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Young adults struggle with online political participation

A study by Penn State researchers found that young adults who are web savvy but lack knowledge about federal government may struggle to participate online. The experiment revealed that participants often failed to find correct government websites, citing obstacles such as general lack of knowledge and limited search engine results.

Online advertising waters down impact of offline ad bans

A study by University of Toronto researchers found that online advertising can reduce the effectiveness of offline ad bans on certain products, such as alcohol and tobacco. The study showed that when consumers with limited knowledge of a product were exposed to online ads, it made online ads more effective substitutes for offline ads.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateMay 31, 2011

Regional politicians in Spain are more disassociated from central government than other countries

A recent study by researchers at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the University of Valencia found that regional leaders in Spain have less experience in central government compared to their counterparts in France and the UK. This trend has significant implications for decentralization and its impact on citizens.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalRevista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas·DateMay 4, 2011

10 years of Soufriere Hills Volcano research published

A decade of research on the Soufriere Hills Volcano has provided new understanding of magma activity, explosive dynamics, and volcano mechanics. The CALIPSO and SEA-CALIPSO projects have generated high-resolution images of the volcano's center and adjacent crust.

SourcePenn State·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 18, 2010

Study affirms Gulf oil spill's vastness

A new study uses a novel imaging method to analyze underwater video of the well riser, affirming heightened estimates of the leak's volume and total oil escaped into the open ocean. The scientists estimate 4.4 million barrels were released, close to the government's recent consensus.

SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalScience·DateSep 23, 2010

$1.7 million keeps McGill on edge

The McGill University researchers will be working on various projects, including cancer research and bone degeneration, using the new funding. The Canada Foundation for Innovation's investment will help develop Canada's global reputation as a place where outstanding research and training is being conducted.

Developing countries devoting more domestic spending to health, but international health aid is partly replacing, not supplementing, this spending in some settings

A new study reveals that developing countries are increasing their own health spending, but international aid is sometimes replacing this funding in low-income countries. Channelling aid through NGOs can actually increase government health spending, highlighting the need for better transparency and accountability.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 9, 2010

NYU researchers explore how power influences interpretation

A recent study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin reveals that individuals in positions of power tend to interpret crisis events, such as the 9/11 attacks, in a more abstract manner. The researchers analyzed public comments from September 2001 and found that those with power overestimated their ability to achieve o...

SourceNew York University·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateAug 10, 2009

As economy slumps, new study highlights tools for avoiding local government fiscal crises

A new study by Dr. Charles Coe highlights three best practices to prevent local government fiscal crises: monitoring finances, assisting with amelioration, and taking over governance when necessary. Implementing these practices can help states maintain healthy fiscal reserves, anticipate economic changes, and provide public services.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPublic Administration Review·DateJul 15, 2008

Scandinavian Journal of Economics pays tribute to the rise of political economics.

The Scandinavian Journal of Economics has published a special issue celebrating the rise of political economics, an interdisciplinary field that combines public choice, rational choice, and macroeconomics to study government policy. Key findings include models exploring the evolution of economic institutions, efficiency aspects of poli...

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalScandinavian Journal of Economics·DateJan 30, 2007