Research on how people, markets, and policies shape the economy. Covers labor and gig work, consumer behavior, GDP and regional growth, gambling risk, and financial decision-making.
Researchers at the Beckman Institute developed a new purification system that uses an electrified version of dialysis to separate salt and other unnecessary particles from wastewater. The method saves money and saps 90% less energy than its counterparts, making it a promising solution for global water scarcity.
A recent study published in Joule found that the financial losses from a renewable energy transition are concentrated among the wealthiest individuals. In high-income countries, two-thirds of the losses would affect the top 10% of wealth holders, with half affecting the top 1%. In contrast, lower-income individuals would face minimal l...
Researchers at Lancaster University demonstrate the viability of tidal power as a predictable renewable energy source. The creation of a tidal barrage could operate for 120 years or more to meet future demand and storage problems, protecting coastal areas from flooding and sea level rise.
Research from Cornell University estimates that wildfire smoke can cause between 4,000 and 9,000 premature deaths and cost between $36 to $82 billion per year in the United States. Metropolitan regions near fire sources are likely to experience a large health burden and economic loss.
Researchers from Complexity Science Hub highlight similarities in models used by economists and physicists to analyze financial markets. The study aims to create an overview of these models, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and avoiding research that gets lost in translation.
The article discusses the growing challenge of food security in Africa, particularly with regards to rice production and consumption. The research reveals that socioeconomic developments have a more substantial influence on rice availability than gradual climate change, but climatic anomalies pose a significant threat to stability. Div...
A study by McGill University found that humans spend approximately 9 hours on human-centered activities, such as sleep, eating, and personal care. Economic activities, including work and trade, account for only about 2.6 hours of the average day.
Researchers are investigating methods to extract critical materials, including lithium for electric vehicle batteries and magnets for electric motors, from diverse water streams. By accelerating evaporation through porous photothermal materials, they aim to reduce energy intensity and improve supply chain security.
A recent study by the Complexity Science Hub reveals interdependencies in the global food supply chain, uncovering profound indirect effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on product availability worldwide. The study found that indirect effects often exceeded direct effects, with losses up to 85% in maize and 89% in edible oils.
A Surrey study finds that Daylight Saving Time decreases serious road accidents by 15-20% during the transition, primarily due to improved visibility. The research also suggests that leaving DST in Autumn increases minor road accidents, highlighting the importance of artificial lighting conditions.
A new study from the University of Illinois shows that carbon mitigation payments can increase net returns and reduce income risk for farmers growing bioenergy crops. The researchers found that higher biomass prices and targeted carbon credits can make these crops more appealing to farmers, regardless of their risk preference.
A study of 142 nations found a strong link between access to formal financial services and lower COVID-19 mortality rates. Access to bank accounts, credit cards, or loans from a financial institution is a key predictor of lower mortality risk, even stronger than comorbidities.
Researchers found that countries relying on a broader range of energy sources experience longer recovery times. However, the extent of reliance on renewable energy consistently accounted for a major proportion of the variability in economic recovery time.
A study by Chinese researchers found that financial reports produced during fiscal years mismatched with annual business activity may be less reliable due to rigid accounting regulations. This can result in higher abnormal accruals, lower analyst forecast accuracy, and longer audit reporting delays for affected companies.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that individuals with higher incomes tend to be more generous when living in areas with high levels of economic inequality. In contrast, the lowest-income groups show less generosity in more unequal areas. The researchers used local data from the US and UK to examine this relationship.
A study from the University of Illinois analyzed 7,839 US meat processing plants to identify factors associated with plant survival. Small and medium-sized plants were more likely to fail than large plants, while business diversification played a critical role in small plant survival.
A recent study published in Regional Studies found that California's Cap and Trade Programme does not achieve its goal of reducing carbon emissions while allowing for economic growth. The researchers compared county-level economic growth and emissions data with neighboring states and found no significant differences, indicating a poten...
A new study quantified the economic costs of biological invasions in the European Union, revealing substantial knowledge gaps and alarming underestimations. The research projected unreported costs to be potentially 501% higher than currently recorded, reaching a staggering €26.64 billion.
New research suggests Ukrainian refugees can improve long-term GDP in European countries investing in capital improvements. Low-skill workers and owners of capital benefit in the short term, while high-skill workers face competition for jobs.
A study analyzing de-identified data from almost 11,000 total visits by Penn Medicine employees found that telemedicine visits were 23 percent less expensive than in-person visits for the same conditions. The per-visit costs of the telemedicine program averaged $380 while in-person encounters cost $493 to conduct.
A new study found that federal and state lockdowns and health mandates implemented during the pandemic exacerbated mental health issues in people living in four US geographic regions. The research showed a significant increase in feelings of anxiety and depression, particularly in Southern states with Republican governments.
A study by Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine found that Medicare fraud in home healthcare billing spread rapidly across U.S. regions between 2002 and 2009, driven by characteristics such as shared patients, high expenditures, and rapid growth in the number of home health agencies. The researchers developed a novel network analysis ...
A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland reveals that most sustainability scholars support post-growth pathways for affluent countries, while less affluent countries favour either green growth or post-growth pathways. The study's findings challenge the prevailing green growth focused approach and emphasize the need for tar...
A new analysis of nearly 6,000 people found that childhood cognitive ability is associated with better scores on measures of wealth in adulthood, but the relationship varies for different financial measures. The study also discovered an inverted U-shape relationship between cognitive ability and debt levels.
New research on Russia's sanctions reveals that targeted firms temporarily suffered modest losses but eventually adapted by reorganizing subsidiaries, altering supply chains, or seeking government support. This suggests that economic sanctions are unlikely to deter or reverse aggressive actions by other countries.
The DACA program has transformed the lives of thousands of undocumented immigrants, but its uncertain future poses significant risks for their health. The authors argue that policymakers must reassess restrictions on government-sponsored healthcare subsidies to ensure equal access to care.
A new study by the University of Cologne and IAB found that school closures during the pandemic reduced working hours for parents due to childcare obligations. Reopening schools led to a rebound in working hours, with parents who had access to care or schooling attending work about 1.5-2 hours more per week than those without.
The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 35.6% to 36.9%, bringing them close to the previous high observed in December last year. The labor force participation rate also rebounded, with people with disabilities experiencing a 5% increase in May.
A UK study of 3,745 families reveals significant inequalities in young people's financial capabilities depending on socio-economic background. The research highlights the need to develop financial skills in disadvantaged children as early as primary school.
A WVU researcher is developing a data-driven approach to enhance roadway maintenance operations, incorporating AI analysis of real-time data from sensors on consumer cars and roadside observation stations. The goal is to minimize time and resources spent on less affected roadways, reducing winter maintenance costs and time.
A study found that countries offering tax breaks for corporate innovation see greater economic growth in capital investment and highly compensated jobs. However, the impact on hiring or overall compensation is limited, with increased average pay for research and development workers instead.
A new study from the University of Kansas emphasizes the importance of including unpaid care work in economic statistics, highlighting women's significant contributions to the economy. The study aims to provide a more complete understanding of labor activity and inform equitable public policy.
A new study emphasizes the need for a more precise definition of circularity beyond metrics and indicators. The researchers propose a product-centric circularity scorecard that captures aspects of a product's environmental sustainability, focusing on production, use, and end-of-life.
Research from the University of Georgia found that moving in together is not enough to guarantee joint accounts, with factors like net worth, household growth, and income level playing a significant role. Couples who agree on spending and have open conversations about money are more likely to pool their finances.
Researchers propose integrating climate change mitigation and air pollution control for improved air quality in China. The study identifies significant synergies between reducing fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Brackish groundwater has the potential to replace fresh water for cooling coal- and natural gas-fired power plants, but treatment can be energy intensive. The study found that retrofitting power plants to use brackish water could nearly eliminate fresh water usage, but increase electricity generation costs by 8-10%.
Researchers found that introducing financial trading in California's wholesale electricity market led to reduced volatility in prices, production costs, and carbon emissions. The study also showed improved physical market outcomes, including lower fuel costs and reduced complexity in real-time markets.
A new study by University of Wyoming researchers found that regular diagnostic testing and self-isolation can deliver higher net benefits than physical distancing strategies in combating infectious diseases. The study took into account the concept of superspreading, which made the testing-isolation approach even more effective.
A study by WVU researchers highlights the need for improved mental health programs for first responders, citing increased stress and stigma. The study recommends linking responders with culturally competent clinicians, establishing centralized organizations, and expanding research efforts to address these issues.
A new supply chain model has been developed to guide the transportation of hydrogen and its embodied energy, enabling more efficient exports of renewable energy. The model suggests that methanol shows great promise as a chemical carrier for exporting renewable energy from Australia at low costs.
Illinois Tech researchers found that blockchain technology, investor sentiment, and economic stress are key predictors of bitcoin returns. Bitcoin's detachment from economic fundamentals makes it a poor safe-haven asset.
Provision of over-the-counter hearing aids associated with greater uptake of hearing intervention and improved patient quality of life. The study found that OTC hearing aids are cost-effective when prices exceed $55 per device.
A WVU researcher is creating mathematical models to predict how bioenergy crops enhance and store soil carbon, potentially spurring renewable energy from biological sources. The model considers factors like plant roots, microbes, and feedstocks to determine net carbon benefits or losses.
A recent study by Dartmouth researchers finds that global economic losses from El Niño can persist for several years after the event, with a significant impact on the world's poorest nations. The study projects total losses of $84 trillion for the 21st century, highlighting the need for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology identified four affordances of digital technologies facilitating business process integration: accessing, updating, sharing, and initiating. These mechanisms enable automation of information transfer, minimizing effort in business processes.
A study by Anglia Ruskin University found that Madoff's business dealings, trial, and prison time revealed a high score on psychopathy scales. The research warns companies to identify and prevent corporate psychopaths who can bring down organizations and economies through recklessness and greed.
A UK study of over 420,000 adults reveals that those with existing cardiovascular disease and overweight or obesity are five times more likely to suffer a stroke and four times more likely to have a heart attack than those with extreme obesity. The study highlights the substantial impact of living with both conditions on individuals, p...
Online radiologists choose studies based on financial attractiveness, leading to delays in high-priority cases. This study found that expedited priority class contained the highest percentage of delayed studies.
A new study from the University of Missouri found that government guarantees decrease the frequency of 'income smoothing' in financial reports. This practice, where banks delay reporting high income to smooth out volatility, is a form of manipulation that can impact market stability and investor confidence.
Researchers found that commercial properties in New York and Boston traded at lower values after Hurricane Sandy, despite no direct damage. This shift in perception is likely due to professional investors responding to changing flood risk perceptions post-Sandy.
The study analyzed 45 copper objects from Northern Central Europe and Southern Scandinavia, revealing changes in distribution networks across prehistoric Europe. The findings suggest that copper artefacts originated primarily from southeast Europe before 3500 BC, with later sources including the Eastern Alps and British Isles.
Researchers identified two crucial drivers of brand extension success: parent brand equity and extension fit. The study suggests five groups of moderators to improve brand extension strategies.
A new study from City University London suggests that the Research Excellence Framework (REF) has led to significant increases in high-quality published research, but not active academics. The study highlights areas of improvement needed in the assessment framework, including greater collaboration between domestic competitors.
Dr Germain Honvo, a young investigator, receives the prestigious award for his international contributions to osteoarthritis research and publications on guideline development. He is recognized as a future thought leader in the musculoskeletal field.
A recent study found that investors make higher bids in sunny periods, leading to lower discounts for shares. The study also discovered that investors become more optimistic and risk-taker when exposed to sunshine, which can lead to higher bid prices. The research has important implications for investors and market regulators.
The April nTIDE report reveals a decline in employment-to-population ratio and labor force participation rate for people with disabilities. Despite this downturn, employment remains above pre-pandemic levels, with working-age individuals with disabilities making up 3.8% of the total workforce.
A new study reveals that female leaders are attributed to bad luck when they fail, whereas male leaders' negative outcomes are blamed on their selfish decisions. In a laboratory setting, researchers found biases in the attribution of outcomes that favor women.
The IOF Medal of Achievement is awarded to individuals who significantly advance osteoporosis research and increase awareness of the disease. Professor Jean-Yves Reginster has made major impacts on the field through his original scientific contributions, education, and advocacy.
A new study by Duke University, University of Notre Dame, and Microsoft proposes a solution to reduce deceptive comparison pricing: requiring firms to disclose their true normal price. The study finds that providing this information can moderate the effect of advertised regular prices on consumer behavior.
Researchers found that women tend to accept job offers earlier and are more likely to accept lower-paying offers compared to men. The study suggests that risk tolerance and salary expectations may account for a significant proportion of the observed gender difference in earnings.