Latest news with #KansasStateUniversity
New York Times
12 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
The Bull Market for Economists Is Over. It's an Ominous Sign for the Economy.
The moment it dawned on Thomas Fullagar that his job search was not going well came in April, about six months into the process, when he applied for a position in Manhattan, Kan. The job, at a technology company called CivicPlus, involved relatively straightforward data analysis that he wouldn't strain to do. In fact, he had done much more complicated work while completing his Ph.D. in economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Further improving his odds, he had grown up in Manhattan, the home of Kansas State University, and his mother knew someone at the company, who helped fast-track his application. Yet despite his connections and credentials, he did not get the job. He didn't even get a second interview. 'It was in Manhattan, Kansas — who the heck is applying for this?' Dr. Fullagar, 33, wondered. 'That one was really baffling.' For decades, earning a Ph.D. in economics has been a nearly foolproof path to a lucrative career. Even as bearers of advanced degrees in history, English or anthropology struggled to find gainful employment, the popularity of economics as an undergraduate major created plenty of tenure-track teaching positions, while government agencies snatched up Ph.D. economists in bulk. Those looking for even larger paychecks could turn to tech companies, Wall Street and consulting firms, which bid up the price of economists as if they were a bespoke cryptocurrency. Last year, the average base salary for newly hired economics professors at major research universities was more than $150,000, according to the American Economic Association, and their compensation swelled to about $200,000 once bonuses and summer teaching were included. As recently as the 2023-24 academic year, the employment rate for Ph.D. economists within a few months of graduation was 100 percent, said John Cawley, the chair of the association's Committee on the Job Market, citing the group's surveys. Job satisfaction topped 85 percent. Those glory days seem to be ending. Universities and nonprofits have scaled back hiring amid declining state budgets and federal funding cuts. At the same time, the Trump administration has laid off government economists and frozen hiring for new ones. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
India Today
18 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
Tejaswin Shankar breaks national record, betters his previous mark in decathlon
File photo of Tejaswin Shankar. (PTI Photo) Tejaswin Shankar scripted a new national record in decathlon The athlete scored 7826 points at Wieslaw Czapiewski Memorial in Poland He bettered his previous mark set in Asian Games 2023 Tejaswin Shankar broke his own national record in decathlon at the Wieslaw Czapiewski Memorial in Poland on Sunday, July 27. Tejaswin became the first Indian athlete to score 7800 points in the gruelling 10-discipline event, as he finished 4th in the competition. He amassed 7826 points in the competition, a World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold level meet. In the last event - 1500m race- Shankar set a personal best of 4:31.80. Shankar held the decathlon national record at 7666 points, achieved at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. At the end of day one of competition, the 26-year-old Indian topped the standings after accumulating 4292 points. He'd also clocked a personal best of 11.02s in 100m which was the first of the 10 events in the sport. Tejaswin opened with a personal best in the 100m. In the long jump, he maintained the momentum with a season best effort of 7.57m, just five cm shy of his personal best of 7.62m set in 2023. In short put, he managed a modest 12.62m, which was below his season best. And then in high jump, he cleared 2.18m. Shankar has consistently pushed the barriers as an Indian athlete. Back in the Asian Games 2023, Shankar won the silver medal with 7666 points, a tally that he broke on Sunday. In that competition, Shankar had fallen only 150 points behind gold medallist, China's Qihao Sun. Tejaswin Shankar's Career Born and raised in Delhi, Shankar's athletic journey began in his school years when he switched from cricket to high jump, a decision that would shape his future career. His talent was evident early on as he started winning medals at inter-school athletics meets. Shankar's athletic prowess earned him a four-year athletics scholarship to Kansas State University in 2017, where he studied business administration. His career highlights include a gold medal at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games, where he set a Games record of 2.14 meters in men's high jump. He also won silver at the 2016 South Asian Games. Despite facing setbacks like a groin injury and a slipped disc, Shankar's resilience saw him bounce back stronger. In 2022, he secured a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, marking India's first-ever high jump medal at the event. Tejaswin Shankar broke his own national record in decathlon at the Wieslaw Czapiewski Memorial in Poland on Sunday, July 27. Tejaswin became the first Indian athlete to score 7800 points in the gruelling 10-discipline event, as he finished 4th in the competition. He amassed 7826 points in the competition, a World Athletics Combined Events Tour Gold level meet. In the last event - 1500m race- Shankar set a personal best of 4:31.80. Shankar held the decathlon national record at 7666 points, achieved at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. At the end of day one of competition, the 26-year-old Indian topped the standings after accumulating 4292 points. He'd also clocked a personal best of 11.02s in 100m which was the first of the 10 events in the sport. Tejaswin opened with a personal best in the 100m. In the long jump, he maintained the momentum with a season best effort of 7.57m, just five cm shy of his personal best of 7.62m set in 2023. In short put, he managed a modest 12.62m, which was below his season best. And then in high jump, he cleared 2.18m. Shankar has consistently pushed the barriers as an Indian athlete. Back in the Asian Games 2023, Shankar won the silver medal with 7666 points, a tally that he broke on Sunday. In that competition, Shankar had fallen only 150 points behind gold medallist, China's Qihao Sun. Tejaswin Shankar's Career Born and raised in Delhi, Shankar's athletic journey began in his school years when he switched from cricket to high jump, a decision that would shape his future career. His talent was evident early on as he started winning medals at inter-school athletics meets. Shankar's athletic prowess earned him a four-year athletics scholarship to Kansas State University in 2017, where he studied business administration. His career highlights include a gold medal at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games, where he set a Games record of 2.14 meters in men's high jump. He also won silver at the 2016 South Asian Games. Despite facing setbacks like a groin injury and a slipped disc, Shankar's resilience saw him bounce back stronger. In 2022, he secured a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, marking India's first-ever high jump medal at the event. Join our WhatsApp Channel
Yahoo
a day ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts issue warning over dangerous insects spreading rapidly across US: 'They're gonna eat everything they can'
Experts issue warning over dangerous insects spreading rapidly across US: 'They're gonna eat everything they can' Warm weather is bringing some hungry beetles out of hiding. What's happening? Invasive Japanese beetles have an enormous appetite, and they're out of control in Kansas. The small, shimmering scarab beetles are native to Japan and considered highly invasive in the United States and Europe. Their eggs are laid in the soil, and larvae eat roots underground until temperatures rise. Once they emerge, the beetles voraciously consume leaves. While some invasive species fixate on one plant, this hungry beetle doesn't discriminate. They feed on "more than 300 different types of plants, such as Virginia creeper, linden, crabapple, roses, American elm, and willow, along with crops like corn and soybeans," according to KSNT. Why are the beetles concerning? Despite their small size, these beetles have a devastating impact on agriculture. Roots are destroyed by their larvae, and leaves and fruit are eaten by the mature beetles — the entire crop is lost. "When an insect is out for three months, they're gonna eat everything they can," Kansas State University professor Raymond Cloyd told KSNT. It's not just Kansas's crops at risk. Other states lose millions or billions in agricultural income. Invasive species are one of the main drivers of extinction, along with habitat loss. Invasive species outcompete native ones for resources, alter habitats, and even introduce new diseases. What's being done to stop the beetles? These beetles are extremely difficult to get rid of. Many traditional pheromone traps attract beetles, but they aren't as successful in capturing or killing them. A college student at the University of Minnesota developed their own Japanese beetle trap, and it looks promising. Without traps, residents use insecticides on their plants and soil to kill beetles and their grubs. For those who are hesitant to use pesticides on their plants, the beetles can be picked off by hand and dumped in warm, soapy water to kill them. Conservationists are constantly developing new ways to combat invasive species, from releasing wasps to fight fruit flies to eating invasive crawfish. Do you think your lawn has enough greenery in it? Definitely I'd like a little more I want a lot more Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
CNBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Setting aside 'worry time' can help you get better with money, therapist says—here's how
Feeling uneasy about your financial future? You're not alone. Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) Americans say financial uncertainty has led them to feelings of anxiety and depression, according to a recent survey from Northwestern Mutual. Financial anxiety is a looming feeling, often borne of the notion that you're not doing well enough — for your future self, for someone your age or compared with your peers, says Megan McCoy, a financial therapist and professor at Kansas State University. "Anxiety tends to swirl in our minds all day, especially when it's about money," she says. But instead of trying to avoid these feelings or letting them get in the way of other things you want to accomplish, set aside time to deal with them. "A surprisingly effective strategy is to schedule a daily or weekly 'worry time' — 15 to 20 minutes dedicated only to your financial concerns," McCoy says. First, write down everything you're anxious about. This could include everything from concrete, numbers-based worries ("I'm not sure how I'll afford it if my kid wants to go to a private college") to lifestyle-based anxieties ("Everyone on my Instagram feed appears to be taking more frequent, nicer vacations than I do"). From there, sort the items into two lists: things you can control and things you can't, says McCoy. "This process helps transform vague, persistent worry into two buckets: action and acceptance," she says. "It's not about ignoring your fears — it's about learning how to manage them with intention." For the things you can control, focus on taking small, incremental steps toward the change you want. That may be mean setting up regular, automatic deposits into a 529 account or a vacation fund. If you can name dedicated savings accounts after these goals, even better, says McCoy. Specifically named accounts "help people feel organized and emotionally attached to their progress," she says. "They also reduce the temptation to spend impulsively because the money already has a purpose." If getting this set up on your own sounds daunting, don't be afraid to ask for help, McCoy says. A financial planner can help you translate your fears and goals into actionable steps. You may even be able to get free help through your employer. As for the factors that are out of your control — the future of the stock market, U.S. trade policy and tax rates, how much money your friends are making — give yourself a little grace. McCoy suggests taking a step back and trying to redefine success on your own personal terms. Do you have choices? Does your spending align with your values? Are you being intentional about the ways you save and spend money? If you answered yes to all three, you may be doing better than you think. "This reframing reduces pressure and invites a more grounded, compassionate view of financial health," McCoy says.
Fast Company
7 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Why male corporate leaders and billionaires need financial therapy
Corporate leaders and billionaires are often viewed as visionaries and wealth creators. But beneath the surface, many are trapped in an invisible financial crisis—one rooted not in market volatility or poor investments but in their psychological relationship with money. As a finance professor and editor of the forthcoming book Financial Therapy for Men, I study this often overlooked aspect of financial psychology. Money is far more than numbers on a balance sheet—it carries emotional, psychological and social meaning. People's relationships with money are shaped by childhood experiences, cultural beliefs, and personal triumphs and failures. This emotional baggage can influence not only their sense of safety and self-worth but also how they manage power and status. The field of financial therapy emerged in the mid-2000s to address these dynamics. Drawing from behavioral economics, financial psychology, family systems theory, and clinical therapy, it aims to help people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and experiences shape financial behavior. Foundational academic work began at Kansas State University, home to one of the first graduate-level programs in the field. Since then, financial therapy has gained traction in the U.S. and globally: It's supported by a peer-reviewed journal and is increasingly integrated into professional practice by financial advisers and licensed therapists. Studies have shown that financial therapy can improve relationships and reduce emotional distress. Yet much of the field focuses on people who are emotionally open and reflective—neglecting executives, who are often socialized to view themselves as purely rational decision-makers. I think this is a mistake. Research shows that people often project their unconscious anxieties onto markets, experiencing them as mirrors of competence, failure, or control. This means that public valuations and capital flows may carry deeply symbolic weight for corporate leaders. My research suggests that people at the highest levels of wealth and power have deeply complex emotional relationships with money—but the field of financial therapy has largely overlooked them. This isn't an accident. It reflects a broader assumption that wealth insulates people from psychological distress. In reality, emotional entanglements can intensify with greater wealth and power—and research suggests that men, in particular, face distinct challenges. True inclusion in financial therapy means recognizing and responding to these needs. When distress becomes a leadership crisis In a 2023 study— When and why do men negotiate assertively? —Jens Mazei, whose research focuses on negotiations and conflict management, and his colleagues found that men become more aggressive in negotiations when they think their masculinity is being threatened. This was especially true in contexts viewed as 'masculine,' such as salary negotiations. In 'non-masculine' contexts, such as negotiations over flexible work and child care benefits, participants weren't significantly more aggressive when their masculinity was challenged. On male-coded topics, many men in the study reinforced gender norms by rejecting compromise, using hardball tactics or even inflating financial demands to reassert their masculinity. These behaviors reflect an unconscious need to restore a sense of masculine identity, the researchers suggest. If this reaction occurs in salary negotiations, how might it manifest when the stakes are exponentially higher? Emerging research in organizational psychology shows that financial stress is linked to abusive supervision, particularly among men who feel a loss of control. Further, traits such as CEO masculinity have been linked with increased risk-taking, while female CEOs tend to reduce risk. Together, these findings point to a dangerous intersection of psychological stress, masculinity and executive decision-making. M&A as a masculinity battleground Financial distress doesn't always look like bankruptcy or bad credit. Among powerful men, it can manifest as overconfidence, rigidity, or aggression—and it can sometimes lead to very uneconomical outcomes. Consider the research on M&A. Most mergers and acquisitions are value killers —in other words, they destroy more economic value than they create—and the field of M&A is deeply male. These two facts suggest that some mergers are driven more by threatened masculinity than by strategic logic. If men become more aggressive in negotiations when their masculinity is threatened, then CEOs and corporate leaders, who are overwhelmingly male, may react similarly when their companies, and by extension their leadership, are challenged. Target companies rarely take a passive approach to acquisition attempts. Instead, they deploy defensive measures such as poison pills, golden parachutes, staggered boards, and scorched-earth tactics. In addition to serving financial goals, these may also act as symbolic defenses of masculine authority. Mergers and acquisitions, by their nature, create a contest of power between dominant figures. The very language of M&A—for example, ' raiders,' 'hostile takeovers,' 'defenses,' and ' white knights '—is combative. This reinforces an environment where corporate leaders may view acquisition attempts as challenges to their authority rather than as just financial transactions. A growing body of behavioral-strategy research confirms that boardroom decisions are often shaped by emotional undercurrents rather than purely rational analysis. While this research stops short of naming it, the dynamics it describes align closely with what Mazei and colleagues call 'masculinity threat.' This has direct implications for corporate M&A. The overwhelming majority of top CEOs are men, and the language of M&A often evokes siege, power struggles and conquest. In such a symbolic arena, acquisition attempts can trigger deep, emotionally charged responses, as the identity stakes are high. What appear to be strategic financial decisions may actually be reflexive defenses of masculine authority. On a related note, researchers in behavioral finance have long studied the ' endowment effect,' or the tendency for people to value assets more simply because they own them. While the endowment effect has been studied primarily among retail investors making ordinary financial decisions, it could be particularly important for corporate executives and billionaires, who have more to lose. When combined with threatened masculinity, the endowment effect can produce combustible reactions to declining valuations, missed earnings or takeover bids—even for individuals who remain vastly wealthy after marginal losses. While the research at this intersection is still emerging, the underlying behavioral patterns are well-established. What does financial therapy for the ultrarich look like? Financial therapy for high-net-worth individuals rarely looks like sitting on a couch discussing childhood trauma. Instead, it takes an interdisciplinary approach involving financial advisers, therapists, and sometimes executive coaches. Sessions tend to focus on legacy planning, control issues, guilt over wealth, or strained family relationships. Many high-net-worth men display behaviors that don't look like stereotypical 'financial distress.' These can include compulsive deal-making, emotionally driven investment decisions, workaholism, and difficulty trusting advisers. In some cases, unresolved financial trauma shows up as chronic dissatisfaction and the sense that no achievement, acquisition, or net worth is ever 'enough.' While financial therapy is intended to help individuals, I think it could actually be a tool for global economic stability. After all, when masculinity is threatened in corporate decision-making, the consequences can extend far beyond the boardroom. These actions can destabilize industries, fuel economic downturns, and disrupt entire labor markets. Unchecked financial anxiety among corporate elites and billionaires isn't just their own problem—it can cascade and become everyone's problem. From this perspective, financial therapy isn't just a personal good. It's a structural necessity that can prevent unchecked financial distress from driving destructive corporate decisions and broader economic disruptions. If financial therapy helps people navigate financial distress and make healthier money decisions, then no group needs it more than male corporate leaders and billionaires.
