Thursday, December 26, 2019

Benefits Of A Country Moving From A Economic Economy

â€Å"Discuss the extent to which a country moving from a centrally planned economy to a more market driven economy is in the interest of both consumers and producers†. A transitional economy is an economy which has previously had a centrally planned economic system of resource allocation and is now allowing market forces, such as demand, supply, price and free enterprise to operate in at least parts of the economy. A centrally planned economy, that is also called command economy, is an economic system in where the country’s government operates production facilities. Free market economy is an economic system where prices and wages are set by unrestricted competition between businesses, without government regulation or fear of monopolies. Countries like: Poland, Vietnam, Albania, Czech Republic, China and most of CIS countries that used to be a part of communism area can be taken as an example of countries that have moved from centrally planned economy to a more market driven economy. This essay is going to focus mainly on China, where both consumers and producers gain some benefits from a transitional economy. China’s transition from central planning has assumed a trajectory quite different from that of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The idea of this transition is that prices will regulate themselves. Supply and demand will reach the point of equilibrium where the most money will be made. However, what is good for businesses not always good for customers. The mainShow MoreRelatedEssay On Asia717 Words   |  3 Pagessustained economic growth, says the IMF’s Finance Development magazine: overcoming the middle-income trap, improving its institutions and governance, coping with an aging population, curbing rising inequality, and promoting financial development. Asia is the origin of all the initial acknowledged civilizations except that of Egypt; of most of the great language relations; and of all the great faiths. Twenty- seven countries are located in Asia which make up the economy. Asia stretches from formerRead MoreChin An Economic Power House1210 Words   |  5 PagesSeemingly transformed overnight; China has become an economic power house. In truth, however, China has been growing now for more than 30 years. Since it’s initiation of economic reforms and trade liberalization in 1979. China is one of, if not the fastest growing economy world-wide, averaging nearly 10% growth GDP (Growth Domestic Product). (Morrison, 2015) This financial revolution began with a series of reforms. One was designed to revitalize the state sector and save socialism, others beganRead MoreEconomic Growth Is A Macroeconomic Policy Objective For Countries1467 Words   |  6 PagesDEFINITION Economic growth is a macroeconomic policy objective for countries. The growth of economies have two meanings. 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Moreover the third parti es can further specialize to take advantage of the resulting economies of scaleRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Globalization Essays1584 Words   |  7 Pages1. Introduction The current integrated and interdependent world economy is the outcome of the process of Globalization. Various definitions of Globalization are available. As per Block (2004), in his research paper, has defined globalization as â€Å"Intensification of world-wide social relationships which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by distant events and, in turn, distant events are shaped by local happenings.† The IMF (2008) claims that globalization isRead MoreThe Benefits Of United Kingdom1408 Words   |  6 Pagesthe essay topic on Economic Integration and discuss the extent to which the benefits of United Kingdom (UK) being a member of the European Union (EU) outweigh the costs. In short, giving the advantages and disadvantages of UK being part of the EU. This essay will start with a brief definition of Economic Integration. Followed by, a general introduction about the economy of EU and the UK. Lastly, stating the advantages and disadvantages for UK, being a member of the EU. Economic Integration beingRead MoreNafta And The American Free Trade Agreement1253 Words   |  6 PagesDespite a multitude of benefits that NAFTA is said to have by our political elites, 20 years later, it is evident the agreement has been counterproductive; which is evident by the slow move by Canadian manufacturers to Mexico, significant losses in our agricultural sector and widening the income gap within our society. First of all, joining NAFTA has proven to be beneficial to the Canadian economy as many jobs have been created for Canadians nationwide. Overall as a country, the agreement has helpedRead MoreEconomic Growth And Economic Development1328 Words   |  6 PagesEconomic growth is an economic term to describe an increase in a country’s national earnings of wealth, or the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Swanenberg,2005). The measurement of economic growth is possible that the change in national income in comparison to the numbers held by the year before. In the world today, economic growth is one of the ways to determine how successful is the country’s economic activity (Swanenberg, 2005). This is explained by the fact that economic growth reflectsRead MoreA Report On The Swiss Confederation1035 Words   |  5 PagesIn 1291, the Swiss Confederation was founded. In 1499, the Swiss Confederation obtained independence from the Holy Roman Empire. Finally, in 1848, a co nstitution was created that replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Today, the Swiss Confederation is most commonly known as Switzerland, one of the world’s richest and most innovative countries (The World Factbook: SWITZERLAND). In efforts to determine whether our firm should pursue business engagements in Switzerland, IRead MoreImpact Of International Trade On The United States1294 Words   |  6 PagesIn this age of globalization, Economic integration and regional cooperation have become a reality. International trade has enabled countries to exchange goods, services and capital across the border, enabling better opportunities for both producers and consumers. However, in recent years, the benefits of International trade have been questioned by many economists and business experts. There are no doubts that International trade has been a blessing for many countries around the world, but the question

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

The Cradle I Am Naafash, Son Of Urmine And Lemefess

ORIGINS 1.0 I am Naafash, son of Urmine and Lemefess. Wanderers of the cradle, that have seen the Kingdom of Assur, will talk of its beauty, its glory and of its awe. I am witness to this great empire, and these are my chronicles. ORIGINS 1.1 I was raised on the outskirts of Assur, the youngest of three, I was always the trouble-maker in the family. By the time I was five, I was able to pick and grow corn. My family had been corn farmers, for as long as our ancestors account, and while we were not as respected as the families of military leaders, we played an important role in society. Our vast corn fields helped feed the increasing population of the city of Assur. We were a religious family, and like farming I was also taught of†¦show more content†¦ORIGINS 1.2 The summers in Assur were incredibly hot and dry, and I had spent the day working ambitiously with my father and brother irrigating the crop so it would not die. The sun had set for some time now, so we decided to call it a day and go inside for dinner. While we were working on the farm my mother and sister had been cooking in the kitchen in order to feed a household of five. My father had sat down at the head of the table and called for my sister to bring him his liquor, My father was a mean drunk, laughing at himself, demanding from my mother and my sister, insulting my brother and I, while we sat in silence. Most nights this would carry on until he had drank himself to sleep, but that night he order my mother to bring himself a fifth cup of liquor. When she told him the bottle was empty, he grabbed her viciously by the hair. â€Å"Well why don’t you go buy some more?† my father said, throwing her a coin. He then struck my mother across the face twice, and on the sec ond time she fell to the floor. My sister rushed to help her up, â€Å"sit down!† he commanded. My brother and I were furious, but what could we do? It was the law, he was allowed to hit my mother as he so pleased. So I offered to go into the city to get him his liquor, and my brother agreed to watch over my mother and sister in the meantime. ORIGINS 1.3 The first time I had walked into the city of Assur, I was accompanied by my father, at

Monday, December 9, 2019

Globalization and Its Impact on Economic-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss abouts the International Business Environment. Answer: The term globalization can be explained as a process of interaction and integration which takes place between the organizations and governments of the different countries for the purpose of international trade and investment. The concept of globalization has affected world economy at large as the concept of globalization has facilitated the movement of goods, services, resources and technology. Globalization has promoted trade by eliminating the segmentation of market due to national boundaries. It has benefited every economy of the world by promoting more efficient markets, reducing conflicts among the nations, better allocation of the wealth around the world and increase in the level of competition (Abdullah, 2011). It has established a link between the political, economic, social and technological aspects of the different nations. Expansion of the global markets has promoted economic activities related to the exchange of the goods, services and resources. It has played a vital rol e in removing the cross-border trade barriers and promoting trading in the global market. Globalization has resulted in the growth of the economy of developing nations along with the increase in income (Kuepper, 2017). Picture of the world economy has changed due to the implementation of the concept of globalization. The impact of globalization can be seen on the every aspect of the economy. World economy represents the different sectors which have got affected due to globalization. Companies have faced challenges as well as gained opportunities due to the globalization. It has encouraged trade at international level which has taken the world towards a borderless world. A wide reach is there for the organizations as they have a world market for operating their operations. Positive as well as negative aspects of globalization have been identified which have affected every economy (Rao, 2013). With the concept of globalization, there has been a rise in the number of MNCs. Developing economies are attracting the MNCs due to the opportunities available in the developing economies. Multinational companies are in the search of attractive markets which provided better resources at cheaper prices and reducing the cost involved in the operations of the company. Globalization has provided benefit to the companies as well as to the host country. MNCs have played a crucial role for the economy of the developed as well as developing country (Surugiua Surugiu, 2015). MNCs not only bring funds or financial resources in the host country but also bring technology, employment opportunities, developing communication, increase in the income level, high-level management and competitiveness. There are few disadvantages associated with the MNCs and these disadvantages include decrease in the investment after decrease in the potential, canalization of the profits and increase in unemployment when MNCs moves towards other countries with better opportunities (Samimi Jenatabadi, 2014). There are various reasons which are responsible for the emergence of the MNCs. These reasons include minimization of cost, search for the raw material, exploring foreign markets for better growth opportunities and in the search of knowledge (Mottaleba Kalirajanb, 2010). Borderless trading has promoted MNCs to expand the area of operation. MNCs consider different factors before drawing a decision for expansion of the business in a country. MNCs consider the availability of the resources, workforce and availability of resources at a cheaper cost (Haller, 2016). Foreign direct investment is an important source of finance for every economy. Many countries face challenges due to the lack of the investment which has affected the growth and development process of the economy. Foreign direct investment plays a crucial part for every economy as it increases the flow of investment in a country contributing to the growth of the economy (Bakan Yildirimci, 2015). There is a direct link between the foreign direct investment and economic growth. Developing economies are adopting foreign direct investment as a measure for increasing the investment in the country. FDI provide support to the country by developing the technology used, better market and development of the knowledge and skills of the human resource (Kardos, 2014). The role of FDI has increased in every economy as it promotes domestic saving and attainment of a better economic growth rate. In the recent years, FDI has gained much importance due to the various benefits it provides to the host country. FDI ensures better employment opportunities, restructuring of the industrial sector and technological advancements (World Economic Forum, 2013). MNCs have gained success by investing in the developing economies which have provided growth and expansion opportunities to them. The importance of FDI is increasing due to the increasing need of financial support for a country for the development of the economy. MNCs are the investment bodies which invest in the other countries with a motive to gain the advantage of the available opportunities in those countries (Mosia, 2012). For ensuring the execution of operations of MNCs within the legal framework, various rules and regulations have been formulated by the government of every country. Globalization has promoted FDI which has resulted in the growth of the economy. In the year 2015, there was a rise in the flow of FDI by 25 % at the global level (Kukaj Ahmeti, 2016). Economic integration can be explained as a position where different companies mutually agree on combining policies related to business, fiscal and monetary. Economic integration took place for the removal of the illegal and unethical practices which can affect the nation. Economic integration of the nations is an important part of globalization. The purpose of economic integration of nations is to ensure that no discriminatory practices are affecting the economy of a nation. Economic integration ensures that fair trade practices are promoted among the different economies of the world. Discriminatory practices have acted as a trade barrier which has affected trade process at large (Borbugulov, 2014). Separate economies of the different nations are combined together for the purpose of forming a large economic region. There are various benefits of economic integration of nations for the member countries which promotes sustainable development and economic growth (Naveh, et. al., 2012). These benefits include generation of better employment opportunities, trade creation, diversion of trade leading to welfare and political support among the nations. Economic integration of nations have few disadvantages associated with it which include trading blocs which restrict the non-member countries, diversion of trade which affects the non-member countries and affect the national sovereignty (Mwasha, 2015). The said statement is true as globalisation of business has become more regional than global. In the fast changing environment, businesses are becoming more regional rather than global as international businesses are entering into emerging markets and covering the different markets in a better manner. This regionalization has benefited different companies and enhanced the capabilities of the companies for gaining the advantage of the available resource in the regional areas. Globalization is an important aspect of the economies of the different nations as it has enhanced the process of trade practices among the different nations. Regionalization is an integral part of globalization. The concept of globalization is applied over a country so as to enhance the economic condition of the economy as a whole rather than on an individual region. Regionalization has promoted independence on the regions and eliminating interdependence among the different regions. It has acted as an initial ste p for the effective implementation of the concept of globalization. It must be promoted for the promotion of the globalized world (Mansfield Solingen, 2010). Different regions need to adopt regionalization for coping with the challenges faced due to the globalization. It has prepared the regions for adopting aspects of the global market. It has provided secure market and economic strengths to the different regions. Due to the increase in the area of global market states have faced conditions of disinvestment and reinvestment which create an impact on the economic condition of the nation. Thus, this results in loss of the control of different regions on the economy of the nation. These are the reasons behind the process of more regionalization rather than globalization. For example, North America Free Trade Agreement has been formulated with a motive to stabilization of the political and economic policies of the regions (Collins, 2010). The world economy is lacking the global unity as different regions faces challenges due to globalization. Different regions of the economy face competition due to the globalization. This rise in the level of competition has affected the growth and expansion of the regional areas. Regionalization has provided safety to the regional areas from the globalization and its adverse impacts on certain regional areas. Regional strategies have enabled nations to compete with other nations in a better manner and performing well at the global level (Heuillard, 2013). It has promoted the structural and economic reforms at the national level. It has prepared the companies to operate at the global level. Conflicts may arise between the regions due to the use of different concepts which must be dealt in an effective manner. For example, Allegro is operating in Poland which is a local or regional e-commerce site. eBay launched in Poland at the regional level for enhancing its customer base but it got shut down after few years. In this case, Allegro has overcome the challenge it has faced due to the global company (Mansfield Solingen, 2010). It has acted as an alternative platform on which development of norms and practices have taken place. A region is a geographic unit which exists in a social system. There has been a rise in the FDI in the regionalized areas. For example, Wal-Mart is an international organisation and for the purpose of enhancing the coverage of regional areas, its regional President is performing the communication and monitoring role. The motive behind performing this role is to ensure that this is not creating an impact on the resource allocation process and strategies used by the company (Collins, 2010). Globalization has formed a base for regionalization as globalization has promoted the movement of the resources and technology from one nation to another. Companies are focusing on the regional areas so as to take advantage of the opportunities available to it in the regional areas. It would have been impossible to utilize the resources available in a region without globalization. International organisations or MNCs are moving towards regionalization as they are capable of using the resources available in the regional area in a better manner. Regionalization has enhanced the cooperation and support from the political and economic aspects of the International companies (Heuillard, 2013). Companies are focusing on thinking regional rather than global. Different regions have different needs and demands which can be met by analysing the regional markets. Different resources are available in different regions of the nation which have motivated to invest in the regions. Regions are the division of the part or area in small segments. International companies are considering regionalization as an opportunity for the effective utilization of the resources available and covering the emerging markets of the different economies. Thus, MNCs must consider regionalization as an important element as it has the potential to enhance the performance of the companies (Heuillard, 2013). Regionalization has acted as an alternative for the cross-border economic integration and benefited to the MNCs at large level. MNCs are exploring different regions for the expansion of their business and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness. It has been considered as one of the best solutions adopted by the global business for operating well in the host country. It has supported the process of internationalization as it is considered a process which leads towards globalization (Olayiwola David, 2013). There are various factors or forces which have helped in the regionalization of the international or global business. These factors determining the choice of regionalization include cost factors, market factors, competitive factors, technological factors, cultural factors, geographical factors and various other factors (Maha, et. al., 2009). Thus, it can be stated from the above discussion that globalisation of business is more regional than global. Regionalization has promoted cross-border economic integration which has resulted in growth of the economy of both the countries. International companies are locating regional markets for utilising the resources available and expansion of the business. Regionalization is performed on the conscious level and globalization, on the other hand, is performed on an international level. It has led the development of the different regions of the nation. MNCs are engaging in regionalized international business activities for better utilization of the financial resources available to it and gaining a competitive advantage over the competitors. The process of regionalization and globalization are complimentary to each other. MNCs are focusing on becoming more regional than global as regionalization has provided numerous benefits to the MNCs. Regionalized international business has provided the focus of MNCs on generating better profits. Regionalization has helped in establishing healthy political relationships with the political parties and bilateral trade relationships (Rugman Oh, 2010). Regionalized international business practices of the MNCs create an impact on the different strategies of the MNCs including the production strategies, marketing strategies, research and development function, human resource strategies, distribution strategies and legal strategies. MNCs enter those markets where they can reduce the cost involved in the operations for increasing efficiency of the business. There are various other reasons which are responsible for the regionalized international business (Rugman and Oh, 2012). These reasons include reduced cost, availability of resources, emerging markets for the expansion and growth of the business, generation of better revenue, the mobility of capital, freedom of trade, taxation benefits, and enhancement in the technology used and enhancement in the communication process. The major reason of the investment of MNCs in the other countries is to reduce the cost and avail the resources required for carrying out the activities of the business. The cost of the products and services offered determines the profits of the company and the chances of growth and expansion of the business (Rugman and Oh, 2012). Regionalized international business has contributed towards better utilization of the resources available with the company. The production process of the business is important as it involves the transformation of the raw material and other resources in the goods and services. MNCs are getting engaged in the regionalized international business so as to utilize the resources in a better manner (Guarino, 2010). Entering a new country by the international business provides a potential market or an emerging market where the company can offer its products and services. Various opportunities are provided to the MNCs operating in the regional area. Emerging markets are being identified and MNCs are entering these emerging markets. Regionalized international business affects the production strategies as the resources are available at cheaper prices which eliminate the additional cost of the MNCs. The opening of new markets ensures the expansion of the MNCs in an effective manner. New markets not only ensure growth and expansion of the MNCs but also ensure implementation of the effective strategies for business development. Businesses are engaged in exploring new markets for expansion and growth of the business. Regionalization has opened the gate of different regional markets for the business (Guarino, 2010). Bilateral trade relationships can be understood as the economic relationships established between two countries. In this dynamic business environment, it is vital for countries to enter into bilateral trade relationships. It is not possible to restrict the economic activities as these economic activities ensure economic development of the nations. The concept of globalization has formed a base for the establishment of the bilateral trade relationships between the different nations (Guarino, 2010). Establishing bilateral trade relationships have helped in establishing trade relationships between the developed countries and developing countries. Bilateral trade relationships have resulted in the development of the economy along with a high growth rate. There are various advantages of bilateral trade relationships which include generation of high employment opportunities, economies of scale, cost benefit and development of the economy. Bilateral trade relationships have led towards the growth of the economy of the developed and developing nations. Enforcement is done of more than 200 bilateral and regional trade agreements. (Economy watch, 2010). International businesses are operating in the different regions of the host country. Globalization has not only enhanced the trade activities between different nations but also enhances the political relationship between the different nations. This increase in the global trade activities has helped in developing healthy political relationships between the different nations of the world (Economy watch, 2010). It is important for nations to develop a healthy relationship among the nations for promoting fair trade practices. MNCs are investing in the nations where opportunities are visible to them. For improving the cross-border trade practices and healthy political relationships among the nations, various agreements are prepared. These agreements promote fair trade among the nations and ensure that no discriminatory practices are taking place which affects the interest of a nation. Different countries are coordinating with each other for conducting business operations in a better way. Trade agreements are being entered by the government of different countries for encouraging fair trade among the different nations. Regionalization has enhanced the political relationship between different countries as international companies are complying with the rules and regulations of the regions (Hnt, 2008). Thus, from the above discussion, it can be concluded that concept of regionalization and globalization plays crucial role for an economy. Globalization has provided various opportunities to the companies so as to operate on an international level and to cover larger areas. It has enhanced the chances of growth and survival of the companies. Economies of different nations have taken advantage of the concept of globalization as this concept has resulted in growth and development of the different economies of the world. MNCs have utilized this concept for reducing the cost involved in the production process as well availing various resources. Another important concept for the current business environment is FDI. Foreign direct investment has increased as MNCs or international companies are investing in the developing countries for generating better results or outcomes. Regionalization has also increased as MNCs are segmenting different regions for utilizing the resources available in a better manner. Regionalization is an integral part of the concept of globalization which has helped in the development of different regions of the economy. Cross-border trade activities have contributed towards the development of the different economies. Government and various bodies are working for the purpose of ensuring the fair operations of the companies. References Abdullah, I., 2011, Globalization and its Impacts on the World Economic Development, International Journal of Business and Social Science, Vol. 2 No. 23. Bakan, S. Yildirimci, E., 2015, A Growth Story: Globalisation, Multinational Companies and India, Journal of Economics and Development Studies, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 143-153. Borbugulov, M., 2014, Problems of the economic integration of the countries of the Central Asia in the context of globalization, IEP. Collins, B., 2010, Does Regionalism Challenge Globalization or Build Upon It?, E-International Relations. Economy watch, 2010, Bilateral Economic Relations, Economy watch. Guarino, P., 2010, Emerging Markets: Growth, Opportunities and Challenges, Elementi Consulting. Haller, A. P., 2016, Globalisation, Multinational Companies and Emerging Markets, ECOFORUM, Volume 5, Issue 1 (8). Heuillard, C., 2013, Enhancing Trade Relations between Commonwealth Members: the Case of Canadian and Indian bilateral trade, Publisher Association franaise des etudes Canadiennes. Hnt, P., 2008, Globalization, Multilateralism, Regionalism: from dilemma to multi-dimensionality, Acta Oeconomica Pragensia, ro. Kardos, M., 2014, The Relevance of Foreign Direct Investment for Sustainable Development. Empirical Evidence from European Union, Procedia Economics and Finance, Volume 15, pp. 1349-1354 Kuepper, J., 2017, Globalization and Its Impact on Economic Growth, The Balance. Kukaj, H. Ahmeti, F. B., 2016, The Importance of Foreign Direct Investments on Economic Development in Transitional Countries: A Case Study of Kosovo, European Scientific Journal March, vol.12, No.7. Maha, L. G. M., Frunza, R. Mursa, G., 2009, Globalization Regionalization in International Trade, SSRN. Mansfield, E. D. and Solingen, E., 2010, Regionalism, Annual Review of Political Science. Mosia, J., 2012, When is Foreign Direct Investment Beneficial to a Country and When Is It Not? The Case of South Africa, SAIIA. Mottaleba, K. A. Kalirajanb, K., 2010, Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in Developing Countries: A Comparative Analysis, ASARC Working Paper 2010. Mwasha, O. N., 2015, The Benefits of Regional Economic Integration for Developing Countries in Africa: A Case of East African Community (EAC), GSIS. Naveh, M. H., Torosyan, T. Jalaee, S. A., 2012, Regional Economic Integration and its Effects on Economic Growth and Economic Welfare, World Applied Sciences Journal, 17 (10): 1349-1355. Olayiwola, W. K. David, O. A. O., 2013, Economic Integration, Trade Facilitation and Agricultural Exports Performance in Ecowas Member States, AFDB. Rao, A., 2013, 4 positive impacts of globalization on world economy, The Collegian. Rugman, A. M. Oh, C. H., 2010, Does the regional nature of multinationals affect the multinationality and performance relationship?, International Business Review 19, pp. 479488. Rugman, A. M. and Oh, C. H., 2012, Why the Home Region Matters: Location and Regional Multinationals, BJM. Rugman, A. M. and Oh, C. H., 2012, Regional integration and the international strategies of large European firms, International Business Review 21, pp. 493507. Samimi, P. Jenatabadi, H. S., 2014, Globalization and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence on the Role of Complementarities, PLoS ONE, 9(4) Surugiua, M. R. Surugiu, C., 2015, International Trade, Globalization and Economic Interdependence between European Countries: Implications for Businesses and Marketing Framework, Procedia Economics and Finance, Volume 32, pp. 131-138. World Economic Forum, 2013, Foreign Direct Investment as a Key Driver for Trade, Growth and Prosperity the Case for a Multilateral Agreement on Investment, World Economic Forum.

Monday, December 2, 2019

What’s the Scoop Behind Best-Sellers - The Writers For Hire

WHAT’S THE SCOOP BEHIND BEST-SELLERS? In 1895, the literary journal The Bookman launched the first â€Å"bestseller list† in the United States. The small monthly magazine stopped running its lists in 1918 and then went under in 1933. By which point The New York Times had already begun to fuel the flames of our fascination with bestsellers. Today, few have likely heard of The Bookman – but we’d be hard-pressed to find someone unfamiliar with the weekly New York Times Book Review. Since its 1931 introduction, the NYT Best Seller list has changed over the years. Today, we’re really looking at several different lists based on categories and genres, and included titles are even separated by â€Å"type† of format like hardcover, paperback, or electronic. While there are certainly other such lists, NYT’s compilation (let’s just call it The List from now on) has become something of an icon, the â€Å"gold standard† in the overcrowded literary marketplace. Congrats†¦ with a Caveat Appearing on The List has become a badge of honor for authors around the world. And why wouldn’t it be? This powerhouse proves the popularity of a literary work. Right? Unfortunately, that’s debatable. The List is all based on a complicated algorithm that the newspaper even admits is something of a trade secret – and has caused ongoing controversy over the years. Actual book sales are only one part of this equation. In fact, a 1983 legal argument unveiled the subjective nature of â€Å"bestsellers† when representatives of the newspaper explained that The List is â€Å"not mathematically objective.† Which basically means that The List is simply a popularity contest. A very powerful popularity contest. It’s even influenced the book sales and how books are sold. In the 1960s and 1970s, the chain bookstores B. Dalton, Crown Books, and Waldenbooks took hold of the market by focusing on titles named to The List. They relied on the promotion that The List provided – but this marketing strategy also gave further credence to The List by encourage sales of whatever The List claimed was hot. In the early 2000s, a study by Stanford professor Alan Sorensen revealed that book buyers are definitely swayed by The List and that new or unknown authors absolutely benefit from being named to The List. How Do I Get There? Do you still have your heart set on earning a coveted spot? The requisites that might help your work catch NYT’s eye are, unfortunately, a bit daunting to say the least†¦ and highly unrealistic for most writers. 1. Work with a traditional publisher. Because The List still doesn’t readily recognize self-published titles, your only way in is through a publishing house. Finding a publisher, in itself, can be a challenge. 2. Score 10,000 presales. Unknown authors must sell at least this amount through recognized book stores (your family can’t just buy 10,000 copies from your publisher). This means you need to do a ton of leg work and self-promotion to create your audience before your book release. 3. Avoid the competition. Determine your book release date that doesn’t coincide with the mass release of the sequel in a widely successful title. Your publisher should know when there’s a â€Å"down time† in publishing to make sure you have less competition and greater visibility in the marketplace. 4. Buy your spot. If you’re an author who has the financial means, you can enter into an agreement with a firm whose services will guarantee that you’re a bestseller. Such firms charge thousands of dollars to basically purchase many, many copies of your book ahead of your publication date to create the spike in presales that earns you a bestseller berth. The List claims to apply a methodology that specifically weeds out such â€Å"artificial† sales surges, but these tricky firms circumvent the methodology by creating streams of organic-looking individual purchases. 5. Consider different lists. The Wall Street Journal, for example, publishes combined lists that track point-of-sale book data by title from more than 16,000 locations across the country to represent some 85% of book sales – and includes all print and e-book formats from traditional and nontraditional publishers. This is a much more realistic indication of a book’s popularity. Getting pegged for this list usually takes 3,000-5,000 sales – again, an easier mark to hit than the NYT â€Å"requirement† – and it might even act as a catalyst for your book sales, catapulting you into a coveted NYT spot. Stick to Your Story So take heart: If you haven’t been named a bestseller, that doesn’t mean you’re not an author or that your book will never reach strong sales. In fact, as agent-turned-author J. E. Fishman explains, â€Å"A book that never hits a bestseller list can outsell a book that does. How is that possible? Because the bestseller list doesn’t measure aggregate sales; it measures sales velocity. So a book that sells 10,000 copies in one week might make the New York Times list while a book that sells 10,000 copies per month for three years never does.† Keep in mind that The List specifically figures weekly sales numbers into its convoluted equation, not total sales. A title with a surge in sales for one given week could earn a spot, while another consistent seller (that winds up selling more copies over time) never makes the list because sales are at a slower pace. But, again, bear in mind that actual sales are just one piece of hard data that accompany the subjective whims of the NYT compilers. Consider the advice from four-time bestseller Tucker Max. Don’t â€Å"chase bestseller lists, but instead focus on the business and personal goals for [your] book,† he says. â€Å"What matters is not selling copies or hitting a list, it’s the impact your book has with your intended audience.†