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Study reveals the complex impacts of the earned income tax credit enhancements on mental and physical health

A comprehensive study found that an enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) may damage mental health for some single adults without dependent children. The Paycheck Plus Experiment, conducted at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, revealed mixed results between two cities, Atlanta and New York.

Cost to protect globally important forests falls disproportionately on those living closest

A decade-long study in Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountains reveals that biodiversity conservation benefits vary widely among groups, with local rural communities bearing substantial costs. International funding could help smallholder farmers boost yields on their existing land to incentivize long-term forest protection.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalEnvironmental and Resource Economics·DateAug 17, 2023

Lasting environmental protection through monetary incentives

A recent study by Esther Blanco found that landowners in Colombia continued to protect their ecosystems even after receiving payments for ecosystem services ended. This challenges the concern that monetary incentives can displace original motivations for environmental protection, known as the 'crowding out effect'.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalJournal of Environmental Economics and Management·TypeSurvey·DateAug 9, 2023

Can using biodegradable fishing gear help reduce the cost of ghost fishing?

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.

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 11, 2023

State incentive program improves initiation of medication treatment for opioid use disorder after emergency visit

A statewide incentive program in Pennsylvania is associated with a 50% improvement in initiating medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder among Medicaid-enrolled patients. The study found that the program increased prescription fills for buprenorphine and substance use disorder treatment within a week of emergency departme...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateMar 24, 2023

Nutrition educators support nutrition incentives for food and nutrition security programs to promote increased intake of fruit and vegetables

A study explores how nutrition educators work with incentive programs like GusNIP to promote increased intake of fruits and vegetables. Nutrition educators play a unique role in providing participant-centered education, navigating food environments, and culturally adapting programming to meet diverse audience needs.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·TypeSurvey·DateMar 9, 2023

Proximity to electric vehicle charging stations positively impacts home values

A recent study found that homes near electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) in California see a significant increase in value, with those within 0.4-0.5 km of EVCSs valued up to 5.8% higher. The study also showed reduced air pollution and increased traffic, but no effect on property values within closer proximity.

SourceUniversity of Rhode Island·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 30, 2023

Inflation Reduction Act offers significant benefits for public health

The Inflation Reduction Act offers significant benefits for public health through its tax credits and financial incentives. The law aims to reduce the adverse health effects of climate change by targeting greenhouse gases, conventional air pollutants, and carcinogenic chemical contaminants. By providing a more politically feasible appr...

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 21, 2022

Shopping vouchers help women to stop smoking during pregnancy

A UK trial found that offering up to £400 in shopping vouchers to pregnant women can more than double the proportion who remain smoke-free by late pregnancy. However, most women relapsed after giving birth. The study suggests that financial incentives can be an effective tool to reduce smoking during pregnancy and improve health outcomes.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 19, 2022

Virginia Tech researcher finds a new method for recycling polystyrene

A Virginia Tech research team has developed a new method for recycling polystyrene, which is widely used in Styrofoam but rarely recycled. The process involves exposing the material to ultraviolet light and adding a chemical catalyst, creating a valuable product called diphenylmethane (DPM) that can be used in various industries.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 23, 2022

Found: The ‘holy grail of catalysis’ — turning methane into methanol under ambient conditions using light

Researchers have developed a novel process converting methane into liquid methanol at ambient temperature and pressure using visible light. The method uses a continuous flow of methane/oxygen-saturated water over a novel metal-organic framework (MOF) catalyst, achieving 100% selectivity with no by-products.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 30, 2022

Startups near state lines gravitate toward side with lower property tax

Researchers at Iowa State University found that startups near state lines are more likely to set up shop in states with lower property taxes. The study, published in Small Business Economics, showed a significant distortion in tax rates between Iowa and its neighboring states, particularly South Dakota. Property taxes were found to hav...

SourceIowa State University·JournalSmall Business Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 24, 2022

Does the Earned Income Tax Credit encourage college enrollment?

A recent analysis found that the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) does not appear to increase college enrollment rates. The study suggests that complex subsidies like EITC may be ineffective at altering college going. Researchers recommend providing tax credits as grants instead of tax credits to increase college enrollment rates.

SourceWiley·JournalEconomic Inquiry·DateMay 4, 2022

Financial incentives help pregnant women to quit smoking

A French trial found that financial incentives improved pregnancy outcomes for smokers, with a 16% increase in continuous abstinence rate compared to no vouchers. Participants who received progressively higher financial rewards had lower nicotine withdrawal symptoms and fewer relapses.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 1, 2021

Green transition creates new risks and rewards

The green transition is already underway, with countries facing unique risks and opportunities based on their degree of competitiveness in fossil fuel markets. Diversifying economies towards low-carbon exports can mitigate negative impacts, while supporting innovation and job creation are key to maintaining long-term competitiveness.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Energy·DateNov 4, 2021

Poverty in unmarried-parent families: A fresh perspective from Pusan National University

Researchers at Pusan National University and Columbia University reanalyzed poverty estimates in unmarried parent families using the 'Supplemental Poverty Measure' (SPM), accounting for specific criteria. The analysis revealed significant drops in poverty rates over time, particularly for single-mother families.

SourcePusan National University·JournalPopulation Research and Policy Review·TypeLiterature review·DateNov 2, 2021

People may prefer climate change policies that give incentives, find energy alternatives

Participants preferred policies that used incentives to encourage eco-friendly choices, particularly when they targeted businesses. In contrast, policies that focused on energy alternatives and used incentives were also supported. The researchers found that policy support was influenced by the type of change targeted, who was targeted,...

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Environmental Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 27, 2021

Effect of guaranteed financial incentives on COVID-19 vaccination

A pilot program in North Carolina found that offering incentive cash cards to adults who receive or drive someone to receive their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine significantly increases vaccination rates. The study suggests that guaranteed financial incentives can be an effective strategy to promote COVID-19 vaccination.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateOct 25, 2021

US health systems must adopt unified vision to succeed according to a new survey

A new survey by University of Colorado Denver researchers found large disparities in virtual care models across US health systems. Smaller and low-burdened health systems adopted analytics and customer-oriented digital technologies, while larger and higher-revenue systems used futuristic and growth-oriented digital technologies.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Denver·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·TypeSurvey·DateAug 17, 2021

Incentivizing vaccine adherence: could it be the key to achieving herd immunity?

A new Commentary in Preventive Medicine suggests financial incentives could promote high levels of COVID-19 vaccine adherence, crucial for achieving herd immunity. Strong evidence from controlled trials supports the efficacy of incentivizing vaccine adherence, including a 7-fold increase in adherence with modest financial incentives.

A biased evaluation of employees' performance can be useful for employers

A new model suggests that biased evaluations can be useful for motivating employees, particularly those with high career concerns. The ideal evaluator should be stricter on capable employees but more lenient on less capable ones. This approach can be applied to various scenarios, such as organizing internships.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalJournal of Economic Behavior & Organization·DateDec 10, 2020

Economic Development Quarterly announces a special issue on business incentives

A recent special issue of Economic Development Quarterly examines the impact of local and state financial incentives on business location decisions. Research suggests that simply expanding incentives may not be effective in creating jobs, while some types of incentives work better for specific industries in certain local economies.

SourceSAGE·JournalEconomic Development Quarterly·DateJun 2, 2020

Talent is key to school turnarounds

Research by University of Delaware reveals that hiring and retaining effective principals and teachers leads to significant gains in student achievement. Effective teacher retention strategies, such as financial incentives, were found to be persistently effective in reform efforts.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalEducational Evaluation and Policy Analysis·DateMay 8, 2020

The GDP fudge: China edition

A study found that Chinese firms in provinces with lower GDP growth are more likely to engage in earnings management to prop up provincial GDP figures. This leads to a range of negative consequences for the firms, including high bad debt expenses, inventory write-offs, and asset impairment losses.

Financial incentives plus information decrease patient preference for diagnostic testing

A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that providing financial incentives to forego testing significantly decreases patient preference for testing, even when accounting for test benefit and risk. Financial incentives also decreased patient preference for low-value diagnostic testing, such as CT imaging of the head.

SourceSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateOct 28, 2019

Discharge incentives in emergency rooms could lead to higher patient readmission rates

A new study from UBC Sauder School of Business shows that pay-for-performance incentive programs in emergency departments can increase return visits and readmissions. The research focused on patients discharged within 20 minutes of the deadline for incentives and found a significant discontinuity around the four-hour mark.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia - Sauder School of Business·JournalAcademic Emergency Medicine·DateAug 20, 2019