Contemporary Themes AS2 Report (2016-17): Key Economic Issues Analysis

This report analyzes several contemporary economic themes. It begins by examining the advantages and disadvantages of globalization, discussing its impact on trade, cultural exchange, poverty, and international relations. The report then evaluates the effectiveness of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in improving the world, considering both the positive impacts on environmental protection and global challenges, and the counterarguments regarding the motivations behind CSR practices. The analysis continues with an examination of the negative effects of immigration on the UK, particularly in terms of employment and public services, while also proposing potential solutions such as job allocation and wage adjustments. Finally, the report discusses the debate surrounding assisted dying, presenting arguments for and against its legalization, focusing on patient autonomy, dignity, religious perspectives, and the role of medical professionals. The report utilizes various academic sources to support its arguments.

Contemporary Themes
AS2 Report

Week 2: What are the advantages/disadvantages of globalisation?
Workshop Booklet: Contemporary Themes 2016-17 Page 1
Advantages (125 words) Disadvantages (125 words)
Globalisation is quite advantageous as it
aids in exchange of products, service
offering as well as ideas on a global level
that helps to promote positive relations
(Rodrik, 2017). It further has a huge
potential to bring a reduction in poverty on
account of resource sharing and
availability of raw materials at low cost.
Smith (2017) is further of the view point
that the process of globalisation increases
understanding of different cultures thereby
ensuring that barriers are broken that once
kept people divided. Cohen (2018) feels
that one of the biggest advantages of
globalisation is that there is a reduced
chance of war between nations due to
presence of good relations between them.
The process also causes Competitive
pressures on less developed nations by
which there is improved governance (Lee,
The process of globalisation leads to a decrease
in environmental integrity as firm from
developed nations may take advantage of the
weak regulations in less developed countries
(Baylis and et.al., 2017). The process has
further ben found to cause unemployment in
developed nations as firm move there factories
in those countries were cheap labor is available
(Cleaveland and et.al., 2016). On a health front,
it has been found by Potrafke (2015) that
globalization has increased the changes by
which human, animal and plant based infection
and diseases can spread quickly from one to
other nation. For example, the trade relations of
Europe with Asia as well as Africa have
exposed the countries to diseases like small
pox, TB and measles (Hay and Marsh, 2016).
References: Put your references on the last page

Week 3: CSR is effective/ineffective at improving the world?
Workshop Booklet: Contemporary Themes 2016-17 Page 2
Effective (125 words) Ineffective (125 words)
CSR has been quite effective in improving
the world as they make sure that
environment is not harmed in any manner
(Stone, 2015). This in on account of
investment in machines and technology
that reduce the carbon footprint. It further
gives a chance to company by which there
is an increased use of renewable energy in
its operations.
Accroding to Papagiannis (2017) the
concept has also assisted in finding
solutions to global challenges such as
education, energy, climate change etc. For
example, many companies are making
their research and development strong so
that green technologies can be invented
and brought forth in the market (Hopkins,
2017). This technique is being done as part
of CSR initiative which will not only
benefit the firm but also the society at large
(Kulkarni, 2015).
Singh (2010) states that the very idea about the
CSR activities done by the company will
benefit the entire society do not stand true. The
activities are just done to build up a good
image in front of the people and have nothing
to do with improving the world at large. If this
was really the case then governments of
different nations would not have stressed so
much on acting responsibility in the business
practices (Jammulamadaka, 2015). Even if
executives carrying out CSR wanted to forgo
some profits to benefit the society then they
will surely lose the jobs and would be replaced
by others. This is as the sole aim and top
priority of any company is to earn profits
(Rahman, 2017).
References: Put your references on the last page

Workshop Booklet: Contemporary Themes 2016-17 Page 3

Week 4: What are the negative effects/solutions of/to high levels of immigration to Week
5: Assisted dying should become/remain legal/illegal in the UK?
Workshop Booklet: Contemporary Themes 2016-17 Page 4
Negative Effects (125 words) Solutions (125 words)
Immigration has led to a decrease in
employment opportunities for UK born
citizens especially in the area of IT sector
on account of competition they face from
migrant force (Sa, 2015). It has been found
that over half of the jobs have been taken
by migrants since the year 2010 (Economic
Impacts of Immigration to the UK, 2018).
Immigration has also reduced earnings of
UK born poor as well as those belonging to
semi-unskilled sector ( Musolff, 2015).
There has also been a huge surge in
population within UK on account of
immigration which is putting a pressure on
the public services. Statistics showcase an
increase in 55% of UK population since
1991 to 2016 (Cangiano, 2018).
The government of UK can work in this regard
by setting aside some jobs and prominent
positions exclusively for the Britain’s (Ingram,
2016). There is further a need to guarantee
higher wages for the Britons than the migrant
population (Sa, 2015). Education should also
be improved for the poor so that they can get
better jobs for a living. Privileges should also
be given to natives when it comes to doing job
in public sector (Lawlor, 2015). The overall
welfare system of UK should also be
redesigned so as to give focus on the native
population. In the same lines, the government
should also start charging for the work visa and
set a price so that demand and supply situation
is met (Tilford, 2015).
References: Put your references on the last page

Workshop Booklet: Contemporary Themes 2016-17 Page 5
Become Legal (125 words) Remain Illegal (125 words)
Assisted dying should become legal so as to
save the patient from the trauma of physical
and psychological pain that he usually
encounters when he is in a terminally ill state
(Attaran, 2015). The situation to ask for death
should be in the hands of the patient who
should be in charge of deciding whether he or
she wants to live or not (Mowat, 2018). Most
patients often request for assisted dying as
they do not want to lose their dignity and
become a burden over others (Seale, 2016).
He should thus be given a choice to end his or
her own life and maintain the overall dignity
through death. It would at least lead to a
painless death for the patient also save the
family from financial burdens.
.
Assisted dying in UK should become illegal as
people have a tendency to abuse the rights and
make the patient accept death even if he does
not want to (Farsides, 2018). Some also
consider it illegal on religious grounds as life is
something that has been bestowed upon a
person by god and hence it is not right to go
against gods will (Upshur, 2016). This concept
further puts an impact on the relations the
patients share with doctors. This is as there is a
compromise on the sacred trust that exists
between them as physicians act as healers for
the patient rather than killers (O’Keeffe, 2016).
This thus damages the very essence of medical
profession which is all about saving lives rather
than taking it.
.
References: Put your references on the last page

Workshop Booklet: Contemporary Themes 2016-17 Page 6

References
Globalisation
Baylis, J., Smith, S. and Owens, P., 2017. The globalization of world politics: an introduction
to international relations. Oxford University Press.
Hay, C. and Marsh, D., 2016. Demystifying globalization. Springer.
Potrafke, N., 2015. The evidence on globalisation. The World Economy. 38(3). pp.509-552.
Lee, S.S., 2014. Management information systems. Management. 166137(01). p.02.
Cleveland, M. and et.al., 2016. Identity, culture, dispositions and behavior: A cross-national
examination of globalization and culture change. Journal of Business Research. 69(3).
pp.1090-1102.
Cohen, R., 2018. Diasporas, the nation-state, and globalisation. Routledge.
Smith, M.P., 2017. Transnationalism from below: Comparative urban and community
research. Routledge.
Rodrik, D., 2017. Populism and the Economics of Globalization (No. w23559). National
Bureau of Economic Research.
CSR
Jammulamadaka, N., 2015. Responsibility for the third world factory: limits of eurocentric
CSR and making room for the state. Decision. 42(1). pp.71-82.
Rahman, S., 2017. Role of Government in the Promotion of Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR): The Case of Bangladesh Banking Sector. Australian Academy of Accounting
and Finance Review. 1(1). pp.44-68.
Papagiannis, F.A., 2017. An Ontologically Innovative Design of CSR Strategies: Enabling
Value Added Institutional Collaborations. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Stone, A., 2015. Improving Labor Relations through Corporate Social Responsibility-Lessons
from Germany and France. Cal. W. Int'l LJ. 46. p.147.
Kulkarni, M.S., 2015. A Study of the CSR Policies and Practices of Indian
Companies. DAWN: Journal for Contemporary Research in Management. pp.17-26.
Hopkins, M., 2017. CSR and international development. Routledge.
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Singh, 2010. Why The Journal is Wrong About CSR. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.forbes.com/sites/csr/2010/08/24/why-there-is-a-case-for-csr-despite-
the-wall-street-journals-obituary/#7f8ecfb42fc9/> [Accessed on 23rd April 2018].
Immigration
Economic Impacts of Immigration to the UK. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.migrationwatchuk.org/briefing-paper/235/> [Accessed on 23rd April
2018].
Sá, F., 2015. Immigration and House Prices in the UK. The Economic Journal. 125(587).
pp.1393-1424.
Musolff, A., 2015. Dehumanizing metaphors in UK immigrant debates in press and online
media. Journal of Language Aggression and Conflict. 3(1). pp.41-56.
Tilford, S., 2015. Britain, immigration and Brexit. CER Bulletin. 30. pp.64-162.
Lawlor, A., 2015. Local and national accounts of immigration framing in a cross-national
perspective. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies. 41(6). pp.918-941.
Ingram, A., 2016. Negotiating Security: Governmentality and Asylum/Immigration NGOs in
the UK. Routledge.
Cangiano, A., 2018. The Impact of Migration on UK Population Growth. [Online].
Available through: </> [Accessed on 23rd April 2018].
Assisted Dying
Attaran, A., 2015. Unanimity on death with dignity—legalizing physician-assisted dying in
Canada. New England Journal of Medicine. 372(22). pp.2080-2082.
Seale, C., 2016. Analysis of health communication texts: UK press coverage of debates about
assisted dying. Mètode Science Studies Journal-Annual Review. (6).
Mowat, A., 2018. BMA responds to articles on assisted dying. BMJ. 360. p.k911.
Farsides, B., 2018. Commentary: Palliative care and assisted dying are not mutually
exclusive. Bmj. 360. p.k544.
Upshur, R., 2016. Unresolved issues in Canada's law on physician-assisted dying. The
Lancet. 388(10044). pp.545-547.
O'Keeffe, F., 2016. An overview of the proposed Victorian recommendation for assisted
dying and its consequences. Chisholm Health Ethics Bulletin. 21(4). p.3.
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