nep-cis New Economics Papers
on Confederation of Independent States
Issue of 2008‒03‒15
five papers chosen by
Anna Y. Borodina
Perm State University

  1. Corruption in Russian Higher Education as Reflected in the Media By Osipian, Ararat
  2. Economic Growth—Human Capital Nexus in Post-Soviet Ukraine, 1989-2009 By Osipian, Ararat
  3. Vouchers, tests, loans, privatization: Will they help (fight) higher education corruption in Russia? By Osipian, Ararat
  4. Economic Growth: Education as a Factor of Production By Osipian, Ararat
  5. Corrupt Organizational Hierarchies in the Former Soviet Bloc By Osipian, Ararat

  1. By: Osipian, Ararat
    Abstract: This paper considers corruption in higher education in Russia as reflected in the national media, including such aspects as corruption in admissions to higher education institutions and corruption in administering the newly introduced standardized test. The major focus is on the opinions of the leading figures of the education reform as related to corruption in education. The national media presents points of view of both supporters of the reform and those in opposition to the reform. Despite all the opposition that the standardized test faces among the leading educators and legislators, including The Chairman of The Council of Federation and numerous other Members of the Russian parliament and rectors of higher education institutions, the government continues implementation of the reform. Even though, as follows from the media reports and comments, the standardized test will not solve the problem of corruption in education, its full scale country-wide implementation at this point appears to be a question of time.
    Keywords: corruption; higher education; media; reform; national test; Russia
    JEL: P36 D73 P37
    Date: 2007–05–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:7594&r=cis
  2. By: Osipian, Ararat
    Abstract: This book presents theoretical and empirical investigation of economic growth and the possible impact of human capital on economic growth in Ukraine, the Russian Federation, Poland, and Hungary during the period of 1989-2009. This research defines place and role of human capital in the process of transition from the exogenous to the endogenous forms of growth and socio-economic development. It research presents an extended statistical analysis of transition economies. Substantial part of the book is devoted to the integrative scholarly synthesis with the special emphasis on theoretical aspects of economic growth.
    Keywords: economic growth; human capital; transition
    JEL: O47 P24 J24
    Date: 2008–01–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:7731&r=cis
  3. By: Osipian, Ararat
    Abstract: Russian higher education is in the process of reforming. Introduction of the standardized computer-graded test and educational vouchers was intended to increase accessibility of higher education, make its funding more effective, and reduce corruption in admissions to public colleges. The idea of vouchers failed while the test faces furious opposition and crises. This paper considers vouchers, standardized tests, educational loans, and privatization as related to educational corruption. The test is criticized by many for being a cause of the further increase in educational corruption. However, the test is needed to replace the outdated admissions policy based on the entry examinations. This paper considers the growing de facto privatization of the nation’s higher education as a fundamental process that should be legalized and formalized. It suggests further restructuring of the higher education industry, its decentralization and privatization, and sees educational loans as a necessary part of the future system of educational funding.
    Keywords: corruption; education; loans; privatization; reform; Russia; vouchers
    JEL: D73 P36
    Date: 2007–05–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:7595&r=cis
  4. By: Osipian, Ararat
    Abstract: This book presents theoretical and empirical investigation of the possible impact of human capital on economic growth in transition economies of Ukraine, Russia, Poland, and Hungary during the period of 1990-2007. This research defines place and role of human capital in the process of transition from the exogenous to the endogenous forms of growth and socio-economic development. Substantial part of the book is devoted to the integrative scholarly synthesis with the special emphasis on theoretical aspects of economic growth. The research presents both exogenous and endogenous models of growth, including Harrod-Domar, Solow, Solow-Swan, Leontief, Mankiw, Barro, and other models.
    Keywords: economic growth; human capital; transition
    JEL: O47 P24 J24
    Date: 2007–12–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:7593&r=cis
  5. By: Osipian, Ararat
    Abstract: Increasing scale and scope of corruption in the former Soviet Bloc, as well as numerous other countries, urges better understanding of the problem within the context of socio-economic transformations as it touches upon issues of organizational structures. This paper presents an overview of the research on corruption in organizations and develops models of corrupt organizations, including the vertical structure, the horizontal structure, and the hierarchy, as applied to transition economies.
    Keywords: corruption; hierarchies; transition; former Soviet Bloc
    JEL: P37 P3
    Date: 2007–05–01
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:7591&r=cis

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