In the 21st century, more than ever, our decisions are driven by scientific research. Whether it’s energy and climate policy, health care, marketing practices, or investment decisions, we rely consciously and unconsciously on scientific research to guide us. But shockingly, up to half of what’s published in peer-reviewed journals and then reported unquestioningly by the mass media is in some way flawed. What, if anything, can be done to correct this problem? More importantly, what can decision makers do to ensure that they — and the stakeholders they represent — aren’t duped? The Trends editors examine these questions and provide some valuable guidance.

An economy simply cannot function unless the people involved trust the individuals, institutions, and practices that underlie it: Witness the dysfunction in modern Russia. For the first time since the 1930s, trust in American businesses has been shaken to the core. What are the implications? What can businesses and institutions do to earn back the trust they’ve lost? What can be done to reduce the possibility of future breaches of trust? What can you do as a manager, investor, and citizen to protect yourself? We’ll provide the answers.

"Branding" has been hailed as the crucial marketing competency of the 21st century. But, has it lived up to its promise? What about the side-effects of our obsession with branding? We'll examine some of the latest thinking on the subject and provide some valuable forecasts about where it's leading us./p>