OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of smoking on the wealth of US young baby boomers. METHODOLOGY The research analyses self reported responses of both smoking habits and wealth holdings from a nationally representative sample of US individuals born between 1957 to 1964 (n = 8908). Data are from four waves (1984, 1992, 1994, 1998) of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort, a r...

Self-esteem is traditionally regarded as an important human good. But it has suffered a number of injuries to its good name. Critics allege that endeavours promote self-esteem merely foster narcissism or entitlement, and urge we redirect our efforts elsewhere. I argue such criticisms are symptomatic normative decline in how think theorize about rather than defect the construct itself. After exp...

The hypothesis of hormesis - that substances that harm health at high exposures can reduce risks below background at low exposures, e.g., if they activate defenses without overwhelming them - becomes important for practical policy making if it holds for regulated substances. Recently, the U.S. EPA concluded that reductions in ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in air caus...