Ingroup bias leads to troubled waters for regulatory enforcement, shows study of private shipping inspectors
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Updates every hour. Last Updated: 4-Nov-2025 00:11 ET (4-Nov-2025 05:11 GMT/UTC)
Ingroup bias happens when people give preferential treatment to others they believe belong to their group. The group could be anything -- gender-based, religious, a fellow fan of the same sports team. What matters is the perception of a shared identity that creates a sense of trust and disarms scrutiny. As a new paper discovers, it also included marine vessel inspectors with shared nationality.
A new study from the University of Bath has found that highly leveraged loans are increasingly underpriced in the U.S. loan market, particularly among non-bank lenders that are not subject to the same oversight as traditional banks, with researchers warning that this systemic issue could trigger a new financial crisis.
In 2023, India surpassed China as the most populous country in the world, and is likely to retain this status for the remainder of this century. In a recent study, IIASA researchers explored whether India could also surpass China in terms of broader socio-economic potential, given the country’s rapid economic growth in recent decades.
New study explores why foreign firms listed in the U.S. choose between IFRS and U.S. GAAP. The research finds that firms strategically weigh the flexibility of financial reporting and the costs of compliance, rather than following the common standards in their listing jurisdiction. These insights help explain the real motivations behind financial disclosure decisions and offer guidance for regulators and investors alike.