The Impact Of World Demographic Change On The Future Of Business Essay

The Impact Of World Demographic Change On The Future Of Business Operations And Trading Opportunities - Essay Example The paper tells that unprecedented global demographic changes taking place are expected to impact business operations. During the twentieth century â€Å"the global population increased nearly fourfold, growing from 1.5 billion in 1900 to 6 billion in 2000†. Population growth rates increased significantly particularly in the developing world in the first part of the century, reaching a peak in the late 1960s. The swift growth in population was met with a hitherto uncommon response. The increased concerns related to environmental and economic effects of demographic increase motivated the United Nations, bilateral foreign aid agencies, multilateral institutions and private foundations to invest billions of dollars in population programmes. The governments of several developing countries, specifically those in Asia vigourously formulated and implemented policies aimed at slowing population expansion. The emerging evidence indicates that across the globe, population impacts econom ic growth with age structure playing a crucial role. â€Å"As the dependency ratio falls, opportunities for economic growth tend to rise, creating what is now referred to as a â€Å"demographic dividend†. Development in the quality of health care, improvements in health, and the related increase in life expectancy are among the most outstanding demographic changes of the past century. The historical rise in life expectancy reveals reduced infant and child mortality due to public health interventions related to water and sanitation, along with medical interventions such as vaccines and antibiotics. On the other hand, the continued increase in life expectancy since the past few decades particularly in high income countries, is mainly associated with reductions in age-specific death rates at middle and older ages. The declines are related to â€Å"improvements in medical technology, life-style changes, and income growth† (Bloom & Canning 2004, p.4). Globally, life expect ancy rose to more than double the earlier levels, from around 30 years in the year 1900 to 65 years by 2000. It is estimated to rise to 81 years by the end of the 21st century, states Lee (2003). Clark, Ogawa and Mason (2007) reiterate that all developed countries are experiencing rapid aging of the population, and in most countries over 12 percent of the population is over 65 years and older. In Japan, the proportion of the elderly population exceeded the 20 percent level in 2005, and several other developed countries reveal similar statistics. In most parts of the developed world, â€Å"national population projections indicate continued aging, with some countries facing the prospect of actual population decline and a super aging of the population† (Clark et al 2007, p.3). Further, several developing countries particularly in Asia such as China and South Korea, as well as others less economically successful, are now aging rapidly. Those countries that age before attaining ec onomic prosperity will likely face extensive challenges in the future. The association between population growth and the economy has been debated by several scholars and policymakers. As early as 1798, Thomas Malthus put forth that the rate of population growth was held in equilibrium by the rate of economic growth (IMF 2004). While East Asia met the challenges of rapid population growth, â€Å"other demographic changes were creating opportunities for more rapid economic growth†

Online School Vs. Traditional Essay Example for Free

Online School Vs. Traditional Essay According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 4.3 million undergraduate students, or 20 percent of all undergraduates, took at least one distance education course in the 2007-08 school year. And about 0.8 million, or 4 percent of all undergraduates, took their entire program through distance education (May, Ryan). There are many pros and cons about distance and traditional education, as well as many similarities and differences. Online education is a more flexible option for students to get an education since most classes can be taken anywhere you are able to take your laptop or hook up to the internet. It’s very convenient for people who have a busy lifestyle, such as families, full-timer workers, and those who serve in the military. With online learning, students don’t have the traditional methods of sitting at a desk and learning with lectures and books. You have the freedom to learn your way at your own comfort level. Studies have shown that in online learning conditions perform better than those receiving traditional instruction (NCU). However, for some, lectures in the classroom are more beneficial to them since some need more a more hands on approach. A disadvantage of online learning is not having your degree being seen as creditable. Be sure that your college choice is accredited since there are many â€Å"Degree Mills† out looking for your money. There are many students and employers who are skeptics about how much you really do learn from online learning. According to Allie Bidwell from USA news, In a survey of 656 human resources professionals released Wednesday, the researchers found that although nearly half of employers said online-only programs require more discipline, 56 percent said they still prefer applicants with traditional degrees from an average university over those with an online degree from a top university. Overall, most employers (82 percent) said a combination of in-person and online education would benefit the majority of students (Bidwell, 2013). Most employers are going to view how effective an online education is by the quality of the new hires  they bring in. Cost is another consideration to think of when deciding to go online or traditional. Online education is less expensive since there are no extra fees for maintaining a large campus or classrooms. Some classes may not even require books for you to purchase. Either way you choose to go, there are still rules and guidelines that must be followed. Along with that, attendance is still a must with online education and participation in discussions just as you would participate in a classroom. Depending on the type of person you are and the lifestyle you live, either online or traditional education will be right for you. Before getting into either one, students should carefully research both to find out which is the right fit for them. References Bidwell, A. (2013). Employers and Students Remain Skeptical of Online Learning. Retrieved from http://www.usanews.com/news/articles/2013/09/20/employers-students-remain-skeptical-of-online-education North Central University. Online Education Versus Traditional Education. Retrieved from http://www.ncu.edu/why-northcentral/online-learning/learn-more Dudley, S. (2013) Why Online Education Is More Valuable than Traditional College. Retrieved from http:// http://www.wired.com/2013/11/why-online-learning-is-more-valuable-than-traditional-college/ May, R. Traditional Education vs Online Education-Should You Switch? Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/article/655/traditional-education-vs-online-education-should-you-switch/

Founding Of The Ryanair Airline Company

Founding Of The Ryanair Airline Company In 1985 Cathal and Declan Ryan has founded the company. The airline started with a fifteen (15) seater Embraer Bandeirante turboprop aircraft and it was flying between Gatwick London and Waterford. On that time London-Ireland flights held by Aer Lingus and BA (British Airways). The company added a new route between Dublin and London in 1986 and competition started with the AL/BA duopoly. Company was refused by the government of Ireland, but the conservative government of UK has approved this new service. According to some analysis Company was generating the loss instead of profit but the mean time number of customers increased frequently. By 1991 company started to thinking about to make airline profitable and this task has been given to the Michael OLeary. Ryan the founder of company suggested and encouraged Micheal to study the US airline model No Frill/Low Fares), which was using by the Southwest Airline in US and after that the model was implemented in the Ryanair. In 1995 at the completion of 10 year of the company, the Ryanair was carrying 2.25 million passengers. Ryanair overtakes the Air Lingus in the same year and became largest passengers airline between Dublin and London and largest airline on any route in the Ireland. Mission statement: Mission of Ryanair is Provide Low fare Rate travelling at all the time for all the routes. Key service commitment Puncuality Objectives: Rynair believes on the following factors: One way reservation to make flexible return for the passengers. By controlling equipment cost, personal productivity and customer service cost operating cost keep low. For peer groups best customer service Maintain shor-haul routes frequently point-to-point flights. Flight confirmation and reservation system availability on the internet. No compromise on safety and quality maintenance of airplanes By using ancillary service enhancement of operating results. Focusing on the criteria of Growth, like more routes and increased frequency. External Analysis Political Analysis Ryanair operates throughout the Europe and any political changes in any country can be effect the strategy of Ryanair. Ryanair has some dispute on each passenger flew at Newquay Airport with Cornwall Country Council. Tax policy is another issue for Ryanair which can be create problems for the company. Another political issue regarding the cash back that European Law is to fare return if any cancellation of the flight. This is not a big issue for Ryanair because Ryanair maintains their high quality service. An announcement by the government of Ireland To break up the state monopoly may be brought some questions in European airline industry. However, if this plan implemented then Ryanair can be seriously affected It may block Ryanair future expansion in the Ireland. Economic Analysis Ryanair is European based company and so many of its operations are not affected by the exchange rate, as single currency operates many of these countries. The only economical issue can the price of Oil, as Oil pricing are increasing frequently, this can be effect the low fare strategy of the company. The taxation policy bring negative impact on the employees of the company as Europen Union has announced EU deleted duty-free on intra-EU. Social Analysis European Union is and economic union of 27 countries. They developed a single market and single currency for exchange. A large number of people travel every day from one country to another country so they need a best solution and cheap fare travelling which is provided by the Ryanair. Technology Analysis Ryanair is taking the best advantage of technology by providing solution through the internet. But this trend is growing in the European Airline Industry and other airlines are establishing their website. By using the technology Ryanair save cost and open up revenue like advertisement income. Environment Analysis Greenhouse emission is the big issue which is facing by Ryanair. Ryanair strategy has a positive environmental impact. At present, aviation accounts for roughly 5% of the UKs emissions, but this is expected to rise to 25% by 2030 (Economist 2005:35). The other main environmental issue is noise, the 737-800 will to reduce this issue. Legal Analysis The reiterated rule against illegal state subsidies hoped to be establish fair deal for the airline industry of Europe. EU decision was based on non-discrimination legislation preventing airport from offering differential deal to different airline operators. On the contrary, Ryanair may need to repay penalty for breaking rule. Porters Five Forces Analysis Bargaining power of suppliers Ryanairs main suppliers are Boeing. Two possible suppliers of planes for Ryanair in the market are Airbus and Boeing but Ryanairs main supplier is Boeing.Tring to switch supplier would be very costly because pilots would have to trained for the new mechanics. Ryanair controls aviation fuel through prevarication Price. Small and regional airports can have little bargaining power as compare to big and commercial airports because they only dependent on one airline. Ryanair avoid big airports and work from regional airports such as Stainsted and Gatwick. Bargaining Power of Customers Customers are price sensitive. It is very easy for customer to switch from one airline to other airline. Due to the increasing trend of reservation through internet customer can easily change airline. Ryanair is providing very low fare to customers but customers are not loyal. Threat of New Entrants Rynair can handle this issue by following these steps  · Put Some barriers and obstacles to newentry:  · Availability of some restricted slots make more difficult to find suitable airports for new entrants.  · By Starting price war. Competitive Rivalry There is very high competition in the market. Too many service providers are in the rivalry. Ryanair has first mover advantage in this market bacuase when they started the service their was no service providers but now there are many airlines in the competition with Ryanair. 3. Ryanairs Resources and Capabilities Resources: Ryanair has following threshold resources 1. Financial Resources 2. Hub Set up in Regional Airports 3. Number of Aircrafts Following unique resources make Ryanair distinguish from their competitors: 1. Website 2. Boeing 737 Aircrafts 3. CEO Michael O Leary 4. Award of Best managed Airline 5. Dedicated Team of Management 6. Ryanair Direct Limited Competences: Threshold Competences: Low Fares Advanced Reservation System Baggage handling On time service Operating expanses in Euro Currency Advertising and ancillary services sales Core Competences: 1. Efficient Staff Low costs of staff training 2. Fast Turnaound time management 3. Free Seat Givaways No fares 4. Good Quality Service No1 5. Third party service outsourcing 6. Performance related pay structure 7. Labour costs lower than rivals. 4. Strategic Situation SWOT Analysis of Ryanairs Environment Strengths of the Company Brand name: Ryanair has very well recognised brand name in the LCC market. Low airport charges: Ryanair has advantage of low charges for airport. First mover: This advantage acts as a barrier to new entry Bookings on the Internet: More than 94% booking on the internet contributes in low cost distribution Aircrafts-Boeing: Ryanair has A uniform fleet for maintenance. High performance: Punctuality, low baggage loss. Utilization of Aircraft: By keep maintaining Ryanair is able to flies longer and generating more revenue from assets. Small headquarters: Low on overheads Weaknesses of the Company Niche market: Restricted expansion possibility Distance of Airports: Many regional airports are far from advertised destination. Changes in-charges frequently Opportunities There is a lot of new destinations expected to open as European Union is going to be enlarge: The market share would be doubled as there is still potential in the company to capture market share. Recession can help as Ryanair offers low fare cost and can catch the new customers as economy is slow down. Threats for the Company Increasing price of oil is a big threat for company as fuel costs depend on the oil market.  · Low fare competition is increased  · Europena court dicision can make more difficult to make expansion.  · Growth in the South European market is limited  · Bargaining power increases on regional airports  · Customers are price sensitive 5. Strategic choice. Options 1. Low cost strategies- First Otion is to Continue the low cost strategy to remain top of the Cost Leadership 2. New Investment: New investment can be made for modernised fleet. Will become more uniformed with only one model (737-800) which leads to cheap maintenance. Ryanair would use the next generation aircraft Boeing 737-800 as an opportunity to rejuvenate the image of the company. By using new quality infrasture and Boeing 737-800 the perception can be made false which is Ryanair is los cost service, it is also a low quality service. Change in uniform can increase the confident level of staff and provide a good change for the customers. It will be inexpensive relatively and will not effect the companys equity in wide range and companys price leadership strategy will not be destroyed. 3. New markets: Look for the new places in the Europe to expand the business. Michael Porters Generic Strategies For Ryanair to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage, Michael Porter suggests that any company/organisation can follow either one of three generic strategies.  · Strategy 1: Cost Leadership.  · Strategy 2: Differentiation  · Strategy 3: Niche strategies  · Are you Stuck in the middle? Opt. #1 Cost Leadership Strategy: To enhance growth of the company Ryanair should pursue Cost leadership strategy which is provided by the Porters Generic Strategy. Cost Leadership could be done in the following ways:  · Increasing profits by reducing the costs, while charging industry-average prices. Increasing market share through charging lower prices, while still making a reasonable profit on each sale due to reduced costs. Bowmans Strategy Clock The Strategy Clock is based upon the work of Cliff Bowman (see C. Bowman and D. Faulkner Competitive and Corporate Strategy Irwin 1996). This is an appropriate way to analyze a companys competitive position in comparison to the offerings of competitors. Ansoff Matrix Ansoffs Product/Market Matrix Opt. #1 Opt. #2 Opt. #3 Market Penetration Option 1 Market penetration technique can used in the current market with current brand or product. By repositioning the brand and or promoting the products Ryanair can increase its revenue. Product Development Option 2 Product development means bringing a new product in the existing market. This is where Ryanair will market their newest investment. Ryanair would lounge a new product to the existing market this will help to increase the profitability of the company and awareness of new brand can bring more customers towards the organisation. Market Development Here, Ryanair would try to open up new markets possibly some where in the Europe and can provide current product or service to those markets. Implementation Methods of Options The Following is a table showing the three options chosen above and the implementation method chosen for each option. Option Implementation Method Proposed Continuation of low cost strategies Organic Growth 2- 2-Investment in modernised fleet, which leads to less expensive maintenance Organic Growth Try to expand the European markets to accommodate more European countries and also open new markets servicing parts of North America, South America and the Caribbean Organic Growth Figure 4: Table showing Options and the Implementation method proposed Organic growth Organic growth refers to the growth that achieved by internally investments made by the firm inside the organization. Organic growth is rate of business expansion through increasing the output and sales as opposed to acquisitions and take-over by the other organisation. There are some benefits of this method Latest Technology Cost Spread Choice of Location No Inappropriate Cultural History The above options can be evaluated for suitability, acceptability and feasibility and then these can be successfully implemented. Suitability means wheather a strategy fulfil the requirements those are needed to remain operating an organisation. Moreover whether the chosen options are in the line of mission, vision and objective of the organisation. To test suitability following should be determined: Examine whether the organisation possess the key resources to pursue the option. Analysis of the organisations external environment, whether the option is suited for the organisation. Determine the competitive advantage and if go ahead with the option would it lead the organisation to a good financial performance. 2. Acceptability Acceptability concerned with the expected performance outcome of the strategy. A financial risk analysis should be done here. The effectiveness of the impact on the following: Employees Bankers Customers Suppliers Stakeholders Shareholders 3. Feasibility Feasibility examines the following options: Internal constraints which would restrict the implementation of the option and also the weakness that would constrict the option Would the option improve performance level within the resources? What resources are possessed and additional requirements to pursue the options Commitment from managers and human resource and the physical constraints e.g. industry-rights and air-space legislation. Suitability Life Cycle Analysis Life Cycle Analysis showing Ryanairs position The above figure shows the Life Cycle Analysis for Ryanair. Ryanair is providing services from the last two decades and we can say that the company is in its maturity stage, it can be seen from the above figure. Keeping continue low cost strategies Ryanair can increase the sales and defiantly profitability of the organisation can be increased. Ryanair should use the next generation aircraft as an opportunity and new fashioned uniform can be give the better dynamic look of the organisation. Climate change is playing a critical role. Due to change of climate Eastern Europ contries are becoming tour places and attracting the visitor to there. Thousand of visitors are travelling to Eastern countries every year just for only visiting the places. Skyroute aviation has already started flights for some of these places but still there are opportunities for Ryanair. Value Chain Analysis Infrastructure HRM Techn.Dev. Procurement Inbound Operations Outbound Marketing Service Logistics Logistics Sales Figure 6: An Illustration of Ryanairs Value Chain The main core competencies of Ryanair are: Their unique cost cutting policy Robustness Culture Implementation of option 1: Continue following the low cost strategies, takes into consideration all of Ryanairs main core competencies. In terms of robustness, competitors of Ryanair can imitate but if not implemented in the right way, could prove detrimental to competitors. Implemention of Option 2: New Investment: New investment for modrnised fleet, leads to cheap maintenance: will become more uniformed with only one model (737-800). Large amount of finance should be needed for the option because buying new aircraft is not a cheaper solution. But Ryanair can afford this solution and can go ahead with thic option. Being such a large airline, with  £300 million profit only in 2007 and having a high level of dominance in the European market, this option proves to be the most suitable for the organisation. Option 3: New Markets: By expanding business into new market can be profitable as we discussed above in this report there are some opportunities in Eastern European countries where a large scale of profit can be seen easily. Ryanair should go for it and by expanding business into new countries and new markets within the Europe will help to generate a large amount of profit. The most Suitable strategic option to be implemented is Option 2: Investment in modernised fleet, which leads to less expensive maintenance: will become more uniformed with only one model (737-800), also newer planes will require less maintenance. Acceptability Option 2: New Investment: Acceptability for option 2 which leads to less expensive maintenance: will become more uniformed with only one model (737-800), also newer planes will require less maintenance. This is large profit generating option and the return will almost one and a half times the profit of 2007. The aim of product development is to fulfil the requirements and follow the changes need by the customers. To satisfying the customers about the service of Ryanair that Ryanair is providing them a better quality service as compare to others. In this option Ryanair also introduced a new fashioned uniform for the employees so they can feel change and this will build a good relationship between customers and staff. Benefit to Stakeholders: Following this option all shareholders will get benefit because their share value will increase. Banks also get benefit in terms of large amount need to implement this option, so bank defiantly will involve. By following this option public perception accordingly get changed. They feel the change as new uniformed aircrafts, fleets and new dressed staff is ready to welcoming them at airport and airplanes. Feasibility Option two is perfect for the company because Ryanair possess all the resources which are needed for the option such as finance. The above diagram shows the 2055 to 2008 there was two times growth in Ryanairs revenue and more than 50 percent profit increase. So it is cleare that financial capabilities of Ryanair can support this option and hence it is feasible for the company. Ryanair is paying better to their employees over the last year. The employees of Ryanair are getting highst pay among other airlines operating in Europe. With the implementation of option 2 Ryanair can continue to provide hundreds of new jobs and tens of promotional opportunities. Ryanair is a Europes major airline which is 50% cheaper than any other European airline. Ryanair is continue to grow. Accordint to IATA (Internation Air Transport Association Ryanair is worlds largest international airline which carries Largent international passengers.

Why didn’t the Romans conquer crime? :: Classics

Why didn’t the Romans conquer crime? History Essay Why didn’t the Romans conquer crime? I am going to write an essay explaining all the factors of Roman life in the crime situation such as their laws and the punishments they gave for committing crimes. Also I will be examining their police force and their prison punishments. And I will finally be explaining the public side to all this and the criminal rates of being caught. To prove that Romans did try to stop crime I am going to look at this part of their life, as we know the first roman laws to be discovered were the twelve tables (written in Latin).All crime in Rome was dealt with by the emperor and the senate. The crimes would be written down in detail then often reorganized to cover all aspects of crime. When looking back on Rome's punishments you may think that they seem very strange but they were effective e.g. If you killed your father, you would get put in a sack with a real live snake, a dog and a cockerel and thrown into a river. If you left the army you would have people throwing rocks at you and be beaten really badly. You could be sent down to the mines where you wouldn't last long or you could get tied to a cross. You might be exiled and lose your Roman citizenship. When the accused was in court they might try to look sad or scruffy to make the jury sorry for them. Below is a small picture of what a roman court would have been set out like. I have found that in Rome there was no effective police force; however the emperor’s guard protected the emperor and stopped riots. The army acted as a police force in the provinces of the empire. The army was made up entirely of men as no women were allowed to join. The roman prisons were not used to punish criminals as they were there to hold people awaiting trial or prosecution. The wealthy were generally held in arrest at the home of a friend or family member who would guarantee their presence at the trial. Private prisons existed for slaves. As there was no police force in Rome people who had been robbed or taken the victim in the event of a crime then they would have to find their own evidence with the help of their friends and family and if

Martha Stewart Trial

Martha Stewart went on trial on January 12, 2004 for conspiracy, obstruction of justice, securities fraud and making false statements in the stock trading scandal at ImClone Systems. Stewart’s sale of almost 4,000 shares of stock in ImClone Systems created suspicions of insider trading. After investigating the matter, the federal prosecutors suspected that she deliberately tried to mislead their investigation. It is considered a Federal felony for someone to falsify or cover a material fact and to knowingly make any materially false statement.The trial was to determine whether Martha Stewart was a criminal who lied to the government about selling stock based on an inside tip or just an investor who saved money with a smart bet on the market. The Securities and Exchange Commission noticed an unusual coincidence between selling a large number of shares by the CEO of ImClone and Martha Stewart and began an investigation to determine if Martha Stewart was guilty of insider trading . Sam Waskal later confirmed that the sale of his shares was due to an advance word that the FDA rejected the application for the approval of the cancer drug. CNNMoney, 2004) The government said that Stewart saved about $45000 by selling stock in ImClone on December 27th, 2001. She said she sold the stock because she and Bacanovic, her Merrill Lynch & Co. broker, had a pre-existing agreement to sell when the stock fell to $60. (Answers. com) During the trial, Douglas Faneuil, Stewart's broker's assistant, testified that he tipped Stewart –on orders from his boss, Peter Bacanovic– about Waksal's sale of ImClone shares.Faneuil's testimony was important to the government’s contention that Stewart sold the ImClone shares after she received news from ImClone CEO Sam Waksal and she did not have an agreement with Bacanovic to sell the stock when it fell to $60 a share. In her defense, Stewart's attorney told the judge that Faneuil at various times had been advised to t ell the truth to investigators and the SEC, but then told later to keep lying. (CNN. com, 2004). Securities fraud was the most serious charge against Stewart, carrying a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and the U. S.District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum dismissed the securities fraud charge against Stewart, saying that â€Å"the evidence and inferences the government presents are simply too weak to support a finding beyond a reasonable doubt of criminal intent. †. (CNNMoney, 2004). The other four remaining charges she faced, each carried a sentence of up to five years. The trial lasted for five-weeks. Ironically, Erbitux, the drug that was produced by ImClone to treat cancer and was not considered to be reviewed in December 2007 when its application was rejected, recently was approved to treat certain forms of cancer. CNNMoney,2004).ReferencesChernoff, Allan. (2004). Closing arguments underway. Retrieved June 11, 2010, from http://money. cnn. com/2004/03/01/news/companie s/martha/index. htm? cnn=yesKey prosecution witness to take stand at Martha Stewart trial (2004). Retrieved June 11, 2010 from http://edition. cnn. com/2004/LAW/01/29/martha. stewart/index. html Sellers, Patricia (November 14, 2005).†Remodeling Martha†. Fortune, pp. 49–62. Retrieved June 11, 2010 from http://www. answers. com/topic/martha-stewart

Biography of Willem de Kooning, Abstract Expressionist

Biography of Willem de Kooning, Abstract Expressionist Willem de Kooning (April 24, 1904 - March 19, 1997) was a Dutch-American artist known as a leader of the Abstract Expressionist movement of the 1950s. He was noted for combining the influences of Cubism, Expressionism, and Surrealism into an idiosyncratic style. Fast Facts: Willem de Kooning Born: April 24, 1904, in Rotterdam, NetherlandsDied: March 19, 1997, in East Hampton, New YorkSpouse: Elaine Fried (m. 1943)Artistic Movement: Abstract ExpressionismSelected Works: Woman III (1953), July 4th (1957), Clamdigger (1976)Key Accomplishment: Presidential Medal of Freedom (1964)Interesting Fact: He became a U.S. citizen in 1962Notable Quote: I dont paint to live. I live to paint. Early Life and Career Willem de Kooning was born and raised in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. His parents divorced when he was 3 years old. He left school at age 12 and became an apprentice to commercial artists. For the next eight years, he enrolled in evening classes at the Academy of Fine Arts and Applied Sciences of Rotterdam, which has since been renamed the Willem de Kooning Academie. Henry Bowden / Getty Images When he was 21 years old, de Kooning traveled to America as a stowaway on the British freighter Shelley. Its destination was Buenos Aires, Argentina, but de Kooning left the ship when it docked in Newport News, Virginia. He found his way north toward New York City and temporarily lived at the Dutch Seamens Home in Hoboken, New Jersey. A short time later, in 1927, Willem de Kooning opened his first studio in Manhattan and supported his art with outside employment in commercial art such as store window designs and advertising. In 1928, he joined an artists colony in Woodstock, New York, and met some of the top modernist painters of the era, including Arshile Gorky. Leader of Abstract Expressionism In the mid-1940s, Willem de Kooning began working on a series of black and white abstract paintings because he could not afford the expensive pigments needed for working in color. They were the majority of his first solo show at the Charles Egan Gallery in 1948. By the end of the decade, considered one of Manhattans top rising artists, de Kooning began adding color to his work. Willem De Koonings Untitled XXI (est $25-35m) from the collection of A. Alfred Taubman is displayed as part of the Frieze week exhibition at Sothebys on October 10, 2015 in London, England. Tristan Fewings / Getty Images The painting Woman I, which de Kooning began in 1950, completed in 1952, and exhibited at the Sidney Janis Gallery in 1953, became his breakthrough work. New Yorks Museum of Modern Art purchased the piece which confirmed his reputation. As de Kooning became considered a leader of the abstract expressionist movement, his style was distinctive through the fact that he never wholly abandoned representation by making women one of his most common subjects. A member of staff poses next to paintings by Dutch American artist Willem de Kooning entitled Woman (L), Woman II (C) and Woman as Landscape (R) at the Royal Academy of Arts on September 20, 2016 in London, England. Carl Court / Getty Images Woman III (1953) is celebrated for its depiction of a woman as aggressive and highly erotic. Willem de Kooning painted her as a response to idealized portraits of women in the past. Later observers complained that de Koonings paintings sometimes crossed the border into misogyny. De Kooning had a close personal and professional relationship with Franz Kline. The influence of Klines bold strokes can be seen in much of Willem de Koonings work. Late in the 1950s, de Kooning began work on a series of landscapes executed in his idiosyncratic style. Noted pieces like July 4th (1957) clearly show Klines impact. The influence was not a one-way transaction. During the late 1950s, Kline began adding color to his work perhaps as part of his relationship with de Kooning. Employees pose with Untitled XIX 1982 by Willem De Kooning (estimate $6M - 8M) during a photocall for the Peggy and David Rockefeller art collection at Christies auction house on February 20, 2018 in London, England. Jack Taylor / Getty Images Marriage and Personal Life Willem de Kooning met the young artist Elaine Fried in 1938 and soon took her on as an apprentice. They married in 1943. She became an accomplished abstract expressionist artist in her own right, but her work was often overshadowed by her efforts to promote the work of her husband. They had a stormy marriage with each of them open about having affairs with others. They separated in the late 1950s but never divorced and reunited in 1976, remaining together until Willem de Koonings death in 1997. De Kooning had one child, Lisa, through an affair with Joan Ward after his separation from Elaine. Willem de Kooning with daughter, Lisa. Images Press / Getty Images Later Life and Legacy De Kooning applied his style to the creation of sculptures in the 1970s. Among the most prominent of those is Clamdigger (1976). His late period painting was characterized by bold, brightly-colored abstract work. The designs are simpler than his earlier work. A revelation in the 1990s that de Kooning had suffered from Alzheimers disease for multiple years led some to question his role in the creation of the late-career paintings. Willem de Kooning is remembered for his bold fusion of Cubism, Expressionism, and Surrealism. His work is a bridge between the formal subject concerns of the experiments in abstraction by artists such as Pablo Picasso, and the complete abstraction of an artist like Jackson Pollock. Sources Stevens, Mark, and Annalynn Swan. de Kooning: An American Master. Alfred A. Knopf, 2006.