Briefly reviews and criticizes recent research into declining undergraduate economics enrollment. Argues that this research fails to consider an integral variable, the student's perspective. Recommends a 1981 student survey profile as a model to follow for future research. (MJP)

Maintains that high enrollment figures for undergraduate economics majors in the 1980s reflected social and economic trends more than any substantive interest in the subject. Argues that the discipline is better off without a preponderance of students whose only interest is business applications. (MJP)

This study examined the predictive factors of demand for degrees and academic performance at the University of the Basque Country (Spain). The study followed two cohorts of university students from secondary education to the completion of the third year of higher education. The data analyzed included secondary school qualifications, selectivity…

The Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable was created to provide a forum where scientists, engineers, administrators, and policy makers from government, universities, and industry can come together on an ongoing basis to explore ways to improve the productivity of the nation's research enterprise. Roundtable Working Group One, which…

Reports preliminary findings of a new project aimed at understanding the nature of time-series fluctuations in degrees awarded in various disciplines, including economics. Examines the consequences of such fluctuations for resource allocation within universities. Compares statistics among economics, history, and political science degrees. Includes…

Notes that economics is often the second choice of students screened out of an undergraduate business program. Argues that the increased enrollment in business programs during the 1980s led to a transient rise in economics enrollment. Current declining enrollment in economics corresponds to a decline in business. (MJP)

Compares characteristics of those schools that have experienced an increase in awarding undergraduate economics degrees with those suffering a decrease. Findings suggest that business/management degrees offer competition against economics degrees. Schools not offering business/management are less at risk. (MJP)

This collection of nine papers summarize research on the economics of university functioning including production processes, incentives and governance structures, cost and supply behavior, student attendance demands, and funding environments. The nine papers are: (1) "The Higher Education Production Function: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical…

The Reform of Secondary Education carried out in Spain in recent years has given rise to an increased number of options for students. This study empirically analyzed the consistency between options chosen by students in secondary education and the later demand for degrees at the higher education level. The sample consisted of two cohorts of…

This study presents California's recent history of public revenue funding for elementary and secondary education and projects the state's educational and fiscal needs for the next five years. California has experienced a roller-coaster pattern in funding support since 1978, the year of Proposition 13. School financing declined from a position of…

Education is an economically and socially productive investment. Therefore, the educational systems in developing countries must continue to improve in quality, in efficiency, and in equality of opportunity if they are to continue serving as important instruments for improving the national economy. Yet, budgetary austerity tightens the public…

An economic model of educational supply and demand was tested using cross-sectional data for the 95 Virginia county school districts. Three equations were hypothesized: (1) the quantity supply functions; (2) the quantity demand function; and (3) the quality demand function. The variables in the equations are education expenditures, percent of 9th…

After World War II, enrollment in the Japanese educational system underwent an unprecedented expansion, largely on account of postwar economic growth. Although such expansion was common throughout the world, Japan's experience was unique because of the magnitude of changes in the enrollment rates and the degree to which these changes directly…

Presents a comprehensive examination of the development of postindependent Malaysia's education policies. Compulsory education combined with sustained economic growth has produced a literate and upwardly mobile Malay population. Preferential policies for the Malays, however, have resulted in increased stratification and inequality among the…

Although rural education is entering an era of opportunity in terms of both youth and adult needs, the capacity of rural areas to provide needed educational services may be diminished due to rapid economic and social change, particularly in agriculture. Three federal policies operating over the past two decades have created an unfavorable…