Edinburghs Urban Structure

Edinburghs Urban Structure Edinburgh and its urban structure: About 8% of Scotland’s population resides in its capital city Edinburgh. In the recent years, Edinburgh has been seen to be a flourishing city with a perky labor and housing markets and a stable economic growth.[1] For working adults, it has an employment rate that is near the UK average of 74.7%.[2] The financial sector of Edinburgh is exceedingly developed and this has proven to be beneficial to its economy. Another factor that has given benefit to its economy is the fact that the government administration is concentrated in the city and recently the Scottish Parliament was established there. Moreover the Edinburgh Festival, in particular, attracts tourists from around the world. Despite these facts, there are some areas in the city which are poverty stricken that are condensed in council housing estates. However, comparatively this is on a small scale. An additional downside is that manual workers are facing declining opportunities. Important Statistics: The population of Edinburgh rose considerably by 7.1% to 444,624 between 1991 till 2001 and this growth rate is more than any other city in Scotland. It has a high proportion of young adults who are working (47%) and a low percentage of children that are dependent (16%).In 1991 a survey was conducted regarding the population which showed that 97.6% of the population was White which later decreased to 95.9%. Before this census it was noted that one sixth of households moved in Edinburgh and more than half of the population lived in flats or tenements. Out of three only one household had a single adult. In 2001 the economic activity rate was 67% and Glasgow was at 60% while then unemployment was at 4.3%. The jobs in Edinburgh are seen to move away from the manufacturing sector and in 2001 only 7.5% of the workforce was in the manufacturing sector. The professionals form about more than one sixth of the total working population and it was observed that about 12% of the working age popul ation was involved in full time studies. 12.3% of the people have no central heating in the houses and about 40% do not possess a car. The health problem is great with 39.8% informing that they have a long term illness. However this is still lower than Scotland and Lothian as a whole at 57.4% and 49.3% respectively[3] The Council’s Housing Needs Assessment 2000 showed that there is an overall similarity between Edinburgh and Scotland. The housing market has divided the population between areas. Pensioners are concentrated in the South West, North West and South East areas whereas lone parent households are mostly in the South East area only. The Central area houses a high proportion of single adult households (50%) and 54% of the population is between the age group 18 to 34 years. Younger adults are found to be in the Outer Central where 38% belongs to the age group of 18 to 34 years. The Waterfront area has a similar high proportion of people that belong to this age group. The city average of non-White people in Central area is at 6.1% as compared to 3.3%[4] The Edinburgh Economy Population According to the population estimate that has been conducted recently (2002), it is known that Edinburgh’s population has reached 448,000 and this has put Edinburgh up at second in the largest and fastest growing cities of Scotland. This increase of population was a rise by 3% since 1991 i.e. there was an increase of 12,000 residents in contrast to the total decline in the population of Scotland by 0.4%. This increase in growth in the population of Edinburgh was part of a growth trend there. Recent statistics (2003) show that 311,000 people are employed in different organizations and businesses. This figure represents the 14% of all employment in Scotland. Knowing the fact that Edinburgh accounts for a minor part of the whole population of Scotland at 8%, the city provides employment to people beyond its boundaries. Employment rate has been increasing in Edinburgh and especially in areas like Midlothian and West Lothian. Although the number of jobs increased in Midlothian and West Lothian was greater than in Edinburgh as a whole, the jobs at Edinburgh increased approximately by 30,000. In the last 20 years, Edinburgh has emerged out to become one of the most flourishing cities in the United Kingdom. It was observed in 2001 that the GDP in Edinburgh was over a third greater than the GDP of entire Scotland[5] . The same holds true for the average gross weekly earnings of employees working full-time. That figure is greater for the people in Edinburgh as compared to Scotland as a whole. According to an analysis made in April 2002, this was 112.6% of the Scottish rate thus being at  £480.60. Unemployment rates are low in Edinburgh being at 2.2% in 2002 (6,737 people), which was the lowest level and was greatly lower that the Scottish average[6]. Thus Edinburgh has high employment rates as compared to Scotland as a whole and in 2001 it was observed that the service sector gave most of the employment opportunities at 87.6% [7] of all the jobs in Edinburgh. Table 1 explains in detail the employment structure in the city as well as the region by the Industrial sector. Finance and business service sectors are of vital importance to local employment and this is seen to be evident as it has been acting like pillars of strength of the economy of the city and have been potentially growing within the national economy. Table 1 Employment structure, 2003 Edinburgh City Region Scotland Primary Production and construction 8% 12% 16% Distribution, hotels catering 22% 23% 24% Transport and communications 4% 5% 5% Business and finance 343% 28% 18% Public and other services 32% 32% 35% All Sectors 100% 100% 100% Employee jobs (000s) 312 433 2,299 Source: Annual Business Inquiry  ©crown copyright (NOMIS) The increase in the population of Edinburgh is not due to excess birthrates, although the number of births has been known to exceed the death rate, but the increase is mainly because of people migrating to the city. This shows the strength of the economy of the city. The study of the demographic trends in the housing market in Edinburgh is of significant importance. West Lothian and Midlothian have undergone a population increase while East Lothian and West Lothian have also been exposed to a high in-migration. Thus the population of the entire city has been increasing due to both the factors i.e. natural increase and in-migration. Recently conducted estimates (mid-2002) regarding the number of households in the city of Edinburgh show that there are 207,080 households. The period from 1991 till 2002 has witnessed and increase in the number of households that is three times greater than the actual increase in the population of Edinburgh. This holds to evidence as to the social and eco nomic changes that have caused in the formation of smaller households. Projected Population and Household Change, 2002-2016 Analysts have come to a conclusion that these trends would continue in the future. It is estimated that the population of Edinburgh will increase at a rate of 0.4% per year i.e. an increase of 54,700 residents. On the other hand, Scotland as a whole would experience a decline by 0.1% per annum. There are only 11 local authorities in Scotland that are expected an increase in population and Edinburgh is one of them. It is also estimated that the period stretching till 2016 will witness an increase in individual households in Edinburgh would be greater as compared to the population as a whole. Table 2 Population change, 1991-2002 1991 2002 change %change City of Edinburgh 436,320 448,080 11,760 3% East Lothian 84,440 90,750 6,310 7% Midlothian 79,530 80,500 970 1% West Lothian 145,040 159,960 14,920 10% City Region 745,330 779,290 33,960 5% Scotland 5,083,330 5,054,800 -28,530 -1% Source: GROS mid year estimates Table 3 Employment change by industry, 1998-2003 Edinburgh City Region Scotland Production and construction -33% -29% -22% Distribution, hotels catering 22% 27% 7% Transport and communications -7% 5% 7% Business and finance 34% 32% 24% Public and other services 8% 14% 19% All Sectors 11% 12% 6% Source: Annual business inquiry  ©crown copyright (NOMIS) Employment forecasts, 2003-2007 In Table 3 the rate of change in employment by sector in Edinburgh and its region is compared to Scotland. Finance and business services have been the fastest growing sector at the national level. This sector has been growing at a higher rate as compared to other areas in Scotland. The pattern as observed reflects the degree to which Edinburgh is a center for high level functions. The employment rate has increased greatly in the headquarters as compared to the branches spread out. Due to an increase in tourism spending and leisure, Edinburgh has greatly benefited from the increase in employments in Catering, Hotels and Distribution. However, in the ‘employment shedding’ manufacturing sectors, the city has relatively few jobs. There is an expected rise in the employment in Edinburgh by 4% over a period stretching from 2003 to 2007. This shows an increase of 13,000 jobs. Similar steady rates are expected in West Lothian and Midlothian. The pattern of growth however is expe cted to change from the recent past and the increase would mainly be in Distribution, Hotels, Catering and public services. Employment in business services and finance is forecasted to grow but at a relatively lower rate than what was observed in the past. Table 4 gives the data on average earning in Edinburgh. The data is recorded in terms of place of residence as well as place of work of the people in the survey. In 2003 the average earning of people in the city region was  £453 per week i.e.  £23,500 approximately in a year. Comparing this to Scotland, it was found that the average earning of the people in the city region was slightly greater. People who lived in Edinburgh city earned  £481 per week. This was at an increase of about 10% to the Scottish average. An important point to note is that these earnings are given at an average and ground realities show a great variation in the earnings of the residents of Edinburgh. For example, in 2003 it was observed that 10% of all the residents of Edinburgh earned  £220 or less per week as compared to the top 10% who earned more than  £828 per week. People whose workplaces were within Edinburgh were rated to be the second highest average earning in all of Scotland in 2003. These figures make it an obvious point to note that the higher paid jobs were filled in by the people who lived in Edinburgh while the lower ones were occupied by those outside the city commuting to work. The Census data exhibit that (in 2001) the net inflow of people commuting to work in Edinburgh from outside was around 60,000. Table 4 Average gross weekly earnings, 2003  £/week % of Scotland Work-basedresidence-based Work-based residence-based Edinburgh  £467  £481 107% 110% City Region  £454  £453 104% 104% Scotland  £437  £437 100% 100% Source: New Earnings Survey Unemployment rates in Edinburgh are lower as compared to the Scottish average. In 2004 it was recorded that the proportion of the population that were of the working age and were receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance was 2.2% as compared to the Scottish average of 2.7%. If a wider measure is adopted to study this deeply then striking differences are noted. Table 5 exhibits that the proportion of the working age population dependant or receiving state benefits of Edinburgh was much lower as compared to the rest of Scotland. However it is also interesting to note that the proportion of working age population in employment in Edinburgh was lower than the rest of Scotland. This difference is because of the large female population that are of working age but are neither working not claiming any benefits from the state. Table 5 Economic Activity and Benefits Edinburgh Scotland % of working age population unemployed, on Compulsory New Deal or 9.8 13.8 in receipt of incapacity/Disablement Benefits (2002) % of adults and children living in households in receipt of key income 11.8 15.0 benefits/credits (2002) % of working age adults in employment (2003) 66.7 76.6 Source: Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, 2004 An inclusive set of indicators of deprivation in small areas throughout Scotland is brought together in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 (SIMD04). Various dimensions of factors such as economic and social deprivation, including incomes, health, housing, accessibility, employment and health are included in the index. Information for each data zone in Scotland is collected and each area according to its level of deprivation is ranked. It is seen that Edinburgh has areas of high deprivation however the proportion of the population in these areas is much lower than the Scottish average. 20% of Edinburgh’s population would be living in data zones which would rank in the most deprived 20% in Scotland if Edinburgh had been under similar conditions as the rest of Scotland. As this is not so, only 13% of Edinburgh’s population is found to live in these areas that fall in the most deprived 20% in Scotland. Summary Edinburgh has been experiencing a growth in its population due to the growth in its economic sector. It is also seen that the incomes in Edinburgh are higher as compared to the rest of Scotland. The unemployment rate is lower and the percentage of people dependant on benefits from the state is also low in this city. This city has people traveling into it for work from other regions and thus can be considered as an employment center. Although the business and finance sectors would grow in the future, their rate of growth would be less. However increasing growth will be observed in distribution, hotels and catering due to increased tourism. The economy as a whole seems to be stable and will in the future generate more employment opportunities. Housing Supply and Demand Edinburgh’s housing system differs from the rest of Scotland and has some distinctive features to it. Private rending and owner occupation is high as compared to the Scottish average with a small rented sector. There are a higher proportion of flats as compared to the proportion of houses which is relatively low. Housing issues are complex in Edinburgh due to the fact that while the city is prosperous, there are areas of deprivation. Limited affordable housing with a high demand in housing, coupled with deprivation give rise to complex housing issues. Owner occupation It is seen that 69% of the homes are occupied by the owners out of which 40% are bought with a mortgage and 27% are owned outright. Moreover it is observed that owner occupation as a whole and houses that are owned outright are higher as compared to Scotland. The reason for the high percentage of outright ownership would be accounted for the in-migration of relatively wealthy people as compared to the in-migration in other cities of Scotland. Moreover the presence of people earning high income who would prefer not to purchase through mortgage could also account for this fact. Regardless of the existence of flats and small houses, the prices are high as compared to the rest of Scotland. The average price of a house in Edinburgh in the first half of 2004 was  £165,000. At  £354,000 were the prices for newly built properties in the Rural West part of Edinburgh. This was seen to be the highest mean price. Health needs It is important to use a variety of information to study and analyze the social issues and health needs in a city. High level ‘administrative’ data like that of the Census shows the operation of city partners within. Differences found in health amongst the various groups in a society are known as health inequalities. There are many inequalities in Scotland and JHIP aims to address these issues and eliminate inequalities which are caused by reasons that â€Å"are complex and interacting†[8]. Some of these factors include the physical factors like exposure to poor housing, socio-economic factors, behavioral factors (smoking or drinking) and psychological factors which would include exposure to adverse life events. These aspects are expressed clearly in the data on health provided in the Vision For Edinburgh monitoring reports, ‘Measuring Edinburgh’s Performance’ July 2002 and 2003[9]. One such factor is the low birth weight which is related to ma ny immediate and long-term health risks. In Edinburgh’s community planning process, this is regarded as the key health indicator. This factor is prevalent in areas of social disadvantages rather than in Edinburgh as a whole. In a period ranging from 1991 to 2000, it was seen that the number of teenage pregnancies, who gave birth to a child rather than aborting it, has been four times greater in the Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) areas than in Edinburgh as a whole. Socio-economic factors, life circumstances, genetic factors, lifestyles and factors of place are some of the important factors which affect the death rate. In the same period from 1991 to 2000 the death rate for under 65’s in the SIP areas was higher as compared to the city as a whole. This gap widened more in the period ranging from 1997 to 2000. In 2001 the figures saw a reversal in the trend as there was a reduction in the death rate for under 65’s in SIP areas but the gap still exists. Self-harm and self-poisoning have also been at a high and in the period of 1991 to 2000, this occurred at a higher rate in the SIP areas as compared to Edinburgh as a whole. It should be noted that the occurrence of such events and the gap between the SIP areas and Edinburgh as a whole has been decreasing. The credit for this would be given to the establishment of the assessment unit at the Royal Infirmary which dedicates itself to reduce the number of repeat incidents of self-harm. I t should also be noted that health inequality is not solely linked to the existence of social disadvantage and poverty and it was seen that the flatted accommodation in Edinburgh adversely affected those with reduced mobility.[10] Homelessness applications in Scotland come from all the cities and Edinburgh ranks second in it. However this is about less than a third of the presentations recorded in Glasgow (Scottish Executive, 1999). Voluntary agencies are providing a range of services including hostels, and other facilities for the young people who are homeless and comparatively this is less extensive than the one present in Glasgow and the largest hostel in Edinburgh is Council with 70 bed spaces. The RSI has funded a ‘single access point’ for the homeless people but there is still a shortfall in hostel accommodation, emergency accommodation in particular. A change will come about though after the projects of RSI become functional fully. A ‘Homelessness Liaison Officer’ has been appointed by Lothian and Borders Police for Edinburgh. There was street culture in Edinburgh to a certain extent as well. However, homelessness services in Edinburgh have been enhanced significantly and impro vements are expected in the future. Conclusion: Edinburgh is a thoroughly urban city with all the usual urban problems including unemployment, homelessness and health inequalities. However concrete steps have been taken to counter these problems especially the problem of homelessness that has been afflicting the city’s economic resources. Serious steps need to be taken on city as well as regional level to introduce better housing facilities and to absorb more jobless people into city’s various business sectors. References Bailey, N., Turok, I. and Docherty, I. (1999) Edinburgh and Glasgow: Contrasts in Competitiveness and Cohesion. Glasgow: Department of Urban Studies, University of Glasgow Office for National Statistics (1999) Labour Force Survey Quarterly Supplement, November 1999. London: Office for National Statistics. A. OSullivan. (2002) Urban Economics. McGraw-Hill UK. Footnotes [1] Bailey et al, 1999 [2] ONS, 1999 [3] www.edinburgh.gov.uk -census 2001 information [4] Housing Needs Assessment 2000, The City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Homes, 2002. [5] Source Capital Review, issue 1 summer 2002 [6] Source Capital Review, issue 1 summer 2002 [7] Capital Review, issue 1 summer 2002. [8] McIntyre in â€Å"Social Justice – a Scotland Where Everyone Matters. Annual Report 2001†: Scottish Executive 2001 [9] â€Å"Measuring Edinburgh’s Performance†: Edinburgh Partnership, 2002 and 2003 [10] Figures reported in CEC Housing Needs Assessment 2000.

Does EU Enlargement make any sense Essay

European Union enlargement is the process of expanding the Union through incorporation and allowing accession of new members states and sovereign countries. This process took off with the first six members who were the founding powers of the European coal along with the steel community which was the European Union precursor in 1952. Since then, the Union has been expanding to the current twenty seven members with the more recent incorporation including the Romania and Bulgaria in the year 2007. At present there are negotiations underway with many states who wish to start the Union’s joining process. The expansion process is in most cases referred to as the European Union integration. Nevertheless, this term is often used to refer to the increased cooperation levels between the member states as the member states’ government are allowing for cooperation of the more common laws. According to the (European Union online 2010), for a state to be a member of the EU, it has to accomplish a lot of economic and political requirements which are famously referred to as the Copenhagen criteria (which is after the june1993 Copenhagen summit). In addition, any potential country that wishes to join the European Union needs to have not only a stable government but also a democratic government that respects the rule of law of the international law along with its corresponding institutions and freedom. In accordance to the Maastricht Treaty, each and every current member state and also the European government must agree to any expansion (European Union 2010). Further expansion of the European Union will highly benefit the existing members. With the earlier addition of member states to the European Union, it has emerged stronger, more confident and hence more capable of acting and presenting itself in the world stage. More important, en enlarged European Union will help the union to tackle the prevalent threats that cannot be confined in any manner to their geographical borders. For example the existing climate change problems and also to fight against organized crimes and to the broader perspective, the terrorism menace. Close cooperation with the neighboring states could form a very vital force for dealing with such problems and challenges. While this explains how the existing countries have extensively benefited in this union, it should also address the benefits of further unity that will come with expansion. Also, the potential members would as well benefit in the same way. The prospective member states are: Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Croatia. Further expansion will enhance more economic efficiency, create an extended playing level for business, drive more and more innovation and also provide an extra funding to the community. For example, by expanding the union, France will meet the challenges along with the challenges that are being currently presented by globalization. Most of the prospective and newer members have economies which have much lower cost which makes them very attractive production sources for business expansion to the country. The potential members will be at the same position as the older members to reap these benefits. If these prospective members joined this Union, for instance, their workers would go to work in the United Kingdom market where the wages is more likely to me much higher and also the benefits that come with accessing the markets of the other member states. For these countries’ economies membership to the European Union is a means of attaining stability and growth. An expanded Europ ean Union also invites a broad cultural discussion and creativity. A very good and an exciting example of this is the â€Å"Enlarge your vision† which is the 2010 young Journalist Award that was launched by the EC’s directorate general to see more enlargements. So, for the European union to attract more and more members, it should address two main factors including; the economics and security. In conclusion, it can be seen that there are many advantages that accrue to any country that joins the EU. This is further enhanced by the Cecchini report, that shows a rise of evidence to believe there is a much increase in the states’ GDP as a result of the common market that are produced by the expansion if the European Union countries. The obvious raise in GDP will raise the living standards of the EU member states. The potential benefits and challenges of joining the European Union are most likely to come from many perspectives and directions. This ranges from the potential benefits of the heightened economies of scale to the problem that the poor countries would receive a high budget from the already existing EU states. More so, if the European Union should be able to permit new members, it should at all time ensure that their decision making processes are not compromised but remain accountable to the larger EU. It should be in a position as it continues its expansion of implementing common policies to all the areas and also finance these policies equitably to all the new and existing areas in a very sustainable manner. The other key component of expansion should be harmonization of the important areas of the policy by involving coordination of policies on all the nation’s businesses and regulating the competition, taxation, fiscal policy, monetary policies and the environmental policie s. How the enlargement would affect the Businesses If enlargement takes effect, many things would happen including; Break down the barriers to trade and the businesses. The existing countries will highly benefit from accessing a larger market for trade and investment in the entire world. On the other hand, the consumers will also benefit by being given the opportunity of choosing from a wide range of goods and services from the extended markets and also at a favorable prices. Integration will also encourage the growth of GDP both to the existing member states and the newly joined members and this would also require changes to the institutions which are within the EU (Kardas and Saban, 2009). Through integration, the well established corporations of the existing nations will be faced with a lot of opportunities. Especially with the addition of more members and expansion of the union, the corporations will be able to reach more customers and cheap labor for their companies and products. This will increase their economies of scale with low cost of production and hence it would be a very bi boost to the existing members’ states (Piket and Vincent, 2010). The main aim for the 1957 treaty of Rome was to establish a common market for all the nations. For instance, if Turkey was allowed to join the union, they will cancel the barriers to trade like the tariffs along with the non-tariff barriers to align itself with the EU current policy. Therefore the products of the member countries will move to a more big market easier than before. The new member states will also open new investment opportunities to the existing member states due to their low economies. Therefore, expan sion of the EU makes a lot of sense both to the joining members and the existing members because a lot of export opportunities would be opened up for the existing members. The companies in the existing member states will enjoy a cheaper labor force from the joining members. This is because the existing member states like the France and the United kingdom have a very high living standards hence more and more workers from the eastern Europe nation will always flow into these labor markets and hence this will lower their production costs. Owing to the fact that France, Germany and United Kingdom are still the word’s most important financial centre, the integration of the Eastern Europe region into the EU is a win situation. The integration will increase the prosperity of wealth in the new members and hence stimulate economic growth in the existing member states. This is because their market will experience an addition of 100 million more consumers into the existing market if this enlargement was to be honored. All the remaining barriers between the countries would be removed. All the legal and technical trade barriers will be no more (Piket and Vincent, 2010). The trade possibilities and investment would be further enhanced and high expected economic growth would radically enhance the consumers’ purchasing power in the prospective nations. Increased trade would be so much valuable as a contribution to the functioning of the enlarged European Union and hence the economic development of the whole continent . The European Union’s expansion is seen as the most successful foreign policies even though it has in many instances suffered a lot of resistance. For example, France has alaways been very opposed to enjoy this enlargement. The British membership was vetoed by France as they actually feared the United States’ influence. Also according to (IISS 2008) France was so much opposed to the Greek, Portuguese and Spanish membership as they feared that these states were really not ready and hence it would dilute the European Union down to a Free trade Area (ESI 2006). The biggest reason why the first members applied and were accepted was basically economical, while for the second enlargement, it was much more to do with politically instigation (IISS 2008). The southern Mediterranean countries in the Europe were just recovering from dictatorship and also the single party government hence they wanted to preserve their democratic system security through the European union and also th e EU wanted to be sure that their counterparts in the southern region were stable democracies and also a move to steer them away from any possible influence by the communists. These two main factors, the economical factor and also political security has been the driving force towards enlargement of the EU. Hut with the recent expansion of 2004, the European public opinion has turned against any further extension. Also, it has been eminent that there are expansion limits and hence the Union cannot expand all through (ESI 2006) So as to understand these enlargement limits, we have to understand the effects that these enlargement may have on the European Union. Since the break of 2005, when the proposed treaty by the European constitution was rejected in the France and the Netherlands referenda, a debate on the enlargement drawbacks has since gained more intensity. The senior politicians across the Europe have since called for a slowdown in the expansion or even a permanent seizure of such enlargement. A lot of opposing enlargement voices had hit the headlines, which have created the impression of the future enlargement to be hanging in the balance (ESI 2006) One of the biggest factors that are turning the public opinion against this enlargement is the threat of immigration that may lead to overpopulation and hence stressing the resources of the Europe. The old Europe members fear influx of people that may come up by adding more members to the Union. Owing to the fact that the older European Union members’ states public, the France and the Britain, are very hostile to the foreign labor markets, makes this to be worse. In fact, the immigration factor was the main reason why the constitution was defeated in the Dutch and French Referenda of the year 2005. Another big problem is posed where the highly skilled work force of the member states will leave the country for the other new member states. The new member states would alter the economic boom that comes with joining the European union falling into economic decline and more and more money would be demanded from the European Union budget so as to keep the economy afloat (Bache, 2006 ). More so, further enlargement would also insert, more and more pressure on the European Union already struggling administrative system. With the failure of the constitutional planning, and also the unpopularity of the Lisbon treaty, it basically lacks the integration degree that is needed for effective decision making along with its implementation. Also owing to the fact that the European democracy is still lagging behind the limited progress that is being made in the strengthening the executive powers of the union, accommodation of more new members would not make any sense. (Bache, 2006) There seems a very little doubt that at this point, the classical European Union would have reached its end. For sure a lot of questions about the European Union relations with other countries which are further east like the Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia), Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova still remain (Bache, 2006). Although these questions will obviously be solved through varied processes that would involve more limited sovereignty sharing with the European union’s member states. Consequently this may well become a very much attractive deal for turkey in the coming decade. If the European Union expansion was put to a halt right now, it would be very disastrous not only to the peace of the continent but also to the democracy in the broader European Neighborhood. Nevertheless, we need a definition of the broader European commonwealth that is not binding to the both sides into the mainly detailed legal structure that was drawn up fifty years ago for the European countrie s which were facing quite varied challenges. The existing member states are very afraid that their markets might be swamped by cheap imports from these new members. Most of the markets that are vulnerable to this threat are the politically sensitive markets like the agricultural markets and the textiles where the European Union has imposed very high tariff barriers so as to protect the domestic producers. Also, there is great fear that the contribution of the well off states to the European Union budget would rise more considerably following this integration. If more poor countries join the union, and the regional along with the CAP payments are maintained. It is deemed inevitable that there would be large budgets transfers paid by the existing member states for the new members. Some nations also fear that there will be a delay by integration to the plans that are underway to move the union to even greater economic and political union. It might be very difficult for the implementation of a single currency if in that period more members are joining the union. Both labor and capital movement could also pose a very big problem. There is a very high fear that capital would slowly stroll to the new members with cheap labor while workers from these states would move in huge numbers from the newly joined states to the already existing countries having instigated by the high wage rates in these states. This shows the potential challenges that would be experienced in case of EU expansion. The main challenge is the inability for these states to reach the total economic integration. Also, different economical blocks or countries in the enlarged European Union may require different fiscal and monetary policies. Normally countries like United Kingdom require high interest rates so as to encourage savings while discouraging consumption, a country like Hungary would consider reduced interest rates so as to increase the consumers’ expenditure and consequently increase the aggregate demand which will in advance lead to an increased GDP (Kardas and Saban, 2009). These would form an arena of conflicting policies that would affect adversely the running of the union. It is also clear that Germany, France and UK posses a vast GDP advantage comparing with the Czech Republic and Hungary which are the prospective members of the union. This brings up a concern regarding the convergence requirement in the economies within the European Union and in regards to the monetary policy. In 2008, it was confirmed by Nicola Sarkozy and Angella Merkel, the French president and the German chancellor respectively that the EU cannot enlarge any more than the current twenty seven states without undergoing a reform to the institution of the present treaty of the nice laws. This kind of reform could only happen if the Lisbon treaty comes into action (Piket and Vincent, 2010). In a broader perspective, we can see that the benefits of EU integration highly outweigh the limits. The enlargement hence makes a lot of sense to both the existing and the new members. For the prospective members, access to the European Union implies a very high potential for raising trade and also cooperation. Also, this will be on the other hand a golden opportunity to the existing members’ companies. During the last ten years, these countries’ investors and exporters have secured a great dominance in these markets and exports have increased drastically. Many researchers have proved that this market could be multiplied many times if the existing member countries allowed further integration to the East Europe countries. Hence there is a lot of sense in enlarging the European Union. References Presidency Conclusions, Copenhagen European Council 1993 Piket, Vincent (2010) EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Institute for Strategic Studies Beyond Enlargement Fatigue? The Dutch debate on Turkish accession, EuropeanSecurity Initiative 2006 Bache, Ian and Stephen George (2006) Politics in the European Union, Oxford University Press. p540–542 Kardas, Saban (13 May 2009) Merkel and Sarkozy Call for Privileged Partnership Angers Turkey, Jamestown Foundation European Commission (2005-11-10). â€Å"1972†. The History of the European Union. European Economic Community Treaty, Art†7Potential candidates, European Union’s official site Source document

The Technology Implementation Plan - 1007 Words

Technology Implementation Introduction When deploying new products into an organization that contain elements you do no have experience with, like new technology, considered the human factors in the implementation process to reduce issues that may arise. When implementing new technology within a company, make sure that end users contribute into the design process and that the end user will benefit from the change. Managers should communicate constantly and effectively, involve employees, and leadership to endorse the technology and the change process. Implementation plan Technology Implementation plan consist of up-to date and usable procedures for example consist of up to date and usable procedures for example: Design Plans describe†¦show more content†¦Unexpected changes may be disruptive, and leadership may encounter resistance. To manage technology changes the first step is to understand technology dynamics, and resistance it generates. According to Regan and O’Conner (2002), managing organizational changes requires understanding the variables and their interdependencies; creating a climate for learning; recognizing new power distributions and handling complexity, ambiguity, and uncertainty. Of course, technology changes take a toll on the employee’s morale and managerial time and emotion. Sometimes plans are abandoned because of strong employee resistance or because the managers feel unprepared or unable to implement the changes successfully. (Chapter 11.2.2 Technology Brings Change). e. Communication plans First in order for the goals and objectives of the communications plans to succeed, It is very important that staff involved in this plan are aware of the leaderships support and direction. In addition, leader’s needed to speak positively about the project, and the process changes involved the staff should expect. Management needs to speak honestly and listen to all levels of the organization. Secondly, if the organization and its leadership did not adhere to changes proposed by staff involved, resistance is likely to occur. However, if staff involved were consulted, participant’s acceptance is more likely. Finally, it is important toShow MoreRelatedTechnology Implementation in Companies: An Overview1164 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Technology Implementation: The implementation of new technology in a company is usually an enormous process with potential difficulties that may have long-term impact on the organization. In most cases, the implementation of technology usually involves installation of new software and hardware that the technology will operate on. This process also involves the range of possible and unavoidable problems that are associated with human factors, which are totally unpredictable. 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Mental Disorders And Its Effects On The Individual s Health

Health is described and explained in many various discourses, which are socially constructed. The concepts of ‘health’, ‘mind’ and ‘body’ are different depending on the time and place, but all cultures and cosmologies play an essential role in the experience of being a human. Psychological well being is a very important concern for all individuals, communities and also health services, not just because of the cost with psychological ill-health but also the loss of life for those who are affected by their relatives. Psychological well being aims to focus on the individual’s feelings and also other features of psychological functioning. There are multiple factors for situations, which can affect an individual’s health; these factors include personality, biological environmental factors and many others. The DSM-IV concludes that depression is a mood disorder; it is also known to be the most common mental disorder. Most people at some point through their lives may go through a period of time when they ‘feel down’, however to be diagnosed with depression you must be present with a low mood for over 2 weeks, also having five of the following symptoms; feelings of worthlessness, weight gain or loss, insomnia or hypersomnia, fatigue, low or no concentration at all. Depression is usually linked with either some form of loss, e.g. loosing a loved one or even from a loss of a job. However, depression can even be triggered by contextual or external factors, such as dull whether orShow MoreRelatedThe Correlation Of Mental Health And Substance Use Disorder995 Words   |  4 PagesCorrelation of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Just as complex as the trillions of cells that keep our bodies functioning are the effects and correlations of mental health and substance use disorders. 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When using the pharmacological approach in treating delusional disorders, the psychology professional must consider the ways inRead MoreWhat Is The Mental Health? Essay1628 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is the mental health? Mental health embraces emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It has an effect on thinking, feeling, and acting. It also helps to define how people handle stress and make choices. Mental health is momentous through the stages of life, from childhood and adolescence via adulthood. In the life, if someone experience mental health problems, it has an effect on thinking, behaviour, and mood. Many causes contribute to mental health problems, containing: Life experiencesRead MoreThe Stigma Of The World Health Organization997 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Stigma According to the World Health Organization, â€Å"One in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.† This means that there are diseases that exist that can affect anyone in the world, but because an ignorant society dismisses it as less serious or something one can control, less and less people seek help. The brain, as complicated and important as it is, can in no way be perfect. Mental Health illnesses are not less serious orRead MoreMajor Depressive Disorder And Its Variants1615 Words   |  7 PagesMajor Depressive Disorder and its variants Introduction The nervous system can be considered one of the most complex organ systems in the human body which is accountable for managing numerous functions that entail the overall well-being of the body. It consists of the Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System of which participate in voluntary and involuntary controlled functions. Detrimental effects can occur if there are issues that interfere with normal functioning of this system thatRead More Treating Concurrent Disorders Essay1700 Words   |  7 Pages Mental health is being aware, accepting yourself, and striking a balance in all aspects of your life like social, spiritual, physical, economical, and mental (Association, 2001). Mental health can be described as our positive interactions with the context and events in our life, and having the ability to cope with life’s stressors. Mental health problems can begin at anytime during your life (CAMH, 2010). In fact anything can make it difficult for an individual’s ability to interact effectivelyRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )1734 Words   |  7 PagesMental health problems have become the major health and well-being issue amongst children and young adults. The physical health and the ability to perform at school, work and in society, highly depend on the mental health of an individual (Ollendick 2012). The Australian figures of a burden of the disease show that mental health problems occur in approximately 14% of young people aged 4–17 years, and 27 % in the 18–24-year-old age range. Most mental disorders, for example, attention deficit hyperactivityRead MoreDiagnostic And Diagnostic Classification System Essay1621 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Mental health disorders has been very strenuous and complex to understand and diagnose, many diagnosis criteria such as DSM have been used to determine the disorders and medication (Szabo, 2011). I am asserting that â€Å"Yes, Psychopathology diagnostic classification systems (such as the DSM or ICD) are of little use to health professionals and patients because behaviours are often misidentified and medicalised†. To assert this, this paper is going to explore four main topics that contribute