History of AIDS Essay Example for Free

History of AIDS Essay AIDS is a disease that destroys a person’s immune system. AIDS is a blood born pathogen. It was originally only found in gay men. This led to people calling it the â€Å"gay men disease. † They use to think that this was punishment from God for their being gay. Then researchers found out some drug users were also getting the HIV virus, which leads to AIDS, from sharing needles. After that, it was referred to as the â€Å"gay man and druggy disease. † All of the labels AIDS has been given are completely wrong; even heterosexual, sober people can get AIDS. Considering the many ways of contracting HIV/AIDS it seems foolish to limit the causes to sex and drug use. Jonathan Mann wrote: We do not know how many people developed AIDS in the 1970s, or indeed in the years before. We do now know that the origin of AIDS and the virus HIV was probably in Africa. What we also know is: â€Å"The dominant feature of this first period was silence for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was unknown and transmission was not accompanied by signs or symptoms salient enough to be noticed. While rare, sporadic case reports of AIDS and sero-archaeological studies have documented human infections with HIV prior to 1970, available data suggest that the current pandemic started in the mid- to late 1970s. By 1980, HIV has spread to at least five continents (North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia). During this period of silence, spread was unchecked by awareness or any preventive action and approximately 100,000-300,000 persons may have been infected. (qtd in â€Å"History†) The first awareness of AIDS was in June of 1981, when they found traces of PCP in five men in Los Angeles, California. This event occured when they believed only gay men could get the disease, so they were not worried about it spreading to heterosexual people. This was all also before the method of transmission was known; they thought a person could catch it if he or she were standing to close to someone who had the disease. In December of 1981 the first cases of AIDS were reported in intravenous drug users. In 1982 AIDS was still nameless. People started calling it numerous names, such as â€Å"Gay Compromise Syndrome,† â€Å"GRID (gay-related immune deficiency),† â€Å"AID (acquired immunodeficiency disease),† â€Å"gay cancer† and â€Å"community-acquired immune dysfunction. (â€Å"History†) Later that year, reports emerged of children and transfusion recipients getting AIDS. Everyone knew this was no longer a gay related disease. Persons who may be considered at increased risk of AIDS include those with symptoms and signs suggestive of AIDS; sexual partners of AIDS patients; sexually active homosexual or bisexual men with multiple partners; Haitian entrants to the United States; present or past abusers of IV drugs; patients with hemophilia; and sexual partners of individuals at increased risk for AIDS. qtd in â€Å"History†) This was the message that CDC (Center for Disease Control) sent out when researchers discovered that AIDS was spread through body fluids. It was not until March 1983 that researchers discovered this. Between 1987 and 1992 there were many prevention groups created. ACT-UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) was founded to attempt to end the AIDS crisis. â€Å"On April 2, 1989, Hans Verhoef, a Dutch man with AIDS, was jailed in Minnesota under the federal law banning travelers with HIV from entering the USA. †(â€Å"History†) In July of 1990, Kimberly Bergalis was infected with HIV by her dentist, David Acer. The CDC would not believe Kimberly, they didn’t think this type of infection was possible. Her father kept telling the CDC that Kimberly would not back down, thus by the end of it all the CDC supported her conclusion. Early in 1991, the CDC confirmed that the same dentist infected two other patients. In the fall of 1991 Kimberly requested mandatory HIV testing for all health care workers, so that â€Å"others don’t have to go through the hell that I have. (â€Å"History†) A few years after the CDC chose not to do the mandatory testing, Kimberly Bergalis died. In 1991 Earvin (Magic) Johnson announced that he was HIV positive; he then retired from professional sports. He wanted to use his celebrity status to educate kids about the disease. He also said, â€Å"I think sometimes we think, well, only gay people can get it – it is not going to happen to me. And here I am saying that it can happen to anyone, even me Magic Johnson. † (â€Å"History†) In 1992 the FDA(Federal Drug Administration) approved the use of two drugs combined, it was the first combination of drugs that was successful. This new drug is not a cure, but it constitutes an important addition to the expanding group of antiviral drugs currently available, including AZT and DDI, for treating people with AIDS. † stated James Mason. (â€Å"History†) On December 1, 1993, World AIDS Day, Benetton and ACT UP Paris put a giant condom (22m x 3. 5m) in the time square equivalent in Paris to raise awareness of the disease. (â€Å"History†) One of the television ads, entitle Automatic, features a condom making its way from the top drawer of a dresser across the room and into bed with a couple about to make love. The voice-over says, ‘It would be nice if latex condoms were automatics. But since they’re not using them should be. Simply because a latex condom, used consistently and correctly will prevent the spread of HIV. ’ (qtd in â€Å"History†) This was a commercial that attempted to make men wear condoms to keep the HIV virus from spreading. If a man wears a condom it will reduce the chance of the woman contracting the virus. In 1994 scientists found a medication that reduced the spread of HIV from mother to infant by two thirds. This was the first sign that mothers can decrease the spread of HIV to their children, and maybe stop it all together. In 1996, a heavyweight boxer was tested positive for HIV before a fight. This was his reaction: â€Å"I thought AIDS was something that happened to gays and drug addicts. A macho guy like me who loves ladies and super fit – he doesn’t get AIDS! † stated Tommy Morrison. (â€Å"History†) In his State of the Union address on 28th January, US president George Bush proposed spending $15 billion in combating AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean over the next 5 years. He called the scheme a great mission of rescue. This comprehensive plan will prevent 7 million new AIDS infections, treat at least 2 million people with life-extending drugs, and provide humane care for millions of people suffering from AIDS, and for children orphaned by AIDS. †-President Bush Just two days later, US Health Secretary Tommy Thompson was elected as the new chairman of the Global Fund for HIV, TB and Malaria. It was hoped this move would prevent a conflict between the Bush administration and the international health community. (qtd in â€Å"History†) Symptoms of AIDS include; heart infections, intestine infections, and other infections that are uncommon. When a person has AIDS he or she gets very uncommon infections that a healthy immune system could fight off. Since his or her immune system slowly gets destroyed he or she can’t fight off infections and viruses that most people can. The most common cause of AIDS is sexual transmission. This can be between two men, two women, or heterosexual intercourse. The second highest cause is being exposed to blood borne pathogens. This can happen from blood donations, or just having open wounds. This however cannot happen from close contact, like some people believe. The least likely way to contract the virus is from mother to child, because we now have drugs that make it so less than one percent of children will get it from their mother. AIDS is a disease that will completely destroy your immune system. It attaches to your white blood cells and keeps them from doing their job. White blood cells would normally fight off any infection that get into your body, but when the HIV virus changes to AIDS it will block the receptors from the message your brain sends saying to attack this bacteria. This means AIDS does not kill you, rather the illness AIDS won’t let your body fight kill you. There are many ways to prevent AIDS, the most effective way is abstinence. If you are not sexually active, you cannot get an STI. However, if you feel you have to have sex use a condom. Not only does it prevent unwanted birth, but it will also reduce the transmission of STIs. (â€Å"CDC†) The importance of condoms in the fight against STDs is readily apparent, whether one focuses on the past, the present or the future. But condoms clearly have not been used as widely as they must be to significantly slow the spread of infection. One solution is the greater promotion of condoms through advertising, education and public-awareness campaigns. We believe another necessary step is to improve condoms – making them more user-friendly, sexy and pleasurable. (qtd in Pinkerton) Another way to prevent the spread of AIDS is to avoid infected blood. So if you are a doctor working on an HIV positive patient, wear rubber gloves. Also, if you are HIV positive, don’t have sexual relations with multiple people, and tell them if you are going to sleep with them. The least you can do is let them know they are risking their lives. William B. Kaliher has investigated cases of venereal disease for more than twenty-five years. In the following viewpoint, Kaliher asserts that while it is mandatory for health departments to find and notify the sexual partners of patients with venereal disease, partner notification in HIV cases is not mandatory. He argues that partner notification is especially important in HIV/AIDS cases, however, as AIDS is always fatal. Without mandatory notification, he contends that those who have HIV can continue to infect other people. If people with HIV/AIDS are notified that they may be infected, they can get tested. qtd in Kaliher) In this society, two things are very clear. The government is not making decisions in the best interest of the public health. The government is also not utilizing every tax payer’s dollar; they are not doing as much to prevent the spreading of AIDS as they can do. Also another way of preventing the spread of AIDS would be to educate the people most likely to spread the disease. The health official could do this by going into the areas where drug users live, and tell them that if they share needles they are at risk of dying earlier than normal people are. They could also talk to the prostitutes in Las Vegas, the women who are with ten, fifteen, or twenty men a night. They could tell them not only are they at higher risk for spreading the disease, but they could also spread it to hundreds of other men. (Kaliher) There is no vaccine against HIV, and no cure for AIDS. The key to decreasing the spread and reducing the impact of this disease is to promote healthy behaviors that prevent infection or minimize the adverse effects of treatment. Health promotion, disease prevention, and symptom management are key components of the research conducted by the biobehavioral scientists supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). The Institute funds both domestic and international HIV/AIDS research programs. (qtd in NINR) There are also many myths about AIDS. First of all AIDS is not just the gay men disease. Anyone can contract AIDS, and not a lot of people try to prevent spreading it. Like the saying â€Å"gay as AIDS† that statement is very inaccurate. AIDS is present in many heterosexual peoples’ lives. Also AIDS is not only in drug addicts who share needles. Someone cannot call AIDS the druggy disease or the gay men disease just because they were some of the first people to have it. The solution to the myths about AIDS is to increase awareness on all of the aspects of AIDS. People need to know that people can get AIDS from more than just sharing needles and having gay sex. People can catch AIDS from their mother when they are born or being breast fed, people can catch it from having heterosexual sex, and people can also catch it when they receive a blood donation from an infected donor.

The mass hysteria between today?s society and the Salem witch hunt Essa

The mass hysteria between today’s society and the Salem witch hunt can be compared through Freedom , Religion ,and the killing of innocent victims. Mass hysteria has caused a lot of destruction in society throughout the years. It has brought about a lot of chaos in both Salem as well as the present society. Mass hysteria has brought out a lot of fear in people in both Salem and present society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Freedom in today’s society is totally different from back when the witch trials were going on in Salem. By the people in the United States being able to do whatever we want to do whenever we want to do it. Compared to the people in Salem always being accused and checked up on for being a witch. The similarities in the United States and Salem would be that they are both losing some of their freedom’s everyday. By not really being able to dance in Salem and in the Unites States not being able to fly without fear so the freedom of doing things at will and that are fun are taken away from us.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next major mass hysteria in the society of the United States today and in Salem would be Religion. The difference between religion in Salem and the United States would be that in Salem they are all one religion, but in the United States we have a bunch of different religions. To compare the religion in the United States and in Salem would be that we the people in the United States believe in Christianity and in Salem the people have a...

Bela Bartok

Research Paper on Bela Bartok†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. By Jibin Parayil Thomas (2011B4A7628G) Introduction Bela Bartok (1881-1945) is regarded as a key innovator of the twentieth-century music. He is widely known for compositions strongly influenced by his folk music studies, and for his activities as a concert pianist, music editor and teacher. The works of Bela Bartok are generally approached from either of two theoretical premises.The first being an extension of traditional western art music that has preceded him (particularly the expanded harmonic resources which emerged during the ‘Romantic' musical period), the other being from Bartok's own research into the folk music of Europe. It has been said that through this research, Bartok was able to free himself from the tyrannical rule of the major and minor keys, leading eventually to a new conception of the chromatic scale, every tone of which came to be considered of equal value and could be used freely and independently .Bartok was not noted for his use of 12-tone concepts per se, but his search for harmonic freedom did parallel the concepts of the 12-tone composers of his time. His music rarely displays the consistent vocabulary that would prove a set-theory approach to be worthwhile. There are certain pitch collections that do appear consistently in his work. Bartok achieved something that no one had before his time, the symbolic handshake between East and West: synthesis, a seamless blending of two sources into a single style.Bartok was a knowledgeable ethnomusicologist who wrote and lectured on his areas of research into the cultural music of Europe in general, and of Hungary in particular. (Ethnomusicology  is defined as â€Å"the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts). The research paper comprises three sections: the first explores Bartok’s general philosophy on life, as it evolved within the turbulent political and cultural environment in which he grew up.Focusing on his major works the second section identifies the innovative characteristics of his musical style within the context of the diverse genres in which he composed. The third section examines the wide variety of critical and analytical responses to his compositions and his performances. 1-Bartok’s background and development Bartok’s family reflected some of the ethnic diversity of the country. His mother Paula Voit Bartok ,was ethnically German,though she spoke Hungarian fluently, his father,Bela Sr. considered himself thoroughly Hungarian,though his mother was from a Serbian family. Although Bartok’s musical upbringing was purely German ,parts of his background leaned towards Hungarian nationalism. Some of Bartok’s most important musical colleagues were the members of the Waldbauer-Kerpely String Quartet,who came together in 1909 specifically to perform Bartok’s and Kodaly’s first string quartets,and the compose rs and musicians of the New Hungarian Music Society.The turn of the twentieth century,which marks the beginning of Bela Bartok’s musical career,witnessed a Hungarian society divided from the point of view of its musical taste into three distinct layers:the upper classes which included the nobility,the urban financiers,industrialists and bourgeoisie turned to the west for their musical needs;the gentry and the urban middle class found satisfaction I the music of gypsy bands and in popular art songs;t was only the agrarian folk who lived with its folksongs and musical customs,solated from the rest of society.Bartok obtained his childhood impressions of Hungarian music from his provincial urban environment. At the age of four he could play with one finger on the piano the folk tunes familiar to him, about forty of them. When Bartok entered the Academy of Music in Budapest in 1899,he had no better knowledge of his country’s folksongsthan that of the general public.

Edmond Dantes Revenge - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 592 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/04/01 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Revenge Essay Did you like this example? Revenge is a form of self-administered justice, giving oneself assurance that punishment has been delivered in a way that is more righteous than societal justice. Sometimes, reprisal can be taken too far, which can be seen in Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo, using the main character, Edmond Dantes, as an illustration. It can be seen throughout the novel that Dumas does not believe that Dantes revenge is justified. Revenge is alluring, and Edmond Dantes has fallen victim to its temptation; thus, leading him to believe that his actions are all according to the will of God. There is a noticeable change in Dantes mindset for revenge when he steers his wrath towards Villefort, indirectly being responsible for the death of his wife and son. That was when He realized that he had gone beyond the limits of rightful vengeance and that he could no longer say, God is for me and with me. (Dumas 485). Up until this moment, Edmond had truly believed that he was carrying out Gods will, doing the morally just thing. But when he saw how his vengeance was engendering anguish upon those who did not deserve it, Dantes started to have a change of thought. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Edmond Dantes Revenge" essay for you Create order Once the notion of revenge is implanted into ones mind, it is difficult to uproot it. During the time Dantes spends imprisoned in the Chteau dIf, Abb Faria helps him uncover the source of his imprisonment, which he regrets soon after doing so: Faria looked at him steadfastly and said, I regret having helped you clarify your past and having told you what I did. Why? Because Ive instilled in your heart a feeling that wasnt there before: vengeance (Dumas 58). Faria recognizes that vengeance is an evil feeling and was regretful because During those hours of meditation, which flowered by like seconds, he [Dantes] formed a terrible resolution and swore a fearful oath (Dumas 58). It can be foreshadowed that Dantes revenge will cause tribulation and become rampant. When it comes to revenge, it can often feel overdone after it has been carried out. In this case, Dantes writes a letter to Maximilien noting, Tell the angel who will watch over your life to pray now and then for a man who, like Satan, believed himself for an instant to be equal to God, but who realized in all humility that supreme power and wisdom are in the hands of God alone (Dumas 530). Dantes admits that his revenge was unjust; comparing himself to Satan. He realizes his error of trying carry out justice by his own means and admits to his fault of trying act out the role of God. All things considered, Alexandre Dumas makes it known that he does not think Dantes revenge is justifiable. It is shown through the novel that, although in the beginning he was more than willing to exact revenge on those who wronged him, Dantes began to feel remorse for his actions. Why would Dumas include this if he felt the revenge was fully just? In addition to the remorse Dantes felt, the one who helped him identify his victims, Abb? © Faria, felt guilty right after he helped reveal the names of the men that had wronged Dantes, knowing that he would seek out some form of vengeance. The root of Dantes remorseful feelings sprouted along with the realization that he was not only harming the wrongdoers, but also the innocents that had not been a part of his torment. In conclusion, the revenge carried out by Edmond Dantes is not justified.

Diabetes Types, Causes, and Effects - 773 Words

Diabetes is a chronic illness that affects the lives of millions of individuals all around the world. This disease affects both children and adults, totaling 25.8 million of individuals who are officially diagnosed, or on the verge of a diagnosis (ADA 2012). It causes the death of tens of thousands of people annually, and can lead to greater complications such as heart disease and stroke. Diabetes is initially caused by the imbalance of glucose in the body. Glucose is a sugar that the bodys cells need in order to survive (PubMed 2012). It provides it with the energy necessary to allow the body to function on a day to day basis. Different factors lead to the uncontrollable nature of glucose that defines diabetes. In Type I Diabetes, the body does not have the ability to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone secreted from an organ called the pancreas which acts as a receptor on individual cells. This receptor allows for the glucose to enter the cells and provide it with the energy nece ssary to survive. When there is not enough insulin, then glucose does not enter the cells, and instead stays in the bloodstream. Artificial insulin shots need to be administered to individuals with Type I Diabetes in order to allow the glucose in their system to enter their cells where they need it (PubMed 2012). Another type of Diabetes is Type 2 Diabetes; this is the most common type of Diabetes. Unlike Type 1, Type 2 Diabetes is caused by the bodys inability to respond to insulin. TheShow MoreRelatedDiabetes : Diabetes And Type Two Diabetes1688 Words   |  7 Pagesbroken down into two main types, type one diabetes and type two diabetes. Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning a disease in which the body s immune system attacks healthy cells, that causes the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas to be destroyed. The immune system, by mistake, attacks its own insulin-producing cells so that insufficient amounts of insulin are produced or no insulin at all. Typ e one diabetes is also referred to as insulin dependent diabetes because people diagnosedRead MoreThere Are Many Individuals That Strive For Balance Which1562 Words   |  7 Pageswhich is diabetes. Diabetes is a disease where sugar builds up in a person’s blood, and it can also have an effect on people’s daily life and can occur in an individual for many reasons like due to when the insulin production is unbeneficial or the body s cells do not make enough sugar, obesity, or eating none nutritional food. â€Å"Diabetes is the most serious and deadly condition. Currently, this is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., and will soon be the fourth leading cause. Almost twentyRead MoreTypes of Diabetes Essay1287 Words   |  6 PagesTypes of Diabetes Diabetes is little or no ability to move glucose out of the blood into the red blood cells. Nearly 16 million people have diabetes in the United States, which narrows it down to about 1 out of every seventeen people. About 2,150 new cases are diagnosed each day. Many of us do not clearly know what diabetes is and the different categories that it is classified in. The first type of diabetes that will be discussed is type 1 diabetes and steps that can be taken to diagnoseRead MoreThe Short and Long Term Effects of Obesity on the Body Essay530 Words   |  3 Pageschoices leading to obesity. There are also many causes and effects of obesity, some are more common than the other. Not to mention when being obese you put yourself at risk for type two diabetes. You can prevent obesity and type two diabetes easily, if you know how to and have the will power. There are many causes and effects of obesity, also there are ways to prevent obesity, one effect of obesity is type two diabetes. First of all there are many causes of obesity, A lot of people ask why is thereRead MoreThe Effects Of Type 2 Diabetes And How These Effects Can Be Mitigated Or Minimised1427 Words   |  6 Pages ABSTRACT The aim of the research was to find out the effects of Type 2 Diabetes and how these effects can be mitigated or minimised. The research study focused on people of all ages. The findings of this study are important and necessary due to the high costs the NHS and the government have incurred in dealing with Type 2 diabetes related illnesses and the stresses and strains associated with dealing with a diabetes patients. This research was carried out by conducting a literature review andRead MoreDiabetes : Medical Nutrition Therapy And Prevention1174 Words   |  5 PagesType 2 Diabetes: Medical Nutrition Therapy Prevention The American Diabetes Association (ADA) conducted a 2012 study measuring the â€Å"Economic Cost of Diabetes in the U.S.,† the results showed a $245 billion financial  ¬-encumbrance from the use of health resources and lost productivity over a 5 year period (American Diabetes, 2013). The cost amounts â€Å"accounts for more than 1 in 5 health care dollars in the U.S.,† and about 62% of cost being covered by government insurance (American Diabetes, 2013)Read MoreCauses And Consequences Of Diabetes1573 Words   |  7 Pagesexpenses (â€Å"10 Things you Might Not Know about Diabetes†). So, how can we avoid it? There are many different causes, effects, and treatments for diabetes in the world, but which are the most common treatments with the best outcomes? Everyone should know about the causes of diabetes so more people can avoid this dilemma and have the best lifestyle routine they can for their health and longevity. Sugar can lead to some cases of diabetes, b ut not directly, and diabetes should be avoided because of the life changingRead MoreThe Effects Of Diabetes On Human Body1168 Words   |  5 PagesReflecting on the history of diabetes throughout the 20th century, one can note that the number of people with diabetes is a minority, at least in the United States. Notwithstanding that the diabetic compose only about 10% of the United States population, â€Å"Diabetes is the third leading of death in the United States. According to †¦ If it were included, it might as well be the leading cause of death in the United States. Recent reports [reports made in 2007] predict that 95 percent of people born todayRead MoreHow Does The Treatment With Insulin Affect Type 2 Diabetes?1350 Words   |  6 Pagesis: How Does The Treatment With Insulin Affect Type 2 Diabetes? I will be talking about the biology of type 2 diabetes, what are the impacts of type 2 diabetes and i will also be talking about the negative and positive viewpoints the community has on type 2 diabetes. i will also give my opinion on why i have agreed that the treatment with insulin affects type 2 diabetes in a positive way. I will also be discussing the health risk type 2 diabetes has on the body. And I will also add a diagramRead MorePathophysiology And Pathophysiology Of Diabetes Mellitus Type 21474 Words   |  6 PagesPharmacology of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic condition that millions of people around the world suffer from. It is related to the hormone insulin, which is secreted by islet of Langerhans cells in the pancreas, it regulates the level of glucose in the bloodstream and supports the body with breaking down the glucose to be used as energy. When people have diabetes, the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or cells don’t respond to the insulin that is produced. Type 2 diabetes is one

Promoting Morality in the Aeneid and Metamorphoses Essay

Promoting Morality in the Aeneid and Metamorphoses Just as the authors of the Bible use an evocative, almost mythological vehicle to convey covenants and laws that set the moral tone for Hebrew and Christian societies, Latin poets Virgil and Ovid employ a similarly supernatural method to foster their own societal and moral goals in Roman society. Where Virgils Aeneid depicts Aeneas as the ideal, duty-bound Roman patriarch absent from the conflicted Rome of Virgils youth, Ovids Metamorphoses lacks the patriotic undertones of Virgils epic. Instead, Ovids lighthearted Metamorphoses depicts several mythical stories - some not unlike the etiological justifications found in the early Hebrew scriptures - which chronicle the†¦show more content†¦(Book VIII, 162-167) Aeneas, knowing full well that his role in the fate of yet-unformed Rome will involve much personal sacrifice and battle, nevertheless shoulders the metaphorical burden of the state and becomes Augustus desired example of new Roman patriotism and loyalty. Aeneas inherent role as an archetypal Roman citizen stems not only from his conscious acceptance of his fate as the founder of Rome, but his relationship with Roman religion and deep sense of duty as well. As the son of Venus, Aeneas is intrinsically tied to Roman religion; though this relationship not as extreme as the connection between Jesus Christ and Christianity, Aeneas is, in many ways, the Christ of Augustus pro-morality propaganda. Where the doctrines of Christianity - reinforced by the popular phrase What would Jesus do? - constantly imply the importance of emulating Christs behavior, Virgil also stresses the importance of emulating Aeneas implicit duty to his state, a duty which caused him to even scorn the love of Dido at the behest of the gods. I should look after Troy and the loved relics Left me of my people. Priams great hall Should stand again; I should have restored the tower Of Pergamum for Trojans in defeat. But now it is the rich Italian land Apollo tells me I must make for; Italy, Named by his oracles. There is my love; There is my country.

Discuss the extent to which economic growth may benefit the economy free essay sample

Economics growth is, it the short run an increase in real GDP and in the long run an increase in the productive capacity of an economy (the maximum output that the economy can produce). GDP stands for Gross Domestic Product which is the country’s production of goods and services valued at market price in a given time period. Real GDP is when these figures are corrected for inflation using a base year (The UK uses 2003 as its base year). It can be measured in three different ways; the output measure is the value of the goods and services produced by all sectors of the economy; agriculture, manufacturing, energy, construction, the service sector and government. The expenditure measure is the value of the goods and services purchased by households and by government, investment in machinery and buildings. It also includes the value of exports minus imports and finally the income method is the value of the income generated mostly in terms of profits and wages. We will write a custom essay sample on Discuss the extent to which economic growth may benefit the economy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Economic growth is often a result of low unemployment, which has an effect on the components of aggregate demand in that consumption will rise as when more people have a job, more people have more disposable income, savings and investment rise and with this productivity rises too. Long-term economic growth will arise from a continuous percentage increase in real GDP however it may not always be sustainable. Economic growth can benefit the economy in that with it often comes lower rates of unemployment. A fall in unemployment would arise as a result of expansion and development so more workers are needed. Low unemployment as a result of economic growth makes it desirable in that if less people are unemployed, less people will be claiming unemployment benefits and the government will be able to reallocate the money and spend it on other things like health care or education which will in turn raise the standard of living. Improvements in standards of living is a huge benefit of economic growth. Improvements in living standards are not just derived from a greater GDP per capita but improvements in healthcare, education and fortification of the armed services. It also involves the reduction of poverty. With more of the population having a larger disposable income they will be able to buy more luxury goods and may invest in their own property, either buying a larger one or making improvements to it. There are more goods and services available for the population to consume and enjoy and their purchasing of these goods benefits the economy too. For living standards to be maintained GDP must grow at the same rate as population. Another desirable effect of economic growth is increased tax revenue, the government receives more money from tax payers with out having to increase tax rates. If people are earning more, the more money they will pay in tax, the more money companies make the more tax they must pay to the government. The more money the government gains in tax revenue the more they can do to improve the country, they can invest in transport and infrastructure, they can make improvements to health care and they may even need to employ more people further reducing unemployment. Not all aspects of economic growth are positive, for example when an economy is at, or near its full capacity of productivity prices can be driven up causing inflation and the devaluing of their currency, where each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services that it previously could have. It can increase the opportunity cost of saving and holding onto money which will decrease the proportion of income people are putting into banks which will in turn lead to an increase in interest rates and less consumer confidence so less people borrowing money and investing in new capital. If an economy outgrows other economies this could result in what we import being greater than what we export which leads to a disruption in the balance of payments and it’s trade balance will be in defecit. Ultimately, economic growth may bring a higher material standard of living but in does not take into account happiness. It can lead to negative externalities such as pollution or even crime which reduce the quality of life for some people and can even decrease the value of their homes. It is important that economic growth is sustainable in that it does not impact the potential or the living standards of generations to come, unfortunately with the exploitation on the natural environment and the continuous burning of fossils fuels the current methods of trying to maintain economic growth are far from sustainable. Of course, economic growth can benefit the economy to a certain extent, we need the economy to grow with population so as to maintain our current living standards and even to improve them and to prevent poverty. Improvements in education and health care are always desirable but we reach a point where government spending can only do so much. Inflation, pollution, a disturbance in the balance of payments, economic growth is only beneficial when it is stable and sustainable. Ultimately material goods cannot buy happiness and the constant strive towards economic growth has lead many economies including our own into the turmoil of recession.