Textbook prices have been increasing drastically enough for the average university student to be $25,000 in debt. Students are in need of purchasing overly expensive textbooks for several classes even after the high price of tuition, causing an extreme financial issue.

This increase in textbooks over time is affecting university students’ financial status incredibly as the average student is usually in debt from tuition fees. In my opinion, paying “as much as $1,000 per semester on books” (Enright, 2014) is highly absurd. It seems unethical for students to pay such high prices when the cost of textbooks has “increased more than four times the rate of inflation” (Enright, 2014). This makes me reflect upon the opportunity costs of being able to purchase other cheaper products. In addition to unethical issues, students are expected to purchase the latest edition in textbooks when in fact, there are only a few slight changes in these different versions. I believe this could be a factor in discouraging students from attending secondary educational institutions. These expensive textbooks can discourage students from purchasing their necessary textbooks which will therefore, affect their grades and cause them to do poorly in classes. Overall, overly-priced textbooks should be re-evaluated, taking into consideration university students’ financial concerns.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/essays/2014/09/21/textbook-prices-that-break-the-bank/

              McDonald’s Corp. has been heavily affected in sales due to a food-safety hazard of distributing meat in China. McDonald’s took meat out of restaurants during this hiatus, however, has seen a sales drop of 14.5 percent in the Asia-Pacific region as a result of buying meat from its meat supplier, Shanghai Husi Food Co.

              Businesses work to achieve their greatest profit. However, at times, the ethical components will be overlooked as a result of their desire to gain maximum profit. Through the unethical decisions by Shanghai Husi Food Co. of purposefully labelling the wrong expiration dates on their meat products, I was shocked and sickened by the OSI Group to choose a greater earning than responsibly supplying their products. OSI’s corrupt desire to risk the health of McDonald’s enormous amount of consumers in China is incredibly immoral and selfish. As a result, not only have they affected McDonald’s sales, but their own as well. Yum Brands Inc., whose brands include KFC and Pizza Hut, has also stopped using meat products from Shanghai Husi Food Co., and has “cut all ties with OSI in China, the U.S., and Australia.” I believe the Group should have refrained from their eagerness for increased profits and instead, have remained in their social responsibility of following ethical rules and gaining a steady income.

Sources:

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/mcdonalds-aug-sales-metric-hurt-china-scandal-25372461

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/mcdonald-s-kfc-apologize-in-chinese-expired-meat-scandal-1.2713508

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