Articles tagged with Behavioral Economics
The US long-term care system is confusing and inefficient, with many families forced to fend for themselves. European countries, such as Germany and England, provide more comprehensive coverage through social insurance models, while others rely on government-funded support or family care.
A study by Penn State researchers found that higher grocery prices are associated with increased food spending, higher risk of food insufficiency, and worse mental health conditions. Households respond with various coping strategies, including changing shopping habits, reducing expenses, and delaying medical care.
Researchers investigate Japan's first climate transition bonds, finding that investors demand higher returns due to uncertainty about environmental improvements. The study highlights the importance of clear transition plans and transparent reporting to strengthen investor confidence and reduce financing costs.
A new study found that insurance settlements increased by 12-17% after anonymity guarantees were introduced in Israel's legal reform. This suggests that individuals were willing to sacrifice thousands of dollars to protect their privacy. The study provides rare real-world evidence of privacy's substantial economic value.
A $13.3 million randomized clinical trial is testing whether weekly semaglutide can reduce alcohol and opioid use, and reduce justice involvement among adults with alcohol and opioid use disorder. The study aims to improve employment, health, and housing outcomes among participants, and will enroll up to 1,200 adults with the conditions.
Entrepreneurs who can resist instant rewards are more likely to start businesses and earn more from them. Those who became business owners earned substantially more than their less patient counterparts. The study suggests that patience really is a virtue for entrepreneurs.
A study of 1,400 employees in the UK financial sector found that women in male-dominated workplaces are less comfortable admitting mistakes and see them as less learning opportunities. In contrast, women in low-male-share environments have more positive views of mistakes.
A new study of 5,589 participants across 21 countries found that mental accounting effects vary by income level, with individuals in lower-income countries more sensitive to monetary values. The study also revealed differences in effects by social context, decision perspective, and role in price determination.
A new study from Virginia Commonwealth University finds that young adults consider physician-influencers on TikTok to be more accessible, credible, and altruistic than their own doctors. Followers do not verify the influencers' medical credentials, and instead, trust their authority based on their appearance and personal stories.
A behavioral economics study of nearly 15,000 South Koreans over six years found that people are more likely to report suicidal ideation when their life is perceived to be getting worse relative to their recent past. The study's key findings suggest that loss aversion is a stronger predictor of suicide risk than life circumstances.
A new study from Bournemouth University surveyed 2,112 UK adults engaged in matched betting, finding that many perceived it as risk-free despite losing over half. Participants attributed losses to mistakes rather than risk, highlighting the need for greater research on matched betting's effects.
A new study from RMIT University suggests that environmental awareness alone may not stop people from buying ultra-fast fashion. Shoppers weigh sustainability against price and convenience, using budgets and careful planning to make purchases feel more acceptable. The study identifies two psychological patterns, strategic spontaneity a...
A Penn State researcher found that Treasury yields influence rates on cryptocurrency lending markets, despite no direct link. Stablecoin borrowing and deposit rates move together with Treasury yields in a systematic way.
Researchers propose embedding ethics-based learning objectives across accounting and business curricula to better prepare students to recognize and prevent fraud. They recommend examining personal values, organizational culture, and workplace pressures that can contribute to fraud, as well as emerging technologies like AI.
A policy analysis by Hasanuddin University reveals that Indonesia's shift from gradual rehabilitation to stricter enforcement has not fully addressed the underlying drivers of oil palm expansion in state forest zones. The study argues that sustainable forest restoration can only be achieved when environmental protection is pursued alon...
Research shows a link between dollar store food quality and higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Traditional grocery store access is associated with better health metrics, according to a new study published in BMC Public Health.
Researchers found that hedge funds that effectively bet against public sentiment outperformed those that rode sentiment, earning a 0.4% monthly premium. This result persists even after controlling for fund characteristics and economic risks.
A recent study by Carnegie Mellon University and the Internal Revenue Service found that gig workers who no longer received 1099 reporting for their work reported 17 cents less in self-employment net earnings on their tax returns. The researchers estimated that 770,000 gig workers went unreported, resulting in $560 million in unreporte...
Jim Rogers emphasizes the importance of rigorous research, questioning, and emotional discipline in achieving successful investing outcomes. He identifies major risks in global markets, including rising U.S. debt and complacency, while highlighting China's potential for recovery and India's long-term promise.
A study found that people, including retail investors and financial professionals, often have different expectations for stock market returns due to varying mental models. Despite receiving outdated news, many respondents continued to expect higher returns, focusing solely on future profits rather than current share prices.
A new study found that negotiation is a routine part of daily life, with over 30% of social interactions involving some form of negotiation. The most common process was agreement-seeking and joint decision-making, not the zero-sum exchange typically associated with negotiation.
A new study confirms that oxytocin selectively increases trusting behavior in men with a low disposition to trust, regardless of their trust scores. The hormone's effect persists even after controlling for personality traits, suggesting that oxytocin may intensify the expectation of cooperation and reduce fear of being cheated.
A study suggests that overconfidence persists not due to its costs but because of them, serving as a reliable signal for ability. Only the most capable individuals can afford to sustain high self-belief without severe consequences.
A new study from the University of Surrey discovered that simply explaining how customer money is spent can make them more willing to pay higher prices. The research found that customers are often more willing to pay when they understand the value behind a service, such as expert staff or quality ingredients.
A new scale developed by University of Arizona researchers helps marketers predict consumer habits by analyzing which era evokes the most nostalgia. The Nostalgia for Eras scale assesses three components: warmth, loss, and idealization, identifying specific decades that evoke strong nostalgic feelings.
Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new approach to stress testing, which simulates multiple financial risks simultaneously to predict bank resilience. This method outperformed existing stress tests in identifying worst-case losses and captured more severe losses.
According to new research from the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America, nearly one in four U.S. workers are currently in a job they want to quit but stay due to health insurance coverage. Women and people with chronic conditions experience higher rates of job lock.
A new study by Hanyang University researchers found that carbon-based pricing can increase pro-environmental behavioral intentions among tourists. Participants who knew wasteful consumption could increase their costs reported stronger conservation intentions.
New research highlights that modern slavery is often a result of business decisions prioritizing cost and efficiency over labor conditions. Companies must invest in understanding their supply chains to tackle exploitation and shift focus from reporting to knowledge.
A study from Technical University of Munich found that people perceive AI hiring decisions as unfair when the avatar resembles them in terms of gender or skin color. After receiving a rejection, trust in AI is shaken if the avatar's appearance differs from their own.
A new book identifies nine types of procrastinators, from worriers to thrill seekers, and offers strategies for overcoming the problem. Procrastination causes serious harm to finances, health, relationships, and careers, but can be overcome with the right approach.
A new study by University of Technology Sydney researchers suggests that honesty can be more efficient than incentive contracts in organisations. By modeling principal-agent relations, the authors show that trust and professional integrity may outperform performance-based pay, potentially eroding trust over time.
Researchers introduced a new method to measure firm capabilities, creating a 'capabilities ladder' to identify basic and advanced capabilities. The study found significant nestedness within the ladder, with firms at lower rungs having basic managerial, production, and communication capabilities.
Researchers from the University of Osaka found that adding a sentence about limited donor compatibility increased donors' willingness to progress through pre-donation testing. This simple message resulted in a 7.3% increase in donor completion rates, offsetting nearly half of projected donor declines.
A new commission, launched at the Texas Brain Economy Summit, aims to define, measure, and operationalize brain capital, a concept encompassing both brain health and critical cognitive skills. The initiative seeks to address the gap in economic planning and promote brain health as a driver of economic resilience.
A new study from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scholar John Kallas examines how union activists practiced intersectional organizing by drawing on their experiences as marginalized individuals. Union activists united around shared social identities, such as sexual orientation and disability, to advance organizing campaigns.
A Hiroshima University study finds that practical digital skills, positive financial attitudes, and self-protection are more consistently associated with lower old-age anxiety than traditional financial knowledge alone. The study suggests that financial education may need to move beyond knowledge alone in the digital age.
A study found that people tend to focus on their personal outcome instead of comparing themselves to others when making status decisions involving health. In non-health situations, participants preferred to come out ahead of others, but this changed once health information was introduced, shifting them towards choosing what was best fo...
Researchers found that adding words like charming, cozy, or lovely to Airbnb listings boosted booking rates by roughly 0.2%, comparable to objective claims about amenities. The study's findings suggest that subjective praise can meaningfully shape consumer behavior without consumers feeling remorseful.
A new study led by Professor Dr. Anne Burmeister found that individuals seeking advice are more likely to reach out when they learn about the benefits for both parties involved, resulting in a 40% increase in contacts and high-quality advice received.
A new study published in The Quarterly Journal of Economics reveals that a good manager's leadership ability is roughly as important for team performance as the total productive capacity of employees. Economic decision-making and skills are key indicators of successful management.
A recent study published in PNAS has found no meaningful health impacts from exposure to wind turbines. The researchers analyzed data from over 120,000 households and found no correlations between turbine installation and health problems such as headaches, depression, or sleep disturbances.
A new AI-powered detection system developed by University of East London researchers combines language analysis with behavioural clues to identify genuine reviews. The hybrid fusion model achieved 93% accuracy on Amazon review data and 91% accuracy on Yelp reviews, outperforming traditional methods.
A new study reveals that low-performing organisations are more likely to seek external knowledge and collaboration, while high-performing ones focus on internal searches. Low-performing schools with high cross-school collaboration achieved better academic results.
A University of Maine study found that US consumers are willing to pay more for lobster rolls made with ropeless fishing technology due to increased animal welfare concerns.
A study by Marta Serra-Garcia examines how incentives in the online attention economy shape scientific communication, finding that attention-driven summaries are not more likely to be factually inaccurate but tend to include less information. The research reveals a trade-off between engaging content and conveying accurate details.
Private firms with potential family successors in Sweden grew faster and invested more after the abolition of inheritance tax, which led to higher corporate taxes. The study suggests that rents from the tax abolition were shared with society through taxes and employee salaries.
Researchers found that consumers are willing to pay more for glass wine bottles, with Gen Z willing to spend $35.38. Providing sustainability information about packaging can influence willingness to pay, with a significant discount relative to glass packaging.
A study of nearly 200,000 Amazon reviews reveals that the structure of online product reviews plays a crucial role in their helpfulness. The researchers identified nine possible structures of online reviews and found that different review structures are more or less helpful depending on how highly the reviewer has rated the product.
A new study found that wealthier nations tend to invest more in private solutions, exacerbating climate change. The research involved over 7,500 participants from 34 countries, who took part in a simulation on how economic resources are allocated to address climate change.
A new study found that legalizing online sports betting in the US has led to a significant rise in binge drinking frequency among young men, particularly those who already report binge drinking. The study's findings highlight the need for policymakers to consider the broader behavioral impacts of gambling liberalization.
A new study from Binghamton University School of Management provides a framework for organizations to anticipate, interpret, and respond to social media backlash. The toolkit identifies four phases of online social disapproval and offers guiding questions and analytical indicators to aid in early detection, response, and recovery.
A new study finds that ESG rating providers play a crucial role in building and repairing trust in sustainable finance. By comparing EU and UK regulatory approaches, researchers show that 'enhanced self-regulation' combining public oversight with industry-led rules can support a credible market-led green transition.
A USF study finds that firms with more resources and senior staff develop talent internally, while those with unpredictable workloads hire experienced workers externally. The study highlights the importance of aligning talent strategy with both long-term goals and immediate operational pressures.
A new study from the University of Notre Dame examines the prevalence, determinants and consequences of cheap stock options. The research found that firms granting more options, having larger public offerings and venture capital backing tend to have greater gaps between IPO prices and exercise prices.
A new study found that providing financial vouchers to offset medication costs can significantly improve glycemic control among patients with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes. After six months, participants receiving performance-based incentives saw a clinically substantial reduction in HbA1c levels.
A landmark study by FAU and CSU found that offering six to 10 paid days off significantly lowers resignations, especially for men. Providing 11 or more days reduces quitting rates substantially for both men and women, highlighting the importance of meaningful time away from work.
A new study reveals that consumers who morally support companies hiring homeless individuals often drop purchase intentions due to irrational 'contagion concerns', triggered by emotional reactions linked to stereotypes about hygiene and safety. Social proof appeals can counteract this bias, increasing purchase likelihood.
A comprehensive review of 233 studies identifies the connection between workplace conditions and loneliness, highlighting the importance of job quality, stress management, and social support. Chronic loneliness harms emotional and cognitive well-being, while interventions such as mindfulness and volunteering can provide relief.
A new study from the Universities of Bath and Waterloo finds that people are more emotionally affected by anticipating negative future outcomes than positive ones, shaping economic behaviour. Individuals with stronger negative anticipatory emotions are more likely to avoid risk and less willing to wait for delayed outcomes.