If/Then

Michele Gelfand, a Stanford GSB professor specializing in cultural dynamics, discusses her framework on "tight" and "loose" cultures and their societal impacts. Jonathan Levav, a marketing expert, sheds light on decision fatigue, emphasizing how mental energy affects choices in judicial contexts. Szu-chi Huang explores the intersection of motivation and emotion in decision-making, illustrating its significance in effective communication and marketing strategies. Together, they unveil the intricate factors that shape our everyday decisions.

Artificial intelligence could fundamentally transform democracy for better or worse. In this bonus episode of If/Then: Business, Leadership, Society, Professor Andrew B. Hall of Stanford Graduate School of Business explores AI's potential to disrupt our electoral system. With the 2024 presidential election approaching, Hall warns that AI-generated misinformation could sway voters and erode trust in democratic processes. Yet he also sees AI's potential to solve political challenges. If we want to maintain a healthy democracy, then it’s crucial to understand AI's impact on our political landscape in the upcoming election and beyond.Key Takeaways:AI's potential for misinformation: Professor Hall warns that AI-generated content misinform voters, potentially influencing election outcomes.Threat to democratic integrity: The possibility of AI-driven misinformation could erode trust in the fairness and integrity of democratic processes, leading to decreased acceptance of election outcomes.AI's dual nature in politics: While AI poses significant risks, Hall also thinks it could provide solutions to existing political problems, suggesting it will have a complex, double-edged impact on democracy.More Resources:Andrew Hall, faculty profileWhite Paper: Preparing for Generative AI in the 2024 Election: Recommendations and Best Practices Based on Academic Research, By Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, Brandice Canes-Wrone, Andrew B. Hall, Kristian Lum, Gregory J. Martin, Yamil Ricardo Velez, Stanford Graduate School of Business and the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, November 2023If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society. For a full transcript of this episode, visit our podcast’s website.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kuang Xu, a Professor at Stanford specializing in genetic information, delves into the complex interplay of genetic data and privacy. He discusses the privacy risks tied to genetic databases, particularly how they can reveal identities and familial connections. Xu highlights innovative methods for safeguarding genetic information during forensic investigations and the importance of informed consent. The conversation also touches on managing genetic data privacy in healthcare to optimize patient care without compromising personal security.

Baba Shiv, a marketing professor, dives into the interplay of reason and emotion in decision-making, revealing his own 'irrational' journey in understanding choices. Meanwhile, Mohammad Akbarpour, an economics professor, shares his transition from engineering to exploring market design, motivated by a blend of mathematics and human behavior. Both guests challenge traditional assumptions in their fields, highlighting how personal experiences fuel their research and insights into complex issues like authority and economic disparity.

In this engaging discussion, Baba Shiv, a behavioral economist and Professor of Marketing, delves into the importance of cultivating a risk-tolerant mindset in turbulent times. He contrasts fear-driven and opportunity-driven mindsets, emphasizing how a focus on innovation can lead to success when competitors hesitate. Shiv highlights the adaptability and resourcefulness of entrepreneurs in emerging economies. He also stresses the value of restorative practices like sleep and meditation for effective leadership and resilient decision-making.

Renowned economist Guido Imbens, a Nobel Prize winner in 2021, joins hosts Jonathan Berk and Jules van Binsbergen to unpack the complex relationship between causation and correlation. They explore how assumptions can misguide business decisions using relatable examples, like Starbucks influencing local sales. Discover surprising research on family succession, revealing that firms with daughters as firstborns often outshine others, and why rigorous testing is crucial for accurate insights in decision-making. Dive into the nuances that could reshape your perspective!

Jesper B. Sørensen, Senior Associate Dean at Stanford Graduate School of Business, discusses the pivotal role of research in navigating complex business challenges. He explains how researchers balance abstract theories with real-world applications, emphasizing the difficulty in implementing fundamental insights. Sørensen also highlights the shift towards social responsibility in business education, the transformative impact of data in understanding immigration and innovation, and the often-overlooked power dynamics within organizations.

While our team starts working on our second season, we'll still be sharing insights, bonus content, behind-the-scenes audio, and "class takeaways" from Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty throughout the summer. Stay Tuned! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Getting to elect our leaders is certainly a privilege. Yet, even in a representative democracy, the choice that citizens have is often only as good as the candidates they have to choose from. That’s why Professor Andrew B. Hall, The Davies Family Professor of Political Economy, wonders: How do we get society’s best and brightest to participate in politics?As a political economist at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences, Hall has spent years studying what motivates people to engage in the democratic process. On this episode of If/Then: Business, Leadership, Society, he shares his insights on how we can create a system that attracts a more diverse and qualified pool of candidates to run for public office and encourages greater voter participation at the local, state, and national levels.Key Takeaways: Engagement starts with incentives: Whether encouraging better candidates to run for public office or driving higher voter turnout, Hall says our democratic system must incentivize citizens to actively take part in the process.What's at stake?: People are more likely to participate in democratic processes when they understand how the outcome directly affects them. Hall cites how homeowners are more likely to vote on local zoning issues that impact their property values.Adapting new technologies thoughtfully: As new technologies emerge, Hall says it's crucial to consider how they can be harnessed to improve democratic participation and address the challenges facing our political system.More ResourcesAndrew B. Hall, The Davies Family Professor of Political EconomyWhat Kinds of Incentives Encourage Participation in Democracy? Evidence from a Massive Online Governance Experiment Stanford GSB Insights:Inside a Government Where People Are Paid to VoteIf You Lived Here, You Might Be a Voter By Now If/Then is a podcast from Stanford Graduate School of Business that examines research findings that can help us navigate the complex issues we face in business, leadership, and society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Associate Professor Daniela Saban discusses the importance of building fairness into algorithms for fair outcomes in job, housing, and relationship matching. She emphasizes the non-neutrality of algorithms and the need for conscious design choices to mitigate inequities. Saban explores the impact of user profiles on matchmaking algorithms, gender dynamics on dating apps, and strategies to improve equity in volunteer matching algorithms.