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Fighting poverty won’t jeopardize climate goals

According to a new study, lifting over 1 billion people out of poverty worldwide would increase global carbon emissions by 1.6-2.1%. The main reason for this is the huge inequality in carbon footprint between rich and poor nations. Rich countries emit significantly more carbon than poor ones.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 14, 2022

Climate drove 7,000 years of dietary changes in the Central Andes

A new study reveals that climate had a significant influence on diet in the Central Andes between 400 and 7,000 years ago. The researchers found that population size had little impact on dietary variation, except during the Late Horizon (~480-418 yBP), when diets became more similar due to the Inca Empire's centralized power.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScientific Reports·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 9, 2022

Cleveland Clinic study highlights how standardizing care leads to equitable COVID-19 outcomes in the ICU

A Cleveland Clinic study found that standardizing care led to more equitable COVID-19 outcomes in the ICU, despite existing health disparities among racial and ethnic groups. The study revealed Black patients had a higher prevalence of asthma, diabetes, and hypertension, increasing their risk of severe COVID-19 cases.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities·DateFeb 9, 2022

For the uninsured, crowdfunding provides little help in paying for health care and deepens inequities

A new study found that crowdfunding has limited success in helping people pay their medical bills, particularly in low-income and under-insured communities. Despite raising over $650 million annually, 33.8% of campaigns remain unfunded, highlighting the need for better health insurance coverage and social assistance programs.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 3, 2022

Not living the dream: Millennials locked out of housing market by older generations

A new research paper from the University of South Australia reveals that older generations hold a significant portion of housing properties, locking out younger Millennials. The study highlights how government policies designed to protect one generation can hinder another, creating severe housing tenure inequalities.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalProperty Management·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 2, 2022

A new digital gap in internet usage between rich and poor people has been detected

A new study by Universidad Carlos III de Madrid researchers has detected a significant digital gap in internet usage between rich and poor people, with poorer areas consuming more social media and traditional news outlets. The study found that higher levels of education and purchasing power are associated with more traditional online m...

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateJan 20, 2022

Inequities in use of diabetes medications

A study of 1.1 million patients with type 2 diabetes found disparities in the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists by racial and ethnic groups, as well as by sex and socioeconomic status. The findings highlight concerns about unequal access to effective diabetes care.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateDec 17, 2021

Extreme weather research shows household income impacts of Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, need for more equitable climate resilience planning for cities

A new analysis found that low-income households in New Orleans lost nearly 35% of their income after Hurricane Katrina, while high-income households in NYC lost only 5.8%. The study highlights the need for diversified income sources to mitigate economic harm from extreme weather events.

SourceIllinois Institute of Technology·JournalApplied Geography·DateDec 14, 2021

Measuring inequality in COVID-19 mortality

The study found significant disparities in COVID-19 mortality rates among racial and ethnic groups and those with different levels of educational attainment. The researchers analyzed data from 219 million adults aged 25 or older to identify these inequalities.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateNov 23, 2021

Private education in lower-income countries is having limited impact on learning

A study of over 560,000 children in India, Pakistan, Kenya, and Uganda found that private education made little difference in learning outcomes, with gains largely attributed to more advantaged backgrounds. The researchers suggest that private schools may be drawing support away from state education without significantly improving stan...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalComparative Education Review·DateNov 22, 2021

Poverty, racism and the public health crisis in America

Research highlights the intersection of poverty and racism in exacerbating US public health disparities. The US has a high rate of poverty despite collective wealth, disproportionately affecting communities of color. Beech emphasizes the need for policies to increase access to care and address institutionalized racism.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·DateNov 11, 2021

COVID-19 leads to a decrease in prosocial behaviour among disadvantaged adolescents

A study by University of Cologne researchers found that COVID-19 has a particularly negative impact on young people from economically disadvantaged and less educated backgrounds. They exhibit decreased prosocial behavior, including lower generosity, altruism, and cooperation, as well as reduced trust in others.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateNov 11, 2021

COVID-19 lockdowns deepened struggle for work-family balance

A new study by McGill University researchers found that COVID-19 lockdowns disproportionately affected graduate students' mental health, particularly among women. Women reported more stress related to remote teaching and caregiving responsibilities, leading to increased depressive symptoms.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPreventive Medicine Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 10, 2021

Jewish autistic pupils thrive as bilingual learners, after communities reject advice “not to teach Hebrew”

A University of Cambridge study found that Jewish autistic children who learn Hebrew as a second language benefit from their cultural identity and community involvement. Parents and teachers rejected outdated professional advice, instead teaching pupils Hebrew to enhance their spiritual and family life.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·DateOct 27, 2021

Measuring financial and digital literacy in vulnerable populations

A new approach to measuring financial and digital literacy is proposed by a team of researchers led by Angela Lyons. The study finds that while promoting literacy is important, it may not be enough to ensure resilience, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and those living in poverty.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalEmerging Markets Review·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 21, 2021

People love the billionaire, but hate the billionaires’ club

Research finds people prefer to criticize the billionaires' club than a single billionaire. When portrayed individually, billionaires are viewed as more deserving of their wealth due to talent and hard work. In contrast, when shown as part of a group, people perceive greater unfairness and advocate for policies like inheritance taxes.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

The Lancet: COVID-19 pandemic led to stark rise in depressive and anxiety disorders globally in 2020, with women and younger people most affected.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a stark increase in major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders worldwide, affecting 246 million cases globally in 2020. Women were disproportionately impacted, accounting for over 35 million additional cases, while younger people were also more severely affected.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·TypeObservational study·DateOct 8, 2021

Income inequality can harm children’s achievement in maths – but not reading, 27-year study suggests

A 27-year study suggests that income inequality is linked to lower maths scores among US children, with even richer students experiencing negative effects. The study found that states with higher income gaps saw poorer maths results, while reading grades were not associated with income inequality. Policymakers may need to consider redu...

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalEducational Review·DateOct 5, 2021

Mount Sinai study identifies significant inequalities among low-risk births, finds higher rates of unexpected complications for Black and Hispanic infants

A Mount Sinai study found significant inequalities among low-risk births, with Black and Hispanic infants experiencing higher rates of unexpected complications. Hospital quality was identified as a key contributor to these disparities, with lower-quality hospitals serving more Black and Hispanic women.

How society’s inequalities showed up in COVID outcomes

A new study from University of Utah researchers explores how socioeconomic inequalities, particularly in Utah's Salt Lake County, contributed to racial minority groups being unequally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that residents of affluent areas had lower rates of infection compared to those in low-income zip codes.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalCOVID·TypeObservational study·DateAug 9, 2021

Far out: Why political parties go to extremes

A recent study modelled social, economic, and personal factors influencing voters and parties to identify four key levers that tip the balance towards political extremes. Social contagion and macro-economic factors such as employment and economic growth play a significant role in driving polarization.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 5, 2021

Generous with individuals and selfish to the masses

A recent study found that people willingly share monetary gains with others and dislike inequality, yet behave selfishly in large group decisions. In the Big Robber Game, over half of participants took the maximum amount from their group, while displaying prosocial behavior in small, bilateral games.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2021

Don't worry, the kids are cool if you cash in on their inheritance

A study by the University of South Australia suggests that public resistance to inheritance and estate taxes has declined in Australia. Researchers found that two-thirds of young adults and senior Australians are in favor of taxing estates worth more than $3m, which could help address social inequalities and increase government revenue.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalAustralian Journal of Political Science·DateJul 1, 2021