About the ISP
 
The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies is recognized worldwide for the contributions it has made in supporting economic and policy reforms through technical assistance and training in developing and transition economies. This reputation has been built serving a diverse client base, including multilateral assistance organizations, foreign ministries and government organizations, legislative bodies and private sector institutions.

Mission
The mission of the International Studies Program is to provide academic and technical training, research and technical assistance in support of sound public policy and sustainable economic growth in transition and developing economies.

Areas of Expertise
The International Studies Program specializes in the provision of technical assistance and training in the areas of fiscal policy, budgeting and fiscal management, intergovernmental fiscal relations (fiscal decentralization) as well as economic and fiscal policy analysis in developing and transition economies.

Philosophy
Unlike many consulting firms, the success of the International Studies Program reflects the breadth and depth of the technical expertise that the International Studies Program can draw upon. The Andrew Young School's faculty are leading experts in economics and public policy and have authored books, published in major academic and technical journals, and have extensive experience in designing and implementing technical assistance and training programs.

Based on our extensive experience, our technical assistance strategy is not to merely provide technical prescriptions for policy reform, but to engage in a collaborative effort with the host government. Through cooperation with the donor and host country at all stages of the process, we seek to identify and analyze the issues at hand, arrive at policy solutions and implement reforms.

Contributions of expatriate specialists in public policy reforms can be easily lost if an expert fails to be accepted as a partner in the reform process by government officials from the host country. However, the faculty and research staff at the International Studies Program enjoy international acclaim and recognition for their intellectual leadership and technical abilities. Our cutting edge technical competence, combined with our spirit of cooperation and our commitment to local ownership over projects, has given the International Studies Program the ability to command respect and trust at the highest levels among stakeholders from government, business, academia, and the public at large.

Academics
The technical assistance efforts and training programs offered by the International Studies Program uniquely complement the academic research and the educational mission of the Andrew Young School. As part of our global vision, the Andrew Young School's faculty and research staff is supported by a pool of graduate research assistants, many of which come from developing or transition economies. In addition, the ISP offers college seniors the opportunity to gain hands-on public policy experience through the School's summer internship program .

Contact Us
If you have questions or comments about the International Studies Program, or about this web site, please feel free to contact us.