This Week in Business

Odcinki

• 
  The Hidden Cost of Competition in the Workplace 02.10.2026 12min

  Competition can bring out the best in individuals, but can it actually make an entire team worse? New research suggests that rivalry may come with an unexpected cost.Henning Piezunka, Associate Professor of Management at the Wharton School, joins the show to discuss his research examining rivalry and performance through the lens of professional basketball.Using examples like Larry Bird versus Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant versus Michael Jordan, Piezunka explains why players facing individual rivals may score more while making their teams less effective. He also explores what these findings mean for workplace competition, employee incentives, and managers trying to build successful teams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  The Surveillance Challenge Facing Prediction Markets 30.09.2026 15min

  Prediction markets are exploding beyond elections into sports, geopolitics and major cultural events. But as these markets grow, so does the challenge of detecting insider trading and manipulation.Daniel Taylor, Wharton Finance Professor and Director of the Forensic Analytics Lab, explains how prediction markets have evolved and why their different types of contracts require different approaches to surveillance. The conversation explores sports betting, geopolitical markets, insider information, market manipulation and the role regulators should play in making prediction markets work over the long term. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  What Strong Growth Means for the Fed and Markets 25.09.2026 15min

  The economy remains strong, but inflation and higher energy prices could keep the Federal Reserve on alert.Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance, discusses the Fed's latest rate increase and why additional hikes may still be ahead. He explores strong GDP and wage data, the effect of rising oil and diesel prices on inflation, and what the bond market is signaling about monetary policy.Siegel also examines U.S.-China trade negotiations, the potential market impact of a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and why continued investment in AI could shape corporate earnings and market performance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  Why Retailers Are Rethinking Risk 23.09.2026 11min

  Retailers face a fundamental problem: they often have to bet on what consumers will want before they actually buy it. Could changing who takes that risk transform the industry?John Zhang, Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, explains why the traditional merchant model puts so much risk on retailers and how the store in store model changes that equation.Zhang discusses how manufacturers can take ownership of inventory, why this model has been widely used in Asia, and how platforms such as Amazon and Alibaba have adapted similar approaches. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  AI Is Changing Jobs Not Eliminating Them 18.09.2026 19min

   AI was supposed to eliminate huge numbers of jobs. So far, the reality looks much more complicated.Peter Cappelli, Wharton Professor of Management, discusses new research on how AI is actually affecting the workplace and why the technology is changing tasks more than eliminating entire jobs.The conversation explores AI agents, workplace management, programmers, organizational change, data management and why some of AI’s most valuable applications may involve work that companies simply could not afford to do before. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  Why More Americans Are Filing for Bankruptcy 16.09.2026 11min

  Consumer bankruptcies are rising, but does that mean Americans are facing a worsening economy? The answer is more complicated than you might think.Sasha Indarte, Wharton Associate Professor, joins the show to explain what is driving the increase in personal bankruptcies and why today's numbers may actually represent a return toward more normal levels.She discusses the stigma and misconceptions surrounding bankruptcy, the impact on credit scores, what the filing process looks like, and why bankruptcy can ultimately serve as an important financial safety valve for people overwhelmed by debt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  The FDNY's Transformation After 9/11 11.09.2026 15min

  What happens when one of the world’s busiest fire departments faces a catastrophe unlike anything it has experienced before?Gregory P. Shea, Wharton Adjunct Professor of Management, and Author of Rising from Ground Zero, examines how the FDNY responded to the unprecedented challenges of 9/11.Shea explains how the department transformed its psychological support, leadership training, incident management, and collaboration with outside agencies. The conversation explores how the FDNY turned lessons from Ground Zero into lasting organizational change and became an all hazards department. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  The Business of Shared Scooters 09.09.2026 12min

  Shared bikes and scooters have transformed how people move through cities, but can the business model actually work?Gad Allon, Wharton Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, explores the economics behind companies like Lime, including subscriptions, pay per trip models, utilization, and the challenges of operating across different cities.Allon also explains why cities have embraced and restricted scooters, how Lime emerged as a dominant player, and why building a culture around shared transportation may be just as important as the technology itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  The Hidden Financial Risks of the AI Boom 04.09.2026 12min

  The AI boom could transform the economy, but who is financing it and where the risks are building may matter just as much as the technology itself.Joao Gomes, Wharton Professor of Finance and Senior Vice Dean of Research, Centers, and Academic Initiatives, argues that the Federal Reserve is too focused on inflation and not focused enough on financial stability.Gomes discusses the opaque role of private credit, lessons from the housing crisis and internet boom, the potential impact of AI investment on long term productivity, and why the Fed needs better models for understanding the financial risks surrounding AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  When Teammates Become Competitors 02.09.2026 17min

  We often think of competition and collaboration as opposites. But in reality, we frequently do both at the same time. Henning Piezunka, Wharton Associate Professor of Management, explains why competing with someone can fundamentally change how we view and work with them.Piezunka uses World Cup soccer to examine what happens when teammates become opponents, finding that players collaborated less after competing against one another. The research offers surprising lessons for managers dealing with promotions, bonuses and other competitive workplace dynamics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  Why Bond Yields Are Warning Washington 28.08.2026 12min

  What do rising bond yields, new tariffs and soaring AI investment mean for the U.S. economy and financial markets?Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance and WisdomTree Senior Economist Jeremy Siegel joins the conversation to assess the latest economic and market developments.Siegel discusses the impact of higher tariffs on Canada and Mexico, why rising Treasury yields are signaling concern about U.S. deficits, and why he believes Washington may eventually be forced to take action on fiscal policy.He also weighs in on the resilience of the stock market, the extraordinary performance of AI-related companies, and what could determine whether equities reach new highs in the months ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  The Bond Market Is Losing Confidence in the Fed 26.08.2026 11min

  The bond market is sending a warning to the Federal Reserve. With long-term yields climbing to levels not seen in decades, questions are mounting about the Fed’s ability to control inflation while maintaining market confidence.Wharton Finance Professor Nikolai Roussanov explains why Kevin Warsh’s recent messaging has unsettled investors and why the Fed’s reaction function may matter more than its guidance on the path of interest rates.Roussanov also examines the tension between monetary and fiscal policy, including whether Treasury efforts to push down long-term yields could undermine the Fed’s strategy.As inflation, energy prices and fiscal pressures evolve, the Fed faces a critical test: preserve its 2% inflation target—or risk losing credibility with the bond market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  When Food Safety Becomes the Family’s Responsibility 21.08.2026 11min

  What happens when the systems designed to keep our food safe start to break down?Corinne Low, Wharton Associate Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy, argues that food safety is a public good—one that individuals and families simply can't provide for themselves.She explains how reduced staffing, weakened inspections and changes to disease surveillance can leave consumers more vulnerable to foodborne illness.Low also examines what happens when that responsibility gets pushed onto parents, and why trusting companies to regulate themselves isn't enough.The result is a larger question about government, business and the basic protections consumers should be able to count on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  Should AI Companies Be Supervised Like Banks? 19.08.2026 13min

  AI is advancing rapidly—but who is responsible when the risks become too big to ignore?Peter Conti-Brown, Professor at the Wharton School, explores whether the banking system offers a useful model for supervising powerful AI companies.Rather than relying solely on rules written years in advance, bank supervision involves ongoing conversations between public officials and private institutions to identify and manage emerging risks.Conti-Brown discusses how AI stress tests could work, what might happen if powerful models are hijacked or misused, and why consumers could ultimately end up holding the bag when things go wrong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  Why Gen Z Is Choosing Entrepreneurship Over Traditional Careers 14.08.2026 11min

  Why are more young Americans turning to entrepreneurship, and what role will AI play?Lori Rosenkopf, Vice Dean of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School, explores how Gen Z’s shifting expectations, a tougher entry-level job market, and the desire for flexibility are reshaping career paths. She also examines how AI tools are making it easier to turn ideas into products while intensifying competition, and what venture capital, failure, the creator economy, and programs like VentureLab can teach aspiring founders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  Can AI Companies Regulate Themselves? 12.08.2026 13min

  As AI becomes more powerful, who should be responsible for governing it?Kevin Werbach, Wharton Professor and Chair of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, explores the growing challenges of AI governance, from accountability and safety to the difficulty of creating effective regulations across countries. He explains why AI companies can't be expected to regulate themselves and why governments need to play a more constructive role in managing the risks of increasingly powerful AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  Will the Government Bail Out Your 401(k) in a Market Crash? 07.08.2026 18min

  What happens to your 401(k) if the stock market drops 25%, and would the government step in to help?Nikolai Roussanov, finance professor at the Wharton School, explains the real risks behind modern retirement investing and why volatility is built into the system.From the 1987 crash to COVID-19, he breaks down how markets recover, why long term investors tend to win, and why bailouts are more likely to support companies, not individual portfolios. If you’re relying on a 401(k), this episode will reshape how you think about risk, recovery, and protection. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  Why AI Makes Collective Intelligence More Valuable Than Ever 05.08.2026 12min

  Artificial intelligence is reshaping work, but human ideas remain essential. Henning Piezunka, Associate Professor of Management at the Wharton School, explains how organizations can combine AI with collective intelligence to accelerate innovation, improve learning, and help employees turn ideas into action.He also explores AI’s role as a substitute, collaborator, and training tool, along with the business case for adoption and the organizational changes leaders will need to make. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  Oil, AI, and the Fed: What's Next for Markets? 31.07.2026 14min

  Could rising oil prices, interest-rate uncertainty, and massive AI spending change the market outlook?Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance, examines how energy supply disruptions could affect inflation and growth, what the Federal Reserve may do next on interest rates, why Wall Street is scrutinizing AI infrastructure spending, and how tariffs and demographic change could shape the broader economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
• 
  Why Prediction Markets Are More Than a Passing Trend 29.07.2026 15min

  Prediction markets are becoming an increasingly visible part of sports, politics, business, and culture. But what makes them different from traditional betting?Abraham Wyner, Wharton Professor of Statistics and Data Science and Co-Director of the Wharton Sports Analytics and Business Initiative, explains the wisdom-of-crowds theory behind prediction markets, how these platforms make money, and why their structure creates a different relationship between bettors and the market. He also examines regulation, the risks of gambling, and whether prediction markets and sportsbooks can continue growing alongside one another. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.