What is inflation and how can it be controlled?

What is inflation and how can it be controlled? What is inflation? There are several meaning of inflation , we will discuss two definitions of it. First, The term inflation means a process with a continual increase in the general price level. As prices go up, individuals try to protect their purchasing power and take actions which inadvertently perpetuate the inflation. For example, employees may try to protect themselves from inflation by having their wages tied to the cost of living(Livingston, 2000) . As price rise, wages are forced up, which raises production costs, which raises selling prices, and so on, in a never ending cycle. Throughout history, inflation has occurred frequently. Second, Inflation is the term used to describe a rise of average prices through the economy. It means that money is losing its value. The underlying cause is usually that too much money is available to purchase too few goods and services, or that demand in the economy is outpacing supply(What is inflation, 2010) . In general, this situation occurs when an economy is so buoyant that there are widespread shortages of labor and materials. People can charge higher prices for the same goods or services. Brief history of inflation Increases in the quantity of money or in the overall money supply (or debasement of the means of exchange) have occurred in many different societies throughout history, changing with different forms of money used. For instance, when gold was used as currency, the government could collect gold coins, melt them down, mix them with other metals such as silver, copper or lead, and reissue them at the same nominal value. By diluting the gold with other metals, the government could issue more coins without also needing to increase the amount of gold used to make them. When the cost of each coin is lowered in this way, the government profits from an increase in seignior age (Kenneth, 1996) This practice would increase the money supply but at the same time the relative value of each coin would be lowered. As the relative value of the coins becomes less, consumers would need to give more coins in exchange for the same goods and services as before. These goods and services would experience a price increase as the value of each coin is reduced (Roger, 2002). From the second half of the 15th century to the first half of the 17th, Western Europe experienced a major inflationary cycle referred to as price revolution, with prices on average rising perhaps sixfold over 150 years. It was thought that this was caused by the increase in wealth of Habsburg Spain, with a large influx of gold and silver from the New World ( Walton 1994). The spent silver, suddenly spread throughout a previously cash starved Europe, caused widespread inflation ( Walton, 1994). Demographic factors also contributed to upward pressure on prices, with European population growth after depopulation caused by the Black Death pandemic. The adoption of fiat currency (paper money) by many countries, from the 18th century onwards, made much larger variations in the supply of money possible. Since then, huge increases in the supply of paper money have taken place in a number of countries, producing hyperinflations episodes of extreme inflation rates much higher than those observed in earlier periods of commodity money (Roger, 2002). The hyperinflation suffered by the Weimar Republic of Germany is a notable example. Causes of inflation There are many reasons that can cause inflation in goods and service. Based on the quality theory of inflation and quantity theory of inflation, inflation is a result of the amount of money people will be able to use that money to buy the goods they want and the amount of money supplied and exchanged. Another reason of inflation is Demand-pull inflation which means that the economy actual demands more goods and services than available. This shortage of supply enables sellers to raise prices until an equilibrium is put in place between supply and demand (inflation, 2010). For example, low employment rates against increase in demand. Secondly, The cost-push inflation also known as supply shock inflation( inflation, 2010). This Can take place when goods become harder to get the price increases as a result, people try to increase the amount of money they earn to maintain the change in price. Inflation can be made by the circulation of increase in the wages of employees and the increase in the producers cost which will lower the value of the money (Stiqall R. March 29, 2010). Effects  of Inflation The most immediate effects of inflation are the decreased purchasing power of the dollar and its depreciation. A second destabilizing effect is that inflation can cause consumers and investors to change their speeding habits. When inflation occurs, people tend to spend less meaning that factories have to lay off workers because of a decline in orders. A third destabilizing effect of inflation is that some people choose to speculate heavily in an attempt to take advantage of the higher price level. Because some of the purchases are high-risk investments, spending is diverted from the normal channels and some structural unemployment may take place. Finally, inflation alters the distribution of income. Lenders are generally hurt more than borrowers during long inflationary periods which means that loans made earlier are repaid later in inflated dollars (the effect of inflation on your money, March 19, 2009). Measuring inflation It is necessary to have some kind of an accurate measure of the increase in the price level. The most widely used statistic to measure inflation is known as the consumer price index (CPI). Other measurement is Producer Price Indexes (PPI), Commodity price indices and Core price indices. Consumer Price Index (CPI) A measure of price changes in consumer goods and services such as gasoline, food, clothing and automobiles. The CPI measures price change from the perspective of the purchaser. U.S. CPI data can be found at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The three main CPI series are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Chained CPI for All Urban Consumers (C-CPI-U) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) According to (Dubai Statistics Center, 2010) Consumer Price Index was 114.63 in the first half of 2009, and in the first half 2010 it was 115.36. The formula for calculating the annual percentage rate inflation in the CPI is, 115.36 114.63 ÃÆ'- 100 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ = 0.64 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 114.63 Producer Price Indexes (PPI) Families of indexes that measure the average change over time in selling prices by domestic producers of goods and services. PPIs measure price change from the perspective of the seller. U.S. PPI data can be found at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For instance, (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010) stated that the U.S Monthly percent changes in the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods which is finished food, finished energy and finished core for October 2009 October 2010 is shown in chart 1 However, the Monthly percent changes in the Producer Price Index for Intermediate Goods which is intermediate food, intermediate energy and intermediate, for October 2009 October 2010 is shown in chart 2 Commodity price indices Index or average, which may be weighted, of selected commodity prices, intended to be representative of the markets in general or a specific subset of commodities, e.g., grains or livestock. Core price indices A measure of inflation that excludes certain items  that face volatile price movements.  Core inflation eliminates products that can  have temporary price shocks because  these shocks can diverge from the overall trend of inflation and  give a false  measure of inflation. Core inflation is most often calculated by taking the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and excluding certain items from the index,  usually energy and food products. Core inflation is thought to be an indicator of underlying long-term  inflation.   The challenge of measuring inflation There is no internationally agreed standard methodology of measuring inflation since such indices are generally used for national purposes, such as wage arrangements and price stabilization policies, and are frequently subject to heated discussions and social and political negotiations. Countries measure their rate of inflation in different ways, and include different components. This can make it problematic to make international comparisons. For instance, the European HICP differs from the US CPI in two major respects. First, the HICP includes the rural population. Second, and probably more importantly, the HICP excludes owner-occupied housing, mainly because the methods used to measure price changes for this component are controversial and difficult to calculate. Besides, in using CPI the purchasing habits of different people will vary greatly. For example, the purchasing of a family with children will be very different from that of an elderly couple or a single person with no chil dren. And this may not be an accurate reflection for a particular area. Furthermore, if the national average is used as the basis for wage negotiations or pension changes, then these might not accurately reflect the price changes for a particular group. Errors in collecting data could be very important because it reflects the accuracy of the results. For instance, it would be difficult to obtain the prices of all the goods bought by the household so it is necessary to take a sample item and measure it. Thus, sampling is likely to lead to some degree of inaccuracy. (Donald G. Jerome P. Ted G., 2004) How to Control Inflation Economists offer several ways to control or limit inflation.   The methods are primarily through setting monetary policy and price controls, though there are some less popular theories on stopping inflation. Those who suggest using monetary policy to stop inflation place an emphasis on the role of the central bank, like the U.S. Federal Reserve System, in setting that policy.   The Federal Reserve can use traditional methods such as setting high interest rates, using unemployment and declining production to slow or stop rising prices.  Ã‚   Even among those that believe monetary policy should be used to stop inflation, various theories abound as to how the policy should be wielded (Federal, 2010).   For instance, those who subscribe to Neo-Classical monetary theory want to see the money supply decreased, while Neo-Keynesians would rather reduce the overall demand through fiscal policy like higher taxes or lower government spending.   Neo-Keynesians focus on monetary policys role, especially as it relates to basic commodities inflation as outlined by Robert Solow.   Finally, supply-side economists believe that the exchange rate needs to be fixed so that the exchange rate is tied to a reference currency (gold, for instance).   They also believe that, in a floating currency regime, that there can be a reduction in marginal tax rates to that capital formation is promoted. Yet there is even a philosophical difference between those running the various central banks.   For instance, at the European Central Bank, the target is to control inflation when it gets too high rather than using symmetrical inflation as other central banks do.   The result is that the European Central Bank has come under great criticism for increasingly high unemployment rates. While some believe that changing monetary policy is the way to control or stop inflation, a few others subscribe to the idea that controlling prices is the best method.   Also, price supports are used to set minimum prices.   The price supports help to prevent deflation and to allow for the continued production of certain goods.   However, not many economists subscribe to the idea of using price controls as a way to control inflation, as there are many counterproductive effects. Using price controls to stop or control inflation means that shortages are created.   When shortages happen, the quality of production decreases and black market operations increase.   Also, price controls only work as long as they are in place, and when they are removed inflation often moves at an accelerated rate.  Ã‚   The exception to the criticisms of price controls is during times of war, when shortages are bound to happen anyhow.   The government needs to borrow more money at lower rates during wartime, and profiteering needs to be discouraged.   In World War II, price controls were used effectively both during and after the war to control inflation.   Yet sometimes the wartime price controls are continued too long after the end of the war, so people will over-consume the things that have price controls imposed.  Ã‚   A common example of price controls is rent controlled buildings.   These rent-controlled areas tend to remain so for decades, which allows owners to control the new building rate.   It maintains capital parity, and since inflation lowers the burden of a fixed rental price, allows renters to gain a net reduction in rental costs.  Ã‚   However, sometimes price controls do make a recession more efficient.   The recession and prices controls both complement one another, because the recession prevents the distortion of high demand while price controls lower the need to increase unemployment. The solution? In my opinion, there is no easy, painless solution. Those who bought houses they couldnt afford will lose those houses. The banks who end up with those houses will either go under (forcing the government to print money to cover the deposits lost), or will get bailed out (Bear Sterns). In about 3 or 4 years, the loans made at the peak will be done resetting, those homes that cannot be afforded will be lost, and stability will slowly return. The only thing that will muck up that return to stability is if we spend a lot of money helping people to stay in houses they cannot afford. If we really try to help them, they will end up bleeding the system until they cant bleed it any more, then they will lose their house. If we try to bail them out, we will ease the pain, but prolong the disease.

The Flaw of Hamlets Antic Disposition Essay -- essays research papers

Hamlet's antic disposition of pretending to become crazy so that he can take revenge of his father's death was a bad plan. The situations in the play that prove that Hamlet's antic disposition was a bad plan are the death of his friend Ophelia, his fighting with his mother, trying to fool the King and Polonius, his own downfall and finally his death. All this situations illustrate why Hamlet?s antic disposition was a bad plan. Hamlet?s antic disposition was the main reason why Ophelia committed suicide and why Hamlet fought with his mother. Hamlet believed that if he showed no more feelings for Ophelia and showed hatred and cruelty for his mother, people and particularly the King and Polonius would believe that he has truly gone crazy. He shows that he has no feelings for Ophelia when he says to her "You should not have believed me, for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it. I loved you not.? At the time of Ophelia?s burial, Hamlet jumps in Ophelia?s grave saying, "I loved Ophelia. For thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love Make ...

George Gordon Byron Essay -- George Gordon Byron Essays Biography

George Gordon Byron   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Their are many different opinions on the written works of George Gordon Byron which could include one very big question. Was he a natural born poet or simply a product of abuse and mental illness. His writings may have been more a way to ease his pa and suffering rather than a natural talent. Perhaps his writings were a form of self therapy? Throughout his writings and life history there is much evidence to suggest that his poetry was being greatly influenced by his mental instability. I have l rned much on this great poet and I too believe that his writings were influenced greatly because of the pain and abuse he suffered in his youth. I will attempt to point out the many possibilities to this.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  George Gordon Byron was known as Lord Byron during his lifetime. Byron was born in 1788 and died at the early age of thirty-six in the year 1824. His handsome face, riotous living and many love affairs made Byron the most talked-of man of his day. H was known as a romantic, fascinating figure to his fellow Englishmen. In our current century his reputation has dwindled to merely being known as a poet. His childhood was colorful to say the least. There is much evidence to suggest mental instabilit was inherent in his family. Byron was born on Jan.22, 1788 in London. His great-uncle from whom he inherited the title, was known as â€Å"wicked Lord Byron†; his father army officer, was called â€Å"mad Jack† Byron. This wealth and the nick names of the Byron en went back to at least as far a Lord Byron’s’ Grandfather, a Vice Admiral, known as â€Å"Foul Weather Jack†. He was giving this name as he had a reputation of attracting storms. These titles given to his family only adds to the evidence of mental insta lity. Here’s an interesting note: (His family had a long tradition of marrying its cousins, consequently, there were some oddities among their ancestors. Byron’s grandfather â€Å"Foul Weather Jack† hated his sons and spent a great deal of time trying to destroy their estate, Newstead. He hoped to leave nothing for his sons, so he encouraged swarms of crickets o run throughout the house.) (His Life www.edenpr.k12.mn.usephs/ArcadiaWeb)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Born with a clubfoot, he was sensitive about it all his life. When he was just three his father died, leaving the family with nearly nothing to survive on. His parents, Catherine Gordon Byron (of the ... ..., self-sacrificing, and accepting of her ate to the point of victimization. In the early episode, Donna Julia breads somewhat out of this role by being the older (23 years old!) married woman and not the innocent girl. Byron thus somewhat reverses gender roles and has the sexually mature woman take a m e active role in seducing the naive and innocent young man. (Don Juan, Canto I http://citd.scar.untoronto.ca/English/ENGBO2Y/DonJuan.html).  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I believe that Lord Byron was expressing is own pain of the sexual abuse he endured b May Grey at school in his earlier childhood in the character Donna Julia. So in my opinion of all I have discovered about this literary poet is that Lord Byron was not born with a talent for writing poetry. He however did write from his own heart. Wh h is what a truly brilliant poet must do. Had he not have been exposed to physical and sexual abuse in his youth. I feel there is a good possibility he would have never written a single poem He would have had a different profession altogether along w h an entirely different life style. The world was blessed with the many poems of Lord Bryon but only through the suffering of another human being.

Roman propaganda vs. Todays propaganda :: essays research papers

Propaganda is when someone uses allegations, ideas, or rumors to further their own cause and hurt someone else. I do believe that the Romans used this method to make themselves and their empire look better. The Romans might have been some of the first rulers to use propaganda, but since their time we have seen many political leaders use the same methods to make themselves achieve a higher level of affection from the people under them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first sign to me of their propaganda was their architecture. First, I believe the gigantic statues and buildings represent the idea that the Romans had wealth because they could afford to build and decorate such an extravagant thing. Second, I think they were also supposed to portray that they had high intelligence because they could create the architectural wonders that had never been done before. Lastly, I think that they wanted every one to believe their army was undefeatable because most of their statues or monuments portrayed massive victories in battle.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think that the characteristics that they portrayed helped them in their propaganda by making the people think that the leaders must be worthy because they were able to have all of these things. In my opinion, they built these structures not only to try to make the roman people believe they had all these characteristics, but also for other societies to hear about or see and be either intimidated or astonished by their empire.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s society, the politicians in the United States do not build elaborate buildings as propaganda. I think the main reason for this is all the architecture of the government was built long before they came into office. For example, the White House in Washington D.C. was built long before President Bush came into office and it was never meant to be changed. Even though they do not build architecture, I do believe they use it when it comes to buildings that are already there. I took notice that when the President addressed the nation during the first few hours of the War he was sitting in his office not in the pressroom. Looking back to me it was as if he wanted to give the impression that it was just another obstacle and he was calm and working in his office at home. Even though the White House is equipped with many offices and people, it is still called the â€Å"White House,† so when the T.

Healthcare Management Essay

When creating a strategic business plan, one of the most important analysis tools that can help management identify areas that need improvement and the areas that are strong and already beneficial to the company is a SWOT analysis. Using this tool management can determine the parts of a business that may need more of their time and resources in order to outcome obstacles that may prevent growth. In this paper, we will create a SWOT analysis for our fictitious company Vandalay Healthcare Inc. Strategic Healthcare Plan A SWOT analysis is a tool that can be used by management to measure or audit the organization as a whole. SWOT is an acronym for the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats by internal and external that can effect and hinder a company in various ways. Using the SWOT analysis a company can learn to identify the parts of a business that are helping the business grow and the same analysis can identify areas where the business can make improvements (Marketing Teacher, 2012). The greatest distinguished features that management should include when creating a SWOT analysis is, where the business is today and where it hopes to be in the future, and the analysis should be subjective and specific, the most effective analysis are short and direct. The SWOT that was created for the fictitious company, Vandalay Healthcare Inc., is as follows: SWOT Analysis Vandalay Healthcare Inc. The goals for Vandalay Healthcare Inc., as defined in the company’s mission and vision statements is to become one of the most successful company’s in the field of Certified Life Care Planning, and also to build the company to maintain a certain level of integrity. The external and internal environments that would directly affect this company can possibly cause the company to become in financial trouble at some point, since the knowledge of the field is expanding and the threats of medical advancements could hinder the need for this type of business, the company can be tempted to cut corners. However, by instilling the vision and mission statement the company was founded and expanded on, the possibilities to allow this type of behavior can decrease by over 75%. A continuous improvement plan is defined as a process that continues to bring gradual change to a business (O’Hara, 2012). In the development of the continuous improvement plan the company must first decide where they plan on going in the future. For Vandalay Healthcare Inc., the company has already established the desire to be one of the best CLCP types of companies in existence. The best way to achieve this is by evaluating the outcome measures for the company. The outcomes are specifically the results achieved by the interaction of the patient/client and the business (Mireles, n.d.). To measure the outcomes Vandalay Healthcare Inc., will provide survey cards to be completed by clients, which will be done on an anonymous basis. By allowing the clients/patients to complete the surveys on an anonymous basis, the company can indicate the areas in the service sector that may have issues as well as eliminate any gaps that can occur in the performance areas of a business. The vision and mission statements for Vandalay Healthcare Inc. are as follows: In the next few years, Vandalay Healthcare Inc. will have succeeded in establishing a name for itself within the field of Certified Life Care Planner by being an honest organization that focuses 100% on patient care. And the mission statement for Vandalay Healthcare Inc., is: âž ¢Patient Care Mission – to provide the best care to every patient regardless of the ethnic, cultural, or demographic background âž ¢Community Mission – provide support within the community by providing honest medical care âž ¢Economic Mission – operate and grow the organization at a profitable rate through sound economic decisions The SWOT analysis and the continuous improvement plan are both focusing on the constant improvement of patient care. Our company’s mission and vision statements are both also directly focused on the patient care. The company’s service strategy is related to the environment of the facility itself. The environment includes the employees, having the proper training and the company being adequately staffed to accommodate clients in a timely and professional manner. And the setting and following guidelines set forth by government agencies to ensure the moral and ethical standards of the company are higher then the others, as to set Vandalay Healthcare Inc. on a different level then similar companies within the same industry. By adhering to each of these goals, such as the mission statement, the vision statement and the intended service strategy, Vandalay Healthcare Inc. can set new standards within the healthcare industry, and this can be beneficial to the healthcare organization as a whole be causing other agencies to also raise the quality of care their patients may currently receive. Reference: Marketing Teacher. (2012). SWOT Analysis. Retrieved on July 8, 2012, from http://www.marketingteacher.com/lesson-store/lesson-swot.html Mireles, Sandra. (n.d.). How to Measure Outcomes & Evaluations. Retrieved on July 8, 2012, from http://www.ehow.com/how_6578817_measure-outcomes-evaluations.html O’Hara, Jane. (2012). How to Develop a Continuous Improvement Plan. Retrieved on July 8, 2012, from http://www.ehow.com/how_8054214_develop-continuous-improvement-plan.html

Blade Runner

Texts offer insights into the human experience by conveying the values and attitudes predominant in society at the time. The context in which a text is composed affects the ideas that are explored and how they are presented. Invariably, texts from differing contexts cause the composers to have different intents and present different notions due to the change of audience and the difference in values and attitudes they hold. However, some issues remain universal issues that transcend time. The human experience is how humanity perceives and conducts themselves, and the values and attitudes that are predominant in their nature at the time. These values and attitudes change in accordance to context, due to the ever evolving nature of the environment around us and humanity itself. Examples of issues that have changed in value over time are the ideas of nature and the environment, and the concept of science and religion. These notions are explored and can be compared and contrasted in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (The Director’s Cut) and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The 19th century was a period of upcoming scientific & technological advancement, due to prominent scientists proposing controversial ideas, which defied the strict religious conventions of the period. Scientists such as Luigi Galvani, Giovanni Aldini and Erasmus Darwin put forth theories that placed man in the perceived almighty position of God, which in turn questioned the authenticity of the religious beliefs that society held. These theories, such as Galvanism, are evident in Shelly’s work, most prominently in the animation of Frankenstein’s monster. This allusion to Giovanni Aldini’s public experiments, where he manipulated electricity to cause corpses to move, conveys to the responder a similar message to which Aldini did. Both Shelley and Aldini cause the society in which they were in to question the source of life, by presenting the notion that electricity was the â€Å"spark of life†. However, this idea was perceived as work against God, as shown in Frankenstein through the quote â€Å"the beauty of my dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart†. The juxtaposition of the positive and negative connotations of â€Å"beauty† and â€Å"disgust† convey to the responder that the theories which catalysed the Scientific Revolution were initially considered beneficial to society, however, due to the controversy it caused, it was also considered blasphemous, and to an extent, the work of the devil. It is through this that an insight into the human experience is gained, an insight which reveals the value humanity placed on religion at the time and how the questioning of these values were becoming increasingly common. Blade Runner Texts offer insights into the human experience by conveying the values and attitudes predominant in society at the time. The context in which a text is composed affects the ideas that are explored and how they are presented. Invariably, texts from differing contexts cause the composers to have different intents and present different notions due to the change of audience and the difference in values and attitudes they hold. However, some issues remain universal issues that transcend time. The human experience is how humanity perceives and conducts themselves, and the values and attitudes that are predominant in their nature at the time. These values and attitudes change in accordance to context, due to the ever evolving nature of the environment around us and humanity itself. Examples of issues that have changed in value over time are the ideas of nature and the environment, and the concept of science and religion. These notions are explored and can be compared and contrasted in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner (The Director’s Cut) and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The 19th century was a period of upcoming scientific & technological advancement, due to prominent scientists proposing controversial ideas, which defied the strict religious conventions of the period. Scientists such as Luigi Galvani, Giovanni Aldini and Erasmus Darwin put forth theories that placed man in the perceived almighty position of God, which in turn questioned the authenticity of the religious beliefs that society held. These theories, such as Galvanism, are evident in Shelly’s work, most prominently in the animation of Frankenstein’s monster. This allusion to Giovanni Aldini’s public experiments, where he manipulated electricity to cause corpses to move, conveys to the responder a similar message to which Aldini did. Both Shelley and Aldini cause the society in which they were in to question the source of life, by presenting the notion that electricity was the â€Å"spark of life†. However, this idea was perceived as work against God, as shown in Frankenstein through the quote â€Å"the beauty of my dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart†. The juxtaposition of the positive and negative connotations of â€Å"beauty† and â€Å"disgust† convey to the responder that the theories which catalysed the Scientific Revolution were initially considered beneficial to society, however, due to the controversy it caused, it was also considered blasphemous, and to an extent, the work of the devil. It is through this that an insight into the human experience is gained, an insight which reveals the value humanity placed on religion at the time and how the questioning of these values were becoming increasingly common.

Novel “Parvana” Essay

Deborah Ellis novel Parvana explores how human can survive in near to impossible situations and misfortune, however Parvana not only survives but thrives. The novel is set in Afghanistan at the height of the theocracy where her father has lost a leg her brother has been killed by a mine and her mother is undergoing extreme stress. However things take a turn for the worst when they thought nothing else could happen, and her father is taken away by the Taliban so she is forced to dress up as a boy and provide an income for the family. Parvana is chosen to do the work for the family then why didn’t her mother dress up as a boy instead or her older sister? It is true that she supported her father every day at the market but is it really right to pick a girl that isn’t even a teenager? Well the answer in quite simple yes the reason being this being her family believes that she is the only family member able to undergo the transformation in gender as well as the mental transf ormation. Once Parvana father is taken away by the Taliban nothing will ever be the same even if he does come back. So Parvana is forced to give up certain aspects of her and her family’s lives in order to insure the family survival an example of this is when she dresses up as a boy in order to go outside, this is a major change to Parvana life because she most definitely did not do this previously, however the differences don’t just stop at family routines if you like and visual differences but also effects the family mentally for example as time goes by Parvana becomes braver and stroner however her mum does not benefit as much and becomes disheartened and depressed.