Economics

cans of soda on a cooler shelf with condensation on the glass of the door.

Can we tax our way into healthier behavior?

Wharton’s Benjamin Lockwood’s research works to determine the optimal rate for so-called sin taxes, like Philadelphia’s tax on soda, and asks at what point does a tax lead to healthier choices?

Penn Today Staff ・

Illustration of business person on top of an iceberg in the water with an exaggeratedly long oar.

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.

Penn Today Staff ・

Person facing a wall with an drawing of a big fish eating a smaller fish.

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.

Penn Today Staff ・

Student standing in front of a stand of forsythia.

Photo finish

Graduating senior Wilson Fisher will use a Fulbright Award to study photographers and other artists in Ukraine.

Louisa Shepard ・

Newborn on a blanket wearing a crown resting their head on their hands.

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.

Penn Today Staff ・

A black cat walking on a walkway

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.

Katherine Unger Baillie ・

A non-binary person using a laptop at work.

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.

Penn Today Staff ・



In the News


The Independent

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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Bloomberg

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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CNBC

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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Business Insider

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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MarketWatch

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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Business Insider

Trump could dial back some proposed policies to avoid upsetting a roaring stock market, Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel says

Jeremy Siegel of the Wharton School believes that the new administration will adopt a strong pro-market stance, even at the expense of some of its proposed economic policies.

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