Competition

 

The competition definition in biology refers to a set of interactions between different populations or individuals from the same population to get one or more resources from the ecosystem. Because they are competing for a specific resource, the population that cannot take advantage of it sees its numbers or activity reduced. 

Therefore, living beings have adapted over time and have evolved. Species that have failed to adapt have become extinct over time. Competition in ecology is an important phenomenon to study to better understand the dynamics and interactions of the different populations of an ecosystem.

Types of Competition

 Direct

 Indirect

 Replacement

Direct competitors - A direct competitor offers the same products and services aimed at the same target market and customer base, with the same goal of profit and market share growth. This means that your direct competitors are targeting the same audience as you, selling the same products as you, in a similar distribution model as you.

Let's think about office supply stores, for example. For a long time, one of Staples' largest direct competitors was Office Depot. If you've ever been inside these two stores, you know that they operate in similar ways and offer many of the same products and services. Interestingly, Staples recently acquired Office Depot in a merger as a solution to the problem of their long running competition

. A direct competitor is what typically comes to mind when you refer to the term competition, and usually the type that draws the most focus from companies when designing strategies.

However, customers will shop for a variety of price points, locations, service levels, and product features when considering their purchase. But they will not necessarily choose the same mix of these options in every comparison.

 They will likely explore as many options as they can to fill their need, which may include looking at a different service model or a different product altogether. This is where competition becomes a factor. Recognizing where you have potential competition is a key factor in determining the strongest markets for your business solutions.

Indirect Competitors - An indirect competitor is another company that offers the same products and services, much like direct competitors; however, the end goals are different. These competitors are seeking to grow revenue with a different strategy.

Nearly every company is involved with some form of indirect competition. 

For example, general contractors face indirect competition from do-it-yourself promoters, such as Lowes or Home Depot. Both of these models are aimed at satisfying the customers' needs and desires, but they use a different marketing mix and have different methods of generating revenue.

 By outlining all the potential ways the customers' needs can be met and tailoring your marketing mix to address the competition, you can generate an advantage for your products and services.

Replacement Competitors - A replacement competitor is another company that is offering a product or service that the consumer could use instead of choosing your products or services. 

The important concept with replacement competitors is that they are using the same resources to purchase the replacement product or service that could have been used to buy your offerings.

Direct

Interspecific competition is the one that occurs between different species that use the same resource or a group of resources. For example, species can compete for the same type of prey, the same place to drink water, or a habitat. This type of competition is important because it can determine the abundance and distribution of a species and the lack of population and possible disappearance of another. This competition also determines how species behave when another one jeopardizes their access to a resource.

Some interspecific competition examples are:

In the African Savanna, there are cats that hunt the same prey species. For example, the lion and the cheetah both hunt zebras, antelopes, gazelles, and wildebeest. To compete for this resource, lions have adapted to hunt in packs and through teamwork. Cheetahs use speed to succeed in catching prey.

In cities, there are many bird species like the sparrow, the starling, and the pigeon. Many of them compete for food that humans leave behind in the form of leftovers or crumbs. For those birds, it is more accessible to get this type of food, than to collect fruits and seeds or hunt.

Interference Competition

Interference competition is a form of competition in which one individual prevents another from accessing a limited resource. The individual does this directly when both compete for the same resource. Interference competition can be active or passive

. Active competition occurs, for example

 when an organism acts aggressively to prevent another one to get a limited resource

. Passive competition occurs when an organism prevents another one from getting a resource, but without aggressive conduct. For example, by secretion of substances that drive away other competitors.

This form of competition is also known as contest competition because of the direct struggle for limited resources. An example is when lions behave aggressively when hyenas get close to the corpses they are eating.

Outcomes of Competing Animals

Depending on the type or form of competition, there are many possible outcomes for the species or the individuals of the same species:

Competition Examples

There are many more ways animals compete. Here are two more competition examples. First, viruses are an example of competition and adaptation. An example is COVID-19. The original strain has undergone mutations, resulting in variants such as Alpha, Beta, Delta, and many more. Each variant has seen some characteristics modified which gives it advantages over the previous ones, such as resistance to vaccines or greater contagion effectiveness.

Next, an example of intraspecific competition is seen in dogs. For example, dogs compete for food and a mate. For that, they mark their territory with urine so other dogs stay away. The dominating dog will pass its characters to its descendants and will grow and develop better.

What are the 4 types of competition in economics

petition in a free market system: perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopoly.

Under monopolistic competition, many sellers offer differentiated products—products that differ slightly but serve similar purposes. 

By making consumers aware of product differences, sellers exert some control over price.

In an oligopoly, a few sellers supply a sizable portion of products in the market. They exert some control over price, but because their products are similar, when one company lowers prices, the others follow.

In a monopoly, there is only one seller in the market. The market could be a geographical area, such as a city or a regional area, and does not necessarily have to be an entire country. The single seller is able to control prices.

Most monopolies fall into one of two categories: natural and legal.

Natural monopolies include public utilities, such as electricity and gas suppliers. They inhibit competition, but they’re legal because they’re important to society.

A legal monopoly arises when a company receives a patent giving it exclusive use of an invented product or process for a limited time, generally twenty years.

What are the different types of competition names?

Inter House Chess Competition

Inter House Group Song Competition

Inter House Elocution Competition

Inter House Carrom Competition

Inter House Group Dance Competition

Inter House Football Competition

Inter House Athletics Competition

Inter House Basketball Competition

Inter House Volleyball Competition

Inter House Kabaddi Competition

Inter House Tennies Competition

Inter House Mathematics Quiz

Inter House English Debate

Inter House Hindi Debate

Is a competition is good or bad 

Competitiveness can be problematic when someone is overcompetitive. For someone who is overcompetitive, winning is all that counts. Such people have a very strong urge to win at all costs because being a ‘winner’ is a big part of who they are. It can define them.  

They may use unfair strategies to win, because they actually have low self-esteem, a lot of self-doubt, high aggression, anxiety and potentially other negative feelings, but they ‘need’ to win. It doesn’t sound very healthy, does it? Most people are not like this, but competitiveness can still stress them out, or interfere with their enjoyment of life.

How about other types of competitiveness? Are they all bad?

Being competitive with someone else is okay as long as it’s not causing you emotional distress. By competing with your friends, classmates, or teammates, you may run faster, increase your motivation, study more, and work harder toward your goals.  

There can be positive types of competitiveness. Competing with yourself, focusing on your personal development, can be a good thing, as long as you are kind to yourself and not overly critical. 

 You may still be in “competition” with someone else but your focus is not on others. Your focus is solely on yourself. You are motivated by your self-achievement and a desire to master the task. 

 You try hard to do your best (not be the best) and improve your knowledge or skills during the process of competition.  

This can lead to higher self-esteem, self-development, self-discovery, and task enjoyment. Sounds amazing, doesn’t it? It’s all about balance.

But if competitiveness starts to take over your thoughts, makes you feel miserable or leads you to neglect other important things, like friendship, then it is a problem. It can lead to problems such as isolation and burnout too. It can also drive perfectionism, which can make you unhappy 

Sources of Competitive Advantage to Drive Growth

1. Product Attribute Differentiation

One way to gain an advantage over competitors is by differentiating your product from theirs. Ask yourself: What makes my offering unique? Why would consumers want to purchase my product instead of my competitors’?

Countless attributes can set your product apart. Here are some to consider:

-Better customer service

-More variety

-Faster or cheaper shipping

-Location

-Color and aesthetics

-Brand identity

-Atmosphere of brick-and-mortar locations

Source of goods

 Whole Foods Market is one example of a company that differentiates its products using brand identity, atmosphere, and sourcing.

 Whole Foods’ competitors are other natural food chains, such as Trader Joe’s and Sprouts Farmers Market, along with big names in the grocery space, including Stop & Shop and Wegman’s.

Whole Foods stands out in the crowded natural foods market as the first and only certified organic national grocery store in the United States. 

Its brand identity centers on the integrity of its natural and organically sourced foods. It also cultivates an in-store atmosphere that makes grocery shopping feel purposeful and is a step up from some of its competitors' traditional grab-and-go shopping experience

2.  Customers’ Willingness to Pay

3.  Price Discrimination

  4.    Bundled Pricing

5.   Human Capital

Human needs and wants

Needs are considered as the basic 1tems essential for human survival. Food, water, and shelter are examples of needs. Wants are anything that we desire or would like to have. Wants can be for entertainment purposes, or tools that make our lives easier.

 15 Basic human wants

Physical 

First and foremost is our need for physical survival and the ability to acquire the physical and financial resources necessary to maintain physical health and reduce worry and fear. At work, this equates to adequate pay & benefits, a safe working environment, and the necessary support to look after our physical health.

 Relationship

We all have a need to feel cared about through close personal relationships. As human beings, we are social creatures, and we need caring and affection to maintain stable emotional health. At work, this can be found in the form of friendships, a supportive supervisor, or an organizational culture that communicates it cares about its employees as people.

Competence

Underlying much of our activity at work is our need for competence. We get this need met through demonstrations of effectiveness in our environment. It entails confidence in our abilities, similar to self-efficacy, and personal mastery to achieve our goals. At work, this is seen through high performance and productivity. This is aided by clear expectations, appropriate training, and sufficient feedback to know when a job has been done well.

 Self-Expression

Self-expression entails being authentic and true to who we are and the opportunity to demonstrate our unique gifts and abilities. We all desire to be the fullest, truest versions of ourselves. This continual reach toward our highest potential naturally facilitates a never-ending quest of personal growth. At work, this can come in the form of a close alignment, or fit, between our work role and ourselves, in terms of our abilities, passions, and values. The closer this alignment, the more in the flow, engaged, and energized by our work we will be. Opportunities for creativity and job crafting can help satisfy our need for self-expression at work.

 Meaning

We have a need for a sense of connection between ourselves and something greater to provide meaning in our lives. We want to get a sense that we are an integral part of something larger than ourselves. This comes in the form of a sense of belonging, shared values, and a sense of community through our work. Organizations help satisfy this need by helping employees feel like integral, valued members and making the connection from the work they do to the larger world.

 Autonomy

Autonomy relates to our need to gain personal agency over our lives. Autonomy is often thought of as control and independence, but it is actually not control, but simply volition, or choice or free will, that fulfills our need for autonomy. In the workplace, this includes the flexibility to decide how best to accomplish our work and the inclusion in decisions that affect us.

7. Purpose

We have a deep need to make a social contribution. This need to serve the larger collective in some way provides us a sense of purpose, knowing that we have mattered because we have furthered the greater good. This need for making a positive impact is facilitated in the work environment by having a clear understanding of the organization’s purpose and how one’s work, even in a small way, is helping make the world a better place by bringing a positive future vision to life.

8. subsistence,

9. protection/security, 

10. affection, understanding, 

11. participation,

12. creation,

13. identity

14. and freedom.

 6 types of human needs

 Human need:

In one of Tony Robbins early books "Awaken the Giant Within", he discusses the concept of our belief system. When we state that we "believe" something, what we are really claiming is "I hold certainty of it". For example, you may be certain that you are smart or you may be certain that you always fail at your weight loss efforts.

What supports these certainty's is facts, or at least what we believe to be facts. For example, let's say your belief system tells you that you are smart. You have certainty that you are smart. Exterior feedback has given you this certainty. You may have gotten straight A's in school, which society dictates as a sign of intelligence. Or perhaps you hold a high IQ score. 

The more "facts" support a belief system, the more certainty we hold on that belief. This belief then dictates our actions, our personality, and inevitably our life. 

Humans also need certainty to be able to simply get through our daily needs, even if that certainty is an illusion. Think about it this way, this morning you likely woke up, got dressed and headed into the office to work. You had certainty that as of this morning, you still had a job. You had certainty that your building was still there standing, there was an element of predictability to your day. 

You order food at a restaurant with certainty that no one will try to poison you. You have a need to feel secure, you take comfort in a level of routine and consistency.

Part of Tony Robbins famed morning routine includes jumping into a cold plunge pool, which stays at a temperature of 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The good news is, you don't need to freeze every morning to get a similar edge on life. By following "Tony Robbins 6 needs that are core to humans", you'll gain some insight on what's really missing. 

In the following article, we will be breaking down these 6 core needs (certainty, uncertainty/variety, significance, connection/love, growth, and contribution) while offering some insight on how to satisfy each need. 

You may find that working on these areas can cause discomfort, however, this is a common symptom that comes with growth. However, as Mr.Robbins says "Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change". 

While his trending Netflix documentary title suggests he's "not your guru", to many Tony Robbins is just that. The celebrity motivational speaker comes from a rags-to-riches story and now has several books under his belt. 

In addition to his publications, Tony Robbins has spoken in front of millions of people at his annual conferences. Robbins is also known as the coaching force behind names like Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.

In his public LinkedIn post, the inspirational coach highlighted the 6 core needs of humans. Each of these needs addresses a different area of our beliefs, wants, and relationships. 

 Certainty

In one of Tony Robbins early books "Awaken the Giant Within", he discusses the concept of our belief system. When we state that we "believe" something, what we are really claiming is "I hold certainty of it". For example, you may be certain that you are smart or you may be certain that you always fail at your weight loss efforts.

What supports these certainty's is facts, or at least what we believe to be facts. For example, let's say your belief system tells you that you are smart. You have certainty that you are smart. Exterior feedback has given you this certainty. You may have gotten straight A's in school, which society dictates as a sign of intelligence. Or perhaps you hold a high IQ score. 

The more "facts" support a belief system, the more certainty we hold on that belief. This belief then dictates our actions, our personality, and inevitably our life. 

Humans also need certainty to be able to simply get through our daily needs, even if that certainty is an illusion. Think about it this way, this morning you likely woke up, got dressed and headed into the office to work. You had certainty that as of this morning, you still had a job. You had certainty that your building was still there standing, there was an element of predictability to your day. 

You order food at a restaurant with certainty that no one will try to poison you. You have a need to feel secure, you take comfort in a level of routine and consistency. 

Uncertainty/Variety

On the flip side, we also have a deep need for uncertainty. Let's be clear, most people don't enjoy experiencing uncertainty when it comes to the basic necessities of life; food, clothing, shelter, and water. 

However, when it comes to the other areas of our life, there's room for spontaneity. In fact, one study done by Duke University showed that people experience greater satisfaction with work and life when there's a level of unpredictability. 

The key is to have variety without feeling overwhelmed. For example, you may have an increase in satisfaction if you feel you worked productively on a new project. However, if too many new projects are thrown into the mix, feelings of satisfaction can quickly become feelings of overwhelm. 

So how do you inject enough spontaneity into your day to satisfy our human need for uncertainty? It may be easier than you think. In fact, you can experience the joys of variety by trying a new class, choosing to eat at a new restaurant, or even driving a different route to work.

The idea here is to tap into that childlike innocence that loves the idea of a great surprise. Even the surprises we don't want (like a flat tire or a break in) forces us to grow as individuals and adapt to what life throws at us.

It's best to choose to look at the ups and downs of life as pleasant surprises that create challenges, rather than choosing to be the victim. 

3. Significance

While you may not need to know the exact meaning of life, chances are you do want to live a life that holds some significance. What's important to remember is that we determine what makes something significant, important, or unique.

We can choose to lean towards what we are told is a significant life. This will typically include the image of a large home, fancy job, a great body, and some level of fame or status.

However, satisfaction is not found in meeting what society defines as significance. Instead, someone can experience a truly happy life by simply rising to what they consider to be significant. 

While everyone's form of significance is unique, it's important to base our significance in areas that won't conflict our mental or emotional health.

For example, many people find their significance in being the one in the room with the biggest problems. They have learned to identify themselves within victim mode, to the point where it's almost a competition.

While this can offer temporary satisfaction, constantly stating these negative aspects of our life feed into our belief system (remember the certainty we discussed in Need #1). As a result, we expect less of ourselves and continue in a rat wheel of negativity. 

When our coping mechanisms have taken a negative turn, it may be necessary to turn to professional psychological help. Remember, asking for help is often an essential first step to taking back your life. 

4. Connection/Love

Whether you can acknowledge it or not, the need for love is at the core of every decision we make throughout the day. Whether it's romantic love, familial love, or even the love for ourselves.

For example, when you woke up in the morning and chose the clothes you chose what you knew would be accepted by society. You didn't walk out naked. You made a choice that will allow you to be accepted among others.

You went to work to earn money, perhaps to provide for those you love as a sign of your love. Perhaps you are working towards a higher level of success in order to feel you are deserving of love.

There is a reason why one of the most intense forms of punishment given to prisoners in isolation. It's because even the most hardened criminals have a basic human need for interaction and connection. It's also the reason why many people tend to stay in relationships that aren't working for much longer than they should. It's because they would rather be miserable in a relationship than face being alone.

When we experience "being in love", our brain fires off oxytocin and dopamine that creates the same feeling as being high on cocaine. It would appear that even our bodies are consistently calling out for love and connection in it's most primal form.

5. Growth

The self-help market is said to be worth nearly $10 billion dollars. Between books, podcasts, and seminars, it's evident that people have a clear desire to better themselves. The beauty (and often the catalyst) of this need is that it applies to every area of our life.

If our relationship is not growing or evolving, one side will eventually become tired and leave. We work at our jobs with an expectation of moving up the ladder, and growing in both our income and our responsibilities. We even mark the milestones of our children, month by month, to ensure they are growing at a "correct" pace.

What's amazing about the need for growth, is no matter what else you have in your life, you cannot experience full satisfaction without it. You can have countless friends, a great paying job, and hobbies for days, but if you are not experiencing growth in at least one area of your life, there will always be a "void".

What's unfortunate here, is that many of us have been programmed to believe (by parents, media, or both) that we are incapable of growth. We grow up hearing phrases like "you are lazy and you always will be", "you'll never complete that", "who do you think you are?". As a result, we internalize that belief and choose not to grow, because we simply think we are incapable of doing so.

This doesn't solve the feeling of not being satisfied in our life, however. So what do we do? We turn to temporary feelings of comfort and pleasure. We turn to drugs and alcohol to get high. We gorge ourselves on burgers and soda. We experience empty relationships with people who don't deserve us. When in fact the only thing we really need, is the space for growth.

Creating a Life You Love

Tony Robbins 6 needs article is a great springboard to creating a life you truly love. By being clear about the obstacles you face, and your own false beliefs, you can make steps towards a well-rounded lifestyle.

However, it's important to remember that changing your life is not an overnight process. It can take years to make lasting changes, but the more you know and work on yourself the easier it will be to kick your limiting habits and beliefs. 

You can begin by taking letting go of the past to create a solid foundation to build upon. We suggest checking out our blog for more important information on creating a healthy mind, body, and spirit. 

Things human need every day

 Water

Clothes

Food 

Shelter

Security and safety 

Education

Entertainment 

Health care 

Drinking water

Excess informations

TV

Internet

Oxygen 

Phycological needs

Love

Sleep 

Sanitation 

Importance things ofhumans in the world

The most important thing that humans typically value can vary greatly depending on individual perspectives, cultures, and life experiences. However, some common themes include:

Relationships: Connections with family, friends, and communities are often seen as fundamental to happiness and well-being.

Health: Physical and mental health are universally prioritized, as they are essential for a good quality of life.

Love and Belonging: The need for love, acceptance, and belonging is a core human motivation.

Purpose and Meaning: Many people seek a sense of purpose in their lives, whether through work, hobbies, spirituality, or helping others.

Security: Safety and stability—financial, emotional, and physical—are critical for individuals and families.

Freedom: The ability to make choices and pursue one's own path is highly valued in many societies.

Happiness and Fulfillment: Ultimately, many humans strive for happiness and fulfillment in their lives.

What is Unemployment

Unemployment is a term referring to individuals who are employable and actively seeking a job but are unable to find a job. Included in this group are those people in the workforce who are working but do not have an appropriate job. Usually measured by the unemployment rate, which is dividing the number of unemployed people by the total number of people in the workforce, unemployment serves as one of the indicators of a country’s economic status.

Causes of Unemployment

The government defines those who want to work as people who have actively looked for work within the past four weeks and determines the number of people currently unemployed through a monthly survey called the Current Population Survey.

People can be unemployed for many reasons:

They quit their position and are looking for a new one.

They were laid off due to lack of work and haven't yet been rehired.

Their company reduced the work force, and they are seeking a new position. This can be due to a local condition, when the company closes a plant or division, or a national condition, when the economy slows and many companies reduce their work force.

They have recently returned to the work force - perhaps from pregnancy or attending school - and haven't yet located a position.

The need for their skill set has gone down, and there are limited positions available, which may lead to unemployment until they train for a new position.

Technology has reduced the need for their type of position.

Now, let's try a quick quiz. Pretend you receive a call from the Current Population Survey. You are currently in school and not working, although you have started applying for positions that you would start after graduation. Would they classify you as unemployed? And the answer is…no, you would not be considered unemployed, because you are not currently available for full-time work.

The causes of structural unemployment: Four factors that keep people from the jobs they deserved 

There is a specspecter huniting advanced industrial countries: structural unemployment. Recent years have seen growing concern over declining jobs, and though corporate profits have picked up after the Great Recession of 2008, jobs have not. It is possible that “jobless recoveries” could become a permanent feature of Western economies. This illuminating book focuses on the employment futures of advanced industrial countries, providing readers with the sociological imagination to appreciate the bigger picture of where workers fit in the new international division of labor. The authors piece together a puzzle that reveals deep structural forces underlying unemployment: skills mismatches caused by a shift from manufacturing to service jobs; increased offshoring in search of lower wages; the rise of advanced communication and automated technologies; and the growing financialization of the global economy that aggravates all of these factors. Weaving together varied literatures and data, the authors also consider what actions and policy initiatives societies might take to alleviate these threats. Addressing a problem that should be front and center for political economists and policymakers, this book will be illuminating reading for students of the sociology of work, labor studies, inequality, and economic sociology.

Factors affecting level of unemployment in South 

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the short-run and long-run relationship between economic variables and the unemployment rate in South Asian countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A panel Vector Error Correction (VECM) model is used to establish the long-run and the short-run relationship between unemployment rate and selected economic variables. Data were collected from WDI, WGI and FDSD for the year's 1994–2016.

Findings

The finding of the study showed a negative and significant relationship at the 5% level of significance among governance, internet users, mobile cellular subscriptions, fixed broadband subscriptions and human capital with an unemployment rate of South Asian economies. On the other hand, financial activity (credit) and population growth have a positive and significant relationship with the unemployment rate.

Research limitations/implications

In the light of our findings clear that employment problems can only be created if the government does not put in place adequate measures to control the population and allocate resources equitably, giving a sense of belonging to all citizens. Therefore, to provide the controlled population with the necessary employment opportunities, it is necessary to allocate resources efficiently and to launch projects aimed at creating jobs.

Practical implications

Transparency or merit is the basis of good governance and the very first step to achieving the goal of good governance is to fight against corruption. It provides a complete justification for providing good quality management records, financial controlling and managerial systems.

Originality/value

The connections between governance and unemployment are complex and need to be studied in a detailed manner. There is the absence of literature that strongly interfaces good governance to unemployment; the fundamental work in this regard is Farid (2015). They locate a solid relationship between good governance and improving external debt situation by in Pakistan a time series analysis. But there is no research in the context of South Asian countries between governance and unemployment.

Effects of High Unemployment Rates

Long-term unemployment can have serious ramifications for the individual and for the economy. People who are out of work for a long time lose their job skills and become less employable as time goes by. They also lose the motivation to look for work and become dissatisfied and depressed. Long-term unemployment can also be a burden upon taxpayers and social service systems. Below are a few of the negative consequences of a high unemployment rate:

Higher Foreclosure Rates: When people cannot pay their mortgage because they have lost their jobs, they risk losing their homes.

Put off Starting a Family: Couples are hesitant to marry, particularly in low-income communities, because they feel that it is unacceptable to marry without a steady job.

Increased Crime: During long periods of high unemployment, some communities deteriorate and crime rates increase.

Effects of Low Unemployment Rates

Low unemployment rate is good for the individual and the wider community in general. Those who work often feel better about themselves and can afford to spend more. With low unemployment rates, those who work can demand higher wages and feel more secure in their jobs. The economy benefits from increased activity and government agencies receive more tax dollars, which can then be spent on social programs. Below are some of the positive consequences of a low unemployment rate:

Strong Economy: When unemployment is low, it means that the economy is in good shape because there is demand for labor.

Lower Welfare Spending: During low unemployment the overall economy benefits from increased tax receipts and lower spending on welfare. More people working means fewer people claiming welfare.

Social Effects: Those who work generally feel better about themselves. The crime rate drops along with divorce and suicide rates.

Effects

High and the persistent unemployment, in which economic inequality increases, has a negative effect on subsequent long-run economic growth. Unemployment can harm growth because it is a waste of resources; generates redistributive pressures and subsequent distortions; drives people to poverty; constrains liquidity limiting labor mobility; and erodes self-esteem promoting social dislocation, unrest, and conflict.

The 2013 winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, Robert J. Shiller, said that rising inequality in the United States and elsewhere is the most important problem.

What's the Unemployment Rate?

The unemployment rate definition is the proportion of unemployed workers in a labor force. What does the unemployment rate mean? It means there is a certain percentage of unemployed people in the labor force. The primary purpose of tracking the unemployment rate is to determine the health of an economy, which helps set monetary policies. In every economy, the unemployment rate is constituted by various factors such as demographics, technology trends or automation, education and training, government hiring trends, and gender-related job preferences. These factors can determine the decrease or the increase of the unemployment rate. It is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed workers by the available labor force, and the obtained figure is multiplied by 100. The formula is written below:

What is structural unemployment and why does it occur?

Structural unemployment occurs as a result of structural economic changes. technological changes and industrial decline result in a mismatch between peoples' skills and requirements in emerging industries.

What is the difference between structural and frictional unemployment?

Frictional unemployment emerges when people shift from one job to another. On the other hand, structural unemployment is caused by structural changes in the economy, such as technological advances.

What are some examples of structural unemployment?

Structural unemployment results from structural changes in the economy. One example is when robotic arms programmed to conduct surgeries render surgeons structurally unemployed. Another example is self-driving cars that make driving skills obsolete.

What Causes Structural Unemployment?

As already clarified, structural employment is caused by fundamental changes in the economy's structure. But what are the specific causes of structural employment? Below are the reasons why this type of unemployment occurs

Corruption significantly impacts unemployment in South Africa through several interconnected mechanisms:

Resource Misallocation: Corruption often leads to the misallocation of resources. Funds intended for job creation, infrastructure development, and public services can be diverted for personal gain. This undermines economic growth and limits job opportunities.

Business Environment: High levels of corruption create an unstable business environment. Companies may be deterred from investing or expanding due to concerns about bribery, regulatory capture, and unfair competition. This reduces job creation in both the formal and informal sectors.

Public Sector Inefficiency: Corruption in public institutions can lead to inefficiencies and poor service delivery. If government agencies are corrupt, they may not effectively implement policies aimed at reducing unemployment, such as skills development programs or labor market interventions.

Inequality and Social Unrest: Corruption exacerbates inequality, leading to social unrest and instability. High unemployment rates, particularly among youth and marginalized communities, can result in protests and strikes, further deterring investment and economic growth.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Corruption can deter foreign investors, who might fear that their investments will not be protected or that they will face extra costs due to corrupt practices. Reduced FDI can lead to fewer jobs being created.

Policy and Governance: Corruption can skew policy priorities, focusing on short-term gains for a few rather than long-term strategies to boost employment. Good governance practices are essential for creating a conducive environment for job creation.

In summary, corruption in South Africa has a multifaceted negative impact on unemployment by hindering economic growth, discouraging investment, and perpetuating inefficiencies in both the public and private sectors. Addressing corruption is crucial for improving the employment landscape in the country

The Employment Report put out monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is one of the most-watched indicators of the state of the United States economy, headed by one statistic: the unemployment rate. Not only does the rate of employment – or unemployment – provide a snapshot of the American economy’s strength, but it also delivers a measure of overall satisfaction – or dissatisfaction – with the state of America, its government and its leaders.

Most recently, the unemployment rate fluctuated wildly, from a low of 4.7 percent in 2008 to a peak of 10.1 percent in 2009, after the U.S. housing bubble burst and Wall Street saw collapses unlike those seen since the Great Depression in the 1920s and 1930s.

The consequences of widespread and lingering unemployment are dire – not just for the nation’s overall economy, which loses a significant portion of consumer spending, one of its key drivers of growth, but also for the unemployed individuals, themselves. Long-term unemployment can often be financially, emotionally and psychologically destructive.

A job helps define a person’s place in society, and productive work has long been understood as one of the key elements necessary for a happy life. Persistent unemployment can lead to illness, marital strife, depression and even suicide.

Also, being able to pay one’s bills, provide for one’s family and contribute to society are essential factors in maintaining cultural well-being and communal identity. In addition to the steep decline in home values, America’s recent spate of foreclosures, with its concomitant erosion of robust neighborhoods, has been a direct result of widespread unemployment.

Given the importance of unemployment in U.S. society – not to mention the politically charged arguments for how to keep it low – it is instructive to understand how unemployment is measured, the different causes of unemployment, how the federal government tries to control unemployment and how unemployment rates fluctuated in the recent past.

How Unemployment is Measured

The U.S. government’s monthly Employment Report is based on two surveys. One is the Establishment Report, which asks a random sample of employers how many people are on their payroll. The second is the Current Population Survey (CPS), in which approximately 60,000 households are asked whether their members are working or looking for work.

The responses help the BLS produce an estimate of the number of employed Americans vs. the number of unemployed people. Being unemployed is defined as those who do not have a job, have actively looked for work in the prior four weeks and are available to work. Also listed as unemployed are laid-off workers waiting to be called back to the same job.

The BLS does not include all categories of the unemployed in its official unemployment rate.

In fact, it calculates six separate measures of unemployment, classified as U1 through U6:

U-1 – Unemployed 15 weeks or longer.

U-2 – Have completed temporary work or recently lost their jobs.

U-3 – Official unemployment rate, the total unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labor force.

U-4 – The total of unemployed (U-3), plus the total of discouraged workers – those who have given up looking for work because they don’t think there are jobs available.

U-5 – The total of unemployed (U-3), plus discouraged workers (U-4), plus all those “marginally attached” to the labor force – those unemployed who would like to work, but have not looked for work recently.

U-6 – The total of unemployed (U-3), plus discouraged workers (U-4), plus marginally attached workers (U-5), plus part-time or underemployed workers who want to work full-time but can’t because of economic reasons.

The Causes of Unemployment

Economists, academics and policy makers long have argued about the causes of and remedies for unemployment. While it is unlikely a consensus ever will be reached, given the conflicting political and sociological ideologies in American society, most agree that there are three main categories of unemployment that are readily recognizable. Those are frictional unemployment, structural unemployment and cyclical unemployment.

Frictional Unemployment

Frictional unemployment is always present in the economy. It comes from temporary transitions that workers make when moving from job to job looking for better pay or a job that more precisely matches their skills, or because of a change in locale or family situation. It is also a reflection of new or returning workers into the labor force (e.g., graduating college students or empty nesters rejoining the marketplace).

Frictional unemployment may also be the result of employers refraining from hiring or laying off workers for reasons unrelated to the economy.

Structural Unemployment

Structural unemployment is created when there is a mismatch in the demographic or industrial composition of a local economy. For example, structural unemployment can be high in a place where there are technically advanced jobs available but the workers in that area lack the skills to perform them, or conversely, in a locale where there are workers available but no jobs for them to fill.

Advances in new technologies can cause a decline in older industries, which then must shed workers to stay competitive. One example is the U.S. newspaper industry. Many newspaper reporters, editors and production workers have lost their jobs over the past decade as web-based advertising eclipsed newspapers’ traditional sources of revenue and circulation waned as more consumers got their news from television and the Internet. Laid-off journalists, printers, deliverers, etc., all increased the structural unemployment numbers.

Another example is small family farmers, whose farms cannot match the economic power of wealthy agri-businesses. Scores of farmers left the land and entered the workforce. When they fail to find jobs, they add to the structural unemployment statistics, as do factory workers whose employers have moved operations to low-wage countries.

Cyclical Unemployment

Cyclical unemployment occurs when there is not enough demand for goods and services in the economy at large to provide jobs for everyone who wants one. According to Keynesian economics, it is a natural result of the boom and bust business cycles implicit in the nature of capitalism. When businesses contract during a recessionary cycle, workers are let go and unemployment rises.

When unemployed consumers have less money to spend on goods and services, businesses must contract even further, causing more layoffs and more unemployment. The cycle continues to spiral downward unless and until the situation is improved by outside forces, particularly government intervention of some kind.

How the Government Tries to Lower Unemployment

Whenever unemployment gets too high – usually above 6 percent – the federal government often tries to step in and create jobs. This is especially important if a high rate of unemployment is cyclical, exists across a broad range of industries and segments of the economy and is stubbornly long term (all of which are characteristics of the unemployment brought about by the Great Recession).

The two major tactics the government can employ in its job-creating strategy are changes to its monetary policy and/or changes to its fiscal policies. Different remedies have been applied at different times in our history with different results – and politics always plays a role in whether or when a particular tactic is going to be introduced.

Monetary Policy

Monetary policy is controlled by the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States, the independent central bank empowered to control the country’s money supply. To stimulate the economy into creating more jobs, the Fed often offers help in one of two ways.

One tool is lowering the interest rates in the overall economy so that it is cheaper for banks and businesses to borrow money. The goal is to encourage banks to invest and businesses to expand, stimulating economic vitality and thus bringing about increased hiring. Lower interest rates also decrease individual borrowing costs, inducing consumers to spend more money.

The second Fed tool is increasing the amount and/or the availability of money in circulation by buying and selling various financial instruments (treasury bills, bonds, etc.). As more money enters the economy, commerce expands and businesses can hire more workers.

Fiscal Policy

If the Fed’s expansionary monetary policy is not adequate to reverse the economy’s downward trend, then the federal government will employ various fiscal policies in order to combat continuing high levels of unemployment.

Some things the government can do:

Cut taxes for businesses and individuals to increase spending and stimulate economic growth.

Increase government spending in targeted industries in order to spur employment.

Hire workers to build things like mass transit systems or provide services like infrastructure upkeep and repair.

Provide benefits to unemployed workers so they can spend on basics like food, clothing and housing, driving retailers and manufacturers to hire more people.

History of Unemployment

The U.S. government began tracking unemployment officially in the 1950s, but estimates of previous unemployment rates are not difficult to ascertain. The Great Depression of the early 1930s had an unemployment rate of 23.6 percent – the highest in modern times. The country’s lowest rate – 1.2 percent – came in 1944 when millions of men were in uniform and the wartime (World War II) economy was in overdrive. The lowest post-war rate was 2.9 percent in 1953.

Since 1948, the end of the postwar period, the United States has experienced 11 recessions. Over that span, the federal government has employed various methods to push back unemployment caused by these cyclical contractions of the economy.

For example:

The Federal Aid Highway Act, which authorized the construction of the Interstate Highway System, putting thousands to work, helped President Dwight Eisenhower combat the recession of 1957 and its unemployment rate of 6.8 percent.

President John F. Kennedy cut taxes and expanded Social Security and unemployment benefits to counter a brief recession at the beginning of his term. The rate went from 6.7 percent in 1961 to 5.5 percent in 1962.

The unemployment rate reached a peak of 10.8 percent in the early 1980s, falling to 5.3 percent by the end of President Ronald Reagan’s second term. It rose to 7.5 percent in 1992, under George H.W. Bush, and hovered between 4 and 6 percent during the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush presidencies. The Great Recession pushed it above 10 percent for the second time in decades. It stayed above 8 percent until September 2012.

Best Premier League goalkeepers

Lamine Yamal made history for Barcelona against Real Madrid on Saturday night / Quality Sport When asked what Real Madrid's players had said to him after scoring in Barcelona's 4-0 thrashing on Saturday night

Lamine Yamal grinned to show his braces and said: "They didn't know I had a right foot." The best young player in the world used his weaker side to blast the ball above Andriy Lunin for Barcelona's third of a night to remember. Yamal called the Catalan giants the best team on the planet, and few have been better than him in that elite setup. 

2. Kenan(Juventus) Kenan

, Juventus' current number ten, has a strong relationship with perhaps his most legendary predecessor in that shirt, Alessandro Del Piero. When the teenage Turk was told that the Italian icon celebrated his first goal at San Siro by sticking his tongue out, Yildiz nodded: "I didn't know that. 

I'll have to try to replicate it." When the 19-year-old came off the bench with Juve trailing 4-2 to Inter on Sunday, tributes would not have been at the forefront of his thinking. 

Yildiz kept his tongue in his mouth after halving the deficit before opening up wide once he made it 4-4 in the 82nd minute

. 1. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski has scored ten goals in 16 games against Real Madrid in his career, including two on Saturday While Real Madrid's number nine toiled offside, Robert Lewandowski stayed within the laws of the game to score twice for the visitors. 

The quality of the Pole's performance was such that he came away disappointed by not bagging a hat-trick. That regret was short-lived on a glorious night for La Liga's early leaders. 

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• 3 best WSL teams: October 2024 - ranked RANKED: 7 best players of Premier League Gameweek 9 Gameweek 9 littered with late goals and dramatic comebacks There was impressive performers on both sides of the 2-2 draw between Arsenal and Liverpool Cole Palmer once again lit up Chelsea's Stamford Bridge By Grey Whitebloom | 28 Oct 2024 Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer were both on target this weekend Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer were both on target this weekend / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images | Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images The final weekend of Premier League football in October fittingly produced plenty of late scares. 

Half of the ten fixtures had the result decisively changed by stoppage-time goals. Controversy and calamity was dished out in equal measure as shot-stopper, who rebuffed seven efforts to ensure that Evanilson's stoppage-time header snatched a point for Bournemouth. Cherries boss Andoni Iraola spoke for many when he admitted that Travers "kept us in the game when we were suffering". 5. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) Bryan Mbeumo Bryan Mbeumo celebrates a late winner for Brentford / Alex Pantling/GettyImages Always watch Brentford.

 As Thomas Frank grinned after a bonkers 4-3 victory over Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon: "When we play, it is exciting." Premier League games involving the Bees this season produce a staggering average of four goals - most of those that Brentford score have something to do with Bryan Mbeumo. 

The capital club's reliable talisman delivered another brace at the Gtech, including a 96th-minute winner. 

4. Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool) Ibrahima Konate, Gabriel Martinelli Ibrahima Konate won most of his physical duels against Arsenal / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages While Virgil van Dijk was involved in more of the incidents which directly defined Liverpool's spirited 2-2 draw away to Arsenal on Sunday, Ibrahima Konate's assured display kept the visitors in a contest which enjoyable ebbed and flowed. The bruising centre-back was always on hand to cover the wandering Trent Alexander-Arnold, shutting Gabriel Martinelli out of much of the game with a typically full-blooded performance. 

3. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) Bukayo Saka Bukayo Saka made an opportune return from injury on Sunday / Marc Atkins/GettyImages Arsenal's unspoken mantra of getting the ball to Bukayo Saka at every given opportunity worked once again on Sunday. 

Upon his unexpected return from injury, the durable and dexterous forward showed Arsenal what they had been missing inside the opening ten minutes.

 Andy Robertson was writhing around in a knotted heap on the Emirates turf by the time Saka blasted the ball beyond Caoimhin Kelleher. 

The Scot never got to grips with Arsenal's youthful record breaker. 2. Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest) Chris Wood, Anthony Elanga Chris Wood celebrated a well-taken brace on Friday night / Carl Recine/GettyImages One of the few people not queuing up to laud Chris Wood's prolific start to the season was the Kiwi striker himself. 

Nottingham Forest's talisman insists that he is a forward who relies upon service from his teammates, but Wood has certainly made the most of the chances that have come his way. 

The New Zealand international scored with both of his shots on target in Forest's 3-1 victory over Leicester City on Friday night. As many as 23 players have taken more shots than Wood this season but only two can boast more goals. 

1. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) Cole Palmer Cole Palmer couldn't help but smile during Chelsea's victory over Newcastle / Ryan Pierse/GettyImages Chelsea's reliance upon Cole Palmer was abundantly clear once again during Sunday's 2-1 victory over Newcastle United, as the bewitching playmaker left his indelible mark on both of the hosts' goals. But few teams in the world would not bend to the will of a player as talented as Palmer.

The best players in the world

The best players in the world -

 Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are no longer the undisputed top two in world football Europe boasts some incredible talents fighting for the tag of best on the planet Real Madrid and Man City players dominate the rankings By Ewan Ross-Murray | Oct 28, 2024, 5:32 PM GMT With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo having entered the twilight of their careers, debates regarding the best footballer in the world are now much more complicated. There are plenty of superstars across the planet, with the bulk of the most talented players plying their trade in Europe, but when it comes to comparing the top performers, the playing field is significantly more level. 

 Here's 90min's ranking of the best players in the world right now - and this list is categorically accurate, so don't even bother complaining.

 65. Granit Xhaka Granit Xhaka's transformation over the past few years has been remarkable. The midfielder has gone from a much-maligned, error-prone enforcer at Arsenal - infamously falling out with the club's supporters for his on-field behaviour - to a key contributor in one of Europe's most exciting sides.

 Xhaka enjoyed a debut season to remember after swapping Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, guiding the German side to a first Bundesliga title and scoring the winning goal in the DFB Pokal final as Die Werkself went unbeaten domestically. 64. 

Marquinhos Paris Saint-Germain's status as flat-track bullies in Ligue 1 and underperformers in the Champions League has often dented Marquinhos' reputation, but the Brazilian centre-back has been a consistent and world-class performer in the French capital for many years. Marquinhos has evolved with age and is now one of the most experienced defenders in the game, effortlessly commanding PSG's defence with his impressive athleticism, positioning and in-game intelligence. 

 63. Ollie Watkins Ollie Watkins had often flattered to deceive in his early Aston Villa days but the arrival of Unai Emery as the club's manager transformed the England international. Once a wasteful finisher, Watkins has developed into one of the Premier League's most clinical sharpshooters. 2023/24 was particularly fruitful for the speedy forward, who managed 40 goal contributions in all competitions for the Villans, and he is improving with every passing game as Emery moulds him into an elite centre-forward. 

 62. Joshua Kimmich Joshua Kimmich may not be the most glamorous footballer on the planet as he chops and changes between energetic central midfielder and indefatigable right-back, but his consistency has made him a standout performer for Bayern Munich over the past decade. A lite version of Bayern legend Philipp Lahm, Die Roten's versatile workhorse has been integral to his side's success as they have dominated German football. He even helped them win the Champions League in 2020, too. 

 61. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Khvicha Kvaratskhelia deservedly earned the moniker 'Kvaradona' at Napoli after he drew comparisons with the great Diego Maradona. The Georgian was essential in the Italian side's first Serie A victory since the magical Argentine was wearing light blue.

 Kvaratskhelia hasn't been quite as impactful for Napoli since 2022/23 Serie A glory but it's easy to forget just how young the fleet-footed winger still is. He has enormous potential to improve and is already one of the world's silkiest dribblers. 

 60. Dani Carvajal Daniel Carvajal Dani Carvajal is not the most exciting footballer, nor the most graceful on the ball. But there is something to be said for an elite player who constantly finds himself in a winning team. Carvajal's gift is his brain and determination, although he is capable of popping up at crucial moments too - scoring in Real Madrid's 2023/24 Champions League final win springs to mind. He's relentless in the hunt for more silverware and there's a reason he consistently finds himself starting in a generational Real Madrid side.

 59. Alessandro Bastoni Alessandro Bastoni is an underappreciated defender / Marc Atkins/GettyImages Inter are known for their stubborn defence under Simone Inzaghi and key to that rigidity is Alessandro Bastoni. Capable of playing in a centre-back partnership or as part of a trio, the lanky Italian isn't blessed with pace but has the intelligence to find himself in the right spot at the right moment. 

 An underappreciated elite central defender, few strikers get the better of Bastoni in Italy, on the continent or on the international stage. 

 58. Rafael Leao Few can match the sheer explosiveness and dynamism of Milan winger Rafael Leao. The skilful Portuguese is often seen tormenting Serie A full-backs with his speed and quick feet, and yet still has room for improvement. Milan's recent form hasn't always given Leao the platform to shine but there is no stopping the fleet-footed attacker when he hits his stride. 

 57. Julian Alvarez Julian Alvarez has more or less completed football already. He's won the World Cup and Copa America (twice) with Argentina and the Champions League, Premier League (twice again) and FA Cup with Manchester City. It's no surprise that the forward got a little bored and decided to jet off to Atletico Madrid in search of more regular first-team football, where he will be hoping to add to his honours list up against city rivals Real Madrid and Catalan giants Barcelona. 

 56. Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo's stock has fallen since his lucrative switch to Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, the Portuguese forward is still hammering goals in with impressive regularity in the Middle East. 

 The veteran still has that killer instinct in the opposition penalty area and boasts the athletic frame of someone ten years younger. 

He won't last forever, but for now he is still a top talent. 

 55. Raphinha Raphinha - Brazilian Soccer Winger - Born 1996 Sustained periods of form have escaped Raphinha since he made the switch from Leeds to Barcelona in 2022. 

The Brazilian winger has struggled for rhythm, although he's shown himself to be a selfless operator that can deliver in key moments. Raphinha is desperate to star in Catalonia and follow in the footsteps of compatriot Ronaldinho at the Camp Nou. A wonderfully gifted player with immense technique, the winger has started the 2024/25 season in fine form.

 54. Gabriel There may not be a more underrated centre-back on the planet than Arsenal's Gabriel. 

 The Brazilian is seemingly overshadowed by his more glamorous and stylish partner, but William Saliba wouldn't have enjoyed such a seamless transition into Premier League life if it wasn't for Gabriel. The more brutish of the two, Gabriel has eliminated the brain fades which undermined his early years in north London.

 His aggression and physicality work hand-in-hand with Mikel Arteta's ideals, and he's immense when tasked to defend his box, too. 

 53. Alejandro Grimaldo Alexandro Grimaldo Grimaldo was a major feature in Leverkusen's title win / Jürgen Fromme Signing Alejandro Grimaldo on a free transfer proved to be a transformative bit of business from Xabi Alonso.

 The former Benfica left-back was a constant source of goals in his first season at Bayer Leverkusen, helping the German side go unbeaten domestically.

 52. Artem Dovbyk Long gone are the days of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo topping La Liga's goalscoring charts. Former Girona striker Artem Dovbyk is the current Pichichi Trophy holder, powering the City Football Group outfit to Champions League qualification in 2023/24. The Ukrainian still needs to back up his impressive first campaign and will be tasked with doing so in unfamiliar surroundings following his move to Roma. 

 51. Serhou Guirassy UEFA Europa Champions LeagueClub Brugge - Borussia Dortmund Something of a late bloomer, Serhou Guirassy had done little in his career before 2023/24 to suggest a 28-goal campaign in the Bundesliga was en route. The Guinea international's ruthlessness in front of goal was pivotal for Stuttgart as they secured Champions League football, earning him a move to Borussia Dortmund, too. 

 50. Lois Openda Lois Openda has had no issues adapting to the Eredivisie, Ligue 1 or the Bundesliga during his career so far. Now bossing it with RB Leipzig in Germany, the Belgian striker is going from strength to strength. With searing speed matched with clinical finishing, Openda could earn a move to a European giant in the coming years. 

 49. Kyle Walker Kyle Walker may not boast the technical attributes that make some of his Manchester City teammates such glossy footballers, but the function he serves enables Pep Guardiola's side to suffocate almost every team they face. The right-back is famously rapid and uses his strength to great effect, coming out from duels with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior with great respect in recent years. 

 48. Viktor Gyokeres Viktor Gyokeres is a striker giants around Europe are snooping around and for good reason. The Sweden international bagged goal after goal as Sporting CP won the 2023/24 Primeira Liga in Portugal. How long he'll stay at the club with such interest in his services remains to be seen. 

 47. Gavi They don't make many midfielders more tenacious than Barcelona's Gavi. 

 The all-action Spain international makes life hell for his opponents, never giving them any time to settle and snapping into any challenges he can make. He was largely absent throughout 2023/24 due to a severe injury and Barca must be more cautious with his comeback than they have been with others in recent years. 

 46. Vitinha Vitinha may be diminutive in frame, but he certainly packs a punch. A gloriously gifted midfielder in possession, the Portuguese international is one of those players you never get tired of watching. 

 A subtle passer who can pick a lock in the final third, Vitinha is starting to blossom as the heartbeat of PSG's midfield. Oh, and he also loves a strike from distance.

 45. Frenkie de Jong Dutchman Frenkie de Jong hasn't scooped as much silverware as he might have anticipated when he joined Barca from Ajax in 2019, but his magical performances have at times held the Catalan giants together in recent years. Linked with an exit almost every year, the silky midfielder doesn't let the speculation get to him and continues to make opposition players look silly with his dribbling and game awareness. 

 44. Alexander Isak Alexander Isak fell foul to Newcastle United's horrific injury problems throughout 2023/24. Had he stayed fit for the full year, the Swede may have given Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland a tougher run for his money.

 The Magpies forward is rapid when chasing passes, boasts brilliant close control and is becoming more ruthless in front of goal with each season. 

 43. Bradley Barcola PSG are on a mission this season to prove they're much, much more than the mere 'Kylian Mbappe team'. The French superstar has departed for the Spanish capital, but supporters have little reason to fear with Barcola filling the void. A leggy wide player adept off both feet, Barcola boasts great variety down the left flank and is destined to blossom into France's next great attacking hope. 

 42. Pedri Barca haven't done well enough to stop midfield star Pedri from being overworked and the Spain international has been dogged by injuries during his brief career so far. 

 However, if the Las Palmas youth product can stay fit for a prolonged period, his stock around the world will only grow. Pedri is an archetypal Barca midfielder possessing supreme vision, technical skills and dribbling and will be a feature for the Spanish national team over the next ten years. 

 41. David Alaba David Alaba often starred at left-back during his time with Bayern Munich but is more regularly seen operating in central defence these days with Real Madrid. The Austrian's versatility has helped him shine in all areas of the pitch, being just as adept at snuffing out attacks as he is at starting them with his brilliant passing range. 

 40. Alexis Mac Allister Alexis Mac Allister became a global superstar for his role in Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph, having previously won admirers for his tenacious and skilful efforts at Brighton & Hove Albion. The midfielder has shown his undoubted quality since joining Liverpool and has a knack for scoring belters from distance.

 39. Bruno Guimaraes Bruno Guimaraes The heartbeat of Newcastle United's transformation under Eddie Howe, there are few better all-action midfielders on the planet than Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian can do it all for the Magpies and was a constant in a side ravaged by injuries during the 2023/24 campaign. Without him, Newcastle would be much, much worse off. 

 38. Nicolo Barella A truly indefatigable midfielder in the heart of a relentless Inter side, Nicolo Barella has the perfect blend of elegance, technique and aggression. The diminutive Italian is ferocious in the challenge and tireless in pressurising the opposition, but has the necessary grace to unlock defences. 

 It's no surprise that Barella has risen to the top of European football so swiftly, embodying the best attributes of the legendary Italy midfielders that have come before him. 

 37. Hakan Calhanoglu The current holder of Serie A's Best Midfielder award ranks himself among the very best, and he deservedly made the list of 2024 Ballon d'Or nominees.

 Calhanoglu's evolution from maverick playmaker into all-encompassing regista has been Marcelo Brozovic-esque, and he may have already eclipsed the Croat's legacy in Milan following a stellar couple of years with the Nerazzurri. The Turkish star boasts a supreme passing range and is almost faultless from set-pieces.

 36. Bruno Fernandes Manchester United dropped off alarmingly after coming third in Erik ten Hag's debut season at Old Trafford. Thankfully for the Dutchman, he was still able to bag an FA Cup trophy, with Bruno Fernandes his on-field general during a stunning upset victory over Man City. The Portugal international is always alert to his surroundings and can pop up with a goal from anywhere. 

 35. Trent Alexander-Arnold Trent Alexander-Arnold's wizardry from right-back was a major feature of Jurgen Klopp's dazzling spell in charge of Liverpool. The local lad is one of the most prolific assisters in the top flight with a truly generational passing range. There remain questions over whether he should be moved into midfield, but he offers something incredibly unique from defence. 

 34. Rodrygo One of the most underappreciated attackers in the modern game, Rodrygo has often been left in the shadows by his Real Madrid teammates. Whether it's Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior or Jude Bellingham, the Brazilian hasn't always claimed the plaudits he deserves. However, he remains an exceptional dribbler and scorer of big goals for Los Blancos, regularly popping up in the latter stages of the Champions League with crucial strikes.

 33. Cole Palmer Chelsea seem to be limping from season to season these days but the arrival of Cole Palmer reaped instant rewards in comparison to many of their other recent acquisitions. The former Man City youngster enjoyed a ridiculous goalscoring 2023/24 season at Stamford Bridge and even popped up with a goal in the Euro 2024 final despite England failing to triumph. 

 32. Robert Lewandowski No matter where, no matter when, no matter how, Robert Lewandowski continues to score goals at a frightening rate. The Barca forward took little time to adapt to life in La Liga following his move from Bayern Munich as his goals powered his new side to the Spanish title. He backed that up with 19 in his second campaign in Catalonia despite constant speculation over his future.

 31. Ilkay Gundogan Ilkay Gundogan so often came alive in the penalty area when Man City needed him to, playing a huge role in each of the five Premier League titles he won at the Etihad Stadium. The Germany international was club captain during the latter stages of his City career before sealing a free transfer to Barca. Off-field drama has dominated the headlines in Catalonia in recent years but Gundogan was a model professional during an impressive first term in La Liga. He's since completed a stunning return to City. 

 30. Thibaut Courtois An anterior cruciate ligament tear kept him out of action for the majority of the 2023/24 campaign, but Thibaut Courtois has enough credit in the bank to still be ranked among the world's best goalkeepers. His 2022 Champions League final performance for Real Madrid remains one of the great individual displays in Europe and he will be hopeful of getting back to those levels soon having now made his injury comeback. 

 29. Ederson Without revolutionary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's existence, football may never have got to see the enigma in goal that is Ederson. Bizarrely for a well-conditioned 6'2 goalkeeper, shot-stopping is probably the weakest part of his game, but he more than makes up for his occasional handling lapses with flawless footwork and incredible positioning. Few between the sticks have ever read the game as well as Ederson and few have possessed his skills with the ball. Laser-like passing? Easy. A flat accurate delivery covering 75 yards? No problem. Unstoppable penalties? You bet. 

 28. Son Heung-min The Tottenham forward could have shrunk following Harry Kane's exit but he stood taller instead, providing a focal point for Spurs either from the left flank or up top. Ange Postecoglou has managed to keep him firing for the Lilywhites, with Son Heung-min still an often unstoppable force in the Premier League. He shows few signs of slowing down soon. 

 27. John Stones John Stones The transformation of John Stones into a defender-cum-midfielder for Man City in the 2022/23 season helped propel Pep Guardiola's side to a sensational treble. The England international struggled with injuries in 2023/24 but remains an integral part of the swashbuckling City machine when fit.

 26. Victor Osimhen The Nigeria striker seems set to leave the club permanently in the near future, with the only barrier to an exit being Napoli's incredibly high valuation. Victor Osimhen was crucial to Napoli's first scudetto in over three decades during the 2022/23 season and still found the back of the net frequently the following campaign despite the struggles of his side. Enjoy, Gala. 

 25. Florian Wirtz One of the leading stars of the Bundesliga at such a young age, Florian Wirtz was essential to Bayer Leverkusen's incredible 2023/24 campaign under Xabi Alonso. He even grabbed the Player of the Season award in Germany's top flight. The attacking midfielder has always been a relentless provider of goals and assists for Leverkusen, shaking off a significant injury during the early stages of his career with little fuss. 

 24. Federico Valverde Real Madrid are about to enter a glorious era with so many future superstars set to strut their stuff at the Bernabeu. However, without industrious midfielders like Federico Valverde, there'd be little chance of the new Galacticos succeeding. Arguably the best out-and-out central midfielder in world football, the Uruguay international has learned from the best in Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, showing his eye for a pass regularly, and he does so much dog work to allow his more illustrious teammates to shine.

 23. Antoine Griezmann Antoine Griezmann The Frenchman continues to go under the radar at Atletico Madrid but his sensational attacking returns speak for themselves. Antoine Griezmann has been a chief creator and finisher for the Spanish side in recent seasons and has such an effortless understanding of how to make difficult things look simple. 

 22. Ruben Dias Ruben Dias became the first player since 1989 to be named FWA Football of the Year in his debut season at Man City, such was his brilliance central defence. The Portuguese was also named the Premier League's player of the season, picking up the club's gong too, and has gone from strength to strength in a City side that finally lifted the Champions League in 2023. Dias has four Premier League titles to his name and countless more are likely to follow if he has anything to do with it. 

 21. Bernardo Silva A man for the big occasions, Bernardo Silva is such a graceful footballer. The twinkle-toed Portuguese continues to dazzle but doesn't attract praise quite as easily as some of his Man City teammates. Silva is often linked with an exit from the Etihad Stadium but there is a reason Guardiola is so keen to keep him in Manchester. 

 20. Declan Rice Declan Rice's £105m British record transfer fee sounded alarm bells in the ears of sceptics who were unable to fathom why a player worth so much would still be playing for West Ham United at 24 years of age. The truth of the matter is Arsenal were the first side to come anywhere close to West Ham's more than fair valuation of a midfielder who can play every role to an exceptional standard. Arsenal have reaped the benefits of having Rice in their team and he's a future Gunners skipper in the making. 

 19. Lamine Yamal Lamine

 Yamal Lamine Yamal is a phenomenon / Justin Euro 2024 was a coming of age tournament for Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal, who emerged from the competition with individual and collective glory. He became the youngest goalscorer in Euros history, won the Young Player of the Tournament, scored the Goal of the Tournament and was crowned a European champion when Spain triumphed over England in the final. The starlet was already a sensation at Barcelona but has now hit new heights.

 18. Jamal Musiala Bayern may not have enjoyed the most fruitful 2023/24 season but Jamal Musiala's brilliance offered some respite to the club's supporters in difficult times. The German attacking midfielder is just breathtaking to watch, weaving in and out of opposition defenders with ease and often having the end product to match his quick feet. 

 17. Lionel Messi Lionel 

Messi Messi is still impressing in MLS / Rich Storry The record Ballon d'Or winner is still sparkling in the pink of Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, now sharing the field with old Barca teammates Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets. Lionel Messi is still making a mockery of defenders in 2024, even if the quality of opponent he's facing on a weekly basis isn't quite the same standard he's used to. 

 16. Martin Odegaard

 Martin Odegaard Martin Odegaard is a conductor in midfield / Visionhaus/GettyImages Arsenal's most important creative force, the skipper has the rare ability to dictate play in the final third with his incredible vision and defence-splitting left foot. Martin Odegaard has been vital for the Gunners over recent campaigns, with the Norwegian often decisive on the big stage.

 15. Bukayo Saka

 Bukayo Saka Bukayo Saka is pure class / Jonathan Arsenal's ascent under Mikel Arteta has been massively helped by the form of Bukayo Saka, with the young winger an absolute menace from the right wing for the Gunners. The England international has taken on a significant goalscoring burden for the Gunners and is an absolute joy to watch in full flight. 

 14. William Saliba

 William Saliba Saliba is making waves with his performances at Arsenal / Jonathan When William Saliba returned to Arsenal in the summer of 2022 having spent three years back in France on loan at Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille, there was talk of him leaving the Emirates Stadium on a permanent basis. But Mikel Arteta instead opted to not only integrate Saliba into his squad but make the elegant centre-back an immediate starter alongside Gabriel Magalhaes. It has proven to be an inspired decision, with the Frenchman seemingly capable of doing absolutely everything. 'The sky is the limit' is a cliché often overused in football when describing a player's talent, yet somehow that may not do Saliba justice.

 13. Virgil van Dijk One of the best defenders in world football, Virgil van Dijk has rediscovered his form after a difficult 2022/23 campaign. The Dutchman, who is now captaining the Reds, scored the winning goal in the Carabao Cup final and was back to his imperious best during the 2023/24 campaign. Liverpool are desperate for him to maintain his standards for as long as possible. 

 12. Alisson Alisson Becker

 Alisson is arguably the most talented goalkeeper on the planet Arguably the most talented goalkeeper on the planet, Alisson was immense for Liverpool again during Jurgen Klopp's final season in charge despite some nagging injury concerns. The Brazilian continues to outperform his expected goals conceded total by a significant margin, with few stoppers better at sweeping from the back and coming out on top in one-v-one situations. 

 11. Lautaro Martinez

 Lautaro Martinez Lautaro Martinez is a sensational striker / Jona After securing another Serie A title for Inter, Lautaro Martinez scooped the division's Paolo Rossi Award - also known as the Capocannoniere - as the most prolific goalscorer. The Argentine forward does have the tendency to blow hot and cold at times, but he has been absolutely relentless in the black and blue of Inter in recent times. Winning the Golden Boot en route to the 2024 Copa America title has only boosted his reputation. 

 10. Antonio Rudiger

 Antonio Rudiger Rudiger has been formidable at the Bernabeu / Diego You know what you're going to get with Antonio Rudiger. The ruthless German defender is a perfect blend of modern and old school centre-back. The Real Madrid defender stepped up for Real Madrid amid a defensive injury crisis in 2023/24, helping the club secure yet another Champions League crown. 

 9. Phil Foden Phil Foden

 Phil Foden lit up the Premier League in 2023/24 Ever since Pep Guardiola became Man City manager, local lad Phil Foden has been destined to become one of the best players in the world. While his quality has never been in question, the 2023/24 campaign saw the England international step up as a clutch performer, and he was deservedly named the Premier League Player of the Season as Man City won the title.

 8. Mohamed Salah

 Mohamed Salah Mo Salah is a Liverpool legend / James Mohamed Salah guaran goals for Liverpool and has even become a more regular provider for his teammates as he's aged. 

Now into his early 30s, the Egyptian continues to dominate the scoring charts for the Reds. 

 With his old forward partners Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino having left Anfield, Salah - arguably the best right winger in the world - is now able to soak up the full adoration of the Liverpool crowd. 

 7. Harry Kane FBL-EUR-C1-BAYERN MUNICH-DINAMO ZAGREB Harry Kane guarantees goals / ALEXANDER Harry Lane took no time in adapting to life in Bavaria, quickly finding his goalscoring touch following his move to Bayern from Tottenham. The England captain almost matched Lewandowski's record for most goals scored in a Bundesliga season (41) and has quickly won favour with the Allianz Arena crowd - even if his trophy curse has astonishingly continued.

 6. Kevin De Bruyne 

Kevin De Bruyne Kevin De Bruyne is a sensational talent A significant injury at the start of 2023/24 kept Kevin De Bruyne out for several months but he swiftly found his feet after a long layoff and is back to his electric best. The Belgian, whose contributions led City to a fourth successive Premier League title last term, can do things with a football no other player can, with his passing unmatched around the world.

 5. Jude Bellingham 

Jude Bellingham Jude Bellingham has achieved so much at such a young age There were question marks about how quickly Jude Bellingham would be able to settle at Real Madrid after his 2023 switch, but he silenced any doubters within his first few games at the Bernabeu. The England international scored countless crucial goals for the Spanish giants during his debut season, helping them win La Liga and the Champions League.

 There is no doubt he is already one of the world's best midfielders. 

 4. Kylian Mbappe Kylian Mbappe Kylian Mbappe is now a Real Madrid player Kylian Mbappe will team up with Bellingham in the Spanish capital during the 2024/25 campaign after finally securing his long-awaited Real Madrid move. 

 The 2018 World Cup winner is famed for his electric pace and devastating finishing and is PSG's all-time record goalscorer. 

 He may not have led the Ligue 1 giants to a Champions League title but the France captain now has every chance of conquering the continent following his move to Spain.

 3. Rodri Rodri Rodri is irreplaceable for club and country / Alex Livesey When Man City lose - which is a rare occurrence - it's normally because Rodri isn't involved. The Spaniard is a destroyer in defensive midfield, hoovering up the ball at every opportunity, but he also has the ability to pick defences apart and pop up with crucial goals. Rodri scored the winner for the Cityzens in the 2022/23 Champions League final, cementing his spot in club folklore. He now has a European Championship to his name, too. 

 2. Vinicius Junior Vinicius Junior Vinicius Junior is unplayable Vinicius Junior has the luxury of playing alongside some of the world's best all over the field but he is just as integral to record European champions Real Madrid. The Brazil star's speed and trickery make him a full-back's nightmare and he proved he can play as part of a front two under Carlo Ancelotti as he claimed another Champions League title in 2023/24. 

 1. Erling Haaland Erling Haaland Erling Haaland is simply unbelievable Erling Haaland smashed the goalscoring record for a single Premier League season during his debut Man City campaign, netting 36 times in 35 matches for the champions. His second season in England was pretty remarkable, too. The Norwegian may not be the most technically gifted footballer the world has ever seen but his ruthlessness in front of goal makes him one of the planet's most devastating strikers. He's started 2024/25 with the intent on breaking further scoring records.

 

Sexual transmitted diseases (STD)

Sexual transmitted disease (STD) and the older term venereal disease (VD), is an infection that is spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, or sometimes manual sex. STIs often do not initially cause symptoms, which results in a risk of transmitting them on to others. The term sexually transmitted infection is generally preferred over sexually transmitted disease or venereal disease, as it includes cases with no symptomatic disease. Symptoms and signs of STIs may include vaginal discharge, penile discharge, ulcers on or around the genitals, and pelvic pain.Some STIs can cause infertility Bacterial STIs include gonorrhea, and syphilis. 

 Viral STIs include genital warts, genital herpes, and HIV/AIDS. Parasitic STIs include trichomoniasis. Most STIs are treatable and curable, of the most common infections; syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis are curable, while HIV/AIDS and genital herpes are not curable. Some vaccinations may decrease the risk of certain infections including hepatitis B and few types of HPV. Safe sex practices such as use of condoms, having smaller number of sexual partners, and being in a relationship in which each person only has sex with the other also decreases STIs risk. 

 Comprehensive sex education may also be useful. STI diagnostic tests are usually easily available in the developed world, but they are often unavailable in the developing world. There is often shame and stigma associated with STIs In 2015, STIs other than HIV resulted in 108,000 deaths worldwide.

 Globally, in 2015, about 1.1 billion people had STIs other than HIV/AIDS. About 500 million have either syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia or trichomoniasis. At least an additional 530 million have genital herpes, and 290 million women have human papillomavirus. Historical documentation of STIs in antiquity dates back to at least the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BCE) and the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Signs and symptoms Not all STIs are symptomatic, and symptoms may not appear immediately after infection. In some instances a disease can be carried with no symptoms, which leaves a greater risk of passing the disease on to others. Depending on the disease, some untreated STIs can lead to infertility, chronic pain or death. The presence of an STI in prepubescent children may indicate sexual abuse. Symptoms and signs symptoms worsen

. In recent years, the prevalence of syphilis has declined in Western Europe, but it has increased in Eastern Europe (former Soviet states). A high incidence of syphilis can be found in places such as Cameroon, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea.Syphilis infections are increasing in the United States. Trichomoniasis is a common STI that is caused by infection with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Trichomoniasis affects both women and men, but symptoms are more common in women. Most patients are treated with an antibiotic called metronidazole, which is very effective. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) damages the body's immune system, which interferes with its ability to fight off disease-causing agents. The virus kills CD4 cells, which are white blood cells that help fight off various infections.

 HIV is carried in body fluids and is spread by sexual activity. It can also be spread by contact with infected blood, breastfeeding, childbirth, and from mother to child during pregnancy. When HIV is at its most advanced stage, an individual is said to have AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).There are different stages of the progression of and HIV infection. The stages include primary infection, asymptomatic infection, symptomatic infection, and AIDS.

 In the primary infection stage, an individual will have flu-like symptoms (headache, fatigue, fever, muscle aches) for about two weeks. In the asymptomatic stage, symptoms usually disappear, and the patient can remain asymptomatic for years. When HIV progresses to the symptomatic stage, the immune system is weakened and has a low cell count of CD4+ T cells. When the HIV infection becomes life-threatening, it is called AIDS. People with AIDS fall prey to opportunistic infections and die as a result. When the disease was first discovered in the 1980s, those who had AIDS were not likely to live longer than a few years. There are now antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) available to treat HIV infections. There is no known cure for HIV or AIDS but the drugs help suppress the virus.

 By suppressing the amount of virus in the body, people can lead longer and healthier lives. Even though their virus levels may be low they can still spread the virus to others. Management In the case of rape, the person can be treated prophylacticly with antibiotics

. An option for treating partners of patients (index cases) diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea is patient-delivered partner therapy, which is the clinical practice of treating the sex partners of index cases by providing prescriptions or medications to the patient to take to their partner without the health care provider first examining the partner. In term of preventing reinfection in sexually transmitted infection, treatment with both patient and the sexual partner of patient resulted in more successful than treatment of the patient without the sexual partner. There is no difference in reinfection prevention whether the sexual partner treated with medication without medical examination or after notification by patient The goal of sexually transmitted infection (sexually transmitted disease) treatment is to: Cure many (not all) STIs. Reduce your likelihood of spreading the infection. 

 Help you get healthy and stay healthy. Prevention Strategies for reducing STI risk include: 

vaccination, mutual monogamy, reducing the number of sexual partners, and abstinence. Also potentially helpful is behavioral counseling for sexually active adolescents and for adults who are at increased risk.

 Such interactive counseling, which can be resource-intensive, is directed at a person's risk, the situations in which risk occurs, and the use of personalized goal-setting strategies. The most effective way to prevent sexual transmission of STIs is to avoid contact of body parts or fluids which can lead to transfer with an infected partner. 

Not all sexual activities involve contact: cybersex, phone sex or masturbation from a distance are methods of avoiding contact. Proper use of condoms reduces contact and risk. Although a condom is effective in limiting exposure, some disease transmission may occur even with a condom Both partners can get tested for STIs before initiating sexual contact, or before resuming contact if a partner engaged in contact with someone else.

 Many infections are not detectable immediately after exposure, so enough time must be allowed between possible exposures and testing for the tests to be accurate. Certain STIs, particularly certain persistent viruses like HPV, may be impossible to detect. Some treatment facilities use in-home test kits and have the person return the test for follow-up. Other facilities strongly encourage that those previously infected return to ensure that the infection has been eliminated. Novel strategies to foster re-testing have been the use of text messaging and email as reminders. These types of reminders are now used in addition to phone calls and letters.

 After obtaining a sexual history, a healthcare provider can encourage risk reduction by providing prevention counseling. Prevention counseling is most effective if provided in a nonjudgmental and empathetic manner appropriate to the person's culture, language, gender, sexual orientation, age, and developmental level. Prevention counseling for STIs is usually offered to all sexually active adolescents and to all adults who have received a diagnosis, have had an STI in the past year, or have multiple sex partners Vaccines Vaccines are available that protect against some viral STIs, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and some types of HPV. Vaccination before initiation of sexual contact is advised to assure maximal protection. The development of vaccines to protect against gonorrhea is ongoing. Condoms Condoms and female condoms only provide protection when used properly as a barrier, and only to and from the area that they cover. Uncovered areas are still susceptible to many STIs. 

 In the case of HIV, sexual transmission routes almost always involve the penis, as HIV cannot spread through unbroken skin; therefore, properly shielding the penis with a properly worn condom from the vagina or anus effectively stops HIV transmission. An infected fluid to broken skin borne direct transmission of HIV would not be considered "sexually transmitted", but can still theoretically occur during sexual contact. 

This can be avoided simply by not engaging in sexual contact when presenting open, bleeding wounds. Other STIs, even viral infections, can be prevented with the use of latex, polyurethane or polyisoprene condoms as a barrier. 

Some microorganisms and viruses are small enough to pass through the pores in natural skin condoms but are still too large to pass through latex or synthetic condoms. Proper male condom usage entails: Not putting the condom on too tight at the tip by leaving 1.5 centimetres (0.6 in) room for ejaculation. Putting the condom on too tightly can and often does lead to failure. Wearing a condom too loose can defeat the barrier Avoiding inverting or spilling a condom once worn, whether it has ejaculate in it or not If a user attempts to unroll the condom, but realizes they have it on the wrong side, then this condom may not be effective Being careful with the condom if handling it with long nails Avoiding the use of oil-based lubricants (or anything with oil in it) with latex condoms, as oil can eat holes into them Using flavored condoms for oral sex only, as the sugar in the flavoring can lead to yeast infections if used to penetrate In order to best protect oneself and the partner from STIs, the old condom and its contents are to be treated as infectious and properly disposed of.

 A new condom is used for each act of intercourse, as multiple usages increase the chance of breakage, defeating the effectiveness as a barrier. In the case of female condoms, the device consists of two rings, one in each terminal portion. The larger ring should fit snugly over the cervix and the smaller ring remains outside the vagina, covering the vulva. This system provides some protection of the external genitalia. History The first well-recorded European outbreak of what is now known as syphilis occurred in 1494 when it broke out among French troops besieging Naples in the Italian War of 1494–98. The disease may have originated from the Columbian Exchange. From Naples, the disease swept across Europe, killing more than five million people.As Jared Diamond describes it, 

 syphilis was first definitely recorded in Europe in 1495, its pustules often covered the body from the head to the knees, caused flesh to fall from people's faces, and led to death within a few months," rendering it far more fatal than it is today. Diamond concludes, "[B]y 1546, the disease had evolved into the disease with the symptoms so well known to us today. Gonorrhea is recorded at least up to 700 years ago and associated with a district in Paris formerly known as "Le Clapiers"

. This is where the prostitutes were to be found at that time. Prior to the invention of modern medicines, sexually transmitted infections were generally incurable, and treatment was limited to treating the symptoms of the infection. The first voluntary hospital for STIs was founded in 1746 at London Lock Hospital.

 Treatment was not always voluntary: in the second half of the 19th century, the Contagious Diseases Acts were used to arrest suspected prostitutes. In 1924, a number of states concluded the Brussels Agreement, whereby states agreed to provide free or low-cost medical treatment at ports for merchant seamen with STIs. A proponent of these approaches was Nora Wattie, OBE, Venereal Diseases Officer in Glasgow from 1929, encouraged contact tracing and volunteering for treatment, rather than the prevailing more judgemental view and published her own research on improving sex education and maternity care. 

 The first effective treatment for a sexually transmitted infection was salvarsan, a treatment for syphilis. With the discovery of antibiotics, a large number of sexually transmitted infections became easily curable, and this, combined with effective public health campaigns against STIs, led to a public perception during the 1960s and 1970s that they have ceased to be a serious medical threat. During this period, the importance of contact tracing in treating STIs was recognized. 

By tracing the sexual partners of infected individuals, testing them for infection, treating the infected and tracing their contacts, in turn, STI clinics could effectively suppress infections in the general population. In the 1980s, first genital herpes and then AIDS emerged into the public consciousness as sexually transmitted infections that could not be cured by modern medicine.

 AIDS, in particular, has a long asymptomatic period—during which time HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS) can replicate and the disease can be transmitted to others—followed by a symptomatic period, which leads rapidly to death unless treated.

 HIV/AIDS entered the United States from Haiti in about 1969. Recognition that AIDS threatened a global pandemic led to public information campaigns and the development of treatments that allow AIDS to be managed by suppressing the replication of HIV for as long as possible.

Contact tracing continues to be an important measure, even when diseases are incurable, as it helps to contain infection. World War II–era British poster urging men to be tested for sexually transmitted infections before marriage