Content Type: Research Brief
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
Online Reviews Sway Experiential Purchases Less Than Those of Material Products
Reviews that explicitly talk about objective quality assessments are well received
Vacation Mindset: How Weekends Can Be More Refreshing
Researchers told subjects to treat their weekend like a vacation, then gauged happiness on Monday
Opaque Pricing: How Sellers Can Gather Data and Boost Revenue
Websites peddle unnamed hotels and even cities; would you pay to omit one from the list?
Rethinking Buy-and-Hold Investing
The case for using rising market volatility as a signal to pare back on stocks — does higher risk always mean higher return?
Joint Bank Accounts Make for Happier Couples
Those who keep finances separate are likelier to split up, be less satisfied with their relationship
When Manufacturers Commence Exporting, They Become More Efficient
Looking at costs, in a sample of 5,000 plants in Chile, remarkable productivity gains occur
Consumers Habitually Seek the Middle Ground
Unpublished research shows avoiding the extremes is a common approach marketers need to address
The Surprising Power of Giving Up Choice Control
Abdicating a decision to someone else is viewed as an act of generosity that is handsomely rewarded
What Makes a True Financial Crisis?
Data back to 1870 show similarities in the worst banking system shocks — focusing on loose lending before a meltdown
What Drives LBO Fever? More Than Just Cheap Loans
Private equity investors weigh the total cost of capital — not just debt, but equity as well — when pursuing buyouts
Are You Nudging Me? Oh, OK, Go Ahead
Research shows individuals aren’t necessarily turned off when they know they are being coaxed toward a specific choice
Economics of Women-Driver Ride Hailing
Other safety measures are easier to implement, but research suggests how female driver pool could be increased
Maximizing Life Saving through Better Placement of Defibrillators
Just putting one where the last cardiac arrest occurred isn’t optimal — more calculations to get to fewer steps
New Technology Lifted Pay, Especially for the Bosses
Top executives saw much larger gains after broadband adoption than the workers below them
Culture Affects How People Save Money
Immigrants show saving tendencies that carry through several generations