Using Search Engines to Find Online Medical Information

Al-Ubaydli shares some useful tips for making the most of search engines

Understanding How the Coronavirus Affects the Global Economy: A Guide for Non-Economists

The coronavirus is causing considerable damage to the global economy, and the potential damage is continuing to grow. Unlike many other crises, evaluating the economic impact of the coronavirus is extremely challenging, due to the complexity of the ways in which it affects economic activity. This paper explains the main channels that economists think about when attempting to gauge the virus’s economic fallout, and then presents some of the most recent assessments being circulated in the research community. It is written in a manner that is accessible to non-economists, while still making use of the cutting-edge contributions made in the academic literature

Understanding How the Coronavirus Affects the Global Economy: A Guide for Non-Economists

The coronavirus is causing considerable damage to the global economy, and the potential damage is continuing to grow. Unlike many other crises, evaluating the economic impact of the coronavirus is extremely challenging, due to the complexity of the ways in which it affects economic activity. This paper explains the main channels that economists think about when attempting to gauge the virus’s economic fallout, and then presents some of the most recent assessments being circulated in the research community. It is written in a manner that is accessible to non-economists, while still making use of the cutting-edge contributions made in the academic literature

The Dissemination of Scholarly Information: Old Approaches and New Possibilities

Current methods of disseminating scholarly information focus on the use of journals who retain exclusive rights in the material they publish. Using a simple model we explore the reasons for the development of the traditional journal model, why it is no longer efficient and how it could be improved upon. One of our main aims is to go beyond the basic question of distribution (access) to that of filtering, i.e. the process of matching information with the scholars who want it. With the volume of information production ever growing - and attention ever more scarce - filtering is becoming crucial and digital technology offers the possibility of radical innovation in this area. In particular, distribution and filtering can be separated allowing filtering to be made open and decentralized. This would promises to deliver dramatic increases in transparency and efficiency as well as greatly increased innovation in related product, processes and services

On the Generalizability of Experimental Results in Economics: With a Response to Commentors

Economists are increasingly turning to the experimental method as a means to estimate causal effects. By using randomization to identify key treatment effects, theories previously viewed as untestable are now scrutinized, efficacy of public policies are now more easily verified, and stakeholders can swiftly add empirical evidence to aid their decision-making. This study provides an overview of experimental methods in economics, with a special focus on developing an economic theory of generalizability. Given that field experiments are in their infancy, our secondary focus pertains to a discussion of the various parameters that they identify, and how they add to scientific knowledge. We conclude that until we conduct more field experiments that build a bridge between the lab and the naturally-occurring settings of interest we cannot begin to make strong conclusions empirically on the crucial question of generalizability from the lab to the field

مجلس ”التنسيق“ وليس ”التعاون“: تحدّيات الاتحاد أمام الدول الأعضاء

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has progressed substantially since its inception in 1981, and it has developed from defense and military cooperation to economic integration, such as the customs union, the single market, and firm plans for monetary union. Some of the member states are currently aiming to evolve the relationship from cooperation into a potentially complete union, especially in the economic, defense, and foreign policy domains. The dream of union has the potential to confer significant and unprecedented benefits upon the Gulf countries. However, among the relatively enthusiastic states, there exists a supposition that it is possible to forge a union that does not impinge upon the independence and sovereignty of the member countries, and without the larger countries dominating the smaller ones. This principle is fundamentally incorrect and unrealistic. The reason is that a functioning union is based on the principle of realizing a collective goal even, if it contradicts a member's short term interests. In fact the prevalence of this erroneous mindset explains the failure to realize a substantial return on Gulf economic projects, and it also threatens the success of the single currency. If the Gulf countries want to seriously consider the idea of a political union, they need to fundamentally change the GCC and their own views on the requirements for constructive interaction. The European experience, as embodied in the European Union (EU), is a useful source of information and recommendations on the best way to realize the ambitious and promising project of political union

From hands off to hands on: the evolution of Bahrain's industrial policy during the 21st century

Purpose – This paper aims to address two fundamental questions: (1) How has Bahrain's industrial policy evolved during the 21st century? and (2) what factors contribute to this evolution? Design/methodology/approach – Utilizing secondary data, this paper identifies key decision-makers responsible for economic policy in Bahrain and delineates the evolution of Bahrain's industrial policy throughout the 21st century. Subsequently, it employs a series of interviews with elite civil servants engaged in the formulation and implementation of Bahrain's economic policies to understand the reasons behind the observed changes. Findings – Since assuming the role of Crown Prince in 1999, Sh. Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa has been the key economic decision-maker in Bahrain. During the 21st century, Bahrain has shifted away from decisions closely aligned with the Washington Consensus towards those more in line with classical industrial policy. Interviews reveal that the private sector's underperformance in job creation, coupled with fiscal pressures, has driven this departure from the Washington Consensus. Moreover, the early successes of the interventionist Saudi Vision 2030 and Bahrain's own success in technocratically managing the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated this transition. Practical implications – Insights into the determinants of Bahrain's industrial policy can guide policymakers in refining future strategies. Recognizing the positive role of intellectual developments in academic economics literature becomes crucial for informed decision-making. Originality/value – This paper fills a gap in the existing literature by providing answers to its research questions, particularly considering the significant changes witnessed in Bahrain's industrial policy post-pandemic

Can tailored communications motivate volunteers? A field experiment

Over 25% of the US population volunteers. Clary et al. (1998) devised a survey that identifies a volunteer’s primary motive for volunteering. We investigate the effect of tailoring the communications that volunteers receive from their organizations (e.g., printed newsletters, update emails) to each volunteer’s stated motive for volunteering affects volunteer performance. We find that in general, such tailoring has no effect, but that for volunteers who are motivated primarily by the pursuit of career-related benefits, such tailoring can have a substantial, positive effect on hours volunteered. We also find that the (in)effectiveness of this tailoring does not depend upon the volunteers’ knowledge of the tailoring. The tailoring of communications does not involve the explicit manipulation of material incentives. This renders it particularly attractive given the emergence of evidence on how extrinsic incentives can crowd out intrinsic incentives, especially in the domain of charitable contributions