Publications

Boris Vallée is an Associate Professor in the Finance Unit. He teaches Real Property in the MBA elective curriculum, and previously taught the Finance II course in the MBA required curriculum.

Professor’s Vallée’s research traces the motives behind and the... View Details

March 2022 (Revised November 2022)
Case

When Should CEOs Speak Out Publicly? The 2021 Georgia Voting Law

By: William W. George, Hubert Joly and Amram Migdal

This case describes the March 2021 passage of a voting and elections law in the U.S. state of Georgia and reactions by corporations and corporate leaders to the law. Included are a brief history of voting rights in the United States and Georgia and an overview of the... View Details

09 Jun 2024
Blog Post

The EC Formula: MBA Class of 2024 Looks Back

During their Elective Curriculum (EC)—or second—year, MBA students register for courses based on their interests. With more than 100 offerings in 10 subject areas, these classes provide an opportunity for depth and breadth while helping... View Details

June 2017
Case

Magellan Boatworks

By: John A. Quelch and James T. Kindley

Magellan Boatworks is a midsize manufacturer of customized, power "cruising yachts." In the face of economic and political uncertainty in late 2016, Magellan's VP of sales and marketing, Walt Robinson, wonders whether he should request a budget increase for 2017.... View Details

Keywords: Marketing; Marketing Communications; Advertising; Strategy; Salesforce Management

May 2002 (Revised September 2002)
Teaching Note

Creating New Services, Module Overview Note TN

By: Frances X. Frei

Taught in Managing Service Operations, an elective course in the Harvard Business School MBA program. Appropriate for any service course or service module within an operations or new product development course that targets MBA or executive education students.... View Details

Keywords: Service Operations; Product Development; Business Education; Product Positioning

December 2010 (Revised March 2011)
Background Note

Strategic Marketing in Creative Industries

By: Anita Elberse

A note for educators describing an elective course for second-year MBA Students at Harvard Business School, "Strategic Marketing in Creative Industries." which focuses on strategic marketing challenges for firms in the creative industries, defined as industries that... View Details

Keywords: Marketing Strategy

17 Sep 2014
News

2014′s Most & Least Fair State Tax Systems

15 Oct 2008
News

Fast track the new president

07 Apr 2010
News

Associate Professor Laura Alfaro Named Costa Rican Cabinet Minister

December 2023
Case

Francis Ngannou

By: Anita Elberse

In May 2023, professional fighter Francis Ngannou is facing a choice: re-sign with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s premier mixed-martial-arts (MMA) organization, or opt for a contract with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), a growing but... View Details

Keywords: Contracts; Compensation and Benefits; Sports; Decision Choices and Conditions

Ayelet Israeli is the Marvin Bower Associate Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School Marketing Unit. She is the co-founder of the Customer Intelligence Lab at the Digital Data Design (D^3) Institute at Harvard Business School. She teaches... View Details

Keywords: retailing; e-commerce industry; internet; automotive

June 2017
Article

The Political Economy of Financial Innovation: Evidence from Local Governments

By: Christophe Pérignon and Boris Vallée

We examine the toxic loans sold by investment banks to local governments. Using proprietary data, we show that politicians strategically use these products to increase chances of being re-elected. Consistent with greater incentives to hide the cost of debt, toxic loans... View Details

Keywords: Financial Innovation; Political Elections; Financing and Loans; Innovation and Invention

Find at Harvard

09 Nov 2018
News

Mainstreaming Sustainability: What Banks And Business Schools Should Do Next

December 2019 (Revised December 2022)
Case

TXU (A): Powering the Largest Leveraged Buyout in History

By: Trevor Fetter, Erik Snowberg and Rebecca M. Henderson

This case is designed to support a lively discussion about the relative merits of shareholder vs. stakeholder perspectives in the context of a company that provides a vital public service that has important environmental implications. The 2007 purchase of TXU, the... View Details

Keywords: Leveraged Buyouts; Transformation; Insolvency and Bankruptcy; Environmental Sustainability; Business and Shareholder Relations; Business and Stakeholder Relations; Energy Generation; Non-Renewable Energy; Governing Rules, Regulations, and Reforms; Utilities Industry; Energy Industry; Texas

07 Nov 2016
News

How Wikipedia Keeps Political Discourse from Turning Ugly

January 2007 (Revised February 2010)
Case

Afghanistan 2006: Building a Brand New State

By: Noel Maurer, Debora L. Spar and J. Gunnar Trumbull

In 2006, Afghanistan remains a country in turmoil. It has a newly elected democratic government, a rebounding economy, and considerable economic potential. But the country is still torn by rival factions and dominated by the opium trade. Explores how Afghanistan has... View Details

Keywords: Developing Countries and Economies; Economic Growth; Policy; Government and Politics; Political Elections; Organizations; Outcome or Result; Afghanistan

David Scharfstein is the Edmund Cogswell Converse Professor of Finance and Banking at Harvard Business School. He has written on a wide range of topics in finance, including risk management, financial distress, corporate investment, capital structure, and venture... View Details

Keywords: banking

February 2016 (Revised July 2017)
Case

An Australian Ballot for California?

By: David Moss, Marc Campasano and Dean Grodzins

In early 1891, California lawmakers were considering a plan to reform the state's elections through the introduction of an “Australian” ballot. Under this new system, candidates from all qualifying parties would appear on official ballots, which would be printed by... View Details

Keywords: Voting; Ethics; Political Elections; Laws and Statutes; Change; California