Blog

The “Pecking Order” of Firm Growth

A person smiles toward the viewer in a sunlit room. Are growing companies better off acting on new, innovative ideas — or scaling their existing ones? In “Capital, Ideas, and the Costs of Financial Frictions,” Professor Thomas Winberry explores how firms balance investment in current operations with the pursuit of future innovations. This paper earned the 2024 Marshall Blume Prize…Read More

The Financial Power of Data Sharing Among Firms

A headshot of a person with curly hair and a friendly smile, wearing a light-colored top against a neutral background. What is the scope of data-sharing across firms, and what are the economic implications? In her study, "Data as a Networked Asset," supported by the Stevens Center for Innovation in Finance, Huan Tang, assistant professor of finance at Wharton, uncovers a hidden network of inter-firm data flows – revealing that…Read More

The Future of Capitalism: Tariffs, Growth & Market Shifts

Two speakers in conversation onstage Joao Gomes, senior vice dean for research, centers and academic initiatives at Wharton, joined a panel at Inc. Founders House to discuss tariffs, immigration, and other risks facing businesses amid recent market shifts. View his conversation with Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. Magazine, by watching the video above. Professor Gomes offered…Read More

Itay Goldstein on the Central Bank’s Independence

Itay Goldstein headshot Professor Itay Goldstein, director of the Wharton Initiative on Financial Policy and Regulation, joined CNA News to discuss the growing debate around central bank independence and the potential consequences of political interference in monetary policy. Professor Goldstein provided his insights on LinkedIn: "An independent central bank is essential for long-term…Read More

What Shapes Analysts’ Long-Term Forecasts?

A person smiling toward the viewer with text: "Discoveries Marius Guenzel" How do professional forecasters think about a firm’s growth far into the future? Marius Guenzel, assistant professor of finance at the Wharton School, discusses his paper “What Drives Very Long-Run Cash Flow Expectations?” which uncovers the different factors that shape the long-term forecasts that drive valuations. What motivated you to…Read More

Meme Stocks, Social Investing, and the Future of Market Stability

Two individuals are wearing headphones and conversing in a podcast setting. The image includes text: "Future of Finance" and "New Phenomena in Behavioral and Social Investing," with the Wharton logo visible. The GameStop saga took the world by storm in 2021, turning Reddit’s “Wall Street Bets” into an unlikely player in the financial markets. But was this a one-time anomaly or the beginning of a new era in investing? In an episode of the Future of Finance podcast, Professor Itay Goldstein…Read More

Understanding Common Risk Factors Between Stocks, Bonds, and Options

A man smiling in a sunlit room with windows in the background. How do common risk factors connect stocks, bonds, and options? In their recent study, which won the Jacobs Levy Center Research Paper Prize for Best Paper, Professor Nikolai Roussanov and his coauthors uncover the shared sources of variation driving returns across these asset classes. Their findings reveal how shared exposures…Read More

2024 Wharton Future of Finance Forum

Joao Gomes, Sarah Hammer, and David Musto pose for a photo before a Rodney White Center banner On December 9, 2024, the Harris Family Alternative Investments Program and the Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research hosted the second annual Wharton Future of Finance Forum at Penn Washington. This year's event brought together leading voices from academia, industry, and government to explore the transformative forces shaping global…Read More

Time for Offense: Why America Needs Bold Crypto Legislation Now

Text on a network-themed background reads: "Time for Offense: Why America Needs Bold Crypto Legislation Now" by Sarah Hammer. Crypto has the potential to revolutionize finance – streamlining outdated systems like T+2 settlement cycles, reducing payment fees, and expanding access to underserved populations. But to realize this potential, the U.S. must adopt a bold regulatory framework that fosters innovation while maintaining oversight. On the WIFPR blog, Sarah Hammer, executive…Read More

One Year of Discoveries

Sean Myers stands in a sunlit room with hands in his pockets Over the past year, the Discoveries blog has hosted exclusive interviews with Wharton's leading finance faculty. These insightful conversations highlight key insights and research shaping the finance industry, many of these projects having been supported by Wharton's finance research centers. Topics include the nature of growth stocks, international USD holdings,…Read More