Describes the University of New Orleans' Research and Technology Foundation, which relied heavily on Steven Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" to create an innovative model of ownership, construction, and financing to overcome paralyzing barriers to facility development. The effort has resulted in multiple development…

Examines bibliographic control issues regarding socioeconomic development information in Africa by describing activities of the Pan African Development Information System in Ethiopia, the Southern African Research and Documentation Center in Zimbabwe, the South African Bibliographic and Information Network in South Africa, and the National…

Uses 1995 household survey data to estimate returns to education in urban China. Finds returns higher than previous estimates for two reasons: Previous works using annual earnings instead of hourly wages bias the estimates downward, and returns to education have increased as the transition process has deepened in China. (Contains 21 references.)…

Explores the relationship between nations' level of economic development and the influence of adolescents' social backgrounds on their academic achievement. Using data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study, results reveal that the positive effect of higher parents' education on middle-school students' mathematics test scores…

Examines indigenous capacity for local community development. Examines new economic development initiatives by communities, nature of relationships between local and larger economies, and how relationships affect local capacity for new economic activities. Discusses benefits of spatial framework in rural development and planning. (TES)

Among nonmetro retirement counties, those with a relatively high (over 16 percent) proportion of elderly were economically much stronger than total retirement counties. Strengths of retirement counties included rapid growth in population and employment and moderate increases in income. Potential weaknesses were reduced public spending for…

A new concept of post-literacy involves the ability to participate in decision making. Four Latin American programs, linked to four educational needs (fundamental, productivity, social service, and community organization), illustrate the concept by using methods and techniques to give people a degree of autonomy and by respecting the cultures and…

Beneficiary assessment (BAS) involves participant observation and intensive qualitative interviewing in the project communities by nationals trained to develop information specific to the needs of project management and World Bank staff. BAS provides information about community-based factors affecting social sector project success. BAS's use since…

Issues in evaluating appropriate technology for developing countries are discussed. Measures to help incorporate technology assessment in the policy and planning apparatus of development programs are suggested. Preimplementation and postimplementation of technology assessment and the institutionalization of technology assessment are considered.…

Asserts that Blacks must do more to solve their own problems through the creation of employment bases, through an emphasis on factors that have contributed to successes within the Black community, and through a greater effort to channel more of society's resources to the problems of low-income people. (MW)

Examination of the expanding academic systems of Pacific Rim countries and their nexus of relationships with the United States suggests the U.S. will have the opportunity to participate in the development of education in these increasingly self-confident and sophisticated countries, where the climate for higher education should remain very…

Explains the rise and fall of the oil cartel by applying an elasticity of demand analysis. Beginning from the demand side of the market, offers a simple derivation of the elasticity of demand for the cartel's product. Maintains that method helps undergraduates comprehend basic properties, requiring only an understanding of the elasticities of…

Describes an undergraduate course taught at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) that examines the political economy of urban development in a historical frame of analysis and emphasizes experiential learning. Traces the conception, design, and delivery of this course. Offers results of an evaluation by those who contributed to the course. (KO)

Reviews development issues in Thailand and the response of nonformal education. Concentrates on the potential of qualitative evaluation in creating more responsive policies and programs. Draws on experiences with 43 Thai participants in an earlier workshop, "Evaluation in Nonformal Education in Thailand." (CH)

Differentiates between education and learning, describes the emergence of nonformal and lifelong education, traces shifts in the conceptual framework of educational development, links learning and development, and discusses current thinking about lifelong learning and development. (JOW)