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Which businesses should be open?

A new MIT study examines 26 types of businesses, measuring their economic importance and risk. Banks perform the best in terms of economic impact and relatively low crowding, while liquor and tobacco stores rank poorly due to high crowds and limited economic importance.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 11, 2020

New Chicago Booth research suggests patients prefer expert guidance for medical decisions

Patients favor expert guidance in healthcare decisions, rather than full autonomy, according to new research from University of Chicago Booth School of Business Professors Emma Levine and Celia Gaertig. In experiments, participants preferred paternalistic advice over autonomy, even when the outcome was unfavorable.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Booth School of Business·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2020

Eurovision voting points to more than just musical tastes

New research from the University of Stirling and University of Glasgow reveals that Eurovision voting patterns can indicate the likelihood and nature of business exchanges across borders. The study found correlations between voting bias and levels of foreign direct investment, migration movements, and cross-border mergers.

SourceUniversity of Stirling·JournalJournal of International Business Studies·DateMay 11, 2020

Key failings in government's approach to COVID-19 preparations and emergency response

Research finds UK government's reliance on 'lean production' and 'just in time' continuity planning left NHS stockpiles short of vital supplies and capacity for PPE, ventilators, and testing. The paper suggests a new independent body should be set up to take responsibility for future national emergency preparedness.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalJournal of Risk Research·DateMay 7, 2020

Social banks rely on their motivated investors

Researchers found that social banks produce smaller returns to their owners, remunerate depositors at below market interest rates, and grant loans below market interest rates. This supports the hypothesis that ownership explains the results, as stakeholder banks exhibit different interest rate behavior.

SourceUniversity of Vaasa·JournalKyklos·DateFeb 25, 2020

Underestimated chemical diversity

A new list of chemicals available worldwide contains 350,000 entries, three times greater than 20 years ago, highlighting a need for international collaboration to track global chemical diversity. The list reveals inadequate descriptions and confidential business information on 70,000 and 50,000 entries, respectively.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 14, 2020

If it takes a hike, riders won't go for bike sharing

New Cornell research reveals that bike-share systems often deter users due to long distances between docking stations. The study recommends creating denser networks with smaller stations and increasing bike availability to grow ridership. Placing stations near grocery stores provides the most benefit, according to the findings.

SourceCornell University·JournalManagement Science·DateJan 30, 2020

Innovation is widespread in rural areas, not just cities

A new study at Penn State found that incremental improvements made by businesses outside of their firm are crucial for economic growth and employment. The 'latent' innovation index assigns scores to counties based on opportunities for improvement, showing that rural areas can foster innovation too.

SourcePenn State·JournalResearch Policy·DateJan 2, 2020

No kale left behind: A new supple management method to limit perishable waste

Researchers at University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management devised a new method to manage perishable inventory, cutting costs by up to 27%. The single most effective strategy is shortening lead time between receiving an order and delivering it, reducing costs for suppliers in the food retail industry.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalProduction and Operations Management·DateNov 29, 2019

Does climate change affect real estate prices? Only if you believe in it

A new study from the UBC Sauder School of Business reveals that homes projected to be underwater due to climate change sell for roughly 7% more than comparable homes in areas where people don't believe in climate change. The difference is significant, with implications for real estate investors and homeowners.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia - Sauder School of Business·JournalReview of Financial Studies·DateNov 5, 2019

Predicting terror activity before it happens

A new predictive model can forecast a terror organization's future violence after just 10 attacks, allowing security forces to identify and neutralize the most destructive groups. The model, developed by Northwestern University researchers, uses data from publicly available sources like the Global Terror Database.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 7, 2019