(Press-News.org) They are familiar scenes: politicians bemoaning the death of family values only for extramarital affairs to be unveiled or politicians preaching financial sacrifice while their expense accounts fatten up.
Moral corruption and power asymmetries are pervasive in human societies, but as it turns out, that may not be such a bad thing.
Francisco Úbeda, an evolutionary biology professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Edgar Duéñez of Harvard University found that power and corruption may play a role in maintaining overall societal cooperation.
A report of their research is published in the journal Evolution and can be viewed online at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291558-5646/earlyview.
Using game theory, Úbeda and Duéñez looked at what causes individuals in society to cooperate even though those in charge display some level of corruption. They developed a model that allows individuals who are responsible for punishing noncooperators (e.g., law enforcers and government officials) to fail to cooperate themselves by acting in a corrupt manner. They also considered the possibility that these law enforcers, by virtue of their positions, are able to sidestep punishment when they are caught failing to cooperate.
What they found is that the bulk of society cooperates because there are law enforcers forcing them to stay in line. People tend to cooperate because they do not want to get punished.
Even if the law enforcers consider themselves above the law and behave in a corrupt way, overall societal cooperation is maintained – as long as there is a small amount of power and corruption. However, if the law enforcers have too much power and corruption runs rampant, overall societal cooperation breaks down.
Úbeda explained how it works:
"Law enforcers often enjoy privileges that allow them to avoid the full force of the law when they breach it. Law enforcing results in the general public abiding by the law. Thus law enforcers enjoy the benefits of a lawful society and are compensated for their law enforcing by being able to dodge the law," he said.
The researchers concluded that power and corruption benefit society; without law enforcers, individuals have less incentive to cooperate and without power and corruption, law enforcers have less incentive to do their job.
The researchers' findings have far-reaching implications. In biology, they may help explain corrupt behaviors in social insects. In economics, the findings may aid in formulating policies by providing insights on how to harness corruption to benefit society. In the field of psychology, the findings provide a justification to the correlation between power and corruption observed in humans.
INFORMATION: END
UT researcher finds power and corruption may be good for society
Moral corruption and power asymmetries are pervasive in human societies, but as it turns out, that may not be such a bad thing.
2010-12-15
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Y-90 radioembolization offers promise for late-stage liver cancer
2010-12-15
INDIANAPOLIS -- The latest weapon against inoperable liver cancer is so tiny that it takes millions of them per treatment, but according to interventional radiologists at the Indiana University School of Medicine, those microscopic spheres really pack a therapeutic punch.
The glass spheres contain a radioactive element, yttrium-90, more commonly known as Y-90, which emits radiation for a very limited distance so that healthy tissue around the tumor remains unaffected. (2.5mm or less than 1/16th inch in soft tissue).
Y-90 microsphere radioembolization is an FDA-approved ...
Tackling the erosion of a special river island
2010-12-15
Locke Island is a small island in a bend of the Columbia River in eastern Washington that plays a special role in the culture of the local Indian tribes. Since the 1970s, however, it has been eroding away at a rate that has alarmed tribal leaders.
The island is part of the Hanford Reservation, which is managed by the Department of Energy.
So the DOE has turned to a team of researchers headed by David Furbish, professor of earth and environmental sciences (E&ES) at Vanderbilt, to study the river dynamics in the area to identify the cause of the increase in erosion and ...
Ventilation changes could double number of lungs available for transplant: study
2010-12-15
TORONTO, Ont. 14, 2010—Simple changes to how ventilators are used could almost double the number of lungs available for transplants, according to new international research involving a doctor at St. Michael's Hospital.
Many potential donor lungs deteriorate between the time a patient is declared brain dead and the time the lungs are evaluated to determine whether they are suitable for transplant. The study involving Dr. Arthur Slutsky, the hospital's vice president of research, said the deterioration could be in part because of the ventilatory strategy used while potential ...
UNC scientists discover potential strategy to improve cancer vaccines
2010-12-15
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The promise of vaccines targeted against various types of cancer has raised the hopes of patients and their families. The reality, however, is that these promising treatments are difficult to develop. One of the challenges is identifying a discrete cellular target to stop cancer growth without inactivating the immune system. Scientists at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center report a laboratory finding that has the potential to increase the effectiveness of therapeutic cancer vaccines.
The team found that the absence of the function of a protein ...
Breast inflammation is key to cancer growth, Kimmel Cancer Center researchers say
2010-12-15
PHILADELPHIA – It took 12 years and a creation of a highly sophisticated transgenic mouse, but researchers at Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson have finally proven a long suspected theory: Inflammation in the breast is key to the development and progression of breast cancer.
In the December 15 issue of Cancer Research, the scientists say they can now definitively show that an inflammatory process within the breast itself promotes growth of breast cancer stem cells responsible for tumor development.
They also demonstrate that inactivating this inflammation selectively ...
New DTI BPO Incentive Scheme to Drop SA Operational Costs by 20%
2010-12-15
As part of a continued effort to strengthen South Africa's presence within the multi-billion dollar BPO & O (Business Process Outsourcing & Offshoring) Industry, the dti (Department of Trade and Industry) has announced a new set of incentives aimed at attracting foreign investment.
The new programme will reduce the cost of BPO operations in South Africa by up to 20%, paying investors R112, 000 for each full-time job created and maintained. The incentives will be paid out over a three year period, in instalments of R40, 000 (2011), R40, 000 (2012) and R32, 000 in (2013). ...
Seven Tips for High-Yield Language Partnerships
2010-12-15
The most effective translation and localization strategies align the best people, processes and technology to deliver multilingual content. Properly selected and managed, the right language service partnerships can yield huge dividends: improved quality, greater efficiency, lower costs and accelerated speed to market.
Based on our experience working with hundreds of clients on thousands of global translation projects, the following seven tips can help you get the most out of your business relationships with your translation partners.
To learn more, download the white ...
Pi CRM Announces New And Innovative CRM Software with 'Unlimited' User Logins For A Flat Fee
2010-12-15
Announced today was the launching of a new hosted CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software by PiCRM Software Pty Ltd for small businesses.
* PiCRM (Pronounced "pie CRM") launched this month with hosted software for small businesses of 1 to 85 employees
* Perfect for SMBs and part-time workers - Unique new pricing model eliminates "per user" licensing fees
* Linked to external databases for fast, accurate data entry - e.g. databases of registered companies, street addresses
* Designed for ease of use - Little or NO training required
The licensing model ...
Dodeco Holiday Discounts For Stress-Free And Fabulous Christmas Entertaining Announces New Prices On Kitchen Trolleys
2010-12-15
Dodeco.com is offering the two most popular items, The Buttermere Grand and The Eddingtons Lambourn 4 drawer trolley for a massive reduced price of GBP840 and GBP699 respectively, for great bargains this Christmas holiday season. The task of entertaining guests without the hassle of running out of kitchen space can be made easy with an addition of a kitchen trolley to help make this holiday time less stressful and more inviting for family and friends.
Kitchen islands help create a more comfortable and functional kitchen. They help make the kitchen spacious without compromising ...
Dr. Bahari of Affinity Cosmetic and Laser Center Launches No-Heat, High Definition European Liposculpture in Los Angeles
2010-12-15
The times of "dry" liposuction are over; even the laser assisted liposuction is losing its appeal with the introduction of High Definition Liposculpture. The currently popular in Los Angeles laser device assisted liposculpture techniques for the removal of localized fat deposits are ultra sound-assisted (Vasar) and laser-assisted liposculpture (including SmartLipo and SlimLipo). Both are minimally invasive and performed under a local anesthesia; both produce good results of removing fat pockets and leaving the skin over the liposculptured area well-toned. The results of ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Researchers develop new technology for sustainable rare earth mining
Words activate hidden brain processes shaping emotions, decisions, and behavior
Understanding survival disparities in cancer care: A population-based study on mobility patterns
Common sleep aid may leave behind a dirty brain
Plant cells gain immune capabilities when it’s time to fight disease
Study sheds light on depression in community-dwelling older adults
Discovery of new class of particles could take quantum mechanics one step further
Cost-effectiveness of a polypill for cardiovascular disease prevention in an underserved population
Development and validation of a tool to predict onset of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer dementia
New AI predicts inner workings of cells
Scientists uncover key step in how diazotrophs “fix” nitrogen
The hidden mechanics of earthquake ignition
Scientists leverage artificial intelligence to fast-track methane mitigation strategies in animal agriculture
Researchers unravel a novel mechanism regulating gene expression in the brain that could guide solutions to circadian and other disorders
Discovery of 'Punk' and 'Emo' fossils challenges our understanding of ancient molluscs
Exposure to aircraft noise linked to worse heart function
Deans of the University of Nottingham visited Korea University's College of Medicine
New study assesses wildfire risk from standing dead trees in Yellowstone National Park
A new approach for improving hot corrosion resistance and anti-oxidation performance in silicide coating on niobium alloys
UC San Diego to lead data hub of CDC-funded pandemic preparedness network
Biomimetic teakwood structured environmental barrier coating
Low-cost system will improve communications among industrial machines
Elderberry juice shows benefits for weight management, metabolic health
A new era in genetic engineering
Study identifies coastal black pine trees resistant to tsunamis and strong winds
From gender dysphoria to special skills: decoding the link
Study advances possible blood test for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease
New international research collaboration to develop and test an improved dietary supplement for pregnant women
Presenting a path forward for future genetically-modified pig heart transplants: lessons learned from second patient
When the past meets the future: Innovative drone mapping unlocks secrets of Bronze Age ‘mega fortress’ in the Caucasus
[Press-News.org] UT researcher finds power and corruption may be good for societyMoral corruption and power asymmetries are pervasive in human societies, but as it turns out, that may not be such a bad thing.