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Fundamentals of macroeconomics
Fundamentals of macroeconomicsInstitution
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An Economy is usually influenced by a combination of various factors and activities. Economic activities such as purchasing of groceries, a massive layoff of employees, as well as decrease in taxes have influence on a country’s economy. The effect could be through the way each of the three activities affect the government, the way each cause effects on households, or the way the economic activities affect business. Each of the economic activities affects the economy at a different capacity.
Grocery purchasing is an economic activity that could be affected by economic changes but could also have effect on various economic players such as the government, households, and business activities. Household income reduction changes the shopping behavior of buyers. The grocery business plays a great role in offering employment in various scopes in which any changes influences household incomes, income taxes, and value-added taxes that goes to the government (Dora Gicheva, 2007). In this case, when grocery purchasing falls, it means that consumers of grocery products reduce their contribution to government funding through taxes imposed on food products. When food prices go up, the making choices in grocery purchases is impacted. Prices could increase due to the urge of the government to create more revenue from taxes on grocery commodities. Purchasing groceries may however be affected by other factors that relate to health issues, product availability, as well as the in-store services (Dora Gicheva, 2007). When purchasing of grocery decreases, businesses also decrease their supply or productivity in goods and services related to groceries. The result of this is decreased profits that go to households. Some businesses lay off workers who are key providers to their households thus lowering their living standards.
In the aspect of massive layoff of employees, the economy is deprived of some key human resources. The first effect on the economy is on the living standards and household income level. The households of those employees who are laid off face an instant decreased income. The people cut off from working are no longer able to contribute equally in government revenue creation through income tax. A massive layoff of workers from the government relieves the government from some of its expenditures but creates a problem on its social welfare contribution (McIntyre, 2011). When people are unemployed, they have less to contribute towards nation building and could engage in criminal activities. At the same time, workers laid off from the private sector increases businesses’ marginal profitability. The decrease in household incomes reduces people’s purchasing power thus freezing the aggregate demand and eventually productivity.
Tax deduction also affects households, businesses and the government differently. Tax deduction could be on income, on expenditure, and on the tax imposed on consumer items. Tax reduction is usually subjected to limitations and conditions. Tax deduction on income help increase households net incomes thereby increasing their purchasing power and living standards in which case consumers gain the power of access facilities they could hardly access before the tax deduction (Hoffman, William, et al., 2011). The increased purchasing power is beneficial to the general economy and businesses since the effect is transferred to the economic aggregate demand. Given that households have higher net incomes and could access cheaper goods due to the reduced taxes on consumer goods, they turn out to demand more of the same goods and services. Business increases their productivities and supply since the demand for their products is high. The government however gets lesser revenue from taxes if the same volume of goods and services is purchased (Hoffman, William, et al., 2011). Increased demand however could cause an effect whereby the total revenue increases and consumers purchase more goods and services and firms employ more workers thereby neutralizing the tax deduction effect on government.
References
Dora Gicheva, J. H.-B. (2007). Revisiting the Income Effect: Gasoline Prices and Grocery Purchases. Massachusetts : NBER Program(s): EEE EFG IO PE.
Hoffman, William, et al. (2011). Individual Income Taxes. annual editions; 2011 edition ISBN 978-0-538-46860-2.
McIntyre, D. (2011, June 15). Layoffs Are Back: This Time, Public Sector Will Bear the Brunt. Retrieved March 11, 2013, from dailyfinance.com: HYPERLINK “http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/15/layoffs-are-back-this-time-public-sector-will-” http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/15/layoffs-are-back-this-time-public-sector-will-bear-the-brunt/
The current presidential election system in America does not match the democratic
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The current presidential election system in America does not match the democratic requirement as it hinders the person elected with the majority votes to assume the presidential seat (Nelson, 2018). Due to this, the National Popular Vote movement has come up with a strategy that is aimed at making democracy heard and respected in all the 50 nations, including the District of Columbia. The plan of the National Popular Vote is to guarantee the election of the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all the nations including the District of Columbia through creating agreements among the states to award all their electoral votes collectively to the presidential candidate who wins the majority vote. The agreement is set to take effect only when the participating states hold a majority of electoral votes accounting to 270 out of 538 votes. Through this combination, the winner of the national popular vote will as well win the electoral college majority.
Critics have it that the new National Popular Vote plan is unconstitutional, but this is not true at all. The National Popular Vote plan is in line with the constitution as it aims at preserving the electoral college, which is the same method that is currently used to elect the president. The only difference that the National Popular Vote plan is bringing along is the refutation that the majority leader cannot be declared president before being elected by the electoral college and this is the reason why the interstate compact has been formed as a majority electoral college community (Josephson, 2017). The passing the National Popular Vote, the national popular vote winner will be guaranteed once the compact has been joined by enough states that will make the NPV decisive for determining the outcome of future elections in the United States. Not until enough states have joined the NPV, the current states’ rule does still apply, providing leadership to the candidate who wins the electoral college.
Unlike the current state rule, the interstate compact will modify the states’ implementation of Article II, Section 1, clause 2 of the United States Constitution that requires each of the states’ legislature to adopt a definition method of appointing their electors who will be eligible in voting in the electoral college. The current constitution does not mandate any law for the selection of electors but indeed provides that state legislatures with the power to select how they want to choose their state’s electors. Despite the constitution giving the state legislatures powers to choose the electoral college members, it also prohibits them from the systems or actions that violate the 14th amendment of the United States constitution, in which allows for equal protection by the law while at the same time prohibiting racial discrimination.
Over the years, the states have chosen various methods of allocating the electoral college that has been subject to regular changes over the past decades. Currently, all states apart from Nebraska and Maine award all their electoral votes to one candidate with most votes statewide in the winner take all system, but Nebraska and Maine provide a single electoral vote to the winner in each congressional district while the other two votes are awarded to the statewide winner.
The current presidential rule differs from the National Popular Vote in various ways. One of them is that it allows the candidate to win the presidential election while losing the popular or majority vote. There are various instances that this has happened in the course of the United States elections that include 1824, 1876, 1888, 2000 and 2016 elections (Curto-Grau et al 2018). The year 2000 elections were an example of a presidency denied the right to the office by the electoral college votes. President Bush had not won the elections and was far much behind Al Gore by 543,895 votes nationally. However, Bush managed to defeat Al Gore by securing 5 more electoral votes nationwide and thus won the ticket to office narrowly. In the year 2016, the same case happened with Donald Trump getting to office despite being defeated by Hillary Clinton with more than 2.8 million votes. Trump managed to secure the electoral votes by 77 more, getting Trump into the office without the popular vote. Through this process, the present presidential rule does not seem to be adhering to the concepts of democracy.
The rule of democracy states that the government is formed by the people and for the people and in this kind of government, people have the greatest say in electing their leaders. However, the present presidential rule makes it impossible for the people to play their role in democracy in electing leaders of their choice. It bars people from exercising their constitutional rights and thus not suitable as far as democracy is concerned. In the National Popular Vote, the candidate with majority votes should assume the office as it is the will of the people. In my opinion, with the electoral college being provided with the ultimate powers to choose the leaders on behalf of the people does not seem like a concept based in the United States and to which has a constitution that guarantees equal opportunities for all. According to the United States constitution, every vote counts but the moment the electoral college is allowed to vote on their behave, it indicates the infringement of the basic rights of the United States citizens.
Another difference between the current presidential rule and the National Popular Vote is that the state winner takes all laws to encourage candidates to focus on a limited number of states which is disproportional to the concept of the majority vote winner. The reason why candidates focus on a limited number of states is that a small change in the popular vote in the areas is estimated to have a greater change in the electoral college vote (El‐Wakil & Cheneval, 2018). Through this concept, the winner takes all reduces equality among the states, giving an upper hand to the larger states that are perceived to be of significant benefit politically. Due to this, politicians shift their concern to these states both in financial assistance and development since the rest are of little benefit. Politicians take their concentration to the areas that they will benefit and therefore if the National Popular Vote plan is going to work, a major shift in development as well as a guaranteed democracy for both the people and states equality.
The winner takes all concept seems to have a lot of disadvantages leave alone equality and democracy but also tends to decrease the voter turnout in the states that lack close races. In the current rule, the countries with the swing votes are given priority, and thus people living outside these states are certain of the candidates who have the probability of winning in their states, but this is changed once the electoral college takes turns. Due to this, voters in some of the states find it difficult to come out during elections as they are aware that their efforts will bore no fruits and thus opts not to vote, actions that reduce voter turnout (Green & Gerber, 2019). However, in the event the that National Popular Vote takes over, people will have the urge to vote so that their favorite candidate wins and this will have the overall impact of increasing the voter turnout. Therefore, based on evidence, it is with no reasonable doubt that the National Popular Vote is superior to the present rule of electing our president.
ReferencesCurto-Grau, M., Solé-Ollé, A., & Sorribas-Navarro, P. (2018). Does electoral competition curb party favoritism?. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 10(4), 378-407.
El‐Wakil, A., & Cheneval, F. (2018). Designing Popular Vote Processes to Enhance Democratic Systems. Swiss Political Science Review, 24(3), 348-358.
Green, D. P., & Gerber, A. S. (2019). Get out the vote: How to increase voter turnout. Brookings Institution Press.
Josephson, W. (2017). Presidential Elections: National Popular Vote, Elector Unit Rule Voting and Related Issues. University of Chicago Alumni Association Lecture Series: May.
Nelson, M. (Ed.). (2018). The presidency and the political system. Cq Press.
Fundamentally, communication problems cause various challenges for any given organization as well as the entire society
Running head: Scenario 3
Scenario 3
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Introduction
Fundamentally, communication problems cause various challenges for any given organization as well as the entire society. Current trends indicate that incidences of missing or inaccurate information and data and inability to relay vital information in an effective and timely manner are the main causes of problems in health institutions. In order to enhance quality healthcare, health professionals need to bridge the inherent gaps. Essentially, this entails improving communication between employees, supervisors, nurses, physicians, social workers and so on. Most importantly, there is dire need to inculcate a culture of safety and cost effectiveness in such institutions. This is instrumental in guiding professional behavior in various ways.
Moreover, it would influence adoption of vital and timely intervention measures in a bit to counter the scenario. This paper provides an in depth evaluation of communication intricacies inherent in scenario three. To enhance a harmonic consideration, it begins by providing an over view of the scenario. It then proceeds to the analysis of each key player’s perspective and role in communication with the patient scenario. Then, it underscores the communication implications and finally proposes viable methods through which the problems can be resolved.
After receiving written notes from the doctor, the billing office translates them in to codes and forwards to the billing health insurance for relevant action. Notably, the notes are illegible and this has culminated in inaccurate translation that has led to patients being denied their claims by Medicare and private health insurance. This has made the patients to be billed directly by the office. The occurrence of this problem has been quite often and as such, complaining patients have raised their concerns to the billing office. Since Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are some of the patients that have called three times to complain about incorrect billing, they decide to meet someone in order to discuss the scenario.
The first person they met is Rose, a medical assistant who is aware of the problem. In a bit to explain the problems, she informs the Johnsons that the billing department is challenged by the illegible handwriting of the doctors. She further cites that the respective doctors are proud and have not been able o respond to any inquiries. Further, she informs them that the medical director is aware of the problem but is equally unsupportive. She then apologies and reassures them that she would take necessary measures to fix the problem. After a few days, the Johnsons request a transfer of their medical records to another medical facility.
Notably, the scenario is compounded by various communication issues that have far reaching implications on the holistic functioning of the institution. At a primary level, there is a communication breakdown between the patients and the doctors. The doctors presume that the patients understand the financial implications of their medical care. Furthermore, they presume that the patients have a clear understanding of all the medical procedures. On the other hand, the patients do not bother to request for clarification of critical information regarding the billing notes as well as important medical procedures. If the patients could request for such information upfront, the problem of illegibility could have been noted and hopefully, relevant action would have been undertaken.
The billing department has also not been persistent with following up the doctors. In their research, Hansten and Jackson (2008) indicate that incorrect misinterpretation of medical information amounts to unethical practice. This is particularly so because medical information tends to be very sensitive in nature. In addition, relative medical costs are reportedly huge and financing them can be costly if mistakes are made. The failure of the billing department to take a firm stand in this regard can be attributed to communication gaps between institutional departments.
Further, the billing department has failed to inform the patients of the current scenario. This can be used to explain why the Johnsons decided to meet face to face with any personnel. It implies that they are not convinced or satisfied with the information that they are provided with by the billing department. The fact that the problem has been recurring for some time indicates that minimal measures have been undertaken to resolve it. Arguably, the arrogant nature of the physicians has been a major impediment to resolution of the issue. Partly, the Medicare and private insurance companies have also not been keen with resolving the issue. The fact that this has been recurring for some time needs to have prompted them in to pressuring the hospital administration to take relevant measures. In this respect, Servellen (1997) posits that in order to optimize the quality of healthcare, all relevant institutions need to be responsible with regard to addressing inherent inconsistencies. Clearly, the lack of collaboration between these institutions has culminated in persistence of the problem.
The approach that the patients took in an attempt to resolve the issue is also faulty. Rather than confronting any person in the institution, they would have consulted the billing department. Although their roles are interconnected, it is worth noting that health care professionals specialize in different fields. Therefore, they may not be fully informed about the functioning of different sectors. In this consideration, the Johnsons would have sought help from the billing department, as opposed to from the medical assistant. Apparently, the billing department would have provided them with factual information regarding the problem at hand that are unknown to the medical assistant. Despite being aware of the issue being discussed, the medical assistant could have refrained form providing this information to the patients. Usually, such instances require sensitive handling especially presuming that the patients could have been angry. From an ethical point of view, the information provided needs to be factual and based on informed thought. From the scenario, it is certain that the medical assistant was subjective in her reporting. This implies that she was not conversant with the facts on the ground, simply wanted to portray a positive image in order to win the confidence of the patients or she honestly wanted to reassure them that problem would be fixed.
Nevertheless, she should not have told them that she would do anything within her means to ensure that the problem was resolved. This is because the problem was already beyond her means. It amounts to lying that is immoral from an ethical perception. Moreover, she had not taken any practical steps to resolve it irrespective of the fact that she clearly understood the complexity and dynamics of the problem. Then the decision of the patients to transfer their medical records to another facility was also not informed by objective and credible sources. In this respect, they failed to exercise their responsibility with regards to contributing to the reformation of healthcare institutions.
Also worth mentioning is the recognition that they did not have a clear understanding of the functioning of this institution. This implies that they had not taken time to establish sustainable relationships with the medical personnel of this institution. Finally, the medical director can be blamed for the current state of affairs. Seemingly, s/he has failed to enhance information flow within the organization. His or her silence about the problem shows that either s/he has not been given sufficient credible information to warrant action or s/he lacks relevant skills to enhance open communication systems in the institution.
Seemingly, the communication disconnect in the institution has had diverse implications on service delivery, employee relationships and employee-client relationships. To begin with, it has led to inaccurate billing of medical costs. This has made the clients to use alternative means of payment that they would not have planned for initially. Then, it has compromised employee relationships in the institution. The doctors have been cited to be proud and the director unsupportive. Such a work environment triggers unnecessary tension that undermines effective service delivery. This can be used to explain why the medical assistant took the initiative to explain to the patients the state of affairs instead of referring them to the relevant department. Finally, the communication gap has led to loss of clients by the institution. The loss impacts not only on its reputation but also on its financial wellbeing.
Certainly, viable intervention measures need to be undertaken to counter the scenario. Effective communication is important as it also assures the patients of safety and quality service. On an institutional level, it influences good interpersonal relationships that boost productivity. Most importantly, it eliminates unnecessary medical costs that affect the quality of life of the patients. The main problem is lack of effective communication in the institution. To curb incidences of illegibility, the institution can introduce technological initiatives. Compared to individual handwritings, Northouse and Northouse (1997) indicate that computer generated information is legible. Besides, this would also streamline information flow and sharing. In the long run, it would enhance performance and productivity as the relevant persons would be informed of all procedures.
Another sustainable solution to the problem would be to carry out education and awareness creation especially pertaining to client doctor relationships. Basically, clients need to be aware of the notes that doctors make about them regarding several issues. The doctors are also obligated to provide this information to the patients and make clarifications accordingly. Seemingly, the root cause of this case lies in lack of viable .patient physician relationships. Regardless of their busy schedules, doctors need to take the initiative of establishing and maintaining these relationships. Patients on the other hand need to be conversant with hospital procedures as this enables them to get timely and effective help whenever need occur. From a professional point of view, they are better informed of effective communication than their patients. Nevertheless, effective execution of this would need the support of the patients.
Finally, all professionals at the hospital need to be trained on the importance of performing their roles. Boundaries also need to be placed with respect to the roles that the personnel are expected to play. This would aid in eliminating such cases related to providing false, inaccurate or unnecessary information to the clients as witnessed in the case. Factors relating to maintaining good interpersonal relationships and respecting their colleagues should also be clarified. In most cases, implication of such misbehavior is usually indicated in the institutional policy covering work ethics. From the scenario, it can be deduced that these are neither implemented nor enforced. Otherwise, necessary action to address client needs would have already been undertaken.
Conclusion
Communication gaps in healthcare institutions culminate in poor delivery of services and ruin vital relationships. In the scenario under review, poor communication has led to patients being billed inaccurately. The responsible parties are not only proud but also unsupportive of any intervention measures. The patients are not conversant with institutional procedures and have approached the wrong person for consultation. The medical assistant on the other hand fails to refer them to the relevant department and promises to do what is beyond her means to help them. Ultimately, the patients request that their records be transferred to another facility.
The intrinsic communication breakdown culminates in poor employee relationships. In addition, it affects the quality of service delivery and minimal measures are undertaken to address the issue. Introduction of technology can aid in curbing the problem as it eases information flow and sharing. To enhance output, the institution also needs to carry out training and awareness creation. This should aim at informing the patients about the procedures as well as initiating and maintaining viable relationships with patients. Moreover, employees need to be trained on how to deal with such matters in future.
References
Hansten, R. & Jackson, M. (2008). Clinical Delegation Skills: Handbook for Professional Practice. USA: Jones & Barlett Publishers
Northouse, P. & Northouse, L. (1997). Health Communication: Strategies for Health Professionals. New York: Prentice Hall
Servellen, G. (1997). Communication Skills for the Healthcare Professional: Concepts and Techniques. USA: Aspen Publishers.