Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 347	$ 339
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation (including amortization of technology projects)	60	64
Amortization of intangibles	32	30
Amortization of prepublication costs	63	76
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	4	4
Deferred income taxes	4	0
Stock-based compensation	47	41
Other	15	17
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(20)	3
Inventories	(33)	(63)
Prepaid and other current assets	(16)	(16)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(351)	(269)
Unearned revenue	(2)	16
Other current liabilities	(44)	(13)
Net change in prepaid/accrued income taxes	96	100
Net change in other assets and liabilities	(47)	9
Cash provided by operating activities	155	338
Investing Activities:
Investment in prepublication costs	(79)	(60)
Capital expenditures	(42)	(45)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(149)	(126)
Proceeds from dispositions of property and equipment	1	20
Changes in short-term investments	26	(3)
Cash used for investing activities	(243)	(214)
Financing Activities:
Dividends paid to shareholders	(145)	(152)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(11)	(9)
Repurchase of treasury shares	0	(300)
Exercise of stock options	134	80
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments	7	2
Cash used for financing activities	(15)	(379)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(5)	29
Net change in cash and equivalents	(108)	(226)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	944	1,526
Cash and equivalents at end of period	$ 836	$ 1,300