Publications

July–August 2013
Article

The Costs of Racial 'Color Blindness'

By: Michael I. Norton and Evan P. Apfelbaum

The article looks at research on people's attitudes and behaviors with respect to noticing and referring to a person's race. It explains the 2013 study, in which participants played a "Guess Who?" style game of asking yes-or-no questions about a group of faces... View Details

Keywords: Prejudice and Bias; Behavior; Race; Attitudes

Find at Harvard

Read Now

December 2017
Article

Overall Cost Comparison of Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Procedures with Endoscopist- or Anesthesia-Supported Sedation by Activity-Based Costing Techniques

By: Richard A. Helmers, James A. Dilling, Christopher R. Chaffee, Mark V. Larson, Bradly J. Narr, Derek A. Haas and Robert S. Kaplan

Endoscopic/Colonoscopic procedures are done either with gastroenterologist-administered conscious sedation or with anesthesia-administered sedation with propofol. Anesthesia-administered sedation has medical and patient benefits but is more expensive to administer. We... View Details

Keywords: Health Care and Treatment; Cost; Activity Based Costing and Management

Read Now

March 1989 (Revised April 1998)
Case

Marriott Corporation: The Cost of Capital (Abridged)

By: Richard S. Ruback

Gives students the opportunity to explore how a company uses the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) to compute the cost of capital for each of its divisions. The use of Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) formula and the mechanics of applying it are stressed. View Details

Keywords: Cost of Capital; Mathematical Methods

Article

TDABC Cost Analysis of Ocular Disorders in an Ophthalmology Emergency Department versus Urgent Care: Clinical Experience at Massachusetts Eye and Ear

By: Robert S. Kaplan, Jonathan Chou, Mahek Shah, Amy Watts, Matthew Gardiner, Joan Miller and John I. Lowenstein

Purpose To perform a cost analysis comparison for managing common ocular disorders in an eye emergency department (ED) versus an urgent care setting using a time-driven activity-based cost model (TDABC) to assist physicians and staff in appropriate allocation of... View Details

Keywords: Time-driven Activity-based Cost Model; Emergency Room; Urgent Care Clinic; Cost; Analysis; Activity Based Costing and Management; Health Care and Treatment

Read Now

April 1996 (Revised March 1998)
Case

Lex Service PLC-- Cost of Capital

By: W. Carl Kester and Kendall Backstrand

Lex Service company has grown into a large multidivisional company with a substantial capital budget. In 1993, the board was reviewing its capital budgeting procedures. Specifically, it sought to determine the company's cost of capital and whether it should use... View Details

Keywords: Risk and Uncertainty; Cost of Capital; Equity; Capital Budgeting

14 Jan 2019
Video

Measuring the Hidden Costs of Caregiving

01 Mar 2014
News

Innovation: Crowdfunding College Costs

out of the recession, more and more people are asking themselves, do I really need more stuff? People are relieved to have this option." Finally, Cordero points out the stunning spike in college costs and the need to make saving easier:... View Details

Keywords: Hanna, Julia; Gradsave; crowdfunding; Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools; Educational Services; Finance

16 Aug 2012
Working Paper Summaries

The Cost of Friendship

Keywords: by Paul Gompers, Vladimir Mukharlyamov & Yuhai Xuan

September 2001
Background Note

Accounting for Computer Software Development Costs

By: Robert S. Kaplan and Tatiana Sandino

Summarizes the debate on accounting for computer software development costs. Provides a historical description of the development of standards on accounting of computer software development costs, both in the United States and internationally. Describes how, after much... View Details

Keywords: Accounting; Information Technology Industry; Accounting Industry; United States

March 2022
Supplement

Washio (B2): Cost Considerations

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell and Karen Elterman

16 Apr 2009
Conference Presentation

The Cost of Self-Deception

By: Zoe Chance, Michael I. Norton and Dan Ariely

1999
Book

Design of Cost Management Systems

By: Robin Cooper and Robert S. Kaplan

Keywords: Management Systems; Cost Management

Find at Harvard

Fast Answer

Cost of doing business

How can I compare the costs of doing business in various countries or regions? The World Bank reports on the "cost of business start-up procedures (as % of GNI per capita). This variable is part of their B-Ready project... View Details

June 2003
Module Note

Design and Implementation of Activity-Based Cost Systems

By: V.G. Narayanan

Describes the main themes of the module on the design and implementation of an activity-based costing (ABC) system. Instructors can teach this module to second-year MBA students who have been exposed to activity-based costing in their first-year core accounting... View Details

Keywords: Cost Accounting

Article

High Cost of Liquidity

By: Amar Bhidé

13 Jun 2018
Sharpening Your Skills

That Costs HOW Much?

graphicola Price is important to consumers not just because it determines whether they can afford to purchase that purse or patio set. The cost of an item sets the buyer's expectations as to how the product or service will perform and... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Retail

23 Jan 2018
Working Paper Summaries

Transaction Costs and the Duration of Contracts

Keywords: by Alexander MacKay

November 2009
Background Note

Business Valuation and the Cost of Capital

By: Timothy A. Luehrman

This note is an introduction to the cost of capital as used in discounted cash flow valuation analyses. The note covers basic financial economic principles and practical problems encountered in calculating the cost of capital, especially WACC. It concludes with... View Details

Keywords: Economics; Capital Budgeting; Cash Flow; Cost of Capital; Valuation