A study found that firms tend to follow the pecking order theory, drawing down internal funds before relying on debt financing after negative E&S incidents. Firms with high CSR reputation are better able to cushion the impacts of such incidents. Financially constrained firms react differently due to limited access to equity markets.
The Purdue Innovation Partners Institute is bridging the rural digital divide by bringing wireless broadband connectivity to underserved communities. The initiative, backed by a $1M public-private partnership, aims to support remote learning and improve quality of life for K-12 students in northern Jasper County, Indiana.
A new study suggests that corporate fraud cases are associated with a 2.3% increase in local financially motivated crimes, including robbery and theft. The effect is strongest in smaller cities with fewer job opportunities and higher income inequality.
A new study by University of Illinois researchers Harsh Taneja and Angela Xiao Wu found that corporations use 'nudging' techniques to influence online attention, often in hidden ways. The researchers analyzed clickstream data from a million people and identified common clusters of websites that reflect corporate ownership, partnerships...
A new study suggests hackers are motivated by a company's attempts to fake social responsibility, targeting firms that engage in 'greenwashing' efforts. Companies with peripheral CSR actions are more likely to face data breaches and hacker attacks.
A team of researchers from the University of Southern California discovered a highly fragmented network pattern within the Panama Papers, which makes it challenging to infiltrate or take down. The study revealed that this system is robust due to its disconnectedness, making it difficult for national or international bodies to intervene.
The Journal of Public Policy & Marketing explores key topics like elections, voting, corporate political advocacy, and consumer political identities. Articles discuss strategies for marketing and research, highlighting the impact on stakeholder behaviors and policy implications.
The Giant Magellan Telescope will utilize revolutionary optical technologies to transform humanity's view and understanding of the universe. The NSF grant enables the prototyping and testing of advanced optics, including adaptive secondary mirrors and phasing testbeds, to achieve diffraction-limited imaging.
A new study by the University of Delaware found that diverse directors are less likely to serve in board leadership roles, despite being highly qualified. This inequity persists even when controlling for specialized skills and experience. The research suggests biases may be a contributing factor.
The Singapore Global Restructuring Initiative aims to promote cooperation and cutting-edge research on corporate insolvency. The project explores how insolvency laws can minimize the economic effects of crises like COVID-19, facilitating entrepreneurship, innovation, and access to finance.
Researchers at Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard have developed a miniature manipulator that uses origami-inspired design to enhance precision and control during teleoperated surgical procedures. The new device enables surgeons to perform complex operations with increased accuracy and reduced tissue damage.
The HEARTROID platform will assist the TTDD lab in validating device performance with pulsatile and anatomically precise 3D printed models, accelerating surgical device development. The partnership aims to create novel medical devices that enhance native biological functions.
Research finds that corporate activism can have both positive and negative effects on a company's financial performance. Aligned values between the corporation and its stakeholders result in an increase of 8% in next-quarter sales growth and 12% in next-year sales growth. Misaligned values lead to a 2% stock decline.
The Urban Future Lab and leading organizations have launched the Carbon to Value Initiative, a multi-year program to accelerate the development of carbontech innovations. The initiative will connect startups with industry leaders and create a collaborative ecosystem to make carbontech cost-effective and deployable at scale.
Research found that corporate activism's impact on a company's value and stock market performance varies depending on alignment with customers', employees', and state regulators' views. Alignment results in positive effects, while misalignment leads to negative consequences.
A new 28 GHz transceiver has been developed to support dual-polarized MIMO in 5G radio units, improving data rate and spectrum efficiency. The transceiver uses a built-in horizontal and vertical canceller to cancel cross-polarization leakage, resulting in reduced signal degradation.
A study found that child access prevention (CAP) laws, but not right-to-carry (RTC) or stand your ground (SYG) laws, are associated with reduced firearm-related deaths. States with more restrictive policies had 11% fewer firearm deaths, corresponding to an estimated 4,475 fewer deaths per year.
Research finds that corporate tax-planning practices improve with board involvement, resulting in less tax uncertainty and a lower tax burden. Companies with higher risk oversight have 31% lower tax uncertainty and 13.2% lower tax burden compared to those with lowest risk oversight.
Graphite exhibits stronger interplanar bond strength than previously believed, with an elastic constant of nearly 50 GPa, due to a short-range correlation effect selectively strengthening the potential energy surface. This discovery was made using a new ultrasonic measurement technique on defect-free monocrystalline graphite.
A recent study found that firms perceived to fake social responsibility are no more likely to experience data breaches than those with strong CSR records. In fact, firms with seemingly disingenuous CSR efforts are at increased risk of breach. This 'greenwashing' phenomenon makes them attractive targets for security exploitation.
A new study explores how franchisors can use contract ambiguity to minimize litigation and improve joint problem-solving with franchisees. The research finds that ambigous contracts lead to a 7% increase in franchisor net income, as well as enhanced collaboration and deterrence of franchisee-initiated lawsuits.
Research from the University of Notre Dame suggests that investors react more severely to corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) when top management executives have a higher proportion of law degrees. Firms with an average proportion of law-trained executives among their leadership teams tend to receive less punishment, while those wi...
A new study found that media outlets prioritize popular brands over misconduct, with liberal media reporting more frequently than conservative media. Media partnerships with offending companies also lead to reduced reporting of CSI events.
T. Mills Kelly received funding from the Corporation for Digital Scholarship to support collaborative storage for Zotero. The project will cover server software development and user support for Omeka, a free, open-source content management system.
A study by North Carolina State University found that consumers demand corrective action from companies even if they are victims of fake news. Consumers also expect corporations to take responsibility for combating fake news and want improved media literacy.
Researchers at Hokkaido University and Kao Corporation discovered that bound water on cotton surfaces causes cross-linking between single fibers, leading to stiffness. The study used atomic force microscopy and infrared spectroscopy to investigate the bound water's unique properties.
Andrey Golubov, a leading expert on mergers and takeovers at the University of Toronto, has received the Bank of Canada's Governor's Award. The award provides financial support for his research on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and firm value and performance.
A new study found that media coverage of corporate misconduct is not impartial, with popular companies and foreign brands receiving more attention. The study suggests that liberal media report more frequently on cases of corporate social irresponsibility than conservative media.
A new study by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute finds that telecommuters and non-telecommuters receive an equal number of promotions. However, telecommuters who signal a 'devotion' to their workplace through additional work hours outside normal working hours benefit in terms of both promotions and salary growth.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has announced the 2020 International Student Conference winners, recognizing outstanding research in aerospace engineering. The top three winners are from Ohio State University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Georgia Institute of Technology.
A new study suggests that luxury brands can overcome the clash between self-enhancement values and social responsibility by showcasing philanthropic activities of celebrities like Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie. This approach helps consumers reconcile their desire for status with a sense of altruism, leading to more favorable responses ...
A new study by San Francisco State University Professor Nara Jeong found that liberal CEOs invest more in socially conscious activities when they feel those values are threatened. Conversely, support for socially responsible initiatives drops among CEOs who share the same political beliefs as the president.
Oil companies spend most on advertising during negative media coverage and Congressional action on climate change. The study found that investments in promotion directly correspond to Congressional action and media coverage.
A recent study by Singapore Management University found that conservative boards are more likely to dismiss CEOs who have engaged in financial misconduct. The researchers used a scoring system to assess the political ideology of board directors and found that liberal boards were less likely to take action against the CEO.
A study led by Professor Maureen Dollard explores the link between toxic workplaces and mental health issues in Australia, finding a strong correlation between corporate cultures and antidepressant use. The research aims to determine if unhealthy work environments contribute to Australia's high levels of depression and anxiety.
A new study by University of Birmingham researchers found that government integrity is directly related to corporate governance choices made by business leaders. The study suggests that a culture of honesty and strong leadership can help eliminate corrupt business practices.
A study by University of Notre Dame researchers found that conservative CEOs with natural risk aversion receive less performance-based pay than their liberal counterparts. In contrast, liberal CEOs with a willingness to take risks receive more performance-based pay. This challenges traditional corporate governance practices.
A new study by University of Illinois expert J. Ryan Lamare examines how firms use alternative dispute resolution practices to resolve workplace issues. The researchers found that firms with different strategic orientations, such as efficiency and satisfaction, are more likely to use mediation or arbitration.
Undisclosed non-financial measures linked to CEO cash bonuses are associated with worse company performance, new research reveals. However, transparent and measurable non-financial targets related to corporate social responsibility are positively linked to industry-adjusted return on assets.
A Princeton researcher found that pesticide companies lobby for stricter regulations on less profitable products, allowing them to clear the way for more expensive alternatives. This practice has significant economic and public health implications.
Young stroke survivors who can walk faster than 3 feet per second are more likely to return to work, with those walking almost 6 feet per second showing significant improvement. The study highlights the potential of walking speed as a reliable tool for clinicians to predict return to work and guide rehabilitation.
A study by the University of Connecticut and University of Saskatchewan found that married CEOs tend to prioritize employee well-being and diversity, while non-married CEOs do not. Married CEOs are more likely to support hiring and promoting women, minorities, and disabled employees.
Researchers identified six corporate actions that can promote environmental stewardship: aligning vision, mainstreaming sustainability, license to operate, financing transformations, radical transparency, and evidence-based knowledge for action. These changes can be implemented by large corporations to ensure long-term sustainability.
Researchers found that people value diversity when making decisions for others, but prioritize similarity when working with their own teams. This discrepancy has implications for organizational diversity and highlights the need to involve multiple perspectives in hiring and team decisions.
Researchers found that high-intensity stepping with variable tasks improved dynamic balance and balance confidence in stroke survivors. High-intensity training resulted in significant clinical gains for 57% to 80% of participants, compared to 9% to 31% following low-intensity exercises.
Japanese family firms have found ways to keep centuries-old mottos relevant for decades, using strategies like elaborating, recovering, and decoupling to balance continuity with change. These methods help maintain a sense of purpose and responsiveness to competitive conditions.
New research estimates that IRS budget cuts have led to a loss of $34.3 billion in corporate tax revenue due to reduced audit rates and resources. The study, conducted by Indiana University Kelley School of Business, suggests that the IRS could have increased collections by this amount if provided with additional resources.
A new study found that when public interest in CSR is high, investors place a premium on companies involved in CSR activities, perceiving greater value despite fundamentals. Companies respond by upping their CSR efforts to boost stock market performance, especially for firms with transient investors and higher share turnover.
A study from the University of Texas at Austin found a strong correlation between marital infidelity and professional misconduct. Researchers analyzed data from police officers, financial advisers, and CEOs to discover that individuals who cheated on their spouses were more likely to engage in corporate misconduct.
Research from the University of Notre Dame finds that private, independent firms have lower carbon emissions and incur fewer EPA penalties than public and private equity-owned firms. The study suggests that increased oversight within public firms may decrease pollution.
A new study suggests that NGOs can use targeted reports to encourage companies to adopt more responsible practices through vertical integration. This approach can help promote sustainable sourcing throughout industries, even in the face of high external pressure. By specifying both violating and non-violating firms in their reports, NG...
A new Illinois study finds that Western environmental systems and regulations in Africa are not working as intended, leading to conflict between small-scale miners and multinational corporations. The researchers argue that domestic-level 'translators' have become part of the global system of governance, leading to a lack of translation...
A new study by Oregon State University found that large-scale land transactions negatively affect local women more than men, leading to increased labor burdens and decreased access to food. The study, which analyzed four land grabs in western Ethiopia, found that women suffered adverse effects on their health and well-being.
A recent study has uncovered how a non-profit research organisation has been deployed by its corporate backers to push industry-favourable positions to policymakers and international bodies. The International Life Science Institute (ILSI) analysed over 17,000 pages of emails obtained through Freedom of Information requests.
A recent study found that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or depression were more likely to participate in cardiac rehabilitation services following an episode of ischemic heart disease. This contrasts with previous research suggesting mental health conditions may hinder patient engagement in care.
Researchers found that people's attitudes towards avoiding negative outcomes versus achieving positive outcomes affect their performance in response to gamified feedback during simulation-based training exercises. The study suggests that personalized gamification can boost training, but only if individual differences are taken into acc...
According to a Concordia study, high-performing corporations are more likely to disclose hard information about their environmental practices, building trust with stakeholders. This transparency pays dividends in the long run, leading to increased public goodwill and market value.
A large-scale study found consensus among conservationists on core aims, but significant disagreement on mechanisms to achieve them. The study reveals deep divisions over assigning economic value to nature and the necessity of protected areas, as well as varying perspectives on non-native species and human population growth.
The Collaborative Laboratories for Environmental Analysis and Remediation at UTA is analyzing surface and groundwater quality in West Texas, supported by Apache Corporation's continued sponsorship. The research aims to comprehensively monitor water resources in the region, including San Solomon Springs.
Researchers at Hiroshima University have successfully developed a single-chip transceiver that can transmit or receive digital data at 80 gigabits per second (Gbit/s) using terahertz (THz) technology. The breakthrough could potentially enable ultra-high-speed wireless communications, supporting the development of artificial superintell...