Articles tagged with Financial Services
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.
A study by the Radiological Society of North America found that health insurance companies often pay more than necessary for radiology services, leading to higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs. The study also suggests that radiologists can play a key role in delivering high-quality, low-cost care to patients.
The share of female managers in finance has increased significantly in Finland, but their earnings remain lower than those of male managers. Occupational segregation and differences in educational backgrounds contribute to this disparity. Despite the industry's high wage premium, women are underrepresented in higher-paying roles.
The new initiative aims to create more equitable digital financial services, expanding access to mobile money and other services for low-income earners and marginalized communities. The Upanzi Network will leverage research and academia across the continent to develop secure and cost-effective open-source digital technologies.
Researchers found that specialized ETFs invest in overvalued areas with an average return about 30% lower than diversified funds. These hot-topic funds are often launched when the hype is at its peak, causing them to lose value quickly.
Patients who received early physical therapy had significantly lower incidence of health care resource use, including ER visits, in the first month and year after symptom onset. They also spent less money on lower back pain-related services in the first 30 days after symptom onset.
A new funding model is being tested in Pennsylvania, which could lead to higher quality care at lower costs. The global budget model provides a fixed payment to hospitals, incentivizing them to focus on patient outcomes rather than extensive care.
The study examines four CSR dimensions and their impact on institutional investment in the hospitality and tourism sector, finding strong reactions to performance in social awareness and corporate governance. Environmental concerns have limited bearing on institutional investment in this industry.
Alternative credit scoring systems present challenges not covered by existing regulations, leaving many Americans unable to access the credit system. These systems can be opaque and ripe for abusive lending practices, making it difficult for consumers to contest erroneous information.
Researchers found traders prefer larger companies with strong analyst coverage and a greater ability to convert their shares into cash. They actively traded on firms where both hard and soft information gave similar signals about the future.
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.
A new study suggests that digital financial services, intended to reduce inequality, may actually amplify economic disparities among women in developing countries. The study found that physical infrastructure, mobile phone network quality, education, and wealth all play a significant role in determining access to digital finance.
A new study suggests that outpatient treatment for infective endocarditis can reduce mortality rates, extend life expectancy, and be more cost-effective than standard inpatient therapy. The strategy also showed improved cure rates compared to other approaches.
A recent study by Bayes Business School suggests that accounting firms are better equipped to deliver fair target valuations on mergers and acquisitions compared to investment banks. The research highlights the importance of auditing expertise in determining a company's true value.
Research from Thomas Shohfi at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that sell-side analyst reports contain more activist-related language and quantitative information months before hedge fund activists announce their ownership. This is associated with greater stock returns for firm shareholders, highlighting the value of traditional ...
Researchers at Pusan National University have developed a new model using 'double Mellin transforms' and the 'method of dimension reduction' to accurately price vulnerable exchange options. The model provides an effective and accurate mathematical solution, enabling quick deployment without long calculations.
A new study shows that California's legalized marijuana industry has boosted financial institutions' assets and loan activity, but restricted access to banking perpetuates inequities for licensed growers. The research highlights the need for regulatory changes to create new opportunities for both industries.
A new study from the University of Notre Dame finds that companies' disclosures about auditor firings are useless for assessing whether restatement trouble lies ahead. Instead, researchers recommend investors pay attention to when the disclosure comes out, with firings after the second fiscal quarter signaling an above-average chance o...
A new approach to measuring financial and digital literacy is proposed by a team of researchers led by Angela Lyons. The study finds that while promoting literacy is important, it may not be enough to ensure resilience, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and those living in poverty.
A new study from the University of Illinois evaluates fintech systems in 16 emerging markets, finding that digital technologies improve access to financial services. However, vulnerable populations face barriers to usage due to digital literacy, cost, and limited consumer protections.
Research by City University London's Business School reveals that fund managers who start their careers in difficult economic conditions perform better over the long-term. They exhibit better market timing and tilt their investments towards defensive industries during tough times.
The Center for Research toward Advancing Financial Technologies, CRAFT, brings together industry and academic partners to conduct high-impact research in fintech. Initial research areas focus on cybersecurity, blockchain, AI, and machine learning, aiming to drive innovation and address challenges facing the financial services industry.
A new benefit has been implemented, allowing eligible Veterans to receive urgent care from community providers. The study found that most Veterans who used the service lived within 30 minutes of a VA primary care site and had no copays for urgent care visits.
Researchers found that moving baseline targets is a key driver of increasing budgets for federal government technology programs. However, componentizing programs into smaller work units and increasing competency in program management can result in significant cost savings.
A new study assesses consumers' likelihood of adopting robo-advisory services, which provide automated investment advice. The analysis reveals that attitudes across cultures shape differences in local consumers' adoption of AI-based services.
A study by Indiana University researchers found that satisfied customers mean increased profits for public utilities, despite lack of competition. This is achieved through lower operating costs and increased trust from customers. The findings suggest that regulators should view investments in customer satisfaction as recoverable costs.
A qualitative study found that women veterans prioritize connection with others to recover from a suicide attempt, while men focus on trying to 'live right' and feeling needed. Both groups desire a stronger sense of purpose and structure in their lives.
A recent study from the University of Notre Dame found that audit offices that emphasize non-audit services tend to compromise on audit quality. The researchers examined financial statement restatement rates for clients of audit offices between 2005 and 2015, and discovered a significant reduction in audit quality when an office receiv...
The study explores the rise of click-and-collect services and examines their most appropriate settings. It finds that different formats address fundamentally different shopper needs, resulting in vastly different performance outcomes.
Researchers found that many small farmers lack internet and mobile network access due to high costs and limited coverage. The study highlights the need to expand coverage and make digital connectedness affordable for all, particularly in Africa.
ESEC/FSE 2020, a leading software engineering conference, presents outstanding research results and trends in virtual format. The conference features keynote addresses on human-computer collaboration, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
The study highlights the low awareness of foreigners about Russian medical services, lack of language-skilled staff, and limited resources as major obstacles. Experts recommend improving personnel and equipment, informing potential patients, and promoting clinics through word-of-mouth and online platforms to boost medical tourism in Ru...
A new study by INFORMS journal found that businesses using Twitter for customer care see a 19% increase in customer satisfaction. AT&T and Verizon top the list, with Sprint and T-Mobile lagging behind.
A new study found that independent, physician-owned practices adopted more quality improvement (QI) strategies than hospital-owned and community clinics. These practices focused on patient care coordination rather than organizational improvement strategies.
A new study projects that 3.1 billion people will still lack effective health service coverage in 2023, falling short of the WHO goal. Sub-Saharan Africa showed accelerated gains in performance since 2010.
A bioethicist suggests that COVID-19 triage strategies should focus on saving lives rather than prioritizing life-years saved. This approach would give priority to patients with a better initial survival prognosis, regardless of subsequent life-years gained.
The COVID Recession has disproportionately affected workers with disabilities, with a 20% decline in employment for those with disabilities compared to a 14% decline for those without disabilities. The FAIR program in Louisiana is helping formerly incarcerated individuals with disabilities access services and supports.
A new study suggests that appreciating consumers' merits and contributions can increase self-esteem, leading to higher overall satisfaction, repatronage intentions, and less complaining. The researchers identify specific situations where the superiority effect of appreciation holds or disappears.
George Mason University's Todd J. Zywicki has received $226,944 from the CFPB to lead a task force on harmonizing and updating federal consumer financial laws. The project aims to improve and strengthen consumer financial laws and regulations by end of 2020.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have proposed five quality measures for medical billing, including itemized bills, price transparency, and service quality. The measures aim to reduce financial toxicity and promote transparency, enabling patients to make informed decisions about their healthcare costs.
Despite initial efforts to improve patient outcomes through integrated care, a recent study found that Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) face significant challenges in integrating social services into their medical practices. The researchers identified limitations in data collection and partnership development as major obstacles.
A recent CMAJ editorial emphasizes the importance of investing in social equity to address health disparities among low-income individuals. The authors highlight the persistent gaps in healthcare access and outcomes according to income, which result from poverty's association with various social determinants of health.
Dr. Robert Kormos, MD, and Rob Wynbrandt, JD, receive the 2020 Distinguished Service Award for their decades-long selfless dedication and leadership in cardiothoracic surgery. They have contributed to the growth and success of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and its patients.
A new RAND Corporation study finds that households in the bottom fifth of income groups pay an average of 33.9% of their income toward health care, while families in the highest income group pay 16%. The analysis also reveals that payments to finance health care account for 18.7% of average household income.
New research reveals that collective leadership groups in professional service firms can maintain cohesion and act decisively when faced with a crisis. The study found that an individual 'heroic' leader within the collective played a crucial role in resolving the crisis, with the Senior Partner mobilizing a hidden hierarchy to build su...
Research shows that collaborating on waiting area entertainment can increase revenue and customer loyalty. By working together, businesses can offset high operational costs and compete on other dimensions like prices.
The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased from 30.7% to 31.2% in November 2019, reflecting a 1.6% rise. This uptick is attributed to initiatives like NYC: ATWORK, which connects jobseekers with disabilities to competitive jobs in high-growth industries.
David Coleman, MD, will receive the Robert H. Williams, MD, Distinguished Chair of Medicine Award from the Association of Professors of Medicine (APM) for his exceptional leadership as chair of the Department of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and physician-in-chief at Boston Medical Center.
A study by the UBC Sauder School of Business found that customer mistreatment significantly links to employee quit rates. When supervisors treat employees with dignity and respect, workers are more likely to stay in their jobs.
This study analyzes the performance of Russian and foreign- owned banks from 2004 to 2015, finding that state-owned banks excel during economic crises but lag behind in profit efficiency. In contrast, foreign-owned banks thrive in stable periods, thanks to better management practices.
The PROMISE program demonstrates the importance of family engagement, early work experiences, and targeted case management services in improving employment outcomes for youth with disabilities. The six-year experiment showed that evidence-based employment services delivered through coordinated case management are significant predictors...
A new study published in the Milbank Quarterly found that federal proposals to limit Medicaid funding through block grants or per-capita caps would severely impact community health centers. Under these plans, health center revenues generated by Medicaid beneficiaries would drop by 92% and 58% for traditional enrollees by 2024.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is partnering to enhance Texas Adult Protective Services' financial exploitation investigations and client services. The three-year grant will provide statewide access to forensic accountants and enhanced training for caseworkers to investigate claims of financial exploitation.
The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities remained unchanged at 31.4 percent in September 2019, while the labor force participation rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points. Financial instability is a significant issue for people with disabilities, with many struggling to make ends meet.
A Dartmouth report finds nearly half of newborns in NICUs are normal birth weight, but many low-birth-weight babies lack access to higher-level care. This disparity highlights the need for more equitable distribution of neonatal intensive care resources.
A recent study by Lancaster University suggests that streaming services need to prioritize family collaborations and personalized viewing experiences to maintain customer loyalty. Families who work together to choose TV packages, master technologies, and plan viewings derive more value from their subscriptions.
A new study by San Francisco State University Professor Ian Dunham finds that school savings accounts have lower savings rates in low-income neighborhoods with limited access to traditional banks and credit unions. These areas, dubbed 'financial deserts,' struggle with high fees from fringe financial services providers.
A Veterans Health Administration program significantly improved access to mental health and primary care services for veterans with behavioral health needs. The initiative resulted in 11% more mental health visits, 40% more primary care visits, and a 9% higher average annual cost per patient.
A global payment model has slowed spending growth on medical claims by nearly 12% while improving quality of care, particularly for patients with chronic diseases. The study found that patients received improved preventive care and management of conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Researchers found that ACOs with a balance of primary care providers and specialists had lower annual spending per beneficiary. The study suggests policymakers consider adding medical specialists to ACO governance and creating better financial incentives for specialists.