Publication Type: Abstract Proposal
Abstract: During the 1990's an innovative long term loan project involving Egyptian and Nubian antiquities was initiated between the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the San Antonio Museum of Art and the Dallas Museum of Art. This paper describes the project, illustrates some of the objects involved, and notes some of the discoveries made. The paper also points out the advantages such partnerships offer not only for the museums themselves, but also for the museum-going public and Egyptologists.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: No abstract available.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The changing nature of the global economic system has resulted in new methods in dealing with the growing disparity in wealth, human development, and economic development. Microfinance has moved to the forefront of these methods as a system to empower the poor, rebuild their lives, and reconstruct failing local markets. Microfinance institutions have fundamentally changed the way economic development is approached bringing not only factors from the human development index into consideration, but merging them with financial development factors. This new system has the potential to bring underdeveloped economies into the global economy through a bottom up development method. By approaching development in this manner, local economies have the ability to develop and grow within the protection of microfinance until they are able to compete globally. The development strategies that microfinance has brought holds great potential for economic growth, however, it is important to not get lost in such promises and forget that it is a tool for development not a panacea for poverty alleviation.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: In order to capture hidden grant in student loan programs, Ziderman and his colleagues (Shen & Ziderman, 2008; Ziderman, 2003, 2004; Ziderman & Albrecht, 1995) had developed a methodology to calculate two critical measures of recovery loss: repayment ratio and recovery ratio. This study is particularly interested in applying this analytical framework to analyze government-subsidized student loan programs in China. Since there was a critical policy change in 2004, the present study compares the old (before 2004) and the new (after 2004) loan schemes in China using updated GSSL data.
The most striking finding is that two schemes have different repayment ratios. In addition, both old and new schemes have higher repayment ratios than the international average, but are close to the average of Asian countries. This study also finds that the increasing default rate and administrative cost reduce the recovery ratio and the relative efficiency index. In summary, it is recommends that government should offer more favorable loan interest and longer repayment period to reduce students’ repayment burden, especially for disadvantaged students. Second, universities should provide intensive personal credit education as a precaution for loan default. Finally, government should consider professionalizing loan service to reduce administrative costs.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: From a pure policy standpoint, the path of Chinese financial reform appears haphazard and without vision. Through the lens of power politics in China, however, the trajectory of financial reform in China is not at all haphazard but the result of short-term political calculations aimed at strengthening the power of individual leaders. This paper will demonstrate this logic by examining Premier Zhu Rongji's policies toward the estimated 3.3 trillion RMB (US$400 billion) in non-performing loans (NPLs). Although increasing commercial independence of banks had been a long stated goal of both Premier Zhu Rongji and People's Bank of China Governor Dai Xianglong, policies adopted by the central government to deal with the NPL problem failed to address the issue and instead focused primarily on serving short-term political interests. This paper draws on interviews with bankers and officials, as well as hundreds of internal government documents to establish the political motives behind Premier Zhu's policies toward NPLs.
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