Description

question
 Explain the various types of products and services provided by international banks. How do international bank clients benefit from these products and services?
answer
1. Introduction
In this article, we examine the important role played by international banks in promoting economic and financial integration and development. This is particularly significant at a time when the globalization process is being called into question as a result of the financial crises in the emerging market economies. A fundamental insight provided by the theory of financial intermediation is that banks and financial institutions can lower the cost of transactions through the provision of efficient payment mechanisms and information services and facilitate a more efficient allocation of resources leading to greater real economic activity and welfare enhancement. This insight has profound significance in the context of international banking where the provision of such services can act as a means of enhancing transactions between countries. The relative increase in trade and international direct investment has strengthened the demand for international banking services in the form of trade finance, working capital finance for foreign investment, and various types of credit facilities to support foreign investment. We maintain that the ability of international banks to satisfy this demand holds a key to fostering economic and financial development.
International banking has assumed a new dimension and significance in the light of the challenge posed by the era of globalization. The world is keenly and indeed increasingly becoming interdependent and integrated through increased trade in goods and services, capital flows, and more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology. In this context, international banks have a vital role to play in facilitating economic and social transactions across nations. They act as facilitators and catalysts of exchange in the complex transition of goods, services, and capital, and in doing so, they contribute to achieving greater efficiency in resource allocation and higher economic growth rates for the participating nations.
1.1. Overview of international banks
International banking is an important and vital part of today’s financial world. Banks have an extensive network of branches and offices in different countries. Also, these banks are continuously in touch in order to keep the financial activity smooth. International banking is not only useful for the banks themselves, but it is also beneficial for the global economy as well. The local habitation and global involvement of the international banks contribute to the overall resources available to finance economic development. After World War II, there was a significant increase in the mobility of private funds and also the growth in the range of services provided by the banks to accommodate international transactions. It has been estimated that in 1977, the annual income from all kinds of international banking was in excess of $4 billion, and it has increased significantly since then. The motivation to deal with foreign exchange is the result of international trade transactions and the cooperation between national companies. There are also individuals who are involved in international investment, speculation, travel, and the consumption of goods and services provided by international companies. These activities call for foreign exchange transactions and also for credit and other banking facilities that are related to the international currency and capital markets. Foreign exchange dealing has become one of the most important sources of profits for many banks and it is a crucial part of modern international banking.
1.2. Importance of products and services
1. Consumer goods that have no capital use and don’t help produce other goods, called non-durable goods. These types of goods can have a symbolic value, like a suitcase. But all it has done is become old and used, while household items or electronic goods will have tangible use until they are broken. So the suitcase is not really a good investment for the economy. Durable consumer goods are things like cars and appliances, and capital goods acquired by households which can still be used or produce benefit over a period of time. Non-durable goods are not a big concern for the balance of trade since they can have little effect on the economy if they are not being replenished. It is the durable and capital goods that are more important.
An import of a good or service is intended to change the wealth of a country. In other words, imports are a flow of resources in return for goods and services. It causes the outflow of money to leave the country to pay for the imports. When trying to define what an import is, many words and phrases could be used. For example, “An import is what comes into a country from abroad. For example, France probably imported your car from Japan. The car was built in Japan and then sent to France to be sold.” Or more simply, “Imports are the flows of goods and services coming into the country.” Whatever the definition being used, the concept is still the same. Imports can take the form of:
2. Banking Products
2.1. Deposit accounts
2.2. Loans and credit facilities
2.3. Foreign exchange services
2.4. Investment and wealth management
3. Trade Finance Services
3.1. Letters of credit
3.2. Trade financing options
3.3. Export and import financing
4. Payment Services
4.1. International wire transfers
4.2. Online banking and mobile apps
4.3. Payment processing solutions
5. Risk Management Products
5.1. Foreign exchange risk hedging
5.2. Interest rate risk management
5.3. Commodity price risk management
6. Capital Markets Services
6.1. Debt and equity financing
6.2. Underwriting and advisory services
6.3. Securities trading and brokerage
7. International Wealth Management
7.1. Private banking services
7.2. Trust and estate planning
7.3. Philanthropic advisory services
8. Benefits to International Bank Clients
8.1. Access to global financial markets
8.2. Diversification of investment portfolios
8.3. Risk mitigation and hedging strategies
8.4. Efficient cross-border transactions
8.5. Expert financial advice and guidance
9. Conclusion

question
Briefly discuss a purchase you made within the last two months and explain whether you applied the limited problem-solving approach or extended problem solving approach in the process of making the decision to purchase and consume the product. 
Answer
Purchasing Decisions: Limited vs Extended Problem-Solving Approach
1. Introduction
The article you are about to read is an explorative essay which presents the understanding and the usage of the two sorts of purchasing approaches. Studies and researches have indicated that these two approaches differ from each other mainly in the factors that determine when each approach is utilized. The aim of this article is to develop a vivid understanding on how consumer behavior is influenced in the two different situations. When consumers’ choice of buying behavior is affected by differences in the level of involvement, it results into two sorts of problem-solving strategies: limited problem-solving and extended problem-solving. The study in this article has the main focus on these two strategies and their application in modern life. Different elements and factors of two problem-solving approaches have been discussed here. This essay also sheds light on psychological aspects of consumer decision-making and market behavior in the main focus of selecting these approaches. This report is meant to offer an explanation for those who really want to know about their role in the decision making in the respective markets. The paper argues that the consumer may differ in the selection, use of the information, and the judgmental processes they do depending on the sort of problem-solving activity they are engaged in and that market researches may need to make sure that they are robust in terms of providing results from different sorts of problem-solving and not overfocus on just one of them.
1.1. Definition of Limited Problem-Solving Approach
Recent studies of purchasing behavior have revealed that the consumer’s approach to choosing a product can depend on a variety of factors, such as the type of product to be selected and the importance of that product. One of the approaches that an individual utilizes when making a purchasing decision is the limited problem-solving approach. Limited problem-solving approach involves an internal or non-extensive search for information, for example, settling for the first or the easy option that comes to an individual’s mind. It is an approach that is often used by consumers when they face a recurring problem or when they are looking for a familiar product. In this kind of approach, the individual could simply identify the need for a product and immediately an alternative would spring into his mind, and then the purchasing would happen instantaneously. However, since making a purchasing decision involves conscious mental processes, at least in the case of limited problem-solving, in the event that some information search did take place, the following must apply: the individual must know what to be searched, the search should be based on the current knowledge, and the search for information should serve as guidance for the decision that needs to be made. For example, each time the consumers go to the supermarket to purchase a bottle of water, chances are the consumer will know what to buy and thus there is no need for information search, and hence limited problem-solving takes place. At the point of recognizing the need, the consumer goes ahead with searching the product, and then evaluation of alternatives is done afterwards. There are two phases in which the limited problem-solving takes place; i.e. a problem recognition phase and an evaluation of the chosen product after the purchase has been made. In reality, it is often the case that information search does not take place literally before a product is purchased. When an information search does occur, the particular type of approach being used can be identified.
1.2. Definition of Extended Problem-Solving Approach
An extended problem-solving approach has several important characteristics. First, it involves extensive information search – the consumer searches for information about different products from many sources. Such sources include the consumer’s own memory, personal knowledge, the knowledge of friends and family, advertising, in-store information, and the internet. Secondly, the consumer employing extended problem-solving is more likely to use a comparison of multiple options. Such a comparison of options may be largely in terms of brand comparison such as Mercedes vs Audi or attributes comparison such as those which are known to satisfy the need and those which are just close to satisfaction. For the limited problem-solving approach, consumers rely on shortcuts rather than on significant effort. Third, consumers using an extended problem-solving approach are more likely to engage in a comparison of multiple options, while those using the limited problem-solving approach are more likely to satisfy their need by simply selecting the first product that meets the minimum acceptable requirement, but not necessarily the best that could be obtained. Fourth, consumers using an extended problem-solving approach are more likely to engage in a consideration of external factors. Such external factors might include advice from friends, adverts, the internet, and environmental factors. Finally, the consumer employing the extended problem-solving resources and cognitive efforts more so than from the habitual and variety-seeking resources, but consumers use all three to some degree. It is important to notice that there is no absolute way to determine which method to use (Kardes, Cronley, and Cline, n.d.). Culture, traditions, trends, and as well as the level of involvement which varies are among the factors that influence the decision of which method used with different people and at different occasions.
2. The Purchase Experience
2.1. Description of the Product
2.2. Motivation for the Purchase
3. Limited Problem-Solving Approach
3.1. Minimal Information Search
3.2. Reliance on Prior Knowledge
3.3. Evaluation of Alternatives
4. Extended Problem-Solving Approach
4.1. Extensive Information Search
4.2. Comparison of Multiple Options
4.3. Consideration of External Factors
5. Application of Problem-Solving Approaches
5.1. Determining the Approach Used
5.2. Factors Influencing the Decision-Making Process
6. Conclusion

Questions
Based on “Reforming the US Immigration Regime” case study: address the following In a 1 to 2 page policy memo:
1. Provide a brief history of the issue (only 2-3 paragraphs)-highlighting key points
2. Describe the 2013 attempt to reform U.S. immigration policy-highlighting the key points.
3. Be sure to address how the problem was defined in 2013 (not just from the perspective of the gang of 8 but from other relevant stakeholders as well.  Remember to clearly identify the relevant stakeholders or groups of stakeholders and how they defined the problem so as to illustrate the variation in problem definition.
Answer
1. Introduction
The first formal immigration act was passed in 1910. This act established the Bureau of Immigration, which provided for the examination and inspection of arriving immigrants. It also codified for the first time the deportation of immigrants and the exclusion of ‘undesirable’ persons. Over the years, various laws have been implemented in the name of immigration reform. These laws are often seen to have expanded the United States’ power of deportation and exclusion. For example, the National Origins Quota of 1924 provided that the number of immigrant visas available in each nationality class in a year could not exceed 2% of the number of foreign-born individuals of that nationality resident in the United States in 1890. Such legislation further entrenched the inequalities in immigration visas that existed at the time. The roots of the current deportation and exclusion regime lie, as some scholars describe it, in the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. This act got rid of the highly exclusionary national origins quota system that was in place and instead focused on immigrants’ skills and family relationships with citizens or residents of the United States. However, it also made a distinction between ‘immigrants’ and ‘nonimmigrants’, whereby immigrants are classed as those admitted for permanent residence and nonimmigrants refer to those admitted for a temporary period of time. This act has been subject to numerous amendments over the years, often to change its preference system.
1.1 Brief History of the Issue
The United States continues to enforce its immigration laws, which regulate both the flow of aliens into the country and their subsequent activities. As any reader of this memo knows, immigration and immigration reform has been a hot topic of debate in the United States for many years. Congressional interest in immigration legislation is unwavering and complex compared to the interest in other topics, such as defense or welfare reform. The fact that members of Congress have introduced immigration bills in every Congress (typically multiple bills on the same topics) since the 1980s serves as more symbolic of the issue’s salience and complexity. Although IRCA is technically still alive, it has been distorted by subsequent legislation, most notably the Welfare Reform Act and the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. This has contributed to the tension that exists when immigration reform is discussed. Additionally, because “impending regulatory changes” or “changes in health care eligibility standards” have provided automatic triggers for its repeal restrictions on alien eligibility. However, this did not come to pass because of the higher standard of judicial review of statutes that completely bar court review of deportation orders. Such review restrictions, while not defining what is meant by reviewing “deportation orders,” are interpreted to prevent judicial review of the statutory scheme as a whole as opposed to merely review of specific orders. This restriction on judicial review would have been mooted by the new judicial review process in IRCA.
1.1.1 Early Immigration Policies
1.1.2 Impact of Major Immigration Acts
2. The 2013 Attempt to Reform U.S. Immigration Policy
2.1 Overview of the Reform Effort
2.2 Key Points of the Proposed Legislation
2.2.1 Pathway to Citizenship
2.2.2 Border Security Measures
2.2.3 Employment Verification System
2.3 Opposition and Controversies
3. Problem Definition in 2013
3.1 Perspectives of the Gang of 8
3.1.1 Gang of 8’s Definition of the Problem
3.1.2 Proposed Solutions by the Gang of 8
3.2 Perspectives of Relevant Stakeholders
3.2.1 Business Community’s Definition of the Problem
3.2.2 Labor Unions’ Definition of the Problem
3.2.3 Immigrant Advocacy Groups’ Definition of the Problem
3.2.4 Conservative Groups’ Definition of the Problem
3.2.5 Democratic Party’s Definition of the Problem
3.2.6 Republican Party’s Definition of the Problem
3.2.7 Public Opinion on the Immigration Issue

question
Define “stress,” “stressor,” and give several examples of the three types of stress,. Explain what is meant by “Holistic Health” and summarize the various dimensions
of health Summarize the various sources of stress; then explain the three basic approaches to managing stress which will be utilized in this course 
1.2  Discuss the various stress vulnerability factors; then complete “The Tombstone Test” 
1.3  Explain the concept of homeostasis and the various physiological responses to stress Summarize the General Adaptation Syndrome and give an example of
It’s application List and dispel the 5 myths about stress  
Answer
1. Stress, Stressor, and Types of Stress
In psycho-physiology, stress is defined as a response to a demand that is placed upon you. It is a negative concept that can affect your body, your mind, and your behavior. It is caused by major life events such as illness, loss of a loved one, or life transitions; traumatic stress can be caused by any kind of abrupt and major disruption in your life such as a major accident, an assault, or a natural disaster; chronic stress is a type of stress that wears away at you day after day and year after year. It is different from acute stress, which has a quick onset and a short duration. Acute stress might be caused by preparing for a wedding, taking a final exam, or making a public speech. In the table below, think about some of the major changes that have occurred in your life. This list is called “change units” and was first published in 1967. The Social Readjustment Rating Scale, as it is called, assigns a number of change units to many life events. The higher the score, the more stressful the event is considered to be. This is a common way of determining life stress. For example, “death of a spouse” is considered the most stressful event and is assigned 100 life change units. On the other hand, “change in sleeping habits” is supposed to be the least stressful event but is still given 16 life change units. One approach to evaluating stress is to assess “life strain,” or the pressures and demands on an individual or group. The list includes pressures and demands from within and from others in the environment. And, the list of events includes positive and negative changes as well as chronic stressors. For example, children, marital disputes, registration, and money pressures are common “life strains”. The instrument is used by researchers and clinicians to help in the assessment of stress.
1.1 Definition of stress
Stress can be described as a reaction to a stressor. According to the United States National Institute of Mental Health (2019), stress is the body’s natural response to a difficult situation such as public speaking, a job interview, or an argument. Hans Selye, a renowned biological scientist, provides a more general definition of stress. He argues that stress is a condition of the body that makes the person feel challenged and unable to cope with the demands being made on them (Pettit, 2019). Selye’s definition allows for the possibility that a person might feel stressed even without a specific identifiable stressor. It is not just the immediate physical impacts of stress that cause problems for the body. Stress, in a wider sense, is viewed as the body’s response to a “physical, emotional, social, or intellectual challenge… that requires a response or change.” Stress, in Selye’s view, is the result of “natural drives and mechanisms that can help life to develop” (Pettit, 2019). Selye also argues that the effects of stress depend on what to whom, and when. Different people experience stress in different ways – what is useful to one person may, in fact, be harmful or damaging to another. In contrast, Bill Knaus and Albert Ellis argue that not all stress is bad. They point out that “optimal stress skews towards the center of the stress range” and whereas too little stress can lead to boredom and “depression anxiety and helplessness”, so can too much stress (Knaus and Ellis, 2007). The stress response can be divided into three key stages. Firstly comes the “alarm stage”, in which the body is responding to the initial exposure to a stressor. Secondly is the “resistance stage”, in which the body tries to “return to a state of normal functioning” and increase its capacity to respond to the stressor. Finally, there is the “exhaustion stage”. If the stressor remains present for a long period of time, the body’s resources can become depleted and the body experiences a kind of ‘breakdown’ as a result. This can have serious effects on both emotional and physical health (Ivancevich et al, 1987). Stress can become a problem when a person is unable to manage the demands being made and begins to feel like he or she is losing control over the situation. Stress differs from other states, such as fear or anxiety, in terms of format: stressors always have an identifiable cause whereas feelings of anxiety and fear can be much more complex and more difficult to pin down to a specific issue. The duration of the symptom is important as well – temporary exposure to a stressor can actually be beneficial to a person, improving motivation and one’s capacity to deal with the challenge. But where stress becomes prolonged or chronic, it can lead to a range of harmful effects on a person’s physical health and, in the longer term, mental health too. Alasdair A. Logie explains that “the chain of events set in place by acute and chronic stress can affect all systems of the body” and the body’s natural response to stress can be viewed as a trigger for many types of illness, from heart problems to inflammatory conditions. He points out that continuous production of increased levels of hormones such as cortisol may serve to hinder the body’s natural ability to stabilize and maintain homeostasis. As we shall see in following sections of the paper, stress has a pronounced impact on the human body and represents an area of particular interest in modern medical research and psychological investigation.
1.2 Definition of stressor
Stressors are events or conditions in your surroundings that may trigger stress. There are two types of stressors: external stressors, which are stressors that you’re exposed to in your life, and internal stressors, or stress that comes from within you. Work stress, interpersonal stress, and stress from being too busy are examples of external stressors. Exercise and poor nutrition are examples of internal stressors. A stressor may be a one-time or short-term occurrence, or it can be an occurrence that keeps happening over a long term. When something that is producing stress is removed, the stress resolves, and the body returns to its normal state. However, if a stressor continues to be present, the body continues to produce stress hormones and the body experiences a state of chronic stress. Chronic stress can lead to a variety of health problems. It has been shown to have an effect on a person’s immune system, which can make them more susceptible to infections. It can also have an effect on the cardiovascular and digestive systems. In fact, recent medical research has pinpointed chronic stress as a factor in the development of heart disease, a leading cause of death in the United States. Psychological research has found that those who have experienced chronic stress early in life, such as childhood neglect or abuse, show more fearful behaviors and have a reduced lifespan compared to physically abused children who did not experience what was defined as chronic stress. This shows how chronic stress can affect not only physical health but mental health and developmental stages of life as well. In order to manage stress more effectively, it is important to identify the causes of stress in our life. This is good knowledge to have because the conditions which cause stress in our lives are many, and each person reacts to stress in their own way. By identifying our causes of stress and understanding how stress affects us, we will be better prepared to deal with stress in a productive and healthy way.
1.3 Examples of physical stress
Many of us feel stress in some form on a daily basis. Physical stress is stress that is caused by a physical injury or trauma to the body. When the body is subjected to physical stress, it responds by going into a shock-like state. This means that the body starts to shut down certain systems in order to deal with the physical problem. An example of physical stress is when a person is in a car accident. The physical trauma of the impact causes the body to go into a state of shock and the adrenaline levels in the body will rise. This can result in pupils dilating, the heart beating faster, and the body preparing to fight potential threats, such as a fire, or to run away. Another example of physical stress is when you participate in a very physical sport, such as rugby. The body will come under physical duress in the form of impacts, knocks, bumps, and the overall strain placed on it by vigorous physical exercise. Regular hydration and fuel, such as food, are important. The body requires a careful balance of fluid and energy intake to keep the muscles and body well-nourished and functioning properly. Muscles require hydration in order to maintain their pliability and to prevent injuries, such as tears and strains. Furthermore, without an adequate supply of energy-giving nutrients, such as fats and glucose, the body’s systems, in particular the immune system, can start to weaken so that the body cannot defend itself against, for example, the effects of mental stresses. A final example of physical stress is during pregnancy. The body is placed under physical pressure as it attempts to adapt to accommodate a growing fetus. For example, the lower back is placed under additional strain as the weight of the baby pulls the mother’s body forward. This can cause a range of physical problems such as the restriction of blood vessels in the legs and the lumbar spine becoming exaggerated as the pelvis tilts anteriorly.
1.4 Examples of psychological stress
For instance, one recent study on generalized anxiety disorder discovered that the brains of those suffering from the disorder are unable to generate the appropriate emotional response to a given situation. The discovery, made by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Illinois at Chicago, was made by tracking brain activity in patients at one of the most well-known psychiatrists in the world and patients at UW Health, where one of the study’s authors works. Scientists found that the part of the brain which usually responds to an emotion-provoking event, the amygdala, was largely inactive in these patients. The amygdala is critical in generating and regulating the body’s “alarm response” or fight-or-flight response. The study used an experimental design. It is essential for experiments on anxiety and depression to be experimental, and a control group that was not suffering from generalized anxiety disorder or any other known disorders which could affect daily life was also monitored, in order to verify that the difference in brain activity was due to the presence of the disorder. As a result of the study, the lead author explained that it was concluded that the brain of a person with anxiety is ‘misinterpreting’ situations that are not dangerous and generating inappropriate responses. This is not just front-page news for the scientific community – discoveries such as this can have far-reaching effects, with treatment plans for mental disorders being reshaped by such significant neurobiological findings. However, the media portrayal of psychological disorders can often be less than complimentary; linking to the ‘Myth 3’ sections, a common assumption for people with these disorders is that they are experienced as a result of personal weakness or character flaws. Such widely held misinterpretations about everyday disorders can often bring about isolation and ridicule for those who have been diagnosed and a disregard for the seriousness of such conditions. His finding work can serve as an interesting demonstration of how unwarranted explanations can factor into someone’s mental health experience. “It is not a matter of ‘just being anxious’ and it is certainly not something that can be easily dismissed,” as lead author Jack Nitschke is quoted in the official report published by UIC today. So while the study offers a greater understanding of how an anxiety response actually originates in the body, an endeavor to promote that form of knowledge over the misconceptions like those in ‘Myth 3’ is still crucial for those struggling on a daily basis with mental illness and that the researcher’s insight may lead to advancements not only in the biological and neurological field, but also the attitudes and efficacy of psychiatry and associated therapies as well.
1.5 Examples of emotional stress
Whether it’s significant sadness, high levels of anger, an excessive fear or even just feeling constantly drained, emotional stress is a type of stress that’s very easily understood. We have all experienced the signs of emotional stress at some point in our lives. For example, when we are tired, close to our stress limitations, and dwelling on our problems, physical warning signs of emotional stress like a headache, upset stomach, back pain, and difficulty sleeping can appear. Mentally, we might feel anxious, irritable, or even depressed. This is because our body’s stress reaction helps feed off of and further perpetuate emotional stress, which can make us feel stuck in an unhealthy cycle. To help end that cycle, and better manage your emotional stress, it’s important to learn how to recognise the signs that you’re under stress and also what you can do to relieve that stress and avoid it in the long run. When you consider the following situations, you would be talking about emotional stress because you are dealing with the loss of something in the past. This could relate to the death of someone close to you, the end of a relationship or the loss of something that you feel you depended on or had high expectations for, like not getting a job you really wanted. Those can be referred to as agents of psychological and emotional stress – what caused the emotional stress as well as the pressure to the brain and the body. Residents who are confronted with increasing prices, political events and policies that make it hard for a large category of people, and even high school scholars who are under pressure to succeed all suffer from emotional stress subconsciously and appealing to. Such emotional stress can end in cases of chronic emotional stress and may lead to diverse health impacts. Just from these few instances of emotional stress, it is easy to see how people can be triggered by an emotional event and realise the way in which it manifests into various diseases. Every emotion has a particular different growth and mirroring effect in the cell structure of our body, as does emotional stress. It generates an environment for sickness and epidemic.
2. Holistic Health and Dimensions of Health
2.1 Explanation of holistic health
2.2 Summary of various dimensions of health
3. Sources of Stress
3.1 Overview of sources of stress
4. Approaches to Managing Stress
4.1 Introduction to managing stress
4.2 Explanation of the three basic approaches
5. Stress Vulnerability Factors and “The Tombstone Test”
5.1 Discussion of stress vulnerability factors
5.2 Completion of “The Tombstone Test”
6. Homeostasis and Physiological Responses to Stress
6.1 Explanation of homeostasis
6.2 Overview of physiological responses to stress
7. General Adaptation Syndrome and Application Example
7.1 Summary of General Adaptation Syndrome
7.2 Example of General Adaptation Syndrome application
8. Myths About Stress
8.1 List of 5 myths about stress
8.2 Dispelling the 5 myths about stress