Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

consciousness-based education and governmentand stable environment for economic growth and prosperity. Researchconducted on such coherence-creating groups has shown significantimprovements in the Okun Misery Index (i.e., decreased inflation andunemployment), greater strength and stability of the national currency,and improvements in other key economic indicators (Cavanaugh, 1987;Cavanaugh, King, & Titus, 1989; Orme-Johnson & Gelderloos 1988).Large businesses and private-sector corporations can also create suchgroups among their employees. Most corporate analyst are aware ofhow their businesses are negatively impacted by adverse macroeconomicfactors. Through the establishment of a coherence-creating group, businessesare now in a position to change macroeconomic trends in a positivedirection for the benefit of their organization and society as whole.In addition, businesses that have incorporated the use of TranscendentalMeditation have seen marked savings in corporate health costs(Herron et al, 1996; Alexander et al., 1993). Health benefits have nowbecome the third largest expense (after raw materials and straight-timepay) for manufacturers, and the second largest expense for most servicebusinesses. Experience has shown that such corporate health costscan be cut in half or more, simply by incorporating the TranscendentalMeditation program into their employee benefits package.4. Lower taxesThe most powerful fiscal action a government can take to stimulate theeconomy is to lower taxes. It is now possible, through the programs andpolicies presented in this book, to cut taxes deeply and responsibly—withoutadding to the national deficit and without cutting essential services.During elections, many politicians promise lower taxes but are unable tofulfill these promises due to the depth and complexity of problems facedby government. However, the cost-effective solutions to crime, spiralinghealth costs, etc., presented in this book will save governments billions ofdollars annually. This provides a realistic basis for significant tax reductions,while protecting the integrity of important social programs.The significant reduction of taxes also affords governments an opportunityto reform tax policies that are counter-productive or that violate214