All articles

Melting ice a hot topic: Trust in sea ice information products essential to safely navigate a changing Arctic Ocean

As the world faces terminal loss of Arctic sea ice during the summer months, scientists are rushing to develop new ways to accurately map and predict sea ice presence in the Arctic Ocean. But what determines whether newly developed sea…

MoreMelting ice a hot topic: Trust in sea ice information products essential to safely navigate a changing Arctic Ocean

“Don’t drink black coffee during Black Friday”

Bruna Jochims, assistant professor of Marketing of SKEMA Business School, took part in a study recently published in the Journal of Marketing. Its resounding conclusion is that “consuming caffeine before shopping leads to higher spending”. The behavior of more than 300 shoppers was observed in two stores in France and Spain and revealed that it was especially the case of non-essential items. You should read our interview with her before the Black Friday and the Christmas rush. 

More“Don’t drink black coffee during Black Friday”

The American prison system or the business of incarceration

The United States has the highest prison population rate in the world with 655 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants – nearly six times more than China – and is home to a quarter of the world’s convicts. Might the land of the free also be the land of freedom deprivation? Undoubtedly, but it is also the land of business opportunity, where half of inmates work in prison, sometimes for the private sector. A business that generates several billion dollars in profit each year…

MoreThe American prison system or the business of incarceration

Sanctions, a geoeconomic weapon in the age of globalisation

In 1989, in a prophetic article, Edward Luttwak heralded the advent of geoeconomics. He believed that in the dual context of globalisation and the end of the Cold War, power relationships would be governed more by economics than by military might. The EU’s unprecedented sanctions against Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine have made this revolution in the expression of power strikingly relevant once again. But are sanctions truly effective? 

MoreSanctions, a geoeconomic weapon in the age of globalisation

Corporate political connections: how do they affect corporate transparency?

Government interacts with private businesses in a number of ways: it regulates them, it taxes them but it also purchases goods and services from them and it provides financial help to them – which in particular in times of pandemic can be substantial. There is hence clearly an incentive for firms to establish close connections to politicians. What are the economic effects of such connections? And how do they affect corporate transparency?

MoreCorporate political connections: how do they affect corporate transparency?

Pandemic crisis and risks of state failure in EU’s aid recipients: An opportunity for promoting governance-linked development policy.

In the aftermath of the pandemic crisis, a number of already weak countries will fall in deep economic and social distress. That raises the question of the efficiency of official development aid coupled with debt relief to pull countries out of poverty when bad governance is endemic ...

MorePandemic crisis and risks of state failure in EU’s aid recipients: An opportunity for promoting governance-linked development policy.

Is a “mass employee exodus” on the cards after COVID-19

Since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, several studies and reports have highlighted the need to change the way organisations are designed, particularly in terms of structural configuration and work organisation, to models favouring agility and resilience in order to better withstand this crisis and prepare for the next ones.

MoreIs a “mass employee exodus” on the cards after COVID-19

Steel, a modern pharmakon

Revolutionary in its time, steel has become a material of vital importance to our modern economies. The list of steel-using industries is long, ranging from construction to transport and leading-edge technology. Yet, the extraction and refining processes involved in steelmaking produce 5 to 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions....

MoreSteel, a modern pharmakon

Podcast Series #1- Digitalisation in Finance

The digital transformation has already been taking place significantly in the field of finance over the last ten years, focusing on the new issues and the new needs with the aim of increasing the company's performance. Yet the COVID crisis has strongly accelerated this transformation and has made possible the practices which were previously considered impossible. In this podcast, our guests discuss about how digital transformation has been impacting jobs, skills and operational management. 

MorePodcast Series #1- Digitalisation in Finance

MARKET EFFICIENCY: LET’S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT!

In the book "Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy" Raghuram Rajan asks why, during the 2006 crisis, the banks whose share prices had risen the furthest were in fact the worst performers. Given that all public information is reflected into the stock prices, shouldn’t they reflect the quality of the balance sheet and the potential for profit? Is this proof of market inefficiency?

MoreMARKET EFFICIENCY: LET’S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT!

Periods, the ‘universality of terror’?

It was 45 years ago, but it seems like yesterday: in 1976, the horror film Carrie told the story of a young girl exhibiting supernatural powers which her mother associated with the start of menstruation. This story has its roots in ancient beliefs linking menstrual cycles, lunar cycles and magic. It is also a reminder of the extent to which, even today, menstrual bleeding can be taboo.

MorePeriods, the ‘universality of terror’?

What is the most profitable way to sell ? Evidences from research

Auctions are commonly used in many different situations (art, fish, flowers, etc). But at the same time, many products are sold through posted prices or negotiations. In the joint article with Dan Bernhardt and Tingjun Liu, published in Journal of Economic Theory, we identified the "value discovery" as the merit and the "participation cost" as the demerit of auctions in order to study the most profitable way to sell.

MoreWhat is the most profitable way to sell ? Evidences from research

Interview with Margherita Pagani and Renaud Champion co-editors of the book, Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Value Creation

Interview with Margherita Pagani, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at SKEMA Business School and Renaud Champion, Primnext CEO, co-editors of the new released book Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Value Creation (Edward Elgar Publishing). This book intend to open up the debate…

MoreInterview with Margherita Pagani and Renaud Champion co-editors of the book, Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Value Creation

Christo: a business model designed to preserve creative freedom

After 60 years of setbacks and negotiations, months of engineering studies and weeks of execution, Christo’s final posthumous work, L’Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped, is now on public display for two weeks. While its artistic value may be a matter for debate, its financing is exemplary since no public funding was needed.

MoreChristo: a business model designed to preserve creative freedom

Instability, a challenge for economic theory and policy

Faced with the conjunction of the financial, health and ecological crises, economic thought is in disarray. A deep-rooted idea remains that these crises are mere digressions, from which we should be able to return at the previous state. However, there are grounds for believing the hypothesis that our economic model is undergoing a profound transformation....

MoreInstability, a challenge for economic theory and policy

Skin lightening, a dangerous fantasy

Skin lightening is an age-old practice dating back to the end of the Middle Ages in Europe. It spread from Asia to the American continent. According to the WHO, 40% of African women currently engage in this practice. But using chemical substances in an attempt to whiten the skin can cause irreversible damage. This article examines this fantasy that is as timeworn as it is hazardous to health.

MoreSkin lightening, a dangerous fantasy

AI for business & ethical challenges: An interview with SKEMA prof Bernard Sinclair-Desgagné | SKEMA

Interview with Dr Bernard Sinclair-Desgagné, professor of economics and corporate social responsibility. Abstract: Ethics can be defined as the reasoned consideration of an issue in order to do what is ‘right’. It brings us to think about the values and…

MoreAI for business & ethical challenges: An interview with SKEMA prof Bernard Sinclair-Desgagné | SKEMA

[THINK FORWARD] How to foster social and environmental goals while striving for shareholder value

Can a business firm be lead to foster social and environmental goals while striving for shareholder value? This video present SKEMA professor Bernard Sinclair-Desgagné's explanation of this question. More information at: —————– About ThinkForward SKEMA ThinkForward is a knowledge-sharing…

More[THINK FORWARD] How to foster social and environmental goals while striving for shareholder value

Biden’s plan: an American stimulus package with global consequences

After a $900bn package approved in late December 2020, in March 2021 the Biden administration launched a second stimulus worth $1,900 billion, mainly to support households and increase public spending. Shortly afterwards, President Biden announced an investment plan aiming to boost economic growth, together with a plan for families and education.
Economists then asked the effects of such an enormous stimulus on the US economy, wondering whether it would cause it to overheat. They also began to question the global consequences of these two plans.

MoreBiden’s plan: an American stimulus package with global consequences