Amalia Rebecca Miller, Georgia S. Bankard Professor of Economics, University of Virginia Carmit Segal, Professor of Managerial Economics, University of Zurich Ultra-competitive workplaces – places where employees battle against each other for rank, bonuses and promotions – are common in many high-status…
Lori M Teller, Texas A&M University When one of my co-workers found out about a tiny, orphaned kitten that needed a home a few months ago, he didn’t hesitate to adopt it.…
Matthew McMahan, Emerson College The first Christmas card was, perhaps predictably, one of good cheer. The concept is commonly credited to Sir Henry Cole, the founder of the Victoria and Albert Museum…
David M. Mayer, University of Michigan The electoral votes have confirmed Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election. The presidential electors gave Biden 306 electoral votes to President Donald Trump’s…
Korydon Smith, University at Buffalo; Kelly Hayes McAlonie, University at Buffalo, and Rebecca Rotundo, University at Buffalo While the pandemic has caused thousands of small businesses to temporarily close or shutter for…
Marie Helweg-Larsen, Dickinson College In recent years, the English-speaking world has found two Danish concepts, “pyt” and “hygge,” useful for dealing with anxiety and stress. Now another Danish word – “samfundssind” –…
Austin Sarat, Amherst College The way the federal government can kill death row prisoners will soon be expanded to ghoulish methods that include hanging, the electric chair, gas chamber and the firing…
Ernest Freeberg, University of Tennessee In 1872 the U.S. economy was growing as the young nation industrialized and expanded westward. Then in the autumn, a sudden shock paralyzed social and economic life.…
Jonathan D. Sarna, Brandeis University President Trump’s plan of holding an in-person Hanukkah reception at the White House on Dec. 9, despite concerns over the coronavirus, is getting much attention on social…
Jeffrey Miller, Colorado State University Tab, the Coca-Cola company’s original diet soda brand, is headed to the soda graveyard, joining retired brands such as Like, Leed and Limette. Coca-Cola has announced that…
Matthew Brown, University of Bristol The death of the greatest player in the history of the game of Association Football, Diego Armando Maradona, on November 25 produced an outpouring of grief and…