"How effectively does the Cotonou Partnership Agreement address the perceived weaknesses of the EU's development policy?"

Julia Mueller PO(566): Europe and the World Jackie Gower "How effectively does the Cotonou Partnership Agreement address the perceived weaknesses of the EU's development policy?" Development and trade. These have been the two focal points of policies towards the African, Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP) as expressed in the four Lome Treaties and subsequently also in the new Cotonou Agreement of 2000. Although all these policies are fundamentally designed to reduce poverty, increase intra regional trade and enable the European Union to gain preferential access into new developing markets, the methods and conditions of achieving these aims have changed significantly over the last fifteen years. In the 1980s and 1990s, political and economic conditionality became an important imperative when negotiating eligibility for any economic or developmental EU aid programmes. Although the emphasis of the Cotonou policy remains the same, one is able to identify various structural modifications made to the paper itself. It is therefore evident that previous weaknesses of developmental policies have been addressed. However, whether or not these modifications have increased the rate of developmental progress in the region can only be discerned by comparing current economic and political actualities in these states with their historical positions under the Lome Treaties. Furthermore,

  • Word count: 3225
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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"Investment is always likely to be more volatile than other elements of "Investment is always likely

"Investment is always likely to be more volatile than other elements of "Investment is always likely The volatility of the level of investment is one of the most repeatedly observed features of most economies. Although the fluctuations of an economy over time affect all of the variables that are used by economists to show the current state of prosperity (for example national income, production, employment, prices, etc.), the level of investment has been noted for being particularly volatile. In discussing whether this will always be the case, various hypotheses and theorems regarding the behaviour of investment and its relationship to other elements of the economy will have to be considered. The first problem that has to be surmounted is the issue regarding what investment actually is. An economy's resources can either be consumed immediately (consumption), or added to the fixed capital stock in order to use at a later date. This is a basic definition of investment. It is worth noting in passing that both consumption and investment form part of aggregate demand. The level of investment in an economy is usually defined as the expenditure on fixed assets for either replacing old equipment or adding to stock. This is known as "Gross Domestic Fixed Capital Formation" (GDFCF). Unfortunately, the composition of GDFCF is somewhat arbitrary in practice as only investment in the

  • Word count: 1438
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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The main points of difference between the UK mixed economy system and the economic conditions that existed in the former eastern bloc communist states.

The main points of difference between the UK mixed economy system and the economic conditions that existed in the former eastern bloc communist states. There can be many points of difference between the UK mixed economy and what existed previously. 'In the nineteenth century the UK government played only a small part in control of the economy. Today, the proper role of the government is open to debate. But most people can accept that it should at least try to influence economic activity'. In a small number of towns in the 1920s, more than half the potential working class were unemployed. A sustainable number of people thought that something should be done, and the only people to do this were the government. (The government had to sustain the level of employment). Furthermore, the'1970s was a period of rapid increase in prices'. The people thought that they had to raise their own incomes to cope with price rises. The general price increase is due to the working price system. 'Trading ideally needs to take place in settled conditions'. if people hesitate to trade , then fewer goods will be produced for sale. Therefore, if fewer products are manufactured the less people are employed in production. 'Price disturbances can therefore, cause the whole economy to stagnate'. When Margaret Thatcher was elected in 197 9 not only did the economy change but also the economic

  • Word count: 1167
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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"...every trade, manufacture, adventure, or concern in the nature of a trade..."[1]

"...every trade, manufacture, adventure, or concern in the nature of a trade..."1 This is what ICTA 1988 defines trade as. By its very nature this is a vague description and its leaves it open for the courts and commissioners to decide on the merits of each case whether a certain income can taken to be a trade. The case law only heightens this and in my opinion is highly unsatisfactory and there should be more clarity on what constitutes a trade. Whilst I accept that there must be some lee-way given in respect to the individual facts of a case, the badges of trade and definition of a trade must be made clear for there to be any legal certainty a principle of utmost importance in large scale business transaction. Thankfully the courts and commissioners appear to be consistent in their judgments in their approach to the badges. In respect to the case of Marson v Marton it was held that there was no trade as it was outside the taxpayers typical transactions.(in this case a one off purchase and sale of land) I accept this as it follows the badges of trade to the letter and takes into account all aspects of the case. It's clear that the transaction was merely an investment and thus would not be taxable as a trade under ITTOIA (schedule D). Later cases present more of a problem. In regards to Ensign Tankers Ltd v Stokes, it was held by the commissioners that there was not a

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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"Britain wasn't the world's fastest growing major economy, but it outpaced the rest of Europe," A. Kaletsky in The Times, 24th December 2002 - Is this sufficient justification for the UK to resist a switch to the Euro?

Question: "Britain wasn't the world's fastest growing major economy, but it outpaced the rest of Europe," A. Kaletsky in The Times, 24th December 2002. Is this sufficient justification for the UK to resist a switch to the Euro? Consider the impact of your answer on UK firms and the economy as a whole. Of the European Union's fifteen member states, three-Sweden, Denmark and the UK-have not adopted the euro. As with the UK firms and all important large-scale economic decisions there are many advantages and disadvantages to the UK of joining the Euro and therefore the important conclusion to come to is whether it is sufficient justification for the UK to resist a switch to the Euro. People argue that joining the Euro would reduce transaction costs for traders, with savings estimated at around £2 billion annually(www.staruk.org.uk). These savings come from not having to pay commission or maintain hedge funds to guard against currency instability. There is another argument is that although the exchange rate between sterling and the euro will fluctuate from day to day, it would be wrong to think of the euro as "just another foreign currency". As the currency of 12 European countries and 300 million people, many business, small as well as large, are now beginning to feel the impact of the euro on how they do business. The tourism industry could be particular affected after 1

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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"Business Venture Capital".

"Business Venture Capital" Buying an existing business can be an excellent way to become a business owner or to expand your present business. You can save time and effort of building a customer and supplier base. You may also avoid the trouble of locating equipment and hiring and training employees. However, you should abide by the Latin slogan which translates "Let the buyer beware." If you are not careful, acquiring an existing business can lead to disaster. (Poznak, 1998) Joe's Landscaping and Tree Trimming (Joe's) began as a small sole proprietorship. In efforts to expand and become a company that investors would be interested in, the company has ventured into new commercial landscaping technological processes and restructured as a Limited Liability Corporation. Joe's is being considered as a potential business investment, however, after reviewing the requirements of the legal due diligence process, it is my recommendation that an investment is not made into Joe's. In the third quarter of 2002, investors pumped $4.5 billion into 647 entrepreneurial companies, a decrease of 26% from the prior quarter, which saw $6 billion of funding to 838 startups. While IT startups consistently gain venture capitalists' attention, software companies continue to gather the largest amounts of cash despite a 10% drop in funding from the prior quarter. Representing 22% of total investment

  • Word count: 949
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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"East Asia has both greatly benefited and greatly suffered from the effect of globalisation". Discuss.

"East Asia has both greatly benefited and greatly suffered from the effect of globalisation". Discuss. To many people globalisation is a very recent phenomena, no one had really spoken about it in terms of it being a global issue, or problem. However, the term and definition of it have only come to light recently, as the spread of western ideas have transfixed much of the globe. Globalisation is more of a process than an occurrence, it is not so much that it is the cause of the issues in this essay, but a term used to describe the spreading of a trend, that of capitalism. Fundamentally, the term is about increasing levels of connectivity, integration and interdependence between different parts of the world economy, politics, society, and culture. As I have said views on the benefits or drawbacks of this effect vary greatly, as is shown by Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, "Globalisation, fostered by free flow of information and rapid progress in technology, is a driving force that no country can turn back. It does impose market discipline on the participants, which can be harsh, but is the mechanism that drives progress and prosperity".1 However, other opinions are held, mainly from groups who believe that it is destroying culture, and widening the poverty gap, as well as de-stabilising world economies. "If globalisation has not succeeded in reducing

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Singapore Competitiveness

Singapore Competitiveness According to my presentation concerning Singapore Competiveness, I gained a lot of valuable knowledge about that country such as economic, political and especially its competitiveness. Although Singapore is just a tiny island and few of natural resources, it is a strong economic country and can be ranked no.5 the most competitive country in the world based on the global competitiveness report 2008-2009 (World Economic Forum, 2009). Thus, it is very interesting to discover how Singapore contests in international competition despite its lacking of essential physical resources, area and labor supply in particularly, for manufacturing as well as agriculture. The starting point of Singapore economy was from a base of abilities in entrepôt trade, petroleum refining and seaport service. Subsequently, it progressed into export industrial products based on tremendously FDI expanding. Singapore industrial activities were feeble for a decade due to a little entrepreneurial know-how and novel technology spilled over from China and a weak structure of domestic entrepreneurship. Eventually, the government performed tightly to improve the business structure and the specific skills needed was created by intervening vastly of Singapore government (Ashton et al., 1999). Strongly policy support and its industrial structure encouraged and carried on industrial growth

  • Word count: 1929
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Write an essay on the impact of China's accession to the WTO on Investment in China, taking into account China's investment laws and regulations.

LAW437/BSUL388 Chinese Trade and Investment Law QUESTIONS 2 Write an essay on the impact of China's accession to the WTO on Investment in China, taking into account China's investment laws and regulations. Since China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December, 2002, the country has gone through a series of conceptual changes with respect to regulation and market control. This essay will try to examine the some of the impacts of its accession by focusing on the investment aspect. China and the WTO According to the latest statistics, the WTO now has more than 140 members and 90 percent of the world trade volumes are now co-ordinated under the frame of WTO.1 In other words, China's accession to the WTO symbolizes its anticipation and recognition of embracement in the global economy. Furthermore, the accession will encourage and enhance China's exchange and cooperation with other members in terms of trade policies and market environment. 2 Impact and Regulatory Changes Being part of the WTO membership inevitably compels all remembers to meet its rules. There is no exception to China. Due to the uniqueness of Chinese culture and political history, to create conformity with WTO rules, one of the very first tasks of Chinese government is to review laws and regulations that that are inconsistent with the WTO rules. As a result, the Chinese government is

  • Word count: 2085
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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Mercantile system.

Mercantile system Peter Saro 81858 . INTRODUCTION: THE SITUATION IN THAT MERCANTILISM AROSE...3 2. THE DEFINITION OF MERCANTILISM...............................................4 3. MERCANTILISM: A MISNOMER........................................................6 4. VARIOUS APPLICATIONS OF MERCANTILISM .................................9 5. REMINDERS OF MERCANTILE SYSTEM IN THE LATER CENTURIES...12 . INTRODUCTION: THE SITUATION IN THAT MERCANTILISM AROSE The period of so-called mercantilism appeared in European nation states from sixteenth to eighteenth century. This system was accepted with the same unquestioning with which the early Christians believed in miracles and many of the present-day American businessmen believe in the tariff1. Looking closer at this period we see that the beginning of the system are in the times of the second logistics which took part from the middle of fifteenth to middle of seventeenth century. A significant change occurred in the way the countries were ruled and as well in the minds of common people. The medieval state with its lack of centralized power did not depend upon a rich treasury. The king got his revenues from the crown domains and his civil service paid for itself. Municipalities and other local government units had possessed extensive powers of economic control and regulation. They levied tolls or tariffs on goods entering

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Business and Administrative studies
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