Economy + Business - The Conversation

A woman walk down a palm tree lined sidewalk, past signs saying 'United Fruit Co. Depto de Mercaderias' and 'Contra intervencion extranjera.'

A woman walk down a palm tree lined sidewalk, past signs saying 'United Fruit Co. Depto de Mercaderias' and 'Contra intervencion extranjera.'

Before Venezuela’s oil, there were Guatemala’s bananas

Aaron Coy Moulton, Stephen F. Austin State University

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

Why the world’s central bankers had to speak up against Trump’s attacks on the Fed

John Hawkins, University of Canberra

DOJ criminal probe highlights risk of Fed losing independence – a central bank scholar explains what’s at stake

Cristina Bodea, Michigan State University

Two men in hard hats chart and look at a piece of paper.

Two men in hard hats chart and look at a piece of paper.

Broncos say their new stadium will be ‘privately financed,’ but ‘private’ often still means hundreds of millions in public resources

Geoffrey Propheter, University of Colorado Denver

People walk toward a large building with a sign that says "Empower Field at Mile High."

People walk toward a large building with a sign that says "Empower Field at Mile High."

Martin Luther King Jr. was ahead of his time in pushing for universal basic income

Tarah Williams, Allegheny College and Andrew Bloeser, Allegheny College

A group of striking Seattle teachers march past a mural depicting Martin Luther King.

A group of striking Seattle teachers march past a mural depicting Martin Luther King.

How rogue nations are capitalizing on gaps in crypto regulation to finance weapons programs

Nolan Fahrenkopf, University at Albany, State University of New York

A mash-up of a North Korean flag and the bitcoin emblem.

A mash-up of a North Korean flag and the bitcoin emblem.

Economics

A man takes a look at some dilapidated oil infrastructure.

A man takes a look at some dilapidated oil infrastructure.

Venezuela’s oil industry has flailed under government control – Mexico and Brazil have had more success with nationalizing

Skip York, Rice University

Johannesburg’s produce market has supplied the informal sector for decades: a refresh is due

Marc Wegerif, University of Pretoria

A bustling market with several cars loaded with crates of fruit and vegetables like tomatoes and apples.

A bustling market with several cars loaded with crates of fruit and vegetables like tomatoes and apples.

Why Gen Z and millennial consumers feel disillusioned — and how they can drive real change

Eugene Y. Chan, Toronto Metropolitan University

Three people walking with shopping bags

Three people walking with shopping bags

How the US cut climate-changing emissions while its economy more than doubled

Valerie Thomas, Georgia Institute of Technology

A truck kicks up dust on a dirt road running through farm fields with wind turbines.

A truck kicks up dust on a dirt road running through farm fields with wind turbines.

Three reasons why so many economists disagree with Donald Trump’s tariffs

Luis Angeles, University of Glasgow

Donald Trump with US flag in background.

Donald Trump with US flag in background.

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Business

Man on a warehouse floor discussing business with woman

Man on a warehouse floor discussing business with woman

Passing on a family business isn’t easy. Here’s why – and what factors predict success

Francesco Chirico, Macquarie University

The AI bubble isn’t new — Karl Marx explained the mechanisms behind it nearly 150 years ago

Elliot Goodell Ugalde, Queen's University, Ontario

A dark phone screen displaying AI apps

A dark phone screen displaying AI apps

A backlash against AI imagery in ads may have begun as brands promote ‘human-made’

Paul Harrison, Deakin University

Advertising campaigns for Polaroid, Aerie and Heineken

Advertising campaigns for Polaroid, Aerie and Heineken

Global companies are still committing to protect the climate – and they’re investing big money in clean tech

Lily Hsueh, Arizona State University

Electric delivery vans with drivers getting into them.

Electric delivery vans with drivers getting into them.

Chatbots don’t judge! Customers prefer robots over humans when it comes to those ’um, you know’ purchases

Jianna Jin, University of Notre Dame

Two people are on their phones with bags over their heads.

Two people are on their phones with bags over their heads.

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Work

A woman who appears to be tired and possibly sad while doing her job leans against a wall.

A woman who appears to be tired and possibly sad while doing her job leans against a wall.

Best way for employers to support employees with chronic mental illness is by offering flexibility

Sherry Thatcher, University of Tennessee and Emily Rosado-Solomon, Babson College

You care about fairness at work – so why do you feel like a fake?

Meg Warren, Western Washington University; John M. LaVelle, University of Minnesota, and Michael T. Warren, Western Washington University

A woman sitting at a laptop computer holds her head in her hands with an exhausted expression.

A woman sitting at a laptop computer holds her head in her hands with an exhausted expression.

What five years of evidence on hybrid working tells us about the future of employment

Jane Parry, University of Southampton

woman on a laptop in an online meeting with colleagues

woman on a laptop in an online meeting with colleagues

Treating love for work like a virtue can backfire on employees and teams

Mijeong Kwon, Rice University

A woman smiles softly as she looks straight at the camera, seated and wearing a dark top with colorful squiggles on it.

A woman smiles softly as she looks straight at the camera, seated and wearing a dark top with colorful squiggles on it.

The future of work — according to Generation Z — is purposeful, digital and flexible

Eddy Ng, Queen's University, Ontario

A group of four young office workers gathered around a computer.

A group of four young office workers gathered around a computer.

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Finance

How climate finance to help poor countries became a global shell game

Shannon Gibson, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

A woman reaches out to help another stop down from the debris of a storm damaged home after Hurricane Melissa.

A woman reaches out to help another stop down from the debris of a storm damaged home after Hurricane Melissa.

Yes, there is an AI investment bubble – here’s how it could end

Sergi Basco, Universitat de Barcelona

Artificial intelligence applications on a phone screen

Artificial intelligence applications on a phone screen

A bold new investment fund aims to channel billions into tropical forest protection

Jason Gray, University of California, Los Angeles

Thick forest surrounds a cleared area with a road running through it. Cattle can be spotted on the open ground.

Thick forest surrounds a cleared area with a road running through it. Cattle can be spotted on the open ground.

Customers can become more loyal if their banks solve fraud cases, researchers find

Vamsi Kanuri, University of Notre Dame

An older couple experiences aggravation and anguish.

An older couple experiences aggravation and anguish.

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Philanthropy and nonprofits

With less charitable giving flowing directly to charities, a tax policy scholar suggests some policy fixes

Ray Madoff, Boston College

boat in the sea with island of dollars, money falling from the sky. 3d render

boat in the sea with island of dollars, money falling from the sky. 3d render

Donor-advised funds have more money than ever – and direct more of it to politically active charities

Brian Mittendorf, The Ohio State University and Helen Flannery, University of Vermont

Hand holding a donation box as other hands put money into a box.

Hand holding a donation box as other hands put money into a box.

Nonprofit news outlets are often scared that selling ads could jeopardize their tax-exempt status, but IRS records show that’s been rare

Katherine Fink, Pace University

A woman speaks into a large microphone while sitting at a desk with a lot of recording equipment.

A woman speaks into a large microphone while sitting at a desk with a lot of recording equipment.

1 in 3 US nonprofits that serve communities lost government funding in early 2025

Lewis Faulk, American University and Mirae Kim, George Mason University

A scissors cuts a $100 bill.

A scissors cuts a $100 bill.

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