INFORMS Releases

Consumers increasingly rely on online reviews to decide where to eat, but can those reviews replace traditional health inspections? New research published in the INFORMS journal Marketing Science suggests the answer is both “yes” and “no.”

Conventional wisdom says the best predictions are the ones that minimize mistakes. New research suggests that is not necessarily how people see it. 

A study found that when people make or evaluate predictions, they care more about the possibility of being exactly right than about reducing the size of potential errors. In many cases, people prefer predictions that increase the chance of a perfect outcome, even if doing so creates a greater risk of larger mistakes. 

Conventional wisdom suggests that counterfeit luxury goods are primarily purchased by consumers who cannot afford authentic products.

New research published in the INFORMS journal Marketing Science challenges that assumption, finding that both lower- and higher-income consumers are significantly more likely to purchase counterfeit goods than middle-income consumers.

If public companies are increasingly focused on meeting quarterly earnings expectations, what happens to the innovations that require years of investment and patience to develop?

New research published in the INFORMS journal Management Science suggests the answer could have far-reaching implications for businesses, investors and the broader economy. The study found that companies facing greater short-term financial pressures tend to produce fewer breakthrough and novel innovations, the kinds of discoveries that can shape industries for decades.

Consumers often assume that choosing more environmentally friendly products helps reduce environmental harm. New research suggests the reality may be more complicated.

As demand for eco-sensitive products grows, some companies respond in ways that can unintentionally increase sales of older, less efficient products, potentially offsetting some of the environmental benefits consumers hope to achieve.