Economics

A new scoping review examines how the visual analogue scale—a simple tool where patients rate their health on a line from 0 to 100—is being used in clinical research and real-world healthcare decisions. The finding matters because these measurements increasingly drive pharmaceutical approvals, insurance coverage decisions, and treatment pricing across major markets.EN

Stordata-analyser skapar tre distinkta värden för ledande beslutsfattare: operativ effektivitet, strategisk omvandling och adaptiv organisatorisk förmåga. En genomgång av 62 studier från 2020–2025 visar att beskrivande analyser möjliggör realtidsövervakning och snabba operativa reaktioner, medan prediktiv analys driver strategiskt lärande och motståndskraft. Prescriptiv analys aktiverar kontinuerlig organisatorisk omställning och optimering av verksamheten. Forskare från Linnaeus University identifierar dock kritiska spänningar som alla organisationer måste lösa: balansen mellan automatisering och mänskligt omdöme, algoritmmisk autonomi kontra mänsklig kontroll, samt behövet att kombinera analytisk precision med tolkningsbarhet. För ekonomichefer och riskanalytiker innebär detta att datastrategier måste differentieras efter beslutstyp, inte implementeras som universal lösning. Framgångsfaktorn ligger i att navigera mellan teknisk kapacitet och organisatorisk kontroll.

Researchers have developed a blockchain-based system to combat counterfeit products, grounding the approach in behavioral theory about how people actually adopt new technology. The finding matters because counterfeiting costs companies billions annually, yet tech solutions fail without addressing why supply chain managers and consumers resist using them.EN

A new study examines whether manufacturers should build their own logistics operations or outsource them as they shift toward service-based business models. The decision has major implications for profitability and competitiveness, yet companies often lack clear guidance on which path works best.EN

A new study finds that steep top tax rates can reduce entrepreneurship and worsen inequality, creating an unintended policy trap. For governments weighing tax policy against inequality concerns, the research suggests the relationship is more complex than previously understood—and that tax design matters as much as tax rates.EN

Seven major defence contractors dramatically altered their supply chain strategies between 2014 and 2024, stockpiling inventory during crises while relying on supplier partnerships during stable periods. The shift reveals how geopolitical and pandemic shocks force companies to choose between costly buffers and vulnerable just-in-time operations—a trade-off now central to industrial resilience planning.EN

A new study reveals that conflicting legal and industry definitions of remanufacturing—a $200+ billion global sector—are blocking trade and consumer acceptance. Researchers propose a unified definition that emphasizes quality standards, potentially unlocking significant growth for manufacturers betting on circular business models.EN

New research on population-wide career data reveals that entrepreneurs almost always stay in the industries where they previously worked — and those who do earn significantly more. The finding challenges the narrative of entrepreneurship as a bold career pivot, suggesting instead that starting a business is typically a calculated extension of existing industry expertise.EN

A new study of 115 European consumers reveals that while packaging-free shopping appeals to environmentally conscious buyers, most eventually mix it with conventional products due to limited selection and convenience. Retailers and brands face a critical choice: expand packaging-free offerings strategically or risk losing sustainability-minded customers to hybrid shopping models.EN

A new study of Swedish news organizations reveals that labor unions' traditional negotiating tactics are failing to shield journalists from the relentless pace of digital transformation, layoffs, and restructuring. As newsrooms pivot rapidly to new business models, unions find their existing playbook inadequate—and internal divisions threaten their effectiveness just when members need protection most.EN

A Swedish study of 1,437 patients found healthcare spending on advanced breast cancer nearly doubled in the last quarter of life, driven primarily by hospitalizations and palliative care. The findings reveal which patients incur the highest costs, offering health systems and insurers a roadmap for better resource planning and care delivery decisions.EN

Researchers studying entrepreneurship unknowingly adopt negative metaphors—like organizations as machines or organisms—that constrain how we think about business creation. By surfacing these hidden mental frameworks and proposing new ones, the work opens pathways to overlooked research questions and a more optimistic view of what companies can achieve.EN

A new study reveals how procurement teams at high-tech defence firms orchestrate complex supply chains to deliver customized military projects on time. The findings suggest that treating procurement as a strategic mediator—rather than a clerical function—helps companies adapt faster when project demands shift unexpectedly.EN

New research reveals that high-speed rail projects materially alter municipal financing strategies and debt structures. The finding matters for city planners and investors evaluating infrastructure investments, as rail corridors appear to reshape local government access to capital markets and long-term fiscal planning.EN

A study of Nigerian banks shows that disclosing artificial intelligence capabilities in annual reports correlates with better financial returns and market value. The finding suggests that in markets without formal AI regulation, transparency about digital strategy can reduce investor uncertainty and signal competitive readiness.EN

A new study reveals that firms excelling at green innovation don't just develop sustainable products—they stay attuned to market demands while doing it. The finding suggests that responsiveness to customer needs, not sustainability credentials alone, drives commercial success in the competitive green economy.EN

A new economics paper examines what determines whether engineering graduates actually work as engineers—or pursue other careers. The findings matter for companies struggling with talent shortages and policymakers trying to build a technical workforce that matches national needs.EN

People motivated by relative status—wanting to match or exceed their peers' lifestyles—are significantly more likely to launch their own ventures, according to new research. The finding helps explain entrepreneurship patterns and could reshape how policymakers design startup incentives and economic mobility programs.EN

Swedish researchers identified three distinct pathways through which PhD students employed at firms collaborate with universities on research projects. The finding suggests that how these dual-role workers enter such partnerships shapes their effectiveness at translating insights between boardrooms and labs—a capability increasingly vital as companies compete on innovation.EN

Businesses in Zambia that had adopted digital technologies before the pandemic lost significantly less revenue than competitors, new World Bank data shows. The finding suggests that digital investment could help developing-country firms survive economic shocks—a crucial insight as supply chain disruptions and climate risks mount.EN

A study of 59,000 Indians over 45 reveals that wealthier citizens are 60% more likely to have controlled blood pressure, while rural areas lag far behind cities in hypertension care. The findings suggest unequal state health budgets are driving preventable cardiovascular disease deaths across India's poorer regions.EN

A new analysis of US household surveys reveals that low-skilled workers are dangerously optimistic about future employment, while college-educated workers have realistic expectations. This bias pushes struggling workers to save less and spend more, widening wealth inequality significantly and reducing their lifetime welfare by measurable amounts.EN

A new analysis of Northvolt's bankruptcy reveals how public funding meant to boost European battery independence paradoxically encouraged excessive risk-taking and unrealistic expansion timelines. The study identifies a critical tension: subsidies can distort business judgment while political urgency around climate goals creates blind spots that regulators and investors alike fail to catch.EN

Two decades of data from Swedish manufacturers show that firms investing in machinery and equipment create more jobs than those that don't—and low-investing firms are significantly more likely to fail. The finding challenges popular fears about automation and suggests technology-driven growth remains viable for manufacturers willing to invest.EN

Researchers have developed an AI tool that automatically identifies engineering design evolution patterns hidden in patent documents, achieving 83% accuracy. The breakthrough enables companies and policymakers to systematically monitor competitor innovation trends and forecast technology development—turning millions of patents into actionable business intelligence.EN