Online church services reduce 'sense of loneliness,' says Baker Institute expert
March 23, 2020
HOUSTON – (March 23, 2020) – With local and state government officials restricting large public gatherings and President Trump urging Americans to limit their gatherings to fewer than 10 people during the novel coronavirus outbreak, houses of worship all over the country are streaming services online. Even a reduced service can ease "the sense of loneliness," said William Martin, the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Panic-buyers not making rational decisions, says Rice U. consumer behavior expert
March 20, 2020
HOUSTON – (March 20, 2020) – Many Americans who are worried about being able to provide food, water and other necessities for their families during the coronavirus outbreak aren’t making rational decisions, according to a consumer behavior expert at Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business. Utpal Dholakia, professor of marketing at Rice Business, is available to discuss the dynamics at play.
Valentine's Day gifts make men feel like heroes, expert says
February 13, 2020
HOUSTON – (Feb. 13, 2020) – A new survey finds men are more willing to rack up credit card debt if Valentine’s Day gifts are involved. In fact, research shows some behaviors tend to reinforce people's gender identity — and that includes Valentine’s Day gift-giving behavior, according to a marketing and customer relationships expert at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business.
Benefits boost for parents not enough, says Baker Institute expert
February 4, 2020
HOUSTON – (Feb. 4, 2020) – Congress recently passed a bill granting 12 weeks of paid parental leave to federal workers the same week it established the SECURE Act, which offers new parents an option for penalty-free withdrawals from retirement accounts.
Rice PR expert weighs in on Astros cheating scandal
January 14, 2020
HOUSTON – (Jan. 14, 2019) – Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch were fired by team owner Jim Crane Monday after Major League Baseball suspended them for a year each following an investigation that discovered Houston cheated using technology en route to winning the 2017 World Series. "Sports is a unique context where (fan) loyalty persists in spite of transgressions by the team or its players," said Anastasiya (Annie) Zavyalova, associate professor of strategic management at Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business. "Considering the Astros' recent victory right after Hurricane Harvey, I expect Astros fans to continue to support the team in light of this scandal."
Trump 'playing a high-stakes game with Iran,' says Baker Institute expert
January 2, 2020
HOUSTON – (Jan. 2, 2020) – The United States could take preemptive military action if it gets sufficient warning that Iran or its proxy forces are planning further strikes on American interests in the Middle East, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said today. Joe Barnes, a foreign policy expert and the Bonner Means Baker Fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is available to discuss this development and the state of U.S.-Iranian relations with the media.