From satellite imagery to clandestine price reports, a new study draws on North Korea to explore economic activity in opaque regimes and information-scarce regions. North Korea is the blackest of economic black holes. Even a basic question like "is the economy shrinking or expanding?" can be difficult to answer. The country does not publish reliable statistics. It sharply restricts outside access and treats trade data as a state secret.
A new investigation finds that workplace monitoring platforms are systematically sharing personal data about workers and online activity with hundreds of outside data brokers and big tech companies in ways that are not clearly disclosed and that, in some cases, may contradict the platforms' own privacy policies.
For Americans dreaming of owning a home, this decade has been brutal. From the end of 2019 to the end of 2022, the median sales price for homes sold in the U.S. soared 35%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. It's dipped only slightly since then.
Researchers from Leiden University and Solid Sustainability Research have published a new study in PLOS Climate on the links between Dutch universities and the tobacco industry. Through this work, they aim to contribute to ongoing discussions about ties to the fossil fuel sector.
Global food systems are fragile. Recent shocks such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have raised prices and exacerbated food insecurity. Governments are increasingly trying to shield themselves from future food crises, whether caused by conflict, climate shocks, disruptions to global trade or failed harvests.
The length of our lives is tied to the amount of money we make. The link between health and wealth is well established, and it can have a staggering impact on the actual number of years a person lives. For example, in the United States, wealthy people can live up to 14 years longer than impoverished ones. This gap seems especially stark when compared to the number of years gained by eliminating all forms of cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control—only three.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) tools are capable of mass-producing academic finance papers that are nearly indistinguishable from human-authored research, according to a new study published in the Journal of Economic Literature.
When regional airlines leave a market, travelers are likely to see fewer flights and higher fares. The harder question is how much service disappears, how quickly prices rise and whether other airlines step in to fill the gap.