November 2020
The downfall (and possible salvation) of expertise
Can experts win back the public's trust?
June 2020
Can government programs get people to eat more healthily?
A new framework can help the government make more efficient allocations in food policy for low-income households.
Fox News causes viewers to disregard social distancing
The persuasive effect of Fox News may have discouraged viewers' cooperation with expert recommendations.
May 2020
Business shutdowns hurt those just above the poverty line
Lower-income households found it hardest to smooth their outlays.
Will COVID-19 lead to lower prices?
Stingier marketers protected themselves by maintaining higher prices—event in the downturn.
Does extending jobless benefits help in a recession?
Some elements of the CARES Act will have the desired effect of bolstering consumer spending, the main driver of the US economy.
When credit dries up, so does innovation
Credit shocks lead to lower investment in product development and innovation, which can stunt both a company's near-term performance and future growth potential.
Consumers’ three-dimensional chess game in a recession
The combined effects of consumers changing how and where they shop in a shrinking economy have been poorly understood.
As house prices fall, so will retail prices
Falling prices are likely to compound the effects of soaring unemployment and plunging business activity.
Producers may contribute to the economic contagion from COVID-19
Economic shocks in one county hurt demand in that same county—but also changed what companies sold elsewhere.
Why low-income families miss out on bulk buying
Geography, store location, liquidity, and storage capacity affect purchasing decisions.
April 2020
How retailers inadvertently contribute to hoarding
Retailers' delay in increasing prices in response to demand spike may actually contribute to hoarding.
October 2019
Demand for niche products is growing
Marketers will have to cater to increasingly narrow tastes.
June 2019
Why banning plastic bags doesn’t work as intended
Benefits of bag regulations are mitigated by changes in consumer behavior.
June 2019
Why the power of TV advertising has been overstated
Television advertising may be considerably less effective than published studies suggest.
April 2019
Battle of the coupons: How retailers and manufacturers compete
Different types of products call for different strategies in pricing and discount levels.
July 2018
The best way to price your single-serve coffee
Tied goods have generated high margins over time, but competition is changing that.
June 2018
When the government writes checks, consumers spend more
During the Great Recession, every $1 in stimulus led to 18 cents in additional local consumer spending.
June 2018
How to improve retailers’ decisions on what to sell
How retailers resolve the what-to-sell conundrum depends on whether price, convenience, or choice of brands matters most to a store’s specific clientele.
April 2018
How drug ads can help patients get access to treatment
Research suggests that marketing antidepressants to consumers has had some benefits, but hasn’t raised prices.
March 2018
E-cigarettes might (eventually) help smokers quit
E-cigarette use increases the probability that a smoker will try to kick the habit.
February 2018
Higher income, healthier groceries
Reexamining the conventional wisdom on food deserts
January 2018
The conventional wisdom on food deserts may be all wrong
Even when families have access to healthier foods, they don’t necessarily buy them.
December 2017
Do people tell economists the truth?
People aren’t necessarily accurate when they recount how they spend their money.
April 2017
Brand names are losing market share, regardless of rising incomes
Household income may have a smaller impact on the success of private-label brands than previously believed.
June 2015
Welcome to Nerdopolis
Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, may be, for many, a perfect place to live.
November 2015
Video: What happens when brands lie?
December 2013
The secrets of shopping
Around the world, billions of sales transactions every month, down to a can of Coca-Cola from a local store, are recorded in some way by Nielsen, the measurement and information firm that has been gathering data from retailers and consumers for 90 years.
December 2006
The geography of brands
New insights into the local performance of nationally distributed brands
June 2002
Why responsiveness to retail promotions varies across retailers
New research looks beyond price cuts.