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A bird in the bush is worth $223,851 in the hand

A single Black-backed Oriole bird's arrival in rural Pennsylvania attracted over 1,800 birders from across the US and Canada, generating an estimated $223,851 for the local economy. The study reveals that ecotourism events can have a substantial impact on the economy through travel, food, and accommodation costs.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalHuman Dimensions of Wildlife·DateDec 9, 2017

Both providers and patients drive health care spending, study finds

A new study finds that both patients and healthcare providers account for half of the regional spending differences in medical costs. Patient characteristics, such as basic health and care preferences, contribute to nearly 50% of these disparities, while provider practices and incentives drive the remaining 50%. The research provides i...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·DateNov 3, 2016

Flu tackles Super Bowl fans

Researchers at Cornell University found a significant spike in flu-related deaths among people above 65 in areas with NFL teams that reached the Super Bowl. The study suggests disease transmission is driven by increased socialization and cramped spaces.

SourceCornell University·JournalAmerican Journal of Health Economics·DateFeb 2, 2016

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

1 in 5 seniors on risky meds; more in US South

A recent analysis by Brown University researchers reveals that over 1 in 5 seniors with Medicare Advantage plans received potentially harmful high-risk medications in 2009. The Southeast region had the highest rates of prescription use for these risky medications, particularly among women and those living in poor areas.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateApr 10, 2013

Location, location, location: Economists document key role of spatial component in economic growth

A new study from the Consortium on Financial Systems and Poverty examines the role of spatial component in economic growth. The findings show that a high concentration of enterprise in an area predicts high subsequent growth, while entrepreneurial activity decreases with distance from centers of economic concentration.

SourceConsortium on Financial Systems & Poverty·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·DateDec 19, 2011

Poverty and national parks: Decade-long study finds surprising relationship

A decade-long study of people living near Kibale National Park in Uganda found that most households improved their prosperity, despite conventional wisdom suggesting parks contribute to poverty. The study suggests that parks provide a source of insurance for poor families, allowing them to hunt or sell park resources.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 22, 2011

Dartmouth researcher tracks how immigrants fit in by studying household configurations

A Dartmouth researcher studied immigrant households to find that generational status, not income, has the most effect on immigrant dispersion. The study challenges current ideas about where immigrants live and suggests that states with multi-generational households may have easier socio-cultural and economic adjustments.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 17, 2005