Faculty in the News

Articles

  • Coca-Cola Travels the Globe Seeking Happiness, Consumer Buy-in

    January 18, 2011 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

    Coca-Cola's "Expedition 206" had customers vote for a three-person team to travel the world, who then surveyed people while on their adventure. John Quelch sees this is as another successful example of a soft drink campaign revolving around fans of the brand.

  • Clean Energy Sector Hit by Financing Crunch

    January 11, 2011 - The Epoch Times

    Clean-tech firms are not receiving as much funding as needed; Shikhar Ghosh and Ramana Nanda's working paper on the topic is highlighted.

  • Tech MNCs Lend a Helping Hand, Help Solve Social Problems

    January 4, 2011 - The Economic Times

    Technology companies may provide employees with time and tools to invest in social entreprenuership, further tapping in to emerging markets. Tarun Khanna comments.

  • Guide Them to Results

    December 9, 2010 - Investors.com

    Marco Iansiti provides guidance on how management can lead teams to succesful outcomes.

  • Wall Street Steps up MBA Hiring

    December 8, 2010 - Fins

    MBA programs are seeing an increase in career opportunities on Wall Street. HBS's Jonathan Shepherd comments.

  • US Businesses Urge Irish to Keep Low Tax

    November 25, 2010 - FT.com

    The fundamentals of the Irish economy have been maintained, says Christian Ketels.

  • Over 500 Come to HBS to Explore the Promise and Challenges of New Ventures

    November 22, 2010 - The Harbus

    Ron Shaich, founder of Au Bon Pain and Panera was the keynote speaker at the HBS IGNITE 2010 conference, bringing together aspiring and active entrepreneurs.

  • Apple and IBM Aren't All That Different

    November 6, 2010 - New York Times

    Both IBM and Apple have turned to software for increased revenue, David Yoffie comments.

  • Why Big Tech Companies Like Google Can Still Innovate

    November 5, 2010 - CNN.com

    Karim Lakhani comments on the risks and innovations in the start-up environment.

  • How Much Does the President Really Matter?

    November 4, 2010 - New York Times

    Rakesh Khurana speaks with Stephen J. Dubner on the influence of CEOs on firm performance.

  • The Great Patent Battle

    October 21, 2010 - The Economist

    Josh Lerner comments on the increase in litigation around smartphone patents.

  • Work on Those Flaws

    October 11, 2010 - Investors.com

    Becoming a more effective leader requires improving yourself. Paul Lawrence recommends facing and analyzing conflicts.

  • Bright Ideas: Harvard Experts Offer Ideas to Get the Nation Back on Track

    October 7, 2010 - Harvard Gazette

    David Moss shares his innovative policy recommendations on financial regulation.

  • Some Retailers Starting to Raise Prices

    October 1, 2010 - Marketplace (Public Radio International)

    John Quelch comments on consumer reaction to higher prices.

  • The Nano Mantras

    September 27, 2010 - Outlook India

    Rakesh Khurana is profiled by Outlook India as a leading management thinker of Indian origin.

  • As Productivity Downshifts, Hiring May Speed Up

    September 20, 2010 - Wall Street Journal

    Productivity growth is slowing, which may lead to an increase in hiring. Josh Lerner points out that long-term productivity must be strong in order for the economy to improve.

  • Brands Bounce Back, With Some Casualties

    September 16, 2010 - Wall Street Journal

    Brand value has decreased for some companies, Stephen A. Greyser comments.

  • Debunking the 24/7 Workday

    September 10, 2010 - Washington Post

    Leslie Perlow's research on work/life balance at Boston Consulting Group is cited in this discussion on the 24/7 culture in U.S. businesses.

  • Debunking the 24/7 Workday

    September 10, 2010 - Washington Post

    Leslie Perlow's research on work/life balance at Boston Consulting Group is cited in this discussion on the 24/7 culture in U.S. businesses.

  • Why We're All Marketers Now

    August 28, 2010 - FT.com

    John Quelch's Greater Good: How Good Marketing Makes For Better Democracy is discussed in this piece describing the state of marketing.

  • How We Save (and Spend) Now

    August 18, 2010 - On Point with Tom Ashbrook (NPR)

    John Quelch talks with Tom Ashbrook about American consumers in the new economy.

  • The Global Revival of Industrial Policy

    August 6, 2010 - The Economist

    Cash prizes can work to foster innovation. Karim Lakhani's research on InnoCentive is discussed.

  • The Global Revival of Industrial Policy

    August 5, 2010 - The Economist

    The debate continues over government intervention in private industry. Josh Lerner's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", discusses the impact of government support of entreprenuership.

  • Are You Blind to the Truth?

    July, 2010 - ChiefExecutive.net

    Seven strategies for chief executives are presented to "see the world from another point of view." Richard Tedlow's work is cited.

  • Tony Hayward's Expected Departure from BP Applauded in U.S.

    July 26, 2010 - The Guardian (UK)

    Many in the U.S. have criticized Tony Hayward's leadership, including HBS's Rosabeth Moss Kanter.

  • B-Schools All A-Twitter Over Social Media

    July 26, 2010 - Bloomberg Businessweek

    Social media has been added to the business school curriculum. Highlighted here is Mikolaj Jan Piskorski's HBS course, "Competing with Social Networks.

  • Facing the Wreckage Head-on

    July 16, 2010 - Bloomberg Businessweek

    Under new mayor Dave Bing, Detroit may be in the earliest stages of a turnaround. Richard Tedlow's recent book "Denial: Why Business Leaders Fail to Look Facts in the Face--and What to Do About It" stresses the importance of this type of initiative.

  • Is Venture Capital an Academic Pursuit?

    July 12, 2010 - E-Commerce News

    William Sahlman's research on the decreasing returns on technology related venture capital is discussed.

  • The Economy Is Better, but Could It Be Much Better?

    July 12, 2010 - Wall Street Journal

    David Moss responds to Allan H. Meltzer's "Why Obamanomics Has Failed" opinion piece.

  • The Added Value of a Group

    July 5, 2010 - FT.com

    Michael Porter's work on colocation and business clusters is discussed.

  • Time for an Honest Discussion About Pay

    July 5, 2010 - FT.com

    Boards of Directors are seeing an increase in compensation, Michael Jensen comments on the morality of executive pay.

  • Two Cheers for Sarbanes-Oxley

    July 1, 2010 - The Economist

    François Brochet points out the successes of Sarbanes-Oxley in terms of investor protection.

  • In U.S. Bailout of A.I.G., Forgiveness for Big Banks

    June 30, 2010 - New York Times

    The Congressional Oversight Panel released a report finding that investment banks were paid by taxpayers to recover some of their A.I.G. related losses. Another financial crisis may bring about similar problems if the proposed financial reform bill does not address these issues says David Moss.

  • Cash for Clunkers: A Retrospective

    June 29, 2010 - The American

    The Cash for Clunkers policy is analyzed, and John Quelch is cited here.

  • Seven Ways to See the World in a New Light

    June 27, 2010 - Globe and Mail

    Research from Amy Cuddy and Michael I. Norton is highlighted in regards to cultural differences and "power points" in the workplace.

  • Treasury, Dodd Sell Out To Wall Street

    June 24, 2010 - Forbes.com

    Leverage limitations have been deleted from the U.S. financial reform bill, David Moss comments.

  • The Perils of a Tarnished Brand

    June 23, 2010 - Financial Times

    As BP and Goldman Sachs face brand reputation challenges, Rohit Deshpandé points out that brand management has to go beyond the marketing department.

  • Innovation's Dirty Little Secret

    June 21, 2010 - Bloomberg Businessweek

    Commitment to corporate change is highlighted, as is Rosabeth Moss Kanter's case study, "IBM in the 21st Century: The Coming of the Globally Integrated Enterprise," documenting IBM's shift from a product company to a service organization.

  • Is Start-Up Savvy in Your DNA?

    June 16, 2010 - Wall Street Journal

    Research at Case Western University finds that a talent for entrepreneurship may be inherited. Josh Lerner comments.

  • Rivals Seize on Troubles of Facebook

    May 23, 2010 - New York Times

    Opportunities for social networking sites may be opened in light of Facebook's privacy woes. Jan Piskorski comments on the power of Facebook's continuing innovation.

  • Tech Leaps Back into M&A Biz

    May 18, 2010 - USA Today

    Large scale high tech deals have recently returned, with IBM, SAP, and HP making acquisitions over the past few months. In prior years many high tech deals were not successful, says David Yoffie.

  • The Post Crisis MBA

    May 5, 2010 - Inside Higher Ed

    MBA programs are increasing their focus on leadership and accountability, says David Garvin, commenting on the future of the MBA.

  • Government Contests Offer Different Way to Find Solutions for Problems

    April 30, 2010 - Washington Post

    As the U.S. government sponsors competitions to foster innovation, Karim Lakhani comments on the importance of specific goals to get results.

  • The Rise of the Fleet-Footed Start-Up

    April 23, 2010 - New York Times

    Focusing on rapid development, "lean start-ups" are becoming more common. Thomas Eisenmann comments.

  • The Bailout Bill

    April 21, 2010 - FactCheck.org

    David Moss assesses the financial regulatory bill now before the U.S. congress, specifically the provision providing funds to liquidate failed banks.

  • Global Strategy Stabilized I.B.M. During Downturn

    April 18, 2010 - New York Times

    David B. Yoffie comments on I.B.M.'s successful global distribution model.

  • Why More Women Are Heading To Business School

    April 16, 2010 - Forbes

    Deirdre Leopold, managing director of Harvard MBA admissions discusses the increase in women attending MBA programs, citing a 10% increase from 1995 to 2010 at HBS.

  • Starbucks Goes Upmarket with Seattle Test Cafe

    April 4, 2010 - Reuters

    Roy Street Coffee & Tea is a specialty cafe from Starbucks, which looks to position Starbucks from mass market to upmarket. John Quelch comments on this new marketing forumla.

  • New Web Site Brings Crowd Sourcing to Fashion

    April 1, 2010 - Reuters

    HBS students have launched a "crowd sourcing" investment model for up-and-coming fashion designers. Thomas Eisenmann comments on these types of interactive business models.

  • Sending the Wrong Signals

    March 31, 2010 - Times Online

    The importance of communication skills are highlighted in the recent book "Rethinking the MBA" by Srikant Datar, David Garvin, and Patrick Cullen.

  • Business Schools Respond to Demand for Use of Social Media

    March 30, 2010 - New York Times

    Business and management programs including Harvard Business School's are incorporating the business of social media into their curriculum.

  • The Art of Repairing a Cracked Reputation

    March 29, 2010 - FT.com

    Issues of trust and integrity presently face companies such as Toyota and Kraft Foods. Michael Jensen research on performance is discussed.

  • Three Best Ways to Get Lean

    March 28, 2010 - Wall Street Journal

    Nancy Koehn comments on strategies to lower operating expenses for small businesses.

  • The Pain to Come

    March 25, 2010 - The Economist

    Britain is facing a difficult emergence from the receission, but Michael Porter finds the UK is still a "very attractive value proposition."

  • Pressure Growing on China to Revalue Currency

    March 24, 2010 - Associated Press

    As the United States considers branding China a currency manipulator, Niall Ferguson comments. The U.S. "has to make sure that any tensions over currency do not boil over into a full-blown trade war between the two nations which could destabilize financial markets."

  • The Rise of the App Entrepreneur

    March 21, 2010 - BBC News

    David Yoffie discusses app development companies and the evolution of these innovations and those for smart phones as well.

  • Why MBAs are Going East

    March 17, 2010 - Business Week

    MBAs are looking to Asia for career growth and opportunities.

  • Entrepreneurs Prefer to Keep Staffs Lean

    March 2, 2010 - Wall Street Journal

    Entrepreneurs say they've learned to operate leaner and won't need the same headcount they had before, even after demand for services and goods fully rebounds.

  • The Marketing Team Must Aim Higher

    March 1, 2010 - FT.com

    Marketing departments can find themselves becoming a convenient scapegoat for the leaders of struggling businesses. But in a downturn the real difficulty lies simply in selling anything to world-weary customers who may be satisfied with good-enough.

  • 10 Innovations that will Reshape Business

    February 26, 2010 - FT.com

    Cloud computing and the arrival of Gen Xers in management are just two trends that are changing the face of business.

  • Products and Services Serve as Commodities in Reset Economy

    February 26, 2010 - The Economic Times

    Vizio, an American television manufacturer that few outside the U.S. have heard of, is satisfying demand for "good enough" products, says Ranjay Gulati.

  • How Can Managers Avoid Workers Going on Strike?

    February 26, 2010 - CNN.com

    Knowing how to negotiate is essential for resolving workplace conflicts, making deals with clients, and moving an organization forward.

  • Linking Bonds to Growth Gains Favor

    February 24, 2010 - Wall Street Journal

    Supranational policy-making bodies, such as the IMF and the World Bank, could support the process by guaranteeing a certain amount of the bonds, says Robert Merton.

  • Who's Minding Risk?

    February 23, 2010- CFO.com

    Jay Lorsch discusses the responsibility of directors as risk managers.

  • Health Insurance: Clear Diagnosis, Uncertain Remedy

    February 18, 2010 - The Economist

    Private health insurers are looking to expand globally, and to work with state-run entities. Regina Herzlinger comments on the lack of innovation in the U.S.

  • The Perils of a Sudden Evaporation of Liquidity

    February 11, 2010 - The Economist

    This article looks at the lack of liquidity during the financial crisis. Ken Froot proposes open access to bond market trade data and quotes.

  • Risk Managers to the Fore

    February 11, 2010 - The Economist

    Clayton Rose suggestions asking repeated questions in order to determine risk, and Robert Pozen comments on the size of bank of board of directors, of which a smaller number may result in a more personal sense of responsibility.

  • Private Equity Firms Brace for Tax Battle

    February 7, 2010 - Reuters

    On the topic of proposed taxes on private equity firms, Josh Lerner states that such taxes are most probably inevitable, although "there's a question of how much revenue might be generated by it."

  • How to Destroy American Jobs

    February 3, 2010 - Wall Street Journal

    Research by Mihir Desai and Fritz Foley is cited in this article discussing the expansion of U.S. multinationals abroad, the creation of jobs by these companies in the U.S., and the possible negative effects of new tax laws proposed by the Obama administration.

  • In Tough Economic Times, Shoppers Take Haggling to New Heights

    January 29, 2010 - Washington Post.com

    Haggling has become more common in the U.S. economy, and Nancy Koehn states this is at the center of "the biggest sea change of consumer behavior since the end of the Second World War."

  • Corporate Antagonism Goes Public

    January 24, 2010 - New York Times

    Time Warner hired a political consultant to wage a public relations fight against News Corp. over fees. Sunil Gupta comments, "I doubt that you can do a controlled experiment of any sort to truly understand the effectiveness. The effects of such PR efforts are generally intangible."

  • Move From Regional Grouping to Global Partnerships

    January 23, 2010 - The Hindu

    Tarun Khanna discusses multilateral trade in South Asian countries.

  • Wall Street Faces Pain From Buyout Cutback

    January 22, 2010 - Reuters.com

    As banks back away from hedge funds and private equity, they may be affecting their bottom line adversely. Josh Lerner comments.

  • Wall Street Faces Pain From Buyout Cutback

    January 22, 2010 - Reuters.com

    As banks back away from hedge funds and private equity, they may be effecting their bottom line adversely. Josh Lerner comments.

  • Laid-off Lawyers, Cast-off Consultants: The Downturn is Sorting the Best Professional Services Firms from the Rest

    January 21, 2010 - The Economist

    Jay Lorsch comments on the value of the partnership model, while law firms and management consulting firms transform in light of the economic crisis.

  • Do Bankers' Bonuses Really Work?

    January 21, 2010 - The Times Online

    On the topic of banker bonuses, Boris Groysberg's new book, Chasing Stars: The Myth of Talent and the Portability of Performance is cited. He found that "star" bankers who leave one company for another found "their exceptional performance at their prior employer appears to have been more firm-specific than is generally appreciated."

  • What's Ahead

    January 14, 2010 - USA Today

    The U.S. debt to GDP ratio is not dissimilar from that faced after World War II. Nancy Koehn discusses the decisions made by the government during that era, as well as possibilities for the future for U.S. economic growth and debt after the downturn.

  • What's Ahead

    January 3, 2010 - Boston Globe

    Nancy Koehn comments on the state of the U.S. consumer.

  • U.S. Stocks Drop as Crisis Causes S&P 500's First Decade Loss

    January 1, 2010 - Bloomberg

    Looking back at the past decade, Richard Tedlow sees a decade of delusion. "In many ways, we're worse off than the 1930s, we've created problems of moral hazard, and we're faced with an astounding public debt."

  • It's Not a Gold Bubble

    December 21, 2009 - Forbes.com

    Malcolm Baker's work regarding the negative effects of increased equity issues on the stock market is cited in relation to the increased price of gold, and the possible stock market increases in light of the predicted decline in its price in 2010.

  • President Obama's Message to Banks

    December 14, 2009 - Greater Boston

    Emily Rooney interviews Nancy Koehn about her new book "The Story of American Business from the Pages of the New York Times".

  • It Is Time to Refocus on Education, R&D, and Innovation If We Are to "Think Different" and Remain Competitive

    December 9, 2009 - The Huffington Post

    Niall Ferguson's insights on the federal debt and its possible effects on the decline of empire are cited here.

  • Robert Pozen's New Book - Too Big to Save?

    December 9, 2009 - Greater Boston

    Robert Pozen is interviewed and his new book is profiled.

  • Obama Picks the Brains of Business

    December 2, 2009 - Politico.com

    Many leaders from both the finance and technology sectors attended President Obama's job summit. Commenting on what these leaders bring to the table, Rosabeth Moss Kanter states, "technology shapes future competitiveness and also holds solutions to some problems of health care delivery efficiencies and the environment; business creates the innovations."

  • Tufts President Calls for Less Risky Investments

    November 24, 2009 - Harvard Crimson

    Robert Merton comments on the need for some investment risk in university endowments "to ensure that the University can make a large enough return on its investments to support its operating budget."

  • Manufacturing Job Plunge May be Terminal

    November 23, 2009 - Chicago Tribune

    Jobs in the manufacturing industry are in steep decline as companies have started to move overseas. According to Gary Pisano, "As the opportunities dry up, fewer people go into it. Then, when a company wants to expand in the U.S., it can't find the work force, so they outsource."

  • After Grilling, Banker is Praised

    November 19, 2009 - Boston Globe

    Brian Moynihan, a leading candidate to be the next CEO of Bank of America, is profiled. "In the best of times picking a new CEO is akin to picking the pope, in which outsiders can rely only on smoke signals,"says Rakesh Khurana. "But now, the search process has become more complicated because of the government's involvement in companies, and there is scant history to suggest what the outcome would be,"

  • Tax Credit to Steady, not Rescue, Shaky U.S. Housing

    November 17, 2009 - Reuters

    The tax credit for first time home buyers will steady the housing market, but not solve all its problems. According to Nicolas Retsinas, "The decision to extend the credit was really to try to avoid the downside risk of the unraveling of this modest recovery."

  • Banking Fix Made Easy With Six Simple Steps: Roger Lowenstein

    November 17, 2009 - Bloomberg

    Six problems within the banking industry that need fixing now are outlined, while the government decides which federal agency will oversee the banking industry. In regards to trading derivatives, David Moss suggests that "exchanges should require traders to post significant collateral, and Congress should mandate that, for derivatives traded in back alleyways or elsewhere, traders adhere to the highest collateral minimums set on the exchange."

  • Is America Losing Its Mojo?

    November 14, 2009 - Newsweek

    Is America still the leading innovative country in the world? This story cites the perspectives of Gary Pisano and Willy Shih, who argue that although the United States still produces about 14 percent of the world's photovoltaic cells, it no longer is a significant player in crystalline silicon-based solar panels, the prevailing technology.

  • Whitacre, Critical of GM Change Pace, Pressures CEO

    November 11, 2009 - Bloomberg

    Daniel Snow comments on the influence of Ed Whitacre, CEO of GM, and how "having somebody who is lighting a fire, feels like a game changer to people inside the company."

  • Bank of America's Travails Put Boston Duo Into Spotlight

    November 8, 2009 - Boston Globe

    Charles Gifford and Thomas May face congressional testimony regarding the acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America. Jay Lorsch says, "Bank of America's situation is the kind that motivates career executives like Gifford and May to prove they're up to the task."

  • Battered Company Says 'No' to Job Cuts

    November 5, 2009 - NPR Morning Edition

    Hypertherm in Hanover, N.H has seen a 50 percent decline in sales, but has yet to cut staff by doing most work in-house (including landscaping). Others have cut work weeks to avoid layoffs. Jordan Siegel says "the American economy would benefit if more firms adopted this model of shared gain and shared sacrifice."

  • Strauss-Kahn Sees G-20 Adopting Timeline, Method on Imbalances

    November 4, 2009 - Bloomberg

    As the G-20 is set to "ensure the next global economic expansion is more balanced," Niall Ferguson points out that "the imbalances are back," and in some ways they're worse. "As the dollar weakens and as China follows the dollar down by means of its dollar peg, the pain is being transferred."

  • Real Estate Price Plunge Makes U.S. Homeownership Perilous Path

    November 3, 2009 - Bloomberg

    Increases in home price growth will be slight, but Nicolas Retsinas states "the quicker we move back to seeing real estate as a place to live, a place to put down roots"--that is, not as an investment vehicle--"the quicker the housing recovery will strengthen."

  • UK Takes Right Step on Too-big Banks

    November 3, 2009 - Reuters

    Comparing the new regulations in the UK to those in the U.S., David Moss points out flaws with the Financial Stability Improvement Act of 2009.

  • Renters Get Little Relief as Demand Increases

    October 26, 2009 - Boston Globe

    People looking to rent houses this year will be paying more as the demand increases because of the decreasing number of homebuyers. According to Nicolas Retsinas, "Rents probably will soon increase again because there has been a slowdown in housing construction, and more people unable to buy a home because they are unemployed or unable to get a mortgage are turning to rentals. That kind of market stagnation does not bode well for the rental market."

  • Surprise! You've Become a Manager. Now What?

    October 19, 2009 - Associated Press

    As companies reorganize, some workers have found themselves managing people for the first time. Linda Hill recommends new managers take time to evaluate their progress and time allocation every two weeks.

  • Treasuries Show No Lost Appetite With Dollar Declines

    October 19, 2009 - Bloomberg

    Niall Ferguson comments on the declining dollar and that it is ""terrible news for practically all of the rest of the world's economies," outside of the U.S. and China.

  • Executive Education Fights Back

    October 15, 2009 - Forbes.com

    Executive education programs at business schools are offering targeted, leadership programs that apply to the current economic climate. HBS's new Executive Education program "Building Business in Turbulent Times" is highlighted.

  • Masters of Corporate Governance

    October 12, 2009 - Directorship

    Corporate executives need to have a continuing education program in place in order to keep up with today's global business. In relation to executive education programs, Jay Lorsch says that "No one school can teach all that's required to be a director…If you have a board, and you want to make it work more effectively, we can do that."

  • The Future of Investing: Academics Predict More Complexity

    October 11, 2009 - FT.com

    In this discussion on the future of investing, Luis Viceira comments, "investors would benefit from allocating money to products that directly expose them to performance drivers like equity risk, real interest rate risk and inflation risk, instead of investing in pools of risks like asset classes, where risks are not clearly separated." Robert Pozen is mentioned for wanting investing to get "back-to-basics

  • Post Recession: Some Jobs Gone for Good

    September 2, 2009 - NPR

    What industries will see job opportunities increasing as the economy begins to turn around? Jonathan Shepherd comments on the financial sector.

  • A Failure to Communicate

    August 2009 - Directorship

    Models to improve communcation between corporate boards and shareholders are discussed, including Jay Lorsch's paper "Talking Governance: Board-Shareowner Communications on Executive Compensation", that called for the boards of U.S. companies to "meet annually in an informal setting with five to 10 of the larger investors of the company."

  • Eco-Cities: Building a Comeback?

    August 31, 2009 - Business Week

    Green communities may be luring back investors post-recession. John Macomber comments.

  • FDIC: Private Investors May Buy Failed Institutions

    August 27, 2009 - NPR

    In this discussion on how private equity firms can help provide additional capital to failed banks, Josh Lerner comments on a private equity deal involving the sale of Snapple to Quaker Oats.

  • As More Banks Fail, Private Investors Gain Favor

    August 26, 2009 - Associated Press

    Regulators look to ease rules for private investors to buy ailing banks. Josh Lerner agrees that private money must no longer "sit on the sidelines" when capital is needed.

  • Inland Real Estate Dives Into Troubled Commercial Market

    August 25, 2009 - New York Times

    G. Joseph Cosenza, president of Inland Real Estate, located in Oak Brook Illinois, is buying up property as prices for commercial real estate drop or go into foreclosure. According to Arthur Segel in regard to properties under foreclosure, "Banks may take back some properties and sell at bargain-basement prices.

    • Slump Spurs Grab for Markets

      August 24, 2009 - Wall Street Journal

      Automobile and retail companies are gaining market share in their industries and luring customers away from the competition. "Downturns are very fertile fields of opportunity. Winners are the ones better at walking into the space vacated by rivals and at tracking how customers behave in tough times," says Nancy Koehn.

    • Quick Tips: Midyear Reviews in a Downturn

      August 11, 2009 - SmartMoney - Online

      There are many reasons why companies should still give employees mid-year reviews, even in a difficult economy. "Ideally, what you would want to do is have some kind of standing review process. But when managers and owners get distracted by company woes, finding time to conduct such a review can be difficult," says Bhaskar Chakravorti.

    • GM And Why Size No Longer Matters

      August 11, 2009 - Forbes - Online

      The mythological idea that being a large company meant that your profits were safe and you controlled the marketplace, is no longer the case with companies such as General Motors, Citigroup, and A.I.G. to name a few. Hartung states that according to Michael Porter, "being biggest meant you had created entry barriers that kept your turf safe. With economies of scale in manufacturing, procurement, distribution, marketing, sales, financing and research and development, you could get so giant no competitor could effectively attack your products or prices."

    • For Private Equity, a Very Public Disaster

      August 10, 2009 - New York Times

      This article discusses Steve Feinberg and Cerberus Capital Management, and how their investment in Chrysler failed. According to Josh Lerner, "This will go down as one of the investments made at the very top of the credit bubble. They don't look good. This will be a black eye on their record."

    • Despite Bailouts, Business as Usual at Goldman

      August 5, 2009 - New York Times

      Goldman Sachs may be taking high-risk investments after being bailed out by the federal government. According to David Moss, "We're in a situation where we've extended important guarantees, both explicit and implicit, to almost all major financial institutions, yet we don't have the regulations in place to control the excessive risk-taking that could result."

    • Things are Still Getting Worse for the Advertising Industry

      July 30, 2009 - The Economist

      This discussion of the advertising industry includes comments from John Deighton, who "believes that the television commercial will remain the mainstay of the advertising industry for years to come."

    • Responsibilities of Profit?

      July 26, 2009 - Washington Post

      Bill George recommends that companies be more transparent in how they distribute and use profits during the ongong economic crisis.

    • Foreclosure's Unrelenting Tide

      July 23, 2009 - Boston Globe

      Massachusetts residents continue to file for foreclosure. Nicolas Retsinas finds that the "emerging problem is the problem of job losses.''

    • Non-stop Season of Sales for Shoppers

      July 20, 2009 - Chicago Tribune

      Retailers continue to discount prices this summer. Nancy Koehn comments on the demands of customers in terms of cutting costs, and the reaction of the retailers, whose options appear to be limited.

    • Whirlwind Auto Deals Raise Conflict Questions

      July 9, 2009 - Thomson Reuters

      In this discussion of the U.S. government's role in reshaping the auto industry, Josh Lerner comments, "If you want to get knowledgeable experts with transaction experience to help out, it's almost inevitable there will be a conflict of interest."

    • Heavy Job Loss Prompts Stimulus Criticism

      July 3, 2009 - NPR

      Nicolas Retsinas comments on the continued labor slowdown and its influence on the housing market.

    • Little Luxuries Bring Consolation to Consumers

      June 30, 2009 - Financial Times

      Consumers have started buying affordable luxury goods-something that has caused companies to change the way they market their products. According to John Quelch, "The breadth, depth and length of this downturn has put the affordable luxury category under pressure as never before. Lipsticks were always said to be immune from recession. Not this time. Buyers are trading down from luxury brands to mid-market price points as never before."

    • Government Stake Could Push GM to Be a High-Flyer or Failure

      June 22, 2009 - Washington Post

      For now GM is a semi-nationalized company, with the U.S. government taking a controlling stake. Michael Porter points out that the right governance structure is required.

    • Foreclosures in Mass. Plummet 58.6% in May

      June 19, 2009 - Boston Globe

      Foreclosures in Massachusetts took a steep dive in May. She mentions that according to Nicolas Retsinas, "Whatever the reason for the drop in foreclosures, the crisis is not over. The economy is still struggling… which affects homeowners' ability to pay their mortgages."

    • A New MBA's View: The Sorry World We're Entering

      June 18, 2009 - Forbes.com

      Umaimah Mendhr (MBA '09) comments on the current state of corporate America. Mendhra conducted an independent study with Nitin Nohria on leaders who take principled stances against strong systems and is one of the group of students at HBS who led the MBA Oath initiative, advocating a voluntary student-led pledge to act responsibly and ethically and to use business to serve the greater good.

    • Jobless MBAs Opt for Entrepreneurship

      June 18, 2009 - Business Week

      The "new business bug has bitten both graduate and undergraduate business school students hard this year." 27 MBAs who graduated this June from Harvard Business School are starting their own businesses.

    • Nordic Welfare State Coping Well, So Far

      June 17, 2009 - Reuters

      The Nordic state is handling the economic crisis with relative east. Christian Ketels comments, ""there has been remarkably little in terms of fundamental changes in views about the welfare model, the economy and globalisation."

    • Europe Lags as U.S. Economy Shows Signs of Recovery

      June 12, 2009 - New York Times

      The U.S. economy is showing signs of improvement while the European economy is getting worse. According to Niall Ferguson, in relation to what the U.S. will learn from this crisis, "History is one big laboratory experiment that only gets run once."

    • U.S. Targets Excessive Pay for Top Executives

      June 11, 2009 - Washington Post

      Fabrizio Ferri's study on UK executive compensation "say-on-pay" legistation is mentioned in regards to the similar legislation now being proposed in the U.S.

    • Obama Tells American Businesses to Drop Dead

      June 10, 2009 - Bloomberg

      In light of the Obama administration's proposed tax hikes on overseas profits, Kevin Hassett comments, referring to Mihir Desai and Fritz Foley's work exploring "the impact of foreign investments on domestic U.S. activity."

    • Tech Companies Enlist Democrat to Blast Obama Tax Plan

      June 8, 2009 - Reuters

      Robert Shapiro's report on the job losses that may result from President Obama's proposed tax plan cites Mihir Desai's work which found "a statistical link between foreign investment by U.S. companies and domestic job creation".

    • A Hippocratic Oath for Managers

      June 4, 2009 - Economist

      Max Anderson (MBA '09) and Teal Carlock (MBA '09) are interviewed on the MBA Oath.

    • Tax Break for Profits Went Awry

      June 4, 2009 - New York Times

      Fritz Foley's work on the "unintended consequences of the Homeland Investment Act" finds that the Act did not "lead to an increase in domestic investment, employment or R.& D."

    • Return of the Grave-dancers

      June 4, 2009 - The Economist

      "The logjam has broken", says HBS's Josh Lerner, as private equity firms begin to invest heavily in banks.

    • Bank of America Ousts Head of Risk Oversight

      June 4, 2009 - New York Times

      As banks are required to submit detailed reports on risk management to regulators, Bank of America has replaced Amy Woods Brinkley, their chief risk officer. Rosabeth M. Kanter comments on the risk officer role.

    • HBS Students Take Ethics Oath

      June 2, 2009 - Harvard Crimson

      Over 335 HBS M.B.A. students have taken the student-led business ethics oath before this year's graduation.

    • Old Economic Models are Not Working

      June 1, 2009 - CNN.com

      Fareed Zakaria interviews Niall Ferguson about the state of the world economy.

    • Experts Weigh In on GM

      May 31, 2009 - Business Week

      Several experts give their opinions about General Motors declaring bankruptcy, including Richard Tedlow who writes on GM's former President and Chairman Alfred P. Sloan.

    • A Promise to Be Ethical in an Era of Immorality

      May 29, 2009 - New York Times

      The new HBS student led oath which is going "to bring about a professional code of conduct for M.B.A.'s, not unlike oaths that are taken by lawyers and doctors" is discussed.

    • The Coming Recovery

      May 28, 2009 - The Economist

      Continuing innovation and political stability in the United States will allow it to be the best place to do business when the crisis ends, according to Niall Ferguson.

    • Goldman Shareholders Suffered as Blankfein Earned $43 Million

      May 28, 2009 - Bloomberg

      In this discussion on executive compensation, Samuel Hayes, HBS professor emeritus comments, "the severe economic decline is being blamed squarely on Wall Street, and the huge pay packages are seen as an outrage."

    • Banks Find Ways to Boost Fees; Checking Accounts Latest Target

      May 27, 2009 - USA Today

      Banks have now been increasing fees on checking accounts. "If fees help banks improve their financial health but weaken consumers' financial health, is this a net good or bad for the economy?" Peter Tufano asks.

    • Home Prices, Sales Plunge in Bay State

      May 27, 2009 - Boston Globe

      The number of homes sold in Massachusetts and their prices have decreased in the month of April. Nicolas Retsinas points out the two markets at play, "motivated sellers" and "distressed owners."

    • How to Offset the Current Deflation While Preparing for Inflation in the Future

      May 27, 2009 - Boston Globe

      Niall Ferguson's views on government debt, and the chances of deflation versus inflation are discussed.

    • Obama's Tax Proposal Won't Create U.S. Jobs, GE, Microsoft Say

      May 21, 2009 - Bloomberg

      Fritz Foley comments "firms that grow abroad grow domestically as well" in reaction to President Obama's proposed ending of tax incentives to U.S. companies who "ship jobs overseas."

    • A Private-Equity Bid Is Key for Bank Deals

      May 19, 2009 - Wall Street Journal

      Private-equity firms are having difficulty entering the banking industry because they do not have a track record for regulating banks According to Josh Lerner in relation to private-equity companies bidding on BankUnited, "This could be a template that will open the floodgates in terms of transactions."

    • Business Schools Mull Over Blame In Financial Crisis

      May 17, 2009 - NPR Weekend Edition

      Harvard Business School, and peer institutions are looking internally to assess how the school prepared graduates for the financial crisis, Dean Jay Light comments "this is a time of great introspection for this institution."

    • Training Managers to Behave

      May 15, 2009 - Time

      In this discussion on the shift of instilling the characteristics to do good, rather than to just do well, in training business school students, Rakesh Khurana's work and comments on the topic are discussed.

    • Too Big to Swallow

      May 14, 2009 - The Economist

      Joshua Coval and Erik Stafford's paper on the Economics of Structured Finance is cited in this article on the furture of securitization.

    • JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs to Gain as Rivals Seek Funds

      May 8, 2009 - Bloomberg

      JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. may regain customers after passing the bank stress test without needing additional capital. According to Samuel Hayes, "There are certain banks that are going to emerge as being the blue-chip standard against which other banks will be measured. Their cost of money will be lower. People are going to feel more comfortable about lodging money with them. They will certainly get more clients."

    • The Other GM

      May 7, 2009 - Time

      This article look at the Chinese automobile industry and what General Motors would do if it was forced to declare bankruptcy in the United States. According to Clayton Christensen, "relatively inexpensive Chinese-made Chevys, exported to the U.S., could be the 'disruptive' force the company needs to get its market share growing again in North America. 'It's exactly the right thing for them to do.'"

    • HBS Group Helps Fight Foreclosures

      May 5, 2009 - Harvard Crimson

      Four HBS students are working with the Homeownership Preservation Foundation, which provides counseling to those who are going through the foreclosure process. The students will be analyzing the organizations operations and developing a marketing plan "aimed at removing the stigma of foreclosure."

    • Stimulus Provides Boon for Economy and Politicians

      May 5, 2009 - The Associated Press

      Local and state politicians have been publicizing stimulus package funding. John Quelch points out that this communication both reassures and "break(s) down the complexities of the overall stimulus package into bite-sized pieces that can be announced from one week to the next" for the general public.

    • What Will Fix the Venture Capital Crisis?

      May 4, 2009 - New York Times

      Josh Lerner highlights possible ways to improve the venture capital industry, including patent reform and public financing of start-ups.

    • The Depression Taught Us How Not to do Things - What Happened?

      May 3, 2009 - San Diego Union-Tribune

      The risks taken before the Great Depression mirror the leveraged home loans which contributed to today's downturn. Nicolas Retsinas comments on this risky financing.

    • Is Recession the Time to Boost Ad Spending?

      May 1, 2009 - Business Week

      John Quelch comments on how companies who increase advertising budgets during downturns may "improve marketshare and return on investment at lower cost than during good economic times."

    • Obama's First 100 Days: Economic Recovery

      April 29, 2009 - Harvard University Gazette

      As part of a package of "memos" to President Obama from Harvard University faculty, David Scharfstein comments that financial regulation reform needs to be one of the primary focuses for the new administration.

    • As Big as It Is, China Can't Save the World

      April 17, 2009 - Globe and Mail

      China's economy could possibly lead the way out of the recession. According to Randolph Cohen, "The interesting thing about China is that it has the second-largest economy in the world, yet virtually every Western institution is significantly underweight in that marketplace in their investment portfolio, and the Chinese market capitalization as a percentage of their GDP is many times less than most others."

    • Shelter, or Burden?

      April 16, 2009 - The Economist

      This article discusses whether or not it is a good thing for people to own houses in light of the current real estate market. According to Nicolas Retsinas, "Until the crash in 2008, Americans were coming to see their homes as financial investments rather than as places to live. That is true in other countries. Negative amortization mortgages in America and buy-to-rent arrangements in Britain were based on the assumption that houses were primarily investments."

    • Global Scorecard for the Economic Slowdown

      April 15, 2009 - Wall Street Journal

      Niall Ferguson took part on a panel with James Wolfensohn and Richard Sylla titled "The Global Financial Crisis, A Great Depression?" where he commented on the plight of the US, Europe and China.

    • Fashion Forward

      April 14, 2009 - Portfolio.com

      The financial crisis is transforming the retail industry. Nancy Koehn is quoted: "We're going to have fewer outlets over the next year, and it's going to happen much more quickly than if the business cycle hadn't screeched to a halt so fast."

    • Four Reasons to be Cheerful

      April 14, 2009 - FT.com

      Four reasons why everyone should be cheerful during the recession are listed here, which includes increased innovation. According to Tom Nicholas, "The growth rate of US patent applications was far lower in the 1930s than it had been in the previous decade."

    • Four Reasons to be Cheerful

      April 14, 2009 - FT.com

      Four reasons why everyone should be cheerful during the recession are listed here, which includes increased innovation. Accourding to Tom Nicholas, "The growth rate of US patent applications was far lower in the 1930s than it had been in the previous decade."

    • Economy: Emotional Recession

      April 13, 2009 - ReportonBusiness.com

      Customers divide consumer products into four different categories including "essentials, which are necessary for survival; treats, indulgences whose immediate purchase is considered justifiable; postponables, needed or desired items whose purchase can be reasonably put off; and expendables, items that are unnecessary or unjustifiable." John Quelch and Katherine Jocz are mentioned as the authors of a recent Harvard Business Review article on customer consumption.

    • Dimon To Address HBS Students at Class Day

      April 8, 2009 - Harvard Crimson

      James L. Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, will be the Class Day speaker at Harvard Business School on June 3. According to HBS's Brian Kenny, "He's someone I would point to as a person who's talking about solutions in the midst of crisis. We think he's a great choice."

    • How the Crisis Happened

      April 8, 2009 - CNNMoney.com

      Paul Lim interviews Niall Ferguson about the causes of the financial crisis and what the U.S. government is doing about it.

    • Big Changes Apt to Require New Leaders

      April 6, 2009 - Boston Globe

      Rosabeth Moss Kanter's recent comments on leadership and the ouster of Rick Wagoner as CEO of GM are highlighted.

    • Online Education Offers Access and Affordability

      April 2, 2009 - U.S. News & World Report

      An increase in demand for online education is seen because of the rising costs of commuting. According to Clayton Christensen, "What used to be expensive and inaccessible becomes convenient and accessible."

    • Harry and Louise Ride Again

      April 2, 2009 - Economist.com

      One of the proposals for healthcare reform could be a setback for the insurance industry, if private companies are pitted against the federal government. According to Regina Herzlinger, however, Medicare's cost advantages over the private sector are the result of accounting trickery. "The government does not have the $36 trillion needed to finance the services it has promised to those who pay for Medicare,"

    • Bankruptcy Is Vital to Capitalism

      April 2, 2009 - Wall Street Journal

      Bankruptcy can help a company get reorganized and back on its feet. According to David Moss, "In theory, you can do a full bankruptcy through agreement among the parties, but that usually doesn't work."

    • Let's Make a Deal

      April 2, 2009 - Boston Globe

      Shoppers are trying and succeeding when bargaining with national retail stores. According to Nancy Koehn, "A combination of factors have led to the new bargaining culture, which marks a return to the way business was conducted before the growth of mass retailing in the late 19th century."

    • Cerberus Tries to Get Chrysler Out of a Ditch

      March 31, 2009 - New York Times

      In this discussion of Cerebus' acquisition of Chrysler, HBS's Josh Lerner comments, "it seems like Chrysler would be in extreme difficulty whether Cerberus had showed up or not."

    • Obama, the Nation's CEO

      March 31, 2009 - Politico.com

      President Obama is sending a message to the auto industry that says, "We're in an economic crisis, which takes shared responsibility and shared sacrifice. The only way that we will recover is if everybody puts a little skin in the game." According to Rosabeth Moss Kanter, "The message from the Obama administration to the auto industry is loud and clear: Restructure or die."

    • With Autos, Obama Expands Government's Role

      March 31, 2009 - Associated Press

      The Obama administration and the auto task force believe the auto industry is taking too long to get re-organized. According to Malcolm Salter, "There seems to be a major difference of opinion between the auto task force and GM not about what's desirable, but what's realistic over some undefined business cycle."

    • Are Business Schools to Blame?

      March 30, 2009 - Harvard Business Review

      A number of HBS professors lead the debate on "How to Fix Business Schools."

    • Degree of Uncertainty

      March 29, 2009 - Boston Globe

      The job market for MBA graduates has shifted away from Wall Street, and according to Jana Kierstead, "They're looking at energy and clean tech, they're looking at boutique investment banks, they're looking at restructuring consulting. Entrepreneurship is very popular, and so are nonprofits." Harvard President Drew Faust and HBS student Allison Floam are also quoted in relation to the state of the job market.

    • How Crisis Shapes the Corporate Model

      March 28, 2009 - New York Times

      Crises can change how management thinks and develops its strategy. According to Rakesh Khurana, "The narrative for corporate America has changed. Government is not seen in opposition to the firm, but as a partner."

    • February Home Sales Rise as Prices Sink

      March 24, 2009 - AP

      Existing home sales rose slightly in February which means buyers are taking advantage of the discounts that are being offered despite the job market. According to Nicolas Retsinas, "if you're worried about having a job tomorrow, you're not likely to buy a home now."

    • Oversaving, a Burden for Our Times

      March 23, 2009 - New York Times

      This article highlights a study by Ran Kivetz of Columbia University and HBS's Anat Keinan that discusses how consumers have remorse after spending money but find that the guilt goes away.

    • American Capitalism Besieged

      March 23, 2009 - Washington Post

      George Samuelson writes on the history of capitalism and how its future is uncertain. He quotes HBS's Richard Tedlow, "No one in 1928 thought that the head of the New York Stock Exchange would end up in Sing Sing (prison) in 1938."

    • Resistance Grows to Obama's Bigger Government

      March 22, 2009 - Thomson Reuters

      the resistance is growing against President Obama who wants the U.S. government to intervene in the private sector and controlling bonus payouts. According to David Moss, "The question I think we need to figure out as a country is what is the proper role of government?"

    • Resistance Grows to Obama's Bigger Government

      March 22, 2009 - Thomson Reuters

      the resistance is growing against President Obama who wants the U.S. government to intervene in the private sector and controlling bonus payouts. According to David Moss, "The question I think we need to figure out as a country is what is the proper role of government?"

    • Shift to Thrift: Is Recession Creating 'New Consumer'?

      March 19, 2009 - Arizona Republic

      Will the new found American frugality become a long-term habit? Gerald Zaltman comments, "I think if we watch savings rates, and if we start to see those go up, then I'll say there's been a major change."

    • The CEO Poll: The Great Recession

      March 17, 2009 - Canadian Business Online

      A poll of Canadian business leaders found that the executives think the recession is far from over. According to Niall Ferguson, "The global economic meltdown will last far longer than generally predicted because we're facing 'a crisis of excessive debt.'"

    • Railroad Bailout May Offer a Model for Detroit

      March 15, 2009 - New York Times

      Dean emeritus John McArthur comments on the federal reorganization of railroads in the 1970s, and if this type of plan would work for an auto industry bailout.

    • What will business as usual look like?

      March 15, 2009 - Boston Globe

      This opinion piece includes comments from William Sahlman on appropriate changes to the regulatory landscape.

    • Krauthammer's Non Sequitur

      March 15, 2009 - Harvard Crimson

      Rosabeth Moss Kanter is quoted in this opinion piece speaking that Barack Obama is "not only a brilliant strategist, he is a brilliant analyst of America, understanding all the factors that contribute to economic decline and recovery."

    • Is It Time to Retrain B-Schools?

      March 14, 2009 - New York Times

      Dean Jay Light and Professor Rakesh Khurana comment on developing leaders at HBS.

    • The Dow at 36,000

      March 12, 2009 - Reuters

      Despite comparisons with the Great Depression, there's no precedent for today's economic crisis. This article mentions that one of the more dire predictions comes from Niall Ferguson, "who thinks that the contagion that spread from the United States to the rest of the world will have an impact that goes far beyond finance and the economy."

    • Global Heroes: A Special Report on Entrepreneurship

      March 12, 2009 - The Economist

      Entrepreneurs "are enjoying a renaissance the world over," even in this economic downturn. According to Ramana Nanda, the rates of entrepreneurship are significantly higher in organizations where a large number of employees are former entrepreneurs.

    • Innovation May Fuel Economic Recovery

      March 9, 2009 - Boston Globe

      According to a new report from McKinsey & Co., the current recession is following a pattern similar to downturns in the mid-1970s, the early 1980s, and the early 1990s. The report states that a "return to growth in technology spending by businesses and consumers was a major factor heralding the end of those recessions." William Sahlman comments that the immediate problem centers around the frozen credit markets, although the professor applauds "government outlays for technology research."

    • Time to Get Off the Fence?

      March 6, 2009 - Washington Post

      As home values continue to descend, analysts are trying to understand the psychology of home shoppers. According to Nicolas Retsinas, "What we may be starting to see happening is people are weighing more heavily the use value of a particular home."

    • Managing Risk of Structured Finance Better in Times of Crisis

      March 5, 2009 - Economic Times

      Josh Coval and Erik Stafford's working paper on the economics of structured finance is commented upon and summarized.

    • U.S. Experts Clash On Who Can Monitor Financial Risk

      March 4, 2009 - Reuters

      A Senate committee held a hearing to study how Congress should reshape federal regulatory agencies to ensure that no one institution can endanger the whole financial system. According to Robert Pozen, "If the Federal Reserve Board is going to bail out a broad array of financial institutions, and not just banks, it should have the power to monitor systemic risks so it can help keep institutions from getting to the brink of failure."

    • Venture Capital Sector Makes Adjustments

      March 1, 2009 - Boston Globe

      The venture capital industry is shrinking in the current economic climate. According to Josh Lerner, "University endowments and US pension funds are becoming smaller players in new venture capital funds. But what's not clear is who will take up the slack."

    • Renters Lose Edge on Homeowners

      February 25, 2009 - Wall Street Journal

      As the cost gap between renters and homeowners narrows, Nicolas Retsinas comments that "one of the challenges in the housing market is not only affordability but also willingness to buy. People are still worried about falling prices."

    • MBA Student Hiring Steady

      February 24, 2009 - Harvard Crimson

      This article discusses the job opportunities for students at Harvard Business School (HBS) during the current recession. According to Jana Kierstead, "This year has seen a 27 percent drop in postings to an online job board for HBS students. " In anticipation of the downturn, last spring Jay Light asked HBS Career Services "to better prepare students for the tough job market and to increase the number of recruiters on campus."

    • Wall Street's Allure May Be Gone For Good

      February 24, 2009 - Reuters

      The wealth and glamor of Wall Street will take a long time to return, if ever. HBS's Samuel Hayes states, "There are a number of people who are disillusioned with banking. (The crisis) has given the industry an enormous black eye and it's going to take a long time to recover from this."

    • Homeowners Anxious for Details

      February 20, 2009 - Boston Globe

      Many struggling homeowners are waiting for President Obama to anounce the details of his stimulus plan for the housing crisis. According to Nicolas Retsinas, "If homeowners lose their jobs, they likely can't hold onto their homes even with lower interest rates."

    • Bonus Cuts Hurting More Than Top Wall Streeters

      February 18, 2009 - New York Times

      American workers will be receiving little or no bonus paycheck this year due to the economic crisis. According to HBS's Jay Lorsch, "People have begun to live as if bonuses were not bonuses at all but part of their expected annual income. When those bonuses don't come through or are substantially reduced, people have to take it out of their lifestyles."

    • No One Home: Record 1 in 9 Housing Units Empty

      February 13, 2009 - USA Today

      The ongoing problem of the increasing number of vacant houses in the U.S. is discussed in this article. According to Nicolas Retsinas, "The numbers are further documentation of the gravity of the housing problem. This inventory is delaying any kind of housing recovery."

    • After The Stimulus It's Time for a New Foundation

      February 13, 2009 - The Huffington Post

      This article discusses some of the possible "engines of growth for the future" that could help lead the U.S. out of its current recession, including education, health-care, and innovation. Clayton Christensen is mentioned for his book The Innovator's Prescription in which he "explains how more sophisticated and strategic use of electronic technology combined with networking can 'disrupt' stagnant centralized systems and decentralize education and healthcare to improve outcomes for individuals (and society), and create new waves of economic growth"

    • A Puritan View Of The Crash

      February 12, 2009 - NPR Online

      Rakesh Khurana's recent article on compensation in the Washington Post is quoted here in this commentary looking at income inequality.

    • The Open-Door Bailout

      February 11, 2009 - New York Times

      Thomas Friedman writes on how immigrants have affected innovation in the U.S. over the past decade. Bill Kerr is mentioned for his study on the H-1B visa, which "found that in periods when H-1B visa numbers went down, so did patent applications filed by immigrants [in the U.S.]. And when H-1B visa numbers went up, patent applications followed suit."

    • Don't Blame H-1B Workers for Woes

      February 10, 2009 - Business Week

      Businesses are hiring immigrant workers with a H-1B visa and paying them less than a comparable American worker. Bill Kerr is mentioned for a paper he co-wrote on immigrants with H-1B visas which suggests that innovation and patent activity in the U.S. increases when highly skilled, foreign workers are employed.

    • Government Hopes Bank Aid Helps Recession Recovery

      February 6, 2009 - USA Today

      Samuel Hayes comments on the U.S. Treasury's plans for "putting the federal government in the central position of backstopping lenders against losses from hundreds of billions of dollars of 'toxic assets'"

    • Investigating the Credit Crisis and Liquidity

      February 5, 2009 - FT.com

      This article looking at the imperfections in the credit markets cites Victoria Ivashina and David Scharfstein's research on lines of credit.

    • Bailout Spotlights Banks

      February 4, 2009 - Boston Herald

      Banks are being criticized for sponsoring sports teams and entertainment venues when they are being bailed out by the government. According to Stephen Greyser, "it's now politically and economically impossible for banks receiving federal money to venture into big sponsorship deals that often include fancy suites and VIP parking for corporate bigwigs and their customers."

    • Financial Regulation Shaping Up as a Political Battleground

      February 3, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

      This article discusses the upcoming battle between proponents of regulation and deregulation in the US economy. According to David Moss, "implicit guarantees may well be the worst kind of government guarantee. They are ill-defined, open-ended and almost impossible to get rid of."

    • What's On The Job Frontier? Experts Weigh In

      February 3, 2009 - NPR

      As one of the experts interviewed for this piece on the future job market, Bill Sahlman warns "people tend to pile into industries just before they collapse - and would-be grad students should beware the cycle."

    • A recession of biblical proportions

      February 2, 2009 - Fortune

      Consumers usually save money during booms and spend their savings during recessions, but states that consumers are doing the exact opposite during the current recession. According to Peter Tufano, "innovative ideas such as prize-linked savings vehicles, in which giant interest payments are awarded lottery-style; such programs have boosted savings for decades in other countries."

    • Stimulus Package: If You Jump Halfway Across a Chasm You Fall

      February 2, 2009 - The Huffington Post

      Arianna Huffington writes that the U.S. needs to spend the stimulus package the "right way" or face even higher costs. She mentions that according to Niall Ferguson, "It is time to start new banks; the old banks need to be completely restructured."

    • Rebuilding America's Job Machine

      January 29, 2009 - Business Week

      States may or may not be able to get money from Washington, D.C. to help build new industries and jobs for decades to come. Michael Porter explains, "The grassroots model, where regions get on with it without waiting for Washington, is one of America's great strengths."

    • Swinging the Axe

      January 29, 2009 - The Economist

      The unemployment rate rises, and companies are finding that their first round of layoffs is not enough for the business to survive. Assistant Professor Heidi Gardner comments on these job cuts in a downturn.

    • Global Worries Over U.S. Stimulus Spending

      January 29, 2009 - New York Times

      In this disucssion on the need to kick-start the U.S. economy with President Obama's stimulus package, Niall Ferguson states that "even before Obama walked through the White House door, there were plans for $1 trillion of new debt."

    • Nervous Investing Experts Wait Out Cheap Bank Stocks

      January 28, 2009 - USA Today

      According to this article, bank stocks are "trading like penny stocks." Samuel Hayes comments "Investors are concerned that their shares will be diluted further."

    • Finding Anchors in the Storm: Mentors

      January 27, 2009 - Wall Street Journal

      This article discusses how Millennial generation employees should find a mentor to help guide them to the next level of their career. According to HBS professor Thomas DeLong, you're much more likely to work well with someone if "you're seen as someone who understands the pressures [a manager is] experiencing."

    • Loan Crisis Hits the MBA World

      January 23, 2009 - Business Week

      MBA students are facing a lack of loan providers due to the economic situation in the U.S. According to Susan Gilbert, director of MBA financial aid, "It is an absolute priority for the school. We are aware that it is an impossible expectation to assume that all our applicants who are international will have a co-signer, and we do not expect them to have one."

    • How To Play Chicken and Lose

      January 22, 2009 - The Economist

      During the evolution of the financial services industry in the U.S., managers didn't take big risks in the beginning because they were the actual owners of the company. Today, the managers are not the owners and have no personal risk involved when a financial gamble is made. Samuel Hayes comments on how the financial industry worked on Wall Street after World War II.

    • In Plato's Cave

      January 22, 2009 - The Economist

      This article discusses how mathematical models are one way of predicting financial markets, but these are not always correct. Robert Merton is mentioned for his research on the value and history of derivatives markets.

    • Sour Stock Market Stalls Initial Public Offerings

      January 19, 2009 - Reuters

      Josh Lerner comments on the state of VC firms and the IPO drought.

    • Retailers Fight Slump by Pushing Generics

      January 16, 2009 - Toronto Star

      Canadian supermarket chains are marketing their store brand products to help customers save money. According to John Quelch, "Basically, private label consumption goes up during every recession as people trade down from national brands."

    • Private Equity Year-end Writedowns Ahead

      January 14, 2009 - Thomson Reuters

      Private equity firms will be announcing their year-end write-downs, which are expected to be 20-30%. According to Prof. Josh Lerner, "If we think back to the experience of the venture capital industry in the 2001/2002 period, it had a lot of flavor of death by a thousand cuts rather than a big bang of definitive write-offs. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the same experience here."

    • Change Management

      January 12, 2009 - The Economist Online

      Organizations are changing their "structure and strategy" more often than they did in the 20th century. Rosabeth Moss Kanter is cited for her book The Change Masters and her research on "change management," as is Robert Eccles and Nitin Nohria with their book Beyond the Hype, "the primary concern of managers…should be mobilising action among individuals, rather than endless quibbling about the way the world really is."

    • Brokers Disdain Toaster Salesmen in Bank America Deal

      January 5, 2009 - Bloomberg.com

      The cultural and financial issues surrounding Bank of America's acquisition of Merrill Lynch is profiled here, Professor Emeritus Samuel Hayes comments.

    • Rewards Go to Those With Courage to Innovate

      January 5, 2009 - Dow Jones

      Companies that continue to innovate through research and development in a down economy will have a dominant strategic position when the economy becomes healthy again. According to Associate Professor Tom Nicholas, "for companies with cash and ideas, history shows that downturns can provide enormous strategic opportunities."

    • Forecast 2009 Up in the Air

      January 1, 2009 - Pharmaceutical Executive

      The effects that healthcare reform will have on the pharmaceutical industry is discussed. Arthur Daemrich states, "Patients in the US know they're paying much more than the rest of the world for the same drug. In the current economic climate, that's not sustainable."

    • Fixing the SEC

      December 19, 2008 - Boston Globe

      Samuel Hayes comments on the future role of the SEC.

    • Private Equity Firms Not Immune as Job Cuts Bite

      December 18, 2008 - Reuters

      Private equity firms will be laying off workers in New York and London soon because of difficulties "raising and investing cash." According to Josh Lerner, "the industry could shed jobs in New York and London and still grow worldwide." "You can imagine that there's going to be considerable opportunities going forward -- but different opportunities."

    • Five Opportunities to Help Beat World Recession

      December 16, 2008 - Bloomberg

      New ideas, innovations, and companies will emerge from the recession and dominate the next few decades. According to Tom Nicholas, "For companies with cash and ideas, history shows that downturns can provide enormous strategic opportunities."

    • History may ride on reign of 'car czar'

      December 16, 2008 - Chicago Tribune

      the "car-czar" would be given authoritative power which allows him to have complete control over the auto industry bailout which entails how much Chrysler, Ford, and GM should be given and how each company will repay the loan. HBS's Malcolm Salter comments on the title of "czar," which "connotes a lot of authority and power and knowledge that isn't there"

    • The Great Car Crash

      December 14, 2008 - Times Online

      This article looks at the possible situation in Europe if the American auto industry goes bankrupt (as each of the "Big-3" have ownership of several European car companies). According to John Quelch, "Everyone understands the car industry. But everyone can see what a disaster the car firms have been."

    • A Government-run Auto Industry?

      December 10, 2008 - Christian Science Monitor

      Nancy Koehn comments on the propsed auto bailout, "With the exception of World War II, I cannot recall another instance where government was going to step in and regulate issues such as executive compensation or the use of corporate jets."

    • Washington Takes Risks With Its Auto Bailout Plans

      December 8, 2008 - New York Times

      HBS's Malcolm Salter asks this question on the auto bailout,"Who in the federal government would have the tremendous insight needed to fix this industry?"

    • Tribune May be Tip of Bankruptcy Iceberg Among LBOs

      December 8, 2008 - Reuters

      In a discussion of how Tribune, the publishing company of The Chicago Tribune and The Los Angeles Times, has declared bankruptcy after going private in 2007. According to Josh Lerner, "I think undoubtedly we will see more bankruptcies of private equity-backed firms, but also regular operating firms too. What's harder is to say whether the private equity ones are more likely to (fail)."

    • Roads, Bridges, and U

      December 7, 2008 - Boston Globe

      State universities are worried that they will not get the necessary state funding due to the economic downturn, according to Michael Porter in a recent BusinessWeek article, "campus facilities should receive some of the federal government's billions of stimulus funding."

    • Bear Stearns Wins Dismissal of Investor Lawsuits

      December 5, 2008 - Bloomberg.com

      The lawsuit involving Bear Stearns and their investors has been dismissed "with a judge finding company officials pursued the deal to prevent a 'potentially cataclysmic' bankruptcy." HBS's Stuart Gilson's testimony on behalf of Bear Stearns was cited in the ruling.

    • Google Gears Down for Tougher Times

      December 3, 2008 - Wall Street Journal

      Google is cutting back on spending for special projects that "aren't really that exciting" and focus on "core search, ads and apps business." According to Thomas Eisenmann, "if you want to be the dominant advertising network across every medium, you need more top-down management."

    • GM, Ford, Chrysler CEO Jobs May Hinge on Bailout Plan

      December 1, 2008 - Bloomberg.com

      Professor Bill George comments, "A bailout is more like putting someone on life support when what they really need is a new heart. The only way to save GM is a massive restructuring, to tear the company in half and make it much smaller."

    • Delayed Gratification

      November 28, 2008 - New York Times

      Kmart still allows customers to buy products on layaway, while many retailers have done away these delayed payments. Nancy Koehn comments on the history of the layaway option, and its association the Great Depression.

    • Saving Citi May Create More Fear

      November 24, 2008 - New York Times

      Shares of JP Morgan, Bank of America and Wells Fargo were lifted as Citigroup was given a second rescue from the federal government, but regulators and taxpayers alike are scared that more banks will be leaning on Washington for support. HBS Professor David Moss comments.

    • A Wall Streeter's Guide To Finding A Job

      November 20, 2008 - Forbes

      The number of jobs on Wall Street declining while recent graduates of business schools are looking for jobs. Forbes states that job seekers will have to look outside of Wall Street to find jobs in the current market. Jana Kierstead, managing director of career services comments.

    • Innovation in America: A Gathering Storm?

      November 20, 2008 - The Economist

      "American company bosses, university presidents and labour leaders" are demanding that Barack Obama needs to take action to "reclaim America's competitiveness." Clayton Christensen comments on China and India interfering with American companies.

    • At Harvard, It's Business as Usual

      November 19, 2008 - ReportOnBusiness (subscription required)

      Harvard Business School graduates have been involved with the financial crisis, and today's MBAs "will prevail as they always have, no matter what the state of the world." Jay Light is quoted "I have seen two bad recessions and in the classes that graduate in these times, you get the real leaders." Josh Lerner is also mentioned as a thought leader on the private equity and venture capital industries.

    • Ferguson Faults Fed in Failure

      November 19, 2008 - Harvard Crimson

      Niall Ferguson speaks at The Harvard Book Store on his new book The Ascent of Money and how financial history has been overlooked during the financial crisis. Ferguson also discusses the stock market bubble, the housing crisis, and the relationship that the U.S. has with its foreign creditors.

    • Bank Lending Isn't Easing the Crisis

      November 17, 2008 - Wall Street Journal

      In order to get credit flowing through banks again, the financial markets need to be repaired. According to David Scharfstein and Victoria Ivashina, the banks "provide a measure of protection to vulnerable firms, helping them forestall financial distress."

    • Meet your new leader

      November 14, 2008 - Fortune

      This article comments on how today's financial leaders are publicly "admitting" cluelessness about the economic crisis which would normally have prompted the board of directors to take action. They then look at a new type of corporate leader which could come forward as a result of the crisis. HBS Professor Rakesh Khurana, "sees the current period as the start of a fourth era in modern corporate leadership."

    • WPP Execs Offer Tips on Weathering the Recession

      November 13, 2008 - Advertising Age

      WPP executives warn consumers that the economy is not going to get better for a while and that it is a very serious situation. According to John Quelch, "It's going to be very severe and they don't understand how deep and long this thing is going to be."

    • Crisis Hits the Business Schools

      November 13, 2008 - Business Week

      While the number of applications to business schools has increased due to the recession, the number of jobs available for graduates has steeply declined. Daniel Bergstresser and Clayton Rose comment.

    • Insight: 'Bretton Woods Two'?

      November 13, 2008 - BBC

      BBC's Bridget Kendall writes about how the economic crisis has stirred up the need to create a new financial system, which was first done at a meeting in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in 1944. Niall Ferguson is mentioned.

    • I.B.M. Has Tech Answer for Woes of Economy

      November 6, 2008 - New York Times

      Professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter comments on I.B.M.'s approach to "smart infrastructure" innovation and products.

    • New Frugality Shows Up in Retail Figures

      November 6, 2008 - Marketplace

      The reporter interviews Nancy Koehn about the retail industry, who says that shoppers will be "practical" in buying gifts this holiday season.

    • U.S. Economy Set to Turn Towards Socialist Path

      November 3, 2008 - Times Online

      Professor Josh Lerner comments, "A system that allows the private sector to make huge profits in the good times and then get cleaned up by the Government when things go bad is not a sustainable model."

    • Debt Linked to Buyouts Tightens the Economic Vise

      November 2, 2008 - New York Times

      Sorkin and Merced write about how private equity firms bought up large companies, and then "saddled" those companies with a huge amount of debt causing them to declare bankruptcy. According to Josh Lerner, "There's absolutely going to be a lot of pain to go around. The big question is how apocalyptic it will be."

    • Could the Crisis Crimp Convergence?

      October 31,2008 - CFO.com

      Rappeport discusses that the financial crisis may have slow down the plan to create global accounting standards set by the Securities and Exchange Commission. According to Edward Riedle, "If the credit crisis and recessions start spreading and are longer than people are expecting, the SEC will be reluctant to do a major financial reporting change."

    • Banks to Continue Paying Dividends

      October 30, 2008 - Washington Post

      Professor David Scharfstein argues that the government should halt banks who receive bailout funds from distributing dividend payments.

    • New Type of Capitalism

      October 30, 2008 - Boston Globe

      In Andrea Silbert's opinion piece, Professors Michael Porter and Larry Summers are cited discussing that a "functioning safety net is essential to market capitalism."

    • Great Depression Survivors Uncertain of Nation's Mettle

      October 28, 2008 - Boston Globe

      As those who lived through the Great Depression comment on the current economic crisis and their experience in the 1930s, HBS professor Richard S. Tedlow briefly explains the precipice behind the 1929 market crash.

    • Economic Crisis Hits as Brazil Builds

      October 27, 2008 - Los Angeles Times

      Professor Aldo Musacchi comments on the higher cost of capital and its effect on Brazilian infrastructure

    • Harvard's Ferguson Praises `Ascent of Money' as Markets Plunge

      October 27, 2008 - Bloomberg News

      James Pressley comments on Professor Niall Ferguson's upcoming book, the "Ascent of Money".

    • As Stocks Plunge, Funds Lose Balance

      October 27, 2008 - Boston Globe

      Professor Josh Lerner comments on why institutional investors may be forced to sell a portion of their venture capital investments.

    • Wall Street Bosses, Tiger Woods Meditate to Focus, Stay Calm

      October 22, 2008 - Bloomberg News

      How are executives coping with the day-to-day strain? Professor Bill George and many others turn to meditation. "I think meditation in these times has an important role to play."

    • The Great Depression—How Close Are We?

      October 20, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

      Professor David Moss finds similarities and differences between the current economic situation and The Great Depression.

    • CEOs on the Economic Crisis

      October 15, 2008 - BusinessWeek

      Business leaders from around the world shared their views at the HBS Global Business Summit, providing timely commentary and discussion on the current financial crisis.

    • Financial Crisis: Confidence—and Some Cautions

      October 13, 2008 - Harvard Magazine

      Charlie Rose leads a panel discussion on "Leadership for the Twenty-First Century." Participants include HBS alumn John Doerr, Jeffrey Immelt, Anand G. Mahindra, Meg Whitman, and James D. Wolfensohn.

    • At Harvard, Gates Addresses Economic Turmoil

      October 13, 2008 - Boston Globe

      The next phase of the financial crisis may be a consumer spending pullback that drags the economy into a downturn with heavy job losses, Microsoft Corp. co-founder William H. Gates III and other business leaders warned at Harvard Business School.

    • Intervention Is Bold, but Has a Basis in History

      October 13, 2008 - New York Times (login required)

      Professor Nancy Koehn comments on the need for government intervention. "The goal is to get the engine of capitalism going as productively as possible."

    • Deal Recovery Seen Coming First in Emerging Economies

      October 13, 2008 - Reuters

      Deals and investments will slow sharply over the next three to six months, and recovery will likely come faster in the emerging economies than the West, according to Harvard Business School professor Josh Lerner.

    • Keeping Up Standards

      October 7, 2008 - CNN.com

      As banks collapse and insurance giants nearly fold, there is a perception that too many chief executives have been filling their pockets via short-term bonus schemes without concern for the longer-term health of an enterprise built on other people's money. Rakesh Khurana and Nitin Nohria of Harvard Business School have an idea—start treating management like a profession.

Videos

  • Sweeney, Retsinas Interview About U.S. Housing Market

    October 26, 2010 - Bloomberg

    Nicolas Retsinas talks about the outlook for the US housing market.

  • Interview with Jay Light

    September 29, 2010 - Big Think

    Jay Light looks back at the development of HBS during his tenure, and comments on HBS and its responsibility in light of the financial crisis.

  • Keeping America Competitive

    Septmber 16, 2010 - CNBC.com

    Broadcasting from the HBS campus, Michael Porter discusses the competitive position of the U.S.

  • Congress Works to Rewrite Financial Regulatory Reform

    June 27, 2010 - Nightly Business Report

    Bill George comments on flawed leadership in the face of crisis, such as the Gulf oil spill.

  • Sustainable Urbanization

    May 17, 2010 - BigThink.com

    Robert Eccles discusses issues around sustainable urbanization, specifically in Europe and Asia.

  • Profiting from Twitter

    April 12, 2010 - CNBC.com

    Misiek Piskorski discusses opportunities to monetize Twitter.

  • Kaplan on Financial Reform

    April 6, 2010 - CNBC.com

    Robert Steven Kaplan, professor at Harvard Business School and former vice chairman at Goldman Sachs, says proposed government regulation of the financial sector is a good thing. "The problem isn't that banks are too big to fail, it's that they are too interconnected to fail."

  • Keeping America Competitive

    January 28, 2010 - CNBC.com

    Michael Porter discusses how America can remain competitive in the new economy.

  • State of the Financial System

    December 16, 2009 - CNBC

    Topics discussed with Bill George include Goldman Sachs, regulation of banks, the state of the financial system, and the U.S. economic outlook.

  • Fixing the Financial System

    November 10, 2009 - MSNBC.com

    Bob Pozen is interviewed on MSNBC, discussing strategies and initiatives to help fix the U.S. financial system.

  • Lessons From History

    October 26, 2009 - CNN.com

    CNN interviews Niall Ferguson on what we can learn from previous financial crises.

  • America's Needed Economic Strategy

    December 16, 2008 - CNBC

    Michael Porter is interviewed about how the U.S. needs to develop a strategy to get the economy moving again and how financial institutions are going to be regulated in the future.

  • Analyzing Washington D.C.'s Response: Professor Robert Pozen leads an HBS class discussion on how legislators and policy makers have attempted to address the financial situation. Part of the HBS "Turmoil on the Street" speaker series.

  • Business Summit Panel Discussion: Charlie Rose leads a panel discussion on "Leadership for the Twenty-First Century." Participants include HBS alumni John Doerr, Jeffrey Immelt, Anand G. Mahindra, Meg Whitman, and James D. Wolfensohn.

  • Rob Kaplan on Leadership During Crisis

    October 13, 2008 - Fox Business

    Professor Rob Kaplan encourages leaders to "over communicate" during the financial crisis.

  • Bill Gates Business Summit Keynote Address: Co-chair, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

  • European Markets Imitate American

    October 13, 2008 - Fox Business News

    Senior Associate Dean John Quelch discusses the global financial fallout in Europe and other regions around the world.