The growth of multinational corporation  (MNC) activity has given rise to a “race to the bottom” dynamic in government regulation. The world’s governments maintain different regulatory standards. Some enact stringent regulations concerning how firms can treat workers, how they must handle their toxic waste and other pollutants, and how they must conduct their other business activities. Others maintain less stringent regulatory environments, allowing firms to engage in activities that are illegal in other countries.

Many of these regulations affect production costs. It is more expensive, for example, for a firm to treat chemical waste before it is disposed than simply to dump the raw waste in a landfill. Hence, national regulations that require firms to treat their chemical waste raise production costs. Consequently, even if all other production costs in two countries are the same, different regulatory standards can make it less costly to produce in the country with the lower standard.

MNCs might therefore engage in regulatory arbitrage. That is, they might shift their activities out of countries with stringent regulatory standards and into countries with lax regulatory standards. Governments in high-standard countries will then feel pressure to relax their standards in order to encourage firms to keep production at home. As a consequence, national regulation will increasingly converge on the regulatory practices of the least restrictive country. Governments that refuse to engage in this competition for investment will be left behind, enjoying the benefits of strict regulations but suffering the cost of substantially less investment. How should governments respond to the threat of this race to the bottom?

Policy Options:

– Negotiate international rules that harmonize regulations throughout the world. Creating common regulations will prevent regulatory arbitrage and the race to the bottom.

– Restrict foreign direct investment and the activities of MNCs. Such restrictions would limit corporations’ mobility, thus enabling governments to maintain distinct national regulations.

Questions:

1. Which option do you prefer? Justify your choice.

2. What criticisms of your position should you anticipate? how would you defend your recommendation against these criticisms?

Explain what you see as the biggest challenge to treating bipolar and related disorders.

List and describe the symptoms Ellen Forney describes experiencing. Indicate which symptoms are manic symptoms and which are depressive symptoms.

Following steps 1-11 of the Hazard Analysis and Risk Assessment Guide in the course textbook (pp. 172-177), develop a risk assessment for a serious workplace hazard with which you are familiar, view Appendix 2 found in the OSHA document Job Hazard Analysis to help you select a hazard. Evaluate the hazard and its associated risks, and then complete the Hazard Analysis and Risk Analysis Project form. To complete the Initial Risk Assessment and Post Control Risk Assessment sections, use the following codes based on the Risk Assessment Matrix in Table 9.7 (p. 178) of the textbook:

Severity:

1 – Catastrophic

2 – Critical

3 – Marginal

4 – Negligible

Probability (Likelihood of Occurrence):

A – Frequent

B – Probable

C – Occasional

D – Remote

E – Improbable

Risk Code:

H – High

S – Serious

M – Medium

L – Low

All sections of the form must be completed. Note that the “Post Control Risk Assessment Measures” section reflects the risk assessment after applying the additional control measures.

In a separate document of at least one page, explain the reasoning behind how you filled out each section of the form. How would the control measures affect the assessment? You must use at least your textbook for this assignment, and other resources may be used as needed.

Upload both the completed form and the discussion document. Be sure that the discussion document is in APA format with a title page and a reference page and any information from a resource is properly cited in APA Style.

Discuss the role of employee training and development at your organization.

How does employee training and development factor into your organization’s strategic planning and contribute to its competitive advantage?

What recommendations would you make to your leadership to improve training and development at your organization?

Your response should demonstrate your ability to relate this week’s readings in the textbook to your experience.

DISCUSSION 2

Respond to Carolyn and Jerry post. Be constructive and professional. Your replies should be at least 100 words each.

Carolyn post

At my current job training and development is very important. I have actually been with my company or 16 years and when I first started with the company I was in the first training class. It was trial and error but I feel as though it was good.

As time went on the program grew and the training became bigger and better. At this time the Training and development program is a active department in our company. The person that was my trainer is now the Senior Director of the Training and Development department.

I think that in my current position our training and development department is great. We always have on line trainings that are specific to every job that all employees have access to. Sometimes your management will assign you trainings but if you have free time or want to try to learn a different position you can do that any time. I feel that is an advantage to employees that we have on line access to training when ever we want to use it.

Jerry post

At my job, you go to a different store to train and you learn what to do. they send them to another store so they can see how a different store runs and train the workers well at a different store. They send them to the store for a few days then you go to your store so you can get more training until you get it.

The training is good for new people because if you don’t know about cars you can use the training to help you out and if you know your town you can take part in the place that needs them. it helps them to understand what the customer needs from auto parts.

The training help with knowing how to look up part and the number it teaches them all about the thing that a car is made. I would say that if they don’t know much about cars they will need more training. the train they get to help the customer with their vehicles the better that can be for them.