Knowledge at Wharton
The Wharton School
The Knowledge at Wharton Network Acast feed serves as a curated showcase highlighting the best content from our podcast collection. Each week, we feature one standout episode from each show in the Wharton Podcast Network, giving listeners a comprehensive sample of our diverse business and academic content. This rotating selection allows audiences to discover new shows within our network while experiencing the depth and variety of Wharton's thought leadership across different topics and formats. It's your monthly gateway to explore the full spectrum of insights available through the Wharton Podcast Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 17, 2008 • 13min
Eyes on the Wrong Prize: Leadership Lapses That Fueled Wall Street’s Fall
Executives at AIG Bear Stearns Lehman Brothers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may have ignored or failed to see the level of risk their companies were taking on in a crusade to enhance results and their own compensation according to Wharton faculty and industry analysts. In some cases the management crisis was fueled by managers simply choosing not to lead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 17, 2008 • 14min
After the Bailout: How Can the Fed Clean Up the Fannie and Freddie Mess?
The government’s refusal to save Lehman Brothers begs a question: Why did it step in only a week earlier to risk up to $200 billion in taxpayer money to shore up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Wharton faculty say the government made the right move -- and offer suggestions for the next step. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 17, 2008 • 11min
Note to Investors: Don’t Play Games with Asset Allocation
Big market downturns and jarring volatility have left small investors feeling whipsawed -- and nervous. But it would be a mistake to abandon classic long-term personal finance principles in the face of recent challenges. The 60% stocks 30% bonds and 10% cash approach remains the best strategy. Wharton finance professors Jeremy Siegel Richard Marston and Franklin Allen explain why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 17, 2008 • 23min
Jeremy Siegel on the Market: Rough Going for Now but Stocks Still a Good Bet
The government’s rescue of Fannie Mae Freddie Mac and AIG demonstrated clearly that the financial turmoil continues on Wall Street. In an interview with Knowledge at Wharton Wharton finance professor Jeremy Siegel says there are some positive signals in stocks and corporate earnings but that it’s too soon to conclude the market has hit bottom. Siegel also talked about inflation and commodities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 17, 2008 • 25min
AIG Rescued: Was an $85 Billion Loan the Right Answer?
After refusing to bail out Lehman Brothers the government agreed to an $85 billion loan to insurance giant AIG effectively taking over the company. Knowledge at Wharton talked to Wharton insurance professors Olivia Mitchell and Kent Smetters to find out how the world’s largest insurer got into this situation and how it can be prevented from happening again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 17, 2008 • 10min
Will the Levee Break? An Ocean of Bad Debt Rises despite Fed Rescues
The rescues bankruptcies and dizzying write-downs for Fannie Mae Freddie Mac Lehman Brothers Merrill Lynch AIG and other giants of international finance signal a reckoning for Wall Street wizards who engineered the ongoing credit crisis with opaque securities based on risky subprime home loans and the assumption that housing prices would never decline according to a panel of Wharton professors. The flood of bad debt they add won’t subside anytime soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 3, 2008 • 23min
Will Its ’Chrome’ Web Browser Put a Shine on Google’s Long-term Strategy?
Casual observers may have concluded that Google’s introduction this week of its ’Chrome’ web browser was a direct assault on the dominance of Microsoft’s Explorer. But Wharton professors David Hsu and Kevin Werbach see a longer-term strategy at work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 3, 2008 • 12min
Africa’s ’Cocoon’ Phase: Can Private Investors and Entrepreneurs Transform the Continent?
In the past business in Africa behaved like a ”caterpillar” -- uninteresting slow moving and easy to step on says Eric Kacou managing director of OTF Group a U.S.-based consulting firm focused on emerging economies. Today the continent is poised for a metamorphosis that requires a ”new mindset” relying less on natural resources and more on innovation and private sector growth. At the Wharton Global Alumni Forum in Cape Town South Africa Kacou was among the speakers on two panels exploring the potential for new business models and ”smart” capital to change Africa’s economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 3, 2008 • 15min
Costs Regulation and a Touch of Corporate Responsibility Put More Green into IT
One research firm estimates that at least 2% of global atmospheric carbon emissions can be traced to the information technology industry because of the electricity consumed by PCs servers cooling systems telecommunications gear and printers. Now under pressure from tightening global anti-pollution standards the threat of environmental lawsuits and more awareness of corporate responsibility many technology firms are racing to place a ”green” stamp of environmental approval on their operations and products. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 3, 2008 • 16min
Tuning in a Post-merger Strategy: Sirius XM Must Cut Costs and Build Its Case
Now that the FCC has approved a merger of the two satellite radio companies Sirius XM’s big challenges are to stop the flow of red ink and settle on a strategy to compete with the myriad of other portable music providers. Says one Wharton professor: ”They may have one more shot at a Hail Mary pass.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
