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Examining Race and Mass Incarceration in the United States

The late 20th century saw dramatic growth in incarceration rates in the United States. Of the more than 2.3 million people in US prisons, jails, and detention centers in 2020, 60 percent were Black or Latinx. Harvard Business School assistant professor Reshmaan Hussam probes the assumptions underlying the current prison system, with its huge racial disparities, and considers what could be done to address the crisis of the American criminal justice system in her case, “Race and Mass Incarceration in the United States.” Open for comment; 0 Comments.

The European Commission’s Sustainable Corporate Governance Report: A Critique

by Mark Roe, Holger Spamann, Jesse Fried, and Charles Wang

The European Commission commissioned a report on sustainable corporate governance that purports to find serious problems of corporate short-termism. The report is wholly flawed: it conflates time horizon problems with externality problems, mismeasures investment and its financing, and proposes ineffective, possibly harmful reforms.

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.

State and Local Governments Peer Into the Pandemic Abyss

by Kristen Senz

State and local governments that rely heavily on sales tax revenue face an increasing financial burden absent federal aid, says Daniel Green. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Inventing the Endless Frontier: The Effects of the World War II Research Effort on Post-War Innovation

by Daniel P. Gross and Bhaven N. Sampat

Investments made in World War II by the United States Office of Scientific Research and Development powered decades of subsequent innovation and the take-off of regional technology hubs around the country.

Inflation with COVID Consumption Baskets

by Alberto Cavallo

Examining the impact that changes in expenditure patterns are having on the measurement of consumer price indices (CPI) inflation in 17 countries, this study finds that the cost of living for the average consumer is higher than estimated by the official CPI. This implies that real consumption is falling more quickly over time.

Government Technology Policy, Social Value, and National Competitiveness

by Frank Nagle

This study examines the impact of a French law requiring government agencies to favor open source software (OSS) over proprietary software in technology procurement processes. Results suggest a cost-effective policy lever that countries can use to both create global social value and increase their own national competitiveness.

'Green Bonds' May Be Our Best Bet for Environmental Damage Control

by Michael Blanding

The popularity of green bonds as a way to finance environmentally friendly projects is on the upswing, say Malcolm Baker and George Serafeim. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Why Government 'Nudges' Motivate Good Citizen Behavior

by Michael Blanding

Research by John Beshears and colleagues finds that psychological nudges can be a cost-effective way for governments to get citizens to do the right thing. 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.

Here’s How Businessman Trump Is Likely to Approach the Presidency

by Christina Pazzanese

Harvard Business School professors weigh in on how Donald Trump’s nearly 50 years of experience in building a global corporate empire (and zero years of political experience) might shape his approach to leading a nation. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

How Much Bureaucracy is a Good Thing in Government and Business?

by James L. Heskett

SUMMING UP: Bureaucracies aren't by nature bad, but they aren't necessarily built for crisp decision making, either. James Heskett's readers debate the need for bureaucrats. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

The Small Business Administration is a Model for How to Drive Economic Growth

by Karen Mills

Responding to a recent editorial in the Washington Post, Karen Mills argues that the Small Business Administration is an effective public-private partnership model that fuels economic growth, access, and opportunity for all Americans. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

How the FBI Reinvented Itself After 9/11

by Carmen Nobel

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the FBI was ordered to reorganize itself from a law enforcement agency to a national security organization. The transformation and the lessons it imparts are documented in a study by Ranjay Gulati, Ryan L. Raffaelli, and Jan W. Rivkin. Open for comment; 0 Comments.

Bigbelly's Big Bet on the Digital Trash Can

by Michael Blanding

Bigbelly wants to transform its solar-powered trash cans into digital hubs offering Wi-Fi access, advertising, and data-collecting sensors. (Oh, and garbage receptacles, too.) A new case study by Mitchell Weiss explores the challenges of a bold strategy pivot. Open for comment; 0 Comments.