Consumer protection can best be achieved through competition Essay - 1

Consumer protection can best be achieved through competition regulation ensuring a functioning competitive market. Discuss - Essay Example Thus, to understand how competition regulation benefits the consumer, it is critical to also first appreciate how competition regulation is related to the consumer protection regime2. This paper will begin my discussing the major completion regulations in the UK, before discussing the effect of competition regulation on the functioning of a competitive market. This will lead on to a discussion on how competition regulation’s effect on market functioning strengthens the consumer protection regulatory regime. Competition regulation policy in the UK, as well as the EU, is based on four fundamental pillars. The first pillar involves cartels and anti-trust, including the elimination of agreements that act to restrict competition, such as price-fixing by dominant market players3. The second pillar involves market liberalization that seeks to introduce renewed competition in sectors enjoying monopolistic tendencies, including postal services, energy supply, aviation, and telecommunications. A third pillar is state aid control, through which competition regulation policy analyses measures of state aid to ensure they do not distort market competition. The final pillar is merger control, through which governments investigate take-overs and mergers to avoid domination of the market by large business groups. UK competition regulation is anchored in legislation and there have been sustained attempts to enhance competition regulation since 1948. The Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act 1948 was the UK government’s first legislative attempt to regulate competitive practices, specifically by setting up the Competition Commission to block mergers that would threaten public interest4. The Monopolies and Mergers Act 1965, in turn, empowered this commission to investigate possible and actual mergers, especially where there was a risk of increased monopoly power. In the meantime, the UK government got the

The Crusades Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Crusades - Essay Example The outcomes of the Crusades on Europe during this era became a significant aspect in evolving and in the development of the European civilization, affecting all aspects of life. These include the riches and control of the Catholic Church. Thus, it further increased and expanded their influence and supremacy, placing the Christian legion and resources under their full control. In addition, they attuned the people to look upon them as leaders. Above and beyond all the clout and dominance the papacy had on the people, the pouring out of gifts of devoutness was engorged by the astonishing zeal of spiritual passion into epic scope. In all these, the preeminence of papal rule and the prosperity of the Catholic Church were immensely amplified. Another aspect that was greatly developed because of the Crusades was on business and trading. A steady exigency for transportation led to the construction of ships. This widened the borders of trade, broadening the market into all of Europe. Overflo wing trade goods coming from the rich lands of China and other Asian countries also found their way to Europe, therefore, building a stronger association with the European and Asian cultures. The crusades undoubtedly changed Western European life. For example, they helped chip away feudalism. Countless noblemen and knights loaned or sold away their lands to finance journeys and expeditions. This deterioration in both the numbers and power, and the matching intensification of the regal power, may be pinned down in the revolution that transpired in the birthplace of the movement, France. The Crusades, aside from their effects on religious and economical facet, facilitated the decomposition of the power of feudal nobility. It gave way to the importance of the kings and the people. Societal growth and expansion were now in the hands of the burgher class, or the middle class. Social changes also sprung out from the Crusades. It was one of the primary and the most important nurturing stim ulus of the code of chivalry. Intensified and re-enforced contact and communication with Eastern influences also were refined during this period. The religious war reformed the crusaders’ intellectual beliefs and ideas as well. They liberalized their mentality, and encouraged them to venture out from castles and villages to go and explore grand urban towns and cities, magnificent palaces, marvelous clothing, and stylish and graceful etiquette. These people came home with enhanced preferences, widened beliefs and views about the world. Because of the crusades, a new world was opened in front of them. The motivation given to geographical breakthrough that changed the entire concept and thinking of the way the world was directed different explorers, such as the notable Italian Marco Polo who discovered the beauty of China, rousing the adventures and voyages of Vasco de Gama, Magellan and Christopher Columbus, may possibly be tracked back to the vigorous awareness in geographical subjects. Jerry Ciacho November 20, 2011 The Black Death The Black Death, the immense outburst of the Bubonic Plague, was indeed among the most terrible and devastating blows in all of history. It wiped out more than a hundred million people, eating into cities and towns, encroaching with a steady but unbelievably rapid stride but hit its upmost death toll in Europe during the Middle Ages between 1348 and 1350. Many believe this global virulent disease initially came from China. The bubonic plague for the most part affected only rodents, but fleas started to spread the disease to people. China was the bustling trading center of the world and with the outbreak, it was bound to extend to Western Asia and the rest of Europe. Reaching the shores of

Cyber bullying or social media bullying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Cyber bullying or social media bullying - Essay Example e in harassing, demeaning and bullying others using the information technology and electronic devices, a practice commonly referred to as cyber bullying (â€Å"Prevent Cyber bullying†). Bullying can cause frustrations on the victims, especially those who are bullied constantly, resulting in psychological trauma or even more fatal occurrences such as suicide. Thus, parents should team up with their children to explore and develop safe ways of using technology, while monitoring and controlling their children’s internet use, to protect their children against cyber bullying. The practice of receiving mean messages, threatening texts, hurtful posts or even negative and damaging rumors is something that is happening with teens and adolescents every single day globally. It is no longer unusual for teens to find sexually explicit and obscene photographs of them or their friends on the internet, even without knowing how pictures ended up there. According to bullyingstatistics.org, 50% of adolescents and teens have experienced cyber bullying, and equally 50% of the teens and adolescents have been involved in cyber bullying (bullyingstatistics.org). Additionally, one in every three adolescents has received threatening messages either through the Internet or over the phone, while 25% of teens have experienced repetitive cyber bullying (bullyingstatistics.org). Consequently, according to statistics from the meganmeierfoundation.org, 2.2 million school children reported having experienced cyber bullying in the USA in 2011 (â€Å"Bullying, Cyber bullying & Suicid e Statistics†). Most worrying though, is the fact that 38% of frequent bullied-victims in 2013 reported having suicidal thoughts, which sends a shock down the spine, considering that suicide has been identified as the third major cause of death for young people aged between 15 and 24 years (â€Å"Bullying, Cyber bullying & Suicide Statistics†). While the connection between cyber bullying and suicidal thoughts for 38% of

Assessment Centre Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Assessment Centre - Essay Example Leivens (2001) has pointed out the fact that assessment centres have gained popularity and fame in last 4 decades as they have become a very useful source that facilitate in recruitment and selection of employees. In general, the assessment centres refer to a development centre or a one-day workshop where Human Resource Professionals evaluate the qualities, personality traits, and attributes followed by decision – making and problem – solving skills of potential candidates. For instance, these centres are created for the purpose of facilitating HR executives in recruitment and induction of the smart candidates, who will then contribute their abilities and knowledge in survival, expansion and sustainable development of an organisation. Among the major benefits of assessment centres (ACs), the most important is that they are quite effective in testing behavioural issues / problems, psychology, mental strength and attitudes of potential candidates. For instance, the assess ors make observations, recordings and use psychological tests / tools / scales to check locus of control, openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, pressure assimilation, will power and other factors after which evaluations and feedbacks are provided. In this way, the recruiters draw conclusions about emotional stability of an employee coupled with his / her underlying strengths and weaknesses (Leivens et al, 2001). As far as the objectives of assessment centres are concerned, it is worthwhile to mention that assessors tend to have case studies, debates, open and group discussion sessions, group exercises and presentations to test level of creativity, personal drive, critical thinking, communication and interpersonal skills in a candidate. For instance, the assessors also organise randomly selected candidates into work groups and teams, which are then assigned various situations and real – world scenarios in order to test team building skills, relationship building, flexibil ity, analytical capabilities, leadership styles and mutual cooperation / coordination among members. These medium duration exercises help providing relatively better analysis about aforementioned qualities in candidates compared to observations and responses during face-to-face interviews. It should be highlighted that another advantage of assessment centres is to judge conflict resolution, crises handling and contingency plan development abilities either though individual or groups tests. In addition, candidates may be assigned responsibilities to develop a realistic business plan to judge vision, strategic planning, forecasting, risk identification, analysis and measurement, marketing, adaptability, innovation, differentiation and other capabilities as a whole. For instance, assessment centres also evaluate and testify how honest, moral and ethical a candidate is through assignment of certain ethical scenarios, dilemmas and lapses. The aforementioned enabled HR executives to get a n insight over the importance that an applicant could have for Code of Conduct, Organisational Cons and Rule of Law. In addition, the candidates are scrutinised for assessment of competitiveness, task – orientation, performance approach, employee centredness, and relationship – orientation so that they could be prepared to assimilate pressure in an unpredictable and complex business environment (Kolk et al, 2003). It is justified to argue that the actual aim of assessment cen

Level 5 Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Level 5 Leadership - Essay Example 68). Likewise, as explicitly indicated, the definition of the term ‘Level 5’ is â€Å"the highest level in a hierarchy of executive capabilities†¦ that elevate companies from mediocrity to sustained success† (Collins, 2001, p. 68). In an interview with Jim Collins by Stuart Crainer, which was published online on January of 2006, Collins synthesized his definition of Level 5 Leadership: â€Å"The central dimension for Level 5 is a leader who is ambitious first and foremost for the cause, for the company, for the work, not for himself or herself; and has an absolutely terrifying iron will to make good on that ambition† (Dearlove & Crainer, 2006). In addition, there were reported evident exemplifications of duality traits such as shy but fearless, modest, yet willful (Collins, 2001). It can, therefore, be deduced, that for a leader to be identified as manifesting Level 5 Leadership, that leader must exude traits such as extreme personal humility, strong professional will, a committed and dedicated pursuit and resolution to steer the organization to prolonged and sustained success. The Level 5 Leadership style is apparently different from other leadership styles in terms of accurately identifying the unique and distinct duality traits of leaders who were identified to exude these in companies they led towards prolonged success. According to Collins, there are other levels in the leadership hierarchy: from highly capable individuals (Level 1), contributing team member (Level 2), competent managers (Level 3), and effective leaders (Level 4) (Collins, 2001, p. 70), whose differentiating characteristics and traits are not enough to sustain prolonged and unprecedented success to organizations. The importance of having been apprised of the Level 5 Leadership lies in the knowledge and awareness provided to other contemporary

The U.S. Labor History in the 20th century Essay - 2

The U.S. Labor History in the 20th century - Essay Example It would seem that high unemployment and a bleak economic outlook would discourage workers from uprising. However, worker solidarity will prevail over fears of economic outcome. During good economic times, the capital is benefiting more than the worker is. This puts the capital in a position of authority and the attendant perks that come with it. There are political considerations, a favorable judiciary, and enforcement techniques that discourage organization. Business has law enforcement and the system to back up their position. When difficult times hit with the economic downturn beginning in 1932, the unions were able to become more solidified. Union members were able to speak for the unemployed and disadvantaged and gained more interest and support. It was the direct connection between the union and the working class that was able to mobilize the unions during the depression. The Cold War decade of the 1950s brought about greater cooperation between workers and management which was more likely due to conciliatory attitudes than worker satisfaction. The unions had made strides through the ability to organize in the 1930s and the war effort of the 1940s. However, the post-war period brought about some dissatisfaction among the public for the head of the AFL-CIO, John Lewis. A successful strike in 1943 at the height of the war had sparked public outrage that he had broken the war efforts no-strike policy. This anger would not be forgotten when Congress overrode Truman's veto of the Labor-Management Relations Act, known as the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947. The Labor-Management Relations Act set the stage for union activity during the 1950s. It severely limited the union's ability to organize and strike. Business was pushing for greater productivity at the expense of the workers. Strikes were generally short-lived, local, and quickly suppressed. The closed shop was outlawed and companies would move plants to locations that were less labor-friendly.  

Importance of Professional Networking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Importance of Professional Networking - Essay Example Therefore, even when there is a job opening, people may not know about it (Zack, pp. 103-104). They only method that the company would use is that of â€Å"personal recommendations† of the employees which are already working in the company. Quite understandably, if someone has a friend in a company due to his networking abilities, he may be the first one to know about that opening thus increasing the probability of him getting the job (Baber & Waymon, pp. 63-64). It is also very much a matter of enthusiasm and interest as well. The point here is that when employers are hiring, they always want focused, hardworking, and determined people to perform those tasks. In a way, professional networking is the manifestation of the same. If an individual were really determined about getting a job then only he would spend his time and energy in networking with the professionals (Vermeiren, pp. 89-93). Most people would prefer to spend their time with their friends, family or by entertaini ng themselves in some or the way. However, a person who has created and kept himself in close contact with his network of professionals, he must be really very passionate and eager about his work as well. Furthermore, it also depicts that the person has a healthy set of communication and presentation skills as well. May be a few decades back, it was all about â€Å"what you know,† your skills, knowledge, attitude, results, school, education and others. However, today is not only about what you know but it is also, about â€Å"who you know.† It may sound a bit unfair and unethical but one should look at it in a way that if you have all the skills, knowledge, and abilities but if no one knows about the same, then all of that is useless (Baber & Waymon,... This essay outlines the increasing importance of professional networking in assisting in work finding for jobseekers and cutting the costs of finding best candidates for jobs for employers. Many executives, managers and head hunters are keeping a close eye on the internet and websites like LinkedIn so that they could minimize the time, energy and costs required for this process Today, finding a job has become an art in itself. Many experts have repeatedly identified that this art can be mastered by learning â€Å"professional networking† May be a few decades back, it was all about â€Å"what you know,† your skills, knowledge, attitude, results, school, education and others. However, today is not only about what you know but it is also, about â€Å"who you know.† It may sound a bit unfair and unethical but one should look at it in a way that if you have all the skills, knowledge, and abilities but if no one knows about the same, then all of that is useless Important here to note is that today we are living in a society where the need is to embrace diversity and celebrate the differences rather fighting with it.. Therefore, people who are good at social networking are better performers when it comes to understanding people from diverse backgrounds. They know how to deal with people in their own styles. Therefore, they present themselves to the company as great candidates for available jobs Professional networking is also a viable option for job seeking because of the new â€Å"online† element which has came onto the scene.