(1987). The Effects of Technological Change on the Labor Force. Hearing Summary. Report prepared for the Technology Policy Task Force Transmitted to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. House of Representatives, One Hundredth Congress, First Session. This report summarizes a hearing to examine the factors contributing to pressures on United States workers and to suggest government, industry, and labor policies. Section I is an introduction. Section II identifies the panelists: Director, Conservation of Human Resources, Columbia University; President, United Steel Workers of America; Senior Fellow in Economics, The Brookings Institution; Retired Vice President, Xerox Corporation; and Study Director, Panel on Technology and Employment, National Academy of Sciences. Section III is a summary of the panel's conclusions and recommendations. The following factors that contribute to employment trends are discussed: technological advances, the balance of trade, and trends in the service sector. Public policies for addressing worker and community dislocations are examined, including revitalizing specific industries, using declining tariffs to finance worker readjustment programs, expediting reemployment, financing training and education,… [PDF]
(1971). The Telecommunications Industry; Integration Vs. Competition. Vertical integration stands as the salient structural configuration of the telecommunications equipment market. Computer hardware manufacturers are obviously potential competitors with the captive telecommunications equipment suppliers. Direct government policies, such as patents and a permissive attitude toward mergers, and indirect policies, such as tariff practices, import duties, and government buying practices, have contributed toward this vertical integration. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which has encouraged private point-to-point microwave systems and sanctioned at least one specialized common carrier, and the Communication Satellite Act of 1969 represent attempts by the government to foster competition. Vertical integration in an unregulated market protects an industry from both the regulation of a public utility and the accountability of a firm exposed to direct competition. In order to rectify the situation the government should adopt a uniform policy….
(1995). The Employment Challenge: An Agenda for Global Action. A Policy Paper Commissioned by UNDP for the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, Denmark, March 1995). In May 1994, 26 experts from 10 countries attended a technical meeting on economic policies and employment. After hearing and discussing eight papers on the nature of the employment problem and its macroeconomic solution, the group formulated an outline for global action that called on nations to act together to increase their chances of providing remunerative and sustainable work for all their citizens. Among the principles and recommendations included in the outline were the following: (1) the industrial countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development must coordinate their policies for faster growth; (2) the momentum toward freer trade must be sustained with reductions in tariffs and other barriers by countries at all levels of development; (3) the system of official development assistance should be revamped to concentrate available resources on the countries that need them most; (4) the outstanding debts of the poorest developing countries should be reduced… [PDF]
(1993). Planning Education for Regional Economic Integration: The Case of Paraguay and MERCOSUR. This paper examines the possible impact of MERCOSUR on Paraguay's economic and educational systems. MERCOSUR is a trade agreement among Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, under which terms all import tariffs among the countries will be eliminated by 1994. The countries will enter into a common economic market. The worst-case scenario resulting from the agreement is one of negative growth in the region. If economic growth is limited to Paraguay's neighboring countries, migration of Paraguayans to those countries could occur. In the best-case scenario, Paraguay could benefit from expansion of exported agricultural products and livestock, which could result in progressive industrialization. However, given the lack of industrial development and education, most analysts believe that Paraguay could suffer when MERCOSUR is implemented fully. Therefore, the country will need to make the following fundamental changes in its educational policy to maintain or improve current standards… [PDF]
(1987). Government Intervention in Agriculture. Measurement, Evaluation, and Implications for Trade Negotiations. Foreign Agricultural Economic Report No. 229. This report presents an analysis that defines and quantifies the extent of government intervention in the agricultural sectors of the market-oriented countries most active in trade. One aim is to provide usable economic information for the multilateral trade negotiations (MTN), recently launched under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Results are designed to measure the levels of support (or taxation) provided to both agricultural producers and consumers using the concept of producer and consumer subsidy equivalents (PSEs and CSEs). Overviews are presented of the agricultural policies and perspectives on the new MTN of the United States and other GATT members, particularly the countries of the European Community, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. Charts and narrative descriptions of the calculated PSEs and CSEs are provided for grains, oilseeds, cotton, livestock, dairy products, and sugar in 17 countries. PSEs and CSEs are then compared…. [PDF]
(1996). The Copyright Handbook: How To Protect and Use Written Works. Third Edition. Based on the premise that anyone who works with words needs to understand copyright law, this handbook provides forms and step-by-step instructions for protecting all types of written expression under United States and international copyright law. The handbook discusses: (1) how to register a written work with the copyright office; (2) what types of works can be protected; (3) when and how to use a copyright notice; (4) copyright protection for works for hire, adaptations, new editions, compilations (databases and catalogs), and electronic mail; (5) rights and duration of ownership; (6) transfer of copyright ownership; (7) what constitutes infringement and how to avoid it; (8) how to recognize a derivative work; (9) fair use: when and how copyrighted material can be used; (10) electronic publishing rights; (11) registration of multimedia works and multimedia rights; and (12) the impact of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) on copyright law. The handbook concludes with…
(1975). The Andean Common Market: An Experiment in Regional Cooperation. The Grupo Andino (GRAN) was formed in 1969 as an effort at economic integration by six Latin American countries (Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela). It was an outgrowth of its predecessor, the Latin American Free Trade Association (LAFTA), which had been formed in 1960 with eleven member countries. The Andean Group (GRAN) from the beginning addressed itself to the key factors that had weakened the LAFTA group. Thus (1) it put great stress on strong political support from each of its countries, (2) the sectorial program of industrial development was specifically aimed to increase the industrial capacity of the six member countries while, at the same time, (3) a scheme of automatic tariff reductions with relatively few exceptions was adopted, thereby avoiding the paralyzing effect of bilateral country negotiations on hundreds or thousands of individual items. Its ambitious blueprint includes the development of regional programs in such basic sectors as… [PDF]
(2000). The Challenge to Sixth Form Funding: An Introduction to Government Proposals To Change the Way Sixth Forms Are Funded. This document, which is intended for senior staff at the United Kingdom's further education (FE) colleges, examines the content and possible impact of recent government proposals to change how school sixth forms are funded. The following are among the topics discussed in sections 1-8: (1) reasons underlying the talk about change; (2) existing funding policies for the entry and on-programme phases and funding related to learners' achievements; (3) lessons schools can learn from FE (retention, achievement, and guidance; tariff farming; narrowing participation); (4) lessons schools can learn from the pilot schemes run by various local education authorities (LEAs); (5) implications of a new approach for LEAs; (6) two possible ways funds for school sixth forms could be decided (LEAs would continue to decide funding or the Learning and Skills Council would fund LEAs); (7) a possible model for a new approach and case studies illustrating the model's impact at three hypothetical schools;… [PDF]
(1996). United States History. Focus on Economics. This book uses human interest stories to explain perplexing behavior from an economic perspective throughout U.S. history. The set of 15 lessons include: (1) \Indentured Servitude: Why Sell Yourself into Bondage?\; (2) \Do the Right Thing: Free the Slaves, Avoid the War\; (3) \Why Would You Raise Chickens When You Don't Like Eggs? -or- Why Did Farmers Specialize?\; (4) \Who Should Make the Food Safe?\; (5) \The Buffalo Are Back\; (6) \Why Don't Cowboys Ever Ride into the Sunset?\; (7) \How Can Big Business Make Money from Tariffs?\; (8) \Who Invented Bad Breath and Why?\; (9) \Prohibition Then; MADD Today\; (10) \Why Would White Baseball Club Owners Sign Black Players?\; (11) \Where Did the African-American Middle Class Come From?\; (12) \Gift Giving in America: Why Do You Give the People You Love Things They Hate? -or- Do You Care Enough to Send the Very Best?\; (13) \Why Would Grape Pickers Ask People Not to Buy Grapes?\; (14) \Why Have Americans Climbed So Many Mountains?\; and… [PDF]
(1995). National Congress on Rural Education Proceedings (3rd, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, October 14-18, 1994). Organized and Conducted in Conjunction with the Annual Convention of the National Rural Education Association (85th). This report summarizes the findings of the third National Congress on Rural Education, held during the 1994 convention of the National Rural Education Association (NREA). The Congress considered the following question: What infrastructure is necessary to provide an environment conducive to the effective use of available and emerging technologies in rural schools? Regional forum groups identified needs for and barriers to developing viable technological systems for rural schools, prioritized the needs, and suggested strategies for overcoming barriers and meeting the needs. The most frequently identified needs were intrastate and interstate communications networks, incentives for installation of technology, connectivity of all existing networks, policy guidelines and support, rural leadership and vision for development of technology, and recognition of school systems as "players." The most frequently identified barriers were current systems not being used, "turf"… [PDF]
(1981). BLS Machine-Readable Data and Tabulating Routines. This report describes the machine-readable data and tabulating routines that the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is prepared to distribute. An introduction discusses the LABSTAT (Labor Statistics) database and the BLS policy on release of unpublished data. Descriptions summarizing data stored in 25 files follow this format: overview, data available, where the data are published, and citations to references providing more detailed descriptions of sampling techniques and statistical reliability. The data files are labor force; occupational employment statistics; industry employment, hours, and earnings–state and area; insured employment and wages; unemployment and labor force–state and area; industry labor turnover–national; industry-occupational matrix; Consumer Price Index; Producer Price Index; industry price indexes; export and import price indexes; Survey of Consumer Expenditures, 1972-73; Survey of Consumer Expenditures, 1960-61; input-output matrix; capital stock;… [PDF]
(1981). International Trade: Tennessee's Window on the World. The activities and discussion questions in this unit can be used in secondary social studies classes to teach students about world trade and its role in their personal lives. Although designed for Tennessee classrooms, the unit can be easily adapted for use elsewhere. Many of the activities are self-contained. However, some require the use of readings from booklets and pamphlets listed in the unit. Activities are organized around the following concepts: international trade is Tennessee's window on the world; international trade has many faces; international trade has important side effects and fringe benefits; international trade is promoted by free trade and limited by trade barriers; and international trade is actively promoted by the state governor in Tennessee. The activities are many and varied. Some examples follow. Students must read and summarize at least five articles on international trade in current magazines. Students invite a local banker to explain what is meant by a…
(1979). Information Computer Communications Policy, 2: The Usage of International Data Networks in Europe. This study of the development of international data networks, a phenomena of the 1970's, and policy issues arising from their use is an in depth investigation of 24 private and six public European networks commissioned from Logica Limited and sponsored by the governments of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden. The report discusses reasons for using international data networks, describes their technological development, investigates transborder applications, presents access control and security problems and their solutions, and analyzes the costs and economics of international networks. The 27 conclusions presented range from the benefits of international data transmission to the participating companies, the involved nations, and the scientific research community to the developing international implications of mutual interdependence, and to the impact of costs on multinational corporations and smaller local users. Predicting that an European public network…
(1998). Farm Management and Leadership. Level 1. Level 2. Level 3. Support Materials for Agricultural Training. This publication contains the three communication skills units of the three levels of Support Materials for Agricultural Training (SMAT) in farm management and leadership: Level 1 (starting), 2 (continuing), and 3 (completing). The units are designed to help the learner with the reading, writing, and spoken communication skills needed to deal with farm management. SMAT materials can be used by the individual, with a mentor, or in a group or class. An introduction describes how to use the materials, types of activities, and materials needed. Four types of activities are found in the communication unit: key word activities, reading activities, writing activities, and spoken communication activities. Model answers are provided. Topics covered in Level 1 are application forms, application forms–longer answers, interviews, scanning the classified ads, get to the point, farm management in a drought, and letters. Topics covered in Level 2 include the following: farm plans, farm mission… [PDF]
(1987). Telecommunications Policy Research Conference. Alternatives to Rate of Return Regulation Section. Papers. The first of two papers presented in this section, "Price-Caps: Theory and Implementation" (Peter B. Linhart and Roy Radner) describes a proposed method of regulation involving price caps on core services and no price regulation of other services. This method is designed to replace rate-of-return regulation during a transition period to a deregulated long-distance telecommunications industry. In particular, the following implementation issues are addressed: (1) which services should be capped; (2) the starting point for the cap; and (3) changes in the economic environment that should be reflected in the cap, and how they should be reflected. The paper is supplemented by a table, and contains 12 footnote citations. The second paper, "Alternatives to Rate of Return Regulation" (Ingo Vogelsang) (abstract only) introduces a regulatory two-part monopoly pricing mechanism which permits a firm to freely choose the variable price of the two-part tariff as long as the…