articles 11 to 25 of 663
Michael Mauboussin on the 'Success Equation'
How do we know which of our successes and failures can be attributed to either skill or luck? That is the question that investment strategist Michael J. Mauboussin explores in his book The Success Equation: Untangling Skill and Luck in Business, Sports, and Investing. Wharton management professor Adam M. Grant recently sat down with Mauboussin to talk about the paradox of skill, the conditions for luck and how to avoid overconfidence. (Video with transcript)
From: March 06, 2013
Kilkenomics: A Festival Where the 'Dismal Science' Meets Comedy
Economics is often called the "dismal science." For the past three years, though, an unusual event in Ireland has been trying in its own way to change that impression. Held in the scenic town of Kilkenny, Kilkenomics is an economic festival that brings economists, businesspeople and finance executives together with stand-up comics. The result is a highly irreverent but insightful dialog, according to the festival's co-founders, Richard Cook and David McWilliams. Knowledge@Wharton spoke with the people behind Kilkenomics to see what makes the festival tick.
From: February 27, 2013
Why Long-term Debt Solutions Require a Break from Sequestered Thinking
With the spotlight on U.S. budget cuts, a timely book looks at the unique nature of the country's debt and the options available to avoid hitting the debt ceiling. Is U.S. Government Debt Different? -- a collection of 15 articles published by the Wharton Financial Institutions Center -- is co-edited by Wharton finance professor Franklin Allen, who shares insights from the book with Knowledge@Wharton. (Video with transcript)
From: February 27, 2013
Jeremy Siegel on Why Stocks Are -- and Will Remain -- the Best Bet
Though stock market volatility continues to rattle investors' nerves, the future looks bright for equities in the U.S. and many emerging markets, according to Wharton finance professor Jeremy Siegel. In an interview with Knowledge@Wharton, Siegel says that investors should think about reducing their bond holdings, buying more stocks and keeping just enough cash for a rainy day and other liquidity needs. He also discusses the housing market and offers his take on where the stock market is headed for the rest of 2013. (Video with transcript)
From: February 27, 2013
Pressure Points: Where Tax Reform Can Be Most Effective
The deficit deal that averted the fiscal cliff crisis at the start of the year raised taxes on the wealthiest and postponed -- for two months -- government spending cuts that threatened to derail the economic recovery. But the problem remains: Spending far exceeds revenue. So what's to be done? Five Wharton faculty members offer their views.
From: February 13, 2013
A Bold New Direction for Japan's Economy
Newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to take Japan's economy in a daring new direction to end 20 years of stagnation and deflation. His policies resemble past efforts -- but with far more firepower behind them. That means even looser monetary policies and a sharp rise in government spending to boost demand. Some analysts say it's just the medicine Japan needs and, on the spending side at least, the opposite of what Europe and the U.S. are doing. But Wharton finance professor Franklin Allen, in an interview with Knowledge@Wharton, says the plan carries serious risks and could lead to a big meltdown. (Video with transcript)
From: February 13, 2013
High-speed Trading: Is It Time to Apply the Brakes?
Costly glitches at some high-frequency trading firms have reignited a debate over the merits of computer-automated, high-speed stock transactions, in addition to inviting renewed scrutiny by regulators. Those in favor of high-frequency trading say it adds crucial liquidity to the market. But critics contend that the practice creates an uneven playing field for investors and poses a threat to the global financial system. Experts from Wharton and elsewhere weigh in.
From: January 16, 2013
Microfinance and Patriarchy: 'A Drift Away from Serving Women'
Much of the research on microfinance focuses on the efficient delivery of loans and their effect on borrowers -- in other words, on the financial and economic aspects of the microfinance movement. But by ignoring microfinance's cultural aspects -- including the influence of patriarchal attitudes on lending practices -- the ability to make loans to the women whom microfinance was originally intended to serve can be seriously restricted, says Wharton management professor Tyler Wry, who has co-authored a paper exploring this topic.
From: January 16, 2013
The Private Equity Landscape in Colombia
A decade ago, Colombia was struggling with political and social instability, a weak economy and widespread violence. With foreign direct investment (FDI) hovering around US$2 billion from 1999 until 2003, it was clear that the international financial community was not looking at the country as a favorable place in which to invest capital. However, with the election of President Álvaro Uribe in 2002, Colombia began to resolve the issues of violence and national security and lay the foundation for a 10-year economic boom .
From: January 02, 2013
Private Equity in Brazil: 'The Music Hasn't Stopped'
Over the past decade, Brazil has become a success story among emerging market economies. This, in turn, has translated into increased consumer spending in a variety of areas, including basic goods, furniture and automobile sales. In addition, the government continues to invest money in offshore oil exploration. Not surprisingly, over the past decade the Brazilian private equity sector has thrived as well, with Brazilian PE funds helping to professionalize family-owned businesses, improve corporate governance and provide needed growth capital. What challenges and opportunities will PE see in the next 10 years?
From: January 02, 2013
The Entrepreneurship Vacuum in Japan: Why It Matters and How to Address It
Japan is currently facing a myriad of intractable and unprecedented challenges -- from a demographic crisis to border conflicts to a strong yen. The population is aging quickly, and the energy sector is still reeling from the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. One other significant problem is Japan's inhospitable climate for start-ups. What can be done to encourage more entrepreneurship and venture capital in a country whose economy is clearly in need of recharging?
From: January 02, 2013
Maneet Ahuja on Hedge Funds and the 'Alpha Masters'
Maneet Ahuja began her career at age 17 as a credit risk analyst at Citigroup. Now, 10 years later, she has been named to the Forbes 2012 "30 under 30" list, is a producer for CNBC's Squawk Box and has written a new book called The Alpha Masters: Unlocking the Genius of the World's Top Hedge Funds. Knowledge@Wharton recently talked with her about the alpha masters she profiled in her book and about where she thinks the hedge fund industry is headed. (Video with transcript)
From: December 17, 2012
'Bull by the Horns': Sheila Bair's Insider View of the 2008 Financial Crisis
The 2008 financial crisis caused a recession in the United States, forced the government to bail out several banks and investment firms to the tune of $125 billion and led to 1.9 million housing foreclosures in 2008 and 2009 due to lax and often predatory subprime mortgages. In Bull by the Horns: Fighting to Save Main Street from Wall Street and Wall Street from Itself, Sheila Bair, director of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) from 2006 to 2011, gives an insider's view of what caused the crisis and what can be done to prevent similar meltdowns in the future.
From: December 17, 2012
A Proper Accounting: The Real Cost of Government Loans and Credit Guarantees
While all eyes are turned to the U.S. government's enormous debt, few have given equal attention to the massive costs and risks embedded in another of the government's financial functions: its role as lender rather than borrower. According to a recent statement issued by the Financial Economists Roundtable, flaws in how the government accounts for its loans and credit guarantees mean the budget deficit is even larger than the officially reported amount.
From: December 05, 2012
Research Roundup: 'One-size-fits-all' Regulation, Avoiding Decision Traps and How Sex Cues Affect Sales
Would companies benefit from a "one-size-fits-all" regulatory regime? If decisiveness is a virtue, can we learn to make decisions better? What effect do sexually suggestive images have on buyers' impatience? These questions are examined in recent research papers by Wharton professors Mirko Heinle, Jonah Berger and Gal Zauberman, respectively.
From: November 07, 2012
