Why do some see a great economy while others see gloom?

Edition: US - Today's top story: A tale of two GDPs: Why Republicans and Democrats live in different economic realities [Click here to view this message in your browser]. Edition: US 28 August 2016 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair] Editor's note Listening to Republicans and Democrats sometimes seems like living in two very different economies: all doom and gloom for Trump, sunny optimism for Clinton. That’s hardly a surprise given research suggesting the party seeking to hold onto the White House tends to win or lose depending on the economy – or more importantly, how it’s perceived. So how can voters effectively punish or reward presidents for their performance if our understanding of the economy is skewed by our partisan leaning? Political scientist Ian Anson investigates how mental gymnastics worthy of Simone Biles [help partisans form and maintain these biased perceptions]. And Samuel Banister, Roy Gerona and Axel Adams [explain an alarming and deadly new trend] in the opioid epidemic. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid with 50 to 100 times the potency of morphine, is being manufactured in illicit labs. And it is now being found in drugs like heroin or counterfeit hydrocodone, meaning users may not be aware of just what they are taking. Bryan Keogh Editor, Economics and Business Top story Which economy do you live in? Partisan minds via www.shutterstock.com [A tale of two GDPs: Why Republicans and Democrats live in different economic realities] Ian Anson, University of Maryland, Baltimore County New research shows that ideological media employ a powerful method to bias partisans' economic beliefs. In turn, partisans perform mental gymnastics worthy of Simone Biles to preserve those biases. Health + Medicine - [Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids sold as counterfeits in deadly new trend] Samuel Banister, Stanford University; Axel Adams, University of California, San Francisco; Roy Gerona, University of California, San Francisco Counterfeit drugs and heroin laced with illicitly made fentanyl have been linked to overdoses across the country. So what can be done? Environment + Energy - [Will a merged Tesla-SolarCity put a solar-powered battery in every home?] W. Rocky Newman, Miami University Critics don't think Tesla can sell enough home batteries to justify its acquisition of SolarCity, but what they're underestimating is the potential for innovation the Gigafactory brings. Politics + Society - [How victims of terror are remembered distorts perceptions of safety] Richard Lachmann, University at Albany, State University of New York Are Americans at increasing risk of being killed in a terrorist attack? A sociologist explains how the way we remember the dead may make it feel that way. Education - [How men benefit from family-friendly tenure policies] Kelly Bedard, University of California, Santa Barbara; Heather Antecol, Claremont McKenna College; Jenna Stearns, University of California, Santa Barbara Many research universities have adopted 'family-friendly' tenure rules to help women balance family and career. However, men, not women, seem to benefit from having the extra time. Science + Technology - [What you see is not always what you get: how virtual reality can manipulate our minds] David Evans Bailey, Auckland University of Technology Subtle manipulation of virtual reality can radically change how we respond without us even realizing it. Economy + Business - [It's not just the economy, stupid; it's whether the economy is fair] Wesley Widmaier, Griffith University The people wanted reform but they got excuses, and now populism is winning. Rest of the World - United Kingdom [A momentous peace deal with the FARC – so what next for Colombia?] Annette Idler, University of Oxford History was made with the agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC. Making the gesture a reality will require a concerted effort from all involved. - Australia [The plug and play city: how shipping containers are changing infrastructure] Morgan Saletta, University of Melbourne The humble shipping container is sparking a revolution in architecture, plug and play infrastructure, portable labs and many other innovations. - Africa [Technology can boost active citizenship – if it’s chosen well] Indra de Lanerolle, University of the Witwatersrand Very few organisations in the field of civic technology are choosing the right tools for the job. [The Conversation on Twitter] [The Conversation on Facebook] 3.3 million unique visitors a month You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly]. We’ll miss you. 745 Atlantic Ave. 8th Floor Boston, MA 02111