This Week in Business

Holiday sales may rise again this year, but the headline number will not tell the full story of how consumers are feeling or where retailers stand.Peter Fader, Wharton Professor of Marketing, joins the conversation to examine what is really driving holiday retail sales. He discusses the K shaped economy, the return of aggressive Black Friday discounts, the limits of AI shopping agents and why in person experiences still matter to holiday shoppers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social Security faces a looming funding shortfall that could force significant benefit cuts within the next decade. Can policymakers save the program before it's too late?Kent Smetters, Faculty Director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, joins the conversation to explain the financial challenges facing Social Security and the reform proposals under consideration.The discussion explores tax increases, benefit reductions, raising the retirement age, and the economic tradeoffs behind each approach. Smetters also explains why government accounting practices may be obscuring the true scale of the problem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is changing how companies operate, but adopting new technology is only the beginning. Businesses must rethink how work gets done to turn AI investments into meaningful results.Prasanna (Sonny) Tambe, professor of operations, information and decisions at the Wharton School, joins us to discuss the latest research on AI adoption and workforce transformation.The conversation explores AI agents, accountability, job growth, entry level hiring, the growing need to verify AI generated content, and why companies must redesign workflows to get the most from their AI investments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a superstar athlete joins a new team? The impact goes far beyond the basketball court.Kenneth Shropshire, Professor Emeritus of Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School, examines the expectations surrounding LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers.From ticket sales and team culture to community engagement and special treatment for star players, Shropshire explains the business opportunities and challenges that come with signing a superstar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are young people putting money meant for retirement into sports betting? The answer may lie in how our brains respond to risk, excitement, and the promise of a big win.Michael Platt, Professor of Marketing, Psychology & Neuroscience at The Wharton School, explains the psychology behind the sports betting boom. He explores how dopamine, social influence, and the illusion of control draw people into betting, how mobile platforms make gambling harder to resist, and why the trend could threaten younger generations’ financial futures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.