5.24
Michele W. Berger
Science News Officer
mwberger@upenn.edu
Economics
Why central banks are taking on climate change
Climate change poses a significant financial risk to the global economy, and central bankers are concerned. One reason is that serious effects from climate change now look much closer to the horizon than recently thought, says Wharton’s Eric Orts, and central banks are responsible for financial stability.
Is Amazon too big?
Wharton’s Barbara Kahn discusses the second-largest retailer’s runaway growth and its place as one of the largest tech companies, and considers whether it has morphed into a monopoly.
Photo finish
Graduating senior Wilson Fisher will use a Fulbright Award to study photographers and other artists in Ukraine.
U.S.-China tariffs: Is there an end in sight?
Wharton’s Marshall W. Meyer and Penn Law’s Jacques deLisle discuss the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China.
How modern monarchies are evolving
With the birth of the latest royal baby, Wharton's Mauro Guillen discusses his research on monarchies, and how the economies of countries with modern monarchies compare to those without.
How superstitions spread
Superstitious beliefs may seem irrational, but they catch on in a society. Using an evolutionary approach to studying the emergence of coordinated behaviors, Erol Akçay and Bryce Morsky showed how a jumble of individual beliefs, including superstitions, coalesce into an accepted social norm.
Lump-sum pension payments: Who are the winners and losers?
Wharton’s Olivia S. Mitchell discusses the Treasury department’s move to allow private companies to pay lump-sum pension payments to retirees and beneficiaries, instead of monthly payments.
How gender and racial biases are hurting economics
Following a survey released this month by the American Economic Association that reveals a disturbingly high level of gender bias in the field, Wharton’s Olivia S. Mitchell discusses the effects of gender and racial biases in the field of economics.
Nostalgia is not enough: Why consumers abandon legacy brands
Legacy brands like Sears, Payless ShoeSource, and Toys “R” Us are shuttering their doors as customers abandon longstanding consumer mainstays. Despite customers having emotional connections to certain stores, “It is more like these brands are breaking up with the customers,” says Santiago Gallino of the Wharton School.
U.S. debt: Is it the calm before the storm?
The U.S. national debt has crossed $22 trillion. Wharton’s Kent Smetters and Joao Gomes discuss the nation’s long-term debt burden and what might be done about it.
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Research Finds Giving People No-strings-attached Government Check Does Not Discourage Work
Ioana Marinescu of the School of Social Policy & Practice discusses her findings on universal basic income and its effects on the work force.
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CNBC
Asian Countries Are ‘Rebalancing’ Their Relations Between China and the U.S.
Dean Geoffrey Garrett of the Wharton School commented on China’s economic future and its effects on the world. (Video)
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