Category: General
Why the COVID-19 Baby Bust May Be Far Smaller Than Expected
Access to birth control among lower-income women was curtailed by pandemic’s lockdown
Why Some Dictators Build Schools — and Others Don’t
Compulsory education ‘homogenizes’ population, can stave off democracy
Why Some Clinical Trial Data Remains Hidden
Alibaba warehouse workers, signs of innovation, and how gender of Brazilian mayors played out in COVID-19
Why So Few Women in STEM Fields: The Role of Middle-School Peer Influence
Notion that boys are innately better at math undermines girls’ self-belief
Why Risk and Reward Don’t Always Move in Concert
Investors initially underreact to volatility, then overreact
Why Offspring of Rice Farmers Are Better at Detecting Emotions
Raising the crop is a communal project, more so than the work of wheat farmers, who’re less attuned to feelings of others
Why Kickstarter Funders Quickly Kick in the Last 5 Percent
Research shows that people have a sincere desire to see projects take flight
Why Do Startups Make International Moves?
In connection with funding, typically; those chasing money abroad tend to raise a lot more of it
Why Do Scholars Disagree on Whether Diversity Boosts Growth and Innovation?
Also: inventions and the age of collaborators; Airbnbs vs. hotels; and when to schedule meetings
Why Do Banks With Little Skin in the Game Still Monitor Borrowers?
Tax policy change triggers an incentive for lenders to be more aggressive
Why Corporate Leasing Practices Deserve More Respect
Most companies use asset leasing for business reasons, not accounting window dressing
Why Can’t We All Get Along? On Some Things, We Do
The narrative of a growing cultural divide, while partly true, conceals a more nuanced picture
Why Big Banks Can Pay Less on Deposits
Their level of technology and services makes up for it; it’s vice versa with little banks
Why Aren’t There More Women Firefighters?
Aligning people’s idea of a firefighter with the range of work and skills actually required might reduce gender bias
Why a Surcharge Can Alter Behavior Better than a Discount
Equal incentives perceived differently and can affect norms
Whose Job Is — and Isn’t — at Risk From Robots?
Also: withdrawal penalties on bank CDs; breathalyzers and DUIs; and how to manage with fewer managers