Running head: U.S.

CULTURAL SYSTEMS

U.S. Cultural Systems Chandra Dawson CMC/260 August 22, 2010 Sue Delger

U.S. CULTURAL SYSTEMS

U.S. Cultural Systems Every culture is different and everyone thinks that they culture is the best especially Americans. That is probably because a lot of different cultures come to America to start a new life or to get a better life. It is very rare that you hear someone going to Australia to better their life. According to aneki.com, The United States GDP (gross domestic products) for 2009 was $14,580,000,000,000 putting the United States as the richest country in the world (Anieki rankings + records, 2010). However, just because we are the richest country doesnt mean that other countries should do things our way. Like I stated earlier every country is different. For example, the literacy rate in the United States is 99% but in Iraq the literacy rate is 58% and religious education is important to the people of Iraq because it is a historical location of Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Chaney & Martin, 2007). The value of an education after it is received varies from country to country (Chaney & Martin, 2007). In the United States going to prestigious institutions like MIT or Harvard may help in getting a corporate position but it is what that person does on the job that determines the persons career (Chaney & Martin, 2007). In England a persons position in society determines educational opportunities, meaning those with alumni connections attend the elite educational institutions (Chaney & Martin, 2007).

Economic systems is the way products are produced, distributed and consumed. The different economic systems in the world include capitalism, socialism, agrarianism, and barter (Chaney & Martin, 2007). Capitalism is a social system based on the recognition of individual rights, including property rights, in which all property is privately owned (The Capitalism Site, 2006). The United States and Japan are capitalistic (Chaney & Martin, 2007). Sweden and China are socialistic which according to Merriam-Webster is a system or condition of society in which

U.S. CULTURAL SYSTEMS

the means of production are owned and controlled by the state. A social or political movement designed to bring about land reforms or to improve the economic status is agrarianism. To trade by exchanging one commodity for another is barter. No single economic system exists because so many different countries use different systems.

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References Anieki rankings + records. (2010, August). Retrieved from http://www.aneki.com/richest.html Chaney, L. H., & Martin, J. S. (2007). Intercultural Business Communication (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Merriam-Wester, Incorporated. (2010, August). Retrieved from http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/socialism The Capitalism Site. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.capitalism.org