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Business & Economics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 14-Jul-2025 10:11 ET (14-Jul-2025 14:11 GMT/UTC)

Hydrogel core-shell micropattern achieved by Fs-MOPL technique in one-step

International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing

Here, researchers from Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS, fabricated customized micropatterns consisting of hydrogel core-shell nanoparticles via the femtosecond laser maskless optical projection lithography (Fs-MOPL) technique for the first time.

Their work offers an approach to fabricating hydrogel core-shell nanoparticles without high temperature or multiple steps.

Journal: International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing

No car, no problem: Unlikely car-free families

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a world where cars symbolize freedom, some Israeli families are finding liberation in going without them. A new study from the Hebrew University explores the surprising motivations of middle-class parents in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem who choose to live car-free—not out of necessity, but by design. Their reasons range from fear of driving to a desire for healthier lifestyles, stronger communities, and more independent children. These “outlier” families offer powerful insights that challenge transportation norms and open new avenues for policy and planning.

Journal: Journal of Transport Geography

ESMT Berlin research shows private ownership boosts hospital performance

ESMT Berlin
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research by ESMT Berlin and the Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) shows that private equity (PE) acquisitions lead to substantial operational efficiency gains in hospitals, challenging common public concerns. The study reveals that hospitals acquired by PE firms significantly reduce costs and administrative staff without increasing closure rates or harming patient care.

Journal: Journal of Financial Economics

10 things research tells us about the global economic elite

Lund University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Who are the people that make up the world’s economic elite – and do they differ between countries? In a new, unique database, an international team of researchers has compiled individual data from 16 countries that together account for a third of the world’s population and more than half of the world’s GDP.

Journal: British Journal of Sociology

Study gauges what affects professional women's soccer players' brands

University of Kansas
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Nataliyah Bredikhina of the university of Kansas led a study analyzing the branding of professional European women soccer players. The study found the team, media and market all influenced players' Instagram popularity, but not at equal levels and in fact, when the team shared accounts with a men's team, it negatively influenced women players' popularity. The findings reflect gender discrimination norms in society and can help players, teams and marketers capitalize on athletes' overcome them to maximize players' branding and earning potential, the researchers argue.

Journal: Sport Management Review

Researchers from Incheon National University unpack audience costs in us allies’ foreign policy choices

Incheon National University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at Incheon National University explored how domestic public opinion influences foreign policy alignment decisions among U.S. allies during great power competition. Using a survey experiment centered on South Korea’s potential Quad membership, they found that leaders face audience costs when reversing alignment commitments, particularly from pro-U.S. constituents. The study highlights how shifting public preferences can strengthen or weaken alignment credibility in international politics.

Journal: Contemporary Security Policy

Study reveals vast Aztec trade networks behind ancient obsidian artifacts

Tulane University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers from Tulane University and the Proyecto Templo Mayor analyzed 788 obsidian artifacts from Tenochtitlan, revealing that the Mexica (Aztec) Empire sourced this important material from at least eight different locations, including regions outside their political control. While 90% of artifacts were made from green obsidian from Sierra de Pachuca (especially for ceremonial purposes), the diversity of obsidian sources suggests sophisticated trade networks rather than just conquest-based acquisition. The study tracked changes in obsidian use from 1375-1520 CE, showing how the Mexica standardized ritual obsidian sources after consolidating power around 1430 CE, providing insights into the empire's economic networks and political influence.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Funder: Tulane’s Supporting Impactful Publications (SIP) Program

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