Essay Changes in Early Modern Europe - 967 Words

Early modern Europe, specifically Spain and England, was going through major growing pains in the period before discovery and settlement of the New World. Recovery from the Black Plague, religious reformation, and newly formed nation-states were on the forefront of these changes. The political environment, economy, and religion were all intertwined during the upheaval of the Old World which proved to be a driving force in the search for and eventual settlement of new lands. The Reformation and the Counter-Reformation were major motivating factors in early modern Europe leading to exploration of new lands. This began with Martin Luther’s break from Catholic doctrine in 1519. By the time the Reformation came onto the European stage,†¦show more content†¦Because of all this religious change in England and other nations, they were slower to explore and colonize the New World. Economic changes occurred partly due to the newly formed nation-states of Spain, Portugal, Franc e, and England. Trade at that time was limited and expensive, so the Europeans began looking for new trade routes to Asia. What they found was an altogether new place that opened up many new opportunities for food sources, money, and slave labor. A motivator for exploration was â€Å"defined primarily in terms of silver and gold and secondarily in terms of raw materials.† Another factor to consider was the population explosion that came about after the Black Plague wiped out around 30 million Europeans producing â€Å"economic disruption.† Spain was seeking gold to finance further expeditions abroad and their own war with the Muslims on the home front. Britain was seeking new trade markets for their wool with the collapse of their wool market at home. Another mitigating economic factor was the rising prices created by the flood of American silver into the European market. This caused rates to double on many goods, which benefited the farmers and the merchants, but the majority of people suffered because their wages did not rise proportionately. This increased the number of people living on the fringes of society and â€Å"thus built up pressure to immigrate to the Americas.† Intertwined withShow MoreRelatedEarly Modern Europe – Major Forces for Change903 Words   |  4 PagesEarly Modern Europe – Major Forces for Change There are a lot of events that shaped the history of early Europe. Our ancestors had a lot on their plate when they discovered new lands and fought new diseases. One of the early forces that had a major impact were the crusades. The Crusades were a bunch of religious wars that were called on by the Pope and the Catholic Church in order to defend Christianity against the Muslims and get closer to the holy cities and other places in ancient PalestineRead MoreWitches Be Thy Enemy738 Words   |  3 Pagesmagic did not exist and while those who did were diluted. By the end of the Inquisition there was an estimated 90,000 witch trials occur with an estimated 50% of them resulting in executions (Levack, The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe 1987, 2006, 23). So what dramatic turn did Europe take during the Inquisition? In the late sixteenth century the great witch hunt was beginning, and this was fueled by the European elites believing that witches were actively harming their neighbors and conspiring withRead MoreEssay on The Early Renaissance559 Words   |  3 PagesThe Early Renaissance Today, what is considered to be the modern times began with the Early Renaissance at the start of the 15th century. As time has progressed, things have modified within societies to mold with the new ways of thinking for that time. Between the years of the 1400s and the 1800s this world has undergone many changes. Focusing on Europe, the major forces of change were in politics, economics, and religion. In modern European history political effort were supplied byRead MoreThe Effects Of The Witch Hunt In Early Modern Europe996 Words   |  4 PagesIn early modern Europe, approximately 90,000 prosecutions for witchcraft transpired (Levack, The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe, 2016, p. 21). Although what caused this iniquity cannot be narrowed down to any one event, there are a number of factors that are more predominant than others. The evolution of many facets of government in addition to naturally occurring disasters, such as crop failure, created a crisis mentality. This shaped the framework for what was to become the witch-hunts thatRead MoreSecurity of the Political and Social Position of the Nobility in Early Modern Europe1357 Words   |  6 Pagesand Social Position of the Nobility in Early Modern Europe The nobility of early modern Europe were descended on the whole from the mounted knights of medieval armies who had been granted land along with social and political privileges and had subsequently formed a higher social class. Between 1500-1789 the status of the aristocracy came under threat both politically and socially. The rise of ‘absolutism’ within the monarchies of Europe led to the desire of governmentsRead MoreThe Impact Of Ecological And Climate Change On Europe1614 Words   |  7 PagesWhat was the impact of ecological and climate change on Europe between c.1500 and c.1650? Early Modern Europe started at the beginning of the 15th century and is a period which characterized by prodigious discoveries and inventions. It was also a period of great changes, hardship and wars that paved the way towards the Modern World and the industrial revolution. If the end of this period is often seen as one of intense human advancement especially in term of the arts, humanities and socialRead MoreWitch Hunts of the Early Modern Period as the Result of Religious and Social Upheaval1075 Words   |  5 PagesWitch Hunts of the Early Modern Period as the Result of Religious and Social Upheaval The Early Modern Period was a time of great change in and around Europe. The people of the age were faced with upheaval of all forms; religious, social, political and even economical. Religious upheaval stemmed from changes in religious views and practises. The Reformation was a hugely significant event that took place in the years spanning 1520-1650. It was a religious, and politicalRead MoreEssay on Relationship Between Modern Humans and Neanderthal 1593 Words   |  7 Pagesfirst Neanderthal fossils found in Europe, a fragmented child’s cranium in Belgium in 1830, and an adult cranium in Gibraltar, were not immediately recognized as a divergent kind of human. Only in 1856 after a partial skeleton was found in a cave in the Neander Valley in Germany it became clear that these fossils belonged to an extinct human and our closest evolutionary relative (Hublin and Pà ¤Ãƒ ¤bo, 2006). Since then, questions about their relationship with modern humans have been fiercely debatedRead MoreMedieval Period in European History1575 Words   |  7 PagesRoman Empire around 500 C.E., and continued until the early modern period beginning around 1500. The medieval period is split into the sub-categories of early medieval (500-1000), central middle ages (1000-1300), late medieval (1300-1500), and followed by the early modern period (1500-1800). At each of these periods of time important political, economic, social, cultural, religious and scientific changes were being made in Western Europe. Early Medieval The collapse of the Roman Empire led to theRead More Review of The Black Death Essay854 Words   |  4 Pagesresults of the plague that devastated medieval Europe. It focuses on the many effects it had on the culture of medieval Europe and the possibility that it expedited cultural change. I found that Robert S. Gottfried had two main theses in the book. He argued that rodent and insect life cycles, as well as the changing of weather systems affect plague. He claimed that the devastation plague causes is partly due to its perpetual recurrences. Plague ravaged Europe in cycles, devastated the people when they

Lucy Stone - The Progress of Fifty Years - 1893 Speech

This was Lucy Stones last public speech, and she died a few months later at age 75. The speech was originally presented as a speech to the Congress of Women held in the Womans Building at the Worlds Columbian Exposition (Worlds Fair), Chicago, 1893.  Stone is known as a proponent of womens suffrage and, earlier in her life, as an abolitionist. A short biography below (before Stones speech) was published with the speech in the official edition of the record of the Congress of Women, published at the direction of the Lady Managers, a committee charged by the United States Congress with overseeing the Womans Building and its events. Points covered in this speech: Education: A reflection that Oberlin College opened itself to both sexes and to all classes in 1833, followed by Mary Lyon opening Mt. Holyoke.Free speech: Anti-Slavery activism had led to questioning womens role as well, though the anti-slavery movement was divided on womens rights. She mentions the Grimke sisters and Abby Kelly.  Abby Kellys role in establishing the right to free speech for women, defended by Garrison and Phillips.Womens Sphere and womens work: Women began to enter new occupations. She mentions Harriet Hosmer among artists, business owners, Elizabeth Blackwell and medicine, ministry and Antoinette Brown, law and Lelia Robinson.Married womens rights: The property rights and legal existence of married women.Political power: Some limited suffrage for women had already been won, including full suffrage in Wyoming, school and municipal suffrage in other places.Womens organizations: Womens clubs, colleges for women and co-educational colleges, the  Womans Christian T emperance Union  and other reform groups and beneficent societies, factory, and prison inspectors, and the Board of Lady Managers for the Columbian Exposition, at which Stone was speaking. She closed with: And not one of these things was allowed women fifty years ago, except the opening at Oberlin.  By what toil and fatigue and patience and strife and the beautiful law of growth has all this been wrought? These things have not come of themselves. They could not have occurred except as the great movement for women has brought them out and about. They are part of the eternal order, and they have come to stay. Now all we need is to continue to speak the truth fearlessly, and we shall add to our number those who will turn the scale to the side of equal and full justice in all things. Full text:  The Progress of Fifty Years: Lucy Stone, 1893​ Related Primary Source Material on This Site: Laura Ormiston Chant: The Duty of God to Man  - 1893Ida Hultin: Essential Oneness of Ethical Ideas  - 1893Marriage Protest of Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell  - 1855

Video Game Industry Analysis - 2720 Words

SALES, DEMOGRAPHIC AND USAGE DATA 2013 ESSENTIAL FACTS ABOUT THE COMPUTER AND VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY [ iii ] â€Å"No other sector has experienced the same explosive growth as the computer and video game industry. Our creative publishers and talented workforce continue to accelerate advancement and pioneer new products that push boundaries and unlock entertainment experiences. These innovations in turn drive enhanced player connectivity, fuel demand for products, and encourage the progression of an expanding and diversified consumer base.† —Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO, Entertainment Software Association [ iv ] WHAT’S INSIDE WHO IS PLAYING 2 3 Who Plays Computer and Video Games? Who Buys Computer and Video Games?†¦show more content†¦of parents believe that the parental controls available on all new video game consoles are useful. Further, parents impose time usage limits on video games more than any other form of entertainment: 86% 79% of parents place time limits on video game playing 78% of parents place time limits on Internet usage 72% of parents place time limits on television viewing 69% of parents place time limits on movie viewing of the time parents areShow MoreRelatedHome Video Game Industry Analysis Essay862 Words   |  4 PagesSubject: The Home Video Game Industry: Industry Analysis History In 1949 the video game was thought of for the first time by an engineer named Ralph Baer but it would be years before video games would enter the spotlight.1 In 1972 Steve Bushnell started the first gaming company Atari. Until 1978 there were very few games for the home system. In 1982 Atari releases a newer version and sales start to sore. In 1985 Nintendo enters the market with the NES. Nintendo still outsells both companiesRead MoreFive Forces Analysis of the Video Game Industry943 Words   |  4 PagesForces Analysis of the Video Game Industry The video game industry is the economic sector involved with the development, marketing and sale of video and computer games. It includes video game consoles, game software, handheld devices, mobile games and online games. The video gaming industry has been growing exponentially in recent years with Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo competing for the higher profits in the market. This essay will analyze each of the five forces acting on the industry: threatRead MoreVideo Game Industry Analysis Essay1698 Words   |  7 PagesIndustry background The video game industry (formally referred to as interactive entertainment) is the economic sector involved with the development, marketing and sale of video and computer games. It includes video game consoles, game software, handheld devices, mobile games and online games. The video gaming industry has been growing exponentially in recent years. The growth is expected to leap-frog in the future. Following chart shows the projected market share by 2010 of different segmentRead MoreVideo Game Industry Analysis2138 Words   |  9 PagesHistory The history of video games goes as far back as the 1940s, when in 1947 Thomas T. Goldsmith, Jr. and Este Ray Mann filed a United States patent request for an invention they described as a cathode ray tube amusement device. Video gaming would not reach mainstream popularity until the 1970s and 1980s, when arcade video games, gaming consoles and home computer games were introduced to the general public. Since then, video gaming has become a popular form of entertainment and a part of modernRead MoreVideo Game Industry- 5 Forces Analysis1442 Words   |  6 PagesForces Analysis of the Video Game Industry As in every industry, there are five competitive forces that determine the intensity of competition between the different players. These competitive forces are; the threat of entry of a new company in the industry, the threat of substitution by another product, the bargaining power of the buyers, the bargaining power of the suppliers, and rivalry among currently existing competitors. These competitive forces are easily seen in the video game industry, asRead MoreMarketing Analysis : Video Game Industry Essay1302 Words   |  6 Pagesevery other industry I believe the brand name is a pivotal component in the success of a company to sell products. 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The threat of substitutes in the video game is notRead MoreVideo Games And The Video Game Industry1344 Words   |  6 Pages In the year 2016, the video game industry hit an important milestone. As seen in this 2015-2019 analysis, the industry hit a market value of over $100,000,000,000: (â€Å"THE GLOBAL GAMES MARKET REACHES $99.6 BILLION IN 2016, MOBILE GENERATING 37%†). Just like today, 1983 was looking great for the future of video games. However, unlike today, 1983 did not go great for the video game industry, it went awfully. In 1983, the video game industry crashed and h as not fully recovered to the value of the marketRead MoreThe Ultimate Gaming Experience : Buy Their Stocks1057 Words   |  5 PagesEntertainment Software Association in 2015, they found out that 155 million of Americans play video games. More interestingly, four out of five US households now own a device used to play video games. That device could be computer, gaming platform and also mobile devices. 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Causes of Defaults in Microfinance Institutions in Sub Saharan Africa

Question: Discuss about theCauses of Defaults in Microfinance Institutions in Sub Saharan Africa. Answer: Introduction Background of the Study Financial institutions have played an important role in various parts of the world. Despite this there have been problems of loan defaults among the microfinance bank than main banks especially in developing countries. We want to establish whether the microfinance institutions contribute significantly to the causes of the defaults. In reference to Otero (1999), microfinance refers to providing or making financial services available to low-income poor people. Microfinance first came on the limelight in 1970s with the construction of Grameen Bank courtesy of Muhammad Yunus (Robinson, 2001). Before then from 1950s the role of the current microfinance was being played by donors and governments. Unfortunately the idea was met by myriad of challenges which resulted in high rate of default and hence losses to the government and the donors (Robinson, 2001). Research by (Schreiner, 2003) asserts that by 1996 there were about 1000 MFIs in about one hundred countries with an estimation of 1000 members. Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have recently seen an increase in the number of microfinance institutions due to high demand for microcredit for SMEs and poor business people in urban and rural areas. The governments have also facilitated the rate at which the microfinance institutions are being established by liberalizing the economies. Whereas the main aim of any microfinance is not only lending but also making profit, high class competition in the sector has led to most of the microfinance institutions compromising on the critical aspects of lending leaving them exposed to high risk of default. The soaring rates of non-payments in microfinances impact badly on the extent of private investment and restrict operations of the institutions credit to borrower as they have to cater for the defaults. On the other hand, success of any microfinance is measured by delinquency loan as a fraction of gross lending. To salvage the delinquency loans, there is need for the microfinance institutions to lay down robust mitigation strategies such as more strict credit policies, an elaborate loan appraisal procedures and proper default recovery procedures. The subsequent chapters of the proposal will include literature review and methodologies that will be used in the actual research. Literature Review Default in microfinance The core objective of this study is to come up with a model to predict loan default among micro-borrowers in Africa. It will then be proper for the study to define or explain the term default. Default in the context of this research study refers to failure of individual borrower to repay a due installment at the right time. Many microfinances have of late been struggling with the problem of default. This has been occasioned by the level of competition in the market which drives them to lend money without proper loan appraisal. It is an issue of concern since it is affecting the operation of many of those institutions. When defaults are minimal or repayment rates are high, the MFIs are able to increase the amount of money they disburse to lenders. They are also able to offer their loans at lower interest rates and even charge lower processing fees (Acquah Addo, 2011). There have been debates as to the causes of loan defaults but a conclusive result is yet to be found. It has been said that some of the reasons that are likely to encourage poor repayments or default are poor management procedures, using loan for unintended purpose, lack of will by the borrower to repay and other economic factors (Wongnaa, 2013). According to (Arene, 1993), a number of factors such as level of education of a farmer, income and experience were better determiners of credit worthiness of a borrower. A research study done in Kwazulu Natal in South Africa by (Mashatola Darroch, 2003) pointed that farm size, loan size, farming experience and level of education affected loan repayment. According to (Eze Ibekwe, 2007) formal education, loan size, size of the family and occupation of the borrower also significantly influenced repayment behavior. Research Questions and Hypothesis Research Questions Could the initial loan appraisal process be the major cause of non-performing loans in microfinance institutions in sub-Saharan Africa? Are the laid down recovery framework and procedures by microfinance institutions be the major cause of defaults in microfinance institutions? What are the lenders factors that could encourage non-performing loans among borrowers in MFIs? Research hypothesis The following is the main research hypothesis of the research project. H0: Microfinance institutions in sub-Saharan Africa contribute significantly to the causes of defaults that they experience. Versus H1: Loan defaults among microfinance institutions borrowers in sub-Saharan Africa have got nothing to do with the institutions themselves. Operational Definitions and Measurements The population of this research will involve established microfinance companies and borrowers from the same institutions in the sub-Saharan Africa. The population will be limited to those microfinance institutions that have been registered by their various governments Central Bank by December 2015. Credit risk managers and loan officers from microfinance institutions will form the population. Research Methodology Sampling Technique The research combines both qualitative and quantitative research design. The quantitative research technique will be used in cases where the some studys test will be done using inferential statistics. This approach method is preferred because of the random nature of the sample from which inference will be made. This design will be used to describe the data and population characteristic.The dependent variable in this case will be default while the independent variables will be loan amount, size of the business, experience with microfinance, level of education of the borrower to mention but a few. Method of Analysis Correlation analysis will also be conducted, to be specific, Pearsons Correlation coefficient will be employed to establish the cross-relationship between the independent and dependent variables; this will be to determine whether there is a significant relationship that exist between a variable and default to the extent that the variable can be an indicator of looming default. During data analysis, multivariate statistical software XL Stats will be used because of its aptness in multivariate analysis. Since the study is having numerous variables, factor analysis will be used since it is able to screen a group of variables depending on the weight of correlation. To add on, the software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel will be used to solve the multiple regression equation used in this study and to solve descriptive statistics. Research Process The data will be collected through two ways. These are primary data and secondary data. Primary data will be collected through the use of questionnaires so as to get first-hand information. Secondary data on the other hand refers to data from past records, published journals and data from the microfinances that will be used in the study. Though the study will use both primary and secondary, the study will rely heavily on secondary data. On primary data, a simple random sampling will be employed to select the respondents. A self-administered questionnaire will be employed in data collection. This will help the participants have ample time to answer the questions at their own free time since some of them are usually not ready at the time the researcher wants to conduct the interview. Expected Outcomes From the literature review, it is evident that most of the causes of default or non-payment of loans among microfinance institution borrowers comes from the borrowers themselves and not the microfinance institutions in Africa. Such causes are using the money borrowed for other purposes other than the intended purpose. The other cause from the borrowers may be investing the borrowed money in projects that are not viable. Moreover, there are other causes that come from the institutions themselves such as lack of proper loan appraisal. Conclusion The research study will be an important learning material to policy drafters in MFIs as it will guide them on maintaining a quality and performing loan portfolio. When it comes to delinquency management, the document will come in handy for the top managers of financial institutions and the juniors such as loan officers who directly deal with borrowers from the initial stages of recruitment to loan appraisal. Apart from the financial institutions, the outcome of this research will be a point of reference to potential borrowers to make better choices when looking for any loan product. References Arene, C. J. (1993). An analysis of loan repayment potentials of smallholder soyabean group farmers in Nigeria. Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture. Armendariz, B., Morduch, J. (2005). Where Dowe Stand? In Financial Development and Economic Growth: Explaining the Links. (C. Goodhart., Ed.) MicroFinance:. Mashatola, M. C., Darroch, M. A. (2003). Factors affecting the loan status of sugarcane farmers using a graduated mortgage loan repayment scheme in Kwazulu-Natal. Mugwanga, H., Kashangaki, J. (1999). Dropouts among Kenyan microfinancen institutions. Chenai. Ohlson , J. (1980). Financial ratios and the probabilistic prediction of bankruptcy. . Journal of Accounting. Oladeebo, J. O., Oladeebo, O. E. (2008). Determinants of Loan Repayment among Smallholder Farmers in Oyo state, Nigeria. Oni , O. A., Oladele, O. I., Oyewole, I. K. (2005). Analysis of Factors Influencing Loan Default among Poultry farmers in Ogun state Nigeria. Journal of central european agriculture. Robinson. (2001). Global poverty in the late 20th century. Journal of International Affairs, 293-301. Schreiner, M. (2003). A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh. Srinivasan, R. (2007). Measuring Delinquency and Default in Microfinance Institutions. Indian Institute of Management: working paper. Wongnaa, C. A. (2013). Agris on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics Factors Affecting Loan Repayment among yam farmers in Sene District of Ghana.