"Development economics" was the study of how to create the plumbing that would allow developing economies to become developed. The financial crisis leads us to question whether industrialized countries have the plumbing problem solved and thus leads us to question whether we need a development economics that is separate from macroeconomics.…

The impact of the financial crisis on higher education has been considerable, and its effects are continuing. These effects can be discerned in a number of ways; but whereas both developed and developing countries are affected, they can be affected differently. A modifying factor is the shape and structure of the higher education system within…

This paper summarizes the experience and findings from the monitoring work carried out by UNESCO throughout 2009 to examine and assess the possible effects of the global financial and economic crisis on education provision in its Member States. The findings showed that although it was too early to ascertain the full extent of the impact of the…

Considerable resources have been spent to rescue a few countries from crises caused by dramatic shifts in financial inflows and outflows. Measures should be sought to render the institutions and mechanisms of international financial transactions more transparent, accountable, and supportive of the delicate balance between short-term stability and…

Discusses the state of Iranian libraries since the revolution: the printing industry flourishes because of obsolete copyright laws, and the government is attempting to dewesternize media and education. Also considered are budget cuts, the revolution's cost to libraries, and its effect on individual librarians. (SW)

In May 1985, China's Central Government issued a resolution expanding the six-year basic education system to a mandatory nine-year system. This analysis shows that the educational reform policy remains weak in providing specific assistance in two major issues critical for further educational development. Minimal future investment will likely…

Discusses the higher education crisis in developing countries in terms of the ways in which problems are analyzed and decisions are made. Focuses on discrepancies between objectives and achievements. Highlights the importance of risk analysis in strategic planning, advocating an impact assessment approach. (DMM)

After providing background information on Kenya, examines the history of the country's educational system. Describes the administrative and pedagogical organization and goals of the Harambee Institutes of Technology, designed to train middle-level technicians. Discusses the institutes' financial support problems and issues faced in adapting the…

Illustrates how one developing nation, Trinidad/Tobago, responded during hard economic times to demand for educational facilities. Space standards for primary schools have been compromised in the wake of rising inflation and economic recession during the 1980s. One result is overcrowding. Improved policy guidelines are essential, along with…

The history of university education in Nigeria is examined, beginning with the implementation of the Lord Eric Ashby Commission's report in 1962, which started the march towards general access to university education. Following an introduction by Idris Abdulkadir, the following papers are presented: "The Nigerian University as a Trustee of…

The Brazilian educational finance system faces three principal problems: the persistence of large regional and intrastate inequalities on all wealth and development indices; the federal government's predominance in controlling revenue sources; and the education system's openness to political abuses. Disparities can only be rectified by…

Describes the financial crises of higher education institutions in French-speaking Sub-Saharan African nations. Suggests that higher education is still overfunded in relation to other levels of education. Recommends more efficient spending and fewer, but better, students to improve the image of education in these nations. (CFR)

The Venezuelan higher education system is described, and the principal efficiency, equity, and management issues are examined, especially for public universities. A pattern of explosive growth followed by recurrent funding crises has been a recent development. Strong resistance to change despite evident current shortcomings is characteristic.…

Funding constraints on Tanzanian higher education include low economic growth rate, balance of payment problems, inflation, currency devaluation, absence of cost-sharing, and resource mismanagement. Higher education has high unit costs, low capacity utilization, and high teacher-student ratios, but private benefits are high relative to social…

Lack of funds and competition for scarce resources have made it impossible for many African universities to gain access to technology. Internet use is extremely limited, and the infrastructure is inadequate to support rapid expansion. Information technology, when available, is seen as a way for African academics to overcome isolation by once again…