Knowledge at Wharton Article List

How Extreme Heat Affects the Economy

A construction worker sitting on the ground near shipping containers, wearing a safety vest and helmet, wiping sweat from their forehead while holding a water bottle.

Professor R. Jisung Park discusses climate change and the impact of extreme heat on academic success and worker productivity.Read More

Greenhushing: When Firms Do More Than They Say

Reflection of green trees on a glass building facade, juxtaposing nature with modern architecture.

Some companies downplay their environmental efforts, a practice known as greenhushing. A new working paper co-authored by Wharton’s Serguei Netessine finds that this gap between what firms say and what they do is associated with higher subsequent abnormal stock returns.Read More

Cookstove Subsidies Fight Climate Change at a Lower Cost

Pot of sliced bamboo shoots boiling on a traditional charcoal stove with open flames.

Clean cookstove subsidies are more cost-effective at reducing carbon emissions than subsidies for EVs or solar panels, according to a new study from Wharton’s Susanna Berkouwer.Read More

How Forced Labor Scrutiny Shapes Supply Chain Transparency

Cargo ship loaded with colorful shipping containers in a harbor, with a small tugboat nearby and a backdrop of cranes and a cloudy sky.

A study co-authored by Wharton’s Sandra Schafhäutle examines why companies choose to hide their names in public shipping data.Read More

How a Firm’s Ownership Structure Dictates Its Pollution Footprint

Industrial complex with several smokestacks emitting clouds of smoke or steam, set against a clear blue sky at dawn or dusk.

Firms with concentrated ownership are likely to be worse polluters than those where smaller shareholders are in a majority, according to a recent paper co-authored by Wharton’s Arthur van Benthem.Read More

How Banks Can Be Change Agents in Climate Consciousness

Dark smoke coming out of factory pipes in the distance

A study by Wharton’s Luzi Hail shows how climate stress tests at European banks increased transparency, reduced lending risks, and improved environmental performance.Read More

Why ESG Scores Are Moving the $4 Trillion Municipal Bond Market

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New Wharton research shows that investors pay more for bonds with ESG scores. For issuers that stay silent, the cost is higher borrowing.Read More

Why Companies Need to Respect Indigenous Land Rights

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New research finds that foreign direct investment near Indigenous land is linked to more clashes and deaths, challenging the view that FDI normally benefits host countries.Read More

When Does Corporate Silence Backfire?

A protester with their fist raised facing a crowd of demonstrators on the street

New Wharton research shows that staying quiet on polarizing issues isn’t always safe. For companies expected to speak out, silence can trigger a sharper backlash.Read More

How Regulatory Enforcement and Transparency Could Bring Environmental Gains

A red combine harvester in a vast field under a cloudy sky. The machine is harvesting crops, leaving a clear path behind.

A Wharton study on trading firms’ responses to Brazil’s anti-deforestation regulations holds significant pointers to sustainable commodity sourcing.Read More