After the fall of the Soviet Union and its transition in the 1990s towards a democratic form of government, Mongolia was forced to embark upon a complete series of reforms within society, including within its education sector. Mongolia's higher education sector was significantly affected by this change. Private higher education institutions…

How widespread is the production of food in old and new member states of the European Union and what is the social meaning or logic of such activities? We show that growing food is (a) more widespread in former communist countries than in traditional market economies and (b) is predominantly a hobby or recreational activity in affluent countries,…

A historical overview of events through which regional research has evolved among rural sociologists in the South is presented in this report. The report is divided into 3 sections. The first section, an introduction, contains 2 articles. The first discusses the general climate of rural sociology activity during the first half of the 20th century.…

THE HISTORY OF PUERTO RICO SHOWS THAT THE LAST 20 YEARS OF PLANNED PROGRESS UNDER ITS FREE POLITICAL STATUS HAVE PRODUCED INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL REFORMS WHICH HAVE BROUGHT A HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING TO THE RURAL AREAS. THESE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE CREATED A DESIRE FOR THE URBAN WAY OF LIFE WHICH HAS RESULTED IN AN EXODUS OF RURAL YOUTH. THIS…

A comprehensive view of agriculture is presented in this volume written to aid critical re-examination of long-range agricultural policy. Farm people, rural institutions and services, rural towns, the spatial organization of agriculture, and its capital structure, in addition to the usual subjects of agricultural output, demand, trade, price, and…

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POTENTIAL AND ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL YOUTH IS RELATED TO THEIR SOCIAL BACKGROUND. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN AGRIBUSINESS ARE AVAILABLE FOR RURAL YOUTH, BUT THOSE FROM LOW-INCOME AREAS DO NOT PARTICIPATE. SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AIMED AT SHIFTING VALUE ORIENTATIONS ARE SEEN AS NECESSARY PREREQUISITES TO MEANINGFUL…

Concentrating on the social dimension of human experience and existence, this book probes certain profound changes occurring in contemporary technology, economy, society, politics, and education. The author discusses four major discontinuities: (1) the impact of the new technology on the industrial structure; (2) the shift from an "international…

This World Bank (Washington, D.C.) kit is designed to teach secondary school social studies students about the Rajasthan (India) Canal Project and the impact it has had on the state of Rajasthan and its population. The kit contains a pamphlet, a booklet, a sound filmstrip, and a teacher's guide. The pamphlet, "Economic Summary: India,"…

Global inflation should be viewed more as a sympton of social problems than as an economic disease that can be cured by monetary and fiscal policy. Social problems signaled by inflation include exploding demand, rising costs for essential commodities, stagnating productivity, and a decline in the real standard of living. Inflation is interpreted…

This handbook is an attempt to provide an integrated exposition and analysis of the dominant social, political, and economic aspects of the Costa Rican society. It is designed to give readers an understanding of the dynamics of the component elements of the society and an insight into the ideas and goals of its people. Chapters contain material…

This volume is one of a series of handbooks prepared by Foreign Area Studies of American University designed to be useful to military and other personnel who need a convenient compilation of basic facts about the social, economic, political, and military institutions and practices of various countries. Chapters focus on: (1) the general character…

In the Polish Peoples Republic, all citizens have become fully equalized in terms of political and social rights, but there are still both external and internal barriers to female emancipation, particularly in the country. While women, in general, find it difficult to juggle their increasing roles, women living in the country have additional…

In this lesson, students work in teams, role-playing a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in rural Africa. Teams focus on four goals: (1) grow more food; (2) develop water resources; (3) improve health services; and (4) protect the environment. Each student team is assigned to one of five regions in Africa. Teams…

The report covers an investigation of the productivity of land, labor, and capital in Mexican agriculture as a means of clarifying the role played by land-reform, and more specifically its main outcome--the institution of the ejido--in the recent rapid rise of agricultural output in Mexico. The ejido is a form of communal property, although only a…

Numerous factors influencing health status and health care in Mexico are reviewed in this paper. Part I covers socioeconomic influences including agricultural and land tenure patterns, oil production, population growth rate, and the extent of poverty. Part II discusses the political environment, emphasizing the effects of politics on strategies…