Traces the history of oil and natural gas in the Middle East and relates the importance of the Middle East's current stores of oil to economic development. Information is presented on the relationship of major oil companies and local governments, OPEC, rate of production, and the impact of oil on the societies of the Middle East and North Africa.…

Focuses on how India's economic planning and development efforts since 1950 have affected rural areas and small towns, which comprise nearly 80% of India's population. Presents several case studies of rural development and concludes that the major keys to the stability of India as a democracy are population control, a unifying language, and…

Prior to 1880, the Lummi Indians had a well-developed salmon fishing economy. When non-Indians saw the value of this resource, the Lummi were evicted by various means. Starting in the 1960s, however, several western Indian tribes initiated legal procedures which resulted in the recovery of treaty-secured fishing rights. (AN)

Discusses the importance of Taiwan's system of vocational-industrial education to its history of political stability and continuing economic prosperity. (JOW)

Labor force development is crucial to economic growth in India. Improvements in the higher education system, especially funding mechanisms, are needed to increase the nation's competitiveness. (SK)

Examines the literature on the economic efficacy of secondary vocational-technical education in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Concludes that such programs will fail unless they remain relevant to changing labor market needs (external efficiency) and internal efficiency in terms of provision and costs. (SK)

Comparison of small and medium-sized enterprises' skill requirements in the European Union and Eastern/Central Europe shows considerable similarities and identifies skill needs universities need to address. New courses and modules are being developed by the University of Surrey in conjunction with Eastern/Central European partners. (Contains 14…

Responses from 276 of 300 vocational educators and 53 of 120 employers in Malaysia indicated that both groups believed vocational education contributes to economic development and vocational graduates had good technical skills but needed better employability skills. They wanted more government collaboration with the private sector. (Contains 26…

Describes a focused synthesis study involving interviews with stakeholders of an employer-linked charter school. Discusses concerns about charter schools, their relationship to economic development, and the employer-linked charter school as a model for worker development in a new economy. (Contains 42 references.) (SK)

Explores the political, ethical, and professional dilemmas faced by English-as-a-Second-Language professionals working in the context of Australian language aid projects in Laos, East Timor, and Cambodia. Illuminates how language aid practitioners have to deal with issues of language choice, ownership, and political context. (Author/VWL)

Examines the demand for schooling in Pakistan, focusing on two potential sources of bias in the estimation of that demand: censoring bias and selection bias. Finds evidence of both biases. (Contains 51 references.) (PKP)

Details the reasons why Indian casinos are not benefiting large numbers of Native Americans. Explains that most casinos are located in populated areas, while most American Indians live in rural areas. Adds that 75% of jobs generated by Indian gaming have gone to non-Indians. Reports on efforts to build a Native American scholarship fund from…

British policies urge universities to develop entrepreneurs because of small businesses' role in the economy. To meet their developmental needs, appropriate subject matter and learning methods must be identified. A university consortium has developed a Master of Enterprise program benchmarked to business and management subjects identified by the…

States that despite spending massive amounts of money to expand their educational systems, poor countries have witnessed a 4-decade decline in their medium economic growth rates from 3 percent in the 1960s to zero percent in the 1990s. Offers several reasons for the decline, such as variations in the quality of education and low labor…

Case studies of six interorganizational collaborations for job training and economic development found that these exemplary arrangements produced other benefits, providing flexible and adaptive capability for dealing with long-term economic development processes. A planning and development model to replicate successful linkages was developed. (SK)