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Shoppers know fast fashion harms environment but keep buying: study

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...

SourceRMIT University·JournalJournal of Global Fashion Marketing·TypeCase study·DateSep 20, 2026

Indonesia’s forest-zone oil palm dilemma needs more than stricter laws, Hasanuddin study finds

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...

SourceHasanuddin University·JournalForest Policy and Economics·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 27, 2026

Study on impact of changes to information reporting on gig workers’ behavior uncovers unreported income

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...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of Public Economics·DateAug 18, 2026

America’s investment biker Jim Rogers on investing amid uncertainty: think independently, research deeply

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.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalRisk Sciences·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 13, 2026

Oxytocin selectively boosts trust

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.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 12, 2026

Good news, false expectations? How people assess potential returns in the stock market

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.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2026

Feds can bank on better stress tests

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalManagement Science·DateJul 28, 2026

Honesty may be more efficient than incentives in organisations, new UTS research finds

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.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalJournal of Business Ethics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 9, 2026

A simple message helps keep stem cell donors on track

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.

SourceThe University of Osaka·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 1, 2026

New paper studies emergence of identity-based labor organizing

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.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalILR Review·TypeObservational study·DateJun 24, 2026

Financial education may need to move beyond knowledge alone in the digital age

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.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalInternational Journal of Financial Studies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 22, 2026

When health matters, status doesn't

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...

SourceUniversity of East London·JournalReview of Behavioral Economics·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 17, 2026

No meaningful health impacts from exposure to wind turbines

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.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 20, 2026

Missing information can misinform

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.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalAmerican Economic Review·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 7, 2026

Could glass be dethroned as wine’s top packaging? Researchers unbox consumer perceptions of wine packaging

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.

SourceUniversity of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture·JournalCleaner and Responsible Consumption·TypeSurvey·DateApr 22, 2026

The structure of online reviews shapes their helpfulness

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.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 8, 2026

Climate change and the private solution trap

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.

SourceUniversità di Bologna·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 24, 2026

Does online sports gambling affect substance use behaviors?

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.

SourceWiley·JournalHealth Economics·DateMar 11, 2026

New research offers businesses a playbook for surviving social media firestorms

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.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalJournal of Business Strategy·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 26, 2026

Can ESG ratings be trusted? New study examines the fight against greenwashing

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.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalRegulation & Governance·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 8, 2026

Diabetes management in disadvantaged communities improves significantly with financial incentives, study finds

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.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2026

Support stops at the checkout line: Consumer stigma undermines ‘impact hiring’ initiatives

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.

SourcePortland State University·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateJan 28, 2026

New research reveals how dread shapes decision-making

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.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalCognitive Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 22, 2026

Farmers’ voices in European protests

A study of European farmers' protests reveals a wide range of concerns including environmental regulations, which differ between countries. Farmers in Germany criticized bureaucracy, while French farmers focused on financial pressures, Belgian farmers expressed a broad mix of concerns, and Dutch farmers voiced dissatisfaction with policy.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalFood Policy·TypeSurvey·DateJan 19, 2026

The suspension of the foreign corrupt practices act generated record gains for companies involved in overseas corruption cases

The suspension of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act generated record gains for companies involved in overseas corruption cases. Companies that had been subject to investigations or sanctions under the FCPA collectively gained around $39 billion, with individual companies recording increases in market capitalization of billions of dollars.

SourceUniversità di Bologna·JournalInternational Organization·DateDec 23, 2025

Taxing homes in an economic boom and subsidising them in a crash could prevent the next housing crisis

Researchers argue that taxing housing purchases during economic booms and providing temporary subsidies on housing during recessions could help prevent the next housing crisis. The study found that this approach can lift house prices exactly when the system is at greatest risk, preventing fire sales and severe price collapses.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalJournal of Economic Dynamics and Control·TypeObservational study·DateDec 11, 2025