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Imposing trade restrictions on parallel imports can motivate a firm to export, study finds

Economists Santanu Roy and Kamal Saggi found that trade restrictions on parallel imports can actually promote trade. When a market is smaller than the firm's own, imposing trade restrictions motivates the firm to export. The study suggests that policy diversity is working well, but countries with major asymmetries may need intervention.

SourceSouthern Methodist University·JournalJournal of International Economics·DateApr 11, 2012

US income distribution winners and losers

A recent study found that in the US, economic prosperity primarily benefits richer households, while those in lower and middle-income groups struggle to improve their financial situation. The study analyzed data from over 60,000 US households between 1996 and 2003, revealing a widening income gap.

SourceSAGE·JournalReview of Radical Political Economics·DateFeb 28, 2012

Study finds online marketplaces overplay safeguards and ignore social aspects of transactions

A recent study by Temple University researchers found that online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon prioritize risk reduction over social aspects of transactions. The authors analyzed buyer data to gauge assessments of online safeguards, finding that economic risk is a significant consideration only in moderately risky markets.

SourceTemple University·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateNov 23, 2011

The role of relaxation in consumer behavior

Researchers found that states of relaxation consistently increase the monetary valuations of products, with relaxed individuals valuing products more highly than their less-relaxed counterparts. This effect applies to a wide range of products, including luxury items and services.

SourceColumbia Business School·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateJul 28, 2011

Ordered fear plays a strong role in market chaos

A study analyzing stock market volatility over 50 years reveals the existence of hidden temporal order and high correlations between fear-driven market fluctuations and price variations. This discovery implies that traditional investment strategies should incorporate consideration for the 'volatility of volatility' in portfolio design.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAIP Advances·DateJun 8, 2011

Brand recognition can help hotels survive economic downturns

Research by Penn State and University of Gothenburg found that brand named hotels outperformed independent hotels in economic downturns. Branded hotels registered significantly higher net operating income during recessions due to increased occupancy, while independent hotels charged higher room rates due to perceived uniqueness.

SourcePenn State·JournalInternational Journal of Hospitality Management·DateDec 6, 2010

Who cleans the welfare state?

Migrant domestic workers face exploitation and social exclusion in Sweden's formal labor market. The report highlights the dual consequences of tax deductions on processes of inclusion and exclusion. Key findings reveal the persistence of informal services despite tax deductions and the vulnerability of undocumented migrant workers.

Hourly workforce carries burden during recession

The US hourly workforce is shouldering increased burdens during the economic slowdown, with many workers forced to accept reduced hours or irregular schedules. This lack of job security and predictability can have severe consequences for workers' well-being, including instability in family routines and increased stress.

Health biotech firms with developing country partners better postitioned to innovate, prosper

A new study found that Canadian health biotech firms collaborating with developing countries have a strong interest in building partnerships, driven by access to emerging markets and cost savings. Joint R&D activities are nearly as common as distribution arrangements, reflecting bi-directional knowledge-intensive collaboration.

SourceSandra Rotman Centre for Global Health·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateSep 9, 2009

Decreasing deer damage

A recent study by researchers found that certain tree and shrub species are more or less attractive to white-tailed deer, resulting in varying levels of damage. By identifying these preferences, growers can take steps to reduce economic losses, such as harvesting products in late fall and early winter.

Exclusive marketing contracts best when competition is fierce, Rotman study finds

A new study by the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that exclusive marketing contracts are more lucrative when firms and products have low market differentiation. By analyzing a real-world example, researchers discovered that non-exclusive contracts can be beneficial in highly competitive markets.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalInternational Journal of Marketing Research·DateMar 18, 2009