Supply, Demand and Price Elasticity Essay Example for Free

Supply, Demand and Price Elasticity Essay A commodity is a basic good that can be bought, sold, or even used as currency in parts of the world. Items such as coffee, sugar, soybeans, gold, silver, wheat, gasoline, corn, platinum, oranges, and crude oil are examples of commodities in the global marketplace. Consumers demand commodities to meet their needs in the consumption of food, or the creation of other goods or services. Suppliers, often farmers, supply the commodities to the marketplace. Several factors can affect both the supply and demand of commodities. Selected causes that affect supply and demand will be discussed as well as the effects these causes have on price, quantity, and market equilibrium. Finally, the paper will determine whether the chosen commodity, sugar, is a luxury item or a necessity, identify the availability of substitutes, and discuss how these attributes impact sugar’s price elasticity. Supply and Demand Impacts and Effects As mentioned above, the commodity chosen for discussion is sugar. Much of the world considers sugar an important commodity, used for sweetening foods, and in making other products such as baking. For these reasons, consumers highly value sugar, so its demand remains high. Crops such as sugar cane and sugar beets produce refined sugar. These crops grow in many areas of the world, including the United States, Australia, and India. Sugar operates within a market economy, so several factors cause shifts in supply and demand. Perhaps the most important factor that affects the supply of sugar is weather. As a crop grown throughout the world, sugar cane or beets are subject to extreme temperatures, flooding, drought, and even insects. Recent severe flooding in northeastern Australia has diminished the world sugar supply (Josephs, 2010). As large amounts of sugar are lost to weather, the supply curve shifts to the left, quantity supplied drops, prices increase, and market equilibrium increases as overall demand decreases. Another impact to the world supply of sugar is the development of farming and harvesting techniques to allow planting of sugar cane or sugar beets in new nvironments and climates. This scenario increase the quantity of sugar supplied to the world marketplace, shifting the supply curve to the right. When this happens, quantity increases, prices fall, and market equilibrium edges lower as demand increases. Importing and exporting of sugar directly impacts sugar supply. Nations that produce sugar determine how much sugar to export, what price they will charge for the sugar, and whom they are willing to supply sugar. For example, India is currently exporting less sugar than expected (Josephs, 2010). This action reduces the quantity supplied, in turn increasing price and market equilibrium because of decreased demand for sugar at higher prices. Another impact to the supply and demand of sugar is speculative buying. In this case, buyers purchase sugar in hopes of raising the price of sugar by reducing the supply available on the open market. The effect of the reduced supply causes prices to rise as well as market equilibrium. As prices rise, the buyers sell their sugar holdings, increasing the total sugar supply in turn reducing prices and market equilibrium. Price Elasticity Determination Though used by people in nearly every country, sugar remains a luxury item. Sugar is mainly used to add flavor or sweeten foods such as baked goods, fresh fruit, tea, and coffee. According to recent studies, the average American consumes 150 – 170 pounds of sugar per year (Regan, 2011). Excess sugar consumption produces side effects such as weight gain, hyper activity, diabetes, or high blood sugar. To counteract these effects, numerous sugar substitutes such as Equal, Splenda, Stevia, Truvia, and high fructose corn syrup exist in the marketplace. The availability of many sugar substitutes in the marketplace creates elastic demand for pure sugar (Hubbard O Brien, 2010). As sugar prices rise, consumers seek lower priced substitutes. Substitutes lower the demand for sugar without changing the quantity of sugar supplied, signaling a shift of the demand curve to the left, lowering the price as well as market equilibrium of sugar. Conclusion Many factors such as adverse weather, farming innovations, importing and exporting, and substitute availability influence both the supply and demand of soft commodities like sugar, coffee, and wheat. Each effect on supply or demand influences price, quantity, and market equilibrium differently. Luxury items with many available substitutes, like sugar, have a more elastic demand than necessity products like gasoline or heating oil having few or no substitutes available.

Native American Literature :: Native American Literature

Native American Literature Spending this semester reading Native American Literature, really brought me to make comparisons to my past experience. I think in each story, there was always something significant that seemed similar to my life. There were stories that had similar connections, and as I read them, I put my mind to connect what the author was saying and to what I remember from my life and make a connection. Actually, I thought every story was good and well to understand. For the most part, the story that really brought my attention and that made a connected to my life was reading Indian Education by Sherman Alexie. Somehow as I read this story, I understood what the author was saying. The story Indian Education is a story about the author explaining his childhood in school from grade to grade until he graduated. It explains in detail from his first grade till his twelfth grade. It shows how his personality changes as he grows and how things differ in perspective. It's like what we went through in our childhood. From remembering that bully in first grade till having your first date in eight grade. I really thought of my experience and made a few comparisons. I believe I went through the same things the author did. For instance, in his first grade the author writes how he used to get picked by the other Indian kids, and how they used to take his glasses and tossed them around. I remember once two of my ex friends chasing me and taking my glasses and ended up damaging them. I remember hating my second grade teacher because she would always punish me for talking back to her. She had this ugly face, and i hardly looked at her when she talked to me and that made her mad. As you can realize, being a child, it's just fights and games. Not caring about anything, until the consequences come. Sherman Alexie does a good job how his life changed from his childhood, and maturing in his years to come. For example, in his ninth grade, he tells how after a basketball game, he passed out after several drinks in a dance. His friends carried him to the hospital and saved him. I remember getting drunk, in which I wasn't suppose to, but those hard shots of liquor and beer, made me fall to the ground a couple of times.

Aqa-Scly1-W-Qp-Jun11

General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary Examination June 2011 Sociology Unit 1 Wednesday 18 May 2011 For this paper you must have: ? an AQA 8-page answer book. SCLY1 9. 00 am to 10. 00 am Time allowed ? 1 hour Instructions ? Use black ink or black ball-point pen. ? Write the information required on the front of your answer book. The Examining Body for this paper is AQA. The Paper Reference is SCLY1. ? This paper is divided into three sections. ? Choose one section and answer all of the questions from that section. Do not answer questions from more than one section. ? Do all rough work in your answer book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked. Information ? The marks for questions are shown in brackets. ? The maximum mark for this paper is 60. ? Questions carrying 24 marks should be answered in continuous prose. In these questions you will be marked on your ability to: – use good English – organise information clearly – use specialist v ocabulary where appropriate. G/T64897/Jun11/SCLY1 6/6/ SCLY1 2 Choose one section and answer all of the questions from that section.Section A: Culture and Identity Total for this section: 60 marks Read Items 1A and 1B below and answer questions Item 1A Interactionists see a person’s identity as arising from interactions with other people and from how those interactions are interpreted. For example, social expectations about what is an appropriate leisure activity for an older person may influence what that person does in their spare time. This choice of leisure activity may affect how they see themselves and how others see them, both of which contribute to their sense of identity.Item 1B For Marxists, culture in society reflects ruling-class ideology. It expresses the distorted view of the world put forward by the dominant class and is important in maintaining the system of social inequality that exists in capitalist society. Functionalist sociologists argue that the culture of society reflects the shared values of that society. Society needs a shared culture to run effectively, and various agencies play their part in socialising members of society. 0 0 1 2 Explain what is meant by ‘socialisation’. 5 0 1 to 0 5 that follow. (2 marks) Suggest two reasons, apart from the one mentioned in Item 1A, why leisure choices may vary across different age groups. (4 marks) Identify three characteristics and/or concepts associated with interactionist views of culture and identity, apart from those mentioned in Item 1A. (6 marks) Examine sociological explanations of the ways in which ethnicity may shape social identity. (24 marks) Using material from Item 1B and elsewhere, assess sociological explanations of the role of culture in society. (24 marks) 0 3 0 4 0 5G/T64897/Jun11/SCLY1 3 Section B: Families and Households Total for this section: 60 marks Read Items 2A and 2B below and answer questions Item 2A Many people see childhood as a natural stage of l ife that is determined by biology. What is expected of children is shaped by their age. However, sociologists suggest that childhood is a social construction. For example, changes in the laws regarding compulsory education and access to the labour market have shaped the experiences of children today. Item 2B Feminists take a critical view of the family.They argue that family life maintains and promotes gender inequality. For example, this is reflected in the domestic division of labour. Housework and childcare in the family, which are carried out mainly by women, are unpaid and hardly recognised as work at all. However, some sociologists suggest that feminist theories ignore the extent of family diversity. In fact, family roles and relationships are varied and therefore women’s experiences of family life are more diverse than some feminists suggest. 0 0 6 7 Explain what is meant by the ‘social construction’ of childhood (Item 2A). 0 6 to 1 0 that follow. 5 (2 mar ks) Suggest two ways, apart from those mentioned in Item 2A, in which government policies and/or laws may shape the experiences of children today. (4 marks) Identify three reasons why the birth rate has fallen since 1900. Examine the reasons for changes in the divorce rate since 1969. (6 marks) (24 marks) 0 0 1 8 9 0 Using material from Item 2B and elsewhere, assess the contribution of feminist sociologists to an understanding of family roles and relationships. (24 marks) Turn over for Section C Turn over ?G/T64897/Jun11/SCLY1 4 Section C: Wealth, Poverty and Welfare Total for this section: 60 marks Read Items 3A and 3B below and answer questions Item 3A In the United Kingdom, there is a mixed economy of welfare provision. This means that a range of different individuals and organisations provides welfare. The state benefits system is part of this provision and includes some benefits that are universal and others that are means-tested or selective. Voluntary groups also provide welf are services alongside the state and other providers.Item 3B Some sociologists suggest that the attitudes and behaviour of the poor themselves are a significant factor in the existence and continuation of poverty. The poor have a distinct subculture that is different from the rest of society. This subculture encourages certain attitudes and behaviour that keep the poor locked in poverty. However, other sociologists question the existence of a set of different norms and values among the poor. Instead, they suggest that poverty arises from the structure and organisation of society. 1 1 1 2 Explain the difference between income and wealth. 1 1 to 1 5 that follow. 5 (4 marks) Suggest two advantages of welfare benefits being universal, rather than selective (Item 3A). (4 marks) Suggest two advantages of welfare provision by voluntary groups (Item 3A). (4 marks) 1 1 3 4 Examine the reasons for the increasing inequality of wealth in the United Kingdom since the 1970s. (24 marks) Using mate rial from Item 3B and elsewhere, assess the view that the attitudes and the behaviour of the poor themselves are responsible for poverty. (24 marks) 1 5 END OF QUESTIONS Copyright  © 2011 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. G/T64897/Jun11/SCLY1

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ( Fasd ) - 2000 Words

Introduction Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a general term consist disabilities when a mother consumes alcohol during her pregnancy. The medical prognosis of FASD includes: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Partial Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (PFAS), Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND) and Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD). Moreover, teratogen is a harmful agent that can interrupt the development of an embryo. For instance, alcohol is teratogen. As per Health Canada, FASD is a leading cause of a completely avertable developmental disability but it still affects approximately one percent of the Canadian population (Batshaw, Roizen Lotrecchiano, 2012). However, there are many alterations to the disabilities and the development of sub-groups. Thereby, the term FASD is introduced to ensure the incidence of all the characteristics (mental, behavioral and physical) associated with prenatal exposure to alcohol. The exposure to alcohol during the pregnancy places the infant at the ri sk of developing problems such as abnormal appearance, low body weight, poor coordination, low intelligence, facial abnormalities, neuropsychological deficits, central nervous system deficits and growth delays (Riley, Infante Warren, 2011). As the paper progress, we will discuss the characteristics, causes and the epidemiology of FASD. In addition we will all focus on the mental disorder such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) associated with FASD and aShow MoreRelatedFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ( Fasd )1603 Words   |  7 PagesFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder â€Å"Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications† (HHS, 2005). FASD refers to conditions such as: fetal alcohol syndrome including partial FAS, fetal alcohol effects (FAE), alcohol related neurodevelopment disorder, alcohol-relatedRead MoreFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ( Fasd )1451 Words   |  6 PagesPei,†Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) refers to the diagnoses of damage caused to the fetus by alcohol exposure† (2012). It is the cause of abnormalities in children and can include effects such as communicating, socializing, controlling emotions, learning, remembering, understanding and following directions, and daily life skills. Some of the abnormalities caused by this disorder includes wide-set and narrow eyes, g rowth problems, and nervous system abnormalities. Having this disorder lastsRead MoreFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ( Fasd )1727 Words   |  7 Pagesdrink during her pregnancy as it can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a fairly new disorder. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during her pregnancy. Unfortunately, the issue has evolved into a moral panic due to the stigma. There is stigma for the mothers for drinking during pregnancy and the children having FASD. While FASD doesn’t discriminate social economic statusRead MoreFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders ( Fasd )1992 Words   |  8 Pageseffects of maternal alcohol consumption, women are still continuing to consume alcohol while pregnant. Fifty three percent of non-pregnant woman drink alcohol, and despite health warnings, twelve percent of pregnant mothers in the United States still con sume alcohol (Pruett Waterman Caughey, 2013, p. 62). Fetal alcohol exposure is also believed to be widely underreported in the United States (Pruett et al., 2013, p. 66). Current research concludes that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption,Read MoreSchool-age children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have complex clinical profiles and900 Words   |  4 PagesSchool-age children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have complex clinical profiles and often struggle to socially communicate in effective and successful ways (Coggins, Olswang, Carmichael Olson, Timler, 2003). It has been estimated that elementary school–age students may spend up to one-quarter to one-half of their school day engaged in paper-and-pencil tasks, which include handwriting (McHale Cermak, 1992). Difficulties with handwriting can affect many aspects of a child’s participationRead MoreMarisa Leathers. Kathleen Mccoy. Development Of The Exceptional1537 Words   |  7 PagesChild April 16, 2017 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Discovered in 1973, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders were recognized from a specific pattern of cardiac, craniofacial, and limb defects between unrelated infants. The one thing the infants all had in common was that they were all born to alcoholic mothers (Bradshaw). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, also referred to as FASD for short, can lead to numerous physical and mental defects and disorders alike. These defects and disorders range from mild toRead MoreAdvances Of Treatment Of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Essay1255 Words   |  6 PagesAdvances in Treatment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2015), in 2011 to 2013, one in ten pregnant women reported consuming alcohol in the past 30 days. Additionally, one in 33 women admitted to binge drinking during pregnancy (CDC, 2015). Consummation of alcohol during pregnancy is one of the leading causes for developmental disabilities. The term fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is being increasingly used to refer to theRead MoreLanguage Impairment Of Children With Autism1355 Words   |  6 PagesChildren With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder† from the Journal of population therapeutics and clinical pharmacology The purpose of this study was to identify pronounced deficits in the language of children with FASD. There were fifty children in this study. 27 of the children (10 female) with FASD, and 23 typically developing control children (9 females), ages 5-13. The children with FASD had been diagnosed with an alcohol related disorder. This study analyzes language in children with FASD in orderRead MoreThe Disorder Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome1018 Words   |  5 Pagesexplain the the disorder Fetal Alcohol Syndrome .This paper will aim to discuss what the disorder is ,it s history how it is diagnosed and the treatment and prevention of this disorder. Taking a sip a int hip Introduction :Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing(Bible-Judges 13:7).It has been known throughout history that the effects of alcohol use in pregnancyRead MoreFetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay1984 Words   |  8 PagesFetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are identified as a category of birth disorders caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. These can include physical or intellectual anomalies, such as cardiac, skeletal, visual, aural, and fine or gross motor problems. (Callanan, 2013) Prevention would involve alcohol use prevention programs for women who are pregnant, and treatment for FAS and FASD would be aimed at helping those affected realize their full potential through both