What if employees aren’t just costs—but outcomes? New research from Professor Robert Eberhart reveals how community shapes hiring decisions—and why firms that value employment may actually perform better.

What if the customer journey is not a path, but chaos? New research from Professor Justine Rapp Farrell reveals how consumers navigate uncertainty—and what businesses must do differently.

In a June 2023 speech, first lady Jill Biden, who teaches at Northern Virginia Community College, called community colleges “the best-kept secret in America.” She cited stories of two-year students who were making starting salaries of $25 an hour and $50,000 a year. Those students are among the 10.2 million enrolled at community colleges, according to the American Association of Community Colleges. They account for 41% of all undergraduates, according to the Community College Research Center. But if community colleges are heavyweights in higher education enrollment, they’re lightweights in higher education finance. They take in $13,780 in revenue per student, compared to $30,890 for public universities with doctoral programs, according to the College Board. That imbalance between responsibilities and resources concerns Adriana Vamosiu, PhD, department chair of economics at the University of San Diego's Knauss School of Business. “Community colleges get the least funding,” she says. “They can’t do enrollment management, they don’t have much ability to set tuition levels and they have to figure out how to do their best with it all. ” In the 2022 paper “ Neighbor‑Effects and Economies of Scale and Scope at Public Community Colleges ” — co-authored with Knauss professor of economics Jon Sandy and Marvin Titus of the University of Maryland — Vamosiu offers lessons on how community colleges can use their resources more efficiently and how they can argue for more. Key Insights Community colleges struggle with funding disparities despite enrolling a significant portion of undergraduates, hindering their operational flexibility and resource allocation Research findings highlight the 'Neighbor Effect,' where increased faculty hiring at one community college raises costs for others, along with cost differences between offering degrees and certificates Strategic partnerships with local entities alleviate cost inefficiencies, aiding community colleges in providing diverse educational offerings while addressing regional needs for job training

Economists have yet to solve the puzzle of stock market participation. What is it that motivates a person to invest? And why do some people with the means to invest decide not to? What economists know for certain is that racial disparities continue to exist in stock market participation in the United States.  According to the Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances, just 34% of Black American households owned equity investments in 2019 compared to 61% of white households. Black families also invested less in equity on average — $14,400 for the typical Black household compared to $50,600 for the typical white household. This gap persists among households with above-median net worth. This sharp divide in stock market participation makes identifying the motivations behind investment decisions all the more pressing, and bridging this divide could help to close the larger racial wealth gap. The subject of wealth inequality is of particular interest to Melina Vosse, PhD, assistant professor of finance at the University of San Diego Knauss School of Business. Vosse’s research focuses on the impact of social dynamics on financial outcomes, and, most recently, the influence of diverse social networks on financial decision-making. Key Insights Racial disparities persist in stock market participation, with lower rates and investment amounts for Black households compared to white households, indicating a pressing need to understand the motivations behind investment decisions. Integration benefits both Black and white households in improving financial outcomes, debunking the notion that only marginalized groups benefit from integration, and highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping financial awareness and decision-making. Residential integration positively impacts stock market participation, with more diverse communities showing increased likelihood of investing in public equity markets and reaping higher returns, emphasizing the role of social connections in financial decision-making.

Hunger in childhood is especially devastating as it can lead to malnutrition, stunted growth and development, and even death. In sub-Saharan Africa today, 57 million children under the age of 5 suffer stunting due to severe malnutrition, according to the United Nations. And malnutrition contributes to about 45% of deaths in children under the age of 5 worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. While progress has been made in some regions, childhood hunger remains a major global concern, driven in large part by extreme poverty, conflict and climate change. In 2015, all 193 U.N. member states adopted 17 goals known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in “a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere” by 2030. Key SDGs include improving nutrition and reducing child mortality, with vulnerable populations in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia being prime targets for action. Success in achieving these goals will require a collaborative effort by the international community, including national and local governments, donors, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), industries, nutritionists, and economists. One collaboration between nutritionists and economists is the subject of the 2023 paper “ Impacts of Micronutrient Intervention Programs on Effective Coverage and Lives Saved: Modeled Evidence From Cameroon ,” published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Karen Ortiz-Becerra, PhD, an assistant professor of economics at the University of San Diego Knauss School of Business, is among the researchers who modeled the effectiveness, costs, and cost-effectiveness of alternative micronutrient intervention programs (MIPs) for improving nutritional adequacy among children under the age of five and women of reproductive age and reducing child mortality in Cameroon. Using this data on MIP effectiveness and costs, the study applied an economic optimization model to identify the most cost-effective MIPs for two different policy objectives over a 10-year horizon: improving dietary adequacy of critical micronutrients and saving children’s lives. “There are several MIPs that can improve dietary adequacy and save child lives to various degrees. We wanted to identify those that are most cost-effective since resources are limited,” Ortiz-Becerra says. Key Insights Because money is tight and needs are great, modeling-informed micronutrient intervention programs (MIPs) prioritization is critical for policymakers working in Cameroon and other low- and middle-income countries to improve nutritional adequacy and reduce child mortality The MIPs currently underway in Cameroon were found by researchers to be largely cost-effective in achieving dietary adequacy of critical micronutrients However, in order to have a larger impact on reducing child mortality, researchers found it would be more cost-effective to shift some resources away from vitamin A supplementation to provide more zinc to young children and more folic acid to women of reproductive age

Over the last decade, the so-called sharing economy has made a major splash in the global market — and its ripple effects are set to grow wider. In 2022, the global sharing economy market size was valued at almost $150 billion, and it is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 32.01% over the next five years, according to Absolute Reports. That means, by 2028, the sharing economy market size could reach an astounding $793.68 billion.  The sharing economy market size growth doesn’t come without controversy though. Risks include regulatory uncertainty, privacy and safety concerns, and unfair management practices. One major sharing economy player, Uber, has faced massive lawsuits for numerous types of wrongdoing, including Americans with Disabilities Act violations, employee misclassification and negligent hiring practices.  However, many aspects of the sharing economy have proven beneficial to consumers and to other businesses. The Airbnb sharing economy, for example, has been shown to have positive effects on local businesses, according to new research co-authored by Yongseok Kim, PhD, an assistant professor of marketing at the University of San Diego Knauss School of Business. Key Insights Airbnb significantly boosts restaurant revenue, contributing to about 12% of the restaurants' median annual revenue growth. This effect is driven by the increased non-local demand for restaurants, due to Airbnb. This effect is larger for independent restaurants and in less commercial areas in the city, which need the benefit the most. Benefits of the Airbnb Sharing Economy on Restaurants in Texas Kim and his fellow researchers became interested in studying the impacts of the Airbnb sharing economy as demand for the platform grew exponentially between 2008 and 2018. To explore the relationship between Airbnb rentals and local economies empirically, he focused specifically on restaurants in Texas, using a difference in difference strategy to compare Texas state government revenue data to Airbnb review data by manually scraping consumer-facing information from the company’s website. The final data set included about 900,000 reviews of 99,805 properties listed by 61,210 distinct hosts. “There was so much talk about the negative impacts of Airbnb, I wanted to explore if there were positives,” explains Kim. “When we look at the geographical distribution of Airbnb compared to hotels, they’re everywhere. And that style of accommodation attracts tourism demand to areas that were historically isolated from tourism, which creates interesting results.” Kim’s research found that, in the state of Texas, a 1% increase in the number of Airbnb reviews in a zip code is associated with a 0.011% increase in restaurant revenue in the same zip code. According to the paper, “this result implies that Airbnb can explain about 12% of the median annual restaurant revenue growth.” Put simply, the data reveals that, for every $100 worth of restaurant revenue growth, $12 can be attributed to a rise in the number of Airbnb stays in the local area. This information is especially pertinent in less commercialized areas that have been traditionally cut off from tourism. Hotels aren’t built in these areas because they can’t fill enough rooms, but, with Airbnb rentals, just one housing unit needs to be filled at a time. And that leads to tourists visiting areas that were previously inaccessible. For local restaurants, this uptick in tourism can lead to revenue growth. It can also create unique opportunities to maximize the benefits of Airbnb rentals in their area. Comarketing: Restaurants and Airbnb Owners Comarketing is a strategy in which two or more companies collaborate on promotional efforts to mutually boost their brands’ visibility, reach larger audiences and share their resources. In the unique context of the Airbnb sharing economy, this can be done by restaurant owners and Airbnb owners. Comarketing for Airbnb units and restaurants can take many forms. It could mean listing local restaurants in the online Airbnb description, providing an in-home neighborhood guide that includes restaurants or even partnering to offer a discount to Airbnb guests at restaurants. These strategies are mutually beneficial because restaurant owners stand to gain more business while Airbnb owners are able to showcase the character of the local area, which could lead to increased bookings. “What’s interesting is that we see a greater impact on local restaurants, not chains,” says Kim. “So, in more residential areas, Airbnb could be a good thing for small businesses.” According to the research paper, “home-sharing platforms can increase economic activity for businesses and in neighborhoods that are more likely to need it the most.” The paper demonstrates the benefits of Airbnb rentals to the local economy — but Kim warns that this isn’t the only factor that should be considered. Objections to Airbnbs In residential and rural environments, the Airbnb sharing economy is associated with positive economic impacts. However, increased tourism isn’t always welcome. For example, unruly large groups can disrupt the peace in an otherwise quiet neighborhood. Additionally, analysis conducted by the Economic Policy Institute suggests that an expansion in the number of available Airbnb units in an area is similar to gentrification in that it can slowly increase the property values in the area to the detriment of long-term residents, who can be pushed out due to financial constraints. But this is typically relegated to major cities — not residential areas. Kim suggests that local officials weigh the benefits of Airbnb rentals, such as local business revenue growth, against potential drawbacks. “It’s not a one-size-fits-all,” he says. “There are lots of important factors to consider, and economic growth is one of them.” Ongoing Research: The Influence of the Airbnb Sharing Economy Is Felt Beyond Restaurants While Kim’s research demonstrates a positive association between Airbnb reviews and local restaurant revenue, ongoing research suggests that the economic impact likely goes beyond the food and beverage industry. Other local businesses such as clothing stores, entertainment venues, grocery stores and gift shops are likely to reap similarly positive benefits from Airbnb units becoming available in their communities. Tourists usually spend money in the places where they stay, whether that’s on eating out, going to a show or buying a souvenir. For local businesses that would ordinarily not have access to tourism revenue, this could mean a welcome bump in business. Study What Excites You at the University of San Diego The University of San Diego Knauss School of Business is closely studying previously unknown ways for local economies and businesses to take advantage of new opportunities. Professor Yongseok Kim and his fellow faculty members are uncovering innovative ways to help small businesses thrive, and they’re committed to passing those insights on to their students. Visit the Knauss School of Business to explore degree offerings, get acquainted with the University of San Diego student experience and see how you can study what excites you.  Recommended Readings Auditor-Client Communications: Industry Implications for Engagements  Finding Opportunity in Crisis: Developing Strategies for Managing Climate Risk  How Underlying Consumer Values Can Support New Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations Sources: Forbes, “The Airbnb Effect on Housing and Rent” Yahoo Finance, “Sharing Economy Market Size 2023, Share │ Growing Report [2028]” Yongseok Kim is an assistant professor of marketing at the University of San Diego's Knauss School of Business. In his research, Dr. Kim focuses on the empirical analysis of a variety of societal, economic, and technological changes and measures their impact on business.

Millions of dollars in federal funds were overallocated to investment advisory firms that misrepresented company information on their pandemic relief loan applications. That’s according to a recent study co-authored by William Beggs, assistant professor of finance at the University of San Diego’s Knauss School of Business. 

As California goes, so goes the nation, according to the adage about American culture. It’s true not just in music and fashion, but for animal welfare regulations as well.

Property technology (proptech) proponents are eager to showcase how digital innovations can empower real estate owners and operators. The real estate industry has historically lagged in digitalization, but, today, available proptech can easily measure, monitor and manage processes that previously could only be done manually and much less efficiently. Take building repairs. Typically, tenants have to call property managers with complaints, initiating a lengthy communication chain from tenant to manager to contractor that is rife with the potential for coordination failures. Today, a simple entry of “plumbing leak” on a device can automatically schedule a trusted contractor, alert the occupants when the contractor is on the way and track the repair’s progress — saving everyone time and avoiding miscommunication. Proptech startups promise solutions through innovation. They aim to accelerate sustainability improvements in buildings via an array of real-time monitoring, optimization and automation enabled by digital technologies such as smart sensors, cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI).  Professor Emeritus Norm G. Miller, PhD, of the University of San Diego Knauss School of Business teamed up with the research scientist Zhengzhen Tan at the Center for Real Estate and the Sustainable Urbanization Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to examine the global market for sustainability-focused proptech startups . Their findings reveal the market’s high hopes for sustainable proptech solutions, as well as ongoing barriers that impede widespread proptech adoption. Key Insights Proptech is transforming real estate management through digital solutions that streamline operations and improve efficiency for property owners and operators Proptech faces integration barriers within the real estate industry, limiting its potential, and necessitates consolidation, partnerships and improved communication for optimal effectiveness Proptech is vital for addressing sustainability challenges in real estate by leveraging technologies like smart lights and ventilation systems to reduce carbon emissions and monitor environmental impact Real Estate Sustainability Given climate change pressures, the real estate industry is looking to technology to drive progress on sustainability.  For example, consider buildings’ carbon emissions. Operational uses of buildings account for 28% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the World Green Building Council. The organization’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment urges real estate companies to attain net zero carbon emissions from their directly managed assets by 2030. Proptech can help real estate companies meet sustainability goals like this one. Technologies such as smart lights and modern thermostats and ventilation systems can help reduce buildings’ carbon emissions. They may also empower real estate managers to monitor their carbon footprints and encourage additional investments in technologies such as solar panels.  Too Many Proptech Startups? As a founding editor of the Journal of Sustainable Real Estate, Miller witnessed the emergence and transformation of proptech. He remembers its origins as basic property data analysis software. Today, proptech encompasses a diverse digitized landscape. But the ballooning number of proptech startups raised concerns for him and his future co-author, Tan. “We had talked about sustainability quite a bit over the years along with the MIT Center for Real Estate,” Miller says. “We noticed that there were too many proptech firms out there — over 9,000 globally — and we saw some really good ones.” With thousands of proptech firms vying for market share, Miller and Tan thought the flood of venture capital into real estate technology might be diluted into too many lackluster projects. As researchers, the duo set out to study the issue.  Their goal was to investigate the proptech industry’s barriers to success, so they could provide evidence-based advice and guidance to proptech startups hoping to make good on their sustainability promises.  “We said to ourselves, how is the industry going to figure out who to pick? Who’s going to survive? Are we going to have a dot-com bust? And how much will this impact sustainability?” Miller says. “So we started interviewing firms and interviewing vendors. That’s how this study came about.” Their recent research paper on real estate digitalization and sustainability trends summarizes their findings. Through interviews with major real estate owners and operators as well as an analysis of the 8,195 proptech firms registered with the Unissu global proptech database as of May 2021, the co-authors found that, while proptech innovation is accelerating, fragmentation and integration barriers are impeding sustainability progress. Real Estate Digitalization and Sustainability Miller and Tan had found a research gap: No one was evaluating the business challenges facing sustainability-focused proptech startups.  In their paper, Miller and Tan examine the intersection of building digitalization and sustainability, concentrating on the sustainability-focused proptech startups aimed at improving real estate management and operations. Their analysis of the Unissu global proptech database finds 171 firms focused on real estate management and operations, with 57% of those having a sustainability focus.  They note that proptech solutions are revolutionizing the real estate industry. From affordable sensors that monitor a building’s temperature, its air quality and other environmental factors to innovations that save energy and operational expenses, such as elevator optimization and drone roof inspections, proptech offers digitized solutions to chronic pain points in real estate management and operations. But what about sustainability? Energy management is the biggest sustainability focus area (with 40% of firms focusing on it), followed by facility management. Firms offering integrated solutions across technologies tend to have a stronger sustainability focus, they found. Integration Needed: Three Barriers to Proptech Adoption What business challenges remain for proptech startups? Which barriers block users from adopting sustainability-focused proptech in their real estate operations? And what can startups do to advance sustainability more effectively? The co-authors found that most proptech currently suffers from a big issue: lack of integration. Isolated, stand-alone technologies have limited functionality and impact. Fully integrated systems that bridge technological and business needs as well as different users offer the most potential. “Of all proptechs out there, only 25% are integrated with standard communication formats and standard operating systems,” Miller says.  Integration matters for proptech adoption and impact for several reasons: Holistic proptech solutions that are integrated across technologies tend to have greater sustainability benefits than single-point applications. Lack of integration leads to fragmented, siloed systems that fail to optimize buildings as a whole. Fully integrated smart buildings are the goal. Standardization and common protocols will better enable integration across the real estate industry. Miller clarifies that too many proptech startups build their technology in isolation, without regard for how it will or will not work alongside other apps and services. “Managers tell you, ‘That’s a great system, but I'm not going to use it because it doesn’t talk to my other systems,’” Miller says. In their analysis of interviews with building owners and operators, Miller and Tan identify three integration issues that are preventing proptech’s widespread adoption in the real estate industry: Integration of technology components: Proptech solutions often do not integrate well with existing building management systems and digital infrastructures. Building owners need the systems to be compatible and interoperable. Integration of technology with business processes: In addition to technological integration, proptech solutions must align with owners’ business processes, financial decision-making and workflows. Bridging the knowledge gap between proptech and real estate is a challenge. Integration of building owners/operators’ technology with occupants’ technology: Owners need more operational control over tenant spaces to achieve sustainability goals. (Think: automatic sensors that adjust heating and cooling systems more efficiently.) Solutions that bridge the landlord-tenant divide and enable collaboration are lacking. The fix? Miller and Tan argue that consolidation and partnerships in the proptech industry can help overcome integration hurdles. With better integration, the proptech industry will be better equipped to advance sustainability. Successfully overcoming these integration challenges requires proptech firms to provide more complete holistic solutions, establish data security protocols (since integration and centralization can lead to bigger targets for hackers) and effectively communicate with owners and operators.  Miller hopes to send a message to venture capitalists: Stop pouring funds into nonintegrated proptech. “Now, I would tell an investor: If it doesn’t integrate with the existing systems, I don’t care how good the app is,” he says. Pursue Your Passion in Business Proptech has the potential to transform real estate sustainability, but it still faces integration hurdles in the industry. Strategic partnerships and more holistic offerings can help proptech startups drive sustainability progress.  The University of San Diego Knauss School of Business is investigating emerging areas of real estate that have never been explored before. Professor Emeritus Norm G. Miller and his fellow faculty members are revealing vital insights into how our data-driven society operates, and they’re committed to passing that knowledge on to their students so they can become the forward-thinking business leaders of the future.  Visit the Knauss School of Business to explore degree programs, discover the unique University of San Diego student experience and see where your passion for business can take you.   Recommended Readings Finding Opportunity in Crisis: Developing Risk Strategies for Managing Climate Risk  How Underlying Consumer Values Can Support New Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations Auditor-Client Communications: Industry Implications for Engagements   Sources: Journal of Sustainable Real Estate, “Connecting Digitalization and Sustainability: Proptech in the Real Estate Operations and Management” World Green Building Council, Advancing Net Zero   Norm Miller is the Ernest W. Hahn Chair of Real Estate Finance, Emeritus at the University of San Diego's Knauss School of Business and is affiliated with USD’s Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate. Norm has published numerous academic articles, books and articles in trade market publications on housing, brokerage, mortgage risk, valuation, sustainable real estate and many other topics.

“Got Milk?” You’ve probably heard this slogan at some point, whether it was in a TV commercial, on a billboard or on the back of a cereal box. However, unlike other iconic slogans — “Just Do It,” “Taste the Rainbow” — the “Got Milk?” campaign isn’t tied to a specific brand; it’s associated with an entire industry.  The campaign originated in 1993 for the California Milk Processor Board and was later licensed for use by milk processors and dairy farmers around the country. This is a quintessential example of an industry uniting to influence consumer behavior, acting as a larger entity that subsequently benefits individual brands.  Industries of all kinds use the strategy, which is known as direct-to-public persuasion, to gain public support. However, on consumer-relevant issues, industries often face tenacious opposition in the form of activism. The issue of who wins public support, and why, is a research focus of Dr. Andrea Godfrey Flynn, a professor of marketing at the University of San Diego's Knauss School of Business. 

Are Hispanic patients in the United States more likely to seek healthcare services when their healthcare provider is also Hispanic? A research team at the University of San Diego’s Knauss School of Business has recently sought to answer this question. Their aim was to study whether Hispanic-identifying patients in the United States are more likely to use healthcare services if they perceive that their healthcare provider is also Hispanic. Key Insights Hispanic patients in the US are more likely to use healthcare services when their provider shares the same racial background (racial concordance). The impact of racial concordance varies among Hispanic subgroups, with stronger effects seen in Cuban and Puerto Rican patients compared to Mexican patients. These findings emphasize the need for tailored policies and research that consider subgroup differences to address healthcare disparities effectively. Racial concordance refers to the alignment of a patient’s racial/ethnic identities with those of their healthcare provider, while language concordance refers to the alignment of the language they speak. Concordance in both of these areas is believed to lead to improved patient outcomes and care experiences.  The research team hypothesized that racial concordance would correlate with healthcare utilization — the use of healthcare services such as preventive screenings, doctor’s visits for new health issues and follow-up treatment for existing conditions — because healthcare providers who come from the same racial and ethnic background as their patients may have a nuanced understanding of the patients’ cultural practices, beliefs and values that influence the patients’ use of healthcare resources. According to the team’s newly published research , Hispanic patient-provider concordance did correlate with healthcare utilization in a statistically significant way. However, the correlation was not the same for all Hispanic subgroups. To understand the implications of these findings, research team members and professors of economics at the University of San Diego’s Knauss School of Business, Alyson Ma and Steven Sumner, explain how racial concordance may affect health outcomes among United States-based Hispanics and what their findings mean for healthcare and public health policy.

  Likely it comes as no surprise that communication between auditors and their clients comprises a significant portion of the audit engagement. And auditors, not unlike service professionals within other industries, experienced shifts in available communication methods in recent decades with the advent of new communication technologies. 

Volunteers are the backbone of charitable nonprofit service organizations, helping execute programs, raising funds, and serving the cause with their time. Recent reports from the Urban Institute indicate nonprofit sectors in the United States are healthy with continued financial growth - with public charities making up more than two-thirds of all registered nonprofit organizations.* And while nonprofits rely heavily on volunteers, more than one-third of those who volunteer for a given year do not donate their time the next year to any nonprofit - adding up to what some estimate is $38 billion in lost labor .* These findings indicate an opportunity for leaders in the nonprofit space to look deeper into how volunteerism could be maximized for their organizations, and develop a strategic approach to attracting and retaining volunteers - enhancing their programs in the process.

Consumer transgressions, such as return fraud and counterfeiting, are on the rise, and they are hurting businesses and the retail economy as a whole. Wardrobing, for example, which is the act of buying an outfit for a specific event and then returning it afterward, has contributed to an estimated $5 billion decrease in revenue. In fact, recent data estimate annual losses from any type of return fraud to approach $30 billion for U.S. retail brands alone.

In May 2020, hail storms that stretched across several Texas cities caused an estimated $1.2 billion in damage to homes, businesses and vehicles. It was the sixth weather-related disaster with damages exceeding $1 billion to affect the state in 2020, and Texas had not yet entered its hurricane season.

The spread of COVID-19 has prompted many businesses to make swift and sudden changes in how they operate, while still keeping the best interests of their stakeholders in mind. Airlines, for example, have grappled with reducing or canceling flights in the wake of travel restrictions. Restaurants have adapted to government protocols for early closure, prioritizing takeout and delivery options to survive.

After the 2008 recession, many colleges shuttered their athletic programs and never reopened them. Today, college sports teams are once again struggling to survive as budgets are slashed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A skeptical mindset is essential to conducting high quality financial statement audits. Unfortunately, professional auditors don’t always approach their tasks with a sufficiently questioning and critical frame of mind. The results can be disastrous for investors, clients and the audit firms themselves.

When video conferencing platform Zoom came under scrutiny for security concerns this year, CEO Eric Yuan made a public statement: “I really messed up.” As The Wall Street Journal reported, Yuan admitted his company’s faults while using “I” and “me” — singular first-person pronouns.

For Americans who aren’t entrenched in the day-to-day dealings of the stock market, books and films like the 1987 movie “Wall Street” and the best-selling memoir “The Wolf of Wall Street” have provided a window into how insider trading works. In stories like these, stockbrokers and finance executives catch wind of confidential information on upcoming business deals and exploit that information for personal financial gain.

Policymakers use polls and surveys to better understand people’s views on tax policies and to pass more effective legislation. The problem is that these polls and surveys can’t always be taken at face value. Individual taxpayers’ views vary based on a range of factors — psychological and economic — that aren’t always accounted for in simple questionnaires.

The term “influencer” has garnered a lot of attention in recent years — and for good reason. Business Insider Intelligence projects influencer marketing will be worth more than $15 billion by 2022. This past year alone, influencers raked in unprecedented revenue, with the top three most successful influencers — beauty mogul Kylie Jenner, pop star Ariana Grande and soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo — earning $1 million per Instagram post.

Since it became law in 2010, the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, has substantially increased Americans’ access to healthcare. In doing so, the policy has helped address social and economic barriers to medical care that have disproportionately affected low-income households and members of racial and ethnic minority groups.

The global economy has been devastated by the coronavirus as millions of people have lost jobs or been furloughed. To return to some semblance of normalcy, healthcare experts have established a goal of fast, widespread testing for the presence of the virus and of antibodies. Unfortunately, many of the chemicals, materials and components required for the tests and testing equipment have experienced severe supply shortages, partly due to exploding demand, but also due to past decisions to outsource to low cost countries.

Creativity and business leadership haven’t always gone hand in hand. Since leaders find themselves under immense pressure to provide results and receive approval, they sometimes default to established business methods that are proven to work. As a result, they often rob themselves of valuable opportunities to explore new, creative ideas and drive true innovation.

In the often emotional debate about Mexican immigration to the United States, some questions are posed again and again. What does a fair immigration system look like? Is building a border wall an effective strategy? One question, however, often goes unasked despite its centrality to the conversation: What motivates Mexicans to immigrate to the U.S. in the first place?