EXPENSE GUIDELINES FOR INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENTS

FROM THE NBER ECONOMIC FLUCTUATIONS AND GROWTH PROGRAM

PLEASE NOTE: OUR AUDITORS NOW REQUIRE US TO HAVE ORIGINAL RECEIPTS

IN ORDER TO REIMBURSE EXPENSES.

AIR TRAVEL

Substantial savings can be realized by calling OMNI TRAVEL in Cambridge, the Bureau's official travel agency, at 800/370-6664 or 617/864-3600, and telling them you are with the NBER and traveling to the meeting. The agents most familiar with the Bureau regulations are Michael Burgess and Georgia Lee Simko. Your airfare will be billed directly to the NBER.

The highest fare we will reimburse is the discounted airfare quoted to us by Omni Travel. The lowest fares of all are available if it appears that you are staying over Saturday. We do not pay any costs associated with a Saturday stay-over, but you can take advantage of this fare if you stay over anyway or if you overlap two trips to the same destination. Please book your travel as soon as possible but no later than 21 days prior to departure.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

We do not pay for long solo taxi rides, limousine rides, or expensive car rentals. We will pay your actual expenses up to $65 per meeting for bus, train, or taxi service to your airport and to our meeting. All requests for reimbursement must be accompanied by an original receipt. If you drive your own car to your airport, we will pay you $0.31 per mile, and actual parking costs to a maximum of $40.

HOTEL INFORMATION

We arrange discount room rates at the hotels we use. The NBER will pay for one night's room and tax only (Thursday, February 5). We do not pay for any other charges on your hotel bill, such as room service, movies, drinks, or telephone calls. We also do not pay for staying anywhere other than the hotel we have arranged -- our rates are dependent on the number of rooms we fill. Hotel reservations are guaranteed. You must notify the hotel by 4 PM on the scheduled day of arrival if your plans change. No-shows are billed for one night's stay plus tax.

MEALS

Meals are provided to participants during meetings. We do not pay for other meals while traveling.

TELEPHONE CALLS

We do not pay for telephone calls.

OTHER REIMBURSEMENTS

Your employer may be willing to reimburse you for the part of your actual expenses not covered by our policy. We encourage you to seek that reimbursement; it will not lower the amount that we pay you.