Now that Westerners no longer have to fight for their existence, they have more time and inclination to ponder it. The resulting existential arguments are perhaps more prevalent than ever in a time where technology, leisure, resources and freedom make pursuing whatever an individual finds meaningful a real option. New quantitative psychological research suggests a considerable percentage of the population can’t be bothered by these ambitious if ambiguous questions, and when pressed don’t really care that they feel their lives, in the big picture, are meaningless. Tatjana Schnell, a ... Read More
A So-So HIV Vaccine May Be a Hard Sell
October 7, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
An HIV vaccine — the dream of medical science for a quarter-century — isn't all that far off. Given that 2.7 million new HIV infections in 2008 alone brought the world total to 33.4 million infected, there is a genuine need. But rather than a line out the door the first day of availability, new research by Peter Newman and Carmen Logie of the University of Toronto suggests that an HIV vaccine will mostly cause hypochondriacs to rush to their local clinic and others to, at best, scribble an appointment in the weekly planner. The team gathered 30 original studies, mostly from North ... Read More
Conversational Well-Being: Quality Over Quantity
September 25, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
Research repeatedly finds a correlation between happiness and more gregarious individuals, but it hadn't determined what element of sociability — bubbling over with shallow, inconsequential conversation or exchanging content of personal significance — leads to contentment. New research suggests that less small talk and more substantive conversation causes increased happiness. (Middle school girls around the globe, take note.) What is just as important as pure, outright outgoingness is the nature and content of social interactions, whether trivial or substantive Matthias Mehl, Shannon ... Read More
Happiness Is on the Rise. Thanks, Freedom
September 12, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
Is economic development the key to national happiness? Once nations have covered the bases for most of their citizens — checking off the basic necessities of food, water, shelter and safety — what is left? Do we stop measuring success by our GDP and tell government to stop pursuing happiness and focus on its capture, á la Bhutan? A standard government response to such mandates might be to ladle out cash, but recent research suggests more money alone doesn't make us happy — what makes us happy is having more than our neighbors. So with Western nations having established an economic ... Read More
If Only Yosemite Were a Video Game
September 5, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
Edward Abbey, celebrated hardcore environmentalist and author, prophesied in the 1960s that population growth, the rise of motorized tourism (creating the reluctance of people to escape the comforts of their automobiles) and the ensuing roads and hotels would overrun the American wilderness. It turns out he was both wrong and right. U.S. national parks are threatened — but by a lack of attendance, not a surplus. This apparent disinterest in outdoor activities has occurred in tandem with greater interest in electronic entertainment. Has Mario trumped Thoreau? And what does that mean ... Read More
Billion-Dollar Underdogs
August 8, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
Americans love the underdog whether it’s in sports, in history or political campaigns — and in the brands they buy. That’s right, Samuel Adams beer, Ben and Jerry’s and Google — at least the old Google — all belong right up there with the Alamo, David, and Lance Armstrong … well, the Lance we hoped wasn’t juiced. Neeru Paharia of Harvard University, Anat Keinan of the Harvard Business School, Jill Avery of the Simmons School of Management and Juliet B. Schor of Boston College demonstrate how consumers personally identify with underdog brands. Many Americans idealize ... Read More
Apparently Not a Journalistic Terrorist After All
July 27, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
Last week, Emily Badger reported on Hollman Morris being denied a student visa to study in the U.S. The Colombian journalist had been granted a yearlong Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University, but the State Department rejected his visa application on nebulous grounds. The State Department has reversed its decision and to allow Morris a visa in the end. Morris has been celebrated as a dedicated journalist whose bravery and determination in reporting on the civil war in Colombia had given him contacts among rebel guerrilla fighters (FARC) on terrorist watch lists. The State Department, ... Read More
Ten Hearty Orphan Crops
July 26, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
Ignored orphan crops may help back up world food supplies as problems like wheat rust devastate global monocultures in food crops. Cassava: Cassava, also known as yucca or manioc, is a perennial native to South America. It is grown throughout tropical and subtropical regions, with Nigeria being the world's largest producer. The plant grows up to 15 feet tall and is a food staple for about 500 million people worldwide. The edible parts are the tuberous roots and leaves, which are a major source of carbohydrates. Cassava is the third largest source of carbohydrates in the world. The roots ... Read More
Microfinance: Back to the Drawing Board
July 18, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
Yohane Mdeme owns a food market in Tanzania. Though poor and with little to no collateral, he applied for a loan of $850 through Kiva.org to expand his small business. Twenty years ago in such a place and for such a client, Mdeme would never obtain the capital to increase his business. No bank would have given out such a small loan, much less to a person without collateral. Yet Mdeme is well on his way to receiving his requested amount in full. This process, called microfinance, has been put on a pedestal by development economists thanks to its high repayment rates and ability to provide ... Read More
I’m Happy as Long as I Make More Than You
July 10, 2010 • By • Leave a Comment
One of the first rules taught in any introduction to microeconomics class is that an increase in consumption ability, otherwise known as income, increases utility, and utility is a measure of satisfaction. In English, more money equals more happiness. While this premise is perhaps simple-minded and even a caricature (imagine Scrooge or Mr. Burns nodding with pleasure), don't judge economists too harshly. The idea demonstrates what motivates individuals in the marketplace and the labor force. The principle reflects attitudes in much of the developing world, where satisfying everyday needs is ... Read More
