Wharton School | Penn Today

Understanding America’s $38 trillion debt and the path forward

Wharton professor of business economics and public policy Kent Smetters discusses the drivers of America’s surging national debt and what's needed for long-term fiscal stability.

Lauder Institute students looking at a scale model of a city.

A Lauder Institute intercultural venture in Oman and the UAE

Graduate students in the Lauder Intercultural Ventures program traveled from Oman to Dubai to learn about urban growth, trade, tourism, and development in areas entrenched in cultural history and with deep religious roots.

2 min. read

(Top row) Jackie Einstein Astrof, Calvin Bland, and Denis Elton Cochran-Fikes; (middle row) James H. Greene, Susan T. Marx, and Jodi L. Miller; (bottom row) Ian A. Seltzer, Liz Theoharis, and Herman Beavers.

Nine honored at Alumni Award of Merit Gala

On Nov. 7, eight distinguished alumni will receive Awards of Merit, the Alumni Social Impact Award, and the Creative Spirit Award, and Herman Beavers will receive the Faculty Award of Merit.

4 min. read

Fran McCaffery speaks with players during practice.

A hardcourt homecoming for Fran McCaffery

Ahead of his debut as Quakers head coach on Nov. 7, the 1982 Wharton alumnus talks about returning to campus, the upcoming season, and how Wharton prepared him for success.

2 min. read

What will it take to solve America’s housing crisis?

A new book co-authored by Wharton real estate professor Joseph Gyourko, “America’s Housing Supply Problem: The Closing of the Suburban Frontier,” examines the variables that contribute to all-time-high home prices by analyzing 50 years’ worth of data to explain growing housing prices, especially in places that were once considered affordable.

How to detect bias in large language models

Research from the Wharton School’s Sonny Tambe, a professor of operations, information, and decisions, finds that large language models can make biased hiring decisions that traditional auditing methods might not be able to catch.

Marc Lo (left) and Enmanuel Martínez (center) speaking with Mayokun Omitogun (right)

Through Penn First Plus, students unlock potential and purpose

Providing first-generation and limited-income students with a comprehensive array of support, Penn First Plus equips undergraduates for success during and after their time at Penn.

5 min. read

How DMV questions shape organ donor registration decisions

Wharton professor of business economics and public policy Judd Kessler explores whether rewording organ donor questions at the DMV can meaningfully increase registration rates.

A group of middle-school kids in a hallway all looking at their phones.

Over 20,000 educators share insights on school cell phone policies

Preliminary findings in the landmark research initiative “Phones in Focus” suggest stricter cell phone policies are linked to less disruption and greater teacher satisfaction.

3 min. read

How AI could lift productivity and GDP growth

AI automation could sharply increase productivity by the early 2030s, according to a Penn Wharton Budget Model brief, which estimated the likely impact on 784 occupations.

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