Emerging Research Addresses Global Challenges in Science and Economics
A collection of recent reports and studies highlighted challenges faced by researchers globally and explored emerging trends in economics. Five new economic papers, presented at the American Economic Association's annual meeting, offered insights into pressing issues such as economic opportunity, the reliability of government statistics, and the pandemic's impact on inflation, according to NPR News. These pre-peer review drafts provided a glimpse into emerging economic ideas and potential future news in the field.
In the realm of scientific research, Nature News addressed several critical issues. One editorial emphasized the importance of quality over quantity in PhD supervision, arguing that fostering independent critical thinkers requires intellectual challenge, strategic guidance, as well as training and networking opportunities. The publication also highlighted the difficult situation faced by Iranian researchers, who contend with low wages, high inflation, sociopolitical instability, resource mismanagement, oppression by the authorities and long-standing international sanctions. Unstable Internet connections, frequent power outages and lack of access to scholarly sources jeopardize collaborations. Scholars also have to contend with isolation, and sometimes biases, from the international community. And for those who work abroad, travelling to and from Iran is risky, even with visas and double citizenship. Nature News called on the scientific community to support their Iranian colleagues.
Another Nature News article examined the role of academic consulting, questioning whether it truly serves societal impact. The article suggested that the argument for consulting's impact assumes that consulting follows markets.
Beyond the scientific and economic spheres, Time magazine explored a different kind of challenge in interpersonal relationships. The article discussed the rise of the "placeholder partner," defined as someone who is good enough to date or live with, but not the person their partner plans to commit to in the long term. The author shared anecdotes of individuals who spent years in relationships, only to realize they were merely "in the meantime partner[s], until the real one comes along." The author expressed a personal fear of becoming a placeholder in future relationships.
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