Content Type: Research Brief
The Role of Chance Encounters in Silicon Valley Innovation
Cellphone signals and patent citations approximate a theory’s long-sought paper trail
The Role of Board-of-Directors Pay in Effective Corporate Investing
A model juggles who should suffer when a project goes awry; job market prospects of the CEO; and the quality of information shared in the boardroom
The Relative Well-Being of Generations: An Explanation for Falling Interest Rates?
Doing worse than mom and dad is a drag on the entire economy
The Relationship Between Adoption of Rooftop Solar and Attachment to One’s Surroundings
Applying the behavioral concept of “place attachment” to the logistics of battling climate change
The Odd History of Gun Legislation Following Mass Shootings
GOP legislatures often made firearm laws looser after infamous events
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
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
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
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
The Makeup of Your Team Should Dictate How and When You Have Meetings
Team size and how staffer productivity varies are crucial considerations
The Long History of Middlemen Earning a Lucrative, Fixed Commission
Ad agencies’ 15% fee lasted 100 years longer than it might have
The Limited Payoff in Auto Insurance Advertising
Ads aimed at brand awareness are shown to be more effective
The Housing Meltdown Would Have Been Far Worse Without California’s Anti-Foreclosure Laws
Restraining lenders saved hundreds of billions in home value
The High Cost of Losing a Minimum Wage Job
Contrary to assumptions, low-wage workers lose substantial income in years after layoff
The Dollar Store Fix for Vaccination Deserts
Pharmacies aren’t everywhere — adding dollar stores could reduce average distance to vaccination by 62%
The Deterrent Effect of Ignition Interlock Devices — Before They’re Even Installed
Adding a car breathalyzer to existing penalties could substantially discourage drunken driving