Economic Policy and Personal Decisions Research Paper

Economic Policy and Personal Decisions - Research Paper Example In the long run equilibrium, the economic growth is dependent on three factors the growth in labour force, amount of capital available to the workforce, and the rate of technological advance. If we consider, an economy where the aggregate demand is due to an increase in spending, Cashell observes that this demand can be satisfied by either raising the prices or increasing real production. If the economy is operating at full employment, and the stock is at full capacity then an increase in demand is met by an increase in the prices of available goods and services. Cashell states that, for a fully employed economy, increased government spending does yield an increase in the nominal GDP (2005). Let us consider the wage. This forms a main element of cost in the economy of any country. A higher wage rate does translate into a higher cost this means a less profit will be incurred at any given price. A squeezed profit for any company means a cut back on production. A wage increase in any ec onomy would mean a decrease in the number of goods and services supplied at a constant price. During a recession, the economy is a short-run equilibrium. In such an environment, it is difficult for the wages to be increased; however, this can be counteracted by a fall in prices, and thus the recessional gap can be seen as shrinking. This led the economy to equilibrium at full employment. Cashell concludes that if wages and prices fall unusually slowly then it is possible for the economy to endure a prolonged period of production below potential GDP (2005).

The impact of socioeconomic inequalities on mother-child HIV Thesis

The impact of socioeconomic inequalities on mother-child HIV transmission and the therapeutic intervention in South Africa - Thesis Example Absolute poverty in this case is the inability for one to meet basic need while relative poverty is whereby individuals and the community lag behind in welfare. According to Mail Guardian (2011), almost half of South Africa population lives below the poverty line, surviving on just over R500 a month. Though poverty levels have been decreasing over time, the country still lags behind due to the high level of unemployment. It is estimated that only 41% of adults are employed (Mail Guardian 2011). According to Cox (2008), poverty has caused a significant effect on the financial power of the affected women than men. According to Rosenweig et al. (1998), lack of adequate finance, affordable housing, and skills have exposed single parents to engage in dangerous promiscuity like prostitution hence increasing their risk of contracting HIV and Aids. In South Africa, women accounts for more than 57% of individuals living with HIV (Henry 2005). Moreover, majority of women living with HIV are within 25 to 35 years (Henry 2005). This is a childbearing age hence; there is a very high likelihood of having mother-to-child HIV transmission. In response to the effect of HIV and mother-to-child transmission, the government of South Africa has come up with various intervention strategies. Among them is public health education, advocating for Caesarean section during delivery, substituting breastfeeding after delivery, use of antiretroviral drugs for the infected mothers and tax waive on antiretroviral drugs (Haarmann 2000). However, Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) are the most popular of all the interventions on mother-to-child HIV transmission (Chigwedere et al. 2008). It increases child survival and decreases HIV related morbidity and mortality. For a pregnant mother to be able to use ARVs, the person goes through several phases with screening for pregnancy being the first stage. Upon