

This Week in Business
The Wharton School
Bringing together top leaders, innovators and renowned faculty from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania discussing topics that matter to consumers and the business world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 30, 2026 • 12min
What the Fed’s Pause Signals for Economy and Markets
Jeremy Siegel, Wharton Emeritus Professor of Finance and Senior Economist at WisdomTree, analyzes the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold rates, the significance of dissenting votes, the outlook for future cuts, shifting market leadership, and how AI-driven productivity may shape the economy and labor markets heading into 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 28, 2026 • 11min
Why Interest Rates Can’t Fix Deeper Economic Problems
Patrick T. Harker, former President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and current Wharton Professor of Operations, Information, and Decisions, draws on his experience to discuss why monetary policy has clear limits, the need for political follow-through on fiscal and workforce issues, and how investments in education, skilled trades, and digital innovation are essential for securing the nation’s long-term economic future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 23, 2026 • 11min
Affordable Care Act Subsidies, Coverage Losses, and What Comes Next
Professor Emeritus of Healthcare Management at the Wharton School, Mark Vincent Pauly, analyzes the consequences of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced subsidy expiration, its effects on insurance coverage and costs, and the potential implications of proposed reforms allowing individuals to choose plans using direct government funding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 21, 2026 • 12min
The Unintended Consequences of Affordable Housing Lotteries
Judd Kessler, Wharton Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy and author of Lucky by Design, tells how affordable housing lotteries function, why they generate hidden markets, and how better design could improve outcomes for renters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 16, 2026 • 13min
Inside Saks Global’s Bankruptcy and the Future of Luxury Retail
Barbara Kahn, Wharton Professor of Marketing, discusses Saks Global’s bankruptcy, the strategic missteps behind it, and how luxury department stores can rebuild through experiential retail, omnichannel integration, and elite customer relationships. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 14, 2026 • 14min
How AI Is Reshaping Skills, Hiring, and Education
Eric Bradlow, Vice Dean of AI and Analytics and Professor and Chair of the Marketing Department at the Wharton School, discusses new research with Accenture that empirically measures the skills gap and explores how AI is redefining education, hiring, and the future labor market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 9, 2026 • 14min
The Fed Chair Transition and the Future of Central Bank Independence
Wharton Associate Professor of Financial Regulation, Peter Conti-Brown, analyzes the end of Jerome Powell’s term, the potential next chair, and why Federal Reserve independence is central to monetary policy, regulation, and the U.S. economy heading into 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 7, 2026 • 10min
Six AI Trends Shaping Business, Education, and Markets in 2026
Stefano Puntoni, Wharton Marketing Professor and Co-Director of Wharton Human-AI Research, explores six major AI trends for 2026, including model specialization, agentic systems, everyday consumer AI, monetization, regulation, and the implications for business education and the future workforce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 2, 2026 • 14min
Regulating Foreign Insider Trades on U.S. Stock Exchanges
Dan Taylor, Professor of Accounting at the Wharton School, discusses how his research helped shape new legislation requiring foreign company executives to disclose stock trades and protect U.S. investors from opportunistic insider selling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 31, 2025 • 10min
Faculty Prediction Series: Residential and Commercial Real Estate Trends for 2026
Susan M. Wachter, Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate at the Wharton School, discusses the outlook for housing and commercial real estate, focusing on inflation trends, interest rates, inventory challenges, and what these forces mean for markets in the year ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


