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New book explores housewives, food and consumer protests in 20th-century America
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A new book from a University of Illinois labor historian who studies women’s labor education and consumer activism chronicles how working- and middle-class women used their identity as housewives to protest the high cost of food in mid-20th-century America. The idea of the single breadwinner, the rising cost of meat and the […]
Scientists: Expanding Brazilian sugarcane could dent global CO2 emissions
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Vastly expanding sugarcane production in Brazil for conversion to ethanol could reduce current global carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 5.6 percent, researchers report in the journal Nature Climate Change. This would be a massive undertaking, involving the conversion of hundreds of thousands of square miles — at its most ambitious, more […]
To kick-start creativity, offer money, not plaudits, study finds
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — How should employers reward creative types for turning in fresh, inventive work: with a plaque or a party recognizing their achievement, or with cold, hard cash? According to new research co-written by a University of Illinois expert in product development and marketing, it’s all about the money, honey. In contexts where a […]
Paper: Don’t rely on mixed messages to change health behaviors
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Self-improvement edicts to lose weight, quit smoking or eat more fruits and vegetables can fall on deaf ears if the intervention message is mixed, says new research co-written by a University of Illinois expert in social psychology. When recommending multiple behavior changes, it’s more effective if the messages are framed along similar […]
Paper: Even after debunking, misinformation and ‘fake news’ persist
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its boots on,” Winston Churchill once famously said. Or was it the infinitely quotable Mark Twain who said it first? Jonathan Swift … ? Or Alexander Pope … ? Once it’s unleashed, the effects of misinformation – […]
Is our flood insurance model broken?
Losses from Hurricane Harvey are projected to be in the billions of dollars, likely making it the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Craig Lemoine is a professor at the College of ACES and director of the Financial Planning Program. Lemoine, also a certified financial planner, spoke with News Bureau business and law editor Phil […]
Paper: Decision to claim Social Security benefits influenced by ‘framing’
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — With Social Security benefits representing at least half of the retirement income for 65 percent of beneficiaries, the decision to claim benefits early or later is one that’s fraught with substantial financial consequences for the elderly. And according to research co-written by a University of Illinois expert who studies the intersection of […]
Should states be in the lottery business?
A Massachusetts hospital worker recently claimed the record-breaking $758 million Powerball jackpot. The buzz surrounding the potential payout helped drive ticket sales, but at what cost to states and taxpayers? Craig Lemoine is an associate teaching professor at the College of ACES and director of the Financial Planning Program. Lemoine, also a certified financial planner, […]
How do employers combat a resurgent white supremacy movement?
University of Illinois labor and employment relations professor Michael LeRoy is an expert on immigration and employment policy. In an interview with News Bureau business and law Editor Phil Ciciora, LeRoy discusses his research about confronting a resurgent white supremacy movement. What is your paper about? It looks at the ways to update the Ku […]
States find rewards from high-tech investments, given time and patience
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — States have spent millions to develop high-tech industry, with its promise of good jobs and economic growth. But does the public investment pay off? A national study of such investments in the 1980s and 1990s suggests it does – including in places where prospects for high-tech seems less than ideal. The key […]
Political ideology and social norms can play a role in donation decisions, study says
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Stereotypes of “bleeding heart liberals” and “heartless conservatives” may still persist in popular culture, but according to new research from a University of Illinois expert in consumer behavior and global marketing, when it comes to charitable giving, conservatives can be motivated to align their donation decisions with the same perceived generosity of […]
Research suggests sexual appeals in ads don’t sell brands, products
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Could it be that sex actually does not sell? An analysis of nearly 80 advertising studies published over more than three decades suggests that’s the case. “We found that people remember ads with sexual appeals more than those without, but that effect doesn’t extend to the brands or products that are featured […]