Slovakia Economic Analysis Essays - Geography Of Europe, Europe

Slovakia Economic Analysis Country: Slovak Republic Formation of the Slovak Republic The Slovak Republic, or Slovakia, is located in Eastern Europe with a population of 5.4 million people and borders the countries of Poland, Austria, the Ukraine, and the Czech Republic (The World Bank). As originally part of the former nation of Czechoslovakia, the Slovak Republic has only recently begun to write its own history (Abizadeh, p. 171). During 1989 many revolts took place against eastern European governments under communism, including Czechoslovakia (Slovakia.Org, ?20th Century?). Both Slovaks and Czechs staged massive protests against communism in Czechoslovakia and ended the communist regime in November 1989 (Slovakia.Org, ?20th Century?). Under the new non-communist system of government, the two republics of Czechoslovakia were established: the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic (Embassy of the Slovak Republic). In June 1990, with the federal and republic-level governments in place, free elections were held for the first time in the country since 1946 (Slovakia.Org, ?20th Century?). The main concern of the new government was the transformation of Czechoslovakia from a state-controlled to a free market economy (Embassy of the Slovak Republic). Disputes arose between the two republics about reform process which focused on privatization, the encouragement of foreign investment, policy of macro-economic stabilization, price liberalization, and liberalization of foreign trade (Slovakia.Org, ?20th Century?). The Czech Republic was more economically developed than the industrial-based economy of Slovakia (Slovakia.Org, ?20th Century?). The transition to a market economy left the Slovak Republic to endure greater economic hardships than the Czech Republic (Sovakia.Org, ?20th Century?). For example, the federal government chose to dramatically cut the country's defense industry, resulting in a large decrease in industrial production and a large rise in unemployment in Slovakia (Slovakia.Org, ?Slovak Economy?). This took place because the economy that rose out of the comm unist era in Slovakia was based on industrial production, particularly on weapons and military equipment (Slovakia.Org, ?Slovak Economy?). There was a great difference of opinions between the Slovaks and Czechs about the nature and pace of economic reform in Czechoslovakia (Slovakia.Org, ?20th Century?). The disagreements delayed the reform process and also the acceptance of a new constitution (Slovakia.Org, ?20th Century?). It became obvious that the current form of government could meet the demands of both republics. As a result, Slovakia declared its sovereignty in July 1992, in other words, its laws took higher priority than those of the federal government (Slovakia.Org, ?20th Century?). During November the federal parliament chose to officially break up the country, and on January 1 1993, the Slovak and Czech Republic replaced the Czechoslovakia as two independent countries (Abizadeh, p. 171). Recent Growth levels of the Slovak Economy The economic problems that began in the early 1990s still plagued Slovakia after it claimed independence in 1993 (Abizadeh, p. 172). After its first year of independence Slovakia's economy was in poor shape with a negative GDP growth of 3.7%, and inflation rate of 25.1%, and an increasing unemployment rate of 14.4% (National Bank of Slovakia). Overall, gross domestic product in Slovak Republic decreased a substantial 23.7% during the years 1990 to 1993. Through a slow reform process, however, positive macro-economic results have been accomplished over the recent years (Slovakia.Org, ?Slovak Economy?). GDP growth has been positive since 1993 and recorded an annual growth of 4.4% in 1998 (The World Bank). Slovakia's 1998 GDP per capita of 3,832 USD was very competitive with other central European countries (Embassy of the Slovak Republic). The budget deficit has been brought under control, and at the beginning of 1999, the inflation rate of 5.6% was the lowest among all transition econ omies (Embassy of the Slovak Republic). The decline in the inflation rate was due to developments in the capital markets and the banking sector, a decrease in food prices, price deregulation, and lower producer prices (Abizadeh, p. 172). Unemployment, on the other hand, is still a major problem in the Slovak republic. Since the end of the communist regime the rate of unemployment has been 10% or higher with no signs of improvement (Slovakia.Org, ?Slovak Economy?). Unemployment is related to the consistent regional disparities and the ?inevitable? restructuring of large companies (Embassy of the Slovak Republic). The most important part for Slovakia to convert to a market

Redress for Japanese Americans essays

Redress for Japanese Americans essays The Lengthy Process of Redress for Japanese Americans After the surprise attack of the Japanese on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States grew concerned that people of Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast would revolt and aid the Japanese war effort and were considered security risks. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, giving the War Department authority to establish military areas in which designated people would be subject to whatever restrictions the Secretary of War may impose. As a result, officials declared the entire Pacific Coast a military area and forced approximately 120,000 people of Japanese descent from their homes and into guarded relocation centers in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington. Two-thirds of the evacuees were American citizens and many lost their homes and businesses as a result of the internment. The directive remained official policy until December 1944 (Patton 72). While many people have at least some knowledge of this Japanese in ternment, the postwar Japanese American effort to win redress, and its high point of the 1980s, is not that well known. The process of apology and redress was very drawn out and it was not until over forty years after internment that a formal apology was given to Japanese Americans. With this apology, though delayed, most would assume that the government has learned a lesson from its past errors. However, it is important to consider if the anti-Japanese hysteria of the 1940s that led to Japanese-Americans being imprisoned in internment camps could be repeated today, especially with Muslim-Americans in the war against terrorism. The internment of Japanese American citizens and resident aliens was not just an odd, wartime event, but also a climax of a long history of racism and discrimination on the West Coast directed against Asian immigrants. Those from China felt the first effects of this sent...

Observation Journal#3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Observation Journal#3 - Essay Example Avery approached a structure meant for them to play inside and climb, that was in the playground and tried to climb in it with difficulties. ‘Teacher! Teacher! he shouted looking at the teacher who was with other children inside the structure. The teacher then pulled Avery up and finally he was in the structure. Avery started jumping on the play structure as he falls down. He was jumping as he is shouting and laughing at the same time. I have observed that Avery does not take much time on a particular place for long, but he keeps running up and down touching one thing and another within a short time. Avery saw another child leave the play structure and go to the slide that was just beside the structure. Avery then went out of the play structure and ran very fast towards the slide. He suddenly stopped near the climbing staircases of the slide. He was keenly looking at the staircases and other children as they climbed one by one to the slide. He then stepped on the first staircas e with his right foot. Seeing that it was stable, Avery began climbing up the slide faster as there was another child coming after him. When Avery reached the top, and now it was time for him to slide down, he got afraid and refused to slide down. He blocked the way for the other children who were enjoying themselves in the slide. Avery then moved on one side of the slide, paving way for the other children to pass and slide themselves down. Avery sat up there looking at his fellow children slide with a lot if ease. He was cheering them up one by one as they were going down the slide. Avery suddenly lost the grip of the walls of the slide as he was clapping his hands to cheer the other children. Avery began sliding down unknowingly. ‘Huuuu! Huuuuu! he shouted as he was going down the slide. When he was down the slide, Avery began running away from the slide area, towards his teacher. ‘Teacher, poop, Avery told his teacher. ‘Ooh, you want to poop? ‘Yes,