Business

Police fence at foot of stairs to U.S. Capitol with a sign that reads PROPERTY OF U.S. POLICE.

How the U.S. Capitol attack is changing corporate values

The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6 was a “watershed moment” for businesses, forcing many to reconsider their civic responsibilities alongside their corporate values, says Wharton management professor Michael Useem.

From Knowledge@Wharton ・



In the News


The Wall Street Journal

COVID-19 vaccine issues present new challenge for J&J

Cait Lamberton of the Wharton School weighed in on how the FDA’s recommendation to pause distribution of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine will affect the company’s reputation. “I don’t think this is going to be a huge dagger in J&J’s heart,” she said. “They’ve seen this stuff before. They’ve had plenty of product crises.”

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The Wall Street Journal

Microsoft bulks up with $16 billion deal for Nuance Communications

PIK Professor Herbert Hovenkamp said Microsoft may be pursing large acquisitions now in case the regulatory environment becomes more restrictive in the future. “It’s a bit like gun control,” he said. “As soon as somebody is sniffing around about increasing legislation, everyone goes out and buys guns.”

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Quartz

How Amazon beat the union vote in Bessemer, Alabama

Matthew Bidwell of the Wharton School said Amazon’s victory over unionization efforts in Bessemer, Alabama, could discourage similar campaigns. “If you think you can try as hard as you like but you’re unlikely to succeed, you’re probably not going to put in the effort,” Bidwell says.

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Newsweek

Companies speaking out against Georgia’s voting law may see their reputations boost

Maurice Schweitzer of the Wharton School weighed in on some companies’ decisions to speak out against laws that are alleged to suppress voting. "Executives are taking a stand and engaging in politics in a way that will upset some people but will excite others," he said. "We are expecting corporate leaders to be social and moral leaders, and I think they're going to do well as a result."

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The Washington Post

Corporate America isn’t welcoming former Trump cabinet officials with open arms, headhunters say

Michael Useem of the Wharton School said it would be “extremely difficult” for Trump administration officials to attain high-paying advisory roles at well-known companies at the current time. For the companies, “the downside risk far outweighs any upside gain,” he said.

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The Hill

Stopping price reform won't eliminate flood risk

Carolyn Kousky of the Wharton School wrote an op-ed about helping at-risk households who can’t afford flood insurance by adopting a means-tested disaster insurance program for those in need. “Climate change is escalating flood risk around the country,” she wrote. “Failure to update pricing, though, effectively hides this risk from the market and limits financial incentives for risk reduction.”

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