Not much detail, as the paper that makes the claim is only available at present to American Economic Association members; but in Did Austerity Cause Brexit? University of Warwick economist Thiemo Fetzer asserts that he found a "significant association between the exposure of an individual or area to the UK government's austerity-induced welfare reforms begun in 2010, and the following: the subsequent rise in support for the UK Independence Party, an important correlate of Leave support in the 2016 UK referendum on European Union membership; broader individual-level measures of political dissatisfaction; and direct measures of support for Leave. Leveraging data from all UK electoral contests since 2000, along with detailed, individual-level panel data, the findings suggest that the EU referendum could have resulted in a Remain victory had it not been for austerity." (Image: Peter Damian, CC-BY-SA) (via Marginal Revolution)
Cutbacks caused Brexit: austerity correlates with UKIP membership
Fatal car wrecks are correlated with stock-market fluctuations
Writing in The Journal of Health Economics, three economists claim (Sci Hub mirror) that "a one standard deviation reduction in daily stock market returns is associated with a 0.6% increase in fatal car accidents that happen after the stock market opening" and that this is robust across "a battery of falsification tests." READ THE REST
The 1970s called and they want their proto-McMansions back!
The latest installment of the always-delightful McMansion Hell (previously) departs from the usual format of mercilessly skewering the tasteless custom homes of the contemporary super-rich and instead delves into their historic precedent, the 1970s-vintage "proto-McMansion," AKA the "Styled Ranch." READ THE REST
You will be helped! Research using real-world situations fails to replicate the "bystander effect"
For decades, the "bystander effect" (previously) has been a bedrock of received psychological wisdom: "individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present; the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is that one of them will help." READ THE REST
This Xbox game developer bundle is on sale for a limited time
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Ever dreamed of being a video game designer? The 2023 Ultimate Xbox Game Developer Bundle makes the perfect starter kit for the gamer in your life! With the holidays right around the corner, you'll… READ THE REST
The best Microsoft Office subscription is less than $36 during our Deal Days event
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. If you have a computer, the odds are high that you need a Microsoft Office subscription. After all, it's the simplest and most efficient way to create presentations, type documents, send… READ THE REST
Fight the germs both inside your mouth and on your toothbrush!
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Would you wash your floors with an already dirty mop? Would you dust off your shelves with the same rag you used the last time, the one that still contains the… READ THE REST
