Monday, July 22, 2019

Advanced Microeconomics Essay Example for Free

Advanced Microeconomics Essay Question 1: Consumer Theory 1.1: In both the Marshallian and Hicksian consumer optimisation problems, it is assumed that consumers are supposed to be rational. The main focus of these problems are cost minimisation and utility maximisation, which play a huge part in consumer demand, but in real life, these are not the only problems that are considered. Also, it is assumed that every consumer’s indifference curve for two goods would be the same – they are very generalised models, and do not take into account other factors. For example, not many consumers would spend their entire budget on said goods – one thing to consider would be a consumer’s marginal propensity to consume and save. Though both of the problems provide a framework and model of consumer decisions, they are not plausible when applying them to real-life terms, because we have imperfect knowledge. 1.2: The expression given in the question, is the rearranged derivative of the Hicksian demand being equal to the Marshallian demand, when income from the budget constraint is equal to minimised expenditure, whereby m=ep, ÃŽ ¼. This is given by: dDdp= dHdp- dDdm . dedp using m = e. Shephard’s Lemma provides us an alternative way of deriving Hicksian demand functions, using e. It is given by: dedp= x* It is important to note that e is strictly increasing in p, due to Shephard’s Lemma, and x* 0,by assumption. Substituting this into the above expression gives: dDdp= dHdp- dDdm x*  This expression now represents a complete law of demand, as it has combined both Marshallian and Hicksian demand, whereby income from the budget constraint of Marshallian demand, is equal to minimised expenditure of Hicksian demand. Therefore, it has maximised utility and minimised cost simultaneously, to create an optimal quantity of demand in x*. The first term, dDdp, means that Marshallian demand (maximising utility) increases, relative to the price of the good. dHdp represents the Hicksian part of the expression, whereby expenditure is minimised, relative to the price of the good. Question 3: Adverse Selection, Moral Hazard and Insurance 3.1: Insurance markets are needed when risk is present. Risk occurs when there is uncertainty about the state of the world. For example, car drivers do not know if they will crash their car in future, and suffer a loss of wealth – so they would purchase insurance to eliminate this risk of loss, and protect them if they were to ever crash their car. Agents (buyers of insurance) will use insurance markets to transfer their income between different states of the world. This allows insurance markets to trade risk between high-risk and low-risk agents/states. These can be described as Pareto movements. A Pareto improvement is the allocation, or reallocation of resources to make one individual better off, without making another individual worse off. Another term for this is multi-criteria optimisation, where variables and parameters are manipulated to result in an optimal situation, where no further improvements can be made. When the situation occurs that no more improvements can be made , it is Pareto efficient. A condition for efficiency is the least risk-averse agent bears all the risk in an insurance market. If a risk-averse agent bears risk, they would be willing to pay to remove it. A risk-averse agent has a diminishing marginal utility of income; whereby his marginal utility is different across states, if his income is different across states. The agent would give up income in high-income states, in which his marginal utility is low, to have more income in low-income states (e.g. bad state of the world causing a loss of wealth), where his marginal utility would be high. If the insurance market is risk neutral, they will sell insurance to the customer, as long as the payment received is higher than the expected value of pay-outs that the insurer is contracted to give to the customer in different states of the world. Whenever the agent bears some risk, unexploited gains from trade exist. Absence of unexploited gains from trade is a requirement in an efficient insurance market, therefore the situation must arise, whereby the agent’s income is equalised across the states of the world. A risk neutral insurance company can charge a premium to equalise the agent’s income across states of the world, in the best interests of the risk-averse agent. Also, for an insurance market to be  efficient, a tangency condition is implied. The tangency of the indifference curves of a risk-averse agent, and a risk-neutral agent, is where efficiency occurs. At this point, one cannot be made better off, without the other being made worse off (Pareto efficiency). However, an insurance company will never be completely efficient in real life, as information asymmetry exists. The first type of information asymmetry to arise in an insurance market is moral hazard, whereby the actions that an agent may take after signing the contract cannot be observed. This gives the company a trade-off decision between giving full insurance or offering incentives for the agent. Full insurance is first-best in the absence of asymmetric information, when the insurance company is risk-neutral and the agent is risk-averse. However, if the agent is fully insured by the company, they have no reason to prevent a bad state of the world from happening. To solve this problem, the insurance company will not offer full insurance, in order to provide the agent with an incentive to avoid losses. The second type of information asymmetry to occur in an insurance market, is adverse selection. This is when the agent has private information about his risk type and characteristics, and agents in the market are heterogenous. As the insurer doesn’t know which agents are high-risk or low risk, the company will not offer different types of full insurance to match risk-types, as high-risk agents will prefer contracts that are designed for low-risk agents. To solve this, the insurer will offer low-risk agents less insurance – this ensures that high-risk types do not have the incentive to choose a contract for low-risk customers, as they will want more insurance, because they know they will need to claim more. This ensures that the insurance company maintains non-negative profit, as high-risk individuals cost more to insure. However, these solutions carry agency costs, because the result is less efficient than if symmetric information was present. I believe that risk neutrality of an insurance company is a sufficient condition for insurance to take place. Insurance companies are risk-neutral to maximise expected profits, therefore as the principal, will design contracts to achieve this, as well as making certain that the agent picks the desired effort (i.e to prevent a bad state of the world) for that contract, and to make sure that the agent even picks the  contract in the first place. Making sure incentives are compatible, and ensuring participation by the correct risk types, are constraints on maximising expected profits. If an insurance company was risk-averse, without the availability of symmetric information, they cannot differentiate between different risk-types, and therefore would not want to take on the risk of possible high-risk agents buying low-risk contracts. They would charge a higher premium to offset this, which would discourage low-risk customers to sign a contract with the company, as it would not be maximising their own utility. This would lead to a missing market, where trade would be prevented, because other risk-neutral companies would offer better contracts, and they would be able to steal all the low-risk customers. The magnitude of this would depend on the number of low- and high-risk people in the population. This leads me to believe that risk neutrality is also a necessary condition for insurance to take place. 3.2: An insurance company will sell a policy, c, r, if it makes non-negative profits, then:  Ã¢â€ â€™ r-pic ≠¥0,  where c = payout, pi = probability of the loss state, r = premium. Competition in the market drives profit down to zero, therefore r-pic = 0 in equilibrium. For the contract to be at equilibrium, it must satisfy two conditions: the break-even condition, whereby no contract makes negative profits; and absence of unexploited opportunities for profit, because if there was a contract outside of the offered set, with non-negative profit, would mean the offered set is not in equilibrium. If all agents are homogenous, if all agents face the same probability of loss, pi=p, insurance companies would know each buyer’s pi. The firm must maximise each agent’s utility subject to the firm breaking even. This would be at the point of tangency of the agent’s indifference curve and zero-profit constraint. This would be in equilibrium as another profit-making polic y could not be offered. Therefore, as they can observe agent’s risk types, they can offer different policies, to different types: ÃŽ ¸i= ri, ci. It follows that each is offered full and fair insurance. In real life, heterogeneity is usually the case. This is when pi varies with all individuals. Assuming that there are two types: high-risk types, H, and low-risk types, L, where the probability  of loss for H is higher than for L. Individuals know their own probability of loss i=H, L, but insurance companies are unable to observe this. In this case, there are two different kinds of equilibria that insurance companies could opt with: the candidate pooling equilibrium and the candidate separating equilibrium. The pooling equilibrium is where all risk types buy the same policy. In contrary, the separating equilibrium is based on each risk type buying a different policy. In the pooling equilibrium, if both H and L risk-types choose the same policy, the probability of loss is p and the probability of no l oss is 1- p. Therefore, the slope of the ‘aggregate fair-odds line is -1-pp. The pooling contract must lie on this line to be in equilibrium, to ensure the firm breaks even exactly. The contract must also ensure both types want to buy it – it must take both L and H to higher indifference curve than the indifference curve they would be on if they stayed uninsured. Agent L ends up below his fair odds line, and H above his, which means L pays more than expected costs, and H pays less – both pay the fair pooled premium, but H claims on the policy more. So if L prefers to buy the contract, so will H. This leads me to believe both L and H will be able to get full insurance, though it’s not completely fair, as the firm does not need H to choose a different policy to remain breaking even. However, this brings to mind the notion that if full insurance is offered, the agent will not have the incentive to prevent a loss state. Therefore, less insurance will probably be offered, and as both risk types are paying the same premium of the same policy, neither will receive full insurance, as it impossible to differentiate between the two – they will both choose the same policy offered. In the separating equilibrium, one contract would be offered to L, and another to H. Each risk type must prefer the contract designed for that type (i.e. the incentives must be compatible). The contracts offered should give each type the highest possible utility, subject to the firm breaking even. If full insurance contracts were offered to both L and H, where their respective indifference curves are tangent with their respective zero-profit constraints/fair-odds lines, low risk customers would prefer the policy designed for them, but high-risk customers would also prefer the same policy, not the policy designed for them. So they would not both be offered full insurance, as this gives rise to the problem of preventing H from imitating L – low-risk agents are cheaper to insure for the firm (claim less  often) so they get a better rate. Therefore, instead of offering L full insurance, they are offered C, which is still on their fair odds line, but on a lower indifference curve, still ensuring the zero-profit constraint. Now, if the high-risk agents were to choose between the policy designed for them, and C, they will choose the policy designed for them, because they prefer to have more insurance for less money. So, in conclusion, in the separating equilibrium, high-risk (H) customers receive full insurance, and low-risk (L) customers only receive partial insurance – they pay the price to prevent H from imitating them. L is worse off than if there was symmetric information in the market, but no difference to H.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Governance and Enterprise Restructuring of Macedonia

Governance and Enterprise Restructuring of Macedonia Abstract: This paper is a case study of the Republic of Macedonia (Southeast Europe), which focuses on examining governance and enterprise restructuring. Governance and enterprise restructuring is already defined indicator in EBRDs studies and transition reports, measuring the effective corporate governance and corporate control exercised through domestic financial institutions and markets, fostering market-driven restructuring. As of the beginning of the transition process, governance and enterprise restructuring remains in the center, as essential pillar, that moves forward the society towards developed market economy. The data used in this article are analyzed with an econometric regression model, which as employed in this study examines the interrelationships between governance and enterprise restructuring and set of policies that influence the governance patterns. JEL Classifications: G30, G32, G38; L33; O11; P31 Keywords: governance, corporate governance, management strategy, transition, Southeast Europe, Macedonia Acknowledgements: I would like to thank Prof. Nicola Bellini for the continuous support, as well as, the PhD Program in Management and MAIN Lab of Scuola Superiore SantAnna, Pisa, Italy Introduction The research in this paper is to be focused on examining governance and enterprise restructuring in Southeast Europe economies and in particular a case study of the Republic of Macedonia. EBRD has governance and enterprise restructuring as basic indicator of economic transition and defines it as effective corporate governance and corporate control exercised through domestic financial institutions and markets, fostering market-driven restructuring. The corporate governance is most often defined in terms of the roles, responsibilities, and interactions of top management and the board of directors. Using data of South-East Europe i.e. case study of Macedonia, will be examined the interrelationships between governance and enterprise restructuring and set of policies that influence the governance patterns. Literature Review There are several contemporary theories that set the foundations of governance and enterprise restructuring within a framework important for this research. The institutional setting is of essence when governance and enterprise restructuring is analyzed in transition economies. Further, the literature on corporate governance is extensive and is linked to important theories, of which the agency theory is fundamentally predominant. The established agency theory highlights the function of corporate governance in the overall enterprise restructuring, ensuring that the firm protects the interests of shareholders in a given institutional context . Thus, the institutional setting has impact on the outcome of companies performance through the very nature of countrys ownership structure and policies undertaken to shape the governance system. When companies are analyzed, it is important to state the presence of different agency conflicts between shareholders and management in a given ownership structure of each country. Hence, different countries have divergent governance systems leading to variations in the nature of the agency problems, where ac cording to the law and economics viewpoint, legal systems craft institutional specificities . The literature further proposes that different national governance systems are also influenced by cultural and historical features in addition to their specific legal system . The links between agency theory and institutional theory explain that divergences in national institutions may have significant impact on the effectiveness of governance at the firm level . The law and economics approach (e.g., ) puts the focus on the fact that the ability to enforce financial contracts and thus increase the effectiveness of governance depends on institutional characteristics . Further, it is stated that in order to complete the frame already set by the agency theory it is necessary to merge it with institutional theory . There are two principal strings of institutional theory fitted to the analysis: a) the first, origins in political science and b) the second is derived from organizational theory . The political science approach focuses on the setup where political and economic institutions create incentives for managers and the way the outcomes are shaped. On the other hand, the organizational theory approach is concerned with the adjusting function of organizations while creating the institutional environment. In this regard, Aggarwal and Goodell argue that national corporate governance differences between countries used in their study are determined by legal, cultural, and other national characteristics . 1. Corporate Strategies in transition economy environment As countries undergo serious system transformations the managers are faced with complex decision-making environment , and thus it is closely regarded that the performance of large enterprises should be linked to managerial flexibility in making strategic decisions within the context of the firms governance. Furthermore, there arent many sources that can point towards emerging corporate governance mechanisms in South-East Europe, although prior research suggests that independent managers and board of directors (corporate governance) may be an important necessity for managerial ability to undertake performance-enhancing strategies . Before restructuring, the revenues were generated by monopolistic structure through a handful of specialized state-owned companies. As the reforms progressed towards free market economy in environment with sluggish internal demand, adopting better strategies may be closely linked to better financial performance of the firm . Moreover, we can see that previo us research has linked strategies with performance , and governance directly with performance , and consequently in this research we will make an essay to implement the governance and enterprise restructuring EBRD indicator as measure against set of policies. Economic reforms introduced in Southeast Europe aimed at increasing enterprise efficiency and making their products internationally competitive and thus reforms were tied with structural crisis . The pre-reform environment that was characterized by import protection and export promotion through monopolistic, state-owned foreign trade companies which in many terms crippled the enterprises to meet overseas threats and as a result made the internationalization of their work very difficult. As liberalization of the market forces and privatization progressed they were meant to eliminate the constraints imposed on managers by state ownership and command economy system . In the case of the Southeast Europe, companies were privatized using range of methods . Thus, the privatization process resulted with diverse range of ownership structures and governance mechanisms . The corporate governance affects enterprises restructuring and financial performance . Indeed, when firms from transition economies are involved in international activities, they are likely to develop their capabilities . As a consequence of the peculiar characteristics of the capital markets in South-East Europe i.e. lack of well developed capital markets, limited portfolio diversification and liquidity, it is often stated that large shareholders could wish to utilize potential upside of a particular business strategy, but they are frequently restrained and affected adversely by the companys idiosyncratic risk . Due to this phenomenon they chose to impose sub-optimal strategies on managers. Moreover, large shareholders in transition countries where the protection of minority investors is low, most often endeavor to take advantage of their power and grasp private benefits of control. This expropriation can be found in a range of forms, such as related party transactions, use of trans fer pricing, assets stripping and other forms of tunnelling of revenue and assets from firms . Therefore, in such economies high ownership concentration was investors response to low levels of protection of minority shareholders in emerging markets . Even though we analyze and focus specifically on Macedonia, variations in governance regimes indicate sufficient international analyses of governance and enterprise restructuring in the specific group of economies that undergo serious difficulties in transformation. Corporate governance and enterprise restructuring in Macedonia 1. Institutional and legal framework The institutional framework is essential in the development of the governance and enterprise restructuring process. There institutions that carry of the process are the Securities Commission and the Macedonian Stock Exchange and are aided by the Central Securities Depository . The legal framework is comprised of sets of laws and regulations including the first 1996 Company Law its enactment of 2004, as well as, the Securities Law, the Law on Takeovers, the Bankruptcy Law, and the Macedonian Stock Exchanges corporate governance code and listing rules . 2. Overall assessment of corporate governance characteristics Macedonias corporate governance model is consistently built since the beginning of transition to modern market economy. Thus, it complies with the notion that each country shapes its particular way of governance due to its own history, culture, and legal and regulatory framework . The main characteristics of the Macedonian corporate governance model are : Gradual concentration of ownership which is reflected through policies leading to dispersed ownership structure of companies to become concentrated over time in a more regular manner. As 2007 IFC Corporate Governance Manual for Macedonian Companies indicates around 300,000 individuals become shareholders in the first phase of the privatization process. Later the process reinforced itself and eventually resulted with 255,000 in 2004 and 105,000 in August 2007 individuals as shareholders. This was result due imposed regulatory reform (Company Law, 1996) and also the development of the capital market urging for voluntary decisions of shareholders to sell their shares on the Macedonian Stock Exchange, characterized with constant default on minority shareholders and investor protection during this period. However, with creation of the Central Securities Depository (state authority for securities registration), the quality of the process had improved. Company shareholders as company employees and vice-versa, describes the phenomenon of the dual role and mutual interaction of these two categories as most of the employees are at the same time shareholders in the company. Thus, there is conflict in the rights and the duties as these two roles, which in essence oppose themselves and exclude each other. Indeed, this characteristic is problem of many transition economies and needs time to be resolved, while is still producing mixed outcomes. As a consequence of the previous two, there is the third main characteristic of the Macedonian economy in light of governance and enterprise restructuring i.e. lack of separation of companys ownership from companys control. This practice, despite the introduced regulation, is still lagging, hence the unfortunate problem where majority-vote shareholders who most often hold companies top positions, trigger overwhelming influence over comprehensive daily work of the enterprise. Further, this reduces and prevents the control systems vigilance and reporting to and from shareholders and investors. The forth important feature derived from the previous, is the inadequate oversight of managements work. This is due the fact that members of the supervisory board are individuals with lack of experience directly appointed by the controlling majority shareholders or in submission to the very persons that they are supposed to control. Research hypotheses Two basic hypotheses to test governance and enterprise restructuring: 1st Hypothesis: Governance and enterprise restructuring depend on set of policies : large-scale privatization, small-scale privatization, price liberalization, competition policy, trade and foreign exchange system, banking reform and interest rate liberalization, securities markets and non-bank financial institutions and overall infrastructure reform; and , 2nd Hypothesis: Governance and enterprise restructuring is significant and improves over time due to imposed policies. Sample selection and Data It this paper it is used the same econometric model as in the first article. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Transition Report series have the latest information on the countries that are classified in transition. The data that this prominent organization offers are based on wide network of sources that they obtain from national and international authorities . EBRD tracks reforms and assesses the overall process of transition using set of transition indicators, which are formed in comparison to the standards of industrialized market economies. Further, the data sample is mainly drawn from the extended research and data bases of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Transition Report publication series. Consequently, the data used in this research are taken from their index structure economic statistics and forecasts . The scale used in shaping the transition indicators ranges from 1 to 4+, where 1 represents little or no change from a rigid centrally planned economy and 4+ represents the standards of an industrialized market economy . There are detailed numbers for the countries in transition analyzing the period of 1989 to 2009 in different areas. These indicators are sorted by sector and country and are analyzing nine arias: large scale privatization, small scale privatization, governance and enterprise restructuring, price liberalization, trade and foreign exchange system, competition policy, banking reform and interest rate liberalization, securities markets and non-bank financial institution s, and overall infrastructure reform .ÂÂ   Model and Econometrics The econometric model that is used in this study is a regression model where we have estimated the fallowing equation : (1) (2) Thus, applied to our research this model has the fallowing shape: (3) where the dependent variable, . shows governance and enterprise restructuring; the independent variables, are as follows : large-scale privatization; small-scale privatization; price liberalization; competition policy; trade and foreign exchange system; banking reform and interest rate liberalization; securities markets and non-bank financial institutions; overall infrastructure reform; ÂÂ  is aÂÂ  p-dimensionalÂÂ  parameter vector ; ÂÂ  is theÂÂ  error term orÂÂ  noise. Results and Effects The first hypothesis is that governance and enterprise restructuring depend on set of policies: large-scale privatization, small-scale privatization, price liberalization, competition policy, trade and foreign exchange system, banking reform and interest rate liberalization, securities markets and non-bank financial institutions and overall infrastructure reform. The transition theory explains well the effects of privatization, restructuring, competition, budget constraints, policies of governance and management . The country results of the OLS regression for Macedonia (Figure 2) show that there are good results on correlation and dependence of governance and enterprise restructuring to large-scale privatization. However, the coefficients are negative pointing towards possible lag of governance mostly because of country specific dispersed ownership and agency conflicts as analyzed before (CG Manuel-IFC, 2007). The variable explaining trade and foreign exchange system and its relation to GOV behaves with mixed outcome depending on the model. Further, the price liberalization variable shows good results and there is good evidence and correlation between countrys governance, as well as, positive impact on GOV. The banking reform of the system and the interest rate liberalization demonstrated good results in contribution to the governance and enterprise restructuring. In this analysis the overall infrastructure reform has given important input in improving the overall economic governance, but the negative sign suggests some concern, as the disinvestment in infrastructure is constant lag in transition countries. On the other hand, governance and enterprise restructuring have strong relation to the small-scale privatization; competition policy and securities markets and non-bank financial institutions. In the case of these variables, the models have shown evidence i.e. p Figure I. Results of OLS on Macedonia The second hypothesis is that the variable governance and enterprise restructuring is significant and improves over time due to imposed policies. In the analysis (Figure 1) the results confirm this hypothesis with some mixed outcomes i.e. sluggishly improves over time. In fact, the close relation with number of these policies shows the significant impact of these policies to the way the governance and enterprise restructuring was imposed, positively or negatively. Thus, there is significant correlation to SSP, CP, BRIRL and SMNBFI, presenting outcomes to how each of these variables impacts GOV. Nonetheless, over time most of the variables improved and it is clear that there is relationship between them moving upwards. Further in Figure 2 we can see the movements of governance and enterprise restructuring over time. Also, in this case the analyzed variable moved alongside the increase of the other variables and towards positive upward climb. Figure 3 indicates that even though there is positive movement up, governance and enterprise restructuring is still at the bottom of estimated policies progress. Figure I. Macedonias Governance and Enterprise Restructuring Figure I. Indicators Dynamics Discussion On the first assumption that governance and enterprise restructuring depend on imposed set of policies, the analysis showed that there are mixed outcomes. There are positive and negative influences that eventually bring satisfactory picture for the overall governance and enterprise restructuring. On the other hand, due to analysis of the second assumption it is clear that as the transition process progressed along with the imposed reforms and there is a positive inclination of governance and enterprise restructuring. However, there is still more to be done in order to bring these economies closer to the standards of developed ones. Indeed, it is needed considerable improvement of corporate governance, institution-building to control agency problems and imposing already adopted regulation, as well as, enforcing new enterprise restructuring policies, within existing policies of overall transition economy restructuring.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Advertising Analysis :: Adverts, Advertisements

We see them in the subways, bus stops, magazines, and television, but what do they mean? How do they manage to catch our attention? Advertisements often find ways to sell their products by psychologically manipulating people. The advertising industry makes us envious of others and convinces us to be unhappy with what we have (Valko). Steve Madden ads usually feature women with absurdly large heads and hourglass bodies which try to force the audience to wonder what the ad is about. One of these odd ads appears in the March/April 2001 issue of Twist Magazine. It features a young woman with a big head helplessly running, as an airplane zooms over her at an abandoned airport. There are three characteristics within the ad that contribute the whole idea that Steve Madden shoes, clothes and accessories will improve your self image. The main purpose of Steve Madden ads is to suggest to its viewers that they will feel good about themselves by wearing his products. The model’s big head conveys self-esteem and self-pride and she challenges the consumer to look as good as she does. The young woman wears a face of apprehension and is running away from her old self to start her new confident life with Steve Madden products. The sleek black leather jacket on top of a sexy white shirt, short enough to reveal her stomach and curvaceous hips together with her tight low rider blue jeans, black pointy high boots, and trendy black bag complete her fashionable outfit. The embellished woman’s physique is aimed to appeal to women and girls between the ages of 16 through 25 in search of funky, hip, sexy clothes. Steve Madden likes to think of his clothes of as being distinctive and he illustrates his idea by setting an abandoned airport as the background for the ad. There is not a body in sight as the model runs across the old gum stained pavement. This calls attention to the idea that by wearing Steve Madden buyers isolate themselves from everyone else. She is too proud and conceited and cannot imagine being compared to anyone else. The Steve Madden logo in the ad also contributes to the main idea of the ad. It could have been anywhere on the page, why the sky? . Steve Madden ads always have their logos imprinted on the sky to imply that the â€Å"sky is the limit† with Steve madden products (Liza). Advertising Analysis :: Adverts, Advertisements We see them in the subways, bus stops, magazines, and television, but what do they mean? How do they manage to catch our attention? Advertisements often find ways to sell their products by psychologically manipulating people. The advertising industry makes us envious of others and convinces us to be unhappy with what we have (Valko). Steve Madden ads usually feature women with absurdly large heads and hourglass bodies which try to force the audience to wonder what the ad is about. One of these odd ads appears in the March/April 2001 issue of Twist Magazine. It features a young woman with a big head helplessly running, as an airplane zooms over her at an abandoned airport. There are three characteristics within the ad that contribute the whole idea that Steve Madden shoes, clothes and accessories will improve your self image. The main purpose of Steve Madden ads is to suggest to its viewers that they will feel good about themselves by wearing his products. The model’s big head conveys self-esteem and self-pride and she challenges the consumer to look as good as she does. The young woman wears a face of apprehension and is running away from her old self to start her new confident life with Steve Madden products. The sleek black leather jacket on top of a sexy white shirt, short enough to reveal her stomach and curvaceous hips together with her tight low rider blue jeans, black pointy high boots, and trendy black bag complete her fashionable outfit. The embellished woman’s physique is aimed to appeal to women and girls between the ages of 16 through 25 in search of funky, hip, sexy clothes. Steve Madden likes to think of his clothes of as being distinctive and he illustrates his idea by setting an abandoned airport as the background for the ad. There is not a body in sight as the model runs across the old gum stained pavement. This calls attention to the idea that by wearing Steve Madden buyers isolate themselves from everyone else. She is too proud and conceited and cannot imagine being compared to anyone else. The Steve Madden logo in the ad also contributes to the main idea of the ad. It could have been anywhere on the page, why the sky? . Steve Madden ads always have their logos imprinted on the sky to imply that the â€Å"sky is the limit† with Steve madden products (Liza).

Writing and Architecture :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Writing and Architecture A story is not a story until it is told. The way that this is done gives it depth, meaning, and tone. A house is not a house until it is built. The way that this is done gives it character, purpose, and life. Writing and architecture are very similar in that the idea of the piece is expressed through the choices that are made. It is up to the author or designer to determine how the idea will be interpreted and what method will be used to communicate the idea. Choosing the means that will express the idea is a critical decision that will affect the outcome in dramatic ways. When designing a house, an architect will establish an architectural idea that will be an underlying factor in the design. After choosing an idea, a means of articulating the idea is determined that will suit the client and relate to the context of its surroundings, whether it be sympathetic or contrastive. The basic form or shape of the house begins to give it meaning and locates the frame of reference. An important factor in building a house is whether the house is built to replicate past periods, such as Victorian, or has a modern design. The actual design of the house, where the walls, doors, and windows will be placed, brings out the architectural idea. In a book dealing with the architecture of houses the author has this to say: "Windows do more than let in light and air. The way they are placed in a wall affects our understanding of the whole house" (Moore, Allen, Lyndon qtd. in Allen 203). The materials bring another level of understanding to the design. The difference between cedar shingles and modular steel panels is significant when determining the tone of the house. I shall always remember how as a child I played on the wooden floor. The wide boards were warm and friendly, and in their texture I discovered a rich and enchanting world of veins and knots. I also remember the comfort and security experienced when falling asleep next to the round logs of an old timber wall; a wall which was not just a plain surface but had a plastic presence like everything alive. Thus sight, touch, and even smell were satisfied, which is as it should be when a child meets the world. (Norberg-Shultz qtd.

Friday, July 19, 2019

Global Warming Essay -- Environmental Global Climate Change

Global Warming First discovered at the turn of the century by the Swedish scientist Arrhenius, global warming was initially thought to only cause increased greenhouse gases from coal combustion emissions. It wasn’t until fifty years later that the real causes and effects of global warming would be discovered. A British scientist by the name of Calendar correlated the 10% increase of atmospheric Carbon Dioxide between 1850 and 1940 with the observed warming of northern Europe and North America, which began in the 1880's. As for the cause of global warming, scientists generally believe that both the combustion of fossil fuels and other human activities are the primary reason for the increased concentration of carbon dioxide. Human activities such as the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas contribute heavily to global warming. Other major causes include deforestation, methane gas emissions, and the release of nitrous oxide chemicals into the atmosphere. The gasses are released primarily by rice cultivation, cattle and livestock populations, gas pipelines, and landfills. Deforestation is a big problem as far as global warming because trees remove Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere, but release large quantities when burned. Methane gas emissions contribute because they are trapped in the earth’s atmosphere and reflect light, which is usually released in a clean, healthy atmosphere. The energy burned to run cars and trucks, heat homes and businesses, and power factories is responsible for about eighty percent of society's carbon dioxide emissions, about twenty-five percent of U.S. methane emissions, and about twenty percent of global nitrous oxide emissions. The evidence of global warming has been a care and concern ... ...problem will only garner with time. New and more efficient programs need to be developed as well as alternate methods of energy production because the methods now are not efficient enough to be able to cut pollution and waste by a significant amount. Possibly over time, such changes can be made and goals achieved so that we can live in a cleaner, healthier world. Works Cited Cowie, J. (1998). Climate and Human Change: Disaster or Opportunity? New York: Parthenon Publishing Fleagle, R.G. (1994) Global Environment Change Westport: Praeger Publishing World Wide Fund for Nature homepage. Articles written by WWF staff and AP (updated October 13, 1999: site visited October 13, 1999, (Http://www.Panda.org)] United States Environmental Protection Agency homepage. Written by EPA staff [updated April 21, 1998: visited October 12, 1999, (Http://www.epa.gov)]

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Immanuel Kant and the Ethics of Leadership Essay

In chapter three of The Ethics of Leadership, Joanne B. Ciulla, introduces the moral philosophy of Prussian philosopher, Immanuel Kant, who developed a set of ethics to guide our decisions and help us judge whether certain actions are morally correct. Kant’s moral theory does not look at all into consequences and has a very strict view of morality which can sometimes conflict between duty and self-interest. Ciulla mentions the story of David and Bathsheba in the Bible and asserts, â€Å"Leaders are often tempted to lie because they believe they either won’t get caught, or they can cover up their lies. † (Ciulla, 94) This assertion rings ever so true in light of the recent scandals involving the increase in U. S. politicians that have confessed to adultery. As marriage and family are often regarded as a basis of society, a story of adultery often shows the conflict between social pressure and individual struggle for happiness. Adultery is a very American topic. We have been redefining the parameters of its acceptability and taboo with each new generation since the Scarlet Letter. Why is American society becoming so obsessed with these types of scandals and what does it say about the morality of our society? Perhaps society is not solely obsessed with the adultery itself; maybe society is more obsessed with its leaders â€Å"fall from grace†. Sexual affairs have been a part of U. S. politics since Thomas Jefferson. However, politicians’ affairs were generally kept outside the purview of the public eye. Over the years we have began to see a change. Society is somehow fascinated with the whole idea of adultery and the entertainment industry celebrates it and portrays it mostly in a very romantic light. I am guilty of watching shows such as â€Å"The Good Wife†, a show about the wife and family of a politician involved in a sexual scandal or â€Å"Desperate Housewives† that romanticize and make adultery seem like the right thing to do if you need a little excitement in your life. Perhaps by watching TV shows like this, one is being conditioned to do what makes him or her happy or do whatever feels good or â€Å"right†. Oftentimes, whatever feels â€Å"right† is described as whatever comes easily or naturally for an individual. Our society seems obsessed with finding â€Å"happiness† which the Kantian philosophy totally opposes. According to Kantian philosophy, every one of us is a moral agent. We give the moral law to ourselves by asking ourselves if we are doing the right thing only for sake of doing the right thing. One may never find happiness, feel comfortable making the â€Å"right†, or morally correct decision under the Kantian philosophy. The morally valued thing in the universe is the rational human being that can give the law to himself or herself and our moral actions should be treating human beings as morally valuable. According to Kant, we should never treat a human being in such a way that we fail to respect the intrinsic human dignity of the human being. In essence, we should never treat anyone as a means to an end or treat a person against his or her dignity. Now let us return to the issue of the politician and his or her effectiveness as a leader. Is the morality of the message dependent upon the morality of the messenger? Although the morality of the message is NOT dependent upon the morality of the messenger, I think that the message has a far greater impact coming from someone who practices or lives it on a daily basis. Perhaps Americans are so fascinated with politicians’ and their adulterous scandals given that they presented a false image of themselves. It would be refreshing to have a politician simply be honest and say, â€Å"I’m not currently living up to this ideal, but I do value it†. Granted that could cost a politician the election but that would be the right thing to do according to Kant.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Filipinos and the Reproductive Health Bill Essay

The productive wellness saddle more comm yet know as the RH point is angiotensin-converting enzyme(a) of the ab turn out controversial fliers that atomic second 18 macrocosm discussed at present. It was scarcely if recently, however, that much attention had been order towards it.The implementation of laws provisioning al closely the resembling limit as the RH peter today dates back in the late 1960s during the reign of author Pre situationnt Ferdinand Marcos. At that date, Family proviso was adopted by the organisation purely for the nominate of community simplification towards the sepa gradelyeviation of poverty, as is the political relations commitment to existence sustain domain in The 1973 Constitution, It sh exclusively be the responsibi well-lightedy of the landed estate to grasp and maintain commonwealth levels contri only ifive to the national welf be (Likhaan and ARROW 17). Unfortunately, when the Marcos system was replaced by the Aqu ino memorial t adequate to(p)t, the ground for the judicature Family prepargondness Program became shaky. It was attempted to be abolished in two ways but was saved through its transport from the part of Social Welf be to the Department of wellness in 1988 due to two local and international pressures (17).During the Ramos administration, the Philippine lift towards population control shifted from the previous population control frame cash in ones chips to the generative wellness approach (Likhaan and ARROW 17). This was a fifty-fiftyt of the Philippine participation to the International congregation on Population and instruction (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt (17). It was withal under this politics that depository of health, Dr. Juan Flavier funded the purchase of prophylactics and launched an anti-AIDS campaign heavily featuring condoms in spite of fervent opposition from the rulers of the Catholic per image (17). A legacy that perhaps he passed on to his vic toror Dr. Carmencita Reodica who was the brain goat the implementation of an Integ investd generative health Program within the DOH (17).As an few former(a) change in administration took place however, the procreative health programs give tongue to above were abolished and tour the new governing charter tried to present newer programs for the emolument of Philippine reproductive health, n champion were utilise due to the ousting of Estrada which past brought us the Macapagal-Arroyo administration (Likhaan and ARROW 17-18). It is said that it was in this administration that government reproductive health programs previously implemented by former administrations regressed (18). Two banging events happened during this time. low was the illegalise of the emergency contraceptive pill c each(prenominal) in alled viewinor which increase a torrent of rallies and protests from health and womens NGOs and the second was Arroyos announcement that she would ban the proposed p rocreative health consign at that time even if it were passed because she believes that it is a pro-abortion turn on(18).The struggle for the passage of the RH banknote, however, did non stop in that respect. As the latest regime led by Pres. Benigno Aquino, Jr. took over, the nurture brought by this controversial debate has been lit once more. The bill has undergone a few revisions and the anti-RH and pro-RH placementions ca-ca continued their unceasing debate. The anti-RH faction, back up by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), other so- seeed Pro-Life governments, and some famous personalities kindred Manny Pacquiao, argue that the bill is anti-Life, anti-Poor, unconstitutional and anti-God. The pro-RH faction supported by health and Women NGOs, International Organizations, and withal various personalities like Lea Salonga and Sen. Mirriam Santiago on the other hand, believes that the RH Bill is pro-Life, pro-Poor, pro-Choice, constitutio nal and not anti-God.On my part, I stand by the pro-RH faction. The reproductive health Bill is an chief(prenominal) step towards the improvement of the timberland of invigorationspan of all(prenominal) Filipino, and I believe that it is the governments responsibility to al unfortunate its spate to take this crucial step forward. In what follows, I leave behind explain why I think that the reproductive wellness Bill should be passed. Women Empowerment many another(prenominal) a(prenominal) Filipinos be unawargon of the real purpose layabout the fruitful wellness Bill, or to be more exact, The trusty Pargonnthood, Reproductive health, and Population and Development Act of 2011. most usually, debates amongst the anti-RH faction and the pro-RH faction termination up with the topic of overpopulation and whether decreasing the population growth assess would solve most of the problems plaguing the Filipino nation. I myself had been misled by these perennial arguments and thought that perhaps the point behind this bill was to decrease the rate by which our population grows. Further examination of the bill however proved me rail at. The purpose of the legislators in presenting this bill was not to decrease the population growth rate of Filipinos rather it is to vest them most specially its most threatened sector, the Filipino women.Reproductive wellness, as define by the World wellness Organization (WHO), is a state of complete physical, compensateeous and social well-being that implies that people are able to h senescent in a responsible, refreshing and safe sex life and that they take for the cap readiness to reproduce and the freedom to take root if, when and how often to do so. Also, they added, it implies the presence of the in force(p) of access to subdue health bid work that depart allow women to go through engenderhood and kidskin relationship safely (WHO).Unfortunately for the Philippines, the lack of a panoptic repr oductive health law has force its toll on women producing a higher(prenominal)(prenominal) Maternal mortality Rate (MMR) of 162 per 100,000 weather births (Pernia, et.al.). This means that about 11 women fade every day during electric razorbirth (NSO, 2006). other issuing of the absence of a umbrella law that offers useful reproductive health mete out operate is an Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 25 per 1000 infants (Dizon). In other words, in that location is a numerate of 62, 000 infant deaths every year, or 169 deaths every day (Dizon). apart from those, t here(predicate) is an estimated 473,400 women who defecate abortion every year, 90% of them through with(p) by married women, producing a rate of 27 abortions out of 1000 women ripened 15-44 years old (Pangalangan, Juarez, et.al). Also, 78,900 women among those who had abortion are hospitalized due to post-abortion complications (Juarez, et.al). What is sad about this is that all this deaths and complications c ould chip in been proscribeed and attended to if women were leave aloned with proper and commensurate family training and health vex work.The answerable Parenthood, Reproductive health and Population and Development Act of 2011 aims to treasure women from the aforementioned complications of having no right away available reproductive health and family be after function (HB 4244). In department 5 of House Bill 4244, entitle Midwives for S butchered Attendance, the bill ensures the availability of sound time, skilled and properly trained birth attendants for women at a ratio of one (1) birth attendant per a cardinal and fifty (150) deliveries per year (HB 4244). Also in naval division 6 of the same bill, each province and city, assisted by the DOH, would confirm or upgrade hospitals with sufficient and certified personnel, facilities and supplies that would enable them to submit competent and effective emergency obstetric care (HB 4244). by from that, private and n on-government reproductive health care service willrs including but not especial(a) to gynecologists and obstetricians are mandated in House Bill 4244s Section 22 to tender at least 48 hours p.a. of reproductive health care function which involves information and education, and rendering medical services free of charge to indigent and low income patients, especially to large(predicate) adolescents (HB 4244).However, these are not the only provisions that the Reproductive health Bill offers women and their children. In Section 8 of House Bill 4244, the government ensures that a Minimum Initial Service package (MISP) for reproductive health includes maternal and neonatal health care kits and services delimit by the DOH would be ensured for women in crisis situations such as disasters (e.g. earthquakes, flood) and humanitarian crises (e.g. famines, epidemics). The MISP will become a part of the initial response of government units and national agencies at the onset of crise s and emergencies (HB 4244).Also, in House Bill 4244s Section 14 utmost benefits as provided by PhilHealth programs would be prone to serious and life threatening reproductive health conditions such as AIDS, titty and reproductive tract washbowlcers, obstetric complications and other similar conditions. Aside from maternal health care services, the bill similarly promises to provide a full domain of forward-looking family prep regularitys to be available in all accredited health facilities which, for scummy patients, shall be fully covered by PhilHealth Insurance and the government on a no balance billing (Section 7, HB 4244). These provisions of the bill are weighty in hold dearing women from the risks brought by pregnancy and from the difficulties caused by un devicened pregnancies.According to a research report published together with by the Guttmacher Institute and the United Nations storage for Population Activities (UNFPA) Better clock and lay of births can reduc e complications related to pregnancy and delivery, and improve the health of women and their infants (Singh S, et.al).Also, according to this same research, if contraceptive involve for women are met sufficiently, the figure of speech of induce abortions would decline by 70% in the developing world (Singh S, et.al). Providing women with these reproductive health services also impress in accordance to the Magna Carta for Women. In Section 13 of House Bill nary(prenominal) 4273, the law insures women the access to information and services related to their health. This includes maternal care which involves pre-natal and post-natal services that would address a womanhoods pregnancy, and the health and nutrition of twain the mother and the infant, and legal, ethical, medically safe and effective family planning methods (HB 4273).Despite the many advantages that the Reproductive Health Bill offers to women however, there are silence those who confide to hinder the passage of this bill. peerless of these detractors is the CBCP who claims that the bill is anti-life and unconstitutional. What saddened me however is that in one of their financial statements, they have summed up choosing to defend the RH Bill as choosing death (Odchimar). I quote We are at a crossroads as a nation. in the beginning us are several versions of a proposed bill, the Reproductive Health bill or sanitized as a Responsible Parenthood bill. This proposed bill in all its versions calls us to pee a moral selection to carry life or to choose death (Odchimar).Reading this statement caused a moment of irritation which fleetly turned to sadness as I realized how mis sure my fellow Filipinos were. The Reproductive Health Bill is not anti-life it is, through gross(a) examination, explicitly pro-Life (Pangalangan, Pernia et.al).The Reproductive Health Bill will not only protect a womans right to make a alternative but also protect her life and the life of her child. Providing quality healt h care services to women will suffice force the complications of pregnancy and even sustain block induced abortions (Pernia, et.al, Pangalangan, Lagman). Choosing the Reproductive Health Bill would never be equal to choosing death.In this same statement by the CBCP, they also shared one of the reasons why they specifically object to the RH Bill Advocates also assert that the RH Bill empowers women with self-possession of their hold bodies. This is in line with the post-modern relish declaring that women have power over their own bodies without the dictation of any religion. How misguided this so-called new truth is (Odchimar)That women own their bodies is put in to each and their own beliefs. I myself, even as a woman, do not believe that I own this dust with which I move and act. I grant that this body of mine was something given to me by the Lord and therefore his, yet it moldiness also be acknowledged that not all Filipinos share this same belief. First of all, not all Filipinos are Catholics and it is wrong to deprive them of the support they ask of the state simply because the religious leaders of the most prevalent religion disagree with it (Pangalangan, Pernia, et.al). Second, 90% among the 97% who claim that they want the RH Bill to be passed are Catholics which shows how pressure this matter is (Pangalangan).Whether or not our bodies were our own or just borrowed from the Lord, the fact that it needs protection, support and sufficient health services could not be denied. About 60% of Filipinos are dependent on the government for the provision of family planning services and it is the governments responsibility to make it constantly and readily available for them (Pangalangan).The Reproductive Health Bill will provide women with sufficient, effective and effective family planning and reproductive health care services. This will not only benefit women but their children as well. It would protect them in many ways and help preserve lives tha t need not be lost. Family mean MethodsFamily cooking allows individuals and matchs to anticipate and achieve their preferred number of children and the spacing and timing of their births (WHO). There are many mediums of contraceptives that have been invented and developed through time. Mostly, they are split into two categories inborn Family Planning (NFO) methods and bleached Family Planning (AFP) methods. graphic Family Planning Methods principally involves determining when a woman is rich or not and having relative during days when fecundation would not elapse (IRH). The military strength of this method is dependent on many factors however, these include faithful participation between versed partners, accuracy in predicting the womans fertile days and ability to perfectly follow the methods they choose (IRH). Aside from that, there are women, in fact a mint of them, for whom Natural Family Planning methods may not work, considering this, the success rate of NFP methods are comparatively lower than unsubstantial Family Planning methods (IRH). factitious Family Planning Methods are methods that employ external factors.This involves pills, injectables, patches, vaginal rings, implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs), male and female sterilization, condoms, etc (WHO/RHR). A transformation of these methods may work depending on the situation of the women or men involved, however, most of the time the success rates of these methods are pretty higher than NFP methods (WHO/RHR). In the Reproductive Health Bill, a full range of Family Planning (FP) methods would be make available in all accredited health facilities (Section 7, HB 4244). Also, they would be labeled as meaty medicines, which means that they would be part of the guinea pig Drug Formulary and would be include in the regular purchase of inborn supplies of all public hospitals and health units (Section 10, HB 4244). This would help many Filipino families, especially the poor, in ach ieving only the surface of the family they desire (Pernia, et.al). In recent statistics, evidences that the poor prefer minorer families but are incompetent of achieving this because of lack of accessibility of Family Planning Methods have been rig (Pernia, et.al).Recently, a survey by the Social Weather Station showed that 97% of Filipinos want to be able to control their fertility and plan their families (Pangalangan). Allowing access to readily available Family Planning Methods would be an efficient response to this call. Aside from that there is adept reason for promoting two Natural and artificial Family Planning methods. In a intervention paper released by the UP nurture of Economics, they said that ensuring access to the full range of modern (artificial) FP methods cum appropriate information retchs the success rate of achieving the desired family size.Limiting FP options to native family planning (NFP) methods only fails to address the private and social cost of mistimed and unwanted pregnancies (Pernia, et.al). Providing both Artificial and Natural Family Planning methods would allow for greater success rate in achieving the desired family size of Filipinos. However, this is not the only good effect of Family Planning methods. Some Family Planning methods, when aright used, may help prevent the transmission system of HIV and other versedly patrimonial infections (WHO). Use of Family Planning methods also reduces occurrences of induced abortions (WHO).This provisioning of FP methods also supports the recognition of the family as an self-directed institution that has the right to found a family in accordance to their desired number and spacing of children (WHO, 1987 Constitution). Despite the advantages of offering both Natural and Artificial methods of Family Planning however, there are those who say that only Natural Family Planning methods should be supported by the bill. This is because, for these anti-RH groups, Artificial Family P lanning methods are abortifacients and are unsafe. First of all, there is a big difference between a contraceptive and an abortifacient. To put it in simple terms, a contraceptive is something used to prevent fertilization between a sperm and an screwball duration an abortifacient is something used to kill an already fertilized egg. Despite my belief that there is no need to elaborate further, I still shall reiterate it Contraceptive methods are not abortifacients. Second, the provision of family planning methods requires counsel with a family planning provider (Magallon).These family planning provider/counselors function to advise a couple of the most appropriate method for their situation and also to screen those who lack to avail of these methods (Magallon). One of the things they require of the couple is information on whether the woman is significant or not, or if cozy intercourse happened between them inside a genuine period of time (Magallon). If it so happens that sex ual intercourse occurred and/or the woman were pregnant, the family planning counselor would either ask them to sojourn and confirm first if the woman is pregnant or not provide a method of family planning to the woman (Magallon).This they do to avoid any bad effect that a contraceptive might have on an already existing child (Magallon). Another claim against artificial contraceptives, especially of oral contraceptive pills, is that they have been found to be carcinogenic agents in a recent research conducted by the Womens Health Initiatives and was classified so by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Position paper on the RH bill). In all fairness, further research on my side lead me to the conclusion that this information is true. However, while it is true that OCPs are chemical group 1 carcinogens, it is also true that use of OCPs prevent endometrial and ovarian cancers (Associated Press). Aside from that, I think it is worthy to point out that the dosages used i n the studies from which the conclusion was made were, to quote Dr. Steven Goldstein, professor of the natural York University medical exam Center, 2 to 4 times higher than the dosages Im using today in most women referring to the pills she provides her clients with (Associated Press).Also, according to director of analytic epidemiology of the American Cancer order Eugene Calle, the evidence of increase in dumbbell cancer risk is very small and transient, which means that it disappears as soon as the intake of the pills is stopped (Associated Press). Providing Filipinos with both Artificial and Natural Family Planning Methods may have a few disadvantages but I believe that the advantages of these actions outweigh all the cons. If the Reproductive Health Bill is passed, considering its main twinge is promoting full information and providing access to and choice amongst the full selection of family planning methods whether natural or artificial more causeless pregnancies wou ld be prevented thus reducing the current MMR of the Philippines and saving the lives of not only women but children as well (Pernia et al.) Effects of the Reproductive Health BillA lot of effects other than those mentioned before may come from the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill. One of these miscellaneous effects is that it would help reduce the population growth rate which would then produce a mannikin of chain reaction that would help quench poverty especially in the poorest areas here in the country (Alonzo, et.al, Pernia, et.al). This happens because parents who are able to space their children and acquire their desired family size are more capable to deal the cost of raising and educating their children (Pernia, et.al). Once educated, these children would then be able to help raise their families above poverty through work and business (Pernia, et.al).Another effect of the Reproductive Health Bill is it encourages women to exercise their right to choose and their f ree will (Lagman). Women would be given the chance to make informed choices on matters that affect them the most (Lagman).The publicity of an age-appropriate sex-education program would also help teenagers cast how to act in the face of sexual confusion (Lagman). It will promote go down sexual values and instill both consciousness of the freedom of choice and responsibilities of physical exertion ones rights (Lagman). Knowledge on these matters is important because health risks associated with mistimed and unplanned pregnancies are higher for women who become pregnant while still in their adolescent ages (Pernia, et.al).Against all these good effects however, there are those who claim that if the RH Bill would be passed then a so-called demographic winter inverse triangle population, with the old above and the young below would occur in the Philippines (Position paper on the RH bill). This, according to some UP Professors of Economics has been greatly hyperbolize and could onl y be considered as a scare tactic that intends to instill maintenance in peoples minds and which was in all likelihood spread by people who do not understand population dynamics or worse, who intend to mislead (Alonzo et al., also cited in Lagman). ConclusionThe RH Bill empowers women. It reinforces the peoples freedom to choose and freedom to be informed. It protects not only the sanctity of life but the quality of life that a child will have once he is born. It is pro-life, pro-women and pro-choice.The Reproductive Health bill also aims to protect women from the many complications of pregnancy and childbirth. It also aims to provide better care for every child born. Aside from that, the RH Bill will enable Filipinos to protect themselves better form sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS.Both Artificial and Natural Family Planning Methods are essential for the implementation of a comprehensive reproductive health law. These methods are scientifically proven safe and though s ome might have contrary effects, the advantages of these methods outweigh the risks they may present.The Reproductive Health Bill is a bill that allows spouses to plan their families and gain only the children they can provide for. It will help many poor families in investing more for their children and can alleviate poverty even if it cannot make it disappear altogether. The Reproductive Health Bill will also enable the young person to understand their rights and their responsibilities and promote proper sexual values.Understanding all this, I call for the immediate passage of the Reproductive Health Bill for the good of the Filipino nation. industrial plant Cited1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. The LAWPHiL Project. Arellano Law Foundation, n.d. Web. 5 September 2011. Alonzo Ruperto P., Arsenio M. Balisacan, Dante B. Canlas, Joseph J. Capuno, Ramon L. Clarete, Rolando A. Danao, Emmanuel S. de Dios, Benjamin E. Diokno, Emmanuel F. Esguerra, Raul V. Fabella, M a. Socorro Gochoco-Bautista, Aleli P. Kraft, Felipe M. Medalla, Nimfa F. Mendoza, Solita C. Monsod, Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr., Ernesto M. Pernia, Stella A. Quimbo, Gerardo P. Sicat, Orville C. Solon, Edita A. Tan, Gwendolyn R. Tecson. Population and mendicancy The Real Score* (DP 2004-15). intervention Paper. UP School of Economics December 2004. Web. 5 September 2011. PDF. AssociatedPress. Hormone pills added to list of carcinogens. msnbc.com. 29 July 2005. Web. 5 September 2011. Contraception. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 2008. The Gale Group Inc. Web. 5 September 2011. Lagman, Edcel. Reproductive health bill Facts, fallacies. INQUIRER.net. 3 August 2008. Web. 5 September 2011. Retrieved from Likhaan and ARROW. State of Filipino Womens Reproductive Rights 10 Years Post Cairo Shadow Report. Research in Brief. 2004. Print. Pernia, Ernesto M. Stella Alabastro-Quimbo, mare Joy V. Abrenica, Ruperto P. Alonzo, Agustin L. Arcenas, Arsenio M. Balisacan, Dante B. Canlas, Joseph J . Capuno, Ramon L. Clarete, Rolando A. Danao, Emmanuel S. de Dios, Aleli dela Paz-Kraft, Benjamin E. Diokno, Emmanuel F. Esguerra, Raul V. Fabella, Maria Socorro Gochoco-Bautista, Teresa J. Ho, Felipe M. Medalla, Maria Nimfa F. Mendoza, Solita C. Monsod, Toby Melissa C. Monsod, Fidelina Natividad-Carlos, Cayetano W. Paderanga, Gerardo P. Sicat, Orville C. Solon, Edita A. Tan, and Gwendolyn R. Tecson. Population, Poverty, governing and the Reproductive Health Bill (DP 2011-01). Discussion Paper. UP School of Economics February 2011. Web. 5 September 2011. PDF. Retrieved from Philippines. Cong. House. The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health and Population and Development Act of 2011. fifteenth Cong., 1st sess. HB 4244. PDF. Position Paper on RH bill by Individual Faculty, Students and Alumni of the University of the Philippines. iPetition.com. n.d. Web. 5 September 2011. Retrieved from Singh S et al., Adding It Up The Costs and Benefits of Investing in Family Planning and M aternal and Newborn Health, New York Guttmacher Institute and United Nations Population Fund, 2009. (Suggested citation) WHO. Reproductive Health. World Health Organization. n.d. Web. 18 October 2011. Retrieved from http//www.who.int/topics/reproductive_health/en/ WHO. Family Planning. World Health Organization. n.d. Web. 18 October 2011. Retrieved from WHO.