U.S. History 1877-1933 Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"The United States emerged from a virulent, intense, and inhumane civil war and evolved into a new nation during this period. This transition was the culmination of political, economic, social, and cultural movements which transformed the nation. E Pluribus Unum - out of many United States, one nation; the United States was forged in the cauldron of these revolutions." -Arnold Toynbee, A Study of History The above statement is one that seems to be very true when looking back upon the history of the United States. From the years 1877 to 1933, this country went through many changes and transitions in the areas of politics, economy, society, and culture, which resulted in the birth of a new nation. The period from 1877 to 1901 in American history was known as the Gilded Age, it was titled so because during this time things on the surface seemed peaceful and good but underneath lay corruption in the society. This era was marked by the end of Reconstruction of the South, as well as the presidencies of Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison, and McKinley. Significant events of this time were the 1878 Bland Allison Act in which the federal government bought silver and turned it into cheap money. The 1881 Chinese Exclusion Act which banned all Chinese immigrants coming into America because they were hurting employment opportunities for American laborers. The 1883 Pendleton Act that ended Jackson’s spoils system in the government and made the Merit System based on intelligence and ability. The 1887 Interstate Commerce Act which regulated the railroads. The Sherman Antitrust Act which outlawed any combination in restraint of trade. And last, the Gold Standard Act of 1900 that made the American monetary unit based on gold. As in any time period, significant technological advances were made from 1877 to 1933. Since the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in America, new technologies and advancements are being made every day. This Revolution has transformed the economy and in turn transformed every aspect of American life. An important effect of the Industrial Revolution was the Agricultural Revolution, when new advances in farming were made. In the area of farming, the government passed laws and regulations that were significant in the ... ...e population of the nation. This time period also saw many new inventions that would change American society forever. Such things as the telephone, radio, and television are things that the average present day American could not imagine living without. But a hundred years ago people were amazed at such things. Railroads were now able to bring people all over the country while steam ships could bring you all around the world and airplanes could let you fly. The horseless carriage turned into the automobile. People were able to directly communicate with others hundreds of miles away by way of telegraph and later, the telephone. In 1920 the first radio was invented, which in a way, united the country. Soon after the television was invented and American society and culture became one and the same in every corner of the country. In just 56 years, America transformed itself into a new nation. It is truly amazing how the United States could pick itself up from a Civil war into a superpower so quickly. The combination of political, economic, social, and cultural movements definitely transformed the country into one united nation

How is the theme of insecurity developed in the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ Essay

How is the theme of insecurity developed in the novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ through the use of characters, language and setting? ‘Of Mice and Men’ was written in 1930’s America during the Great Depression. The story begins with Lennie and George fleeing there previous work place, the ending is tragic. During the novel we learn about the friendship that Lennie and George share, along with the dreams and ambitions of the other characters. The story is told in third person, this provides us with a clear unbiased view of all the characters. ‘Of Mice and Men’ was set during The Great Depression, this can show us that most of the characters are insecure and lonely, as they are Itinerant workers, they have no permanent place of work and no house security after the wall street crash. The unemployment rate was high so there was an extreme lack of job security. They have no time build relationships, and no trust for other people. Many of the characters experience insecurity for a variety of reasons. Crooks, the black stable buck feels insecure about his race, this makes him feel he is segregated from the rest as he is the only black person on the ranch, ‘Crooks the negro stable buck’. Because of his race he is discriminated against, no-one ever goes into his room or talks to him ‘I’m black, they say I stink’. Crooks is cruel to Lennie ‘You got no right to come in my room’ this shows a sense of insecurity and bitterness, he is trying to shut people out, as this is the only way he knows to live. Crooks lives in a barn, he is treated like an animal, he sleeps in a straw bed ‘Crooks bunk was a long box filled with straw’, this shows nobody has any respect for him, he is considered worthless, this will add to his insecurity. ‘Square four-paned window’ this represents that he is isolated and he does not like letting people in, just like a small window does not let a lot of light in. Black people were discriminated against in the 1930’s, they were treated with little respect, they were treated like nothings ‘Why it’s just a nigger saying it’. Crooks was brought up where the majority of the population were not coloured, ‘There wasn’t another coloured family for miles’ this will make Crooks insecure all his life he has been around people that are inferior to him. Steinbeck uses imagery to compare Crooks to an animal. Another character that experiences insecurity is Candy, he is the cleaner, he has only one hand and has been at the ranch for a long time. ‘old candy, the swamper came in’. Candy will experience insecurity throughout the novel because he is old and has only one hand this will make him feel insecure because he doesn’t have any job security, as if he loses his job he will not be able to get another as no one else will want an old disabled worker, his whole livelihood depends on someone else he has no control over his life. He compares himself to a dog, like he cannot protect himself, just like his dog that was shot. His only companion was his dog and now he does not have the dog he doesn’t have anybody ‘when they can me here I wish somebod d shoot me’. We know that Candy is insecure because he seems desperate to join George and Lennie in their dream ‘I won’t have no place to go, an’ I can’t get no more than this’ when he fails to join their dream this makes him feels like he has no future. Candy is similar it Crooks, the setting is bare, it is just like a prison, there is no sense of security for him. Curley’s wife is the wife of Curley, the bosses son. She is the only women on the ranch and extremely flirtatious with other ranch workers. Being the only women on the ranch she feels she has power over the men, she flirts with them to overcome her insecurity, she tries to cover up that she is insecure, and she marries Curley to escape her loneliness. Everybody thinks that she is dangerous, but she knows more than everybody thinks ‘Think I don’t know where they all went’. We know she is insecure because she has dream too, she makes herself seem powerless to make the men think she is more vulnerable. By not making her dream come true she becomes insecure about life and puts up a defensive barrier. She wears a lot of makeup and red, this symbolises danger and the fact that she wears a lot of makeup tells us that she is insecure and has low self esteem ‘her finger nail were red’. She does not have a name, she is recognised in the book as Curley wife, this gives the impression that she has no importance on the ranch and she is not treated like a normal person therefore this adds to her insecurity and makes her feel worthless ‘A girl was standing there’. Other characters in the novel that experience insecurity are Bill Tanner and Whit, they used to work on the ranch. ‘Remember, Bill Tanner? Worked here about three months ago’ this gives the impression that the work there is impermanent and transient. This can show the other ranch workers that nothing is everlasting and this can make them feels insecure. They don’t have any job security, they can never settle down this will make them feel insecure because they don’t have anything around them that they can rely on, they don’t have familiar surroundings. Lennie is insecure because without George he is vulnerable and he has a lot of faith in him, he can’t imagine life without him ‘George won’t go away and leave me’. Lennie is described using animal imagery. Animals have a low intelligence level just like Lennie, he cannot think for himself ‘the way a bear drags his paws’. Animals are commonly found in packs, if they are left without their pack they become very vulnerable to other animals, George is like Lennie’s pack, this will give Lennie a sense of insecurity as he knows that he cannot survive by himself. He is constantly asking for Georges approval, he relies on George over everything ‘Where we goin’, George’. So many of the men on the ranch are insecure because they only have their dreams, they have no real life ambitions that they know will truly happen. They have no job or house security this can make them insecure because they do not have any idea of where their life is going to go, they literally have nothing. They are so insecure because they cannot have relationships or friendships with the other ranch workers, this will make them feel like they cannot be themselves and make them feel alone and on their own. In my opinion George does feel a sense of insecurity at the end of the novel because he does no have Lennie anymore, even though sometimes he did not want Lennie with him at all times ‘if I was alone I could live so easy’ he still liked him to be there and to know that he had someone that relied on him even if he did not rely on himself. Without Lennie George feels alone just like the other ranch workers did, he will soon become as insecure and enclosed as them.

The Native American Struggle

The Native American Struggle The way of life for the Native Americans changed greatly when the settlers arrived but they fought strongly to hold onto their sacred beliefs. No amount of influence or interference from the Europeans could change what the American Indians believed in. The natives fought long and hard to try to preserve their heritage and their lifestyles. While they are still given a small portion of land to live on, the plight of the Native American people has been going on since the settlers first set foot upon this land and continues to this day. Largest TribesAlthough they are all considered Native Americas or American Indians, there are over 550 different tribes in the United States. According to Time For Kids (2008), â€Å"Nearly 1 out of every 100 people in the U. S. is a Native American. Most live in areas west of the Mississippi. Native Americans belong to 561 tribes. The Cherokee tribe of Oklahoma is the largest. † (para. 1). The five largest tribes are; 1. Cherokee 308,000 2. Navajo 219,000 3. Chippewa 104,000 4. Sioux 103,000 5. Choctaw 82,000 Figure 1. The above shows the top five largest American Indian tribes in the Untied States.As one can see, the populations are large, yet still the American Indians do not have enough land to sustain their tribes and heritage. Note: From Time For Kids (2008). The Cherokee tribe or rather Cherokee Nation is the largest tribe, often referred to as the most advanced tribe among the American Indians. As stated on Cherokee Nation (2009), â€Å"Since earliest contact with European explorers in the 1500’s, the Cherokee Nation has been identified as one of the most advanced among Native American tribes. Cherokee culture thrived for thousands of years in the southeastern United States before European contact.After contact, Cherokee society and culture continued to develop, progressing with acquisitions from European settlers. Soon, we had shaped a bicultural government and a society that mat ched the most ‘civilized’ of the time† (para. 1). The Navajo Nation, most known for their language, is the second largest Native American tribe, located mostly in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The language of the Navajo people was often considered a mystical language. According to Navajo Nation (2005), â€Å" Visitors from around the world are intrigued and mystified when they hear the Navajo language – so, too, were the enemy during World War II.Unknown to many, the Navajo language was used to create a secret code to battle the Japanese. Navajo men were selected to create codes and serve on the front line to overcome and deceive those on the other side of the battlefield. Today, these men are recognized as the famous Navajo Code Talkers, who exemplify the unequaled bravery and patriotism of the Navajo people† (para. 2). During World War II the Navajo men who used that secret code were known as Wind Talkers. The third largest tribe in the United Sta tes and probably the least known, are the Chippewa Indians.In Access Genealogy (2009), â€Å"One of the largest tribes North of Mexico, whose range was formerly along both shores of Lake Huron and Superior, extending across Minnesota Turtle Mountains, North Dakota. Although strong in numbers and occupying an extensive territory, the Chippewa were never prominent in history, owing to their remoteness from the frontier during the period of the colonial wars† (para. 1). The last two tribes in the top five are the Sioux Indians and the Choctaw Indians. The Sioux people were among the most powerful within the Native American tribes.The Sioux was also home to one of the most popular Indian chiefs, Sioux Chief Sitting Bull. The Choctaw Indians are located mostly in Oklahoma. According to Choctaw (2008), â€Å"The Choctaws were one of the largest and most advanced tribes in all of North America† (para. 1). Early Life Before the arrival of the settlers, Native Americans lived a peaceful life, hunting and living off the land. The were dependant on the resources of the land. The plains Indians in the west were around for many centuries before the settlers arrived. Most American Indians are a deep spiritual people.According to _ (2003), â€Å"The natural environment helped to shape the people's thinking and cultures as they viewed the world and the Universe in a native perspective of a physical and metaphysical reality† (para. 2). Believing in the deep powers of the land, the plains Indians were very loyal to the environment. As stated on _ (2003), â€Å"The natural environment of the Great West provided life to American Indians. It also took life! People learned that working together, and hunting together, was extremely important! Living alone on the plains meant certain death.It was a hard life, taught by Nature†(para. 3). They survived by depends and respecting the land, and together as a people. Oftentimes the men of the tribes would leave for days at time to hunt and gather food, leaving the women to farm and care for the children and elders of the tribe. The Settlers Life for the Native Americans change dramatically once the settlers landed. At first Indians greeted the settlers in Jamestown with hostility just based on the treatment they received from the Spanish, but soon after they started sharing their food.According to The Library of Congress (2003), â€Å"At first, Powhatan, leader of a confederation of tribes around the Chesapeake Bay, hoped to absorb the newcomers through hospitality and his offerings of food. As the colonists searched for instant wealth, they neglected planting corn and other work necessary to make their colony self-sufficient. They therefore grew more and more dependent on the Indians for food† (para. 1). With Captain John Smith leading the settlers in Jamestown, trade relations did not always work with the Indians.The Library of Congress (2003) states, â€Å"Unfortunately for the Indians, Smith believed that the English should treat Indians as the Spanish had: to compel them to ‘drudgery, work, and slavery,’ so English colonists could live ‘like Soldiers upon the fruit of their labor. ’ Thus, when his negotiations with Indians for food occasionally failed, Smith took what he wanted by force† (para. 2). After the Native Americans knew the English settlers were here to stay, they began to attack. Powhatan was disappointed that the settlers were not as friendly and forthcoming as the Indians were.As stated in The Library of Congress (2003), â€Å"He knew that the English â€Å"invade my people, possess my country. † Indians thus began attacking settlers, killing their livestock, and burning such crops as they planted. All the while, Powhatan claimed he simply could not control the young men who were committing these acts without his knowledge or permission† (para. 3). Soon the settlers began fighting the American In dians, forcing them of their land and more west. Once the Indians started moving west, the English and French settlers laid stake to the land. Present DayEven today the tribes struggle to maintain their heritage. They remain a highly spiritual people. Most tribes however are plagued by poverty, high rates of teen suicide, and alcoholism. Under constant scrutiny for their beliefs and religious practices, up until 1978 the were forced to either convert to Christianity or be jailed (Wikipedia 2009). Even still, as recent as 1993 the Peyote Indians were denied certain parts of their religious practices. According to Wikipedia (2009), â€Å"However, despite the passing of the Freedom of Religion Act in 1973, several practices of Native American religion were still being stifled.For example, the Peyote Indians named their tribe after the peyote cactus, which is central to their religious practices. The peyote cactus was banned by the government, however, due to its powerful hallucinogeni c effects, and thus was still outlawed to be used by the Native Americans. It was not until the Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act of 1993 was passed that the Peyote Indians could lawfully use the peyote cactus in their religious celebrations† (para. 25). Figure 2. The pie chart illustrates the top five Native American tribes that had families living in poverty in 1989. Note: From U. S.Bureau of the Census (1990). Even in recent memory the amount of Native American families that lived in poverty was very high. Native American families that live in poverty rates among the higher than any other American ethnic group in the nation. Still today, most Native American Indians face discrimination on a daily basis. According to About. com (2009), â€Å"In the U. S. , Native Americans are a â€Å"minority† racial group, and as such, they continue to face discrimination. In fact, prior to the civil rights laws, once could find three separate drinking fountains labeled â€Å"Whites,† â€Å"Colored† and â€Å"Indian† in certain states.Movie theaters were similarly split into three separate sections† (para. 3). Even though most of the land that the Native American occupies is federally protected, the American Indians have a constant struggle with the government to protect their rights as a people. About. com (2009) states, â€Å"they continue to fight to protect their rights and religious freedoms, both of which have repeatedly been threatened over the years through denial of access to religious sites, prohibitions on the use or possession of sacred objects, and restrictions on their ability to worship through ceremonial and traditional means† (para. ). In summary, even though the Native American Indians way of life has changed drastically, their beliefs and lifestyle remain the same. The European settlers made a large impact on the American Indians but it was the they that helped the early settlers truly settle in to the new land and survive the harsh weather conditions of their first few years on the new continent. Native American Indians are of strong will and deep beliefs, they still fight for their rights as a people.Even in this new century of technological advances, the Native American Indians work hard every day, from their small Indian Reservations that they call home, to preserve their heritage and their way of life.References About. com (2009). Native American Indian History and the Native American's Ongoing Fight. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from http://racerelations. about. com/od/thehierarchyofrace/a/nativeamericans. htm Access Genealogy (2009). Chippewa Indian History. Retrieved February 16, 2009, from http://www. accessgenealogy. com/native/tribes/chippewa/chippewahist. tm Cherokee Nation (2009). A Brief History of the Cherokee Nation . Retrieved January Day, 2009, from http://www. cherokee. org/Culture/57/Page/default. aspx Choctaw Indians (2008). On the Genealogical Choctaw Trail. Retrieved February 14, 2009, from http://www. choctaw. org/History/Genealogy/Genealogy. html Navajo Nation (2005). Navajo Nation History. Retrieved January 2009, from http://www. navajo. org/history. htm The Library of Congress (2003). Virginia's Early Relations with Native Americans. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from http://memory. loc. ov/learn/features/timeline/colonial/indians/indians. html Time For Kids (2008). Top 5 Largest Native American Tribes. Retrieved February 6,2009,from http://www. timeforkids. com/TFK/teachers/wr/article/0,27972,96120,00. html U. S. Bureau of the Census (1990). Characteristics of American Indians by Tribe and Language. Retrieved February 7, 2009, from http://www. census. gov/population/socdemo/race/indian/ailang2. txt Wikipedia (2009). Americanization (of Native Americans). Retrieved February 15, 2009, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Americanization_(of_Native_Americans)

Business Prospect essays

Business Prospect essays JAZ Pen Company is a new and very promising competitor in the ball point pen producing field. JAZ pens are like none other the have a new technology in them called Flow-through Venturi ShaftsÃ’, that make the flow of ink from the pen to the paper as smooth as cutting through butter with a hot knife. The new technology is just one of the more obvious characteristics that make JAZ pens one of the best on the market. Although JAZ only focuses on pen we put the utmost effort into making them the best that we possibly can. JAZ Pen Company uses all of the resources it has available to produce the best pens on the market. We carry many different lines of pens in many colors and styles. The first in our line is that of the Classical Wood Line, these pens are made from only the finest redwood and are engraved, if requested free of charge. Our second line is the Chrome Line, this line is chrome plated aircraft aluminum that provides for both durability with a stylish shine that adds to anyones personal collection of writing utensils. Our third and final line is that of the Marble Ventrui Line, this last line uses the best marble available to make a elegant shell for the patented Flow-through Venturi ShaftsÃ’, this provides both quality and beauty at the same time. JAZ Pen Company sits on 47 acres of riverside property and operates out of a large factory that is equipped with a assembly line and the space the hold 120 employees. We are provided with utilities by local agencys such and the hydroelectric plant downstream for electric, and water is obtained by the water works. Materials run JAZ $5,000 a month for marble, aluminum, redwood, and all other pre-made parts. Our utilities cost JAZ Pen Company, approximately $3,250 per month. Our workers are payed at a rate of $13.50/hour and work 5 day and week at 10 hours per day 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. This costs JAZ $388,000 per mon ...

Cruz Surname Meaning and Origin

Cruz Surname Meaning and Origin The Cruz surname comes from a personal name meaning cross or dweller near a cross, from the Spanish cruz and Latin crux, meaning cross. It may also be a habitational name indicating one who came from any of several places with Cruc, Cruz or La Cruz in their name. Variants of this surname originated in just about every European country, including Cross (English), Groze (French) and Kreuze and Kreuziger (German). Cruz is the 82nd most popular surname in the United States. Cruz is also a popular Spanish name, coming in as the 17th most common Hispanic surname. Surname Origin:  Spanish, Portuguese Alternate Surname Spellings: CRUCES,  DE CRUZ, DE LA CRUZ, DA CRUZ, CRUZADO, CRUSE, CRUISE, CROSS, DCRUZ Famous People with the Surname CRUZ Ted Cruz - Republican senator from Texas; US presidential candidateBobby Cruz - Puerto Rican salsa singerCelia Cruz - Cuban American singerPenelope Cruz - Spanish actressMaria Silva Cruz - Spanish anarchist Where Do People With the CRUZ Surname Live? Surname distribution data at  Forebears  ranks Cruz as the worlds 186th most common surname, found in greatest numbers in Mexico and with the highest density in Guam. The Cruz surname is the most common surname in Guam, where one in forty-five bear the name. It ranks 11th in Honduras and the Northern Mariana Islands, 12th in Palau and Puerto Rico, and 15th in Nicaragua and Mexico. Within Europe, Cruz is most frequently found in Spain, according to  WorldNames PublicProfiler, especially in the southern regions and Canary Islands. It is also very common in northwest Argentina. Coat of Arms Contrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as a Cruz family crest or coat of arms for the Cruz surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted. Genealogy Resources for the Surname CRUZ How to Research Hispanic HeritageLearn how to get started researching  your Hispanic ancestors, including the basics of family tree research and country-specific organizations, genealogical records, and resources for Spain, Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean and other Spanish speaking countries. CRUZ Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Cruz surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Cruz query. FamilySearch - CRUZ GenealogyAccess over 10 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Cruz surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. GeneaNet - Cruz RecordsGeneaNet includes archival records, family trees, and other resources for individuals with the Cruz surname, with a concentration on records and families from France, Spain, and other European countries. CRUZ Surname Family Mailing ListsThis free mailing list for researchers of the Cruz surname and its variations includes subscription details and searchable archives of past messages. The Cruz Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Cruz from the website of Genealogy Today. References Cottle, Basil.  Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.Dorward, David.  Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998.Fucilla, Joseph.  Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003.Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges.  A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.Hanks, Patrick.  Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.Reaney, P.H.  A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997.Smith, Elsdon C.  American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Corporate Social Responsibility for Profit Article

Corporate Social Responsibility for Profit - Article Example â€Å"The Havas Media Lab underscores this transformation with a list based on a survey of 50,000 consumers worldwide who identified the companies they feel have the most ‘meaningful’ CSR† (Levick, 2012). Corporate Social Responsibility is being used as a strategic approach by many Fortune 500 companies. Corporate social responsibility connects to the well being of the customers. Some companies such as Nike are taking a straight on approach to CRS. The firm instead of using celebrities to send a message about the quality of the shoe, they design the shoes in a manner that using their running shoes will actually improve the running experience for their customers. Integrating quality into the products is an effective way to satisfy the needs of the customers. In the past many companies thought the CRS was a program that should be considered an expense. This view has changed a lot in the 21st century as companies are realizing that there is a lot of value associated with the implementation of corporate social responsibility programs. There are companies that have adapted their philanthropic efforts to extend it beyond donating money and merchandise. Many companies today, including Leroy Merlin, are volunteering the time of their employees to help out in social causes. Protecting the environment is a way to show corporate social responsibility. The use of recycling programs and energy savings initiatives is a great way to show a company cares about the well-being of our planet. An industry that has is outperforming others in terms of corporate social responsibility is the electronics industry. Three companies that top the chart in terms of its corporate responsibility programs are IBM, Hewlett Packard, and Texas Instrument. â€Å"These sector-leading companies have pushed hard to highlight their greater focus on enhanced sustainable design, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-use management† (Levick, 2012). The utilization of CRS programs can help improve different aspects of a firm’s operations. The use of CRS programs can also help enhance a company’s customer retention rate. Application of CRS topic for class Corporate social responsibility is a topic that is very important to learn about due to the fact that CRS can be used as a focus strategy for marketers of corporations. Customers worldwide have become more aware than ever about the actions of companies in regards to social and environmental issues. Back in the late 1990’s Nike showed a complete disregard for human suffering when they got involved in a sweetshop scandal. That scandal cost the company over half its sales in 1998. The reason that people pay close attention to the actions of corporations is because the corporate world holds more wealth than the combined wealth of all the world’s countries. Whenever a company is involved in a good deed associated with corporate social responsibility it is the duty of the marke ting department to create awareness in the media about the efforts of the company. Green initiatives are a great way to win the hearts and support of the customers. There are tax incentives that can be used to lower the tax burden of the company. These tax shelters are available to companies that donate money or resources to good causes. In the United States customer expectation is higher than in other emerging economies. U.S. customers are more wiling

Economics in an International Context Assignment - 1

Economics in an International Context - Assignment Example Similarly, the policies of the central government and the central bank are aimed at improving international trade and they have an impact on country’s economy and its international trade. Corporate social responsibility calls for balancing positive and negative externalities in businesses for sustainable growth and development in the long run. 1. International trade International trade is an important component in GDP of several nations. ‘The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations.’ (World Trade Organization, 2013) Trade between nations has the potential to benefit all participating countries due to several reasons like import of technologically advanced machineries, materials for manufacturing products for exports and export of surplus agricultural produce. Reuvid & Sherlock (2011, p. 23) stated, ‘Between 2001 and 2008, world merchandise trade exports increased steadily from $4.7 trillion to $12.1 trillion, while trade in commercial services rose from 1.5 trillion to 3.8 trillion.’ Market structure and economic systems: According to Rivera-Batiz & Oliva (2003, p. 392) ‘Differences in market structure create different incentives affecting production decisions and trade behavior.’ Monopoly in various countries has given way to monopolistic structure or oligopoly with the smaller number of firms controlling the markets indirectly, circumventing the regulations on restrictive trade practices. The structure of markets in any country is influenced by the economic system adopted in the countries like the capitalist, socialist or communist. Traditionally, the imposition of tariffs and quota system in closed economies increased the prices that affected imports negatively. Under the free trade regime, the complexities have considerably increased. However, new trade models are not in a position to dispense with the subsidies and tariff, since various countries have various economic agenda that may not be consistent with free trade policy. Restrictive trade practices: In the international trade, import controls are the important tools adopted by governments to regulate the countries’ foreign trade. ‘The main objectives of import controls have been to protect domestic industry, raise revenue, and improve the balance of payments.’ (Thomas, V. & Nash, J. 1991, p.5) Though the objectives are reasonable, under globalization drive pursued by the countries in the recent years their economies cannot be kept insulated from the developments in the international economy. Krishna (1985, p. 1) stated ‘Voluntary export restraints (VER's) have been increasingly used to restrict imports recently’ and the malady still persists. Such problems mainly arise due to worsening balance of payments position in developing and underdeveloped countries. The impact of regional trade agreements on international trade cannot be underestimated. Kurihara (2011 , p.846) argues ‘RTAs are not an efficient way to promote international trade.’ Restrictive trade practices in the international trade will be detrimental to the development of global competitiveness in the industries. Collusion among the producers could lead to the formation of cartels and differential pricing.