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Gunnar Trumbull

Gunnar Trumbull

Philip Caldwell Professor of Business Administration

Philip Caldwell Professor of Business Administration

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Gunnar Trumbull is a Professor at the Harvard Business School, where he teaches in the Business, Government, and the International Economy area. Trumbull graduated from Harvard College in 1991 and earned a Ph.D. in political science from M.I.T. in 2000. He joined the Harvard Business School faculty in 2001, where his research focuses on European political economy.

Trumbull's core interest is with consumer politics. He is author of Consumer Credit in Postwar America and France: The Political Construction of Economic Interest (Cambridge University Press, 2014), which explores the politics and business of consumer lending over the 20th century. In it, he argues that the benign practices of early U.S. retail lenders led Americans to see consumer lending as a viable response to growing inequality. His other works include Strength in Numbers: The Political Power of Weak Interests (Harvard University Press, 2012), in which he argues that diffuse groups like consumers are more powerful, and industry less influential, than we commonly assume; and Consumer Capitalism: Politics, Product Markets, and Firm Strategy in France and Germany (Cornell University Press, 2006), which explores the political roots of consumer protection policies that emerged in France and Germany beginning in the 1970s.

Trumbull also conducts research on technology policy. His book Silicon and the State: French Innovation Policy in the Internet Age (Brookings Press, 2004) traces France's policy response in the late-1990s to the apparent success of the Silicon Valley model of technology innovation.
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Business, Government and the International Economy
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Gunnar Trumbull
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Business, Government and the International Economy
Contact Information
(617) 495-6326
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Featured Work Publications Research Summary Awards & Honors

Books
Books

  • Trumbull, Gunnar. Consumer Lending in France and America: Credit and Welfare. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. Strength in Numbers: The Political Power of Weak Interests. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. Consumer Capitalism: Politics, Product Markets, and Firm Strategy in France and Germany. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2006. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. Silicon and the State: French Innovation Policy in the Internet Age. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2004. View Details

Journal Articles
Journal Articles

  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Peter Tufano. "A Brief Postwar History of U.S. Consumer Finance." Business History Review 85, no. 3 (Fall 2011): 461–498. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "Credit Access and Social Welfare: The Rise of Consumer Lending in the United States and France." Politics & Society 40, no. 1 (March 2012). View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "Varieties of Consumerism." Jahrbuch für Wirtschaftsgeschichte (spring 2006). View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "Policy Activism in a Globalized Economy: France's 35-hour Work Week." French Politics, Culture and Society 20, no. 3 (fall 2002). View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "More Trade, Safer Products." Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft (fall 2000). View Details

Book Chapters
Book Chapters

  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Banking on Consumer Credit: Explaining Patterns of Household Borrowing in the United States and France." Chap. 7 in The Development of Consumer Credit in Global Perspective: Business, Regulation, and Culture, edited by Jan Logemann. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Consumer Policy: Business and the Politics of Consumption." Chap. 26 in The Oxford Handbook of Business and Government, edited by David Coen, Wyn Grant, and Graham Wilson. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Between Global and Local: The Invention of Data Privacy in the United States and France." In The Voice of the Citizen Consumer, edited by K. Bruckweh. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "The Surprise of Collective Action: Consumer Mobilization in France, 1970-1985." In Affluence and Activism: Organized Consumers in the Post-War Era, edited by Even Lange and Iselin Theien. Oslo: Unipub, 2004. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "Strategies of Consumer Group Mobilization." In Material Politics: The State and Consumer Society, edited by Martin Daunton and Matthew Hilton. Oxford: Berg, 2000. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "Divergent Paths of Product Market Regulation in France and Germany, 1970-1990." In Global Political Economy: Among and Within Nations, edited by Stuart S. Nagel. New York: Marcel Dekker, 2000. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar, Anne Wren, Bob Hancke, and David Soskice. "Wage Bargaining, Labour Markets and Macroeconomic Performance in the Netherlands." In The German and Dutch Economies: Who Follows Whom? edited by Lei Delsen and Eelke de Jong. New York: Physica-Verlag, 1998. View Details

Working Papers
Working Papers

  • Ryan, Andrea, Gunnar Trumbull, and Peter Tufano. "A Brief Postwar History of U.S. Consumer Finance." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 11-058, December 2010. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Regulating for Legitimacy: Consumer Credit Access in France and America." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 11-047, November 2010. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "From Rents to Risks: France's New Innovation Policy." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 04-020, October 2003. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "The Rise of Consumer Politics: Market Institutions and Product Choice in Postwar France and Germany." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 03-054, October 2002. View Details

Cases and Teaching Materials
Cases and Teaching Materials

  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "The German Export Engine." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 720-014, September 2019. View Details
  • Reinhardt, Forest, Gunnar Trumbull, Naoko Jinjo, and Mayuka Yamazaki. "Rice in Japan." Harvard Business School Case 717-032, December 2016. (Revised April 2019.) View Details
  • Reinhardt, Forest, Gunnar Trumbull, and Mahima Rao-Kachroo. "Jain Irrigation Systems Limited: Continuing a Legacy." Harvard Business School Case 719-044, January 2019. (Revised July 2019.) View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar J., Elena Corsi, and Daniela Beyersdorfer. "Managing the European Refugee Crisis." Harvard Business School Case 716-076, April 2016. (Revised July 2016.) View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar, and Jonathan Schlefer. "The German Export Engine." Harvard Business School Case 715-045, April 2015. (Revised December 2020.) View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar, Jonathan Schlefer, and Diane Choi. "Europe: An Ever Closer Union?" Harvard Business School Case 713-085, April 2013. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Jonathan Schlefer. "Note on the Arab Spring." Harvard Business School Background Note 712-055, April 2012. View Details
  • Comin, Diego A., and J. Gunnar Trumbull. "Fraunhofer: Innovation in Germany (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-063, March 2011. (Revised March 2012.) View Details
  • Comin, Diego A., J. Gunnar Trumbull, and Kerry Yang. "Fraunhofer: Innovation in Germany." Harvard Business School Case 711-022, March 2011. (Revised March 2012.) View Details
  • Reinhardt, Forest L., J. Gunnar Trumbull, Mikell Hyman, Patia McGrath, and Nazli Zeynep Uludere. "The Political Economy of Carbon Trading." Harvard Business School Case 710-056, February 2010. (Revised April 2011.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Santander Consumer Finance (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-093, April 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, Elena Corsi, and Elisa Farri. "ABB: 'In China, for China'." Harvard Business School Case 711-044, November 2010. (Revised December 2012.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Diane Choi. "European Union: The Road to Lisbon (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-091, April 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, Dante Roscini, and Diane Choi. "The Euro in Crisis: Decision Time at the European Central Bank (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-094, April 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Diane Choi. "Common Agricultural Policy and the Future of French Farming (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-101, April 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "The Financial Crisis of 2008 (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-092, April 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Consumer Lending in Japan: Citi CFJ (TN) (A) & (B)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-102, April 2011. View Details
  • Comin, Diego A., J. Gunnar Trumbull, and Kerry Yang. "Fraunhofer: Five Significant Innovations." Harvard Business School Supplement 711-058, March 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "ABB: 'In China, for China' (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-095, March 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Varieties of Capitalism." Harvard Business School Module Note 711-096, March 2011. View Details
  • Reinhardt, Forest L., and J. Gunnar Trumbull. "The Political Economy of Carbon Trading (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-098, March 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, Dante Roscini, and Diane Choi. "The Euro in Crisis: Decision Time at the European Central Bank." Harvard Business School Case 711-049, December 2010. (Revised March 2011.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, Elena Corsi, and Andrew Barron. "Santander Consumer Finance." Harvard Business School Case 711-015, September 2010. (Revised December 2010.) View Details
  • Maurer, Noel, Debora L. Spar, and J. Gunnar Trumbull. "Afghanistan 2006: Building a Brand New State." Harvard Business School Case 707-033, January 2007. (Revised February 2010.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Akiko Kanno. "Consumer Lending in Japan: Citi CFJ (A)." Harvard Business School Case 709-017, October 2008. (Revised September 2009.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Akiko Kanno. "Consumer Lending in Japan: Citi CFJ (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 710-018, September 2009. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "The Financial Crisis of 2008." Harvard Business School Case 709-036, December 2008. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "The European Union in the 21st Century." Harvard Business School Case 707-021, December 2006. (Revised March 2008.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, Vincent Marie Dessain, and Elena Corsi. "Common Agricultural Policy and the Future of French Farming." Harvard Business School Case 707-027, December 2006. (Revised March 2007.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Wal-Mart in Europe (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 706-049, June 2006. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Louisa Neissa. "Wal-Mart in Europe." Harvard Business School Case 704-027, April 2004. (Revised July 2019.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Creation of the European Union, The." Harvard Business School Case 703-032, April 2003. (Revised November 2003.) View Details

Other Publications and Materials
Other Publications and Materials

  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Europe and Globalization: Report Prepared for the National Intelligence Council." December 2000. View Details
All Publications

Gunnar Trumbull is a Professor at the Harvard Business School, where he teaches in the Business, Government, and the International Economy area. Trumbull graduated from Harvard College in 1991 and earned a Ph.D. in political science from M.I.T. in 2000. He joined the Harvard Business School faculty in 2001, where his research focuses on European political economy.

Trumbull's core interest is with consumer politics. He is author of Consumer Credit in Postwar America and France: The Political Construction of Economic Interest (Cambridge University Press, 2014), which explores the politics and business of consumer lending over the 20th century. In it, he argues that the benign practices of early U.S. retail lenders led Americans to see consumer lending as a viable response to growing inequality. His other works include Strength in Numbers: The Political Power of Weak Interests (Harvard University Press, 2012), in which he argues that diffuse groups like consumers are more powerful, and industry less influential, than we commonly assume; and Consumer Capitalism: Politics, Product Markets, and Firm Strategy in France and Germany (Cornell University Press, 2006), which explores the political roots of consumer protection policies that emerged in France and Germany beginning in the 1970s.

Trumbull also conducts research on technology policy. His book Silicon and the State: French Innovation Policy in the Internet Age (Brookings Press, 2004) traces France's policy response in the late-1990s to the apparent success of the Silicon Valley model of technology innovation.
Featured Work
Consumer Lending in France and America
Credit and Welfare
Why did America embrace consumer credit over the course of the twentieth century, when most other countries did not? How did American policy makers by the late twentieth century come to believe that more credit would make even poor families better off? This book traces the historical emergence of modern consumer lending in America and France. If Americans were profligate in their borrowing, the French were correspondingly frugal. Comparison of the two countries reveals that America's love affair with credit was not primarily the consequence of its culture of consumption, as many writers have observed, nor directly a consequences of its less generous welfare state. It emerged instead from evolving coalitions between fledgling consumer lenders seeking to make their business socially acceptable and a range of non-governmental groups working to promote public welfare, labor, and minority rights. In France, where a similar coalition did not emerge, consumer credit continued to be perceived as economically regressive and socially risky.
Strength in Numbers: The Political Power of Weak Interests

Many consumers feel powerless in the face of big industry’s interests. And the dominant view of economic regulators (influenced by Mancur Olson’s book The Logic of Collective Action, published in 1965) agrees with them. According to this view, diffuse interests like those of consumers are too difficult to organize and too weak to influence public policy, which is determined by the concentrated interests of industrial-strength players. Gunnar Trumbull makes the case that this view represents a misreading of both the historical record and the core logic of interest representation. Weak interests, he reveals, quite often emerge the victors in policy battles.

Based on a cross-national set of empirical case studies focused on the consumer, retail, credit, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sectors, Strength in Numbers develops an alternative model of interest representation. The central challenge in influencing public policy, Trumbull argues, is not organization but legitimation. How do diffuse consumer groups convince legislators that their aims are more legitimate than industry’s? By forging unlikely alliances among the main actors in the process: activists, industry, and regulators. Trumbull explains how these “legitimacy coalitions” form around narratives that tie their agenda to a broader public interest, such as expanded access to goods or protection against harm. Successful legitimizing tactics explain why industry has been less powerful than is commonly thought in shaping agricultural policy in Europe and pharmaceutical policy in the United States. In both instances, weak interests carried the day.

Consumer Capitalism: Politics, Product Markets, and Firm Strategy in France and Germany
"The unfettered marketplace, in which uncertainty rules and the admonition caveat emptor ('let the buyer beware') dictates each consumer decision, has today virtually disappeared. Consumers have become the focus of intensive economic policymaking designed to protect them from the risks and disappointments of the market. . . . Today, arguably no other economic actor in the advanced industrial countries—not the investor, not the worker, not the welfare recipient—enjoys a more thorough set of legal and institutional protections than the modern consumer when he or she enters the corner store."—from the Introduction

Gunnar Trumbull investigates the origins of national systems of consumer protection in France and Germany, where, in the early 1970s, consumer groups and producers organized to advance their own ideas about the identity and interests of the affluent consumer. Through a comparison of eight areas of policy—product liability law, product safety standards and recall, misleading advertising, comparative product tests, product labeling, quality standards, consumer contracts, and pricing—Trumbull shows that different conceptions of the consumer interest emerged in the two countries. The result was the development of distinctive national consumption regimes, which have in turn influenced the market strategies of domestic producers.

Trumbull's findings help to clarify distinctive national approaches to recent product crises—including cases of BSE and genetically modified foods. His research suggests that, in the age of consumer capitalism, national competitiveness may hinge not only on endowments of labor and capital, but also on the institutional forms of national consumption.

Books
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. Consumer Lending in France and America: Credit and Welfare. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. Strength in Numbers: The Political Power of Weak Interests. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2012. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. Consumer Capitalism: Politics, Product Markets, and Firm Strategy in France and Germany. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2006. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. Silicon and the State: French Innovation Policy in the Internet Age. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2004. View Details
Journal Articles
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Peter Tufano. "A Brief Postwar History of U.S. Consumer Finance." Business History Review 85, no. 3 (Fall 2011): 461–498. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "Credit Access and Social Welfare: The Rise of Consumer Lending in the United States and France." Politics & Society 40, no. 1 (March 2012). View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "Varieties of Consumerism." Jahrbuch für Wirtschaftsgeschichte (spring 2006). View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "Policy Activism in a Globalized Economy: France's 35-hour Work Week." French Politics, Culture and Society 20, no. 3 (fall 2002). View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "More Trade, Safer Products." Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft (fall 2000). View Details
Book Chapters
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Banking on Consumer Credit: Explaining Patterns of Household Borrowing in the United States and France." Chap. 7 in The Development of Consumer Credit in Global Perspective: Business, Regulation, and Culture, edited by Jan Logemann. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Consumer Policy: Business and the Politics of Consumption." Chap. 26 in The Oxford Handbook of Business and Government, edited by David Coen, Wyn Grant, and Graham Wilson. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Between Global and Local: The Invention of Data Privacy in the United States and France." In The Voice of the Citizen Consumer, edited by K. Bruckweh. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "The Surprise of Collective Action: Consumer Mobilization in France, 1970-1985." In Affluence and Activism: Organized Consumers in the Post-War Era, edited by Even Lange and Iselin Theien. Oslo: Unipub, 2004. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "Strategies of Consumer Group Mobilization." In Material Politics: The State and Consumer Society, edited by Martin Daunton and Matthew Hilton. Oxford: Berg, 2000. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "Divergent Paths of Product Market Regulation in France and Germany, 1970-1990." In Global Political Economy: Among and Within Nations, edited by Stuart S. Nagel. New York: Marcel Dekker, 2000. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar, Anne Wren, Bob Hancke, and David Soskice. "Wage Bargaining, Labour Markets and Macroeconomic Performance in the Netherlands." In The German and Dutch Economies: Who Follows Whom? edited by Lei Delsen and Eelke de Jong. New York: Physica-Verlag, 1998. View Details
Working Papers
  • Ryan, Andrea, Gunnar Trumbull, and Peter Tufano. "A Brief Postwar History of U.S. Consumer Finance." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 11-058, December 2010. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Regulating for Legitimacy: Consumer Credit Access in France and America." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 11-047, November 2010. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "From Rents to Risks: France's New Innovation Policy." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 04-020, October 2003. View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar. "The Rise of Consumer Politics: Market Institutions and Product Choice in Postwar France and Germany." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 03-054, October 2002. View Details
Cases and Teaching Materials
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "The German Export Engine." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 720-014, September 2019. View Details
  • Reinhardt, Forest, Gunnar Trumbull, Naoko Jinjo, and Mayuka Yamazaki. "Rice in Japan." Harvard Business School Case 717-032, December 2016. (Revised April 2019.) View Details
  • Reinhardt, Forest, Gunnar Trumbull, and Mahima Rao-Kachroo. "Jain Irrigation Systems Limited: Continuing a Legacy." Harvard Business School Case 719-044, January 2019. (Revised July 2019.) View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar J., Elena Corsi, and Daniela Beyersdorfer. "Managing the European Refugee Crisis." Harvard Business School Case 716-076, April 2016. (Revised July 2016.) View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar, and Jonathan Schlefer. "The German Export Engine." Harvard Business School Case 715-045, April 2015. (Revised December 2020.) View Details
  • Trumbull, Gunnar, Jonathan Schlefer, and Diane Choi. "Europe: An Ever Closer Union?" Harvard Business School Case 713-085, April 2013. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Jonathan Schlefer. "Note on the Arab Spring." Harvard Business School Background Note 712-055, April 2012. View Details
  • Comin, Diego A., and J. Gunnar Trumbull. "Fraunhofer: Innovation in Germany (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-063, March 2011. (Revised March 2012.) View Details
  • Comin, Diego A., J. Gunnar Trumbull, and Kerry Yang. "Fraunhofer: Innovation in Germany." Harvard Business School Case 711-022, March 2011. (Revised March 2012.) View Details
  • Reinhardt, Forest L., J. Gunnar Trumbull, Mikell Hyman, Patia McGrath, and Nazli Zeynep Uludere. "The Political Economy of Carbon Trading." Harvard Business School Case 710-056, February 2010. (Revised April 2011.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Santander Consumer Finance (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-093, April 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, Elena Corsi, and Elisa Farri. "ABB: 'In China, for China'." Harvard Business School Case 711-044, November 2010. (Revised December 2012.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Diane Choi. "European Union: The Road to Lisbon (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-091, April 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, Dante Roscini, and Diane Choi. "The Euro in Crisis: Decision Time at the European Central Bank (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-094, April 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Diane Choi. "Common Agricultural Policy and the Future of French Farming (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-101, April 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "The Financial Crisis of 2008 (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-092, April 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Consumer Lending in Japan: Citi CFJ (TN) (A) & (B)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-102, April 2011. View Details
  • Comin, Diego A., J. Gunnar Trumbull, and Kerry Yang. "Fraunhofer: Five Significant Innovations." Harvard Business School Supplement 711-058, March 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "ABB: 'In China, for China' (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-095, March 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Varieties of Capitalism." Harvard Business School Module Note 711-096, March 2011. View Details
  • Reinhardt, Forest L., and J. Gunnar Trumbull. "The Political Economy of Carbon Trading (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 711-098, March 2011. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, Dante Roscini, and Diane Choi. "The Euro in Crisis: Decision Time at the European Central Bank." Harvard Business School Case 711-049, December 2010. (Revised March 2011.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, Elena Corsi, and Andrew Barron. "Santander Consumer Finance." Harvard Business School Case 711-015, September 2010. (Revised December 2010.) View Details
  • Maurer, Noel, Debora L. Spar, and J. Gunnar Trumbull. "Afghanistan 2006: Building a Brand New State." Harvard Business School Case 707-033, January 2007. (Revised February 2010.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Akiko Kanno. "Consumer Lending in Japan: Citi CFJ (A)." Harvard Business School Case 709-017, October 2008. (Revised September 2009.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Akiko Kanno. "Consumer Lending in Japan: Citi CFJ (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 710-018, September 2009. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "The Financial Crisis of 2008." Harvard Business School Case 709-036, December 2008. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "The European Union in the 21st Century." Harvard Business School Case 707-021, December 2006. (Revised March 2008.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, Vincent Marie Dessain, and Elena Corsi. "Common Agricultural Policy and the Future of French Farming." Harvard Business School Case 707-027, December 2006. (Revised March 2007.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Wal-Mart in Europe (TN)." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 706-049, June 2006. View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar, and Louisa Neissa. "Wal-Mart in Europe." Harvard Business School Case 704-027, April 2004. (Revised July 2019.) View Details
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Creation of the European Union, The." Harvard Business School Case 703-032, April 2003. (Revised November 2003.) View Details
Other Publications and Materials
  • Trumbull, J. Gunnar. "Europe and Globalization: Report Prepared for the National Intelligence Council." December 2000. View Details
Research Summary
The Politics of Consumer Credit
A combination of factors has dramatically increased consumer access to and reliance upon credit across the OECD. These factors include financial liberalization and deregulation, improvements in consumer credit information and its analysis, and a growth in debt securitization. Yet this period of unprecedented credit access has coincided with a decline in average real wages. National governments have responded by enacting new regulations governing consumer bankruptcy, financial data privacy, consumer advocacy, and interest rate caps. This project traces the politics of consumer credit regulation in France, Germany and Britain during the postwar period.
The Political Power of Weak Interests

One of the most broadly accepted theoretical claims of public policy is the proposal that interests shared by a large set of actors tend to be under-represented in public policy. From Mancur Olson to George Stigler to James Q. Wilson, our most influential theorists of organization and public policy argue that diffuse interests must therefore be weak interests. The logic of their case is familiar and compelling. Large numbers of individuals are difficult to organize. And when the benefits of organization cannot be excluded from the general public, individuals will have insufficient incentives to support a collective lobbying effort. These coordination problems make organizing diffuse interests a harder job than organizing concentrated interests. Yet everywhere we look, diffuse interests are strongly represented. Consumers have benefited from progressive trade liberalization. Competition policy has broken apart concentrated producers with monopoly pricing power. Modern retailing has given rural consumer access to an extraordinary variety of products at extremely low prices. Small shareholders enjoy powerful legal protections against manipulation by powerful block-holders.

This book project explores why diffuse interests are so heavily represented in public policy, and why narrow interest groups that subvert more diffuse economic or social interests do so at their peril. Through a study of policies in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, retailing, and consumer credit, I explore how diffuse interest come to be represented, and the strategies that concentrated industry interests employ to achieve their interests.

The Politics of Food
This project explores the origins and evolution of national food cultures, emphasizing the sources of variation in terms of quality, safety, and 'sophistication'. Comparing food cultures in postwar Italy, France, and America, I argue that distinctive national patterns of food production and consumption have their roots in the differential ability of small producers and distributors to protect themselves against powerful agricultural, industrial and distribution interests. The product will be a book-length manuscript entitled: "Good Food, Bad Food." 
Awards & Honors
Received the 2016 Charles M. Williams Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Received the 2014 HBS Student Association Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Required Curriculum.
Received the 2013 HBS Student Association Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Required Curriculum.
Received the 2016 HBS Student Association Faculty Award for Outstanding Teaching in the Required Curriculum.
Received the 2013 Charles M. Williams Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Additional Information
  • Working Knowledge Articles
Affiliations
  • Center for European Studies
  • Business, Government and the International Economy
Areas of Interest
  • consumer finance
  • consumer goods
  • consumer policy
  • government and business
  • political economy
  • Additional Topics
  • technological innovation
  • Industries
  • agribusiness
  • consumer products
  • credit card
  • financial services
  • food
  • food processing
  • grocery
  • microfinance
  • retail financial services
  • retailing
  • Geographies
  • France
  • Germany
  • Western Europe
Additional Information
Working Knowledge Articles

Affiliations

Center for European Studies
Business, Government and the International Economy

Areas of Interest

consumer finance
consumer goods
consumer policy
government and business
political economy
 More

Additional Topics

technological innovation

Industries

agribusiness
consumer products
credit card
financial services
food
food processing
grocery
microfinance
retail financial services
retailing

Geographies

France
Germany
Western Europe
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