Economics
China’s new condom tax will prove no effective barrier to country’s declining fertility rate
China’s new condom tax will prove no effective barrier to country’s declining fertility rate China has introduced a 13% value-added tax on condoms, birth control pills, and other contraceptives to encourage couples to have more children, but experts believe this move will be ineffective in reversing the country’s declining fertility rate. The fertility rate in […]
📰 News
Declining union membership could be making working-class Americans less happy and more susceptible to drug overdoses
Declining union membership could be making working-class Americans less happy and more susceptible to drug overdoses Declining union membership among working-class Americans may be linked to increased unhappiness and higher rates of drug overdoses, according to research by economists. A study found that increasing levels of union membership tends to make working-class people happier, with […]
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In defense of ‘surveillance pricing’: Why personalized prices could be an unexpected force for equity
In defense of ‘surveillance pricing’: Why personalized prices could be an unexpected force for equity Surveillance pricing, which uses personal data to set individualized prices, has sparked controversy but may have benefits that could make markets more efficient and equitable. The practice, also known as price discrimination, can lead to wealthy customers paying more for […]
🏛️ Politics
Misunderstood Malthus: The English thinker whose name is synonymous with doom and gloom has lessons for today
Misunderstood Malthus: The English thinker whose name is synonymous with doom and gloom has lessons for today Malthus, an English economist and cleric, is often misunderstood as a pessimist who believed humans are subject to natural limits. However, his work “An Essay on the Principles of Population” (1798) actually identified two factors that reduced reproduction […]
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Family and friends shoulder the real cost of dementia − $224B in unpaid care
Family and friends shoulder the real cost of dementia − $224B in unpaid care The true cost of dementia care in the US is estimated to be $277 billion per year, five times higher than the initial medical spending estimate of $53 billion. The majority of this cost ($224 billion) is attributed to unpaid care […]
🏥 Health
Providing farmworkers with health insurance is worth it for their employers − new research
Providing farmworkers with health insurance is worth it for their employers − new research Farmworkers who receive health insurance through their employers earn higher profits for their employers, even after accounting for the cost of coverage. Providing health insurance to farmworkers can lead to increased productivity and higher earnings for workers, with a potential annual […]
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Lowering the cost of insurance in Colorado – a new analysis of the Peak Health Alliance
Lowering the cost of insurance in Colorado – a new analysis of the Peak Health Alliance Health insurance premiums have continued to rise in the U.S. MoMo Productions/GettyImages A community-led partnership in Colorado designed to negotiate health care prices lowered health care premiums in 2020 and 2021, we find in our new paper in the […]
🏥 Health
How your brain reacts to buying groceries can reveal your politics
How your brain reacts to buying groceries can reveal your politics A new study reveals that how your brain reacts to food purchasing decisions can be used to determine your political affiliation with almost 80% accuracy. Researchers used brain imaging techniques to examine adults purchasing eggs and milk with various prices and produced in different […]
🏛️ Politics