11/15
Economics
‘Information gerrymandering’ poses a threat to democratic decision making
Concern over fake news and online trolls is widespread and warranted, but researchers have identified another impediment to the free flow of information in social networks. The phenomenon, which they term “information gerrymandering,” arises from the structure of a social network and introduces bias into collective decisions.
How a simple change can protect crowdfunding backers from fraud
Crowdfunding can attract a host of unwanted behaviors. New research shows that a few simple changes to a crowdfunding platform’s design could strengthen protections for those contributing, and make everyone better off.
Prepare for a slowdown, not a recession
According to Wharton finance professor Jeremy Siegel, a recession is inevitable, but when? Historic indicators of a recession are present, but demographic shifts make predictions less reliable.
What are the long-term costs of the China-U.S. trade war?
Wharton experts Marshall Meyer and Efraim Berkovich discuss the escalating trade war with China, and argue that U.S. households must brace for higher prices that won’t come down.
Equifax breach and how credit agencies must change how they manage data
Wharton’s David Zaring analyzes the Equifax settlement, struck last week between the credit reporting firm and federal regulators over a massive data breach in 2017, and the call for stronger legislation and regulatory restraints to protect consumers.
Will Amazon’s plan to ‘upskill’ its employees pay off?
Wharton’s Matthew Bidwell discusses Amazon’s $700 million plan to retrain its workforce with “pathways to careers” in machine learning, manufacturing, robotics, and computer science, while facing mounting personnel and safety issues and concerns at its warehouses.
Why are U.S. hospitals closing?
Wharton’s Lawton Burns discusses the closure of Philadelphia’s Hahnemann University Hospital and the trend of medical facilities shuttering nationwide.
How states can help police mortgage-lending practices
Wharton’s Brian Feinstein discusses his research on how judicial foreclosure can help states fill the policy gap left by the federal government’s pullback from regulatory enforcement of mortgage-lending.
How shopping became a version of social impact
Wharton Professor of Marketing Patti Williams discusses how brands began to put their do-gooder ethos to the forefront of its value proposition.
Regulating big tech
Wharton’s Eric K. Clemons discusses the pros and cons of boosting regulations on big technology companies such as Facebook, Amazon, Google, and Apple, after years of being penalized in Europe for anticompetitive practices.
In the News
How the stock market could be last guardrails to corral Trump’s wildest whims
Jeremy Siegel of the Wharton School says that Donald Trump measured his success in his first term by the performance of the stock market.
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How the subtle but significant consequences of a hotter planet have already begun
R. Jisung Park of the School of Social Policy & Practice discusses his book “Slow Burn: The Hidden Costs of a Warming World.”
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The fight over Jerome Powell puts Elon Musk at odds with Wall Street
Jeremy Siegel of the Wharton School says that virtually every economist and most members of Congress value the independence of the Federal Reserve.
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Wharton’s Siegel says an extension of the 2017 tax cuts is certain with a Republican House majority
Jeremy Siegel of the Wharton School discusses the state of the economy and what to expect from the Federal Reserve in December.
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Another Trump presidency could be a boon for the dollar — but some expect a bumpy ride
Jeremy Siegel of the Wharton School says that a rebellion by the “bond vigilantes” could impede some of the Republicans’ tax-cut agenda.
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President-elect Trump is the most pro-stock market president in history: Wharton’s Jeremy Siegel
Jeremy Siegel of the Wharton School discusses the outcome of the presidential election, its impact on markets and the economy, and the independence of the Federal Reserve.
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