Research
High school jobs: Impact is different for whites and minorities
January 24th, 2013
ANN ARBOR — African American and Hispanic students are less likely than whites to work part-time in high school, according to a University of Michigan study. But those who do hold jobs tend to work longer hours, and are less…
Video games intensify anti-Arab stereotypes, new study shows
January 15th, 2013
ANN ARBOR – Playing violent video games about terrorism strengthens negative stereotypes about Arabs, even when Arabs are not portrayed in the games. That is one of the findings of an innovative new study in the January issue of Psychology…
Consumer confidence plunges in December
December 21st, 2012
ANN ARBOR—Confidence plunged in December as consumers confronted the rising likelihood that political gridlock would push the country over the fiscal cliff. Consumers were more pessimistic about their future finances, and more pessimistic about the outlook for the overall economy…
Teen smoking continues to decline
December 18th, 2012
ANN ARBOR— The 2012 national survey results from the Monitoring the Future study show a continuation of the declines in teen smoking in all three grades under study—grades 8, 10, and 12. Based on annual surveys of 45,000 to 50,000…
Rise in teen marijuana use stalls
December 18th, 2012
ANN ARBOR— National samples of 45,000 to 50,000 students in three grades (8, 10, and 12) have been surveyed every year since 1991 as part of the nationwide Monitoring the Future study. Among the most important findings from this year’s…
Media coverage, attitudes about Latinos drive immigration debate
December 7th, 2012
ANN ARBOR—The debate about immigration policies is shaped primarily by how one group feels about another—not solely based on economic concerns, according to a new University of Michigan study. White Americans’ feelings about Latinos, but not other groups, powerfully drive…
Consumer confidence remains high in November, but will Congressional Grinch steal Christmas?
November 26th, 2012
ANN ARBOR—Consumer confidence remained largely unchanged from last month at its highest level in five years, according to University of Michigan economist Richard Curtin, director of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. The Surveys, conducted by the U-M Institute for Social…
The 2013 Consumer Spending Outlook
November 16th, 2012
ISR economist Richard Curtin, Director of the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers, presented his 2013 forecast for consumer confidence on Thursday, November 15, 2012, at the annual U-M Economic Outlook Conference.
Aspiration, assets can lead youth down path to college
November 16th, 2012
ANN ARBOR—Aspiring to attend college is not enough for children who want to reach their goals. The chances of finishing high school and college are significantly higher for children for whom this aspiration is accessible and relevant in their daily…
Latest disability trends: Oldest old improving but Boomers doing worse
October 30th, 2012
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—The oldest old are doing better and those approaching late life are doing worse. But Americans between the ages of 65 and 84 are experiencing about the same level of disabilities as they did at the start of…