Monthly Archives: March 2026

Cuts to Tuberculosis Support Funding May Result in $80 Billion Cost to Families Globally

More than a year after the second administration of Donald Trump began dismantling the United States Agency for International Development, concerns are continuing to emerge about the broader global health effects of reduced international aid. A new study led by a researcher at the Boston University School of Public Health suggests that cuts to foreign assistance could significantly increase the financial burden on families affected by Tuberculosis (TB) in low- and middle-income countries.

The study, published in PLOS Medicine, estimates that the loss of USAID funding alone could create approximately $7.5 billion in additional costs for households in low- and middle-income countries that include at least one person diagnosed with TB. Researchers also warn that nearly four million more households could face what the World Health Organization describes as “catastrophic costs,” a term used when medical and related expenses exceed 20 per cent of a household’s annual income under the WHO End TB Strategy.

In the most severe scenario considered in the research, the financial consequences could be far greater. If all international funding for TB programmes were eliminated, the economic burden placed on affected households could climb to nearly $80 billion worldwide. Such a scenario would represent a dramatic increase in the costs families must absorb while coping with the disease.

Before 2025, international aid played a critical role in maintaining access to TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services, particularly in countries with limited healthcare resources. USAID alone accounted for almost 20 per cent of funding for TB services in many countries.
Meanwhile, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria supplied roughly 76 per cent of international TB funding, with the United States contributing more than a third of that support. These investments were associated with measurable progress: between 2023 and 2024, the global TB infection rate declined by nearly two per cent, while deaths fell by around three per cent.

The new analysis arrives as the world approaches World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, an annual event intended to raise awareness about the disease and the efforts to eliminate it. Researchers say the findings highlight the urgent need for sustained international support to maintain access to TB services and prevent further health and economic hardship.

The study’s lead author, Dr Allison Portnoy of BUSPH, emphasised that international funding has been central to expanding access to TB diagnosis and treatment. Without continued support from donors such as USAID and the Global Fund, many countries could experience disruptions to essential services. According to Portnoy, such disruptions would not only worsen health outcomes but also place severe financial strain on households, particularly those already living in poverty.

To conduct the research, Portnoy and colleagues from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and the University of Glasgow School of Health and Wellbeing used epidemiological and economic models covering 79 low- and middle-income countries. Their projections examined several possible funding scenarios, ranging from maintaining 2024 aid levels to eliminating major donor contributions.

The researchers note that a TB diagnosis often creates multiple financial pressures for families. These can include direct medical expenses such as tests, medicines, or consultations, as well as non-medical costs like transportation to clinics, accommodation during treatment, and additional nutritional needs. However, the largest burden frequently comes from lost income when patients are unable to work during lengthy treatment periods. The study suggests that without stable international support, many families may be forced to deplete savings, borrow money, or sell assets, increasing the risk of long-term poverty and economic instability.

More information: Allison Portnoy et al, The potential impact of reduced international donor funding on the household economic burden of tuberculosis in low- and middle-income countries: A modeling study, PLOS Medicine. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004946

Journal information: PLOS Medicine Provided by Boston University School of Public Health

New Research Investigates Why Consumers Prefer Familiar Brands or Explore New Ones

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Why do people often continue choosing familiar brands and options even when better alternatives might exist? A recent study co-authored by an Illinois Institute of Technology researcher examines the decision-making processes that shape when people remain with what they know and when they choose to explore something new. The research highlights how individuals weigh immediate rewards against the potential benefits of trying unfamiliar options, offering insights into consumer behaviour, technology adoption, and innovation.

Stanton Hudja, assistant professor of business analytics and strategy at the Stuart School of Business at Illinois Institute of Technology, studies how people make everyday choices, such as selecting a new grocery brand or adopting emerging technology. His paper, Strategies in the Multi-Armed Bandit, published in Experimental Economics and co-authored with Daniel Woods of Macquarie Business School, explores how individuals weigh the risks of experimentation against the reliability of familiar choices.

To study this behaviour, the researchers used the classic multi-armed bandit problem, an experimental scenario in which participants repeatedly choose between several slot machines, each offering different potential payouts. Participants had to decide whether to continue selecting machines that previously delivered good outcomes or test new machines that might produce higher rewards. By analysing these decisions, the researchers compared different strategy models and refined them to represent better how people balance exploration with short-term gains.

The findings suggest that many people avoid new brands or technologies because uncertainty discourages experimentation. Individuals often undervalue the long-term benefits of gathering information about unfamiliar options, since doing so requires effort and does not guarantee immediate rewards. Understanding these patterns could help businesses, policymakers, and innovators design approaches that encourage people to experiment with new products, services, and ideas, potentially leading to broader economic and social benefits.

More information: Stanton Hudja et al, Strategies in the multi-armed bandit, Experimental Economics. DOI: 10.1017/eec.2025.10027

Journal information: Experimental Economics Provided by Illinois Institute of Technology

Linking Childcare Responsibilities to Gender Disparities in Poverty in the United States

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A new study published on 11 March 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One suggests that gender differences in poverty rates in the United States may be more closely linked to women’s life circumstances than to gender itself. The research, conducted by Patti Fisher of Virginia Tech, highlights how responsibilities such as caring for dependent children can shape economic outcomes. According to the findings, the higher poverty rates observed among women may reflect the structural and social conditions they are more likely to experience rather than an inherent effect of gender alone.

In the United States, women have long faced higher poverty rates than men and often encounter more limited access to financial resources and economic opportunities. A range of factors—including employment status, educational attainment, and overall health—are known to influence the likelihood that an individual will fall below the poverty threshold. However, it has remained unclear whether these factors affect men and women differently, or whether gender itself acts as a direct driver of poverty. The new study sought to explore this question by examining how personal and household circumstances interact with poverty risk.

To investigate these relationships, Fisher analysed data from 1,383 households headed by a single adult. The sample included 833 female-headed households and 550 male-headed households drawn from the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances. By focusing on households with a single adult decision-maker, the research aimed to provide a clearer comparison of economic conditions between men and women. The analysis examined which factors were associated with living below the federal poverty line and whether these factors operated differently depending on the gender of the household head.

The results showed several patterns that applied similarly to both men and women. Working for an employer, being self-employed, attaining higher levels of education, and being older were all associated with a reduced likelihood of living in poverty. In contrast, individuals who reported their health as only “fair” or who experienced uncertainty about their future income were more likely to face poverty. For the most part, these relationships were consistent across genders, suggesting that many of the same social and economic influences shape poverty risk for both men and women. One notable difference, however, emerged in relation to employment: paid work tended to reduce poverty risk more strongly for men than for women.

Economic differences between the two groups were also reflected in household wealth. Male-headed households reported nearly double the average net worth of female-headed households, with figures of approximately $489,310 compared with $250,917. Yet when individual characteristics and circumstances were taken into account, simply being female was not independently linked with higher poverty rates. Instead, the analysis indicated that differences in their household situations largely explained women’s higher rates of poverty. Female-headed households were far more likely to include dependent children—38.3 per cent compared with 12.7 per cent among male-headed households—and they also reported poorer health and greater uncertainty about income.

These findings suggest that gender disparities in poverty may arise from unequal life conditions rather than gender alone. Fisher notes that these structural differences are important when considering how anti-poverty strategies are designed. For instance, childcare responsibilities can restrict women’s ability to fully benefit from employment opportunities, even when they participate in the labour market. As a result, policies that focus solely on increasing employment without addressing caregiving constraints may fail to reduce gender disparities in economic outcomes.

The study does have limitations. Because the analysis used cross-sectional data, it cannot establish direct cause-and-effect relationships between the factors examined and poverty outcomes. Nevertheless, the research highlights the importance of recognising how work, family responsibilities, and health interact in shaping financial security. Fisher emphasises that gender alone does not place individuals at risk of poverty; rather, everyday circumstances—such as balancing employment with childcare—can influence how economic opportunities translate into financial stability. These findings suggest that policies designed to reduce poverty may need to address specific barriers, particularly childcare responsibilities, to reduce gender gaps in poverty rates effectively.

More information: Patti J. Fisher, Gender and poverty in the United States: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances, PLOS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0343238

Journal information: PLOS One Provided by PLOS

How Hotel Mergers Could Improve Efficiency: Insights from a Data-Driven Model

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Researchers have developed a data-driven analytical framework that demonstrates how hotel mergers may unlock substantial efficiency gains, even when the properties involved already operate at high levels of performance. By examining how operational resources can be redistributed after consolidation, the framework reveals that strategic mergers can significantly reduce excess capacity and improve the use of existing assets across the hospitality sector.

The study evaluates potential merger scenarios among 58 hotels located in Oman. To carry out the analysis, the researchers constructed an integrated modelling approach that combines inverse data envelopment analysis (IDEA) with an ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator. This framework allows the model to estimate how the operational inputs of two hotels might be optimised if the properties were combined into a single entity. Key inputs considered in the analysis include the number of rooms, bed capacity, staffing levels, and employee salary expenditures. By adjusting these variables within the model, the researchers can simulate how resources may be redistributed in a merged operation while maintaining the same level of service output.

A distinguishing feature of the framework is its ability to preserve relationships among operational variables. Traditional merger evaluation methods frequently remove highly correlated inputs in order to simplify modelling, yet doing so may introduce bias or distort operational realities. In contrast, the new framework retains these relationships, allowing the analysis to reflect the interconnected nature of hotel resources. For instance, staffing levels, salaries, room capacity, and bed availability are closely linked in practice, and evaluating them together provides a more realistic picture of potential post-merger performance.

To identify the most beneficial combinations, the researchers simulated every possible pairing among the 58 hotels. Each scenario was evaluated to determine whether merging the two properties would lead to measurable efficiency improvements. The model labels successful cases as “productive post-mergers,” referring to combinations that can deliver genuine operational gains rather than simply pooling resources without improvement. This comprehensive simulation approach allows decision-makers to examine merger opportunities systematically instead of relying on intuition or limited financial indicators.

The results reveal that even hotels that are already classified as strongly efficient on their own may still benefit significantly from strategic consolidation. In several simulated scenarios, the combined operation required far fewer resources than the sum of the individual hotels before merging. In some cases, the model indicated that the required number of rooms and beds could fall by more than 90 per cent relative to the combined pre-merger capacity. These findings highlight the potential for eliminating duplicated capacity and improving resource allocation when operations are coordinated under a single structure.

The framework also illustrates how predictive analytics can assist hotel managers and investors in pre-merger planning. By identifying which partnerships are most likely to improve operational performance, the model helps stakeholders evaluate consolidation strategies more objectively. Improved asset utilisation, reduced staffing requirements, and lower operating costs are among the potential benefits revealed by the analysis.

Although the current study focuses on 58 hotels in Oman, the researchers emphasise that the framework can be expanded to larger datasets and other geographic contexts. Future research could also incorporate sustainability indicators such as energy consumption, water use, or environmental performance, enabling the model to support long-term planning for a more resource-efficient hospitality industry. Overall, the analytical framework offers a forward-looking tool for uncovering hidden efficiency opportunities and guiding strategic collaboration within increasingly competitive hotel markets.

More information: Amar Oukil et al, Uncovering Optimal Gains in Hotel Mergers in the Presence of Correlated Inputs: An Integrated OWA-Inverse DEA Framework, The Journal of Engineering Research. DOI: 10.53540/1726-6742.1311

Journal information: The Journal of Engineering Research Provided by Sultan Qaboos University

Research Reveals How Societies Can Achieve Well-Being and Climate Stability Beyond Economic Growth

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Governments around the world have pledged to meet ambitious climate targets, yet their current strategies are widely considered insufficient. A central reason for this shortfall is the continued pursuit of economic growth in wealthy nations. As production and consumption expand in these economies, overall resource use and energy demand increase, making it more difficult to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the pace required to stabilise the climate. Despite decades of negotiations and policy initiatives, emissions reductions remain too slow to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The result is growing concern among scientists and policymakers that existing approaches may not be capable of preventing severe ecological damage and escalating risks to human societies. The persistence of growth-oriented economic models, critics argue, continues to place pressure on ecosystems and climate systems that are already under strain.

An emerging body of research proposes an alternative framework known as post-growth. Rather than assuming that well-being must be tied to ever-expanding economic output, post-growth approaches suggest that societies can achieve high levels of human welfare while stabilising or even reducing overall economic throughput. This perspective emphasises orienting production toward the direct satisfaction of human needs and distributing resources more fairly across populations. By prioritising essential goods and services such as healthcare, housing, and food security, proponents argue that societies could maintain strong social outcomes without relying on continual expansion of gross domestic product. Such an approach also enables faster emissions reductions by reducing unnecessary consumption and redirecting resources toward sustainable infrastructure and technologies.

A recent study conducted by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB), the University of Lausanne, and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis has sought to clarify how these ideas could be incorporated into climate modelling. Published in Nature Climate Change, the research outlines principles for constructing scenarios that reflect a genuine post-growth transition. The authors note that existing degrowth or post-growth scenarios in climate research often fail to apply the concept consistently. In many cases, they merely depict economies with stagnant or declining GDP while leaving the underlying structures of production and distribution unchanged. As a result, many potential pathways toward a post-growth society remain insufficiently explored within mainstream climate mitigation models.

Lead author Aljoša Slameršak explains that post-growth does not simply mean producing less within the current economic system. Instead, it involves fundamentally transforming what societies produce and how those goods and services are shared. This would require reducing activities that generate social or ecological harm while expanding those that support human needs and environmental restoration. From this perspective, measuring well-being solely through indicators such as income or overall economic activity becomes inadequate. Slameršak emphasises that well-being should instead be assessed according to whether people’s basic needs are met, including secure housing, access to healthcare, adequate nutrition, and other essential services that support a dignified standard of living.

The researchers also highlight the importance of incorporating demand-side strategies and targeted technological investments into post-growth climate scenarios. Conventional climate models often represent innovation through assumptions about continued economic expansion, which may obscure the real impacts of policies aimed at restructuring consumption patterns. According to co-author Joel Millward-Hopkins, a post-growth transition would involve redistributing resources and reshaping economic systems to guarantee a decent standard of living for everyone while keeping non-essential consumption within ecological limits. This requires significant reductions in global inequality, along with a gradual convergence of resource use between countries in the Global North and Global South toward levels compatible with both human well-being and planetary boundaries.

Although many studies have examined individual aspects of post-growth thinking, comprehensive modelling tools capable of integrating multiple principles simultaneously remain limited. Researchers note that further work is needed to assess how social and environmental goals progress together while identifying possible tensions between them. Nonetheless, previous research suggests promising possibilities. Some analyses indicate that basic human needs worldwide could be met using less than half of the energy and materials currently consumed. At the same time, the authors acknowledge that a transition toward post-growth would face significant political, institutional, and economic obstacles. Established interests that benefit from the current growth-based system may resist such changes. Yet the researchers also argue that growth-oriented climate scenarios rely on their own uncertain assumptions, particularly the large-scale deployment of unproven negative emissions technologies. In contrast, post-growth approaches emphasise structural transformation that could, at least in principle, emerge through democratic debate and collective social action.

More information: Aljoša Slameršak et al, Principles for a post-growth scenario of ambitious mitigation and high human well-being, Nature Climate Change. DOI: 10.1038/s41558-026-02580-6

Journal information: Nature Climate Change Provided by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

New Findings Suggest Hairdressers Could Contribute to Climate Action

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Hairdressers across the United Kingdom are emerging as influential yet often overlooked voices in the effort to address climate change. New research conducted by academics from the University of Bath’s Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), alongside researchers from Cardiff, Oxford, and Southampton universities, highlights how everyday interactions inside hair salons can play a meaningful role in shaping public attitudes toward sustainability. The study suggests that hairdressers occupy a unique position within communities because of the personal relationships they build with clients over long periods of time. These trusted relationships create opportunities for conversations that go beyond haircare, allowing discussions about climate issues and sustainable living to arise during routine appointments naturally.

The research, published in Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, describes salons as social environments where trust, comfort, and conversation intersect. Clients often spend extended periods in the chair, chatting with stylists about daily life, personal experiences, and broader social issues. This relaxed atmosphere provides an ideal setting for introducing ideas related to climate awareness and environmentally responsible habits. According to the researchers, such informal discussions can make sustainability feel less abstract and more relevant to everyday life. Rather than being approached as a distant global problem, climate action can become part of ordinary conversation within spaces that people already feel comfortable visiting.

One of the study’s key findings is that hairdressers already influence many aspects of their clients’ routines and decision-making. Because they regularly interact with the same individuals over months or even years, stylists often develop relationships built on familiarity and trust. Researchers found that these conversations frequently begin with topics related to haircare products or salon practices. Still, they often expand to broader subjects such as reducing plastic waste, reconsidering food choices, conserving energy at home, and exploring more sustainable lifestyles. Dr Sam Hampton from CAST noted that these long-term relationships make salons particularly effective places for introducing climate-related ideas, since clients feel relaxed and open to discussing new perspectives.

To better understand how these conversations work in practice, the research team carried out detailed interviews with 30 salon owners and directors across the country. They also conducted a nationwide intervention involving 25 environmentally focused salons. In these salons, researchers introduced small prompts known as “Mirror Talkers” – messages placed on mirrors that offered simple eco-friendly tips related to haircare. The prompts were designed to spark conversations between stylists and clients about sustainability, encouraging discussions about habits such as water use, product choices, and energy consumption. By integrating these prompts into the natural environment of the salon, the study aimed to see whether small conversational nudges could influence behaviour.

The results suggested that the approach was surprisingly effective. Nearly three-quarters of salon clients reported that they were likely to change aspects of their haircare routine after encountering the Mirror Talkers and discussing them with their stylist. Some participants said they planned to use less shampoo, reduce the temperature of the water they used for washing their hair, or switch to more environmentally responsible products. Professor Denise Baden from the University of Southampton explained that many people assume sustainability is primarily about recyclable packaging. Yet, the environmental impact of shampoo largely comes from the hot water used during washing. Simple suggestions such as shampooing less frequently or lowering water temperature reduce energy use while also benefiting hair and skin health.

Researchers describe hairdressers as “everyday influencers” – individuals who may not have large public platforms but who hold genuine influence through consistent, trusted interactions. Unlike celebrities or social media personalities, these professionals engage directly with people in their communities and often form relationships that span decades. With more than 61,000 hair and beauty businesses operating across the UK and contributing billions to the economy, the researchers argue that salons represent valuable spaces for climate engagement. They recommend introducing sustainability training into hairdressing education, expanding tools such as Mirror Talkers nationwide, and recognising salons as community hubs where conversations about climate action can grow naturally through everyday human connection.

More information: Briony Latter et al, Public engagement and climate change: exploring the role of hairdressers as everyday influencers, Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. DOI: 10.1057/s41599-026-06781-4

Journal information: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications Provided by University of Bath

How Adopting a ‘Growth Mindset’ Strengthens Entrepreneurial Adaptability

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A recent study highlights the significant role that a growth mindset plays in helping entrepreneurs cope with business challenges. The research suggests that founders who believe their approach to managing business resources can evolve tend to respond more constructively to setbacks. In particular, entrepreneurs who view their habits around saving or spending resources as adaptable are more likely to remain resilient when their ventures encounter difficulties. Rather than seeing frugality as a fixed trait, these individuals recognise it as a behaviour that can be developed and refined, which appears to strengthen their ability to deal with adversity.

According to Jeff Pollack, the study’s corresponding author, entrepreneurs frequently encounter obstacles, yet relatively little is known about what shapes their responses to those experiences. Some individuals assume that frugality is simply part of a person’s personality and therefore unlikely to change. Others take a different view, believing that people can gradually become more disciplined and resource-conscious over time. Pollack and his colleagues were interested in examining whether these differing beliefs influence how entrepreneurs emotionally and mentally process setbacks connected to their ventures.

The researchers focused particularly on how attitudes about frugality might affect three important aspects of response: negative emotional reactions, optimism about future success, and the strategies entrepreneurs use to cope with challenges. Pollack, who serves as the Lynn T. Clark II Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University, explained that the goal was to understand whether a flexible mindset regarding resource management could shape the way founders interpret and recover from difficult moments in business.

To investigate this question, the research team surveyed 709 entrepreneurs through an online study. Participants were first defined as frugal and then asked several questions designed to measure their underlying beliefs about whether frugal behaviour can change over time. After establishing these baseline attitudes, participants were asked to recall a specific moment when their venture experienced a setback. They then answered a series of questions examining how they reacted to that situation, including their emotional responses, their expectations for future outcomes, and the coping strategies they employed.

The results revealed a strong link between a growth-oriented mindset and greater adaptability when facing entrepreneurial challenges. Individuals who believed that frugality could be learned or improved tended to remain more hopeful about their prospects after encountering difficulties. They were also less likely to become discouraged and were more inclined to invest effort into identifying solutions and exploring new approaches. In contrast, those who viewed frugality as an unchangeable trait were more likely to feel stuck or overwhelmed when confronted with setbacks. Co-author Jon Carr, the Jenkins Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at North Carolina State University, noted that this growth mindset appeared to encourage positive adjustments rather than prolonged frustration.

To strengthen the reliability of their findings, the researchers conducted a second study involving an additional 281 participants. The results of this follow-up investigation closely mirrored those of the first, reinforcing the connection between growth-oriented beliefs and entrepreneurial resilience. Pollack emphasised that everyone encounters setbacks at some point, especially in the uncertain world of entrepreneurship. However, the research suggests that the way individuals interpret their own abilities can shape how effectively they recover. Importantly, mindsets are not fixed; they can be influenced and developed. Carr added that this insight offers a practical takeaway for entrepreneurs and organisations that support them: cultivating a mindset focused on growth and improvement can make a meaningful difference in how challenges are handled and overcome.

More information: Jeff Pollack et al, A stronger growth mindset of frugality predicts entrepreneurs’ responses to setbacks in resourcefulness behavior, Journal of Business Venturing Insights. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbvi.2026.e00599

Journal information: Journal of Business Venturing Insights Provided by North Carolina State University

Partner or Problem? Rethinking the Consequences of IMF Reforms

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Loans from the International Monetary Fund are often designed to help developing countries stabilise their economies and address financial crises. However, such assistance typically comes with conditions. Governments that receive IMF support are usually required to implement economic reforms intended to strengthen market competition and encourage private-sector growth. These reforms frequently involve reducing the role of the public sector and restructuring state-run services. According to David Cingranelli, Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Binghamton University, the prevailing assumption has long been that countries must accept a difficult transition away from state-led economic models toward more market-oriented systems in order to receive IMF assistance.

Cingranelli recently co-authored a study examining whether IMF programmes align national economic policies with what citizens actually want. The research, published in Socio-Economic Review, was conducted with Rod Abouharb of University College London and Bernhard Reinsberg of the University of Glasgow. Their work investigates whether IMF-supported reforms truly conflict with public opinion or whether, in some cases, they may actually reflect citizens’ economic preferences. The question revisits long-standing debates about whether IMF programmes primarily benefit international financial stability or impose policies that ordinary people in borrowing countries oppose.

In practice, IMF-backed reforms can require governments to eliminate or reduce programmes such as public employment schemes, food subsidies, or other welfare measures designed to support poorer populations. Policies may also involve privatising services like water systems or utilities, changes that often generate public controversy. The IMF, which consists of 191 member countries and is funded largely by wealthier democracies in Europe and North America, provides financial assistance, policy guidance, and technical expertise with the goal of promoting economic growth and stability. Countries apply for IMF loans during periods of fiscal stress, with the expectation that economic restructuring will help restore stability and encourage private-sector development.

Cingranelli has long studied the impact of IMF lending. In 2007, he and Abouharb published Human Rights and Structural Adjustment, which argued that IMF and World Bank programmes often harmed vulnerable populations. Their earlier work suggested that forcing governments to adopt unpopular economic policies could undermine democracy and fuel political instability. In that analysis, the IMF was portrayed as a “Bad Samaritan,” encouraging reforms that made life harder for ordinary citizens. However, the researchers later observed a puzzling pattern: countries receiving IMF structural adjustment loans were more likely to be procedurally democratic, meaning they protected basic rights such as voting, free speech, and press freedom.

This observation prompted Cingranelli to revisit the issue nearly two decades later with a more detailed empirical analysis. The new research shows that public attitudes toward IMF-style reforms vary depending on political systems. In many democracies, citizens tend to prefer stronger protections from market forces than those promoted by IMF programmes, which helps explain protests against reforms in countries such as Greece and Kenya. In contrast, surveys suggest that people living under authoritarian governments—including countries like Venezuela and Zimbabwe—often desire greater economic freedom than their governments permit. In these cases, IMF programmes can actually move policy closer to public preferences.

The researchers found that when autocratic governments maintain tight control over economic activity, citizens may welcome reforms that expand private enterprise and market opportunities. Historical examples include several Eastern European countries that emerged from Soviet influence and strongly supported economic liberalisation. In such contexts, IMF lending can function as a “Good Samaritan,” helping push governments toward policies that citizens favour. Yet the overall picture remains complicated. IMF-driven reforms do not necessarily lead to greater democracy, even though democracies are more likely to receive IMF loans. As debates continue over the role of global institutions in development, the study highlights the importance of examining how economic reforms interact with both political systems and public preferences.

More information: Rod Abouharb et al, The role of IMF programs in aligning national economic policy with domestic preferences, Socio-Economic Review. DOI: 10.1093/ser/mwaf093

Journal information: Socio-Economic Review Provided by Binghamton University

Low-grade AI content undermines creators and consumers, but quality AI could improve things

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Many people spend time scrolling through platforms such as YouTube, Reddit, or TikTok looking for interesting videos, posts, or creative work. However, it is becoming harder to find high-quality content because these platforms are increasingly filled with material generated by artificial intelligence. A large amount of this content is low in quality, repetitive, or produced with very little effort. When users have to sift through so much weak content to find something worthwhile, it can make the experience frustrating. At the same time, professional creators such as artists, writers, filmmakers, and musicians may struggle to make their work visible among the overwhelming volume of AI-generated posts.

A recent study explored how this rapid increase in AI-generated content is affecting online creative markets. The researchers explain that new generative AI tools allow people with little experience to produce content quickly. This makes it easier for beginners to enter creative spaces that previously required skill, time, and training. While this increased accessibility can be positive in some ways, it also leads to a flood of mediocre material. Some critics refer to this type of content as “AI slop” because it is produced quickly and often lacks originality or depth.

When large amounts of this low-quality content appear on social media platforms, it creates a problem for both audiences and creators. Consumers may become overwhelmed by the number of posts appearing in their feeds. Recommendation systems, which are designed to help people discover content they might enjoy, can also struggle when there is too much material to sort through. As a result, users may have difficulty finding the best work available, even if it exists somewhere on the platform.

One of the researchers involved in the study, Tianxin Zou from the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, explained that the huge quantity of AI-generated material can clog recommendation systems. When algorithms have to process so much content, it becomes harder for them to highlight the highest-quality work. This means that well-made videos, articles, or artworks may not reach the audiences who would appreciate them. At the same time, users may encounter many low-effort posts before discovering something genuinely interesting.

The researchers used economic modelling to understand how AI affects creative marketplaces as the quality of AI tools improves. Their analysis suggests that the current stage of generative AI may be particularly difficult for both consumers and professionals. When AI tools produce content that is average or slightly below average, they increase the total amount of material online without necessarily improving its quality. This situation harms users, who must search harder to find good content, and professionals, whose work becomes harder to notice.

One possible solution suggested by the study is clearer labelling of AI-generated content. If platforms clearly mark posts created with AI tools, users could decide more easily what they want to watch or read. Some people prefer content made by human creators, while others may be open to AI-assisted work. Transparent labels also help professional creators stand out, allowing audiences to recognise their work more quickly.

Despite the current challenges, the researchers believe the situation could improve as generative AI technology continues to develop. As these tools become more advanced, they may help creators produce higher-quality work rather than simply generating large amounts of mediocre material. In the future, professional artists and writers might use AI as a supportive tool in their creative process. By combining human expertise with AI assistance, they can create work that is even more polished and innovative. At the same time, creators will need to pay attention to how audiences respond to AI-assisted content and adapt their methods accordingly.

More information: Tianxin Zou et al, Welfare Implications of Democratization in Content Creation: Generative AI and Beyond, Journal of Marketing Research. DOI: 10.1177/00222437261423540

Journal information: Journal of Marketing Research Provided by University of Florida

Higher Levels of Populist Rhetoric Are Linked to Greater Tax Avoidance Among Entrepreneurs

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A recent study suggests that when populist rhetoric intensifies within a country, entrepreneurs become less likely to register their businesses formally. Instead, many opt to operate informally, which allows them to avoid taxes and bypass government regulations. This behaviour reflects a broader relationship between political discourse and economic decision-making, indicating that shifts in the political environment may shape how individuals approach starting new ventures.

“Populist rhetoric refers to political language that emphasises the ‘will of the people’ while criticising a supposedly ‘corrupt elite,’” explains Tim Michaelis, co-author of the study and an assistant professor of psychology at North Carolina State University. According to Michaelis, this style of political messaging can weaken trust in institutions and established systems, increasing uncertainty in the broader environment. Previous research has shown that when institutional uncertainty rises, entrepreneurs are more likely to pursue “informal venture entry”, meaning they start a business but choose not to register it with government authorities.

The researchers wanted to examine this relationship in greater depth. Specifically, they aimed to determine whether the connection between populist rhetoric and informal business formation appears across both wealthier economies and those that are developing or emerging. The team was also interested in understanding whether social and cultural influences might affect these decisions. This led them to examine the concept of cultural tightness and how it might interact with political rhetoric.

Cultural tightness refers to the degree to which societies enforce social norms and discourage behaviour that deviates from them. In cultures considered “tight”, behavioural expectations are clearly defined, and violations of those expectations tend to be punished more strongly. In contrast, “looser” cultures allow a wider range of behaviours and show greater tolerance for deviation from established norms. Researchers have found that people living in tighter cultures are generally more inclined to follow rules and conform to shared expectations.

Michaelis notes that cultural tightness tends to remain relatively stable over time rather than fluctuating rapidly. However, the research team suspected that strong cultural tightness might amplify the effects of populist rhetoric. When national leaders promote messages that challenge or criticise established institutions, individuals in tightly structured cultures may become even more uncertain about whether those institutions can be trusted or relied upon.

To investigate these questions, the researchers analysed data from 10,474 entrepreneurial ventures across 13 countries spanning lower-, middle-, and high-income economies. The study drew on several major datasets, including measures of populist rhetoric from the Global Populism Database and firm-level information from the World Bank Enterprise Survey. The countries in the sample included three in Latin America, eight in Europe and Central Asia, and two in South and East Asia.

Using statistical modelling, the researchers examined which factors influenced entrepreneurs’ decisions to operate informally rather than registering their ventures. The results revealed a clear pattern: stronger populist rhetoric was associated with a higher likelihood that entrepreneurs would start businesses without formal registration. In the study, populist rhetoric was measured on a scale from 0 to 2. A one-point increase on that scale corresponded with a 76 per cent increase in the probability that entrepreneurs would choose informal venture entry.

For example, the researchers observed that an increase of one point in populist rhetoric coincided with a rise in unregistered new businesses from roughly 5 per cent to about 8.6 per cent. Cultural tightness further amplified this effect. In countries with higher levels of cultural tightness, the share of new ventures operating without registration could increase to around 11.5 per cent. Given that millions of businesses may be created annually within a single country, even relatively small percentage changes can translate into a large number of firms remaining outside formal regulatory systems.

The findings suggest that uncertainty plays a central role in these decisions. Entrepreneurs often seek predictable and reliable environments when launching new ventures. When political rhetoric undermines confidence in government institutions or financial systems, individuals may become more cautious about engaging with formal regulatory structures. While operating informally can provide short-term flexibility, it can also create long-term limitations, such as difficulties expanding domestically or entering international markets. The study ultimately highlights the complex relationship between political rhetoric, cultural context, and entrepreneurial behaviour in an era of increasing political polarisation.

More information: Paul Sanchez-Ruiz et al, Populism, cultural tightness, and informal venture entry, Journal of Business Venturing. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusvent.2026.106587

Journal information: Journal of Business Venturing Provided by North Carolina State University

Broad Wage Ranges in Job Postings Associated with Fewer Applications from Women

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Research from Cornell University indicates that laws requiring employers to disclose pay ranges in job postings—policies introduced to promote pay equity—may have unintended consequences for women in the labour market. While these transparency rules are designed to reduce wage disparities by giving applicants clearer information about compensation, the research suggests they may sometimes discourage women from applying for positions with very broad salary ranges. As a result, the policies intended to close gender pay gaps could inadvertently contribute to maintaining differences in participation and earnings if the information is presented in certain ways. The findings highlight the complexity of workplace reforms and suggest that how salary information is communicated can influence job-seeking behaviour.

Alice Lee, an assistant professor of organisational behaviour, led the research. Lee explained that across several studies, the research team consistently observed gender differences in how applicants interpret salary range information. Women, on average, showed a stronger preference for positions that advertised narrower pay ranges, whereas men were generally more comfortable applying for roles with broader salary spans. This difference was also connected to negotiation behaviour. Applicants who preferred narrower ranges tended to negotiate less assertively over compensation, meaning they were less likely to request higher salaries or push for larger adjustments during hiring discussions. According to Lee, this pattern suggests that the structure of salary disclosures may shape not only application choices but also later compensation outcomes.

The study, titled “The Implications of Pay Range Transparency on Job Application Preferences and Negotiations,” was published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. By 2025, fifteen U.S. states and Washington, D.C. had enacted laws requiring employers to include salary ranges in job advertisements, and many organisations in other regions have adopted similar practices voluntarily. The goal of these laws is to provide workers with clearer expectations and reduce inequities associated with gender and race. However, the legislation typically does not specify how wide or narrow the disclosed pay ranges should be. As a result, employers may publish ranges that span very large differences in potential earnings, which can affect how applicants interpret their chances of receiving higher salaries.

The research also found that the width of salary ranges influenced how applicants approached negotiations after deciding to pursue a position. Individuals who applied to roles with narrower salary bands were more likely to accept offers near the middle of the range and reported greater satisfaction with those offers. At the same time, they were less inclined to negotiate for higher pay, and when they did negotiate, the increases they requested tended to be smaller. Lee noted that this behaviour is important because starting salaries often influence future compensation. Pay raises, bonuses, and career opportunities are frequently tied to an employee’s initial salary, meaning that a lower starting point can affect earnings and professional advancement over many years.

To investigate these dynamics, the researchers conducted four complementary studies combining large datasets and controlled experiments. In the first study, the team analysed an archival dataset containing nearly ten million job postings across the United States. This allowed them to examine how common different pay-range widths are and how those ranges correlate with female representation in certain roles. A second study involved upper-level undergraduate students preparing to enter the labour market, enabling the researchers to observe whether gender differences in salary-range preferences appeared among prospective job seekers. Additional studies included experiments with actual job seekers making real application decisions based on advertisements that presented different salary disclosures.

One particularly important finding emerged when job advertisements included extra context about compensation. When employers explained typical starting salaries or described how final pay offers were determined, the gender differences in application behaviour largely disappeared. Women were no longer significantly more likely than men to avoid positions with broader pay ranges, and the gap in negotiation behaviour also diminished. Lee concluded that pay transparency laws remain a meaningful step towards fairer workplaces, but the results suggest that transparency alone may not be sufficient. The way employers frame and explain pay information—rather than simply listing a numerical range—can strongly influence how applicants interpret opportunities and decide whether to pursue them.

More information: Alice Lee et al, The implications of pay range transparency on job application preferences and negotiations, Journal of Applied Psychology. DOI: 10.1037/apl0001360

Journal information: Journal of Applied Psychology Provided by Cornell University

The Cost of ‘Bullshit’ Corporate Language in the Workplace

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Employees who are impressed by vague corporate language such as “synergistic leadership” or “growth-hacking paradigms” may find it harder to make practical decisions at work, according to a new study from Cornell University. The research suggests that people who respond positively to this kind of buzzword-heavy communication are often less skilled at analysing problems and thinking critically about workplace situations.

The study, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, was led by cognitive psychologist Shane Littrell. He created a tool called the Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale, designed to measure how easily people are impressed by language that sounds sophisticated but contains little real meaning. The scale helps researchers identify how strongly individuals react to empty corporate rhetoric that appears intelligent but lacks substance.

According to Littrell, corporate “bullshit” refers to a style of communication that relies on abstract buzzwords and confusing phrases. Unlike technical terminology, which can sometimes help professionals discuss complex work more clearly, this kind of language often does the opposite. It can make statements sound impressive while hiding the fact that they communicate very little. The result is speech that creates the appearance of expertise without actually explaining anything useful.

Although misleading language can appear in many situations, workplaces can sometimes encourage it. In environments where corporate jargon is common, employees may use complicated buzzwords to appear knowledgeable or ambitious. Because this language can make people seem confident and authoritative, it may help them gain influence or move ahead in an organisation even when the message itself is vague.

To test how people respond to this type of communication, Littrell built a computer programme that generated meaningless but impressive-sounding corporate phrases. More than 1,000 office workers were asked to judge how “business savvy” these statements sounded, alongside real quotes from corporate leaders. The results showed a clear pattern: participants who rated the empty statements highly tended to perform worse on tests measuring analytic thinking, reasoning ability, and practical decision-making.

The findings suggest a troubling cycle within some organisations. Employees who are more impressed by corporate buzzwords are also more likely to view jargon-using leaders as charismatic or visionary. This can allow ineffective leadership styles to gain support, while clear and practical communication becomes less valued. Littrell suggests that workers should pause when encountering messages full of buzzwords and ask a simple question: What is actually being said? If the language sounds impressive but lacks clear meaning, it may be a warning sign that rhetoric is replacing real substance.

More information: Shane Littrell, The Corporate Bullshit Receptivity Scale: Development, validation, and associations with workplace outcomes, Personality and Individual Differences. DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2026.113699

Journal information: Personality and Individual Differences Provided by Cornell University