The study found that local communities in coastal Ecuador depend less on tagua trees today than their grandparents did, but still use them for cultural and supporting services. The research highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect these ecosystem services.
A UC economist found a strong correlation between park funding and home values in Ohio communities. House prices were 13% higher three years after voting to renew tax levies for recreational areas, but not immediately after the vote. The study suggests that underfunded parks may be a contributing factor to lower housing values.
A new fund to fast-track patient access to potentially valuable new medicines may incentivise the pharmaceutical industry to develop high-priced drugs for rare diseases with weak clinical evidence. The NHS England Innovative Medicines Fund risks disincentivising the generation of essential evidence if not implemented appropriately.
SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateAug 24, 2023
A new study suggests that solar-powered irrigation systems could increase yields and profits for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, addressing the region's high yield gap and food insecurity. The innovative system, developed by an international team of researchers, estimates a potential economic benefit of over USD 5 billion pe...
A study finds that Americans nearing retirement age in the lower half of the economic distribution will face worsening expected health and economic status. The 'forgotten middle' group, with modest resources, requires stronger supports to avoid a wave of disability in late life.
A new matching system enabled by Boston College economists facilitates the world's first four-way liver exchange and a cascade of additional matches. The system increases the number of transplants that can be matched among a larger group of participants, expanding capacity beyond traditional two-way exchanges.
The study found that individuals with hearing difficulties, vision impairments, and cognitive disabilities had the highest employment rates, with 52%, 40.3%, and 31.9% respectively. Remote work became essential during the pandemic, contributing to the surge in employment-to-population ratios for people with disabilities.
Researchers found no effect of LEED certification on average energy consumption in federal buildings, with energy use just one of six attributes scored under the program. Tradeoffs between attributes, such as water scores and sensors, accounted for the lack of energy savings.
A study of 34,000 adolescents in Northern California found that those from disadvantaged neighborhoods were more likely to experience depressive symptoms and suicidality. The findings highlight the impact of structural racism on adolescent mental health.
Environmental regulators should use scientific experimentation to inform natural resource policy, according to an international group of economists. By conducting experiments and analyzing results, policymakers can create more effective programs and reduce uncertainty about what works and what doesn't.
A new study links US household income to greenhouse gas emissions, revealing that the top 1% of households generate 40% of total emissions. This income-based carbon tax could incentivize decarbonization and provide revenue for climate finance, addressing emissions inequality.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Climate·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 17, 2023
A new study estimates that cancer screenings have saved the US at least $6.5 trillion and led to 12 million more years of life, with significant economic impact from breast, colon, cervical, and lung cancer screenings.
A recent review paper highlights the need for an interdisciplinary approach to designing and implementing renewable energy systems. Local communities' values and concerns must be considered to ensure public backing for the essential energy transition. The study emphasizes the risks of ignoring socio-technical grand challenges in wind e...
Researchers developed a novel method using Google Trends to assess player popularity and demonstrated its improvement in predicting market value. The method involves calculating six indicators of popularity that can be compared among players, improving accuracy when incorporated with other factors.
SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 16, 2023
Researchers found that children and adolescents exposed to the 1959-61 Chinese famine in utero or under age 2 are at double the risk of developing non-communicable diseases. The study, published in PLOS Global Public Health, examined the long-term health effects of early exposure to famine on later life.
A RAND Corporation report proposes six policies to boost NYC housing supply by 300,000 units, leading to increased affordability through competition among landlords and naturally occurring affordable housing. The strategies include relaxing density restrictions near public transportation hubs.
A new study from UC Davis economists shows that immigration to the US did not displace U.S.-born workers in key job sectors. Instead, jobs often filled by migrants remained unfilled, highlighting the need for immigrants to bolster the labor market.
A new computer model quantifies the black market for drinking water in Jordan, revealing that 91% of traded water is extracted illegally. The study predicts a significant increase in household dependence on private water suppliers due to decreasing public water supply infrastructure.
A Dartmouth-led study suggests that expanded irrigation of corn and soybeans in the US could outweigh costs by mid-century. The research found that certain regions, such as North Dakota and Michigan, would benefit from irrigation due to increasing drought conditions.
Research reveals US municipal bonds are priced higher for communities with larger Black populations, despite lack of correlation with climate risk. This association adds up to an estimated $900 million cost penalty per year across all Black Americans.
A WVU team is developing technology to detect and track lethal non-trackable space debris. The project aims to identify objects that can cause mission-ending damage to satellites and other space assets. The researchers will use a digital twin and simulation environment to test and evaluate their findings.
The study found that receiving videos or reminders increased consumption of media content about the issue, increased knowledge about available resources, and reported use of some resources in response to violence. However, long-term attitudes towards gender and marital equity remained unchanged.
Researchers developed an innovative optical tool, the Schistoscope, to capture microscopy images of urine samples for efficient detection of Schistosoma haematobium eggs. A two-stage diagnostic framework using deep learning accurately identified and counted eggs in field settings with high sensitivity, specificity, and precision.
A recent study by Dr. Ansgar Hudde found that women in Germany have been voting more left-wing than men, with the youngest voters being particularly left-leaning. The trend is most evident among those aged 18-24, where parties like the Greens and Left are more popular among women.
A WVU study found that U.S. cities with new professional sports teams saw increased influenza mortality rates, with the NHL teams causing the largest increase. The researchers analyzed data from 122 cities and controlled for factors like population and temperature to find a significant correlation between team arrival and flu deaths.
The July 2023 nTIDE report shows that people with disabilities maintained their job numbers and achieved an all-time high employment level of 37.3%. The labor force participation rate for people with disabilities increased by 8.3% from last year, reaching 40.4%, while the employment-to-population ratio rose to 37.3%.
The University of Tennessee Extension will host a series of workshops across the state to help agricultural producers navigate labor management. The workshop series aims to improve the economic sustainability of labor-intensive farming operations in Tennessee by reducing risks associated with attracting and retaining agricultural labor.
A new study by Dr Taikan Oki estimates the total cost of climate change between 2010 and 2099 to be $46-230 trillion US dollars. The research team found that reducing climate change often incurs costs similar to or exceeding financial benefits, highlighting the need for prioritizing biodiversity and health factors.
A new study shows that saltwater intrusion has become a visible threat to farmers in the Delmarva region, with large salt patches appearing on cropland. The research highlights how this phenomenon can lead to significant economic losses and crop yield declines, particularly for corn and soybean farms.
The article explores how export diversification and ICT shape employment patterns, with research highlighting the importance of diversified trade baskets to minimize economic uncertainties. Tailored trade policies can unlock employment opportunities for both high-skilled and low-skilled workers, fostering sustainable growth.
Researchers identified key strategies contributing to significant reductions in Medicare acute hospitalization rates at high-performing Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) sites. These clinics implemented effective strategies such as improving timely access to primary care, identifying high-risk patients with enhanced care managemen...
A new University of Colorado Boulder study finds that reducing food loss and waste could lead to increased access to affordable food worldwide, but at the cost of reduced environmental benefits. The study suggests that more food availability would result in lower prices, leading to changes in consumer behavior.
Children of parents with work-limiting disabilities experience less upward and more downward economic mobility compared to their peers. However, earlier access to disability insurance benefits may mitigate these disadvantages, as seen in a study of over 52,500 parent-child pairs in the US.
Researchers found that stocks with thin tails, indicating low tail risk, exhibit left-tail momentum, contradicting previous assumptions. The phenomenon is driven by investors overvaluing these stocks, suggesting a complex relationship between risk and return.
A new study found that men report lower wellbeing when women are the sole earner in a relationship, compared to two-earner or male-breadwinner couples. Men's life satisfaction scores were significantly lower when the woman was the only earner.
Researchers at West Virginia University are developing a hydrogen flexible boiler to decarbonize the food and beverage industry. The technology, proposed by Hailin Li, will supply thermal energy by burning clean fuel rather than traditional fossil fuels.
A study by the University of Illinois examines how family forest landowners in Maine and New Hampshire approach invasive species management. The researchers found that landowners prefer mechanical control methods, which are more expensive but less effective than chemical control, due to strong neighborhood effects. This has implication...
A study challenges the notion that China's socialist economy reduced extreme poverty, finding it increased during capitalist reforms. China's extreme poverty rate remained high at around 68% in 1995 and has since recovered somewhat.
A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health found that conditional cash transfer programmes in Brazil, Mexico, and Ecuador reduced child mortality by 24%, equivalent to 700,000 deaths averted. Expanding these programmes could save up to 150,000 lives by 2030 during economic crises.
Researchers have discovered a way to identify pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia by examining lipids in their blood during pregnancy. The approach worked regardless of whether the women were on aspirin therapy, and could predict the risk of preeclampsia with significant accuracy.
A team from the University of Tokyo combines economic theory with biology to understand how natural systems respond to change. They use the Slutsky equation to discover that different metabolic systems share previously unknown universal properties, which can be understood using tools from other academic fields.
In ancient California's San Francisco Bay Area, women played a crucial role in the economy, with mothers prioritizing their female offspring through extended breastfeeding. This practice may have led to female-biased wealth disparities, as older women were buried with greater wealth than men.
A study examining unemployment and underemployment figures and suicide rates in Australia found both to be significant drivers of suicide mortality between 2004-2016. Economic policies prioritizing full employment should be a core part of any comprehensive national suicide prevention strategy.
Research from the University of Surrey and University of Birmingham finds detrimental effects of all severities of maternal dengue infections on birth outcomes, including increases in low, very low, and extremely low birth weights. Long-term consequences also include hospitalizations for children up to three years after birth.
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth found that biodegradable fishing gear (BFG) does not significantly reduce the cost of ghost fishing due to decreased fishing efficiency. The study suggests that implementing BFG could still have economic benefits, but only if it can achieve similar fishing efficiency as traditional gear.
Increased US-China trade created net welfare gains, but unequal distribution among winners and losers. The 2018 trade war reversed these gains and had modest positive effects on some industries and states.
Research found that financial payments by developers to compensate for environmental consequences are insufficient to achieve intended outcomes. Only 0.7 of 13.4 hectares of impacts on koala habitat have been offset through financial payments since 2018, raising concerns about the future of this endangered species.
The June 2023 nTIDE report shows employment-to-population ratio for people with disabilities increasing to 37.0%, while labor force participation rate decreases slightly to 39.7%. Employment and labor force participation of people with disabilities may be negatively affected by Federal Reserve efforts.
Researchers found that investors evaluate a company's environmental performance based on financial materiality, providing a better perspective for understanding environmental risks. The study analyzed data from 1,766 companies and identified three key findings: varying evaluation criteria, shareholder risk perception, and the importanc...
Research suggests that Queensland's low-intensity forestry management techniques can restore wildlife habitat, promote floristic diversity, and improve the resilience of large trees against climate change. The study emphasizes that sustainably managing forests is crucial to maximizing global biodiversity and climate goals.
A new study identifies how to calculate the economic value of temporarily reducing carbon emissions through carbon offsetting. The Social Value of Offsets (SVO) framework estimates that an offset sequestering one ton of carbon for 50 years is equivalent to between 0.3 to 0.5 tons permanently locked away, taking into account various ris...
A recent study finds that most phosphorus stakeholders have significant doubts about the sustainability of existing systems, citing concerns over environmental impact. To advance phosphorus sustainability, stakeholders emphasize the need for new regulations, improved management practices, and innovative technologies.
Only 36% of UK employers have invested in AI-enabled technologies like industrial robots and chatbots over the past five years, new research suggests. The survey highlights a growing skills problem, with less than 10% anticipating digital skills training investment in the coming years.
Researchers examined almost 600 families and found that children from disadvantaged families struggle to accurately assess their abilities. A mentoring program improved their self-assessment skills, leading to better life outcomes.
A study by University of Malaga researchers estimates over 131M pieces of space waste orbiting the Earth, posing a lethal collision risk. The model determines optimal satellite launch rates to maximize benefits while minimizing space debris, warning of market failure and potential physical problems.
A recent study by HSE researchers found that people of lower status tend to drink higher-proof alcohol and consume more overall. Higher-status individuals are more likely to drink but consume less due to factors like education, income, and awareness of health risks.
A global study of over 5,000 participants from 27 countries found that economic inequality is driven more by scarcity than cognitive biases. The research confirms that choice patterns among low-income individuals do not uniquely explain protracted poverty.
A University of Queensland developed vaccine will protect farmed saltwater crocodiles from West Nile virus (WNV), providing economic benefits worth $10million per year. The vaccine is the first of its kind to achieve proven safety and efficacy in crocodiles, with a robust immune response induced after two doses.
A new study by Radboud University explores the effects of Brexit on European self-initiated expatriates in the UK. The research found that those identifying with the UK prior to Brexit experienced strong negative reactions, feeling like they were treated as foreigners after the vote.
A new study finds that investing in nature can turn economic losses into gains, especially for the world's poorest countries. The research combines a global economic model with ecosystem service models to capture interactions between humans and the environment, highlighting the importance of public goods and services provided by nature.