Computers in Society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Computers in Society - Essay Example These fives ways include; 1. Social networking -- many people belong to at least one social networking group like LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter and they are actively talking to their friends and business associates about this election; you can even find this information on MySpace. 2. YouTube -- because YouTube has the ability to replay in video anything you want to replay, a viewer can find any speech that was given from the beginning of the 2008 campaign by any candidate necessary. 3. Network Journalism Sites -- any of the networks have full coverage of the debates and places like MSNBC will have a replay of all the debates, commentary and other information about the candidates as they happen. You can replay any of this information at any time. 5. Text messaging -- Mozes is one of many text messaging websites where an individual can go and create their own list of keywords. People who sign up to receive information from them can receive broadcasts about many different things. Some people are predicting that this is one way that candidates can set up broadcasts that allow people to know their schedules or to send out specific messages. Since both the Democratic and the Republican party already send out specific messages via phone, this will be another technology that can allow more information to get through to voters. According to Guy Kawasaki (2008) the Internet will have the most impact on the presidential election because it allows everyone to educate themselves about the candidates and what they are saying. They can read news, listen to the various debates and make up their own minds about how to vote. This also allows many different people to voice their opinions and opinions influence others. According to Kawasaki, "Much like radio for Roosevelt and TV for JFK, the 2008 race for the White House will be determined by candidates’ abilities to connect with and galvanize supporters online" (p. 25). Some people will

The Impact Of Satisfaction And Image On Loyalty Essay Example for Free

The Impact Of Satisfaction And Image On Loyalty Essay The research was undertaken by three eminent scholars with strong qualifications in the field of customer services and business; two of them having attained the rank of professor and the other a doctor working as a research fellow. Their background suggests that the research was of a high quality and followed the laid down procedures for a doctoral thesis or research paper. It was directed at examining the relationship between image and satisfaction to customer loyalty. Current literature on the subject has been inconclusive on the impact of satisfaction on loyalty without considering the effect of image on the same. This research aimed to fill this void. By addressing the subject matter and testing it using hypotheses, the researchers adopted qualitative and quantitative research methods and were able to come up with a general statement that image impacts loyalty from an emotive rather than a cognitive point of view. Entrepreneurs are concerned at how they can retain their market share and the methods they can adopt to increase the number of clients that patronize their outlets. A lot of emphasis has been placed on the importance of customer service in ensuring repeat clients and new customers (Anderson et al. 1994:54). For the most part it has been true that customers who have been well treated and had all their concerns attended to in a timely manner are likely to return to the establishment for further business. However customer satisfaction has not been able to explain why clientele appear to shift loyalties to new outlets or to competitors despite receiving excellent services (Chi Qu, 2007). This phenomenon suggests that there are other factors that influence customers in making their final decisions on which places to patronize. This research has addressed this issue by studying the effect of image as a predictor of customer loyalty. Abraham Maslow developed his hierarchy of needs theory which posited that man graduates from satisfying the basic needs to the pinnacle of the pyramid where self actualization is achieved. Self actualization has little to do with physical aspects and more to do with personal feelings and perceptions of self. Thus as a pointer to what influences customer loyalty, the researchers picked on a good factor to base their study on. Nonetheless in this era of global recession other factors like price should have been included in their study so as to compare the overall effect of price differentials to customer loyalty. The rise of budget airlines like Easy Jet or the popularity of supermarket chains such as Wall mart are primarily due to the fair prices they charge in comparison to other stores (Fredericks and Salter, 1995:30). Thus in limiting themselves to image and customer satisfactions the researchers left out an important factor that may change the overall results of the study. By confining their study to ski resorts the researchers have narrowed the application of their research findings in that the nature of studies in ski resorts find little relevance to other areas of business. To begin with ski resorts are a feature of areas that experience a certain type of climate and appeal to people who are accustomed to that kind of weather (Matzler et al. , 2007). Those living in warmer climates may patronize tourist attractions not necessarily because of image but because of the available attractions (Bigne? t al. , 2001:609). Some of the most famous tourist destinations in the world do not have excellent facilities but offer the clientele a once in a life time experience such as the wildebeest migration that occurs across the Masai Mara in Kenya (Kenya safari holidays, 2008). Secondly, most customers going to ski resorts do so because they want to ski. This restricts the research applicability to this kind of pastime as opposed to providing a general observation that can be useful to all types of businesses. The researchers made good use of available literature as a starting point to base their study. Most of the material they researched on was from primary sources in journals and a few books. Primary sources are vital in that they provide firsthand information about the subject matter from the author’s perspective. The problem with relying too much on such material is the obvious bias that most authors have in expounding their views. Secondary sources help to balance the overall picture by presenting alternative views and critiques of works done by other researchers. Sample population numbers were high enough to give a truly representative result of the study. With over 6,000 respondents to the online survey, the study was able to capture enough data to satisfy the research needs. The issue of enticing the respondents by offering attractive prizes could raise ethical questions and may have influenced the respondents to respond in a certain fashion. Respondents may have filled out the survey hoping that their responses reflected the expected outcome and thus improved their chances of winning the prizes. In adopting a multi-attribute approach in studying the effects of image on loyalty, the researchers were able to investigate a number of parameters that affect people’s perceptions. Despite the holistic nature of this approach, the use of Likert scale tools to determine the respondents’ views can be misleading as the results are highly subjective with one respondent rating a certain parameter differently from another irrespective of a general consensus on the nature of the service being offered or the factor being tested (Homburg and Giering, 2001:55). The hypotheses postulated by the researchers fail to include the possibility that there could be other more important factors that impact customer loyalty (Mittal and Kamakura, 2001:137). Such aspects include proximity of a resort to the client’s domicile, prices charged by the outlet, complimentary services offered as an incentive, and the nature of the ski terrain that may encourage amateurs or more experienced skiers to patronize the resort (Fakeye and Crompton, 1991:11). A fourth hypothesis should have been included to addresses these issues and could have been structured as follows; H4: Apart from image and loyalty there are other factors that significantly determine customer loyalty. Null hypothesis: Image and loyalty are the only factors that determine customer loyalty Respondents to the survey were not determined by the researchers and as such their study could not have investigated other aspects of the sample population like the differences in loyalty based on ethnic identities or gender. Any results based on the nationalities or gender of the respondents may not correctly reflect the true picture without purposely setting out to research such aspects. The research findings more or less confirmed the researchers’ thesis and added to the available literature on the subject. An interesting outcome was that the influence of image was more of an emotive response than a cognitive one (Kandampully and Suhartanto, 2000:349) This will assist entrepreneurs to develop the emotive image factors like patriotic themes or domestic settings that will make the customers feel that they are quite at home, though away from home (Gallarza et al. , 2001:62). However, the study is incomplete because it fails to address other factors that impact loyalty and it does not investigate the responses by respondents with different backgrounds to establish whether the findings are universal or ethnic specific. By focusing on ski resorts, the study is severely limited in its application as the findings in that industry may not be relevant to other business models or geographical destinations. This research is invaluable as a tool to improve to improve market share and annual incomes for ski resort outlets. By maintaining good customer service and working on developing the emotive image of the establishment, the management is bound to see an increase rise in customer loyalty (Eskildsen et al. , 2004:862). Its findings should be compiled in a simple format for the ski resort operators to understand and apply in their daily operations. The researchers may want to add on a caveat that the image and loyalty are not the only factors responsible for customer loyalty and that further studies may be required to identify other issues that may be influential. In summary, the research has been able to investigate the relationship between image, customer satisfaction and loyalty within the scope of the researchers outline. Despite the research failing to examine all aspects that impact customer loyalty, this should not invalidate their study but rather open up other opportunities for other researchers to take up the challenge to provide such answers. Further studies on the same subject matter should be structured to provide a general theory that will apply to all types of businesses.

The History Of Afghanistan History Essay

The History Of Afghanistan History Essay After the September 11th attacks on America, many nations were drawn into the War on Terror. With this escalating conflict came the names of many countries that the American public knew little about. Prior to 9/11, Americans knew Afghanistan simply as a country in the Middle East. In the aftermath of 9/11, Americans now associate Afghanistan with words like Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Despite the recent press coverage on this land-locked nation, few understand the history of Afghanistan, including the rich cultural aspects, political climate, and society of this country. As the future of Afghanistan is being lived and written right now, a clear understanding of the countrys history is imperative in understanding the new global circumstances. It is for this reason that Meredith L. Runion has written this book, published by Geenwood Press. The author is a Program Manager in the Directorate of Science and Technology for the U.S. Federal Government and has been involved in several efforts regarding the Middle East. She is regarded as a specialist in the history of Afghanistan. The author has produced a volume that reflects her current research on Afghanistan. In addition to writing several articles on the subject, The History of Afghanistan, is her first published book. Meredith is a native of the Washington D.C. area, and holds advanced degrees in Decision Science and Business. The book is intended for students and general readers. It is also serves as an appropriate starting material for researchers trying to find concise yet all-inclusive text on the entire history of Afghanistan and the rulers that have governed it. The United States, being a superpower which attacked Afghanistan and is now embroiled in the War Against Terror in this region, shares a special relationship with this country. Yet, many Americans know very little about Afghanistan, its history and the people who occupy this region. Therefore the author has made special effort to keep the book simple, concise and easy to follow for the American readers. Among the many other questions the writer addresses some are as given: How did Afghanistan get to be the way it is? What kind of political systems have evolved there? What kind of influence does it have in the region? What are the dominant political, religious and cultural forces that move its leaders? These and many other questions have been answered in this volume. The book under review is a nonfiction account of the history of Afghanistan. It provides an abridged history of Afghanistan, from the emergence of civilization to the United States overthrow of the Taliban in late 2001. The history is almost entirely political and military in nature, recounting shifting dynasties and governments and successive invasions by empires and great powers. Major points in the book describe how modern Afghanistan is a melting pot of a multitude of cultures, tribes, and political influences all under the guiding belief of Islam. The author repeatedly stresses that due to the countrys strategic location along the crucial trade routes between Central Asia and the Middle East, Afghanistan has suffered repeated conquests throughout its tumultuous history. In spite of this, Afghanistan has proven to be a resilient force in the face of long term conquests, as the United States is experiencing today. It starts with an introduction to the country, focusing on its geography and people. It discusses its location in the region, its physical features and agricultural potential. It also discusses its economy and the ethnic groups inhabiting the country. It is interesting to note that the author has devoted a complete chapter to Afghanistans prehistory. While libraries and bookstores are filled with a multitude of works on the early life of Mesopotamia and Persia, very little can be found about Afghanistans prehistory. Further, most books provide only one or two paragraphs on the early civilization era of Afghanistan, usually after Alexander the Great conquered this region. By including a complete chapter on the countrys prehistory the writer has made the book appealing to general public as well as students of history. The next chapter discusses the early civilizations which flourished in this area. Brief yet informative material has been presented about the Aryan Civilization, the Medes Empire, the arrival of Alexander the Great in the region and the Greco-Bactrian rule in Afghanistan. Most books on the subject ignore the intermediate period between the early civilizations and the arrival of Islam in Afghanistan. However, the writer has discussed the Greek-Hellenistic culture prevailing in the area till the conquests led by Muslim invaders. The Macedonian Empire, the division under Seleucid and Mauryan Rule, the Greco-Bactrian and Parthian eras, The Kushan Empire and the Sassanid Dynasty have been dealt with by the author in this chapter before moving on to the advent of Muslim conquerors. Conspicuous, however, is the authors lack of attention to the rule of Islamic Empires in Afghanistan. The Islamic Empires of this region were some of the most powerful and influential ones during the period extending from 10th century A.D., and played a significant role in shaping the history of Central Asia, Persia and India. The indisposition of the author to handle this period of history in greater detail will come as a surprise to researchers and historians. The following chapter discusses the Mongolian Invasion, the Timurid Empire and Safavid Rule leading up to the creation of the first Afghan state under Ahmed Shah Durrani in 1747. A complete chapter has been written by the author detailing the Anglo-Afghan Wars from 1839 to 1919. Once again the author very concisely narrates the history of Afghanistan during this period ensuring that no important event is left out. Events leading up to the Soviet Invasion, Retreat of Soviet forces and the Afghan Civil War have been described by the author in a succinct manner. Since the history of Afghanistan during this period has been covered by a significant number of books, and that too in great detail, it is relieving to note that the writer has not presented extensive material reproducing the same events in the book. Instead the author sticks to presenting the events briefly. The next chapter in the book discusses the rise of fundamentalism in Afghan society. This covers the role of the Mujahideen, the rise of the Taliban, their war with the Northern Alliance and finally the advent of Osama bin Laden on the global scene. This chapter will be of particular interest to Western readers, especially those in the United States who are not clear about the origin of the Taliban. Afghanistan is a nation about which Western readers knew very little about till the events of 2001. Overall, Runion gives an insightful overview of such a country. In general, the book lays greater stress on the historical events occurring in the past 30 years. According to Frank W. Thackeray and John E. Findling, both professors at Indiana University and foreword-writers for the book, the past 30 years have been witness to a great deal of historical change, and it is to this change that this book is primarily addressed. The material in the book has been presented in an orderly manner, with the author focusing on the chronological order of the historical events. The language used is simple and helpful for students wishing to acquire knowledge about the subject matter in a short time duration. However it must be noted that the book presents a very brief overview of the history of Afghanistan, with the overly plain language at times becoming simple even for high school students. As the reader moves towards the more modern history of Afghanistan, it becomes perfectly clear that this book was written for Americans who wanted to know more about Afghanistan after 2001. If that is the only purpose of the readers, this book will prove fine. But if the readers are history students or researchers, they will find vast other eras of history getting ignored. The book contains additional chapters that add useful detail to the historical narrative. One chapter is a thorough chronology of important historical events, making it easy for readers to follow the flow of Afghanistans history. Another chapter features biographical sketches of the nations most important figures who have contributed to the historical development of the Afghan nation. The book also contains a comprehensive bibliography, so that those readers interested in the subject matter can find more about the nation and its history. Each chapter is followed by detailed notes explaining the contents of the chapter, making extensive references to works of other writers and historians on Afghanistan. Included alongside these items is a glossary of frequently used terms, and a guide to further readings. The author apparently did a great deal of research and references multiple sources to provide an unbiased look into Afghanistan. It was noted that the chronology of this book moves in a haphazard fashion, and the areas the author chooses to focus on are sometimes puzzling. Even though Afghanistan was a neutral nation during WWI and WWII, those wars are discussed in a paragraph. The authors style of narrating the events which have not yet occurred in a specific section becomes irritating at times. For example, the author writes: That king ruled until the war was over in 1967 Then the next section will begin: The war of regicidal independence began in 1960 This is fairly common, and has the readers sometimes struggling to put their mindset back into chronological order. The absence of maps was greatly felt, which could have assisted in explaining the historical contents of the book. Similarly, the book contained no illustrations or images, making it a tiresome and unamusing read at times. Inclusion of maps and illustrations could have added to the appeal and quality of the book Overall, the book makes a satisfactory attempt to explain the major historical events of Afghanistan very briefly. Some historical details have been ignored by the author. For an introductory history to Afghanistan, this serves its purpose, but it will probably pique rather than satiate the readers search for knowledge, which may have been the authors point all along. The book has about 150 pages, so if the readers want an in depth material this probably isnt recommended. However, this is a great starting material for those wanting to gain more understanding on the country and the current focus on modern events and conflicts It is recommended for general public wishing to acquire elementary knowledge and background information about the history of Afghanistan in a concise manner. Students of history and researchers looking for in-depth material on the subject however will be disappointed.

Glasswells Trifle :: essays research papers fc

Psychopathic: One Murder after Another In Susan Glaspell’s Trifles, Mrs. Wright has been arrested for the murder of her husband. The author describes her as a hard working house wife. She would spend hours in the hot summer making fruit preserves. Minnie Foster uses to be lively and social before she married John Wright. She would sing in a choir like a beautiful bird. From this perspective, readers will surely believe she is innocent. There is no way a sweet lady like her could have committed such a hideous crime, or could she? Although she had a normal personality, Mrs. Wright possesses a dark side. The killing of her husband is not an act of revenge for the death of her bird, but surely an act of a psychopath.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Cleckley, psychopaths normally show anxiety and do not feel guilt once they have committed a crime. Cleckley states, â€Å"The crimes of psychopaths are usually stone-cold, remorseless killings for no apparent reason. They cold-bloodedly take what they want and do as they please without the slightest sense of guilt or regret† (Cleckley). Psychopaths lack the ability to feel remorse and empathy. They feed themselves with the suffering of their victims. Sometimes, they collect certain things from their victims and keep them as trophies. In addition, psychopaths are calculated predators. Once they have picked a victim, they will take days or even weeks to plan out the attack. Robert Hare once claims, â€Å"Psychopaths must have stimulation and are prone to boredom† (Hare). Psychopaths need to have a social life; they need be able to communicate with others. If they do not have this access, they tend to, as many sociologists believe, â€Å"burst† and resort to violence just like Mrs. Wright.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mrs. Wright exemplifies a psychopath because she exhibits many of its characteristics. Most readers, if not all, believe that Mrs. Wright kills her husband. Some consider it an act of revenge; however, it is not. The killing is an act of a psychopath. In the beginning of the story, Hale describes Mrs. Wright as anxious â€Å"and was kind of-pleating (her apron)† (1325). When people are nervous, they usually grab on to something that they have been accustomed to for many years. In Mrs. Wright’s case, it is her apron. As stated earlier, psychopaths usually show anxiety after killing their victim and Mrs. Wright displays it as she sits on her chair.

Consumer Buying Behavior of Hybrid Vehicles

Table of Content Title2 1. 0Introduction2 1. 1Background of the Study2 1. 2Problem Statement2 1. 3Research Objectives3 1. 4Significance of the Study3 1. 5Scope of the Study4 2. 0Literature Review5 3. 0Research Methodology7 3. 1Theoretical Framework7 3. 2Generation of Hypothesis7 4. 0Conclusion8 Reference:9 Title Factors that affect consumer purchase decision of hybrid vehicles (Green Vehicles) in Malaysia. Introduction 1 Background of the Study With the air pollution level rising day by day caused by the emission from conventional vehicles, many government bodies have put in effort to enforce emission control policy since the late of 1960, and it is becoming strict with the EURO committee being the leader until today, where their emission policy and grading system being accepted or referenced worldwide even in Malaysia. The grading system based of emission cleanliness as of today is from Euro 1 to Euro 6, where Euro 1 being the worst emission standard and Euro 6 being the environmental friendly. This is the scene where most modern vehicles are fitted with catalytic converter since late 1975, a simple device that can reduce the harmful emission such as un-burn hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide by converting them into cleaner substances such as oxygen and hydrogen through chemical catalyst effect within (Tony & Andrew, 2006). The effect of this is that the rise of the awareness of fuel efficiency, as many will further relate that if fuel efficiency can be increased, then the emission can be further improved, as well as to reduce wastage. Many automobile makers has since then began development of fuel efficient engine in order to make a stand, and consequently lead to the trend of Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV). 2 Problem Statement However, emission is only one environmental factor as there is other factor which bothers a driver financial aspect, the fuel and its prices. No matter the fuel is expensive and cheap, if one can travel further with a given set amount of fuel, then one can certainly save him/her some money (Tony & Andrew, 2006). And back to the environmental area, fossil fuel is non-renewable energy resources and depletion is certainly inevitable. This is why in recent years, many western automobile makers started to look into building fuel efficient vehicles, by building fuel efficient engines through various ways, most notably by downsizing the engine displacement and compensate it with force induction such as low pressure turbocharger. The effect of this implementation is that using a smaller capacity engine but can achieve the power delivery of a high capacity engine, yet with lower fuel consumption. However back in the eastern automobile industry, where the Japanese being the leader they had something else in mind, not only they wanted fuel efficiency but at the same time they wished to maximize the go green concept. Henceforth they come up with the idea of hybrid vehicle, where in general terms a vehicle is powered by 2 sources of input, which is a normal internal combustion engine, supported by an additional electric motor which requires special battery pack. The advantages of this implementation is that the fuel consumption and emission is superior over the formal, while the drawback is the maintenance and cost of replacement for faulty battery pack is very expensive. With the hybrid being the hot trend now given the promising sales figures from European countries and the USA, generally the maintenance factor is not an issue for them, however in this research we need to find out the factors hat influence a buyer into considering, buying a hybrid vehicle over here in Malaysia, as the hybrid trend is still very new here in Malaysia, generally starting on the year of 2006 where Honda introduces Civic Hybrid. However with the recent tax exemption on hybrid vehicles from the Malaysia government, the trend seems to be changing positively and now we have several models from Honda and Toyota to offer in response to the policy. 3 Research Objectives a) What are the factors that influence consumer into considering a hybrid vehicle? b) What are the factors that support consumer into buying a hybrid vehicle? ) What are the factors that consumer worries about when purchasing a hybrid vehicle? 4 Significance of the Study This study into the factors that affect the buying decision of hybrid vehicles in Malaysia could project the trend and acceptance of hybrid vehicles here in Malaysia. With that information, local automobile makers can consider into developing our own hybrid vehicles to offer the local markets a broader choice, as well as to stay competitive in the market. Additionally, this will be a good catalyst to spark off â€Å"Go Green† concept into consumers’ mind that is beneficial to the restoration and perseverance of the environment. Scope of the Study In this research, we will first take a general look and introduction into both the low pressure force induction technology and the hybrid technology further then compare and contrast the pros and cons in detail. With both concept understood, we will begin to focus on the trend of hybrid vehicles here in Malaysia, finding out the factors that support or deter the acceptance of hybrid vehicle through questionnaire aimed at hybrid owners and potential hybrid owners, from then we can know what are the main factors and concern of buyer upon making a decision for a hybrid vehicle, and then onclude what can be done to further increase the acceptance level of hybrid vehicles. Literature Review According to Markel & Simpson (2006), the implementation of hybrid electric vehicles can effectively reduce petroleum consumption up to 30% when compared to conventional vehicle, however a fully plug-in hybrid electric vehicle shall be undergo development to further improve the savings and reduce the wastage, as current hybrid electric vehicles uses electric motor powered by battery pack to assist the engine, which is costly when one needs to replace, and it did not provide much desired power. The manufacturer can of course put in a bigger battery pack to punch out better power and durability, but with every 15% of improvement the cost is nearly doubled. This issue is also mentioned before way back in year 2001, where the development of hybrid vehicles began with the aim in providing a superior fuel efficiency vehicles with minimal wastage and pollutants emitted, in prior to address two major problems (Allella et al, 2001): a) Consumption of fuel : World petroleum reserves and residues are unlikely able to sustain against the ever growing necessity of consumption b) Pollution : Generally referred to the harmful emission that can damage the environmental health The most common hybrid vehicle design is found within the famous Japanese automobile makers, respectively the Honda & the Toyota. The idea is to fit an electric motor powered by a battery pack that will recharge itself using the lost energy during the braking procedure, to assist a smaller capacity conventional engine in acceleration. With the motor assistant, the engine need not work and rev up that hard to get the vehicle moving therefore fuel consumption can be lowered. When certain conditions are met, the vehicles may also run solely on the electric motor itself most probably during low speed cruising. Putting the vehicle design aside, as stated by Kuo & Wang (2011), the disciplinary in driving, as well as the climate is major factor in reducing fuel consumption. Kuo & Wang pointed out that in countries that have tropical climate, such as those near to the equator, tend to have higher fuel consumption index compared to other countries with 4 seasons climate, this is mainly due to the fact that fuel burns better and more efficient when the air temperature is colder, as colder air is more dense and henceforth carries more oxygen molecules. Other than that, since the temperature is generally high throughout the year for tropical climate countries, drivers tend to switch on the air-conditioner (A/C) most of the time to withstand the hot weather, and A/C draws power from the engine to power up the compressor and cooling coil, therefore it results in loss of power from engine and leads to higher fuel consumption. On the disciplinary side, traveling below or way above the optimum speed of a vehicle, usually around 90KM/H to 110KM/H will affect the fuel consumption, where most drivers tend to speed when the chances arise. One should also try to plan their traveling route ahead, in order to avoid unnecessary traffic congestion which can result in poor fuel consumption, as start-stop driving proven to have 60% increased fuel consumption compared to smooth non-stop driving. This is generally experienced by most drivers that they can achieve better mileage if they travel on the highway often. Research Methodology 1 Theoretical Framework [pic] 2 Generation of Hypothesis Assume that ) H0 = Null Hypothesis (No relationship between IV & DV) b) H1 = Alternative Hypothesis (Significant relationship between IV & DV) |H1 |H0 – There is no relationship between maintenance and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | | |H1 – There is significant relationship between maintenance and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | |H2 |H0 – There is no relationship between fuel consumption and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | |H1 – There is significant relationship between fuel consumption a nd purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | |H3 |H0 – There is no relationship between tax exemption and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | | |H1 – There is significant relationship between tax exemption and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | |H4 |H0 – There is no relationship between personal view and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. | | |H1 – There is significant relationship between personal view and purchase decision of hybrid vehicles. Conclusion In conclusion, no matter it is partial hybrid or fully plug-in hybrid, the main objectives are to prolong the sustainability of petroleum through improved fuel consumption. By going green, the hybrid technology can also help in reducing wastage and guarantee cleaner emission that can contribute to better environmental health and quality. Therefore with all the benefits and savings, we should try to adopt and embrace the implementation of hybrid vehicles. However, there is still room for improve ment given the hybrid technology is still new within a decade of time. Government should come out with policy that can help greatly in promoting the adaptation of this green technology. Reference: 1) Allella et al, (2001), Negative Log-gamma Distribution for Data Uncertainty Modeling in Reliability Analysis of Complex System Methodology and Robustness, International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Vol. 18, Napoli, Italy. 2) Allela et al, (2005), Optimal Reliability Allocation Under Uncertain Conditions With Application to Hybrid Vehicle Design [Online], International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, Vol. 22, Napoli, Italy. Available from (www. meraldinsight. com/0265-671X. htm) [Accessed June 6 2011] 3) Apaydin O. & Gonullu MT, (2008), Emission Control With Route Optimization In Solid Waste Collection Process, Vol. 33, Sadhana. 4) Davis S. & Diegel S, (2004), Transportation Energy Databook, 24th Edition. 5) Duval M, (2004), Advanced Batteries for Electric Drive Vehicles, EPRI. 6) Hirsch et al, (2005), Peaking of World Oil Pr oduction: Impracts, Risks, and Mitigation. 7) Kuo Y. & Wang CC, (2011), Optimizing the VRP by Minimizing Fuel Consumption [Online], International Journal of Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 2. Available from (www. emeraldinsight. com/1477-7835. htm) [Accessed 8 June 2011] 8) Markel T. & Simpson A, (2005), Energy Storage Considerations for Grid-Charged Hybrid Electric Vehicles, IEEE Vehicular Technologies Conference, Chicago, IL. 9) Markel T. & Simpson A, (2006), Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Energy Storage System Design [Online], National Renewable Energy Laboratory, available from (http://www. nrel. gov/vehiclesandfuels/vsa/pdfs/39614. pdf) [Accessed 8 June 2011]

GDP †A Gross Deception

Capitalism concentrates on production of wealth more than distribution of wealth to satisfy the needs, which is secondary in their view. Therefore, the capitalist economic system has one aim, which is to increase the country's wealth as a whole, and it works to arrive at the highest possible level of production. It considers that the achievement of the highest possible level of welfare for the members of society will come as a result of increasing the national income by raising the level of production in the country, and in enabling individuals to be able to take the wealth, by being left free to work in producing and possessing it. So for capitalists the economy does not exist to satisfy the needs of every individual, rather it is focused on satisfying the needs of the wider community by raising the level of production and increasing the national income of the country. It believes that through the availability of the national income, the distribution of income among the members of society occurs, by means of freedom of possession and freedom of work. So it is left to the individuals to obtain what they can of the wealth, everyone according to what he has of its productive factors, whether all the individuals or only some individuals are satisfied. This is the so called â€Å"trickle-down effect†, a now-discredited theory of distribution which holds that the concentration of wealth in a few hands benefits the poor as the wealth necessarily â€Å"trickles down† to them, mainly through employment and as a result of investments made by the wealthy. In most cases, this policy failed, as the benefits were pocketed by a few. GNP is used widely by the capitalist nations as a measure of total production of all goods and services produced in a nation (usually annually) and central to a government’s national income accounts. GNP was introduced during World War II as a measure of wartime production capacity, since then the Gross National Product (since changed to Gross Domestic Product – GDP) has become a nation's foremost indicator of economic progress. Yet the GDP was never intended for this role. It is merely a gross tally of products and services bought and sold. However it is now widely used by policy makers, economists, international agencies and the media as the primary scorecard of a nation's economic health and well- being. Yet in this role it has many serious flaws. 1. The GDP ignores everything that happens outside the realm of monetized exchange, regardless of its importance to well-being and the society. Hence values (humanitarian, ethical, spiritual) other than material values go entirely ignored. 2. The GDP records every monetary transaction as positive, so the costs of social decay and natural disasters are tallied as an economic advance. For example the terrible effects of crime are recorded positively as adding billions of dollars to the GDP due to the need for locks and other security measures, increased police protection, property damage, and medical costs. Hurricane Andrew was a disaster for Southern Florida USA, but the GDP recorded it as a boon to the economy of well over $15 billion. 3. GDP ignores the drawbacks of living on foreign assets. Where governments have increased their spending by borrowing from abroad, this raises the GDP temporarily, but the need to repay this debt becomes a growing burden on the national economy. This downside of borrowing from abroad is not reflected in the GDP. 4. The GNP was turned into the GDP – a change that was deceptive and exploited by the Capitalist nations. Under the old measure, the Gross National Product, the earnings of a capitalist multinational firm were attributed to the country where the firm was owned and where the profits would eventually return. Under the Gross Domestic Product, however, the profits are attributed to the country where the factory is located, even though the profits won't stay there. This accounting shift has deceptively turned many struggling nations into statistical boomtowns. Statistics which are used in aiding the push for globalisation and free trade. Conveniently, it hides a basic fact: that the western Capitalist nations are walking off with the resources of poorer nations and calling it a gain for the poor. 5. Above all GDP ignores the distribution of income. In effect the GDP hides the fact that a rising tide does not lift all boats. From 1973 to 1993 in the USA, while GDP rose by over 50 percent, wages suffered a decline of almost 14 percent. Meanwhile, during the 1980s alone, the top 5 percent of households increased their real income by almost 20 percent. Yet the GDP presents this enormous gain at the top as a bounty to all. Furthermore the average number of poor people averaged more than 30 million people over the last 40 years in the US, with an average of 15% of the population being poor. In the meantime, the gross national product continued to increase drastically, over the same period. The GDP grew from $400 billions to $10 trillions from 1959 to 2000. This very large increase in the national product did not contribute to the resolution of poverty. More than 30 million people continue to be poor. Hence Capitalism superbly increases the production of products and services, and hence wealth. However this completely fails to resolve the poverty of the individuals. The number of poor people continues to grow. In reality therefore GDP as a measure of a nation’s economic well being is really a deception. It begins to explain why people feel increasingly gloomy despite official claims of economic progress and growth. In Islam, the economic problem is focused on distributing the means of satisfaction for individuals i. e. the distribution of the funds and benefits to the members of the nation or people, not on the needs which the nation or the people require without having any regard to every individual within the nation. In other words, the problem is the poverty which occurs to the individual not the poverty which occurs to the nation. The concern of the Islamic economic system is focused predominantly on satisfying the basic needs of every individual, not the study of producing economic commodity. Islam makes the subject of study, the basic human needs of man, as a human being, and the study of distributing the wealth to the members of society to guarantee the satisfaction of all their basic needs. Unlike capitalism it is aware that the treatment of the poverty of a country, through raising the level of production, does not solve the problem of poverty for individuals. Rather, Islam advocates the treatment of the poverty problems of all the individuals, and the distribution of the wealth of the country among them by addressing their basic needs first, thus motivating all the people of the country to work in increasing the national income.