Economy Archives — Page 2 of 4

Foreign aid does not solve long-term problems. Discuss.

The Republic of Congo, Haiti, Mozambique and Tanzania are some of the poorest countries in terms of GDP. These countries have received foreign aid from various countries however, contrary to popular belief, foreign aid has not helped them grow economically. The condition of these countries might have improved for a short while, but in the long-run foreign aid has only deteriorated their condition. Thus, it can be said that foreign aid does not solve problems in the long term and only acts as a crutch.

Foreign aid has been counter-productive for many countries because it leads to corruption. It is a well-known fact that the majority of foreign aid helps the governments of poor countries line their pockets. The money never reaches those that need it the most. Most of the foreign aid is used by the country’s rulers and elites and leave nothing for the people who actually need this aid. For example, the United Nations has spent more than $14 billion in Syria over the last 5 years in providing humanitarian aid to innocent Syrians. However, recent investigations have suggested that the funds were used by ISIS leaders and militia groups to provide resources to their supporters. Similarly, Malawi received a considerable amount of foreign aid, however, corruption within the system led the elite politicians and businessmen to use more than $30 million for their own benefit. Thus, many critics believe that providing foreign aid does not help countries. Instead, the countries are left crippled and the elite enjoy all the benefits. Thus, foreign aid acts as a crutch and can end up being wasteful.

Supporters of the view suggest that foreign aid should not just be given in monetary terms but be given in terms of technical support. Donor countries should make sure that they do not make the country financially dependent. Instead, the donor countries should support countries to become self-sufficient. For example, Taiwan received financial aid and support from many countries from 1960s-1980s and successfully weaned itself off foreign aid. Taiwan is one of the most successful economies today. A well-known study in India documented how the spread of mobile phones in the Indian state of Kerala enabled fishermen to arbitrage price differences across local markets, increasing their profits by 8 per cent on average as a result. Kenya’s ubiquitous mobile banking service M-Pesa appears to have enabled poor women to move out of subsistence agriculture into non-farm businesses, providing a significant bump up the income ladder at the very bottom. Thus technological aid has a better effect compared to monetary aid in solving long term problems.

Nations with political instability do not reap benefits from foreign aid in the long-term. A prime example is Venezuela. Despite the population needing foreign aid for their welfare, the delivery of humanitarian aid has become a political battle between the president, Nicolás Maduro, and Venezuela’s opposition Juan Guaidó. The country received foreign aid in terms of food and medicine from Russia and the Red Cross organisation respectively. However, no amount of foreign aid has helped to bring stability in the country. Thus, foreign aid acts as a crutch as it can provide people relief for a short time but cannot solve long term problems.

In conclusion, foreign aid cannot be always helpful in solving a country’s long-term problem if aid is primarily in monetary terms. Most of the times countries face issues that cannot be solved through financial aid. In most cases, foreign aid does not solve the problems but increases inequality and entrenches dependence. Foreign aid can only solve some short-term problems and not long-term problems.

‘Longer life expectancy creates more problems than benefits.’ Discuss.

Longer life is only good when the elderly have the financial resources to look after themselves. Longer life does indeed create more problems than benefits.

Right up to the late nineteenth century, life expectancy was short, people were considered fortunate enough to live till their fifties. However, advancements in the field of medicine has changed this completely. People have started living longer thanks to vaccines and medical treatments. Though science should be celebrated for coming up with better cures for untreatable diseases, there is no denying that science has also led to problems by stretching the life expectancy of the people. Thus, it can be said that problems of longer life expectancy outweigh the benefits because it has led to deterioration in quality of life, plus has brought various social and economic problems.

Longer life expectancy has allowed people to have multiple career paths. They are not bound to follow a single career path. It can be thus said that longevity has allowed people to contribute much more to society with their skills and talents. Unlike the past, people do not have to regret for not being able to accomplish their plans because of a shorter life span. Longer life expectancy also allows for greater sharing of traditions and allows grandchildren to have more experience and exchange with their grandparents. Thus, it can be said that longer life expectancy has created many opportunities for people to fulfil their life goals.

However, longer life expectancy has also led to multiple problems like deterioration of quality of life. Though people today have access to medicines for various diseases, it has not helped in improving their quality of life. In fact, most patients suffering from terminal illnesses like heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s derive little health improvements. People suffering from these illnesses gradually get worse and this makes people wonder if a long life is even useful. There are medical processes available today that prolong life but do not guarantee recovery for example, processes like dialysis, which are used for kidney failure are very painful and do not improve quality of life.

Similarly, in case of cancer, people are usually recommended to undergo chemotherapy, while it may seem to extend the life of the patient, it may put the patient in a lot of duress. While the drugs used in chemotherapy are powerful enough to destroy cancer cells, they also destroy the healthy cells within a patients’ body. For some patients the process chemotherapy is worse than the disease itself. Thus, it is evident that though medicines extend life, it creates more problems than benefits because people’s quality of life deteriorates.

Some might argue that longer life expectancy means that the older generation can guide and instruct the younger generation. The wisdom and skills of the older generation can help the younger generation overcome problems they face in their work or personal life. For example, senior employees can help younger employees to understand the challenges of work. However, it is not necessarily true that longer lives make older folk wiser. With our ever changing society it can also be said that wisdom of the past is not relevant today. Although there are seniors that are adapting to social and technological changes, but they are few in numbers. Thus, longer life does not mean that people live a wiser life and more than benefit it becomes a liability.

Another important point is that people who have a longer life expectancy can become a burden on their children. This can lead to poor living conditions. Though children love their parents, it is common to come across cases of parental abuse and children keeping their parents in poor condition because they can no longer care for them. Japan is a prime example of this point. Japan has the highest percentage of aging population, which is expected to rise to forty percent in 2050. With changing family dynamics, more parents are being left alone by their children, which leads them to die alone.

The future of the elderly seems even bleaker when we hear cases where parents are left alone on streets to fend for themselves or abused by their own children. For example, a survey conducted in India by Age well foundation, showed that 7o per cent of the elderly were harassed and mistreated by their own family members and relatives. Longer life expectancy of parents might put financial and emotional burden on the children leading them to take unexpected steps. Therefore, it can be said that longer life expectancy brings more problems than benefits.

In conclusion, longer life expectancy is more problematic than beneficial because it leads to crippling effects on the elderly, it also deteriorates the quality of life of people and puts an immense burden on the younger generation financially and emotionally. Long life is only good when it enables people to lead quality productive lives. Longer life is only good when the elderly have the financial resources to look after themselves. Longer life does indeed create more problems than benefits.

How well are the demands of the economy and the environment balanced in Singapore?

Singapore has gained a reputation for itself on an international platform as a country that is strong both diplomatically and economically. Some quarters believe that the economic benefits have come about by compromising on the environment. Under the great leadership of the incumbent government, Singapore has over the last five decades ensured a balance between the environment and economy.

To boost the country’s economy, Singapore has invested significantly in infrastructure required for global markets. Singapore does not produce crude oil, however, it is known as a major hub for oil refining and trading. Oil refining and processing has a direct and immediate effect on the environment. Southern islands have been cleared of native populations and combined to create large petrochemical refineries and storage facilities. High levels of carbon emissions are a natural consequence of this activity which ultimately leads to climate change.

While the above has impacted the economy, the petrochemical industry has created thousands of jobs not just in the field itself, but also in complimentry industries like construction. The government has balanced the pollution generated in building the economy by investing in greenery. Thousands of trees and bushes have been planted around the small island. Even today one can see exotic trees and flowering bushes across the country and justifies its name as the Garden City. With no natural resources, the economic plan of the government has allowed for economic groth despite costs to the environment. The government has tried to mend this issue by regular tree planting to off-set carbon emissions.

In recent times the government has taken conscious efforts to build policies that protect the environment. Singapore has created a well-connected public transport system ensures that people commute using these transportation systems travel in comfort and reduce carbon emissions. The government has created cycling paths for the convenience of cyclists. In building new homes, Singapore government insists on having plant life in the form of green roofs, vertical gardens or even walls made it lush green grass and plants. Thus, while the country has made significant economic progress, it has not forgotten the importance of environment and is trying to strike a balance. The economy and the environment is well balanced in Singapore.

Singapore is extremely resourceful in finding balance between environment and economic growth. Growing concerns about climate change and global warming has prompted Singapore to continuously drive in the right direction of protecting the environment. A notable example of this can be an important tourist attraction, Gardens by the Bay, which has an innovative design and is considered a masterpiece in eco-friendliness. Recently, there also have been developments that the gardens will adopt a technology which can convert garbage into energy which can enhance plant growth. Similarly, many public parks in the country contribute significantly to the environmental health and also boost the economy. Unlike cities like Shanghai, Saigon and Santiago, Singapore is not plagued by the issue of air pollution. Singapore has good quality air and a high-quality life which make it clear that Singapore does have great balance between environment and economy.

Not only locally, Singapore has addressed the issues concerning environment on an international level as well. For example, during the forest fires in Indonesia, the National Environment Agency, helped to detect fire in 450 hotspots in three provinces in Indonesia. Singapore also offered fire-fighting assistance to Indonesia. This shows that Singapore as a country is not only addressing environmental issues on a national level but also on a global level. Apart from that, Singapore is also a signatory to the Paris document which asks for carbon and green house gas emission cuts. This again illustrates that Singapore, takes environment seriously and tries to strike a balance between economic needs and environmental needs.

There is no doubt that Singapore takes environmental concerns seriously. The country makes conscious efforts to mitigate the damage caused by economic endeavours. Though Singapore is not perfect in many aspects regarding environment, the country takes significant steps to become eco-friendly. This is evident from the fact that its carbon emissions are lesser than of the other developed nations.

In an age of rapid technological advancement, is a single career for life realistic?

In many countries, people are facing the issue of unemployment. Governments of various countries have blamed immigrants or other factors for this issue. However, technological advancements like Artificial Intelligence and Robots are responsible for replacing humans. Many traditional jobs like packing, sorting and administrative work today is being replaced by technology. Rapid technological advancements make it necessary that humans upgrade and learn new skills throughout their lives. A single career, however, is realistic even in today’s society if the professionals learn to adapt and learn new skills with the advancement in technology.

It is believed that technological innovations will replace humans in most professions either fully or partially. Many studies and researchers conducted say that AI will replace most jobs by 2040. This can already be seen in blue-collar jobs like machine operation and food delivery. However, it is also estimated that more than 500 million jobs will be replaced by AI. While it seems that humans will be replaced completely in the job sector, which is not the case. This is because, while AI and robots will replace traditional job functions, it will also create new jobs. The creation of new jobs makes it important that individuals today learn new skills and perform different job tasks. For example, people might need to build upon their computer knowledge and technical skills. With AI and robotics coming to the forefront people might need to learn skills like problem-solving, creativity and communication. Therefore, if a person wants to remain in a single career for life it is necessary to work within these fields otherwise their jobs might be destroyed by technology.

Though AI might automate most of the jobs, there are jobs that will remain in demand and cannot be replaced by AI and robotics. Though AI and robotics might work well in many fields there are fields where AI still needs humans to succeed. An example of this can be Google Translate, which translates simple phrases extremely well but if creative phrases or idioms are fed into google translate it results in inaccurate results. Another example can be of customer service, while virtual assistants are trained to greet and understand questions, the dataset is extremely limited which results in repetitive responses and options. If the customer has a complex question it is almost never understood by the chatbot and may lead to frustrating and negative customer experience. Thus, it can be seen that AI cannot replace human skills like empathy or deal with conflict resolution and negotiations. Hence, single career options are possible especially in job sectors like psychology, education, health care and communication where the focus is on complex cognitive skills.

Though it is to be understood that professionals even in these job sectors might have to upgrade their skills and adapt to new changes. For instance, teachers may need to learn new apps to grade papers, teachers who think out of the box, are creative and with the help of AI can better plan, personalise and facilitate the learning process. People with knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will be an important part of the workforce in the AI-driven industry. Therefore, people choosing to stay within a single career and progress in their profession are in luck, if they choose to learn the above-mentioned skills.

There is also a growing trend of outsourcing jobs which makes it difficult to keep a single career. The outsourcing has also given rise to new kind of jobs where people are combining two or more skills. People who constantly change and upgrade skills will remain in the job market and maintain their jobs. For example, management consultants can continue in a single job and provide people with insights into organising their companies. In a society where change is the norm, a single career is possible for those who continuously change.

Thus, it may seem that technological advances may not allow people to have a single career. A single career choice is possible even in a technologically changing society. This is especially true for professionals working in the field of education, technology, education and communication. Technology still needs to compete with the complexity of the human mind and its varied responses. It can be said that technology has a long way to go in replacing humans completely in certain fields because of their multi-faceted skills.

Consider the view that formal education has done little to prepare students for today’s challenges.

Traditional forms of formal education do little in preparing students for today’s challenges.

Education has been considered as an important step towards success. However, with advancements in technology, the job market today has changed dramatically. Moreover, new job roles and designations are created every year. Considering the changing work scenario, it is important that there is a paradigm shift in which education is provided. In present-day society, formal education is still the same as many years ago where students’ intelligence is tested by the same standardised tests. The significance of formal education has declined in recent times. However, formal education has been instrumental in preparing students for today’s challenges as education systems are getting diversified.

Opponents of formal education often argue that it is theoretical in nature and fails to prepare students for contributing to the global economy. Most schools and colleges today teach students subjects and topics that are quite outdated and theoretical in nature. The lack of proper practical training in subjects leads students to lack real-life skills. This is especially true in the case of India where many aspiring engineers are left unemployed because of the course-work that is outdated and not job-centric. In fact, the lack of employability skills leaves many students to take up jobs in fields not related to engineering. Similarly, in Singapore, young graduates face higher unemployment levels compared to older peers. Education, therefore, has not equipped students with practical knowledge and the qualities they achieve through education are not indicative of students’ ability to reason and creative thinking. Thus, formal education has failed to prepare people to face the challenges of the global economy.

However, education has diversified its ways to impart knowledge to students. Formal education is adapting to keep up with the changes of today. Northern European countries like Norway, Finland and Denmark lead the way in providing formal education along with vocational training which ensures that the students remain employable. Similarly, in countries like Germany and Singapore, there are a myriad of vocational courses that people can undertake. Moreover, in Singapore people can enrol themselves in polytechnics instead of universities to get a more hands-on experience within a dynamic environment. In developing countries like India, vocational education and training are steadily gaining momentum. Indians today are not only getting educated in conventional fields like medicine and engineering. Today, they are also gaining education to become trained electricians, plumbers and fashion designers. When students are trained vocationally, they can be beneficial to the economy as they can earn higher wages and contribute to economic growth. This is the reason why many countries have recognised the importance of skill-based learning and are investing in vocational training. Therefore, formal education helps students become ready for today’s economic challenges, as education systems are diversifying and adapting to global changes.

Formal education is also instrumental in minimising the divide between different races and religions. Many countries today are facing challenges in forms of racial and religious divides. Formal education systems are important in diminishing these divides as most educational systems emphasise on the holistic development of students. This is evident through the various activities and programmes that are available to students at school and university level. An example of this can be seen in the US where students are enrolled in the Child Development Project (CDP) in multiple states. The programme helps to foster children’s ethical, social and intellectual development. Furthermore, in-school educational systems enrolling in extra-curricular activities like dance, drama, music, art and debate helps children to collaborate with a diverse range of peers. This helps in building skills like teamwork and resilience which are very much necessary in today’s volatile job market. Extracurricular activities also help in promoting lasting friendships among students from diverse backgrounds and fosters social integration which helps the children to become a responsible citizen in the future. Thus, formal education plays an important role in the overall development of the children in the form of extracurricular activities and prepares people to face the challenges of today.

In conclusion, traditional forms of formal education do little in preparing students for today’s challenges. However, education systems across the world are adapting to the changes in present times. Formal education today is emphasising on development of children not only to prepare them for the job world but also to face social challenges. Therefore, formal education cannot be easily dismissed as irrelevant to students today.

‘Diversity brought about by globalisation should be celebrated, not feared.’ Discuss.

Increasing globalisation has made the world more diverse and more connected. People today learn about different languages, cultures and traditions transcending geographical boundaries. While diversity has led to positive effects on the world by fostering strong relationships among countries. There are those who believe that globalisation has led to the neglect of local populations. Despite this, it cannot be denied that the diversity globalisation brings along should be celebrated and not feared because it brings economic and social benefits.

Communication technologies around the world have connected people transcending geographical boundaries. The increased communications have helped people gaining a sense of various cultures and traditions. Moreover, increased connectivity among people has also led to greater cooperation among international communities. People today can connect to various political leaders and communicate with them in a smooth manner. This is evident from the fact that English is being spoken across the world today and is being learnt even in non-English speaking countries like China and India. Easier communication through the medium of English has helped in developing business as well as political relationships. The acceptance of linguistic diversity has allowed various languages to spread across the world, and even for movies and music to accepted by people in other countries. Therefore, diversity should not be feared as it allows people to share better relationships with people from across the world and enriches them as individuals.

Diversity has also had positive effects on the wellness and healthcare industry. Globalisation has led to diversity in the way diseases are treated and how people take care of themselves. From Ayurveda, Acupuncture and Chinese medicine alternative treatments are increasing across the world due to globalisation. Doctors today are discovering new forms of diseases which were previously limited to specific countries. Examples of this can be diseases like Ebola, Monkey Fever and the latest Coronavirus, where doctors learn about these viruses and try to come up with treatments that can benefit people globally. Furthermore, people today are more likely to follow diets and consume organic food products that are eaten globally. For example the current popularity of exotic superfoods, from chia seeds, acai berry to quinoa. Globalisation has also led to greater awareness of health issues like obesity which in turn has helped people to alter their diets and live a healthy lifestyle. Thus, globalisation and the resulting diversity should not be feared as it has led to unprecedented advancement in healthcare systems and healthy practices that have improved the lifestyle of people.

Despite its benefit to the global economy, greater diversity can undermine the wellbeing of individuals within countries. Due to excessive globalisation, the local population suffer as countries continue to hire foreign talent. This can be seen in countries like Singapore where foreign talent is preferred more than local talent this is especially true in the food, construction and retail industries. This trend might cause panic among the local populations as they need to be more competitive to get these jobs. Another peril of globalisation is that with diverse alternative medicines it has also brought a diverse range of ailments and infections. For example, globalisation increased the risk of a pandemic outbreak like SARS and ongoing Coronavirus which has infected several hundred-thousand people. The other dark side of globalisation is how western fast foods have caused severe health issues in the developing world. Thus, the benefits associated with a more diverse workforce or alternative medicines should not be taken at face value because with greater diversity comes greater problems like social instability and the threat of fatal diseases.

In conclusion, diversity brought about by globalisation has both positive and negative effects on the world as a whole. However, it is undeniable that with diversity, more people have jobs, friends, opinions, fashion and food. Greater connectivity through trade has increased living standards and given us more choices.

Women will never enjoy the same rights as men. Do you agree?

The issue of women’s rights is a contentious one. While there are people who believe that women will attain equal rights. There are others who believe that women enjoying the same rights as men is not possible. Agreeing with the latter view, it can be said, that women really cannot enjoy the same rights as men because of stereotypes, inequality at various levels and the role of religion.

It is believed that men and women enjoy equal rights at least in progressive societies. In these societies, it is generally perceived that everyone should be treated with fairness. In fact, inequality is considered as an injustice. Today, gender roles are increasingly being switched where men are taking up the house responsibilities and women are the breadwinners. This is especially the case in developed countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, France and Germany. Despite these achievements, feminists believe that women are far away from enjoying the same rights as men. They believe that the reason for this is society’s deeply rooted biases.

Men are still considered valuable for the progress of society. This is evident from the fact that equal pay is a distant dream in most countries. The problem of the gender pay gap is not only faced by countries like the United Kingdom and the United States, but extends to other countries like Korea, Estonia, Japan, Latvia, and Chile. According to OECD data, women face a 10-15 per cent wage reduction during motherhood. On the other hand, men are likely to be paid more after becoming a father. This is because employers view children as an added responsibility for the father and not the mother. Furthermore, women who are mothers are less likely to be hired for jobs and less valuable to society. Though there have been many campaigns, protests and laws to remedy the inequality, the gender pay gap exists in the majority of the countries. Women will never enjoy the same rights as men.

However, gender equality remains an attainable goal to a certain extent. Several decades ago, it was unimaginable for women to work in male-dominated professions like finance, engineering and aviation. Women today are increasingly working in these fields. Similarly, decades ago women were not given equal rights by many countries. However, today at least six countries are considered as gender-equal. A recent report by the World Bank showed that six countries today have laws that protect men and women equally: Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Luxembourg and Sweden. This gives hope that many other countries can follow their lead and implement laws that help in creating a close to equal society. Therefore, it can be said that men and women may never enjoy the same rights but women can reach closer to equality.

The role of religion plays an important role in why women and men cannot enjoy the same rights. Many religious texts like the Bible, Quran and Torah have sexist writings which are used to subjugate women. In countries that follow these religious texts as law, the rights for women are bound to suffer. For example, women in Middle-Eastern countries face acute gender inequalities. Religious leaders and theologians in these countries are all male and provide a conservative interpretation of religious texts. These interpretations most of the times cause women utmost distress and puts women in submissive roles in the family, the society, and the state. The denial of equal rights is also evident from the fact that the representation of women in politics lags behind in middle eastern countries. Moreover, organised religions propagate the idea of male superiority and depict women as physically, mentally and emotionally inferior to men. The idea of religion is deeply ingrained in both men and women to the extent that women justify the discrimination they face. Therefore, as religion cannot be separated from mankind and it will continue to paint women as second-class citizens, there is little hope that men and women will ever enjoy the same rights.

In conclusion, though conditions of women have improved significantly in today’s world, there is still a long way to go as men are still favoured over women socially, economically and religiously. This makes it difficult for men and women to enjoy the same rights even in the future as there is a need to fight inequality at multiple levels. It is not likely that women will enjoy the same rights as men in the foreseeable future.

To what extent should scientific research be free from political and commercial involvement?

Possible arguments for and against scientific research being free from political and commercial involvement

Freedom to make informed academic choices
Free from conflict of interest
Make research papers accessible to all – complete transparency
Freedom to choose research projects
Funding has to come from somewhere
Research councils (government bodies) regulate and ensure projects are in the country’s interest
Research often takes place in universities (as an academic environment)
What about charitable organisations which fund research?
Most private sponsors have their own research facilities (pharmaceutical)
What about testing on animals, weapons research, regulating clinical trials of new drugs?
Accountability to the government.

‘Although tourism may have damaging effects, it should still be encouraged.’ How far do you agree with this statement?

Tourism is vital for economic growth throughout the world (eg Cuba, China)
It can promote social and cultural understanding (eg, Ireland, India)
It is much-needed income for parts of the world under various forms of environmental threat (eg, Maldives, Mauritius)
The tourist industry could provide a cleaner alternative than highly polluting industries (eg, leather, firecrackers)
Travel philanthropy could bring about greater volunteerism (eg Cambodia, Laos)
Eco-tourism could be a potential (eg Peru, Ecuador)
People can make responsible travel choices
The purchase of voluntary carbon offsets
Tourism is not just foreign travel and can bring local benefits

Technology has had a negative impact on people’s skills? Discuss.

Without a doubt, technology has majorly impacted skills of people in the world. While the progress of technology is important, people should be careful in not being overly-reliant on it.

Human beings have always discovered and invented devices and machines for their convenience. Today, technology has taken an important place in people’s life and has made their lives easier. However, with technology, there are also problems that have risen. Machines which were created for helping humans, have made humans lazy, unskilled and redundant. Today people are overly-reliant on technology. Though many skills have been replaced by technology, there are new skills which have gained prominence today. Hence, technology has a negative impact on people’s skills.

Automation has led people to lack many skills and has caused their role to minimise in many industries. In manufacturing, from making the dough for different cookies, to cutting them in different shapes and packing them, all tasks are now performed by machines and robots. In aviation, pilots use the auto-pilot function and use electronic interface to control the flight. The pilot’s role today is limited and skills required to become a pilot have reduced significantly. With so much being done by machines, it is a logical conclusion technology has a negative impact on people’s skills.

New and advanced technology has attracted people to games that involve virtual reality and advanced graphics. Unlike earlier times, where people, especially children took time to go out and play sports like cricket, badminton or swimming, children today are glued to their Playstation, X-box, computer screens and mobile games. In today’s times it is getting difficult to find young players who are genuinely interested in playing sports as opposed to just playing sports for fame and money. Technology has given rise to new forms of sports as e-sports but these sports are not considered as sports by many because, who play these sports do not have great skills and are of little value in the real world. While playing real sports like football and tennis may build character and give one confidence, electronic sports do not provide any such benefit. Therefore, technology has also had an impact in sports creating a negative impact on people’s skills.

Technology has also impacted people’s soft skills and communication skills. Smartphones have given people a platform to connect with people from across the world however, people have lost their ability to communicate with people with mindfully and articulately. This is evident from the chat language people use in their daily communication. For example, using just “gn” for good night, “tc” for take care and “gbu” for god bless you. Similarly, people’s friendships today are limited to the extent of liking and commenting on a picture. It can thus be said that the art of communication has been lost significantly in present times. Applications like Twitter, have given people a stage to put forth their view but it has also made them intolerant towards other people’s views. People today are quick in jumping to conclusions and make their judgements based on limited facts, which sometimes are even fake. It can be said that technology has made people lose their reasoning skills and degraded human relationships, in turn. Therefore, technology has also had a negative impact on people’s skills and the ability to communicate rationally.

Though supporters of technology often say that people have replaced older skills with newer skills. They argue that people today are more well-versed in technology-based applications. However, these skills are not as intricate and lack in finesse as well. In earlier times people used to create handicrafts and painting with hand but with technology all that has changed. Skills like stitching, embroidering, fact-checking and map reading are being forgotten in our technological driven world.

Without a doubt, technology has majorly impacted skills of people in the world. While the progress of technology is important, people should be careful in not being overly-reliant on it. Over-reliance on technology will only lead to deterioration of people’s skills be it in the field of labour, communication or social interaction. Technology has had a negative impact on the skills of people.