Eric Orts - Faculty Research in Knowledge@Wharton

Carbon Cutting with Cap and Trade: A 'Step in the Right Direction, but ... Far from Ideal'

Wed, 27 May 2009 17:04:13 EST

In the war on carbon dioxide, the chief culprit in global warming, taxes are out and "cap and trade" is in, as key legislation moves forward in the U.S. Congress. The plan -- which gives a limited number of permits for industries to release carbon into the atmosphere and to sell permits they don't need -- might work if it doesn't have too many loopholes. It must also inspire similar action in China, India and other big carbon emitters that have yet to jump on the global-warming bandwagon.

The 100-day Dash: An Ambitious but Worrisome Start for the Obama Administration

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:19:24 EST

As President Obama wraps up his first 100 days in office, he gets high marks from several Wharton and University of Pennsylvania faculty for his reassuring leadership skills. But they also worry about the cost of his ambitious agenda, and wonder when he will start establishing priorities for what gets tackled when.

Biggest by Default: Toyota May Be Number One, But It Still Faces Challenges

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:07:39 EST

Toyota officially eclipsed General Motors as the world's largest automaker by sales last year, but its strength is only relative: The Japanese automaker, like its competitors, is struggling against a sharp drop-off in sales and global overcapacity. According to Wharton faculty, after years of conservative growth, Toyota accelerated its expansion in the past decade, making it harder to apply the brakes in the current downturn. The new market dynamics, which coincide with a changeover in company leadership, mean the road ahead may be especially difficult to navigate, they say.

On the Job Training: Can Obama's Huge Infrastructure Program Really Work?

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:53:55 EST

President-elect Barack Obama's infrastructure plan has drawn considerable debate, but mostly over the details -- the size of the stimulus program, how to structure the plan to create the most jobs in the shortest time, and how to administer such a large program to limit corruption and pork-barrel projects. The bigger questions remain unanswered, including to what extent new jobs will actually be created, and how all this spending will affect the government's long-term debt.

Dear President-elect Obama: Here's How to Get the Economy out of the Ditch

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:57:28 EST

President-elect Barack Obama must lead a nation mired in a worsening recession and burdened by the costs, both financial and human, of two wars and rising debt. Wharton faculty offer some counterintuitive advice: Now may be the time for the government to spend a lot of money.

On Energy Issues, Candidates' Funding Priorities Are Fueling the Debate

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:34:46 EST

U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barak Obama offer only subtle differences in their approaches to the nation's energy challenges. Obama emphasizes renewable energy to reduce dependence on foreign oil, while McCain puts more faith in drilling. Obama is less enamored of nuclear power than McCain. Obama supports subsidies for ethanol production while McCain would cancel them and open the market to foreign competitors. But no matter who wins, energy prices are likely to climb.

Eyes on the Wrong Prize: Leadership Lapses That Fueled Wall Street's Fall

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 20:25:57 EST

Executives at AIG, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may have ignored or failed to see the level of risk their companies were taking on in a crusade to enhance results and their own compensation, according to Wharton faculty and industry analysts. In some cases, the management crisis was fueled by managers simply choosing not to lead.

Clearing the Air: How Companies Operate in a Climate-conscious Era

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:25:47 EST

Where to locate a new headquarters, how to close a supply-chain loop, how to anticipate customer demands: These are all decisions that companies must wrestle with as they respond to increasing concerns about global warming. Given the rush to be environmentally friendly, where do companies turn for dependable information and good advice? Wharton faculty and other experts say companies have to rely on a combination of internal and external resources as they try not only to manage the risks of climate change, but also to gain a competitive edge.

'No Place to Hide': The Pressure on Companies to Address Global Warming Heats Up

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:36:16 EST

The scientific community now overwhelmingly agrees that earth's 6.5 billion inhabitants are contributing to global warming through heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions. While various industries are yielding to public pressure to address climate change, new carbon emission regulatory regimes are coming soon, and they will likely carry significant costs, according to experts from business and academia who spoke at the recent First Annual Conference-Workshop on Business and the Environment, which was organized by the Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership (IGEL) at Wharton/Penn.

It's Not Easy Going Green: Environmentalism May Help Your Corporate Image, but Will It Keep You in the Black?

Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:59:14 EST

On February 2, a long-awaited report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was released citing "unequivocal" proof of global warming. Meanwhile, some of the biggest corporations in the world, including Wal-Mart, Ford, General Electric and BP, have adopted highly visible "green" strategies. But what does "going green" mean for the bottom line? Whether motivated by desire to do what is right, or to polish their public image and fend off government regulation, companies can profit from environmental initiatives, according to Wharton faculty and analysts.

Will the 2008 Olympics in Beijing Showcase Pollution as Well as World-class Athletes?

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:27:02 EST

For many, the 2008 Beijing Olympics are seen as a "coming-out" party for the world's most populous nation. China is investing billions of dollars in sports venues such as the Bird's Nest in Beijing, the modernist national stadium currently under construction; subway-line extensions, and other infrastructure improvements to make the games a world-class spectacle. But some wonder whether air pollution will crash China's Olympic party and focus world attention on deepening environmental problems that threaten the country's economic growth.

Workin' on the Railroad: Can a Public-private Transit Venture Succeed in China?

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 15:55:06 EST

Two businessmen from Philadelphia, Pa., have launched a bold project to develop and run a mass transit system with the local Chinese government in Fuzhou, a city of approximately 1.5 million on the southeastern coast of China. If successful, it would be the country's first public-private railway system. Yet the road from idea to implementation can be especially challenging, say a number of observers, especially when dealing with Chinese officials on a transaction that involves buying real estate alongside transit lines. At the same time, however, the project could well benefit from new investment opportunities presented by China's ongoing transition from an agrarian to an industrial economy.

State-owned Enterprises: 'Sick Patients' Waiting for a Cure?

Sun, 29 Jun 2003 00:00:00 EST

As China modernizes its economy, it continues to struggle with the legacy of its bloated, inefficient state-owned enterprises � companies that once controlled entire industries and still play a significant role in China�s economic and political life. China boosters say that SOEs are being swept aside as entrepreneurs flourish and Western companies pour money into Chinese plants and joint ventures. But critics suggest SOEs still have a chokehold on broad swaths of China�s economy. Participants at Wharton�s China Business Forum looked at the future of SOEs.

GIS Holds Promise of Launching Next Big Information Revolution

Wed, 09 Oct 2002 00:00:00 EST

The term �geographic information systems,� or GIS, might not mean much to the uninitiated, but Wharton professor Susan Wachter describes GIS as launching a new information revolution. At a recent conference on the expanding role of GIS in business and government, Wachter and a panel of experts discussed the growing use of GIS in the private sector � from banking and insurance to retail, real estate and energy � as well public sector, from environmental protection to homeland security.

Digital Technologies Open Up New Strategies in Environmental Management

Wed, 15 Aug 2001 00:00:00 EST

Information technology breakthroughs can affect the environment in very positive ways, ranging from helping scientists analyze data on air pollution and radon exposure to improving the ability of companies to increase profits through remanufacturing. Wharton�s Environmental Management Program and the World Resources Institute explored these topics and others at a three-day conference in July.

Environmental Issues: Jaw Jaw, Not War War

Wed, 29 Sep 1999 14:41:09 EST

The environment, like politics and religion, is a hot-button issue for many people. But most everyone (be it public interest groups, the government or private enterprises) agrees that the current system of environmental regulation is not working well enough, at least in the United States. A Wharton Environmental Impact Conference held at the University of Pennsylvania Law School on September 24-25 addressed the current system�s shortcomings and outlined some alternative approaches. The Conference, also sponsored by the University of Leuven, brought together academics, policymakers, attorneys and economists from all over the United States and also Europe, where management of environmental issues has evolved more rapidly. The bottom-line? Collaborative efforts by all interested parties will bring about greater progress in environmental management in many circumstances.