Category: Economics

HBR: How Investors Have Reacted to the Business Roundtable Statement

When the U.S. Business Roundtable announced that it was redefining the purpose of a corporation to accommodate a broader group of stakeholders – extending beyond shareholders to include employees, customers, suppliers and communities – the stock market didn’t seem to react. I saw no thick reports from market strategists detailing how these new principles would affect company…

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The Common Risks in Trade War and Social Media

Written by Kari Firestone We all know, deep down, that there is no “free lunch.” The most obvious case of this are the lunches that all buy side investors are invited to featuring the management of companies that are going public or already public. If you are not a client of the hosting firm, you…

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WSJ: As Global Order Crumbles, Risks of Recession Grow

The countries who have tended to focus on their protectionism – US, England, several European countries, definitely not China – seem to be the ones where there is a fear, real or induced by politicians, that the working class is losing out because of globalization.  This fear is either due to “foreigners” that are taking…

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CNBC: Why drug prices are so difficult to bring down

This article was originally posted by CNBC.com Kari Firestone’s newest article discusses why the incentives for companies and research organizations may not be aligned with customers’ desire for lower drug prices. Additionally, the legal complexity of the Medicare system leaves the government with no negotiating power, further inflating prescription drug prices. Read the full article…

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WSJ: Companies Lure New Workers With College Coaching, Student Debt Repayment

This WSJ article discusses how a tight labor market is forcing employers to offer new forms of benefits to lure prospective workers and retain current ones. While the seeming lack of wage growth has perplexed the market, the growth of traditional and non-traditional employee benefits often understate the extent of wage growth in today’s market….

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WSJ: Business-Loan Drought Ends for Banks

This WSJ article highlights the acceleration in U.S. bank lending, which had curiously slowed the last couple of years despite solid economic fundamentals. Reasons for the deceleration included political uncertainty leading up to and after the Presidential election, as well as uncertainty regarding healthcare and tax reform. Now with some more clarity around these issues…

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The Economist: The average American is much better off now than four decades ago

Citing Census Bureau information, politicians and media pundits often claim that Americans are no better off than they were 30 years ago. However, as detailed in this Economist article, a new report by the Congressional Budget Office disputes this claim, painting a rosier picture of American prosperity. Read the full article in The Economist

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