The Ownership Project explores how structuring ownership of key elements in the economy can help businesses and communities address pressing societal challenges and support human values in the 21st century.
How ownership is structured is foundational for any economy: Ownership shapes the exchange of goods and services between buyers and sellers, grants access and control over capital and resources, and mediates the governance of economic enterprises. Despite its centrality, the topic of ownership leaves much to be explored.
Founded in 2024 as part of the Institute for Business in Global Society at Harvard Business School, The Ownership Project addresses this gap by systematically and comprehensively expanding the theoretical, empirical, and practical study of ownership through collaborations involving scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
From acreage to AI: Rethinking business ownership
Harvard Business School faculty discuss how the initiative studies different ownership structures in the economy and their impacts on individuals, businesses, and communities.
PlayVideo duration:1:50
The Ownership Project goes right to the heart of what BiGS is designed and excited about doing, which is to ask really important questions: Does ownership matter? Which forms of ownership deliver what kinds of outcomes and for whom?
Debora L. Spar; Jaime and Josefina Chua Tiampo Professor Business Administration Senior Associate Dean for Business in Global Society
Research
Three workstreams
Enterprises
What are the advantages and limitations of different ways of structuring the ownership of business enterprises? Under what conditions are some preferable over others? What are the key institutional features that support particular forms of ownership? Current research includes cases on employee ownership trusts, developing dimensions for an expanded typology of ownership models, creating a cartography of alternative ownership models, and studies on how private equity can fund worker ownership.
Worker Ownership and Profit Sharing
Steward, Purpose, and Trust Ownership
Private Equity
Family Ownership
Shareholder Ownership
Early-Stage Ventures
Resources
How does ownership shape access to and allocation of the myriad resources that contribute to a functioning economy, flourishing society, and individual wellbeing? Ongoing research in this area includes studies on community land trusts and an exploration of non-Western land ownership practices with EthicsLab in Cameroon.
Land
Housing
Water and Natural Resources
Financial Assets and Access to Capital
Societal challenges
In what ways can ownership be structured to address problems in society? Where does ownership provide an underexplored opportunity to overcome challenges to the common good? How do technological and societal changes in the 21st century create opportunities and challenges to existing and emergent forms of ownership? Active projects include a survey of innovative local media ownership models, a case preserving the ownership of human ideas against copyright infringement and AI, and a technology development sprint with the U.S. Census Bureau creating tools that empower community-led wellbeing measurement.
Media Ecosystem
Economic Transitions
Environmental Sustainability
Digital Economy
Want to Collaborate?
If you are interested in collaborating with The Ownership Project or have questions or suggestions, please contact Tony Guidotti.
By: Nien-he Hsieh, Dilyana Karadzhova Botha, and F. Christopher Eaglin
Videos
PlayVideo duration:1:31
The wealth gap: Rethinking equity ownership in modern business. Harvard Business School professor Ethan Rouen explains how the evolution of ownership structures - particularly the growing disparity between equity returns and wage growth - impacts employee engagement and wealth creation. This analysis reveals critical insights for business leaders seeking to address workforce disengagement while creating more equitable wealth distribution models.
PlayVideo duration:1:07
Beyond traditional ownership: Capitalism's next chapter. Professor and co-founder of The Ownership Project Nien-hê Hsieh takes a comprehensive look at ownership structures beyond conventional private equity and public markets, exploring innovative models that could reshape business education and practice.
PlayVideo duration:1:38
What does ownership look like in the next frontier of innovation? Drawing on historical insights, the HBS Institute for Business in Global Society’s faculty chair Debora Spar explains the critical role of visionary thinking in shaping new markets. Just as Bill Gates redefined property rights in software, today’s pioneers must challenge existing paradigms to create lasting impact.
PlayVideo duration:10:24
Who owns it? The Ownership Project on how property rights shape business. Harvard Business School faculty discuss The Ownership Project, a groundbreaking initiative examining how ownership structures impact business outcomes and social progress. Learn how evolving concepts of ownership - from real estate to AI, genetic data to media - are reshaping capitalism and creating new challenges and opportunities for business leaders.
PlayVideo duration:1:07
Beyond traditional ownership: Capitalism's next chapter. Professor and co-founder of The Ownership Project Nien-hê Hsieh takes a comprehensive look at ownership structures beyond conventional private equity and public markets, exploring innovative models that could reshape business education and practice.
PlayVideo duration:1:38
What does ownership look like in the next frontier of innovation? Drawing on historical insights, the HBS Institute for Business in Global Society’s faculty chair Debora Spar explains the critical role of visionary thinking in shaping new markets. Just as Bill Gates redefined property rights in software, today’s pioneers must challenge existing paradigms to create lasting impact.
PlayVideo duration:10:24
Who owns it? The Ownership Project on how property rights shape business. Harvard Business School faculty discuss The Ownership Project, a groundbreaking initiative examining how ownership structures impact business outcomes and social progress. Learn how evolving concepts of ownership - from real estate to AI, genetic data to media - are reshaping capitalism and creating new challenges and opportunities for business leaders.
PlayVideo duration:1:31
The wealth gap: Rethinking equity ownership in modern business. Harvard Business School professor Ethan Rouen explains how the evolution of ownership structures - particularly the growing disparity between equity returns and wage growth - impacts employee engagement and wealth creation. This analysis reveals critical insights for business leaders seeking to address workforce disengagement while creating more equitable wealth distribution models.
PlayVideo duration:1:38
What does ownership look like in the next frontier of innovation? Drawing on historical insights, the HBS Institute for Business in Global Society’s faculty chair Debora Spar explains the critical role of visionary thinking in shaping new markets. Just as Bill Gates redefined property rights in software, today’s pioneers must challenge existing paradigms to create lasting impact.
PlayVideo duration:10:24
Who owns it? The Ownership Project on how property rights shape business. Harvard Business School faculty discuss The Ownership Project, a groundbreaking initiative examining how ownership structures impact business outcomes and social progress. Learn how evolving concepts of ownership - from real estate to AI, genetic data to media - are reshaping capitalism and creating new challenges and opportunities for business leaders.
PlayVideo duration:1:31
The wealth gap: Rethinking equity ownership in modern business. Harvard Business School professor Ethan Rouen explains how the evolution of ownership structures - particularly the growing disparity between equity returns and wage growth - impacts employee engagement and wealth creation. This analysis reveals critical insights for business leaders seeking to address workforce disengagement while creating more equitable wealth distribution models.
PlayVideo duration:1:07
Beyond traditional ownership: Capitalism's next chapter. Professor and co-founder of The Ownership Project Nien-hê Hsieh takes a comprehensive look at ownership structures beyond conventional private equity and public markets, exploring innovative models that could reshape business education and practice.
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