The greatest challenge facing mankind today is the immense disparity in the levels of income among people in different parts of the globe. The growth rate of income of the poor countries is consistantiy far below the rate of the advanced, industrialized nations. Due to low income and a high propensity to consume, there is very little left in these countries for investment. A major portion of the resources available is devoted to military expenditures. This continual decline in the standard of living, coupled with poverty and unemployment, will lead to social and political upheaval in these countries, which affects developed countries. Because of high capacity and low population growth, the market of the developed countries is already saturated. To maintain the high standard of living in the developed countries it is necessary to have a strong and stable developing world. It is gratifying to see that both groups of countries see the need for peaceful economic growth; however, the amount of cooperation between countries and the material help from the developed countries are far from satisfactory. The economic and social scientists have investigated the best way to achieve the transformation from a poverty-ridden condition to a decent existence. Their studies have proceeded in two different directions. One is a more descriptive, historical analysis and the other is theoretical model building. Although these studies have achieved a relatively high level of perfection, one significant factor is sometimes missing.

SPAN had begun in 1948 as a consortium between the University of Minnesota and about a dozen colleges that cultivated international understanding through practical academic research. Each year four (sometimes three) countries were selected as destinations. It was and is, because SPAN continues todaya self-financed program through voluntary donations by businesses in the Upper Midwest as well as by contributions from the participants themselves (known as SPANners). The program was oriented toward upper classmen (in that age of gender insensitive terminology) so applicants were usually students in their Junior (or third) year of undergraduate studies.

Reports for 1958-1970 include catalogues of newspapers published in each state and Union Territory.

The collection of scholarly articles by eminent scholars capsulate the welfare and development schemes and their many-handed implementation in the lives of people of cities and towns to construct the urban infrastructure as well as boost up the rich dividends of economy, as felt of the independence. A positive story of the experiments useful for academic community.

A union list of serials commencing publication after Dec. 31, 1949.