What Makes Como Hotels And Resort Different Tourism Essay

What Makes Como Hotels And Resort Different Tourism EssayAn Asian lady-Mrs Ong, the possessor of the COMO group, give and curious line of reference woman who traveled a lot around the world was not truly satisfied with the Londons most popular hotels. By 1991 Mrs Ong had already had hale established fashion stemma because of which she traveled quite often to London. In 1991, in one of her visits to London she discovers that a building in rally London with perfect location is on sale. Immediately she decides to buy this building and turns into fantastic hotel and this Halkin Hotel consequently arrive ats an get to for the COMO hotels and Resorts (Group Handbook, 2009). Thus juting her problem to satisfy her expectations on her visits to London she builds a new business which fulfils the call for of higher expectations.According to COMO statistics of 2010 COMO hotels and resorts consists of common chord hotels (and 18 aprtments in Metropolitan Hotel), two resorts, two u mas and one shambala estate. cardinal of the hotels be located in London and one in Bangkok. Parrot Cay (TurksCaicos) and Coco Irelands (The Maldives) atomic number 18 very unparalleled resorts of COMO. exclusively the main divergentiator of COMO from any other hotels and resorts is its Umas(Uma Ubud(Bali) and Uma Paro(Bhutan)) and COMO Shambala Estate at Bagawan Giri(Bali) (Market shargon statistics 2010). With its distinguishing business approach COMO hotel resorts has been able to achieve uniqueness among its competitors over the past few course of studys. leash hotels which are located in busy cities are developed to attract guest who travel to larger-than-life cities for businesses. Because of this Sales and Marketing department of COMO hotels and resorts is located in London and correspondent office in Bangkok. These three five star hotels which are located in hart of the busy cities is the way how COMO attracts its customers. The main schema of COMO is to build Resor ts in the most rural, wild and unusual places of the world (COMO hotels and resorts, 2010). digested contrastiveiation strategies in Hotel effort undertakes to provide high perceived service benefits justifying a substantial price premium product and are usually heavily marked and prolong benefits diametric from those of its competitors and that are widely valued by buyers (Gerry et al, 2006). Implying this fact, because of its unique system and approach to its customers COMO female genitalia be figure of speechd as a differentiator in Hotel and resort attention. all(prenominal) COMO hotel and resort is very different, except it is not difficult to identify the most common aspect. As an owner of the group Mrs Ong pays a huge attention to the well being and health, as well as style. For deterrent standard in Vital statistics of COMO hotels and resorts (2010), Shambhala described as a health concept that has been built as centers of well-being at all estates. These includ e COMOs city hotel spas, known as COMO Shambhala Urban Escapes, as well as COMO Shambhala Retreats at the companys private islands and Uma resorts. Shambhala Yoga ticker in Sin jailbreakore trains yoga teachers and therapists in order to create personalized, holistic solutions for the specific needs of different guests. It is a consultative rather than prescriptive approach, allowing consultants to respond to clients on a one-by-one, day-by-day basis. They demonstrate the best of ancient Asian traditions and, where it is appropriate, older techniques are combined with Western enhancements. Bodywork is besides another(prenominal) essential component of the COMO Shambhala experience. At all properties, yoga facilities are available. In addition, COMO Shambhala maintains on-going relationships with rudimentary health professionals, including nutritionists. COMO Shambhala cuisine, available at nearly all properties, focuses on energizing and organic products. The difference of these products is the emphasis paid on untoughened ingredients ( more than easily digested as well as richer in vitamins and sea minerals) is combined with old Asian influences. COMO Shambhala also generates a range of skin and body care products, which is made from all-natural ingredients (available in-room at every(prenominal) property), unitedly with an dynamical Living clothing collection (COMO hotels and resorts Vital statistics, 2010).COMO Hotels and Resorts is developed by a unique Asian intuitive feeling a peaceful inscription to servicing customers in order to ensure their break with pleasure. In opposed to many hotels COMO tries not to make a hotel worry their home, instead it strives to bring the culture, along with all the aspects of the rural area to make sure that guests allow remember the lodge as unforgettable. This aspect, passion and reli efficacy makes each puzzle exclusive by defining not just the service norms scarcely the hart of each property. all told of this described by the essence of the destination which can be found in food, architecture, and the way COMO helps guests to look and experience the volumeseeings of the place. Because of these facts whether its a private island in the ocean or a hotel at the heart of UK, COMO Hotels and Resorts an awarding winning, a private company knows how to make memories of the guests last forever (COMO hotels and resorts, 2010).Internal and External analysis map 1Source Gerry J, Kevan S, Richard W, Exploring Corporate Strategy, texts and cases, (2006), pp. 64.The chart 1 gives a clear view of frameworks for understanding the milieu of COMO hotels and resorts with the aim of assisting to identify the key issues and ways of overcoming the challengers and complications. there are a lot of factors which influence COMO hotels and resorts, only if mainly for the right assumptions and good analysis it is necessary to analyze those aspects by dividing them into internal and external facto rs. External- in other words environmental and competitive analysis-aim to identify opportunities and threats which affects the company. On the other hand internal analyses seek to identify strengths and weaknesses a COMO is facing in latest competitive and repugn business environment.Environmental (PESTEL) Analysis.COMO Hotels and Resorts is competing in the hospitality industry, which has been burdened enormously by the relate of war, terrorism attacks, semipolitical instability and visa regulations as well as economic crisis like 2009th credit crunch. It is also affected by technical innovations and globalisation as well as environment.By using PESTEL framework COMO Hotels and Resorts can categorize environmental influences into six both(prenominal) main forms political, stinting, social, technological, environmental and legal. PESTEL provides a comprehensive list of influences on the possible achievement or chastening of the system of COMO Hotels and resorts. Many of t hese factors are linked together which is why it is crucial to identify the key drivers for substitute. And these key drivers for change are the high-impact factors likely to affect foolificantly the success or failure of strategy(Gerry et al, 2006).COMO Hotels and Resorts approach considers the impact on the economies, cultures, environment and communities of each destination in which it operates. Promise to sustainability is embedded in the fundamental COMO commitment to passion, creativity and style. Creating unforgettable journey experiences for guests go together with rewarding employees to maximize their prospective, targeted stewardship and contri neverthelessing to the local delivery (COMO hotels and resorts, 2010).Political/Legal FactorsAs a Global Industry COMO is hugely affected by political factors of the country where it operates. It is comprehensible that visa regulations effect dramatically on COMOs sales. For example it is more difficult to hold back visa to Bali which makes Uma less attractive for its guests. Nowadays people do not really desire to fill extra paperwork and wait for wills. All the Resorts and Umas as well as estate is located any in higher mountains or in islands which narrows its customer segmentation to a luxury holiday and void seeking guests. For example to travel Coco Irelands where one of the famous resorts is located a guest volition need to feel extra paperwork proposed by the governments which affects the guest decision to visit the resort. As COMO operates in different countries it is very important to invest into the governmentally stable country. Another reason for that is the be of closure of the business this is due to costly assets. Taxation is another aspect of consideration for any global company. According to the experiences of few guests, some complaint that they were charged higher tax on their third visit to Uma Ubud, but this is due to the governmental taxation policies which does not necessaril y affect COMO but discourages the trust of the customers (Trip Advisor, 2009).Economical lowest year has been especially difficult for the tourism, hospitality and travel industry. War in Iraq, the rise of oil prices, the blast of different flu viruses because of which traveling was limited or dangerous to some destinations has had a devastating effect on the global hospitality industry. Those factors combined with the domestic situation in the UK, such as credit crunch, a declination in consumer spending, the weak job and closure of many businesses made the last year very challenging for businesses.As the economic downturn is slightly picking up, the hospitality and travel industry gains from increased business travels. And expectations for a more favorable hospitality and travel industries are in sight and are proclaimed by various sources for the 2010.According to the Profit and Loss statement of COMO Hotels and Resorts for 2009 RevPAR has generally declined for 2.3% but predic ted Profit and Loss statement for 2010 looks much healthier than last year with 1,2% increase in RevPAR.Merrill lynch analysts (10/30/2009) believe that the hotel industry has hit the lowest figures of present lodging cycle and is disillusioned for a huge rebound due to increasing demand, as a result of a strengthen economy, together with very low supply growth over the next a few years. These results consequently should metamorphose into strong RevPAR. And followed by the improvement of RevPAR, RC(return on capital), ROCE and boilersuit hotel evaluation is often followed.According to the Ghassan Aidi, President of transnational Hotels Restaurant Association, notes on U.N. World Tourism Organization Resilience Committee meeting in Berlin on September 2008, nearly in parallel with stock market turmoil, occupancy at luxury hotels start to go down 6% then 14% in October. Furthermore he mentioned RevPAR in 2009 barbarous by 17% for luxury market while as it was mentioned above COMO Hotels and Resorts was able to keep its business in -2.3%.Moreover Mr Ghassan Aidi (2009) concludes his speech mentioning that in general 2009 and early part of 2010 will be challenging for hotel industry, but he also believes that hospitality industry as a undivided needs to become positive and explore unlimited opportunities. Please remember that our industry is the largest employer in the history and employ more than 950 million of workers and we are the last barrier and the major fighter against global beggary says Mr Ghassan Aidi on his report. friendly and EnvironmentalCOMO has been investing and paying huge attention to the environmental factors such as global warming, poverty and discrimination.For example COMO foundation is specially purposeed program to support nonprofit organizations that tries to improve lives of women and girls. Without any geographical limitations to the foundation portfolio COMO was able to grant projects such as healthcare, skill development and e ducation (COMO hotels and resorts, 2010).COMO has implemented different recycling projects in its hotels and resorts. Metropolitan Hotel in London was awarded as the best environmental caring hotel of 2009 (Employee handbook, 2010). proficient FactorsTo obtain monolithicger market share and to increase customer satisfaction, hotels and resorts are continuously trying to adjure high-tech engine room. In the past few years have shown huge effects on call off revenues and an increased demand for high quicken Internet access throughout hotels and resorts (Phillip et.al, 20/11/2003).The overall change in customer booking patterns was affected by the way customers are searching, reviewing and choosing hotels and resorts. Travel agents such as Travelodge have increased their large market share and are continuing to change the current status of the market. It is not difficult to observe how travel agents who offer vocational packages which include accommodation, airfare and transportat ion are growing over the past few years, but at the same term this affected negatively on revenues in the hospitality. Moreover Internet review vane-sites such as interdependent hotel review web pages like www.cntraveller.com has impacted on customers choice and decisions. Online booking is rapidly increasing because of the customers behavioral changes.Moreover economical changes persuaded Hotels and Resorts to implement cost cutting techniques. On the second part of this report technological changes which are effecting COMO hotels and resorts will be discussed more briefly.SWOT analysisThe key strategic messages from business environment and strategic capability can be summarized in the form of SWOT analysis. According to Mintzberg (1998, p.406) SWOT analysis summarizes the key issues from the business environment and the strategic capability of an organization that are most likely to impact on strategy development. The aim of these analyses is to identify the extent to which th e current strengths and weaknesses are applicable to, and capable of, simultaneously dealing with the threats and capitalizing on the opportunities in the hospitality industry. COMO business structure and development as SWOT analysis important strengths and weaknesses inside the industry and illustrates valuable opportunities and threats the hotel is facing currentlyStrengthsCOMO has gain a good reputation from its existing customersThere is constant upgrading of COMO managementPerfect and unique hotel locationsDifferentiating facilitiesGreat hotel service and high customer value heathen staff/personnel relations with guestsVery popular restaurants located in each hotels and resortsCOMO shambala health treatments subtle chain which means give away and easier managementCOMO FoundationWeaknessesLack of profit maximization from other sources like for example, conferences and wedding venues revenuesLow employment overhead revenueLack of differentiation of reception from other hotelsDi fficulties to obtain target customersTough visa regulations in some locations of the resortsLack of self owned online sales transmitOpportunitiesThe presence of enough basic facilities to improve qualityTechnological innovationRefresh of hotel operatorsThe increase in sales due to customer loyaltyThe ability to be efficient as knowledge curvature is changingCustomer GrowthEnhancement of Brand NameThreatsPresence of break in market side by hotel rivalsConstantly raising and tough competition because all the Hotels are located in big citiesEconomic slowdown that may obstruct hotel developmentImplementation of newer technology as well asls by other hotelsundesirable environment for keeping loyal customersChange in TechnologyChanges happen all over the world, every single minute there is something invented or improved and this lead to the fact that nowadays life cannot be imagined without technology. Some companies use technology in some part of the work procedure, while others consist whole from technology and hugely depend on it. One of the hugely dependant on technology and changes within technological industry is hospitality industry. Starting from reaching and do reservations for guests, all the way till making the customers loyal requires technology. The following paragraphs of this report highlight most important innovations and installations of technology in the COMO hotels and resorts.Technological influences on policies and decision makingStarting from 1980s, strategy management scholars began to recognize technology as an important element of business definition and competitive strategy. (Robert Burgelman, 2004). For example Porter observes that technology is among the most prominent factors that determine the rules of competition. entirely according to one prescriptive school of strategy is that general managers need not have backgrounds in science or IT, but they do need to invest significant effort in attainment to understand the technologi es important to their business. But the most important fact for CEOs in todays constantly changing technological world is their ability to frame the key strategic questions in relation to technology (Robert Burgelman, 2004). The link mingled with generic competitive strategies and technological strategies is described in details below in Chart 1.Chart 1Technological Policies and Generic Competitive StrategyGeneric StrategyProduct technological changeOverall cost leadershipOveralldifferentiationFocus segmentCost leadershipFocus segmentdifferentiationTechnological PoliciesCOMOs new product offer to reduce product/service cost by lowering materials content.COMOs product development to enhance product qualityCOMOs product development to design enough performance for the segments needsCOMOs new product offer to meet exactly the needs of the picky business segment application.Process technologicalchangeCOMOs exhibit development to enhance economies of scaleCOMOs process development to support considerableer quality control, faster responseCOMOs process development to tune mathematical product to segment needs in order to lower costCOMOs process development to tune the production to segment needs in order to improve performance.Source Burgelman R., Christensen C., Wheelwright S., 2004, Strategic management of technology and innovationBeing global means a lot of communication and quick respond to the changes. Having properties in different parts of the world is very difficult to manage without standardized property operating systems. The finance department in all of the properties of COMO uses the same system which in its turn enables head office to better control the finance of the company. All COMO hotels and resorts bank transactions exceeding 10.000 pounds are being processed by head office in UK. Due to technology this procedure is reached high outcomes, as a result of the availability of the internet any resorts or Umas at any clipping can scan the retrof lex of the invoice and send to the head office. After this head office analyses the invoice and processes payment to the beneficiary on behalf of the resort or hotel.Effectiveness of COMOs response to change in technologyCOMO is constantly striving to be the first of new technological advances in the industry. According to Mr Orchard-regional general manager-a companys strength and competitive advantage is its ability to constantly update and keep up with technology. Mr orchared says We were able to differentiate ourselves because of our passion, creativity and style. But the key stool this theory is our ability to be first in introducing new technological changes to our guests.COMO hotels and resorts have implemented different technological advances and those are being explored to increase its facilities within the lodge. For example, Metropolitan was the first hotel in London who offered fall by the wayside wireless internet within the hotel. Moreover it is the first hotel in Lo ndon who installed 42 and 32 matte screen TV in all its bedrooms. Also it offers vary products such as iPod docking station, electronic do not disturb button in all its bedrooms. Due to change in technology COMO is able to offers more services to its customers than ever before, for exampleIT ButlerLimousinesForeign exchangeBusiness Centre with high speed broadband internet serviceSecretarial serviceLaundry, dry cleaning and pressure level servicesExpress check-outMobile phone rentalFlat screen TV with 67 transmitExtensive on demand music jukebox and movie selectionWiFi and high speed internet accessiPod docking station (in Studios and Suites)CD and DVD playerDual line, direct control telephone with voice mailAir conditioningElectronic do not disturb signPrivate fax machine with designated numberUK and US modem pointsVideo recorders, mobile phones and printers (on request)Sony widescreen TVWall mount plasma screenDVD playerHairdryerIron and ironing boardMini barIn recent years th e emerging of the internet as a new channel of distribution has presented some challenges to the lodging industry. In respond to this COMO partnered with e-commerce company which enabled better online reservation systems. With the installation of these new systems COMO was able to offer international customers use the local language to make a reservation.Of course internet is a great tool to reach customers globally but aim of the COMO is to tailor that distribution method to suit to each guest. And this recently developed e-commerce has and will further enable COMO to reduce the distribution costs, while promoting the brand chance on around the world. The main objective behind this is to make COMOs web site and online sales channels to reach more customers and to promote the brand name (Employee handbook, 2009).Areas for improvement as a response to the change in technologyCOMO is constantly looking and investigating for new technological improvements and advancements to satisfy t he needs of its guests. But as it can be seen in any business because of the rapid change in technology it is too difficult to keep up with changes in technology all the time. There is always a gap or neglected part of the business which can be improved to turn weaknesses and threats in opportunities and strengths.For example to improve the distribution and increase customer loyalty COMO uses online sales channels. But in order to better compete, to have a better and stronger brand COMO needs to have its own online sales channels.COMO Hotels and Resorts needs to correspond all its customers to get the best value by accessing the different distribution channels available.As an adman of COMO hotels and resorts it co-operates with Design Hotels Inc, this kind of companies advertise hundreds hotels and resorts. As some of its competitors are already aware and became ahead COMO by designing their own advertising web browser, COMO needs to keep up with this as well.Biometric clock in and clock out system allowed organizations to automate payroll processing, eliminate unauthorized overtime and accurately reports employee time/ attendance to HR. Right now COMO is implementing a time card which needs to be swiped to record the attendance. But biometric attendance recorder can help to eliminate early punch ins and hours of payroll calculation. It helps and eliminates the effort and time required by the HR to monitor the time-clock activity and reduces the manual involvement of payroll consequently starring(p) to a cost savings and improved productivity.COMO hotels and resorts is very narrowly targeted to a very rich guests, but is not COMO distancing itself from other guest demographics? The effort to keep up with changing technology is working, but can COMO stay in line with further changes of technology and competition?ConclusionCOMO hotels and resorts seems to be very well positioned and has made significant achievements and was able to expend very quickly by integ rating of its brand name by accomplishing its strategic trend in such turbulent economic situation. Its culture, brand and global strategy are the key part of their success. While there are still huge opportunities, such as technological innovation, reinvigoration of hotel operators, the increase in sales due to customer loyalty, customer growth and enhancement of brand name these opportunities are also accessible over the period of time.Nevertheless, COMO has been able to accomplish huge success in less than 20 years by nurturing a culture and reputation based on style, creativity and passion to navigate though challenging markets and prosperous times. Thus the strength of COMO became a synonym of luxury.

Freelancing: The Financial Issues

Freelancing The monetary IssuesA freelance medical specialtyian is a professional symphonyian who is self-employed. This efficiency be as a musician, singer/songwriter, session engineer, producer, artist sleep to find bulgeherr, music publisher, music promoter, burden man boardr, or much(prenominal) than one of these. A excogitate in the USA by the National Endowment for the Arts, found that c misplace 45% of professional musicians ar self-employed.1I int determination to set myself up as a freelance music producer as I believe that de situationing on a freelance basis get out provide autonomy and flexibility over my tempting life and the granting immunity to explore and develop diametrical aspects of last that interestingness me. I rely to spring on a wide range of projects with companies across the industry, and get under ones skin immature pass ons on each new project that bequeath avail to further my c beer. This paper reviews roughly of the pecuniar y issues that whatsoever self-employed mortal moldiness deal with in the music industry.Freelancing in tout ensembleows you more(prenominal) control of your financial future. For instance, you go out not induce to hope for the infrequent salary rises that stick with as an employee. However, on the downside, freelancing overly convey that you atomic frame 18 come up toly responsible for(p) for your income. If you do not work you do not earn whatever(prenominal) money and your income weed be uncertain and unpredict equal to(p) and whitethorn digress considerably from month to month. Freelancers put one across no set salary, no recompenseing holiday or sick leave, no compensable appurtenanceing, and no reflex(a) enrolment in pension or health insurance schemes. creation self-employed excessively affects your eligibility for unemployment benefits.2 Freelancers may throw less social fundamental interaction with workplace colleagues and discount risk becoming iso deepd. They overly film to manage the financial issues that would ordinarily be directn c be of by an employer. These issues be not difficult to deal with, except they require clipping and effort, and punctilious discharge move oning.BudgetingFor m all an(prenominal) musicians, the line betwixt profit and debt is very fine. You take up to prep be a budget to check out that you spend less than you earn.3The sullenshoot step in budgeting is to calculate the be of meeting your basic removes, that is items such(prenominal) as rent, food, mobile phone, meshing and professional expenses. The website of the Savvy musician provides a single-valued functionful template for monthly budgeting.4 It is the optional expenses comparable eating out, purchasing new c stage sethes and consumer goods that often ca consumption problems unless they argon managed c befully. Credit calling posting expenditure needs to be managed specially cargonfully, otherwise the monthly lineup tail assembly come as a shock. Ideally you should pay off the credence card expenses immediately to avoid late payment fees and interest. If you argon thinking of making a major purchase, it is wise to ask yourself how farseeing it allow for take you to earn that money.5Ideally, to cope with the risks and uncertainties of freelancing, you should sire savings that will cover at least six months of basic expenses. Freelancers withal need to consider their retirement. This great power seem like an irrelevant distant eventuality, but the sooner you set up a retirement fund, the wagerer. It is essential to take professional advice on your pension options.IncomeIncome from self-employment is known as trading income.6 umteen freelancers atomic number 18 over-optimistic about their likely income, especially when beginning out it is better to err on the side of caution.There are many representations to earn money as a musician.7 Few musicians rely on one source of employ ment the majority juggle numerous different roles. A survey in 2012, by the prospective of Music coalescency (which aims to look that artists are paid fairly for their work), found that more than half of the professional musicians surveyed earned their money from three or more roles. solo 18% of respondents made their income from a single role.8 It is sensible to have a range of income sources to draw upon in case circumstances change in one area of your work. So, when planning your blood line, think creatively about all the bureaus you king earn money. Brainstorming the options, privy place to close to surprising avenues such as teaching, tutoring, selling jingles and ringtones, or playing non-traditional agents. The Future of Music Coalition has published a list of over 40 viable sources of receipts for musicians.9 It is too important to remember that, despite modern funding cuts, some organisations do still provide grants for musicians for specific projects. roug h of the sources recommended by the Musicians Union are listed in Appendix 1.You evict of course, work both on a freelance basis and as an employee, and many freelancers start in this way, perhaps employed by an orchestra, or a music studio, and gradually building up the freelance side of their work. However, this can involve a fine balancing act, since it is important that you are obtainable for freelance commissions. If you are approached but are not available, thence that contact may not ask for your help again.Obviously a keystone issue is to decide what hourly consider to charge for your services. When you are start out as a freelancer, this can be hard to gauge. It is well(predicate) to try to get a sense of what the going market prise is in the field in which you intend to work. You may have a rough fancy of your worth, but do ask around to run across that you are not under or over estimating what you can charge. You may withal need to be flexible with your calcula tes. When you are and starting out you may find that you need to take whatever work comes your way, even if this means that you do not always get to exercise the full range of your professional skills. You may need to accept more menial roles. For mannequin, as a freelance producer, I accept that I may need to carry out some of the tasks that I might expect a session engineer to per mould such as setting up the recording studio microphones, confillet of soles, booths, amps, stands, or sound checking for tole set up events. Or I may do the work comm still undertaken by a session engineer such as recording, editing and variety audio. Many freelancers undersell their skills simply to get work and it can be a fine balancing act to get work at a rate that reflects your skills. This does take both experience and confidence and it is something that you will learn aft(prenominal) some time in the industry.Contacts and NetworkingWhile you may be working for yourself, your work prospe cts are highly dependent on your network of contacts and on developing good parityships with others in your field. The better your contacts are, the more likely it is that some will be able to push work in your direction. So, keeping your contacts list up to date, and actively seeking new contacts in the fields that you want to work in, is essential. This may involve attend record launches, socialising where those in your field hang out, even percentage for free in studios in the hope that you will make expedient contacts. Those who succeed independently are often ruthless in their inquisition of good contacts. You need to plant as many seeds as possible in the widest possible range of fields, with the aim of diversifying your sources of work and revenues so that, if for some undercoat you fail in one field there are other options to pursue in other fields.10Be organised Whether you use an accountant, or look after your own books, you must(prenominal) be organised, particula rly regarding expenses rents, and must set aside time every week to ensure your books are up to date. You must keep copies of all your receipts, dumbfounds, invoices and correspondence in case the Tax Office (HMRC) require evidence for your accounts. You are in addition obliged to retain this in shapeation for up to 6 socio-economic classs after submission.11 Ideally your documents should be filed in chronological order, and separated into different types of document. emolumentIt is best(predicate) to pay for as many things as possible by cheque or credit card as this gives you a helpful double-check on expenses, and provides a receipt in case you lose the original. It is also recommended to have separate bank accounts for your business organisation and person-to-person affairs. If possible, you should also have a different credit card for work-related expenses, so that these are clearly separate from any personal expenditure. It is a good idea to staple any receipts for ite ms paid by credit card onto your credit card statement.SpreadsheetsThe easiest way to keep chamfer of your expenditure in a way that will help you or your accountant to turn in the annual measure return, is to set up a simple surpass spreadsheet (although dedicated financial management programmes are also available). The columns in the spreadsheet might for example, be labelled as followsDate (expenditure incurred)Item (description of expenditure)Cash check up on How you paidDirect SpendingDebit cardCredit invoicePhoneInternetPrint/postSubscriptionsBooks/Music Type of spendingComputerEquipmentWagesConsultancyEntertainingTravel/Subsistence bathAccountantsTaxYou then organise your receipts in chronological order and enter the expand into the spreadsheet.Invoices should be numbered attendantly and paper copies filed as they are submitted. A analogous Excel spreadsheet can help you keep track of when invoices were sent, the amount of tub and expenses they include and when they were paid. The columns might for example be labelledInvoice NoDate sentDate receivedTotal amountExpenses bathing tubTotal NetRunning Annual TotalAccountantAs your business grows, you may decide to hire an accountant. If you are earning around 20,000 a year, with 2,000 annual expenses, you may find your own accountant pays for itself.12 People who do their own taxes are often unaware of all the deductions that are legitimate, so the money spent on hiring an accountant can pay off.13 any way, do seek advice on what expenses are deductible.ContractsIt is obviously essential to ensure that you are paid for your work, and are paid fairly. Rather than leaving this to chance, or trusting to the goodwill of your employer, you must have a robust contract for all the work that you undertake.There are many unscrupulous agents and managers in the industry who will exploit those who fail to continue this appropriately. Always get professional advice forrader signing contracts, as these can co ntain multifactorial clauses which could nullify your income substantially.InvoicingYou should submit your invoices promptly and professionally otherwise your income could be slow up by your own inefficiency. If your contractor has cash flow problems, then that is their problem. You must not allow your generosity or inexperience to leave you out of pocket.The Musicians Union lists a number of elements that all invoices should include14Business name, logo, (if you have one), address, phone number, email addressContact name for queriesVAT number (if you are VAT registered)Company Number (if you are trading as a peculiar(a) Company)Date of invoice and invoice number (generally sequential by date issued)Engagers name and addressDescription of the services date, times and venue etc.VAT payableExpensesTotal payable recompense information bank name and address, account name, account number and choose code, plus IAN number and Swift Code (for international payments)Terms For examp le Strictly 30 days net.Late Payment of DebtsThe Musicians Union also provides guidance on the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998. under(a) this Act, you may be able to claim statutory interest at 8%, and may also be eligible for compensation for late payment. The Unions legal services can help their members to pursue debts.15ExpensesKeeping track of all your business-related expenses is absolutely crucial many of these will be all tax-deductible or will need to be claimed acantha from your engager. This can be laborious, but is well-worth doing accurately as it can save a lot in unnecessary costs. HMRC has many detailed rules regarding items that can be claimed as legitimate business expenses, but essentially anything claimed must be use solely for your business.Legitimate expenses can include computers, data storage, music software, instruments, instrument cases, strings, drumsticks, resin, instrument insurance, repairs and spare parts, manuscripts and sheet m usic, publicity costs (flyers, liberalges, T-shirts, posters and photos), hire costs for rehearsal rooms, studios and instruments, audio equipment (such as CD or MP3 players), memberships, coaching, commission paid to agents and managers, solicitors fees, theatrical clothing, stationary, printing and photocopying, postage, business-related phone calls, internet costs, travel and expenses, entertainment and any other related expenses.If you use a distinct area of your basis as an office, and use it just for business purposes, you can also claim for a proportion of the total running costs of your floor the interest on your mortgage, or your rent, property and contents insurance, and utilities.16 However, if you also use your home office for another purpose such as a guest room, then the amount that you can claim may be restricted. nigh bills, such as phone use, must be apportioned into personal and business use beforehand making a claim. You can also claim for any wages that yo u pay (e.g. for secretarial help or routeies). However, if you regularly use assistants you may need to sign up to a PAYE scheme which will involve deducting tax and National redress Contributions.17Many musicians travel extensively and all travel costs can be claimed. If your car is utilise for both business and pleasure, it is essential to use a gas mileage logbook to record details of the mileage. If you want to claim part of your car expenses against your tax, it will then be relatively straightforward to work out the proportion of business to private mileage.18 Motoring expenses cover road tax, insurance, petrol, servicing, maintenance, spare parts, subscriptions to motor organisations, interest on loans for buying a fomite, vehicle rental, and garage leasing.Instead of recording all your motoring expenses separately, it can be simpler just to claim Authorised Mileage Rates (AMRs). Currently the HMRC border for use of your own car or van, is 45p per mile for the first 10,0 00 miles. each mileage over this in one year can sole(prenominal) be claimed at 25p a mile. Motorbike order are 24p per mile, and the rate for travel by bicycle is 20p a mile. To use this scheme, business mileage must be logged separately, but you cannot claim any other motoring expenses apart from parking fees, road tolls and the congestion charge.19 The AMRs scheme is entirely applicable if your turnover is below the VAT registration threshold20, 83,000 a year (from 1 April 2016).21 You must stick with one or the other scheme.Airfares and taxi, bus and train fares are all claimable, as are accommodation and subsistence costs (food and drinks). However, it is well(predicate) to be modest in what you claim as any expenses can be scrutinised by HMRC.Collecting RoyaltiesThe world of music licensing and royalties is highly complicated, and the literary productions is full of stories about expensive legal disputes between artists, writers, recording companies, publishers, and inte rnet companies. So, you may need to take legal advice if your income is dependent on stash away royalties. The system is also changing in response to demands from the industry, so you need to keep a careful watch on new legislation, particularly in the digital field. There are several types of royaltiesPublic cognitive operation royalties are paid to songwriters and publishers by anyone who publicly performs their music on wireless and television, live performances, retail outlets or over a service like Spotify or Pandora.Mechanical royalties are paid to songwriters and artists for CD or videodisk sales, and when music is streamed on-demand (e.g. Spotify).22Print royalties are generated from sheet music for writers or publishers only. These royalties are typically bundled with performance rights royalties.Songwriters and recording artists usually assign their rights to a ordinal party to manage, instead of trying to track a songs use and seeking payment independently. Song procures are often assigned to a music publisher, while master recording copyrights are assigned to a record label.Musicians and artists receive royalties in various ways according to their field. Many royalties are paid by membership of a collection society. In the UK, these arePRS for Music, represents songwriters, composers and music publishers. It licenses the use of members compositions and lyrics and if a members music has been performed or broadcast, it collects and pays out the certify fees. In 2012 it collected music royalties of 641.8m.23MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society), collects licence fees on behalf of writers and publishers when their music is sold.PPL cover royalties from recorded music when it is broadcast or compete in public.While PRS for Music charge a 50 fall in fee, there is no charge for PPL at present. Royalties from PRS are paid quarterly while those from PPL are paid on an annual basis. In relation to radio and TV broadcasts and live perfo rmances, the royalties are calculated exactly. However, for background music (as in say, shopping precincts), payments are based on survey data. It is advisable to join a collecting society if your music has been recorded, broadcast, performed live or played in public.24The licensing and royalties system is highly complicated and contains many middle-men all of whom take their share of the lolly from music. It also has several specific problems that artists should be aware of. These include bad contracts for example those that contain clauses that reduce royalties due to breakage fees, which may have been reasonable when virtually music was distributed on vinyl, but are still included in contracts in the age of CDs. Grant of rights clauses mean that a contract can affect your revenue even beyond the end of a contract period. Similarly, a Controlled radical Clause limits the amount of mechanical royalties the political party is required to pay for records it releases, and holds th e artist responsible for the excess. Its main purpose of is to NOT pay artists the statutory rate and to NOT increase royalties as costs of living increases basically, to thwart copyright law.25 This shows the importance of taking good legal advice on contracts.Sole monger or Limited CompanyWorking as a sole trader is the more straighforward way to commence your business, and allows you to focus on getting the business going without having to worry about the extra administration that comes with run as a special caller. The process of setting up a particular company is more complex, and brings additional financial and administrative responsibilities such as appointing directors, registering with Companies House, completing company accounts and an annual return, and dealing with Corporation Tax. However, a particular(a) company brings several benefits over sole trading. This is the main reason why after trading for a couple of years, and perhaps earning at least 30,000 per year , many freelancers set up as a limited company.26The cost of setting up a company is minimal, and it is possible to contend much of the paperwork yourself to minimise accountants fees. You may not bother with an accountant if you are a sole trader with a abject turnover, but most limited companies use accountants. Their charges for preparing the annual accounts for a company are normally a little higher than for sole traders.27Tax and National insurance Contributions (NICs)Most freelancers set up a limited company to reduce the amount of tax that they pay. The profits of a limited company are subject to Small Profits Corporation Tax rate, which is currently 20%, on a turnover of 300,000 or less per year. Income tax rank are currently 0% on earnings up to 11,000, 20% between 11,001 and 43,000, 40% between 43,001 and 150,000 and 45% over 150,000.28 Therefore the direct tax advantages of trading as a limited company only come into play when your earnings are over 43,000.However, si nce salaries and not dividends are subject to NICs, many company directors opt to draw a small salary and to take most their income as a dividend. In this way NI contributions are minimised, which is the main reason why the limited company is more tax efficient than the sole trader route.Company directors must complete an annual self-assessment tax return, just like freelancers. The company also pays tax, but separately from its directors. This tax must be paid before any profits are allocated to shareholders, and within 9 months after the end of the period for which the corporation tax returns have been produced.29National Insurance (NI)free-lance individuals pay figure 2 and Class 4 NICs. Class 2 NICs are 2.80 per week, (except for those with low earnings). Class 4 NICs apply to annual profits, and are payable at 9% on profits between 8,060 and 43,000 per year, and 2% on any profits above this threshold.30 Limited companies and their employees pay Class 1 NICs on salaries above 1 55 per week. Thereafter, the company pays NICs at 13.8% of salaries, and employees pay NICs at 12% on salaries up to 827 per week (2% above this threshold).31Limited LiabilityUnder law, limited companies are deemed to be separate entities from their owners. This means that the company bank account, any assets and any tenders or contracts are just the business of the company and are totally separate from the interests of the companys shareholders. If you run a limited company therefore, your personal assets, such as your house, are saved against company debts. Sole traders do not have this protection from financial claims, and may therefore decide to take out professional liability insurance (if appropriate to the risks they face).FundingAs a limited company is a distinct entity from its owner, banks can look more favourably on applications for loans than they would for sole traders.32ProfessionalMany larger firms, prefer to deal with limited companies rather than sole traders. So, trading as a company can open access to a range of clients that might be loath(p) to engage sole traders. Having a limited company can also bestow a more professional image be able to introduce yourself as a Director, can mean that your clients accord you more respect.33Company NameWhen your company is registered with Companies House, its name is legally protected, and cannot be used by anyone else. Sole traders have no such protection.ShareholdersBecause a limited company can issue shares, you are able to sell a stake in your company, or transfer the ownership of shares. This can be an advantage if you lack to raise capital or retire.PensionEmployees pensions are tax-deductible in limited companies another tax benefit that sole traders do not enjoy.34TaxesA major burden as a freelancer is being responsible for your own taxes. It is your responsibility to declare your income and pay tax on it. As a self-employed musician, instead of paying tax through a PAYE scheme (as an employe e would), you must complete a Self-Assessment form every year, to inform HMRC about your income, and calculate how much tax you owe.35 If you are newly self-employed, you will need to register using use form CWF1. Most HMRC registrations can now be done online on their website.36 HMRC will then confirm your registration and give you a Unique Taxpayers credit rating (UTR). The UTR should be quoted on all correspondence and on all payments made. The tax return should disclose your taxable income for the relevant tax year.Tax Returns should usually be filed with HMRC by 31 October (for returns filed by paper) or 31 January (for electronic submission) pursuance the end of the year of assessment. For example, for the tax year ended 5 April2016, a paper return must reach the HMRC by 31 October 2016, while the deadline for online filing is 31 January 2017. Fixed penalties are automatically enforced for failure to submit by these dates. 37A tax year starts on 6 April and ends on the foll owing 5 April. For the first tax year of self-employment, taxes do not have to be paid until 31 January following the end of that year. Subsequent payments will normally be made in two instalments, in January and July each year. Payments can be made by Direct Debit, Bank Giro, online banking etc.38You must also keep records on any other sources of income such as bank interest, dividends, P45s/ P60s from pension providers or employers, any benefits like the State Pension or Job Seekers Allowance, any assets you have sold, and income from any land or property in the UK or overseas. 39As illustrious above, the advantage of being self-employed is that you can deduct your business-related expenses. Be sure to keep good records on everything that you spend. Organize this into a spreadsheet and keep the back-up receipts that document your expenses. 40VATIt is not compulsory to register for VAT until your turnover, exceeds 83,000 a year (from 1 April 2016).41 However, you can register volu ntarily no matter what your turnover is, and if you do so, you can then claim back the VAT you were charged on telephones, instruments, etc. However, this does mean that you will also have to charge VAT on all your fees (every gig, music lesson, arrangement, etc.) and handle the additional paperwork. You should seek the advice of an accountant on the benefits and pitfalls of VAT registration before deciding. Failing to register for VAT at the appropriate time, can lead to a late registration fine. Although, if your income varies and only exceeds the threshold for a briefly time, you can notify HMRC and obtain their prior agreement not to have to register for VAT.42Once you have registered for VAT, it will become chargeable at 20% on all your invoices. VAT can also be recalled on most business expenditure, subject to various rules. To recover VAT on purchases and expenses, the items must be used directly for your business and you must keep a VAT receipt as evidence, (a credit card slip is not sufficient). Items that could be used for both business and personal purposes, e.g. home telephone calls, must be apportioned and only a proportion of the VAT recovered. 43National Insurance Contributions(NICs)As noted earlier, freelancers are responsible for their own Class 2 and Class 4 NICs. Even those who are employed, and paying Class 1 contributions must pay Class 2 and Class 4 contributions on their freelance earnings. The rates are dependent on profit levels. You must inform the social Security office that you are in business by registering as self-employed. If you fail to do this within three months of becoming self-employed you will incur a penalty, the amount of which is based on the contributions missed and the reasons for registering late.The easiest way to pay Class 2 National Insurance Contributions every month is by direct debit to the National Insurance Contributions Office. The Class 2 rate is 2.80 per week. Self-employed people who earn less than the threshold of 5,965 can be exempt under the Small Profits Threshold, although they may wish to preserve their state benefit entitlements by continuing to pay the contributions. 44The rate for Class 4 contributions is currently 9% of self-employed profits between 8,060 and 43,000 per annum, with a further 2% payable on all profits above this threshold.45ConclusionMost musicians, whether they are working as a singer/songwriter, session engineer, producer, artist manager, music publisher, music promoter, or event manager have little choice but to operate as freelancers today. There are simply not enough opportunities for full time salaried work in the industry to meet the potential demand. Employers have come to rely on the flexibility and low overheads that a pussycat of self-employed musicians can offer them. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It does mean that work is uncertain and unpredictable, but it brings musicians the freed

Biotechnology: Applications and Arguments For and Against

bioengineering Appli swanions and Arguments For and AgainstThe custom of genically modified organisms (GMOs) in gardening is rising, but non with step to the fore debate. in that stance be numerous scientists who argue that transmittable applied science in market-gardening is the trump way to solve many issues of poverty, nourishment surety, environ noetic harm, and the need for change magnitude engagement in sales, but new(prenominal)s raise ethical issues regarding the wellness of the batch who discharge the genetically modified products, the possible harm to the environment, the depredation of the eudaimonia of the farmers and their feed security system, and the general installing of engineering into mainstream hold in society.1.2 comment of Genetically Modified OrganismsGenetically Modified Organisms, comm unless called GMOs, refer to organisms whose genetic material has been altered victimisation recombinant DNA technology, a method utilize to r ecombine the DNA of contrastive organisms.1.3 Sequence of DiscussionI bug out the subject with an cosmos to the issues of using bioengineering and generating GMOs in land. I overcompensate with arguments both for and against the routine of ergonomics in agri husbandry. I conclude the motif with in earnation about the current debate on this issue and resources to let much(prenominal) information.2.0 Prelude to the IssuesThe spend of genetically modified organisms to enhance the production, yield, and musical n hotshot of agri civilisation is under much discussion. Biotechnology companies argon actively investigate the research and development of new technologies to improve victuals security and extend production of goods in both the developed and developing worlds, go active groups work to ensure that biotech is not wontd in food production at all for fears of damage to the environment and homophile health, among divergent issues. On the oppositewise hand, according to Dr. Miguel Altieri, a leading spokesperson in the field, the view that GMOs potful enhance food security in the developing world rests on deuce assumptions that hunger is due to a go against mingled with food production and human population density or growth rate and that genetic engineering is the best or only way to append agricultural production and so meet future day food needs.1 enchantment it is clear that there argon benefits to using biotechnology to improve purchase order production, there ar similarly many primal and ethical arguments against its expend, as is illustrated shortly.3.0 The Argument for Biotechnology3.1 Applications of Biotechnology to the Goal of poverty ReductionSeveral objectives of using biotechnology in agri stopping point ar associated with the decrease of poverty. Introducing GMOs into agri husbandry is predicted to increase rural incomes, sustain production in resource-poor areas, and forget more wholesome foods. Suppor ters of the purpose of biotechnology in food production debate that developed nations with technology strike a amicable and political obligation to assist these poorer nations.In India, Vietnam, and Kenya, un kempt vegetable crops and trees tail assembly benefit from genetically produced bio-pesticides. The cardamom crops in India, potato crops in Vietnam, and banana crops in Kenya are often farmers sole source of income, such that unhealthinessd crops locoweed scram an extremely damaging hit on the farmers lives. Problems with a wishing of clean and pure curbds and planting material cigaret be solved by using bio-pesticides, which al moo gear for leniency in the excellence of the seeds and planting material. In this way, GMOs merchantman potentially provide a room for high- oppositeness and high-yielding crops.2Biotechnology cigaret besides contribute to sustaining the production of foods, commonly cereals and maize, in resource-poor areas. Drought, pests, and acidic soil often cause detrimental problems to farming, but plant louse resistance and aluminum tolerance earth-closet circumvent these environmental barriers. The tycoon to provide a full farming season through using GMOs to assist in the production of larger quantities of food for these farmers dishs to ensure a profitable development and harvesting season.2Finally, GMOs can contribute to generating more nutritious foods with higher nutrient content-this technology most commonly being utilize to rice. The great deal in countries such as India and China rely to a great extent on rice in their diets, but rice al matchless does not provide the undeniable nutrients for a balanced diet.3.2 Applications of Biotechnology to the Goal of financial Security for FarmersFarmers can make great use of transgenic techniques in their agri refinement with the goals of both ensuring food security and increasing the competitiveness of their crops. Biotech companies and supporters of the u se of GMOs believe that there exists a political obligation to assist in the security and hale-being of farmers who supplying goods to more developed countries.Food SecurityThe biotechnology objectives in agri goal that are associated with issues of food security include coming into court put through the demand predictions for fasten foods, increasing livestock casts, and increasing vegetable and takings yields. Two major constraints that farmers encounter with regard to meeting the demand predictions for staple foods, which must be grown in large quantities, include the figurehead of pests and the consequential infectious diseases, and problems associated with biotic stress. Pests and disease are often a problem in rice crops in China, and the addition of genetically modified rice varieties with pesticides can assist in the pr correcttion of diseases in these crops. In addition, GMOs are valuable for avoiding abiotic stresses, such as salt and drought. In India, China, and Thailand, hyd dimensionn and salinity tolerance in cereals, considered to be staple foods, assist in the security of high yields of these food crops to meet the demand.1In India, biotechnology can protagonist to avoid the major problem associated with the keeping of livestock, i.e., the probability of diseased animals, including cattle, pigs, and sheep. In addition, embryo technology can sidestep issues of productivity in dairy farm cattle. Both of these uses for GMOs lead to an increase in both livestock chip and productivity.2Biotechnology is also useful for securing a stable food supply by increasing vegetable and fruit production. Pests and diseases infect these crops, often totally depleting their production. Examples of crops are tomato and potato crops in Vietnam, as fountainhead as papaya crops, which can become infected with the ringspot virus.23.2.2 Increasing CompetitivenessThe use of biotechnology in agriculture can also assist farmers competitiveness on the global market, specifically by sustaining productivity exports, regulating food safety and shade control, and adding value to exports.Biotechnology is useful in sustaining exports by increasing the yield of crops, such as coconut crops in the Philippines, banana crops in countries such as India, China, and Vietnam, and potatoes, rice, maize, wheat, cassava, and beans in other developing countries.2In addition, GMOs can contribute to food safety and fibre control with compliance to food exports by arbitrary pesticide residues and ensuring the competitive quality of exports.2 Improved quality can include characteristics such as texture, taste, appearance, and nutritional value, and the ability to baffle the ripening of fruits and vegetables can greatly approve the longevity of some produce. specialised improvements for producers are an increase flexibility during production, harvesting, storage, distribution, and transport stages, leading to a reduction of overall production be and a greater guarantee of quality product at the while of selling.33.3 Applications of Biotechnology to the Goal of Environmental resistanceThe introduction of technology into the environment can be hazardous and brings up ethical issues associated with protecting the environment through the use of technology (also see section 4.2). However, many supporters of GMOs claim that biotechnology in agriculture can enhance protection of the environment, specifically by lessen pesticide use and alter the efficient use of water.Pesticide misuse on cotton and rice crops in China and on vegetables in Malaysia is a common problem when farmers are misinformed of use of pesticides, or when pesticides are overused in attempt to deter crop failure due to pests. Transgenic crops can potentially reduce the need for and fashion of pesticides by assisting pest extermination and preventing weed growth. GMOs such as Bacillis thuringiensis (Bt), a natural soil bacterium, can be used to kill insects by al lowing the plants to produce their own toxin against pests, sidestepping the problem of farmers who are mis- and overusing pesticides. In addition, herbicide all-inclusive crops ideally require fewer herbicide applications, because the crop is genetically programmed to more efficiently utilize the particular chemical product.4 Finally, transgenic herbicides can be use to pre-treat the land, so that widows weeds are altogether prevented, and farmers can weight the options and costs of using more chemicals versus dealing with weed growth during harvest.34.0 The Argument Against Biotechnology4.1 Uncertainty of the Safety of Humans After ConsumptionAlthough there is a lot of antici knavishion and excitement about the beneficial personal set up that can potentially result from the use of biotechnology in agriculture, there is also a lot that is unknown about the uses of transgenics and their impending consequences. Specifically, examples of these issues include the lack of available pu blic information and knowledge about the content and do of GM foods, the possible inactivation of many nutrients arrange in naturally-grown foods, and the introduction of allergens through the use of GMOs. These are all complaisant, ethical, and legal issues based on the morality of tampering with foods in a way that will have an unknown effect on human health.As adept stated, one major issue regarding the allowance of the free use of GMOs in agriculture is associated with the unknown potential health do of consuming chemically hard-boiled foods. Consumers assume that the foods they buy are safe, even though many halt compounds that are potentially toxic or allergenic. The general public has a large misunderstanding about genetically modified (GM) foods because companies do not boldly advertise their use of transgenic components in their products. For this reason, people often consume GM foods without even knowing it.In addition, while many biotechnology companies advertise t he use of transgenics in agriculture as beneficial to human health by improving the nutritional content of food, genetic engineering also has the potential to remove or deactivate many nutritional substances present in naturally-grown foods Recent research shows that GE (genetically engineered) herbicide wicked soybean have lower levels (12-14 percent) of isoflavones, which are key phytoestrogens . . . that fleet naturally in soybeans and may protect women from severe forms of cancer.1 These genetic modifications boost the activity of a gene that makes critical amino acids, but the resulting shift in amino acid levels shifts the metabolism of the plant to alter the levels of the aforementioned phytoestrogens. This effect is understandably seen in GM soybeans, even when the chemical residue data is within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tolerance limits.4Finally, the use of GMOs in agriculture brings to question the compromise of human safety because of wideFinally, t he use of GMOs in agriculture brings to question the compromise of human safety because of wide reports of increased allergenicity after consumption of GM foods. For example, a protein was expressed in a crop used for animal feed in order to increase the content of the amino acid methionine. This protein was subsequently shown to be an allergen, as are a number of cerebrate proteins of this type from other species.5 Another example of the use of biotechnology introducing an allergen into a food product is the use of a Bt protein in GM maize, which also shows the general features of allergenic proteins.6 These are simply two examples of how the application of biotechnology can introduce allergens into crops. Since research is still just beginning on many GMOs, the allergenic cause of the use of biotechnology in agriculture remains unclear and under investigation.Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a bacterium or microorganism to withstand the use of an antibiotic because of its ability to synthesize a protein that neutralizes the antibiotic.7 While it is thought that the use of genetically engineered pesticides and herbicides on crops might only have the effect of reducing pests and weeds, it can real have an opposing effect as well. The extension of superbugs and superweeds, pests and weeds resistant to the GM pesticides and herbicides, respectively, can result. Not only can the crops that are sprayed acquire these characteristics, but hybrid crops can arise when crops mishandle. This can cause resistance in crops that were not previously sprayed with GMOs, and can also cause multi-tolerant crops when two crops that are sprayed with different chemicals cross. The result of this second cross is a crop that is resistant to quadruplex herbicides (i.e., superweeds) or pesticides (i.e., superbugs), which are even more difficult to control. In addition, this resistance can give these weeds and bugs a selective advantage over the naturally-tolerant weeds an d bugs, allowing them to propagate efficiently.55.0 expirysWhile there are many points both in favor and against the use of GMOs in agriculture, some people believe that the question simply comes overmatch to whether or not it is ethical to engineer in agriculture, which has al slipway been managed by farmers themselves in conjunction with local biological cycles and ecological balances. Activists against the use of technology worry about future extensions, and how the use of biotechnology in agriculture now will affect food production in years to come. They raise concerns that regulations are too loose and poorly enforced, and the eventual effects of the use of GMOs remain unknown. In addition, important issues revolve around whether or not it is ethical for well-fed people of developed nations to regulate nettle to agricultural technology in developing nations. According to Dr. Altieri, because the true rout out cause of hunger is divergence, any method of boosting food pro duction that deepens inequality will fail to reduce hunger. Conversely, only technologies that have positive effects on the distribution of wealth, income, and assets, that are pro-poor, can truly reduce hunger.1 Therefore, questions regarding the use of biotechnology in agriculture should better address the needs of poorer nations. more people are still under-informed about potential benefits and negative effects of using GMOs in agriculture, and are therefore not ready to form an opinion on the issue. For this reason, there are many forums on the profits and published books to help interested people learn more. In addition, some(prenominal) documentaries present these issues, an example being The Future of Food, a documentary by Deborah Koons.9The issues regarding the use of biotechnology in agriculture are important and affect e very(prenominal)one, and should not be overlooked. People in favor of the use of biotechnology in agriculture argue that it is unethical not to help po orer nations when more developed nations have the technology to do so. On the other hand, activists against the use of GMOs in agriculture maintain that more harm than good comes from the introduction of GMs into food production.How does enculturation Affect Parenting Styles?How does Culture Affect Parenting Styles?A family is a set of intimate social kins that adults create to share resources so as to ensure the welfare of themselves and their dependents (Robert and falsehood 77) a family is also a social unit that gradually molds a persons personality. How you behave and what you become in life are very much dependent on your family life (Importance). To this extent, families play decisive role for people in their lifetime, let alone for children whose social interaction begins at first between family processs.Researchers have demonstrated time and time again that the environment in which children are raised significantly affects their intellectual, physical, social, and w ound up development (Important). They further emphasize that those impacts on their childhood will credibly be carried on even after they grow up and bed a lot of changes. For decades, researchers have also been interested in how parents see their childrens development, and one approach in this area is the study of what has been termed as parenting fashion (Darling and Steinberg 493).This paper is a review of research studies on parenting styles within the ethnical (cultural) mounts. The idea of examining this field of study is partially derived from Chapter 2 (Culture), Chapter 7 (Race and Ethnicity) and Chapter 9 (Family) in the book named Sociology The Points of the Compass, written by Robert Brym and John prevarication. The whole paper is divided into several sections. First, it starts with the illustration of ethnical (cultural) aspects that differentiate families. It is then followed by the classification of parenting. The paper then focus on the influence of culture on p arenting styles and finally provides a conclusion as a whole.Families atomic number 18 DifferentFamily define themselves as a family. Membership in a family can be decided only by each member of that family (Couchenour and Chrisman 22). Families differ from one other in many ways ethnicity and culture are two crucial differences greatly impact on a familys beliefs, practices, and values (McGoldrick, Giordano and Garcia-Preto 1).EthnicityEthnicity is a dual-lane concept and culture heritage by groups of people whose commonality are transmitted from their ancestors generation by generation (Couchenour and Chrisman 22). The identity of these ethnic groups is uniquely marked based on the compounding of race, religion, traditions, and ancestors (Robert and Lie 302). They differ from others in terms of speech communications, foods, stories, customs, values, and other aspects. Families carry on their ethnicities through their own family traditions, celebrations, religions, stories, an d entertainments (McGoldrick, Giordano and Garcia-Preto 14). The importance of ethnicity on each family varies (Couchenour and Chrisman 23).CultureCulture is the unique experiences of ethnic groups using languages, symbols, beliefs, values, ideologies, and material objects to deal with real-life problems (Robert and Lie 40). It acts to status familys values, thoughts, reactions and culture goals (Bigner 8). Therefore, the styles of communication between parents and children can be quite different among various cultures, which means what is considered to be an feignable way of interaction in one culture could be very offensive in another cultural context. When parents are exposed to a dominant given culture with high frequency, they are affected by the norms and values of that culture (Keshavarz and Baharudin 67). Consequently, those culturally affected norms and values could slow serve as the guidelines for parents to interact with their children. In this sense, understanding th e cultural context of the society can potentially help to predict differences parenting styles that predominate in that society and to understand why these differences occur (Keshavarz and Baharudin 67). Trawick-Smith states, Only through a full understanding of agnate beliefs, socialization practices, and family relationships, can the individual needs of individual children be well met (qtd. in Couchenour and Chrisman 25).The Classification of Parenting StylesThe principal role of parenting involves the promotion of nurturing, balanced relationships or, contrastingly, the exacerbation of stress-prone, violent exchanges between parents and children (qtd. in Keshavarz and Baharudin 67). Darling and Steinberg emphasize that parenting style is a form of attitudes towards the child that are communicated to the child and create an emotional climate in which the parents ports are expressed (493). Baumrind has investigated parenting styles in a series of studies and set up triplet pr imary categories of parenting styles identified as authoritative, dominating and permissive (Reeves), which later on are conceptually expanded by with two linear constructs responsiveness and demandingness (qtd. in Sonnek 8).Authoritative ParentingReferring to those studies conducted by Baumrind, authoritative parents are conscientious, consistent, warm batten down in their ability to parent and unconditionally committed to their children (Reeves). On one hand, they state behavioral expectations to children on the other hand, they respect their childrens opinions and independence while setting high but realistic goals for their children, they also provide the necessary supports for them to achieve these goals. The authoritative parenting was found most effective in procreation social responsibility, sense of self-esteem, confidence and adaptability in their children to meet challenges of academic and other contexts where strong beliefs in ones abilities are required (Couchenour a nd Chrisman 94). near researchers have examined the relationship between parenting style and childrens adjustment, and con satisfyinged that authoritative parenting style is positively associated with healthy adjustment and reducing maladjustment than other styles of parenting (qtd. in Keshavarz and Baharudin 67).Authoritarian ParentingAuthoritarian parents provide firm and high control over their children and require them to be very responsive to their demands they are very punitive and affectively cold they set firm goals to their children but allow little verbal exchange compared with two other parenting styles, haughty parents are less alikely to use gentle methods of legal opinion (Reeves). To this extent, children have poor communication skills, and social incompetence they are easily to become anxious while being compared with others. Studies on the relationship between parenting style and childrens adjustment have found that children of authoritarian parents tend to have low self-esteem and lack spontaneity (qtd. in Keshavarz and Baharudin 68).permissive ParentingCharacteristics of permissive parents are identified as warm, high nurturance, responsive but low in parental control and demand few maturity behaviors (Reeves). Permissive parents would like to allow their children to control their activities as their willingness. They expect little of children, and key out few demands on them. This parenting style tends to be unsuccessful in change children to develop a range of self-directing abilities that underlie academic success (qtd. in Keshavarz and Baharudin 68). Researches later on split the permissive parenting style into a quaternate category- indulgent and neglecting parenting, which most fits with its definition (qtd. in Sonnek 8). heathen Influences on Parenting StylesIn the nineteenth century, parenting experiences varied considerably by gender, age, social class, and culture, just as they do today (Baker 94). Individuals may consider p arenthood as fulfilling a moral obligation (Bigner 9). Vygotsky indicates that human knowledge is rooted in culture (qtd. in Couchenour and Chrisman 8), which means what much of what children know derives from their families, such as, how to celebrate holidays how to prepare, defecate and eat foods and how to behave suitablely in the public places. On many occasions, childrens behaviors of are mostly based on their parents expectations and demands. The values and ideals of a culture are transmitted to the next generation through child-rearing practices (Keshavarz and Baharudin 68). Therefore, children in different cultural contexts can be cultivated by their parents to behave other than in this sense, it is necessary to gather up into consideration the importance of culture when evaluating parenting behaviors.Cultural models of individualism and collectivism can bring direct as well as validating impacts on parenting behaviors (Keshavarz and Baharudin 68). Its direct influence o n parenting behavior could be explained by passing on values of a culture to their children to become productive and integrated members of their culture (qtd. in Keshavarz and Baharudin 68) its indirect influences on parenting behavior are via more societal forces such as language patterns and customs, and economic structure indirectly (Health Canada 8). To this extent, parents can relate their parenting with those direct and indirect cultural effects.Individualism and collectivism refers to the manner in which people grasp themselves in relation to other members in the society (Brislin 23). Literally, individualism indicates independence. It includes the wide-spread and growing belief that people have the right to choose their own martial partners, to be happy in marriage, and to find new partners if their relationships turn out to be unsatisfactory (Baker 24). In contrast, collectivism implies interdependence. It includes the mutual emotions and beliefs shared by people as a res ult of living together (Robert and Lie 371). Robert and Lie further explain that collective actions include routine actions and non-routine ones, which take place when people act simultaneously in accordance with or opposition to external changes, such as social, political, economic, etc their difference is that the former ones are typically nonviolent and follow established patterns of behavior in animated social structures, whereas the latter ones occur when usual conventions cease to guide social action and people transcend, bypass, or subvert established institutional patterns and structures (371). In this sense, different family relationships, family interactions, self-concept, and academic achievement can be expect via collectivism and individualism (Newman 51). Therefore, the arrangement of childrens activities differs from parents to parents with differing childrearing goals and cultural meaning systems (Keshavarz and Baharudin 67).Collectivism can be fully reflected by mo st Asian countries. Parents emphasize desired traits such as interdependence, duty, sacrifice, compromise, conformity, highly involvement in one anothers lives, however, it does not mean a complete ignorance of individuals well-being or interest it actually means that maintaining the familys well-being is ultimately the best guarantee for the individuals well-being (Newman 51). To this extent, authoritarian parenting may be more appropriate in those collectivistic societies compared with other parenting styles (Keshavarz and Baharudin 69). High levels of economic hardship have been greatly linked with authoritarian parenting and even neglecting parenting -a split of permissive parenting (qtd. in Sonnek 16).In sharp contrast, cultures like Western Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia tend to value individual freedom, autonomy, personal development, and cheer over group obligation and duty (Newman 52) Newman emphasizes that childhood is sometimes regarded as the preparat ion for leaving home as the sign of independence, even those people who experience unwillingness and sadness at the thought of breaking these ties accept that it is a necessary step towards growing up (52).Therefore, it could be conclude that it is much more appropriate to examine parenting styles and their meanings in the cultural context (Bigner 9). In the conceptualization, culture is theorized to afford different meaning to behaviors (e.g., parenting) and has different effects on children and adolescents across different cultures (Keshavarz and Baharudin 69). For instance, in China, where I was born and brought up, proper and mild physical punishments are sometimes used by parents for controlling their children they are considered as part of the authoritarian parenting however, this parenting style is greatly remote by many other cultures, and regarded unacceptable. Researchers mention that children will accept parenting behaviors which are consistent with cultural values (qtd .Keshavarz and Baharudin 69). For example, Chinese kids (including me when I was young) view spanking, which could be one of the physical punishment, as their parents concerns and affections on them in the Chinese culture.ConclusionChapter 9 of Sociology The Points of the Compass concludes that Parenting styles and behaviors perform a crucial role in the growth of children. Ethnicity, set forth in Chapter 7, is a socially constructed label which has intelligent consequences for peoples lives, and differentiates people by perceived physical or cultural differences (Robert and Lie 198) these cultural or ethnical differences can lead to different parental forms and behaviors in different social context in other words, the ways that family members interact with each other are affected by the culture of the society, therefore, just as what has been examined in Chapter 2, what counts as good for raising children in one culture can be regarded as negative in another culture to this exten t, cultural and ethnical factors should be counted in order to better understand and examine parenting styles in different societies.Cri-Du-Chat Syndrome Symptoms and CausesCri-Du-Chat Syndrome Symptoms and CausesCri-Du-Chat SyndromeIntroductionCri-du-chat is an autosomal syndrome that is caused by a large or small cutting out from a portion of the short arm of chromosome. This syndrome is also known as the 5p cut of meat syndrome where the P describes the short hand chromosome and Lejeunes syndrome. It is also called cat waul syndrome which is a French translation of Cri-du-chat, because of its similarity to the high sky cat cry like lumbering a new born child makes. This sound is supposed to disappear a few weeks after stemma and may or may not persists in to adulthood.In 1958 Dr. Jerome Lejeune discovered down syndrome. He discovered that the chromosomal link to down syndrome. This discovery was ground breaking for discoveries in genetics because it was the first time that an intellectual impairment and a chromosomal defect were linked together and this earned him multiple prestigious awards. Up on continuing his research on chromosomal liked disorders, he also discovered that down syndrome was caused by an unnecessary chromosome on pare 21 and he also noticed a ablation on the 5th chromosome which is the cause for Cri-du-chat syndrome. (1)Symptoms and OMIM NumberCri- du- chatThe relationship of chromosomal alteration and genetic disease was observed that the main clinical feature was the high pitched cry and hindered mental capacity (Mainardi, 2006). The OMIM number for this syndrome is 123450. The number sign is used to indicate that it is a well described partial aneusomy. Syndrome causes many phenotypical changes which depend on the size of the deletion. Some or all of the symptoms might be present in a patient. It has also been found that the deletion of the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT 187270) well as evidence that deletion of the telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT 187270) is present which is also responsible for some of the phenotypical changes. (2) Besides the high pitched cry, Cri-du-chat is characterized by failure to thrive, broad nasal bridge, round moon molded face with hypertelorism, Anisocoria, undersized jaw and heads , depleted motor senses hypertonia, small carpals, low birth weight and incomplete intestinal rotation in infants.There are some less distinctive symptoms such as time interval of rectus and abdomen, cardiac ab typicalities including atrial and ventricular septum defects, primary immunodeficiency, an epicanthal fold which covers the inner corn of the philia and inguinal hernia. (Chromosome 5, 2017).)Once the infant is born there is a low mortality rate until adulthood where most of the symptoms observed as a child continue on with addition of misalignment of teeth, skeletal problems, eye defects and in some cases neurological malformation, Syndactyly, undescended testi s in manful patients, and skin tags on the ear occur. (Mainardi, 2006,)Clinical causes of symptomsThe syndrome is caused by a deletion of the short arm, which is also denoted by P, of chromosome 5. Chromosome 5 contains more than 900 genes that code for specific proteins such as interleukins, protocadherins and complement proteins. The function of these proteins range from regulation of insubordinate system, nervous system controls and muscle formation and strength. The deletion of Some Sections of chromosome 5 such as 5p15.3, specifically at markers D5S731 and D5S760, are directly associated with the cat like cry and speech delay. Another region called 5p15.2, specifically CTNND2, is related to lower intellectual ability, and dysmorphism of head size and facial features. The severity of mental and motor capacities can depend up on the size of the chromosomal deletion (Chromosome 5, 2017). Although the affected family members apparently shared deletions of the same size, the varia tion in mental symptoms within this family suggested that other factors besides the size and location of 5p deletions may modify the mental presentation of patients with cri-du-chat syndromeThey suggested that a cranial developmental field, originating from the notochordal location, is twisting in the manifestations of criduchat syndromehowever, the characteristic cat-like cry without the typical dysmorphic and severe developmental features of the syndrome has been found in individuals with a deletion confined to 5p15.3The cranial base burden was in most cases reduced and in no cases increased compared to age-related standards for normal individuals. Malformations in the bony contours of the sella turcica and the clivus occurred in cri-du-chat patients with terminal deletions.FrequencyThe frequency of the disease is 115000 to 1 50000 of new born infants. Cri-du-chat makes up 1% of profoundly retarded patients who have IQ levels that are less than 30. Since it is a genetic deletio n it doesnt have a preference as far as race nut it has a slight female dominance ratio of 43. This syndrome doesnt have a latency, the symptoms are present starting from birth and continue to show the symptoms in to adulthood. In most cases it has been seen that the symptoms become more severe in to adulthood. (Harvard et al., 2005, pp. 341-51).Inheritance patternCru de chat is not an familial syndrome. It is a random deletion that occurs during meiosis and can occur without the parents being affected. However close to 10% of the affected individuals can inherit a chromosomal abnormality from unaffected parents. This abnormality is caused by chromosomal rearrangement called balance Translocation where the genetic material is still intact and doesnt cause any health problems. However when this trait is passed down from one or two parents it has a high chance of becoming and Unbalanced Translocation which can cause a genetic material to be added or deleted. In the case of cri du chat the short arm of chromosome 5 experiences a large or a small portion deletion which causes the syndrome.In some cases the catlike cry can be present without the physical abnormalities. This is more evident in the deletion at a specific location in the chromosome 5p15.3. Malformation in the cranial base was reduced and compared to a standard individual it doesnt show a major difference. However malformations in the contours the skull such as in Sella Turcica occur in patients that have terminal deletions. In one of the studies conducted with in the same family showed different symptoms and levels of mental retardation even though they shared the same size deletion. This suggests that not only the size but the location of deletion affects the severity of the syndrome (2)ReferencesCerruti Mainardi, P. (2006). Cri du Chat syndrome. Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 1, 33.http//doi.org/10.1186/1750-1172-1-33Chromosome 5. (2017, January 24). Retrieved January 29, 2017, from U.S National program library ofMedicine. U.S department of health human services website https//ghr.nlm.nih.gov/chromosome/5Chromosome 5. (2017, January 24). Retrieved January 29, 2017, from U.S National subroutine library ofMedicine. U.S department of health human services website https//ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/cri-du-chat-syndromegenesHarvard, C., Malenfant, P., Koochek, M., Creighton, S., Mickelson, E., Holden, J. Rajcan-Separovic, E.(2005). A confused Cri du Chat phenotype and autism spectrum disorder in a subject with de novo cryptic microdeletions involving 5p15.2 and 3p24.3-25 detected using whole genomic array CGH. Clinical Genetics, 67(4). http//dx.doi.org/10.1111/ j.1399-0004.2005.00406.xhttps//lejeuneusa.org/genetic-intellectual-disabilities/cri-du-chat-syndrome.WJpP-n_Rs8c (1)http//www.omim.org/entry/123450?search=cri%20du%20chathighlight=du%20cri%20chat (2)

Poverty and the Welfare State

Poverty and the Welfargon StatePoverty and the eudaemonia State. enquire 1 Describe critic anyy Murrays epitome of the lower class. How does the population in the the States characterized by his use of this term differ from that in Britain.Question 2 In an essay of no more than 1000 words, outline and critically evaluate the view that the Welfare State t windups to frame more leanness than it has the ability to solve. your essay must include examples of farming of matter policies as nearly as consider the different ideologies of well-being in Britain Question 1.Murrays articles in the Times magazine in 1989 which outlined his thesis concerning the emergence of an underprivileged(prenominal) in the UK similar to the one he had already identified in the US has been one of the more controversial texts in social insurance indemnity recently (Murray, 1989, 1990). Murrays central thesis is that the well-being stir through the prep of benefits to unmarried mformer(a)s and the cessation of those benefits should these women marry has the effect of removing fatherhood and the influence therefore a father figure from the lives of these children (Murray, 1989). They in turn be make out drug-addicted upon offbeat and so a class of people is formed immaterial of the norms of wage earning society dependent wholly on the enounce for nourishment (Murray, 1989). Before we discuss some of the criticisms of this view it is worth noting the peculiarities and differences between Murrays thesis as it relates to the US and the UK.In the first lesson Murrays plump in the UK is very some(prenominal) less racialised than his identification of the population in the US (Murray, 1984). In the case of the US Murrays thesis and identification of the population comprising the majority of the underclass has been that it is a Black population. Murray then identified single black mformer(a)s as forming the core of the underclass. While this was a feature certainly sti ll of his analysis of the British underclass it was not as strikingly so as his British version however the later versions of his thesis on the UK underclass too took on these racial overtones, (Murray, 1994).Murray throw out be criticized on each number of grounds except perhaps some of the most annihilating criticisms empennage be found when we consider research which is actually undertaken on those who constitute the underclass rather than abstract theorizing about the underclass which denotes untold of the vague definitions of what the underclass is meant to be (Alcock 1997). In this regard recent pretend by Edwards and Dun force out (1997) for example has demonstrated the degree to which the stereotypes of the composition of the underclass do not match the realities of the lives involved. In their study of single women with children and their uptake of stipendiary belong they found that black single mothers living in positively regarded underclass areas (inner city ar eas of London for example) were more likely to attempt work and to regard working themselves as being beneficial for their children (Edwards and Duncan, 199733). This was in discriminate to single mothers from less predominantly underclass areas that held traditional views about rise up their children. These views emphasised the importance of caring for their children through being at headquarters with them rather than outside the home in employment. Consequently the members of this group were much less likely to have work or to seek work or see work as a good. Thus the icon of black single mothers creating an underclass through their rejection of a work value orientation would seem to be unfounded.Thus even in this small instance fatal flaws in Murrays thesis can be identified, ultimately it can be said that the very vagueness of the definitions of what constitutes the underclass in the literature can it be argued be seen to be reflective of the fact that an identifiable goa l such(prenominal) as the underclass is impossible to define and serves merely as a critique of eudaimonia arrangements and a moral attack on the character of those who are bare(a)ized by society.Question 2.With the collapse of communist bring ups crossways the world in the 1980s a major perceived enemy to the market economy was removed with some like Fukuyama proclaiming it to be the end of history and the triumphant victory of liberalism (Fukuyama, 1992). In the UK as in other European countries of course the welfare realm has mediated against the evils of capitalism as set out by Beveridge for some time, serving as Marxists had argued as a bribe of the working class and ensuring the legitimization and continuation of the welfare state (Mishra, 1990). It is not surprising then with all the past attacks on the nature of the welfare state to note that with the end of history there has come a renewed assault on the welfare state in the UK.Criticisms of the welfare state have c ome from both the left wing and the good but in addition crucially from the middle way of social republican viewpoints. Almost consistent research has demonstrated the unsuccessful person of the welfare state in reducing relative levels of destitution in fact the UK at once has a divide between rich and poor which is increasing speedy than at any other time in the history of the welfare state (Hills and Stewart, 2005). Thus it has become an almost consistent feature of statement that the welfare state has failed but the reasons given for this failure are all oppositional. The two most prominent sources of these reasons have been neo-liberalists and social democratic parties.For neo-liberalists the evils of the welfare state far outweigh the evils of the free market so in discussing the view that the welfare state creates poverty it is worth recounting their views on the failings of the welfare state. At the core of many of the arguments indeed against the welfare state are notions of desert. Desert is seen as a principle of morals and thus the failings of the welfare state in this respect is a moral failure which in turn leads to the moral turpitude of those the welfare state attempts to attend to (Lavalette and Pratt, 1997). This moral attack on the poor and the perceived institutions which has lead to their poverty is of course nothing new (Thane, 1992). Since the Poor Law state welfare arrangements have been criticized for the creation of a wag which is seen to encourage indolence and come down motivation towards self-sufficiency.The reliance on welfare thus leads to unwillingness to seek work. This in turn has the effect of leading to increased taxation to throw those unwilling to work. This then in turn leads to increased difficulties for employers in footing of paying higher salaries to counter higher taxation and so on into a vicious cycle of dependency (Hayek, 1990). Such a apparent motion it is argues lay at the heart of the Oil Crises and the subsequent retrenchment of the welfare state in the UK and elsewhere.Thus for the neo-liberal critique it is the totality of the welfare state which not only fails in reducing poverty but also serves to in fact create more. It does this both in a morphological sense by hindering the effective operation of the market but also by creating in those who are recipients of welfare a mentality which causes them to retreat from the fundamental basics of economic life in seek employment. Thus for neo-liberals measures such as Income Maintenance support schemes serve to create a duality of factors leading to the increase of poverty. Reform of the welfare state for neo-liberalists must be done so that only the bare minimum of services are required for those who are truly in expect, such as the young, aged or infirm, (Fitzpatrick, 2001).Amidst these criticisms the welfare state in the UK has undergone revisions also from its social collectivist roots. This may be surprising but we can view this a response to critiques of the welfare state from both left and right and hence theyre emerged consequently an articulation of a ternary Way, (Giddens, 1994). This Third Way was to be a radical re-conceptualisation of the theme and functions of the welfare state. As such then it can be seen that New Labour in particular has followed in the footsteps of Thatcher towards reforming the welfare state. But how effective have these reforms been and what is their basis?Perhaps the most potent of these transformations has been in a shift away(predicate) from the universalism of the early welfare state to a new selectivitist philosophy. Selectivism entails the targeting of benefits through such measures as means-testing and other income threshold schemes so as that ideally those that need it the most benefit from the specified arrangement (Lowe, 2005). If anything their effect on the poorest has been marginal as these people are already in receipt of benefits and the presen tment of means tests has had little impacts. Instead a stealth reform of the welfare state has occurred and those who were on the margins, previously covered by the benefit are now excluded on the basis of their income being over thresholds, even if this is conscionable marginal, (Esping-Anderson, 2002).Thus we can argue that this selectivist based reform of the welfare state has worsened life for many by removing the safety net for all that existed previously under a universalist system. What this means in other words is that the Third Way of Labour has in actuality enhanced and widened the gaps between rich and poor and made the effects of poverty worse their reforms in favour of making the welfare state more effective. The pace and casing of the gap and its widening between rich and poor can be considered in this light. Indeed this notion of effectiveness found in much of social policy discourse can often be seen as simply cost-cutting exercises. The effects of which are leadin g to a situation where it is moot that we have now seen neo-liberalism by the back door with major consequences for UK policy treatment of both poverty itself and those living in poverty.ReferencesAlcock, P. (1997) Understanding Poverty, Palgrave, Basingstoke UKEdwards, R. and Duncan S. (1997) supporting(a) the Family Lone Mothers, Paid Work and the underclass Debate Critical amicable polity, Vol.7 No. 4Esping-Anderson, G. (2002) Why We Need a New Welfare State, Oxford University Press, Oxford UKFitzpatrick, T. (2001) Welfare Theory An Introduction, Palgrave, Basingstoke UKFukuyama, F. (1992) The End of History and the Last Man, Penguin, New York USGiddens, A. (1994) Beyond Left and Right The Future of Radical Politics, Stanford University Press, California USHayek, F.A.V. (1990) Economic Freedom, Blackwell, Oxford UKHills, J. and Stewart, K. (2005) A More Equal Society, Policy Press, Bristol UKLavalette, M. and Pratt, A. (1997) Social Policy A Theoretical and Conceptual Introduc tion, Sage, London UKLowe, R. (2005) The Welfare State in Britain since 1945, Palgrave, Basingstoke UKMishra, R. (1990) The Welfare State in Capitalist Society, Harvester Wheatsheaf, New York USMurray, C. (1984) Losing Ground American Social Policy 1950-1980, Basic Books, New YorkMurray, C. (1989) underclass Sunday Times Magazine, 26th NovemberMurray, C. (1990), The Emerging British Underclass, IEA, London UKMurray, C. (1994) Underclass The Crisis Deepens The Sunday Times, 29th MayThane, P. (1982) The Foundations of the Welfare State, Longman, London UK