Author Archives: support

Closing the gap from the ground up: Regional development as a tool against global inequality

Income inequality remains one of the most important indicators of economic wellbeing, social justice and everyday quality of life. Unlike wealth inequality, which is often challenging to uncover and track reliably, income inequality can be measured with far greater precision, making it especially relevant for understanding immediate economic pressures, social mobility and living standards. Its importance has become even clearer following the recent G20 assessment of global wealth inequality, which delivered a bleak outlook and reinforced the need for policy tools that can provide both short- and long-term impact.

A major new international study led by Aalto University and the University of Cambridge now provides the most comprehensive subnational picture of income inequality to date. Mapping three decades of data across 151 countries from 1990 to 2023, the research moves beyond national averages to reveal what is happening within regions themselves. While the results confirm that income inequality is worsening for around half of the world’s population, they also reveal striking ‘bright spots’ where inequality has stabilised or declined, particularly in parts of Latin America. These regions account for roughly a third of the global population and demonstrate that well-designed policy can make a measurable difference.

Professor Matti Kummu of Aalto University, one of the study’s lead authors, explains that this regional focus fundamentally changes how inequality should be interpreted. National data often suggests little long-term movement, but subnational analysis reveals sharply uneven trajectories within the same country. Some regions have seen rising prosperity and improved social outcomes, while others have fallen further behind. Co-lead author Dr Daniel Chrisendo, now at the University of Cambridge, adds that income data is far more complete than wealth data and offers a more practical route for short-term policy intervention. Because income inequality feeds directly into wealth inequality over time, tackling income disparities remains one of the most effective immediate levers available to governments.

Published in Nature Sustainability on 5 December, the study also introduces the open-access Subnational Gini (SubNGini) dataset, accompanied by an online visualisation tool that allows users to explore annual inequality trends worldwide and download the data for further analysis. The platform is designed to help policymakers and researchers link shifts in inequality to particular policy environments and historical moments. India, China and Brazil emerge as especially influential case studies. In India, relative success in several southern states is closely linked to long-term investment in health, education, infrastructure and economic development. In China, rapid growth since the 1990s lifted millions out of poverty but unfolded unevenly, shaped in part by the Hukou system, which restricts rural migrants’ access to urban services; recent reforms aim to reduce these divides. In Brazil, declining regional inequality appears to be linked to a major conditional cash transfer programme that supports low-income families through education and health incentives.

Despite these regional success stories, the overall global outlook remains troubling. One of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals calls for faster income growth among the poorest 40 per cent of the world’s population. Yet, the study confirms that progress remains far off track and that upward pressure on inequality is more substantial than previously assumed. The research team now plans to expand the dataset to include broader socio-economic and environmental indicators, from ageing and life expectancy to education and access to clean water. For Kummu, the long-term value of the project lies in its ability to move beyond simple correlations and towards a deeper understanding of how inequality, development and environmental change interact — providing the evidence base needed for more informed and effective policymaking.

More information: Daniel Chrisendo et al, Rising income inequality across half of global population and socioecological implications, Nature Sustainability. DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01689-4

Journal information: Nature Sustainability Provided by Aalto University

Periods of high volatility call for closer attention to insider activity

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During periods of severe economic upheaval, investors can gain valuable insights into future stock market performance by watching how corporate insiders trade their own companies’ shares. That is the main conclusion of a new study by researchers at Washington State University examining insider behaviour during the Covid-19 pandemic. Published in the Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, the research analysed trading patterns during the extraordinary market turmoil of early 2020 and found that insiders often moved against the broader market — a strategy that later proved highly predictive.

As panic swept through financial markets in the early days of the pandemic, most investors rushed to sell. In contrast, many corporate insiders were buying. When markets later recovered, a significant number of insiders shifted to selling. These contrarian trades proved strong indicators of how stocks would perform over the following year. “When insiders bought, the stock generally performed better, and when they sold, performance tended to weaken over the next 12 months,” said lead author George Jiang, professor and Gary P. Brinson Investment Management Chair in the Department of Finance and Management Science at Washington State University’s Carson College of Business.

Because insider trades must be reported to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and are publicly available on the SEC website and on financial data platforms such as Barchart, the information is accessible to all investors. Jiang noted that tracking these transactions during periods of market shock can help investors separate meaningful signals from short-term noise. While insiders are strictly prohibited from trading on confidential, non-public information, their deep understanding of their companies’ financial health and broader economic conditions still gives them a significant informational advantage.

The pandemic acted as a “natural laboratory” for the researchers. In early 2020, global markets experienced one of their most violent and uncertain periods in decades, driven by uneven government responses, widespread lockdowns, and severe supply-chain disruptions. The study found that insider buying surged from late February to early April as markets collapsed, followed by a fourfold increase in insider selling over the rest of the year. Statistical analysis showed that insiders systematically bought undervalued stocks and sold overvalued ones, with these decisions accurately predicting later market movements. The findings highlight how insider trading became more informative during the crisis, while also underscoring persistent concerns about information gaps between insiders and everyday investors.

“Markets will always be volatile from time to time, so uncertainty is unavoidable,” Jiang said. “These results offer important lessons for the future — for both investors and regulators. For investors in particular, paying attention to what insiders do can be especially valuable during moments of extreme uncertainty.”

More information: George Jiang et al, Insider trading patterns during the COVID period, Pacific-Basin Finance Journal. DOI: 10.1016/j.pacfin.2025.102957

Journal information: Pacific-Basin Finance Journal Provided by Washington State University

Who Can Really Be Santa? New Study Suggests the Suit Fits More People Than Expected

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A flowing white beard, a rounded belly and a booming, cheerful laugh are widely seen as the hallmarks of a convincing Santa Claus. But new research suggests that the key to success in the role has far less to do with physical appearance and far more with a genuine sense of calling. The study finds that even those who depart sharply from the familiar image of Santa can thrive if they deeply identify with the role and its meaning.

“There are powerful cultural expectations about what Santa should look like,” said Borbala Csillag of Oregon State University, a co-author of the study. “Yet our findings show that almost anyone can be Santa if they feel a real pull towards the role.” By focusing on the people beneath the costume, the researchers discovered that professional Santas in the United States are far more diverse than many would assume. The research, recently published in the Academy of Management Journal, was led by Christina Hymer of the University of Tennessee, with Bethany Cockburn of Northern Illinois University also contributing as a co-author.

The idea for the study emerged during the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the researchers were discussing possible projects. After watching a stream of festive films at home with her child, Hymer suggested exploring how Santas make sense of their work. That idea led to more than 50 in-depth interviews and almost 850 survey responses from professional Santas across the country. From this material, the team identified three broad types: “prototypical” Santas who closely resemble the classic image; “semi-prototypical” Santas who match some expectations but not others; and “non-prototypical” Santas who bear little physical resemblance to the traditional figure.

Prototypical Santas, often older white men with beards and round builds, typically describe a powerful sense of identification with the role that extends throughout the year. Semi-prototypical Santas, however, frequently experienced tension between their own attributes and the Santa image, and found creative ways to resolve it. One slim Santa told children that Santa had become health-conscious, while another, who uses cochlear implants, recast them as a means of communication with the elves at the North Pole. Non-prototypical Santas, including women, people of colour and those with disabilities, often reported the strongest sense of calling despite facing the most significant resistance.

Several Santas described encountering outright rejection. One African American Santa was turned away by a retailer who said customers were not ready for a Santa of colour. A physically disabled Santa adapted the role by using a motorised scooter to take part in parades. “These Santas are trailblazers,” Csillag said. “The expectations surrounding the role may seem narrow, but they are not impossible to overcome.” The researchers note, however, that their study included only those who ultimately succeeded, and others may still struggle to break through.

The findings carry implications beyond the world of Santa. Csillag said the results also apply to professions shaped by personal values and moral purpose, such as teaching, nursing and faith-based work. People may succeed not because they match a stereotype, but because they reflect broadly on their strengths and how they align with a role’s more profound meaning. The study also highlights the power of institutional leaders to either reinforce or relax rigid expectations. “If we want to open meaningful roles to a wider range of people,” Csillag said, “we may need to rethink what it truly means to fulfil them.”

More information: Christina Hymer et al, Who’s Behind the Red Suit? Exploring Role Prototypicality within Calling Enactment among Professional Santas, Academy of Management Journal. DOI: 10.5465/amj.2023.1161

Journal information: Academy of Management Journal Provided by Oregon State University

The pressure of shopping for two is real

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For many people, even ordinary shopping can feel taxing, yet the tension increases substantially when the purchase is intended to be shared with someone else. Research from the UC Riverside School of Business, published in the Journal of Marketing Research, shows that buying for joint use creates significantly more anxiety than buying for yourself or selecting a gift. According to Margaret Campbell, professor and chair of the Marketing Department at UC Riverside, the added stress arises from the emotional responsibility of trying to satisfy more than one person. Shoppers feel less sure of their choices and more afraid of getting things wrong when another person’s enjoyment is at stake.

Shared purchases cover a wide array of familiar situations, from picking a hotel for a family trip to choosing a restaurant for a date or gathering snacks for a book club meeting. Even choosing beer for a group watching a big match can bring on the pressure. Campbell explains that the anxiety comes from wanting to keep everyone happy and worrying about falling short, rather than from the difficulty of the choice itself. The act of choosing becomes a social one, shaped by concerns about relationships and mutual satisfaction.

The study, titled “The Decision-Making Process and Impact of Individual Decisions for Joint Consumption,” marked a shift in consumer research by moving away from economic explanations and exploring the psychological dynamics underpinning decisions made on behalf of others. Campbell and her graduate student, Sharaya Jones—now an assistant professor at George Mason University—tested over 2,000 participants who assessed their anxiety levels in various scenarios. These included choosing drinks for meetings, snacks for films, wine for a friend’s celebration, and even planning travel activities. Across all these cases, shoppers felt notably more stressed when the outcome affected someone else as well as themselves.

One of the study’s key findings is that understanding another person’s preferences can lessen anxiety. People feel more confident when they are not forced to guess. However, if they discover that the other person’s tastes differ sharply from their own, the anxiety reappears, as the shopper worries about how to balance competing desires. As Campbell notes, confidence grows with clarity—unless that clarity reveals incompatibility.

To reduce stress, the research suggests practical steps for both shoppers and their companions. Shoppers can ease their burden by gathering information, while those being asked should avoid vague replies such as “I don’t mind,” which only increases uncertainty. When doubt persists, choosing a popular option or selecting a variety pack offers flexibility and feels like a safer bet.

For marketers, these insights offer opportunities to reduce consumer worry. Products intended for shared consumption can be framed around popularity, consensus, or flexibility. Mixed assortments, such as multi-flavour snack boxes or variety beer packs, help shoppers feel more secure in their choices. Ultimately, the study highlights that choosing items for shared use is more than a financial transaction. It is a social decision shaped by the desire to accommodate others without sacrificing one’s own enjoyment.

More information: Sharaya Jones et al, The Decision-making Process and Impact of Individual Decisions for Joint Consumption, Journal of Marketing Research. DOI: 10.1177/00222437251389950

Journal information: Journal of Marketing Research Provided by University of California – Riverside

Employee Delight: The Hidden Catalyst for Organisational and Individual Success

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Eight in ten people in Spain report being satisfied with their jobs, according to research by the 40dB Institute. Yet satisfaction alone does not tell the whole story of how people feel at work. If these same employees were invited to talk about their emotions rather than their general contentment, the picture might look different. Asking when they last felt joyful, enthusiastic or genuinely fulfilled because something exceeded their expectations opens the way to understanding a deeper phenomenon: employee delight.

Employee delight is a powerful, positive emotional state that arises when a workplace experience exceeds an employee’s expectations. It differs sharply from routine satisfaction because it is surprising, meaningful and often tied to personal or professional aspirations. Despite its potential influence on individual well-being and organisational performance, academic exploration of this concept has been limited. The open-access study, Employee Delight: Conceptualisation, Antecedents, and Consequences, aims to fill this gap by defining the phenomenon, offering theoretical integration, and proposing an empirical model for future work. The research was undertaken by Dalilis Escobar and Eva Rimbau Gilabert from UOC’s DigiBiz group, together with Alba Manresa from the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya.

The authors illustrate employee delight with a practical example. Imagine an analyst who presents a pivotal report that informs a major organisational decision. Not only is the proposal approved, but the managers publicly highlight the excellence of the analysis and entrust the analyst with leading its implementation. This unexpected recognition, directly linked to a significant professional goal, transforms a routine task into an exceptional moment—one strong enough to generate delight. Because the experience resonates with personal meaning, it leaves a lasting impression.

Although such moments are fleeting, their consequences can extend well beyond the initial emotional surge. Intense positive experiences tend to inspire behavioural shifts, prompting individuals to collaborate more readily, show greater initiative and pursue meaningful contributions. Over time, these responses help to build confidence, motivation and resilience. When organisations create environments that allow such experiences to emerge—through trust-based leadership, sincere recognition or real development opportunities—they strengthen both team functioning and overall well-being.

The study identifies four types of experiences that commonly generate delight: achieving significant goals or solving complex problems; receiving clear, positive feedback; feeling appreciated in collaborative or social interactions; and experiencing unexpected positive events. Notably, the researchers emphasise that creating delight does not require grand gestures. Small but meaningful experiences, when authentic and aligned with employees’ values, are often the most impactful.

A central contribution of the study is its three-part conceptualisation of employee delight, comprising emotional, cognitive and motivational components. Together, these help explain not only how employees feel in such moments, but how they interpret the experience and how it shapes future behaviour. The researchers note that this is an emerging field, calling for empirical validation of the model, better measurement tools and research across cultural and organisational settings. Deepening understanding of employee delight, they argue, benefits both individuals and the organisations that depend on their engagement and creativity.

More information: Dalilis Escobar et al, Employee Delight: Conceptualization, Antecedents, and Consequences, Human Resource Development Quarterly. DOI: 10.1002/hrdq.70001

Journal information: Human Resource Development Quarterly Provided by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)

Reframing Design for Additive Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Perspective on 3D Printing Innovation

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Researchers at the University of West Attica have put forward a new framework that reimagines how products should be conceived for additive manufacturing, offering a broader and more integrated view of 3D-printing design. Published in Advanced Manufacturing, their work argues that traditional geometry-driven guidelines capture only a fragment of what is necessary for high-quality AM production. Instead, the authors propose that design must be grounded in a fuller understanding of process mechanics, material behaviour, and sustainability if additive manufacturing is to realise its potential as a mature production technology.

Although AM is now widely used in fields ranging from aerospace and medicine to automotive engineering, many design practices still reflect the assumptions of subtractive manufacturing. This mismatch between modern AM capabilities and inherited design habits forms the motivation for the study. The authors observe that 3D-printing processes involve complex interactions—thermal gradients during fabrication, anisotropic mechanical properties, bonding quality between layers, and the environmental implications of different material choices—that are often treated as secondary concerns. By overlooking these deeper process realities, designers risk creating parts that may be printable but fall short in performance, reliability, or lifecycle impact.

In their perspective article, “Toward a Holistic Approach for Design for Additive Manufacturing: A Perspective on Challenges, Practical Insights, and Research Needs,” the team outlines a shift toward system-level thinking. They contend that Design for Additive Manufacturing should not function as a checklist for avoiding print defects. Instead, it should integrate orientation strategies, tolerance planning, material-process coupling, and sustainability considerations from the very outset of design. Dr Kantaros emphasises that effective DfAM requires linking digital models with the physical constraints and behaviours of AM processes, enabling designs that are not only manufacturable but optimised for end-use performance.

The study critiques conventional geometry-focused DfAM approaches for failing to address issues such as thermal distortion, structural anisotropy, and recyclability. While geometry optimisation and topology tools have become increasingly sophisticated, they do not by themselves capture the full range of factors that govern part quality. The authors argue that designers must engage with simulation, process modelling, and multi-objective optimisation to understand better how design decisions influence physical outcomes.

To support this holistic view, the paper highlights the value of integrated digital workflows that combine simulation, AI-assisted manufacturability analysis, and iterative optimisation. Such environments allow designers to explore alternatives, predict potential failures, and evaluate trade-offs without excessive prototyping. This alignment between digital design and process physics, the authors claim, is central to unlocking more advanced applications.

The study also points to practical advantages of holistic DfAM, including part consolidation, mass customisation, and the use of functionally graded materials. These strategies show how AM can achieve significant improvements in performance, cost, and environmental impact when design and manufacturing are treated as interconnected stages. As Professor Theodore Ganetsos notes, meaningful innovation in additive manufacturing arises only when these domains merge, enabling sustainable, high-performance engineering solutions.

More information: Antreas Kantaros et al, Toward a holistic approach for design for additive manufacturing: a perspective on challenges, practical insights, and research needs, Advanced Manufacturing. DOI: 10.55092/am20250011

Journal information: Advanced Manufacturing Provided by ELSP

Hidden burdens fall on India’s tech workers as global firms push remote operations

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Research from the University of Bath highlights the largely unacknowledged pressures that remote working places on employees in the Global South, showing how economic, physical and emotional burdens are shifted onto Indian IT professionals supporting multinational companies. Drawing on interviews with fifty-one workers across India’s extensive technology sector, the study finds that the practical realities of working from home extend far beyond arranging a desk or managing work-life balance. Instead, employees must reorganise daily life within multigenerational households, wrestle with unreliable electricity and internet access, share limited bandwidth with family members and endure pervasive forms of digital surveillance imposed by employers.

The study reveals that while global firms benefit from reduced overheads, they frequently transfer responsibility for essential infrastructure to employees without adequate compensation or institutional support. Several participants described purchasing industrial-grade power backups to maintain consistent connectivity and investing significant portions of their salaries in equipment more commonly used in commercial operations. Others reported navigating bureaucratic barriers with housing associations to install necessary systems, and juggling complex domestic routines to remain online and available to international clients.

Professor Vivek Soundararajan, who led the research, explains that in many parts of the Global South, households are shared among extended families and embedded within unpredictable infrastructure. Under such conditions, the task of sustaining uninterrupted remote work falls not only on individual employees but also on entire households that must reorganise their living arrangements to accommodate professional obligations. Rather than eliminating workplace inequality, remote working can shift disparities into the home, amplifying tensions in environments that were never intended to function as full-time digital workplaces.

Published in the Journal of Economic Geography, the study identifies five major areas where Indian IT workers must continually adapt: the physical layout of domestic space, the structuring of time, access to technical resources, the negotiation of surveillance and the emotional strain of managing constant disruption. These adaptations illustrate how remote working transforms households into intricate ecosystems where professional and personal demands collide.

Given that India’s IT industry employs over 5.8 million professionals, the implications are significant. Co-author Dr Pankhuri Agarwal argues that organisations and policymakers must rethink remote working by acknowledging the central role of the home in enabling productive labour. Housing conditions, family structures and infrastructural volatility in the Global South differ markedly from those in the Global North, requiring more nuanced and equitable approaches. The researchers also note that infrastructural instability is becoming increasingly relevant worldwide as climate change and economic pressures strain systems even in developed countries, including the UK.

More information: Vivek Soundararajan et al, Remote work and reorganization of household infrastructure in the Global South: insights from the Indian information technology industry, Journal of Economic Geography. DOI: 10.1093/jeg/lbaf052

Journal information: Journal of Economic Geography Provided by University of Bath

From Expectations to Earnings: The Patient–Physician Dynamic Explained

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Researchers at McMaster University set out to investigate why identity-based income differences persist among physicians in Canada, despite the use of standardised fee schedules in family medicine. To understand this persistent disparity, they conducted a qualitative study based on interviews with fifty-five family physicians in Ontario, focusing on how doctors perceive and respond to patient expectations shaped by gender, race, and immigration background.

Dr Meredith Vanstone, professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Canada Research Chair in Ethical Complexity in Primary Care, explains that income gaps linked to gender, racial identity, and immigrant status persist even within the same specialities and after accounting for hours worked. Their findings suggest that the way physicians adjust their behaviour in response to perceived patient expectations may influence these earnings differences. Many doctors in the study reported that patients’ assumptions and demands varied according to the physician’s identity and the patient’s background, shaping the nature of each clinical interaction.

According to Monika Dutt, a family physician and PhD candidate involved in the research, clinicians frequently alter their communication style, appointment length, and services offered to meet these expectations. While such responsiveness can improve patient satisfaction, it also affects how many patients a doctor can see in a given day, thus influencing income in compensation models tied to volume or roster size.

Several specific patterns emerged from the interviews. Women physicians said they were often expected to spend more time with patients and provide greater emotional support, reducing the number of appointments they could accommodate. Patients also tended to prefer doctors of the same gender for intimate or gender-specific care, such as pelvic examinations, pregnancy-related consultations, menopause care, erectile dysfunction, and prostate concerns. However, fees for procedures like IUD insertion or cervical cancer screening in Ontario remain relatively low, limiting income for those—often women—who provide these services more frequently.

Cultural and linguistic similarity was another influential factor. Many patients preferred physicians who shared their background, which doctors generally viewed positively. Yet racialised physicians noted that these encounters sometimes required extra time to educate patients or provide advocacy, further reducing the number of patients they could see and affecting their earnings.

To mitigate these disparities, the authors argue that compensation models should better account for the additional time required for certain types of care. They also recommend reviewing the fee schedule to ensure that services associated with female anatomy are not undervalued. While Dr Vanstone emphasises that physicians’ responsiveness to patient expectations contributes to high-quality care, the study indicates that recognising and adjusting for these dynamics is essential for creating a more equitable system.

More information: Monika Dutt et al, Family physician pay inequality: a qualitative study exploring how physician responses to perceived patient expectations may explain gender, race, and immigration status pay differences, Canadian Medical Association Journal. DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.250665

Administrative teams play a vital role in smooth university functioning, but their influence is largely confined to teaching-led environments

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An international team of researchers, including specialists from HSE University, has investigated how the size of a university’s non-academic workforce shapes its overall performance. Their study shows that the effect is far from uniform: in research-focused universities, increasing the share of administrative and support staff appears to have no meaningful impact on efficiency, whereas in teaching-oriented institutions, a larger administrative presence is associated with better results. These findings, published in Applied Economics, add nuance to ongoing debates about staffing structures in higher education.

Across the global university sector, administrative and support personnel now constitute a steadily growing share of the workforce, with academic staff making up less than half on average. International trends illustrate the scale of this shift. Australia saw a 53% rise in non-academic employees between 1997 and 2017, and Denmark experienced a 93% increase over a comparable period. To determine whether similar developments in Russia influence institutional performance, researchers from the HSE Institute of Education collaborated with colleagues in Italy, the UK and Germany to analyse extensive national data.

Their work drew on information from 252 public universities between 2012 and 2021—institutions that together educate roughly 67% of all students in Russia. For the study, universities were separated into two categories: research universities and teaching-oriented universities. The dividing line was the share of income derived from R&D; universities earning at least 10% of their revenue from such activity were classified as research-oriented. Efficiency measures included student numbers across all institutions, supplemented by publication output and R&D income for research universities.

The results reveal a marked contrast between institutional types. Among research-intensive universities, there is no identifiable link between the percentage of non-academic staff and overall efficiency. In teaching-oriented universities, however, the correlation is clearly positive. Institutions with a higher proportion of administrative and support personnel tend to function more effectively, and further analysis indicates that administrative roles specifically are the key drivers of this improvement.

According to Pavel Serebrennikov, one of the study’s authors and a Junior Research Fellow at the HSE Laboratory for University Development, these results highlight the risks of applying the same staffing policies across all institutions. Teaching-focused universities may benefit from expanding their non-academic workforce, as greater administrative capacity can ease bureaucratic pressure on academics and strengthen support for the learning environment. By contrast, research universities depend less on staff numbers and more on the expertise, functions and specialisation of their administrative teams.

The researchers used the modern conditional efficiency method, which does not establish cause-and-effect relationships but excels at identifying robust patterns in complex organisational settings. While the authors caution that their conclusions should not be interpreted as strict prescriptions, they believe the insights can help policymakers make more informed decisions about resource allocation and incentive structures. Recognising the diverse missions and operational needs of universities may lead to more effective strategies for enhancing performance across different types of institutions.

The team now plans to examine the distinct roles within non-academic staffing categories to determine how specific administrative and support functions contribute to institutional efficiency. This next phase aims to refine the understanding of the internal dynamics that underpin successful university management.

More information: Tommaso Agasisti et al, Non-academic staff and technical efficiency of Russian universities 2012–2021, Applied Economics. DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2025.2547114

Journal information: Applied Economics Provided by National Research University Higher School of Economics

Surprising study shows top health performers aren’t the richest countries

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Wealth on its own does not guarantee a healthy population, according to new joint research led by the University of Surrey alongside several international collaborators. Their work, which evaluates how 38 OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations are progressing towards global health benchmarks, challenges long-held assumptions about the relationship between affluence and national well-being. Published in Annals of Operations Research, the study reveals that some of the world’s wealthiest countries, including the United States and Canada, fall behind smaller and less affluent nations in meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to secure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. By contrast, countries such as Iceland, Japan and Norway are shown to excel, supported by comprehensive healthcare systems and wide-ranging access to essential services.

Central to the research is a new analytical model developed in collaboration with Surrey academics, designed to measure how effectively each country transforms investment in health into tangible outcomes. These outcomes include life expectancy, disease prevention and the availability of accessible healthcare. The results indicate that nations with cohesive public health systems and those that emphasise preventive care consistently achieve better overall results for every unit of currency invested. This contrasts with countries that depend heavily on private healthcare structures, where high spending does not always translate into strong population health.

Professor Ali Emrouznejad, one of the study’s co-authors and Professor and Chair in Business Analytics at the University of Surrey, emphasised that the findings challenge simplistic assumptions about health spending. He noted that financial resources alone are not enough to secure good health outcomes, and that the strategic use of those resources is far more critical. Countries that prioritise prevention, universal coverage and social fairness, he observed, tend to outperform wealthier nations that allocate substantial sums without a coherent long-term vision.

The researchers employed a sophisticated Joint Variable Selection Directional Distance Function model, a data-driven technique that assesses how efficiently nations convert economic and health-related inputs into well-being. This model also accounted for exposure to climate-related risks, showing that countries with strong environmental health policies consistently rank higher in overall health efficiency. The inclusion of climate considerations further underscores that the pressures on modern health systems extend beyond traditional medical challenges.

The study’s conclusions underscore the need for healthcare systems that are both equitable and efficient, integrating climate resilience into their design and everyday operation. Rather than simply increasing budgets, the evidence suggests that a greater focus on preventive measures, sustainability, and universal access would yield more meaningful improvements in population health. For policymakers, the insights offer guidance on how best to allocate resources and develop strategies that deliver substantial long-term benefits.

Professor Emrouznejad highlighted that the model provides governments with a practical framework for identifying where improvements can be made. By revealing which countries make the most effective use of their resources, it points to examples others can learn from. The overarching message is that thoughtful investment, strategic planning and an emphasis on equity can lead to stronger, more resilient and more sustainable health systems, even in countries with comparatively modest levels of wealth.

More information: Ali Emrouznejad et al, Assessing health and well-being (SDG 3) in OECD countries: a joint variable selection directional distance function approach, Annals of Operations Research. DOI: 10.1007/s10479-025-06837-9

Journal information: Annals of Operations Research Provided by University of Surrey

Research shows that subtle political links quietly steer lucrative corporate deals

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A recent article in the Strategic Management Journal highlights an often overlooked source of political influence in corporate contracting: unelected officials. The study shifts the focus away from the familiar image of prominent politicians endorsing business interests. Instead, it examines the subtle yet powerful role of lower-profile political actors who operate mainly out of public view. These individuals, although not elected, can be instrumental in determining which companies secure public procurement contracts. Yet, their actions frequently escape scrutiny because they are embedded in routine administrative procedures rather than public decision-making stages.

Dr Tony L conducted the research. He is from Rutgers Business School in Newark, New Jersey, who analysed 14,849 government contracts issued across 28 European countries between 2011 and 2017. This extensive dataset allowed him to explore how different types of political connections shape contractual outcomes. Contrary to the assumption that the most influential connections are with senior or prominent elected officials, the study finds that corporations often benefit more from relationships with behind-the-scenes advisers, aides, and administrative staff whose work directly influences decision-making. Dr He explains that although elected figures can offer public legitimacy, especially when corporations seek policy changes, they do not always hold the decisive power in procurement situations where discretion rests elsewhere.

One key insight from the study is that the value of political visibility depends on the stage and type of influence being pursued. Elected politicians, who typically operate under public scrutiny, tend to exert indirect influence by shaping the initial rules and eligibility requirements that determine who can bid for a contract in the first place. These early decisions receive far less attention than contract selections, yet they can effectively narrow the field to favour certain firms. In contrast, unelected officials tend to be involved at multiple points throughout the process, influencing everything from technical specifications to bid evaluation. Their lower visibility becomes an advantage, allowing them to exert influence without attracting the attention that higher-profile actors would face in similar situations.

Dr He’s analysis also emphasises the dual meaning of visibility in political engagement. It matters not only who engages with corporations, but also how transparent the decision-making environment is. When procurement involves open and competitive bidding, elected officials appear to have limited capacity to influence contract choices directly. However, transparency in bidding does little to restrict the quieter influence of unelected insiders, who may still shape outcomes through procedural guidance, selective interpretations of rules, or informal contacts that fall outside the spotlight.

These findings have important implications for public accountability. Current governance systems often focus on regulating elected officeholders and the visible stages of procurement, potentially overlooking informal influence where it is most active. Dr He argues that protecting fairness requires broader oversight, extending beyond the political figures who capture media attention to include the many administrative actors who help decide which firms compete and which ultimately win. His research suggests that understanding these subtle dynamics is essential if governments are to strengthen transparency and ensure that public contracts are awarded on a truly equitable basis.

More information: Tony L. He, Low profile, high impact: How the visibility of political agents shapes corporate political influence, Strategic Management Journal. DOI: 10.1002/smj.3736

Journal information: Strategic Management Journal Provided by Strategic Management Society

What role do SMEs play in shaping a sustainable and inclusive European future?

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Small and medium-sized enterprises have long been underestimated in their ability to drive Europe’s digital, green and social transformations. A new open-access study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production challenges this assumption, showing that SMEs can act as powerful agents of change if they develop more than just basic technological tools. Conducted by Joan Torrent of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and Dolores Añón of the Universitat de València, the research draws on data from nearly 12,000 European companies. It identifies the conditions that allow smaller firms to combine artificial intelligence with sustainable business practices.

The key message is that digital maturity alone does not guarantee that SMEs will leap into a low-carbon, socially responsible future. The study argues that simply adopting standard digital tools is not enough to support what it calls the “twin transition” (digital and green), or the broader “triple transition” (digital, green and social). What enables meaningful progress is the presence of strategic and organisational capabilities that allow a company to integrate technology with sustainability goals. These include strong financial health, a culture of innovation, skilled workers and experience in intellectual property or business collaboration. Firms that possess patents, belong to larger business groups or have entrepreneurial expertise are significantly more likely to adopt advanced technologies alongside environmental and social practices.

One of the most striking findings is what the researchers call the “digital block effect”. This occurs when a company relies too heavily on basic digital tools without developing the non-technological assets that support transformation. In such cases, digitalisation becomes a barrier rather than a stepping stone, trapping companies at a basic level and preventing them from using more transformative innovations, such as artificial intelligence or advanced sustainability strategies. According to the study, this block can keep SMEs from contributing meaningfully to the green and social transitions, despite their potential influence.

These conclusions carry significant implications for public policy. The authors argue that governments too often treat digitalisation as an end in itself rather than linking it to skills development, research support, and business collaboration. To enable SMEs to become true agents of change, policy must encourage connections between technology, human capital and business ecosystems. The research also highlights uneven progress across the continent. SMEs in northern and western Europe are advancing more quickly because they operate within stronger support systems. In contrast, many southern and eastern regions lag due to fewer resources and differing political priorities. Although Spain leads in environmental and social sustainability, it is slow to transform digitally, a situation the researchers describe as creating a new internal “social divide” among companies.

For SMEs wishing to move forward, the study recommends starting by identifying where the business creates value and using digitalisation and sustainability as tools to rethink that value, rather than merely improving efficiency. From there, companies should seek external support through partnerships, advisory services and targeted funding that align with long-term goals. The researchers warn that SMEs failing to embrace these transitions risk becoming less competitive and reinforcing low-value business models that harm workers and communities. However, those that successfully integrate digital, green and social strategies can strengthen their competitiveness while contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable European future.

More information: Dolores Añón Higón et al, AI-twin and AI-triple firm’s transition: Unveiling the predictors from European SMEs, Journal of Cleaner Production. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146134

Journal information: Journal of Cleaner Production Provided by Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC)