Examines trends in competitive tendering and contracting (i.e., outsourcing) in Australian universities and their implications for university administrators, using data from a survey of 29 institutions. Looks at institutional policies, costing methodologies, services contracted out, and reasons for contracting out services. Results indicate cost…

Examines how various public libraries in the Chicago area approach the issue of whether or not to allow coffee and food in the library. Discusses competition with "glossy new" bookstores; research, marketing, and experiments using bookstores as models; and the development of public lounges/coffee shops which are separate from the rest of…

This article reviews research on the practice of publicly posting the performance of students with disabilities and staff. Discusses deciding what to post and concerns about posting, including unhealthy competition, the effects on performance, and effects on self-esteem. Public posting is found to be an effective tool. (CR)

Cooperative games can teach children to work together. Fifteen games, suitable for three different age groups, are outlined. It is essential that everyone be allowed to play, but no one be forced to participate; criticisms, teasing, and rough play are not allowed, and rule changes must be accepted by everyone. (SLD)

Discusses how to determine the benefits and costs of distance education programs. Highlights include analyzing long-term costs, including student and academic support, program administration, marketing, and research and development; identifying and serving stakeholders; focusing on niche programs where a market exists; understanding the…

The authors provide an account of their experiences with the Study Essay Award of the Canadian Evaluation Society from the perspective of a former winner and the professor of program evaluation who mentored her evaluation of a substance abuse program for federal offenders on release in the community. (SLD)

Describes a series of matrix choice games that illustrate for students the concepts of monopoly, shared monopoly, Cournot, Bertrand, and Stackelberg behavior given either perfect complements or perfect substitutes. Suggests that the use of the games also allows for student dialogue about international trade and price wars. (JEH)

Economic analysis of the impact of recent schooling reforms in England designed to promote competition or cooperation between schools. Outlines the theoretical relationships between school competition and cooperation and school effectiveness. Briefly describes the development of policy in England and analyzes the interaction between the incentives…

Shows school business officials how to detect and avoid bid rigging, price fixing, and other types of unlawful collusion prohibited by the Sherman Antitrust Act. School administrators should expand the list of bidders, consolidate purchases as a defensive tactic, consider reletting the contract in tie-bid situations, recognize the elements of…

Describes how the competition for top students for business and law schools has become so fierce that recruiters are perfecting the "hard sell." (EV)

Discusses how, through several colleges in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, three powers--the United States, Turkey, and Russia--seek to influence the course of Central Asia. (EV)

Examines how the introduction of the Cleveland voucher experiment in 1995 affected the administration and leadership of Cleveland's public schools. As of summer 2001, the program has produced virtually no visible effects. Results suggest that choice-based reform may not spur improvement in urban school systems, at least in the short term or when…

Critical and feminist analyses illustrate how the marketplace has influenced lifelong learning discourses to emphasize competition and individualism. Justice, equity, and critical thinking are suppressed when the marketplace predominates in education. (Contains 52 references.) (SK)

Analysis of Australian national and state policies and reports on adult literacy identified themes and issues: (1) movement from volunteerism to marketization to globalization; (2) fluctuations and reductions in funding; (3) changes in the role of professional associations due to political and educational agendas; and (4) increased ties to…

Examines the relationship between changes in school districts' regional entry-level salary rankings and teacher recruitment in a poor region in Central New York State and in wealthy, suburban Nassau County. When districts improved their entry-level salary ranking, they subsequently improved their ability to attract the region's most highly…