Policies: Where the Parties Stand - The Economy - Literature review Example

Readings and Documentaries Name: Institution: Policies: Where the Parties Stand - The Economy The issue of economy remains vital to every government policy as it is the driver of growth and also the indicator of any growth experienced. A discussion on the economy policies focuses on the two possible lenses through which can one view the economic problems that Australia faces. One is the overinvestment on capital goods, or excess capacity, while the other is the continued manipulation of the Australian currency. However, according to Vromen and Gelber (2009), these two problems could be experienced elsewhere. Moreover, crippling of the Australian economy directly or indirectly affects other economies as well. In the wake of this, it is probable that the policies target other economists, libertarians and conservatives who are interested in the influences on Australian economy. This views expressed in the policies are, therefore, be credible with an appreciable level of professionalism. The technique used in the studies of the economy issue involves a comparison of the Keynesian economics and an Austrian approach to build the orient in which Australia positions itself. This is a scientific approach which uses theories to concretize clearly stated facts, hence effective. Vromen and Gelber (2009) also run by again the Keynesian economics. This theory postulates that the government’s activities in terms of investment, expenditure and consumption influence the stability of its economy (Griffiths and Curtis, 2013). Additionally, since economy slowdowns resulting from these are due the government’s activities, the same government should provide necessary assistance in this difficult times. Comparatively, the Austrian approach is a pessimistic view which focuses on the first probable problem. That is, excess investment has no way out of it and the government may not recover from the economy hurdle. This technique then brings points out clearly and by giving a view of either side. Australian Media Reform – Discerning the Policy The only reason a government gets interested in controlling any sector or industry is because the government is supposed to play a central and neutral role in business. Subsequently, the Australian government, just like any other, sees the media as a business entity, when necessary. As Hitchens (2007) explains, the government had wanted to control the media and for regulations for the same, for a long time. Thus, the media reform agenda was quite broad to include the digital media. At the end of the day, this is all about effective business operations in the media industry, and the resultant effective communication for the Australian people. Therefore, dissecting the media reform issue as a business matter, control and regulations of the same relate to business ethics. For the simple fact that business entities are members of a given society, they have a role to play and obligations other than legal in the society. Probably, desire for the media reforms and more control of the regulations by the government come in as a result of the recent developments in communication. An indication of this is the rapid increase in the use of computers. This has had an enormous impact on lives (social lives) considering that modern ways of living has become so dependent on this modern technology. In particular, this is about the digital technology, which to some extent has triggered the media reforms because of the complex nature of this type of media and communication. There has been much reliance as social interactions have outweighed formal relations as the way around business transactions. The Australian media reforms and regulations by the government may prove to be necessary after all. This is due to the idea that recent developments in the communication systems have led to deterioration of communication etiquettes that were evident with physical communication systems. It has instilled the idea that teachings of communication conduct are unnecessary when the two communicating parties are distances apart. Most users of advanced communication systems, therefore, are oblivious of communication etiquettes for effective exercise of the same. Lack of etiquette in communication results of the feeling of isolation by the communicating ends. Australian constitution and Bill of Right Interest in this would focus on the rights of immigrants in Australia as much as they compare to native Australians, and what the Australian constitution says about the issue. To start with, the Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are the two main groups of Australian natives. They have archaeologically upheld a distinct relationship between themselves and the responsibility for the country. They have also had a historical belief system that spiritually connects them the essentials of the environment like the sea, land, sky and waterways. Much of the constitutionalism of the Australian bill of rights is best exhibited in its education policies and curriculum (Erdos, 2005). First, the indigenous children have the right to be educated in their own languages, cultures and histories. This is to ensure that the indigenous children mature psychologically, physically and socially for certain types of learning and after a time, which is taken to tell of the maturity. Education policies are intentional with a purpose of achieving an understood purpose for the schooling fraternity. The issue of racism, especially, in a classroom setting, puts to test the effectiveness of the Australian bill of rights. Inclusion of foreign perspectives in a classroom setup is the exact opposite of the Australian assimilation policy which made the natives feel like the government lacked recognition for them as inherent citizens. The nous of racism is one of the features that led to the undoing of the acclimatization policy. Therefore, the inclusion of indigenous perspectives policy responds to this view of racism. It addresses the elements of racism and discrimination on cultural grounds which were evidence in the cities and places of work before the policy. It is all about the government policies and fusion of the Foreign Perspectives Policy into the Australian education system aids in disclosure of the models that could have been used in developing the same dogmas. Application of an abstract background makes this more prominent by taking bearing in mind the, not very deep-seated, but repeatedly changing education system (Kellner, 2003). The design and implementation of these policies, as expected, must factor in the idea of international students living and studying in Australia. Apart from making operation fair for all the stakeholders in an industry, definition of respective policies is meant to improve current situations Contrasting the Current Government and Opposition Broadband Policies There is an abstraction in the political differences between the government and the opposition. The bone of contention relates to the assigning of Shadow Broadband and Communications Portfolio to Malcolm Turnbull (Gerrand, 2012). This issue has been a hot one for a while, although the gap of disagreements between the two parties has narrowed appreciably. Nevertheless, this is just another factor that has raised political temperature and the question is about the impacts of politics in daily business operations. Much economic growth will be experienced in a politically calm region. It is no doubt that companies do assess the political risks involved. Ellis and Singh (2010) mention that it is vital for a company to analyze all the kinds and types of political risks so as to predict the possibility and probability of any of them. There is not much politicizing of the economy by the countries’ political system. Market economies are under the impacts of supply and demand. The laws of supply and demand suggest that producers must find an equilibrium point at which the consumers are willing to pay the asking price and the company still makes profits as the consumers get services satisfactorily. A company’s involvement in the international marketing system from local positions can only mean economic growth. This growth is enhanced by the global economic systems which increase economic stability and brings confidence, not only to interdependent nations but also to the firms involved. Political risks involved include: General political instability which may not be serious but it raises uncertainties Ownership risk when operations are threatened by government expropriation. Operations risks in which policies of the host country impede business operations Transfer risks which result when the exchange rate is affected adversely and thus, currency devaluation and economic downtime. The Presidentialisation of Australian Politics The topic of presidentalization of politics mostly arises in countries with democratic political systems. This is because much of this democracy is seen at the national level but a bit of it is slashed a side when it comes to party politics. The presidentalization of politics shows that, irrespective of the formal constitutional face that parties depict, they come to operate in a way that allows for a presidential logic. This logic is evidenced in the very powerful, influential political party leaders and their autonomous nature in the system. This is an issue of contemporary party leadership in a democratic society. Australia is a European nation and so expectedly, it endorses the comparative party systems literature (Glenn, 2013). However, the idea of party purposes changed from coordination of legislative action to mere integration of masses (the electorate) for political relevance. As Glenn puts it; “The mass integration party, product of and age with harder class lines and more sharply protruding denominational structures, is transforming itself into a catch-all ‘peoples’ party. Abandoning attempts at the intellectual and moral encadrement of the masses, it is turning more fully to the electoral scene, trying to exchange effectiveness in depth for a wider audience and more immediate electoral success (Glenn, 2013)” One could also look at this subject of political party leadership as a question of management of institutions. Relevantly, the political parties are institutions established by conglomeration of persons with common political interests. Thus, it will be interesting to look at the critical analysis of management side of this. As an organizational, management tool comes along with aspects such as planning, controlling, personnel recruitment, communication, strategies, skills and objectives amongst others that complete the subject. Appropriate management skills have the main goal of improving the organization’s performance in terms of its outputs, whatever the objectives of the party may be. Judgment Day The impacts that race and religion have had in the human societies are almost common, not only to Australia, but also to other communities of the world. The point of interest in this video clip is basically the evolution of the relationship between white and black Australians. Racial acumens and such like human injustices are almost an everyday experience and have taken a toll in the global society, with growing international concerns for the same. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2012), the then Australian administration system had an element of racial profiling in its policies. This predicament curtails out of irregular position where such issues would place human uprightness and the environment to which it would predispose the same. To this level, focus is on racial segregation or discrimination as an outcome of actions by government authorities. In the most basic sense, racial profiling is a form of discrimination of one’s race by which law enforcement officials separate out or treat them differently. In such, the law enforcement agencies use a person’s race, cultural background or skin colouring to be the primary grounds of suspecting for having gone against the law (Reitzel & Piqero, 2006). Such are the lines along which the video analyses the transformation of Australia. Nevertheless, racial profiling is a worldwide problem and not unique to Australia only. People have moved from their places of origin to settle down in other areas and this is the main factor out of which the issue yields. It, hence, is about discrimination of a person based on their ethnicity and skin color. It has effects on the victim but also predisposes the police department in a mistrusted position. Responsively, Australia, has come to terms with the complexity of its population and put into place polices and measures to better tackle the issue of ethnic or racial differences. Resultantly, there has been much transformation geared towards harmonizing the acceptance and relationship between black and white, or native and foreign Australians. Casualties of Boom This is an interesting title used in reference to the many Australian workers who left their jobs to go work and allegedly make big money in the mining industry. This was because, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2013), the industry was supposed to be the boom for Australia. It was to be the boat that holds the country afloat economy-wise as the rest of the world went on an economic slump. The obsession with the idea was so intense that even employees feared not showing their real intentions and colors so to speak. They abandoned their, not so much upheld, objectives of building and supporting communities. Instead, everybody focused on the idea of rushing in to exploit the vast natural resources. The ideas of corporate social responsibilities slowly faded away as the employers persuaded employees to work longer hours for big wages, thus leaving them limited time or even reason to grow as a part of some local community. For this review and the video, the point of interest lies in the issue of work and professionalism in Australia. In the sphere of post avant-gardism, every person desires to acquire a profession or at least have some kind of work that earns a living. Researches and surveys reveal that most people, when seeking jobs, they are most interested in establishments that have adequate work flexibility. According to arguments by Friedman (2010), respect to that flexibility is a show of the management’s recognition of the importance of all aspects of life. The various orientations of achieving flexibility at the work place involve flexibility of time, locations and flexibility in the employment structure, amongst others. The beneficial impacts of flexible work double up as the potential markers of an effective and productive workplace. Both the employer and the employee benefit from the implementation of flexible work options. The Carbon War This is about nothing other than environmental pollution by industries, and the necessary and effective countermeasures that will achieve environmental conservation. Environmental issues draw thoughtfulness towards original pictures of the attractive occurrences of nature. Conversely, this beauty is just a memory that one can hold onto, bearing in mind the social activities and other forces that have negatively interfered with the environment. Some of these issues include; climate change, conservation of energy, pollution, land use and degradation, overpopulation and environmental degradation, just to mention a few. Discussions on environmental issues, just like the Australian one on Carbon War, is a vital element of the society since the subject is a general factor whose interest cuts across the social community. The discussions and summits of concern are evident in the increase in global environmental conferences as a concern for nature grows by the day (Okereke & Charlesworth, 2014). The main reason is that the world approaches a period where the relationship between humanity and the natural world sees deeper and prevalent human impacts. Urbanization is a result of intense construction of structures that replace the naturals like trees and even habitats or ecosystems. The environmental effects of this industry can therefore, be very unfavorable if not controlled. Arguments on ecological subjects is a vibrant component of the society since the subject is a common factor whose interest is shared amongst all. In addition, environmental concerns affect all, from persons to organizations, industries and the nations. In most of the industries that produce carbon compounds as a waste, the impacts are even more marked. The natural environment is essential for life; construction enhances civilization and industrialization which makes life easier. Gina Rinehart: The Power of One. The story in the video is of an Australian woman who has done virtually everything within her rich to build her empire, work hard to make her billions and at the same time, spare time for family. This is how the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2013) puts it for the viewer or listener. To this review and reflection, the point of interest is in the Australian female worker and the odds of it all. In most societies, women are not expected, in the slightest bit to be this powerful and successful. If anything, they are expected to be mothers and wives, period. The perception of this is that all they should do is look after the family and ensure its wholeness and functionality. However, she beats these odds to prove wrong such perspectives. This successful woman proves that it is time that motherhood is seen for what it is exactly and what potential women have. Without recognition of the work of motherhood, the society will be doing nothing else but considering the mother a dysfunctional part of the family. Family wellbeing is much more important than the needs of an individual because the members of the family are tied to each other such that the actions of a family member reflect on the other members (Crittenden, 2002). References Crittenden, A. (2002). The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued. New York: Henry Holt and Company. Ellis, K. and Singh, R. (2010). Political Economy Factors affecting efficient functioning of Markets. Trade Hot Topics, 1:73. Erdos, D. (2012). The Rudd government’s rejection of an Australian bill of rights: a stunted case of aversive constitutionalism. Parliamentary Affairs, 65:2. Friedman, D. E. (2010). Workplace Flexibility: A Guide for Companies. Retrieved from 14 September, 2014. Gerrand, P. (2012). Implications of national broadband for Australian contrasting the current government and opposition broadband policies, AQ, 83:1, pp.20. Glenn Kefford (2013). The presidentialisation of Australian politics? Kevin Rudd's Leadership of the Australian Labor Party, Australian Journal of Political Science, 48:2, pp.135-146, DOI:10.1080/10361146.2013.786676 Griffiths, E. and Curtis, L. (2013). The economy: where the parties stand, Policies: Where the parties stand. Retrieved from 13 September, 2014 Hitchens, L. (2007). Australian Media Reform - Discerning the Policy. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 30:1, pp.246-257. Okereke, C. and Charlesworth, M. (2014). Climate change. In C. Death (Ed.), Critical environmental politics. London: Routledge. Reitzel, J. & Piqero, A. (2006). Does it exist? Studying Citizens Attitudes of Racial Profiling. Police Quarterly, 9, pp.161-183. Vromen, A., Gelber, K., Gauja, A. (2009). Powerscape: Contemporary Australian Politics - 2nd Edition. Australia Read More