The not-so-great Great Resignation

+ how excess sugar affects brain development US Edition - Today's top story: The Great Resignation: Historical data and a deeper analysis show it’s not as great as screaming headlines suggest [View in browser]( US Edition | 11 January 2022 [The Conversation]( Millions of workers have quit their jobs in recent months in a phenomenon dubbed the “Great Resignation.” The most recent data shows that 4.5 million people voluntarily left an employer in November, creating a so-called quit rate of 3% – both figures have been described by pundits as all-time highs. But that’s hardly the whole story, writes Jay Zagorsky, an economist at Boston University. A closer look at recent quit rates in the U.S., as well as related historical data on the manufacturing sector, suggests the trend [may not be as exceptional as the term “great” implies](, he explains. Also today: - [What happens when ex-presidents and top officials are prosecuted]( - [Climate disasters that cost the US $145 billion in 2021]( - [Where memories are stored in the brain]( Bryan Keogh Senior Editor, Economy + Business [The Great Resignation: Historical data and a deeper analysis show it’s not as great as screaming headlines suggest]( Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University While the numbers of people quitting their jobs in 2021 are higher than normal, a closer look at all the existing data suggests the current trend isn’t as dramatic as news headlines imply. Education - [Who benefits from a break on federal student loan payments? An economist answers 3 questions]( William Chittenden, Texas State University Student loan forgiveness doesn’t benefit the economy the way some advocates believe it would, an economist argues. Politics + Society - [Prosecuting Trump would inevitably be political – and other countries have had mixed success in holding ex-presidents accountable]( James D. Long, University of Washington; Morgan Wack, University of Washington; Victor Menaldo, University of Washington Criminal charges against former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot could spark political consequences – not only for Trump, but for US democracy. Science + Technology - [Where are memories stored in the brain? New research suggests they may be in the connections between your brain cells]( Don Arnold, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Understanding where and how memories are formed could lead to more ways to treat conditions like PTSD and addiction. Environment + Energy - [2021’s biggest climate and weather disasters cost the U.S. $145 billion – here’s what climate science says about them in 5 essential reads]( Stacy Morford, The Conversation A hurricane that wreaked havoc from Louisiana to New York City, the Texas freeze and devastating western wildfires topped NOAA’s list of billion-dollar disasters in 2021. Health + Medicine - [How does excess sugar affect the developing brain throughout childhood and adolescence? A neuroscientist who studies nutrition explains]( Lina Begdache, Binghamton University, State University of New York Kids often crave processed sugary foods. But research shows that consuming too many treats during childhood and adolescence may lead to behavioral and emotional problems. - [Confused by what your doctor tells you? A new study discovers how communication gaps between doctors and patients can be cured]( Dean Schillinger, University of California, San Francisco; Nicholas Duran, Arizona State University Communication breakdowns between doctors and their patients have real-life consequences and can result in poorer health outcomes and sicker patients. From our international editions - [Great balls of fire: How heating up testicles with nanoparticles might one day be a form of male birth control]( - [Hong Kong: how colonial-era laws are being used to shut down independent journalism]( - [As a lawyer who’s helped fight for the rights of First Nations children, here’s what you need to know about the $40B child welfare agreements]( Today's graphic [A map of the United States color coded according to a systematic review of stolen checks being sold in 60 online chatrooms in October 2021.]( From the story, [How cybercriminals turn paper checks stolen from mailboxes into bitcoin]( Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](