Tourism Country Analysis-Germany Essay Example for Free

Tourism Country Analysis-Germany Essay Introduction Germany is a country with astounding diversity with one of the richest historical heritage in the world, standing out as one of the tourist attraction features. Germany is the most centrally placed in Europe among all the European countries. It has a history of a disunited nation having distinct states and tribes. For this reason, Germany more that any other European nation bears different names depending on the language used. For example it is called Deutschland within Germany; in French it is called ‘Allemagne’ and ‘Niemcy’ in Polish. (Country profile) On October 3rd 1990, Western Germany was unified with the German Democratic Republic. The leaving standards in the latter could not march those ones of the former; it has been a major challenge to do this because of the inherent industrial enterprise inefficiencies that characterized the German Democratic Republic. Another major factor that has posed challenges include the difficulty in East Germany of resolving property ownership and the lack of infrastructure and the environmental degradation that occurred during the communist rule. (Berghahn V. R. 1987) The extremist violence especially from the political right that is usually witnessed in East Germany is always related to the economic uncertainty in this region. Most times the violence is directed towards foreigners and in particular non-Europeans. (Berghahn V. R. 1987) Politics Germany is considered to be a Federal, Parliamentary, and representative democratic Republic. The ‘Grundgestz’ or the Basic Law is the framework that was laid down in 1949 that guides the German political system up to today. For any amendments to take place in the Grundgestz, a two-thirds majority in Parliament is required. (Country profile) The Chancellor heads the Government and the position is currently held by Angela Merkel and she exercises executive powers that are similar to a Prime Minister’s. Parliament that consists of the Bundestag and Bundesrat (Federal Council) is vested with Federal legislative Powers. Members of the Bundestag are elected directly and members in the Bundesrat represent the governments of the 16 states. These members are appointed by the state cabinet, which possesses the power to remove them any time. (Country profile) The Christian Democratic Party Union and the Social Democratic Party of Germany are the dominating parties since 1949. However there’s existence of other smaller parties, which include the Free Democratic Party and the Alliance 90/ The Greens (Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union). The President of Germany also doubles up as the Head of State and is normally elected by the Federal Convention (Bundesversammlung), which is the institution made up of members of the Bundestage and some members of the State delegate. The President of the Bundestag is the second highest official and the Bundestag itself elects him/her. His/her responsibilities include the overseeing of the body’s daily sessions. The Chancellor on the other hand doubles up as the head of Government and is the third highest official who is nominated by the Germany President and then is elected by the Bundestag. A constructive motion of no confidence by the Bundestag is what is necessary to remove the Chancellor.( Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union) Economy In Europe, Germany’s National Economy is the largest. It is ranked the third largest in the world by nominal GDP, but ranked fifth in regards to gross domestic product. As per 2006 statistics, the average growth stands at 2.8% per annum. Germany has been renowned world over since the industrial age as one of the best motor innovators and has greatly benefited from the globalized world economy. (Berghahn V. R, 1987) One of its major drivers of its export economy is the trademark â€Å"Made in Germany,† which the world has continuously associated with sturdiness and durability. This has turned out the country to be the world’s top exporter with the export figures as at 2006 standing at $ 1.133 trillion generating a trade surplus of approximately â‚ ¬165 billion. 70% of its total GDP is generated by the service sector with 29.1% contributed by the industrial sector and agriculture falling behind with about 0.9%. (Berghahn V. R, 1987) Germany’s automobiles, machinery, metals, and chemical goods contribute greatly to the export portfolio. In solar and wind turbine technology, Germany leads the world (Global Wind Energy Market ).   Amongst its most popular brands include Siemens, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Nivea among others. Germany uses the common market currency the Euro and the country stands out as a major advocate for the European Union. Society (People and Culture) The majority German population is made up inhabitants of ethnic Germans and over 7 million foreigners. Majority of the foreigners are made up of the so called â€Å"guest workers† who were mostly Turkish workers, who in the 1950s and 60s were invited to fill in for the labor shortages, Germany thus has quite a good number of ethnic Turks. Many political and economic refugees from the world over especially the developing world choose Germany as a prime destination. (Country profile) Germany boasts of having one of the world’s highest levels of education with exquisite technological advancement coupled with an unrivaled economic productivity. University enrolment has steadily risen and has more than tripled since World War II; the trade and technical schools that are sponsored by the Federal Republic of Germany support the universities. The majority of the population is made up of the middle class with a per capita income standing at $ 28,700, this is combined with a comprehensive social welfare system that caters for the universal medical care and unemployment care besides other social needs. (Berghahn V. R, 1987) Culturally Germany is usually called â€Å"the land of poets and thinkers† (Wasser J. 2006). Religious and secular currents that have taken place in Europe for a long time have continuously shaped the German culture. One of the most famous German classical music composers is Ludwig Van Beethoven (Wasser J. 2006). Geography The geography of Germany is rich and diverse ranging from the high Alps in the South, the Bavarian plain, and the flowing hills of central Germany to the coast of the North and Baltic Sea. This makes the country’s countryside scenery worth visiting, â€Å"it all looks like a miniature train landscape packed with the nicest of old towns, medieval houses, gothic churches and small villages; its exotic!† (Country profile) Global Position Germany has continued to play a very important role in the formation and the continued strengthening of the European Union and has continued to cultivate a very close relationship with France. One of Germany’s closest allies has been the U.S, whose help was quite invaluable during the 1948 Marshall Plan to rebuild Germany after World War II. Ties with America have gone to other areas like trade where a more balanced trade relationship has continued to flourish. (Country profile) REFERENCES Berghahn, Volker Rolf. (1987) Modern Germany: Society, Economy, and Politics in the 20th Century. 2d ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union: Retrieved on 6th March 2008 from U.S. Library of Congress:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ,   Global Wind Energy Market 2006-2011, Retrieved on 6th   March 2008 from www.windtech-international.com: Wasser, Jeremy. (2006) Spà ¤tzle Westerns Spiegel Online International: Retrieved on 6th March 2008 Country profile: Germany: Retrieved on 6th March 2008 from   http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1047864.stm:

Fed and Interest Rates Essay example -- essays research papers

The Fed and Interest Rates Dave Pettit of The Wall Street Journal writes a daily column that appears inside the first page of the journal's Money & Investment section. If the headlines of Mr. Pettit's daily column are any accurate record of economic concerns and current issues in the business world, the late weeks of March and the early weeks of April in 1994 were intensely concerned with interest rates. To quote, "Industrials Edge Up 4.32 Points Amid Caution on Interest Rates," and "Industrials Track On 13.53 Points Despite Interest-Rate Concerns." Why such a concern with interest rates? A week before, in the last week of March, the Fed had pushed up the short-term rates. This being the first increase in almost five years, it caused quite a stir. When the Fed decides the economy is growing at too quick a pace, or inflation is getting out of hand, it can take actions to slow spending and decrease the money supply. This corresponding with the money equation MV = PY, by lowering both M and V, P and Y can stabilize if they are increasing too rapidly. The Fed does this by selling securities on the open market. This, in turn, reduces bank's reserves and forces the interest rate to rise so the banks can afford to make loans. People seeing these rises in rates will tend to sell their low interest assets, in order to acquire additional money, they tend move toward higher yielding accounts, also further increasing the rate. Soon this small change by the Fed affects all aspects of business, from the price level to interest rates on credit cards. Rises and falls in the interest rate can reflect many changes in an economy. When the economy is in a recession and needs a type of stimulus package, the Fed may attempt to decrease the interest rates to encourage growth and spending in the markets. This was the case from 1989 until last month, during which the nation's economy was generally considered to be in a slight to moderate recession. During this period the Fed tried to keep interest rates low to facilitate growth and spending in hard times. However, when inflation is increasing too quickly and the economy is gaining strength, the Fed will attempt to raise rates, as it did late last March. This can be considered a sign that we are pulling out of the r... ..."slight" increase as opposed to one of "somewhat greater" magnitude. This article is interesting because it shows that even the Fed can be uncertain about what is best for the economy, but it still focuses on the power of Allen Greenspan, as well as the committee as a whole. It compares the two arguments of each method, and shows a weakness in the Fed that may have been unknown to the reader before. The Wall Street Journal (Mon. April 11, 1994) - "Fed Moved Too Slow On Increasing Rates" This recent article criticizes the Fed's actions in raising the interest rate, and complains that the Fed has fallen behind in it's job. It discusses the plan for a "Neutral" policy and what the Fed has tried to do and not do to maintain this so called policy. It argues the motives and reasons for wanting a lower interest rate and compares past decades to today's standings. Overall it focuses deeply on the need to check inflation and if it is valid. It shows that the Fed tends to take a more conservative approach to the economy than some analysts would prefer, but that the Fed will probably continue to raise interest rates.

Black Power Movement Essay

The Black Power Movement was a new way of fighting for Civil Rights in the 60’s. Many African Americans were tired of ineffective, peaceful protests so they turned to violence. There were multiple groups and leaders involved with this movement such as Malcolm X and the Black Panther Party. The Black Power Movement was a battle for immediate change in American society that involved the FBI and the Police. The media made it look like a danger to innocent people, while others viewed it as a progressive movement for African American culture. Though it was a violent and dangerous movement, it was necessary for African Americans to gain equality in America. The Black Power Movement was a form of protesting that had not yet been seen before in the Civil Rights Movement. The term â€Å"Black Power† was introduced in 1966, in a speech by Stokely Carmichael, the head of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The SNCC was an organization that would help African American students partake in the Civil Rights movement through peaceful activities. Carmichael grew tired of the slow rate of civil rights’ progression, which he made clear in his speeches. He once said in a speech, â€Å"Some negroes have been walking down dream street talking about sitting next to white people. That does not begin to solve the problem†¦ we were never fighting for the right to integrate, we were fighting against white supremacy.† Carmichael’s enthusiasm towards a new type of movement brought many young African Americans into the picture. African Americans soon began to take pride in their heritage and create their own type of style. Many grew out their hair into â€Å"afros† other than previously copying the white mans’ conk style of hair. They also began to wear traditional African dashikis and blue jeans. The new African American style gave them a sense of individuality and pride. The rise of the Black Power movement showed the people of America that African Americans were strong individuals that were willing to fight for their liberties. The motivation for this type of movement was greatly influenced by Malcolm X. Malcolm X’s actions pioneered the ideas and morals of the Black Power Movement. He spent his early years running from white supremacists with his family. His father was a civil rights activist as well as a Baptist minister. His home in Michigan was burned down and his father was found dead on the local train tracks. These events of his childhood gave him a sense of anger towards white people. Though early life was tough, he was always well educated. He graduated at the top of his class in middle school, but dropped out when his teacher told him that his dream of becoming a lawyer was â€Å"no realistic goal for a nigger†. He began to run drugs, prostitutes, and gambling rings to make money. When Malcolm X was arrested for petty crimes, he joined the nation of Islam in prison, where he went on to become a leader in their church. When Malcolm X was released, he was angry at the white oppressors in America. He started an Islamic gang that would help protect his fellow Afri can Americans against police brutality. His ability to overcome a rough life and become a leader in the Civil Rights Movement was inspiring to many. Malcolm X’s dignity, self-respect, and ability to fight for his beliefs were carried on through the Black Panther Party. The Black Panther Party was a national organization that promoted Black Power. It was founded by two very intelligent college graduates by the names of Huey Newton and Bobby Seale. The fact that they were well educated African Americans with college degrees made them admirable to their followers. They required members to read specific books in order to join the group. They practiced a ten point program that stated their desires which included the release of wrongly tried African American prisoners, Housing for the black community, employment for African Americans, and black people being exempt from military service. The program seems reasonable today but in the 60’s many people thought it was never going to happen. The organization was not afraid to kill police officers or any others who were oppressing African Americans. Though they were violent, much of their proceeds went towards building schools, art institutions, dance programs, houses, and many other utilities for Africa n American communities. The Black Panther Party created many opportunities for their people that they would not have received otherwise. Though The Party seemed like a violent  group to many, it was a well-organized group that was very beneficial for African Americans throughout the nation. The Black Panther Party was constantly being attacked by the FBI and the Police. The FBI would threaten the Panthers and try to force them to talk. They would also forge letters and send them to high ranking members of the party that were full of fake information. The FBI technically had no right to do what they did but they would cover up their actions with lies and scandals. The day after Martin Luther King Jr.’s death the FBI kicked in the door on a Black Panther Party meeting, killing four leaders of the party. The attack was unwarranted and they had absolutely no right to kill the four men. Also, when the FBI was called in to investigate multiple homicides of African Americans they would not release the truth of the death by calling them â€Å"accidents† or â€Å"untraceable†. The police force was brutal on the party. There was even an instance of the LAPD raiding one of the Los Angeles Panther’s child care center. Officers held the children at gunpoi nt and made them watch the adults get beat mercilessly by the policemen. The Black Panther Party had difficulties running their operations with these unwarranted attacks. The FBI and the Police were corrupt and should have been punished for their actions. However, they were mostly not African Americans, so the United States Government did not even bat an eye. The Media viewed the Black Power movement as a group of thugs causing chaos. With song titles like, â€Å"Violence is as American as Cherry Pie,† made people feel threatened by the African American community. The movement also had support from the Viet Kong during the â€Å"Free Huey† Campaign. When Huey Newton was jailed, the Viet Kong offered to release prisoners of war for the release of Newton. When Americans realized that the Black Panther Party was supported by the communist government that we were currently in a war with made the group look dangerous. One leader of the movement, Gordon Parks, was frustrated with the media and said, â€Å"I’ve given up trying to explain it. The whites never really listen when I do anyway† For many members of the Black Power Movement, it was very difficult to voice their opinion due to the negative influence of the media. The media  constantly made Black Power look like a group of violent people, which made the move ment look bad in the eyes of many citizens. The practices of the Black Power Movement were terrifying to many Americans. They took the term â€Å"Black Power† and compared it to â€Å"White Power† making it look as if the African Americans were going to murder innocent white people. Many African Americans began to carry weapons visibly in public to show their strength. The combination of the two made it seem as if African Americans were fighting to kill, not for their rights. Also, the newly found pride that many African Americans had discovered was intimidating to many white people, mainly because they had never seen it before. As a result, the FBI considered the Black Panther Party their number one threat to American Security. The Black Panther Party was only taking extreme actions because they needed a huge change, yet many Americans were skeptical about Black Power and did not want to support it because of their fears of African American violence. The Black Power Movement an entirely different take on the battle for civil rights. Many African Americans were done with the slow paced peaceful protests, and began to fight for a faster change in society. The Black Panther Party and Malcolm X impacted the movement the greatest. Even though FBI and Police officers would always try and shut them down. The media made the movement look bad in the eyes of many, yet some still believe it was for the greater good. Even though it was a dangerous protest, it was the only way for many African Americans to make a statement in the United States society.

The Blank Slate The Modern Denial Of Human Nature Essay

The concept of nature vs nurture is easily one of the oldest and most controversial arguments of modern times. Harvard psychology professor Steven Pinker is notably known in the world of psychology and the social sciences for his book â€Å"The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature.† In his book, Pinker addresses this exact argument and reasons that human behavior is mostly and at its roots is formed by evolutionary psychological adaptations. In 2003, Steven Pinker gave a Ted Talk regarding his book and the idea that human behavior is predisposed, rather than formed by socialization, interactions between people and the exposure to culture. Pinker discusses the reasoning behind his stance on nature over nurture using five key discussion points, these points being, human universals, neurology and DNA, political reasoning, the arts and parenting. During his Ted Talk, Pinker begins by stating that there are human universals, concepts, behaviors and traits that are carried and found, with many similarities, throughout every human civilization, he then explains that a common example of this is with twins separated at birth, and can be proven through neurological studies. Another concept that Pinker address to further solidify his stance is the idea that the argument that humans are ‘blank slates’ and human behavior is developed through nurture rather than nature is the political reasoning behind the benefits of everyone being ‘blank slates’. Two critical points he made howeverShow MoreRelatedThe Power of Nature and Nurture Essay1562 Words   |  7 Pagesdebate on nature versus nurture has been a mystery for years, constantly begging the question of whether human behavior, ideas, and feelings are innate or learned over time. Nature, or genetic influences, are formed before birth and finely-tuned through early experiences. 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