Three papers are presented from a conference on governmental and economic affairs held at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In "Federal Legislation and Higher Education," John P. Mallan pointed out that the major portion of funds is channeled through student aid programs, and research and development funds are concentrated in a few institutions. Proposals for accessibility to federal research funds are presented, and federal regulations for which the Federal Government pays no implementation costs are discussed. In "Financing Post Secondary Education: Expenditure Priorities and Tax Effort and Ability of State and Local Governments," Kenneth E. Quindry recommended that tuition and fee support be stabilized as to relative share and that such support be equalized according to ability to pay. Criteria for optimum tax systems are presented and related to current taxation with the southern region. Southern Regional Education Board studies of state and local tax ability and tax effort are discussed. In "Population, Occupational and Economic Factors Related to Higher Education," Forrest H. Pollard describes demographics of population growth and migration. Population groups, enrollment patterns, education attainment, occupational employment, and per capita income for the state of Arkansas, for Pulaski and adjacent counties, and Little Rock-North Little Rock Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area are presented. (SW)