WashU Experts

When thinking about the economy, and inflation in particular, Olin Business School economics expert John Horn said it’s important to focus on larger-picture trends rather than specific details like the prices of commercial real estate, used cars or eggs. Overall, inflation is not running away, he said — it’s gliding back to the path we’d like to see of around 2%.

Katie Westby, a vector and disease ecologist at Tyson Research Center, applies a strong DEET repellant and wears treated clothing when she’s headed deep into the woods, but uses a lighter touch at home. She warns that pet dogs and cats can also be affected by mosquito bites.

A longtime member of the Writers Guild of America, Arts & Sciences’ Richard Chapman has written more than 200 hours of network television. But as the WGA settles into its fourth strike in as many decades, Chapman wonders, will this time be the charm?

The Goldman Sachs Group is considering a sale of its consumer banking business, but regulations will mean it can’t simply return to being an investment bank, said Andrew Tuch, an expert on financial and securities regulation in the School of Law.

Large-scale redevelopment is often pitched as a strategy for reviving struggling downtowns. Yet such projects — with their acres of asphalt and tenuous connections to surrounding environs — are usually poor substitutes for the organic neighborhoods they displace, argues Patty Heyda, an associate professor of urban design at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.

St. Louis City SC will stand out in Major League Soccer for its gameday experience, top-of-the-line technology and commitment to sustainability, says Olin Business School sports economist Patrick Rishe. But how much of an impact will the new team have on downtown St. Louis and the economy?

Dating apps make no secret of their use of artificial intelligence to help users find their perfect match. But now some users are employing it to strike up conversations and flirt with potential matches. Olin Business School’s Liberty Vittert, a data and cybersecurity expert, explains the limits of AI and how to know when you may be chatting with a bot.

While there are signs the economic conditions are improving, small businesses are more likely to feel the pinch of rising interest rates, a looming recession threat and persistent labor shortages in 2023, according to Olin Business School’s Peter Boumgarden.

If the historic five-day, 15-ballot floor fight to elect the House speaker is any indication, the next two years in American politics will be marked by unavoidable gridlock and vetoes, according to Arts & Sciences’ Steven Smith.

A proposed rule that would restrict minors’ access to public library books without parental consent “would make Missourians less free and less informed,” said Greg Magarian, a professor of law and a First Amendment expert.