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New research on business and government relations from Harvard Business School faculty on issues including businesses' responsibility to help solve big world problems and how business research contributes to smarter public policy in general.
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Does It Pay to Be a Whistleblower?

Re: Jonas Heese

In 2013, soon after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had started a massive whistleblowing program with the potential for large monetary rewards, two employees of a US bank’s asset management business debated whether to blow the whistle on their employer after completing an internal review that revealed undisclosed conflicts of interest. The bank’s asset management business disproportionately invested clients’ money in its own mutual funds over funds managed by other banks, letting it collect additional fees—and the bank had not disclosed this conflict of interest to clients. Both employees agreed that failing to disclose the conflict was a problem, but beyond that, they saw the situation very differently. One employee, Neel, perceived the internal review as a good-faith effort by senior management to identify and address the problem. The other, Akash, thought that the entire business model was problematic, even with a disclosure, and believed that the bank may have even broken the law. Should they escalate the issue internally or report their findings to the US Securities and Exchange Commission? Harvard Business School associate professor Jonas Heese discusses the potential risks and rewards of whistleblowing in his case, “Conflicts of Interest at Uptown Bank.”

Nestlé’s KitKat Diplomacy: Neutrality vs. Shared Value

Re: Geoffrey G. Jones

In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and multinational companies began pulling out of Russia, in response. At Switzerland-based Nestlé, chief executive Mark Schneider had a difficult decision to make. Nestlé had a long tradition of neutrality that enabled it to operate in countries regardless of their political systems and human rights policies. But more recently the company had embraced Michael Porter’s “shared value” paradigm, which argues that companies have a responsibility to improve the business community and the health of their communities. What should Schneider do? Professor Geoffrey Jones discusses the viability of the shared value concept and the social responsibility of transnational corporations today in the case, “Nestlé, Shared Value and Kit Kat Diplomacy.”

State and Local Government Employment in the COVID-19 Crisis

by Daniel Green and Erik Loualiche

The COVID-19 crisis has had large impacts on local economies and government budgets. Balanced budget requirements, not mis-management, have generated a fiscal crisis and forced state and local governments to reduce service provision precisely when it is in greatest demand.

This Crisis Loan Program Preserved Jobs—and Made Money

by Rachel Layne

Following the 2008 financial crisis, France offered a business loan program that helped firms, employees, and even the government, says Boris Vallee. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Big Infrastructure May Not Always Produce Big Benefits

by Martha Lagace

Government spending on bridges, roads, and other infrastructure pieces does not always ignite economic good times, say William Kerr and Ramana Nanda. The key question: Are financiers nearby? Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Political Influence and Merger Antitrust Reviews

by Mihir N. Mehta, Suraj Srinivasan, and Wanli Zhao

This paper uses a large sample of United States mergers between 1998 and 2010 to study how political connections help firms obtain favorable antitrust regulatory outcomes for mergers. Given that antitrust regulators are subject to congressional oversight, the authors predict and find evidence that outcomes systematically favor firms that are constituents of politicians serving on judiciary committees.

Labor Market Shocks and the Demand for Trade Protection: Evidence from Online Surveys

by Rafael Di Tella and Dani Rodrik

This paper provides evidence on the role played by different kinds of labor-market shocks in shaping individuals’ policy preferences. Specifically, it studies how people’s opinions about trade protectionism and compensatory financial transfers change when presented with six different types of shocks, all of which have the same effect on local labor markets.

The Unexpected Way Whistleblowers Reduce Government Fraud

by Kristen Senz

Even unfounded allegations by whistleblowers can force government contractors to renegotiate their terms, say Jonas Heese and Gerardo Perez Cavazos. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

The UK Needs a Bold Strategy Around Competition to Survive Brexit

by Michael Blanding

There is little doubt that the United Kingdom’s separation from Europe will reduce its competitiveness for the foreseeable future, argues Michael E. Porter. Here's what can be done about it. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Smart Cities are Complicated and Costly: Here's How to Build Them

by John Macomber

When governments take on a smart city project, it's often the private sector that's left to execute the vision—sometimes at the expense of good public policy. John Macomber proposes a roadmap that considers situation, solution, and sovereignty. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Government Incentives and Financial Intermediaries: The Case of Chinese Sell-Side Analysts

by Sheng Cao, Xianjie He, Charles C.Y. Wang, and Huifang Yin

This study is the first to examine analysts’ incentives vis-à-vis the government in a context where government has the ability and motives to influence capital market institutions. The paper highlights the role of government incentives in analysts’ behavior and output.

Handgun Waiting Periods Prevent Hundreds of Homicides Each Year

by Dina Gerdeman

Waiting-period laws reduce gun-related homicides by 17 percent and gun-related suicides by up to 11 percent, according to a study by Deepak Malhotra, Michael Luca, and Christopher Poliquin. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Who is Responsible for the Future of Cities?

by Carmen Nobel

As technological innovations continue to transform urban growth, many believe the private sector should lead the future of cities—and that government regulators should follow its lead. But in a recent cross-disciplinary panel at Harvard, not everyone agreed. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Tax Reform is on the Front Burner Again. Here’s Why You Should Care

by Sean Silverthorne

As debate begins around the Republican tax reform proposal, Mihir Desai and Matt Weinzierl discuss the first significant tax legislation in 30 years. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Fearing Fox News, Democratic-leaning Companies Delayed Negative Announcements

by Jen Deaderick

Jonas Heese and Vishal P. Baloria explore strategies used by companies to reduce the risk of potentially negative press, focusing on Fox News and the 2000 presidential election. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Why Politics is Failing America, and What Business Can Do To Help

by Christina Pazzanese, Harvard Gazette

How could a country that epitomized the success of modern democracy have fallen into such a state of failure? Michael Porter and Katherine Gehl find a rigged American political system that limits competition and works against the public interest. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Op-Ed: After Charlottesville, Where Does a CEO's Responsibility Lie?

by Gautam Mukunda

Donald Trump, the "business president," has recently had serious disagreements with some of the most powerful CEOs in the country. Gautam Mukunda discusses the responsibility of business leaders to themselves, their companies, and their country. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Op-Ed: Courageous Leader Triggers a Moral Revolt of CEOs Against Trump

by Bill George

CEOs are responsible to uphold their company’s mission and values, says Bill George. When these values are violated, even by the president of the United States, they are obliged to take a clear stand. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Op-Ed: As America Recedes from Global Leadership, Its CEOs are Stepping Up

by Bill George

CEOs and other business leaders are speaking loud and clear on global issues of monumental importance, says Bill George. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Assessing the Quality of Quality Assessment: The Role of Scheduling

by Maria Ibanez and Michael W. Toffel

Accurate inspections enable companies to assess the quality, safety, and environmental practices of their business partners, and enable regulators to protect consumers, workers, and the environment. This study finds that inspectors are less stringent later in their workday and after visiting workplaces with fewer problems. Managers and regulators can improve inspection accuracy by mitigating these biases and their consequences.