Leadership & Careers

August 1, 2022
The Surprising Way Crowd Size Affects Our Tendency to Cheat
Organizations would be wise to understand the psychology behind this phenomenon.
Celia Chui, Maryam Kouchaki and Francesca Gino

August 1, 2022
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.
Nathan Baker, Bryan T. Gharad, Dean Karlan, Angela L. Ofori-Atta and Christopher Udry

July 1, 2022
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.
Neil A. Lewis, Dorainne J. Green, Ajua Duker and Ivuoma Ngozi Onyeador

June 10, 2022
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.
Andrew Dillon

March 1, 2022
Why Accusations of Discrimination Often Morph into Debates about Free Speech
A study of the psychology behind this common rhetorical tactic.
Felix Danbold, Ivuoma Ngozi Onyeador and Miguel M. Unzueta

February 1, 2022
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.
Cynthia S. Wang, Jennifer A. Whitson, Brayden King and Rachel L. Ramirez

September 7, 2021
How Did COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories Get So Out of Control?
Misinformation is thriving in an environment where people feel disconnected. Social media isn’t helping.
Benjamin Dow, Amber Johnson, Cynthia S. Wang, Jennifer A. Whitson and Tanya Menon

July 1, 2021
Are Customers Skeptical of Eco-friendly Products?
New research pushes back on the idea that consumers reflexively distrust the performance of these products.
Alexander Chernev and Sean Blair

June 1, 2021
Why Do Some People See Inequality Where Others Don’t?
A new study helps explain societies’ deeply polarized views on bias and discrimination.
Hannah Waldfogel, Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington, Oliver Hauser, Arnold K. Ho and Nour Kteily

May 3, 2021
How Do Immigrant Students Affect Their Classmates' Academic Performance?
While previous studies suggested a negative impact, new, more precise research shows these students often boost their U.S.-born peers’ test scores
David Figlio, Paola Giuliano, Riccardo Marchingiglio, Umut Ozek and Paola Sapienza

April 28, 2021
Why Companies Should Engage with Activists
As calls for social change grow louder, corporations that stay silent risk alienating both customers and employees.
Brayden King

April 1, 2021
How Debit Cards Are Helping Low-Income Households Save—and Benefiting Their Neighbors Too
A federal initiative in Mexico had huge spillover effects.
Pierre Bachas, Paul Gertler, Sean Higgins and Enrique Seira

March 1, 2021
There’s an Education Gap Between Rural and Urban Communities. Can Technology Bridge It?
Researchers identified a program that helps rural students learn—and improves their incomes later in life.
Nicola Bianchi, Yi Lu and Hong Song

February 17, 2021
Understanding the Rapidly Evolving World of Sustainable Finance
It’s no longer a niche investment strategy—and it has the potential to deliver strong returns.
Ravi Jagannathan, David Chen, Brian Bruce and Lloyd Kurtz

February 4, 2021
Big-Time College Athletes Don’t Get Paid. Here’s How This Amplifies Racial Inequities.
A new study finds that much of the revenue from football and basketball, which have a high proportion of Black athletes, gets funneled to predominantly white teams.
Craig Garthwaite, Jordan Keener, Matthew J. Notowidigdo and Nicole Ozminkowski

January 4, 2021
A Surprising Benefit of Feeling Ownership over Your Possessions
Owning things can boost our self-esteem. And that, in turn, can make us want to help others.
Ata Jami, Maryam Kouchaki and Francesca Gino

December 1, 2020
How Racism Discouraged Volunteer Enlistment Immediately after Pearl Harbor
New research examines what happened when Black and Japanese men, who were battling discrimination at home, were asked to fight injustice abroad.
Nancy Qian and Marco Tabellini

October 1, 2020
Researchers Designed an Algorithm to Save Schools Money and Improve Equity. The District Loved it. Then Things Got Messy.
A tale of bus routes in Boston shows the promises and pitfalls of using new technology to change entrenched systems.
Dimitris Bertsimas, Arthur Delarue and Sébastien Martin

August 7, 2020
Why Well-Meaning NGOs Sometimes Do More Harm than Good
Studies of aid groups in Ghana and Uganda show why it’s so important to coordinate with local governments and institutions.
Erika Deserranno, Aisha Nansamba, Nancy Qian, Katharine Baldwin, Dean Karlan, Christopher Udry and Ernest Appiah

July 20, 2020
Black-Owned Businesses Often Struggle to Access Capital. Here’s How Financial Institutions Can Change That.
Banks and investors need to redefine creditworthiness, diversify their boards, and think more about social returns.
William Towns
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