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Global uncertainty is the new normal. Here's why institutional legitimacy and resilience are crucial

The world has never had more data, more models or more economists. It has rarely felt more out of control. Uncertainty, not risk, has become the defining condition of our era. Central bankers invoke it. Political leaders use it to defer decisions and justify extraordinary ones. Academics are struggling to adapt their theories to a brave new world of unexpected outcomes and erratic policy choices. The IMF's World Uncertainty Indexβ€”which tracks how often the word appears in economic and political reporting across 143 countriesβ€”has been running at historically elevated levels for the better part of a decade, with fresh spikes after every major shock.

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Onboarding support helps merchants adopt digital payment methods

Change can be hardβ€”especially when you're used to receiving change. Switching from cash-based to digital payment methods can be a difficult sell, particularly in developing economies, poorer neighborhoods and among older people who have gotten used to cash. But digital payments have certain advantages for both businesses and consumers, and a Cornell-led research team explored ways to spur adoption of modern payment technology.

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Growing energy efficiency divide making renters sweat

Households are motivated to reduce their energy consumption and help mitigate climate change, but unaffordable technologies and rental restrictions are preventing them from doing so, according to a recent Charles Darwin University (CDU) study. "The efficiency divide: Housing constraints on energy-saving practices in Darwin, Australia" was published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science.

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Capable CEOs communicate climate risks more consistently

Climate disclosures help investors and the public understand how companies view risks such as extreme weather, carbon regulation and the transition to cleaner energy. "Because these risks are uncertain and forward-looking, company leaders have considerable influence over what is communicated and how," says Postdoctoral Researcher Javad Rajabalizadeh from the University of Turku.

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Firms with independent board members are more willing to challenge risky CEO pay structures, says new research

The study, published in European Financial Management, focused on "inside debt," which includes pensions and deferred compensation awarded to chief executives. Unlike bonuses or shares, these payments can encourage CEOs to become more cautious because their personal wealth becomes more tied to the company's long-term financial health.

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Research examines how corporate workforce messaging shapes recruiting

When the Securities and Exchange Commission updated Regulation S-K in 2020 to require public companies to disclose more information about human capital in annual filings, the rule was designed primarily with investors in mind. New research from the University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School suggests that the regulation may also have reshaped how companies compete for talent.

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How biodiversity loss could raise borrowing costs and deepen debt risks worldwide

Financial markets are blind to the economic costs of biodiversity loss, leaving several countries at risk of defaulting on debt, according to new research published in Nature. While environmental degradation is recognized as a serious financial risk, sovereign debt markets currently have no way of accounting for it, leaving US$83 trillion in assets open to mispricing.

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