This Week in Business

Ezekiel Hernandez, Wharton Management Professor, explains new research co-authored with Britta Glennon revealing how limits in the H-1B visa program push companies toward targeted M&A activity as a strategic response to skilled labor shortages. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Itay Goldstein, Wharton Professor of Economics and Finance, analyzes Coinbase’s $375 million acquisition of blockchain capital-raising platform Echo, exploring how reduced regulatory uncertainty, renewed interest in Initial Coin Offerings, and innovations like stablecoins are influencing the next stage of crypto market evolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kent Smetters, Wharton Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy and Faculty Director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, explains the economic realities behind the United States’ $38 trillion national debt, discussing options for increasing revenue, reforming entitlements, and fostering bipartisan approaches to secure the nation’s fiscal future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

Stefano Puntoni, Wharton marketing professor and co-director of Wharton Human AI Research, discusses findings from a multi-year study on how companies are implementing generative AI, examining its impact on entry-level jobs, return on investment, and the growing intersection between human expertise and emerging technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Siegel, Emeritus Professor of Finance at the Wharton School and Senior Economist at WisdomTree, analyzes the Federal Reserve’s latest rate decisions, the evolving U.S. labor market amid AI-driven changes, and the global economic implications of renewed U.S.-China trade negotiations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob DiGisi, Lecturer in Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School, joins the show to discuss how recent gambling indictments involving NBA figures reveal the complex intersection of legality, ethics, and integrity in professional sports—and why issues like prop bets, player vulnerability, and federal cooperation continue to shape the future of regulated sports wagering. Hosted on Aca...

Ben Keys, Wharton Real Estate Professor, discusses the renewed interest in adjustable-rate mortgages, outlining how these products can offer short-term savings for homebuyers facing steep housing costs and elevated interest rates, while also exploring the long-term risks and strategic considerations involved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gad Allon, Wharton Professor of Operations, Information, and Decisions, explores the current state of global supply chains—from the lingering effects of the pandemic and industrial disruptions to the trade-offs between cost efficiency and resilience—and explains how emerging technologies like AI and digital twins are reshaping how companies prepare for and manage risk in an increasingly volatile w...

Judd Kessler, Wharton Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, discusses his research examining how the framing of organ donor registration questions—such as opt-in versus yes/no formats—impacts real-world donor sign-ups, revealing surprising insights about what truly drives people to say “yes” to saving lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angela Duckworth, Wharton Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, shares findings from her national Phones in Focus survey, revealing how stricter school cell phone policies correlate with improved student attention, teacher satisfaction, and social engagement while exploring the broader implications for learning and youth well-being. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

Philip Nichols, Wharton Professor of Legal Studies, Business Ethics, and Social Responsibility in Business, discusses how growing executive authority and government involvement in companies like Intel reflect a historic transformation in the U.S. business landscape—one that leaves corporate leaders navigating unprecedented legal and social uncertainty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

Burcu Esmer, Senior Lecturer in Finance at the Wharton School and Co-Director of the Harris Family Alternative Investment Program, joins to discuss Electronic Arts’ proposed $55 billion acquisition involving Silver Lake, Affinity Partners, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund—exploring its implications for private equity, the gaming industry, and the future of global entertainment investments. Hos...

David Zaring, Wharton Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, explores the legal complexities, historical precedents, and potential reforms shaping the Federal Reserve’s independence as tensions grow between central bank autonomy and presidential authority. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefano Puntoni, Wharton Marketing Professor and Co-Director of Wharton Human AI Research, explores the latest developments in artificial intelligence, including massive vertical integration deals, high-profile copyright settlements, and new frontiers in synthetic data that are transforming how businesses understand consumers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Siegel, Professor Emeritus of Finance at the Wharton School and Senior Economist at WisdomTree, discusses the Federal Reserve’s latest rate cuts, divisions within monetary policy, inflation and employment trends, and how artificial intelligence is shaping long-term economic growth and market performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cait Lamberton, Wharton School Vice Dean and Professor of Marketing, explains how businesses can balance enthusiasm for new technologies, such as AI, with historical lessons, market fundamentals, and strategic analysis to identify sustainable innovation and avoid costly missteps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kent Smetters, Faculty Director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model and Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School, explores the potential impacts of artificial intelligence on productivity, GDP, and federal debt, offering data-driven insights that challenge assumptions about AI as a fiscal solution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Herbert Hovenkamp, Wharton Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, discusses the recent antitrust decision requiring Google to share its search index data, exploring how this ruling may impact market competition, consumer behavior, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of online search. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Burcu Esmer, Senior Lecturer in Finance and Academic Director of the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program at the Wharton School, explores the policy, regulatory, and investor considerations surrounding the White House’s proposal to introduce private equity and other alternative assets into 401(k) retirement portfolios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joseph Gyourko, Wharton Professor of Real Estate, Finance, and Business Economics and Public Policy, explores 50 years of housing market data, highlighting how local regulation, slowing construction, and regional demand shifts are reshaping affordability across the U.S., particularly in high-growth Sunbelt cities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Harker, former Philadelphia Federal Reserve President, and current Rowan Distinguished Professor at the Wharton School, shares his perspective on interest rates, inflation risks, labor force dynamics, and the critical role of maintaining Fed independence in shaping the U.S. economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefano Puntoni, Wharton Marketing Professor and Co-Director of the Wharton Human AI Research Program, explores the evolving strategies behind monetizing AI platforms, the implications of sponsored chatbots for consumer trust, and the critical role of energy efficiency in ensuring AI’s sustainable future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance and WisdomTree Chief Economist, shares his perspective on the Federal Reserve’s policy direction, the potential for rate cuts, the impact of tariffs, labor market dynamics, and the critical importance of central bank independence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Musto, Wharton Finance Professor and Director of the Stevens Center for Innovation in Finance, explores the importance of teaching financial literacy to students, the progress made in recent years, and why early education in personal finance is essential for preparing future citizens and voters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Nave, Wharton Associate Professor of Marketing, discusses his research on the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in creative problem-solving, examining how they can boost individual innovation while also raising concerns about homogenization of ideas across society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.