Author: kmenke

An illustration of two figures marching inside endless treadmills. Research Brief / Behavioral Decision Making

The More They Do It, the More Some People Prefer To Continue a Tedious Task

Even when there’s an easy-to-access better alternative, some prefer their rut

A castle with a moat Research Brief / Investing

The Moat That Keeps Complex Asset Strategies Profitable

Andrea Eisfeldt finds that hedge funds with infrastructure to execute sophisticated arbitrage crowd out less-expert investors

Multicolored soap bubbles on a black background. Research Brief / Investing

The Mechanics of How Social Media Turbocharges Asset Bubbles

Establishment media coalesces around a lone narrative, but online chatter hops between storylines, sometimes shocking traders

Qanon supporters in a crowd Research Brief / Behavioral Decision Making

The Malleability of Who Falls for Conspiracy Theories

It’s not just sheep — even go-getters can be susceptible when they feel less in control

Colleagues sitting at table in conference room at business meeting. Research Brief / Productivity

The Makeup of Your Team Should Dictate How and When You Have Meetings

Team size and how staffer productivity varies are crucial considerations

Quiz

The Low-Paid Workers Who Make AI Go

Also: A bot lets young adults text with their 60-year-old selves; when nonprofits should let volunteers call dibs on tasks; and how hard times affect political beliefs and preferences

Monochrome picture of people disembarking a ship Feature / Politics

The Long-Term Political Influence of Immigrants

Europeans brought an appreciation of social welfare programs that still resonates

Research Brief / Advertising

The Long History of Middlemen Earning a Lucrative, Fixed Commission

Ad agencies’ 15% fee lasted 100 years longer than it might have

Quiz

The Key To Spotting a Coming Recession? Local Banks

Also: De-macho-ing job ads alters the applicant pool; old bank learning new tricks

Bird's eye view of a suburb Research Brief / Housing

The Housing Meltdown Would Have Been Far Worse Without California’s Anti-Foreclosure Laws

Restraining lenders saved hundreds of billions in home value

A view of the back of a young woman in white shirt with black polka dots and a black purse looped through her arm sits on stairs outside Research Brief / Minimum Wage

The High Cost of Losing a Minimum Wage Job

Contrary to assumptions, low-wage workers lose substantial income in years after layoff

Illustration of a young man looking into a mirror, reflecting his older self Feature / Time

The Healthy Upside of Thinking about an Older You

Consciously imagining our older self can spur us to take better care of ourselves now

Aerial shot of a port Forecast / International Trade

The Dollar: That Other Trade Problem

A strong currency makes U.S. exports harder to sell, even outside of China

Research Brief / COVID-19

The Dollar Store Fix for Vaccination Deserts

Pharmacies aren’t everywhere — adding dollar stores could reduce average distance to vaccination by 62%

A man is seated in his car is using an ignition interlock, which is a breath test device linked to a vehicle’s ignition system. Research Brief / Behavioral Decision Making

The Deterrent Effect of Ignition Interlock Devices — Before They’re Even Installed

Adding a car breathalyzer to existing penalties could substantially discourage drunken driving

A close-up of soapy green water Research Brief / Debt

The Debt Market’s Indirect Antidote to ESG Greenwashing

Loans that include a sweetener or penalty tied to ESG performance seem to induce more honest reporting