Monopoly and Quasar Essay Example for Free

Monopoly and Quasar Essay In 2003, Quasar computers launched a revolutionary new laptop computer named the neutron. The neutron uses high speed optical conductors, which is the first technology of its kind to be used in a laptop. Over time many businesses need to evolve to stay competitive and continue to make a profit in the market place that they have entered. This paper will discuss how the Quasar computer company moved through the different market structures over the past ten years and how the pricing and non-pricing strategies affected the company’s growth. During their transition the company faced many obstacles that could have caused a detriment to their economic prosperity. We will also discuss some of the potential risks that the company may have faced and the negative consequences that they would have had to overcome in those situations. Last, we will explore the competition that Quasar faced as the transition from one market structure to another occurred and analyze the commercial policies that are intended to protect the computer industry. Quasar like most other companies found a short-term profitable product, but being able to adjust as competition enters the market is the key for Quasar to remain profitable. After the launch of the Neutron laptop computer Quasar enjoyed a pure monopoly market. A pure monopoly exists when a single firm is the sole producer of a product for which there are no close substitutes (McConnell, Brue, 2004). During this time the company could set the pricing of the computer based on the demand for the newly innovative product. Because no other company produced the optical notebook the company was free to charge above market value for their product. But having a product in place will not bring up the sales. One of the strategies is to select an advertising budget to attract more customers to their product. The simulation showed that by slightly cutting the price and advertising the product the company could more than double their profits. Another strategy that the company was faced with was the improvement of the production processes. By upgrading, the company can optimize production while reducing the per-unit cost. This reduction means a lower price for the product which could bring in more customers and a higher profit. With the expiration of the patents once held by Quasar along with the increased demand for optical computers, other companies began to enter the market. This changed the market structure into an oligopolistic market. The difficulty in the oligopolistic market is the pricing strategy. The competitors need to reach a stable price where all make a reasonable profit. Because there are competitors fighting for market share and in the case of Quasar there is only one other fighting for market share, they both need to understand that pricing is the key. If the price is too high the demand for the product is lower if the price is cut severely, then the companies would have caused a slump in the industry. Even though they are both looking to get more market share the stability of the market is what will continue to bring the profits. As market share decreased due to competition, technology is now easily available, and new competitors entered the market. With low barriers to entry and ease of differentiation the market began to look like a monopolistic competition. In general, however, monopolistically competitive industries are much more competitive than they are monopolistic (McConnell, Brue, 2004). By having multiple variants in the market Quasar is faced with a decision of whether to promote the brand that has been the cornerstone of their business or introduce its own variant into the market. Quasar can invest money into research and development of their own variant that can remain competitive. By choosing to go that route, the company is able to be more profitable than if they were to advertise and promote the Neutron. As the years went by the monopolistic competition market finally became a perfect competition. A perfect competition market involves a very large number of firms producing a standardized product and allows new firms to enter or exit the industry very easily (McConnell-Brue, 2004). Unlike the other structures, the price of the product is determined by the market. In the short term a company such as Quasar can increase profits by using cost cutting measures. In pure competition a company has very little alternative to turn a profit. The quality and pricing of the product has stabilized and the products are similar to one another. A strategy that Quasar pursued was to invest in a company called Opticom which was a primary supplier of Optical Display Screens. By investing in Opticom and continuously improving much like the company did for the Neutron line, Quasar can turn a small profit before the industry catches up. During the transitions, Quasar was faced with many risks that need to be addressed to keep the company profitable. By performing a risk analysis we can determine if the course of action that the company pursued was correct. For example, when the company made the choice to introduce a variant into the market to remain competitive, the risk that the company took was tremendous. The money invested in research and development of a new product may not bring the expected result. If they had a far less superior product than the competitors or if the brand was improperly promoted, the outcome could have been disastrous. But by observing that they could use a twelve million of their unused production capacity they could lower the total cost of both the incumbent product as well as the new comer. Over the past several years the computer industry has grown exponentially with manufacturers like Dell, Apple and even Sony. Quasar has identified Japan as the country where they will face the greatest competition. Government procurement restrictions protect Japanese electronics and computer industries. These restrictions have recently been relaxed somewhat but they remain significant obstacles of trade (Unknown, 2004). These trade restrictions will hinder trade of Quasar’s products to Japan, but the company may be able to expand into the country and take advantage of the tax breaks while possibly distributing there product under a subsidiaries name. Many different businesses have had to evolve over their lifetime. Businesses that were once monopolies may end up on the other end of the spectrum depending on the ebb and flow of the market. The Quasar Computers scenario exhibited the evolution of a firm from one form of market structure to another. The company showed that during the life cycle of the product the company may have to pass through the different market structures as the product matures. The key to any company to remain profitable is to remain flexible. References McConnell, C, Brue, S. (2004). Economics principles. problems and policies [Adobe version]. University of Phoenix. (2002). Economics for Managerial Decision Making [Computer Software]. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, Simulation, ECOGM561 International Economics website. Unknown, . (1984). Japanese industrial policy. Retrieved from http://fraser. stlouisfed. org/publications/erp/page/5692/download/46305/5692_ERP. pdf.

Bush Imposes Gag Rule :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Bush Imposes Gag Rule On January 25, 2001, on his first business day in office (and the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision establishing a woman's right to an abortion), President George W. Bush stupidly re-imposed the Global Gag Rule on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) population program. This policy restricts foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive USAID family planning funds from using their own, non-U.S. funds to provide legal abortion services, lobby their own governments for abortion law reform, or even provide accurate medical counseling or referrals regarding abortion. See what damage he is doing! The 1973 Helms Amendment is a legislative provision that already restricts U.S. funds from being used for these activities, but Bush had to get involved for political purposes. About 2 million women die every year from unsafe abortions, a statistic that could be virtually eliminated by the provision of appropriate health information and services and law reform efforts. Despite this, President Bush's Executive Memorandum directs USAID "to reinstate in full all of the requirements of the Mexico City Policy in effect on January 19, 1993." According to this policy, foreign organizations--often the only health care providers in remote, rural areas--are prohibited from using their own, non-U.S. funds for: * providing legal abortions even, can you believe, where a woman's physical or mental health is endangered (the only exceptions are in cases of rape, incest, or where the woman's life is endangered); * providing advice and information regarding the availability and benefits of abortion and from providing referrals to another health clinic; * lobbying their own governments to legalize abortion, to maintain current law and oppose restrictions, or to decriminalize abortion; and * conducting public education campaigns regarding abortion. In addition, even the provision of services that are "permitted"1 on paper, such as life-saving abortions and post-abortion care, are often curtailed because NGOs fear jeopardizing their funding through any association with abortion - what cowardice!! Providers may even be reluctant to dispense emergency contraception--which acts to prevent pregnancy and is not an abortifacient (despite the lies you may hear from the antichoice groups and the Catholic Church --because of the Global Gag Rule.

Do you think that Austen makes it possible to feel sympathy for Mrs. Bennet? Essay

It is my opinion that in the novel Pride and Prejudice, Austen does not make it possible to feel sympathy for Mrs. Bennet as much as feeling a certain fondness for her and her silly ways. She is a very amusing and lovable character, and this is exactly what makes her so exciting to read about. From the very beginning, Austen portrays her as a rather silly and superficial woman. Within the first chapter, she paints complete portrait of her character in jut a few lines. â€Å"She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper.† The reader, at this point, does not know quite what to make of her, until Austen declares, â€Å"when she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous† and one immediately falls in love with her. â€Å"The business of her life was to see her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news† further conveys how very superficial she is, yet somehow retains the quintessence of being extremely humorous. Mrs. Bennet is one of the principal characters that help set the feel for the entire novel. There lies a sharp contrast between Mrs. Bennet and her husband, who is â€Å"so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve and caprice,† that he quickly loses interest in his wife after the novelty of being newlywed wears off. He subsequently found ways to amuse himself by frustrating his wife constantly. The reader always takes delight in these tiny conspiracies against Mrs. Bennet. For example, when Mrs. Bennet tried to tell her husband about a very eligible bachelor who had just moved into Netherfield, Mr. Bennet feigned disinterest to purposely aggravate her. He then declares that he shall do no such thing as paying Mr. Bingley a visit. The next day, while Mrs. Bingley laments over not having a proper chance to be introduced, and how they will never have such a golden opportunity pass their way again, Mr. Bennet stuns everyone by saying that there is no need for anyone to introduce them, for he has taken care of that himself. Mrs.’s Bennet’s reaction, subsequently, was enormously funny, and that is one of the things that arguably make her the most memorable character in the novel. Her awkward ways, however, have not spared her and her family from embarrassment. She could be rather socially awkward at times, and later Darcy goes on to tell Elizabeth that one of the many reasons her was reluctant to marry her was because of her mother’s awkward behavior around him and others. There were also times when her â€Å"meanness of understanding† could not be masked, and conversations oft turned awkward when she took offence over nothing. For example, when Darcy was speaking about how there is a greater variety of people in the city, Mrs. Bennet thought that he was slandering the village folk and claimed that they â€Å"dine with some four-and-twenty families† at Meryton. Despite all her faults, the reader falls in love with Mrs. Bennet and her â€Å"poor nerves.† Austen has maneuvered her writing flawlessly and portrays Mrs. Bennet’s character beautifully. She is one of the most entertaining characters of Austen’s novel; there is no need to feel sympathy for her, as she is a very superficial woman who does not reflect too deeply on her feelings.

Should Marijuana Be Legalized - 930 Words

Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana, also known as Cannabis, is derived from the Cannabis plant and is used commonly for either recreational or medical purposes. Marijuana is composed of chemicals such as tetrahydrocannabinol (HTC, and over 80 cannabinoids. Marijuana is acknowledged for providing smokers with a â€Å"high† feeling. Since the twentieth century, this illicit drug has been banned across the world. However, over the past few years studies have been conducted on marijuana and the results show that it can actually be helpful in many different areas of society. The legalization of marijuana has widespread benefits for the medical, law enforcement, and economic sectors. Marijuana has a variety of benefits in the medical field because it can control many side effects from different diseases. For instance, cancer is a deadly disease that kills over seven million people across the world every year. Patients diagnosed with cancer go through several painful treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy. Thankfully, marijuana helps to alleviate pain and suppress nausea from cancer treatments. Moreover, it has been proven to prevent cancer cells from spreading throughout the body. According to Business Insider, cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical found in marijuana, stops cancer by turning off a gene called ID-1. This gene is what helps the cancer cells produce copies of themselves and expand. Also, marijuana can both nurse and obstruct glaucoma, an eye disease that damages vision andShow MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legalized?849 Words   |  4 Pageswhether marijuana should be legalized. Around 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. In the state of Illinois, medicinal use of marijuana has been passed on April 17, 2013. Since January 2014, patients are able to obtain marijuana with a doctor s recommendation. The new debate is whether marijuana should be legalized for the general public as a recreational drug. Although some beli eve that marijuana is harmless, and that it has beneficial medicinal uses, marijuana shouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1715 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana in Society Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel â€Å"high† or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). Like mostRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1489 Words   |  6 Pagescannabis plant or marijuana is intended for use of a psychoactive drug or medicine. It is used for recreational or medical uses. In some religions, marijuana is predominantly used for spiritual purposes. Cannabis is indigenous to central and south Asia. Cannabis has been scientifically proven that you can not die from smoking marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized to help people with medical benefits, econo mic benefits, and criminal benefits. In eight states, marijuana was legalized for recreationalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1245 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana is a highly debatable topic that is rapidly gaining attention in society today.   Legalizing marijuana can benefit the economy of this nation through the creation of jobs, increased tax revenue, and a decrease in taxpayer money spent on law enforcement.   Ã‚  Many people would outlaw alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, gambling, and tanning beds because of the harmful effects they have on members of a society, but this is the United States of America; the land of the free and we should give peopleRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1010 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the â€Å"high† feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasonsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1350 Words   |  6 Pagespolitics in the past decade would have to be the legalization of marijuana. The sale and production of marijuana have been legalized for medicinal uses in over twenty states and has been legalized for recreational uses in seven states. Despite the ongoing support for marijuana, it has yet to be fully legalized in the federal level due to cultural bias against â€Å"pot† smoking and the focus over its negative effects. However, legalizing marijuana has been proven to decrease the rate of incrimination in AmericaRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1231 Words   |  5 Pagesshows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drugRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesSHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED? Marijuana is a drug that has sparked much controversy over the past decade as to whether or not it should be legalized. People once thought of marijuana as a bad, mind-altering drug which changes a person’s personality which can lead to crime and violence through selling and buying it. In the past, the majority of citizens believed that marijuana is a harmful drug that should be kept off the market and out of the hands of the public. However, a recent study conductedRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1596 Words   |  7 Pages But what needs to be known before a user can safely and completely make the decision if trying Marijuana is a good idea? Many do not want the drug to be legalized because they claim that Cannabis is a â€Å"gateway drug†, meaning it will cause people to try harder drugs once their body builds up a resistance to Marijuana, because a stronger drug will be needed to reach a high state. This argument is often falsely related to the medical si de of the debate over legalization. It is claimed that this wouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?985 Words   |  4 PagesLegalize Marijuana Despite what people believe about marijuana, it hasn’t once proved to be the cause of any real issue. It makes you wonder what the reason as to why there is a war on drugs. Why is marijuana the main concern? Since the time that alcohol and tobacco became legal, people wonder why marijuana isn’t legal yet. The fact that marijuana is illegal is mainly caused by the amount of money, jobs, and pride invested in the drug war. Once the government starts anything, they stick to it. At Should Marijuana Be Legalized - 930 Words Herbs have been used for centuries as spices, flavoring and medicine. The use of cannabis has been questioned for years, whether or not it is a brilliant idea to legalize its beneficial purposes. Cannabis should be legalized because it has great medical benefits, will boost the economy by creating more job opportunities, and will replace the productions of resources that can harm the planet. Using marijuana as a main medicine source has powerful health benefits. Lately, more and more states have approved the purchase of medical marijuana. Marijuana contains two main cannabinoids, THC and CBD, which help with medical illnesses and symptoms (â€Å"DrugFacts†). DrugFacts states that THC reduces nausea and decreases pain, swelling and redness. CBD is a cannabinoid that reduces pain and can possibly treat mental illnesses and addictions (â€Å"DrugFacts†). Some of the main conditions and diseases medical marijuana has cured or treated include AIDS/HIV, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, and migraines (â€Å"Disease/Conditions†). Though many studies have proven medical marijuana to be beneficial in illnesses, the overuse of marijuana can cause dependency issues and memory loss (Loria and Welsh). In 2007, researchers at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco have reported that the cannabinoid CBD can help prevent cancer from spreading (Loria and Welsh). The study published that CBD can turn off the gene Id-1, which lessen the aggressive spreading cancerShow MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legalized?849 Words   |  4 Pageswhether marijuana should be legalized. Around 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. In the state of Illinois, medicinal use of marijuana has been passed on April 17, 2013. Since January 2014, patients are able to obtain marijuana with a doctor s recommendation. The new debate is whether marijuana should be legalized for the general public as a recreational drug. Although some believe that marijuana is harmless, and that it has beneficial medicinal uses, marijuana shouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1715 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana in Society Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel â€Å"high† or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). Like mostRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1489 Words   |  6 Pagescannabis plant or marijuana is intended for use of a psychoactive drug or medicine. It is used for recreational or medical uses. In some religions, marijuana is predominantly used for spiritual purposes. Cannabis is indigenous to central and south Asia. Cannabis has been scientifically proven that you can not die from smoking marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized to help people with medical benefits, econo mic benefits, and criminal benefits. In eight states, marijuana was legalized for recreationalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1245 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana is a highly debatable topic that is rapidly gaining attention in society today.   Legalizing marijuana can benefit the economy of this nation through the creation of jobs, increased tax revenue, and a decrease in taxpayer money spent on law enforcement.   Ã‚  Many people would outlaw alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, gambling, and tanning beds because of the harmful effects they have on members of a society, but this is the United States of America; the land of the free and we should give peopleRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1010 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the â€Å"high† feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasonsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1350 Words   |  6 Pagespolitics in the past decade would have to be the legalization of marijuana. The sale and production of marijuana have been legalized for medicinal uses in over twenty states and has been legalized for recreational uses in seven states. Despite the ongoing support for marijuana, it has yet to be fully legalized in the federal level due to cultural bias against â€Å"pot† smoking and the focus over its negative effects. However, legalizing marijuana has been proven to decrease the rate of incrimination in AmericaRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1231 Words   |  5 Pagesshows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drugRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesSHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED? Marijuana is a drug that has sparked much controversy over the past decade as to whether or not it should be legalized. People once thought of marijuana as a bad, mind-altering drug which changes a person’s personality which can lead to crime and violence through selling and buying it. In the past, the majority of citizens believed that marijuana is a harmful drug that should be kept off the market and out of the hands of the public. However, a recent study conductedRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1596 Words   |  7 Pages But what needs to be known before a user can safely and completely make the decision if trying Marijuana is a good idea? Many do not want the drug to be legalized because they claim that Cannabis is a â€Å"gateway drug†, meaning it will cause people to try harder drugs once their body builds up a resistance to Marijuana, because a stronger drug will be needed to reach a high state. This argument is often falsely related to the medical si de of the debate over legalization. It is claimed that this wouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?985 Words   |  4 PagesLegalize Marijuana Despite what people believe about marijuana, it hasn’t once proved to be the cause of any real issue. It makes you wonder what the reason as to why there is a war on drugs. Why is marijuana the main concern? Since the time that alcohol and tobacco became legal, people wonder why marijuana isn’t legal yet. The fact that marijuana is illegal is mainly caused by the amount of money, jobs, and pride invested in the drug war. Once the government starts anything, they stick to it. At