Blog

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 Crypto has the potential to revolutionize finance – streamlining outdated systems like T+2 settlement cycles, reducing payment fees, and expanding access to underserved populations.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

Future of Finance Season 1

"Future of Finance" in large white font before a dark blue background Hosted by Professor Itay Goldstein, this limited series takes a deep dive into the cutting-edge insights and pioneering perspectives of innovation experts in the finance industry. Discover the dynamic landscape of financial thought leadership as we explore concepts, groundbreaking research, and predictions that are shaping the future of finance. Part…Read More

“Carbon Burden” and Firms’ Value to Society

Professors Luke Taylor and Robert Stambaugh How much of a firm’s value to society is hidden by traditional financial metrics? In this interview, Professors Robert Stambaugh and Luke Taylor dive into their study, "Carbon Burden," which is part of the Jacobs Levy Center's working paper series. This paper aims to quantify the U.S. corporate sector’s carbon…Read More

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, ​​​​Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs of India Visits Wharton for Fireside Chat

A small group of three people in formal attire stands in front of a wood-paneled wall and a framed portrait of a person in a suit. On October 22, 2024, the Wharton Initiative on Financial Policy and Regulation and the Wharton India Economic Forum hosted a special fireside chat with Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, ​​​​​​​Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs of India. This conversation on the Indian economy and financial system was moderated by Joao Gomes,…Read More

How Will the Federal Debt Impact Future Generations?

Promotional Graphic for Policies That Work. On October 23, the Wharton School hosted the inaugural Policies that Work event – a series of discussions with leading thinkers from Wharton about the policies that shape America. As the federal debt continues to reach unprecedented levels, it poses profound challenges to economic stability, government spending, and the financial…Read More

Discussions on Financial Policy and Regulation

Itay Goldstein headshot The Wharton Initiative on Financial Policy and Regulation (WIFPR) commissions white papers from leading scholars on important topics in financial policy and regulation. Browse the WIFPR white webinars below to hear from experts on topics such as bankruptcy, decentralized exchanges, anti-money laundering, and much more. Rethinking Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings…Read More