In a discussion on the growing number of American retirees selling their shares of US companies and the growing number of foreign investors buying them, Faculty Affiliate Jeremy Siegel notes how this foreign access to American technology can result in national security concerns. 

In a study on the Best and Worst States for health care, Faculty Affiliate Amol Navathe was featured on a panel of experts that discussed a variety of different variables that shape access, quality, and price of care. In particular, Navathe focused on health care reform and the relationship between coverage plans and the overall market. 

In light of the Thai soccer team rescue, Faculty Affiliate Michael Useem reflects on the leadership lessons that can be distilled from the event. Through a review of the ordeal, Professor Useem highlights the required “big-heartedness” of various actors such as the Thai government, the rescue team, and the soccer players themselves.

In a discussion on tax laws and its impact on California real estate, Faculty Affiliate Fernando Ferreira’s research was cited for its findings that claim that there has been a sharp discontinuity in the likelihood of moving between homeowners 54 years old and those just a year older.

As a part of the “Focus On…” interview series which highlights the work and experiences of regulatory professionals, Faculty Affiliate Cary Coglianese discusses the Penn Program on Regulation and his role as the Program Director.

Faculty Affiliate Peter Cappelli debunks a common misconception that “gigs” or short contract-type engagements such as those operated through online platforms like Uber are growing so fast that all jobs will be like this soon. Professor Cappelli cites findings from the Contingent Work Survey published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as evidence contrary to the misconception.

Faculty Affiliate Susan Wachter was featured on a panel of guests discussing the potential upsides of gentrification and models for how to make it beneficial for all parties. The panel argues that the most careful empirical analyses conducted by urban economists have failed to detect a rise in displacement within gentrifying neighborhoods.

In a discussion on the developing trade war between the US and China, Faculty Affiliate Mauro Guillen expands the geopolitical perspective of the narrative and points out nations such as Mexico are closely watching the affair in light of their own negotiations with the US.

In a historical review of the American Economy since the Great Recession, Faculty Affiliate Peter Cappelli cautions against using unemployment and job openings as purely positive indicators of the strength of the economy.

In a discussion on the developing trade tensions between the EU and the US, Faculty Affiliate Ann Harrison says that the Trump Administration’s tariff moves have been shocking because few expected the president to follow through with these threats and because it involves the US’ closest allies.

In a class action against 8 fast food chains that are allegedly practicing “no poaching” terms in their employee contracts, Faculty Affiliate Peter Cappelli is quoted for his statements indicating that these agreements break anti-trust and employment law because “[c]ompanies could achieve the same results by making it attractive enough for employees not to leave.”

In light of Janus v. AFSCME, where the Supreme Court ruled that government workers who choose not to join a union cannot be forced to pay for the cost of collective bargaining, state governments are analyzing its impact on unions and pension funds. Faculty affiliate Olivia Mitchell’s research was cited for her findings that indicated unionized public employees’ pension plans were less likely to be fully funded. 

In a discussion on the implications of South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. that ruled online retailers must collect sales taxes even in states where they have no physical presence, Faculty Affiliate Katja Seim agues that it is still unclear whether or not this will negatively affect sales and consumer habits. 

Faculty Affiliate Susan Wachter contributes to a discussion on the “Three Cities” Phenomenon by interrelating housing as a reflection of wealth inequality. Ten years ago, just as Toronto’s housing boom reaching its peak, a groundbreaking academic research project at the University of Toronto told a striking counter-narrative: the city’s neighborhoods were transforming from middle-income communities into enclaves of the very rich or boroughs of poverty. Over the course of 35 years Toronto had self-segregated itself based on wealth.

In a discussion on the legality and future of the Affordable Care Act, Faculty Affiliate Mark Pauly writes, “There’s winners and losers… It’s a tiny segment of the population that’s directly affected, but they’re going to be really woefully mistreated.” Healthy people could see their insurance rates go down, while sick people could be charged more. The immediate impact would be on people with ACA policies although most Americans have insurance through employers, Medicare or Medicaid.

Faculty Affiliate Mary-Hunter McDonnell’s research on the history and intersection between businesses and social media was cited in an article discussing the evolution of social media and the public’s perception of these platform’s responsibility to its user base. 

In a discussion on a phenomenon economists have called “the housing bubble” in China, Faculty Affiliate Gyourko’s research on the history and trajectory of Chinese real estate was cited. His work found that residential real estate auction prices rose 800% from 2003 to 2008 in Beijing and that new house prices have actually fallen relative to household incomes in Chengdu, Wuhan, Tianjin and Xi’an, all urban areas with more than 4,000,000 population.

Faculty Affiliate Kevin Werbach discusses a large misconception within the perceived Blockchain revolution. Though cryptocurrency and blockchain are often used interchangeably, Professor Werbach explains how they are actually quite different – “There is cryptocurrency: the idea that networks can securely transfer value without central points of control. There is blockchain: the idea that networks can collectively reach consensus about information across trust boundaries. And there are cryptoassets: the idea that virtual currencies can be “financialized” into tradable assets.”

In a discussion on the growing disparity between employer and employee agency within the labor market, Faculty Affiliate Peter Cappelli comments on the impact of the shareholder value movement and how it has facilitated these disenfranchising trends. Professor Cappelli claims that shareholder value encourages “the use of temps and contractors” to fill high-wage jobs because “that way the employer doesn’t have to raise wages for all their employees.”