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Three Questions

  • What’s Next for Alibaba? 

    The giant China-based conglomerate Alibaba raised more than $13 billion in November in a stock offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. We asked Yale SOM’s Heather Tookes and Matthew Spiegel, who have studied the performance of companies after IPOs, what their research suggests about Alibaba’s prospects and its next steps.

    The Alibaba Group’s listing ceremony at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on November 26, 2019. Photo: AP Photo/Kin Cheung.
  • How Not to Hate the Holidays 

    We asked Nathan Novemsky, a social psychologist and a professor of marketing at Yale SOM, what the research says about avoiding tension and creating positive memories.

    https://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/three-questions-prof-gal-zauberman-on-the-psychology-of-taking-vacation-photos
  • Three Questions: Prof. Andrew Metrick on Paul Volcker’s Legacy

    Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, died on December 8 at age 92. Prof. Andrew Metrick reflects on Volcker’s contributions to the Fed and economic policy.

    Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker before a hearing in August 1980. Photo: James K. W. Atherton/The Washington Post via Getty Images.
  • Three Questions: Prof. Jacob Hacker on Tax Rates for the Rich 

    A recently published book argues that the richest Americans now pay lower tax rates than any other income group. We asked Yale political scientist Jacob Hacker to explain how this situation developed and why it’s proved politically difficult to raise taxes on the rich.

    A cartoon of a map with a huge bag of money
  • Three Questions: Prof. David Bach on the NBA’s China Dilemma

    We talked with Yale SOM Deputy Dean David Bach, an expert on business-government relations and global markets, about how world-spanning organizations should navigate conflicting values in key markets.

    Houston Rockets star James Harden with young fans during a visit to China in 2016.
  • Three Questions: Prof. James Baron on Why Performance Reviews Aren’t Working 

    We asked Yale SOM’s James Baron about the research on the effectiveness of annual reviews and what a better method might look like.

    A graphic of a manager providing feedback
  • Three Questions: Prof. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld on Looking Beyond Shareholder Value

    This week, the Business Roundtable declared a commitment to the interests of customers, employees, and local communities—not just shareholders. Yale SOM's Jeffrey Sonnenfeld says the change in position reflects an understanding among many business leaders that doing good is not antithetical to doing well.

    Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, the chair of the Business Roundtable,  with Randall Stephenson of AT&T and Dennis Muilenburg of Boeing at a 2018 event hosted by the group. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images.
  • Three Questions: Prof. Gal Zauberman on the Psychology of Taking Vacation Photos

    In his research, Yale SOM’s Gal Zauberman has explored how taking photos affects an experience. We asked him whether documenting our summer adventures can actually improve them.

    Women taking selfies in a field of sunflowers
  • Three Questions: Prof. Vahideh Manshadi on Improving Kidney Donation

    This month, the Trump administration announced a series of steps to overhaul the kidney transplant system. We asked operations expert Vahideh Manshadi if the changes could make a difference for patients.

    A car with a request for help finding a kidney written on the rear windshield
  • Three Questions: Prof. X. Frank Zhang on the Drop in Charitable Giving

    Adjusted for inflation, charitable giving in the United States fell by 1.7% in 2018, We asked Prof. X. Frank Zhang what explains the decline and how policymakers can encourage more giving.

    Albert Finney in the title role of the 1970 film "Scrooge." Photo: LMPC via Getty Images.