Lobbying on Standard Setting in Accounting Assignment

Lobbying on Standard Setting in Accounting - Assignment Example The present paper has identified that the chairman of SEC is selected through political appointment by the federal government. Thus, it is less likely that chairman would not be influenced by the activities of lobbying in the field of setting accounting standards. The lobbying activities in the field of accounting standard setting is directed at influencing the FASB in providing more flexibility to the firm in their accounting practice with no attention towards the safeguarding the long term interests of the firm as well as the investors (Andre, Cazavan-Jeny, Dick, Richard and Walton, 2009, p.24). The intentions of the lobbies are guided by narrow interests of enhancing short term economic value of the firm by allowing relaxations in the accounting standards which are contradictory to the rules and regulations prescribed by FASB. The process of standard setting in accounting is guided by the rules and regulation of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The process of standard setting in accounting is guided by the rules and regulation of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The issues involved in the process of standard setting in accounting bring to light the influence of politics and activities of lobbying on setting the standards for accounting (Ball and Foster, 1982, p.165). The activities of lobbying in the setting of standards in accounting explains that politics and lobbying have a direct influence over the activity of standard setting as in the financial policy framework of the organizations. The lobbying activities include purposeful intervention with an aim to manipulate the setting of accounting standards with the help of economic activities so that the economic value added to the company could be enhanced (Beresford 1, 1997, p.90). This is, however, viewed to be inconsistent in accordance with the guidelines of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The activities of lobbying is aimed at derailing the standard setters from t he achieving the objectives as set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board though reporting of consistent financial statements. FASB recommends improvement of transparency in accounting by setting the standards on accounting procedure and providing flexibility in the process of reporting financial statement and accounts. The issues related to lobbying on standard setting in accounting arise when the Congress is influenced by the politically influential constituents which are misdirected to achieve self motivated interests (Beresford 2, 2001, p.85). The lobbying by the accounting firms in the process of standard setting could also lead to improve of accounting standards being set by their clients. This is achieved by addressing the areas of ambiguity in the accounting rules prescribed by Financial Accounting Standards Board. The various issues in case of lobbying in the area of setting accounting standards highlight the interests of the companies to reduce costs and attain flexib ility in financial reporting (Bertomeu and Cheynel, 2013, p.814). For example, the accounting standards set by FASB requires the company account to be reviewed on a periodic basis by the auditors.

Drug Addiction Essay Example for Free

Drug Addiction Essay -Drug addiction is a complex brain disease. It is characterized by compulsive, at times uncontrollable, drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences. -Drug seeking becomes compulsive, in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain functioning and, thus, on behavior. For many people, drug addiction becomes chronic, with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. Drug addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual that is addicted and to those around them. Drug addiction is a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. Although it is true that for most people the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, over time the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a persons self control and ability to make sound decisions, and at the same time send intense impulses to take drugs. It is because of these changes in the brain that it is so challenging for a person who is addicted to stop abusing drugs. Fortunately, there are treatments that help people to counteract addictions powerful disruptive effects and regain control. Research shows that combining addiction treatment medications, if available, with behavioral therapy is the best way to ensure success for most patients. Treatment approaches that are tailored to each patients drug abuse patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems can lead to sustained recovery and a life without drug abuse. Similar to other chronic, relapsing diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, drug addiction can be managed successfully. And, as with other chronic diseases, it is not uncommon for a person to relapse and begin abusing drugs again. Relapse, however, does not signal failure rather, it indicates that treatment should be reinstated, adjusted, or that alternate treatment is needed to help the individual regain control and recover. How Do Drugs Affect The People Around Environment * One of the largest ways in which drug abuse affects families is the creation of an unstable environment. Children especially are influenced and affected by their parents behaviors. As such, a sibling can also be affected by the actions of another sibling who is abusing drugs. Drugs can affect the way family members talk, act and care for their families. For example, the drug can often come before basic needs such as food, clothing or even the love and attention a child needs to have a stable environment. All of these actions can have long-lasting effects on others in the household, especially young children who grow up with drug abusers as role models. These effects can include the child following in the abusers footsteps, especially if they have never seen what a functional family should look like. Financial * Drug abuse can affect both family and friends financially. This can come both from enabling and from theft. Enabling is the action of helping a user with his habit because you feel bad for him, or feel it is keeping him around long enough for you to be able to change them. One of the main ways that enabling occurs is through directly or indirectly financing the drug habit through loaning or giving money to the addict. Drug abuse can also lead addicts to steal from friends and family members to support their habit. Violence * Drug abuse can also affect family and friends by inviting violence into the relationship. There are two main times where violence can quickly escalate for an addict: during extreme highs and during withdrawal. Alcohol is an especially guilty substance for causing violence when users are well over the legal limit of blood alcohol content. This can cause violence both through direct actions, such as getting in a fight, as well as indirect actions, such as driving a car while intoxicated. Violence can also affect the friends and family of a drug abuser during withdrawal. One of the most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal is irritability and anxiousness. The desire to use can quickly cause users to become violent to even close family members in order to get help or money for their next high. Abandonment * One of the most heart-breaking effects of drug abuse on families especially is abandonment. Once drugs have altered the nerve pathways in the brain, the desire to use quickly becomes more important to anything else in the drug addicts life. Friends and family members quickly get replaced by the next score of the drug of choice. This can often lead to divorce or the loss of children to state custody due to a lack of ability to be a loving and providing parent. There is also an increased risk of parents or spouses being locked up in prison for extended periods of time, leaving their children to grow up without a mother or father. The effects of this abandonment may stick with kids all the way through adulthood. Diseases Involved In Using Drugs Date: Tue 29 Jan 2013 Source: University of Oxford/Medical Research Council, press release [edited] The genetic variant rs12252-C was present in 69 per cent of Chinese patients with H1N1 swine flu [influenza A/(H1N1)pdm09]. A genetic variant which explains why Chinese populations may be more vulnerable to H1N1 swine flu has been found by researchers at the University of Oxford and Beijing Capital Medical University. This finding could help identify those at high risk of severe infection and help prioritise those in highest need of treatment The study, led by Dr Tao Dong of the University of Oxford, showed that people with a specific genetic variant are 6 times more likely to suffer from severe influenza infectionthan those without. The particular variant rs12252-C is occasionally found in Caucasian populations and was already known to be associated with more severe influenza disease. However, the research teams in the UK and China showed that this variant was present in 69 percent of Chinese patients with severe pandemic (swine) influenza in 2009 compared with 25 percent who only had a mild version of the infection. The results are published today [29 Jan 2013] in the journal Nature Communications. The study was part-funded by the Medical Research Council Dr Tao Dong of the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at Oxford University says: Understanding why some people may be worse affected than others is crucial in improving our ability to manage flu epidemics and to prevent people dying from the virus. Its vital that we continue to fund research that examines flu from the smallest details of our genetic code in the populations around the world that continue to be vulnerable to infection. The results suggest that the gene variant increases the severity of, rather than susceptibility to, influenza infections. It is thought that the DNA change increases risk of severe infection by limiting the effectiveness of a protein which helps to defend against influenza and similar viruses. This protein, known as IFITM3, has been previously shown to slow down virus replication in mice.Professor Andrew McMichael, co-author of the study at the University of Oxford, says: The apparent effect of this gene variant on the severity of influenza is of great interest. It remains to be seen how this gene affects the whole picture of influenza in Southeast Asia, but it might help explain why new influenza viruses often 1st appear in this region of the world.. During the 2009 pandemic, hospitals in China admitted patients with severe infection but also, unusually, patients with mild infection who, under normal circumstances, would not require hospitalization. This open-door policy provided a unique opportunity to capture a relatively unselected group of patients with divergent outcomes, observed and managed unde r similar clinical conditions. The introduction provides the background and rationale for this investigation. The SNP rs12252-C allele alters the function of interferon-induced transmembrane protein-3 increasing the disease severity of influenza virus infection in Caucasians, but the allele is rare. However, rs12252-C allele is much more common in Han Chinese. The authors report that the CC genotype is found in 69 percent of Chinese patients with severe pandemic influenza A H1N1/09 virus infection compared with 25 percent in those with mild infection. Specifically, the CC genotype was estimated to confer a 6-fold greater risk for severe infection than the CT and TT genotypes. More importantly, because the risk genotype occurs with such a high frequency, its effect translates to a large population-attributable risk of 54.3 percent for severe infection in the Chinese population studied compared with 5.4 percent in Northern Europeans. Interferon-induced transmembrane protein-3 genetic variants could, therefore, have a strong effect on the epidemiology of influenza in China and in people of Chinese descent.The authors conclude that: These data clearly extend the earlier observation in a European cohort that the IFTM3-rs12252CC genotype is significantly associated with influenza severity. The association is primarily with severity of disease rather than susceptibility to infection, although larger studies are required to prove this specific association. IFITM3 may have an important role in virus replication and dissemination following the initial infection. The much higher level of the CC genotype in the Han Chinese population compared with Caucasians may place the Chinese at a higher risk for developing severe illness upon influenza infection. It is not known whether those who are more severely infected with influenza virus are more likely to spread the infection. If this is the case, the high frequency of the C allele in Asian populations may influence the epidemiology of influenza. Mod.CP Government approach: ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Jan 21 (PIA) The Peace and Development Coordinating Committee (PDCC) also known as Team Basilan has resolved to re-organize and activate the Provincial Anti-Drug Council to address the escalating drug problem in the province. In a recent meeting of Team Basilan, Provincial Administrator Tahira Ismael recognized the urgency of addressing the illegal drug situation in the province. She fears that the drug menace has slowly crept into the different communities in Basilan, after receiving unconfirmed reports from the ground on illegal drug use. The representative of the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Authority (PDEA) who requested anonymity confirmed the proliferation of illegal drugs in certain areas of Basilan. The PDEA representative disclosed that for lack of personnel and resources, agents from nearby Zamboanga City will provide the needed assistance during legitimate operations and raids in the area. PDEA was also thankful for the full support and initiatives of the local police and the military in addressing the drug problem. PDEA has only one agent for Basilan. Provincial Police chief PSSupt. Mario Dapilloza said that in his capacity as provincial director, he has activated the provincial anti-illegal drugs task force in the police department. With the deputization from PDEA, the task force was able to arrest the most wanted person in December last year. With the situation, Team Basilan has resolved to craft a resolution requesting PDEA for at least two additional agents for the province. â€Å"We need at least three PDEA agents, to be assigned in strategic areas in the province,† Ismael said. Moreover, Team Basilan has resolved to ask Gov. Jum Akbar for an Executive Order creating the Provincial Anti-Drug Council. Ismael said that the council will immediately convene as soon as the governor has approved the E.O. (RVC-PIA9, ZBST) LOILO CITY, Dec. 29 (PIA6) Now it is not only the taxi drivers that should be randomly tested for illegal drugs, but also employees in offices and business establishments. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) officer-in-charge Atty. Ronnie Delicana said the agency is pushing to expand the random drug testing among workers. â€Å"We will get the cooperation of the local officials to pass ordinances that require business establishments to allow random drug testing in their workplaces,† Delicana said in a radio interview. â€Å"This will be a pre-requisite to issuance of business permits,† he added. He also said that there should be a widespread culture of zero drug abuse in workplaces to boost PDEA’s campaign against illegal drugs. â€Å"We will be pursuing the signing of memoranda of agreement with different partners to realize drug-free work places,† Delicana said. Meanwhile, for 2012, PDEA arrested 438 suspected drug peddlers in 277 operations, where 34 of those arrested were among the 1,383 suspected drug personalities in Western Visayas, who are in the agency’s watch list. As to cases filed in court, PDEA records show that 482 were filed in court with 3,118 are still pending for lack of witnesses and evidence. The operations also yielded as per record, about P2.7 million worth of drugs and paraphernalia seized. (JCM/ESS-PIA 6, Iloilo) the government is doing actions with the issue. Programs: The Church of the Nazarene is now being asked to become a major partner in a drug prevention program in the Philippines. The program is centered around a high quality video presentation produced by Heinz Fuzzle, a freelance producer for Gospel Films who has worked on a number of projects with the Church of the Nazarene in the past. Portions of the piece were shot on the campus of Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary in Manila. The film features interviews from a variety of personalities in the Philippines, including a Nazarene young man who was converted from a life of drug abuse. With 57% of the Philippine population under the age of 20 years old, drug abuse is becoming a serious problem in many parts of the country. Approval has been granted by Philippine government officials to show the film in 40,000 high schools, universities, and colleges across the nation. The film has a strong Christian message with follow-up linked to local churches. The Philippine Field Office hopes to launch 11 film teams to meet this new challenge. This is a tremendous open door for taking the Gospel into every corner of the Philippines

Voiced Opinion :: essays research papers

Voiced Opinion There are several people in this plain west Texas town that are constantly turning up their noses at people who are contrasting to their high society cradle of humanity. It has gotten to where people can no longer express their individuality without having the proverbial finger shaken at them. If a person is not wearing the most elite of brands, then at best, that person will be ignored; in most cases, they will receive ridiculing looks and hatred filled words. Although these upper echelons are not necessarily of Christian faith, they carry a 'holier than thou'; attitude that portrays that they are better than everyone else. Quite a few people prefer to illustrate their individual personalities, instead of being 'just another sheep in the herd.'; They may choose to wear apparel that is, at the least, distinct from the population around them. The freethinking female may choose to embellish a long, black broomstick skirt, with her favorite Marilyn Manson T-shirt, accessorized by her over worn combat boots. She may also choose to wear darker make up to show her beauty in a gothic fashion. An open-minded male may adorn a pair of well-adapted denim jeans with holes in the knees. He might choose to wear an over-sized shirt that is garnished with the name of some eighties band that is of no importance to anyone other than himself. Unfortunately, individualists are banned from their choice of clothes in several areas of society. They are informed they can not wear their pieces of flair in malls or other public scenes because of the biased fear: if a human being looks unusual, that person is a threat to society. It is a shame that people who are so enormously creative and out going are chastise from showing themselves in genuine manner. If everyone were to share this yearning to be distinct, our terrestrial sphere would be a much more kaleidoscopic place to subside. Distinct individuals should be allowed to break out of their predetermined 'egg shell'; and should finally be able stand up for what they truly believe in.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is one other factor that does not support freedom of expression: there are no stores that allow a person to be one's self. Several stores in the area are said to bestow such freedoms. The Attic is made to sound as if it offers the world in a breadbasket, but instead it is selling clothes that would not have gone over well, even in the 'funked out'; seventies.

Essay --

There is 317,327,804 million citizens in the United States as of 8:05pm on January 6th, 2014 (U.S. Census Bureau, International Data Base). 37.4% of the United States population lives in the South, 23.5% live in the West, 21.4% in the Midwest and the final 17.7% live in the Northeast (U.S. Census Bureau, International Data Base). Given the fact that the United States is the best country in the world, it is also one of the biggest. 82.3% of the population live a long way from the White House. Before the 1950s, and the development of the internet and media, it was more difficult to influence a political party to focus on certain issues from thousands of miles away. Those citizens didn't have the technological advancements that modern America have such as T.V., E-mail, and even Twitter. Newspapers were only a sufficient way of getting news a crossed the country. The average population in the 1940s that are significantly far from the White House was 75% (U.S. Census Bureau, International Data Base). With the creation of linkage institutions in America, that 75% was provided the link they strived for to voice their opinion and play their part. The United States is run under democracy and a democracy depends for its very livelihood on the consequential contacts between the government and the people. The Founding Fathers of the United States destined for the members of Congress to provide the link between government and the citizens. On of the founders, James Madison explains that public views are enhanced and refined â€Å"by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country..." (Federalist #10). â€Å"In our Modern American Government, each House member represents almos... ...r office, public officials' activities, and the public service announcement of the day through television, newspapers, radio, and the Internet. The media's power to shape the American mind has often been criticized, but it also allows people to give feedback to the government† (Steve Jobs). Being able to have free media and paid media, the press is able to swing voters by informing them what issues are important at any given time. While there is a wide spread belief that they media is bias to either the right of the left, it should be less of a concern to the public because the media is largely unsuccessful in shaping opinion but it also allows people to give feedback to the government. Equally, the media is affected by the government, who is able to use the media as a political instrument by furthering the political views of whatever power is currently in office.

Report on Course: the Business Simulation Essay

This report provides the Chairman of the board an analysis of the decisions and the results of the Company 1 in Period 2. The focus is given on how our company organized the process of planning in the Period 2 and I tried to critically analyze the results compared to our plans. In period 2 our company was seemed to do better than the previous period (period 1), but in my opinion period 2 was the beginning of our company’s crisis. We didn’t adhere to our differentiation strategy and we ignored our objectives. I strongly believe that if we have acted much differently and have the chance to redo the planning of the decision making of period 2 we would perform much better in all next periods. Introduction This report is an attempt of informing the chairman of the board of the Company’s 1 plans, actions and mistakes during the period 2. It starts with the analysis of the process of planning and continues with the analysis of the results compared to our company’s plans. 2) Body 2.1) Planning of the Period 2. To begin with the Price, we planned to have the same price as Period 1 ( 3,090 eur), because we knew that customers dislike changes in the price and we didn’t want to have dissatisfied customers especially when we hadn’t yet persuaded them that our product was the best in quality so we couldn’t risk losing many of them. As for our investment in Advertisement we thought that if we kept investing the same amount (7.0mEur ) as Period 1 we would own the same or bigger market share. Then about Sales force we were thinking of having 110 in that period because as the â€Å"Topsim† mentions a sales force of 110 could increase sales up to 45000 units. We decided to set the price of 2,640 for the bid that was higher than our CGM in the period 1 (; 2,270eur). We were thinking of purchasing 46,000 units of input materials and producing 50,000 units of Copy I as we were thinking that we have to be able to respond to the increase of market 1 demand (8%-10%) and to serve the bids in case we won that. After that we started thinking of cutting down the cost of the rest investments we had to do. So we thought that investing few or no money to the rest of our potential investments would be enough. So here are our thoughts of investments: 1,0mEur in CI, putting 10 people at the Copy I-old technology, 0,50mEur in Ecology of Copy I-old and 0,1mEur in Value Analysis of Copy I-old, 0 people in technology and 0,0 mEur in ecology and 0,0 in value analysis of Copy I-new, 1,0mEur in Maintenance of our Type A production lines and 0,0mEur in Rationalization of them, no new investment or disinvestment of the production lines and no new types of lines, 0,0 mEur process optimization, 0,0 mEur in training production workers, 0,0 mEur in investment in environmental plants, 0 number of recruiting or dismissal of production workers, non-salary staff costs 37%, short-term loan 15,0 mEur, long-term loans 0,0 mEur, dividends 40%, purchase of securities 0,0 mEur. 2) Body 2.2) Critically analyze the results compared to our plans. I have to mention that generally, in the most periods, as we were planning our steps we were trying to focus on the company’s objectives (; increase our employees productivity; decrease the negative ecological footprint; retain the market share>17% ) and how we would achieve those through our actions. However, in period 2 we didn’t act like our decisions and results would have a long term effect on the potential achievement of our goals, we tried a different tactic, which was cutting all investments costs extremely and maybe as we see from the results of that period and the next that was a fatal mistake for our company. Even if it seemed from the improved Net Income (compared to period 1) that we chose a good tactic it wasn’t because that move got us behind in comparison to the other companies that had chosen the differentiation strategy as well. They built a quality product unlike us that we thought only the temporary survivor of our company. Of course as we were at the beginning we were afraid not to get out of the market so we didn’t think thoroughly of our long term results. In that point of time our only concern should have been to create a product with a strong quality that would appeal most of the consumers and the price wouldn’t be for them an obstacle. Our results weren’t those we wanted in all periods, and I am quite sure that this started from the results of period 2. We pretty much failed creating a quality based (eco-friendly and flexible/tend to respond immediately at technological changes) production, our customers weren’t satisfied generally, our staff was neither and our market share was declining. I can now find many corrections to our decisions that maybe could ensure us in a long term view. First of all, I agree with the price, I think that first we had to gain some loyal customers who would appreciate our product’s quality and after that increase the price. So our results wouldn’t have changed with another price in a good way. I don’t agree now with the amount we invested in the Advertisement. I now believe that we should have put at least 1,o more mEur so that our market share would be wider. The number of sales staff was a good move and I think was enough. As i see it right now I’m not sure that we needed to sell to bids because if we had focused on our differentiation strategy then probably we wouldn’t need them and maybe we could sell all of our production to the market 1 so that our revenue would be bigger. As for CI we for sure made a severe mistake by reducing the amount of investment because CI expenditures affect Corporate Image which has an important double effect, on Customer Satisfaction (which is one of our companies objectives) and on Production Staff Motivation (which increase our employees productivity). As the business report on the industry shows our company had in Period 2 the smallest index of Corporate Image of all companies, I for sure believe that we should have put 2,0 or even 3,0mEur. Of course 10 people in technology is a really small number when thinking that a quality product don’t invest that much in R&D. They should be at least 30-34 so that we could be flexible to technological changes. By investing in technology we could reduce the overall amount of the environmental damage indicator caused by company which beside avoiding the penalty (we had to pay unless it turned 100 or more) it has a direct influence on Sales, Absenteeism of product employees, Corporate Image, Share price and Motivation of staff in production. Also, 0,5mEur in ecology isn’t enough for a quality centered Copy machine. Consumers care about the environment and ecology generally. Eco-friendliness affect their satisfaction so if we were more eco-friendly we would gain consumers appreciation and loyalty. So the more eco-friendly would be our product the merrier market share we would gain. Moreover, I believe we had had to invest in new production lines (Type C for example) because we could improve ecology index of the production lines themselves easily by replacing certain lines. And for sure 0,0mEur investment in ecological plants is totally unacceptable for the same reasons. I don’t have many objections for not investing yet in the technology, ecology and value analysis of the Copy I-new in period 2. At first we should have gained a loyal market share and then when having some kind of certainty for our product’s continuation/progress and of course enough capital to step to the next level to invest in the Copy I-new. I don’t agree with the amount of production because we weren’t well prepaered for selling that. On the other hand I would quite agree with the amount of production we had in period 2 in case we had planned more thoroughly our decisions bearing on mind our differentiation strategy maybe we could sell it. As I see our decisions now I can’t understand how we didn’t invest in training the production workers. Of course that resulted to the staff generally, shown with the attrition. Training has a positive influence on Production Staff Motivation and that would facilitate our 1st objective which is the increase of employees’ productivity. So for sure I believe we had to invest in training at least 1,5mEur. For the same reason I believe that non-salary costs should be a little higher (e.g 40%). Finally, I don’t think that the number of production workers was in that period enough (especially if we had done everything I have mentioned above), so bearing in mind all of the above neither the number of production stuff would be enough nor of course the Short-term loan. Conclusion For the Company 1 the organizing of the planning process and the decision making process in each period was a unique experience. Almost all of us were inexperienced in such an activity, even in a group work, so we were trying for the best result every time.. Even if that never came! Most of us found the whole procedure and the business game a great opportunity to realize how to use some of our already acquired knowledge and a great chance to learn many more from our colleagues and our professor. Thank you for that opportunity!

IMF essays

IMF essays The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was created to promote international monetary cooperation; to facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade; to promote exchange stability; to assist in the establishment of a multilateral system of payments; to make its general resources temporarily available to its members experiencing balance of payments difficulties under adequate safeguards; and to shorten the duration and lessen the degree of lack of equilibrium in the international balances of payments of members. On December 27, 1945, the IMF was established at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, held at Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. At its birth, it was to oversee stability in international monetary affairs and to facilitate the expansion of world trade. Also created to aid these purposes was the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank). Both were specialized agencies of the United Nations, and membership in the World Bank required countries to first be members of the IMF. The World Bank was given control over long-term financing for nations in need, while the IMFs responsibility was to monitor exchange rates, provide short-term financing for balance of payments adjustments, provide a forum for discussion about international monetary concerns, and give technical assistance to member countries. The Fund's legal authority is based on an international treaty called the Articles of Agreement that came into force in December 1945. The first Article in the Agreement outlines the purposes of the Fund and, although the Articles have been amended three times in the course of the last 47 years prior to 1998, the first Article has never been altered. The beginning of the IMF can be traced to March 1st 1947 where it first began its financial operations. Between 1947 and 1948 drawings were made on fund reserves by eleven countries an ...

Free Essays on Music Piracy

Ever since we were little, we have been taught that stealing is wrong. When we were caught in the act, we were punished. But what happens when we are presented with something we want and there is no one around to see us take it? Many of us would take it because they feel they aren’t going to be caught and with this freedom of mind, we take it guilt free. Music piracy has been steadily growing and the idea of not getting caught has provoked more and more people to try it. The government has recently been making a conscious effort to try and downplay this new fad of illegal file sharing. Music piracy is not only stealing music, but it is stealing copyrighted art and money from the artist. People think that no one will noticed they were taking the music, but the fact is many people are being affected. Music piracy is harming to everyone as a society because not only is it unethical, but it takes money from the artists and labels. Music piracy is a new era in which people can download a song or file over the internet by a music sharing system. Many services online, like Napster or Limewire, provide people with a link to all their favorite songs. What most music people download is copyrighted material by the artist. â€Å"Copyright is a property right given to producers of creative expression. Copyright does not protect ideas or facts, but it protects works of literature, music, drama, art, sound recordings, photography, movies, software and other original works of authorship.†(Gauntlett 196).This means that the artists have a special right over the use of their creation and if people want to use it, there is usually a payment of some sort. People using the internet to get their music for free are stealing from the artist. Napster, in 2001, was taken to court by artists that were frustrated with the service the program was providing. Napster went under as a business and lost a lot of its money, but tha t did not stop other file sharing p... Free Essays on Music Piracy Free Essays on Music Piracy Ever since we were little, we have been taught that stealing is wrong. When we were caught in the act, we were punished. But what happens when we are presented with something we want and there is no one around to see us take it? Many of us would take it because they feel they aren’t going to be caught and with this freedom of mind, we take it guilt free. Music piracy has been steadily growing and the idea of not getting caught has provoked more and more people to try it. The government has recently been making a conscious effort to try and downplay this new fad of illegal file sharing. Music piracy is not only stealing music, but it is stealing copyrighted art and money from the artist. People think that no one will noticed they were taking the music, but the fact is many people are being affected. Music piracy is harming to everyone as a society because not only is it unethical, but it takes money from the artists and labels. Music piracy is a new era in which people can download a song or file over the internet by a music sharing system. Many services online, like Napster or Limewire, provide people with a link to all their favorite songs. What most music people download is copyrighted material by the artist. â€Å"Copyright is a property right given to producers of creative expression. Copyright does not protect ideas or facts, but it protects works of literature, music, drama, art, sound recordings, photography, movies, software and other original works of authorship.†(Gauntlett 196).This means that the artists have a special right over the use of their creation and if people want to use it, there is usually a payment of some sort. People using the internet to get their music for free are stealing from the artist. Napster, in 2001, was taken to court by artists that were frustrated with the service the program was providing. Napster went under as a business and lost a lot of its money, but tha t did not stop other file sharing p...