The U.S. economy started shedding manufacturing jobs and gained services sector jobs in the 1990s, a trend that has largely continued. Why has this been so prevalent and how has it impacted wages and employment levels? Finally, how do employment levels (unemployment rates) impact wage levels?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Shift from Manufacturing to Services: Impact on Wages and Employment Levels
Introduction
Over the past few decades, the United States has witnessed a significant shift in its employment landscape, with manufacturing jobs declining and services sector jobs on the rise. This essay will explore the reasons behind this prevalent trend, its impact on wages and employment levels, and the relationship between employment levels and wage levels.
Reasons for the Shift
Several factors have contributed to the shift from manufacturing to the services sector in the U.S. economy. Technological advancements and automation have led to increased productivity in manufacturing, resulting in a decreased demand for labor. Additionally, globalization and free trade agreements have allowed companies to outsource manufacturing jobs to countries with lower labor costs. These factors, combined with changing consumer preferences and the growth of the information economy, have led to a decline in manufacturing jobs and the expansion of the services sector.
Impact on Wages
The shift from manufacturing to the services sector has had mixed effects on wages. On one hand, the decline in manufacturing jobs, which were traditionally associated with higher wages and benefits, has led to a decrease in average wages for workers in those industries. The loss of these higher-paying jobs has contributed to income inequality and economic disparities in certain regions.
On the other hand, the services sector has seen growth in higher-skilled and higher-paying occupations such as finance, technology, healthcare, and professional services. This has led to an increase in average wages in the services sector. However, it is important to note that wage growth has not been uniform across all service industries and occupations. Some lower-skilled service jobs, such as retail or food services, often offer lower wages compared to manufacturing jobs.
Impact on Employment Levels
The shift from manufacturing to services has had a significant impact on employment levels. As manufacturing jobs have declined, many workers in affected industries have faced unemployment or had to find employment in other sectors with potentially lower wages. This has led to increased competition for jobs in the services sector, particularly in lower-skilled occupations, which can result in wage stagnation or even downward pressure on wages.
However, it is worth noting that while manufacturing jobs have declined, the services sector has created new opportunities for employment. The growth of sectors such as healthcare, technology, and professional services has helped offset some of the job losses in manufacturing. Nonetheless, there can be challenges in terms of skill matching, as workers may require retraining or education to transition from manufacturing to service sector occupations.
Relationship between Employment Levels and Wage Levels
The relationship between employment levels (unemployment rates) and wage levels is complex. In general, when unemployment rates are high and there is a surplus of available workers, employers have more leverage and can offer lower wages. Conversely, when unemployment rates are low and there is a shortage of available workers, employers may need to increase wages to attract and retain talent.
However, it is essential to consider other factors that influence wage levels, such as productivity, skills, demand for specific occupations, and bargaining power of workers. While low unemployment rates can put upward pressure on wages, these other factors play a crucial role in determining wage levels as well.
Conclusion
The prevalent shift from manufacturing to services in the U.S. economy has been driven by technological advancements, globalization, changing consumer preferences, and the growth of the information economy. This shift has had mixed effects on wages, with declines observed in manufacturing jobs but potential increases in certain service sector occupations. The impact on employment levels has been significant, with job losses in manufacturing requiring workers to seek employment in other sectors. The relationship between employment levels and wage levels is influenced by various factors beyond just unemployment rates. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for policymakers and stakeholders in addressing income inequality and ensuring fair wages for workers in an evolving economy.
