National Bureau of Economic Research

A study analyzing 14 million Chinese patents found that Chinese universities contribute more than a quarter of inventions in critical technology fields like AI and space, indicating innovation is spread widely across parties. The research suggests China's patent boom has converged with or overtaken the quality of U.S. counterparts. Leading open-source models such as DeepSeek, Moonshot, and Z.AI are reported to be competing directly with U.S. frontier labs.

According to Mark Dixon, CEO of IWG, commuting could be extinct within the next 15 years because the workplace of the future is everywhere and most white-collar work is online and in the cloud. Research from IWG and global engineering consultancy Arup suggests that long daily commutes could be extinct by 2040. Furthermore, data shows that younger CEOs are more likely to allow staff to work remotely than their older counterparts.

Women outnumbered men in the U.S. workforce for the third time in history as of early 2026, driven by a structural decline in male labor participation and a rise in female workforce growth. The Federal Reserve and analysis from Indeed’s Hiring Lab highlight this shift as semi-permanent, with men’s labor force participation dropping 20 points since 1948 and women gaining two-thirds of all jobs added between February 2024 and 2026.

A study by Harvard, Duke, and Wharton researchers found that Ivy League graduates who shared college sports teams with employees at firms like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America had significantly higher odds of being hired there compared to those who only shared a university. The research highlights the 'teammate multiplier' effect, showing that shared athletic experiences, not just educational background, strongly influence Wall Street hiring.

Employers are reducing coverage for GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy to cut healthcare costs, but a study suggests this may backfire. Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research found GLP-1 treatments reduced long-term sick leave by 17.3% and generated $866 in annual productivity gains per worker in Denmark. However, U.S. employers face different healthcare systems and higher costs, complicating direct comparisons.

The Netherlands spends more per capita on publicly funded elder care than any other country, yet nearly half of elderly Dutch residents still rely on informal family and friend care. In the U.S., over 80% of elderly individuals needing care depend on kin, challenging the misconception that professional care is more prevalent. The article highlights that even with higher public investment, informal care remains dominant globally.

Ten years after Brexit, Britain faces economic struggles including anemic growth, high taxes, and strained public services, with business leaders expressing frustration over unmet promises. The UK's departure from the EU led to increased trade costs and a loss of wealth, according to economists and a recent report.

Britain's economic struggles a decade after Brexit have led to frustration among business leaders, with promises of economic growth unfulfilled. Experts attribute the weakened economy to Brexit's impact on trade and prosperity.

A decade after Britain's Brexit vote, business leaders from opposing sides of the debate express frustration over unmet economic promises. The article highlights sluggish growth, high taxes, and challenges like restricted EU market access, with experts citing long-term wealth losses due to Brexit.

Britain's economic struggles post-Brexit have led to frustration among business leaders from both sides of the 2016 vote. Promised economic benefits have not materialized, with anemic growth, high taxes, and strained public services, while economists highlight long-term wealth losses from leaving the EU single market.

A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that middle-aged adults using GLP-1 drugs for obesity could save $192,735 in lifetime medical costs on average, with higher savings ($220,000) for those without college degrees. The study attributes these savings to GLP-1s' direct impact on appetite and metabolism, which benefits individuals with limited time for diet/exercise regimens.

The U.S. birth rate has declined by 22% since 2007, with a study suggesting smartphones, including the iPhone, may account for nearly half of this drop by reducing relationship formation and partnered intimacy. The National Bureau of Economic Research paper highlights factors like increased access to pornography and reduced social contact as contributing to the decline.

A study suggests the iPhone may account for 33-52% of the U.S. birth rate decline between 2007-2011 by reducing in-person interactions and increasing pornography use. The research, from the National Bureau of Economic Research, notes a 22% overall fertility rate drop since 2007 but hasn't been peer-reviewed.

Retiring at 62 instead of 67 costs the average American $250,000 over their lifetime due to reduced Social Security benefits, increased longevity risk, and cognitive decline. The retirement age of 65 originated in 1889 with Germany’s pension system and was adopted by the U.S. in 1935, but modern life expectancy now makes it financially risky.

Kalshi performed similarly to experts on a key jobs forecasting test, indicating no significant difference in their abilities. The test results showed that Kalshi's predictions were comparable to those of experienced forecasters. This suggests that Kalshi's methods may be effective, but not exceptionally better than traditional expert forecasting.

A new study found that President Trump's immigration crackdown has not expanded job opportunities for American workers and is associated with an employment drain for some U.S.-born men. The research suggests that ICE activity led to a negative impact on employment of U.S.-born working men with at most a high-school education. There is no evidence that employers have driven up wages to attract U.S.-born workers.

The article discusses the relationship between employment and cognitive decline, citing evidence from labor market shocks. It is based on a paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The study explores how employment affects cognitive decline.