Cowboy Economics

Owning too much company stock puts workers' retirement at risk (6/25/2009)

Congress should ban employer stock from company-sponsored retirement plans to spare workers the risk of putting too much of their nest eggs in one basket, a new study by a University of Illinois legal expert says. ...> Full Article

Bankruptcy rates reflect policy, not people (6/24/2009)

What do high bankruptcy rates in states like Tennessee and Utah tell us about the people that live in those places? Not much, according to a new 50-state bankruptcy study published in the Journal of Law and Economics. ...> Full Article

Economic crisis heightens financial fallout for bereaved (6/23/2009)

A drop in the value of some older people's savings and investments during the current economic crisis will worsen the financial difficulties already felt by many when their partner dies. New research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council into the financial implications of bereavement highlights the potentially devastating economic consequences of a partner's death. ...> Full Article

Study separates russian flat tax myth and fact (6/20/2009)

A study of the 2001 Russian flat tax reform finds that the new tax system significantly reduced tax evasion, but did little to increase real income for taxpayers. ...> Full Article

How consumers continue enjoying their favorite experiences (6/19/2009)

We've all experienced listening to a song until we can't stand it. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research may help people continue to enjoy the products and experiences they once loved. ...> Full Article

Rural tourists' profile analyzed (6/18/2009)

Every weekend, holiday and long bank holiday, thousands of people take to the roads on journeys of hours or even days to rural destinations. But what motivates people to choose one place over another? Researchers from the University of Valencia have created a model to help manage tourism marketing in order to boost rural and cultural tourism in areas with a great wealth in heritage. ...> Full Article

Extended service contracts: When and why do people buy them? (6/18/2009)

Consumer experts have long recommended against buying Extended Service Contracts with products, since they are rarely cost effective. A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research examines the reasons why so many people ignore the experts' advice. ...> Full Article

The complicated consumer: Positive ads aren't always the most effective (6/17/2009)

Ads that feature positive emotions, like happiness, are not always the best way to reach consumers, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. ...> Full Article

The nature of economic manias and crashes (6/16/2009)

Readers who have followed the trials and tribulations of the world economy and financial markets will find in Donald Rapp's new book, "Bubbles, Booms and Busts: The Rise and Fall of Financial Assets," a detailed explanation of the history of economic ups and downs in financial markets. ...> Full Article

The dark side of gifts: Feeling indebted may drive people to the marketplace (6/16/2009)

You need to move out of your apartment. Do you call in your friends and family to haul boxes and furniture or contact a moving company? A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research shows that sometimes the emotions connected with asking for favors can actually drive people to the market. ...> Full Article

If you do good, you look good (6/12/2009)

Tel Aviv University researcher finds image is a prime motivator for charitable giving ...> Full Article

Wage gap linked to customer bias (6/6/2009)

Customer surveys often fail to reflect actual employee performance ...> Full Article

Over 60 percent of all US bankruptcies attributable to medical problems (6/5/2009)

Most victims are middle class, well-educated and have health insurance ...> Full Article

Lack of capital not a 'death sentence' for start-ups (6/4/2009)

A new study from North Carolina State University is turning the conventional wisdom about technology start-up companies on its head, showing that ventures with moderate levels of undercapitalization can still be successful and that a great management team is not more important than a top-notch technology product when it comes to securing sufficient amounts of capital. ...> Full Article

Design input accelerates new technologies' route to market (6/3/2009)

Thermo-chromic window films which regulate room temperature; a heart and breathing rate monitor which could revolutionize the monitoring of babies during childbirth; and improved tests for food sensitivities and allergies are among innovations developed at the University of Nottingham highlighted by the Design Council's Innovate for Universities initiative. ...> Full Article