Faculty Viewpoints

New research is debunking myths about microfinance and showing how organizations can effectively address problems associated with poverty. Yale faculty Dean Karlan, Tony Sheldon, and Rodrigo Canales discuss the problems and the promise in the field of microfinance and the lessons for other kinds of social enterprise.

State and local governments are sitting on more than $1 trillion in unfunded pension liabilities. Updated accounting rules will require state and local governments to begin reporting their pension liabilities in a format more closely resembling for-profit accounting. Will clearer accounting contribute to a solution of the under-funding crisis?

Nathan Novemsky, professor of marketing, explains to his Problem Framing course how Prospect Theory–the series of ideas and experimental observations that lie at the root of behavioral economics–elucidates one of the psychological biases that can cause people to approach the same problem in very different ways. Understanding these biases can help one see problems more clearly.

Professor K. Sudhir discusses India’s move to expand the presence of foreign retailers to modernize the country’s retail sector and boost economic growth.

Leading architect and dean of the Yale School of Architecture Robert A. M. Stern argues that much of the action in global architecture has shifted to Asia and the Middle East. He outlines the challenges of designing large-scale buildings and doing business across cultures.

Dr. Howard Forman, Professor of Diagnostic Radiology and director of the MBA for Executives: Leadership in Healthcare Program, explains how the Affordable Care Act is expected to affect overall healthcare spending, as well as state and federal budgets. He also discusses the reality behind some of its most controversial provisions.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron promised that, if reelected, he will hold a referendum on whether the country should stay in the European Union. Yale SOM's David Bach argues that this move is likely to produce just what a struggling economy doesn't need—more uncertainty.

Market volatility has been at near-record levels in recent months, as investors respond to the uncertainty in Europe. Roger Ibbotson takes a historical perspective and argues that volatility, while frightening for individuals, can play an important role in the economy.

Does economic inequality provide incentives for success? Does it introduce instability into the financial system? A political scientist and an economist discuss how inequality affects government, markets, and the risks faced by ordinary people.

A range of often subtle biases around gender roles pervade the workplace. SOM's Victoria Brescoll discusses the impact these biases have on women and men, successful approaches to inclusivity, and the business case for making changes.