Despite the tremendous expansion in education access worldwide, countries differ dramatically both in primary and secondary enrollment rates and in student achievement. Although per capita income explains a great deal of the difference, schooling outcomes vary sharply even among countries at similar income levels. This study asks whether…

Reviews current criticisms of World Bank educational projects and their negative impacts on developing nations as context for a book that traces the evolution of Bank policies from its first projects in the 1960s to the present. (SV)

The rate of growth in government spending (particularly, slow growth or decline) has an important impact on the effectiveness of resource allocation. Data from 47 developing nations was used to test a model, based on public choice theory, of interest-group behavior and educational budget growth/decline. Government spending trends were related to…

Identifies socioeconomic factors and political system variables associated with variation in educational policy outputs among developing nations. An effort is also made to determine which of these input factors has more significant influence on two educational policy dimensions: distributive spending and non-distributive spending. (Author/RK)

Steven Klees's criticism of Thobani's application of neoclassical economics to funding education by increasing tuition fees is based in part on misunderstanding or misrepresentation of arguments. The neoclassical framework can readily incorporate exogenous constraints; such constraints are political realities that must be reckoned with rather than…

Compares federal financing of education in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, India, and Nigeria. Examines methods for reducing vertical and horizontal fiscal imbalances and resulting inequalities in provision of education. Predicts increasingly centralized financing and control of education. Contains 31 references. (SV)

Describes various mistakes or disasters in national educational planning involving international comparisons, manpower forecasting, vocational "relevance," and government intervention and financing. Advocates less reliance on vague "macroplanning" and more emphasis on specific policies addressing particular educational issues and on…

An analysis of primary, secondary, and higher-education enrollment ratios and public unit cost of education by socioeconomic status (SES) in the major world regions (Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, and European countries) shows that, in developing nations, higher SES groups receive a larger share of public education…

Discusses research on foreign study and foreign students. Includes a bibliography of approximately 700 monographs and articles published between 1975 and November 1983 and divided into 33 categories pertaining to foreign study. (SB)

Mateen Thobani's proposal to fund public education in Malawi through increased tuition fees applies inappropriate analytical techniques and fails to address a complex set of political, social, cultural, and economic issues. Policy formulation should stress a basis for dialog instead of pretending neoclassical economic analyses can provide answers.…

A partial equilibrium framework (user charges/government subsidy) analyzes optimal user charges for social services. The framework is applied to Malawi's education sector to formulate policy recommendations for solving problems of high student-teacher ratios and drop-out rates. Malawi's school user fees were increased in 1982 based on this…