In contrast to other East Asian countries, in Papua New Guinea the economy is stagnating due to high labor costs, overvalued currency, stagnant productivity, high government consumption, and barriers to external and internal investment and exports. (SK)

The second part of a two-part article addresses four key issues for higher education administrators to consider as they investigate real estate opportunities. They are (1) market feasibility; (2) development strategy; (3) financing; and (4) governance. Guidelines for innovative real estate projects even during the potentially difficult early 1990s…

A Collateralized Mortgage Obligation (CMO) is a specially designed multiclass, pay-through bond. Explains CMOs and how their purchase can enhance a district's portfolio. (MLF)

Flexible endowments are a form of planned giving agreement letting highly motivated donors give endowment-level funding to colleges and universities before they are able to make an outright gift. The donor commits to giving the institution the amount of money an endowment would have generated each year until the endowment principle is fully…

A guide for individuals with fiduciary responsibility for investments offers both general and specific recommendations for assessing and making financial decisions, including steps to take and questions to ask concerning quantitative analyses. Focus is on the role of the college or university trustees in managing endowment funds. (MSE)

To determine who benefits from investment in continuing-vocational training, it is necessary to differentiate between types and funding levels. Different types yield different outcomes. Various funders (government, employers, individuals) have different objectives for investment. A focus on measurable outcomes helps clarify benefits. (SK)

Discusses issues raised in a May 2000 forum on the growing investment by colleges and universities in various electronic businesses, including offering distance education, providing a portal to the Internet, and marketing. Discusses issues concerning the importance of business process redesign, use of E-business as a strategic tool, brand value…

Tax-sheltered annuities for school employees are benefits to employees who authorize the district to deduct a specified amount from their paychecks and forward that amount to the accounts selected. Article surveys recent legislative changes that enable school employees to make better use of their tax-sheltered annuities. (MLF)

Wealthier colleges and universities, whose endowments have prospered as a result of rising market values, are spending more money on new programs, student aid, and faculty salaries. Some feel that colleges are still spending too little and hoarding endowment funds; others fear market domination by a small group of wealthy schools. (MSE)

Describes the efforts of Village Ventures, a company that manages early stage venture capital funds and invests in promising companies, to develop markets that are as rich in intellectual capital as the top 10 venture markets but substantially cheaper to live in. These are primarily college towns with a high potential for launching technology…

Variations on the traditional methods of planning for retirement are offered to college faculty, focusing on use of Teachers Insurance and Annuities Association (TIAA) and College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF) investments, and other pension options. It is concluded that with careful planning, faculty can retire with close to full preretirement…

Discusses why the current economic downturn for public institutions requires that policy makers respond with new financing policies that reflect the simultaneous convergence of state deficits, changing demographics, and the information economy's voracious demand for a more educated workforce. Presents strategies for states to behave as investors…

An annual survey of college construction finds that more than $11 billion in projects is expected to be completed, and another $11 billion started, in 2002. Just $6.6 billion is being invested in new structures; the rest is earmarked for renovating and expanding existing facilities. Includes several data tables. (EV)

Offers guidance for a college or university's investment committee on management of endowment funds. Considers traits of a good committee, the importance of long-term planning, the role of consultants, the important role of the committee chair, and the need to monitor professional managers' performance. (DB)

Discussion of asset allocation for college/university endowment funds focuses on three levels of risk: (1) the absolute risk of the portfolio (usually leading to asset diversification); (2) the benchmark risk (usually comparison with peer institutions; and (3) personal career risk (which may incline managers toward maximizing short-term returns,…