This Week in Business

Henning Piezunka, Associate Professor of Management at the Wharton School, explores how competition in the AI industry can shift from healthy rivalry to destructive behavior, discusses the psychology behind executive decision-making, explains why successful organizations balance competition with collaboration, and shares insights from research spanning business, sports, and innovation ecosystems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor and Senior Economist at WisdomTree, discusses Alan Greenspan's lasting impact on monetary policy, reflects on the lessons of the 2008 financial crisis, analyzes Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's early leadership, and explains why more forward-looking economic data could shape future interest rate decisions while also revisiting the long-term economic effects of Brexit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Itay Goldstein, Professor of Finance at the Wharton School, discusses the growing concerns surrounding private credit markets, including liquidity mismatches, valuation uncertainty, investor redemptions, AI-driven pressures on software borrowers, and the potential systemic risks posed by connections to banks and insurance companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Cappelli, Professor of Management at the Wharton School, examines the resurgence of "peanut butter" raises, exploring how companies distribute limited pay increases, the impact of inflation on employee compensation, and the tradeoffs between rewarding top performers and maintaining workforce morale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Hsu, Wharton Management Professor, discusses SpaceX’s $2 trillion valuation, the role of Starlink, launch services, and AI in driving investor enthusiasm, the influence of Elon Musk’s leadership, and what the company’s success means for the future of the global space economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Courtney Wiegand, Wharton Assistant Professor of Finance, explains her research on how fiscal policy shocks and shifting deficit expectations affect bond markets, inflation, monetary policy interactions, and the long-term implications of congressional budget decisions for financial markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Platt, Wharton Professor of Marketing, Psychology & Neuroscience, discusses his research on brain-based performance metrics, explaining how focus, confidence, and mental fatigue can be measured to improve athlete selection, training, and development, while also revealing applications for business leadership, cybersecurity, and other high-pressure professions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ken Shropshire, Wharton Emeritus Prof. of Legal Studies & Business Ethics and Strategic Advisor to 76 Capital, examines the NFL’s history of racial equity in hiring, assess the successes and shortcomings of the Rooney Rule, and explore how Brian Flores’ discrimination lawsuit could influence the future of coaching opportunities and hiring practices across the league. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 technology’s potential impact on business, consumers, and society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 under Kevin Warsh, and the mixed legacy of Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 concerns, and political pressure, while also examining what Kevin Warsh’s leadership could mean for monetary policy, Fed independence, and the U.S. economy moving forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 increasingly influenced by social media, wearable technology, and evolving personal identities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, and the long-term branding impact for the United States and its host cities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Cappelli, Wharton Professor of Management, discusses why artificial intelligence has yet to significantly replace jobs, how companies are navigating AI investments and organizational change, and what new graduates should understand about the evolving workforce and productivity landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Bidwell, Professor of Management at the Wharton School, explores the realities of job hopping, the importance of adaptability and skill-building early in a career, and how economic conditions and AI may shape career decisions for new graduates entering the workforce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Inman, Wharton Professor Emeritus of Finance, discusses how land value taxation, inspired by economist Henry George and successfully implemented in cities like Pittsburgh, could provide New York City with a more sustainable way to raise revenue without discouraging investment, housing development, or business growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corinne Low, Wharton Associate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, discusses how rising costs, persistent gender inequalities, and emerging AI-driven labor shifts are intensifying pressures on working mothers and reshaping economic and household roles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefano Puntoni, Wharton Marketing Professor and co-director of the Wharton Human-AI Research Program, discusses how AI-driven search, discovery, and autonomous agents are transforming marketing, consumer behavior, and the balance between human and machine decision-making. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-level nuisance lawsuits against power plants and fossil fuel companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 sentiment, and the outlook for interest rates and equities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ecosystem restoration impacts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 information.

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, adaptability, and problem-solving in an evolving workforce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.com/privacy for more information.

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 academic engagement, teacher satisfaction, and student wellbeing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 economic expectations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 financial system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 regulation, and sustaining performance under pressure. Rothbard also discusses Wharton’s Owner/President and CEO Program, which helps executives strengthen strategy and succession planning. Learn more at: whartonopc.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 rails, regulatory oversight, competition with traditional banks, and the implications for community lenders and financial stability. They also examine potential litigation and legislative responses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 compensation, innovation models, and efforts to address waste and Medicare Advantage risk adjustment. They also examine the broader fiscal and policy implications for the $1.7 trillion agency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 driven by higher oil prices, and explains how supply shocks could influence inflation and Federal Reserve decision-making. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 recommendations, networking, and real-world connections in the labor market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 marking a potential inflection point for enterprise software markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Fed chair, and how geopolitical tensions with Iran could influence interest rates and economic growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 regulation and public perception in shaping the future of digital assets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 why economic uncertainty is keeping companies cautious about expanding their workforce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 assets and the traditional financial system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 storytelling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 revenue expectations, and explores their economic distortions at both the state and national level. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 advertising. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, and how AI-driven productivity may shape the economy and labor markets heading into 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 political follow-through on fiscal and workforce issues, and how investments in education, skilled trades, and digital innovation are essential for securing the nation’s long-term economic future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 implications of proposed reforms allowing individuals to choose plans using direct government funding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 renters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 relationships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 education, hiring, and the future labor market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. economy heading into 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.