Governance
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- 06 Sep 2022
- Research & Ideas
Curbing an Unlikely Culprit of Rising Drug Prices: Pharmaceutical Donations
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.
- 01 Sep 2022
- What Do You Think?
Is It Time to Consider Lifting Tariffs on Chinese Imports?
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.
- 21 Jul 2022
- Research & Ideas
Did Pandemic Stimulus Funds Spur the Rise of 'Meme Stocks'?
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.
- 18 May 2022
- Research & Ideas
Are Banks the ‘Bad Guys’? Overdraft Fees Are Crushing Low-Income Customers
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.
- 13 May 2022
- Research & Ideas
Company Reviews on Glassdoor: Petty Complaints or Signs of Potential Misconduct?
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.
- 19 Apr 2022
- Cold Call Podcast
What Role Do Individual Leaders Play in Corporate Governance?
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.
- 04 Apr 2022
- What Do You Think?
As Disney Board Chair, What Would You Advise CEO Bob Chapek Regarding 'Don’t Say Gay'?
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.
- 24 Mar 2022
- Research & Ideas
Why Cutting Jobless Aid Isn't the Answer to Worker Shortages
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.
- 04 Jan 2022
- What Do You Think?
Firing McDonald’s Easterbrook: What Could the Board Have Done Differently?
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.
- 10 Dec 2021
- Research & Ideas
Truth Be Told: Unpacking the Risks of Whistleblowing
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.
- 08 Oct 2021
- Research & Ideas
How Newspaper Closures Open the Door to Corporate Crime
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.
- 17 Aug 2021
- Op-Ed
Dispensing Justice: The Case for Legalizing Cannabis Nationally
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.
- 02 Jun 2021
- Research & Ideas
A Rare Find in Health Care: A Simple Solution to Racial Inequity
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.
- 20 Apr 2021
- Working Paper Summaries
The Emergence of Mafia-like Business Systems in China
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.
- 13 Apr 2021
- Working Paper Summaries
Deregulation, Market Power, and Prices: Evidence from the Electricity Sector
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.
- 19 Jan 2021
- In Practice
Leadership Advice for Biden: Restore a Sense of Calm
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.
- 14 Jan 2021
- Working Paper Summaries
Dog Eat Dog: Measuring Network Effects Using a Digital Platform Merger
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.
- 14 Dec 2020
- Research & Ideas
What Does December's Drug-Approval Dash Mean for COVID-19 Vaccines?
Even in the best of times, pharmaceutical regulators tend to rush through drug applications in December. Now add in a ruthless pandemic. Research and insights from Lauren Cohen. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 14 Dec 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Nonprofit Boards: It is Time to Lift Your Gaze and See the System
Not every organization should attempt to solve problems at a system level, but can become more aware of systemic issues, ensuring that solutions dovetail into the macrosystem for best collective impact.
How Partisan Politics Play Out in American Boardrooms
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.