Social Policy

A Swedish study of 1,700 people shows that factual information can narrow the public's exaggerated fears about immigrant crime. But the correction created unintended side effects: people's beliefs about specific crime types shifted in ways not supported by data, suggesting policymakers must be cautious about how they counter misinformation.EN

A survey of over 1,000 students reveals that educational videos on social media are reshaping how young people learn—driven almost entirely by a desire for better test scores rather than deeper understanding. The finding raises urgent questions for educators and policymakers about whether this shift serves students' long-term development or merely optimizes short-term performance.EN

A Swedish university study reveals that instructors teaching problem-based learning hold vastly different views on what problems are actually for—some see them as tools to hit specific learning targets, others as transformative experiences. This variation in teacher mindset directly influences student outcomes, suggesting that training educators on problem design could significantly improve workforce readiness.EN

A Swedish study of 21 university literature professors reveals most lack confidence in education research and actively avoid using it in teacher training. The finding exposes a critical gap in how universities prepare K-12 teachers, suggesting broader problems with translating academic research into practical classroom instruction across disciplines.EN

Sweden has successfully adapted a U.S. law enforcement technique called focused deterrence to reduce gang-related shootings in Malmö, marking the first Nordic implementation of the approach. The findings suggest that targeted intervention strategies can work across different national contexts, offering policymakers a potential blueprint for addressing gun violence in comparable developed economies.EN

A new viewpoint calls for social work to adopt prevention strategies from public health, shifting focus from fixing problems after they occur to stopping them before they start. The approach could reduce costs and improve outcomes by addressing root causes like poverty and poor housing rather than their consequences.EN

A new study of German cleaning platform Helpling reveals how clients knowingly accept or ignore poor working conditions, often justifying them through market logic. The findings expose a gap between platforms' legal positioning and worker reality—raising questions for regulators and companies relying on the gig economy model.EN

A new study documents how people of color face everyday racism in Swedish stores—from surveillance to exclusion—challenging the country's image as a color-blind society. The findings expose how consumption spaces, often viewed as neutral marketplaces, actively reproduce racial inequality and urban segregation, with implications for retailers, city planners, and policymakers tackling social division.EN

Fiji and Vanuatu have built comprehensive climate relocation policies, but analysis reveals they systematically undervalue cultural tradition, customary governance, and community identity—potentially undermining their own effectiveness. For policymakers and development organizations, the finding signals that technically sound relocation frameworks fail without indigenous cultural integration.EN

Researchers have developed a statistical approach that accurately predicts how quickly Chinese outbound tourism will bounce back after major disruptions like COVID-19. The method combines historical data with a theoretical recovery curve, offering governments and travel companies a more reliable planning tool than conventional forecasting—critical as China's tourism spending reshapes global markets.EN

A new study documents how marginalized communities are weaponizing creative methods—collaborative zine-making—to challenge AI systems that systematically misrepresent or exclude them. The findings offer tech companies and policymakers a blueprint for understanding where algorithmic bias takes root and how affected communities are building their own knowledge systems outside corporate tech ecosystems.EN

A new collection of research shows how critical disability studies is reshaping policy, education, and healthcare across Scandinavia by challenging embedded assumptions about ability. For policymakers and organizational leaders, the work offers a framework for identifying and removing systemic barriers that limit access and equity.EN

A new paper titled 'Entangled futures' examines the reciprocal relationship between artificial intelligence development and social structures. For business leaders and policymakers, understanding these dynamics is critical for anticipating regulatory shifts, workforce impacts, and competitive advantages as AI becomes embedded in institutions.EN

Researchers have developed a unified approach combining language analysis with theory to decode how knowledge actually gets constructed in classrooms. The framework reveals practical patterns that could help educators and policymakers design more effective teaching methods across different subjects and settings.EN

A survey of 676 university students in Sweden found significant gaps between men and women in both their attitudes toward intimate partner violence and their willingness to intervene. The findings suggest that workplace training and bystander intervention programs may need gender-tailored approaches to shift behavior among younger workers and future leaders.EN

A new study of Red Cross posts reveals how nonprofits now account for their work through personal stories and real-time updates on Facebook, rather than annual reports. This shift could reshape donor expectations and force NGOs to rethink how they measure and communicate performance to funders and the public.EN

A new study reveals how domestic cleaning platforms deliberately render workers invisible—unlike food delivery or ride-hail apps—perpetuating centuries-old devaluation of household labor. The findings expose a business model that depends on obscuring workers' presence, complicating efforts to organize labor, set standards, or build occupational identity in the sector.EN

Researchers tested popular AI-powered no-code platforms and found they consistently generate gender-biased responses when asked to assign roles, traits, and preferences. Without intervention, these tools risk embedding outdated stereotypes into millions of workplace applications built by non-technical staff.EN

Europe's new law to secure critical raw materials for clean energy is creating unexpected legal conflicts with existing water and waste regulations, potentially slowing recovery projects. The clash between accelerating mineral extraction and environmental safeguards could derail the EU's supply strategy and increase costs for manufacturers dependent on these materials.EN

A new analysis of Sweden's staggered winter school holidays reveals that time away from school reduces violent assaults among children aged 7–14 by 46 percent, suggesting the school environment itself concentrates youth conflict. The finding has implications for how policymakers design school schedules and how businesses plan workforce demands around holiday periods.EN

A new study shows that generative AI can dramatically improve how organizations manage and use internal data—but only if companies first transform their existing knowledge systems. Without proper preparation, firms risk squandering AI investments, researchers warn, making organizational readiness a critical success factor for executives.EN

Researchers have developed a mathematical model that schedules volunteer teams more efficiently during flood recovery, reducing the need for expensive paid contractors. The tool could help cash-strapped municipalities and nonprofits stretch limited resources while speeding up community rebuilding after major floods.EN

A new analysis of community climate initiatives identifies four distinct drivers—social, ecological, economic, and political—that move people to participate in collective climate action. Understanding these motives matters for policymakers and organizations seeking to build sustainable, locally rooted climate programs that stick.EN

A smartphone tracking study of 860 pregnant women in Barcelona reveals that ethnicity, education, and neighborhood walkability are stronger predictors of active travel than most planners assume. The findings expose critical gaps in how cities design transportation for pregnant women, suggesting that one-size-fits-all transit planning actively discourages movement during pregnancy.EN

Researchers have developed a practical method for organizations to weigh competing values—accuracy, privacy, fairness—when deploying AI systems. The framework makes ethical choices transparent and defensible, addressing a persistent gap between AI ethics principles and real-world implementation decisions across healthcare, finance, and criminal justice.EN