Articles tagged with Economic History
A study by University of Toronto researchers found that historical memories have a lasting impact on consumer behavior, particularly in the automotive industry. The research analyzed vehicle registration data and archival records to show how past conflicts can affect car sales, with Japanese cars experiencing significant drops in sales...
Researchers found that underutilized asset building programs could be a solution to help low income families build wealth. The study showed that incorporating these programs into healthcare may make them more accessible to families in need.
A new study by WVU economist Zachary Porreca found that gentrification can displace organized criminal activity, leading to a surge in gun violence in nearby neighborhoods. The study analyzed data on shootings and real estate across Philadelphia neighborhoods between 2011-2020.
A new study found Black South Africans who migrated to find work reported better emotional well-being and were at lower risk for depression after the move. The research may help policymakers tailor mental health resources to underprivileged migrants and those seeking economic mobility.
A study found that communities experiencing sudden and significant job losses in manufacturing are less likely to engage in sustainability planning and meet sustainability-related goals. This is attributed to deep-rooted connections between industry and community identity, making it difficult for these communities to transition.
Archaeologist Dr. Melissa Baltus has received a five-year, $185,779 grant from the NSF to study neighborhoods surrounding ancient Cahokia and their impact on the city's creation. The study will focus on Indigenous people's lived experiences and social dynamics in two different neighborhoods.
Researchers found that female academics have a higher chance of being recognized for their contributions compared to male counterparts. The study suggests three reasons for this phenomenon: increased awareness of past barriers, equal representation as an added value, and the recognition that women face unique challenges in the field.
A team of WVU researchers is studying how people bounce back after disastrous flooding, using lessons learned from the 2016 West Virginia flood. The project aims to create a more effective framework for flood response and community recovery in West Virginia, with a focus on identifying gaps in organizational capacity and improving floo...
Employment numbers remained positive for people with disabilities, increasing their employment-to-population ratio and labor force participation rate. The trend suggests an inclusive workforce, but also highlights the need to boost household income.
A new study challenges the notion that capitalism improved human welfare, finding instead that it led to dramatic declines in real wages, human height, and premature mortality. Recovery from this immiseration occurred only recently, coinciding with the rise of progressive social movements.
A recent analysis by researcher Jacob van Etten found that the Green Revolution's narrative omits institutional change and neglects ethnic tensions dominating market exchange. The study highlights the importance of markets and institutions in agricultural development, contradicting the traditional technology-centric view.
A new study links historic redlining and ongoing segregation by race and income to a higher rate of nonfatal shootings in Baltimore's most disadvantaged neighborhoods. The researchers found that doubly disadvantaged neighborhoods experienced 24 more nonfatal shootings per 10,000 residents compared to sustainably advantaged neighborhoods.
A research study of African Americans with cardiovascular disease found that higher levels of religious practices and spirituality are associated with greater likelihood of intermediate or ideal levels of heart health. Specifically, private prayer was linked to better diet and smoking habits, while nontheistic spirituality was associat...
A study analyzing U.S. data from 1984-2017 found that grandparents' wealth is strongly positively correlated with their younger generation's asset components. However, Black individuals tend to be less invested in risky assets even after adjusting for intergenerational transfers.
A team of NTU Singapore economists compiled a detailed study of Albert Winsemius' influence on Singapore's early economic development, analyzing his affinity with Singapore and his contributions to the country's economic growth. The book examines his synergy with pioneering leaders like Lee Kuan Yew and Dr Goh Keng Swee.
Researchers documented traditional wooden boats in the Zanzibar Channel, showing continued use despite modern transportation developments. The study highlights innovations such as outboard engines and portable generators, which have transformed fishing methods.
A new study by Cornell University researchers found that taxes on soda reduce consumption among adolescent boys, but not girls. The study analyzed data from Mauritius and Maldives and found that the tax decreased the likelihood of boys consuming soda, but had no impact on their frequency or body mass index.
In a study published in Social Science & Medicine, researchers found that young people in Uganda are turning to healers for their holistic approach to sexual and reproductive health. Healers provide a destigmatized, holistic SRH experience by embracing young people's sexual citizenship.
A new study found that a higher minimum wage was associated with fewer people defaulting on their rent payments, particularly among those at the lower end of the housing expense market. However, landlords responded by increasing rent payments, offsetting some but not all of the increased income.
The 'Prize Papers' Project has made available online court documents related to the capture of approximately 1,500 ships between 1793 and 1815. Researchers can access digital copies of case books, trial records, and other materials, providing unique discoveries on global maritime history.
Only 1.9% of Chinese children and adolescents exhibit ideal cardiovascular health status, with socioeconomic factors impacting behavior. Researchers recommend strategies like household smoking control and physical activity promotion to improve cardiovascular health in young generations.
A new study reveals that Viking raids in ancient Scandinavia had a profound effect on the economic and political landscape of modern-day Russia. The plunder economy, which existed until the early Middle Ages, continued to shape local economies and societies in Eastern Russia, particularly in the Volga, Caspian, and Caucasus regions.
Researchers analyzed 54,045 georeferenced pieces of building timber to track changes in building activity across Europe from 1250 to 1699. They found clear evidence for the Late Medieval Crisis, the Thirty Years' War, and economic boom periods, with building activity tracking historical price of grain and lead pollution.
A recent study from Lund University reveals that inadequate infrastructure hindered the adoption of electric cars in the early 20th century. Electric cars were cheaper to drive and emitted less CO2 than gasoline cars, but access to local electrical infrastructure was a major factor in their popularity.
West Virginia University researchers aim to create better connections with underserved populations to the blue economy, which defines sustainable use of ocean resources. They will analyze data and explore ways to package it in a way that encourages these traditionally underserved groups to utilize the blue economy.
A team of NTU Singapore scientists developed a predictive computer model called NSGA-II, which proposed strategies to reduce COVID-19 infections and deaths by an average of 72%. The model recommended timely and country-specific advice on interventions such as home quarantines and social distancing measures.
A new USC study forecasts significant water shortages downstream of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which could reduce Egypt's water supplies by over one-third. The research projects economic losses to agriculture reaching $51 billion, with potential unemployment of 24% and displacement of people.
The monograph Migration Culture: A Comparative Perspective offers a new approach to understanding migration by analyzing the cultural and value differences between migrants and locals. Key findings include that migrants prioritize self-direction over security, and that values tend not to change rapidly in emigration.
A special issue of Science explores the environmental threat posed by plastics, including a reanalysis that found microplastic residence times to be several years, not days. The authors also highlight the need for a binding global treaty to address plastic pollution throughout its lifecycle.
A new article analyzes Chile's transition from dictatorship to democracy between 1990 and 2019, highlighting the role of social movements in expanding democracy. The authors argue that Chile's political system became illegitimate, providing space for various social movements, including feminist, student, and indigenous rights movements.
The WavE-Suite project aims to overcome challenges in survivability of wave energy converters using a novel numerical modelling suite. The project combines machine learning techniques for more accurate and efficient simulations, enabling engineers to design reliable and economically viable devices.
Historical disasters have widened wealth gaps, except in cases where ordinary people had strong organizational influence. The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on inequality depends on these factors.
The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina has published a report on the future of ageing and life course research in Germany, outlining recommendations for advancing research on ageing. The report highlights challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and compares Germany's performance to other countries.
Researchers found evidence of an export economy based on cash cropping in ancient Greece, primarily through olive cultivation, centuries before the Roman conquest. The study uses pollen records as a new source of quantitative data to measure landscape change and market integration.
Standard Oil's grip on the Scandinavian oil market weakened due to competing companies, leading to a court decision in the USA that dissolved the company into 34 smaller entities. Despite this, Standard Oil's successors remained significant players in Scandinavia until the 1930s.
Researchers used tree rings to create a precise yearly record of summer temperatures in North America and Eurasia, revealing colder and warmer periods. The study shows that the effect of volcanoes on global temperature changes is even greater than previously thought.
In the early 20th century, José Carlos Amaringo Chico rose to power as an Ashaninka shaman-chief, driven by his unwavering belief in transformation and immortality. He took a strong anti-slavery stance, fueling social liberation movements and achieving a peaceful transition with Seventh Day Adventist missionaries.
The US fuel economy standards have been effective in reducing reliance on foreign oil and greenhouse gas emissions, saving consumers $5 trillion in fuel costs. The standards also prevented 14 billion metric tons of carbon from being released into the atmosphere, equivalent to eliminating all US emissions for nearly three years.
New research from Uppsala University reveals that Swedish construction workers' wages rose by 176% between 1831 and 1900, surpassing other European cities like Amsterdam and Paris. This unexpected trend can be attributed to high labor market mobility and mass emigration to America, which reduced the supply of unskilled labor.
Researchers at the University of Surrey warn that many economies are experiencing prolonged periods of instability and slow growth due to 'secular stagnation'. The team's analysis suggests that the COVID-19 crisis may result in one of the weakest and most unstable recoveries in recorded history.
Research reveals significant economic losses in US soybean production, with average annual losses reaching nearly $4.55 billion from 1996 to 2016. The most economically damaging diseases were the soybean cyst nematode, charcoal rot, and seedling diseases.
Research finds that farming-intensive societies prefer harder work and longer hours, with cultural transmission playing a key role in perpetuating preferences. High labor returns for crops like potatoes contribute to this phenomenon.
A new study reveals that extremist migrants can significantly impact political developments in their destination regions, leading to persistent increases in far-right attitudes. The research found that migrated Nazi elites leveraged local party branches and intergenerational transmission of beliefs, spreading extreme views for decades.
Professor Adrian Bejan explains how the physics of spreading and growth can lead to economic downturns, but also highlights the potential for innovation and creativity to drive new growth and prosperity.
Researchers analyzed ancient teeth and rib bones to reveal significant dietary diversification at the onset of Mongolia's earliest empires. Millet-based foods increased in consumption, suggesting imperial support for agricultural efforts.
A 16-year German-Egyptian research project has uncovered the history of Asyut's necropolis, revealing over 300 tombs and diverse artworks. The finds have broadened knowledge about the region's cultural and economic boom during the First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom.
A history of falls in postmenopausal women can predict a higher risk of subsequent fractures. Slip falls were associated with a greater risk of fracture than other types of falls.
The study analyzed the correlation between happiness levels and Arab Spring protests, finding that countries with lower happiness levels were more likely to experience unrest. The researchers also discovered that GDP per capita had a weaker correlation with protest activity than initially thought.
A large US study found that women born in the spring and summer had a slight but significant increase in cardiovascular death compared to those born in autumn. The researchers suggest that seasonal fluctuations in diet, air pollution levels, and sunlight may contribute to these differences.
A study by the University of Toronto found that two-thirds of Indigenous people living off reserve in Canada have excellent mental health. Social support and having a post-secondary degree were significant factors contributing to this positive outcome.
A new research project led by Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin aims to shed light on European post-war history by focusing on the shared concern for people's health. The 'Leviathan' project, awarded an ERC Synergy Grant, will study the development of medicine and healthcare between 1945 and 1990 in both Eastern and Western Europe.
Researchers found evidence of precise units of measurement, enabling comparison and calculation of material values, profits, and currencies during the Bronze Age. The discovery suggests widespread knowledge of standard weights and measures across prehistoric Europe.
A new study by Lund University economist Erik Bengtsson challenges the myth that Sweden became a social democracy due to a tradition of independent farmers and a lack of nobility. Instead, he argues that the temperance movement's organisational culture and free churches played a crucial role in shaping the Swedish welfare state.
A new study found that areas near historical Dutch sugar factories in 19th century Java are more developed today, with higher per-capita consumption and better schooling. The research suggests that the creation of a colonial manufacturing industry led to a more modern economy, with places near factories having more public infrastructure.
Researchers analyzed donating behaviors and found that lower income levels do not lead to increased generosity in regions with high economic inequality. The study contradicts previous findings that individuals with lower incomes are more charitable than those with higher incomes.
A new study reveals a strong connection between global warming and rising economic disparities worldwide. The research, led by Noah S. Diffenbaugh and Marshall Burke, suggests that long-term climate change has decreased economic growth in poor countries while increasing it in wealthy nations.
A recent study found that those who conceived months after marriage had more surviving descendants in future generations, giving them an evolutionary advantage. This shift created ideal conditions for economic growth during the Industrial Revolution, as families with moderate fecundity became the dominant population.
Researchers studied long-run effects of immigration in US from 1850 to 1920, finding economic benefits that lasted, including increased manufacturing output and innovation, as well as improved social capital
Researchers used next-generation sequencing to identify additional DNA markers in the carob tree, increasing resolution for population genetics studies. This approach shows promise for analyzing species with limited genetic diversity, including those that underwent strong bottlenecks.
A study by RAND Corporation found that younger Americans are more likely to be arrested than previous generations, linked to lower marriage rates and earnings. Arrests during youth are associated with negative trends later in life, including lower chances of being married and less economic success.