Discusses the current state of Canadian high schools. Examines the goal of competitiveness as a national policy and the debate over the purposes of education. Explores (1) a greater emphasis on basic subjects; (2) the use of performance indicators; (3) the demand for accountability; and (4) dropout rates. Argues that an economic agenda for…

Proposals to make major changes in the membership structure of the National Collegiate Athletic Association have been divisive. Advocates for women's sports, particularly frustrated by scholarship and coaching staff cuts, want to make federal antidiscrimination compliance a top issue. Delegates used a new electronic voting system. (MSE)

By committing to the development of partnerships between businesses and their institutions, board members will reinforce higher education's role in making the country competitive again. The result will be a nation whose workers are continuously educated and a university whose role in workforce development is more widely understood and valued.…

Summarizes the discussion issues from Canada's Prosperity Initiative: (1) Learning for the Future relates to developing a learning culture, school-to-work transition, and enrollment in math, science, and technology; and (2) The Competitive Challenge addresses new technology, financing growth, a competitive domestic market, and building…

As success of one Toyota-managed auto plant shows, U.S. workers can produce as effectively and competitively when given good, work-specific training and a well-managed environment. By blaming their own faltering performance on inadequate work force skills, the nation's top chief executives have found a cheap, convenient way to scapegoat U.S.…

The economic theory of auctions is used to show that systems recently introduced by the British Universities Funding Council, whereby British institutions bid for students, are likely to produce similar bid prices by all institutions. As predicted, the first run of the bidding process for universities collapsed when most institutions submitted…

Education can improve productivity only if there are employment opportunities for more productive workers. Without complementary inputs, education cannot fulfill its advocates' promises. Test scores have never shown a strong connection with earnings or productivity. Japanese firms that establish manufacturing plants in the United States produce…

The analysis of educational outcomes and evaluation of their efficiency depend on three elements of organizational behavior analysis: costly information, decentralized advantages in defraying information costs, and incentives. This paper suggests several research directions for educational economists to apply these tools to analyze educational…

Addresses the need for reference librarians to reassess their service priorities and service delivery methods to operate efficiently and compete effectively with commercial information services. Highlights include inappropriate use of librarians' time; inefficient service delivery methods; cost effectiveness; and a consultation model of service…

A study of 20 faculty searches in 4 comprehensive universities during a period of substantial academic labor market change identified 6 patterns of recruitment strategies, with less prestigious institutions adopting recruitment norms of more prestigious institutions. In response to labor market forces, institutions emphasized credential…

Describes a study that investigated the nature of hiring criteria in hiring assistant professors for educational technology positions. Data were collected through a survey of recent search committees. Topics discussed include increased competition and the importance of oral presentations and personal interviews. (14 references) (LRW)

Includes "Skill Upgrading in Public and Private Organizations"; "Developing the Wealth of the Nation" (O'Toole, Simmons); "Dumbing down America" (Shanker); "Career Preparation"; "What Work Requires of Schools: The SCANS Report"; "Industry-Education Collaboration in Canada" (Clark); and…

Presents a case study of radio broadcasting that could be used with students in an investigation of competition and regulation. Discusses the British Broadcasting Act and its attempts at privatization, encouragement of competition, and deregulation of markets. Includes questions and the Hotelling Model of a market to explain the situation in radio…

To blame the decline in national competitiveness solely on poorly educated, less productive workers is misguided. Despite the growing intensity of corporate criticisms of public education, there is no consensus among economists that schools have caused the productivity crisis. Schools are not critical to economic competitiveness in a global…

Experimental design studied global and componential self-esteem. Perceived ethnic status was manipulated among 132 Anglo- and Mexican-American college students. For both groups, those in the high-status condition showed higher overall self-esteem and higher social competitiveness. Compared to Anglos, Mexican-Americans showed lower social-power…