Economy + Business - The Conversation

A building's dome is seen in front of dark clouds.

A building's dome is seen in front of dark clouds.

Government shutdown hasn’t left consumers glum about the economy – for now, at least

Joanne Hsu, University of Michigan

a plane is seen taking off in the distance while in the foreground are a plane on the tarmac and an air traffic control tower.

a plane is seen taking off in the distance while in the foreground are a plane on the tarmac and an air traffic control tower.

How the government shutdown is making the air traffic controller shortage worse and leading to flight delays

Brian Strzempkowski, The Ohio State University and Melanie Dickman, The Ohio State University

NY AG Letitia James charged with mortgage fraud – a crime seldom prosecuted and rarely resulting in prison

Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University

A small toy house is juxtaposed with a pair of handcuffs.

A small toy house is juxtaposed with a pair of handcuffs.

Trump is cutting funding to universities with large Hispanic student populations – here’s what to know

Joseph Morales, California State University, Chico

A woman walks past a truck that has a red billboard that says 'Musk cuts are making Florida's teacher shortage worse.'

A woman walks past a truck that has a red billboard that says 'Musk cuts are making Florida's teacher shortage worse.'

Today’s AI hype has echoes of a devastating technology boom and bust 100 years ago

Cameron Shackell, Queensland University of Technology

A black and white photo, showing a large crowd of people outside the New York Stock Exchange following the great crash of October 1929.

A black and white photo, showing a large crowd of people outside the New York Stock Exchange following the great crash of October 1929.

Health insurance subsidy standoff pits affordable care for millions against federal budget constraints

Wendy Netter Epstein, DePaul University and Christopher Robertson, Boston University

Person holding a sign saying Save the ACA

Person holding a sign saying Save the ACA

Economics

A young woman sits cross-legged on a twin bed in what appears to be a childhood bedroom.

A young woman sits cross-legged on a twin bed in what appears to be a childhood bedroom.

More young adults are living with their parents than previous generations did

Rohan Shah, University of Mississippi; Institute for Humane Studies

Why aren’t companies speeding up investment? A new theory offers an answer to an economic paradox

David Ikenberry, University of Colorado Boulder

A downward arrow is superimposed on a hundred-dollar bill.

A downward arrow is superimposed on a hundred-dollar bill.

Even professional economists can’t escape political bias

Aeimit Lakdawala, Wake Forest University

A photo illustration shows a concerned businessman as he places his hand on his head and looks up at a wall-sized graphic showing U.S. $1 bill coupled with a downward trending arrow and chart.

A photo illustration shows a concerned businessman as he places his hand on his head and looks up at a wall-sized graphic showing U.S. $1 bill coupled with a downward trending arrow and chart.

Inequality has risen from 1970 to Trump − that has 3 hidden costs that undermine democracy

Nathan Meyers, UMass Amherst

People hold a sign at a march.

People hold a sign at a march.

The rule of law is key to capitalism − eroding it is bad news for American business

Robert Bird, University of Connecticut

A photo illustration shows the scales of justice in silhouette in front of a backdrop made of dollar bills.

A photo illustration shows the scales of justice in silhouette in front of a backdrop made of dollar bills.

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Business

Two hands shown holding a black pen as they hover above white paper with a large signature on it.

Two hands shown holding a black pen as they hover above white paper with a large signature on it.

Conventional anti-corruption tools often fail to address root causes – but loss of US leadership could still spell trouble for efforts abroad

Diana Chigas, Tufts University

Banks retreat from climate change commitments – but it’s business more than politics

David L Levy, UMass Boston and Rami Kaplan, Tel Aviv University

An oil derrick pumps oil in a field at dusk

An oil derrick pumps oil in a field at dusk

Personal scandals sink CEOs faster than financial fraud, research shows

Michael Nalick, University of Denver

An illustration depicts a giant hand about to flick a tiny person in a business suit off a cantilever.

An illustration depicts a giant hand about to flick a tiny person in a business suit off a cantilever.

American capitalism is being remade by state power

H. Sami Karaca, Boston University

Some new drugs aren’t actually ‘new’ – pharma firms exploit patents and raise prices for patients

Lucy Xiaolu Wang, UMass Amherst

Illustration of hand tipping a pill bottle toward an extended hand below it...except the pill has zigzagged up and away

Illustration of hand tipping a pill bottle toward an extended hand below it...except the pill has zigzagged up and away

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Work

Man goofs around wearing a lei and an inner tube while his colleagues confer over a serious matter.

Man goofs around wearing a lei and an inner tube while his colleagues confer over a serious matter.

Why you seriously need to stop trying to be funny at work

Peter McGraw, University of Colorado Boulder; Adam Barsky, The University of Melbourne, and Caleb Warren, University of Arizona

Complying with Trump administration’s attack on DEI could get employers into legal trouble

Deborah Widiss, Indiana University; Rachel Arnow-Richman, University of Florida; Stephanie Bornstein, Loyola Law School Los Angeles, and Tristin Green, Loyola Law School Los Angeles

Abstract picture of silhouettes, evoking diversity.

Abstract picture of silhouettes, evoking diversity.

Why do so many American workers feel guilty about taking the vacation they’ve earned?

Karen Tan, Middle Tennessee State University

A desk in an office featuring a phone and computer monitor in the foreground, with a calendar hanging on the wall with one week marked off in red text that reads 'Vacation.'

A desk in an office featuring a phone and computer monitor in the foreground, with a calendar hanging on the wall with one week marked off in red text that reads 'Vacation.'

Trump administration has proven no friend to organized labor, from attacking federal unions to paralyzing the National Labor Relations Board

Jake Rosenfeld, Washington University in St. Louis

From intention to impact: 3 ways men in leadership can build equitable workplaces that work for everyone

Lisa Kaplowitz, Rutgers University; Colleen Tolan, Rutgers University, and Olivia Foster-Gimbel, Rutgers University

Business people have a meeting around a table in a modern office.

Business people have a meeting around a table in a modern office.

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Finance

Science costs money – research is guided by who funds it and why

Ryan Summers, University of North Dakota

Winning a bidding war isn’t always a win, research on 14 million home sales shows

Soon Hyeok Choi, Rochester Institute of Technology

Spacious suburban homes and swimming pools are photographed from above.

Spacious suburban homes and swimming pools are photographed from above.

I’ve studied faiths and cultures around the world. Here’s how finance can be made more inclusive and sustainable

Atul K. Shah, City St George's, University of London

plant growing out of a pile of coins in someone's hands

plant growing out of a pile of coins in someone's hands

Decentralized finance is booming − and so are the security risks. Here are the most common mistakes

Mingyi Liu, Georgia Institute of Technology

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Philanthropy and nonprofits

Trump scraps the nation’s most comprehensive food insecurity report − making it harder to know how many Americans struggle to get enough food

Tracy Roof, University of Richmond

An empty shopping cart in an aisle in a supermarket.

An empty shopping cart in an aisle in a supermarket.

Before celebrating big gifts, charities must watch out for fake donors

Sarah Webber, University of Dayton

A group of dressed-up people pose for a photo.

A group of dressed-up people pose for a photo.

US has slashed global vaccine funding – if philanthropy fills the gap, there could be some trade-offs

Amy E. Stambach, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Bill Gates leans over a baby held by a woman in a bright yellow shirt.

Bill Gates leans over a baby held by a woman in a bright yellow shirt.

Trump’s ‘big’ bill offers a new charitable tax break, but will it help nonprofits?

Daniel Hungerman, University of Notre Dame

Dollar bills float randomly around the U.S. Capitol building.

Dollar bills float randomly around the U.S. Capitol building.

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