Filter Results: (241) Arrow Down

GovernanceRemove Governance →

New research on governance from Harvard Business School faculty on issues including governance policy, Boards and other governing institutions and the influence of shareholders and government regulators.
Page 1 of 241 Results →

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.”

Cold Call: Corporate Governance and Growth Strategy at Capital SAFI

Re: V.G. Narayanan

Jorge Quintanilla Nielsen started the independent asset management firm Capital SAFI in 2007. Now a leader in Bolivia’s closed-end funds industry with a total of $430 million in assets under management, Quintanilla planned to expand into other countries, like Peru and Colombia. He knew that governance would be one of the main aspects potential partners would evaluate. Capital SAFI’s board had evolved over time with the establishment of a governance committee, an assessment process for the board, professional development offerings for board members, tools to manage governance risk, and succession plans for board members and company executives. Would local and foreign investors be impressed by those measures or were additional improvements needed? Professor V. G. Narayanan discusses the importance of corporate governance in his case, “Building the Governance to Take Capital SAFI to the Next Level.”

How Partisan Politics Play Out in American Boardrooms

by Pamela Reynolds

The discord gripping the nation has reached the heights of corporate America, with costly consequences for companies and investors. Research by Elisabeth Kempf shows just how polarized the executive suite has become.

Curbing an Unlikely Culprit of Rising Drug Prices: Pharmaceutical Donations

by Ben Rand

Policymakers of every leaning have vowed to rein in prescription drug costs, with little success. But research by Leemore Dafny shows how closing a loophole on drugmaker donations could eliminate one driver of rising expenses.

Is It Time to Consider Lifting Tariffs on Chinese Imports?

Re: James L. Heskett

Many of the tariffs levied by the Trump administration on Chinese goods remain in place. James Heskett weighs whether the US should prioritize renegotiating trade agreements with China, and what it would take to move on from the trade war. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Did Pandemic Stimulus Funds Spur the Rise of 'Meme Stocks'?

by Rachel Layne

Remember the GameStop stock frenzy? Research by Robin Greenwood and colleagues shows how market speculation can flare up when you combine stimulus funds, trading platforms, and plain old boredom.

Are Banks the ‘Bad Guys’? Overdraft Fees Are Crushing Low-Income Customers

by Rachel Layne

Payday lenders have been accused of exploiting poor consumers, but traditional banks exact a similar toll through overdraft fees. Research by Marco Di Maggio and Emily Williams shows how seemingly innocuous checking accounts can become vehicles for financial distress.

Company Reviews on Glassdoor: Petty Complaints or Signs of Potential Misconduct?

by Michael Blanding

Online reviews by employees can signal internal factors that raise the risk of scandal. Research by Dennis Campbell, who analyzed reviews of 4,000 companies, offers insights for managers trying to prevent misdeeds long before they happen.

What Role Do Individual Leaders Play in Corporate Governance?

Re: Aiyesha Dey

From 1997 to 2012, Scott Tucker built a nationwide network of payday lending businesses, becoming a pioneer in online lending along the way. Many of his borrowers could not access credit from commercial banks and depended on payday loans as a financial lifeline to cope with emergency expenses. But in 2012 federal prosecutors indicted Tucker on several criminal charges that he violated disclosure requirements. He was later convicted on 14 charges, including racketeering, misleading disclosures, and fraud. Associate Professor Aiyesha Dey discusses how the case, “Scott Tucker: Race to the Top,” examines the role of individual leaders in the corporate governance system, as well as their responsibility for creating a positive corporate culture that embodies ethics, self-restraint, and a commitment to serve. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

As Disney Board Chair, What Would You Advise CEO Bob Chapek Regarding 'Don’t Say Gay'?

by James Heskett

Disney started the year off strong—until a controversial new law in Florida set off a public firestorm. What guidance should Disney Chairman Susan Arnold provide to Bob Chapek? asks James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Why Cutting Jobless Aid Isn't the Answer to Worker Shortages

by Rachel Layne

Many policymakers thought that halting COVID-related unemployment insurance would be a "silver bullet" to addressing worker shortages. In reality, cutting aid undermined consumer spending, says research by Raymond Kluender. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Firing McDonald’s Easterbrook: What Could the Board Have Done Differently?

by James Heskett

Letting a senior leader go is one of the biggest—and most fraught—decisions for a corporate board. Consider the recent CEO scandal and legal wrangling at McDonald's, says James Heskett. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Truth Be Told: Unpacking the Risks of Whistleblowing

by April White

The stakes are high for employees who report potential malfeasance at their companies. Aiyesha Dey and Jonas Heese discuss how companies benefit from whistleblowers and steps regulators could take to empower them. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

How Newspaper Closures Open the Door to Corporate Crime

by Avery Forman

A study of misbehavior among publicly traded companies illustrates the critical watchdog role that newspapers play, and the problems that arise when publications go out of business. Research by Jonas Heese. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Dispensing Justice: The Case for Legalizing Cannabis Nationally

by Ashish Nanda and Tabatha Robinson

Legalizing cannabis federally would shrink the illicit market, help the legal market grow, and generate more tax revenue, says Ashish Nanda. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

A Rare Find in Health Care: A Simple Solution to Racial Inequity

by Michael Blanding

Research by Amitabh Chandra offers a stark new explanation for racial disparities in heart attack survival rates—a problem with immediate answers. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

The Emergence of Mafia-like Business Systems in China

by Meg Rithmire and Hao Chen

This study sheds light on the political pathology of fraudulent, illegal, and corrupt business practices. Features of the Chinese system—including regulatory gaps, a lack of formal means of property protection, and pervasive uncertainty—seem to facilitate the rise of mafia systems.

Deregulation, Market Power, and Prices: Evidence from the Electricity Sector

by Alexander MacKay and Ignacia Mercadal

Efforts to deregulate the US electricity sector beginning in the 1990s included market-based prices and restructuring measures to introduce competition. This paper argues that electricity prices increased after deregulation because of the presence of market power.

Leadership Advice for Biden: Restore a Sense of Calm

by Dina Gerdeman

Harvard Business School faculty members share their expectations for a Biden presidency and offer advice to the commander in chief as he takes on the raging COVID-19 pandemic and a divided nation. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Dog Eat Dog: Measuring Network Effects Using a Digital Platform Merger

by Chiara Farronato, Jessica Fong, and Andrey Fradkin

With heated debate over antitrust regulation of online platforms, this study finds that when a larger platform acquired its greatest competitor, users were not better off with a single platform compared with two competitors, despite marked efficiency improvements experienced by the acquiring platform.