We examine the effect of direct mail (commonly referred to as junk mail) advertising on individual financial decisions by studying consumer choice of debt contracts. Consistent with the theoretical predictions, we find that financial variables underlying the relative pricing of debt contracts are the leading factors explaining consumers debt choice. Furthermore, we also find that the intended u...

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) DNA testing has grown from contentious beginnings into a global industry, by providing a wide range of personal genomic information directly to its clients. These companies, typified by the well-established 23andMe, generally carry out a gene-chip analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using DNA extracted from a saliva sample. These genetic data are then ass...

In August, the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) sought to curb growing public criticism over its consumer advertising practices by releasing voluntary advertising guidelines. The document stated that drug advertising should serve the public health by “ increasing awareness about diseases ” and “ educating patients about treatment options. ” The voluntary PhRMA gui...

In the realm of counterinsurgency (COIN), the currency is intelligence. In other words— as the Counterinsurgency Field Manual succinctly puts it—intelligence drives operations. “Good” intelligence provides precision, helping the counterinsurgent eliminate insurgents from the populace “like surgeons cutting out cancerous tissue while keeping other vital organs intact.” Within this surgical effor...

BACKGROUND As direct-to-consumer personal genome testing (DTC-PGT) is increasingly available in Australia, knowledge of Australians' perceptions and attitudes towards this technology is needed in order to assess the (potential) impact it might have on the Australian public and healthcare system. AIMS To explore the knowledge and perceptions of DTC-PGT in an Australian sample. METHODS An onl...

Because of arms length relationship with patients, pharmaceutical manufacturers have paid much attention to DTC’s ability to impact compliance. Contrary to many industry surveys, this paper finds that the impact of compliance is small in economic terms, it spills over to other brands and, in certain instances, it may decrease average compliance rates. ∗This paper appeared as part of my Spring 2...

Genetic research on addiction liability and pharmacogenetic research on treatments for addiction have identified some genetic variants associated with disease risk and treatment. Genetic testing for addiction liability and treatment response has not been used widely in clinical practice because most of the genes identified only modestly predict addiction risk or treatment response. However, man...

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