All Else Equal: Making Better Decisions

Exploring impact investing strategies, divestiture, and the influence of consumers and corporate managers on driving social change. Reflecting on the role of investors, institutions, and corporations in society, and the challenges in balancing profit with social good in investment decisions.

Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers discusses the complexities of corporate income tax, arguing for its retention as an effective tool to ensure the wealthy pay their fair share. He suggests improvements but advises against abolishing it without a superior alternative. The podcast delves into the burden shift of corporate taxes onto shareholders and examines practical challenges in taxing corporations, including collection from foreign entities. The speakers debate the pros and cons of corporate taxation policies, considering issues like tax avoidance and moral considerations.

Pete Briger, CEO of Fortress Investment Group, discusses buying bad debt and making profitable investments. He shares insights on distressed debt investing, managing risk in high-risk investments, and navigating investing cycles. Briger emphasizes quick decision-making and the importance of entry price in investment decisions.

Finance professors discuss the impact of misinformation with guest Alex Edmans, a finance professor. They explore biases in research, advocacy-driven studies, and the importance of critical thinking. The podcast delves into strategies for enhancing decision-making through cognitive diversity and promoting open debate to tackle misinformation and biases.

What are the unseen costs of administrative bureaucracy and an ideology that favors victimhood over scholarly debate? What caused the ideological shift from classical liberalism to the illiberal leanings that now permeate universities, and what does it mean for the future of intellectual innovation and freedom? In this episode, hosts and finance professors Jonathan Berk and Jules van Binsbergen welcome Niall Ferguson, the Millbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a Senior Faculty Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, for a discussion of Niall’s solution to the current problems – a new university. Submit your questions to the show here: https://bit.ly/AllElseEqual Find All Else Equal on the web: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/all-else-equal-making-better-decisions All Else Equal: Making Better Decisions Podcast is a production of Stanford Graduate School of Business and is produced by University FM. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Should universities be primarily research and teaching institutions or should they have broader social responsibilities to today’s youth? How are institutions navigating the delicate dance of institutional neutrality among very hot-button and controversial issues? In this episode, hosts and finance professors Jonathan Berk and Jules van Binsbergen welcome Carmen Twillie Ambar, President of Oberlin College, and Kimberly Wright Cassidy, President of Bryn Mawr College, to discuss the shape, motivations, and responsibilities of Higher Education today and also going forward. Submit your questions to the show here: https://bit.ly/AllElseEqual Find All Else Equal on the web: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/all-else-equal-making-better-decisions All Else Equal: Making Better Decisions Podcast is a production of Stanford Graduate School of Business and is produced by University FM. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Finance professors evaluate bad investing advice from Suze Orman, refinancing, and stock dilution. They explore time value of money, debunk misconceptions about stock dilution, and analyze dollar cost averaging. The discussion challenges common financial errors and highlights the importance of mastering fundamental financial principles.

What could be the reason to delay investing in an option that will make you money? How do your investment opportunities expand when you make that choice? In this episode, hosts and finance professors Jonathan Berk and Jules van Binsbergen discuss the concept of real options in finance, focusing particularly on investment decision-making. They also address the challenge of valuing growth options in uncertain investment environments, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and the potential to create value through well-timed information and decisions.Submit your questions to the show here: https://bit.ly/AllElseEqualFind All Else Equal on the web: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/all-else-equal-making-better-decisionsAll Else Equal: Making Better Decisions Podcast is a production of Stanford Graduate School of Business and is produced by University FM.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why should climate risk be singled out for mandatory disclosure by the SEC, and how does this change the investment landscape? Can climate disclosure legislation walk the fine line between transparency and information overload? In this episode, hosts and finance professors Jonathan Berk and Jules van Binsbergen welcome Lawrence Cunningham, Research Professor of Law Emeritus at GW Law and special counsel with Mayer Brown LLP, to explore the arguments for and against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandating climate risk disclosures for companies. Submit your questions to the show here: https://bit.ly/AllElseEqual Find All Else Equal on the web: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/business-podcasts/all-else-equal-making-better-decisions All Else Equal: Making Better Decisions Podcast is a production of Stanford Graduate School of Business and is produced by University FM. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Deborah Grunfeld discusses reshaping power structures, exploring dog behavior parallels, human hierarchies complexities, navigating workplace power dynamics, and personal struggles with agency and power in an engaging and insightful discussion.