Driving Through Sawmill Towns poem analysis free essay sample

This first refrain from the sonnet, clarifies the excursion of a man passing through a sawmill town and his perceptions. Murray depicts his excursion through a little sawmill town in New South Wales while utilizing solid, clear symbolism and emotive language. As obvious by the title of this sonnet, symbolism is a solid strategy utilized in this sonnet as the creator depicts with incredible detail his excursion through a sawmill town. This strategy is utilized most in the accompanying expressions: â€Å"down an inclining street, into a far off valley.† And â€Å"The sawmill towns, exposed villas worked of sheets with maybe a store†. This has the impact of making a picture in the reader’s psyche and making the sonnet much increasingly genuine. There is likewise metaphorical language utilized in expressions, for example, â€Å"Having originate from the clouds† and â€Å"tilting road†. This adds with the impact of symbolism and accentuation on the excursion to the sawmill town. We will compose a custom exposition test on Passing Through Sawmill Towns sonnet investigation or then again any comparable theme explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page It likewise assists with making the refrain all the more fascinating to the peruser. Passing Through Sawmill Towns by Les Murray In the high cool nation, having originated starting from the clouds, an inclining street Into a removed valley, You drive without scurry. Your windscreen parts the woods, Influencing and looking, and stuck late morning brightness Hunches in clearings At that point you go over them, The sawmill towns, uncovered villas worked of sheets With maybe a store, Maybe a scaffold past Furthermore, a little sidelong spring bursting at the seams with rocks. This first refrain from the sonnet, clarifies the excursion of a man passing through a sawmill town and his perceptions. Murray depicts his excursion through a little sawmill town in New South Wales while utilizing solid, clear symbolism and emotive language. As obvious by the title of this sonnet, symbolism is a solid method utilized in this sonnet as the creator depicts with incredible detail his excursion through a sawmill town. This method is utilized most in the accompanying expressions: â€Å"down an inclining street, into a removed valley.† And â€Å"The sawmill towns, uncovered villages worked of sheets with maybe a store†. This has the impact of making a picture in the reader’s psyche and making the sonnet much progressively genuine. There is additionally non-literal language utilized in expressions, for example, â€Å"Having originate from the clouds† and â€Å"tilting road†. This adds with the impact of symbolism and accentuation on the excursion to the sawmill town. It likewise assists with making the verse all the more intriguing to the peruser. Passing Through Sawmill Towns by Les Murray In the high cool nation, having originated starting from the clouds, an inclining street Into a far off valley,

Amelioration and Emancipation Oct. 20, 2009 Free Essays

string(56) and passes to sell in the business sectors could be withdrawn. Improvement The abolitionist bondage development created in the mid 1800s was an impressive power in the mission to end subjection. The West India Committee, in an offer to take off assaults, consented to proposition to improve the state of the slaves. These recommendations were called enhancement proposition and became effective in 1823. We will compose a custom exposition test on Enhancement and Emancipation Oct. 20, 2009 or then again any comparative theme just for you Request Now The proposition said that the British government ought to keep in touch with every one of the pilgrim governors, recommending that the gatherings pass neighborhood laws to improve the state of slaves. The recommendations were as per the following: 1. Female slaves ought not be whipped, and the managers and drivers ought not convey a whip in the fields. . Records ought to be kept of all lashes given to male slaves and all disciplines ought to be procrastinated on for at any rate 24 hours. 3. Strict guidance and relationships were to be energized. 4. Slaves could affirm in court against a liberated person, furnished that a pastor provided him with a character reference. 5. Slaves ought to have a break on Saturdays to go to showcase, so they would be allowed to go to chapel on Sunday mornings. 6. Slaves ought not be sold as installment for obligations. 7. There ought to be the foundation of slave investment funds banks which would help captives to set aside cash to purchase their opport unity. The disappointment of improvement These measures were met with furious obstruction from settlements, for example, Jamaica, Barbados, St Vincent and Dominica. Rather than improved conditions for the slaves, they confronted expanded fierceness from the grower. At long last, the greater part of the gatherings passed just a couple of the less-significant enhancement proposition. Improvement fizzled, yet it gave one of the major driving forces for the nullification of subjection. It became obvious that the grower were reluctant to improve the lives of the slaves and, in that capacity, the main other choice was to stopped subjugation. Liberation 1. All slaves in the British Empire were to be liberated on August 1, 1834. 2. Slave kids under six years of age were to be liberated right away. 3. Every single other slave were to serve a time of apprenticeship. They were to work for their lords for 401/2 hours out of every week. They would be paid uniquely for extra time. Praedial (field) slaves were to serve six years apprenticeship and non-praedial (household) captives to serve four years. 4. Grower were to keep giving food, cover, apparel, clinical consideration and different recompenses which they were acquainted with during subjugation. Students couldn't be sold and they could purchase their opportunity before apprenticeship reached a conclusion. 5. An entirety of ? 20 million was allowed by the British Parliament to repay slave proprietors for the loss of their slaves. 6. Stipendiary judges (SMs) were to be sent from England to guarantee the best possible working of the apprenticeship framework and to settle all debates among experts and understudies. THE APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM Aims of Apprenticeship a) To give a tranquil progress from servitude to opportunity. b) To ensure grower a satisfactory gracefully of work during the period and plan for full opportunity. ) To prepare students for opportunity, particularly working for compensation. d) To empower the pilgrim governments to modify the arrangement of equity and build up establishments reasonable for a free society. The stipendiary justices were resigned maritime and armed force officials on half compensation, named from Britain and were acclimated with unpleasan t conditions and authorizing discipline. They were picked in light of the fact that they were not associated with the grower class and it was felt that they would not be one-sided. Obligations of stipendiary officers a) To manage the apprenticeship framework. b) To settle debates among bosses and students. ) To visit homes at normal interims and hold court. d) To investigate prison and workhouses. e) To help with fixing the estimation of slaves who needed to purchase their opportunity. These obligations were demanding and prompted the demise of numerous SMs who were not acquainted with tropical conditions and couldn't manage the cost of the significant expense of clinical treatment. States of work Salary †? 300 for the main year at that point expanded to ? 450 for movement costs and lodging. There was no benefits for dependants if the SM passed on in administration. There was additionally no wiped out leave and he needed to take care of his own admission home on the off chance that he were excused or unavailable. These awful working conditions kept SMs from playing out their obligations agreeably and many were effectively paid off by grower. They were additionally overburdened by work since they were scarcely any in numbers. The individuals who attempted to perform their responsibilities were now and again abused. They were mishandled truly, verbally and in the press and they were frequently discouraged in the exhibition of their obligations as grower some of the time wouldn't permit them on the homes. Accomplishment of stipendiary judges a) They tuned in to grievances from the two sides and went about as a cushion among bosses and students. ) They educated disciples regarding their privileges; they didn't need to tune in to chatter or get data from papers. c) They helped disciples to arrange their lives better by offering guidance. In any case, they had almost no to plan plans to improve the social states of the disciples. They couldn't keep disciples from being rebuffed cruelly. Disciplines Apprentices were normally sent to the workhouse. Be that as it may, SMs had no power over what occurred there. The most well-known type of discipline in the workhouse was the treadmill. There was additionally the whipping post and understudies could be placed in reformatory packs. Females regularly had their heads shaved. Time lost in the workhouse must be reimbursed by the disciple by working for his lord during his leisure time. Techniques to control disciples on the bequests †¢ It was illicit for students to leave the home without composed authorization. †¢ Valuations on capable slaves were regularly expanded. †¢ High expenses were charged for the utilization of the business sectors and for licenses to work off the bequests as woodworkers, smithies, etc. These licenses and passes to sell in the business sectors could be pulled back. You read Enhancement and Emancipation Oct. 20, 2009 in class Papers Refusal of grower to give standard stipends. †¢ Finding shortcoming with apprentices’, work which must be done over in the apprentices’ available time. †¢ Locking up disciples on misleading allegations and dropping the charges be fore the appearance of the SM. †¢ Cutting down apprentices’ natural product trees and precluding them to claim animals. †¢ Spreading the 40 1/2 hours out of each week more than five days rather than four. †¢ Paying low wages, making out of line findings from compensation, paying wages late. The End of Apprenticeship finished for ALL understudies in 1838 on the grounds that: a) The framework was not accomplishing its points. ) The abolitionist subjection society uncovered the maltreatment in the framework and started to battle for full opportunity. c) The grower dreaded savagery if household disciples were liberated before field students. d) Some grower felt that it was less expensive not to need to accommodate students and just to utilize the quantity of workers they required. Note: Antigua conceded full opportunity to their slaves. The grower ruled against apprenticeship. The apprenticeship framework reached a conclusion in 1838 when the provincial governments in every state casted a ballot against its continuation. Nineteenth century movement (Part 1) Explanation behind movement 1. A lessening in the work power. With the finish of the apprenticeship framework in 1838, the grower not, at this point had a work power they could without much of a stretch control. Understudies had now picked up their opportunity and many were hesitant to work any whatsoever on the estate. In the littler regions, where the capacity to get to land was restricted and elective occupations were constrained, ex-slaves had no real option except to proceed with estate work. For instance, grower in Barbados and St Kitts had almost no trouble in getting to work in the post-Emancipation period. It was in the enormous domains, for example, Jamaica, British Guiana and Trinidad, that grower confronted such trouble and needed to go to movement conspires as an elective work source. The expectation was that movement would give a changeless wellspring of work for the manors. 2. An endeavor to stifle compensation. There was the expectation that migration would create rivalry for the ex-slaves thus help to hold compensation down. Ex-slaves requested sufficient compensation, yet the grower found that they could smother compensation in the event that they could present modest outside work. This, fundamentally, would decrease the interest intensity of the ex-slaves provided that they declined what was being offered, a worker was very ready to fill the position. Furthermore, if sugar creation was to proceed, a modest, effective and dependable wellspring of work must be found. Movement conspires THE EUROPEANS Due to a decrease in the white populace, grower looked for European outsiders to build the size of the white populace. It was trusted that Europeans would set a case of industry to ex-slaves and too in the end form into a working class. They would choose accessible land in the inside, along these lines compelling ex-slaves off the land and back to the ranches. Jamaica imported the biggest number. Europeans additionally went to Trinidad, British Guiana and St Kitts. These migrants were basically Scots, Irish, French and Germans. They were selected under an abundance framework. Issues with European Immigration Europeans were inadmissible as most kicked the bucket not long after they showed up. They kicked the bucket from tropical sicknesses, heat stroke and many drank themselves to death. They likewise wouldn't take a shot at the manors with blacks. Many requested to be sent home or relocated to the United States. Grower likewise neglected to gracefully legitimate food, sanctuary and clinical offices. THE PORTUGUESE In Madeira, laborers were paid

what am i doing

what am i doing I thought, since my last post was actually quite uninformative re:MIT facts and information, and instead I just blogged my feelings (which isn’t all bad, I suppose) today I could actually tell you what I’m doing this semester. 6.832 class. I had the most information about this in my last post actually, but to recap: Professor Russ Tedrake’s goal is to construct a paper airplane that he can throw from MIT and have it land accurately in Harvard Square. His lab has already made a paper airplane that can repeatedly land on a perch, the way birds do, and he is fascinated by the way passive mechanisms allow us to move about. For example, this robot falls down a ramp in a walking motion (no power, no motors, no electricity!) showing how purely mechanical designs can be efficient and effective. So, we should really be taking more advantage of that in roboticsa principle he impresses on students every Tuesday and Thursday in 6.832: Underactuated Robotics. Help I’m surrounded by grad students :O one of them actually works in the lab where I’m doing my thesiswe’ll get to that later! 21W.755 This past weekend, my homework assignment was to eavesdrop (or “carefully overhear”) some strangers’ conversation. On getting into an uber, I took detailed notes on a completely random person’s dramatic conversation about when she would turn 21 and be able to purchase alcohol, whilst complaining about a group of people that ruined the party they were coming from. I hoped they couldn’t see me typing all this into my phone. 21W.755: Reading and Writing Short Stories is an incredibly difficult class to get into. I almost didn’t, actually, but I suppose crossing my fingers and praying that seniority would work in my advantage helped. I also desperately needed to fulfill my HASS-Arts requirement (we’re required to take at least one each of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities designated courses) and so I’m glad that I’m in this class, both because I really wanted to take it and also because I need to graduate.^^; So why was I told to listen to a stranger’s conversation? Our professor, Shariann Lewitt, tells us to pay more attention to the world around us. Each class it’s something differenta smell, a sound, a texture or tactile feeling. This reminds me of something David Foster Wallace wrote, which I can’t for the life of me remember the title of the book or text, but he says essentially that writers are just incredibly thirsty observers (I believe his word was “nosy”), living for witnessing others’ moments. I hope I will become a better writer, and a better observer. I have quickly learned why the class was so full the first dayI’ve learned so much already. 21G.038 21G.038: China in the News: The Untold Stories was also slightly oversubscribed the first day, but I luckily got to whip out my Chinese minor privileges to stay in the course. I actually wasn’t sure what to expect for this class until the first day, but as it turns out, the course focuses on the politics of framing. This means, the politics of how the frame of some image (or writing, or film, etc.) is chosen. A frame is a “single story”, a single perspective on an issue. For China, the frame is often about communism and censorship and a generally negative filter, so it makes for a particularly good case study. We also discuss China-U.S. relations, and China’s own internal dialogues on various issues. I’m quite glad I chose to take this course, and I’m excited to learn more about the very modern Chinamy mother, having left in the ‘80s, is a bit more removed from the most recent developments. 2.THU This is the first year I’m taking only one technical course and two humanities courses. That’s because 2.THU is not really a classit’s my thesis!!!!!!!!! This means I don’t have classes or anything usual for this ‘course’. Instead, I’m continuing my research in Professor Alberto Rodriguez’s lab this semester, the Manipulation and Mechanisms Laboratory at MIT, fondly nicknamed the MCube lab. I love working here, and I’ve been surprised how much my past experience as a UROP on the DCP team at the Media Lab has really helped (those two years paid off!!) Now that I’m a senior and a lot more experienced, I’ve been able to really be a part of the lab. I attend meetings and reading group (where we read journal papers covering related research) and I’m around enough that I can actually get to know everyone, which I’ve really enjoyed. I was even convinced to take 6.832 by another person in my lab, and we’re now in a study group together. I feel like I’ve been able to get a good taste of graduate school this way, which was my whole intent behind thesis-ing (as a 2A major, I’m not actually required to do one). ??????? So I’ve mostly been asked the question what are you doing in a different context lately: “what are you doing after graduation?” Let’s list the stressful questions college students face from beginning to end, why don’t we: Have you thought about where you’ll apply this year? So, where are you going to college? What are you going to major in? What are you doing this summer? What are you doing after graduation? I wasn’t stressed out about the first two, because my eyes were always set on MIT and I was fortunate enough to apply and get in early action. I was also pretty certain about my major when I enteredI was deciding between Course 6 and Course 2, mainly trying to decide which one was best for robotics, and then I picked 2A-Robotics (lol). Sophomore year I was a lil stressed about #4 because I thought I needed an internship, but I’m really glad, actually, that I didn’t get an internship that year. Instead, I traveled between 3 continents and 6 citiesa summer program in China in June, UROPing in Boston with a surprise stint at some Google warehouses for two weeks (wherein I drove a Toyota Forerunner in San Francisco and it was awful), and finishing up the Muti Water Project in Ethiopia in August. But #5 has been giving me nightmaresor it would, if I could manage to sleep at night. To clarify, I have some options now so I feel a lot better, but at least initially, it was really scary to hit senior spring and think about not having a job after graduation. I really should have been less freaked out, because I am fortunate in that after graduation I could always go home, spend time with the fam, and keep searching, or even do something random and apply to graduate school next fall if it came to that. But since I did not apply to grad school this fall (I want to work first) I was left with a feeling of real panic and (somewhat irrationally) fearing that I would be starving in June. The answer to that question is still basically: I don’t know yet, ask me in a few months. Infinite Jest     Chris and I and a few other students have been doing “Infinite Spring”, where we schedule reading sections of David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest with the goal of simply reading and finishing it. We also hold book-club-type meetings every Tuesday where people can get together and discuss if they want. This type of schedule is nice because for most people, including me, the deterrent to reading and especially finishing Infinite Jest is in large part because it is simply enormous (it’s 1000+ pages). I’ve enjoyed it so far, though I should say it is very strange and confusing in many places, and slightly surreal. But I enjoy having something to read after a long day (well I didn’t in like the first 60 pages, but it got more coherent and I do now!) I especially like how the book reflects some of my own feelings back to meas all books do, ultimately, but this one, partly about a high-pressure school, seems particularly apt. Its pictured next to another thing that I enjoyI got this leather travelers notebook with my initials stamped on it from Etsy :3 Running around campus/Boston Here are some pictures, just because: did u kno they have korean skincare products at some CVSs now :O (blogging about how I’ve gotten into skin care is on my to do list lol)   In building 14N, there’s a bunch of posters everywhere, lining the stairwells, the elevator, some parts of hallways. They are particularly aesthetically pleasing and/or funny here, as 14N houses the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences       Did you know that in Walker Memorial (a building where we all take our exams) there is a bar? It is called the Muddy Charles Pub, and I had to look that up because everyone calls it just “the Muddy” and I actually forgot the real name lol. Anyway, instead of a normal wedge door stop, they prop their door open with a really old laptop and I think that’s hilarious. Also, as its open to the whole (of age) MIT community, this is not a good place to complain about professors or TAs, as my friend helpfully pointed out. My significant other and I went to see the Takashi Murakami exhibit at the MFA one of the Sundays of IAP. I enjoyed these colorful flowers~ Post Tagged #6.832 #photography

The Debate On Abortion And Abortion - 1490 Words

You hear of all these controversial issues floating around conversation. One that always catches my ear is the debate on abortion. Growing up in a republican household, and catholic for that matter, it was obvious that â€Å"pro-life† would be imprinted into my head. My whole family, not just my parents, are against abortion. Also going to church every Sunday and learning what my religion thought was right and wrong influenced me to believe that abortion was killing a life. Since I grew up with this influence I subconsciously thought that is what is right side of the argument to believe. I was always a strong believer in that an abortion was the killing of a human life and was morally wrong. All the way up until junior year in high school I actually considered myself an advocate of the term â€Å"pro-life.† As a growing teenager at the time I was looking for freedom. I couldn’t find it too much, but after taking numerous political classes I found myself in the mi ddle of the political spectrum. Not republican, similar to my family, but stuck between both parties. I found that with certain issues I was republican such as not wanting gun control and others I was democratic such as pro-choice. When it comes to the issue of pro-life or pro-choice I now find myself leaning the opposite direction of my previous beliefs. The reason I went from pro-life to pro-choice is because as I grew older I became more interested in politics and stared to look into highly debated issues. I know that IShow MoreRelatedThe Debate On Abortion And Abortion1063 Words   |  5 Pagesstand on abortion. By definition an abortion is the termination of a pregnancy and the expulsion of pregnancy tissue, including embryo, fetus, placenta, and membranes (Wicclair, Gosman 2005). In the recent years the debate on abortion has shifted to a different viewpoint that has reopened the conversation of abortion and has generated a healthy following for abortion control. The premise of abortion control is to implement community outreach programs that will help reduce the number of abortions. I feelRead MoreThe Debate On Abortion And Abortion1448 Words   |  6 PagesAbortion. This word leaves most people feeling uneasy after just saying it out loud. The discussion of abortion is continuously left open-ended with millions of opinions, arguments, and questions. Abortions occur every single day leaving potential fathers devastated or thrilled, leaving friends and families broken and distraught or in contrast, proud. More importantly, leaving the potential mother uncertain and even destroyed. But with abortion in mind, what is considered wrong and what is consideredRead MoreThe Debate Over Abortion On Abortion Essay1682 Words   |  7 Pagespolitical debate has existed in America, there has been a strong tension between the ideologies of conservatism and liberalism. While there are numerous differences between the two ideologies, the core of each is expressed cle arly through the modern debate of abortion. The vision, ideals, and assumptions of each ideology can be identified through the way in which each ideology argues its position on abortion. The debate over abortion has been taking place since the 19th century. Abortions were legalRead MoreThe Debate About Abortion And Abortion1709 Words   |  7 PagesThe practice of abortion is an issue that has sparked controversy for many years. One of the initial problems that lead to the debate about abortion is the fact that, the definition of the term abortion varies from one field to another. The controversy arises because the language used to describe abortion â€Å"is a reflection of the societal beliefs of the people in that area† (McFarlane Meier 65). Generally, the World Health Organization defines abortion as induced or spontaneous termination of pregnancyRead MoreThe Abortion Debate2354 Words   |  10 PagesAdedayo Adeniyi November 13, 2008 Expository writing An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced. Abortion as a term most commonly refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy, while spontaneous abortions are usually termed miscarriages. Abortion has a long history and has been induced by various methodsRead MoreThe Debate Of Abortion And Abortion2390 Words   |  10 PagesThe subject of abortion is undeniably a difficult one to discuss. There are many different opinions and stances which could be taken, however, the question for Christians is just where they should stand on this matter. The issue is that if people (more specifically Christians) are not careful then they get caught up in the different stances, different questions, and different opinions. If this happens then they will not be able to make a firm standing against or fo r abortion while having facts toRead MoreThe Debate Over The Abortion Debate1097 Words   |  5 PagesIt is no surprise that the abortion debate has once again have brought into the mainstream focus this year. Yet, this time around the age old debate is now attacking organizations that offer such procedures, vilifying the entire organization for only one service it offers. This vilification has continuously gained momentum for ages, but it was the attack upon Planned Parenthood earlier this year that has brought the debate to head once again. Recently Pro-Life groups took up arms to destroy the organizationRead MoreAbortion : A Controversial Debate874 Words   |  4 PagesAbortion There truly is not a more controversial or passionate debate as the one on abortion. This issue is completely unique due to the firm line between groups that support or are against it. Whichever side a person finds themselves on, usually for many reasons, it becomes a fierce and firm position that will not waiver. In this case I am glad that people are so passionate, a human life is at stake. This subject should bring great feelings and beliefs up. I would be completely sickened if abortionRead MoreThe Abortion Debate Essay1544 Words   |  7 Pages No matter where you stand on the issue, abortion is a highly debated topic in today’s society. In this essay I will examine both sides of the abortion issue. I will begin with a brief overview of the abortion debate, to include the morality of the situation. Next I will discuss the Pro-Life argument. Lastly I will look at the Pro-Choice view. In the final analysis I will show how utilitarianism, altruism, and situational ethical views apply to abortion. Having in mind the extreme controversy surroundingRead MoreAbortion : A Controversial Debate888 Words   |  4 PagesAbortion is a highly debated and controversial topic within the United States. Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy. When you have an abortion, you decimate the life of a fetus in the womb prior to delivery. There were 5,013 abortions in the state of Oklahoma alone in 2013. In the same year, there were approximately, collectively in the United States, 983,000 total abortions performed. In addition, there have been almost 60 million abortions performed in the United States since

Italian Verbs Ascoltare Conjugations

Political Economy in the Asia Pacific Free Essays

string(135) " host country are followed, as well as continuing to meet the legal requirements of the home country \(Griffin Pustay, 2010, p\." The political economy of countries can be considered interdependent, as they influence each other and experience change simultaneously. This interdependency affects the level of economic wellbeing of countries, including the economic conditions and stability of a country. The political economy of a country encompasses the political, legal and economic systems influencing the country’s economy. We will write a custom essay sample on Political Economy in the Asia Pacific or any similar topic only for you Order Now Jevons (1880) described political economy as the wealth of a country and the reasons contributing to differences in wealth between countries (p. 7). The political system of a country heavily influences the way in which a country operates, and often affects other countries that it actively deals with. Differing legal systems, laws and regulations of countries can also impact other countries. Similarly, the economic systems and changes in a country’s economic position can impact other countries, and at times, their economic wellbeing. Whilst the political, legal and economic systems of some countries are interdependent, disruptions to interdependency must also be considered when assessing those countries’ reliance on each other. Several factors can hinder their interdependency, including comparative advantage not being followed, a strong focus on regionalism and inefficient free trade agreements. Political decisions imposed by Governments can affect the political economy and often the wellbeing of countries. Government decisions, including laws and policies, affect society as a whole (Hill, Cronk, Wickramasekera, 2011, p. 236). There are two main forms of political systems: democracy and totalitarianism. Democracy is a system where the citizens govern the country through their elected representatives (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 245). Examples of democratic countries in the Asia Pacific business region include Australia and Thailand (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2008) (U. S Department of State, n. d. ). Totalitarianism refers to a system where one person or political party has control over all citizens, restricting political freedom (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 245). Totalitarianism is seen in China and North Korea (Jianming, 2010, p. 2) (Lim, 2009, p. 10-114). These differing political systems can affect economic relations between countries. An example of this is the view that democratic countries are more willing to trade and participate in international business with other democracies, than with totalitarianism countries. Democracies share similar values and laws on intellectual property rights. It is also believed that peace is more prevalent in democracies, enabling a higher e ase of trade (Rosendorff, P. 2000). We see this in Australia’s preference for trade with the US rather than with China. In September 2010, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reported that Australia had an ‘economic relationship’ (measured on trade in commodities, services and two-way investment) with the US worth over AUD$860 billion, compared to less than AUD$100 billion with China. The strength of the economic relationship between Australia and the US is believed to relate to each countries’ strong democratic values and from the US and Australia being strong allies, due to similar political practices (Sheridan, 2011). The varying political decisions and policies made by Governments can also impact other countries. With globalisation being so prominent today, the interdependency of a country’s political decisions is apparent. Globalisation dramatically increased after World War II, with many of the worlds’ major trading countries lowering trade barriers, including tariffs and quotas, after years of favoring local industries (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. 38). According to Friedman (2000) globalisation is defined as ‘the inexorable integration of markets, nation-states, and technologies†¦in a way that enables individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper than ever before’ (p. ). This integration of economies suggests that Government decisions affect the economic wellbeing of other countries. An example of this is the recent temporary ban of live cattle exports by the Gillard Government in Australia, in response to perceived animal cruelty towards Australian cattle in Indonesian abattoirs. David Farley, CEO o f the Australian Agricultural Company, Australia’s largest beef company, reported that the ban cost the company up to AUD$8 million. He also stated that Australia’s reputation in the international trading market was damaged by the temporary ban (O’Brien, 2012). The political decision to temporarily ban live exports to Indonesia caused financial loss for the Australian cattle industry and affected Australia’s political relations with Indonesia, with the Indonesian Government stopping imports of live cattle from Australia in December. Bayu Krisnamurthi, the Deputy Agriculture Minister of Indonesia, commented that Australia had discriminated against Indonesia by imposing new standards of animal welfare, as the same standards were not imposed on other countries importing live cattle. He threatened to file a claim with the World Trade Organization if discrimination occurred (Vasek AAP, 2011). Whilst live exports to Indonesia has resumed, their imports are down by 50 percent and relations between Australia and Indonesia are affected. The incident damaged Australia’s economy and forced beef prices to rise in Indonesian markets (Nirmala, 2012). This illustrates the interdependency of Australia and Indonesia, with disruptions to trade affecting the political economy of both countries. It is evident that the political risk of Australia and Indonesia has increased. Political risk is the likelihood of political groups (Government and non-government groups) causing changes in a country’s ability to successfully participate in business activities, which may affect profits and goals of local and international businesses (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 266). Animals Australia and the Gillard Government both contributed to the live cattle export ban (Animals Australia, 2011), which in turn affected the profits of Australian beef companies. Businesses in the beef industry (or similar) may re-consider business dealings with Australian beef companies as they re-assess the political risk of trading with Australia. This may also result in Australia seeking markets elsewhere to sustain a profitable beef industry. As Governments implement differing political systems and decisions, other countries are affected, often in an unfavorable way. The differing legal systems between countries can impact dealings between countries and international businesses. The legal system of a country reflects the rules and laws imposed to manage society and behavior (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 253). A firm conducting business in a foreign country must ensure the laws of the host country are followed, as well as continuing to meet the legal requirements of the home country (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. You read "Political Economy in the Asia Pacific" in category "Papers" 78). Four main legal systems are prominent today: common law, civil law, religious law and bureaucratic law (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. 79). Common law is present in many countries is the Asia Pacific business region, including Australia, India, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Common law is based on judges’ decisions, creating legal precedents which assist in creating new laws and making future judgments (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. 79). Civil law is a legal system based on laws that have been set in a code system. It is different to common law, as judges do not have flexibility to interpret the law as the laws are already prescribed in the code system. Civil law is currently present is Japan (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 254). Religious law, or theocratic law, is a legal system that is based on the rules of a particular religion. Religious law is not common in the Asia Pacific region (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. 79). Bureaucratic law is a legal system where decisions are made by the country’s bureaucrats, often without taking the laws of the country into consideration. Communism and other forms of dictatorships are regularly compared to bureaucratic law. China is an example of a country where bureaucratic law is imposed (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. 81). It is apparent there are strong differences between the legal systems of countries in the Asia Pacific, which can affect businesses operating internationally. For example, in a recently merged Australian and Chinese company, King Wood Mallesons, Stuart Fuller, the company’s chief executive, stated that China’s Ministry of Justice requirement for all lawyers to pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party will not affect the company’s business dealings or clients (Sainsbury, 2012). However, this could affect lawyers who have not previously worked under the Chinese Communist Party, as they are pledging to uphold communist laws, which differ from Australian laws and values. This could also affect the perception of the company by international clients, whose values may differ from that of the Chinese Communist Party. Hence, it is evident that differing legal systems potentially influence operations between international businesses. New laws can also influence business dealings between countries. Indian companies have expressed concerns over the Australian carbon and mining taxes that are set to be implemented in 2012. Naveen Jindal, Indian parliamentarian and head of Jindal Steel and Power, believes the taxes will deter Indian companies from investing in Australian mining (and similar) companies. He stated, â€Å"The carbon tax is as much of a concern to Indian companies as it is to Australian companies† (Doherty Ker, 2012). Thus tax laws in one country can also affect another country’s economy, with a potential loss of investment opportunities and profits for both parties. It can also be seen that while a law designed for one purpose (in this case, the taxes are to help stop climate change) (Clean Energy Future, 2012) it can ultimately affect another area of a country’s economy – in this case, foreign investment. There have been circumstances where legal requirements imposed for one purpose have actually been seen as an ‘excuse’ for deterring trade or investment. In 2009, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, on behalf of the biggest palm oil producers in the world — Malaysia and Indonesia – filed a case against the European Union (EU) for introducing sustainability criteria for palm oil imports. The Council believed that the criteria was actually a barrier to the trade of biofuel, based on the EU wanting to continue support for home-grown rapeseed oil, currently subsidised by the EU (Junginger, Dam, Zarrilli, Mohamed, Marchal Faaij, 2011, p. 028-2042). It can be recognised that the EU may have been wishing to protect the home industry and jobs, which generally results in increased costs for consumers (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 109). In disguising the true intentions of laws, a country’s trading relationships can be affected. Thus differing legal systems, laws and re quirements can affect, and often hinder the progress, of international business dealings. The economic position of one country can impact other countries and international businesses. Economic systems can be described as the system by which a country organises how and what should be produced, whom to produce for and how funds should be distributed (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 203). There are three main economic systems: market economies, command economies and mixed economies. A market economy is when production activities are privately owned, and the quantity to be produced is based on supply and demand and is determined by an individual or business for profit making purposes (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 304). In a command economy, the Government determines what goods and services are sold, the prices that items are sold for and the quantities to be produced (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 304). A mixed economy is a combination of both market and command economies, with both private and state ownership controlling the production of goods and services (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 305). It is believed that a country’s economic system directly relates to its’ economic development and wellbeing and some argue that market economies provide greater opportunities for economic development and growth, hence creating a stronger economy (Hill et al. 2011, p. 306-307). This can be seen when comparing Malaysia and Singapore as the country’s systems greatly differ. When the ASEAN and China agreement was put into effect in January 2010, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) called for a limit of 10 percent in annual growth of the amount of imports from Chin a. This was due to protection of Malay’s as manufacturers found it difficult to compete against cheap Chinese products (Ng, F. , 2010). This shows Malaysia’s economic system reflects command economy characteristics, as there is control over what is imported, which in turn could limit profits due to restrictions. Singapore is evidently more of a market economy. Singapore is considered a very ‘open’ country in relation to trade, therefore depending on international trade (Global Trade, 2012). The World Bank has stated that Singapore is the easiest country to conduct business with, with the openness of trade and aim to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) being contributing factors (The World Bank, 2009). Since signing a free trade agreement with the US, Singapore has imposed competition laws that restrict anti-competitive regulations. The Ministry of Trade and Industry in Singapore stated that by encouraging competition, they would be able to encourage the ‘efficient functioning of the markets’. This move resulted in foreign lawyers and barristers to pursue work opportunities in Singapore (Sawyer, D. , 2006). By comparing Singapore and Malaysia, it can be viewed that market economies (such as Singapore) have greater potential for economic growth. Currency fluctuations can affect countries with interdependent economies when a change in the value of one currency affects other currencies. Indonesia’s economy was considered to be competitively growing from 1966 – 2007, based on the country’s commitment to lowering poverty through rural development and increased production in the rice industry. However, the Asian Financial Crisis from 1997-2000 caused poverty in Indonesia to rise, while GDP drastically decreased (Fatah, Othman Abdullah, 2012, p. 291-299). The high economic growth of Asian countries directly contributed to the crisis, mainly through an increase in investment, excess capacity, high levels of debt and increased imports. As borrowing and investments grew, companies were unable to service their debts (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 176). When the Thai Baht fell by 55 percent in 1998, other Asian currencies were deeply affected, including the Indonesian rupiah, which decreased 76 percent in 6 months. The decline of the Indonesian economy forced the Government to accept a loan of US$37 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Hill et al. , 2011, p. 177). The consequences of rapidly expanding Asian economies and the impact of decreasing currencies on each country was evident during the Asian Financial Crisis. The economic interdependency between countries had a negative impact on other economies, affecting their economic wellbeing as their economic position declined. Although the political economy of countries is generally interdependent, there are factors that deter interdependency from completely occurring. For interdependency to function best, comparative advantage should be allowed to operate. David Ricardo developed the theory of comparative advantage in the 19th century and suggested that a country should produce and export goods and services that it is relatively more productive at producing than other countries, and import goods and services that are more productively made by other countries (Ricardo, 1817). Through their comparative advantage, countries benefit economically from participating in trade. This also suggests that free and open trade between countries is positive for economic progression (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 65). However, this theory is not always practised since Government political decisions can prevent its effectiveness. On 22 March, 2012 automaker Holden received a AUD$275 million government subsidy to continue to operate its Australian factories, in order to maintain jobs (Straits Times, 2012). According to Chris Berg, â€Å"Less than half of one per cent of the labour force works for the car industry and car manufacturers are not particularly central to the economic structure, cars are not†¦hard to buy from overseas and their manufacturing is not particularly high-tech† (Berg, 2012). Thus Australia is not following comparative advantage in the car manufacturing industry, with the reliance of Government subsidies helping to continue production and maintain jobs. This can be compared to Thailand, with car manufacturing production hugely increasing due to low labour costs (Bangkok Post, 2011). As export demand has increased, production has increased, with an 11 percent rise in the last year (Bangkok Post, 2012). Surapong Paisittanapong, spokesperson of the Automotive Industry Club under the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), commented, â€Å"We’re confident that total auto production this year will reach 2. million units† (Viboonchart, 2012). Perhaps Australia ought to increase its imports from Thai car manufacturers rather than providing subsidies to Australian companies, assuming Thai cars are cheaper than the overall cost of producing an Australian car. Although countries can be seen as interdependent, barriers are often imposed to protect local i ndustries and jobs, discouraging the comparative advantage theory and potentially affecting economic progression and wellbeing. Another factor that contributes to countries not reaching full interdependency is the focus on regionalism. Regionalism is a method of opening trade amongst neighboring countries and is viewed positively as not only extending markets to neighboring countries, but as strengthening regional security and delaying globalisation. By forming close regional communities, countries can form trade agreements and other mechanisms that protect the region from the threats of globalisation, and still prosper economically through increased local business between countries in the region (Moshirian, 2009, p. 2-8). However, this push for regionalism may be obscuring some Asian countries’ economy’s ability to achieve higher profits, as the countries are still heavily reliant on other countries in different regions. We see this in the ASEAN official data release 2010, which shows that Singapore still exports 27. 97 percent of its’ total exports to countries in the EU (ASEAN Community in Figures (ACIF), 2010). This reliance demonstrates that partner countries are often unable to consume each other’s goods and therefore must export goods to other markets, outside of their own region. Whilst regionalism is still a form of interdependency between countries, the focus is on increasing business between neighbouring countries rather than all countries. Another exception to the interdependency of countries is when free trade agreements (FTA) are not efficient. The increase in free trade agreements since the end of the cold war across the world, predominantly in the Asia-Pacific, suggests countries depend on each other’s business for economic growth (Suominen, 2009). The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) began as a forum in 1989, before becoming a regional trade agreement (RTA) in 1993. APEC’s main goal is to establish free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific (APEC, 2012). However, trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region have favored the manufacturing sector, with low tariffs and more freedom to trade, as compared to the agriculture sector, which has seen a high degree of protectionism from Governments in order to protect industry and jobs. This suggests that APEC’s goal is not entirely being reached (Suominen, 2009). Whilst FTA’s are effective in theory, Government intervention suggests that complete free trade is not apparent, thus obstructing the interdependency of countries to a certain extent. It is evident the interdependency of countries can be attributed to the political economy, that is, the political, legal and economic systems and position, of a country. Decisions made by Governments often affect other countries, and at times have adverse implications. A country’s legal system can both restrict and open up opportunities for other countries. Growing regionalism in areas such as Asia means there are closer economic ties between countries in the immediate region. The fluctuating strength of one economy can affect its regional partners, particularly in relation to currencies and interest rates. Whilst there are clearly benefits to be gained from a strong interdependency and reliance on other countries, there are also factors that hinder complete interdependency. When countries do not follow comparative advantage, or engage in inefficient free trade agreements, some of the potential benefits of interdependency can be lost. Often governments interfere in markets for their own political, legal and economic reasons, and the perceived opportunities that should flow from regionalism and other frameworks such as FTA’s are not realised. How to cite Political Economy in the Asia Pacific, Papers

Political Economy in the Asia Pacific Free Essays

string(135) " host country are followed, as well as continuing to meet the legal requirements of the home country \(Griffin Pustay, 2010, p\." The political economy of countries can be considered interdependent, as they influence each other and experience change simultaneously. This interdependency affects the level of economic wellbeing of countries, including the economic conditions and stability of a country. The political economy of a country encompasses the political, legal and economic systems influencing the country’s economy. We will write a custom essay sample on Political Economy in the Asia Pacific or any similar topic only for you Order Now Jevons (1880) described political economy as the wealth of a country and the reasons contributing to differences in wealth between countries (p. 7). The political system of a country heavily influences the way in which a country operates, and often affects other countries that it actively deals with. Differing legal systems, laws and regulations of countries can also impact other countries. Similarly, the economic systems and changes in a country’s economic position can impact other countries, and at times, their economic wellbeing. Whilst the political, legal and economic systems of some countries are interdependent, disruptions to interdependency must also be considered when assessing those countries’ reliance on each other. Several factors can hinder their interdependency, including comparative advantage not being followed, a strong focus on regionalism and inefficient free trade agreements. Political decisions imposed by Governments can affect the political economy and often the wellbeing of countries. Government decisions, including laws and policies, affect society as a whole (Hill, Cronk, Wickramasekera, 2011, p. 236). There are two main forms of political systems: democracy and totalitarianism. Democracy is a system where the citizens govern the country through their elected representatives (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 245). Examples of democratic countries in the Asia Pacific business region include Australia and Thailand (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2008) (U. S Department of State, n. d. ). Totalitarianism refers to a system where one person or political party has control over all citizens, restricting political freedom (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 245). Totalitarianism is seen in China and North Korea (Jianming, 2010, p. 2) (Lim, 2009, p. 10-114). These differing political systems can affect economic relations between countries. An example of this is the view that democratic countries are more willing to trade and participate in international business with other democracies, than with totalitarianism countries. Democracies share similar values and laws on intellectual property rights. It is also believed that peace is more prevalent in democracies, enabling a higher e ase of trade (Rosendorff, P. 2000). We see this in Australia’s preference for trade with the US rather than with China. In September 2010, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reported that Australia had an ‘economic relationship’ (measured on trade in commodities, services and two-way investment) with the US worth over AUD$860 billion, compared to less than AUD$100 billion with China. The strength of the economic relationship between Australia and the US is believed to relate to each countries’ strong democratic values and from the US and Australia being strong allies, due to similar political practices (Sheridan, 2011). The varying political decisions and policies made by Governments can also impact other countries. With globalisation being so prominent today, the interdependency of a country’s political decisions is apparent. Globalisation dramatically increased after World War II, with many of the worlds’ major trading countries lowering trade barriers, including tariffs and quotas, after years of favoring local industries (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. 38). According to Friedman (2000) globalisation is defined as ‘the inexorable integration of markets, nation-states, and technologies†¦in a way that enables individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper than ever before’ (p. ). This integration of economies suggests that Government decisions affect the economic wellbeing of other countries. An example of this is the recent temporary ban of live cattle exports by the Gillard Government in Australia, in response to perceived animal cruelty towards Australian cattle in Indonesian abattoirs. David Farley, CEO o f the Australian Agricultural Company, Australia’s largest beef company, reported that the ban cost the company up to AUD$8 million. He also stated that Australia’s reputation in the international trading market was damaged by the temporary ban (O’Brien, 2012). The political decision to temporarily ban live exports to Indonesia caused financial loss for the Australian cattle industry and affected Australia’s political relations with Indonesia, with the Indonesian Government stopping imports of live cattle from Australia in December. Bayu Krisnamurthi, the Deputy Agriculture Minister of Indonesia, commented that Australia had discriminated against Indonesia by imposing new standards of animal welfare, as the same standards were not imposed on other countries importing live cattle. He threatened to file a claim with the World Trade Organization if discrimination occurred (Vasek AAP, 2011). Whilst live exports to Indonesia has resumed, their imports are down by 50 percent and relations between Australia and Indonesia are affected. The incident damaged Australia’s economy and forced beef prices to rise in Indonesian markets (Nirmala, 2012). This illustrates the interdependency of Australia and Indonesia, with disruptions to trade affecting the political economy of both countries. It is evident that the political risk of Australia and Indonesia has increased. Political risk is the likelihood of political groups (Government and non-government groups) causing changes in a country’s ability to successfully participate in business activities, which may affect profits and goals of local and international businesses (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 266). Animals Australia and the Gillard Government both contributed to the live cattle export ban (Animals Australia, 2011), which in turn affected the profits of Australian beef companies. Businesses in the beef industry (or similar) may re-consider business dealings with Australian beef companies as they re-assess the political risk of trading with Australia. This may also result in Australia seeking markets elsewhere to sustain a profitable beef industry. As Governments implement differing political systems and decisions, other countries are affected, often in an unfavorable way. The differing legal systems between countries can impact dealings between countries and international businesses. The legal system of a country reflects the rules and laws imposed to manage society and behavior (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 253). A firm conducting business in a foreign country must ensure the laws of the host country are followed, as well as continuing to meet the legal requirements of the home country (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. You read "Political Economy in the Asia Pacific" in category "Papers" 78). Four main legal systems are prominent today: common law, civil law, religious law and bureaucratic law (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. 79). Common law is present in many countries is the Asia Pacific business region, including Australia, India, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Common law is based on judges’ decisions, creating legal precedents which assist in creating new laws and making future judgments (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. 79). Civil law is a legal system based on laws that have been set in a code system. It is different to common law, as judges do not have flexibility to interpret the law as the laws are already prescribed in the code system. Civil law is currently present is Japan (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 254). Religious law, or theocratic law, is a legal system that is based on the rules of a particular religion. Religious law is not common in the Asia Pacific region (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. 79). Bureaucratic law is a legal system where decisions are made by the country’s bureaucrats, often without taking the laws of the country into consideration. Communism and other forms of dictatorships are regularly compared to bureaucratic law. China is an example of a country where bureaucratic law is imposed (Griffin Pustay, 2010, p. 81). It is apparent there are strong differences between the legal systems of countries in the Asia Pacific, which can affect businesses operating internationally. For example, in a recently merged Australian and Chinese company, King Wood Mallesons, Stuart Fuller, the company’s chief executive, stated that China’s Ministry of Justice requirement for all lawyers to pledge allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party will not affect the company’s business dealings or clients (Sainsbury, 2012). However, this could affect lawyers who have not previously worked under the Chinese Communist Party, as they are pledging to uphold communist laws, which differ from Australian laws and values. This could also affect the perception of the company by international clients, whose values may differ from that of the Chinese Communist Party. Hence, it is evident that differing legal systems potentially influence operations between international businesses. New laws can also influence business dealings between countries. Indian companies have expressed concerns over the Australian carbon and mining taxes that are set to be implemented in 2012. Naveen Jindal, Indian parliamentarian and head of Jindal Steel and Power, believes the taxes will deter Indian companies from investing in Australian mining (and similar) companies. He stated, â€Å"The carbon tax is as much of a concern to Indian companies as it is to Australian companies† (Doherty Ker, 2012). Thus tax laws in one country can also affect another country’s economy, with a potential loss of investment opportunities and profits for both parties. It can also be seen that while a law designed for one purpose (in this case, the taxes are to help stop climate change) (Clean Energy Future, 2012) it can ultimately affect another area of a country’s economy – in this case, foreign investment. There have been circumstances where legal requirements imposed for one purpose have actually been seen as an ‘excuse’ for deterring trade or investment. In 2009, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, on behalf of the biggest palm oil producers in the world — Malaysia and Indonesia – filed a case against the European Union (EU) for introducing sustainability criteria for palm oil imports. The Council believed that the criteria was actually a barrier to the trade of biofuel, based on the EU wanting to continue support for home-grown rapeseed oil, currently subsidised by the EU (Junginger, Dam, Zarrilli, Mohamed, Marchal Faaij, 2011, p. 028-2042). It can be recognised that the EU may have been wishing to protect the home industry and jobs, which generally results in increased costs for consumers (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 109). In disguising the true intentions of laws, a country’s trading relationships can be affected. Thus differing legal systems, laws and re quirements can affect, and often hinder the progress, of international business dealings. The economic position of one country can impact other countries and international businesses. Economic systems can be described as the system by which a country organises how and what should be produced, whom to produce for and how funds should be distributed (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 203). There are three main economic systems: market economies, command economies and mixed economies. A market economy is when production activities are privately owned, and the quantity to be produced is based on supply and demand and is determined by an individual or business for profit making purposes (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 304). In a command economy, the Government determines what goods and services are sold, the prices that items are sold for and the quantities to be produced (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 304). A mixed economy is a combination of both market and command economies, with both private and state ownership controlling the production of goods and services (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 305). It is believed that a country’s economic system directly relates to its’ economic development and wellbeing and some argue that market economies provide greater opportunities for economic development and growth, hence creating a stronger economy (Hill et al. 2011, p. 306-307). This can be seen when comparing Malaysia and Singapore as the country’s systems greatly differ. When the ASEAN and China agreement was put into effect in January 2010, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) called for a limit of 10 percent in annual growth of the amount of imports from Chin a. This was due to protection of Malay’s as manufacturers found it difficult to compete against cheap Chinese products (Ng, F. , 2010). This shows Malaysia’s economic system reflects command economy characteristics, as there is control over what is imported, which in turn could limit profits due to restrictions. Singapore is evidently more of a market economy. Singapore is considered a very ‘open’ country in relation to trade, therefore depending on international trade (Global Trade, 2012). The World Bank has stated that Singapore is the easiest country to conduct business with, with the openness of trade and aim to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) being contributing factors (The World Bank, 2009). Since signing a free trade agreement with the US, Singapore has imposed competition laws that restrict anti-competitive regulations. The Ministry of Trade and Industry in Singapore stated that by encouraging competition, they would be able to encourage the ‘efficient functioning of the markets’. This move resulted in foreign lawyers and barristers to pursue work opportunities in Singapore (Sawyer, D. , 2006). By comparing Singapore and Malaysia, it can be viewed that market economies (such as Singapore) have greater potential for economic growth. Currency fluctuations can affect countries with interdependent economies when a change in the value of one currency affects other currencies. Indonesia’s economy was considered to be competitively growing from 1966 – 2007, based on the country’s commitment to lowering poverty through rural development and increased production in the rice industry. However, the Asian Financial Crisis from 1997-2000 caused poverty in Indonesia to rise, while GDP drastically decreased (Fatah, Othman Abdullah, 2012, p. 291-299). The high economic growth of Asian countries directly contributed to the crisis, mainly through an increase in investment, excess capacity, high levels of debt and increased imports. As borrowing and investments grew, companies were unable to service their debts (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 176). When the Thai Baht fell by 55 percent in 1998, other Asian currencies were deeply affected, including the Indonesian rupiah, which decreased 76 percent in 6 months. The decline of the Indonesian economy forced the Government to accept a loan of US$37 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Hill et al. , 2011, p. 177). The consequences of rapidly expanding Asian economies and the impact of decreasing currencies on each country was evident during the Asian Financial Crisis. The economic interdependency between countries had a negative impact on other economies, affecting their economic wellbeing as their economic position declined. Although the political economy of countries is generally interdependent, there are factors that deter interdependency from completely occurring. For interdependency to function best, comparative advantage should be allowed to operate. David Ricardo developed the theory of comparative advantage in the 19th century and suggested that a country should produce and export goods and services that it is relatively more productive at producing than other countries, and import goods and services that are more productively made by other countries (Ricardo, 1817). Through their comparative advantage, countries benefit economically from participating in trade. This also suggests that free and open trade between countries is positive for economic progression (Hill et al. , 2011, p. 65). However, this theory is not always practised since Government political decisions can prevent its effectiveness. On 22 March, 2012 automaker Holden received a AUD$275 million government subsidy to continue to operate its Australian factories, in order to maintain jobs (Straits Times, 2012). According to Chris Berg, â€Å"Less than half of one per cent of the labour force works for the car industry and car manufacturers are not particularly central to the economic structure, cars are not†¦hard to buy from overseas and their manufacturing is not particularly high-tech† (Berg, 2012). Thus Australia is not following comparative advantage in the car manufacturing industry, with the reliance of Government subsidies helping to continue production and maintain jobs. This can be compared to Thailand, with car manufacturing production hugely increasing due to low labour costs (Bangkok Post, 2011). As export demand has increased, production has increased, with an 11 percent rise in the last year (Bangkok Post, 2012). Surapong Paisittanapong, spokesperson of the Automotive Industry Club under the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), commented, â€Å"We’re confident that total auto production this year will reach 2. million units† (Viboonchart, 2012). Perhaps Australia ought to increase its imports from Thai car manufacturers rather than providing subsidies to Australian companies, assuming Thai cars are cheaper than the overall cost of producing an Australian car. Although countries can be seen as interdependent, barriers are often imposed to protect local i ndustries and jobs, discouraging the comparative advantage theory and potentially affecting economic progression and wellbeing. Another factor that contributes to countries not reaching full interdependency is the focus on regionalism. Regionalism is a method of opening trade amongst neighboring countries and is viewed positively as not only extending markets to neighboring countries, but as strengthening regional security and delaying globalisation. By forming close regional communities, countries can form trade agreements and other mechanisms that protect the region from the threats of globalisation, and still prosper economically through increased local business between countries in the region (Moshirian, 2009, p. 2-8). However, this push for regionalism may be obscuring some Asian countries’ economy’s ability to achieve higher profits, as the countries are still heavily reliant on other countries in different regions. We see this in the ASEAN official data release 2010, which shows that Singapore still exports 27. 97 percent of its’ total exports to countries in the EU (ASEAN Community in Figures (ACIF), 2010). This reliance demonstrates that partner countries are often unable to consume each other’s goods and therefore must export goods to other markets, outside of their own region. Whilst regionalism is still a form of interdependency between countries, the focus is on increasing business between neighbouring countries rather than all countries. Another exception to the interdependency of countries is when free trade agreements (FTA) are not efficient. The increase in free trade agreements since the end of the cold war across the world, predominantly in the Asia-Pacific, suggests countries depend on each other’s business for economic growth (Suominen, 2009). The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) began as a forum in 1989, before becoming a regional trade agreement (RTA) in 1993. APEC’s main goal is to establish free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific (APEC, 2012). However, trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region have favored the manufacturing sector, with low tariffs and more freedom to trade, as compared to the agriculture sector, which has seen a high degree of protectionism from Governments in order to protect industry and jobs. This suggests that APEC’s goal is not entirely being reached (Suominen, 2009). Whilst FTA’s are effective in theory, Government intervention suggests that complete free trade is not apparent, thus obstructing the interdependency of countries to a certain extent. It is evident the interdependency of countries can be attributed to the political economy, that is, the political, legal and economic systems and position, of a country. Decisions made by Governments often affect other countries, and at times have adverse implications. A country’s legal system can both restrict and open up opportunities for other countries. Growing regionalism in areas such as Asia means there are closer economic ties between countries in the immediate region. The fluctuating strength of one economy can affect its regional partners, particularly in relation to currencies and interest rates. Whilst there are clearly benefits to be gained from a strong interdependency and reliance on other countries, there are also factors that hinder complete interdependency. When countries do not follow comparative advantage, or engage in inefficient free trade agreements, some of the potential benefits of interdependency can be lost. Often governments interfere in markets for their own political, legal and economic reasons, and the perceived opportunities that should flow from regionalism and other frameworks such as FTA’s are not realised. How to cite Political Economy in the Asia Pacific, Papers