Policy & the Economy
August 13, 2019
When People Think Their Neighbors Support Trump, They’re More Likely to Express Anti-immigrant Views
Social norms are powerful—but fluid. A study of the 2016 election shows how they can change.
Georgy Egorov, Leonardo Bursztyn and Stefano Fiorin
August 1, 2019
China Weathered the Global Recession with an Aggressive Stimulus Package. But Did It Prop Up the Wrong Firms?
A cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of credit expansion.
Lin William Cong, Haoyu Gao, Jacopo Ponticelli and Xiaoguang Yang
July 1, 2019
Should Antitrust Laws Really Be Changed, or Should We Just Enforce the Laws We Have?
A presidential assassination brought the trust-busting Teddy Roosevelt to power. The episode offers lessons for today’s antitrust regulators.
Richard Baker, Carola Frydman and Eric Hilt
July 1, 2019
Do Soda Taxes Work? It’s Complicated.
A look at the Philadelphia soda tax shows that it had some benefits—but it didn’t stop people from buying sugary drinks.
Stephan Seiler, Anna Tuchman and Song Yao
July 1, 2019
Are Voters Biased Against Female Politicians?
In many cases, no. But economic anxiety can ignite powerful gender stereotypes.
Ryan Lei and Galen Bodenhausen
July 1, 2019
We’re at a Data Privacy Crossroads. Where Do We Go From Here?
What individuals, regulators, and companies need to consider as we live more of our lives online.
Jennifer Cutler and Samuel Goldberg
June 26, 2019
Do High Local Taxes Really Hurt Economic Growth?
Corporate incentives and low tax rates are supposed to make a city more business-friendly. An economist explains why that’s often not the case.
Therese McGuire
June 3, 2019
A Nation’s Wealth May Depend on How Much Its Workers Can Learn on the Job
New research suggests that formal schooling is not the panacea to global inequality that many have long believed it to be.
David Lagakos, Benjamin Moll, Tommaso Porzio, Nancy Qian and Todd Schoellman
June 3, 2019
One Nation Invades Another. What Will Happen Next?
Game theory reveals why some conflicts escalate and others don’t.
Sandeep Baliga and Tomas Sjöström
June 3, 2019
What Causes Stock Market Swings?
Tariffs? Job reports? Oil prices? A new volatility index pinpoints which factors make investors feel uncertain.
Scott R. Baker, Nicholas Bloom, Steven J. Davis and Kyle Kost
May 2, 2019
How Big Is the Gender Gap in Science Research Funding?
Two new studies look at who wins the prestigious grants and prizes that can make or break a scientist’s career.
Brian Uzzi, Diego FM Oliveira, Yifang Ma and Teresa Woodruff
May 2, 2019
A Comprehensive Model for Building Winning Stock Portfolios
Linking fundamental analysis and portfolio optimization may be the key to solving the “investor’s problem.”
Matthew R. Lyle and Teri L. Yohn
May 1, 2019
Worried You’re Not Saving Enough for Retirement? Here’s What You Can Do.
An economist offers suggestions for individuals and policymakers to help make retirement more secure.
Benjamin Harris
April 4, 2019
When an Industry Consolidates, What Happens to Wages?
A surprisingly consistent answer has emerged in one sector: healthcare.
Elena Prager and Matt Schmitt
April 4, 2019
Do Police Body Cameras Provide an Impartial Version of Events?
New research reveals that people assign blame differently after viewing body cam versus dash cam footage.
Broderick Turner, Eugene Caruso, Mike Dilich and Neal J. Roese
April 1, 2019
Three Quarters of Americans Aren’t Putting Enough into Their 401(k)s
With employers shifting away from pensions, there’s an urgent need for improved financial literacy.
Francisco Gomes, Kenton Hoyem, Wei Hu and Enrichetta Ravina
March 4, 2019
How Much Does Innovation Drive Economic Growth?
A study of millions of patents lifts the veil on how new ideas influence productivity.
Bryan Kelly, Dimitris Papanikolaou, Amit Seru and Matt Taddy
January 17, 2019
Which Gold Medalists Do We Tweet About? Liberals and Conservatives Differ
New research explores how political ideology can affect whose accomplishments we celebrate.
Nour Kteily, Matthew D. Rocklage, Kaylene McClanahan and Arnold K. Ho
January 7, 2019
Which Voters Want to Expand Medicaid? Maybe Not the Ones You Think
4-year degree-holders tend to be big supporters—even though they are personally unlikely to benefit.
David A. Matsa and Amalia R. Miller
January 7, 2019
Not Everyone Benefited from Lower Interest Rates During the Great Recession
The Fed wanted to help struggling homeowners. But new lending rules undermined its efforts.
Anthony DeFusco and John Mondragon
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