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Most retirees who rent live in poverty. Here’s how boosting rent assistance could help lift them out of it

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brendan-coates-154644">Brendan Coates</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joey-moloney-1334959">Joey Moloney</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-bowes-2316740">Matthew Bowes</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a> Most Australians can look forward to a comfortable retirement. More than three in four retirees own their own home, most report feeling comfortable financially, and few suffer financial stress. But our new Grattan Institute <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/renting-in-retirement-why-rent-assistance-needs-to-rise/">report</a> paints a sobering picture for one group: retirees who rent in the private market. Two-thirds of this group live in poverty, including more than three in four single women who live alone. <hr /> <iframe id="x2VND" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/x2VND/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <hr /> Retirees who rent often have little in the way of retirement savings: more than half have less than A$25,000 stashed away. And a growing number of older Australians are at risk of becoming homeless. But our research also shows just how much we’d need to boost Commonwealth Rent Assistance to make housing more affordable and ensure all renters are able to retire with dignity. <h2>Today’s renters, tomorrow’s renting retirees</h2> Home ownership is falling among poorer Australians who are approaching retirement. Between 1981 and 2021, home ownership rates among the poorest 40% of 45–54-year-olds fell from 68% to just 54%. Today’s low-income renters are tomorrow’s renting retirees. Age pensioners need at least $40,000 in savings to afford to spend $350 a week in rent, together with the <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/age-pension">Age Pension</a> and <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/rent-assistance">Rent Assistance</a>. That’s enough to afford the cheapest 25% of one-bedroom homes in capital cities. But Australians who are renting as they approach retirement tend to have little in the way of retirement savings. 40% of renting households aged 55-64 have net financial wealth less than $40,000. <h2>Rent assistance is too low</h2> Our <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/renting-in-retirement-why-rent-assistance-needs-to-rise/">research</a> shows that Commonwealth Rent Assistance, which supplements the Age Pension for poorer retirees who rent, is inadequate. The federal government has <a href="https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/speeches/budget-speech-2024-25">lifted the maximum rate of Rent Assistance</a> by 27% – over and above inflation – in the past two budgets. But the payment remains too low. A typical single retiree needs at least $379 per week to afford essential non-housing costs such as food, transport and energy. But we found a single pensioner who relies solely on income support can afford to rent just 4% of one-bedroom homes in Sydney, 13% in Brisbane, and 14% in Melbourne, after covering these basic living expenses. With Rent Assistance indexed to inflation, rather than low-income earners’ housing costs, the maximum rate of the payment has increased by 136% since 2001, while the rents paid by recipients have increased by 193%. <h2>A boost is needed</h2> Our analysis suggests that to solve this problem, the federal government should increase the maximum rate of Rent Assistance by 50% for singles and 40% for couples. The payment should also be indexed to changes in rents for the cheapest 25% of homes in our capital cities. These increases would boost the maximum rate of Rent Assistance by $53 a week ($2,750 a year) for singles, and $40 a week ($2,080 a year) for couples. This would ensure single retirees could afford to spend $350 a week on rent, enough to rent the cheapest 25% of one-bedroom homes across Australian capital cities, while still affording other essentials. Similarly, retired couples would be able to afford to spend $390 a week on rent, enough to rent the cheapest 25% of all one- and two-bedroom homes. <hr /> <iframe id="EZBuw" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/EZBuw/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <hr /> <h2>Unlikely to push up rents</h2> One common concern is that increasing Rent Assistance will just lead landlords to hike rents. But we find little evidence that this is the case. International studies suggest that more than five in six dollars of any extra Rent Assistance paid would benefit renters, rather than landlords. <hr /> <iframe id="qGxQE" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/qGxQE/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <hr /> In Australia, there’s little evidence that recent increases in Rent Assistance have pushed up rents. Our analysis of NSW rental bond lodgement data suggests areas with higher concentrations of Rent Assistance recipients did not see larger rent increases in the year after the payment was boosted. That’s not surprising. Rent Assistance is paid to tenants, not landlords, which means tenants are likely to spend only a small portion of any extra income on housing. Since rates of financial stress are even higher among younger renters, we propose that any increase to Rent Assistance should also apply to working-age households. Boosting Rent Assistance for all recipients would cost about $2 billion a year, with about $500 million of this going to retirees. These increases could be paid for by further <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/super-savings-practical-policies-for-fairer-superannuation-and-a-stronger-budget/">tightening superannuation tax breaks</a>, <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/report/housing-affordability-re-imagining-the-australian-dream/">curbing negative gearing and halving the capital gains tax discount</a>, or counting more of the value of the family home in the Age Pension assets test.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/249134/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/brendan-coates-154644">Brendan Coates</a>, Program Director, Housing and Economic Security, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joey-moloney-1334959">Joey Moloney</a>, Deputy Program Director, Housing and Economic Security, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-bowes-2316740">Matthew Bowes</a>, Associate, Housing and Economic Security, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/grattan-institute-1168">Grattan Institute</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/most-retirees-who-rent-live-in-poverty-heres-how-boosting-rent-assistance-could-help-lift-them-out-of-it-249134">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

Aussie state named the most welcoming place on Earth

One Australian state has bee named the "most welcoming place on Earth" in Booking.com's annual list of most friendly destinations. South Australia has claimed the prestigious title, with ten regional towns also being recognised for their hospitality. The travel bookings website based its finding on more than 360 million verified customer reviews, with Croatia, Portugal, Argentina, Mexico and Vietnam also receiving honourable mentions for their welcoming locals. “Our Booking.com partners go above and beyond to help create memorable travel moments,” the website’s Oceania manager, Todd Lacey, said. “We’re thrilled to see South Australia recognised on the global stage this year, and are looking forward to continuing to support our local partners as they welcome visitors to the state’s world-class events, wine regions and scenic landscapes.” South Australian Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison welcomed the announcement, saying, “It’s no news to locals, but now the world knows that South Australia is among the most welcoming regions in the world." "The fact that this highly regarded accolade is based on more than 360 million reviews on the leading travel site, Booking.com is an honour and will put our state on the consideration list of engaged potential visitors worldwide,” she said. “From the Adelaide Hills to Kangaroo Island, from the Barossa to the Murray River and the Flinders Ranges, guests will always be warmly welcomed in South Australia.” The travel website also named Australia's top ten most welcoming towns, with Victoria and Queensland boasting the most winners. Check out the list below. 10. Orange, NSW 9. Daylesford, Victoria 8. Halls Gap, Victoria 7. Port Lincoln, SA 6. Bicheno, Tasmania 5. Ocean Grove, Victoria 4. Mudgee, NSW 3. Margaret River, WA 2. Maleny, Queensland 1. Montville, Queensland Image credits: Shutterstock

Domestic Travel

Does ‘made with love’ sell? Research reveals who values handmade products the most

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tuba-degirmenci-2291455">Tuba Degirmenci</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/frank-mathmann-703900">Frank Mathmann</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gary-mortimer-1322">Gary Mortimer</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> We’ve all seen the marketing message “handmade with love”. It’s designed to tug at our heartstrings, suggesting extra care and affection went into crafting a product. As Valentine’s Day approaches, many businesses will ramp up such messaging in their advertising. Handmade gifts are often cast as more thoughtful, special options than their mass-produced, machine-made alternatives. But does “love” actually sell? Our new <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cb.2455">research</a>, published in the Journal of Consumer Behaviour, reveals not everyone feels the same way about these labels. Why do some people feel handmade products are made with love, while others don’t really care? We found it’s all about how they approach purchase decisions. <h2>A deeper, human connection</h2> Why do businesses market products as handmade? Previous research has shown handmade labels can lead to higher positive emotions. This tendency is known as the “<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1509/jm.14.0018">handmade effect</a>”. In a world of seemingly perfect and polished products, <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/09590551211267593/full/html">research</a> shows consumers increasingly prefer human (as opposed to machine) interactions, including in their shopping experiences. It’s also been shown that giving handmade gifts can <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11002-024-09722-w">promote social relationships</a>. We often associated handmade products with smaller “cottage” retailers. But many major global retailers – including <a href="https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=120955898011">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.ikea.com/au/en/new/handcrafted-textiles-for-a-better-future-pub6fc26570/">IKEA</a> – have strategically introduced handmade products, aiming to connect on a deeper emotional level with their consumers. Our research found not all consumers respond in the same way to these marketing messages. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kYn-xUjv_qs?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>IKEA has previously run a dedicated handmade marketing campaign.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Who cares about love?</h2> Across two studies, we found that the response to marketing products as “handmade” depends on a consumer’s locomotion orientation – put simply, how they approach decisions and other actions. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022435917300155">Low-locomotion individuals</a> take things more slowly. They take their time and can thoroughly consider their purchase decisions. Think of them as the “mindful”. In contrast, high-locomotion individuals are “doers”. They like to get things done quickly without getting stuck in the details. They are the “grab-and-go” shopper. When the way they perform an action – such as making a purchase – matches their fast-paced mindset, something remarkable happens: they experience what’s called “<a href="https://myscp.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jcpy.1317">regulatory fit</a>”. This fit boosts their emotions and engagement. <h2>Our first study</h2> In our first study, participants imagined buying a gift for a loved one. They were split into three groups and presented with a photo of the same mug. One group was informed that the mug was “handmade”, one group informed it was “machine-made”, and the last group was not offered any “production cue”. We also asked and measured how much “love” they felt the mug contained – and how much they would pay for it. The handmade mug evoked more love and led to a higher willingness to pay – but only for those with a “low-locomotion” orientation. High-locomotion individuals didn’t react in the same way. For these “doers”, the backstory of how the mug had been made wasn’t as important as just getting a product they needed. For the “doers”, the benefits of marketing the mug as handmade actually backfired. They felt more love for the mug if it had no label at all. <h2>Our second study</h2> By communicating with consumers on social media, marketers can trigger a mindset called “regulatory locomotion mode”. Put simply, this is the mode where we take action and make progress toward goals. Marketers can do this by using <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.79.5.793">locomotion-activating</a> words such as “move” and “go” to encourage active decision-making. To borrow one famous example from Nike: “<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0022-3514.79.5.793">Just Do It</a>”. Our second study examined the marketer-generated content of over 9,000 Facebook posts from the verified <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Etsy">Etsy</a> Facebook page. We analysed how locomotion-activating words in social media posts for handmade products influence consumer engagement. In other words, we wanted to understand how these words affected social media engagement with the potential consumers reading them, particularly in terms of social media shares. We found the higher an individual’s locomotion orientation was, the fewer social media “shares” for handmade products occurred. <h2>So, does handmade really matter?</h2> As we get closer to Valentine’s Day, understanding these differences can help retailers tailor their marketing strategies. For “mindful” customers, retailers should highlight the story of the craftsmanship, care, and love behind a handmade product for Valentine’s Day. Use emotional language such as “made with love”. But be aware this mightn’t work on everyone. For a customer base of “doers”, keep it simple, leaving out unnecessary details about production methods. There are a range of <a href="https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/">website analytical tools</a> that can help retailers identify how their customers approach their purchase decision-making. Do they browse quickly, hopping from one product to the next, opting for “<a href="https://www.business.com/articles/one-click-purchasing-how-click-to-buy-is-revolutionizing-ecommerce/">one-click</a>” purchasing? Or do they take their time, browsing slowly and considering their product selection? Personalised marketing messages can then be crafted to emphasise the aspects – love or efficiency – that matter most to each group. The key lies in knowing who you’re speaking to.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/247351/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tuba-degirmenci-2291455">Tuba Degirmenci</a>, PhD Candidate School of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/frank-mathmann-703900">Frank Mathmann</a>, Lecturer (Assistant Professor), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gary-mortimer-1322">Gary Mortimer</a>, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-made-with-love-sell-research-reveals-who-values-handmade-products-the-most-247351">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

The most turbulent flights in the world revealed

While many travellers have experienced a bumpy ride while on a plane, there are some routes that are rougher than others. Thanks to <a href="https://turbli.com/historical-data/most-turbulent-flight-routes-of-2024/">Turbli research</a>, the most turbulent flight routes in the world for 2025 have been announced for worried flyers to avoid when booking their holidays. All destinations are situated in just two continents and four countries, and all involve flying over high altitudes. Turbulence is measured in Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR), which describes turbulence levels without regard to aircraft characteristics, meaning the same levels of turbulence may be experienced differently depending on the size and build of the aircraft. Dramatic changes in land altitude, particularly mountain ranges, create eddies, or swirls of disrupted airflow all create turbulence. With 0-20 on the EDR scale is considered light turbulence, these flight paths measure double digits in their levels of severity. Most of these destinations are located in South America, so if you’re particularly adverse to a bumpy flight, maybe take these stats into account before booking your next holiday. Check out the list of the 10 most turbulent flights in the world below. 10. San Carlos de Bariloche (Argentina) to Santiago (Chile). 18.475 average EDR. 9. Chengdu (China) to Xining (China). 18.482 average EDR. 8. Kathmandu (Nepal) to Paro (Bhutan). 18.563 average EDR. 7. Santa Cruz (Bolivia) to Santiago (Chile). 18.598 average EDR. 6. Chengdu (China) to Lhasa (China). 18.644 average EDR. 5. Kathmandu to Lhasa. 18.817 average EDR. 4. Mendoza (Argentina) to San Carlos de Bariloche. 19.252 average EDR. 3. Mendoza to Salta (Argentina). 19.825 average EDR. 2. Córdoba to Santiago. 20.214 average EDR 1. Mendoza to Santiago. 24.684 average EDR. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Most adults will gain half a kilo this year – and every year. Here’s how to stop ‘weight creep’

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-fuller-219993">Nick Fuller</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> As we enter a new year armed with resolutions to improve our lives, there’s a good chance we’ll also be carrying something less helpful: extra kilos. At least half a kilogram, to be precise. “Weight creep” doesn’t have to be inevitable. Here’s what’s behind this sneaky annual occurrence and some practical steps to prevent it. <h2>Small gains add up</h2> Adults <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3151731/">tend to gain weight</a> progressively as they age and typically gain an average of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23638485/">0.5 to 1kg every year</a>. While this doesn’t seem like much each year, it amounts to 5kg over a decade. The slow-but-steady nature of weight creep is why many of us won’t notice the extra weight gained until we’re in our fifties. <h2>Why do we gain weight?</h2> Subtle, gradual lifestyle shifts as we progress through life and age-related biological changes cause us to gain weight. Our: <ul> <li> activity levels decline. Longer work hours and family commitments can see us become more sedentary and have less time for exercise, which means we burn fewer calories </li> <li> diets worsen. With frenetic work and family schedules, we sometimes turn to pre-packaged and fast foods. These processed and discretionary foods are loaded with hidden sugars, salts and unhealthy fats. A better financial position later in life can also <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00953.x">result in more dining out</a>, which is associated with a higher total energy intake </li> <li> sleep decreases. Busy lives and screen use can mean we don’t get enough sleep. This disturbs our body’s energy balance, increasing our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945708700133">feelings of hunger</a>, triggering cravings and decreasing our energy </li> </ul> <ul> <li> stress increases. Financial, relationship and work-related stress increases our body’s production of cortisol, triggering food cravings and promoting fat storage </li> <li> metabolism slows. Around the age of 40, our muscle mass naturally declines, and our body fat starts increasing. Muscle mass helps determine our metabolic rate, so when our muscle mass decreases, our bodies start to burn fewer calories at rest. </li> </ul> We also <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2807660">tend to gain a small amount</a> of weight during festive periods – times filled with calorie-rich foods and drinks, when exercise and sleep are often overlooked. <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2807660">One study of Australian adults</a> found participants gained 0.5 kilograms on average over the Christmas/New Year period and an average of 0.25 kilograms around Easter. <h2>Why we need to prevent weight creep</h2> It’s important to prevent weight creep for two key reasons: 1. Weight creep resets our body’s set point Set-point theory suggests we each have a predetermined weight or set point. Our body works to <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-weight-set-point-and-why-does-it-make-it-so-hard-to-keep-weight-off-195724">keep our weight around this set point</a>, adjusting our biological systems to regulate how much we eat, how we store fat and expend energy. When we gain weight, our set point resets to the new, higher weight. Our body adapts to protect this new weight, making it challenging to lose the weight we’ve gained. But it’s also possible to <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-weight-set-point-and-why-does-it-make-it-so-hard-to-keep-weight-off-195724">lower your set point</a> if you lose weight gradually and with an interval weight loss approach. Specifically, losing weight in small manageable chunks you can sustain – periods of weight loss, followed by periods of weight maintenance, and so on, until you achieve your goal weight. 2. Weight creep can lead to obesity and health issues Undetected and unmanaged weight creep <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5817436/">can result in</a> obesity which can increase our risk of heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and several types of cancers (including breast, colorectal, oesophageal, kidney, gallbladder, uterine, pancreatic and liver). A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5817436/">large study</a> examined the link between weight gain from early to middle adulthood and health outcomes later in life, following people for around 15 years. It found those who gained 2.5 to 10kg over this period had an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, strokes, obesity-related cancer and death compared to participants who had maintained a stable weight. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to build lasting habits that will make weight creep a thing of the past. <h2>7 practical steps to prevent weight creep</h2> 1. Eat from big to small Aim to consume most of your food earlier in the day and taper your meal sizes to ensure dinner is the smallest meal you eat. A low-calorie or small breakfast <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32073608/">leads to increased feelings of hunger</a>, specifically appetite for sweets, across the course of the day. We burn the calories from a meal <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32073608/">2.5 times more efficiently</a> in the morning than in the evening. So emphasising breakfast over dinner is also good for weight management. 2. Use chopsticks, a teaspoon or an oyster fork Sit at the table for dinner and use different utensils to encourage eating more slowly. This gives your brain time to recognise and adapt to signals from your stomach <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28718396/">telling you you’re full</a>. 3. Eat the full rainbow Fill your plate with vegetables and fruits of different colours first to support eating a high-fibre, nutrient-dense diet that will keep you feeling full and satisfied. Meals also need to be balanced and include a source of protein, wholegrain carbohydrates and healthy fat to meet our dietary needs – for example, eggs on wholegrain toast with avocado. 4. Reach for nature first Retrain your brain to rely on nature’s treats – fresh vegetables, fruit, honey, nuts and seeds. In their natural state, these foods release the same pleasure response in the brain as ultra-processed and fast foods, helping you avoid unnecessary calories, sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. 5. Choose to move Look for ways to incorporate incidental activity into your daily routine – such as taking the stairs instead of the lift – and <a href="https://theconversation.com/does-exercise-help-you-lose-weight-198292">boost your exercise</a> by challenging yourself to try a new activity. Just be sure to include variety, as doing the same activities every day often results in boredom and avoidance. 6. Prioritise sleep Set yourself a goal of getting a minimum of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945708700133">seven hours of uninterrupted sleep</a> each night, and help yourself achieve it by <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms3259">avoiding screens</a> for an hour or <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1477153515584979?journalCode=lrtd">two</a> before bed. 7. Weigh yourself regularly Getting into the habit of weighing yourself weekly is a guaranteed way <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-often-should-you-really-weigh-yourself-223864">to help avoid the kilos creeping up</a> on us. Aim to weigh yourself on the same day, at the same time and in the same environment each week and use the best quality scales you can afford. <hr /> At the Boden Group, Charles Perkins Centre, we are studying the science of obesity and running clinical trials for weight loss. <a href="https://redcap.sydney.edu.au/surveys/?s=RKTXPPPHKY">You can register here</a> to express your interest.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/244186/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nick-fuller-219993">Nick Fuller</a>, Clinical Trials Director, Department of Endocrinology, RPA Hospital, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/most-adults-will-gain-half-a-kilo-this-year-and-every-year-heres-how-to-stop-weight-creep-244186">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Airline worker reveals the kind of suitcase most likely to get lost

An airline worker has warned passengers of the type of suitcases he believes are "more likely" to get lost. The airport maintenance worker, who is based in the US, shared in a Reddit thread some advice to travellers to avoid losing their luggage during a holiday. The worker pointed out that one airline alone can have "3,000 to 5,000" bags per hour passing through the airport at peak flight times, and one simple design choice can make a huge difference on where your luggage ends up. While he suggests a hard shell suitcase as the best choice for luggage to protect your belongings, the worker warns the colour or pattern of your bag could be a cause for it to be lost. "Mirrored colours and paint schemes with a metallic flake act like reflectors and send the beam back to the sensor. Basically turning the bag invisible," he wrote. "Once that happens, it can't be diverted to its assigned location to be loaded on the plane it belongs on.” "We only see it when it passes through the tag scanners again, but with the sheer volume of bags, it gets hard to catch them." The worker also warned against using coloured ribbons, ropes or scarves, as well as decorative bag covers, to identify your luggage, as they can cause widespread delays. "While helpful to identify your bag, it can get caught downstairs and can delay bags," he wrote, adding he once had to cut a bungee cord off a bag that had gotten caught in a roller and affecting operation. "Do what you feel is best to help identify your bag, but just be warned some items can help cause delays." Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Australia's most decorated Olympian drops huge news

Australia's most decorated Olympian, Emma McKeon has announced her retirement from swimming on Monday. After an incredible career that spanned across three Olympics and yielded 14 Olympic medals, including six golds, the Olympic champion announced her retirement from the pool in a social media post. "Today I am officially retiring from competitive swimming," shared on Instagram. "Leading into Paris, I knew it would be my last Olympics, and the months since have given me time to reflect on my journey, and think about what I wanted my future to look like in swimming." "I am proud of myself for giving my swimming career absolutely everything, both physically and mentally," she continued. "I wanted to see what I was capable of - and I did. Swimming has given me so much. From the dream igniting at 5 years old, right through to my third Olympic Games - I have so many lessons, experiences, friendships and memories that I am so thankful for." Mckeon made her Olympic debut at the Rio Olympics in 2016, winning gold as a member of the women's 4x100 freestyle relay team and claiming four medals overall. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCxSXAXyE7r/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCxSXAXyE7r/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Emma McKeon (@emmamckeon)</a> </div> </blockquote> In 2020, during the Tokyo Olympics she took over as Australia's most decorated Olympian, a title that was previously held by Ian Thorpe, after bringing home four gold medals by triumphing in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x100m medley relay. She won seven medals in total in the 2020 Olympics. In this year's Paris Olympics, she brought home another three medals including one gold as a member of Australia's 4x100m freestyle team. "Along with every person who supported me, worked hard with me, and cheered me on. THANKYOU," McKeon said in her post. "Now I am excited to see how I can push myself in other ways, and for all the things that life has in store." Beyond the Olympics, McKeon has been an eight-time world record holder in relay events with three current and five former records. She has also won 14 gold medals across the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games. Swimming Australia chief executive Rob Woodhouse, who is McKeon's uncle, praised the Olympic champion. "Emma will be remembered in the same vein as Dawn [Fraser], Shane [Gould], Susie [O'Neill] and Murray [Rose], Kieren [Perkins] and Thorpey [Ian Thorpe] — that she was one of our greatest," Woodhouse said in a Swimming Australia statement. "From a personal point of view, watching her Tokyo campaign and in particular watching her win gold in the 100m freestyle was one of the greatest races I have ever watched, but I have also loved watching her advocate for those coming up through the ranks. "She will also be remembered for how she represented swimming. The standards she set in and out of the water were second to none, and she has a lifelong love of the sport, so she won't be disappearing from swimming." Images: DAVE HUNT/EPA-EFE/ Shutterstock Editorial

Retirement Life

Readers response: What seems too expensive but is really worth the price?

We asked our readers what items or experience seem, too expensive but are really worth the price, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what our audience will always justify the price of. Robbie Kirkwood - Travel insurance. Elizabeth Foster - Business class on long haul flights. Jeanette Wallis - Coffee beans. Mandy O'Connor - A good pair of Levi jeans, and a good pair of boots. Pamela McDonald - I would say electricity! Seems lots complain about the cost until you lose power, then you realise how hard life would be without it. Tess Witchell - Real butter! Three ply toilet rolls, frappe iced coffee from McDonald’s, and proper bakery bread. Sue Yunker - Wine! Michael Schulze - A decent cup of coffee. Suzanne Jones - A holiday. Rose Niemack - Fruits and vegetables. Image credits: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

The most underrated Europe destinations to see in 2025

When travellers usually decide to head to Europe on their next holiday, they tend to stick to the capital cities and major tourist attractions. However, there is a lot to be said for going off the beaten track and exploring hidden gems. <a href="https://www.timeout.com/europe/travel/most-underrated-travel-destinations-europe">Time Out</a> has made your next European getaway even easier, compiling a list of the 21 most underrated destinations to put on your 2025 travel bucket list. The influential guide shared their arguments for exploring the lesser known corners of Europe, writing, “This summer saw a series of anti-tourism demonstrations in European hotspots, as locals reached breaking point with years of overtourism; Amsterdam is cracking down on new hotels, Venice is set to double its tourist tax in 2025.” “So there's never been a better time to think outside the box for your travels – especially when so many incredible European spots are getting overlooked.” “These destinations have got everything you want from your next holiday, with the added bonus of far fewer people jostling to see the same attractions.” Coming in at number one on the list is the hidden gem of Ulcinj in Montenegro, which is located at the southern tip of the country. According to the Time out guide, Ulcinj “provides a different vibe to the more celebrated spots up north. Ulcinj’s Old Town is arguably the most dramatically situated in the country, and its beaches provide excitement and serenity in equal measure.” Check out the entire list of 21 underrated European destinations below. 21. Ponza, Italy 20. Pamukkale, Turkey 19. Isles of Scilly, UK 18. Landes, France 17. Dordrecht, Netherlands 16. Imotski Lakes, Croatia 15. Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina 14. Vilnius, Lithuania 13. Faroe Islands 12. Extremadura, Spain 11. Tartu, Estonia 10. Emilia-Romagna, Italy 9. Cluj-Napoca, Romania 8. Bergen, Norway 7. Levi, Finnish Lapland 6. Plovdiv, Bulgaria 5. Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland 4. Gozo, Malta 3. Gerês, Portugal 2. Aarhus, Denmark 1. Ulcinj, Montenegro Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

Most popular wedding song revealed

A classic 1980s hit has been crowned the most popular wedding song according to a recent study. According to the new research by Breezit, an online wedding vendor search tool that collates data, Whitney Houston’s pop ballad I Wanna Dance With Somebody is the most popular song for couples tying the knot. The 1987 hit, which was on Houston’s second studio album, ‘Whitney’, appeared 484 times across the 2,000 wedding-themed Spotify playlists the company poured through, which contained a total of 49,091 songs. Among thousands of playlists, I Wanna Dance With Somebody featured on more than 24 per cent of those nuptial-centric compilations. Coming in second on the list of most popular wedding songs was ABBA’s 1976 worldwide hit Dancing Queen. “Music plays an incredibly important role in wedding celebrations, and it’s fascinating to see which songs are still hailed as wedding classics, even years after their initial release,” Arturas Asakavicius, co-founder and CEO of Breezit, told <a href="https://www.brides.com/all-time-most-popular-wedding-song-new-study-8733497">Brides</a>. “Wedding playlists can help create lasting memories” he added, “capturing both the joy of the dance floor and the romance of walking down the aisle. Certain songs have become intertwined with the celebration of a wedding, which is why some have become timeless classics for many couples’ big day.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Music

Readers response: What’s the most interesting cultural experience you've had while travelling?

When travelling abroad, we are often exposed to new and fascinating cultures that can open our eyes to different ways of life. We asked our readers to share the most interesting cultural experience they've had while travelling, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Sandra Beckett - Staying overnight in a Ger in Mongolia miles from anywhere, listening to Throat singing accompanied by two traditionally dressed musicians playing Horsehead fiddles. Also, travelling across Russia by train, visiting the Galapagos islands, Skara Brae in the Orkneys, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Denise Ryan - Listening to glorious classical music played in Havana’s Plaza de la Catedral and attending a stunning performance of Swan Lake in the Grand Theatre of Havana. Deedee Cullum - Visiting Ypres in Belgium and staying the night so we could see the evening ceremony at the Menin gate. Alison Davenport - 50 years ago visiting a Fijian village made me realise everyone didn't live like I did. Have been amazed at all travel experiences since. Glenn Turton - Staying in a farmhouse in Normandy for a week. Visiting D-Day beaches and Mont St Michel from there and local villages and markets on the days between. Back to the farmhouse each night to cook local produce and sit by an open fire. Karen Psaila - Sitting in a small ally sipping black sweet tea in Egypt looking at the pyramids and sphinx whilst camels are strolling by. Amazing. Patricia Watson - Darwin. Spending a day with First Nation Women and Children in the bush and learning about food that grows and is edible in that area. James Langabeer - This are my three top three most interesting cultural experiences. 1. Japan's Tea Ceremony: Attending a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto, Japan, where I learned about the intricate rituals and Zen Buddhism's influence. 2. Indian Holi Festival: Celebrating Holi, the Festival of Colors, in Mumbai, India, surrounded by vibrant colors, music, and joyful locals. 3. Moroccan Hammam: Experiencing a traditional Moroccan bathhouse (hammam) in Marrakech, where I discovered local customs and relaxation techniques. Margaret Mason - Staying for a couple of days in a small, traditional village in China. Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

"Most loathed woman in parliament": Karl Stefanovic grills Lidia Thorpe

Karl Stefanovic has labelled Lidia Thorpe as “the most loathed woman in parliament” during a fiery interview on the Today show. The Today host interviewed the politician on Thursday morning, noting that her decision to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/you-are-not-my-king-lidia-thorpe-interrupts-charles-parliament-house-visit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heckle King Charles</a> was not winning her much support. “Lidia, good morning to you. Nice to see you. I think it’s fair to say you might very well be the most loathed woman in parliament in Canberra at the moment. And that’s really saying something,’’ Stefanovic said. However, the Senator had no regrets and said that she was used to being "the black sheep" of politics. “Oh, well, it’s just another day in the colony, Karl. I’m used to that treatment,” she said. “You know. I am the black sheep of the family, if you like. But I wanted to send a message to the King. I got that message across. The whole world is talking about it. “And my people are happy because my people have been protesting for decades and decades. As you all know, for exactly this. And so the message has been sent, delivered. Now it’s up to the King of England to respond.” Stefanovic then asked her: “The question this morning you were being asked is, why the hell doesn’t Lidia Thorpe just do everyone a favour and get out of Canberra? Will you?” To which she replied: “I’m about truth telling. I’m loud, proud, black. Get used to it and listen to what I have to say. “We need to grow up as a nation and get rid of him and have our own head of state.” The broadcaster then showed a video of her swearing allegiance to the late Queen Elizabeth. “Did that hurt a little when you swore your allegiance? Did it take a little bit of your soul?’’ Stefanovic asked. “Absolutely it did. And I had to go through a process with my family prior to doing that, because swearing allegiance to someone else from another country whose ancestors have done a lot of damage to my ancestors, I think is completely inappropriate,” she replied. This comes after Thorpe's <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/lidia-thorpe-s-pledge-to-queen-elizabeth-raises-questions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pledge to Queen Elizabeth's</a> "hairs" instead of "heir" came to light. “We don’t need to be paying the Governor-General $800,000 a year to sign a piece of legislation. And we paid for that man to come here. How many millions of dollars did that cost?” she continued. Karl hit back saying that Thorpe herself is “getting paid pretty well to be part of the process and to be part of parliament, a place you clearly despise.” She replied: “Yeah. I’m being paid to do my job. You could say it’s paying the rent if you like." “This government has walked back a treaty. I know the opposition is not interested in treaty. So where else do you go? You go to the King of England. Who? Whose ancestors treated with other countries but didn’t treaty here. So there’s unfinished business. I’ll spend the next three years getting that unfinished business done.” Images: Nine

Are older adults more vulnerable to scams? What psychologists have learned about who’s most susceptible, and when

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/natalie-c-ebner-1527554">Natalie C. Ebner</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/didem-pehlivanoglu-1527551">Didem Pehlivanoglu</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a> About 1 in 6 Americans <a href="https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/05/2020-census-united-states-older-population-grew.html">are age 65 or older</a>, and that percentage <a href="https://www.ncoa.org/article/get-the-facts-on-older-americans">is projected to grow</a>. Older adults often hold positions of power, have retirement savings accumulated over the course of their lifetimes, and make important financial and health-related decisions – all of which makes them attractive targets for financial exploitation. In 2021, there were more than 90,000 older victims of fraud, according to the FBI. These cases resulted in <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2021_IC3ElderFraudReport.pdf">US$1.7 billion in losses</a>, a 74% increase compared with 2020. Even so, that may be a significant undercount, since embarrassment or lack of awareness <a href="https://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/fraud-victims-11.pdf">keeps some victims from reporting</a>. <a href="https://ncea.acl.gov/elder-abuse#gsc.tab=0">Financial exploitation</a> represents one of the most common forms of elder abuse. Perpetrators are often individuals in the victims’ inner social circles – family members, caregivers or friends – but can also be strangers. When older adults experience financial fraud, they typically <a href="https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/federal.trade.commission/viz/AgeandFraud/Infographic">lose more money</a> than younger victims. Those losses can have <a href="https://doi.org/10.1057/sj.2012.11">devastating consequences</a>, especially since older adults have limited time to recoup – dramatically reducing their independence, health and well-being. But older adults have been largely neglected in research on this burgeoning type of crime. We are <a href="https://ebnerlab.psych.ufl.edu/natalie-c-ebner-phd/">psychologists who study social cognition</a> and <a href="https://ebnerlab.psych.ufl.edu/didem-pehlivanoglu/">decision-making</a>, and <a href="https://ebnerlab.psych.ufl.edu/">our research lab</a> at the University of Florida is aimed at understanding the factors that shape vulnerability to deception in adulthood and aging. <h2>Defining vulnerability</h2> Financial exploitation involves a variety of exploitative tactics, such as coercion, manipulation, undue influence and, frequently, some sort of deception. The majority of current research focuses on <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3052">people’s ability to distinguish between truth and lies</a> during interpersonal communication. However, deception occurs in many contexts – increasingly, over the internet. Our lab conducts laboratory experiments and real-world studies to measure susceptibility under various conditions: investment games, lie/truth scenarios, phishing emails, text messages, fake news and deepfakes – fabricated videos or images that are created by artificial intelligence technology. To study how people respond to deception, we use measures like surveys, brain imaging, behavior, eye movement and heart rate. We also collect health-related biomarkers, such as being a carrier of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8346443/">gene variants</a> that increase risk for Alzheimer’s disease, to identify individuals with particular vulnerability. And <a href="https://doi.org/10.20900/agmr20230007">our work</a> shows that an older adult’s ability to detect deception is not just about their individual characteristics. It also depends on how they are being targeted. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=339&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=339&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=339&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593784/original/file-20240513-16-j9zy1i.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=426&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A figure with two circles and an arrow between them. One circle shows icons that symbolize individual susceptibility to deception -- like a brain, and a walking cane -- while the other has icons of types of deception, like mail or a text message." /></a><figcaption>Vulnerability depends not only on the person, but also the type of fraud being used. Natalie Ebner and Didem Pehlivanoglu</figcaption></figure> <h2>Individual risk factors</h2> Better cognition, social and emotional capacities, and brain health are all associated with less susceptibility to deception. Cognitive functions, such as how quickly our brain processes information and how well we remember it, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691619827511">decline with age</a> and impact decision-making. For example, among people around 70 years of age or older, declines in analytical thinking are associated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000426">reduced ability to detect false news stories</a>. Additionally, low memory function in aging is associated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gby036">greater susceptibility to email phishing</a>. Further, according to recent <a href="https://osf.io/preprints/osf/6f2y9">research</a>, this correlation is specifically pronounced among older adults who carry a gene variant that is a genetic risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life. Indeed, some research suggests that greater financial exploitability may serve as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104773">an early marker</a> of disease-related cognitive decline. Social and emotional influences are also crucial. Negative mood can enhance somebody’s ability to detect lies, while <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/xap0000426">positive mood in very old</a> age can impair a person’s ability to detect fake news. Lack of support and loneliness exacerbate susceptibility to deception. Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa077">increased reliance on online platforms</a>, and older adults with lower digital literacy are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnac188">more vulnerable to fraudulent emails and robocalls</a>. Finally, an individual’s brain and body responses play a critical role in susceptibility to deception. One important factor is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2020.10.007">interoceptive awareness</a>: the ability to accurately read our own body’s signals, like a “gut feeling.” This awareness is correlated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.3714">better lie detection</a> in older adults. According to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx051">a first study</a>, financially exploited older adults had a significantly smaller size of insula – a brain region key to integrating bodily signals with environmental cues – than older adults who had been exposed to the same threat but avoided it. Reduced insula activity is also related to greater difficulty <a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1218518109">picking up on cues</a> that make someone appear less trustworthy. <h2>Types of effective fraud</h2> Not all deception is equally effective on everyone. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/3336141">Our findings</a> show that email phishing that relies on reciprocation – people’s tendency to repay what another person has provided them – was more effective on older adults. Younger adults, on the other hand, were more likely to fall for phishing emails that employed scarcity: people’s tendency to perceive an opportunity as more valuable if they are told its availability is limited. For example, an email might alert you that a coin collection from the 1950s has become available for a special reduced price if purchased within the next 24 hours. There is also evidence that as we age, we have greater difficulty detecting the “wolf in sheep’s clothing”: someone who appears trustworthy, but is not acting in a trustworthy way. In <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50500-x">a card-based gambling game</a>, we found that compared with their younger counterparts, older adults are more likely to select decks presented with trustworthy-looking faces, even though those decks consistently resulted in negative payouts. Even after learning about untrustworthy behavior, older adults showed greater difficulty overcoming their initial impressions. <h2>Reducing vulnerability</h2> Identifying who is especially at risk for financial exploitation in aging is crucial for preventing victimization. We believe interventions should be tailored, instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, perhaps machine learning algorithms could someday determine the most dangerous types of deceptive messages that certain groups encounter – such as in text messages, emails or social media platforms – and provide on-the-spot warnings. Black and Hispanic consumers are <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/combating-fraud-african-american-latino-communities-ftcs-comprehensive-strategic-plan-federal-trade/160615fraudreport.pdf">more likely to be victimized</a>, so there is also a dire need for interventions that resonate with their communities. Prevention efforts would benefit from taking a holistic approach to help older adults reduce their vulnerability to scams. Training in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01259-7">financial, health</a> and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-08437-0.pdf">digital literacy</a> are important, but so are programs to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10363-1">address loneliness</a>. People of all ages need to keep these lessons in mind when interacting with online content or strangers – but not only then. Unfortunately, financial exploitation often comes from individuals close to the victim.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/227991/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/natalie-c-ebner-1527554">Natalie C. Ebner</a>, Professor of Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/didem-pehlivanoglu-1527551">Didem Pehlivanoglu</a>, Postdoctoral Researcher, Psychology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-florida-1392">University of Florida</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-older-adults-more-vulnerable-to-scams-what-psychologists-have-learned-about-whos-most-susceptible-and-when-227991">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

Pokies? Lotto? Sports betting? Which forms of problem gambling affect Australians the most?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-russell-133860">Alex Russell</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-browne-97705">Matthew Browne</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-rockloff-569">Matthew Rockloff</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> Gambling, especially sports and race betting, is a hot political issue at the moment. This is largely due to the recommendations from a 2023 report from a nonpartisan federal government committee, chaired by the late Peta Murphy, called <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Policy_and_Legal_Affairs/Onlinegamblingimpacts/Report">You Win Some, You Lose More</a>. This report <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Policy_and_Legal_Affairs/Onlinegamblingimpacts/Report/List_of_recommendations">recommended</a> “the Australian government, with the cooperation of the states and territories, implement a comprehensive ban on all forms of advertising for online gambling”. This has led to lots of debate and controversy. Recently, Peter V’landys, head of the NRL and Racing NSW, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/nanny-state-nrl-afl-storm-the-field-over-gambling-ads-20240920-p5kc2q.html">claimed</a> lotteries were more harmful than race and sports betting combined, citing independent statistics. Let’s explore the relative harm of different types of gambling and see if this claim holds up. <h2>Australians love a punt</h2> Gambling is widespread in Australia, with <a href="https://www.gamblingresearch.org.au/publications/second-national-study-interactive-gambling-australia-2019-20">more than half of adults</a> engaging in at least one form each year. According to the <a href="https://www.gamblingresearch.org.au/publications/second-national-study-interactive-gambling-australia-2019-20">latest national data</a>, lotteries are the most common type (40% of Australians buy a ticket annually), followed by race betting (17%), pokies (16%), scratchies (15.7%) and sports betting (9.6%). However, the popularity of a gambling form doesn’t necessarily reflect its harm. Different gambling activities have distinct characteristics. Two key factors mean that some gambling forms are more harmful than others: the speed of gambling and bet size. Pokies allow for frequent, small bets, with spins every three seconds. Race and sports betting can involve much larger sums and betting that is relatively fast, but still slower than pokie spins. Sports betting, in particular, is getting faster with in-play betting and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30386964/">microbetting</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hI_XFOc4is0?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Poker machines, or ‘pokies’ are the biggest single source of gambling losses in Australia.</figcaption></figure> Lotteries, on the other hand, are much slower-paced. People typically spend a small amount on tickets and wait for a draw to find out if they’ve won. Although it’s possible to spend a lot on tickets, <a href="https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/statistics/theme/society/gambling/australian-gambling-statistics">people tend not to</a>, unlike with faster gambling forms. The average spend on pokies among the 16% who play them is around $4,782 per year, compared to an average spend on lotteries of $377 per year. These are averages. Most won’t spend these amounts but some will spend far more, which raises the average amount. V’landys’ claim about lotteries being more harmful than race and sports betting was based on “independent statistics”. He said that of 100 people seeking help from a gambling hotline, 70 had issues with pokies, 15 with lotteries, eight with race betting, four with sports betting, and three with casinos. We were unable to verify these figures – if anyone has the data, we’d love to see the research to assess them. However, we do have publicly available data. <h2>What the data say</h2> The NSW GambleAware website’s <a href="https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au/-/media/ghs-annual-activity-report-2020-21.ashx?rev=e070f9c8bdbf4031816a852f27246c54&hash=C5FC3AA23BE5F2EF69D551A5E2292BA9#:%7E:text=Of%20the%20clients%20receiving%20counselling,36.9%25%20of%20all%20female%20clients.">2020-21</a> report shows that of 2,886 people seeking help, 73.3% identified pokies as their primary form of gambling, while only 13 people (less than 1%) listed lotteries. Race betting accounted for 13.1%, and sports betting for 7.9%. These patterns were consistent with <a href="https://www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au/about-us/corporate-documents">previous years</a>. People who experience problems also usually take part in more than one form of gambling, as the NSW report showed. When these secondary gambling activities were considered, sports betting was cited by 35.5%, race betting by 33.5%, pokies by 19.5%, and lotteries by 13.7%. <h2>What we discovered</h2> The best evidence on gambling problems and harm comes from large-scale prevalence studies, typically commissioned by governments and conducted by independent researchers. These studies offer high-quality insights into how each gambling form contributes to problems. While one prevalence study is great, our team recently combined data from seven national and state-based prevalence studies. This resulted in a very high-quality dataset that we can use to study this question. In <a href="https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/12/1/article-p182.xml">our analysis</a>, we used statistical techniques to show how strongly each gambling form is associated with problems. These techniques give us regression coefficients, which are just numbers that tell us how strong the association is. A higher number means a stronger association between that form and gambling problems. The most problematic form was pokies (coefficient = 0.147), followed by casino games (0.136), sports betting (0.068) and race betting (0.038). Lotteries, with a coefficient of 0.001, were the least problematic and were not statistically significant even in our large sample. As you might guess from such a low number, there’s very little relationship between lotteries and gambling problems. <h2>What about prevalence?</h2> Prevalence matters too – while pokies were most strongly associated with problems, the number of people participating in each gambling form is also important. Let’s consider an analogy – a car that gives out a lot of exhaust fumes. That car is harmful, but if virtually no one owns one, then it’s not going to account for much pollution. The same idea applies for gambling forms. If a gambling form is very harmful but very few people do it, it doesn’t account for many problems in the population. It works the other way, too – if there is a very clean type of car that many people drive, they also won’t add up to much pollution. Similarly, if we have gambling forms that have very little association with problems, it won’t add up to many problems in the population, even if lots of people take part. The regression coefficients tell us how problematic each gambling form is. Prevalance tells us how many people do it. When we combine these two bits of information, we can work out the degree of problems in the community that come from each form. When we did this, pokies were responsible for 52-57% of gambling problems in the community. Sports and race betting each contributed 9-11%, with a combined total of around 20%. Lotteries accounted for just 0.1-1% of problems. Even if we include scratchies as part of lotteries, this only adds another 2-5% of problems, still far below sports and race betting. <hr /> <iframe id="quxHH" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/quxHH/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <hr /> <h2>The real issue</h2> What’s the takeaway? Lotteries are widely played but are not typically associated with much harm. Sports and race betting, despite having fewer participants, are more harmful due to their faster pace and the potential for large, frequent bets. Lotteries involve slower betting and lower spending, making them much less risky. If we aim to reduce gambling harm in our community, the focus should be on pokies, which are widespread in pubs and clubs <a href="https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/12/3/article-p721.xml">outside WA</a>, casino games and race and sports betting. These forms have features that make them far more harmful than slower-paced gambling like lotteries.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/240665/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alex-russell-133860">Alex Russell</a>, Principal Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-browne-97705">Matthew Browne</a>, Senior Lecturer in Statistics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-rockloff-569">Matthew Rockloff</a>, Head, Experimental Gambling Research Lab, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/pokies-lotto-sports-betting-which-forms-of-problem-gambling-affect-australians-the-most-240665">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

Readers response: What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned about yourself through travel?

When it comes to travelling, it's not uncommon to have revelations about yourself while self-reflecting in a new place. We asked our readers what the most unexpected thing they've learned about themselves is through travel, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Penny Corbin - I don't need the cathedrals, monuments, the tours, I just love walking in the space and finding my own beauty wherever it leads me. Dom Cimino - That I really love meeting people of all backgrounds. Jenny Halkett - To treat it as an adventure, and don’t be afraid to ask a qualified person for advice. Kristeen Collison - That I’m more adventurous than I thought. Angie Jansen - That I love it. Just new places, culture, food, history, the wonderful people, the adventures you have and the memories, it’s the experiencing new things and learning, exploring, being amazed. Just so grateful I can still do it. Palma Hemer - To have a sense of humour, rain hail or shine. Anne Jenkin - That I can enjoy the travel by myself but I do like meeting new people on these trips. Kath Sheppard - To try to learn basic phrases when travelling. It's definitely appreciated. Kerry Fischer - Soak up the vibe wherever you are! Every place has beauty! Jacqueline Buchanan - That a smile speaks many languages. Martin Drake - That there is just too much to see and not enough time. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

We tend to underestimate our future expenses – here’s one way to prevent that

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ray-charles-chuck-howard-1361224">Ray Charles "Chuck" Howard</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/texas-aandm-university-1672">Texas A&M University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/abigail-sussman-227057">Abigail Sussman</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-chicago-952">University of Chicago</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-j-hardisty-753777">David J. Hardisty</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-british-columbia-946">University of British Columbia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marcel-lukas-1236384">Marcel Lukas</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-st-andrews-1280">University of St Andrews</a> <h2>The big idea</h2> When asked to estimate how much money they would spend in the future, people underpredicted the total amount by more than C$400 per month. However, when prompted to think about unexpected spending in addition to typical expenses, people made much more accurate predictions. These are the main findings of a series of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177%2F00222437211068025">studies and experiments that we conducted</a> and which have just been published in the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/mrj">Journal of Marketing Research</a>. In our first study, we began by asking 187 members of a Canadian credit union to predict their weekly spending for the next five weeks. Then, at the end of each week, we asked them how much they actually spent. For the first four weeks, people underpredicted their weekly spending by about $100 per week or $400 for the month. In the study’s fifth and final week, we ran an experiment to see if we could improve people’s prediction accuracy. Specifically, we randomly assigned participants to one of two groups. In group one, participants estimated their spending for the next week just as they had done in previous weeks. These folks once again significantly underpredicted their spending. In group two, participants were asked to think of three reasons why their spending for the next week might be different than usual before making their estimate. This led them to make higher and much more accurate predictions – coming within just $7 of what they actually spent. Importantly, participants in each group spent roughly the same amount of money that week, on average. The only difference between the two groups was whether they accurately predicted that amount. <iframe id="WlDv3" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/WlDv3/3/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> Next, we conducted nine experiments to better understand why people underpredict their spending and whether being prompted to think of unusual expenses helps improve accuracy. In all, over 5,800 people participated in these experiments, including a representative sample of U.S. residents. These experiments revealed two important insights. First, people primarily base their spending predictions on typical expenses like groceries, gasoline and rent. They usually fail to account for irregular – though still common – expenses like car repairs, last-minute concert tickets or one-off health care bills. This is what leads to underprediction. Second, prompting people to think of irregular expenses in addition to typical expenses helps them to make more accurate spending predictions. In our studies, people did not factor in atypical expenses unless we asked them to do so. <h2>Why it matters</h2> Helping people improve the accuracy of their spending predictions could help them improve their financial well-being. Underpredicting expenses can be costly. For example, 12 million Americans <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2012/07/19/who-borrows-where-they-borrow-and-why">borrow a total of more than $7 billion</a> in payday loans each year because they can’t meet their monthly expenses. These loans typically have extremely high interest rates – <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/data-visualizations/2022/how-well-does-your-state-protect-payday-loan-borrowers">more than 250% in some states</a>. Payday loans also come due in full so quickly that around three in four borrowers <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2012/07/19/who-borrows-where-they-borrow-and-why">end up borrowing again</a> to pay off the original loan. If consumers could better anticipate how much money they will spend in the future, it might help motivate them to spend less and save more in the present. In fact, one of our studies shows that our suggested prediction strategy <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0022243721106802">not only boosted spending estimates</a>, it also increased intentions to save. <h2>What’s next</h2> Members of our research team are currently investigating if, when and why underpredicting one’s expenses may be beneficial. For example, if a person sets an optimistically low budget and actively tracks their spending against it, does that help them reduce their spending? We are also investigating whether people who work in the gig economy show a corresponding tendency to mispredict their future income.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/189100/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ray-charles-chuck-howard-1361224">Ray Charles "Chuck" Howard</a>, Assistant Professor of Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/texas-aandm-university-1672">Texas A&M University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/abigail-sussman-227057">Abigail Sussman</a>, Professor of Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-chicago-952">University of Chicago</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-j-hardisty-753777">David J. Hardisty</a>, Assistant Professor of Marketing & Behavioral Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-british-columbia-946">University of British Columbia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marcel-lukas-1236384">Marcel Lukas</a>, Lecturer in Banking and Finance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-st-andrews-1280">University of St Andrews</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-tend-to-underestimate-our-future-expenses-heres-one-way-to-prevent-that-189100">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

Readers response: What movie have you rewatched the most?

We all have our favourite movies. The ones that make us feel comforted and happy each time we rewatch them. We asked our readers what movies they have rewatched the most, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Heather Fuchs - Pretty Woman, The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. Nola Schmidt - Gone with the Wind, Sound of Music and Breakfast at Tiffanys. Isabel Pritchard - Love Actually, watched it every Christmas since it was released. Angela Chapman - The Notebook, Back to the Future trilogy, The Sound of Music, Grease, Sleepless in Seattle, and Sweet Home Alabama. Margie Grass - Grease! Was watched over and over and over, would finish watching and go "oh let’s do it again". My kids knew the words by heart and did a running commentary when they replayed it again. Naomi Thacker - The Rise of Skywalker, Star Wars. I must have seen it 10 or more times. Terri Cameron - The Lion King with my eldest grandson who was very young then and is 30 now. Neither of us seemed to tire of it. It was just a wonderful film. Beverley Hoffman - LOTR, Harry Potter, The Ten Commandments. Christine Thompson - Sound of Music, Sleepless in Seattle, Pretty Woman. Anything that you would class as a “chick flick” really. Maggie Geeves - Steel Magnolias. Rhonda Woods - The Castle. Image credits: Shutterstock

Movies

Advertising a house is ridiculously expensive in Australia – could that be affecting the property market?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-graham-1264059">James Graham</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Australia has long been one of the <a href="https://www.forbes.com.au/news/investing/sydney-melbourne-adelaide-are-top-10-least-affordable-cities-for-housing/#:%7E:text=Demographia's%20annual%20report%20assesses%20housing,second%20place%2C%20and%20Vancouver%20third.">most expensive</a> places in the world to buy a house. Now, it’s apparently also one of the costliest places to sell one. Recent <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/sep/16/the-symbiotic-relationship-that-makes-selling-a-house-in-australia-so-damn-expensive">reporting</a> in the Guardian has raised concerns about the market dominance of Australia’s two main real estate advertising websites, realestate.com.au and Domain. Facing little competition, the largest – realestate.com.au – appears to have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/sep/16/the-symbiotic-relationship-that-makes-selling-a-house-in-australia-so-damn-expensive">significantly increased its fees</a> in recent years, while thwarting disruptive innovations from smaller competitors. Why does that matter? Because when it comes to selling a house, Australia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/sep/16/real-estate-website-fees-australia">stands out</a> globally. In most other countries, any advertising costs are tiny or bundled in with agent fees. Here, along with only <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/sep/16/the-symbiotic-relationship-that-makes-selling-a-house-in-australia-so-damn-expensive">Sweden and New Zealand</a>, home sellers pay their own advertising costs in addition to real estate agent fees and commissions. This advertising can be expensive – up to several thousand dollars for a single property listing. But it also seems necessary, with a lack of alternative platforms offering comparable reach. Setting aside the problems of monopolistic pricing behaviour, what are the economics of high and rising real estate advertising fees? Do home sellers get value for the money they spend on advertising? And what might be the impacts of these fees on the Australian housing market? <h2>Is advertising on big platforms worth it?</h2> First, it’s worth asking whether real estate advertising is actually effective and whether bigger platforms are better. To explore these questions, a group of US-based economists <a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.99.5.1878">studied</a> the outcomes of advertising on a large platform favoured by real estate agents in the United States called the “multiple listing service”, compared with a smaller for-sale-by-owner platform. The study found no differences in eventual home sales prices between the two platforms. But properties on the multiple listing service were more likely to sell and spent less time on the market. However, the size of the advertising platform didn’t explain these benefits. Rather, the different platforms appealed to buyers and sellers with varying patience levels. This variation in willingness to “wait-and-see” affected the time it took to sell. Translated to the Australian context, that raises questions about the value for money of advertising on a larger platform – which here, unlike the US, attracts significant fees. <h2>Housing markets are ‘search markets’</h2> Next, we need to consider how high costs of advertising property might affect the housing market more broadly. Housing markets fall into a category called “search markets” within economics. Sellers seek buyers, and buyers seek sellers offering up properties that meet their required criteria. The economics of search markets have been extensively studied by the likes of <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2010/summary/">Nobel laureates</a> Peter Diamond, Dale Mortensen and Christopher Pissarides. Their insights highlight the key factors that determine search market outcomes. Sellers consider the costs of listing an item for sale (such as advertising) and the time it takes to find a buyer. Buyers, on the other hand, consider their alternatives to buying (such as renting) and the time it might take to find a suitable seller. The likelihood of a sale – and how long everything will take – depends on the number of potential buyers relative to sellers. The sales price is then negotiated after meetings between the two. This gives us a framework to speculate about how Australia’s high – and increasing – costs of advertising real estate could be affecting the broader housing market on both sides of this equation. <h2>Costs can affect both supply and demand</h2> On the supply side, high fees reduce the net financial benefit of selling a home, which could discourage homeowners from listing their properties. All else being equal, this could lead to fewer properties on the market, shorter selling times, and higher prices for the properties that are listed. But we can predict some effects on the demand side, too. High fees also reduce the net benefit of buying a home, as current buyers expect to be sellers in the future. These costs are likely to be even more pronounced for property investors, who buy and sell property more frequently than homeowners. Anticipation that selling costs will be high in the future could suppress the demand for housing, reducing prices and increasing the time it takes to sell a property. Interestingly, <a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w32855">recent research</a> from the US suggests that these demand-side effects might outweigh the supply-side effects. Economists studied the impact of a series of court decisions that forced the National Association of Realtors to reduce real estate agent fees. They found lower fees increase the lifetime benefits of homeownership, which leads to a significant increase in house prices. Significantly, that suggests lowering the costs of selling property – including advertising – could increase property values. <h2>Just one part of the housing story</h2> High prices in any area of economic life are likely to rankle our sense of a fair deal. High fees for advertising real estate have an obvious immediate impact on a home seller’s wallet. But the nuanced flow-on effects to the broader housing market are harder to tease out. They are also likely to vary across different property markets within Australia. Commentators and policy makers should think carefully before leaping into action in this area. In the meantime, advertising fees are one more thing to keep an eye on as Australian housing costs continue to rise.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/239111/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-graham-1264059">James Graham</a>, Senior Lecturer in Economics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/advertising-a-house-is-ridiculously-expensive-in-australia-could-that-be-affecting-the-property-market-239111">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

Readers response: What is the most expensive place you've visited?

When it comes to travelling, there are some destinations around the world that are definitely more expensive than others. We asked our readers which place left them the most out of pocket, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Angela Budden - Switzerland for sure. Vera Hunt - Italy, but it's a beautiful place so worth every cent. Pat Isaacs - Probably London, back in 2011. Such a contrast to Bali, in 2013. Had two weeks there, total cost was under $1600, including air fare, accommodation, food etc. Just the air fare to London was more than the total cost of my time in Bali. Eileen Dunford - The Amalfi Coast. Roz Harris - Ashford Castle in Ireland, but I would give anything to go back again and stay for longer. Valerie Southam - Iceland and Finland. Peter Connolly - I think Qatar, although the Netherlands wasn't that far behind. Marirose Piciucco - Tahiti and Copenhagen. Maree Newhouse - Iceland, I just came back from there. $48 for a bowl of lamb soup and $52 for a hamburger! Gail Ladds - Positano in Italy. Cost me $25 for a milkshake about $7 years ago. It was the cost of the view I think. Kevin Chapman - Hawaii, but worth every penny. Peter Brady - Everywhere in the US given the lousy exchange rate, the plethora of additional government taxes, and the mandatory 20% tip. Chaz Maree - Scandinavian countries are very expensive to visit but so beautiful, so who cares. Catherine Cotterell - Venice, where the traders sting you as fiercely as the mosquitos. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Readers response: What’s your most memorable birthday party?

One of the best parts of birthdays is celebrating with your loved ones, whether it's a milestone birthday or not. We asked our readers to share the stories from their most memorable birthday parties, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Jill Harker - My 80th birthday last November! My family organised it! Had no idea who was coming! I'm a big Elvis fan and when I got to the hotel for lunch everybody was holding up an Elvis face in front of their face so I still had no idea who was there! When they took the faces down there were all my family from Queensland including grandchildren and great grandchildren! Plus my 2 sons organised a birthday video message from Tex Walker my favourite footballer! Plus my granddaughter organised a ride in a Cadillac for me! So many wonderful surprises! It was fantastic! Judi Baker - My 21st. My Mum and Dad were there. Plus my late Mum's 70th and 80th. Both so funny. Annette Guernier Clay - In 2007 when two good friends and I celebrated our 60th birthdays with a party at the old Cairns Yacht Club. Live band, lots of dancing, loads of friends. Lesley Peacock - My 21st, as it was the only one I had. Christine Whyte - Never had children’s birthday party as mine was always with immediate family, but had a memorable 70th last year with my family and 3 grandkids in Townsville. Barbara Jaramenko - Didn’t have one as there was no money, but just had a homemade birthday cake with siblings which was lovely. Margie Buckingham - On my 40th, I was a single mum and I held a combined party- my 40th, end of 3rd term (teacher) & taking leave service leave, the Parliamentary election & going overseas! I took a cruise from Singapore for a week, beginning with a Singapore Gin Sling in the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel. that was pretty memorable. <div dir="auto">Image credits: Shutterstock </div>

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Most retirees who rent live in poverty. Here’s how boosting rent assistance could help lift them out of it

Aussie state named the most welcoming place on Earth

Does ‘made with love’ sell? Research reveals who values handmade products the most

The most turbulent flights in the world revealed

Most adults will gain half a kilo this year – and every year. Here’s how to stop ‘weight creep’

Airline worker reveals the kind of suitcase most likely to get lost

Australia's most decorated Olympian drops huge news

Readers response: What seems too expensive but is really worth the price?

The most underrated Europe destinations to see in 2025

Most popular wedding song revealed

Readers response: What’s the most interesting cultural experience you've had while travelling?

"Most loathed woman in parliament": Karl Stefanovic grills Lidia Thorpe

Are older adults more vulnerable to scams? What psychologists have learned about who’s most susceptible, and when

Pokies? Lotto? Sports betting? Which forms of problem gambling affect Australians the most?

Readers response: What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned about yourself through travel?

We tend to underestimate our future expenses – here’s one way to prevent that

Readers response: What movie have you rewatched the most?

Advertising a house is ridiculously expensive in Australia – could that be affecting the property market?

Readers response: What is the most expensive place you've visited?

Readers response: What’s your most memorable birthday party?

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