Articles tagged with Economics Research
Researchers found that unmarried fathers involved during pregnancy are more likely to remain involved in raising their child at age three. The pre-natal months are critical for building a stable family life, according to the study.
The center is researching ways to reduce carbon emissions from biofuels, develop economic models for industry costs, and assess the impact of land-use changes on greenhouse gas emissions. The center aims to support interdisciplinary research and provide policy-relevant insights for the biobased industry.
A new study reveals a sharp decline in NIH pain research funding, now accounting for only 0.6% of all grants awarded, despite the high prevalence of chronic pain in the US population. The American Pain Society calls for increased funding to address this pressing public health issue.
Researchers at MIT aim to improve weather forecasting by using robotic aircraft and advanced flight plans that consider millions of variables. The goal is to gain more time for planning, saving lives and reducing the impact on customers.
A preliminary study by Durham University found that struggling households in the UK have borrowed against their homes to meet basic needs like raising children. On average, these households borrowed an additional £5000 to £7500 in a given year.
Two studies estimate the economic burden of cancer mortality using lost years of work and willingness-to-pay approaches. The estimated cost of cancer mortality in the US is high, with lung cancer accounting for 25% or more of costs.
A new study by NCAR and University of Colorado warns that developing countries will struggle to afford and implement efficient technologies, exacerbating global warming. The research suggests that even advanced nations are worsening the outlook for global warming due to increasing emissions.
A team of Clemson researchers, led by Taufiquar Khan and Irina Viktorova, is developing mathematical models to optimize metering and communications in complex power-distribution networks. This effort aims to improve distribution efficiency, save energy, and reduce operating costs.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has announced a £250 million initiative to create 44 training centers across the UK, generating over 2000 PhD students. These centres will focus on tackling pressing issues like climate change, energy, and high-tech crime.
A Duke University study has found that cats' inefficient gait is actually an adaptation for stealthy stalking, rather than energy efficiency. This means that while dogs rely on efficient four-footed running to catch prey, cats use a slow and deliberate approach to creep up on their unsuspecting victims.
A global recession could lead to increased malnutrition in developing countries, with prices of basic staples rising by 13-27 percent by 2020. IFPRI projects 16 million more undernourished children if economic growth and agricultural investment decline.
A Texas A&M researcher has discovered a way to harness energy from sound waves using piezoelectric materials, which could enable the development of self-powered cell phones and other devices. The discovery is significant because it shows that energy can be converted at a 100% increase when materials are manufactured at a very small size.
Experts warn that cuts in funding for agricultural research and programs could be catastrophic for millions of smallholder farmers in Africa. Targeted investments in areas like controlling stem-rust infections and boosting small-scale fisheries could greatly boost crop yields and lift families out of poverty.
A study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council found that NHS hospitals' risk management standards are linked to lower MRSA infection rates. Hospitals that meet certain targets receive discounts on their liability insurance premiums, leading to a reduction in infections.
Researchers developed a kite-shaped model to assess the level of risk of water contamination from manure. The model identifies four factors affecting risk: accumulated microbial burden, landscape transfer potential, infrastructure, and social and economic obstacles.
Researchers discovered a new mechanism for cell division in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, revealing three proteins that form a band-like structure over the cell equator. This unique process could lead to new insights into ESCRT proteins and their role in protein transport within cells.
Researchers have discovered that sea slugs can survive and thrive using a process similar to photosynthesis, harnessing solar power from tiny organelles called plastids. The slug's ability to retain these plastids allows it to convert sunlight into food, enabling it to make its own sustenance like plants.
The Teaching and Learning Research Programme (TLRP) has drawn conclusions after nine years of investigations across all sectors of education. Key findings include the importance of genuine engagement, developing skills to become autonomous learners, and the positive impact of group work on pupil performance.
A new, economical method allows LED manufacturers to obtain accurate measurements of LED brightness and color, enabling reproducible and comparable results. The method takes into account the temperature of the semiconductor chip inside the LED.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have created new agent-based models to better understand market behavior and predict potential economic catastrophes. These models use information from surveys and simulations to forecast how individual actors in a market make decisions, allowing policymakers to anticipate and avoid meltdowns.
A recent study found that nearly a quarter of centenarians (25%) exhibit clinically relevant levels of depressive symptoms, yet only 8% receive an official diagnosis. Poor nutritional status, urinary incontinence, and past history of anxiety are potential contributing factors.
Experts warn that retirement accounts lost 18% of value between 2007-2008, and housing prices fell by 4-20% in the same period. The current financial crisis affects those planning to spend down assets in retirement.
Researchers propose a new model to improve existing standards by capturing the multi-dimensional experience of new teachers, highlighting the importance of emotional and relational aspects in their development. The study found that support from colleagues and availability of teaching materials are key factors in job satisfaction.
Queen's University Belfast is set to become the UK's lead center for developing technology to counter malicious cyber-attacks. The £25M investment will fund a new Innovation and Knowledge Centre, the Center for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT), which will create secure infrastructure to safeguard electronic information.
A study by K-State economist Tracy Turner and DePaul University professor Marc Smith found that programs assisting low-income households with home purchases may do more harm than good, leading to higher rates of foreclosure. The research highlights the need for post-purchase support to help vulnerable homeowners sustain their homes.
Rutgers University has developed a new cranberry hybrid called Crimson Queen, which helps growers increase production and improve fruit quality. The hybrid meets growing year-round demand for juices, fruit drinks, and "craisins", reducing the need for herbicides and pesticides.
A Texas A&M University anthropologist has discovered a group of long-lost primates, the pygmy tarsiers, in Indonesia. The creatures, weighing less than 2 ounces, possess distinctive features such as claws instead of nails.
A study by Professor Demetriades and colleagues suggests that government-owned banks are a safe haven for depositors when regulatory institutions are perceived as weak. The research challenges the 'political view' of state banks, arguing that privatisation can lead to financial instability and dis-intermediation.
Researchers point to historical events like the collapse of the City of Glasgow Bank in 1878 as a guide for addressing current banking crises. The UK's Financial Services Authority is recruiting more staff and considering stricter regulation, with experts emphasizing the need for effective policing of new regulations.
Entrepreneurs are riskier decision-makers than managers, according to a study published in Nature. The study found that entrepreneurs' 'functional impulsivity', or ability to make quick decisions under stress, is linked to brain neurochemistry and may be possible to teach or enhance with pharmaceuticals.
A new study by Professor Olle Lundberg and colleagues found that policies supporting dual-earner families decrease infant mortality rates, while those supporting traditional male earner/female stay-at-home families do not. Increased generosity in basic state pensions also reduces excess mortality in old age.
A new study by Queen Mary University of London highlights the success of a grassroots coalition in winning higher wages for low-paid migrant office cleaners. The research shows that community action and cooperation among faith groups, unions, and community organisations can bring positive changes.
Research from the University of Bath found that marriage dowry payments and medical expenses are major causes of poverty in Bangladesh. The study surveyed 2,000 households and found that almost half moved out of poverty over a decade, but around one-fifth remained chronically poor.
A study found that households in California reduced their electricity use by 13% when prices rose, but returned to previous levels once prices fell. Public informational campaigns also played a significant role in conserving energy, with households reducing their use by an additional 7%.
Researchers at Clemson University have successfully created a practical silicon optical fiber using standard mass-production methods. The development of this new fiber is expected to increase efficiency and decrease power consumption in computers and other systems that integrate photonic and electronic devices.
Individual investors are liquidating their holdings at record levels due to economic loss, opting for a risk-averse approach despite prospect theory's predictions. The MSU research challenges widely accepted behavioral theory, suggesting people prioritize preserving losses over recouping them through gambling.
The University of Illinois is receiving a $2 million NSF grant to develop sustainable biofuels infrastructure. Researchers will examine the engineering, social, environmental and economic constraints of building a sustainably-supporting bio-economy.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a computer program that can accurately map the human body's shape from digital images or video. The new technology allows for the creation of realistic 3-D body shapes without requiring people to stand still in minimal clothing.
The global financial crisis may delay the discovery and production of many new life-saving medicines due to reduced investment in biotechnology research. Biotechs made profits for the first time last year, but financing is still a struggle.
The ICSU has approved a major international research programme to study the relationship between humans and ecosystems. The programme aims to provide scientific knowledge needed for sustainable use of valuable ecosystems.
The Titan 80-300 Cubed microscope offers unprecedented resolution, allowing for the identification of atoms and probe electrons at the atomic level. This technology will enable advancements in fields such as materials science, energy production, and pharmaceuticals.
A study by University of Illinois economist Darren Lubotsky found that immigrants' earnings growth is slower than expected, with only a 10-15% annual increase over their first 20 years in the US. This challenges widely used census-based projections and highlights the need for more accurate data on immigrant earnings.
Researchers at five universities will examine the economic and social impact of diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices, including insulin pumps, hearing aids, and genomic diagnostics. The studies aim to provide objective evidence on the value of medical technology to inform health policy.
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has launched four Capacity Building Clusters to develop closer dialogue between social science and the business sector. The clusters focus on key priorities, including driving innovation, adapting to new technologies, and improving leadership and management.
The UK's Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) has launched the world's largest household longitudinal study, Understanding Society. The ambitious project will collect data from 100,000 individuals across 40,000 households to explore the long-term effects of social and economic change on the well-being of the UK population.
Carnegie Mellon University's Western Pennsylvania Brownfields Center will expand its brownfields research and education with a $900,000 EPA grant. The funding will support the development of an interactive tool to assess carbon footprints and energy impacts from brownfield development.
Researchers have developed a new technique using Granger causality to analyze brain activity, revealing the flow of information between brain regions. This breakthrough could advance efforts to help patients recover from brain injuries and mental disorders.
Research finds UK baby boomers have limited retirement plans, preferring to maintain current lifestyles. They demonstrate a changing attitude towards inheritance, with a focus on enjoying life rather than leaving a legacy. Baby boomers also show diverse generational views, varying in their perceptions of age, identity, and consumerism.
A new UK study suggests that biological products, also known as biopesticides, have the potential to play a significant role in a more sustainable food chain. Biopesticides can help reduce the use of chemical pesticides, which pose risks to workers' health and contaminate groundwater.
A recent Arizona State University study funded by an AT&T Industrial Ecology grant examines the social, economic, and environmental implications of evolving technologies. The research focuses on the shift from physical to virtual activity and its effects on transportation systems, workplaces, and consumer behavior.
A team of international scientists urges more comprehensive research on cellulosic biofuels to avoid environmental pitfalls. The study highlights the need to consider water use, nutrient runoff, greenhouse gas emissions and soil degradation when producing these fuels.
A new study by Johns Hopkins University found that patients are more concerned about certain types of financial interests, especially when the investigator owns stock in the company financing the study. Patients expressed a moderate degree of willingness to join a clinical trial regardless of disclosure, but were less willing and made ...
A new study published in Health Services Research compared the costs of physician-owned specialty hospitals with those of full-service hospitals. The results show that specialty hospitals, particularly orthopedic and surgical ones, are not more cost-efficient than their full-service counterparts.
A US biofuels mandate may benefit energy needs but put environmental sustainability at risk, according to a recent article. The article emphasizes the need for research and sound policy to mitigate climate change while promoting sustainable production systems.
A group of international scientists agrees that biofuel production requires environmental standards to prevent harm. The experts recommend incentive programs and sustainable practices like no-till farming to reduce negative impacts on the environment.
A study in the RAND Journal of Economics found that firms distort product sizes to induce different types of customers to buy larger versions. Design distortions decrease with drink size, with products having the largest profit margins being close to efficient.
A McGill University study suggests that government intervention in a nation's economy fuels intergroup violence and rebellion, rather than promoting social stability. The research counters the idea that liberalized economies are worse for minority groups, highlighting the role of state control in exacerbating tensions.
A new study led by Anna Dreber and Coren Apicella found that men with higher testosterone levels invest more in risky investments. The researchers discovered a correlation between testosterone levels and financial risk-taking behavior, which may be linked to evolutionary factors.
The study of Eastern Mediterranean bottom-water without oxygen reveals that climate change may contribute to the formation of organic-rich beds. These deposits can sequester large quantities of CO2 and be converted into oil over time.
The NWO has made significant changes to the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme, increasing grant sizes and reducing institutional contributions. The new scheme offers more flexibility for lecturers, allowing them to submit proposals with less paperwork, while also promoting multidisciplinary research and knowledge utilisation.