Monthly Archives: February 2011

General Motors: A New Lease on Life?

In 2009, GM accepted a $50 billion government bailout after losing more money than any automaker in history. Last week, the company announced its first annual profit since 2004. What changed?

Posted in Finance and Investment | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Ireland’s Dysfunctional Downsizing?

Voters in Ireland can be forgiven for wanting to vent their frustration when they go to the polls today for the country’s general election. The boom and bust of the Irish economy has wreaked havoc on corporate and household balance sheets, and will most likely continue to do so for years to come.

Posted in Knowledge@Wharton Today | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Marketing Keds to a New Generation of Feet

Keds is hitting college campuses in an effort to reposition the sneakers as a 20-something fashion staple. Can the iconic shoes become a trend with staying power?

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Posted in Marketing, Strategic Management | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Recession Hiring: Look Out for the Pitfalls

It may be a buyer’s market for companies that are hiring now. But the high jobless rate, combined with a large pool of job seekers, presents a potential pitfall for those in the hiring process.

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Posted in Human Resources, Knowledge@Wharton Today | 1 Comment

Open Sesame…Oops, I Mean, Close Sesame!

Beijing-based Alibaba.com, China’s largest B2B online auction house, has just let go its CEO and COO after finding that more than 2,000 sellers on the site had committed fraud. Will this hurt e-commerce in China? Not really, says a Wharton expert.

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Posted in Knowledge@Wharton Today | Tagged | 1 Comment

Social Security: Are We in Crisis Mode Yet?

No: Concerns about solvency are overblown, say two Yale professors. Yes: Shortfalls are bigger than we realize, counters a Wharton professor. You decide.

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Posted in Knowledge@Wharton Today | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Budget Battle in Wisconsin

Although Wharton faculty told K@W in a recent story that tampering with public employee benefits might not be the most effective way to reduce state deficits, Wisconsin seems to be pushing the envelope.

Posted in Law and Public Policy | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Will Customers Buy Into Cars ‘Imported from Detroit’?

Chrysler drew a lot of attention with a Super Bowl ad for the 200 sedan featuring rapper Eminem. But can the automaker’s products generate sales to match the buzz?

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Posted in Knowledge@Wharton Today, Marketing, Strategic Management | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments