M E M O R A N D U M

TO:       Productivity Program Members and Invitees

FROM:     Lita Kimble    

DATE:     February 14, 2001

RE:       Productivity Program Meeting, March 16, 2001
     
     C. Lanier Benkard and Iain Cockburn would like me to invite you to the Productivity Program
Meeting scheduled to be held on March 16, 2001 at the Bureau's Cambridge offices, 2nd Floor
Conference Room, 1050 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA.  A copy of the preliminary program
is attached.   
     
     There will be a group dinner for meeting participants on Thursday night, March 15, at the Royal
Sonesta Hotel, 5 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, at 6:00 PM.
   
     Out-of-town participants will be housed, as requested, at the Royal Sonesta  Hotel, 5
Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge, 617/806-4200.  The NBER will cover the cost of your room and tax
for ONE NIGHT.  If you wish to stay additional nights the rate is $159.00 single or double occupancy
plus 12.45% tax per night. 
     
     Please fill out the enclosed reply form and return it to the NBER Conference Department at your
earliest convenience in the envelope provided.  You can also FAX your reply form to 617/864-1825. 
In order to ensure space at the hotel we need your reply form no later than February 27, 2001.
     
     Out-of-town participants are urged to book their flights as soon as possible in order to qualify
for discounted fares.  Due to budget constraints, the Bureau is only able to pay for Domestic
SuperSaver air fares or other deeply discounted fares. The NBER will also cover travel expenses in
accordance with the enclosed travel regulations.  Please read these regulations carefully because there
are limitations to what the Bureau can reimburse. For your convenience, we established a master
account with American Express Travel in Cambridge, 1-800/964-7409  or 617/661-0008.  

     Travel expense reports will be made available at the conference.  Please return the completed
form along with your original receipts to me.
                                                      
     AUTHORS PLEASE NOTE:  A copy of your paper must be in the NBER Conference Department
by March 2, in order to be included in the paper mailing to all participants. You can e-mail your paper
to the Conference Department at confer@nber.org.  You can use WordPerfect/PDF or MsWord. Please
let us know whether or not you wish to have your paper available on the web page. 
                                                       
     For long term planning purposes, please note that the Productivity week of the 2001 Summer
Institute will take place from 7/23 to 7/27.  

     If you have any questions, or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
or Carl Beck, Director Conferences, 617/868-3900 phone, 617/864-1825 fax,  or e-mail to
confer@nber.org.

We look forward to seeing you in March.