In 2016, Poland introduced a nationwide policy eliminating all out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs prescribed by healthcare professionals to individuals aged 75 and older. A new study published in Health Economics finds that the policy reduced average out-of-pocket medication spending by 23% and cut catastrophic drug expenses by 62%, indicating substantial financial protection during major health shocks.

A new study sheds light on how farmer-led collaboration can help create the conditions to address biodiversity loss in agricultural landscapes.

Cash transfer programs, which provide money directly to recipients, are growing in the United States, but face significant scrutiny, with questions over their value. In addition, some contend that these payments can lead to harm—recipients, they claim, will use the cash to immediately buy alcohol or drugs, leading to injury or death. However, a new 11-year study of a long-standing cash-transfer program in Alaska finds no evidence that direct cash payments increase the risk of traumatic injury or death.

UK electric vehicles and heat pumps have not yet delivered any proven carbon savings and may offer little benefit even with a decarbonised grid, according to a major new analysis by researchers at Queen Mary University of London. The study argues that current net‑zero policy is “misplaced”, with the UK prioritising electrification before it has enough clean power to support it.  

A nation-wide study of more than 500 Australian primary school students in Year 2 has revealed how beginner writers’ attitude and motivation towards writing is related to the quality of their writing and writing skills (handwriting vs keyboarding).