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This paper considers the economics of employment and education in industralized countries, particularly European countries. The paper covers six main topics. The first part deals with the present European employment situation, using figures mainly from Holland; the second part is an economic outlook for the 1980s; in the third, the employment and economic situations are combined, and the resulting employment prospects are considered. Discussed in part 4 are economic policies to cope with unemployment. Labor market policies are the subject of the fifth part, while the last section looks at social and cultural policies and what education can do within an overall packet to cope with the unemployment problem. A question-and-answer section follows. The paper maintains that actual unemployment is worse than the figures would indicate because of the rate of disability retirement; suggestions are made for policies of re-education, economic restructuring, and stimulation of international demand. (KC)

Four papers discuss research exchanges between the United States and the USSR and East Europe. The first paper considers the evolution of perceptions of social scientists in these countries during the Cold War and Detente. The dominant view of American researchers during the Cold War was that the United States, as the most modern society, was the yardstick for measuring other societies. The United States experienced rapid growth of training and research related to the Soviet orbit. However, Soviet scholars were constrained by Marxist-Leninist doctrine and by educational and research policies. In the 1960s, American social scientists gained a greater appreciation for the complexities of modern societies and East European social scientists began innovative studies. The second paper discusses evaluations of research exchanges between the United States and the Soviet Union. The conclusion is that these exchanges are scientifically valuable to both countries. The most serious problem is Soviet political repression of its scientific community. The third paper discusses problems and accomplishments of East European studies in the United States. Although progress seems to be steady, American social scientists have come to pursue topics that are politically safe, and thus often of secondary importance. The final paper suggests that in exchanges between the Soviet Union and the United States, both academic and government communities profit. The point that Soviet exchanges are generally in sciences and engineering and American exchanges are in history and literature illustrates that each side sends whom it wishes. Thus, the author concludes that this type of exchange is neither unbalanced nor unfair. (Author/KC)

The paper discusses major lines of research of American economists on the economies of the USSR and Eastern Europe. A specific concern is that the United States faces a complex set of issues resulting from the expanding role of these countries in the world economy. At the same time, the United States is experiencing a declining base of specialists in Soviet and East European economics. Presently, much of the work on the Soviet economy concerns three themes: how the system is organized and how it operates; efficiency evaluation in terms of goals or of hypothetical performance; and how the system performs relative to other Eastern and Western countries. One of the most successful projects is SOVMOD, a computer-based series of models of the Soviet economy. Academic exchanges, however, have played a relatively minor role in research development. The benefits of travel for the American economist are small. Documents are generally classified and Soviet economists are not encouraged to work with their American counterparts. Thus, the predominant form of exchange may become short stays by individuals or delegations and conferences. East European exchanges have been more promising, particularly in Hungary, Poland, and Yugoslavia. East European economists are more informed about Western approaches, and data are better and more plentiful. The document concludes with a brief comment by a conference participant who differs with the author on the benefits of research in the Soviet Union. (Author/KC)

This discussion of the usefulness of audiovisual technology for vocational training begins with a brief overview of changes in vocational training in Europe with the introduction of open learning and distance teaching methods and the increase in technologies available to trainers. Procedures for deciding on appropriate audiovisual media are then considered, with an emphasis on the context of the decision, e.g., the training needs of a large manufacturer vs. those of a service industry. Criteria for this decision-making process are discussed, including the issues of access, i.e., when and where the employee will learn; costs for the production and delivery of instructional materials in various media formats; the presentational characteristics of audiovisual media as they relate to teaching strategies; the control over the medium that is available to the learner, e.g., broadcasts vs. cassettes; and the policies and structures within a training organization that can support or hinder the use of audiovisual media for training. Some general recommendations for the design of a training system using audiovisual media conclude the paper. The text is supplemented by four tables. (EW)

This paper discusses challenges to the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU) in using technology. The first section deals with external challenges to EADTU institutions, including competition from new services, new funding programs, pressure from national governments, and the Europeanization of education. Internal challenges are identified as the need for clearly defined policies regarding transborder activities, low use of technology in member institutions, communication between member institutions (postal services, courier services, telephone, telefacsimile, face-to-face meetings, and audioconferencing), joint course production, transborder delivery of courses, and European-wide course design and delivery. Requirements for member institutions indicated by these challenges are summarized: greater use of established technologies; development of new course designs that exploit new technologies; and development of better communications systems between EADTU institutions. Four references are listed. (MES)

This discussion of the influence of advertising on the development of new media covers ways in which advertising uses the media and the implications of new information technologies for consumers and marketing activities. The first of four sections describes how television advertising has been altered by the development of new technologies--cable, satellites, and data processing--and outlines the consequences of these technological developments for broadcasters and advertisers. Part 2 explains and demonstrates with empirical data the electronic dilemma of advertising, i.e., how viewers avoid commercials through mental absence, physical absence, channel switching, use of the fast-forward button on videotaped programs, and use of remote control to "zap" commercials. Part 3 describes and summarizes measures taken by the media and advertising industry in the United States and Europe to counteract this dilemma and to exploit new possibilities associated with information technologies. Finally, Part 4, which is written from a European perspective, identifies the cultural consequences and implications for consumers of these countermeasures, and proposes public policy measures to counteract unwanted cultural or consumer consequences. A five-page list of references is provided. (JB)

Based primarily on data from public service broadcasting, this study had two major purposes: to develop a framework for understanding, conceptualizing, and measuring international television flows and the effects associated with these flows; and to establish a background of facts on international television flows in Western Europe. Secondary purposes include an evaluation of the "media imperialism" thesis as an explanation of the patterns of flow that can be observed; and an investigation of the validity of researchers' and politicians' claims that the United States dominates Western European television. The first of five chapters in the report describes the purposes of the study and provides a review of earlier research. The second chapter outlines the conceptual framework of the study and describes transnationalization of supply and consumption of television broadcasting. Addressing the second major purpose of the study, the third chapter provides data on transnationalization of television in Europe. Discussions of the media imperialism thesis and both positive and negative effects of transnationalization are presented in the fifth chapter. The final chapter outlines policy and research implications of the study. The report includes 28 tables, an extensive list of references, and three appendixes which include a review of the empirical research on which the study is based and the absolute data from which the tables were derived. (GL)

The JANUS (Joint Academic Network Using Satellite) satellite network is being planned to link European institutions wishing to jointly produce distance teaching materials. Earth stations with capabilities for transmit/receive functions, voice/data functions, two 64 kbs channels, and connection to local telephone exchange and computer networks will be located at each institution. Initially the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU) will form the core of the system, but the network is expected to grow to include enterprises concerned with distance training. JANUS will have several functions: (1) two-way communication between sites; (2) audio-conferencing; (3) electronic mail; (4) computer conferencing; and (5) experimental video-conferencing. JANUS is being designed to reduce travel costs and time, reduce communication costs, speed up joint course production, secure external funding, and improve user-friendliness of electronic messaging and data transfer. Although most functions could be provided by existing services (face-to-face meetings, public telephone systems, public switched packet networks, private data networks, and VSAT satellite networks), there are problems with the cost and quality of service. Issues to be resolved before JANUS becomes operational include earth station design, location of a suitable satellite, development of user-friendly procedures, funding, and regulation of telecommunications services. (MES)

This is a report sponsored by UNICEF on the effects of economic and political transition in Europe, particularly Eastern Europe, on young children and adolescents. The economic theories and changes in labor and markets which have characterized European transitions in the past few years have paid little attention to issues of poverty and child welfare. This economic transition has placed increased responsibility on families who find themselves undergoing economic hardship. The projected European economic growth has instead become a recession. Some countries have seen institutional weakening, predatory privatization, and monopolistic markets. Such conditions have drastic social costs, including increased poverty, mortality, and stress. Of all age groups, children have been the most negatively affected. These negative effects include: increased incidences of morbidity and low birthweight, increases in juvenile crime rates, and increases in the number of teen pregnancies. (Contains 32 references.) (JW)

The focus of this paper is environmental issues facing Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union as they struggle with the momentous tasks of economic and political reform. Given the important role that environmental protest played in the upheavals, environmentalists have claimed a mandate for strong environmental controls. The state of the environment and its effects on the health of the inhabitants, plants, and animals are discussed. Chapters include: (1) "Industrial Wastelands"; (2) "The Health Toll"; (3) "Declining Biological Productivity"; (4) "The Green Movement"; (5) "The Official Response"; and (6) "A Policy Agenda." (KR)

Papers on library journal cooperation, interlibrary lending, library services to minorities, and school library media centers, which were presented at the 1983 International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) conference, include: (1) "The Co-operation between Editors of Library Journals in Socialist Countries," in which Wolfgang Korluss (East Germany) describes the development of cooperative agreements between and regularly scheduled conferences for editors of library journals in Socialist countries, and methods of cooperation, including exchange of journals, articles, and editors; (2) "The Impact of Technology on Interlibrary Lending," in which Susan K. Martin (United States) discusses traditional methods of interlibrary lending (ILL) and suggests that advances in online information retrieval, electronic publishing and delivery, telecopying, and optical disk technology will end the need for an ILL department but not the need for an ILL function; (3) "Final Report 1980-83 on the Activities of the [IFLA] Working Group on Library Services to Ethnic and Linguistic Minorities," in which M. Foster (United Kingdom) indicates different types of minorities and ways in which libraries can provide services for these people; and (4) "New Environment of Learning through School Library Media Centers in the Federal Republic of Germany," in which Andreas Papendieck (West Germany) describes the administration and services of German school libraries, including both independent libraries and those cooperating with public libraries. (ESR)

Papers on library acquisitions, special collections development, and special training for serials librarianship, presented at the 1984 IFLA general conference, include: (1) "The Development of the African Collection at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and Its Importance for the Cultural History of African Countries" (B. C. Bloomfield, United Kingdom); (2) "Planning Union Catalogues of Books in Developing Countries" (Richard J. Bennett and Maurice B. Line, United Kingdom); (3) "Supply of Literature from and about Africa in Europe with Special Regard to Interlibrary Loan in the Federal Republic of Germany" (Irmstraud D. Wolcke-Renk, West Germany); (4) "Education and Training for Work with Serials" (David P. Woodworth, United Kingdom); (5) "Education for Serials Librarianship: What Are the Basic Components?" (Michael E. D. Koenig, United States); (6) "Serials of the Poor: Their Nature, Importance, Problems, and Suggested Solutions" (Theophilus E. Mlaki, Tanzania); (7) "Acquisition of Library Material in Kenya: Problems and Prospects" (Joshua Reuben Njuguna, Kenya); (8) "Acquisitions in the Developing Countries--Problems and Possible Solutions: The Jamaican Experience" (Stephney W. L. Ferguson, Jamaica); (9) "Theory and Practice of Serials Control and How Your Subscription Agent Can Help" (Arnoud De Kemp, Netherlands); (10) "The British Library's African Research Collections and the Development of African Studies" (I. R. Willison, United Kingdom); (11) "Les Relations d' Echanges entre les Bibliotheques d'Afrique Francophone et la Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris" (Exchange Agreements Between the Libraries of Francophone Africa and the National Library in Paris) (Anne Zundel Ben Khemis); and (12) "The Problems of African Acquisitions: The Experience of the Nairobi Field Office of the Library of Congress" (James C. Armstrong, Kenya). (THC)

Papers on government libraries, public libraries, and research libraries presented at the 1984 IFLA general conference include: (1) "Library Services for Research" (Maria S. Pla de Menendez, Colombia); (2) "Interlibrary Loans, Present and Future: A Consideration for Academic Library Management" (Geoffrey G. Allen, Australia); (3) "The Parliamentary Library and the Parliamentary Information System--Tasks and Problems" (Wolfgang Dietz, West Germany); (4) "The Role of University Libraries in Developing Countries: The Case of Francophone Black Africa South of the Sahara" (Gerard Thirion, France); (5) "IFLA Working Group on the Impact of Information Technology upon Public Libraries" (Peter D. Gratton, United Kingdom); (6) "The Creation and Development of a Nation-Wide System of Libraries in Malawi Since 1970, with Special Reference to Public Libraries" (Rodrick S. Mabomba, Malawi); and (7) "Public Library Service in Africa. Opening Remarks: The Development of a Nationwide Public Library Service" (E. M. Broome, United Kingdom). (THC)

Papers on library services and developments in reading materials for the blind and disabled presented at the 1984 IFLA general conference include: (1) "The Establishment of a Library Service to Visually Handicapped People in African Developing Countries" (Paulli Thomsen, Denmark); (2) "Sources of Assistance for Establishing Braille Facilities" (Elizabeth Twining, United Kingdom); (3) "Presentation of a Guide to Developing Braille and Talking Book Services" (Edwige Mortyr, Norway); (4) "Library Services to the Blind in Kenya" (James Mwangi Ng'ang'a, Kenya); (5) "Central Library Services to the Disabled" (Dick Reumer, Netherlands); (6) "Guidelines for Libraries Serving Hospital Patients and Disabled People in the Community--A Tool to Improve Library Service" (Gunar Westgard and Bjorg Heie, Norway); (7) "Public Library Services to the Disabled--Their Information Needs and Special Materials" (Ongare Owino and Edward Waiguru Muya, Kenya); (8) "Producing Braille in Africa: Outlines of a Feasibility Study" (Rainer F. V. Witte, West Germany); and (9) "Presentation of the Work of the Section of Libraries for the Blind" (Winnie Vitzansky, Denmark). (THC)

In his paper, "European Needs and Attitudes towards Information Security," Richard I. Polis notes that the needs for security in computer systems, telecommunications, and media are rather uniform throughout Western Europe, and are seen as being significantly different from the needs in the United States. Recognition of these needs is, however, quite varied; attitudes towards the best methods for satisfying the needs are even more varied. The situation with respect to those needs and attitudes is described for the major countries of Western Europe, as well as both official and unofficial attitudes towards policy and regulation of information security technology, particularly cryptology. Pointing out that, with a few exceptions, neither official nor unofficial policy level organizations are prepared to follow the position advocated by the U.S. Government in such matters, Polis concludes that the practical impossibility of regulation, coupled with the clear need for large scale deployment of effective, inexpensive cryptology in the private sector, will lead to the decline of the degree of regulation to the vanishing point. (Author/EW)