With all the economic pain and consternation--surging unemployment, enormous corporate bankruptcy, trillions becoming the new billions--it's easy to overlook the fact that tens of thousands of families have suddenly lost a great deal of the money they socked away to pay for college. They lost it because public officials told them to risk their…

Chaoyang township is one of the poorest townships in a national-level impoverished county in the southwest. Statistics show that the average per capita income for farming families was RMB1,931 per year in 2006. Before the highway came through the area, the residents of Chaoyang township had to walk for two whole days across mountain ranges to get…

The policy of "two exemptions and one subsidy" (TEOS), which is a "popular sentiment" project, has brought life to the western region's rural education and light to impoverished families. In addition to launching the battle for the "two basics" in the western region, the overall popularization of distance education…

Since 2001, the Chinese central government has begun to take on more financial responsibility for basic education beginning with a modest RMB100 million to provide free textbooks to poor students in western rural areas. This practice has been gradually expanded with the central government providing free textbooks to a widening pool of poor rural…

The present tax system impedes investment and is unfairly distributed. A consumption tax is the best way to reduce future deficits without curbing growth. Describes the various forms that a consumption tax could take. Such a tax can be as progressive or regressive as policymakers want it to be. (Author/CS)

This article discusses the current student-aid system in American higher education and the policy issues surrounding it. The author asserts that it is time to consider serious reform of the complex system of federal, state, and institutional subsidies that has evolved to support postsecondary students. A rational long-term planning process never…

The use of tax-exempt and taxable bonds by colleges and universities to raise capital is discussed. Currently, the most common tax-exempt instrument issued by higher education institutions is the revenue bond. Until the early 1980s the most common form of tax-exempt financing was long-term fixed-rate debt. Variable or floating rate debt became…

Fiscal federalism can be an important complement to structural reforms and budget consolidation. Empowering sub national governments, while at the same time making them accountable to local citizens in the uses of tax money, could improve the allocation of public resources and promote catch up of the lagging regions. Italy has launched itself in…

The free market human capital discourse and its associated material practices now play a significant role in education. This discourse assumes that education is an economic site in which individuals invest in the acquisition of qualifications in order to maximize their future earning power. It demands the full privatization and deregulation of…

Discusses the conflicting goals of school finance reform--educational equity, equality, and excellence--and their effects on the district power equalizing (DPE) method of achieving school equity. Describes the experiences with DPE in California, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan. (RW)

Capital finance in institutions of higher education is analyzed in light of changes in the Tax Reform Act of 1986 affecting the ability of institutions to finance capital projects and the likelihood of changes in the government's view of tax-exempt financing. The options for colleges and universities are analyzed in the following areas: (1)…

Prompted by the expiration of existing funding mechanisms for California's community colleges in June 1983, this report presents the results of the California Postsecondary Education Commission's (CPEC's) review and revision of its principles for community college funding. First, background material is presented on the financial principles adopted…

An examination of school finance reform and special education finance issues is presented in this paper. It describes a general model of the educational finance system, in which state and federal general and categorical aid combines with district fiscal capacity to determine educational expenditures, which in turn affect educational programs and,…

Examines the changes occurring in the U.S. presidential and congressional finance system from the 1970s to the present and the problems and proposed reforms of the current system. Concludes that escalating costs and special interest influence in congressional elections must be controlled. Lists suggested paper topics and readings. (GEA)

The Administration's economic policy has caused massive inflation, unemployment, and record deficits. Full employment and production should be the cornerstone of government policy. Strengthening of the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act, reorganizing the Federal Reserve Board, and amending the 1981 Tax Act are ways to achieve economic…