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Evaluating diet quality in community café meals for individuals facing food insecurity

Research published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that meals from community cafés had significantly higher diet quality than meals not eaten at the café, measured by the Healthy Eating Index. This improvement was particularly pronounced for individuals with very low food security. The study suggests that commu...

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·TypeSurvey·DateAug 5, 2024

Perceptions of income inequality drive consumers’ interests in counterfeit luxury goods, study finds

A new study found that consumers value counterfeit luxury products for their 'egalitarian value', a sense of restoring equality in society. The research, involving over 2000 participants from Sweden and the US, suggests that perceived income inequality is a major driver behind people buying fake luxury items.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateJul 23, 2024

COVID-19 symptoms and economic hardship among US families

A study found that persistent COVID-19 symptoms and previous severe cases were associated with increased odds of pandemic-related economic hardship. Families with lower incomes before the pandemic were disproportionately affected, experiencing more employment disruptions and earnings losses.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 12, 2023

Gig workers saw greater financial hardship during COVID-19 compared to other workers

A recent study published in Work and Occupations found that gig workers experienced higher rates of food insecurity, skipped housing payments, and unpaid credit card bills during the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic hardships were more pronounced for those with children, less savings, or working multiple gig jobs.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro·JournalWork and Occupations·TypeObservational study·DateNov 27, 2023

Buffalo slaughter left lasting impact on Indigenous peoples

The mass slaughter of bison by European settlers led to devastating economic shock for Indigenous peoples, with adult height dropping by over an inch within a generation. The study also found that child-mortality rates were higher and occupation reporting lower among bison-reliant nations compared to non-bison reliant nations.

SourceEmory University·JournalThe Review of Economic Studies·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 23, 2023

When local economic inequality is high, the rich tend to be more generous

A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that individuals with higher incomes tend to be more generous when living in areas with high levels of economic inequality. In contrast, the lowest-income groups show less generosity in more unequal areas. The researchers used local data from the US and UK to examine this relationship.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateJun 14, 2023

Millions of U.S. households may struggle to afford basic water services

A study analyzing the affordability of water services for 28.3 million people in the US found that 15% of households, or one in seven, face financial hardship in paying for access to water and wastewater services. The researchers suggest that solutions require comprehensive strategies at local, state, and federal levels.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Water·TypeObservational study·DateMay 10, 2023

What makes someone likely to be a first-gen college grad? Money

A new study reveals that first-generation college graduates often originate from more affluent families with greater resources. This challenges the notion of a meritocracy, where success is solely based on individual effort. The research highlights the significant advantage these students have due to their family's socioeconomic status.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalSociological Quarterly·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 21, 2023

Income inequality may not be reliable predictor when it comes to population health outcomes, new URI study shows

A new URI study reveals that the association between life expectancy and income inequality is not as clear-cut as previously thought. In high-income areas, life expectancy was higher in regions with higher income inequality, suggesting that income inequality may not be a reliable predictor of population health outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Rhode Island·JournalJournal of Health Population and Nutrition·TypeObservational study·DateApr 19, 2023

Across the US, white neighborhoods have more greenery, fewer dilapidated buildings, fewer multi-family homes

A nationwide study using Google Street View images found that predominantly White neighborhoods had better neighborhood conditions associated with good health, such as fewer neglected buildings and more greenery. In contrast, neighborhoods with residents who were primarily Black or of other minority races had fewer green spaces and mor...

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateJan 20, 2023

Older adults with asthma at high risk for depression during the COVID-19 pandemic

A recent study published in Respiratory Medicine found that older adults with asthma are at high risk of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately half of those with a pre-pandemic history of depression experienced a recurrence, while one in seven without a history of depression developed depression for the first time.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalRespiratory Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 19, 2023

Prevalence of vision impairment in older adults

More than one-quarter of U.S. adults aged 71 and older had vision impairment in 2021, according to a nationally representative survey study. The prevalence of vision impairment was associated with factors such as older age, lower education and income, non-white race, and Hispanic ethnicity.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Ophthalmology·DateJan 12, 2023

Should we tax robots?

A study by MIT economists suggests that a modest tax on robots and foreign trade could help address income inequality in the US. The optimal policy includes taxes ranging from 1% to 3.7% of robot value, with smaller trade taxes, aiming to reduce wage gaps without stifling economic growth.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Review of Economic Studies·DateDec 20, 2022

White Americans who believe white people are poor are more likely to support welfare policies

New research finds that White Americans' beliefs about their own poverty influence their attitudes towards the poor and support for welfare policies. These effects are strongest among those experiencing status threat from Black people, suggesting a motivation to maintain racial status quo.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 8, 2022

Role of overconfidence and perceived ability in preferences for income equality

A new study by Tokyo University of Science researchers reveals that overconfidence in one's ability can lead to a desire for income equality, but with nuances. Participants who experienced a gap between their income and self-evaluated ability were more likely to support reducing income inequality, particularly among left-wing individuals.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalEuropean Journal of Political Economy·TypeSurvey·DateSep 20, 2022