International Studies Program Update
Volume 3, Number 1 (May 2003)

AYSPS Selected as Host for Peace Corps Masters Program
In February 2003, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies was chosen by Peace Corps to be a host institution for the Peace Corps Masters International Program starting Fall 2003. The new Peace Corps Master's International Programs at the Andrew Young School will allow Peace Corps Volunteers to combine a masters degree from the Department of Economics or the Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies at AYSPS with a two-year Peace Corps tour.

Third Annual Conference on Public Finance Issues in an International Perspective
The Andrew Young School's third annual conference on public finance issues in an international perspective, The Hard to Tax: An International Perspective will be held May 15-16, 2003, in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The conference will bring together leading economics and tax experts from around the globe to discuss the issue of the "Hard to Tax".

Technical Support on Decentralization in Indonesia
The International Studies Program will be continuing its involvement in support of Indonesia's decentralization reforms during 2003 and 2004 through its lead in the USAID-funded project Technical Support for Decentralization Reform in Indonesia.

Implementation of a System of Formula-Based Grants in Tanzania
With support from the Danish government, the ISP successfully completed its study on the development of a formula-based mechanism for grants to local government autohorities in Tanzania in January 2003. At the request of Tanzania's Local Government Reform Programme, the ISP was awarded follow-up support to continue its technical assistance of local government reform in Tanzania during the implementation of a system of formula-based block grants.

Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers in Swaziland
The International Studies Program at the Andrew Young School was selected by the Ministry of Finance of Swaziland to conduct a study on the reform of the system of Intergovernmental fiscal transfers in Swaziland. The techinical study is funded through World Bank loan proceeds.

Fiscal Policy Summer Training Courses 2003
The Andrew Young School's Fiscal Policy Summer Training Courses for 2003 are designed to provide senior policy makers, government officials, and donor agency officers in depth exposure to crucial policy reform issues. Three courses will be offered during Summer 2003, notably: Tax Policy, Fiscal Analysis and Revenue Forecasting (June 23 - 11, 2003); Fiscal Decentralization and Local Governance (July 14 - August 1, 2003); and Public Budgeting and Fiscal Management (August 4-15, 2003). While the courses cover related topics, they are taught independently from each other; participants may choose to enroll in either one or more courses. Training will take place on the campus of Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. The application deadline for the program is June 15, 2003.

Faculty and Staff Update
The ISP is excited to announce that ISP Senior Associate Mark Rider will be joining the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies in Fall 2003 as an Associate Professor of Economics. In addition, the International Studies Program has hired Andrei Timofeev as a full-time ISP Senior Associate. ISP Graduate Research Assistant Pablo Saavedra will be serving as a short-term consultant with the World Bank during Summer 2003.

New Working Papers
The International Studies Program Working Paper Series has added ten new working papers since the last ISP Update on a wide variety of internationally relevant policy issues.

More Information
For more information on the International Studies Program or its activities, please visit our website at http://isp-aysps.gsu.edu or contact Mr. Paul Benson at paulbenson@gsu.edu.

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