Tackling the Tuition Crisis on Shabbos

We all have our ideas of how to solve the tuition crisis.

Discussing and calculations related to paying workers is asur on Shabbos. If it has no practical application (e.g. the King's net worth) is it permissible? Is it a violation of "ודבר דבר"?

What if it's something that is relevant not to you but to your friend?