Add BrightSurf on Google Email

More 'fairness' needed in conservation

Researchers found that local stakeholders consider fairness in distribution of money from marine protected areas according to who holds rights over the area, rather than equality or costs incurred. This challenges common assumptions in conservation literature and practice, emphasizing the importance of explicit identification of local ...

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies·JournalEnvironmental Science & Policy·DateJun 9, 2021

Scrap for cash before coins

Researchers found evidence of bronze scrap being used as cash in Europe during the late Bronze Age (1350-800 BC), challenging traditional notions of money's emergence. This practice spread across Western Eurasia, paving the way for a global market.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalJournal of Archaeological Science·DateMay 6, 2021

Worth one's salt

Researchers at LSU discovered a vast network of ancient Maya salt kitchen buildings, indicating the salt was produced on a large scale. Salt cakes were standardized units, potentially used as currency, and played a crucial role in the economy.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalJournal of Anthropological Archaeology·DateMar 22, 2021

Happiness really does come for free

A study found that communities with low monetization have remarkably high levels of happiness, comparable to Scandinavian countries. The researchers interviewed 678 people and found that social and economic factors play a bigger role in higher monetized sites.

SourceMcGill University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 8, 2021

An ancient economy

A team of archaeologists has discovered that the Chumash Indians in California were using shell beads as currency around 2,000 years ago. The team's findings, published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, challenge long-held assumptions about the origins of money in the Americas.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Anthropological Archaeology·DateJan 28, 2021

Saver or spender? People are not as financially responsible as they may think, study shows

A new study from the University of Notre Dame finds that people tend to overestimate their financial responsibility, resulting in under-saving. The research developed an intervention to combat this 'positive illusion' by recognizing excessive spending and boosting self-perceptions of financial responsibility through increased savings.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateJan 13, 2021

Call for 'debt driving licence'

A new study recommends protecting first-time borrowers from long-term debt by introducing psychometric tests to assess age, experience, and personality traits. The study argues that lenders should have a duty of care and control access to credit more carefully for young people and those with impulsive tendencies.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalSocial Issues and Policy Review·DateNov 27, 2020

Why consumers think pretty food is healthier

A study published in the Journal of Marketing found that consumers rate healthy foods as more natural and nutritious when they are presented in a visually appealing way, according to classical aesthetics principles. This effect can influence consumer behavior, leading to increased willingness to pay for pretty food.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateNov 7, 2020

Forgetting past misdeeds to justify future ones

In a study published in PNAS, researchers found that when participants were informed they could return some of the money they had overreported, they forgot their past cheating behavior more accurately. This 'unethical amnesia' allowed them to restore their reputation, making it more acceptable for future moral breaches.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 29, 2020

A pain reliever that alters perceptions of risk

A new study suggests that acetaminophen makes risky activities seem less dangerous, leading to increased risk-taking. The study found that participants who took the pain reliever rated activities like bungee jumping and starting a new career as less risky than those who took a placebo.

SourceOhio State University·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateSep 8, 2020

Dealing a blow on monetarism

Researchers from Lobachevsky University analyze data on M2 monetary aggregate, monetary base, and money multiplier to study impact of financial innovations on money supply. They find evidence of endogenous origin of money supply in Russian economy for both periods of time, confirming structuralism and preference for liquidity.

SourceLobachevsky University·JournalFinancial Journal·DateAug 27, 2020

Study reveals impact of powerful CEOs and money laundering on bank performance

A study by University of East Anglia researchers found that banks with powerful CEOs and smaller boards are more susceptible to money laundering and take greater risks. The impact of money laundering is heightened by the presence of powerful CEOs, but large and independent executive boards can partially mitigate this effect.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalInternational Journal of Finance & Economics·DateAug 4, 2020

Owe the IRS? No problem, some Americans say

A recent study from Ohio State University found that households immediately increase their spending after receiving tax refunds. In contrast, when households owe taxes, they do not reduce their spending, instead using other sources of funds to pay the bill. This challenges traditional economic theories about how people spend their money.

SourceOhio State University·JournalAmerican Economic Review·DateJul 28, 2020

Helping consumers in a crisis

A new study shows that quantitative easing drove down mortgage interest rates, allowed consumers to refinance their house loans, and spent more on everyday items, bolstering the economy. However, the benefits were primarily targeted at mortgage holders from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Review of Economic Studies·DateJun 25, 2020

Zero rates preferable to negative rates for investors' risk-taking -Ben-Gurion U study

Research at Ben-Gurion U found that zero interest rates motivate individuals to borrow money and take risks, while negative rates have a lesser impact on investment decisions. The study suggests that savers might prefer holding cash over accepting negative rates due to associated risks.

SourceAmerican Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalJournal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics·DateJun 8, 2020

Money can't buy love -- or friendship

Researchers at UB and Harvard Business School found that people who base their self-worth on financial success experience pressure and lack of autonomy, leading to negative social outcomes. The study emphasizes the importance of preserving personal relationships in maintaining good mental health.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateApr 9, 2020

Organized cybercrime -- not your average mafia

Researchers identified common attributes of cybercrime networks, revealing how they function and work together. These networks are composed of hackers coming together due to shared functional skills, often collaborating to cause greater disruption.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalInternational Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology·DateJan 16, 2020

'Financial infidelity': What defines it, who is at risk, and what are the consequences?

Financial infidelity is defined as hiding financial behaviors expected to be disapproved of from one's partner. Consumers more prone to this often prefer secretive options like personal credit cards and cash. The study found that concealment of financial information in mobile banking apps also increases the risk of financial infidelity.

SourceIndiana University·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateDec 11, 2019

Love, lies and money: Study introduces, defines and measures financial infidelity

Researchers introduce the concept of financial infidelity, defined as engaging in a financial behavior expected to elicit disapproval and intentionally failing to disclose it. The study's findings reveal that consumers prone to financial infidelity exhibit stronger preferences for secretive purchase options and concealing their actions.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateDec 3, 2019

Financial therapy can aid well-being, stability

Researchers found that financial therapy improves couples' overall well-being and financial stability by understanding how financial behaviors are tied to feelings and beliefs. Nearly all participants wanted to learn more about their financial behaviors and communicate better after sessions.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalContemporary Family Therapy·DateNov 21, 2019

How religion can heighten or help with financial stress

A study by University of Arizona researcher Ashley LeBaron found that religious involvement can both relieve and worsen financial stress. On one hand, religion can reduce materialism, bring monetary blessings, and foster a positive outlook on financial struggles. On the other hand, it can also impose increased financial obligations, re...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalPsychology of Religion and Spirituality·DateNov 18, 2019