Money & Banking - economics 321 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Money & Banking - economics 321 - Coursework Example It is in these circumstances wherein the so-called boom emerges. This boom in the financial sector as most crises have demonstrated is typified by a fragility that made much worse by credit and speculation. According to Kindleberger, this leads to a series of events such as how price increases leads to a rush for investment as profit opportunities loom large. This is an event that feeds upon itself: the opportunities that promise profit would bring in a new wave of investors and that the positive feedback that is perceived in the process and the outpour of investment increases further profit, which then encourages further investments. He then explained how this leads to what Minsky called as euphoria and when the speculation variable is thrown in, it finally results in overtrading, which aggravate the fragility of the situation. As speculation and overtrading bring in more investors, the probability of crashes increases as speculation for profit drives the ‘manias’ or â €˜bubbles’.† During the feverish economic activity driven by speculative boom, a point is identified to emerge wherein prices start to level and uncertainty start to creep in. This situation, in Kindleberger’s theory creates a period of financial distress, which finally launches a steady downward spiral: There is an inevitable burst as the market started the race to withdraw. In the event of a rush to liquidate, the bubble bursts and further panic ensues. The problem will reach crisis proportions as financial institutions fail, prices decline and the number of bankruptcies spike. This stage, according to Kindleberger, is called revulsion when panic finally seizes the economic system, which is aggravated by liquidity, which, though orderly at times, can actually degenerate and spin out of control, feeding the panic further in the process. The Kindleberger’s revulsion of concept is more popularly known in the nineteenth century as â€Å"discredit.† There are other variables

Choosing a College Course Essay Example for Free

Choosing a College Course Essay Introduction Many students find it difficult in choosing what course to take in college. For seniors or graduating high school students, the pressure goes higher as the end of their term is coming because the time is running and decreasing for deciding what course they will take. Choosing a course is really a hard decision to make. Your future depends on it and the decision you will make would determine what life you will have in the future. This is the first step in your life as an independent person and this is the first step for your success. You should be careful in choosing a course because when you have started on it there is no way getting back. You can shift to another course but a lot of thing will be wasted: your effort, money and time. So from the start you should pick the right one and you should make up your mind that this is the course for you and this will lead you to success. Many would say that they haven’t chosen yet or they were not sure about the course they want to pursue. Some might have chosen before and decided what to take but in the end they want to change it because they weren’t sure or still confused. And the wide range of choices of college courses made it more difficult to choose. But you are not really â€Å"clueless† in choosing what course to take, there are some factors you would consider and this might help you pick the suitable and best course for you. Your Personal Interests The most basic consideration in the choice of a college major or college course is, of course, what you want. Is there something that you’ve always wanted to get into, something that resonates within the very fiber of your being? If so, that may be where you’re meant to go. The more interested you are in a subject, the more likely you are to study it and achieve a strong result. This is particularly important at college when you are responsible for your own study. List the fields of study that interest you, and come up with a list of courses you would consider studying based on these interests. Add the topics that you were most interested in during school as well as jobs that you envied others for. At some point, many students try to fit in a course or two based purely on personal interest. While their majors may reflect their primary interest, most people are interested in more than one intellectual pursuit, so a biology major who has a passion for movies might take a film course. This is not necessarily what are you good at, but what do you love doing? You might be great at math, but you spend your weekends fixing up bits of old computers. So don’t study math, focus on IT or computer engineering instead. Specialize in your passion. Cost Of Study Affordability is another aspect you need to consider while deciding on your course, as well as the additional costs that occur, such as text books, field trips etc. However, do not let cost hamper your career choice, as there are a number of financial assistance options available to complete the course. College tuitions soar each year, advancing far in excess of the inflation rate. The overall inflation rate since 1986 increased 115.06%, which is why we pay more than double for everything we buy. On the other hand, during the same time, tuition increased a whopping 498.31%. See chart below Many schools have increased tuition fees due to higher overhead costs. Fuel and labor costs continue to rise. Many older college buildings are in need of renovation or replacement. The demand for expanded libraries and new research and computer labs is at an all-time high. Some schools also need additional security measures. But Dont Let College Costs Scare You! These costs may seem overwhelming, but there are ways to keep expenses down. Remember that college educations come at all levels of cost, and that financial aid can reduce that cost. If a school is a great fit for you but seems too expensive, it makes sense to apply and then see whether your financial aid offer will bring the cost down. Dont give up on a college because of its sticker price. Financial Aids Grants and scholarships are the most desirable types of funding you can receive to pay for your college education, since they don’t need to be repaid. While any amount of free money will be competitive, especially in a tough economic climate, the sooner and more often you apply the more luck you’ll have. The list of reasons why a scholarship may be given to a particular student is quite long, although some of the more popular awards are given to students who achieve academically, are athletically gifted, choose to enroll in a particular program of study, are part of a certain kind of organization, or choose to enroll in the military and still further their education. A scholarship might cover the entire cost of your tuition, or it might be a one-time award of some cash. Either way, it’s worth applying for, because it’ll help reduce the cost of your education. Career opportunities Look at the career prospects of the course before selecting one. Consider various factors such as income, job security, stress, responsibility and other benefits while researching a profession. Not all courses are created equal. Yes, they all offer a diploma upon completion, but they dont guarantee a job. When you are choosing a major, it would be wise to check out the job placement statistics of others who have pursued this degree. There is no reason why you should be the guinea pig; if a specific career is your reason for choosing this major, investigate the success of others. If you want to avoid a data entry position, check out all of the opportunities available and your chance at landing one of those positions after graduation. Commitment, Time and Practical Considerations Choosing a college course requires you to look inwards and assess your commitment to your chosen path. Assuming that you have the issue of money and other practical considerations settled, do you actually possess the skills and the patience to go the distance? Moreover, do you actually want to do so? There’s also a chance that your parents may be expecting you to tread a certain academic path; will you have the strength and the will to stick it out against all odds? You should also be aware of what you’re getting into when choosing a college major. What will your college course require you to do? Are you willing to do it? As a case in point, if you’re squeamish about the sight of blood, why should you decide to go for a Nursing Degree? To be certain that you will be committed to your studies, find out the duration of your course. Taking double-degrees, full time or part-time depends on your personal choice. Ensure that you will be able to balance your other priorities along with education. Study flexibility varies amongst universities. Demand If your goal is to be employed immediately after graduation, base your choice not on popular courses, but on employable courses, or courses that are the most in-demand in the job market. Job seeking is becoming an increasingly competitive sport these days. With thousands of students graduating each year and limited number of job opportunities available to them, plenty of job seekers end up resorting to options they wouldn’t had to choose if they had other alternatives. These days, there is no time to get into a career and then decide if it is the right one for you. You should know right from the beginning what is right for you and what career you can excel in. Thanks to the very competitive nature of the employment sector, getting the right job or choosing the right career is not as easy as it once used to be. Everyone is looking for help in deciding what career should be chosen. Obviously, in todays competitive world, everyone wants a job or career that has high pay, job stability, and great future prospects. However, owing to the bad effects of the recently experienced economic recession, a majority of people are looking forward to changing careers. The careers that are being sought after are top jobs in demand for the future, which are mostly from the medical field. The main reason why medical jobs are and will be in demand is because they do not have any impact of the financial crisis arising in the economy. So if you want to secure a job in the future, pick a course that is in demand after you graduate. Conclusion Even you have known some things that you might consider in choosing a course, the choice is still yours and the one who will decide is no other but you. Choose on what you think is the best for you and what you think that will give you success. But remember that even you have chosen a course that is qualified for all the factors listed and will give great results, it not ends in there. The most important thing is in everything you do always give your best shot. Work hard for everything you want to achieve and accomplish. Don’t quit and never give up. And most of all ask God for help and guidance in everything you do. Pray for it. God has the best plan for you. When you do all these things, I’m sure that whatever course you will take, you will be successful and you will have a wonderful future.

A Report of a Child Observations

A Report of a Child Observations For confidentiality reason, I will refer to the child as A. Child A is a three years and two months old male, from a working class, mixed heritage background: mum is Indian and dad is English. He is a middle child with an older brother aged four and a nine months old sister. Parents are married and they all live together. A naturalistic, non-participant, target child observation was done for an hour a week over a six weeks period in a co-educational private nursery; with a class size of 20 children ages between 3-4, and 3 teachers. Structured observation is done in a natural social setting to observe predefined activities. The avoidance of premature interpretation, without seeking to understand the context in which behaviour occurred is an important skill needed in structured observation. It eliminates the risk of instant judgement and moral absolutes. All aspects of observed behaviour according to Sheppard (2006) as citied in Adams et al (2009: 211), must be rigorously explained, analysed and contextualised. Objectivity in drawing conclusion by taking an observational stance is an invaluable skill. Objectivity is needed in systematically evaluating observed behaviour, context and situations in an unbiased, factual way. Heightened self-awareness of personal feelings, experiences, attitude and values and its effect on judgement needs to be recognised (Trowell and Miles 2004). Effective communication skills enhance empathic understanding of observed behaviour and its social context. Direct observation of non-verbal behaviour adds information about emotional states. Social workers need to be attentive to non-verbal cues e.g. tone of voice and link behaviour with emotions that might have caused it (Wilson et al 2008). Communication skills are the blinding blocks to forming relationships based on trust and confidence. Communication skills assist service users to modify their unrealistic expectations and clarify the respective goals (Thompson 2003). Tolerating uncertainty is another important skill. It develops the not knowing way of practice: Briggs (1992) as cited in Wilson et al (2008: 106) states that the process of giving emotional attention to what is observed and the delibrate delaying of knowing facilitates in practice the kind of measured assesment that is blocked if stereotypes and prejudice are unthinkingly adopted. The act of not knowing reduces ineffective hasty intervention because it helps social workers to reflect on situations (Tanner 1998). Information gathering and documentation skill is invaluable in structured observation. Observed behaviours should be recorded in an accurate, factual and chronological manner; recording as soon as possible as this affects how much is recalled; the language used to code behaviour and experiences is also important: this minimises the risk of misinterpretation and the reliability of the information. Confidentiality should be adhered to in regards to all information (Thompson 2003). Theoretical framework illuminates social workers understanding of behaviour thereby enhancing the appropriate use of social work strategies and intervention. Developmental psychology is concerned with understanding the interaction between individuals and their environment, and the impact this has on their long-term development. Crawford and Walker (2003) as citied in Ingleby (2010) highlighted the impact biological and sociological perspective has on child development. Social workers work in a complex society dealing with individuals, family and communities. In child development, the nature versus nurture debate is vital, if the extent to which environmental and/or heredity factors that affects child development is to be established. Nature looks at the impact of heredity factors whiles nurture concentrates on the environmental factors on the development of a child ( Bee and Boyd 2010). Attachment theory seeks to explain the effect social emotional interaction has on cognitive development. Bowlby researched the impact maternal deprivation has on development. He concluded that from birth to two years is the critical period in which emotional bond is formed; otherwise the impact will be an irreversible damage in later life. Ainsworth developed this theory further by her Strange Situation research and stated that the mother is not the only attachment figure as children can form close emotional bond to other attachment figure. She conducted a research on mothers and babies and concluded that emotional bond is formed with other attachment figure depending on the emotional responsiveness of the attachment figure. She identified four types of attachment: secure, ambivalent, avoidant and anxious attachment (Gross 2010). Child A exhibited signs of distress during separation with mum; however, his teacher was able to comfort him. According to Ainsworth, child A would be described as been securely attached. He felt secure and able to depend on the carer due to her emotional responsiveness to his needs. A child displayed a secure attachment toward his mother based on trust. This according to Erickson and Freud can be accounted for by the effective bonding with his mother during the critical period. For secure attachment to be formed, according to Freud, the childs gratifications should have been sufficiently satisfied (Gross 2010). On the nurture side of the debate, is behavioural theories, child development is influenced by environmental factors and the unconscious they believe is of little importance. According to Watson 1913 as cited in Bee (2010), nurture plays an important part through the manipulation of environmental factors. This was demonstrated in his research on Little Albert and the effect of classical conditioning. Behavioural approach focus on the influences environment factors has on overt behaviour. According to behaviourist, an individual is a clean slate and the environmental factors are the chalk and the individual holding the chalk: what is written on the slate is decided by the individual holding the chalk (Ingleby, 2010, p. 5). An individual identity is therefore shaped by the interaction between the individual and the environment; this theory can be associated with psychologist such as Skinner, Watson and Pavlov. Child A on arrival at the nursery knew where to hang his coat: his behaviour was positively affirmed by his mum with praise and a smile. A has therefore been conditioned to associate this behaviour with positive affirmation. This can be linked to the work of Skinner known as operant condition, this refers to the link that exists between positively affirming behaviour that reinforces a particular stimulus (Ingleby, 2010). According to Freud, the thought process of both the conscious and the unconscious; and early experiences can be accounted for human development. Through the manipulation of the though process which he called the: id which regulate biological needs; the ego- social self and the super ego- our social identity, individual develops through the six stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency, puberty and geniality (Ingleby, 2010, p. 8). Freud stages of development are more to do with the maturation than the environmental interaction. However, according to Piaget cognitive development stages, the interaction with the environment accounts for more. His stages of development are sensori-motor, pre-occupational, concrete and formal. As children, interact with their environment: the biological need; the developments of self and social identity are met. At the preoccupation stage, symbolic thought is developed and the child is seen as egocentric. In contrast, according to Vygotskys, cognitive development is influenced by an older experienced individual who act as a scaffold. Play is important if a child is to pass through this stage successfully: as it encourage interaction and the imitation of adult role (Wilson et al 2008). Ericksons stages of development though similar to Freuds in the development of social identity, differ as his qualitative distinct stages expand through the lifespan. An example of this is the development of ego, which occurs in the autonomy vs. shame, doubt stage between the ages of 2-3. According to Freud the anal stage, is where children are susceptible to low self-esteem and reduced autonomy as they learn social norms and acquire new skills. A relationship based trust, which is developed in the previous stage, between the child, and carer is critical for emotional well-being ( Bee an Boyd, 2010). During the observation and when relating observed behaviours to psychological theories I was petrified of mirroring my own early experiences and the influence this may have on my behaviour and responses to the observed behaviour . On reflection, at the start of the observation I felt anxious and concentrated on trying to relate psychological theories to observed behaviour. However, with time I became less anxious in my role as an observer. I felt happy at how responsive the carers were to the needs of the child especially during separation with parent and during play. When interpreting the result of my observation, I was aware of my own assumptions about childrens behaviour based on my knowledge and experience of child development and socio-cultural influences. Social workers bring to their profession not only their skills and knowledge but also their emotional history, values, commitment to social justice, biases, attitudes, anxieties, self-concept, protective instincts, cultural background and social identity (Mandell 2008: 244). An example of this, is attachment theory which according to Boyum and Parke (1995) when done in isolation does not give a true account of the type of attachment, as it depends on how emotionally expressive the cultural context is. I have also learnt to recognise the childs position in the family and nursery, as well the wider social context and appreciate the diversity of these networks and the different theories that can aid my understanding of child development. This experience has been invaluable: it contributes towards my personal development, by given me insight knowledge of theorising; enhanced my reflective ability including the importance of feedback; and the importance of self-awareness. It also enhances my understanding of the unavoidable impact of the emotional content of the interactions between social worker and service users; for example during the observation I felt isolated, confused, happy, anxious and frustrated at times. This experience also helps me develop and understand the importance of maintaining professional boundaries. Reflexivity was the final stage of this reflective journey, the combination of reflection and critical reflection and the understanding of my own reflective journey (Wilson et al 2008).

Chinese Painting Genres :: essays papers

Chinese Painting Genres Painting Featuring Taoist, Monk and Supernatural This kind of painting described the figure of Taoist, Buddist, ghost or supernatural in legend. Painting Featuring Aquatic Animals This kind of painting described the figure of aquatic animals, such as dragon or insect, etc. Male This kind of painting described the figure of man. It was corresponded with Painting Court Lady. Painting Featuring Birds and Animals This kind of painting described the figure of bird. Court Lady This kind of painting described the figure of woman. Painting Featuring Beast This kind of painting described the figure of wild animals or domestic animals, such as tiger, lion, cow, goat, dog, horse, etc. Painting Featuring Flowers This kind of painting described the figure of flower and grass. Vertical Hanging Scroll Painting One of the mount format of Chinese painting. There have plain edge around the painting and shafts on its top and bottom. It could be hung on wall vertically. Long Handscroll Horizontal painting which was mounted to a scroll could be spread out, there have plain edge around the painting and shafts on its left and right. Long Handscroll should be read from right to left. An Album of Paintings or Calligraphy The album which made up with the small paintings in same size. Usually its number of page was oven, and had various style, such as butterfly style, etc. Fan Face This kind of painting is painted on the face of folding fan or round fan. Blue and Green Landscape The landscapes painting which executed in mineral green and azurite colors was called as Blue and Green Landscape. It divided by Big Blue and Green and Small Blue and Green. On the base of ochre color, Small Blue and Green executed mineral green and azurite colors; on the base of outline, Big Blue and Green executed arranging colors with decorative atmosphere. Ink and Light Colors Landscape On the base of ink draft,this kind of painting was completed by arranging light ochre color.It was called as "Ink and Light Colors Landscape".The painters in the Yuan dynasty were talented in painting the kind of painting,especially Huang Gongwang. Ink Landscape The landscapes painting which executed in ink but not colors was called as "Ink Landscape".It was said that ink landscapes originated from the Tang Dynasty.Later it became the favorite painting style in the literary painters. Literary Painting Differentiated to the painting by professional painter,this kind of painting was painted by the poet or literary.The style of this kind of paintings was called as "Literary Painting" and expressed in elegant and free atmosphere. Chinese Painting Genres :: essays papers Chinese Painting Genres Painting Featuring Taoist, Monk and Supernatural This kind of painting described the figure of Taoist, Buddist, ghost or supernatural in legend. Painting Featuring Aquatic Animals This kind of painting described the figure of aquatic animals, such as dragon or insect, etc. Male This kind of painting described the figure of man. It was corresponded with Painting Court Lady. Painting Featuring Birds and Animals This kind of painting described the figure of bird. Court Lady This kind of painting described the figure of woman. Painting Featuring Beast This kind of painting described the figure of wild animals or domestic animals, such as tiger, lion, cow, goat, dog, horse, etc. Painting Featuring Flowers This kind of painting described the figure of flower and grass. Vertical Hanging Scroll Painting One of the mount format of Chinese painting. There have plain edge around the painting and shafts on its top and bottom. It could be hung on wall vertically. Long Handscroll Horizontal painting which was mounted to a scroll could be spread out, there have plain edge around the painting and shafts on its left and right. Long Handscroll should be read from right to left. An Album of Paintings or Calligraphy The album which made up with the small paintings in same size. Usually its number of page was oven, and had various style, such as butterfly style, etc. Fan Face This kind of painting is painted on the face of folding fan or round fan. Blue and Green Landscape The landscapes painting which executed in mineral green and azurite colors was called as Blue and Green Landscape. It divided by Big Blue and Green and Small Blue and Green. On the base of ochre color, Small Blue and Green executed mineral green and azurite colors; on the base of outline, Big Blue and Green executed arranging colors with decorative atmosphere. Ink and Light Colors Landscape On the base of ink draft,this kind of painting was completed by arranging light ochre color.It was called as "Ink and Light Colors Landscape".The painters in the Yuan dynasty were talented in painting the kind of painting,especially Huang Gongwang. Ink Landscape The landscapes painting which executed in ink but not colors was called as "Ink Landscape".It was said that ink landscapes originated from the Tang Dynasty.Later it became the favorite painting style in the literary painters. Literary Painting Differentiated to the painting by professional painter,this kind of painting was painted by the poet or literary.The style of this kind of paintings was called as "Literary Painting" and expressed in elegant and free atmosphere.

Content and language Essay

In this piece of coursework I will be comparing the front cover of a broadsheet and a tabloid newspaper on the day that labour won the 2001 Election. To do this I will be concentrating on three main attributes, which are design and layout, content and language. First of all I will look at how effective the design and layout of the front cover is. On my chosen tabloid, The Sun, there is of course the bright red Sun logo but even more striking is the headline, â€Å"Blair’s Back. † This headline is over double the size of The Sun logo. There is then on the left-hand side of the page a big picture of Tony Blair. Below the big heading is a sub heading which reads, â€Å"Labour romps in with epic second landslide. † Below the sub heading is a small section of text that carries on inside the paper. Overall the design and layout of this front cover is quite effective because the bold headline stands out and really hits you in the face which makes you want to buy the paper to see what the headline means. The sub heading then gives you more information, which shows that the paper is quite informative. The photograph on the front cover ads a bit of colour and life to the paper to show the reader that it isn’t a dull paper. There is also a lure at the bottom of the page that says, â€Å"See pages 2, 3, 4, 5 and 4-page pullout. † This shows the potential buyer that there is a lot more information inside the paper about the election that encourages them to buy the paper. Basically, the front cover of The Sun concentrates entirely on the election. On the other hand in my chosen broadsheet, The Times, it is a very different story. The front page of The Times doesn’t just concentrate on the election but on many other topics including things like sport. Like The Sun it has a date and price at the top of the page. The main headline reads, â€Å"Election reward for Prescott. † This is referring to the new job John Prescott will get now that Labour has been re-elected. Below that in the centre of the page is a picture of Tony Blair enjoying a day out with his family. Below that is another smaller story about the election. The headline says, â€Å"Blair forecasts further growth. † There is another smaller picture of the Blair family to the left of the headline. Below that is a completely unrelated article about Lord Archer. To the right of this story is an advertisement for Tiffany & Co. diamonds. Overall the design and layout of The Times is very effective. The main headline is bold and simple which stands out. The photographs add life and colour to the paper. The amount of text shows the buyer it is a very informative paper that will appeal to a lot of people. The second story and the advertisement shows the buyer that the paper is interested in the election but the final story shows the buyer that it is also interested in the rest of the world. There is also a lure at the bottom of The Times. It reads, â€Å"The Times Today: page 2. Crossword: p 32. Media: Times 2, p 21-25. TV & radio: Times 2, p 27-32. † This also encourages the buyer to buy because there are other things inside apart from news. The photographs on both papers are also important. In the Sun it shows a smiling Tony Blair in a shirt and tie. I think that the picture is trying to say that Tony Blair is happy to be back in office and he is going to try his hardest to make a difference. In The Times there are two photographs which show a very similar thing. Both of the photographs show Tony Blair acting very relaxed with his family. The bigger photograph was taken this year just before the election but the smaller one was taken in 1997 before the election. I think the photos are trying to say that Tony Blair is almost taking it too easy and that he thinks he has already won. The headline of a newspaper and the way it is presented is also very important. On the front cover of The Sun the headline is short, snappy, bold, big and close together. The headline reads, â€Å"Blair’s back,† which is in block capitals. The headline takes up just over half the page even though it is very short. I think the headline is trying to create the effect that Labour is back, bigger and better than ever. On the front page of The Times it is very different. The main headline on the front page is a lot smaller and less bold than the one in The Sun. It is a lot more spaced out and not as to the point as The Sun. The headline reads, â€Å"Election reward for Prescott. † The headline is in lower case writing but is bolder than the text in the article. I think the headline is trying to create the effect that if Labour win the election people involved get rewards. In other words if you work hard you will get a treat! The arguments and issues presented in the lead story are a very important part of a front page. On the front page of The Sun it is obvious straight away that The Sun is very pro Labour. You don’t even need to read the article to know this. At the top of the page there is a badge with the Labour symbol in the middle. In the article though it says, â€Å"Tony Blair powered back into No10 early today after a SECOND landslide victory. † You can see straightaway that The Sun is persuading the public that Labour deserves to be back in office. After reading the article you can also tell that The Sun does not like the Tory’s. In the article it says, â€Å"Jubilant Mr Blair crushed Tory dreams of a revival-and put William Hague’s job as Opposition leader in peril. † This is a very blunt and uncaring comment and it shows The Sun’s loyalty to Labour. In the article it also gives you all the statistics to show you by how much Labour won, as if they haven’t already! â€Å"The ITN exit poll gave Labour 417 seats. † The Sun’s article is also very brief with not much detail in it. The Times’ article though is very different. It has a very neutral attitude and it is almost being unfair to the Labour party. In the article the writer raises the issue that although John Prescott has been given a new title he has been doing that job all along. â€Å"Mr Prescott is being switched from his role as Environment Secretary to become Mr Blair’s deputy in fact as well as name. † The writer then raises the argument that John Prescott won’t be with Labour come next election. â€Å"Even so, some ministers believe it will be surprising if he stays in the Government throughout the new Parliament. † The article in this paper is a lot longer and more detailed. The language in the two newspapers is very different. This is because The Sun appeals to the working class person where as The Times appeals to the more professional classes. That is why The Times uses more sophisticated language and The Sun is very blunt and to the point.

Patagonia Another Way of Doing Business Essay

1Introduction Patagonia was founded in 1957 by Yvon Chouinard who defines himself as a reluctant business man. He started his business as a way to climb and surf year long, seeking to build the best product to satisfy his passion. â€Å"Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis. † –Patagonia’s Mission Statement Patagonia grew out of a small company that made tools for climbers. Alpinism remains at the heart of a worldwide business that still makes clothes for climbing as well as for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, paddling and trail running. Customers are willing to pay a premium for the Patagonia brand and environmental ethic. The company’s goal is as simple as it is challenging: to produce the highest-quality products while doing the least possible harm to the environment. Yvon Chouinard founder and owner of Patagonia has done business differently since the beginning of the company, placing environmental sustainability and social welfare of his employee before profit. Three examples of the company practice will show how marketing and business can meet ethical behavior. Patagonia: a different workplace environment Patagonia is hiring only passionate people (friends, family†¦) who are also product user so they don’t have to understand the customer because they are the customer. Patagonia has developed the Let My People Go surfing flextime policy to cope with the employee passion (surfing, backcountry skiing†¦). There are no private offices and the architectural layout keep communication opens. The cafeteria where employees can gather throughout the day serves healthy, mostly vegetarian food. The company has also an on-site child care center, the presence of children playing in the yard, or having lunch with their parents in the cafeteria helps keep the company atmosphere more familial than corporate. Patagonia has a program that allows employees to take off up to two months at full pay to work for environmental groups. Patagonia fosters creativity and authenticity through its work environment and hiring process enabling the development of original products. 3Patagonia: The 1% for the Planet Initiative Since 1985, Patagonia has devoted 1% of its sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. The company has awarded over $46 million in cash and in-kind donations to domestic and international grassroots environmental. In 2002, founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, created a non-profit corporation to encourage other businesses to do the same. 1% For The Planet is an alliance of businesses that understand the necessity of protecting the natural environment. As of today 1401 companies are members of the 1% for the Planet Initiative and donate 1% of their sales to a network of 2,735 environmental organizations worldwide. More than a marketing campaign, The 1% for the Planet Initiative is a really strong statement from Patagonia (no matter what are the financial results 1% of its sales will serve the environmental cause every year), it has reinforced the company corporate social responsibility and ethical image, hence the loyalty of its core customers. 4Patagonia: The Common Threads Initiative This marketing program first asks customers to not buy something if they don’t need it, then if they do need it, Patagonia ask that they buy what will last a long time and to repair what breaks, reuse or resell whatever they don’t wear any more. And, finally, recycle whatever’s truly worn out. Patagonia with The Common Threads Initiative is the first private company launching a marketing campaign telling its customers to buy less or to buy used gear. In September 2011 Patagonia launched an online marketplace in collaboration with eBay for customers to sell and buy their used Patagonia products. This feature is displayed on the homepage of patagonia. com. Recycling is what we do when we’re out of options to avoid, repair, or reuse the product first. That’s why I am so impressed with Patagonia for starting its Common Threads Initiative with the real solution: Reduce. Don’t buy what we don’t need. Repair: Fix stuff that still has life in it. Reuse: Share. Then, only when you’ve exhausted those options, recycle (Leonard, 2011). This new marketing campaign was unveiled at the New York fashion week as an experiment. Only a private company without public shareholder and a charismatic leader with strong belief can promote such a different business attitude. 5Conclusion Patagonia has always done business and marketing differently. In the seventies Chouinard Equipment had become the largest supplier of climbing hardware in the U. S. It had also become an environmental threat because its gear was damaging the rock. Yvon Chouinard and his partner decided to phase out of this business even it if was the main source of revenue for the company, it was the first environmental step for Patagonia. Instead of focusing on profit the company took a big risk by discontinuing a successful line of products to promote an alternative solution (aluminum chocks) for climbers. It became a success because Patagonia crafted the right product with the right message and stayed true to its core values. Today with the Common Threads Initiative they are pursuing the exact same philosophy and trying to push the industry to adopt more ethical business behaviors. Patagonia’s highly public search for a new way of doing business implies a new kind of relationship with customers, reinforced by unconditional guarantees, extremely high product quality and an explicit commitment to ethical codes of behavior (Reinhardt, 2000).