Violence in Dantes Inferno and Ovids Metamorphoses

Wright 1 1960 words Julian E. Wright Dr. Sharon Fulton Literature Humanities/Essay 1 27 February 2014 Violence in Dante’s Inferno and Ovid’s Metamorphoses Scenes of great violence, as the prompt says, are often written into dynamic narratives of great literary merit. From Dante Alighieri’s Inferno to Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the inclusion of violence as a literary technique is used to propel the narrative forward, all while adding action, intrigue, and engaging the reader. Despite it’s validity as a literary technique, the inclusion of violent scenes in literature serve much more than the simple purpose of pushing a plot along a set of structured points. Scenes of violence provoke thought in areas ranging from human nature to the nature of†¦show more content†¦(XXIII, 61 ­65)† As this is a subtle form of a violent attack on their bodies, Dante creates this Wright 3 1960 words consequence as a method to show the sinners what it feels like to be deceived as they did to the world in their lives. There is one sinner, however, that suffers more than the others. Caiaphas, who was a high priest in his life on Earth, is violently crucified to the ground as a symbol for betraying the church in hypocrisy. The way he is crucified forces him to lay on the ground directly in the path of the other robed sinners, in a manner so that they are forced to walk on him whilst donning their heavy robes. The subtle violence of the consequences contrived to see the effects of hypocrisy that the sinners caused to their friends, family and strangers was ultimately done unto themselves. Seeing the pain they caused other people causes great pain to the sinners physically as well as emotionally. Throughout the Inferno there are numerous examples of violence and brutality, presenting Dante’s purpose with clarity and precision. The violence is placed in the poem specifically for reason, to show that the souls that are in Hell are there for a good reason. It also shows that the worse the sin was, the worse the sinner’s punishment would be, causing them the pain that they caused the world through different ways of violence. Some of these are physical and others mental violence. However, most of theShow MoreRelatedThe Divine Perfection Of God s Justice Essay1857 Words   |  8 Pagesserves to illuminate one among Dante’s major themes: the perfection of God’s justice. The inscription over the gates of Hell in Canto III expressly states that God was affected to make Hell by Justice (III.7). Hell exists to penalize sin, and also the quality of Hell’s specific punishments testifies to the divine perfection that each one sin violates. This notion of the quality of God’s punishments figures considerably in Dante’s larger ethical messages and structures Dante’s Hell. To trendy readers,Read MoreThe Waste Land: a critical view Essay1624 Words   |  7 PagesThese two books have been identified by Eliot himself, along with a number of vegetation and fertility myths and rituals, especially those connected with ‘Attis, Adonis and Osiris‘. However, we do read the echoes of Ovid’s – ‘Metamorphoses’, St. Augustine’s ‘Confession’, Dante’s- ‘Inferno’ and ‘Pargatorio’, baudelaire’s ‘Paris La Forgue’s ‘City’ ,Wanger’s opera- ‘Tristan and Isolde’, Chaucer and Spenser’s writing , Shakespeare’s- ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, and ‘The Tempest’, Milton’s- ‘Paradise Lost’,Read MoreThings That Go Bump In the Night: Wh y They Are Scary2198 Words   |  9 PagesWerewolves are creatures that we find in many different cultures around the world. The most classically known origin story for the beasts comes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. In it’s first book, Jupiter goes to Earth to observe humans after hearing of their evil nature. He reveals himself to the Arcadians who immediately start worshipping, all except their king, Lycaon. He does not believe the god’s immortality and seeks to put it to the test. Lycaon kills a messenger from another city and cooks himRead More Myth and Violence in The Waste Land Essay2655 Words   |  11 Pagescommon thought. These structures include concepts of life and death cycles; degeneration, death, and decay; purgation, purification, and rebirth; and creation and destruction. A common thread throughout the various mythic structures is that of violence. Violence is necessary for the completion of mythic processes. A simple example of this idea is the a xiom that destruction (an intrinsically violent act) is a pre-requisite for creation. Furthermore, myth entails specific, violent acts against the human

The East Asian Financial Crisis and Regulation - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2186 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? The East Asian Financial Crisis: Deregulation or More Regulation? The East Asian countries were presented as an example for other developing countries (their progress was called the east Asian miracle by World Bank) until the East Asia financial crisis. Some blamed the government for the crisis saying, state intervention was the root of the problem. Some held the financial liberalisation process responsible, Even today, many scholars and experts hold different opinions on the roots of this crisis and the solution to it. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The East Asian Financial Crisis and Regulation" essay for you Create order There were many opinions on the crisis and critics of how to handle the crisis from left and right side of the scholars. While some critics said that the pegged exchange rates, exchange rates controls, guaranteed governmental bailouts for banks, the lack of prudential regulation and management of the financial system was the root of the crisis. Other critics said that financial liberalization was the real cause of the problem as it enabled to move massive funds from country to country to earn the maximum profits from speculating or investing in currencies and shares and get higher returns for providing loans. Those who blamed the government for the crisis summarised some of the main causes of this crisis as follows: High debt/equity ratios; so much higher than in western countries. Overvalued currencies; they pegged their currencies to the U.S dollar. Lack of competition in the market. Government directed loans. High current account deficits. Those who are in this group suggested that the above were the main causes of the crisis, but before we accept this explanation, we should first have a look at East Asian countries economic systems. East Asian countries had some kind of Keynesian economic model. This allowed close and co-operative relationships between government, firms and financial institutions. Corporate debt/equity ratios in East Asia countries were higher than in western systems, because savings were higher (Gross domestic savings to GDP ratios in Asia were one third of GDP or more compared to 15-20 percent in western systems). Households who hold the majority of savings have those savings mostly in bank deposits, as it is less risky than shares. Banks have to lend and firms are the only major net borrowers in the market. Firms did have high debt/equity ratios, because firms, which aim to compete with major world industries, needed large sums of money. Equity and retained earnings were not enough to meet their requirements, therefore, this system allowed high debt/equity ratios and the governments were playing an important role allocating funds efficiently. Yet, this model made the Financial system vulnerable to shocks, but as long as there was government protection the system worked well. Was the financial liberalization the cause of the problem which generated huge amounts of capital inflow into these countries or were the capital inflows the evidence of the problems these countries economies were suffering? Why did they have financial crisis? Why did the attack on their currency cause a financial crisis? It did not have to. They experienced this crisis because their financial institutions and firms were suffering currency mismatch. An increase in the exchange rate (depreciation) makes them default as their balance sheet deteriorates and cause a financial crisis. Before the crisis occurred International banks and money traders thought that Asian currencies were overvalued. They started attacking those currencies. Asian countries tried to withstand against this attack, as they knew devaluation would impair those firms, which had borrowed vast sums of money in foreign currencies. Speculators won along with institutional investors, first in Thailand, selling Thai baht forward, making instant profits. The Asian governments tried to resist, but even central banks ran out of dollars and they allowed their currencies to devalue, stock market plummeted and now many companies would be in trouble. Lets deepen our analysis, what made these exemplar countries experience this crisis. They had this financial structure for a long time and had experienced high growth performance until the crisis. When they embarked on financial deregulation, they removed or lessened controls on firms foreign borrowing and investments and failed to oversee the banking system. Domestic borrowers started borrowing from abroad, as it was cheaper than home .For example; this caused unsustainable real estate boom in Thailand. Foreign debt escalated, most of it private and short term. This short-term capital flow plus the rise in US dollar against other currencies (interest rates increased in USA) contributed to overvalued currencies as exchange rates of local currencies had been fixed against the US dollar. So one can say financial liberalisation caused this crisis. In fact, theory says that such liberalisation (deregulations) in the financial market, especially lifting restrictions on inflows and outflows of funds, would bring in foreign funds that accelerate a countrys growth by reducing the cost of capital and allocate the financial resources in a most efficient way to get the highest returns .On the contrary what we saw in Mexico, hot money flows lend themselves easier to financing consumption rather than growth. Short-term investments rarely contribute to actual production .In East Asia a big part of short-term capital was directed into speculative investments, which pushed up property and share prices. When the crisis started by attacking those countries currencies all creditors immediately tried to collect on debts, which lead to a chain reaction of general bank and financial insolvency. These countries government could not take action to stop it as they abandoned their means of controlling their financial system by deregulation. One should think about why China was not nearly as badly hit as its neighbours, because it was able to cut, not raise, interest rates in the crisis despite maintaining a pegged exchange controls. India was relatively insulated from the East Asia crisis as well. East Asia countries had high level growth rates, were running budget surpluses, and built up high quality manufacturing industries, savings were high. Income had soared, health improved and poverty plummeted dramatically. Some had not suffered a single year of recession in 30 years. All those had been done by governments guidance prior to the so-called E. Asia crisis, which coincided with deregulation of the financial system. Countries like Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Turkey, all suffered financial crisis after deregulations of financial markets. A study done by Demirguc-Kunt and Detragiache (1998) shows that financial liberalisation made crisis more likely and increase financial fragility. East Asian countries were unprepared when they removed many restrictions on their financial system and liberalized it. While they liberalized their financial system they lacked doing the necessary regulation and creation of new watchdog bodies which could supervise and oversee the banks and other financial institutions operations. There were not strong, prudential bodies that could eliminate or reduce the asymmetric information problems of adverse selection and moral hazard. Weak regulations and monitoring systems allowed the banks and other financial institutions to exploit the opportunities created by financial liberalization. Banks are blamed for lending unsafe loans and it was widely believed that banks would be bailed out if they became insolvent. Furthermore, many accused western banks and financial institutions of lending excessively to those countries. What about the idea of financial liberalization, deregulating the financial system? How correct is it to treat financial markets like goods markets? To suggest Laissez faire type of policy in financial markets and applying demand supply diagrams which we use in goods markets to analyse financial markets? Finance is interested in the exchange of money today for the promise of repayment tomorrow. The existence of uncertainty, lack of complete future markets, and the risk of bankruptcy make finance different. Information asymmetries will always exist; there will never be a state of perfect information, besides, investment decisions will not necessarily be improved by better information and transparency. If it would, Sweden, Finland, Norway would not have had financial crisis. They are not enough to underpin robust financial systems. We need the state as a regulatory authority to complement the markets. Noam Chomsky (1999) argues that 30 years ago about 90% of foreign exchange transactions were related to real economy (trade and long term investment); today over 90% of a vastly greater sum consists of short-term flows, about 80% less than a week duration. These short-term flows speculate against currencies or exchange rate fluctuations. According to data from The Bank of International Settlements, a total of 184 billion US dollars entered Asian developing countries as net private capital flows in 1994-1996. In 1996, 94 billion US dollars came in and even as late as the first half of 1997, 70 billion US dollars poured in. With the financial crisis starting in June, a total of 102 billion US dollars flew out in the second half of 1997. This shows how volatile capital flows can be and makes the probability of crisis likely. I think this can be the response to those who suggest that financial liberalisation will allocate the funds more efficiently and investment thus become more efficient. Neoclassical economic school that is behind financial liberalisation (they want deregulations in all markets) wants the state out of the economy completely. Deregulating markets will prevent governments from pursuing any economic and social policy. From economic theory we know externalities, we know when something is good for an individual, it does not follow that is good for society as a whole. This is where the government comes into action, which tries to maximize common good for the nation. A project might not be profitable for an individual, but it may bring benefit to the whole society or vice versa. To understand this crisis and prevent it from happening again one should understand how these countries achieved significant growth rates before the crisis. East Asian countries did not have free markets or western type civil liberties they did have strong, authoritarian governments who made long run economic decision in the sacrifice of short term individual interest. When they liberalized their financial market Individuals, firms and banks did not make their business decision on the basis of long run interests of the common good but on the basis of short term interests of themselves. Adverse selection and the moral hazards problems which caused the Asian financial crisis can be reduced by establishing regulatory institutions and monitoring systems, but will never be removed completely. I believe that the East Asian financial crisis was brought about by many factors. These included; bad economic decision, ongoing decline in economic performance of these countries before crisis, lack of transparency in the system, undemocratic, corrupted governments combined with the adverse selection and moral hazards problems in the banking industry and financial liberalization triggered the crisis. If there were robust, prudent financial institutions, strong, effective regulatory and monitoring bodies with little and no corruption limit and control harmful effects of financial liberalization of markets. What East Asian crisis and other financial crisis provide evidence that the first part of financial liberalization should be to create regulatory and monitoring bodies that holds the financial instability under control created by financial liberalization. There should be some transition period that this type of regulatory framework can be created. Therefore, developing countries who want to liberalize their financial system must follow a gradual path and be cautious. The ironic part of this story is that trying to liberalize the markets by deregulating shows us we still need regulations, rules and monitoring systems. REFERENCES Bong-Chan Kho, Ren M. Stulz, (1999). Banks, the IMF, and The Asian Crisis.NBER Working Paper. Demirguc-Kunt,Asli and Enrica Detragiache, (1998) Financial liberalisation and Financial fragility, World Banks Development Research Group and the International Monetary Funds Research Department. Frederic S. Mishkin, 1999 Lessons from the Asian Crisis NBER Working Paper. Giancarlo Corsetti, Paolo Pesenti, Nouriel Roubini, 1998 Paper Tigers? A model of the Asian Crisis,NBER Working Paper. Joseph Stiglitz, 1998, More Instruments and Broader Goals: Moving Toward the Post-Washington Consensus The 1998 Wider Annual Lecture Joseph Stiglitz The role of the Financial System in Development Presentation of the Fourth Annual Bank Conference on Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC ABCDE) Joseph Stiglitz, February 4, 1998. Bad Private Sector Decisions Wall Street Journal, Joseph Stiglitz, 2000, What I learned at the World Economic Crisis The Insider Joseph Stiglitz, 2003. The Roaring Nineties, Penguin Books. Lot S.Felizco, Feb. 2001, Asian Exchange. Understanding Short-Term Capital Flows and the Imperative of Regulation. Martin Khor, Third World Network, The danger of financial liberalisation Martin Khor , Third World Network, The Economic Crisis in East Asia: Causes, Effects, Lessons . Noam Chomsky ,1999From Bretton Woods to the MAI Le Monde Diplomatique, P.Krugman (1998) What happened to Asia, and Analytical Afterthoughts on the Asian Crisis; at https://www.pkarchive.org Robert Wade and Frank Veneroso,1998, The Asian Crisis: The High Debt Model Versus the Wall Street-Treasury-IMF Complex, New Left Review. Sule Ozler, The Asian Financial Crisis Causes, Contagion and Consequences Koc University and University of California, Los Angeles The Asian Financial Crisis Causes, Contagion and Consequences Edited by Pierre-Richard Agenor, Marcus Miller, David Vines and Axel Weber

Implications of Lifelong Learning Free Essays

string(110) " employees to be updated with the accomplishments and cognition needed to vie in a planetary economic system\." Harmonizing to the European Commission 2010 ‘the graduated table of current economic and societal alteration, the rapid passage to a cognition based society and demographic force per unit areas ensuing from an ageing population in Europe are all challenges which demand a new attack to instruction and preparation within the model of Lifelong Learning. ‘ This essay will analyze how Lifelong Learning has impacted Distance Education whilst turn toing the contested nature of the construct. An effort will be made to summarize and bring forth accounts for the enlargement of Distance Education. We will write a custom essay sample on Implications of Lifelong Learning or any similar topic only for you Order Now An analysis of the benefits and drawbacks will be made with mention to current Distance Education enterprises. A focal point on Government policy and sentiments towards Distance instruction will besides be identified. Lifelong Learning is a contested and debatable construct and there are different positions of Lifelong Learning. A Progressive position believes that larning should be enriching to the person, leting changeless acquisition of new accomplishments and cognition to develop a individuals head. ‘Policy shapers and faculty members progressively argue that we are larning from the minute we are born, to be in the universe, to take our topographic point in society and adapt to alter as we pass through the different phases in our life. ‘ ( Dfee:1998 ) Others believe Lifelong Learning must keep the position quo whilst concentrating on ‘higher order ‘ acquisition. An instrumentalist position shows that employers want Lifelong Learning to suit to their concern and let them to vie in a planetary society. It can be argued that the Government promote Lifelong Learning in an effort to mend the bing instruction and developing systems and to reconstruct the economic system. Distance Education is rapidly going the most popular signifier of larning outside compulsory instruction. Distance instruction is a sub subdivision of Lifelong Learning as it promotes big instruction. ‘Distance instruction and developing consequence from the technological separation of instructor and scholar which frees the pupil from the necessity of going to a fixed topographic point, at a fixed clip, to run into a fixed individual in order to be trained. ‘ ( Valentine:1995 ) Distance Education is a manner of instruction that facilitates flexibleness of topographic point and handiness of clip. Rather than go toing day-to-day categories in colleges and universities Distance Education classs can be studied at place in a individual ‘s free clip. This allows people to prosecute Lifelong Learning whilst holding a household and fulltime calling. Distance Education started with correspondence survey and has expanded well as engineering has developed. ‘As computing machine engineering became prevailing in concern, the print based correspondence classs progressed to computing machine based preparation, which included simulations and finally synergistic class content that provided participant feedback and enhanced larning. ‘ ( Gaymer,2005 ) Educators and employers so invested in telecommunication equipment that distributed developing programmes to their pupils and employees. These synergistic telecasting programmes allowed employers and pedagogues to link to the scholars from across the state. The huge enlargement of the cyberspace has created the current assortment of distance acquisition which is on-line acquisition. The Distance Education motion started in the 20th century, as a consequence of a more industrialized society. There are legion environmental issues that are seting force per unit area on society to set about Lifelong Learning these include, ‘the abundant entree to information, rapid engineering alterations, increased planetary interactions, industry displacements, every bit good as increasing entry degree certificates and accomplishment demands. ‘ ( Gaymer, 2005 ) These factors collaborate in demanding people to invariably upgrade their accomplishments and cognition which can be done flexibly when taking a Distance Learning class. Distance Education gives grownups the chance to re-train in a field they are more interested in or derive a recognized making if they did non get one first clip about. Distance Learning besides allows people to come on in the workplace without go forthing full clip work as the class can be studied at place, in the pupils ain clip. It can be argued that it was Thatcherism that foremost encouraged society to take portion in Lifelong Learning and Distance Education. She greatly enforced the political orientation of taking duty for 1s self and it is the mistake of the person instead than society if a individual does non acquire involved in a skilled work force. Lifelong Learning, societal exclusion and the encouragement of larning are regarded as important by the current Conservative Government. The continuance of acquisition is regarded as necessary for the economic fight of a planetary society, the development of citizenship and increase engagement in a democratic society. Contemporary political relations such as the consecutive Labour Government introduced a assortment of Distance Learning enterprises in response to the demand for Lifelong Learning which creates an progressively educated society. The Union Learning Fund is an enterprise which offers fiscal aid to merchandise brotherhoods to promote larning at work. ‘ A ; lb ; 34 million over three old ages has been allocated for undertakings runing from basic accomplishments to go oning professional development. ‘ ( Anonymous.2010 ) There is besides UNISON which is an ‘informal grownup larning programme that has broadened rank engagement in womb-to-tomb acquisition, increased battle in workplace preparation, public policy and citizenship and helped ease paths into the brotherhood ‘s ain constructions. ‘ ( Barker, 1998 ) The Open University, Oxford Online and Learn Direct are Government backed enterprises that provide reputable establishments which allow people to derive recognized makings. The largest University in the universe is the Open University with 250,000 pupils enrolled. The Open University offers classs from A ; lb ; 115 which contrasts to the traditional classs offered by Universities and Colleges get downing from A ; lb ; 300. In an progressively competitory, employment environment it is overriding for people to invariably develop their accomplishments and cognition. These establishments allow people to go on there instruction on a flexible degree which develops the persons cognition, enhances career chances and facilitates concerns to vie in a planetary society. Businesss are progressively valuing Distance Education in the chase for Lifelong Learning as they require their employees to be updated with the accomplishments and cognition needed to vie in a planetary economic system. You read "Implications of Lifelong Learning" in category "Essay examples" Many of the universe ‘s administrations, both public and private, are promoting Lifelong Learning with regard to distance instruction as they believe that distance educational classs are mandatory in organizational fight. ‘India has created a new industry as an outsource locale for client service which creates client service developing chances in India. Korean makers have a solid history of placing corporate and educational spouses that satisfy their organisational educational demands. ‘ ( Gaymer,2005 ) Employers depend on go oning instruction in the signifier of Distance Education as a tool for guaranting a extremely skilled and knowing work force. The employer now has the ability to develop a big figure of staff in a short period of clip. They can ‘meet specialized demands which generic developing programmes do non fulfill. ‘ ( Rowntree,1994 ) .Online Courses are well cheaper than traditional schoolroom based survey. If the employer was non able to let go of the employee from work, the applier can analyze online in their ain clip. Companies that used distance acquisition identified, higher base on balls rates, line trough satisfaction, better keeping of information and increased chance for publicity. The employers besides reported fiscal betterments in 70 % of subdivisions, reduced client ailments and mistake rates in industry was down by 3 % . ( Rowntree,1994 ) It can be deduced from these findings that a little disbursal to the company by paying for distance instruct ion creates an copiousness of other benefits. Most instruction establishments such as Colleges and Universities now provide some signifier of Distance Education. As a consequence of a ‘reduction in public sector support, establishments now need to bring forth their ain capital from the private sector, in order to keep fiscal viability and to bring forth excesss for investing in new developments, markets and substructure. ‘ ( Anoymous,2007 ) Universities have responded to the alteration in the market as a consequence of Lifelong Learning and really few Universities offer no signifier of Distance Education. The benefits of Distance Education with respects to the suppliers include, cutting contact hours on bing classs and geting more usage out of bing installations. Supplying new chances for staff and catering for a greater figure of scholars without a proportionate addition in cost. Distance Education besides caters for a new type of scholar and exploits new beginnings of support. ( Rowtree:1994 ) Students choose Distance Education classs for, ‘job sweetening, upward calling mobility and personal enrichment. ‘ ( Bradley:2000 ) The benefits of set abouting a Distance Education class include increased entree. A figure of specialized classs are non available at some establishments so the pupil may hold to travel a great distance in order to finish the class if they chose the traditional schoolroom based survey. ‘Short modular bundles and accreditation of anterior acquisition may intend that scholars do non necessitate to pass clip and money on subjects they are already familiar with. ‘ ( Tait,1992 ) Private acquisition and anon. confab room treatments allows diffident students to set forward their thoughts without experiencing uncomfortable which may be the instance in a face to confront state of affairs in a schoolroom environment. There is more pick of what the single wants to larn and how they want to be assessed in distance instruction. It is besides a rgued that distance instruction classs offer a better quality of learning than conventional classs and supply single tutoring online. Despite the ample sum of benefits environing the field of distance instruction it can be argued that there are negative elements within this signifier of Lifelong larning. Increasingly classs are predisposed by industrial developments. Little accent is placed on what would profit the person ‘s personal cognition. ‘Those who wield economic power in society are improbable to promote critical, non-conformist thought. ‘ ( Stephenson,2001 ) It is argued that some signifiers of Distance Education facilitate censoring. There is grounds to propose that employers will merely fund those classs that have a direct consequence on increasing capital within the concern, irrespective of what is considered as utile to the employee. Government funded larning Centres and libraries are being affected by the popularity of on-line acquisition. Peoples are now acquiring their stuffs online, which means the smaller establishments are having fewer financess and in some instances are being s hut down. It is indispensable that the scholar is ‘self actuating, self directing and comparatively self sufficient ‘ ( Hogson:1993 ) in order to win in this type of Lifelong Learning. The hereafter of Distance Education looks set to be more advanced than it is today, ‘the abundant entree of information, rapid engineering alterations, increased planetary interactions, industry displacements every bit good as increasing entry degree certificates and accomplishment demands ensures that distance instruction will stay a valuable resource for directors in the hereafter. ‘ ( Gaymer.2005 ) There is an overpowering involvement in Lifelong Learning and technological developments along with limited clip, assures that larning will go on to be adaptable to the person. Learning progressively needs to suit to the pupils calling and place life due to clip restraints and competitory working environments. ‘The turning planetary economic system will go on to drive the development of larning activities that span geographical parts and clip zones leting persons around the universe to join forces and larn together. ‘ ( Mulhearn,2010 ) Lifelong Learning is a contested and debatable construct, different administrations have diverse positions as to what Lifelong Learning should embrace. Employers rely on Distance Education to make a knowing work force, following modern inventions which invariably need updating in order to vie globally. Educational Institutions rely on Distance Education to supply excess capital as the current Conservative Government is cutting funding in the instruction sector. Persons need to progressively prosecute in Distance Education to develop self cognition, take part in a competitory working environment and to heighten calling chances. Lifelong Learning, societal exclusion and the encouragement of larning are regarded as important by the current Conservative Government. Whilst Distance Education is viewed positively, there are negative elements to this assortment of larning. Increasingly classs are predisposed by industrial developments and minor accent is placed on what would profit the pers on ‘s personal cognition. Lifelong Learning can be interpreted ideologically in a assortment of ways, there is the publicity of personal development, inclusion and equality of chance in society. This type of womb-to-tomb acquisition is personally honoring for the participants, nevertheless there is no direct economic benefit. Alternatively there is a more instrumental attack that emphasises larning for economic benefit. This assortment of Lifelong larning focal points on employability, productiveness and efficiency. How to cite Implications of Lifelong Learning, Essay examples

Equity bank case study free essay sample

Equity bank group is a financial institution based in Kenya, East Africa, offering a variety of financial services. This company was founded in 1984 as a minor institution, specializing in mortgage financing, which targeted the low income earners. Based on the fact that Kenya is a developing country characterized by majority of citizens earning less than adequate income, the target population acted as strength and thus contributed to the company’s instant growth. However equity bank, which was known as Equity Building Society (EBS) by then, experienced a downfall in growth an aspect that led to its bankruptcy in 1993. The pre-insolvency period totally differed with the period of 1993 to date in terms of equity banks economic progress, with the former showing a great decline and drastic company growth during the latter (Stanford 2007). To date equity bank is rated among the best bank in retail baking in Kenya , offering a variety of banking services as well as collaborating with other firms to improve their services, for instance in mobile banking. It’s worth noting that banking industry in Kenya’s is highly competitive, with more than 40 registered commercial banks. In an effort to overcome this competition, equity bank targeted low income earners who happened to be non-banked. After the 1993 scandal, EBS transformed from a mortgage financier to microfinance. The target group wasn’t changed, but this time a better approach in strategy formulation was adopted. Following a threat by the Central bank of Kenya to dissolve the insolvent bank, the management was reformed as an alternative option. Following porter’s argument that competitive advantage cannot be generated through natural resources (Porter 73), the new management built on the same target population that had caused failure to the company, but this time applying a more innovative strategy. Human resource is a key factor in banking services. Lack of skilled labour in Kenya worked as a disadvantage to equity banks prosperity. However the bank management avoided importation of skilled labour. Top management worked with the semi- skilled staff. Attributed to this success is James Mwangi’s leadership characterized by motivating employees, providing systematic training that not only increases competency and technical skills but also enhanced competency as observed in 2004. Moreover, accepting the importance of technology, equity bank has allowed for innovation, inventing the latest technology. To start with the IT sector has been improving on the banks communication system, and thus reducing the transaction processing period drastically. As a matter of facts, large numbers of customers has been a threat to equity bank, as it results to large queues, with competitors using this as a marketing opportunity (Stanford 2007). In addition to reduced processing time, equity bank has opened several branches to cater for their customers, both permanent and mobile, with most transactions being made either online or through mobile phones. Competition reduces firm’s sales as the market is fully segmented with each firm serving a fraction of the market. Porter discriminated that demand is naturally obtained, holding that a nation can influence demand. According to porter local market trends, which can be artificially influenced, act as a competitive advantage as well as encourage global transactions (Porter 79). It’s from this perspective that equity bank has expanded its business lines. Although restricted to banking services, equity bank puts diversification as a core objective. In 2005, equity bank succeeded to fully transform from a mortgage financing provider to a savings and loans institution (Equity bank). Following the emergence of many microfinance firms that served the poor, equity bank had no option but expand its services to retain its share of the market. This strict and direct competition, made equity bank diversify through innovation. To cater for deposits, equity bank ha maintained a steady increase in the number of accounts opened. Each account type fits a specific group of customers and is in line with the buyer’s incentive to save. For instance, the jijenge1 account enhances self-development motivating customers to save for a certain project, for example a car (Equity Bank Kenya †¢ Jijenge Account). Equity bank was the first to waive minimum account balances. On the lending sector, equity bank has maintained low interest rates, as well as reducing the minimum amount of loans that can be borrowed to Ksh. 500 (approximately equal to 6 US dollars) in 2006. The above strategies aimed at convincing customers that the company minds about their welfare and thus reducing threat of substitutes (Porter 80). In a nutshell, equity banks strategies, differed from most financial institutions, and that’s what made it prosper. While other financial institutions forecasted on improving their performance through collusive decisions, government intervention, the small but rising, equity bank captured the low income earners p. The local conditions of majority being poor worked as an advantage but given that other entrepreneurs had seen the gap and invented microfinance, equity bank had to lift up their game. Moreover, as the banks prosperity attracted high income earners, considered to have a high buyer’s power, the firm invented prestige branches, which were conditioned to fit the targeted class. Through, stiff competition among other challenges, equity bank management has emerged a successful and innovative, and thus attracting demand globally, its due to this that the bank has set branches in several nations across east Africa. In conclusion, it’s worth noting that, equity bank prospered not due to adequate demand for their services (availability of poor community) but through carefully made strategies. All the strategies that have been put in practice by the ban are influenced by external factors. Case Study: Equity Bank’s winning strategies Introduction It’s a common act for the middle and high income earners to have a bank account make savings in form of deposits and taker loans to finance their projects, courtesy of financial institutions. On the other hand, the poor, whose main objective is to secure basic needs, hustling hard on daily basis have been excluded from the banked list. As a matter of fact, a higher percentage of developing countries’ population is categorized in the latter. Kenya’s equity bank, a highly progressing institution in terms of customer base, capital growth and expansion, operational efficiency among other metrics fills this market gap. Background Equity bank was founded in 1984, as a family business as a mortgage financier. Named as equity building society the institutions management failed to accomplish the business’ goal of gradual but long term growth. In contrary the management focused more on building a close relationship with the owners, increasing the firms lending risks through unprofessional projects that lacked standardization and controls. This led to the firm’s deterioration leaving it almost bankrupt in 1993 (Stanford School). On realizing this, the board of directors reformed the management team, recruiting prominent members. Under the new management, the target population was maintained, but new strategies were set forward. This marked Equity bank’s turnaround from a failing institution to a drastically growing business institution. As a matter of fact, equity bank management started expanding its services by transforming the institution from mortgage financier to a loans and savings institution, an objective achieved in 2005. Under the leadership of James Mwangi, the bank has enhanced growth by taking advantage of the ready market of their services, and defeating competition through innovation and technology (Stanford School). To date equity bank is ranked as one of the best performing financial institution, with the highest number of customers in Kenya. Strategies With the main goal of achieving long term growth as well as stable and increasing returns, equity bank only applies winning strategies, which are well researched on and implemented. Operating under strict competition by emerging microfinances and other commercial banks, equity bank focuses on delivering value to consumers, disciplined cost management and increasing productivity all which are aimed at sustaining the momentum of the set growth. Having worked as an assistant branch manager in several branches in based in the marginalized counties in the country, I have seen the strategies work, both in increasing profitability as well as customer relation. Equity bank maintains a unique funding structure as one of their strategies. Contrary to their competitors, equity bank avoids debt financing. To finance its many expansion projects, technological advancement, not excluding IT improvement, equity bank takes advantage of strong saving deposits by customers, shareholders funds with minimal long-term debt financing (Equity Bank Kenya †¢ Equity Bank’s Strategy Increases Profits by 36 percent | Blog. ). To encourage deposits, equity bank maintains specialized accounts that specifically fit several categories of customers. Moreover, many accounts are branded to fit a certain customers’ goal such as school fees account, achievers student account, junior member and teen member accounts and not excluding the general Jijenge account. This motivates customers to deposit as well as delaying withdrawal, hence providing not only operating capital to the bank but also adequate time to invest the capital which increases the firms competition power (Roger 200). Equity bank also issues new shares regularly to finance major projects. The number of shareholders has been increasing with investors being attracted by the stable and raising share price. While other banks issue shares to reduce debt, equity bank issues share capital to expand, opening more branches and improving on IT and overall performance (Fanele Chester). Banks earn their profits by lending at an interest mere than the one they pay to deposits. This makes the loan section a critical. Equity bank capitalizes on incorporating the customers’ needs and objectives to lure them obtain loans. It is the main goal of any client, be it individual or business, to enhance self-growth. Focusing on low income class, equity bank offers loans to Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) at interests lower than their competitors(Equity Bank Kenya †¢ Equity Bank’s Strategy Increases Profits by 36 percent | Blog. ). Given that deposits are obtained from the same class of people and at low interests, profit margins are maintained equal to their competitors. However, the number of transactions undertaken by equity bank outdoes their competitors resulting to higher overall profits. Moreover, the loans are also specialized for instance; social covering social needs such as medical, agricultural, private sector, working nation that gives salary advances. In addition loan requirements based on pre-existing property was waived in 2006 increasing the number of viable loan customers. In a nutshell, equity bank has grown amazingly and still sustains its growth rate. Its loans base has been rising with the greatest rise in SME loans of 45% being recorded in 2012(Initiative for Global Development). This goes hand in hand with increased operational efficiency, with emphasis being made on improving the skills of employees as well as upgrading the IT system, not excluding introduction of bank agents to cater for the growing customer base of nearly 8 million. its worthy noting that equity banks observes all professional and business ethics and thus has played a major role in poverty elimination through efficient allocation of capital as well as increasing the countries revenue through high tax payoff.