited petroleum oil supply. When the petroleum will dry up, then the world’s population will have a feeling that we are approaching the end of the world. Exxon has warned OPEC countries that the oil supply will not last forever. In some countries, solar energy research have been successful replacements for petroleum. Oil production can be subdividied between the OPEC member countries and the non OPEC. Countries have started looking for non-petroleum product replacements. An example is the electric power batteries. The solar powered homes and calculators are big successes. The introduction of the substitutes will help lower the the increasing barrel cost of petroleum (fossil) fuel. In fact, â€Å"Many large-scale projects, such as shale processing and synfuels (e.g., coal to liquids), were begun in the early 1980s, but these were abandoned when the price of oil fell drastically in 1986. However, research has continued at a steady pace since that time. Even producing oil from tar sands is now a alternative major industry in Canada. Plants to produce liquids from natural gas are operational, and much larger plants are under construction. Ethanol production from sugar cane and corn is now done on an industrial scale. Thus,