While some shoppers pounce on rock-bottom prices without hesitation, others are tentative concerning “doorbusters” and …
research
Is U.S. Economic Growth a Thing of the Past?
The U.S. and economic growth have consistently gone hand in hand. The country’s history has consistently been accompanied by economic progress, and since the end of World War II, the U.S. economy has averaged GDP growth of more …
Got Stuff? Typical American Home Is Cluttered with Possessions — and Stressing Us Out
The idea for a new book by UCLA researchers sounds pretty boring. A team of anthropologists went into 32 typical homes — middle-class, dual-income families, with school-age children — and cataloged what they saw. Sorta like …
Do the Suburbs Make You Selfish?
Urban areas have begun to outpace the growth of suburbs. Could that be good for America’s social ecology?
How Celebrity Endorsements Can Backfire
Celebrities obviously bring attention to the products they endorse. That’s why manufacturers, retailers, and brands are willing to drop millions to get celebs as spokespeople. Yet a new study shows that sometimes, the celebrity …
Need to Brainstorm? Head to Starbucks
A clever and, yes, creative new study suggests that moderate background noise is a better spur to innovative thinking than the sound of silence.
How Baby Names Can Help Marketers Predict the Next Big Thing
Few parents would admit to naming their baby after a hurricane. But unconsciously that might be exactly what many of us are doing — or at least appropriating the sounds of a name that, if the storm grows large enough, is …
Should We Stop Referring to People as ‘Consumers’?
The term “consumers” is routinely used in place of “people” and “citizens.” While most people (consumers?) don’t notice or care much about the terms being used interchangeably, there are those who resent being labeled as …
Maybe the Slackers Who Never Set a Budget Know Something
A new study questions the long-accepted wisdom of setting a budget and sticking to it. The purpose of establishing a budget is to rein in one’s spending, but under certain circumstances, setting a budget does the opposite — and …
Are Female Board Members Breaking the Banks?
The conventional wisdom — not to mention a good deal of research — suggests that women are less inclined than men to take big risks with money. That’s why a new discussion paper prepared by three economists for the German …
Free-Spending Consumers Are Offended by … Deep Discounts?
It happens all the time: You buy an item at one price, and then see others buy the same item a little later on for a much cheaper price. This is standard practice nowadays, but it still gets customers angry. How angry? A new …
Study: Working on Wall Street Is Bad for Your Health
What does working 120 hours a week get you? Hopefully, a pretty good paycheck and bonus. According to a new study, though, there are other, less welcomed side effects that accompany a demanding, high-pressure job on Wall Street, …
