Economics

Freight trains at the station
Business

The Conversation: Trump speculates on diesel fuel export ban as high prices ripple across US economy

Diesel prices hit record highs in 2026 amid supply disruptions from the U.S.-Iran conflict and Russia-Ukraine war, straining trucking, farming, food costs and public transit nationwide. Russia’s export suspension and proposed U.S. export bans could reshape prices further, though experts warn benefits may be uneven, shifting costs between regions and risking reduced refinery output.

Smiling man with glasses wearing a white shirt and navy blazer, standing in front of a brick wall
Artificial Intelligence

Anton Korinek on why we should take AI seriously

Video

Anton Korinek, professor of economics at UVA’s College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Darden School of Business, discusses the economic implications of artificial intelligence in this video featured in the 2026 Annual Research Report, produced by the Office of the Vice President of Research, explaining why AI deserves serious attention.

Public Policy

How Investing in Refugees Can Strengthen Economies Worldwide

Christine Mahoney, professor at UVA’s Batten School, presented research from her book Banking on Belonging at a Nairobi conference hosted by the World Bank and UNHCR. Her work reframes refugees as entrepreneurs and investors rather than burdens, introducing a Refugee Lens Investing framework that demonstrates how economic inclusion benefits both displaced populations and host communities.

AI images on screens
Annual Report

One Economist’s Case for Taking AI Seriously

UVA economist Anton Korinek shifted his research focus from financial crises to artificial intelligence in 2015, sensing its transformative potential. Now a TIME100 AI honoree leading research at Anthropic, Korinek studies how to distribute AGI’s economic benefits broadly and warns that fully automating AI research could trigger a significant growth explosion within just three years.

Environment

Your Thermostat Could Be Costing You More Than You Think

Extreme weather is straining the power grid, driven largely by residential heating and cooling habits. Darden professor Saed Alizamir analyzed granular smart thermostat data to reveal how automation and manual overrides affect energy use. His research suggests redesigning thermostats could cut costs, ease grid pressure, and help both consumers and the environment.

Smiling man in a suit holds his book Why Carbon Taxes Failed outside the brick Randall Building entrance.
Environment

There’s a Simple Solution to Fixing Climate Change, So Why Isn’t It Working?

Carbon taxes have long been promoted as one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. So why have they sparked political backlash around the world? In his new book, Why Carbon Taxes Failed, UVA sociologist Daniel Driscoll draws on research across 20 democracies to examine why climate policies succeed in some countries and falter in others and what that means for future efforts to reduce emissions.

Farmer emptying a sack of freshly harvested cocoa pods onto a colorful pile on the ground at a cacao farm
Business

The Tipping Paradox: Why Sending Extra Cash Directly to Global Farmers Can Backfire

New research from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business reveals that blockchain-enabled consumer tipping for farmers can backfire. While the technology promises to send money directly to growers, a game-theoretic model shows intermediary firms may exploit tips as subsidies, cutting wholesale prices instead. A beneficial outcome requires moderately attractive farmer alternatives and sufficiently socially conscious consumers.

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Humanities

Study Offers First National Picture of Racial Inequities in Early Federal Home Lending

A new study published in Nature, co-authored by UVA doctoral student Thomas Storrs, provides the first national analysis of racial disparities in early federal mortgage lending. Examining over 100,000 records across 38 states, researchers found that from 1935 to 1947, Black Americans received just 2% of FHA loans and 5% of VA home loans despite comprising roughly 10% of the U.S. population and veteran population.