A Natural Curiosity By Margaret Drabble Essays - A Natural Curiosity

A Natural Curiosity by Margaret Drabble Running along the same lines as a daytime soap opera, Margaret Drabble's A Natural Curiosity provides pertinent information about life in Northam, England, a small, quaint town just outside of London, during the mid to late 1900's. Drabble narrates the novel in third person omniscient which allows her to venture into the minds of the diverse characters. Although there exists a black and white central conflict, all of the minor conflicts stem from Alix Bowen, the first, and most essential individual. In one way or another, all of the people share some distinct connection with Alix Bowen. Drabble's description of Alix Bowen's obsession with a murderer named Paul Whitmore who had held her hostage in the past, allows the reader identify with Alix's innocence. A good-hearted, well-minded person, Alix Bowen feels compelled to discover how a man of Whitmore's intelligence could possibly commit the horrible crimes that he did. Drabble also forces the reader to sympathize with Alix Bowen, and to understand her obsession. In showing her unconditional dedication to Whitmore, Alix sets off to locate the father of the murderer. The reason this infatuation continues relies solely on the fact that Whitmore offers Alix an ?intellectual and psychological stimulus of an unusually invigorating nature.? The chain effect remains evident as individual dilemmas that arise between members of a social group ultimately affect the group as a whole, underlying the theme of the novel. Throughout the novel, when two or more people disagreed on an issue, a third party swiftly enters the picture offering either hurt or help to the issue. In one instance, Carla Davis, a deceitful woman, lays the blame of her husband's supposed hostage situation in Baldai on Charles Headleand, a thoughtful, caring, gentleman. On another occasion, Liz Headleand begins to act odd when she discovers that her long-time friend, Alix Bowen, repeatedly visits the murderer. Undoubtedly, Margaret Drabble's strengths far outweigh her weaknesses in A Natural Curiosity. Drabble's tremendous usage of descriptive adjectives truly brings her characters to life. In addition, the author's serious, yet sometimes sarcastic tones really add to the lively effect of the novel. Drabble shows no fear in coming right out and stating her points, and this indicates the sophistication of her style. Symbolism, the most important strength in Drabble's novel, allows the reader to enter the minds of the characters for themselves without having Drabble do it for the reader. For example, when describing people, the author gives the deceiving characters the dark, evil shades of color, whereas when describing a naive person she uses lighter colors. The lone weakness that stands out in this novel consists of the occasional unnecessary rambling on about certain characters. As Drabble forbids the reader to ever forget about the novel, ?Life sets us unfair puzzles....Puzzles with piec es missing.?

International Marketing Rollout Plan Essay Example

International Marketing Rollout Plan Essay Example International Marketing Rollout Plan Essay International Marketing Rollout Plan Essay Discourse the Impact of Globalisation on the Automotive Industry. Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2 The Smaller Globe †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.. 3 Switching Tides †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 5 The Dynamics of Globalisation †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 6 Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 8 Bibliography.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ .†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9 Introduction Bhaqwati ( 2004, p 1 ) provinces that the term ‘globalisation’ â€Å"†¦ can intend many things.† In the context of international trade, he ( Bhaqwati, 2004, p 1-2 ) defines it as the â€Å"Economic globalization †¦ of national economic systems into the international economic system through trade, direct foreign investing, †¦ short-run capital flows, †¦ and flows of technology†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The importance and influence of international trade was recognized every bit early as 380 BC by Plato who observed â€Å"†¦ it is practically impossible to set up the metropolis in a part where it will non necessitate imports† ( Irwin, 1997, P 13 ) . The relevancy of the predating in footings of modern-day concerns and industries is best summed up by Michael Porter’s five basic forces that define the province of fight within an industry and therefore represents the underlying foundation upon which an scrutiny of the ‘Impact of global ization on the automotive industry’ shall be based ( Porter, 1979, Pp 21-22 ) : The menace of new entrants, Dickering power of providers, Dickering power of clients Menace of replacement merchandises or services The industry jockeying for place among current rivals Porter ( 1979, Pp 21 ) provinces that â€Å"The corporate strength of these forces determines the ultimate net income potency of an industry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He adds that: â€Å"Whatever their corporate strength, the corporate strategist’s end is to happen a place in the industry where his or her company can outdo support itself from these forces or can act upon them in its favor† ( Porter, 1979, P -22 ) . Herein lies the premiss every bit good as points of scrutiny from which the ‘impact of globalization on the automotive industry’ shall be conducted. The automotive industry has been selected as the instance illustration as it impacts the economic systems of industrialised states more than any other merchandise and therefore their economic lucks in footings of trade shortages, occupations and balance of payments finds a strong correlativity in how this industry performs in a domestic sense every bit good as upon the universe phase. The Smaller Globe The forces of globalization has resulted in a reshaping of the international automotive industry as a consequence of consumer consciousness and the demand for companies to spread out their markets in the pursuit for increased unit production and stockholder value. The influence and effects of the media in conveying viing theoretical accounts, along with international athleticss events sponsorships, automotive magazines, the Internet and international racing events have created new kineticss ( Gordon, 2004 ) . The bosom of the issue nevertheless, is national economic sciences in the production and gross revenues of cars and their associated merchandises and serving represent ( Bernaldo de Quiros, 2004, Pp 66-75 ) . The automotive industry is the figure one consumer of steel and gum elastic and drives a host of associated industries and companies from gasolene to wirelesss, parts, providers and franchises. It is a accepted economic force. The United States automotive industry became th e universe leader as a consequence of its immense homogeneous market of 295,734,134 persons ( CIA World Factbook, 2005 ) , and represented the focal point of the industry from its origin through to early 2000 when the European Union replaced it as the world’s figure one trading zone as evidenced by its 462,371,237 persons in 25 member states ( Internet World Stats, 2006 ) . The kineticss of China’s burgeoning market ( Stark, 2005 ) will overshadow anything yet seen in automotive history as it seeks to provide vehicles to a population of 1,306,313,812 ( Yahoo Education, 2006 ) . The predating kineticss represent points one, three and five on Michael Porter’s ( 1979, Pp 21-22 ) list of ‘five basic forces: The menace of new entrants, Dickering power of providers, Dickering power of clients Menace of replacement merchandises or services The industry jockeying for place among current rivals The foregoing is a direct consequence of the shrinkage of the Earth as represented by increased communicating manners, telecasting, printed media, films and the Internet, every bit good as increased consumer consciousness and national economic policies. The Shaping of Changing Dynamics, The Past Influences the Present The predating displacements in economic features have changed the historical focal point of automotive makers from concentration on the United States market, to the universe phase. The first international car company was Ford. It founded Ford of Canada in 1904, and in turn established operations in England ( 1911 ) , Brazil ( 1919 ) , Germany and Australia ( 1925 ) , as it established its presence on the universe phase ( Detroit News.com, 2006 ) . But in truth, Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler put the first motor vehicle into production in 1885 ( Wright, 1996 ) . The first traces of the present twenty-four hours manifestations can be traced back to the Nipponese automotive enlargement in the United States in the 1980’s when the Nipponese car makers challenged and passed the United States in entire vehicles manufactured ( Wright, 1996 ) . Today, Nipponese automotive makers sell one out of every four vehicles purchased in the U.S. market ( Wright, 1996 ) . The present construction of the automotive industry sees Nipponese, German, British, American, Gallic, Italian vehicles being manufactured in other states in a true statement of globalization. The switching tides of the industry is evidenced by the size of the automotive makers as shown by the Fortune 500 Global list for 2000 and 2005: Table 1 – Fortune Global 500 Comparisons, Automotive Companies By Gross saless ( Fortune Magazine, 2000 ) ( Fortune Magazine, 2005 ) Rank Year Company Gross saless ( Bn ) Rank Year Company Gross saless 5 2000 General Motors 193 5 2005 General Motors 193 6 2000 Daimler Chrysler 192 6 2005 Daimler Chrysler 176 7 2000 Ford 170 7 2005 Toyota 172 8 2000 Toyota 165 8 2005 Ford 172 12 2000 VW 120 15 2005 VW 110 26 2000 Honda 78 27 2005 Honda 80 28 2000 Peugeot 77 29 2005 Nissan 79 35 2000 Nissan 71 41 2005 Peugeot 70 51 2000 Fiat 60 57 2005 Fiat 59 The comparative displacements represented by the predating Table indicates that the automotive giants in the United States are losing land, with one automotive company, Chrysler, now the acquisition of Daimler Benz, go forthing merely General Motors and Ford as the staying vehicle makers in the United States. Switching Tides The menaces to the United States laterality non longer entirely consists of market portion in that market. It is a factor of market portion and gross revenues on a planetary plane. And while U.S. made vehicles sell in their place state. They are practical shades in footings of planetary presence, and herein represent the stating effects of globalization, selling and merchandising merchandises internationally. The preceding is a merchandise of corporate civilization. International companies must hold an international outlook at the top of the corporate hierarchy in order to develop merchandises, and selling scheme suited to the universe phase ( Onkvisit et al, 2004, P 2 ) . The place market focal point as represented by the executive top direction of American automotive companies is working against them in the face of globalization. The really fact that Nipponese and European car makers focused on deriving U.S. market portion, every bit good as within the European Union and Africa eve ry bit good as Asia is functioning them good. The top direction constructions at European and Nipponese car makers has been skewed from an international position decennaries ago, and the net effects can be seen by their market incursion globally which sees an absence of American makers by and big. Ford and General Motors have a market presence in Europe through their Focus and Opel divisions, by their other trade name names such as Lincoln, Mercury, Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac are notably absent. Onkvisit et Al, 2004, P 4 ) illustrates this position by the undermentioned definition â€Å"Domestic Marketing is concerned with the selling patterns within a †¦ marketer’s place country† . He farther illustrates this point by indicating to the advertisement motto of Lufthansa Airlines, which stated â€Å"You don’t learn to wing overseas overnight.† ( Onkvisit et al, 2004, P 6 ) . The predating clearly points to the advantages of holding a planetary position at the top of the organisational construction. The Dynamics of Globalisation The preceding is stating in that all of the companies other than Ford and GM, as represented in Table 1 derive their gross revenues as a consequence of get the hanging consumer design, characteristics, quality, distribution and merchandising in foreign markets. Globalisation calls for globally oriented merchandises. This means vehicle sizes, internal characteristics, engines and other constituents that fit the demands and dictates of differing markets. Companies such as Daimler Benz, Peugeot ( which does non sell vehicles in the U.S. market ) , VW, Toyota, Fiat and the others manufacture what are termed ‘world cars’ ( Camuffo, 2005, p 2 ) . These are described as vehicles that are designed for the narrower streets of foreign metropoliss, have efficient design engines for long-run lastingness, are monetary value witting and low-cost, and offer public-service corporation. See the size of vehicles manufactured and produced for the American market by Ford, General Motors, Da imler Benz, Toyota, BMW, and Nissan. Larger gasolene powered autos and SUV’s that entreaty to the market gustatory sensations of the American consumer. The preceding does non stand for the schemes that work in the European Union that is dominated by efficient Diesel engines, smaller public-service corporation hatchback type design that fits the smaller street breadth of Europe’s metropoliss ( Korth, 2005, Pp 35-42 ) . The European Union has put forth a ‘Competitive Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st Century’ , termed â€Å"CARS 21† ( European Commission, 2005 ) . The foregoing is in acknowledgment of the fact that vehicles represent â€Å"†¦ 3 % of Europe’s Gross Domestic Product, 7 % of employment in the fabrication sector and 8 % of EU governments’ entire revenue†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and is â€Å"†¦ a pillar of the European economy† ( European Commission, 2005, p 4 ) . â€Å"CARS 21† sets forth rigorous ordinances covering environmental and route safety developed specially in response to globalization issues ( European Commission, 2005, p 5 ) . The aim of â€Å"CARS 21† is to: â€Å"†¦ make recommendations for the short-run, medium, and long term populace policy and regulative model for the European automotive industry, which enhance planetary fight and employment while prolonging farther advancement in safety and environmental public presentation at a monetary value affordable to the consumer† ( European Commission, 2005, p 6 ) . Clearly, the predating points to the apprehension of the economic importance of the automotive industry and the menaces posed by globalization in consideration of Michael Porter’s ( 1979, Pp 21-22 ) list of ‘five basic forces: The menace of new entrants, Dickering power of providers, Dickering power of clients Menace of replacement merchandises or services The industry jockeying for place among current rivals Decision The impact of globalization on the automotive industry is seeing that the emerging markets such as â€Å"†¦ Brazil, India, and China†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ( Camuffo, 2005, p 2 ) every bit good as markets in Eastern Europe and Mexico represent parts that demand universe auto solutions in response to their peculiar market niceties and kineticss and are the new markets of growing. To run into these challenges calls for automotive makers to use new models in OEMs, supplier methodological analysis, part’s design, engineering use, logistics, works location and fabrication assembly and investing. The demands and demands of clients in these markets every bit good as the alone route and other conditions means that less expensive vehicles will hold to hold higher degrees of serviceableness and dependability. The preceding means that the markets will hold higher inputs in the dictates as to how these vehicles are designed. Flexibility with regard to the basic vehicle platform will be the norm, every bit good as the easiness of upgrading parts and characteristics to run into the turning demands of edification as these markets mature. The predating developments have heightened the bets in footings of growing as a consequence of the demands of globalization where â€Å"†¦ economic systems of graduated table and †¦ specialisation †¦Ã¢â‚¬  ( Camuffo, 2005, p 2 ) are the cardinal concern strategic considerations. The foregoing are factors, which represent easier challenges for those companies that â€Å"†¦ don’t learn to wing overseas overnight.† ( O nkvisit et al, 2004, P 6 ) . Bibliography Bernaldo de Quiros. ( 2004 ) .Why Globalization Works. Vol. 24. The Cato Journal Bhaqwati, Jagdish. ( 2004 ) . In Defense of Globalisation. Oxford University Press. ISBN: 0195170253 Camuffo, Arnaldo ( 2005 ) .Rolling Out a â€Å"World Car† : Globalization, Outsourcing and Modularity in the Auto Industry. University of Venice, Italy, Department of Business Economics and Management CIA World Factbook. ( 2005 ) .United States. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html. Accessed 7 March 2006 Detroit News.com ( 2006 )Car of the Century? Ford’s Model T, of class. hypertext transfer protocol: //info.detnews.com/joyrides/story/index.cfm? id=75. Accessed 7 March 2006 European Comision ( 2005 )Cars 21. 13 January 2005. European Union Fortune Magazine. ( 2000 )Global 500. hypertext transfer protocol: //search.yahoo.com/search? p=fortune+global+500+list+1990 A ; ei=UTF-8 amp ; fr=FP-tab-web-t A ; b=11. Accessed 7 March 2006 Fortune Magaine ( 2005 )Global 500. hypertext transfer protocol: //money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/global500/index.html. Accessed 7 March 2006 Gordon, Jacques. ( 2004 )Rushing Improves the Breed: Better rushing through modern engineering. May 2004. Aftermarket Business Internet World Stats ( 2006 )European Union. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.internetworldstats.com/europa.htm. Accessed 7 March 2006 Irwin, Douglas. ( 1997 ) .Against the Tide. Princeton University Press. ISBN: 0691058962 Korth, Kim. ( 2005 )Globalization: myths, speculatior A ; what you need to believe about.October 2005. Automotive Design A ; Production Onkvisit, Sak, Shaw, John. ( 2004 )International Marketing Strategy: Analysis and Strategy.Routledge Publishing. ISBN: 0415311330 Porter, Michael. ( 1997 ) .On Competition. Harvard Business School Press. ISBN: 0875847951 Stark, Jurgen. ( 2005 )The province of globalisation: A European insider studies the scene. Soring 2005. The International Economy Wright, Richard ( 1996 ) .A Brief History of the First 100 Old ages of the Automotive Industry in the United States.hypertext transfer protocol: //inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm? site=http: //www.theautochannel.com/mania/industry.orig/history/ . Accessed 7 March 2006 Yahoo Education ( 2006 )China. hypertext transfer protocol: //education.yahoo.com/reference/factbook/ch/popula.html. Accessed 7 March 2006

US - EU Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

US - EU - Essay Example Educational institutions--explicitly including universities--are not philanthropic islands of abstract debate. This maxim of the German President is borne out by this colloquium, for this is not merely an 'abstract debate'. And there can be no talk of an 'island', either, for this is a cross-border, joint meeting of SUERF and the CFS. Incidentally, the motive is the exchange of knowledge with the financial community including central banks, thus avoiding all suspicion of insular ivory-tower erudition. There can be no doubt that the financial community will likewise benefit from an exchange of knowledge.1 After all, the euro was and is an intellectual challenge for all those concerned with it. An interesting exchange of views is therefore to be expected, and a debate based on two fundamental perceptions may be fruitful:1) A consistent monetary policy, committed primarily to the target of stability, is the best contribution a central bank--no matter whether the Bundesbank or the Europe an Central Bank (ECB)--can make to the viability of the financial markets. Without stable money, the financial markets cannot function properly.2) Conversely, it must also be said that monetary policy needs an efficient, highly competitive and stable financial system. In the first place, a financial sector that is susceptible to disruption poses risks to the entire monetary system, and thus also to the safety of the currency. Second, in a stable environment, monetary policy impinges on economic activity more smoothly. That was and is true of the Bundesbank's monetary policy.2 It is bound to apply to the European System of Central Banks' (ESCB's) monetary policy as well. Clarity now obtains in some matters of significance to financial market players concerning the euro. The future framework for economic policy action is now emerging ever more clearly. Since its constitutive meeting in June 1998, the ECB Governing Council has taken a multitude of important decisions. There is broad clarity today about the arsenal of instruments with which the ESCB will operate. The primary buttress of refinancing will be repo transactions, which have been so successful at the national level. The interest rate for this main source of finance will lie within the corridor whose ceiling and floor are marked out by the interest rates for the marginal lending and deposit facilities. These principal elements of the range of instruments have been designed with the intention of the money market developing as steadily as possible, so that recourse to fine-tuning instruments can be relatively rare. The same purpose is served by minimum reserves, which are often criticized in banking circles. At a rate of 2 per cent, the cost burden is kept within very narrow bounds, especially considering that, owing to the envisaged payment of interest on minimum reserves, the banks' working balances, which will have to be held anyway, will yield interest. In the envisaged form (a reserve to be maintained as a monthly average) they will act as a buffer in the money market. They can therefore largely cushion unforeseen fluctuations in the demand for liquid funds without any major central bank intervention. A very important step on the way to a single monetary policy is the agreement on the main elements of the monetary policy strategy that was reached in the ECB Governing Council on 13 October 1998. These elements contain the quantitative definition of price stability as the primary objective of the single monetary policy: 'Price stability shall be defined as a year-on-year increase in the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices for the euro area of below 2%.' By this decision, the ECB Governing Council is following up to a large degree the Bundesbank's successful strategy, while at the same time taking due account of the specific conditions