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.

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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 infrastructure development, enabling future economic spillovers, and laying the groundwork for transformative advancements across industries.

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Itamar Drechsler, Wharton School Professor of Finance and Co-Director of the Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research, explains the economic forces behind high credit card interest rates, highlighting the roles of defaults, operating costs, marketing expenditures, and market power in shaping what consumers ultimately pay.

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Serguei Netessine, Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions and Senior Vice Dean for Innovation and Global Initiatives at the Wharton School, discusses new research analyzing how Amazon fulfillment centers affect county-level employment, median household income, and poverty rates.

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Stefano Puntoni, Wharton Marketing Professor and co-director of the Wharton Human AI Research Project, discusses emerging research on AI companionship, its effects on loneliness and mental health, and the complex safety, ethical, and legal considerations shaping this rapidly evolving space.

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Jeremy Siegel, Professor Emeritus of Finance at the Wharton School and Senior Economist at WisdomTree, offers his perspective on Fed decision-making amid data gaps, evolving consumer trends, AI-driven market competition, and the broader economic implications of shifting U.S.–China relations.

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Mark Pauly, Professor Emeritus of Healthcare Management at the Wharton School, examines Senator Bill Cassidy’s new health savings account–based proposal, evaluates its relationship to existing ACA tax credits, and offers broader insights into the persistent economic and political challenges of U.S. health care reform.

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Mina Fader, Managing Director of the Baker Retailing Center at the Wharton School, offers insights on how inflation, inventory strategy, consumer spending habits, and the renewed importance of in-store experiences are shaping the outlook for holiday retail performance.

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Kevin Werbach, Wharton Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, explores the goals, limits, and broader national context of California’s newly enacted AI child-protection bill and what it signals for future regulation and industry responsibility.

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Ezekiel Hernandez, Wharton Management Professor, explains new research co-authored with Britta Glennon revealing how limits in the H-1B visa program push companies toward targeted M&A activity as a strategic response to skilled labor shortages.

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