Thursday, January 16, 2020
Health Society Essay
1. What would be an argument in support of sin taxes on fast-food meals?Considering that fast-food meals are usually less expensive than healthier options and provide food quickly for underpaid and overworked Americans, how might sin taxes unintentionally reproduce class difference? A good argument on the issue of taxing fast food is that it could help the health of our society. Most people tend to buy fast food because of time or just not wanting to cook and because most of the healthier food is more difficult to gain financially. Taxing this type of food may help in some way in reducing the high percentage of people who prefer junk food over healthier, however, not only people who do not have the ability financially to buy food buy food healthier fast, most people are poor or rich, at least once in their life bought fast food. So I think that on one hand the rise of fast food taxes may help, but may also have little effect. So, I think there is no argument that safe enough for this problem. besides, I think if implemented taxes on fast food are placed I think not much difference between social classes because most people can buy fast food without being too rich, I do not think there is a difference but it can be seen as people who often eat fast food very often buy more healthy food, because if taxes are raised on fast food may have almost the same price as the food healthier and that will think twice when people buy food choices. 2. How could the social construction of illness help us understand hypochondria? The social construction of illness can help us to understand hypochondria by telling us what is this disease about and why it is developed. First, it may help us by telling us what are the causes of this disease and the main factors that influence in order to develop this kind of disease. Also it may help us by telling us if there is any social beliefs about this disease and how it may be seen by people. Then, social construction will help us to understand this disease by making experiments, polls, and surveys in order to develop a diagnose or create a treatment. This will also help us to understand how to live and deal with this kind of disease and to know the reactions and other kind of factors and effects to consider. Finally medicalà knowledge about illness and disease is given to us to understand it correctly to manage a severe disease like hypochondria. I believe that social construction of illness can help us in many ways to understand all kinds of diseases and Social constructionism also provides an important interpretation to medicineââ¬â¢s largely deterministic information about disease and illness, and it can help us to make the right decisions.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Commentary On The Loss Of Faith During Hardships - 831 Words
Ezinna Adiele Global Studies English 10 Ms. Wile September 20, 2014 Religion in Night: The Loss of Faith during Hardships When you have something to share, share it. When you have something to teach, teach it. Wiesel found that it was his responsibility as a survivor to share his story, and inform others of the horrors that happened during The Holocaust. The Holocaust was a horrifying period, when cruel and inhumane acts were committed by the Nazis in Europe. These acts took the lives of millions of people, and their culture met the same demise. The Jewish people were targeted as victims of Nazi persecution, and were put through brutal and unbearable circumstances, most of them which ended in death. In this story, the Wiesel tells about his traumatic experience in the Nazi concentration camps (Auschwitz and Buchenwald) with his father. From the start of this journey to the end, Wiesel many things about life and survival. He also changed greatly as an individual. In Night by Elie Wiesel, the author utilizes a hopeless mood and internal conflict, to reveal to the reader that exposure to an uncaring, host ile world leads to the destruction of faith and identity. Wiesel faces personal trials, and tribulations within this story. He also observes other characters facing internal conflict. Wiesel writes about Moisheââ¬â¢s internal conflict here, ââ¬Å"Moishe was not the same. The joy in his eyes was gone. He no longer sang. He no longer mentioned either God or Kabbalahâ⬠(WieselShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem Dover Beach By Matthew Arnold1139 Words à |à 5 Pagesof the first in the country to move towards industrialization, causing some to lose their jobs due to machinery performing them better and faster. People began to feel useless with technology taking over so quickly. Many suffered from the expansion during the early part, losing all hope of finding happiness and giving this moment in time a new name; ââ¬Å"A Time of Troublesâ⬠. Many other authors, like Matthew Arnold, began writing their personal accounts of what they experienced or saw others experiencingRead MoreEssay on German Genocide Target 841 Words à |à 4 Pages It is hard to picture that along with others that, 6 million Jews were targeted and killed during the Holocaust. It is astonishing to realize how racist and cruel the Nazis acted towards the Jews. According to A Teacherââ¬â¢s Guide to the Holocaust, once Hitler was in control of the German government ââ¬Å"he translated his harsh feeling toward Jews into many policies and statutes which eroded the rights of German Jews from 1933-1939â⬠(ââ¬Å"Victimsâ⬠). The anti-Jewish racist legislation passed The NurembergRead MoreA Cry for Deliverance Essay1263 Words à |à 6 Pageschipping away at his physical and emotional well-being, not to mention his faith in the American dream. First, Jurgisââ¬â¢ father Antanas, while only sixty years old, cannot find work on account of his age (83). Although he eventually secures a position, it is only because he is willing to pay someone for it (97-99). Nevertheless, the cold and damp working environment damages his health and hastens his premature death (114). While the loss of Antanas grieves the family, the subsequent birth of Jurgisââ¬â¢ son bringsRead MoreAnalysis Of William Faulkner s I Lay Dying 1713 Words à |à 7 Pagesthat follow them in Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi. In the 1930 novel As I Lay Dying, Faulkner combines both his preference to write about women and the Gothic genre by broadcasting the mistreatment and belittlement of women in Southern society during the early twenties. A major premise of the novel is the perception of women in regards to their role in marriage. This specific role requires the woman to possess the ability to produce offspring. As a result, this aspect of womanhood is all thatRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Night By Elie Wiesel1778 Words à |à 8 PagesWho am I? A question uttered by probably every Jewish prisoner during the Holocaust, expressing complete doubt in their individuality. All people ask themselves this question, whether they have fully grasped their personality or not, and during that difficult time, even the things you thought you knew about yourself are challenged. In the memoir, Night, the author Elie Wiesel, presents the story of his own time in Auschwitz during the German Holocaust. Elie, being Jewish, was deported into concentrationRead More Confronting Reality: How Nosferatu Exemplifies Film Horror Tactics2550 Words à |à 11 Pageseconomic hardship (often on a national or international level), people go to mov ies for the sole purpose of ââ¬Å"getting away from it all.â⬠While some films may follow this overall trend, it is important to note that it cannot be a generalization made for all films. During the Weimar era in Germany, the nation was in the midst of a national struggle on many fronts. As a people, Germans attempted to deal with their past (the problems during World War I as well as the consequences of their loss) and moveRead MoreEssay about Mosaic Dietary Laws4696 Words à |à 19 Pagesplaced on the consumption of fruits and vegetables of mixed seeds, and there were later prescriptions for the use of religious men to bless the food sources, which in turn would lead to the development of Kosher principles. à à à à à The loss of a great deal of vegetation during the great Flood is a supposition that maintains the reasoning for the consumption of animal products. At the same time, there were some animals that were considered unclean, and the people of Israel were forbidden from eating animalRead MoreMosaic Dietary Laws4763 Words à |à 20 Pagesplaced on the consumption of fruits and vegetables of mixed seeds, and there were later prescriptions for the use of religious men to bless the food sources, which in turn would lead to the development of Kosher principles. The loss of a great deal of vegetation during the great Flood is a supposition that maintains the reasoning for the consumption of animal products. At the same time, there were some animals that were considered unclean, and the people of Israel were forbidden from eating animalRead MoreCompare Candide and Tartuffe5528 Words à |à 23 PagesInà Tartuffe, Molieres uses plot to defend and oppose characters that symbolize and ridicule habitual behaviors that was imposed during the neo-classical time period. His work, known as a comedy of manners, consists of flat characters, with few and similar traits and that always restore some kind of peace in the end. He down plays society as a whole by creating a microseism, where everyone in the family has to be obedient, respectful, and mindful of the head of the home, which is played by theRead MoreLangston Hughes : The American Dream And Southern Migration With The Reality Of Prejudice2931 Words à |à 12 Pagescertain styles and techniqu es to portray his main themes and ideas. Many of Langston Hughesââ¬â¢ themes originated from his personal feelings and experiences. Hughes thus centers his themes around the ups and downs of African Americans living in America during his time. Langston Hughes contrasts the American Dream and northern migration with the reality of prejudice against Negroes. Langston Hughes helps readers better understand these themes by employing many styles ranging from the use color to describe
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Racism Is The Conviction Of The Demise Of More Than 62...
Bigotry is in charge of the demise of more than 62 million individuals in the last century. (Abdul Malik Mujahid para 1) Racism is the conviction that a few races are innately unrivaled (physically, mentally, or socially) to others and consequently have a privilege to overwhelm them. Amid the previous 500 to 1000 years, prejudice with respect to Western forces toward non-Westerners has had a much more huge effect on history than any other structure. Prejudice is a one of the greatest reason for suicide, one tenth of individuals who commit suicide in a year are people of color people. Racism has changed many people s views towards white people as well. Malcolm X s life was changed due to bigotry. Prejudice was the motivation behind his becoming into a vagrant and why his jail sentence was extended. His perspective of white people changed and as a result of it found out about Islam. This exposition will discuss his childhood, his transformation to Islam, notable occasion in his life, c ontribution to individuals of color and the black community, and a reflection on his letter to Mecca. Malcolmââ¬â¢s life was loathsome since the start of his life. Malcolm X was conceived on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm was the fourth of eight youngsters destined to Louise, a homemaker, and Earl Little, a minister who was likewise a dynamic individual from the neighborhood section of the All-inclusive Negro Change Affiliation and enthusiastic supporter of dark skinned patriot pioneerShow MoreRelatedRastafarian79520 Words à |à 319 Pagesand misguided before its powerful social and political ideas were fully appreciated. Most important, however, was the Rastafarian insistence that Africa was the promised land and that Jamaicans should look to Africa for their model of value rather than to Europe, which was seen as foolish and a painful reminder of slavery and oppression. Rasta was an offense to those who wanted to deny the African part of their heritage. And the truth is also that in Jamaica at that time the privileging of lighter-skinnedRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words à |à 656 Pagesmajor shifts in political and socioeconomic circumstances and dynamics rather than standard but arbitrary chronological break points. In the decades that followed the Great War, the victorious European powers appeared to have restored, even expanded, their global political and economic preeminence only to see it eclipsed by the emergence of the Soviet and U.S. superpowers on their periphery and a second round of even more devastating global conflict. The bifurcated international system that resultedRead MoreGlobalization and It Effects on Cultural Integration: the Case of the Czech Republic.27217 Words à |à 109 Pagesbirth and was often seen as distinct from one another. However, with advent of the process of globalization, there is now the integration and homogenization of cultures. ââ¬Å"Homogenization of cultures is the loss of diversity of culture between two or more cultural groupsâ⬠. Thus, our topic, ââ¬Å"globalization and its effects on cultural integration in the Czech Republicâ⬠The Czech Republic is a country with a rich cultural heritage with works of art seen in theatres, cinemas, libraries, globally recognizedRead MoreManagement Course: MbaâËâ10 General Management215330 Words à |à 862 Pagescompanies also created beneficial impacts for many other companies in dealing with these fundamental wide-rang ing issues. These beneficial impacts had an enormous effect in galvanizing fundamental business innovation in companies at a far faster rate than would have been the case if there had been no boom; that is, without those effects, innovation might not have taken place at all. All this business growth has caused increasing complexity in business action and decision making. It has presented chiefRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words à |à 760 Pages..................................................................................................... 256 Fallacious Appeal to Authority ........................................................................................................ 257 More about Assessing Credibility ............................................................................................... 259 Spotting an Authoritys Bias .........................................................................................
Monday, December 23, 2019
Sociological Imagination And Cultural Imagination - 796 Words
Wright Mills once said that sociologists need to develop a sociological imagination to study how society affects individuals. The definition of sociological imagination by Mills, is ââ¬Å"the vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider society.â⬠(1996-2016 LoveToKnow, Corp). Sociological imagination is the ability to understand how your own past relates to that of other people, as well as to history in general and societal structures in particular (, 2013, p. ). During my Sociological Imagination Project, I chose to spend 2 hours at Pat Hurley park and observe and analyze with the eyes of a sociologist. While at the park I was looking for social patterns in peopleââ¬â¢s behaviors. In order to see the social patterns, I needed to identify similarities in how social groups respond to social pressure. During my micro-level analysis of the small groups and individual interactions. I noticed a variety of patterns that existed which were race, gender, ag ing, family, class, and culture. There was a lot of diversity among the social groups at the park which consisted of Mexicans, African Americans, Native Americans, and a few Caucasians. The Social Class of most individuals were lower class minority families. One social group I observed was a group of 10-year-old boys who were playing football. The coaches and boys were all different races which mostly consisted of minorities. The individuals were very competitive and you could see who were the leaders among theShow MoreRelatedThe Sociological Imagination Of M ÃâÃâ Ori Health Inequalities And Cultural Diversity Essay1211 Words à |à 5 Pagesable to understand and analyse the historical and cultural processes that have impacted on the Mà ori health inequalities, so that they can best deliver and improve Mà ori health care (Nursing Council of New Zealand [NCNZ], 2011). This essay will explore and discuss the contemporary Mà ori health inequalities and cultural diversity in New Zealand using the sociological imagination analysis model. According to Mills (1959), sociological imagination proposes the ability to pull away from the familiarRead MoreSociology Imagination833 Words à |à 4 Pagesdefined sociological imagination as the vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and the wider society. The sociological imagination is the capacity to shift from one perspective to another: from the political to the psychological; from examination of a single family to comparative assessment of the national budgets of the world; from the theological school to the military establishment; from considerations of an oil industry to studies of contemporary poetry.[1] Sociological Imagination:Read MoreThe Sociological Perspective Of Sociology963 Words à |à 4 PagesAfter a careful study and a deeper research on an introduction to sociology, I have come to understand that no problem can be solved well enough if one does not have the sociological perspective which is defined as a way of looking at the world through a sociological lens. In fact, there is the need of the lens that will help one to view situations and have the eye to emerge through different views to solve that problem. This mirror has become a doorway that will help one to have a beginnerââ¬â¢s mindRead MoreEssay on The Sociological Imagination859 Words à |à 4 PagesAccording to C. Wright Mills, the sociological imagination is when an individual views his society as the potential cause for his daily successes and failures. Individuals often tend to view their personal issues as social problems and try to connect their individual experiences with the workings of society. Mills believes that this is the way for individuals to gain an understanding of their personal dilemmas. The sociological imagination helps people connect their own problems with public problemsRead MoreAnalysis of the sociological imagination and its use in sociology.1483 Words à |à 6 PagesSociological Imagnation The sociological imagination is the ability to look at the everyday world and understand how it operates in order to make sense of their lives. It is a state of mind, which enables us to think critically about and understand the society in which we live, and our place in that world as individuals and as a whole. C. Wright Mills, first wrote of the concept in 1959. His understanding of it being that it was a quest for sociological understanding involving a form of consciousnessRead MoreThe Sociological Imagination and Freedom from Feelings of Entrapment1133 Words à |à 5 PagesThe sociological imagination is the ââ¬Å"quality of mindâ⬠(Mills, 1959: 4) that enables individuals to look outside their private sphere of consciousness and identify the structures and institutions in society that influence or cause their personal experiences. In this way, by looking at the bigger picture, they can understand their place in society and explain their circumstance in terms of societal i nfluence. It was developed by Mills in a time of great social upheaval ââ¬â industrialisation, globalisationRead MoreEssay about Sociology Midterm955 Words à |à 4 Pagesï » ¿1. Define the sociological perspective or imagination, cite its components, and explain how they were defended by C. Wright Mills. The sociological imagination is defined as being a way of thinking that helps us use information or data to form theories about the social patterns around us. We collect information and from that information we may make judgments or prediction. However we cannot view society in oneââ¬â¢s own point of view. Everyone is different so it is important to not only form our ownRead MoreAnalysis Of Dalton Conley s You May Ask Yourself 1267 Words à |à 6 PagesDalton Conleyââ¬â¢s book, You May Ask Yourself, defines sociological imagination as, ââ¬Å"The ability to connect the most basic, intimate aspects of an individualââ¬â¢s life to seemingly impersonal and remote historical forcesâ⬠(Conley 2015, pg. A-11). Sociological Imagination is the idea of being able to step outside of the box, and evaluate society from an alternative point of view. Symbolic Interactionism, norms, socialization, and the idea of understanding yourself vs. understanding the social aspect ofRead MoreO besity as a Social Issue Essays869 Words à |à 4 Pagesas a person trouble, when looked at globally, is in fact a social issue. This idea is referred to by C.Mills as the sociological imagination. The sociological imagination according to C. Wright Mills is an idea which gives an individual the ability to understand the connection between a problem and the history of that problem (Mills, 2000).He states that the sociological imagination is ââ¬Å"A quality of mind that will help use information and to develop reason in order to achieve lucid summations ofRead MoreSociological Imagination: Generalized Anxiety Disorder1536 Words à |à 7 Pagesbe discussing the generalized anxiety disorder and how if effects society today. The sociological Imagination allows a person to look at a social problem past the particular circumstances of a certain person and look at how it affects people as a whole. Using this theory sociologist have been taught to ignore individuals and look at society as a whole. Social forces are a big part of the sociological imagination. Social forces are anything that affects society. So, a social forces could be anything
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Woodlawn Case Part 3 Free Essays
Case Part 3 Report for the CFO There are several necessary journal entries that have been made to adjust the unadjusted trial balance. For Allowance for doubtful accounts: 1. In 2009, $ 58,621. We will write a custom essay sample on Woodlawn Case Part 3 or any similar topic only for you Order Now 84 was directly written off to bad debt expense reflecting the amounts owed by customers who had gone bankrupt during the year. The journal entry would have been recorded as Dr Bad debt expense 58,621. 84 Cr Account receivable 58,621. 84 To record the uncollectable amount due to customer bankruptcy. The conditions of using the direct write-off method is either for companies in their first year of operations, or for whom uncollectible accounts are immaterial. Woodlawn does not fit either case. Therefore, it is wrong for Woodlawn to use the direct write-off method. The following journal entry is what should have been recorded, Dr Allowance for doubtful account 58,621. 84 Cr Account receivable 58,621. 84 To record the uncollectible amount due to customer bankruptcy. Therefore, the following adjusted entry is made to correct the write-off of $58,621. 4. Dr. Allowance for doubtful account 58,621. 84 Cr. Bad debt expense 58,621. 84 To record the correction of error made in write-off. 2. Historically, bad debt has averaged out to approximately 1. 5% of revenues. Therefore, we estimate that bad debt in 2009 would be 1. 5% of revenue. The journal entry is the following, Dr. Bad debt expense 20,279. 28* Cr. Allowance for doubtful account20,279. 28 To record the estimated uncollectible amo unt. *(Calculation: 1. 5%*$1,351,951. 83=20,279. 28) 3. As Tim mentioned that Woodlawn has received $93,256. 1 thatââ¬â¢s over 90 days past due since August 31, 2010. There is no journal entry needed to be done, since it had past the fiscal year end. 4. Woodlawn has not received $69,942. 13 from Erie Limited thatââ¬â¢s past due over 90 days. But since Erie always paid its bills, there is no need to write-off Erie Limited to AFDA. No adjusted entry needed. 5. Calculation of total amount of Allowance for doubtful accounts (AFDA). Assumption for calculating AFDA: we estimate the percentage for AFDA in 2010 to be 11%. This estimation is based on: 1. Based on the information Michael provided, the worse of the recession is over and current economic conditions have improved since last month. 2. Customers are paying slower then previous years due to bad economic conditions. Therefore the percentage of AFDA should fall in a range among percentages of 2008-2009, which is 4. 9%-13. 1%. We estimate 11% to be a better choice. The total amount of AFDA ending balance is 11%* $374,692. 53=$41,216. 18 In order to calculate the AFDA amount needed to adjust, we need the AFDA opening balance which is $35,000 from trial balance, the correction of error made in write-off $58,621. 4. $ 58,621. 84| $35,000 ? | $41,216. 18| ADFA ? = $41,216. 18+$58,621. 84-$35,000=$64,838. 02 The adjusted entry is made based on the previous information, Dr Bad debt expense 64,838. 02 Cr Allowance for doubtful accounts 64,838. 02 To record the adjustment made for Allowance for doubtful accounts at the fiscal year end. For Insurance: Calculation of the adjustment of p repaid expenses at the year end: Prepaid insurance for the beginning of September 1, 2009: $9,300 Insurance from Fife Insurance: Policy Period: 2010/05/20-2011/05/20 Amount: $12,885. 48 For the period beginning at Sept, 1 2009, to year end at August 31,2010 is 103 days in total, Total Insurance expense = $12,885. 48* 103/365=$3,636. 18 Balance required at year end=$12,885. 48-$3,636. 18=$9,249. 30 Prepaid expense adjustments =$9,300-$9,249. 30=$50. 70 The adjusted entry is made based on the previous calculation, Dr Insurance expense $50. 70 Cr Prepaid insurance$50. 70 To record the adjustment of prepaid insurance How to cite Woodlawn Case Part 3, Essay examples
Friday, December 6, 2019
How Australiaâââ‰â¢s Soaring Housing Costs Affect The Economy
Question: Describe how Australias soaring housing costs affect the economy. Answer: Housing prices had various macroeconomic effects on the economy. Rising house prices is considered to be categorized as a wealth effect which makes owners feel wealthier inducing them to spend more on their private consumption. The soaring house prices also imply that households who are otherwise not able to borrow now can borrow against the increasing equity of their houses and hence further increasing private consumption. In recent times Australias housing prices had been soaring. Australias houses as estimated by the International Monetary Fund are overvalued by 10%. The housing price inflation occurred as Australia moved towards 2000s with low interest rates and the gush of mining related income leading to growing private credit and rise in housing prices. Increase in private borrowing to buy houses has also driven up the prices further. As per the article by Tom Bentley and Jonathan West, from 1985 to 2015, bank lending in Australia increased from 20% of the GDP to approximately 130%. This private debt accumulated by the households is largely for housing. Australia accounts for the highest ratio of housing debt to total lending of 54% in the world and second highest ratio mortgage debt to GDP of 99%. These indicate that Australia is placed at a risk of a downturn in housing prices, and also housing being an unproductive economic investment, excessive private lending for housing is siphoning way finance from productive business investments which shall bring forth new products and services. Housing finance increased from 25% of credit outstanding in the year 1990 to over 60% in the present time. While over the same period business lending declined from 65% to 35% reflecting the Australian economys changing structure. Considering the data and information given we look into the various effects of the rising housing prices both positive and negative on the economy. Higher housing prices as earlier mentioned act as a wealth effect and house owners feel wealthier which in turn results into greater consumption/spending and reduction of savings by these individuals which increase the aggregate demand of the economy boosting the GDP and growth. In Australia, real estate stands out as an important investment asset and increases in property prices above the construction costs, influences the building of new houses. This boom in the construction sector also boosts employment and the overall demand in the property related sectors. Turning to negative effects, the strength of the total wealth effect is not certain and depends on other factors too like the duration of the rise in house prices which may be temporary or permanent or ownership rates of houses in the economy. Hence the wealth effect varies in such situations. On the other hand, rising prices also reduces the number of people who can afford the houses at such prices and they have to increase their savings for higher deposits to get mortgage loans which in turn reduces their consumption spending subjecting them to incidences of housing stress and crisis. Hence, we see that the housing sector plays a vital role in the Australian economic growth. But the soaring housing prices is impeding investments in the real economy hinging the developments of skilled workers and further increasing inequality which has effects on Australias long term growth. The rising prices have driven up the wealth inequality and the article concludes on the note that this rising inequality should be curbed by redistribution of opportunity and reward widely. References: Bentley, T West J 2016, Australias soaring housing costs signal needs for a new economic consensus, viewed 18 May 2016. Carter A 2013, High house prices damage business and the economy, viewed 18 May 2016. Mankiw, G 2003, Macroeconomics, Worth publishers, New York. Samuelson, P Nordhaus, W 2010, Economics, Mc Graw hill, New Delhi.
How Australiaâââ‰â¢s Soaring Housing Costs Affect The Economy
Question: Describe how Australias soaring housing costs affect the economy. Answer: Housing prices had various macroeconomic effects on the economy. Rising house prices is considered to be categorized as a wealth effect which makes owners feel wealthier inducing them to spend more on their private consumption. The soaring house prices also imply that households who are otherwise not able to borrow now can borrow against the increasing equity of their houses and hence further increasing private consumption. In recent times Australias housing prices had been soaring. Australias houses as estimated by the International Monetary Fund are overvalued by 10%. The housing price inflation occurred as Australia moved towards 2000s with low interest rates and the gush of mining related income leading to growing private credit and rise in housing prices. Increase in private borrowing to buy houses has also driven up the prices further. As per the article by Tom Bentley and Jonathan West, from 1985 to 2015, bank lending in Australia increased from 20% of the GDP to approximately 130%. This private debt accumulated by the households is largely for housing. Australia accounts for the highest ratio of housing debt to total lending of 54% in the world and second highest ratio mortgage debt to GDP of 99%. These indicate that Australia is placed at a risk of a downturn in housing prices, and also housing being an unproductive economic investment, excessive private lending for housing is siphoning way finance from productive business investments which shall bring forth new products and services. Housing finance increased from 25% of credit outstanding in the year 1990 to over 60% in the present time. While over the same period business lending declined from 65% to 35% reflecting the Australian economys changing structure. Considering the data and information given we look into the various effects of the rising housing prices both positive and negative on the economy. Higher housing prices as earlier mentioned act as a wealth effect and house owners feel wealthier which in turn results into greater consumption/spending and reduction of savings by these individuals which increase the aggregate demand of the economy boosting the GDP and growth. In Australia, real estate stands out as an important investment asset and increases in property prices above the construction costs, influences the building of new houses. This boom in the construction sector also boosts employment and the overall demand in the property related sectors. Turning to negative effects, the strength of the total wealth effect is not certain and depends on other factors too like the duration of the rise in house prices which may be temporary or permanent or ownership rates of houses in the economy. Hence the wealth effect varies in such situations. On the other hand, rising prices also reduces the number of people who can afford the houses at such prices and they have to increase their savings for higher deposits to get mortgage loans which in turn reduces their consumption spending subjecting them to incidences of housing stress and crisis. Hence, we see that the housing sector plays a vital role in the Australian economic growth. But the soaring housing prices is impeding investments in the real economy hinging the developments of skilled workers and further increasing inequality which has effects on Australias long term growth. The rising prices have driven up the wealth inequality and the article concludes on the note that this rising inequality should be curbed by redistribution of opportunity and reward widely. References: Bentley, T West J 2016, Australias soaring housing costs signal needs for a new economic consensus, viewed 18 May 2016. Carter A 2013, High house prices damage business and the economy, viewed 18 May 2016. Mankiw, G 2003, Macroeconomics, Worth publishers, New York. Samuelson, P Nordhaus, W 2010, Economics, Mc Graw hill, New Delhi.
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