How is book publishing part of consumer culture?

How is book publishing part of consumer culture? Introduction Book publishing is the process by which a book gets from author to reader. With the new technology, book publishing is no more a difficult task in today information age. Although technology improves, book publishing has its existing values to make influence in cultural activities. In this essay, I will focus on book publishing and the consumer society. Then i will turn to how consumer culture in related to book publishing. Literature Review One of the most interesting publications that I found whilst researching book publishing is "Consumer Culture and Modernity" by Don Slater. He identifies seven key features of consumer culture in his book. They are: A culture of consumption Core social practices and cultural values, ideas, aspirations and identities are defined and oriented in relation to consumption rather than to other social dimensions such as work or citizenship, religion or military: a culture of consumption. Dominant values of a society not only organized through consumption practices but also in some sense derive from them. Thus, contemporary society is described as materialistic, as more concerned with 'having' to the exclusion of 'being', as commodified, as hedonistic, or more positively, as a society of choice and consumer sovereignty. The values from the realm of consumption spill over into

  • Word count: 2925
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Is the Consumer Always Sovereign in the Free Enterprise Market Economy?

Introduction to Economics Second Semester Essay Is the Consumer Always Sovereign in the Free Enterprise Market Economy? Theoretically, the free enterprise market economy produces a situation in which the law of supply and demand, in conjunction with a competitive economic environment and well-informed consumers guarantees consumer sovereignty. The consumer possesses a significant advantage over suppliers who must compete for their custom, effectively placing economic power in the hands of the consumer. However, problems arise when this theory is applied to the realities of national and international business economics. These disparities will be examined further in this paper. To begin with, it should be noted that at present no truly free market economy exists anywhere except in theory. Western liberal democracies, particularly the US, proclaim, promote and actively enforce the virtue and practice of free market capitalism, whilst stoically clinging to mercantilist principles of protectionism and monopoly control. This corrupted version of the free market has been termed 'Managed Liberalism'.1 Micro economic systems, such as those which continue to function in small communities at the local level, do display characteristics convergent with the classic theories of the free market as expounded by the early economic thinkers. Small firms compete for a limited supply of

  • Word count: 2892
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Activity Based Costing & The NHS

Activity Based Costing & The NHS Financial Analysis - (MN2007) Assignment 2 . Introduction As the Management Accountant of a local NHS hospital I am going to write a report for the senior management team at the hospital that analyses the issues raised in the view attributed to Gordon Brown. It is difficult to assume which allocation approach the hospitals have used, but I am going to describe the Traditional Costing approach and the Activity Based Costing approach, which I will describe in more detail. 2. The Definition of Activity Based Costing Activity Based Costing (ABC) is a 'costing method' (Fleming & McKinstry, 1998: 216), which recognises that costs are incurred by the activities, which take place within the organisation, and for each activity a cost driver may be identified. Those costs, which are incurred or driven by the same cost drivers, are grouped together into cost pools and the cost drivers are then used as a basis for changing the costs of each activity to the product. 2.1 Cost Pools A cost pool is a collection of costs, which maybe 'charged to products' (Bendry, Hussey & West, 2001: 465) by the use of a common cost driver. Examples of costs pools are the power, material handling, material receipt, and production planning, sales administration, get-up cost and buying. 2.2 Cost Drivers A cost driver is any activity or series of activities, which

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Definition of Supply Chain Management & Logistics

Definition of Supply Chain Management & Logistics Wil Lim Introduction Supply chain management and logistics is rapidly becoming the most important aspect of business success. Those who manage their supply chain and logistics effectively will flourish and prosper, however those who do not may not be around in a few years. Just what is the definition of supply chain management and logistics? Often than not, supply chain management has been confused with the term 'logistics' and 'procurement'. The term supply chain management has been around for the past twenty years and has had a major influence on today's business societies. The term logistics originated seventy years ago from the French word "logistique", (Wilton, 2005) which is derived from the word "loger" meaning quartering troops. However, in today's age, these terms are often used by various industries, associations and academics, each with their own definition of the terms. These terms are often derived from the perspectives of the author's background, skill, exposure and experience to the industry. Supply chain professionals offer different definitions that rightly evolve over time. With the magnitude of different definitions of these two terms, one poses the question on what the proper definition of supply chain management and logistics. Evolution of Logistics Surely, the definition of logistics has evolved

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Pressures for Change in UK Farming.

Pressures for Change in UK Farming Contents . Introduction 2. Background 3. Pressures for Change 3.1 Economic 3.2 Consumer Awareness 3.3 Organic Demand 3.4 Supermarkets 3.5 Climate 4. Government Intervention 5. Conclusion 6. Bibliography Pressures for Change in UK Farming . Introduction Our task was to "consider underlying reasons for change and diversification in farming and the rural economy sector. Give particular attention to the identification of factors (pressures) brought about on the industry which have, are, and which are likely to be brought to bear upon agricultural business and the impact and consequences of such on the future for UK farming." Within this report I will be looking specifically at factors which have, will, and are currently having an impact on the agricultural industry and their resulting effects on agricultural business. The spider chart below (figure 1) illustrates the key pressures for change that any business in the rural economy sector must be aware of. Drivers for Change in Agriculture and the Food Industry 2. Background The Second World War brought the century long policy of non-intervention in farming in the UK to an end. The 1947 Agricultural Act introduced guaranteed prices for farm products, with deficiency payments funded by the taxpayer. With joining the European Community (EC), support for agriculture continued

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Explain why consumer protection is vital to maintain and promote a single market.

Suzanne K. Menzies. Outcome 4. Tutor: Michelle Semple. Contents. Part 1 - ..................................................................................................... 3 - * Explain why consumer protection is vital to maintain and promote a single market. Part 2 - ..................................................................................................... * Accurately identify the different national standards of consumer protection and trade and highlight why these differing standards can act as a barrier to the free movement of goods. Part 3 -........................................................................................................ * Accurately explain the following Directives which govern and promote a Single Market: * Misleading Advertising * Consumer Credit * Price Indication Conclusion.................................................................................................. Appendix Bibliography.............................................................................. Introduction. Whilst the European Union stands almost economically and socially stable, this has been a lengthy, complex progression. Achieved through key developments: such as the single market. Subsequently, these fundamentals have contributed to the structure and functions of Europe. Through EU law enforcement, minimum, common standards have

  • Word count: 2847
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Consumer Behaviour; How it Began?

. Introduction: Consumer Behaviour; How it Began? The aim of any firm is to make money and marketing philosophy has evolved from the production era, which emphasises on the availability of cheap products with a definite buyer, to the customer concept today, producing goods according to customers' demands. This evolution is the result of the greater choices facing the consumer, who is armed with more extensive product knowledge. Confucius said, "Know yourself and know thy enemy and the battle won", thus knowing our products, our capabilities and the customer's needs and behaviour, will allow us to create a marketing strategy that will entice more purchases. Consumer behaviour is hence defined as the process and activities people engage in when searching for, selecting, purchasing, using, evaluating and disposing of products and services to satisfy their desire and needs. (Belch, 1998) 2. External Influences on Consumer Behaviour A consumer does not make purchase in isolation and a number of external factors influencing consumer decision making are identified. 2.1 Culture Cultural factors exert the broadest and widest influence on the consumer since cultural norms and values offer direction to members of a society in all aspects of their lives, including their consumption behaviour. It is the fundamental determinant of a person's wants and needs (Kotler, 2000). Culture

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Please read the article below by ABC journalist Ashley Hall dated 29 th April 2010 Cigarette tax hike sparks panic buying and identify TWO (2) economic issues you found interesting.

Discussions 1: The following guidelines will underpin your contributions:- • demonstrate your knowledge of the topic in relation to relevant economic theories/concepts • Effectively convey your thoughts, opinions and ideas • provide evidence of relevant further readings, especially from academic journals -Economists magazine • incorporate your own work and personal experience, and • adhere to the minimum contribution guidelines presented below Minimum/Maximum Contribution Guidelines Prior to the discussion opening, • read the relevant chapters in your text book • Research the topic through further reading of relevant academic journal articles • look for examples of its practical application. Look at the questions that are being asked, make an informed judgment about what would constitute a reasonable answer, and then make your entry. Quality is important and is one of the criteria that is being used to assess your contribution. Long rambling entries are discouraged. BE SUCCINCT. Your initial comments are a short, sharp synopsis (aim for about 400 words) of your research and your views/thoughts on that research as they relate to the topic. Please read the article below by ABC journalist Ashley Hall dated 29 th April 2010 Cigarette tax hike sparks panic buying and identify TWO (2) economic issues you found interesting. Through the

  • Word count: 2774
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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"An Economy in which people selfishly pursue their own objectives could never achieve the objectives of a fair society" - "Competitive markets are efficient, so we should not attempt to change them" Provide a critique of these statements.

"An Economy in which people selfishly pursue their own objectives could never achieve the objectives of a fair society" - "Competitive markets are efficient, so we should not attempt to change them" Provide a critique of these statements. Introduction At first sight, it seems like these two statements are almost exact opposites - the first advocates intervention to correct the decisions that individual economic agents make, whilst the second promotes the traditional laissez-faire approach of non-intervention. However, there are significant differences in the possible interpretations of the two statements. The first refers to people pursuing their own objectives - this could be an individual, small agent in perfect competition, or it could be one company in a monopoly market whilst the second talks specifically of competitive markets. The first statement talks of "the objectives of a fair society" whilst the second concerns itself with efficiency. To provide a critique of these statements, I will first start off by considering a number of concepts - concerned with what happens when agents attempt to maximise their own welfare, before deciding what relevance these have to the validity of the statements. What equilibrium is achieved when we use the simplest possible model? - a pure exchange economy A pure exchange economy is an economy with no production - each agent

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Approaches to Inventory valuation

Managerial Accounting Lesson 3: Inventory Valuation and JIT Approach to Inventory Management Approaches to Inventory valuation As we discussed in our previous lesson, selling and general administrative expenses are treated as period costs and are therefore not included as part of the product cost. Hence, such period costs are not included in the valuation of inventory. There are two schools of thoughts on the treatment of fixed manufacturing overheads. One school advocates that fixed manufacturing overheads should be expensed as period costs. Product costs and inventory costs should therefore exclude fixed manufacturing overheads. This method of product costing and valuation of inventory is referred as variable costing method. The other school advocates that fixed manufacturing overheads are part of the product costs and these costs are therefore treated as product costs. In this approach, both product costs and the value of inventory include manufacturing fixed overheads. This approach is referred to as full absorption costing method. Fixed manufacturing overheads are period costs in the sense that the components of fixed manufacturing overheads such as factory rental, salaries of indirect labour, are determined based on the period in which they are incurred. However, in the full absorption costing method, fixed manufacturing overheads are allocated between the cost of

  • Word count: 2628
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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