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When there’s money to lose, phone usage while driving drops

A study found that drivers who received weekly feedback on their phone use and a cash incentive of up to $50 used their phones less than those given no incentive or feedback. The intervention also led to a 21% decrease in handheld phone usage when drivers were told they would lose money if they engaged in phone use while driving.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 10, 2024

New regulations needed to limit impact of favouritism on country credit ratings

Research by economists at University of East Anglia and others found links between finance ministers and executives at biggest credit ratings agencies associated with higher ratings for countries without these connections, highlighting a conflict-of-interest problem in the credit ratings agency business model.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalJournal of International Financial Markets Institutions and Money·DateJul 2, 2024

More than half of Americans give to charity at checkout, survey shows

A survey conducted by Binghamton University found that 53% of Americans give impulsively to charities at checkout, with women, Black respondents, and middle-class individuals under 50 being top-giving demographics. The total raised from checkout campaigns has increased yearly since 2012, but the frequency of donation requests may lead ...

SourceBinghamton University·JournalJournal of Public and Nonprofit Affairs·TypeSurvey·DateMay 13, 2024

Early medieval money mystery solved

A team of researchers analyzed 49 silver coins from the Fitzwilliam Museum and found a chemical and isotopic signature matching third- to seventh-century silver from the Byzantine Empire. The study reveals a surge in trade involving these silver coins between 660 and 750 AD, which had a significant impact on people's lives. Later analy...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalAntiquity·DateApr 8, 2024

Rehabilitative reform

University of Missouri researcher Kelli Canada is using a $2.8 million grant to transform prison conditions in four Missouri prisons. Her multi-pronged mission includes staff training, physical space changes, skill building for residents, and community connections.

It’s true, happiness doesn’t cost much

A recent study by ICTA-UAB found that many societies with very low monetary income have remarkably high levels of life satisfaction, comparable to those in wealthy countries. The average life satisfaction score across the studied small-scale societies was 6.8 on a scale of 0-10.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 5, 2024

Financial insecurity common among frontline healthcare workers during COVID-19

A recent study led by UNC Greensboro researcher Mathieu Despard found that one-third of frontline healthcare workers experienced food insecurity, with even those earning over $75k facing housing hardship. The study highlights the importance of benefits in mitigating financial insecurity among healthcare workers.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro·JournalCompensation & Benefits Review·TypeSurvey·DateOct 26, 2023

Accounting transparency effort tied to decreased funding for innovation

Researchers found that regulations aimed at improving financial reporting requirements may have led to decreases in corporate spending on innovation, capital improvements, and mergers and acquisitions. Companies were reluctant to report uncertainty regarding their tax burden in public-facing financial statements, leading to a decline i...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalContemporary Accounting Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 18, 2023

Take the money now or later? Financial scarcity doesn’t lead to poor decision making

A study published by the American Psychological Association finds that people experiencing financial scarcity make decisions based on their immediate needs, prioritizing short-term gains only when scarcity threatens their most pressing requirements. Researchers examined how participants' choices changed depending on the timeline of the...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateSep 14, 2023

Research explores why daughters in Chinese families of son preference fail to break from sustained exploitation

Research reveals Chinese families' strong son preference can lead to daughters' emotional and financial exploitation, causing severe mental health consequences. Daughters are socialized from birth to prioritize their family's needs over their own, resulting in feelings of debt and low self-esteem.

SourceLancaster University·JournalMarketing Theory·TypeContent analysis·DateSep 1, 2023

Understanding how couples integrate finances

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.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalContemporary Family Therapy·DateMay 30, 2023

How government guarantees give banking customers peace of mind and keep banks open

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.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Financial Services Research·TypeObservational study·DateMay 16, 2023

Tribal water rights underutilized in U.S. West

A new study reveals that Indigenous groups in the western US are struggling to turn their legal right to water into actual water use, despite having settled their water-rights claims. The findings show that tribes are likely using only a fraction of their entitled water rights, resulting in significant revenue losses.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 19, 2023

Highlight facts or appeal to feelings? The psychology of persuading individuals to contribute to a collective goal

Researchers find that fact-based appeals are more effective when the goal is near completion, while affect-based appeals match people's feelings-oriented psychological state and are better suited for shorter-term goals. The study advances understanding of persuasive messages in collective goals and provides key insights for marketers.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateMar 8, 2023

Targeting wealth managers would cripple Russia's oligarchs

A new study by Dartmouth College researchers finds that sanctions on wealth managers would be more effective than asset seizure in crippling Russia's oligarchs. The research uses network science to map the connections between wealthy individuals and their financial experts, revealing a vulnerable network that can be disrupted with targ...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 28, 2023