November 2022
Economics
How Experts Make Complex Decisions
By studying 200 million chess moves, researchers shed light on what gives players an advantage—and what trips them up.
Finance & Accounting
Investors Are Eager for Accurate ESG Information. Can Financial Analysts Provide It?
Analysts aren’t traditionally steeped in ESG, but they do have deep knowledge of the companies they cover.
October 2022
Politics & Elections
Why Are So Many Politicians Embracing Conspiracy Theories?
Conspiratorial thinking has always been attractive in times of uncertainty—but it’s become more mainstream. An expert explains why, and whether anything can be done.
Leadership
Leadership Lessons from Liz Truss’s Downfall
While her economic policy clearly doomed her, she also failed as a leader.
Marketing
Starbucks's Odyssey into NFTs Desperately Needs Guidance
Starbucks is entering the metaverse. Is this the best way to do it?
Policy
What the New Climate Bill Means for the U.S.—and the World
The Inflation Reduction Act won’t reverse inflation or halt climate change, but it’s still a big deal.
Organizations
To Get Employees Back to the Office, Address These 4 Frictions
An innovation expert explains how to meet resistance head-on.
Policy
Who Should Win the Tug-of-War over User Data?
It’s not always clear whether businesses or consumers should have more control. Research offers a new way of thinking through the problem.
Policy
Why Did So Many Ukrainians Die in the Soviet Great Famine?
They perished at a much higher rate than ethnic Russians during what’s known as Holodomor. A new study suggests this was a deliberate policy decision.
Politics & Elections
When Do People Protest and When Do They Just Grumble? History Offers Clues.
A tradition of anti-government uprisings can impact communities centuries later.
Politics & Elections
How We Justify Our Unpopular Opinions
The tactic makes controversial views more palatable to others—and has implications for the rampant spread of fake news.
Organizations
How Comments Like “Man Up” Can Lead to Misbehavior at Work
While the problem extends beyond the workplace, organizations would be wise to consider the consequences of using emasculating language.
Organizations
Why More Family Enterprises Are “Venturing Out”
A look at the pivot toward venture investing—and what it takes to pull it off.
September 2022
Politics & Elections
China’s Future Will Reflect Russia’s
China learned from Russia’s post-1991 experience and pursued its economic liberalization with more care. But it ultimately could not avoid the political implications of pro-market policies and is now following Russia down the road to autocracy—continuing a century-long pattern of mirroring its neighbor’s historical trajectory.
Organizations
Gender-Balanced Teams Do Better Work
When it comes to teams of scientists, “men and women are both part of the recipe for success,” according to new research.
Marketing
Podcast: Is Your Brand Working?
In the fifth and final episode of our series, “Insight Unpacked: Extraordinary Brands and How to Build Them,” we look at how to measure your brand’s health–and what you should do if you don’t like what you learn.
Politics & Elections
One Nation, Too Divided?
Political sectarianism is rampant in the U.S. Three experts discuss whether we can remain united.
Finance & Accounting
What Happens to Innovation During an Economic Crisis?
The Great Depression hastened the end of the independent inventor—but not all was lost.
Policy
The Thorny Challenge of Measuring Success in “Systems-of-Care” Networks
These networks, which help direct people to the medical and social services they need, must tread carefully in choosing which metrics to use in decision-making.
Marketing
Podcast: How Will You Tell Your Brand’s Story?
In episode 4 of our 5-episode series, “Insight Unpacked: Extraordinary Brands and How to Build Them,” learn the importance of transmedia brand storytelling—and how to do it right.
Finance & Accounting
Unilever Should Divest Ben & Jerry’s
An economist offers his perspective on why the food giant has some big decisions to make in the wake of a court ruling against its ice cream subsidiary.
Healthcare
How Humanizing Disease Could Be a New Public Health Tool
Anthropomorphizing a disease changes how we feel about it—and the steps we take to avoid it.
Politics & Elections
Could Your Political Views Stymie Your Career?
From being hired to getting a promotion, new research shows you may be penalized for disagreeing politically with the boss.
August 2022
Marketing
Podcast: What Should Your Brand Look (and Sound and Smell) Like?
In episode 3 of our 5-episode series, “Insight Unpacked: Extraordinary Brands and How to Build Them,” we discuss the associations you want customers to make with your brand, and how to use design to make it happen.
Economics
The Food Crisis Is Bigger Than Ukraine
While Russia’s war has undoubtedly caused real problems in global food markets, they are different and more complex than what most news coverage suggests.
Innovation
Take 5: How to Improve the Odds of Breakthrough Innovation
Thorny problems demand novel solutions. Here’s what it takes to move beyond incremental tweaks.
Marketing
Podcast: What Should You Name Your Brand?
In episode 2 of our 5-episode series, “Insight Unpacked: Extraordinary Brands and How to Build Them,” we dig into the importance of finding the right name for your brand. With apologies to Shakespeare, a rose by any other name wouldn’t smell as sweet.
Finance & Accounting
5 Trends to Watch as the Economy Emerges from the Pandemic
From inflation and remote work to climate change, here’s where the global economy appears to be headed.
Marketing
Podcast: Why Does Your Brand Need to Exist?
In episode 1 of our 5-episode series, “Insight Unpacked: Extraordinary Brands and How to Build Them,” we reveal the key questions you should answer before you start to craft your brand.
Social Impact
For Those Living in Poverty, Therapy Can Have Benefits Beyond Mental Health
A large study suggests that cognitive behavioral therapy can also improve physical health and economic outcomes.
Organizations
The Surprising Way Crowd Size Affects Our Tendency to Cheat
Organizations would be wise to understand the psychology behind this phenomenon.
Marketing
Whiz! Bang! Boom! Energetic Ads Hold Viewers’ Attention
Louder, busier commercials are the new norm. And they seem to be working.
Policy
How Former Enemies Can Develop Trust
A simple intervention can help diffuse animosity toward onetime armed foes, a study shows.
July 2022
Finance & Accounting
How Is the Twitter–Musk Showdown Likely to Play Out? An Expert Weighs In.
“In my view, there is a lot of hypocrisy here from Musk.”
Finance & Accounting
Jeff Ubben Explains His “Anti-ESG ESG” Investment Strategy
In a recent conversation with Kellogg’s Robert Korajczyk, the hedge-fund leader breaks down his unique approach to mission-driven investing.
Politics & Elections
When Political Discussions Get Heated, Is It Best to Just Stay Out of It?
Keeping your head down when hot-button topics arise could come at a cost to your reputation.
Innovation
Does the Public Benefit from the Scientific Research It Funds?
A new study quantifies how U.S. taxpayer-funded research is used in patents, media, and policy decisions.
Entrepreneurship
Podcast: How Can Entrepreneurs Develop a Stellar Sales Pitch?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader’s “Ask Insight,” two seasoned entrepreneurs share wisdom from the trenches.
Strategy
Where Does Capitalism Go Next?
A conversation on “creative destruction,” growth, and designing a more equitable capitalist future.
Social Impact
How to Build a More Diverse Environmental Movement
People of color will disproportionately suffer from climate change, yet there is a striking lack of diversity in mainstream environmental organizations. Broadening what counts as an environmental issue could build a larger, more inclusive coalition.
Careers
What to Consider Before Taking a Job at a Family-Owned Business
Working for a family firm can be rewarding, but you should do your homework first to make sure it’s the right place for you.
Innovation
The Desire to Be Acquired Is Stifling Innovation at Startups
The result is “more-conventional, less-radical, less-novel innovation,” adding a new wrinkle to antitrust debates.
June 2022
Leadership
Podcast: Managing Up, Managing Across, and Retaining Your Best Employees
On this episode of The Insightful Leader’s “Ask Insight”: you asked and our faculty answered. We dig into a mailbox of listener questions on leadership and management.
Healthcare
Where Is the U.S. Healthcare Industry Headed?
New business models abound, private equity is expanding, and healthcare workers are hard to find.
Finance & Accounting
Real Estate Investors See Opportunity, Despite Inflation and Uncertainty
“The pace at which the world is changing in terms of how people use space is extremely exciting.”
Leadership
Podcast: What One School District’s Fiasco Says About the Strengths and Limits of AI
On this episode of The Insightful Leader: When Boston Public Schools looked to algorithms to solve equity issues and save money, it ran into a roadblock—the complicated lives of parents and students.
Social Impact
How to Measure Your Organization’s Social Impact
Smart people and good intentions don’t guarantee success. You need a thoughtful plan to measure what you are actually accomplishing.
Politics & Elections
Take 5: Democracies and How They Thrive
A look at this form of government at a time when democracy is under stress around the world.
Economics
Did China’s One-Child Policy Prompt Households to Save More?
Researchers investigate whether the lack of a “family safety net” is responsible for China’s singularly high household savings rate.
Economics
How Local Disruptions Can Affect the Global Supply Chain
A new study of the Kenyan flower industry can help buyers and suppliers prepare for uncertainty.
Economics
How One Tax Reform Led to More Women in the Workforce Decades Later
A study of a major fiscal change in Italy shows how much individual lives are affected when governments get more efficient.
Healthcare
Consumers Pay When Generic Drug Companies Collude. Here’s a Way to Stop Them.
Price-fixing by pharmaceutical cartels can cost billions, and the threat of lawsuits isn’t enough to deter it.
May 2022
Leadership
Podcast: Executive Presence—Do You Have It?
This week, an episode from the archives: It’s not enough to be good at your job. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, learn how to develop the gravitas that commands attention and respect.
Finance & Accounting
Can Investors Create Profitable Trading Strategies Based on Academic Findings?
It hasn’t been clear if information from the ivory tower translates to the trading-room floor. A new study tackles the question by looking at research on earnings announcements.
Finance & Accounting
Apple’s Inflation Problem
The company faces a “double whammy” due to its cash hoarding.
Marketing
For Brands, Perfection Is Out and Authenticity Is In
“It helps you seem more trustworthy and enjoyable, like a friend who is going to give you advice on what to buy.”
Marketing
The Psychological Factor That Helps Shape Our Moral Decision-Making
We all have a preferred motivation style. When that aligns with how we’re approaching a specific goal, it can impact how ethical we are in sticky situations.
Policy
Larry Summers on Inflation and the Fed’s Attempts to Cool the Economy
In a recent Q&A with Kellogg’s Jan Eberly, Summers is skeptical that the economy can achieve a “soft landing.”
Leadership
Podcast: What People Get Wrong about Setting Goals
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we hear how leaders can help their teams—and themselves—turn ambitious goals into reality.
Policy
Tackling Global Poverty Takes More Than Cash
New research points to the power of including psychosocial interventions—such as group problem-solving—alongside economic ones.
April 2022
Economics
Why Are U.S. Companies Hoarding So Much Cash?
More than anything else, it comes down to taxes.
Policy
China Is Caught in a COVID-19 Trap of Its Own Making
Why moderating its “zero-COVID” strategy is proving difficult.
Strategy
Be a Better Negotiator by Having a “BATNA”
Understand where you’re going when you can’t get to yes.
Leadership
Take 5: How to Be a Better Mentor
Be sure your mentee “owns” the relationship—and don’t shy away from tough conversations.
Social Impact
Podcast: What Should DEI Work Actually Look Like?
On this episode of The Insightful Leader’s “Ask Insight”—where our listeners ask questions of our faculty experts respond—we learn that changing the status quo will take self-reflection and time.
Economics
How Does Economic Uncertainty Play Out at the Local Level?
Indexing policy uncertainty by state provides new insights—and offers local governments a cautionary tale.
Economics
3 Economic Implications of Russia’s War on Ukraine
“We are seeing a world that’s going to be less than the sum of its parts.”
Healthcare
We Hear a Lot about New Drugs. But What Spurs Innovation in Medical Procedures?
There’s been little research on what brings about new procedures, despite how life-changing they can be.
Economics
When Interest Rates Climb, Some Workers Are Left Behind
When the Fed moves to cool the economy, it can disproportionately hurt female, Black, and less-educated workers in slack labor markets.
Marketing
To Boost Engagement, News Orgs Need to Reconsider the Click
Not all pageviews are equal. Indeed, some clicks actually spur people to unsubscribe from a site.
Healthcare
How Social Stigma Can Dissuade Us from Taking Care of Our Health
A new study explores the decisions that go into seeking preventative care.
March 2022
Organizations
Is a Four-Day Workweek Right for Your Company?
There’s a reason more and more organizations are considering this option.
Strategy
Podcast: How to Design Incentives That Motivate Employees
On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we learn why it’s not always as simple as handing out a performance bonus.
Economics
Will Putin's War Slow China's Growth?
The additional spike in food and energy prices caused by the Russia–Ukraine conflict could be devastating for China. But the country’s neutral political stance toward the war may also yield economic gains.
Finance & Accounting
What Can We Learn from Amazon’s Stock Split?
We may have to wait and see what this move signals for the tech sector.
Policy
5 Things You May Not Know about Tax Policy
How do income taxes impact people’s career choices? And do soda taxes actually work?
Policy
How Climate Disasters Ripple Through the Labor Market
Environmental crises are increasingly leading workers to migrate. What happens next?
Marketing
We React Differently to Paper vs. Digital Requests
Our willingness to act virtuously changes depending on how we’re asked.
Leadership
Podcast: Cybersecurity, Part 2 | How to Respond to a Breach
In the second episode of our two-part series, former NSA director Mike Rogers discusses what to do if your defensive tactics have failed and your network is exposed.
Leadership
3 DEI Leadership Lessons from Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court Nomination
Studying Biden’s nomination process can help leaders “better connect their creeds and their deeds.”
Social Impact
Why Accusations of Discrimination Often Morph into Debates about Free Speech
A study of the psychology behind this common rhetorical tactic.
Data Analytics
How Gig Workers Push Back Against Their “Digital Boss”
Instead of having managers, these workers are beholden to customer reviews. The relationship is rocky.
February 2022
Leadership
Podcast: Cybersecurity, Part 1 | How to Avoid Becoming a Target
In the first episode of our two-part series, former NSA director Michael Rogers shares strategies for protecting your organization from a cyberattack.
Strategy
What Does the Invasion of Ukraine Mean for Cybersecurity?
Former NSA director Michael Rogers discusses the implications for companies.
Finance & Accounting
Meme Trading Is Not Dead—It Will Continue to Rile Markets
Investors are going to continue using social media to gain a trading edge.
Economics
6 Takeaways on Today’s Economy
A finance professor breaks down the data on inflation, the labor market, and the future of cities.
Leadership
Podcast: How to Lead a Great Virtual Meeting
Zoom doesn’t have to be a drag. On this episode of The Insightful Leader, we discuss some rules of the road.
Marketing
Why Are Super Bowl Ads a Spectator Sport?
With the big game coming up, many fans are gearing up... to watch brands go toe-to-toe
Entrepreneurship
How to Talk About Selling Your Startup without Causing Everyone to Panic
An excerpt from the new book Exit Right explains why you should have the “exit talk” early and often.
Finance & Accounting
Would Housing Cost Less If It Were Easier to Build New Homes? Surprisingly, Not Much.
A new study suggests that supply and demand are only part of a complex problem.
Policy
Psychological Factors—More Than Demographics—Drive Vaccine Behavior
The finding gives policymakers and medical professionals an important tool.
Policy
Is an Efficient Government Always a Good Thing?
History sheds light on how processes designed to serve citizens can also be put to nefarious ends.
Economics
Covid Hit in an Era of Broadband and Zoom. How Much Did That Help the Economy?
A new study sheds light on the impact of remote work on GDP in 2020.
Organizations
Hoping to Drive Social Change at Work? Here’s a Tip.
Certain social movement hashtags and labels could turn off the allies you want to recruit.
Organizations
What the Psychology of Resilience Can Tell Us About Enduring the Pandemic
Plus, what organizations can do to help their employees cope.
