News Bureau | ILLINOIS

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Paper: Strategic trade-offs in automobile design affect market-share value

Aug 3, 2016 8:45 am2056 views

Car companies can either “design for satisfaction” by investing in function and ergonomics or “design for delight” by investing in form, says new research from Raj Echambadi, a professor of business administration at Illinois.
New book explores lessons learned from the ‘bottom up’ in subsistence marketplaces

Jul 28, 2016 9:15 am852 views

A new book by Madhu Viswanathan, the Diane and Steven N. Miller Professor in Business at Illinois, explores the author’s personal journey as a scholar studying people living in poverty as well as how the impoverished function in the marketplace as consumers and entrepreneurs.
Would a universal basic income in the U.S. reduce inequality?

Jun 22, 2016 1:00 pm1070 views

A Minute With...™ labor expert Robert Bruno
Human trials of cancer drug PAC-1 continue with new investment

May 24, 2016 1:45 pm3891 views

Clinical trials of the anti-cancer agent PAC-1 are continuing to expand, thanks to a $7 million angel investment from an anonymous contributor who originally invested $4 million to help get the compound this far in the drug-approval pipeline.
Paper: Young workers hit hardest by slow hiring during recessions

May 16, 2016 10:00 am702 views

When hiring slows during recessions, the brunt of job losses is borne by job-seekers in their twenties and early thirties, according to a new paper by Eliza Forsythe, a professor of labor and employment relations and of economics at Illinois.
Will regulating e-cigarettes be good for public health?

May 10, 2016 11:15 am316 views

A Minute With…™ Julian Reif, expert in health care economics
‘Mobilization fatigue’ leads to diminishing returns for labor-backed voter turnout drives

Apr 18, 2016 9:00 am520 views

Repeated voter contact across multiple election cycles can eventually lead to “mobilization fatigue,” says new research from U. of I. labor professor Ryan Lamare.
U of I Flash Index drops to lowest level since December 2012

Apr 13, 2016 1:45 pm102 views

The University of Illinois Flash Index, which tracks economic activity in the state, fell for the second consecutive month in April, dropping to its lowest level since December 2012.
Flash Index down in March as Illinois economy lags behind rest of nation

Apr 1, 2016 3:15 pm58 views

The U. of I. Flash Index declined in March to 105.1 from its 105.6 level in February.
Spending on public higher education overlooks net benefits as investment in state’s future

Mar 10, 2016 9:00 am1383 views

Thinking of higher education funding as an investment that lowers costs – and not as mere consumption spending – could reframe the debate in Springfield, according to research from Walter W. McMahon, an emeritus professor of economics and of educational organization and leadership at the University of Illinois.
U. of I. Flash Index moves up in February as Illinois economy continues modest growth rate

Mar 3, 2016 9:00 am72 views

Illinois’ economy continues to grow at a modest rate despite a slight uptick in the unemployment rate, according to the University of Illinois Flash Index.
Why not have one national primary election for presidential nominees?

Feb 16, 2016 10:45 am3952 views

A Minute With...™ Mattias Polborn, professor of economics and political science
Paper: Homeownership a ‘dream deferred’ for millennial generation

Feb 8, 2016 10:45 am20564 views

Millennials face significant hurdles in their quest for homeownership, said Yilan Xu, a professor of agricultural and consumer economics at Illinois and co-author of a new paper examining homeownership trends among those born between 1980-2000.
Beyond the big ads: teaching kids ad literacy and nutrition in grade school classrooms

Feb 4, 2016 1:45 pm3793 views

The Super Bowl will feature car ads, beer ads, food ads – but probably none for carrots. Most food ads, game time or anytime, are pitching less-healthy fare. Kids are often the target. Do they understand what an ad is? Who made it and why? Advertising professor Michelle Nelson worked with an Illinois school district to develop an advertising literacy curriculum that also promotes healthy eating.
Illinois' economic slowdown is consistent with national trend

Feb 2, 2016 8:30 am215 views

The U. of I. Flash Index fell again in January to 105.3 from its 105.5 level in December. As was the case last month, this is the lowest reading since March 2013 (104.7). This is consistent with data indicating a national economic slowdown.
Good boss? Bad boss? Study says workers leave both

Jan 27, 2016 10:15 am3435 views

Workers leave both good bosses and bad bosses, a finding that companies can use to their strategic advantage, according to research from Ravi S. Gajendran, a professor of business administration at Illinois.
U. of I. Flash Index: State's economic growth slowed considerably at end of 2015

Jan 4, 2016 4:30 pm108 views

The U. of I. Flash Index fell to 105.5 in December from its 106.1 level in November. This is not only the lowest reading all year, but the lowest reading since March 2013.
Book Corner: A look at how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program affects health and well-being

Dec 17, 2015 9:00 am467 views

A new book looks at aspects of how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program affects health and well-being. “SNAP Matters” includes a chapter on obesity by University of Illinois economist Craig Gundersen, one of the book’s editors.
How long could Illinois' budget impasse last?

Dec 10, 2015 10:30 am778 views

A Minute With...™ Christopher Z. Mooney, Director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs
Flash Index reverses 3-month trend, climbs in November

Dec 3, 2015 9:00 am106 views

The U. of I. Flash Index reversed a three-month trend in November and climbed to 106.1. The index measures economic activity in Illinois and shows that the state continues to slowly recover from the Great Recession, which technically ended more than six years ago.
Scarcity, not abundance, enhances consumer creativity, study says

Nov 16, 2015 9:45 am1423 views

Resource scarcity translates into enhanced consumer creativity, according to new research co-written by business professor Ravi Mehta.
Paper: Prior union experience correlates with voting for pro-labor issues

Nov 16, 2015 9:00 am662 views

Research from U. of I. labor professor Ryan Lamare found that a legislator’s past experience with labor unions is associated with an increase in voting for union-supported issues.
New book explores global reach of British royal family brand

Nov 4, 2015 9:00 am718 views

Cele Otnes, Investors in Business Education Professor in the College of Business at Illinois, is the co-author of the recently published book “Royal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture.”
Paper: Civic participation can bridge social-class segregation

Oct 5, 2015 11:00 am1388 views

Research from U. of I. labor professor Richard Benton says there’s a strong correlation between civic participation and improving the prestige of one’s social network.
Paper: Education, infrastructure key public investments for job growth

Sep 28, 2015 9:00 am610 views

Government spending on infrastructure and public education supports employment, says research co-written by Robert Bruno, a professor of labor and employment relations on the Urbana campus.
Why food insecurity still hasn't decreased in the U.S.

Sep 24, 2015 8:45 am504 views

A Minute With...™ U. of I. agricultural economist Craig Gundersen
Flash Index relatively steady despite volatility in stocks, state budget battle

Sep 1, 2015 10:45 am16 views

The U of I Flash Index remained steady in August despite volatility in the national and international stock markets. The index fell slightly to 106.5 in August from its 106.6 level in July. The index has remained in a narrow range for more than two years, reflecting steady but unspectacular growth.
When are you likely to feel the effects of the budgetary stalemate in Springfield?

Jul 22, 2015 9:00 am354 views

A Minute With...™ Christopher Z. Mooney, director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs
U. of I. finance professor Jeffrey R. Brown named dean of College of Business

Jun 30, 2015 9:15 am822 views

Jeffrey R. Brown, the William G. Karnes Professor of Finance, has been named the 10th dean of the College of Business, pending approval by the U. of I. Board of Trustees.
Unionizing Younger Workers

Jun 8, 2015 11:00 am175 views

A Minute With™...U. of I. labor expert Robert Bruno
What's next for pension reform in Illinois?

May 21, 2015 12:15 pm891 views

A Minute With™...John D. Colombo, pension reform expert
Study: For a competitive edge, keep an eye on your competition's ex-employees

May 11, 2015 9:00 am230 views

Companies often overlook the value of the comings and goings of their competitors’ ex-employees, says new research co-written by business administration professor Deepak Somaya.
Online MBA degree coming to U. of I.'s College of Business

May 5, 2015 9:15 am618 views

The new online MBA degree will democratize access to the coveted graduate degree, said Larry DeBrock, the Josef and Margot Lakonishok Endowed Dean of the College of Business.
Paper: 'Considerable scope' for improvement in agricultural pollution

Apr 21, 2015 9:00 am277 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - During the industrial era, financial indicators were a company's primary measuring stick. But as the concept of sustainable development has gained relevance, a fundamental change in the assumptions underlying how businesses are measured has also started to take hold.
Economists: Pros, cons to raising the gas tax in Illinois

Apr 20, 2015 9:00 am4635 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - After the precipitous drop in crude oil prices over the past nine months, some policymakers in Illinois have advocated raising the state's excise tax on gasoline, which has remained unchanged at 19 cents per gallon since 1990.
Paper: Absence of copyright has its own economic value, social benefits

Apr 13, 2015 9:00 am215 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A new study co-written by a University of Illinois expert in intellectual property law demonstrates that the value of creative works in the public domain such as books, images and music can be estimated at least as precisely as the value of commercially available copyrighted works.
Public employee pensions continue to lose out to gambling giveaways, expert says

Mar 24, 2015 9:00 am91 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A legacy of giveaways to gambling interests continues to haunt the pension system in Illinois, a leading national gambling critic and University of Illinois expert warns.
Study: Economic benefits of medical innovation undervalued

Mar 19, 2015 9:00 am275 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A new analysis co-written by a University of Illinois expert in health care economics concludes that increases in the pace of medical innovation reduce overall physical risks to health, and thus function in a manner similar to an expansion of or improvement in the efficiency of health insurance markets.
Structural reform litigation an effective tool for curbing police misconduct

Mar 18, 2015 9:00 am205 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 has served as the basis for the reform of many police departments in cities across the country, including Cincinnati, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. And in what's now seen as an increasingly likely next step, Ferguson, Missouri, will undergo its own Department of Justice-administered police reforms.
Paper: Development aid can exacerbate violence in war-torn countries

Mar 5, 2015 9:00 am175 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Although development aid is commonly seen as an important tool in the quest to reduce poverty in conflict-riven countries, new research co-written by a University of Illinois expert in development economics concludes that large-scale foreign aid programs can backfire and actually exacerbate violence in some long-running conflicts.
New book explores Great Recession's impact on higher education

Feb 20, 2015 9:00 am86 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - No sector of the economy was left unscathed in the aftermath of the Great Recession, which officially lasted from December 2007 to June 2009 but whose aftereffects continue to linger today.
The child care dilemma for working families

Feb 19, 2015 9:00 am191 views

With dual-earner families increasingly becoming the norm, President Obama trumpeted the importance of "universal child care" in his State of the Union address - a pivot from previous years, when he advocated for universal pre-kindergarten.
Changes in work, family demands affect body mass index of dual-income earners

Feb 18, 2015 9:00 am76 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A study co-written by a University of Illinois labor and employment relations professor shows that clocking extra hours at the office while juggling family demands takes a toll on the body mass index of individuals in dual-earner families.
Tax changes loom for state of Illinois ahead of budget address, expert says

Feb 17, 2015 9:00 am92 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - As Gov. Bruce Rauner readies his first budget address, expect him to propose changes that could have major consequences for certain demographics, a University of Illinois expert on taxation issues says.
U. of I. Flash Index starts off strong in 2015

Feb 5, 2015 9:00 am18 views

The U. of I. Flash Index rose to 106.8 in January from its 106.5 level in December. The Illinois economy continues to improve as we enter 2015. This month builds on almost three years of slow and steady growth in which the index remained well above 100, the dividing line between growth and decline.
Is the underfunding of higher ed pricing students out?

Jan 29, 2015 9:00 am83 views

Walter W. McMahon, a professor emeritus of economics and of educational organization and leadership at the University of Illinois, is the author of "Higher Learning, Greater Good: The Private & Social Benefits of Higher Education." An expert on the economics of education, McMahon spoke with News Bureau business and law editor Phil Ciciora about higher education funding in Illinois.
Research: Medical malpractice reform does little to contain health care costs

Jan 27, 2015 9:00 am705 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Two papers co-authored by a University of Illinois expert in the regulation and financing of health care conclude that tort reform has had relatively little impact on the U.S. health care system.
Expert: Pervasive 'credential creep' bad for health care practitioners, consumers

Jan 27, 2015 9:00 am450 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The outcome of a case argued before the U.S. Supreme Court last fall could potentially slow the trend of the ever-increasing number of occupations subject to state licensing, says a University of Illinois expert in the regulation and financing of health care.
Research: Tablet computers good medium for educational materials

Jan 21, 2015 9:00 am1098 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Despite being more commonly thought of as a device designed for the passive consumption of content, touch-screen tablet computers can support the learning process when used in an educational setting - and not just as a mere e-reader or laptop replacement, according to new research from a team of University of Illinois experts in business and e-learning.
Research: 'Organizational forgetting' erodes quality gains in supply chains

Jan 20, 2015 9:00 am64 views

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Just like physical assets, a company's organizational knowledge can depreciate over time. According to a paper co-authored by a University of Illinois expert in supply chain management, "organizational depreciation" can mute the effects of a company's quality performance initiatives, suggesting that mitigating those effects is essential to sustaining and enhancing quality performance in supply chains.

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