- 15 Feb 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Can Financial Innovation Solve Household Reluctance to Take Risk?
Structured products are an innovative class of retail financial products with option-like features. This paper provides empirical evidence suggesting that innovative financial products like these can help alleviate loss aversion and thus the low participation of households in risky asset markets.
- 15 Feb 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
Black Business Leaders Series: John Rogers and the Importance of Hiring Minority-Owned Services Firms
Steven Rogers discusses a new Harvard Business School case study about the risks of speaking up, and the importance of black empowerment in the investment sector in this podcast. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 13 Feb 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
In Search of Organizational Alignment Using a 360° Assessment System: Evidence from a Retail Chain
This study assesses a values-based 360° performance measurement system implemented at an Indian retail chain that led to improvements on financial performance, but not on desired non-financial dimensions.
- 13 Feb 2018
- First Look
New Research and Ideas, February 13, 2018
Image issues over volunteering ... The next wave of virtual reality ... Duke University's "outrageous ambition."
- 12 Feb 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Private Equity, Jobs, and Productivity: Reply to Ayash and Rastad
In 2014, the authors published an influential analysis of private equity buyouts in the American Economic Review. Recently, economists Brian Ayash and Mahdi Rastad have challenged the accuracy of those findings. This new paper responds point by point to their critique, contending that it reflects a misunderstanding of the data and methodology behind the original study.
- 12 Feb 2018
- Research & Ideas
Customers at the Back of the Line Are Anxious—Can You Keep Them from Leaving?
The irrational anxiety associated with being last in line can lead to unhappy customers, according to new research by Ryan Buell. But there are ways to make people happier while they wait—and keep them from abandoning the queue. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 09 Feb 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Developing Novel Drugs
This paper contributes to our understanding of how financing constraints affect the direction of innovation in drug development. The authors develop a new measure of drug novelty based on molecular characteristics, and explore the tradeoffs involved in decisions to develop more novel therapies. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 09 Feb 2018
- Research & Ideas
Big Hits: The Best of the 2018 Super Bowl Ads
Harvard Business School marketing experts Jill Avery, Stephen Greyser, and Thales Teixeira discuss the best ads and how they reflect American society. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 08 Feb 2018
- Op-Ed
What’s Missing From the Debate About Trump’s Tax Plan
At the end of the day, tax policy is more about values than dollars. And it's still not too late to have a real discussion over the Trump tax plan, says Matthew Weinzierl. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Feb 2018
- First Look
First Look at New Research and Ideas: February 6, 2018
Starting a business in North Korea...The unrecognized role of services in driving innovation...How to tell when the CEO is tipping good news.
- 06 Feb 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Subjectivity in Tournaments: Implicit Rewards and Penalties and Subsequent Performance
Analyzing data from a Chinese manufacturing company, this study explores side effects of subjective performance evaluations in a setting where workers are rewarded based on performance rankings and subject to both rewards and penalties. Among other contributions the paper highlights factors that could impact the overall effectiveness of incentive systems.
- 05 Feb 2018
- What Do You Think?
Should Companies Disclose Employee Compensation?
SUMMING UP Do you want your salary broadcast on the company website? James Heskett's readers debate the value of corporate transparency on compensation. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Feb 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
The Long-Run Dynamics of Electricity Demand: Evidence from Municipal Aggregation
This study provides the first quasi-experimental estimate of the long-run elasticity (responsiveness) of residential electricity demand, and finds that it is about double the short-run elasticity. Our findings highlight the importance of accounting for consumption dynamics when evaluating energy policy.
- 03 Feb 2018
- Op-Ed
How to Heed BlackRock's Call for Corporate Social Responsibility
BlackRock's Larry Fink is challenging CEOs to serve a social purpose as well as a financial one. Institutional change expert Julie Battilana discusses what it will take to create this "transformation of capitalism." Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 02 Feb 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Last Place Aversion in Queues
While no one likes standing in line for service, being last intensifies the pain of waiting, doubles the probability of switching queues, and quadruples the chances of leaving the line altogether. Many service settings could be improved if managers actively mitigated last place aversion.
- 01 Feb 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
Black Business Leaders Series: Oprah’s Path to Authentic Leadership
Bill George traces Oprah Winfrey's growth from childhood, focusing on how and when she discovered her true voice and how that authenticity spurred her career success. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 31 Jan 2018
- Research & Ideas
American Idle: Workers Spend Too Much Time Waiting for Something to Do
Workers across the country are spending far too much time doing nothing—and it's costing their companies $100 billion annually. Research by Teresa Amabile and Andrew Brodsky. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 30 Jan 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Credit Supply Shocks, Network Effects, and the Real Economy
Using data for Spain between 2003 and 2013, this study examines firms’ responses to credit supply shocks during times of boom (expansion) and bust (financial crisis and recession). Results indicate that propagation of these shocks through the Spanish production network doubles the magnitude of the real effects typically estimated in the literature. This study also shows how such effects vary greatly during booms and busts.
- 30 Jan 2018
- First Look
January 30, 2018
Blockchain firms look for more government clients ... What the rise of populism means for business ... Who protects online consumers?
A New Categorization of the US Economy: The Role of Supply Chain Industries in Innovation and Economic Performance
This paper provides a novel industry categorization that quantifies the supply chain economy in the United States. Suppliers of goods, and particularly services, to business and government are a distinct and large sector, and play an important role in national innovation and economic performance.