Business & Industry News -- ScienceDaily

Increasing individualism in US linked with rise of white-collar jobs Posted: 05 Feb 2015 11:29 AM PST Rising individualism in the United States over the last 150 years is mainly associated with a societal shift toward more white-collar occupations, according to new research. The study, which looked at various cultural indicators -- including word usage in books, trends in baby names, and shifts in family structure -- suggests that a shift toward greater individualism is systematically correlated with socioeconomic trends, but not with trends in urbanization or environmental demands such as frequency of diseases or disasters.

Novel method projects growth potential of new firms: Which tech businesses will thrive? Posted: 05 Feb 2015 11:29 AM PST New businesses spring up all the time in the U.S. But which ones have the greatest ability to become big? A new method based on an empirical study, projects the growth potential of high-tech firms with new precision -- and could help local or regional policymakers assess their growth prospects.

Choosing a cell phone, prescription drug plan or new car? Read this first Posted: 03 Feb 2015 11:19 AM PST To help people make better choices when confronted by a large number of options, researchers have studied two decision-making strategies that break down the options into smaller groups that can be evaluated more effectively.