Add BrightSurf on Google Email

New solution to economic eyesores?

Researchers are testing whether recycling and repurposing building materials can revitalize a distressed Great Lakes community. The project aims to create an economic cluster by identifying industries that can maximize material reuse and resale. By doing so, it could provide jobs and boost local economy.

Economic security requires new measures of well-being

A University at Buffalo research team proposes new measures for savings and asset accumulation to promote lasting economic security. The study estimates monthly savings amounts required to meet various goals, such as retirement and education savings, and highlights the need for policy changes to encourage saving among low-income families.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalJournal of Consumer Affairs·DateSep 1, 2015

Geography, skills, local companies affect higher education impact on economic development

A new study suggests that higher education's impact on economic development is influenced by geography, available skills, and knowledge, as well as networks of local companies. The research highlights the importance of considering these contextual factors in policy-making to maximize the positive effects of investment in education.

SourceElsevier·JournalInternational Journal of Educational Development·DateJul 28, 2015

The flight of the oryx

Research suggests that Doha's rise is driven by relational economic geography and urban development, with the Oryx antelope logo symbolizing its growth. However, the city lacks cohesive development plans and amenities for knowledge workers, which may hinder its success.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Knowledge-Based Development·DateMay 21, 2015

A 'graduation' from poverty

A study published in Science found that an anti-poverty program providing productive assets, job training, and life-skills coaching increased income by 5%, food consumption by 8%, and savings by 96% among participants over a three-year period. The results demonstrate sustained gains in well-being, with improved mental health and reduce...

The price of protection

A new study by University of Pittsburgh sociologists reveals that women who petition for restraining orders against abusers typically experience decreased earnings due to financial instability and hardship. The researchers found that the period of petitioning is accompanied by serious losses, which are not recouped later.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAmerican Sociological Review·DateMar 5, 2015

When aid brings conflict, not relief

Research by University of Illinois economist Ben Crost found that aid to villages in the Philippines increased violence. The villages that qualified for aid saw a significant increase in violence, while those that didn't participate experienced less violence. This suggests that aid can inadvertently make communities vulnerable to attacks.

Study: Industrial clusters fuel economies

A new MIT study reveals that industrial clusters across various industries drive economic growth by fostering job creation, innovation, and the formation of new industries. The research suggests that regions can improve their economic performance by investing in and extending their comparative advantage rather than chasing global hotsp...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalResearch Policy·DateDec 22, 2014

Using science to open way to 'blue economy'

A new integrated coastal zone management plan has been developed for Belize using novel tools to calculate risk of habitat degradation. The plan reduces high-risk areas by 20% and triples space for coastal development, while allowing for sustainable aquaculture and oil exploration limits.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 18, 2014

Western retailers in China boost Chinese manufacturing supremacy

A new study by the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business finds that Western retailers like Walmart enhance Chinese suppliers' export capabilities through improved productivity, efficiency, and quality. The study reveals a significant boost in exports from Chinese cities when foreign retail outlets increase.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia - Sauder School of Business·JournalJournal of Development Economics·DateNov 3, 2014

Liberal democracy is possible in Muslim-majority countries

A new study by University of Toronto researchers explores the relationship between Islam and liberal democracy in Muslim-majority countries. They found that while people in these countries are less tolerant on average than those in Western nations, socio-economic conditions and political regimes play a significant role.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalCanadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie·DateAug 21, 2014

Night-time brilliance lights up political patronage

A new study by Monash University researchers links night-time light intensity to regional favouritism and GDP growth, finding that countries where political leaders were born tend to have higher night-time light levels and regional GDP. The study also highlights the impact of authoritarian leadership on foreign aid distribution.

SourceMonash University·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·DateJul 9, 2014

Early childhood stimulation intervention in Jamaica yields better pay in adulthood

A 20-year study found that early childhood development programs in Jamaica improved cognitive and emotional development, leading to higher earnings and better economic status for adults. The intervention, which included weekly home visits and educational games, compensated for developmental delays faced by disadvantaged children.

Moving 'natural capital' from metaphor to reality

Economists at Yale School of Environment develop framework to value natural resources as long-term wealth stores, rather than commodities. The new approach combines economic and biophysical measurements to quantify feedbacks between nature and human behavior, providing a basis for accurate valuation.

SourceYale School of the Environment·JournalJournal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists·DateMay 27, 2014

Pessimism of early global policy architects stunted developing nations' economies: Harvard study

A Harvard study suggests that pessimistic early global policy architects stunted developing nations' economies by rejecting innovation and entrepreneurialism. The study recommends prioritizing innovation, building technical capacity, and emphasizing entrepreneurs and risk-taking in emerging countries to drive growth.

SourceTerry Collins Assoc·JournalJournal on Policy and Complex Systems·DateMar 25, 2014

Self-employment growth does not bank on access to capital

Researchers found that counties with a history of favoring entrepreneurship and fostering economic self-dependence tend to predict higher self-employment growth rates in the future. The availability of capital matters minimally to self-employment growth, except in small rural counties near metro areas.

SourcePenn State·JournalEconomic Development Quarterly·DateFeb 19, 2014