Economy

The U.S. National Flood Insurance Program is going broke. Increased flood strikes in more places, combined with outdated ways of predicting flood risk, are putting property owners at risk and the program itself in over $20 billion of debt.... Read more

Sungkyunkwan University announced that a research team has identified, through EEG (electroencephalogram) analysis, the impact of "fragrance" on consumers' emotions, memory, and deep emotional bonds with luxury brands. Going beyond conventional survey-based approaches, this study has drawn significant attention from both academia and industry by employing neuroscientific methods that measure... Read more

Sexist. Dystopian. This was how critics labeled a 30-second Peloton holiday ad in 2019 that featured a man giving a woman an exercise bike as a gift. Backlash was so severe that Peloton's stock fell by about 9%, after social media erupted over perceived outdated gender roles and body image... Read more

A study conducted by the Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M) concludes that effective adaptation in crisis and emergency situations requires teams to accurately understand unfolding events and flexibly use different coordination processes. Paradoxically, the rigid enforcement of crisis protocols can constrain these processes of understanding and coordination, ultimately weakening... Read more

In a post-COVID world, CBD living is losing appeal with Australian residents opting for lower-density housing, according to new research from Adelaide University. Published in Regional Studies, the research examined the future direction of population growth across Australia's capital cities, regional centers and rural areas, as the pandemic reshapes where... Read more

Alcohol pricing is often analyzed using sophisticated computer models to understand how policy changes, such as adjustments to excise, might affect drinking behavior and public health. But the growth of no and low alcohol drinks that closely resemble well-known beer, wine and spirits products—"nolo" look-alikes—means alcohol companies themselves now provide... Read more

These days, transparency is a financial buzzword. Opening the curtains on the operations of financial markets is supposed to help investors and regulators make better decisions. But sometimes transparency can backfire, according to new research from Michael Sockin, an associate professor of finance at Texas McCombs. He modeled two kinds... Read more

"That meeting was a total waste of our time! And can you believe what that jerk said about raises?" From whispers in the hallway, to emoji-filled group texts and profanity-laced DMs, gossiping about the boss takes many forms. And while it's generally considered toxic workplace behavior, new research published in... Read more

Grocery retailers may not need new technology—or behavior change from shoppers—to meaningfully reduce food waste. New research in the journal Management Science finds that small operational decisions already under a retailer's control, including how perishable items are displayed and when (and how much) they're discounted, can increase profits while reducing... Read more

How did the United States overtake Europe to become the world's technological leader within just a few decades? A new study by researcher Frank Neffke from the Complexity Science Hub (CSH) and colleagues from the Growth Lab at Harvard University published in the journal Research Policy suggests that the answer... Read more

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