Demographic Analysis and Proposed Model

Demographic Analysis

From the literature review, it is noted that the increase in juvenile delinquency has resulted to the rising cases of crimes and formation of gangs in various parts of the country. This is a threat to national security and economic development implying that intervention strategies have to be designed to deal with the menace.

Demographic analysis entails the methods that are often employed in measuring the several aspects and dynamics of the population. These methods are specifically utilized in the analysis of human populations, but current researchers may use them in the study of other phenomena affecting humanity.

In the review of the population dynamics discussed in the literature review section, this section of the paper will utilize administrative records in the development of independent estimate of the gangs existing in the country. An estimate of any demographic analysis is considered a consistent measure for reviewing the precision of the census data obtained at any given period.

In this section of the paper, demographic analysis will be used to statistically to analyze the sizes of illegal groups or gangs in the country, their composition, as well as spatial distribution (Preston, Heuveline, & Guillot, 2000). Moreover, it is evident that the features of the illegal groups change over time.

The major ways employed in understanding the sizes and composition of the population includes population change, standardization, bookkeeping, and population composition.

In the given data in the literature review section, it is observed that the distribution of gangs and criminal groups is even implying that all communities are involved in executing illegal activities that harm the economy of the country (DiIulio, 1995). The first groups were Irish, but all major communities residing in the country are currently involved in crime, as Van Ngo (2009) observes.

Regarding the sizes of the gangs, literature review reveals that they are larger, complex, prevalent, and permanent within the community. Additionally, gangs in the country have devised ways through which they survive the security measures put in place. This implies that they are never static, but instead they change with time to suit the current society.

Data obtained from the FBI suggest that the number of criminal gangs is expected to go up and they would be active implying that they will be carrying out criminal activities using all available techniques. The report suggests further that over forty criminal gangs exist in many cities.

While the country had over 40, 0000 criminal gangs in various urban centers in 1990, the number have skyrocketed to over 249,324 in the subsequent years. In 2009, the number reached a record high of 500,000.

This data shows that the number of criminal gangs keeps on increasing each year and their compositions diversify every minute making it difficult for security forces to contain them. Increase in birth rates contributes to the rising number of criminal gangs in the country, as crimes rates were high when the number of individuals aged 13 to 17 was high.

Alternative Solutions to the Problem

Based on the nature of the crimes that the gangs carry out, two major solutions are suggested, one of them being the focused deterrence strategy and the other one is neighborhood watch. Focused deterrence is also referred to as pulling levers policing and is mainly a problem-oriented policing strategy that is based on the deterrence theory.

This type of crime prevention strategy aims at preventing vulnerable groups who are used to punishments and sanctions from committing crime. According to the strategy, the community members are encouraged to confront all criminal gangs or their members and inform them that their behavior will not be accepted in the community.

Since the criminal gangs recruit even the youth in the community, they have to be informed clearly that the criminal justice system, including the police and the courts, will catch up with them and the consequences will not be favorable to them. The strategy is also reinforced by police crackdown on gangs that fail to heed to the communal call to quit crime and violent behavior (Dahlberg, 2008).

If some gang members quit crime and confess to the security agencies, they are rewarded and would be incorporated into the community. If jobs are available, the former members of criminal gangs are given to prevent them from going back to the illegal groups.

Deterrence theory suggests that an individual would most probably quit crime if he or she knows the costs associated with it. In preventing crime, the crime suggests that three factors play an important role, including severity, swiftness, and punishment.

The second solution to preventing crime in the community is the neighbor watch, which is referred to as the block watch as well. The strategy relies on the communal members who are expected to protect each other by offering critical information to the law enforcing agencies in time.

Criminal gangs would often target the residential places since they are likely to commit crimes, such as kidnapping, rape, burglary, and murder. The two techniques of crime prevention have a major impact to the public safety policy in the sense that it allows security agencies to identify the nature of criminal gangs, their composition, prevalence, and sizes.

Viable Model

Several models of crime in the current society, such as developmental, which focuses on early intervention, situational, whose major target is stop opportunities for crime, and criminal justice model that insists on the strengthening of the criminal justice system, including empowering the police, offering more training to the judicial members, and improving the prison services.

However, the causes of crimes or formation of criminal gangs ought to be understood before moving to select an intervention model. In this case, the best intervention model would be the social model since crimes result from frustrations of life, such as lack of basic needs, inadequate jobs, and discrimination based on gender and race. Strengthening relations among individuals in the neighborhood have a role to play in uniting people.

This would definitely reduce crime rates, as individuals will tend to believe that they are one people. If people know each other, the crime rates are likely to reduce hence the major aim of any strategist would be to enhance social capital (Hensley, & Singer, 2004).

Personal Bias and Social/ Ethical Dilemma

The model is mainly affected by the views of the implementing officer meaning that variations in ideas might be the major impediment to the execution of the model. For instance, the cultural beliefs, expectations, values, and perceptions might be different. The model demands that all social factors are taken into consideration when trying to help individuals realize their potentials in society.

The executing officer might be tempted to stereotype, which would be considered unethical professional, as objectivity is needed when trying to implement change. Labeling or branding is not only a social dilemma, but also a professional ethical issue that might affect the realization of the desired goals.

Measuring the Success

The only major problem with the model is that it is often difficult to measure because social aspects are many and it would be hypocritical for anyone to claim that he or she solved all social problems facing the community or the group. However, some indicators are used in determining whether the model achieved its objectives.

For instance, one of the aims of the models is initiate community building activities, as it would keep individuals busy hence abstaining from criminal activities. The number of community-based groups in the community would indicate the successfulness of the program.

Another tactic used in the mode is providing welfare services and forming as many community groups as possible (Covey, Menard, & Franzese, 2013). Therefore, existence of legal groups, such as youth and women groups, would be a milestone in measuring the effectiveness of the model.

Implementation of the Model

Before implementing the model, it is important to understand its main principles, one of them being minimizing the chances for the occurrence of delinquent behavior. Other core values include empowerment, regulating behavior, development sense of worth, role modeling, and participation in communal activities. Based on the major principles, the model has four steps as far as execution is concerned.

First, the model will serve as integrative and systematic framework towards crime prevention in the community. The model should be consistent with the established ministry standards and guidelines and the funding will be resourced from the community non-governmental organizations and the local government.

Each group or community has unique features that must be understood before moving to implement the model. Since several challenges exist in the community, the model ill deal with each case systematically. The implementing team will combine the fundamental principles of crime deterrence and the activities that are unique to the community in order to understand type of crime.

Communication of the Proposed Model

In matters related to security, several stakeholders have to be involved right from the designing stage to the implementation stage. This means communication to several authorities should be maintained to ensure that they participate fully through funding and providing critical information.

For the government, the mode of communication will mainly be through official letters, even though seminars and meetings will be held from time to time to iron out some of the issues that might arise as the project progresses. The security agencies have a critical role to play, as they will be relied upon in the provision of the official data touching on crime and the levels of juvenile delinquency.

The local authorities will be notified through mails and meetings since they will be providing the forum for the discussion of the major issues facing the community (Schutt, 2006). Other stakeholders will be briefed frequently whenever anything new crops up.

Relationship of the Model with Other Strategies

The model is related to other strategies of crime prevention both at the local and national level. For instance, the ministry uses developmental model whereby high-school students are given specialized training on how to cope with life in an attempt to prevent crime. The social model has to be coalesced with developmental model to prevent any conflicts, as this would definitely lead to poor results.

References

Covey, H. C., Menard, S., & Franzese, R. J. (2013). Effects of adolescent physical abuse, exposure to neighborhood violence, and witnessing parental violence on adult socioeconomic status. Child maltreatment, 18(2), 85-97.

Dahlberg, L. L. (2008). Youth violence in the United States: major trends, risk factors, and prevention approaches. American journal of preventive medicine, 14(4), 259-272.

DiIulio, J. J. (1995). Help wanted: Economists, crime and public policy. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 10(1), 3-24.

Hensley, C. & Singer, S. (2004). Applying Social Learning Theory to Childhood and Adolescent Fire setting: Can it Lead to Serial Murder? International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 48(4), 461476.

Preston, S., Heuveline, P., & Guillot, M. (2000). Demography: Measuring and Modeling Population Processes. New York: Blackwell Publishing.

Schutt, R. (2006). Investigating the Social World: The Process and Practice of Research. London: SAGE Publications.

UAEs Demographic Imbalance

Introduction

There is no doubt that the UAEs suffers from an acute demographic imbalance given the evidence that statistics indicates that the locals have been outnumbered by foreigners. Statistics indicates that foreigners make up over 90% of the population, a trend projected to keep going up by time. Consequently, this has raised several questions, such as security, culture, and identity globalization. This paper focuses on analyzing the implications of the United Arabs Emirates demographic imbalance on national security and national identity.

It has been argued that nationals suffer identity inferiority due to the imbalance. In addition, it has been acknowledged that foreigners play a leading role in developing the economy, providing workforce, and expertise, which are instrumental in the facilitation of regions phenomenal infrastructural growth. Nevertheless, an extreme dependency on foreign labor and migrant workers has resulted into a situation where the local minorities find themselves faced with criminal trends from a foreign lower class.

Some of the threats to the states security today were nearly non-existent before the UAE, the oil rich nation as it is today. It is evident that there is existence of crime gangs that perpetuate murders and illegal white and blue collar deals every year. It is the richest in the Arab world because of the presence of natural resources, which is characterized by economic diversification projects and strategic approaches. Typified by many natural resources, many people prefer to live in the UAE than other GCC countries.

Moreover, the country is becoming a hub for drug smugglers and various imported criminal activities that jeopardize the nations security. Notably, the big population of foreign workers implies that they have considerable power in numbers. This results in an increase in insecurity. For instance, in 2006, there was a strike that had been organized by foreign taxi drivers, which turned into violent for the reason that they did not wish to pay penalties for traffic offenses.

Foreign constructors also staged violent demonstrations that caused a lot of destruction. The fact that they do not have loyalty to the host country makes the situation dangerous. Such actions have social and economic implications because the UAE is forced to conform to the laws and regulations of other countries. It is imperative to note that some of the immigrant workers forced the UAE government to provide them with conditions similar to those of their home country even when they are not recognized by local laws.

Many researchers have argued that the best practical solution for government would be capitulating to the demands of foreign workers since it does not wish to lose its main source of labor. Despite the damages that are caused by the westerners, the government has tried other initiatives, such as making laws that allow them to exercise their freedoms, such as wearing bikinis on public beaches.

Although this has been successful in attracting more visitors, it has tended to fuel tension between the locals and favored foreigners. It is critical to indicate that cultural integration has not been an easy task since many western and the UAE customs do not rhyme. In fact, what is taken for granted in Europe may earn one a prison sentence in the UAE. For example, many foreigners have been frequently arrested for driving while drunk, indecent exposure, and public display of affections.

Thus, the labor obligations above combined with the cultural contradiction potentially create a rivalry or even enmity between the locals and foreigners with the former feeling that their laws and culture are being disrespected. Therefore, it is important to understand that as long visitors outnumber the locals, they will feel unsecured and threatened. Characterized by incidences of guest related crime, the UAE may be turning into a hotbed of internal and, perhaps later, external conflicts.

Literature review

Demographic imbalance is the biggest threat that is facing UAE. This has resulted from the inclusion of foreigners into the country, who enjoy relatively a large number in the country. It is clear from population analysts that the demographic imbalance has been caused by the importation of labor from other countries.The analysts have predicted that the dependence on foreign labor could continue as far as the UAE does not change the existing policies.

However, the analysts have shown that the population disparity has continued to grow greatly, while the government is not taking any action to deal with increasing rates of immigrations. In fact, population distributions, strength in numbers have been associated with society structure, and influence the direction of transformation of the UAE. Notably, the number of people, its distribution, and age composition are some of the important aspects that cause social changes.

Table 1. Demographic Imbalances & National Resource Wealth
Country 2010 Population (mn) Workforce National Resource Wealtha
National Non-national National Non-national Oilb Gasc SWFd
Bahrain 0.51 0.54 36.1% 63.9% & .00037 16,852
Kuwait 1.04 2.43 16.9% 83.1% 0.98 .00173 284,615
Oman 2.39 1.02 28.7% 71.3% 0.02 .00029 3,431
Qatar 0.22 1.46 5.7% 94.3% 1.18 .11500 386,364
Saudi Arabia 20.94 7.75 50.5% 49.5% 0.13 .0038 22,818
UAE 0.95 7.24 4.2% 95.8% 1.03 .00632 759,053
GCC 26.05 20.45 38.3% 61.7% 0.19 .00161 61,313

Studies indicate that the imbalance was caused by the small size of the population, and unavailability of the skilled workforce. In, addition, oil became a new source of energy that made the state richer than before. This made the government embark on its infrastructural projects in many areas, such as roads and transportation, education, and healthcare.

The presence of instability in the UAE due to wars with the neighboring nations worsened the situation of the already existing identity problems. A study to investigate the effects of internal instability found that UAE citizens perceived the presence of outsiders as a threat to their cultural identity. The condition was worsened by the rising unemployment among the young, the growth of highly complex privatized sector, and the Arab Spring, that is destabilizing the gulf region.

It is critical to underscore that the UAE nationals have disclosed that UAEs demographic imbalance was among the leading nations that are anticipated to encounter present and future problems with regard to issues of healthcare, trade and industry, and safety. It is worth noting that the policy of economic development and population is a paradox. This is due to the fact that before the discovery of oil, the UAE citizens depended on local industries. However, the reliance on these industries changed after the outbreak of the Second World War, the great depression, and the civil war. This created a change in many sectors of the economy.

There are other resources that the UAE is utilizing in order to minimize the threats from foreigners. The UAE has adopted new measures to expand its wealth. It is focusing on agriculture where agricultural policy-makers are aiming at planning development projects. This is because most people depend on agriculture for consumption and many industries use agricultural products as raw materials. Recent studies indicate that the agricultural industry produces over ten million tonnes every twelve months. This is achieved through the support of government. It is estimated that the UAE is 30% self-sufficient with regard to agriculture.

The other 70% should be concentrated on to make the UAEs population independent in relation to food production. Afforestation has become a valuable activity that has provided the UAE with another resource to reduce the threats. Planting of native and exotic trees has transformed many parts. Another key resource is water. Water is life as stated by many scholars. Preserving water sources implies diversifying the UAEs economy. Policy-makers should focus on preserving water and analyze physical, economic and social impacts of water on the UAEs economy.

The 2000 statistics indicates that almost 19,000 persons work as fishermen. 73% are foreigners, while 27% are nationals. 100% of the fishes are domestically consumed. Arguably, in the future the UAE should develop many resources to improve the management of threats aforementioned. The land should be reclaimed to support agriculture, which is vital in supporting many industries in the UAE. Land can be utilized in many ways. For example, it could be used for agriculture, mining, as has been the case after the discovery of oil, and for settlement of its population. Another vital resource that should be developed is the people.

From the recent studies, the UAEs population is smaller compared with that of foreigners. This has posed a challenge to the security of the nation. Therefore, the situation can be changed if the government adopts measures to increase its population. As a result, many people would be crucial in outnumbering the foreigners. Water is another resource that the UAE should continue to preserve. It is critical to state that most industries depend on water. For instance, hydroelectric power is generated from water, which is crucial in many industries. The UAE should aim at tapping a lot of water since some areas experience high rainfalls. If these resources would be effectively developed, then it would be easier to reduce threats in the state.

It is important to note that the UAE is typified by both internal and external threats due to demographic imbalance. Internal threats have interfered with the running of many activities in the country. The legalizing of property owned by the UAE government for foreigners became an internal threat to the native population. Although the governments objective was to instill confidence to investors, its citizens felt threatened.

The UAE encountered difficulties in attracting outsiders. It could only attract speculators and war refugees. Water challenge has developed because the large area that is encroached by desert, for example, some areas do not receive adequate rainfall, making it hard to avoid water shortages. For instance, it is evident that the Northern Emirates experience more challenges with regard to water and electricity. This has been the case due to the fact that the less available water is used in luxuries, such as European grass lawns.

In addition, duplicity in diversification has been experienced in the UAE, particularly in aviation and finance sectors. Areas with duplicities, such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, have rendered the UAE ineffective and inefficient. The population disparity has threatened the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Despite the fact that the UAE has afforded the strategic investments and recruited the required human labor, it has been a challenge to incorporate the indigenous human labor for the vision to be effective and sustainable.

Moreover, according to Kasim, it has threatened Adec Mudabala, which aims at implementing the key objectives of the Economic vision 2030. Thus, demographic imbalance has interfered with the implementation of the Economic Vision 2030. In addition, there is wealth disparity between the foreigners and the nationals. It is clear that wealth is unevenly distributed in the federation, with little transparency in its budgets.

Analysts indicated that 29% of the UAEs oil income between 1990 and 1994 was not included in the national budgets. External threats are characterized by border disputes with the neighboring countries, such as Iran, Oman, and Qatar. Weaning itself from imported labor has been a major problem with security, despite the fact that nationals have gained the relevant skills needed in current positions held by foreign experts.

It is worth noting that the UAEs condition is critical in relation to the challenges it is facing compared with other members. Almost every sector is typified with a number of challenges. Some of them have been attributed to the demographic inequality in the region, while others are attributed to other causes. In fact, the majority of them have their roots in the immigrant labor. The challenges have economic, social, and political dimensions. In social aspects, sectors such as health, overpopulation and education have encountered many challenges, with natives suffering most. In the education sector, the police report that was released in the media revealed that some of the evils that are in the nation resulted from foreigners.

The quality of education is not in line with the goals of Unesco, i.e., Education For All Movements by 2015. According to the Unescos special program specialists, the UAE students obtained average results from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). The report indicated that the countrys enrolment was higher in both primary and high schools compared with other GCC members. In addition, its system was good, but the quality of education offered was poor. It was in the position 44th and 46th respectively out of 65 countries that participated in 2012.

The rapid population increase has been a challenge. This resulted from the high influx of immigrant labor that outnumbered the inhabitants of the UAE. As a result, many social evils, such as stealing, prostitution and corruption became rampant, something that was not there before the coming of the immigrant labor. The high population made life unaffordable for the lower class people, especially those who are not educated.

Furthermore, cultural differences between the natives and foreigners have posed a challenge to the growth of the nations economy. After the coming of the foreign labor, their culture differed from that of natives. For instance, the mode of dressing was different with regard to the two groups in the UAE. Relating with each other differed greatly. Another social challenge that is faced by the UAE is related to private healthcare. Private healthcare centers are characterized by congested facilities and high costs of treatments.

With regard to economic challenges, the UAE has experienced demographic imbalance in areas employment. Many foreigners work in industries that require expertise, leaving the UAE citizens jobless. The foreigners own large estates, while the natives occupy poorly developed areas in the country. As a result, the crime rate has increased, threatening the countrys security.

Emiratization has been a challenge, whereby finding employment for the UAEs citizens in the private sector is a problem. If the nationals would be given jobs in the private sector, it would result in inefficiency in private sector businesses. This is because private sectors perceive it as a method of taxation. The large part of land that is encroached by desert makes the country to depend on other activities.

This land could be utilized for agriculture, but it has been left bare. However, this challenge can be overcome if the UAE government reclaims the used land, and introduce irrigation schemes using water from dams. Land policies have made its citizens to live as squatters, yet they belong to that country. It has been unable to reduce usage of petrol, water, and electricity that are misused for the reason that the government is subsidizing them.

The nation has experienced various political problems. For example, border disputes as discussed among the UAE, Iran, and Qatar. This has increased tension among citizens of the three states, leading to insecurity in the region. The tension affects economic sector because people do not concentrate on economic activities, but keep on migrating to peaceful areas. For example, the effects of western attack on Iran made the government look for ways of reducing the negative effects of the aggression toward its territory. Its effects were loss of confidence by the investors and decrease in the number of tourists.

However, according to Vision 2021 news, the UAE government through its cabinet introduced a national charter that focused on transforming the UAE. The charter anticipated that the nation would be one of the best states in the world by 2021. It encouraged creativity and innovation in countering the challenges the nation was facing. According to the charter, nationals were expected to be ambitious and responsible for them to face the future with confidence, unity, and have a common goal of protecting the Emirates. In addition, it would advocate for stable development to make the UAE a powerful nation, and concentrate on developing science-based economy, which would be varied and flexible. Moreover, it aimed at ensuring that nationals thrive with regard to good health, quality education, and other government services.

To achieve the objectives of vision 2021, the government initiated the 2011-2013 strategy, which focused on ensuring that government work would be conducted in line with the set goals and principles. According to its principles, citizens would be prioritized, and accountability and innovation would be encouraged. To achieve this, the functions of federal entities would be devised employing effective regulations and integrated policies. The strategy would promote harmonization and teamwork among federal bodies and local authorities. The 2010-2013 strategy concentrated on offering high-quality, consumer-centered and incorporated government services.

It is anticipated that demographic disparity could remain the same, or increase. This is because of the expo 2020 that is expected to take place in Dubai. Expo 2020 would promote cost-effective, artistic and societal transformations, and generate a vital legacy for the host country. Thus, the holding of expo 2020 in Dubai means that more infrastructures would be needed. This implies that more expertise would be necessary, and more foreigners would come to provide labor. Analysts argue that the expo 2020 would boost various sectors.

Tourism sector would be boosted more because more visitors would come. It is anticipated that the government would gain $ 21 million. Real estates would be advertised leading to the influx and settlement of foreigners in the UAE. The prices of commodities are expected to rise because of the high number of participants in the expo 2020. Despite the fact that there is a demographic imbalance in the region characterized by disparities in employment, it is predicted that 277,000 job opportunities would be created. This would be a solution to some of the social evils, such as stealing and prostitution for the reason that nationals who are the most affected in relation to unemployment. However, the influx of outsiders would continue causing demographic imbalance as was the case after the discovery of oil. This would result in moral disintegration and a threat to national security.

Compared with other countries, UAE is the third largest in the Arab world in terms of economic growth and the second largest compared with other GCC countries. The factors behind its success are unity, social openness, tolerance, coexistence, and prior preparation for safety. It is easier for many nationals to live in the UAE. This is because it gives a lot freedom to visitors, including freedom of worship and movement. In addition, it is the most tolerable nation among the GCC member states.

The UAE has a good system of education with high enrolments in primary and secondary school, but the quality of education is poor. Ansari and Diane suggest that it has also adopted a sense of balance of foreign policy that would be based on consultation with regard to international principles and dedication to the United Nations charter compared to other member countries of the GCC. This is evident in the manner in which the UAE relates to other nations of the world.

It is important to note that population change is only determined by death, birth, and migration. Thus, measures of intervention are limited by those factors. It is important to look at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the UAE in order to come up with strategic approaches. The short-term strategies would comprise reducing the risks that affect the UAE nationals, for example, ensuring that their living standards are good, and managing the rates of migration. In addition, it is advisable to campaign for birth acceleration. The UAE can also use part-time and youth employment to reduce the rate of labor importation.

The part-time labors would work in temporary capacities, reducing the need for adding foreign workers in the country. It is correct to state that the UAEs immigration rules are loose characterized by legal and illegal arbitrage, such as labor sponsorship system that hinders mobility and improvement in the market. Security of the nationals should be prioritized. However, removing the sponsorship system would be a challenge since it can only be achieved through an amendment. Sponsorship system keeps foreign labor in jobs they do not want to do, or in jobs they are unproductive, while there is availability of the same expertise in the country. Another strategic approach that would be effective would be training of professionals, creation of workforce skills and the reduction in over-reliance on means of production that require huge labor.

This would be possible through the application of modern technology to replace unskilled human labor and the increase in wages in private sectors. This would be beneficial and economical to jobless nationals. Retaining of the skilled labor would be another approach. This entails attracting and retaining the creative class that is skilled, and has the potential to offer mobile services. This would be possible through provision of incentives to the workforce. The idea of equating growth with prosperity without considering its impacts on national population should change. Population increase should not be seen as a result of economic success.

Therefore, it is crucial to explore administrative costs and losses resulting from production and find their root causes. It is also important for the UAE government to build a more positive national identity, which would help citizens to overcome any conflict that would arise from all dimensions, such as historical, religious, and ethnicity. A strong culture that supports moral values, and do not accommodate foreign cultures would be important in discouraging the immigration of labor. As earlier discussed, change in demographic imbalance is mainly influenced by birth, death, and migration. Thus, the measures discussed above would only reduce it, if they would be adopted.

The UAE strategic vision 2030 focuses on utilizing the available opportunities to make the UAE a leading nation among the GCC. News released by the Inter Press Agency News, highlighted that Vision 2030 concentrates on ensuring sustainability in economic development in both the public and private sector. The obtainable solutions relate with the UAEs strategic vision 2030 because the strategic approach concentration is on both sustainable developments and reducing population imbalance. Both are comparable in that, they aim at conceptualizing, consolidating, simplifying, and updating planning for achievement of sustainable development. In its long-term strategies, vision 2030, gives the solutions that are provided in this paper, such as security, safety, emergency preparedness, and ecological protection.

It would be critical to underscore the impacts of demographic disparity to both the national security and the UAE nationals. Many studies have shown that the disparity has both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, it is important to acknowledge the role played by foreign workers in economic growth and the development in various sectors in the UAE. In fact, Ahmad and Ali contend that foregners offered cheap labor, which was more economical and profitable.

The coming of foreign workforce made the UAE cosmopolitan, giving it an advantage to be ahead of other nations in the region. Nonetheless, they brought the production capability, knowledge, and expertise, which resulted in rapid economic growth. This is evident in the short period that was used by the UAE to realize considerable developments using many foreign labors. Thus, they played central roles in the improvement of the country and its economy.

Arab labors are considered as the initiators of education. Ahmad and Ali in a study conducted to examine informal education, acknowledged that education system of the UAE originated from Arabs. Foreigners had different cultures from the UAE nationals. When they came to the country, they enriched the nationals culture. In addition, the nationals adopted foreign language that enabled them to communicate easily with the outsiders, leading to cultural exchange. The UAE was exposed to the outside world. This was facilitated by its tolerance that attracted many citizens from all over the world.

Despite the positive effects of demographic disparity on the national security, it is also typified by negative impacts. Concerning the behaviors, youths moral values have decayed due to foreigners influence. For example, the mode of dressing, the manner of perceiving things, and their religion changed. They began copying westerners of doing things. This resulted in loss of cultural contact by the UAE nationals. This is evident in the decline in the use of Arabic language in all sectors, including schools and workplaces.

As a result, citizens encountered difficulties in reading and interpreting Quran, leading to abandonment of their religion. Furthermore, it led to unemployment among the Emirates. This was facilitated by importation of skilled labor, leaving them unemployed. Joblessness made young people abuse drugs. Consequently, the crime rate and psychological instability increased. For example, drug trafficking, fraud, and prostitution became rampant. Child helpers, who were employed to care for the children, did not treat the children as was expected. According toHusam-Aldin Al- and Rekha, foreigners were offered employment opportunities, leaving the nationals jobless.

The two researcher ague that demographic imbalance led to water and food insecurity. This is for the reason that it created pressure on the scarce resources and stress on the environment. Many people fell sick because there was spread of diseases. This was due to an unhealthy environment. Social aspect of life became expensive, for, example, education and healthcare services. Nationals realized the importance of education, increasing its demand. The increased number of unskilled workers contributed to a reduction in productivity levels of the UAE.

Recommendations

Before the paper focus on recommending what should be adopted in order to reduce demographic imbalance and its effects on the UAE nationals and national security, it is vital to mention that the situation was caused by two factors, i.e., presence of oil and the UAEs small population. Therefore, recommendations would concentrate on policies that would impact the two factors.

First, the government should embark on reforming labor-market laws. It is worth noting that the UAE migration laws are loose, and everyone can easily adhere to them. In addition, there are no strict measures for those who break them. The market laws should include phasing out sponsorship policy, and choosing private sectors to manage visas. This would improve statistical tracking of non-nationals, reducing illegal entry into the state. Consequently, only skilled labor would migrate into the UAE as compared with earlier situations, where everybody migrated into the country. The private sector would help in ensuring that only qualified child helpers would be employed.

Second, it is important to introduce specialized tools for young people to deal with the countrys heritage. This could only be achieved through supporting the role of family in preserving the Emirates heritage. Modern technology should be utilized in both promotions of heritage and enforcing decent rules to new visitors to protect Muslims in the region, and their Islamic culture. In addition, curriculum should be developed in such a way that national heritage and identity are incorporated. This would be important for future generations.

Third, the government should concentrate on investing in national human capital. During the research for this paper, it was realized that the education system of the UAE does not match with the modern economy. The focus should be given to industrial and vocational training to prepare citizens adequately to be reliable with regard to getting employment. Moreover, higher education and research institutions should concentrate on effective and innovative to equip students with knowledge that would be critical in promoting academic freedom.

Academic freedom would result in the preservation of cultural heritage. Fourth, there is a need for building societal changes and the labor market with regard to womens employment. It is clear that the UAE labor laws do not support employed and/or studying mothers. The UAE women are not given maternity leave options. To fight demographic imbalance, fertility rates need to be increased. It is important to realize that women are educated in the country, and have more influence on labor force than men.

Nevertheless, pro-natalist policies would only start if the burden on women is reduced in relation to the workplace and those that would be studying. Therefore, the UAE administration should introduce gender-aware regulation reforms. Maternity leaves, developments of nurseries, day cares, housing, and improved prenatal healthcare should be prioritized to reduce the demographic imbalance. The retirement age of the nationals should be increased because early retirement depletes skilled labor, creating the need for imported labor, especially at the senior levels of the firms. Fifth, foreigners should be given a stake in society.

For example, a formal path to the acquisition of citizenship to non-nationals should be adopted, and should be minimal, at most 3%-5% of the current demography. Giving citizenship to skilled doctors, professionals, and business investors who have employed a relatively high number of nationals would be advisable. Sixth, national outlook need to be changed. It is anticipated that the number of unemployed UAE citizens would continue to increase each day. It is crucial for market laws to be geared toward specialization and the creation of labors that do not heavily rely on human labor as a means of production and service.

Although, the UAE has made progress in this area, there is a room for improvement. Nonetheless, the UAE administration should continue to diversify its economy and encourage citizen to invest in them. In particular, it should focus on education for the reason that it would bring changes in almost every sector. Healthcare sector should be improved to increase fertility rates. For example, both free pre-natal, post-natal services, and maternity-leave with subsidiaries should be provided to women.

Concussion

In conclusion, the demographic imbalance is not only a challenge in the UAE, but also in the GCC member countries. The imbalance is brought about by the presence of rich natural resource and small population of the state. It is important to underscore that the non-nationals migrated to the UAE to offer skilled labor, which was in demand, especially after the discovery of oil. This situation is anticipated to remain the same, or even become worse.

This would be the case because of the expo 2020 that is expected to be held in Dubai. Large numbers of foreigners are expected to participate in the expo 2020. Some foreigners have begun migrating to engage in construction works that have already begun. Despite the fact that the UAE has gained from the high influx of foreigners, the imbalance has more disadvantages than advantages. The presence of foreigners has impacted negatively on national security and the UAE population. For instance, childcare providers did not bring up children in the expected ways.

The imbalance has been characterized by moral decay, lack of cultural identity, unemployment, and decrease in living standards of the nationals. Crime rates and theft cases have increased due to unemployment of the UAE citizens. The imbalance instills fear among the UAE citizens. However, the condition of the UAE can be changed, or improved. Although birth, death, and migration are the main factors behind it, governments can develop measures to reduce the imbalance. Labor market reforms, change of societal perception, encouraging professionalism, among other steps would yield positive results to a demographic imbalance. Arguably, imported labor may not be more productive than the nationals. Therefore, the education system should be tailored toward producing self-reliant citizens who are knowledgeable and skilled. This would result in reduction of imported labor, easing the demographic imbalance.

References

Abdullah Abdulkhaleq, , Gulf news, 2007. Web.

Abu Dhabi, National Committee discusses demographic imbalance, Inter Press Service News Agency, 2013. Web.

Al-Ali, Jasim. Emiratisation: drawing UAE nationals into their surging economy. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 28, no. 9/10 (2008): 365-379.

Al Jaber Sultan, Hosting of Expo 2020 unprecedented achievement for the region, Emirates News Agency, 2014, Web.

Al-Malkawi, Husam-Aldin, and Rekha Pillai. The impact of financial crisis on UAE real estate and construction sector: analysis and implications. Humanomics 29, no. 2 (2013): 115-135.

Al-Raisi, Ahmad and Ali Al-Khouri. Iris recognition and the challenge of homeland and border control security in UAE. Telematics and Informatics 25, no. 2 (2008): 117-132.

Budnik, Katarzyna Temporary migration in theories of international mobility of labour. Bank i Kredyt 6, no. 1 (2011): 7-47.

Forstenlechner, Ingo, and Emilie Jane Rutledge. The GCCs Demographic Imbalance: Perceptions, Realities and Policy Options. Middle East Policy 18, no. 4 (2011): 25-43.

Forstenlechner, Ingo, Emilie Rutledge, and Rashed Salem Alnuaimi. The UAE, the Arab Spring and Different Types of Dissent. Middle East Policy 19, no. 4 (2012): 54-67.

Gaad, Eman, Mohammed Arif, and Fentey Scott. Systems analysis of the UAE education system. International Journal of Educational Management 20, no. 4 (2006): 291-303.

Goby, Valerie, and Catherine Nickerson. Language, religion, and culture in the context of international retail: A study of the multicultural commercial hub of Dubai. Australian Journal of Communication 40, no. 3 (2013): 1-20.

Haq, Zahoor , Sherin Sherif, and Mohamed Gheblawi. Impact of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of households on demand for Food Away from Home in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Hospitality Management 42 (2014): 92-99.

Isakovic, Adrienne, and Mary Forseth Whitman. Self-initiated expatriate adjustment in the United Arab Emirates: a study of academics. Journal of Global Mobility: The Home of Expatriate Management Research 1, no. 2 (2013): 161-186.

James, Aleya, and Nicole M. Shammas. Developing intercultural intelligence: Dubai Style. Journal of International Education in Business 6, no. 2 (2013): 148-164.

Modarress, Batoul, A. Ansari, and Diane L. Lockwood. Emiratisation: from policy implementation. International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management 13, no. 2 (2013): 188-205.

Mountford, Andrew, and Hillel Rapoport. The brain drain and the world distribution of income. Journal of Development Economics 95, no. 1 (2011): 4-17.

Randeree, Kasim. Strategy, policy and practice in the nationalisation of human capital:project emiratisation. Research and Practice in Human Resource Management 17, no. 1 (2009): 71-91.

Szuchman, Jeffrey. Archaeology, Identity, and Demographic Imbalance in the United Arab Emirates. Heritage & Society 5, no. 1 (2012): 35-52.

Turnbull, Peter, and Victoria Wass. Defending dock WorkersGlobalization and labor relations in the worlds ports. Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society 46, no. 3 (2007): 582-612.

United Arab Emirates, The United Arab Emirates: leading competitiveness globally, Vision 2021 news, Web.

United Arab Emirates, We want to be among the best countries in the world by 2021, Vision 2021, 2014. Web.

Changing Demographics in East London

Choice of Topic

  • East Londons demographic dynamism.
  • The area is cosmopolitan in nature.
  • The native population was the Cockneys.
  • Mainly populated by Bangladeshi immigrants.
  • It is a good demonstration of effects of immigrant waves.
  • The area is contentiously classified.

At one point, it appeared that the changing demographics of East London would result in chaos and disarray (Butler and Hamnett 2011). Although the Cockneys were the original tenants in East End, their number is now lower than that of the Bangladesh immigrants. This research is vested in the factors that led to these demographic changes. Some of the urban areas that had homogeneous populations before the war (1940s) have had their demographics altered by immigrant waves. East End is a perfect demonstration of these shifts. The topic of study could eventually clarify the contentious issues that apply to the classification of East end and the entire East London.

Choice of Topic

Methods Used in the Study

  • Use of statistics from government agencies.
  • Researching of population trends.
  • Focus on the changing demographics over the last century.
  • Use of qualitative data to explain the quantitative.
  • Literature review on Multiculturalism trends in London.
  • Analysis of literature review.
  • Examination of emerging multiculturalism trends.
  • Contextualization of the results.
  • Conclusion of the findings.

The study utilizes statistics from reliable sources in a bid to map the current and the past population trends. Several past case studies on multiculturalism will be used to analyze the changing trends in East London.

The literature review is analyzed and the views of the various authors are correlated. The correlation highlights how multiculturalism trends have changed over the course of time. The context of the change through which the results are discussed is my patents lifetime.

Methods Used in the Study

Methods Used in the Study

The Findings So Far..

  • The natives of East end were originally Cockneys.
  • East London bears a connection to the Victorian era.
  • Evidence of strong Kinship in History (Young & Wilmott 2013).
  • Demographic patterns affected by Bangladeshi migration.
  • Changing attitudes in the current East end.
  • Racial tensions.
  • The Indian influence in East End.
  • Immense changes in my parents lifetime.
  • The area will continue to change in future.

The Cockneys are the first modern natives of East London and they brought with them the Victorian age connection (Dench, Gavron, and Young 2006). The influence of Victorian British was evident in East End as recently as the 1900s. An influx of migrants from Bangladeshi changed the multicultural outlook of the region.

With new inhabitants came new attitudes, mostly of resentment towards the newcomers by the natives. Consequently, the issue of race began featuring in East End. Currently, the merging Indian and English culture continue to produce an interesting type of multiculturalism. The second generation of Bangladeshis will produce a more uniform-culture London than the current multiculturalism.

The Findings So Far..

The Findings So Far..

Next Stage of Research

  • How have the Bangladeshi influenced other East Enders.
  • What is the future demographic projections.
  • Multiculturalism in regards to intergenerational outlook.
  • What is the future for Cockneys in East End.

Have the immigrants had any major impact on East London and its inhabitants and to what extent? The influx of immigration has went down and the influence of the Cockneys has waned, future research can point out how the future East End will fair culturally. Is there going to be an outside influence or will the current cultures merge to formulate a new influence? Research can also be used to indicate how different generations regard the multiculturalism of East End (Vertovec 2010). Eventually, what role will the original inhabitants play in the East.

Next Stage of Research

Importance of Topic

  • The entire London is witnessing trends similar to East End.
  • Over fifty years after the war- intergenerational shifts are happening.
  • Cockneys embody various cultural groups.
  • Multicultural future of London is uncertain.
  • Important to planners and policy makers.

Some of the immigrants who settled in London after the World War II have spawned two generations, and this has led to shifts in demographics and cultures. The situation facing Cockneys is replicated in various areas whereby natives feel that they have been squeezed by immigrants. The advent of globalization makes it difficult to adjudge the future of multiculturalism in London (Castles 2005).

Importance of Topic

References

Butler, T and Hamnett, C 2011, Ethnicity, class and aspiration: understanding Londons new East End, Policy Press, London.

Castles, S 2005, How nationstates respond to immigration and ethnic diversity, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 293-308.

Dench, G., Gavron, K., and Young, M 2006, The new East End: kinship, race and conflict, Profile Books, London.

Vertovec, S 2010, Towards postmulticulturalism? Changing communities, conditions and contexts of diversity, International Social Science Journal, vol. 61, no. 199, pp. 83-95.

Young, M. and Wilmott, P 2013, Family and kinship in East, Routledge, London.

Differences of Entire Us Demography as Compared That One of Zip Code 60614

General Summary of Entire Us Demography as Compared With That of Zip Code 60614

The literacy profile of the entire nation differs from that one of zip in that many people in zip have reached bachelors degree and graduate level, while the majority of the entire nation is high school graduates and many have gone to some college but have no degree.

The marital status of the population in both populations varied. In USA entirely, majority had now married status (51.13%) while in Zip, the majority had never married status (54.20%) (Nemiroff, 1995).

General Summary of Entire Us Demography as Compared With That of Zip Code 60614

Census and ethnic diversity

Races and ethnic communities in the entire nation have been continuously increasing including Americans, Indians, Eskimos, Asians, Blacks, Whites, Hispanic and others. In contrast, in zip, the population of Hispanic and ethnicities in the category of others has been decreasing since 1980 to the year 2000, while the American, Indian, Eskimos and Asian populations, though reduced between 1980 and 1990, have been on the increase between 1990 to 2000 (Sandefur,1996).

Census and ethnic diversity

Residential houses occupied

Rental houses were decreasingly being occupied as the majority of the population increasingly owned their own houses in zip territory. This contrasts the entire US population trend that has been observed going for both rental and fully owned houses at an increasing rate (ESRI Press, 2004).

Residential houses occupied

Population in the labor force

The population rate of those not in the labor force in zip is less compared to the rate of the entire country (The University of Michigan, 1994). Majority of the population in the entire nation is employed in manufacturing, health and retail trade industries while that of zip is employed in professional scientific and technical service and financial and insurance industry (Nemiroff, 1995).

Population in the labor force

Income

  • The per capita income of zip territory was higher than that of the entire nation.
  • The majority of the population in zip earns an income of $25,000 or above (each) while that of the entire nation ranges on $1-$2,499 and $25,000-$34,999 (Denton, 2005).
  • Also, the majority of people between the age of 25 to 44 earns an income range of $100,000-$124,999 in zip and $75,000-$99,999 in the entire nation (Wansink, & Sandman, 2002).

Income

It can be seen from the graph presentation that the various household income of zip territory is far much higher than that one of the entire nation.

The per capita house income in zip territory is 64426 while that one of entire nation is 21587.

The differences in income between zip territory and entire USA households.
A graph showing the differences in income between zip territory and entire USA households.

Questions

  1. Considering the differences found in the two areas in comparison, should the firm consider segmentation of marketing activities?
  2. What causes the fluctuation of the population numbers of zip territory ethnicity and what effect does it have on the firm marketing activities?
  3. Considering the higher per capita income and the increasing need to own houses in zip territory, is there profitable opportunity exploitable by the firm? (Berger, 2011).

Questions

References

  • Berger, A. S. (2011). Ads, Fads, and Consumer Culture: Advertisings Impact on American Character and Society. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
  • Denton, R. E. (2005). The 2004 Presidential Campaign: A Communication Perspective. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
  • ESRI Press. (2004). Community Sourcebook of ZIP Code Demographics 2004. Redlands, California: ESRI Press.
  • Gokhale, J. (2010). Social Security: A Fresh Look at Policy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Nemiroff, R. (1995). A raisin in the sun: and, The sign in Sidney Bursteins window. New York: Vintage Books.
  • Sandefur, G. D. (1996). Changing Numbers, Changing Needs: American Indian Demography and Public Health. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.
  • The University of Michigan. (1994). Upclose demographic digest 1994: a sourcebook of key demographic statistics for every populated Zip Code included in the 1990 census. Chicago: UPCLOSE Pub.
  • Wansink, B., & Sandman, S. (2002).Consumer Panels. California: American Marketing Association.

Demographics by Zip Code: Defining Demographic Specificities

Zip code is a vital characteristic when it comes to defining demographic specificities of people inhabiting different regions. It provides extensive quantitative information about all possible aspects of human life. Moreover, such indicators can be used while deciding to move to another town or city or comparing the benefits of living in a place. To prove the usefulness of the data provided through the consideration of peoples lives by their zip codes, I made a comparison of my place with another neighboring area.

The used website, ZipWho, is an easy instrument for the search of principal indicators characterizing the lives of inhabitants in a particular area. With its help, I managed to find a great deal of information on various aspects of human life. They primarily include financial indicators allowing to make conclusions on the social situation of local people (60431: Joliet, IL, n.d.). It also implies the ownership of specific material goods such as houses and cars. The financial information is complemented by the social structure of the area, including such characteristics as the nationality and age of inhabitants (60431: Joliet, IL, n.d.). It would allow making precise conclusions on the current situation in these places and, consequently, comparing them to reveal the one which is better for living.

The first and most crucial characteristic is the financial indicators of people living in areas with zip codes 60435 and 60431. As can be seen from the data published on the website, the median income in the area 60431 is much higher than the one in 60435 (60431: Joliet, IL, n.d.). However, it does not make any difference for a person as the cost of living in 60431 is higher (60435: Joliet, IL, n.d.). Nevertheless, the situation looks different once the median mortgage-to-income ratio in both areas is compared. This indicator is almost the same for both places, but with consideration of other financial indicators, the area 60431 seems to be better.

This conclusion allows one to see that the consideration of financial situations and correct outcomes are possible only in the case of comparison of several characteristics. It can be completed with the consideration of peoples dwellings as they are somehow connected to their financial status. Thus, the houses of inhabitants with the zip code 60435 are mostly rented, and they are generally smaller than the ones in 60431 (60431: Joliet, IL, n.d.). Hence, taking into account all of the considered indicators, living in the area 60431 is more economically beneficial.

The second component of the analysis is the social situation in both areas, and it includes multiple characteristics. It is also connected to the financial status of people and explains a higher number of married people in the area 60431, whereas the population is half the number of inhabitants in 60435 (60431: Joliet, IL, n.d.). Moreover, they have fewer divorces, and the people there are generally younger (60431: Joliet, IL, n.d.). The results of the analysis of the social situation prove the fact that the overall environment of the area 60431 is better than the one in 60435.

There are not many similarities between the two areas as they are different in all aspects. The conducted analysis makes me consider other neighboring regions to make a long-term home in the future. It suggests that life in the area 60431 is more beneficial in terms of financial and social situations, and it seems reliable to me. It is possible that everything can change in the future, but at the moment, there is not much to be changed as all the components of wellbeing are interconnected and, therefore, complicated. The health of populations seems to be better in area 60435 due to higher financial indicators and younger age.

References

60431: Joliet, IL. (n.d.). ZipWho. Web.

60435: Joliet, IL. (n.d.). .

Demographic Variables and Level of Superstitiousness

Abstract

Superstition continuous to be present in human consciousness amidst the modernization that has taken place, and continues to take place in the society. This study looked at whether demographic variables such as age, religion, race or color, and marital status have an effect on ones superstitiousness1. Findings of the study suggest that older age, being a church-goer, single, and Black makes a person more likely to be superstitious.

Introduction

Logic frowns upon superstition, but superstition has a stronghold in the society, as indicated by the pervasive presence of horoscopes in magazines and dailies (Torgler, 2007). Another indication of how pervasive superstition is, even in the modern society is the fact that hotels and other high-rise buildings do not have a thirteenth floor (Scalon et al., 1993). The number 13 is often skipped, such that the actual thirteenth floor is often labeled as the fourteenth. There is also a big market for good luck charms and accessories and talismans.

According to Ankerberg and Weldon (1999), belief in superstition has significantly increased during the past decades. Several surveys not only support this, but also report that the degree of belief, interest and involvement in superstition is high (Gallup and Newport, 1991; Ross and Joshi, 1992 cited in Torgler, 2007).

Literature

Superstition plays a role in the lives of people. In fact, according to the National Science Foundation (2002) and Rice (2003) a big percentage of Americans  more than 40%  believe in such things as devils, ghosts, and spiritual healing (National Science Foundation, 2002; Rice, 2003).

However, there is a dearth of empirical researches about superstition (Torgler, 2007). This may be partly because researchers consider superstition and magical thinking as an extremely discouraging research topic (Scheibe & Sarbin, 1965).

Previous studies on superstition have found that religion is an important factor in understanding paranormal beliefs and experiences (MacDonald, 1995; Orenstein, 2002; McKinnon, 2003; Rice, 2003).

Orenstein (2002, p. 303) however, criticizes these studies for being small in terms of sample size and for using student samples. He adds: on student samples, religious variables have usually been examined without controlling for background characteristics that might show the results too spurious (Orenstein, 2002, 303 as cited in Torgler, 2002).

A study by Torgler (2007) checked whether a correlation exists between superstition and religious variables. He concluded that there seems to be a certain concurrence between churches and superstitious beliefs, the correlation between superstition and attendance of church and other religious activities being mostly negative (Torgler, 2007). The study concludes that the more religious a person, the likelier it is for him to be superstitious.

One of the interesting factors about superstition whether there is a link between variables such as age, color or race, religion and marital status and superstitiousness (degree of belief or adherence to superstition).

To get an insight into this question, this present study compares the following: older respondents versus younger respondents; Black respondent versus White respondents; religious versus non-religious; and in a relationship versus single.

The study will give a glimpse in understanding some of the factors that may be related with belief to or non-belief of superstition.

Method

For this research, 10 people were polled. The respondents were asked to fill up a survey form where they were to indicate their age, their religion (if applicable) their color or race, and whether or not they are in a relationship. In the form, they were to rate their degree of belief to the superstitions listed using the numbers 1 to 5, 1 being the least belief, and 5 the highest degree of belief.

The responses of each person were then tallied, such that their average score of being superstitious was determined.

The mean scores were then tallied according to age, religion, marital status, and color. The mean scores of the whites were compared with that of the black; that of the single against that of those in relationship; that of the Catholics against the non-Catholics, and finally, that of the younger respondents (age 25 and younger) to that of the older respondents (age 26 and older).

Results

The variables considered in the study are age, race or color, marital status, and religious affiliation. The results are as follows.

Age variable

When the respondents were compared according to age, the survey showed that the older ones were more superstitious than the younger ones. The mean score of the older respondents degree of superstiousness was 4.36 whereas the younger respondents got a mean score of 2.6.

Table 1. Mean Score of Respondents Supertitiousness According to Age

Age Mean Scores
Younger respondents (25 years and younger) 2.6
Older respondent (26 years and older) 4.36

Color or race variable

When the respondents were compared according to color, the survey showed that the Blacks were more superstitious than the Whites. The mean score of the Black respondents degree of superstiousness was 4.5 whereas the White respondents got a mean score of 3.06.

Table 2. Mean Score of Respondents Supertitiousness According to Color or Race

Age Mean Scores
Black 4.5
Whites 3.06

Marital status variable

When the respondents were compared according to color, the survey showed that the respondents who are single are more superstitious than the respondents who are in a relationship. The mean score of the respondents who are single was 3.76, whereas the respondents who are single got a mean score of 2.8.

In this study, divorced and respondents who were not married and not in a relationship were considered as single.

Table 3. Mean Score of Respondents Supertitiousness According to Marital Status

Age Mean Scores
Single 3.76
In a Relationship 2.8

Religiosity variable

When the respondents were compared according to whether they are members of a religious group or not, the survey showed that the church goers were more superstitious than the non-church goers. The mean score of the church goers degree of superstiousness was 4.36 whereas the non-church goers got a mean score of 2.15.

Table 4. Mean Score of Respondents Supertitiousness According to Religiosity

Age Mean Scores
Black 4.5
Whites 3.06

Discussion

Based from the foregoing results, it appears from the onset people who are Black, single, older, and religious are more superstitious than those who are White, married, younger and non-religious.

The above statement, however, may need to be looked at using a more complex matrix. For this study, suffice it to say that Blacks are more superstitious that Whites, single people are more superstitious that those who are in a relationship; older people are more superstitious that the younger ones, and that the religious ones are more superstitious than those who are not church-goers.

The fourth concluding statement  that religious people are more superstitious than their nonreligious counterparts  supports the findings of Torgler as mentioned in the literature section of the paper. There are some elements in religion that make people more open to the supernatural (faith being based on belief a Supreme Being who himself represents the supernatural) which influences the religious folks to believe in superstition.

Another concluding statement in this study which may be explained is the finding that older people tend to be more religious than the younger ones. It is tempting to explain that this may be because the older the person gets, the more permeable he is to other thoughts and beliefs.

However, the ages of the respondents in the study were too close, the youngest being 20 and the oldest, only 33. For this conclusion to be more valid, the age gap between the two groups should have been wider: at least 20 years. Ideally, the two groups compared should have been teenagers to early twenties for Group A, and 40 years and older for Group B. The age of the respondents then should be noted as one of the limitations of the study.

Moreover, it should also be noted that the present study did not look into whether the association between the variables with superstition is statistically significant. The figures processed were only the mean scores of the respondents.

The study likewise did not look into other variables that may have an affect on one supertitiousness. Variables such as educational level, economic status, gender, and so on which may greatly influence ones stand on superstition were not looked into. Future studies should also take into consideration these factors.

Also on the issue of variables, it is worth mentioning that while race or color was included in the study, there were only two races involved: Black and White. For the study to be more valid, other races should have been considered, like the Hispanics and the Asians and all the races that used to practice rituals (and may still be practicing now).

Finally, it should also be noted that the research study used very limited sample: only twenty respondents. This very limited number of respondents renders the study insufficient to draw definitive conclusions. As such, it is recommended that larger studies in terms of number of sample or respondents as well as in terms of the number of variables and the sophistication by which the data will be analyzed should be taken to gain a deeper insight into the association between demographics and superstitiousness.

Despite these limitations, however, the study author believes that this study gives us some glimpse on the variables considered in the study, albeit in a limited way.

Note

1Superstitiousness is the level or degree of superstition.

Bibliography

  1. Campbell, C. (1996). Half-belief and the paradox of ritual instrumental activism: a theory of modern superstition. British Journal of Sociology, 47, 151166.
  2. Lindemann, M. and Aarnio, K. (2007). Superstitious, Magical, and Paranormal Beliefs: An Integral Model.
  3. Torgler, Benno. 2007. Determinants of Superstition. The Journal of Socio-Economics. 713-733.
  4. National Science Foundation (2002). Science and engineering: Indicators 2002. Science and technology: public attitudes and public understanding. Science Wction and pseudoscience.
  5. Orenstein, A., 2002. Religion and paranormal belief. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 41, 301311.
  6. Rice, T. (2003). Believe it or not: religious and other paranormal beliefs in the United States. Journal for the ScientiWc Study of Religion, 42, 95106.
  7. Scalon, T.J., Luben, R.N., Scanlon, F.L., Singleton, N., 1993. Is Friday the 13th Bad for your Health? British Medical Journal 307, 15841586.
  8. Scheibe, K. E., & Sarbin, T. R. (1965). Towards a theoretical conceptualisation of superstition. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, 16, 143158.

Impact of Demographic Changes on Healthcare in the US

Introduction

  • The world is about to enter a massive change in demographics.
  • Improvements in the quality of life.
  • Increases in the average lifespan.
  • 20% of the US population will be 65 years or older by 2050.
  • Increased pressure on the healthcare sector.

The elderly have always been one of the primary recipients of healthcare services around the world. Old age is associated with higher vulnerability to diseases, increased chances of trauma, and other related healthcare issues. Naturally, they make up for the majority of hospital treatments and long-term hospitalizations. However, this situation is soon to change. Number of older adults worldwide would double from 900 million to 1.6 billion by 2030, and grow further to reach the 2 billion mark by 2050 (WHO, n.d.). This represents a major challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. The USA will face the issue of demographic changes as well, as 20% of the US population will be 65 year or older by 2050 (WHO, n.d.). The purpose of this presentation is to analyze the impact of demographic changes on healthcare in the US through the lens of organizational development.

Introduction

US Population Growth Rate

  • Birth rate in the US is 1.84 children per woman.
  • The percentage increase in population for the past 3 years is roughly 0.71%.
  • Marginal growth is achieved due to net immigration and reduced mortality rates.
  • Potential increase in patient-per-nurse ratio.

According to statistical research, the US population has been growing steadily for the past 50 years or so. The USA has one of the largest populations in the world, scoring at third place, after China and India. This presents a set of unique challenges to the healthcare system, as the ever-increasing number of people would require more doctors and nurses to take care of them. According to Buerhaus, Skinner, Auerbach and Staiger (2017), the increase in the overall population rates, coupled with the existing shortage of nurses, will cause issues due to higher patient-per-nurse ratios and decreased quality of care.

US Population Growth Rate

US Population Aging Rate

  • US population is aging rapidly.
  • The number of US citizens aged 65 and above will double.
  • Current number: 48 million.
  • Projected number: 96 million.
  • Baby boomers eligible for retirement since 2011 (Ricketts, 2011).

The aging demographic in the US has been alarming ever since the 2000s. The immediate healthcare deficit is largely associated with Baby Boomers, one of the largest generation groups in the country, entering retirement and relying on the existing healthcare system to maintain their health. This means an increased influx of patients with multiple comorbidities and high susceptibility for hospitalization. Treating these patients requires additional staff and resources. The projected numbers for the US population in the next 40 years include members of other generations entering retirement. With no changes to the existing healthcare system organization, the country would need twice as many nurses and doctors as it has now.

US Population Aging Rate

Racial and Ethnical Diversity

  • US population keeps growing due to net immigration.
  • The number of migrants in the US is estimated to grow from 44 to 78 million in the next 40 years.
  • Approximately 1 million migrants per year.
  • The majority of migrants to the US come from Mexico, Latin America, and Asia.
  • Religion composition in the US is slowly changing, the number of non-Christians is growing (Valentine, Wynn, & McLean, 2016).

Due to its economic prosperity, political freedoms, and working opportunities, the USA has been a choice country for migration less fortunate countries, such as Mexico, Cuba, China, India, El Salvador, Guatemala, and others. Legal migrants typically naturalize and become US citizens, thus creating an additional challenge for the healthcare system, which needs to accommodate these individuals based on their ethnic, cultural, religious, and individual needs. It is very possible for nurses of the future to be required to be bilingual or possibly tri-lingual to be able to efficiently treat migrants and individuals of various racial and ethnical backgrounds (Valentine et al., 2016).

Racial and Ethnical Diversity

Healthcare Challenge: Workforce Supply

  • Existing workforce shortage is at 13,800 primary care physicians.
  • Forecasted shortages at 20,000 physicians by 2025.
  • Estimated shortages for 2030  between 40000 and 120,000 physicians.
  • Workforce supply shortages associated with greater number of patients requiring long-term care.

According to Dall et al. (2013), the prevalence of manageable chronic diseases in the USs aging population would require a greater number of primary care and specialized physicians. This statement is supported by the data provided by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) commission in cooperation with the Health Resources and Services administration (HRSA). Long-term care requires personnel to treat, clean, educate, and take care of stationary residents as well as operate all kinds of medical equipment meant for routine scans and checkups. In addition, the expectations towards healthcare by the Baby Boomer generation will be higher, resulting in greater requirements for the quality of care (Kahana & Kahana, 2014).

Healthcare Challenge: Workforce Supply

Healthcare Challenge: Demand for Chronic and Long-Term Services

  • Longer life expectancy is associated with the ability to manage chronic diseases.
  • New diseases associated with sedentary life, pollution, and exposure will require treatment.
  • Chronic and long-term services become more affordable.
  • Increased quality of treatment.

Dall et al. (2013) state that the quality of life, along with quality of care, have increased exponentially over the course of the last century. In 1900, the average life expectancy of a US citizen was 47 years, whereas in 2018 it is at 73 years. This number is expected to grow up to 80 years in 2050. Chronic care would be required to handle various heart, lung, and kidney diseases, as well as obesity-related illnesses. Mobility issues would become a pressing matter, as many elders experience falls and suffer from a lack of accommodations for limited mobility individuals. Falls are some of the main causes of trauma and morbidity in elderly patients (Satariano et al. 2012).

Healthcare Challenge: Demand for Chronic and Long-Term Services

Healthcare Challenge: Demand for Diversity

  • There will be 78 million immigrants in the USA by 2050.
  • Immigration will expose the healthcare system to numerous different religions and cultures.
  • Healthcare workers will be expected to handle the diversity with respect and care.
  • The majority of nurses in service today are likely to be underprepared.

The demands for diversity training in modern healthcare are already reasonably high. Nurses are expected to be able to converse on a simple level in both English, Hispanic, and several other languages in use on the territory of the US. In addition, there is plenty of educational material on different aspects of cultures and religions that are present in this country. According to Phillips and Malone (2014), increasing diversity in nursing and promoting diversity training leads to lower disparities of health and better outcomes, which would be necessary to curb the increased workloads associated with rehospitalization and poor primary treatment. At the same time, diversity training is likely to increase the time needed for preparation of a nurse, thus potentially contributing to workforce supply shortages.

Healthcare Challenge: Demand for Diversity

Organizational Aspects and Potential Solutions

  • The existing healthcare system has to be transformed on an organizational level in order to ensure high quality and volume of performance.
  • Competition for skilled workers will be high.
  • Standards and approaches to professional education will need to be changed.
  • Communication between nurses and patients on all levels.
  • Promotion of work/life balance.

In order to answer the challenges created by the demographic challenges and already shaping the landscape of national healthcare, hospitals, government, social and educational institutions will have to undergo a massive organizational overhaul. The primary goals would be to reduce the workforce supply deficit by making the profession more attractive to various individuals, training and recruiting more nurses, and also by making the healthcare system more efficient. Reducing nurse turnover, making use of communication technology, and promoting preventive care would help ensure the overall health and stability of a rapidly aging population (Grady, 2011).

Organizational Aspects and Potential Solutions

Organizational Transformation of Healthcare

  • Use of flexible scheduling in accordance with patient flow.
  • Heavy use of communication technology to reduce workload on nurses.
  • Greater expectations for quality of care.
  • Expanding the workforce to include more full-time nurses.
  • Implementing modularity in healthcare.

All predictions suggest that the US healthcare industry will be facing the demographics crisis while understaffed. As such, it is of paramount importance to improve the efficiency of existing system in order to account for more patients with chronic diseases needing long-term care. Competent scheduling and thrifty spending is key to maintaining a relative status quo. Flexible scheduling will be used to maintain a steady patient-per-nurse ratio during high and low workload periods. Hospitals and primary care facilities as a whole would need to be expanded to include more full-time nurses working in long-term care. Soffers, Meijboom, and Hsuan (2016) suggest the implementation of modularity to improve healthcare outcomes.

Organizational Transformation of Healthcare

Reorganization of Medical Education

  • Medical education must be made more available.
  • Expanded internships might help reduce hospital workloads.
  • Emphasis on diversity training.
  • A better balance of theory and practice.

While hospital reorganization might help increase the production output of healthcare facilities, it will not solve the primary problem in US healthcare  there are not enough nurses. With old nurses retiring and high turnover rates washing out many young nurses in their first three years of service, the system needs to reorganize medical education. It must be made available to everyone, including poor families and individuals from various ethnical backgrounds (Telio, Ajjavi, & Regehr, 2015). In addition, the current curriculum focuses too much on theory and too little on practice, which leads to slow and inefficient work. Making nurses familiarized with hospitals from their very first year of learning would help remedy that.

Reorganization of Medical Education

Reduction of High Turnover Rates

  • US hospital turnover rate is at 19%.
  • Reducing turnover rates would help preserve employees.
  • Turnover reduction = cost reduction.
  • Better work/life balance.
  • 8-hour shifts (in the long run).

One of the major reasons why most US hospitals are understaffed is because of high turnover rates. Healthcare jobs are stressful, the hours are poor, and there is a high chance of burnout along the way. Many nurses drop out after 1-2 years in the profession. In order to make sure that US healthcare system withstands the influx of numerous geriatric patients in the next 20 years, it is paramount to make healthcare a comfortable profession. It is possible to improve work satisfaction by introducing servant leadership as a basis for nurse-supervisor interaction, and include various appreciation programs to make nurses feel rewarded for their efforts (Trastek, Hamilton, & Niles, 2014).

Reduction of High Turnover Rates

Conclusions

  • Geriatric population in the USA will double by 2050.
  • The number of immigrants will increase.
  • US hospital system is not prepared for the workload increase.
  • Quality healthcare depends on hospital organization and education reforms.

A potential demographic crisis is looming over the US healthcare industry. As it stands, we are woefully unprepared for the drastic increases in patient numbers. As it stands, the healthcare system is underfunded and understaffed. However, there are numerous opportunities for improvement. By making healthcare one of the nations top priorities and making significant reforms to the existing organizational and educational structures, it would be possible to provide the aging population with enough nurses, doctors, and other specialists. Changes to the program to include more diversity training would help reduce the discrepancies between population groups and provide a uniform standard of care.

Conclusions

References

Buerhaus, P. I., Skinner, L. E., Auerbach, D. I., & Staiger, D. O. (2017). Four challenges facing the nursing workforce in the United States. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 8(2), 40-46.

Dall, T. M., Gallo, P. D., Chakrabarti, R., West, T., Semilla, A. P., & Storm, M. V. (2013). An aging population and growing disease burden will require a large and specialized healthcare workforce by 2025. Health Affairs (Project Hope), 32(11), 2013-2020.

Grady, P. A. (2011). Advancing the health of our aging population: A lead role for nursing science. Nursing Outlook, 59(4), 207-209.

Kahana, E., & Kahana, B. (2014). Baby boomers expectations of health and medicine. Virtual Mentor, 16(5), 380-384.

Phillips, J. M., & Malone, B. (2014). Increasing racial/ethnic diversity in nursing to reduce health disparities and achieve health equity. Public Health Reports, 129, 45-50.

Ricketts, T. C. (2011). The health care workforce: will it be ready as the boomers age? A review of how we can know (or not know) the answer. Annual Review of Public Health, 32, 417-430.

Satariano, W. A., Guralnik, J. M., Jackson, R. J., Marottoli, R. A., Phelan, E. A., & Prohaska, T. R. (2012). Mobility and aging: New directions for public health action. American Journal of Public Health, 102(8), 1508-1515.

Soffers, R., Meijboom, B., & Hsuan, J. (2016). Principles for implementing modularity in healthcare. 23rd EurOMA Conference, 1-14.

Telio, S., Ajjavi, R., & Regehr, J. (2015). The Educational Alliance as a framework for reconceptualizing feedback in medical education. Academic Medicine, 90(5), 609-614.

Trastek, V. F., Hamilton, N. W., & Niles, E. E. (2014). Leadership models in healthcare  A case for servant leadership. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 89(3), 374-381.

Valentine, P., Wynn, J., & McLean, D. (2016). Improving diversity in the health professions. North Carolina Medical Journal, 77(2), 137-140.

WHO. (n.d.). Global health and aging.. Web.

Student Demographics in Hiring Teaching Staff

Student demographics refer to the student population and its characteristics. By student s demographic we may as well be looking at some factors such as the student sex, age, race, source of income and many others. In any educational institution, there are different set learning objectives. The number one learning objective for students is definitely to study in order to achieve good grades. The other learning objective for a student population is to improve in different sectors of life e.g. growing spiritually, interacting socially and being responsible to nature and oneself.

Growing spiritually entails, the students being able to relate well and closely with each other. On a higher ground, spiritual growth translates into a better understanding of the world, issues like death and the beyond including God. The student demographic characteristics determine interaction between students. On social interaction, if a school is for both boys and girls, the students get a chance to talk and interact with the opposite sex. This will enhance their capacity to stay together with members of the opposite sex and interact in a healthy way. However, such a demographic characteristic has implications in terms of how the teachers should handle the students.

According to Reeves (2008), the student demographic factors ought to be considered when hiring teaching staff or any other staff in an educational institution. In hiring a principal for instance, Reeve (2008) notes that it is important to analyze students demographic and critically learn most of its major issues. A principal who is not very experienced in dealing with a large number of student populations will definitely feel intimidated, and may consequently fail to deliver his services as effectively and efficiently as expected.

The role of a principal is to deal with daily administrative functions while strategically positioning the institution towards a better future. The daily administrative functions largely depend on the student demographics. Consequently, the capacity of a principal is dependent on student demographics. Success for the administrator is determined by how he or she translates that into a harmonious institutional culture.

In often cases, students tend to rebel against or tend to be antagonistic towards school structures and regulations. Students sometimes become uncooperative and in some cases, resort to causing chaos and havoc within the school compound. The cause of these disturbances is usually the failure of the administration to give heed to their articulated grievances. In such a scenario, instead of concentrating on his/her core functions the institution, the principal supped into efforts to stop the student unrest in order to curtail more damage.

However, this is not the best way forward when dealing with learning institutions. An experienced principal has capacity to foresee such student unrest and try to tame it before it happens. There is a close connection between student unrests and student demographics. If the administration does not understand issues

Understanding the nature of student demographic and its application is a paramount ideal in the selection and hiring processes of the principal. The process of selecting and hiring a principal may be a bit entailing. However, there are many other aspects to be considered such as personal qualification, it will equally be important to consider other issues of great magnitude like the Principles experience with student demographic.

A principle who for one reason happens to have never seen student unrest, will find it relatively hard to deal with schools, which have the habit of rioting written on their faces. The best decision for such a principle is to be taken to a much cool school. According to those principals with record of student demographic, similar measures should be undertaken but also an analysis on the conduct of such a principal should be carried out to detect if he is the real problem or the students. Incase found quilt, and then his hiring should instantly be terminated.

Diversity Policies on Ethnic Hiring Practices

Of late, many countries have registered quite a huge number in the rate of their unemployment. By unemployment, we are talking of workforce that is competent and willing to work at the current rate offered in the market but that work is unavailable. The rate at which this unemployment is growing, if not curbed by the government will bring a lot of confusion in the future. Important policies to safeguard this calamity need to be formulated and implemented as quickly as possible.

In instances where some jobs have been created, one realizes that some other aspects take place. Instead of hiring workers based on their merits like for instance ones qualification, experience etc, you find that the topic here is ethnicity. If you do not come from the same area or speak the same tongue with the director or whoever is responsible for hiring, you are automatically disqualified. This tendency has been practiced for quite a long time now.

The practices is so deep rooted that many youth and other citizens have given up or despaired completely. It should however be noted that each problem has an answerer and therefore the government and individuals should not shy away from the reality. I believe we are supposed to be enjoying our strength in diversity of ethnicity and not condemning it, or attributing the bad thing in our society from it. In case it is hiring of workers, we should so far not be lead by issue of where one comes from or from which community one belong. We should be all gland irrespective of our tribal affiliation. If we put this in to consideration, we will not only be effective but also efficient in our working.

On the government side, there should be rational decision made to curb with the issue of ethnicity in hiring. The government should formulate and radically implement these set of rules in order to keep ethnicity at bay. Similarly, punitive measures should be considered on wrong doers so that it can act as a warning to others who may try to repeat the same mistake.

The new diversity policy is one of the best policy which, if adhered to can bring many remarkable changes, in our country. One cannot fail to see it strength in condemning ethnicity in hiring. Similarly, the policy clearly elucidate on the necessary course of action to be taken to wrong doers or those who will break the set laws. A lot of importance will accrue from inclusion of the above policy in new hiring position. This is because the policy will guide the hiring party on any information they may require on ethnicity. Similarly, the policy equally stipulates the repercussion of falling to adhere to the set laws.

The issue of hiring is among the paramount morals that school leaders get involved in. In order to propel the school forward the principal should hire teachers to support the mission of the school. The hardest part is coming up with the necessary requirement characters from the candidate teacher. The characters that the teacher possesses indicate largely the far the teacher as a person is likely to propel the institution. This means that only those teachers who meet the set standard of law should be hired.

In the course of hiring his teachers, one should have the conception that he is hiring leaders in the school. This should equally mean just as stated by Meyer (2008) that a competent leader for a certain position should have irrefutable characters. Among the character that should be checked in a candidate teacher for hiring should therefore includes

Intelligent

By being intelligent, the teacher should often reflect astuteness in his working. An intelligent person should not have many difficulties in solving or understanding the obvious. Similarly, an intelligent person should not only perform his work with effectiveness but also with efficiency.

Confidence

Confidence is another important character that is very important in any candidate for employment. To a teacher candidate the same apply. In order to consistently produce the required results, one must totally believe in himself and have unwavering confidence in his doing. Without confidence, one will be shaky in his operation, and will always be relying on other for assistance.

Visionary

By being visionary, the person concerned can be able to have an assumption of what might happen in future. This character is such important not only to the owner but to the institution as well. This is because both parties will be forewarned on any predicament that may befall them, hence reducing their chances of incurring any damage or loss. A visionary employee is also a big asset to any institution because at no point will the institution stay stagnant but will continue to grow with time due to visionary decision from the employee.

Hardworking

By being hard working, the person in contemplation is meant to be meticulous in his working. Such a person performs his duties at the right time and place with no excuses or inconveniences of not doing the assignment. A hardworking person is also reflected in the results of his works, which repeatedly are usually the best. A candidate teacher should be able to demonstrate all these characters in order to prove his worthiness.

Reliability

Any person should be reliable to those they are interacting with daily or quite often. Similarly, any employee should be reliable to his fellow employees and employer. By being reliable, it means that a particular person can be entrusted over a certain obligation. The issue of reliability comes with the capability of the particular worker to perform his work effectively and efficiently.

Importance of the traits

The above highlighted traits are of paramount importance and mostly during the selection process. Many reasons inform the picking of the five traits. For instance, in selection process, it may not necessary be that easy to come up with character traits meant to be used to select the best candidate. However, among the five given characters, there is a specific importance why each character is important in the selection process.

Intelligence

In the selection process, there are usually quite a lot of candidates who all endeavor to be selected. This can never happen because usually there are very few vacancies. To deal with that emerging issue, the aspect of intelligence is introduced, in order to help eliminate those who do not meet the required level of intelligence.

Confidence

In the selection process, confidence is of great importance because it is hard to select a person as an employee without necessarily looking at the level of his confidence. An employee without confidence is a liability to the institution because he will repeatedly never concentrate on his works because he has no confidence in it.

Visionary

Visionary as a character possessed by an employee is very important. In the selection process, the character equally become very important because apart from showing the selection panel on the quality of the candidate, it also help in reducing the number of candidates for selection.

Hardworking

Even though it may not necessarily be easy to establish whether a candidate is really hard working or not during the selection process, there are other characters that solve this dilemma. The past results of an individual, be they academics, will largely determine this. The other importance of this character in the selection process is that it will be used as a parameter to gauge those qualifies and who does not.

Reliability

Reliability is a character that means a lot to a person. By being reliable, it means that the other individuals trust a person. This character can be of paramount importance and mostly during the selection process.

Strategic planning with SWOT Analysis

As the dean at Brooks University, I need to come up with some strategic plans in order to incorporate most of the raised ideas so as to improve some programs that that the university offer. Among these programs includes the MBA, which has so far attracted quite a huge number of students and mostly foreign ones. Using SWOT analysis, which is a simple framework for considering premeditated alternatives (Bohm, 2009).

One can easily come up with the required solution to the set goals. SWOT itself is an abbreviation of Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats. Dealing with the above four abbreviation in comparison to Brooks University, one will realize that the University has the strength to achieve its goals such as meeting the required number of students per program. Similarly, the University has the strength to enable the University raise enough capital to facilitate all its programs.

On the other hand, the University is coupled with a number of calamities such as it does not have enough money on itself to funds its program and most are the time it is relying on grants from corporation. This means that not at many instances will the university be standing shoulder high because it will have been traumatized by this money it is given on conditions.

The above two aspects of SWOT are somehow internal meaning that that the university can to a certain extent be able to control their occurrence. However, for opportunities and threat they are external matters that the company may not be able to influence.

Going by the University goals and mostly that of raising enough capital to facilitate its programs, the University needs an opportunity, which may equally be a chance to introduce new product or service in the market that will absolutely fetch higher returns. As said however, these chances are rare and one cannot simply control or influence it. It is the responsibility of the University to be able to come up with the best products or service in to the market at the right time in order to fetch enough money for funding their programs

Threats are dangerous or challenging external factors that the university has deal with. Threats usually arise where similar products are subjected by the market by different sales. In this case, the university may be subjected to the threat where some of the products or services its offering is being offered by another competing company. Another threat that is beyond the university capability is political effect.

Mostly the political affairs are national whereas those of a university are mostly concentrated within a particular region. In case of political conflicts where certain products have been banned, in that case, in case the university was involved in its production and selling, then it will have to opt for other measures of raising the revenue required to facilitate their program needs.

Diagrammatic representation of SWOT Analysis

Strength

  • Financial reserves
  • Innovative aspect
Weaknesses

  • Financial
  • Lack of competitive strength
Opportunities

  • Technology development and innovation
  • Global Influence
Threats

  • Political Effects
  • Environmental effects

Leading Well

Generally, leadership is defined as capacity to influence others towards attainment of given objectives. However, the definition of leadership is not a given one. Leadership is a multifaceted topic that often appears to be very complex for an individual to understand. As there are many leaders, so there are different types of leadership. Depending on the subjects under the command of the leader, if the subjects are treated well by their leaders then his leadership is appreciated.

Similarly, if a leader does not give good leadership to his subject, then the subjects are likely not to get satisfied with his leadership. This implies that leading well or bad all depend with the relationship of the leader and his servants. However, largely this is not true.

Leading well should be a matter appreciated by the international community; it should meet the set international standards. People may appreciate a leader but actually, his type of leadership does not meet the international standards. In this case, a leader may be brutal to his people to the extent of going beyond human rights yet he is still appreciated and when election time comes, he is voted back by almost everyone. This when you learn that such leaders usually rules with an Iron fist, intimidation and fear and that the subject lives to meet his desires

Moral Leadership

Moral leadership just like any other type of leadership entails the day-to-day way in which we treat others in the organization. Moral leadership has to do with our sense of right and wrong. Such considerations come in very handy in the simplest of transactions revolving around acquisition, possession and relationship. Moral leadership starts at ones family level and goes on to the capacity the leader is mandated to. Lack of moral leadership will however be observed out rightly due to the effect or tendencies of unethical behaviors There are however, instances where a conflict may arise on what is ethical and unethical. These two forces are likely to pull apart moral leadership, until a solid agreement is reached.

My leadership style

To start with, I am one person who highly believes in democracy. I totally respect an institution of the people for the people by the people as the best type of leadership in our current times. Those times when leadership was demonstrated more on dictatorship than democratically elected leaders is far-gone. I believe in giving people a chance to freely express themselves on their feeling toward the current regime so that In case there is any wrongdoing, the power of the people can decide.

The same power that raised someone to that level should be left to check the way that power is being used on them. Checking the way a government is using power makes people feels like they are part of leadership. The other character that reflects my leadership style is professionalism. In my leadership, one serves the public where he is best qualified. This makes sure that the public receives the best services they can get. Similarly, my leadership is characterized by corruption free administration.

By this, I mean that every person is entitled to getting the required services, without giving anything in return for the service offered. Any public officer found soliciting corruption is bound to face the law immediately and his employment contract terminated in case he is found quilt. Similarly, any member public attempting to offer bribe in order to be served is also equally subjected to the same hand of law. In case found quilt, the person is jailed and in the process act as an example to the rest who may try to do the same.

People are not supposed to be oppressed rather be given their freedom but of cause limited freedom. More freedom will definitely corrupt their hearts and so they only require that freedom to make them feel free men and women, and that they are equal members of the government.

My leadership style encourages all citizens to work hard toward nation building. In the processes, they are able to enjoy their taxes through special amenities like electricity, security or road system development and many others. My leadership style is supposed to give hope to the hopeless and at the same time brings out the best in the people. I also like getting involved in providing justice to those who may have experienced injustice in the past. As part of leadership, I totally believe in reducing the gap between the poor and the rich.

In most countries, you will realize that the rich people get on becoming richer while the poor man is drained the last blood by his reach counterparts. Similarly, I always advocate for equal human right regardless of culture, sex religion creed etc. all citizen should be subjected to the same judicial system and their cases decided without prejudice. No one is supposed to be locked without proper court hearing and similarly, a person is not supposed to be subjected to torture.

Credo

A leader is not born but is made.

A good leader is one who serves his people without pleasing himself

When one door closes, another one opens even in places you did not think had doorframes.

There will be a better tomorrow

Logo
Logo.

Reference list

Bohm, A. (2009). The SWOT Analysis, GRIN Verlag publishers: Nordestedt Germany.

Meyer, T. (2008). Leadership Qualities  Is There a Perfect Leader. GRIN Verlag: Nordestedt.

Reeves, D, B. (2008). Reframing Teacher Leadership to Improve Your School. ASCD Publishers: New Jersey.

Demographic and Technological Factors in Recruitment

Implications of demographic forces in the Recruitment Industry

Demographic factors within the recruitment sector can affect human resource supply and the structural productivity of the labor market. Data from various studies show that people are living longer, and many women and millennials (15 to 24 years) are entering the workforce (Mester, 2017). These changes in age and gender distributions will lead to a three to four percent increase in the supply of skilled personnel. As the aging populace increases, the number of business and tech start-ups is likely to decrease, leading to a decline in structural and economic productivity (Mester, 2017). Additionally, baby boomers have higher job experience than younger populaces, given that they rarely change jobs. However, job immobility can have negative implications for work productivity in the long run due to the lack of skill mix.

Advantages and disadvantages of technological changes

Security is a trade-off for workplaces which rely on technology. Mobile and computer systems are typically susceptible to cyber-attacks and data losses. Recruiters can also use technology to efficiently select ideal candidates by easily screening and cross-referencing keywords in an applicants resume within a large applicant pool. The internet can also provide a convenient way to communicate with applicants without the need for job advertising and postage fees which were typical of traditional job postings. In hindsight, e-recruitment can attract fraudulent applicants, hence diluting the quality of the talent pool. Technology can also pose workplace distractions reducing employees productivity in the long run.

How technology can be beneficial to workplaces

Companies can use technology to improve productivity and collaboration practices in the workplace. Communication breakdowns in the workplace can lead to delays, errors, and inefficiencies within the organization. However, the use of hi-tech devices can resolve these issues by improving the dissemination of information which, in turn, can facilitate workplace coordination and teamwork (Dukes, 2019). The utilization of up-to-date technologies can also play a crucial role in fostering aspects such as innovation within the workforce, accuracy in computation analysis, job efficiency, safety and security, and increased productivity.

References

Dukes, E. (2019). Iofficecorp. Web.

Mester, L. J. (2017). Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Web.

U.S. Demographics to the Year 2050

Introduction

Social Security System is one of the most important phenomena in the modern society. Having originated in the United States of America in the early 1930s, it has developed into the basis on which the lives of the elderly people are built after their retirement from work (Calmes, 2006). Workers donate money to the specialized funds, and after their retirement they receive social security payments monthly. The crucial role in this system is played by the age distribution of the population of every country. Accordingly, demographic data are vital for the development of the Social Security System (Siegel, 2002). This paper aims at analyzing the most important demographic factors influencing the system. Another goal of this paper is to offer certain solutions to the issues of the Social Security System.

Social Security System

To start with, it is necessary to consider the basis of the Social Security System. The most important demographic factor of the age distribution of the population that affects it is the relative number of elderly retired people to the number of those of the working age. It is also called elderly age-dependency ratio. Moreover, fertility, mortality and net immigration play a substantial role in the system (Siegel, 2002).

The measurement of the first aspect is carried out through relating the US Census Bureau data on the number of people of the elderly age group to the numbers reflecting the working-age population. The results of this relation are taken as the dependency ratio. The next aspects mentioned can be measured by both considering the past demographic trends in the society, like 1950s baby boom, and forecasting the future trends on their basis (Siegel, 2002).

These measurements are weak as they are always relative and approximate, based on the forecasts and might be affected by various factors that are impossible to foresee  natural disasters, epidemics, etc.

Age Distribution

Age distribution, as one of the most important factors for the development of the Social Security System, can be viewed differently according to different projections presented by the US Census Bureau in 2000. For example, according to the Middle Series Projections for 2010, the number of people aged between 20 and 59 years will amount to 162, 782, 258 while the elderly people dependant upon the payments made by the former group will amount to 55, 967, 475. Accordingly, the ratio discussed in the first section amounts to 20.9. At the same time, the High Series projections forecast the numbers to be 168, 360, 222 and 57, 005, 183 respectively with the age-dependency ration amounting to 29.5 (US Census Bureau, 2000).

These differences can be explained by such factors as the already mentioned fertility, mortality and net immigration rates with or without taking into consideration the circumstances of the irresistible force. Accordingly, the age distribution patterns differ in respect of the age-dependency ratio from 20.9 to 29.5. Respectively, the alternative suggested in the High Series is the most favorable for the Social Security System as under this alternative the system can be better funded to ensure the post-retirement wellbeing of the aged people. The least favorable alternative is thus the one offered in the Middle Series because in it the age-dependency ratio is lower which makes it harder for the working-age population to contribute to the Social Security System enough money to pay to the retired.

50-Year Forecast

Based on the same measures, it is also possible to carry out the forecasts for the 50 years. The major general trend observed in the human society over the previous century was the decline of fertility rates which led to the constant increase in the population of elderly people and the reduction of children and adults numbers. In the American society, the situation developed according to the same pattern with the only possible exception of the baby boom years in the middle of the 20th century.

Accordingly, the 50-year forecast for the US population manifests the same changes. The people born during the baby boom years will age at first creating the overwhelming population of the middle age people of approximately 40 years, while closer to the years 2010  2020, they will be 70  80 years of age. This will lead to the decline in population rates in general and in population of the young people of working age in particular as fertility rates are rather low while mortality is on the rise (Gladwell, 2006).

Retirement Age Change

Drawing from the above presented data, the ideas to change the retirement age to 70 years seem to be threatening for the society but rather favorable for the Social Security System. The point here is that the US Census Bureau forecasts the permanent mortality rate growth in combination with low fertility. If the constant aging of the population is taken into account, in 2020 retiring people will be a great minority compared to the working-age population. The retiring people number will amount to 34, 669, 257 persons while the working-age population will exceed them over 6 times amounting to 193, 306, 775 (US Census Bureau, 2000).

However, by the year 2050 these figures will be critically opposite creating the huge numbers of those who can receive the social security payments but dangerously little population of those who can make payments to the Social Security System. The retiring persons 70 years old and over will amount to the population of 54, 089, 542 people, while the population of the working-age people will fall to the level of 190, 015, 123 (US Census Bureau, 2000).

Projection Alternative

Having considered all the important aspects of the age distribution and other factors influencing the development of the Social Security System, it is possible to make a forecast for 2050. However, considering the four possible scenarios presented by the US Census Bureau are to generalized in the sense that they put all the factors to be considered in the same conditions, forecasting either low or medium, or high rates of all the factors. To achieve the more objective and probable picture of such things as the Total Fertility Rate, Life Expectancy Rate and Net Immigration Figures, it is necessary to combine the assumptions available considering the possible development of each of the factors separately. To visualize this, the following table can be used:

Factor 2000 2025 2050
Total Fertility Rate 2, 056 1, 866 1, 800
Life Expectancy 77,0 80, 6 84, 0
Net Immigration 1, 475, 500 2, 268, 000 2, 812, 000

Thus, TFR figures are those of the low serious as the trend for the fertility decrease will obviously remain dominant in the society. Life expectancy will equal the middle series figures as the elderly people can have high income rates and living standards (US Census Bureau, 2000). As for net migration, it will coincide with the highest series scenario, especially if the current economic crisis will develop further (Myers, 2007).

Social Security System Strategies

Finally, after all the issues of the Social Security System are considered, I can state certain strategies that I would implement to solve them if I were the President of the United States. First of all, I would consider the latest data of the US Census Bureau in respect of demographic situation in the country. Secondly, I would reform the Social Security System in accordance with the data obtained. For example, observing the aging of the population, I would change the retirement age to 70 years. By this I would make pressure of social security payments on the working age population less severe. Taking into account the decreased of fertility rates, it would be obvious that the working age population is decreasing and it is difficult for it to finance the after-retirement life of the constantly growing elderly population. So, I think by these strategies I would solve the current issues of the Social Security System.

Conclusion

To conclude, it is necessary to state that the Social Security System is one of the basic institutions of the American society. It depends much upon the demographic development of the country, and namely on such fundamental factors as age dependency, fertility, mortality and net migration rates. The measurements of these factors are weak as they are based mainly on assumptions and forecasts not taking force majeure circumstances into consideration. However, these measurements can be helpful in developing the combined picture of the demographic situation provided all the contingencies including epidemic and natural disasters are considered. So, this paper, using this combined approach, managed to analyze the basic factors influencing the Social Security System and to offer certain ways of the issues faced by the system. The assumptions this paper offers tend to be objective, while the solutions offered are realistic.

Works Cited

Calmes, J. How social security might change. 2006. The Wall Street Journal. Web.

Gladwell, M. The Risk Pool. 2006.The New Yorker. Web.

Myers, D. Testimony before the House Committee on the Judiciary Ellis Island. New York and New Jersey, 2007.

Siegel, J. Demographic aspects of selected public policy issues. Applied Demography: Applications to Business Government, Law, and Public Policy. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 2002. 595-605

US Census Bureau. 2000. Key Assumptions for US Population Projections 2000 to 2050. Web.