articles 21 to 30 of 382
The Soda Tax Gamble: Will It Really Make Us Healthier?
In the latest round of efforts to curb rising obesity rates, officials in New York City and two cities in California are trying to pass legislation designed to cut down on consumption of sugar-sweetened soda and other beverages. Experts from Wharton and elsewhere say New York's proposed "soda ban" and the soda excise taxes on ballots in California could convince some consumers to change their habits -- but they could also have unintended consequences, including increased prices for healthier staple items and fewer choices for populations that already have limited food options.
From: September 12, 2012
The Once and Future U.S. Shale Gas Revolution
The U.S. has emerged as a leading producer of shale gas. Using innovative extraction techniques, private companies are turning gas that was previously too difficult and costly to recover into a leading candidate to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil. But the boom in production has resulted in falling gas prices, even as many environmental groups are concerned about the extraction method known as fracking, and how the use of shale gas might impede development of alternative fuels.
From: August 29, 2012
High-speed Railways: Worth Their Hefty Price Tag?
Amtrak's ambitious new high-speed rail proposal for the Northeast Corridor promises to create a rail-centric economic "mega-region" -- but for a whopping price tag of $151 billion. A similar proposal -- totaling $68 billion -- was recently approved in California. According to experts at Wharton and the University of Pennsylvania, high-speed rail systems do in fact hold vast economic potential, but there's no easy way to predict their benefits.
From: August 01, 2012
USA 10-K: Why America Needs an Annual Report
On the eve of America's Independence Day on July 4, the nation seems deeply divided. Trust is low; temperatures are high. Still, the U.S. has witnessed difficult times in the past and bounced back. In this opinion piece, Jay Clayton, David N. Lawrence, Stephen Labaton, Matthew Lawrence, Carl Schramm and their co-authors propose that the U.S. should adopt a simple solution that was successfully used to restore trust in public companies and markets after the Great Depression: an annual report that spells out the most significant issues the country faces. The nation's shareholders, the authors say, deserve nothing less.
From: July 03, 2012
Africa: The Next Horizon for Business Opportunity
While Europe and the U.S. struggle with economic challenges, growth -- albeit at a slower pace -- continues on in emerging markets. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa, whose nations are starting to coalesce into a massive market of more than 900 million consumers. In this special report, Knowledge@Wharton looks at lessons from the rise of Rwanda, the ongoing battle over natural resources, the challenges of developing modern infrastructure and the role of private equity in driving growth, among other themes. In addition, the report includes interviews with Eric Kacou, author of Entrepreneurial Solutions for Prosperity in BoP Markets, and Liban Soleman, chief of staff for the President of Gabon.
From: June 06, 2012
Partnerships: The Correct Path for Infrastructure-building in Africa
Although the infrastructure in Africa is woefully inadequate, one positive aspect of this situation is that countries can leapfrog technologies that are now outdated, such as landline telephones. The key is to make do with what is available, observers say. Multinationals, if they want to succeed, also must go outside their core strengths to make sure they are offering needed goods and services.
From: June 06, 2012
Does a Growing Africa Need a Foreign Investment Code?
The African continent has become a global battleground for natural resources and consumer markets. Foreign direct investment is pouring in. But, according to a keynote speaker at the recent Wharton Africa Business Forum, these transactions must not be for the benefit of investors alone; the local economy and people must gain, too. The challenge becomes to create a roadmap for win-win situations.
From: June 06, 2012
State of the Unions: What It Means for Workers -- and Everyone Else
Labor unions have long had a position of prominence in American business and political life. But their influence has been on the decline in recent decades as membership ranks have dwindled. The increasing irrelevance of unions will have far-reaching implications, Wharton experts and others say, including the loss of one of the few ways that working class Americans can engage in the political process and become educated about labor laws. Corporations will feel the effects as well -- and they won't necessarily be positive, experts add.
From: May 09, 2012
Special Report: Europe Struggles to Hold Itself Together
Dramatic economic and financial developments in Europe never seem to quit. In the latest news, several eurozone countries have slipped back into recession, bringing a backlash against austerity policies into full swing. Now, the election of Socialist President Francois Hollande in France may offer a path to more growth-oriented policies, but big questions remain about which ones are economically -- and politically -- viable. To help clarify the implications for business and investors, Knowledge@Wharton has prepared a special report on the challenges facing Europe.
From: May 09, 2012
Saving Southern Europe's 'Lost Generation' of Jobless Youth
In Spain and Greece, more than 50% of young people between 18 and 24 are out of work. In Italy and Portugal, the number is close to 30%. This represents a social and economic disaster that could have devastating consequences for Southern Europe, rippling outward toward the rest of the continent and the world. Experts at Wharton and elsewhere say outdated labor regulations combined with a slow economy have contributed to the problem. But even if labor laws are restructured, a solution will be hard to work out, all the more so now that many countries in Europe have slipped back into recession.
From: May 09, 2012
