Differential Impacts during COVID-19 in Canada: A Look at Diverse Individuals and Their Businesses.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting all segments of society. This study investigates the pandemic's economic and social impacts on diverse groups in Canada, including women, immigrants, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and racialized people. Using two large online Statistics Canada surveys, which are neither random nor weighted to represent the Canadian population, we consider quantitative differences in the pandemic challenges and concerns reported by women and men, immigrants and those born in Canada, and intersectional groups, both as individuals and as the businesses they own or represent. Within the samples, individuals from diverse groups and their businesses are more negatively affected by COVID-19.

La pandémie causée par le coronavirus 2019 (COVID­19) touche tous les pans de la société. Les auteurs s'intéressent aux répercussions économiques et sociales de la pandémie sur divers groupes au Canada, notamment ceux des femmes, des immigrants, des populations autochtones, des personnes handicapées et des groupes racialisés. À l'aide de deux vastes sondages en ligne réalisés par Statistique Canada, qui ne sont ni aléatoires ni pondérés pour représenter la population canadienne, ils analysent les écarts quantitatifs dans les défis et les préoccupations liés à la pandémie que mentionnent les femmes et les hommes, les immigrants et les Canadiens de souche, de même que les groupes intersectionnels, tant à titre personnel qu'en qualité de propriétaires ou de représentants d'entreprises. À l'intérieur des échantillons, constatent-ils, les participants de certains groupes et leurs entreprises sont plus gravement affectés que d'autres par la COVID­19.

Gun violence.

Drawing on the World Health Organization's ecological model, this review explores how contextual and institutional factors shape individual choice and behavior with respect to gun violence. Young men are disproportionately represented among both perpetrators and victims of violence. Although specific characteristics and behaviors present risks, these vary with the specific forms of violence. There is ample international research that suggests the availability of guns increases the risk of lethal violence. When guns are present, suicide attempts are more likely to succeed and assaults are more likely to become homicides. Some research has indicated that stockpiling guns and the fascination with guns is an indicator of antisocial behavior. Broad social, cultural, and political forces both shape and reflect guns violence.

Young consumers' considerations of healthy working conditions in purchasing decisions: a qualitative examination.

Research has suggested that products manufactured under healthy work conditions (HWC) may provide a marketing advantage to companies. This paper explores young consumers' considerations of HWC in purchasing decisions using data from qualitative interviews with a sample of 21 university students. The results suggest that interviewees frequently considered the working conditions of those who produced the products they purchased. Participants reported a willingness to pay 17.5% more on a $100 product if it were produced under HWC compared to not. Their ability and willingness to act on this issue was, however, hampered by  a lack of credible information about working conditions in production, the limited availability of HWC goods and a presumed higher price of HWC goods. While caution should be applied when generalising from this targetable market segment to a general population, these results provide actionable direction for companies interested in using a HWC brand image to gain a strategic sales advantage. Practitioner Summary: This interview study shows that young consumers are interested in, and willing to pay a premium for, goods made under healthy working conditions (HWC). Reported barriers to acting on this impulse include a lack of credible information on working conditions. Ergonomics can help provide a strategic marketing advantage for companies.

More guns, more deaths.

It is contended that easier access to small arms increases the likelihood of misuse, on the basis of evidence comparing rates of firearm mortality and availability both between comparably developed countries, contrasting particularly the United States and others, and in different regions of individual countries. For example, firearm mortality is often greater in rural areas than urban. Possible inaccuracies in data collection are considered, but felt not sufficient to account for the finding. Measures to restrict availability such as stricter licensing, regulations governing storage and legally-imposed 'gun-free zones' may all reduce the death toll. In conflict zones, measures to remove arms post-conflict reduce subsequent mortality. Breaking the supply chain is also important and the link between supply, demand and the values of a society must be kept in mind.