Abortion as an illegal act and an act of murder through the scientific and biblical view of life Essay

Introduction Two handfuls of flour go flying into the empty mixing bowl on the freshly washed counter.   Three eggs crack against the lip of the bowl, the yoke flowing out.   A pinch of salt lands on the freshly cracked eggs as olive oil oozes out of the bottle.   The bowl is placed under the running fossett for a few seconds to complete the mixture.   Strong hands knead the ingredients into a moist dough ball.   After a few hours, the dough is taken out of the refrigerator, ready to be turned into macaroni (pasta).   The dough is put through the hand crank dough roller to be flattened.   Then, it is formed into long strings and laid to dry on the comforter in the spare bedroom.   I have witnessed my grandma carry out this process of making delicious, fresh homemade pasta many of times to prepare for Sunday dinner.   This simple but important ritual has been passed down through my family starting from my great grandma to my sisters and myself. One of the groups I am part of is Italian Americans, or more specifically 4th generation millennial Italian Americans.   While there is a vast amount of research on the ethnic identity of Italian Americans who immigrated to the United States during the early to 1900s, the research regarding the ethnic identity of 4th generation Italian Americans is scarce.   Ethnic identity is different from personal identity because it focuses on the way a member of an ethnic group is influenced by that ethnic group.   For Italian Americans, food plays a significant role in their ethnic identity.   Many Italian Americans that grew up in the early to mid-1900s never went to restaurants to eat, so the only food they knew was Italian food (M. Litwin, personal communication, November 10, 2015).   Today, as a 4th generation Italian American that is fully assimilated to the American society, homemade Italian food is still a significant part of my life.   Lorraine Caputo (2011) describes how he r daughter went to Japan, but when she came back, she asked Caputo to make her some of her favorite Italian dishes (p. 194).   This embodies the Italian Americans after being fully assimilated to the American society.   I love the American culture, but I always come back to my Italian roots. The Italian Americans who immigrated to the United States in the early 1900s lived in communities dominated by Italian Americans.   These communities became very close and were a dominant element in the Italian American culture.   The tight-knit Italian community along with the importance of Italian food played major roles in the ethnic identity of the 1st and 2nd generation Italian Americans that immigrated to the Unites States in the early 1900s.   However, Michael Buonanno (2011) believes that the identity of Italian Americans today is still evolving, but instead of focusing on the â€Å"old times† we should be focusing on the ways in which Italian Americans are creating their ethnic identities today (p. 9).   Andrea Dottolo (2015) and Lorraine Caputo (2011) have written autoethnographies about Italian Americans and how they themselves retain their ethnic identity after being fully assimilated to the American society. However, these authors are significantly older t han I am.   There have not been any autoethnographies about how 4th generation millennials retain their ethnic identity in the American society.   In this autoethnography, I myself am a 4th generation millennial Italian American, and I can shed some light on how we foster our ethnic identities.   I foster my own ethnic identity through my close-knit family that allows me to have a strong foundation.   Additionally, Italian food has given me the opportunity to not only embrace my culture, but also to experience a part of my ancestor’s lives.   Lastly, telling the stories of my ancestors has become a substantial piece of my ethnic identity because it allows my family to keep our history alive. Literature Review    Food Food has always been a significant part of the ethnic identities of Italian Americans.   Andrea Dottolo (2015) analyzes how food represents â€Å"family, morality, culture and home† to Italian American women (p. 373).   Additionally, as Caputo (2011) says, â€Å"Italian Americans are either revered for the sensual art they have made of food or objectified as the Hollywood gangster† (p. 182).   Both Dottolo and Caputo are focused only on how the aspect of food affects women.   However, Italian food has played a significant role in my life as well as the women in my family.   In the past, women have usually done more of the cooking than males.   However, in today’s society, women work in the workplace just as much if not more than men do.   The stereotype that only women do the cooking is dying and would be considered a sexist comment today.   I usually help my mom make dinner and have learned the recipes that have been passed down in our family for generations such as making homemade pizza. Community Italian Americans who emigrated from Italy to the United States in the early 1900s usually in communities like Boston’s North End that were comprised of almost 100% Italians (Smajda & Gerteis 2012 p. 626).   Many of the Italians who came over, like my great grandma, did not speak English and it was hard for them to make friends outside of the community (Litwin).   Because many of the Italians could not relate to anyone outside the community, the community became a very strong in-group.   But, Allport (1954) says that every in group also must have an out-group (p. 40).   The out-group for the Italian Americans was the immigrants who had come before them, primarily the Irish.   My grandma told me that when her parents came over from Italy, the Irish looked down upon the Italians and made them take the dirty, grimy jobs such as working in the coal mines (M. Litwin, personal communication, November 10, 2015).   The well-paying jobs were hard to come by for the Italians in part due to the discrimination they faced mainly by the Irish.   Part of this discrimination may have come from the stereotype that Italian Americans were gangsters.   Cavallero (2004) examines how the American media in the 1900s created the stereotype of the Italian mobster (p. 50-63).   Additionally, Cavallero (2004) says that the 1930s were a time of constant â€Å"denigration† for the Italian Americans (p. 52).   This discrimination further bonded Italian communities together. In Smajda and Gerteis’s (2012 p. 3-9) article â€Å"Ethnic Community and Ethnic Boundaries in a ‘Sauce-Scented Neighborhood’†, the ethnic communities essentially prevented assimilation because the people in the communities were so closely knit socially.   These communities came to be known as â€Å"Little Italies†.   The â€Å"Little Italies† were densely populated and vibrant communities.   However, as time progressed, many of the Italian A mericans began to move to the suburbs and the â€Å"Little Italies† began to shrink.   Buonanno (2011) says that the â€Å"Little Italies† that exist today are nowhere near as lively and upbeat as the ones that existed 50 years ago (p. 9).   Today, few of these communities still exist and the ones that do are much smaller than the ones that existed in the early 1900s.   I live about 30 minutes outside of Baltimore, where there is still a â€Å"Little Italy† today.   Although it is still a lively community with many authentic Italian restaurants and shops, it is nothing like the â€Å"Little Italies† of the past.   The close-knit community that was at the heart of the old â€Å"Little Italies† has disappeared from the â€Å"Little Italy† in Baltimore and many of the residents are not Italian. Effects of Assimilation The diaspora of the Italian Americans has significantly changed the dynamic of what Italian Americans consider their ethnic identity.   Growing up in America in a community that was not dominated by Italians, meant that my only exposure to my Italian heritage came through my family.   The schools I attended and the friends I made were mostly non-Italian.   For this reason, instead of thinking of myself as Italian first, as my ancestors once did, I think of myself as American first and Italian second.   An â€Å"American Italian† you might say.   This is due to the assimilation of the Italian Americans that took place as they moved out of their tightly-knit communities that prevented assimilation.   So the strong sense of community that the Italian Americans felt had slowly disappeared.   This caused Italian Americans to hold onto their ethnic culture in different ways.   As the dynamics of a group change, the group adapts, but still holds onto its roots.   As Allport (1954) says in-groups can evolve and adapt in order to reflect the values of the members of the in-group (p. 37).   In-groups are not static because the beliefs and values of the people in those in-groups are not static.   In the case of 4th generation millennial Italian Americans, we are assimilated to the American society and have never been part of the communities that were once so pivotal to our ancestors.   Instead, we hold onto our ethnic roots through the closeness of family, family traditions, food, and the memories of the â€Å"old days† passed down from our grandparents. Autoethnography Christine Walley (2013) says that autoethnographies take a look into family member’s lives while in the context of a larger conversation and attempt to apply their lives to society as a whole (p.15).   Autoethnographies attempt to fill a gap in the research that has been done on a particular in-group through the use of scholarly research but also personal experience in that in-group.   Gordon Allport (1954) defines an in-group as a group of people who use the term â€Å"we† to signify the same thing (p. 31).   My most prominent in-group is Italian Americans, or more specifically 4th generation Italian Americans.   Many autoethnographies would split this section into multiple sub sections, however, I feel that family, food, tradition, and memories are too intertwined for me to split them up. In my family and many other Italian families, family comes first.   Whether it’s missing a party with my friends to go to family dinner at my grandma’s house or taking an hour out of my busy schedule to sit down and have dinner with my family every night or going to see my cousin’s play, family always comes first.   At least once every month, my immediate family, my cousins, aunts, uncles, and my grandparents would all gather together at one of our houses (usually my grandma’s) to celebrate basically anything that we could.   Sometimes we would just get together for no reason if we hadn’t seen everyone in a couple weeks.   These celebrations have given me some of my fondest memories of my childhood, but also shaped the person I have become.   Having such a close family has given me a self-confidence that I could not have achieved without my family.   I know that I have a strong foundation and that I can always count on my family.   Thi s has helped me to be confident in myself and take challenges head on.   For example, I would never have been able to achieve a 4.0 in high school all four years without my family supporting me.   However, having a family as close as mine does have some drawbacks.   For example, my social life was significantly affected.   While most of my friends were hanging out on a Friday or Saturday night, I was with my family.   Additionally, your privacy is essentially non-existent when you have such a close family.   Whenever something happened in our family, large or small, it would spread through the family rapidly whether you wanted it to or not.   For example, when I got a new girlfriend, I got calls from all of my relatives within a couple hours of telling just one of my family members.   However, one of the best things from when we do get together was that we always have extremely excessive amounts of food no matter what the occasion.   I remember one time at my grand ma’s house where it was just my immediate family and my grandparents.   My grandma made enough pasta and gravy (that’s what pasta sauce is called in my family) to feed about 20 people.   Many non-Italians have never heard of pasta sauce being called gravy before, but in Italian families, especially in the â€Å"old times†, it is always called gravy.   My grandma grew up in an Italian community in Bayonne, New Jersey.   Both of her parents were first generation Italian Americans who met in the United States (M. Litwin, personal communication, November 10, 2015).   In the community that they lived in, as well as in the majority of Italian American communities, pasta and red sauce or meat sauce was always called macaroni and gravy (M. Litwin, personal communication, November 10, 2015).   This tradition has been passed down in my family for generations and I will pass it down to my children as well.   As you can see, all self-respecting 4th generation Italian Americans such as myself will call the sauce you put on your pasta (or macaroni as my grandma calls it) gravy. Another tradition that my family has is that we host the Christmas party every year.   The preparation for the party starts about a week before Christmas.   The first couple days are spent cleaning up the house and setting everything up for the party.   The rest of the time is spent cooking.   The house smells of freshly made bread, gravy simmering on the stove, the ham cooking in the oven, and much more.   We usually have to make enough food to feed about 100 people because we invite all of my extended family including 2nd cousins and family friends.   On Christmas day, my grandparents are always the first ones to show up.   My sisters and I help them bring in a carful of homemade food ranging from my grandma’s famous brownies, chocolate chip cookies, a couple cakes, biscotti (an Italian cookie), meatballs, my grandfather’s homemade rolls, and a couple bowls of fresh fruit.   Loraine Caputo (2011) describes how cooking became a way for her grandmothers and her to embrace their ethnic heritage.   She says that she spends hours in the kitchen preparing meals and perfecting her dishes (p. 194).   Both of my grandmother’s along with my mom have also chosen to spend so much time cooking because they feel it is part of their ethnic identity.   Caputo’s daughter says it best when she tells her mom that â€Å"We are Italian† when Caputo complains about spending so much time in the kitchen (2011 p. 194).   However, I have learned to cook the traditional Italian meals in addition to just my sisters as it was when my grandma grew up.   Learning to cook my family’s meals has allowed me to share in a substantial part of my ancestor’s lives, something that I would never have without Italian food. As time passes, the house fills up, making it hard to move through the rooms.   The upstairs is filled with laughter, conversation, and of course story-telling.   My grandfather will retell the stories growing up in a row house with little money.   His father fixed shoes for a living in an Italian community much like in the North End.   As Smajda and Gerteis (2012 p. 628) say, â€Å"You used to be able to have your shoes fixed here but that’s not so easy anymore†.   Next, he’ll talk about how he started his own paper route when he was 12 years old to help his parents pay the bills.   These stories remind us of our roots and keep the family history alive.   My grandma will tell us the stories about her parents that just like me, she had heard hundreds of times (M. Litwin, personal communication, November 10, 2015).   I will pass these same stories down to my kids along with my own stories.   Additionally, these stories have taught me that you nev er can tell when you are in the â€Å"good old days† (or the memories that you remember for the rest of your life) until you leave them.   This has had a significant impact on my life because I try to make the most of every day, whether that means getting up early to work out instead of sleeping in or making sure that I do my absolute best on a paper. â€Å"Dinner!!!!† My dad calls down in the basement and all of the kids rush up the stairs to get in line.   The aroma coming from the kitchen is floating throughout the house and everyone gets in line to taste the delicious food that my mom, along with our help, has been preparing for days.   My mom’s chicken parmesan is front and center next to my dad’s delicious mash potatoes.   There’s pasta and meatballs, sausage and onion, pork and sourcrout, ham, mac and cheese, corn, my grandpa’s homemade rolls, lasagna, bread from Chef Palino’s (a small mom and pop Italian restaurant), and much more.   Many people make the mistake of filling up too much on dinner because there’s so much food.   Their mistake always proves costly when they see the dessert table.   We usually have more dessert than we do food for dinner.   There’s my grandma’s brownies, chocolate chip cookies, candy cane cookies, biscotti, three or fo ur cakes, tandy cakes (a thin vanilla cake topped with a layer of peanut butter and a layer of chocolate), thumbprints (a tradition of my grandma’s), fresh fruit, and any other desserts that our guests bring.   Sitting around the table for dinner and dessert embodies my ethnic identity as an Italian American.   All of my family is there laughing, telling stories of the â€Å"old days†, continuing our family traditions, and making new memories that we can add to the wealth of memories that my family already has. Conclusion 4th generation millennial Italian Americans today still embrace their ethnic identities, but the ways in which they do so have evolved.   The ethnic communities that existed in the time of our great grandparents and grandparents are almost non-existent today.   The assimilation that took place after the Italian Americans left the â€Å"Little Italies†, transformed the way that Italian Americans look at their ethnic identities.   There was no longer a strong community to fall back on, but instead a tight family to fall back on.   Today, close family, Italian food, traditions, and the memories of their ancestors allow Italian Americans like myself to embrace their roots, but also to keep adding to the history of Italian Americans.   How will my kids and my kids’ kids embrace their ethnic identity?   I don’t know for sure.   I hope they will continue to love Italian food like I do, raise their families to be as close as mine is today, and continue to t ell the stories of our family.   Most likely, they will evolve my definition of what I believe to be my ethnic identity into their own version.    References Allport, G. W. (1954). Formation of In-Groups. The Nature of Prejudice (pp. 29-47). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. Buonanno, M. (2011, fall). Ethnicity, Nostalgia, Affirmation: The Rhetoric of Italian American Identity. Voices, 37(3/4), 3-9. Caputo, L. (2011, July 1). Gender, Food, and Loss. Studies in Gender and Sexuality, 12(3), 179-195. Cavallero, J. J. (2004, summer). Gangsters, Fessos, Tricksters, AND Sopranos: The Historical Roots of Italian American Stereotype Anxiety. Journal of Popular Film & Television, 32(2), 50-63. Dottolo, A. L. (2015 August 31). Slicing White Bre(a)d: Racial Identities, Recipes, and Italian-American Women. Women & Therapy, 38(3-4), 356-376. Gerteis, J. & Smaja J. (2012, September). Ethnic Community and Ethnic Boundaries in a â€Å"Sauce-Scented Neighborhood†. Sociological Forum, 27(3), 617-640.   

Martha E Rogers

A casual occurrence, she shared her birthday with Florence Nightingale born 94 years before and had passed away four years before. They will share more than a birthrate as we will see later namely the role of the nursing as distinct from medicine. One is helping nature while nursing puts the patient in the best environment for nature to act 3 Martha was born in a family which valued education and from an early age she was an avid reader challenging herself to read up to five books a week.She was an avid learner as well with no hesitation for the harder classes such as math and algebra. She ran in the first gender issue then as she was the only woman in that class. She wanted to put her learning skills and knowledge towards contribution to social welfare hesitating between law and medicine and eventually opting for the later. She started in pre- med at the University of Tennessee (1931) but withdrew in 1933 under the pressure this was not a career deemed suitable for a woman. This was even told her by her parents.She eventually received a diploma from the Knoxville General Hospital School of Nursing in 1936. Despite her being valedictorian of her class, her parents were not happy she did not have a degree and enrolled the George Peabody College in Nashville where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Nursing in 1937. After graduation, she worked for the Children's Fund of Michigan as public health nurse. Her work involved home visits, case finding giving vaccinations, planning and giving health teaching programs.She then decided to further her education by entering into a Master program at Columbians Teacher's College in New York in 1939. She would graduate in 1945 having worked at the Visiting Nurse Association in Hartford CT culminating her involvement there as acting Director of Education. Upon graduation in 1945, she took the position of executive director of the Phoenix Visiting Nurse Association in Arizona. An intellectual she called for an â⠂¬Å"educational revolution in nursing'6 that differentiated university education from vocational training grounded in theoretical knowledge.This intellectual curiosity led her to another Master in Public Health in 1952 from the John Hopkins University, the premier health program in the US. She went on to earn a Doctor of Science degree (Sad) in 1954, with a circus similar to a PhD, thus becoming one of the very few nurses holding a doctoral program. Her view on what the requirements for nurses should be which had led her to her pursuit of academic achievements was rewarded with the position of professor of Nursing and head of the Division of Nursing a New York University in 1954.In her mind, nursing was not a vocational school but required the expansion of curriculum with theory based leaning and a bachelor of science program. It is during this period that she developed a new theory – the science of unitary human beings, writing three books Educational Revolution in Nursing ( 1961), Reveille in Nursing (1964) and An Introduction to the Theoretical Basis of Nursing (1970). This last book marked the beginning of a new era in nursing.She identified the central focus of nursing concerns by understanding the importance of studying human beings and their environments as an irreducible unitary whole and that human beings are more than and different from the sum of their parts. I do not claim to understand everything it means and I have followed the presentation by a am of students from Northern Arizona University in nursing who presented this as a final project to their class. She proposed an abstract system which is comprised of four key concepts: Energy fields: the fundamental unit of life.Openness: there are no boundaries to prevent the flow of energy between human and environmental energy fields providing for the continuous movement of matter and energy. Pattern: distinguishing characteristics of the field that reflects the dynamic change of nature and man' s innovative wholeness. Pan-dimensionality: non linear domain without spatial or time-based characteristics, the coming together of n infinite number of dimensions. These four concepts are the building blocks that construct the three scientific principles of homeostasis which proposes a way to view the unitary human being.Integrally: The human energy fields that are mutually and continuously changing: we affect our environment and it affects us – meditation or music can promote a positive human environment. Resonance: from the field of physics. The constant change of the way patterns from higher to lower frequency – the flow of energy between people and everything in the world around them. Can be done through human touch, talking, drawing, storytelling or any active usage of imagination.Helical: any small change in any environmental field causes ripple effect which creates larger changes in other fields; the continuous evolution of change that results from the interact ion of human environment fields. It is both constant and unpredictable and explains the fact that there are many forces that are interacting. This extremely intellectual approach to nursing which was also the result of her education and her thriving for knowledge derives also from a philosophy with a positive attitude to the human being.It seeks for the patient to reach self- actualization as described by Abraham Moscow. I would argue that beyond the theoretical construct she wrote and which can be difficult for the layman to understand, Martha Rogers gave a fundamental belief that nurses are more than simple caregivers and though their communication and understanding of the patient, the nurse can provide a fundamental boost and daily encouragement to the patient to reach well-being. This psychological drive is combined with the scientific elements of knowledge of what is a proper environment for the patient to move forward.This last point is very much in line with the theories put forward by Florence Nightingale in creating a nurturing environment for patients. It is may be a coincidence that both were born on the same day but also remained unmarried dedicated to the cause of nursing at promoting a healthy filed and environment for patients to recover. In your opinion, how did the theory of Martha Rogers enhance and improve the nursing care given to the patients? Martha Rogers believed that nursing was both a science and an art.Her thriving for more scientific knowledge for nurses means that attentions were taken care of by better educated nurses who were more able to understand the medical underpinning of the treatment administered to the patient. At the same time the holistic approach derived from her theoretical research means that patients can expect nurses who are more in tune with the forces which affect their lives and how the environment in which they are recovering can be affected by the attention and care given to them.The overall affect they receiv e is enhanced through the concept of helical – the gentle push given to support the patient's morale by the nurse has a profound effect on the patient's recovery. This is enhanced as the psychological makeup of the patient is affected by the care attention and devotion given by the nurse who has been trained to understand both the technical remedies offered by medicine but also tries to communicate and fosters the energy fields of the patient – his or her resilience in the face of illness and all of the motivation which will help the patient fight for full recovery.Behind the complex words in Martha Rorer's theories, I view the role of the nurse as both understanding the regimen of medical treatment which has been proposed by the doctors but also a close legislation with the patient which means that the patient is not alone in fighting for recovery. It reminds me of the final plea of Patch Adams when he tells his fellow students to listen to the nurses.They have a fing er on the psychological pulse of the patient and can relate to the will for recovery and offer actual support to the patient. By articulating that trained nurses can understand both the technical issues of a treatment as well as the human issues of a patient, Martha Rogers elevates the role of the nurse from a simple caregiver to an individual fully involved in the recovery and well-being of patients.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid diary of a wimpy kid Greg Is going to middle school, his mom bought him a â€Å"Diary† witch has the word â€Å"Diary† right in the middle and is in big letters. He is scared to bring it to school because he does not want some 8th grader to come see him with his bookdelay and think he is a sissy cause he has a diary In 6th grade and does not want to get punched and then get made fun of. Ergs big dream and what he thinks he Is going to be like in middle school Is this guy who so popular and knows him, and hen when he gets out of school, he is going to be really famous and when they want to know what his child-hood was like he is going to give them his diary, that's why he agreed to his mom to write in his diary. Greg is espoused to write in almost all year. Greg Is not really excited because A guy named Greg has a friend named Rowley and has been friends since Greg has moved to his new house.As soon as Rowley sees that a family has moved into the hou se, that was for sail, Roller's mom went to the store and bought him a book ladled â€Å"how to make friends† and kind of felt sorry for him so I pulled my wig for him. That how there friend ship started. There friends ship is a little wear at flirts. , Greg it this guy how thinks he is all that and thinks he is so popular. And when he Is older, he thinks he is going to be really famous. Lowly still thinks † hey I am only in 6th grade, I can still be a kid and use the word â€Å"PLAY† Greg hefty the book diary of a wimpy kid [ people think this book is just a funny book but what I hint is ] I think that if you have a really good friendship, and one of the friends said or did something heart-full, It can mess the whole thing up. 1: If you use your friend to make you a better person it can always turn back around just like when Greg made Rowley go down the BIG hill so Greg can throw a foot-ball at Rowley and so Greg can get a lot stronger. : when you have a really good friend you want to keep for a long time or a life time friend, you should ALWAYS be nice to them and respect them.If you have a friend that did something embarrassing or extenuated Diary of a imp kid Greg is going to middle school, his mom bought him a â€Å"Diary† witch has the word because he does not want some 8th grader to come see him with his bookdiary and think he is a sissy cause he has a diary in 6th grade and does not want to get punched and then get made fun of. Ergs big dream and what he thinks he is going to be like in middle school is this guy who so popular and EVERY-ONE knows him, and Greg is not really excited because called â€Å"how to make friends† and I kind of felt sorry for him so I pulled my wig for him. Hat how there friend ship started. There friends ship is a little wear at first. , Greg it this guy how thinks he is all that and thinks he is so popular. ND when he is older, grade, I can still be a kid and use the word â€Å"PIANO† † the book diary of a wimpy kid [ people think this book is Just a funny book but what I or did something heart-full, it can mess the whole thing up. 1: if you use your friend to make you a better person it can always turn back around 3: if you have a friend that did something embarrassing or extenuated Diary of a Wimpy Kid The story happened in East Ohio where Greg Heffley and Rowley Jefferson enters Middle School for the first time. *Greg Heffley – Known for his misadventures throughout his school. * Rowley Jefferson- He is the best friend of Greg. He is also immature and ignorant * Rodrick Haffley – He is the older brother of Greg. He is the main antagonist and constantly bullies Greg. The book opens with  Greg Heffley  saying how embarrassing it is to be having a journal with â€Å"diary† on the front and that whoever sees him with it will call him a â€Å"sissy†.Greg also goes to mention that one day he will become rich and famous but for now he is â€Å"stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons†. Greg faces too many hardships, including Halloween. As Greg and Rowley go Trick-or-Treating, they anger some teenagers who chase them. They barely escape but manage to get to Greg's grandma's house. The teenagers see them inside and Greg and Rowley taunt them. No t all goes to plan, though, and when they get home and Greg's dad, who was hassled by kids, throws water at them and the water soaks their candy.The Wizard of Oz play  is also a hardship for Greg. Patty Farell, who plays Dorothy, is coming on stage, and since Greg is a tree, he thinks he can throw apples at her, but the director takes this part out of the play for health and safety. Mrs. Norton, the music director, tries to make the trees sing an embarrassing song, but on the night nobody sings out of fear and the play is ruined. Greg and Rowley's friendship is starting to fall apart.Greg invents a game where one person throws a football to make the other fall off the Big Wheel; however when Rowley falls off, he breaks his arm. Greg is jealous of the attention Rowley is getting. Rowley is also framed for scaring kindergarteners, when it was Greg wearing Rowley's hat. When Greg confesses, Greg is kicked out, and Rowley is promoted. Rowley also declares himself the owner of a comic strip, Zoo-Wee-Mama, that was created by Greg and Rowley, but Greg drops out to make his own comic strip.The two stop being friends. Greg and Rowley get into a fight at the blacktop, when the teenagers from Halloween come, and grab Greg and Rowley. They make Rowley eat the cheese, and are going to make Greg do it, too, but Greg finds a way out. The students, however, notice the cheese is gone. Greg, being a good friend to Rowley, lies and says he threw it away, but this gives Greg the Cheese Touch. Greg and Rowley becomes friends again, and Greg begins to see the good advantages of having the Cheese Touch.Even though life is kind of unfair, you will somehow get through over it, you will always succeed if it is for good but if you fail, there is reason that God did that. Also, don’t ignore your friends because maybe they are the ones that will help you to succeed in life. Yes of course I will because this book has an effect to whoever reads it. My friend will learn how not to give up, fight for his/her rights and especially how to be â€Å"awesome†. Diary of a Wimpy Kid The story happened in East Ohio where Greg Heffley and Rowley Jefferson enters Middle School for the first time. *Greg Heffley – Known for his misadventures throughout his school. * Rowley Jefferson- He is the best friend of Greg. He is also immature and ignorant * Rodrick Haffley – He is the older brother of Greg. He is the main antagonist and constantly bullies Greg. The book opens with  Greg Heffley  saying how embarrassing it is to be having a journal with â€Å"diary† on the front and that whoever sees him with it will call him a â€Å"sissy†.Greg also goes to mention that one day he will become rich and famous but for now he is â€Å"stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons†. Greg faces too many hardships, including Halloween. As Greg and Rowley go Trick-or-Treating, they anger some teenagers who chase them. They barely escape but manage to get to Greg's grandma's house. The teenagers see them inside and Greg and Rowley taunt them. No t all goes to plan, though, and when they get home and Greg's dad, who was hassled by kids, throws water at them and the water soaks their candy.The Wizard of Oz play  is also a hardship for Greg. Patty Farell, who plays Dorothy, is coming on stage, and since Greg is a tree, he thinks he can throw apples at her, but the director takes this part out of the play for health and safety. Mrs. Norton, the music director, tries to make the trees sing an embarrassing song, but on the night nobody sings out of fear and the play is ruined. Greg and Rowley's friendship is starting to fall apart.Greg invents a game where one person throws a football to make the other fall off the Big Wheel; however when Rowley falls off, he breaks his arm. Greg is jealous of the attention Rowley is getting. Rowley is also framed for scaring kindergarteners, when it was Greg wearing Rowley's hat. When Greg confesses, Greg is kicked out, and Rowley is promoted. Rowley also declares himself the owner of a comic strip, Zoo-Wee-Mama, that was created by Greg and Rowley, but Greg drops out to make his own comic strip.The two stop being friends. Greg and Rowley get into a fight at the blacktop, when the teenagers from Halloween come, and grab Greg and Rowley. They make Rowley eat the cheese, and are going to make Greg do it, too, but Greg finds a way out. The students, however, notice the cheese is gone. Greg, being a good friend to Rowley, lies and says he threw it away, but this gives Greg the Cheese Touch. Greg and Rowley becomes friends again, and Greg begins to see the good advantages of having the Cheese Touch.Even though life is kind of unfair, you will somehow get through over it, you will always succeed if it is for good but if you fail, there is reason that God did that. Also, don’t ignore your friends because maybe they are the ones that will help you to succeed in life. Yes of course I will because this book has an effect to whoever reads it. My friend will learn how not to give up, fight for his/her rights and especially how to be â€Å"awesome†.

Analysing the impact of Chinese FDI in Africa: A case study of Nigeria and Ghana.

INTRODUCTIONResearch ProblemThe proposed research aims to examine the effect of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Ghana and Nigeria in order to perform a cross-country analysis of the respective impacts of such investments in these countries. Ghana and Nigeria share a number of similar characteristics, which make for a useful comparison, as it is posited in this study that the similarities between the two African countries will allow for a cross-national comparison of the impacts of Chinese FDI in these countries. The results of the analysis will be used to make recommendations on how Ghana and Nigeria should make appropriate use of China’s FDI to achieve development in these countries. Analyzing the impact of Chinese FDI in Ghana and Nigeria has been the topic of some academic research. However, previous studies have focused on the individual relationships between these African countries and China (SWAC/OECD, 2011). With the rapid changes in the global investment environment, especially in light of the global recession, it is essential to identify the key determining factors of FDI inflows to Ghana and Nigeria, in order to analyze the impact of these FDIs in this region. Although economic growth has been specified as a developmental goal in this region, academic research exploring the nature of the economic relationship between China and Ghana / China and Nigeria suggests that the influx of FDI into these developing economies may have the effect of retarding the overall development in these countries, as it prioritizes the exploitation of natural resources over essential developmental goals (Oyeranti, et al., 2010).Aims and ObjectivesThis research has two main goal s. First is to assess the impacts of Chinese FDI in Ghana and Nigeria in order to conduct a cross-country analysis of their respective economic relationships. Second is to analyze the overall impact of Chinese FDI on the development of these countries. In order to realize the primary goals of this study, the following objectives have been identified: To establish a theoretical framework for analyzing the impacts of FDI in developing countries, specifically within the context of countries in the West African which have abundant natural resources To construct a theoretical framework for measuring the impacts of FDI in Ghana and Nigeria, taking into consideration the differences in economic development and investment climate. To determine the factors influencing the economic relationship between China and Ghana / China and Nigeria, and to analyze these in terms of the established framework. To compare and contrast the respective impacts of Chinese FDI on Ghana and Nigeria in order to draw conclusions regarding how to manage and improve their relationshipsResearch QuestionsA set of research questions has been formulated based on the main goals and objectives of the study. These questions help to guide the study by ensuring that the analysis stays focused on the primary research subject. Below are the research questions for this study : What are the determinants of FDI impacts in African countries and how are these measured What are the specific impacts of Chinese FDI in Ghana and Nigeria How do these impacts correlate with the determinants identified in question 1 To what extent are the impacts of Chinese FDI in Ghana and Nigeria comparable What cross-country recommendations can be made in order to ensure that developmental goals and positive determinants of FDI are achieved in both countriesBackground informationDue to rapid globalization and the growing interdependence among countries, FDI has been recognized as one of the most significant means of international capital transfers. Over the years, FDI has grown to be an essential component in the economic development of many nations (Benacek et. al., 2000). Morgan (2003) and Johnson (2005) have highlighted the beneficial impacts that FDI can provide to a host country. These include: (a) generating additional resources such as capital and technology, to help boost the level of domestic outputs and deliver better, more affordable goods and services; (b) outflow of human resources, management practices and technologies from foreign firms to domestic businesses , which enables the host country to improve their operations and competitiveness; and (c) increased involvement of the host country in transnational markets, such as foreign exchange market and international trade. Due to the economic growth and welfare that FDI brings to the host country, this investment is preferred by most developing countries because it offers a faster way to achieve a more advanced level of economic development. However, FDI presents a lot of risks for investors. Due to these risks, countries are compelled to offer tangible incentives, as well as to put supportive regulation and systems in place to draw investors. Unfortunately, most developing nations frequently neglect to build an incentive system for foreign financiers (Botric & Skuflic, 2005). Consequently, the bulk of FDI is offered to developed countries such as the US, Germany, and Belgium (UNCTAD, 2011a). Traditionally, investment relationships in Ghana and Nigeria are established with European and American investment partners, as these countries are the primary sources of FDI, trade, and financial and technical aid. These relationships involve a number of bilateral and regional agreements with Nigeria and Ghana. Despite the many years of economic relationships with these countries, there are still differing opinions as to the impact of these investments on the development of Ghana and Nigeria (Tsikata, et al., 2010). FDI in Africa has been increasing steadily since 2002 with approximately $53 billion worth of FDI in 2007, representing an increase from 2006 of 47.2%. This increase was the highest recorded level of FDI in Africa at the time. With the global recession, the percentage of global FDI into Africa has experienced a significant decline from 3.2% in 2006 to 2.9% in 2007. Since then, however, the African economy has proved resilient, growing to over $61.9 billion in 2008, and the rate of return on FDI in Africa since 2004 has grown to 12.1%. In addition, mergers and acquisitions in Africa have risen by approximately 157% to $2 billion in 2008 (Oyeranti, et al., 2010). Investment in Nigeria and Ghana by Chinese investors has grown substantially since 1971 as a result of the complementary nature of their economies. Chinese investment in Ghana has been growing consistently in the previous decade with significant increase seen from 2004 to 2005, representing $3.09 million and $17.87 million, respectively. Research indicates that the Chinese share, as a percentage of total investment by China in Ghana, implies that FDI is increasing (Frimprong, 2012). Investment by the Chinese in Nigeria reveals a similar situation, as Chinese FDI grew twice as much between 2003 and 2005, increasing from $3 billion to $6 billion. Ghana and Nigeria lack significant investments in infrastructure that is needed to support the development required to result in measurable economic growth. To this end, China has developed a successful and competent construction industry, coupled with the ability to provide Nigeria and Ghana with the requisite capital needed to drive this infrastructure development (Oyeranti, et al., 2010). In this way, the flow of investment into Ghana and Nigeria is complementary due to the nature and needs of the respective economies. However, the Chinese industrialization drive and the subsequent inflow of FDI into China’s economy has led to rapid growth in the manufacturing sector, which entails the use of oil and mineral inputs that are overwhelming China’s internal resource capabilities (Ibid). As a result, China is looking to developing nations such as Nigeria and Ghana to supplement their energy resource requirements to support their growing economy. Consequently, the relation ship between Chinese FDI inflows into Ghana and Nigeria are being described as exploitative and as having an upsetting effect on the Western development goals that have been set for the region (Tsikata, et al., 2010). This negative perception about China’s interest in Nigeria and Ghana are due to the fact that the oil and gas sector accounts for more than 75% of Chinese investments. This implies that China seeks to exploit Nigeria’s natural resources. This further suggests that Chinese FDI in Nigeria is a relationship prone to exploitation and is potentially damaging to the developmental goals of the region (Oyeranti, et al., 2010). Despite these negative views, Chinese FDI in Nigeria and Ghana has not been focused solely on the exploitation of natural resources. Chinese FDI has actually helped to achieve significant growth in the manufacturing and services industry in both countries (Frimpong, 2012). The investment climate in Africa has become significantly more attractive as a result of the considerable efforts to liberalize investment regulations and offer incentives for FDI. The result, however, has not been as positive as originally intended due to significant concerns over the economic and political stability of the region. LITERATURE REVIEWFDI definitionThe analysis of relevant literature has shown that there is not one universally recognized definition of FDI. Nevertheless, the various definitions of FDI do not differ considerably. FDI is commonly perceived as either a real phenomenon or a financial phenomenon (Moosa, 2002). Within the perspective of a financial phenomenon, FDI is defined as: A kind of transnational investment transfer; wherein FDI is the outcome of variations in interest rates between two economies, because the country with higher interest levels is more appealing for foreign businesses An external supply of funding for the national economy ? FDI shows the influxes of foreign investment into the nation within a certain timeframe, which is indicated in the balance of payments A means of reducing and eventually eradicating poverty through FDI-driven economic growth in developing countries, and in Africa, specifically in light of United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (Asiedu, 2006) However, when FDI is considered exclusively in financial terms, there seems to be an underestimation of the degree to which FDI is related with a varied array of production elements. Among the most crucial non-financial inflows are managerial skills, expertise, and technology. This implies that although financial flows seem to a main component of FDI, it is not necessarily the leading element. Furthermore, according to Moosa (2002) a distinctive characteristic of FDI compared with other kinds of international investments is its function in directing management policies and decisions. As such, describing FDI as purely a financial phenomenon appears to undervalue this aspect. A more inclusive definition of FDI that is mostly acknowledged by other international organizations (e.g. IMF, Eurostat, UNCTAD) is proposed by OECD. According to the OECD (1999, p.7), FDI ’reflects the aim of obtaining a lasting interest by a resident entity of one economy (direct investor) in an enterprise that is resident of another economy (direct investment enterprise).’ The term ’lasting interest’ refers to the formation of a long-standing association concerning the investor and the direct investment establishment This also involves important impacts on the management of such enterprise. A direct investor is ’the owner of 10% or more of ordinary shares or voting stock‘(OECD, 1999, p.8). The IMF recommends applying this requirement of a minimum 10% ownership to differentiate direct investment vis-a-vis portfolio investment through shareholding. Based from this perspective, a direct investor can be any of the following entities: (a) individual, (b) group of associated individuals, (c) government, (d) incorporated or unincorporated company, private or public, and (e) group of associated companies, incorporated or unincorporated. The entity has a direct investment establishment situated in a country that is not where the direct investor resides (Duce, 2003). Direct investment enterprise can have any of the subsequent forms: Subsidiary ? a direct investor controls greater than 50% of the voting power allocated to shareholders. Controlling the shareholdings can be done either directly or indirectly, via a different subsidiary. The direct investor has the authority to secure or terminate members of the Supervisory Board or Management Board. Associate Company ? a direct investor owns between 10 to 50 % of the voting power allocated to shareholders. Likewise the control of shareholdings can be done either directly or indirectly. Branch ? a direct investor is also the owner of an unincorporated establishment (whole or joint ownership) in the host country. This can be in several forms, such as a joint venture, an unincorporated partnership, or a permanent office for the direct investor. This may also be in the form of fixed/immobile equipment, movable equipment, property, or constructions located in the host country (OECD, 1999). Choosing a specific kind of direct investment business also depends on different considerations, the most significant of which is the present law in the host country (Duce, 2003). In considering the impact of Chinese FDI in Ghana and Nigeria, it is useful to consider the form of investment that FDI takes, with regard to the respective economies. Based from preliminary research, it is clear that Chinese FDI in Nigeria is significantly higher than its FDI in Ghana, when compared to one another. Considering the high concentration of FDI in the oil and gas sector, it is possible that the economic relationship between Nigeria and Chinese may be contradictory to the developmental goals and overall well-being of the country. Whilst Chinese FDI in Ghana is seen across a variety of sectors such as aluminum, iron ore, manganese, alloy, timber, waste materials, cocoa beans, cotton linters, and frozen fish (Rahman, 2012). This indicates that the overall impacts of Chinese FDI in Ghana may be more attuned to developmental goals, compared to China’s relationship with Nigeria.FDI determinants – Theoretical ApproachAs FDI became a focal point in the current global economy, researchers have attempted to describe the conduct of multinational firms and FDI determinants through the proposal of different theories. Adam Smith (Concept of Absolute Advantages) and David Ricardo (Theory of Comparative Advantages) had originally discussed FDI as a feature of international trade. Smith and Ricardo proposed that countries should focus on producing goods where they can offer a cost advantage (i.e. absolute advantage for Smith; comparative advantage for Ricardo). The surplus of goods generated by a country is intended for export. Simultaneously, the country imports goods that it cannot produce domestically because it lacks cost advantages for their production (Sen, 2010). The theories of Smith and Ricardo are the foundations of current views on FDI. Therefore, these will be considered in the design of the theoretical framework. Heckscher and Olin linked international trade and with the benefits brought by the factors of production. Thus, a country must focus in producing final goods of which the raw materials are reasonably plentiful in the country. Conversely, the country is recommended to import the basic components of goods that are in limited supply. This theory regards FDI as a component of transnational capital movement. FDI flows are seen amongst economies and are described by various capital concentrations. Countries that are well-off in terms of capital transfer their production to countries that have abundant labor supply. This is characterized by more returns to capital and lesser returns to labor. This process continues till labor and capital are equalized in the countries involved (Benacek et al., 2000). While these theories were able to associate FDI with labor costs and higher rates of investment returns, these were unable to completely rationalize FDI phenomenon (Assuncao, 2010). As such, th ese will not be fully utilized in the creation of this study’s theoretical framework. Another FDI theory is given by Kindleberger (1969), who presumes that direct investment can be cultivated in situations where market shortcomings or government interferences exist. In this context, particular economies produce commodities in which they can demonstrate a comparative advantage; while other products are exported because the country cannot produce them efficiently. Thus, the relationship between FDI and trade can be either substitutable or complementary. Kindleberger’s (1969) theory is applicable to the context of Ghana and Nigeria because of its considerations of market imperfections and government interventions. These will be helpful in explaining some aspects of the theoretical framework. Obstacles to commerce may affect FDI in two contradictory ways. On one hand, high trade barriers tend to boost FDI because these result in high export costs. This contention stresses the location advantage aspect of FDI. In contrast, high trade barriers are a hindrance for the parent company, especially in situations with high levels of trade with associated firms. Other researchers have also discussed the relationship between FDI and trade openness (Balasubramanyam et al., 1996) and majority of studies find a positive association among these variables (Benacek, 2000). Dunning (1993) combined the components of Trade Theory and the Theory of the Firm. Based on the OLI model, Dunning (1993) classified FDI determinants into three groups. These are: (a) Ownership-specific advantages such as technology and know-how; (b) Location-specific advantages including market size, transport costs, etc.; and (c) Advantages that are particular to internationalization, wherein the firm supposes that selling of ownership advantages to third parties is not as lucrative as internally employing these advantages. Moreover, Dunning (1993) came up with the Investment Development Path based from the findings of his study. This framework identified five stages in the development of a country. These stages have a substantial effect on FDI inflows (Gorynia et al., 2005; Benacek et al., 2000). These stages of development will be one of the components in the theoretical framework; thus, this study is important to this research project. The institutional approach presents a different perspective on the subject. Root & Ahmed (1978) and Bond & Samuelson (1986) suggested that the environment, where the enterprise conducts its operations, is unpredictable and unsure. Thus, the firm’s decisions will be greatly affected by institutional forces (i.e. regulations and incentives). However, in actuality, government policy defines the options that are presented to a company and which influences the firm’s decisions regarding FDI, licensing, and exporting (Assuncao, 2010). The role of government in FDI is another aspect which will be explored in the theoretical framework. The institutional approach will be part of this analysis. Last but not least, it is beneficial to consider Ozawa’s (1992) study, which connects the patterns in developing countries with Porter’s theory of a country’s competitive advantages. According to Porter, there are four groups of attributes that can be applied to a country. These are: (a) factor conditions; (b) demand conditions; (c) firm strategy, structure and rivalry; and (d) related and supported enterprises. These have an influence on the nation’s competitiveness (Smith, 2012). Ozawa argues that the foreign investment received by developing countries, which are mainly allocated to labor-intensive sectors, results in a process of learning and technology purchase. It aids developing economies to raise their competitive advantages and thus, push the economy onward along the various stages of development ? moving from the fundamental factor-driven stage to the innovation-driven stage. This is described by an increasing external FDI (Ozawa, 1992). The discu ssion on competitive advantage is again a major component of the theoretical framework which will be the outcome of this research. As such, the study by Ozawa (1992) presents some arguments that are crucial to the discussion of this research.FDI determinants – ClassificationDunning (1998) identified four groups of FDI motives. The first two groups of motives are features of the initial stage of FDI, while other groups are related to sequential FDI (Gorynia et. al., 2005). Resource Seeking – the firm intends to obtain specific resources at less costs than in the local/national market Market Seeking – the firm intends to operate in a specific overseas market because of its size or anticipated growth. The firm builds a global strategy for the foreign market, or reduces the expenditures related to serving a certain market from a neighboring facility instead of from outside the country Efficiency Seeking – the firm intends to justify its production, distribution, and marketing (Gorynia et. al., 2005, p.65) Strategic Asset Seeking – the firm seeks to extend its strategic goals; for instance, supporting their competitiveness in international markets Clause (1999) and Calderon et al., (2002) categorized FDI determinants in two groups: (a) ‘Push factors’ or investor’s intentions to position capital/investment overseas: (b) ‘Pull factors’; or country-specific determinants, also referred to as location determinants. These factors influence the decision of the investor to find capital in a specific country. Additionally, pull factors are political, including growth estimates, or the country’s system of rules/regulations and rewards/incentives. The authors also highlighted other pull elements in the case of transitional economies. These include the process of privatization and the intensification effect, in which a direct investment results in other direct investments (Vita and Kyaw, 2008). Lastly, UNCTAD (2011a) segregated FDI determinants into three categories: (a) policy framework such as economic and political stability, competition policy, etc.; (b) business facilitations, including the costs of business operations, investment motivations, etc.; and (c) economic determinants such as market growth and infrastructure. Although these determinants help to ascertain the overall desirability of the country, the significance of specific groups differs depending on the sector and entry modes. The various FDI determinants will be explored as components of the theoretical framework. These will be investigated to find out which FDI determinants are applicable to the Ghanaian and Nigerian context.Investment Climate in Ghana and Nigeria – A Comparative AnalysisAttracting increasing amounts of FDI has been a significant priority of Ghana’s government when developing and reforming economic policy. The Ghana Investment Advisory Council (GIAC) was formed with the help of the World Bank and is comprised of local and multinational companies and institutional observers from around the world. The aim of the GIAC is to ensure the removal of any regulations, which may discourage FDI in the country. The GIAC, however, does not have regulatory power over the natural resources sector, but does regulate investment in all other sectors, such as banking and other financial institutions, telecommunications, energy and real estate (Tsikata, et al., 2010). The most beneficial eleme nt of the investment climate in Ghana is that there is no general economic or industrial strategy aimed at discriminating against foreign owned business or subsidiaries, but conversely there are incentives offered if the projects are deemed critical for national development. Prior to 1995, Nigeria was considered one of the most unsuitable countries in Western African for FDI due to a combination of considerable restrictions and unsuitable investment climate ? the result of social, economic, and political tensions that continue to plague the country. In 1995, however, Nigeria changed the investment climate substantially by opening the economy to FDI and reversing these severe restrictions. The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) was created to manage the approval of business licenses and motivations to improve the investment climate. All restrictions on limits in foreign shareholding were also abolished in order to promote and facilitate FDI. According to current Nigerian investment law, 100 % foreign ownership of firms is allowed in every sector, with the exception of the petroleum sector. In this sector, investments are restricted to existing joint ventures or new production sharing contracts (Oyeranti, et al., 2010). This, however, is not n ecessarily a restrictive provision specific to Nigeria, since production sharing contracts have become a modern way of ensuring that ownership over natural resources is held by the host nation. It is evident, therefore, that both the Ghanaian and Nigerian investment climates are conducive and receptive to FDI from China. In determining the potential impacts of these investments on the economies of the country, it seems evident that there is a need and desire for large capital investments. At the same time, there is the need to stay in control of their natural resources, namely oil and minerals, which has resulted in the only restriction on FDI in the respective economies. The crucial difference between the two countries is the vast superiority of Nigeria with regards to their oil resources and the far-reaching effects that this has had on the country as a whole. This factor must, therefore, be critically considered to assess the impact of Chinese FDI in the country.Chinese Interest in West Africa – FDI AnalysisChina provides an ideal investment partner to African countries and is often more beneficial to the host nation that traditional investment partners for a numb er of reasons, including fewer demands on the host country in exchange for investment, fewer conditions for assistance, offered assistance at lower rates of repayment and lower interest rates, and offered training for technical and professional personnel in doing so (technology transfer) (Renard, 2011). Historically, the interest in Africa from the Chinese perspective has been primarily based on the need to supplement their own natural resources, with the rapid development of their manufacturing industry necessitating a significant amount of resources far outweighing any domestic production in China itself and with an abundance of these resources in West Africa, China sought to increase their investment in and trade participation within the region. In 1987, China exempted raw materials and other components due for re-export from custom duties which bolstered their international trade with African countries as being a significant source of these products and raw materials (Renard, 20 11). With the Chinese accession to the WTO, the protectionist barriers were further removed and this served to increase trade even further. Trade in components is therefore a significant part of Chinese interest in West Africa, as well as raw materials in exchange for consumer products with low capital intensity with a commitment to moving towards more technology-intensive products. In addition to the trade investment in West Africa, diplomacy in the region has focused on bilateral agreements with African governments. In 1994, the Exim Bank (China Export-Import Bank) was founded to encourage Chinese exports and FDI in Africa, with a specific focus on improving the infrastructure (Wang, 2007). On the other hand, China Development Bank (CDB), also established in 1994, opened the China-Africa Development Fund to assist Chinese FDI distribution into Africa, through the financing of Chinese firms looking to invest in the region. Finally, SINOSURE (China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation) provides these firms with insurance and protects against the risks associated with Chinese exports and foreign investment (Renard, 2011). These banks have a less risk-sensitive profile than most private banks in traditional Western investment partners, making them more willing to encourage to investment in often high-risk African countries, including Nigeria. The opportunity to invest in Africa by Chinese firms is as a result of the long-standing history of trade relations and supported by less risk-sensitive banks. These banks aim to encourage FDI in West African countries in order to sustain and potentially increase trade relations with the Chinese economy. With many of the major players in the Chinese economy being state-owned (as a result of the prevailing political regime), there is a significant interest in encouraging FDI with these West African countries due to China’s desire to sustain its high economic growth. This supports the main assumption of this research that China’s FDIs into Ghana and Nigeria are exploitative in nature. Because China’s desire to sustain its economic growth as the main driving factor for its FDI, there is a lot of suspicion that Chinese state-owned investors will not care about the long-term effects of FDI, especially as it focuses on extracting natural resources and raw materials fro m Ghana and Nigeria. METHODOLOGYResearch PhilosophyThis study applies the positivist philosophy, based on the presumption that experiment and observation are highly significant in perceiving human behavior. According to this philosophy, the world can be understood in a rational way. This approach focuses on analyzing facts and seeks to understand connections; reduces experience to simple components; and tests formulated hypotheses. It usually produces qualitative data, which seeks to be unbiased and precise (Saunders et. al., 2009).Research ApproachThis study is empirical and it acknowledges the significance of gathering and utilizing data, to achieve precise and clear conclusions. Inductive and deductive research approaches will be employed in the study. The deductive approach is described as highly structured. Theories of FDI motivations are first presented, since they are especially relevant to the Chinese FDI climate. Next, the relevance of these theories to both Ghana and Nigeria is discussed through the analysis of empirical data. An inductive approach is observed throughout the gathering and examination of empirical data from trustworthy sources. From this perspective, the researcher analyses the data obtained by others, which has been integrated with the research procedures. Given the research objectives, this study has an explanatory quality . Explanatory research aims to explain if there is an association among two or more variables of a specific incident or phenomenon. The aim of this study is to ascertain whether there is an association between FDI inflows from China to Ghana and Nigeria using a framework for the measurement of these impacts based on economic, political or social factors which may be influenced by foreign investments.Data Collection ProcessPrimary and secondary data will be gathered to analyze the possible impacts of FDI inflows from China. Selected economic indicators will also be analyzed using multiple regression analysis. This research will examine the following economic indicators: GDP growth rates; GDP per capita; inflation rates; employment rates; unit labor costs; trade balances (represented as a percentage of GDP); foreign exchange rates; Corporate Income Tax Rates; percentage of people with higher education; developmental goals identified by the host country and other international bodies, and public spending on higher education. The data that will be used in this research will be taken from several different secondary research sites. Data sources are national statistics, scholarly publications, UNDP, IMF and the World Bank, as well as any other directed research that is seeking to understand the relationship between Chinese FDI and its impacts in Ghana and Nigeria countries.Limitations of ResearchThe current research is limited to the extent that Ghana and Nigeria are compatible in conducting the comparative analysis. The main concern is that the vast difference in the oil dependency of these two countries will lead to a number of conclusions, which are not compatible with one another, due to the fact that the Nigerian economy revolves around oil production. It is reasonable, therefore, to think that the application of this theory to Ghana may lead to conclusions or recommendations for improvement, which cannot be applied to the Nigerian context due to its resource dependency and the influence of the social, political and economic climate. In order to mitigate this limitation, the researcher aims to look specifically at the dependence on natural resources (mineral and oil) in the Ghanaian economy in order to ensure that this factor is given sufficient consideration in reaching the conclusions of this theoretical research.Secondary PublicationsPublished secondary resources will also be utilized in this study. These sources discussed FDI determinants from a general perspective and presented global outflows of FDI from China. These also analyzed the general determinants of FDI impacts in Africa as a developing region, with a specific focus on Ghana and Nigeria, and compared these impacts against one another to determine recommendations for the improvement or mitigation of FDI impacts. The application of secondary data in addressing the objectives of this research will add to the overall clarity of the research. Secondary data will be gathered by studying documents from various sources, su ch as international organizations and statistics offices. Other materials are peer-reviewed articles, research papers, books, and other scholarly publications. These will aid in recognizing and incorporating the most relevant literature within the context of the main research questions.Limitations of Secondary SourcesThere are some limitations in using secondary sources. One limitation is that it involves the possibility of incurring knowledge gaps. This refers to the occasions when researchers are unable to find the specific data they are looking for. Moreover, data might be outdated or is not relevant to the research problem. Furthermore, the researcher might find contradictory points of view in the secondary data, which will result in confusion and ambiguities. To lessen these kinds of risks, the researcher will seek the advice and guidance of academic staff specializing in this research subject regarding suggestions on literature. The researcher will also come up with a comprehensive list of international databases of FDI to find the most current data.Data AnalysisThe data analyses that will be applied in this research are comprised of four important steps. Data will be arranged in a rational way. The arrangement of primary and secondary data is based on the selection process (based on the researcher’s judgment). Data will be sorted into three categories. The categories are as follows: (a) Theoretical application of FDI in a Chinese context; (b) Ghanaian and Nigerian investment climate and context; (c) the relationship between Chinese FDI and the Ghanaian and Nigerian political, social, and economic factors. Data will then be analyzed using a number of qualitative research techniques. Results will be organized in terms of theoretical FDI themes identified in the initial research. DISSERTATION PLAN Below is the Gantt chart for the dissertation. This outlines the main activities that will be conducted for this research. Project TasksStartDuration Task 1: Writing the research proposal05 Task 2: Writing the project plan55 Task 3: Conducting the literature review1014 Task 4: Gathering of secondary data247 Task 5: Creation of theoretical framework3120 Task 6: Analysis of the data5114 Task 7: Writing the final research report6514 Note: Start – Represents the number of days from the start date of the research project Duration – The number of days required to complete the task REFERENCES Asiedu, S. (2006) Foreign Direct Investment in Africa: The Role of Natural Resources, Market Size, Government Policy, Institutions and Political Instability. United Nations University Publication [online] Available on: http://www.people.ku.edu/~jbrown/virus.html [Accessed 1 April 2013] Assuncao, S., Forte, R. and Teixeira, A. (2011) Location determinants of FDI: a literature review. Porto: FEP. Benacek, V., Gronicki M., Holland, D. and Sass, M. (2000) The Determinants and Impact of Foreign Direct Investments in Central and Eastern Europe: A Comparison Survey and Econometric Evidence. Journal of United Nations. 9(3). Pp. 163-212. Bevan, A. and Estrin S. (2004). The Determinants of Foreign Direct Investments into European Transition Economies. Journal of Comparative Studies.32. Pp.775-787. Botric, V. and Skuflic, L. (2005) Main determinants of Foreign Direct Investments in the South East European Countries. Zagreb: Institute of Economic. Calderon, C.L. and Serven, L. (2002) Greenfield FDI vs. Mergers and Acquisitions. Does the distinction matterChile: Central Bank of Chile. Duce, M. (2003) Definition of Foreign Direct Investment: a methodological note. Madrid: Banco de Espana. Dunning, J.H. (1993) Multinational Enterprise and the Global Economy. Essex: Addison-Wesley Publication Company. Frimprong, S. (2012) Research on Relationship between China and Ghana: Trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 3(7), pp. 51 – 61 Gorynia, M., Nowak J. and Wolniak R. (2005) Motives and Modes of FDI, Firm Characteristics and Performance: Case Study of Foreign Subsidiaries in Poland. Journal of Transitional Management.10 (3). Pp.55-87. Johnson, A. (2005) The effects of FDI inflows on host country economic growth. Jonkoping: Jonkoping International Business School. Moosa, I. (2002) Foreign Direct Investment: Theory, Evidence and Practice. NY: Palgrave Macmillan. Morgan, T. (2005) How does FDI affect host country developmentUsing industry case studies to make reliable generalizations. [In:] Morgan T., Graham, E. and Blomstrom, M., Does Foreign Direct Investment promotes developmentWashington: Institute for International Economics. OECD (1999) OECD benchmark definition of Foreign Direct Investment.3rd edition. Paris: OECD. Oyeranti, O., Babatunde, A., Ogunkola, E. & Bankole, A. (2010) Chinese-Africa Investment Relations: Case Study of Nigeria. Nairobi: African Economic Research Consortium Ozawa, T. (1992) Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Development. Transnational corporations. 1(1). Pp. 27-54. Rahman, M. (2012) Political Economy of China’s Foreign Direct Investment in Ghana. GhanaWeb [online] Available on: http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=236093 [Accessed 1 April 2013] Renard, M. (2011) China’s Trade and FDI in Africa. African Development Bank, Working Paper Series, no. 126. Belvedere: African Development Bank Saunders, M., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2009), Research methods for business students. 5th Ed. Harlow: FT Prentice-Hall. Sen, S. (2010) International Trade Theory and Policy: A review of the literature. NY: Levy Economic Institute. Smit, A.J. (2010) The Competitive Advantages of Nations: Is Porter’s Diamond Framework a New Theory That Explains The International Competitiveness of CountriesSouthern African Business Review.14. Pp.105-130. Tsikata, D., Fenny, A. & Aryeetey, E. (2010) Impact of China-Africa Investment Relations: An In-depth Analysis of the Case of Ghana. Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research University of Ghana: African Research Consortium UNCTAD (2011a) World Investment Report 2011.Non-equity modes of international production and development. NY: United Nations. UNCTAD (2011b) World Investment Prospect Survey2011-2013.NY: United Nations. Vita, G. and Kyaw, K. (2008) Determinants of FDI and Portfolio Flows to Developing Countries. A panel co-integration analysis. European Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Sciences, 13.Pp. 161-168. Wang, J. (2007) What Drives China Growing Role in Africa. IMF Working Paper, WP/07/211. International Monetary Fund, African Department.

The Iranian Carpet Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

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Stress management as an enabler of high performance ( Chapter 7) Essay

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Admission - Essay Example Furthermore, it will help me to serve my country and community with the utmost of commitment and thorough knowledge acquired through my education. Every person learns a second language. The practical aspects of this area of study have been clearly expressed in the book, Understanding Second Language Acquisition (Ortega, 2009). This book has proved to be of immense benefit for those who undertake research in teaching English as a second language. To my great fortune, I read this monumental work on the foundations of second language acquisition. This had a deep impact upon me and strengthened my resolve to work hard with focus towards the acquisition of a Doctorate in Teaching English as a Second Language. I have always been spellbound by original work in the area of linguistics and would be highly satisfied if I could take up research work. I have considerable experience in teaching English and this has always provided me with complete satisfaction. One of the highlights of this pleasurable activity has been the numerous occasions wherein I participated in lectures and had discussions with my peers and professors. Ortega’s scholarly work inspired me immensely and it is now my heartfelt desire to master this subject. Her knowledge and capacity to express complex and abstruse ideas in a lucid manner have inspired me tremendously. As such, I studied the theories of the major scholars in this area and realized that these studies had created a tremendous desire in me for conducting research in this area. Remaining a mere spectator and repeating the wise sayings of these outstanding thinkers failed to provide me with the feeling of undiluted bliss. Consequently, I came to the firm decision to undertake original research in this area. In the early years of my schooling, I fell deeply in love with the English language. Subsequently, in high school, I was extremely fortunate to