Janice Bellace - Faculty Research in Knowledge@Wharton

Tackling the Concussion Issue: Can the NFL Protect Both Its Players and Its Product?

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:15:08 EST

Following a series of concussions suffered by National Football League players during games on October 17, the NFL handed out fines and said it would immediately start suspending players for helmet-to-helmet hits. For the NFL, long-standing concerns about traumatic brain injury raise a number of questions, including: Was the League's response to the rash of concussions last month an over-reaction, or too little too late? And how does the resulting publicity affect the long-term viability and popularity of the game?

European Conundrum: Increasing Regulation without Stifling Growth

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:21:35 EST

Wall Street may have been the epicenter of the financial crash that shook the world, but Europe -- along with other global markets -- experienced the aftershock in the form of a deep recession in 2009. Wharton faculty and other experts predict that in addition to an anemic recovery, Europe will face a number of key challenges that will shape the business and economic environment in 2010 -- including concerns about economic integration, sovereign debt default, regulatory change and the European Union's place in the global economy.

From Incentives to Penalties: How Far Should Employers Go to Reduce Workplace Obesity?

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:30:15 EST

This month, more than half of Americans probably made health-related New Year's resolutions, but few are likely to stick to them. Employees at CFI Westgate Resorts in Orlando, Fla., might consider themselves lucky: They have an incentive to get healthy. If they join in the company-wide weight-loss contest and reach their goals, they could win cash prizes or a luxury vacation. Westgate isn't the only employer trying to push employees, especially obese ones, into healthy lifestyles. But using incentives, and in some cases penalties, to change employee behavior raises a host of legal, moral and practical questions, according to Wharton experts and others.