This Week in Business
Business & Finance
About
Bringing together top leaders, innovators and renowned faculty from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania discussing topics that matter to consumers and the business world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
- How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Business and Society
Stefano Puntoni, Wharton Marketing Professor, discusses the biggest AI developments of the past year, including advances in model capabilities, the emergence of AI agents, growing enterprise investment, regulatory considerations, and the t…
- AI Stocks, Oil Prices, and the Fed’s Next Move
Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance and Chief Economist at WisdomTree, examines the market rally fueled by AI stocks, the economic impact of rising oil prices and tensions with Iran, the outlook for Federal Reserve policy…
- Federal Reserve Leadership Transition Amid Economic and Political Pressures
Patrick Harker, Wharton Professor of Operations, Information, and Decisions, and former President of the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank, reflects on Jerome Powell’s tenure leading the Federal Reserve through the pandemic, inflation conc…
- Brands and Identity in the Age of Social Media
Dr. Americus Reed, II, Wharton Marketing Professor, discusses the principles of identity marketing, explaining how brands can navigate aspiration, authenticity, generational differences, and consumer self-expression in a culture increasing…
- Preparing American Cities for the Global World Cup Stage
Kevin Kaiser, Wharton Adjunct Full Professor of Finance, explores how cities like Philadelphia are preparing for the influx of global soccer fans during the World Cup, examining transportation, hospitality, public safety, sports culture, a…
- AI’s Real Impact on Jobs and Productivity
Peter Cappelli, a Wharton Professor, discusses the current limited impact of AI on job replacement, corporate strategies for AI investment and organizational shifts, and insights for new graduates regarding the evolving job market and prod…
- Career Growth, Job Mobility, and the Modern Workforce
Matthew Bidwell, Professor of Management at the Wharton School, discusses job hopping, the importance of adaptability and skill-building early in a career, and how economic conditions and AI might influence career decisions for new graduat…
- Rethinking Urban Tax Policy Through Land Value Taxation
Professor Emeritus of Finance Robert Inman explains how land value taxation, a concept from economist Henry George, could offer New York City a sustainable revenue source that encourages, rather than discourages, investment and development.
- How Economic Strain and AI Are Reshaping Family Roles
Corinne Low, Associate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at Wharton, examines the effects of economic strain, gender inequalities, and AI on working mothers and family roles. The discussion focuses on how these factors resh…
- How AI Agents Are Transforming Modern Marketing Strategy
Wharton Marketing Professor Stefano Puntoni discusses the transformative effects of AI-driven search, discovery, and autonomous agents on marketing strategies and consumer behavior. The conversation also touches on the evolving balance bet…
- Climate Regulation Rollbacks and the Rise of Nuisance Lawsuits
Sarah Light, Wharton Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, examines how efforts to repeal the EPA’s endangerment finding under the Clean Air Act could limit federal regulatory authority while opening the door to expanded state-le…
- Markets React to Iran Tensions and Rate Uncertainty
Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance and Senior Economist at WisdomTree, explains how Iran-related tensions, Federal Reserve uncertainty, and continued AI sector expansion are influencing market resilience, investor sentime…
- Measuring the Impact of Europe’s Conservation Targets and Policies
Arthur van Benthem, Wharton Professor of Business, Economics and Public Policy examines how European Union land protection policies—despite meeting ambitious coverage targets—may fall short in delivering meaningful biodiversity and ecosyst…
- Why Reverse Morris Trust Deals Demand Strategic Discipline
Emilie Feldman, Wharton Professor of Management, discusses how reverse Morris Trust transactions influence merger strategy, tax efficiency, and value creation through scale-driven synergies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more…
- How AI Is Reshaping Blue-Collar Work and Skills
Lynn Wu, Associate Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions at the Wharton School, discusses how AI is driving a shift in blue-collar work, reshaping job responsibilities, and creating new opportunities for human judgment, adapta…
- How Credit Scores Shape Homeowners Insurance Costs Nationwide
Ben Keys, Wharton Professor of Real Estate, discusses new research revealing how credit scores can impact homeowners insurance premiums more than climate risk, raising important questions about fairness, policy, and financial inequality. H…
- Scaling a Local Favorite: The Strategy Behind Wawa’s Growth
Z. John Zhang, Wharton Professor of Marketing, discusses how brands like Wawa scale beyond their regional roots by leveraging innovation, customer loyalty, and strategic expansion into competitive new markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co…
- How School Cell Phone Bans Are Changing Student Behavior
Angela Duckworth, Wharton Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions and Co-Director of the Behavior Change for Good Initiative, discusses new findings from the Phones in Focus study on how school phone restrictions influence acade…
- Inside the Business Models of Today’s Top AI Platforms
Stefano Puntoni, Wharton Professor of Marketing, analyzes how OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are pursuing distinct business models and growth strategies to compete in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence market. Hosted on Acast. See…
- How Geopolitics and AI Are Influencing Today’s Financial Markets
Jeremy Siegel, Emeritus Professor of Finance at the Wharton School and Senior Economist at WisdomTree, discusses how the Iran conflict, Federal Reserve decisions, and artificial intelligence are shaping market performance and long-term eco…
- Inside Iran’s Payment Network and Global Sanctions Strategy
Philip Nichols, Wharton Professor of Legal Studies & Business Ethics, explains how Iran has built a complex and adaptive banking and payments infrastructure under decades of sanctions while exploring its future in an evolving global financ…
- The Business Impact of Leadership Under Pressure
Nancy Rothbard, Deputy Dean and Professor of Management at the Wharton School, joins the show to examine how leaders respond to intensifying workplace disruption. The conversation covers decision bottlenecks, delegation, emotional regulati…
- The Fed’s Payment Rails and Fintech Access
David Zaring, Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School, joins the show to explain the Federal Reserve’s consideration of a “skinny” master account for nonbank financial firms. The conversation covers payment rai…
- Zeke Emanuel on Medicare Payment and Innovation Reform
Zeke Emanuel, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the Wharton School, joins the show to discuss recent reforms at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The conversation covers site-neutral payments, strengthening primary care…
- The Economic Cost of Conflict with Iran
Kent Smetters, Faculty Director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model and Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School, breaks down the projected budgetary costs of conflict with Iran, estimates potential GDP losses d…
- The Decline of the Cover Letter in the AI Era
Judd Kessler, Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School and author of Lucky by Design , explains how artificial intelligence is eroding the signaling power of cover letters and elevating the importance of reco…
- From Hype to Impact: AI Reshapes Enterprise Software
Stefano Puntoni, Marketing Professor at the Wharton School and Co-Director of the Wharton Human-AI Research Program, explains how artificial intelligence is pressuring SaaS margins, lowering barriers to entry, reshaping pricing models, and…
- Fed Leadership, Rate Cuts, and Geopolitical Risks Ahead
Jeremy Siegel, Professor Emeritus of Finance at the Wharton School and Senior Economist at Wisdom Tree, analyzes the Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs, the market’s resilience amid policy uncertainty, the potential impact of Kevin Warsh as…
- Understanding Crypto Sentiment and Market Signals
Dave Reibstein, Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, explains how the school’s Cryptocurrency Confidence Index tracks U.S. consumer sentiment, explores links between confidence and price volatility, and examines the role of regula…
- How Geopolitics Is Hitting Local Gas Stations
Serguei Netessine, Wharton Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, discusses how U.S. sanctions on Lukoil are disrupting franchise agreements, banking relationships, and customer perceptions for locally operated gas stations in…
- Why Hiring Has Slowed Without Mass Layoffs
Peter Cappelli, Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Human Resources at The Wharton School, examines the cooling in white-collar job openings, the impact of investor-driven cost cutting, the concept of “AI washing,” and w…
- Stablecoins Explained: Bridging Digital Assets and Traditional Finance
Kevin Werbach, Wharton Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, discusses the Stablecoin Toolkit and how clearer definitions, regulatory frameworks, and emerging use cases could position stablecoins as a bridge between digital asset…
- Super Bowl Advertising Trends, Creative Strategy, and Brand Competition
Dr. Americus Reed, II, Wharton Professor of Marketing, breaks down the strengths, themes, and competitive dynamics of this year’s Super Bowl ads, including the role of nostalgia, humor, artificial intelligence, and long-term brand storytel…
- The Economic Reality Behind Billionaires Taxes and State Budgets
Kent Smetters, Faculty Director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model and Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School, analyzes the origins of billionaire and wealth taxes, explains why they consistently underperform…
- How Advertising Could Reshape ChatGPT and Digital Marketing
Stefano Puntoni, Wharton Professor of Marketing and Co-Director of the Wharton Human-AI Research Program, discusses OpenAI’s move toward advertising, its implications for monetization, consumer experience, and the future of digital adverti…
- What the Fed’s Pause Signals for Economy and Markets
Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance and Senior Economist at WisdomTree, analyzes the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold rates, the significance of dissenting votes, the outlook for future cuts, shifting market leadership,…
- Why Interest Rates Can’t Fix Deeper Economic Problems
Patrick T. Harker, former President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and current Wharton Professor of Operations, Information, and Decisions, draws on his experience to discuss why monetary policy has clear limits, the need for…
- Affordable Care Act Subsidies, Coverage Losses, and What Comes Next
Professor Emeritus of Healthcare Management at the Wharton School, Mark Vincent Pauly, analyzes the consequences of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced subsidy expiration, its effects on insurance coverage and costs, and the potential impli…
- The Unintended Consequences of Affordable Housing Lotteries
Judd Kessler, Wharton Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy and author of Lucky by Design , tells how affordable housing lotteries function, why they generate hidden markets, and how better design could improve outcomes for ren…
- Inside Saks Global’s Bankruptcy and the Future of Luxury Retail
Barbara Kahn, Wharton Professor of Marketing, discusses Saks Global’s bankruptcy, the strategic missteps behind it, and how luxury department stores can rebuild through experiential retail, omnichannel integration, and elite customer relat…
- How AI Is Reshaping Skills, Hiring, and Education
Eric Bradlow, Vice Dean of AI and Analytics and Professor and Chair of the Marketing Department at the Wharton School, discusses new research with Accenture that empirically measures the skills gap and explores how AI is redefining educati…
- The Fed Chair Transition and the Future of Central Bank Independence
Wharton Associate Professor of Financial Regulation, Peter Conti-Brown, analyzes the end of Jerome Powell’s term, the potential next chair, and why Federal Reserve independence is central to monetary policy, regulation, and the U.S. econom…
- Six AI Trends Shaping Business, Education, and Markets in 2026
Stefano Puntoni, Wharton Marketing Professor and Co-Director of Wharton Human-AI Research, explores six major AI trends for 2026, including model specialization, agentic systems, everyday consumer AI, monetization, regulation, and the impl…
- Regulating Foreign Insider Trades on U.S. Stock Exchanges
Dan Taylor, Professor of Accounting at the Wharton School, discusses how his research helped shape new legislation requiring foreign company executives to disclose stock trades and protect U.S. investors from opportunistic insider selling.…
- Faculty Prediction Series: Residential and Commercial Real Estate Trends for 2026
Susan M. Wachter, Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate at the Wharton School, discusses the outlook for housing and commercial real estate, focusing on inflation trends, interest rates, inventory challenges, and what these forces mean f…
- Faculty Prediction Series: Assessing Inflation, Jobs, and Markets Heading Into 2026
Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance and Senior Economist at WisdomTree, shares his perspective on the state of the U.S. economy, analyzing recent rate cuts, inflation progress, employment data, tariff uncertainty, and what…
- Faculty Prediction Series: The 2026 Labor Market Outlook and What Comes Next
Matthew Bidwell, Wharton Professor of Management, reflects on the cooling labor market, the influence of artificial intelligence, hybrid work dynamics, and what workers and graduates should expect as the economy heads toward 2026. Hosted o…
- Faculty Prediction Series: Where Artificial Intelligence Stands Heading Into 2026
Ethan Mollick, Co- Director of Wharton Generative AI Labs, examines how artificial intelligence continues to advance without slowing, highlighting its growing business adoption, potential labor market effects, and the importance of guardra…
- Free Versus Fair Trade in a Changing Global Economy
John Zhang, Wharton Marketing Professor, discusses his recent analysis of free versus fair trade, explaining the economic assumptions, political incentives, and distributional consequences of tariffs in today’s global trading system. Hoste…
- Why Today’s AI Bubble May Fuel Tomorrow’s Economic Growth
Lynn Wu, Wharton Associate Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, explains why today’s AI investment frenzy, while exhibiting bubble-like characteristics, represents a vital phase of technological evolution—driving infrastruct…