Economics & Business
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- Grief over the sudden death of a partner leads 1 in 6 surviving partners to experience such severe psychological distress that they begin taking sedatives or antidepressants. If the death also results in a noticeable loss of income, the share of widows and widowers using psychotropic medication is significantly higher. Economic insecurity greatly amplifies the mental strain after the death of a loved one, researchers conclude.
- As the Christmas shopping period begins in earnest following Black Friday and Cyber Monday, new research led by the University of Birmingham and the University of Bristol sheds light on how consumers' environmental and social concerns fail to translate into ethical purchasing actions during online shopping.
- Businesses that operate in societies with strong social bonds are far less likely to manipulate their financial results, according to new research from the University of Portsmouth, suggesting that "having good friends" may be just as important as formal corporate rules in keeping companies honest.
- "Tis the season to extend social invitations to colleagues—a gesture that may seem simple, but research by an Indiana University Kelley School of Business Indianapolis professor and her colleagues shows these invitations can drive both positive and negative outcomes, shaping emotions and workplace behaviors.
- A comprehensive analysis of 383 U.S. cities reveals a striking pattern: most have rings of isolation in suburban areas and segregated pockets near the urban core, that are shaped by race, wealth, and proximity to downtown, finds a new study by UCL researchers.
- Cities do not always grow in a straight line. Like living organisms, they experience growth, maturity, and sometimes decline. This decline, known as urban shrinkage, is a natural phase in the urban life cycle. It is common in industrialized cities, marked by aging social infrastructure resulting from population decline.
- As global economic relationships evolve, Achyuta Adhvaryu, professor of economics at the University of California San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and director of the 21st Century India Center, says one partnership stands out for its potential to drive shared prosperity: the connection between the United States and India. His research highlights how the two nations' economies have become deeply intertwined through flows of talent, technology and innovation—and why keeping those ties strong is essential for growth on both sides.
- A new study led by a University of Nottingham historian offers a comprehensive examination of apprenticeship in artisanal production during the second half of British colonial rule in India, revealing that no single, uniform system of training existed—instead uncovering a diverse and shifting set of practices shaped by custom, commerce and colonial intervention.
- Financial crises may be made worse by current mortgage and housing tax systems according to new research from the University of Surrey. The study argues that the country should consider taxing housing purchases during strong economic periods but providing temporary subsidies on housing during recessions.
- For some Indigenous peoples around the world, a day at work can mean experiencing repression, racism and regular reminders that we're minorities in our own lands. Yet for others, work can be experienced as the exact opposite, as something that enables ourselves, our families and our communities to prosper.
- The manosphere is big business today. Once a niche network lurking on the margins of the internet, this diverse community of male supremacist cultures has grown into a transnational profit-making enterprise.
- The girlboss is a cultural phenomenon created—and then deconstructed—by media hype. A study titled "The Rise and Fall of the Girlboss: Gender, Social Expectations and Entrepreneurial Hype" reconstructs the rise and fall of women entrepreneurs in media narratives. It shows how media portrayals have shaped society's expectations of female managers and helped to determine both their success and their downfall.
- As sustainability demands grow, sustainability professionals—along with many other groups—are increasingly expected to help drive the transition within the construction sector. Yet their roles are often both unclear and constantly shifting, making it difficult to know what their mandate is in different projects and organizational settings.
- Not only can virtual reality (VR) allow buyers to tour homes without physically stepping inside, but it also can help the homes sell faster, according to new research by a University of Texas at Dallas professor and collaborators.
- Companies often rely on annual employee reviews to determine who gets promoted, who gets a raise, and who are the best candidates for layoffs. But research has shown the process can be influenced by factors other than job performance, such as gender and race.
- Socially responsible investors (SRIs) often see themselves as agents of social or environmental progress. They buy into polluting or "dirty" companies believing that their capital can nudge a business toward a cleaner path. Their intention is straightforward: to invest in the bad to make it good.
- A growing number of studies show that when investors pay close attention to individual stocks, it significantly impacts how they learn about and trade those stocks, which in turn drives stock price movements. In other words, what catches investors' eyes directly influences their decisions and shapes the stock market.
- In the world of sports, scouts look for promising new talent to create championship teams. In the technology world, many large companies use knowledge scouts in a similar way. A 2024 Gartner survey found that 48% of R&D organizations have a formal technology scouting process.
- A pioneering national study, conducted by a Monash University expert in collaboration with consumer advocates, has shed light on the hidden toll of coerced business debt, revealing how business structures are being weaponized to perpetrate financial abuse, resulting in long-term economic hardship.
- Whatever else they may be, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives are very often an image-building exercise. Business leaders hope that by being seen to put ethical responsibilities over profits, they will reap profits anyway as a byproduct of reputational gains. It stands to reason, then, that no conversation about the "business case" for ESG would be complete without involving society's chief reputational brokers—i.e., the media.
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