Richard Korman
Drowning in Good Intentions
Heroism is a virtue, but how do we keep water rescuers from becoming victims themselves?
Calculating an End to Divisive Politics
Prolific political scientist Steven Brams has been promoting peace and fairness one algorithm at a time.
Brams: Use Approval Voting in Presidential Primaries
Steven J. Brams says approval voting, in which voters can vote for more than one candidate, is a better way to conduct multiple candidate elections.
Brams: Let Congress Select Super Committees
Instead of party leaders selecting members of Congress to form a super committee to hash out problems, Steven J. Brahms suggests full houses of Congress make the picks using the minimax procedure.
Brams: Negotiate Mideast Peace With Point System
When rivals negotiate, Steven J. Brams' suggests using the adjusted winner technique, which gives negotiators 100 points apiece and for them to start the bidding.
Brams: Kick Coin Flips Out of NFL Overtimes
Instead of leaving it up to a coin flip, Steven J. Brams says the NFL should start overtime by giving the ball to the team that wins a bidding war for the kickoff.
How to Keep the Devil From Getting More Than His Due
Historians discover that the devil in the ancient texts is not nearly as frightening as the one who gives us the shakes in movies.
Could More Black-White Interracial Marriages Cure Inequality?
On the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision clearing the path for interracial marriage, Richard Korman examines the argument that more intermarriage would create more equality.
Is It Ever OK to Spank My Child?
Academics come to semantic blows over challenging the baby boom orthodoxy that physical punishment for children is always a bad idea.
How Teen Pregnancy Can Benefit Poor Mothers
Usually pictured solely as a scourge, pregnancy for unmarried poor teens may actually have some benefits for the mom.
Brand Loyalty Is Established Early and Grows With Age
Researchers show why it's good that the elderly habitually stick to their favorite brands and how less ambitious shopping can make you a happier senior.
What I Could Tell Tiger About Divorce
The changing complexity of American family life keeps researchers busy and a father finds it hard to share the daddy space with his kids' new stepfather.
Are Men More Dangerous After A Home Team Upset?
Domestic violence and sports have been uneasy partners in the public eye, and new research finds some credence.
Tournament Theory and Dog Racing
Although it may be hard to discern at the CEO level, higher pay equals higher performance. Two academics went to the track to suss out why.
Deflating the Grade Inflation Scare
A sociologist and an economist look at collegiate grade inflation and find a bogeyman that doesn't frighten them at all.
Did Financial Rules Mandate a Meltdown?
A libertarian look at the current pay kerfuffle for financial services companies suggests regulating executive compensation will not produce healthier capitalism.
Are Some Airlines Just Too Dangerous to Fly?
A new study calls for standardizing aircraft maintenance across the globe, but until then, says one co-author, the answer just might be yes.