Chronic loneliness is a serious social problem that appears to be on the rise, and more so after the global COVID-19 pandemic. Some firms have introduced consumer services aimed at fostering social connection, particularly ones that promote interpersonal touch. Such strategies are presumably...

"By the late twentieth century, Japan had gained worldwide attention as an economic powerhouse. Having miraculously risen from the ashes of World War II, it was seen by many as a country to be admired if not emulated. But by the early 1990s, that bubble burst in spectacular fashion. The Japanese...