Economy

While the national conversation around childhood obesity often focuses on rising health care costs, new research co-authored by Ball State University economist Dr. Maoyong Fan suggests the crisis may also be limiting the "American Dream." The study finds that childhood obesity carries a lifelong "mobility penalty," reducing an individual's likelihood... Read more

Recent investigations have uncovered forced labor in agricultural supply chains, illegal fishing feeding supermarket freezers, deforestation embedded in everyday food products, and unsafe conditions in factories producing "sustainable" fashion. These harms were not visible on labels. They surfaced only when journalists, whistleblowers or activists exposed them.... Read more

Since the pandemic, offices around the world have quietly shrunk. Many organizations don't need as much floor space or as many desks, given many staff now do a mix of hybrid work from home and the office. But on days when more staff are required to be in, office spaces... Read more

Many Canadians say they care about ethical products. They want coffee that supports farmers, chocolate made without child labor and everyday goods that are better for the environment.... Read more

The financial industry is entering a new era, with AI and new regulations on accessing data transforming how finance works. These changes are giving people more options to manage their money in new ways—taking us closer to totally cashless transactions.... Read more

There is a long and storied history of nonhuman actors, from Luke, the dog of silent star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, to the collies cast in the role of Lassie in film and on television. Bart the Bear racked up over 20 film and TV credits in the 1980s and 1990s,... Read more

New research from Adelaide University is questioning the widespread use of the term "resilience" in Australian agriculture, arguing that its overuse can place unfair pressure on individual farmers and obscure the need for systemic support. Published in the Journal of Rural Studies, the study explores the perspectives of women involved... Read more

When the economy grows or shrinks, we often focus on how long the phase lasts or how deep it goes. A new paper asks a sharper question: How does actual growth compare with steady, quarter-by-quarter growth over the same period? The authors, Viv Hall (Victoria University of Wellington), John McDermott... Read more

New research shows that employees are far more likely to act in environmentally responsible ways when their leaders actively demonstrate green values in how they lead, not just what they say. The study, published in the Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, finds that leadership is the critical foundation... Read more

The 2025 labor market was mixed, shaped by economic pressures such as inflation, interest rate changes and tariffs, which leaves the economic outlook for 2026 uncertain. This uncertainty has led to an active but increasingly selective early-career hiring landscape, according to Drexel University's 2026 College Hiring Outlook. The annual report... Read more

More stock trading is moving away from traditional public stock exchanges and into places called "dark pools." These are private, electronic markets where investors buy and sell stocks without showing their orders to the public. Even as dark pools have grown increasingly popular, a recent study from the University of... Read more

A new study finds entrepreneurs become more committed to their business ventures when they are told they will fail, increasing their efforts to make those businesses successful. "Most entrepreneurs—people who start their own businesses—actually identify with the business they're running," says Tim Michaelis, an assistant professor of psychology at North... Read more

Every year, millions of workers are injured or die on the job, imposing enormous human and economic costs. The socio-economic impact of workplace safety is hard to avoid and presents governments and organizations with a major challenge.... Read more

Climate change is not just reshaping the planet, it's already affecting how people feel about their lives, their health and their financial security, according to a new study from the Universities of Portsmouth and Dundee. The research shows that prolonged changes in weather linked to climate change, particularly abnormal temperatures,... Read more

Changing corporate strategies are putting more pressure than ever on chief financial officers (CFOs), a change that's reflected in record-high turnover of the position in U.S. businesses despite the fact that pay is at an all-time high. What can stop the churn? According to a new study from Adrienne Rhodes,... Read more