Publications

2023
Working Paper

Deglobalization and Entrepreneurial Investment: The Natural Experiment of Brexit

By: Elisa Alvarez-Garrido and Juan Alcácer

We seek to gain insight into the consequences of deglobalization on entrepreneurial investment by analyzing an instance of economic disintegration: the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. Brexit is not only a unique empirical opportunity, a natural... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurial Finance; International Relations; Trade; Disruption; Globalized Economies and Regions; United Kingdom

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January 2025
Case

Untapped Global: Financing Africa's Missing Middle

By: Raymond Kluender and Emanuele Colonnelli

In November 2024, Jim Chu, founder and CEO of Untapped Global, faced mounting internal tensions over the company’s strategic direction. Untapped had developed a data-driven revenue-based financing (RBF) model to address the “missing middle” problem—the $5.2 trillion... View Details

20 Sep 2016
First Look

September 20, 2016

can harness volunteer leadership for transformative change; and how professionals can sustain core values in the midst of daily routine. The diverse array of writers with international reputations in their fields makes it the only book of... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

May 2025 (Revised May 2025)
Background Note

Social Enterprise in Latin America

By: Brian L. Trelstad and Karina Souza

This research note provides an overview of the social enterprise ecosystem in Latin America, exploring current dynamics across key markets, including country-specific insights on Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Central America. In a region characterized... View Details

10 Jun 2014
First Look

First Look: June 10

growing evidence of pollution and resulting political pressures. The variety of capitalism literature has suggested that the German coordinated market economy model was more conducive to green corporate strategies than liberal market... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

11 Mar 2019
Research & Ideas

Branding Sells Cereal, Handbags, and Vacations. Can It Sell a Country?

The 70th anniversary of Israel’s founding last year stirred reflection about the country’s image, values, and position in the world among everyone from former diplomats to Hollywood actors. Despite efforts to portray Israel as modern and safe, the Israeli-Palestinian... View Details

Keywords: by Danielle Kost; Tourism

April 2008 (Revised December 2008)
Case

North Goes East

By: Nicolas P. Retsinas, Daniela Beyersdorfer and Elena Corsi

In August 2006, Magnus Lofgren and Robert Provine, managing directors and co-founders of the "North Real Estate Opportunities Fund," need to decide which real estate investment the Fund should pursue as its first project. The Fund's target region, Central and Eastern... View Details

Keywords: Developing Countries and Economies; Investment Funds; Risk Management; Emerging Markets; Opportunities; Real Estate Industry; Europe

25 Jul 2006
First Look

First Look: July 25, 2006

Jones Author's Abstract A noteworthy characteristic of the contemporary global economy is the uneven distribution of world foreign direct investment (FDI). While in the first global economy before 1929 most... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

06 Jun 2016
Research & Ideas

Skills and Behaviors that Make Entrepreneurs Successful

Opportunities. Measures skills and behaviors associated with the ability to identify and seek out high-potential business opportunities. Vision and Influence. Measures skills and behaviors associated with the ability to influence all View Details

Keywords: by HBS Working Knowledge

28 Mar 2012
What Do You Think?

Are Factory Jobs Important to the Economy?

sectors of a developed economy cannot. He says, "jobs that create wealth are the absolute foundation for any economy this excludes most of the 'non-tradable' (largely personal service) jobs." While... View Details

Keywords: by James Heskett; Manufacturing

28 Jan 2008
Research & Ideas

Billions of Entrepreneurs in China and India

power, the way they deal with each other, and the way the village economy works. In China, the government is often the entrepreneur. It is in many instances a very efficient entrepreneur. Of course there are bankrupt state-owned... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

September 1992 (Revised July 1998)
Case

Germany in the 1990s: Managing Reunification

By: George C. Lodge and James W. Ragsdale

In October 1990, eastern Germany was incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany. The German people rewarded the architect of these changes, Helmut Kohl, with an enhanced majority in national elections. But only two years later it was hard to remember these heady... View Details

Keywords: Economy; Inflation and Deflation; Central Banking; Interest Rates; Political Elections; Situation or Environment; Integration; Europe; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom

24 Feb 2011
Research & Ideas

What’s Government’s Role in Regulating Home Purchase Financing?

The collapse of the US housing finance system, the subprime mortgage crisis, was a key contributor to the international economic crisis ignited in 2008. What should government do to prevent such an economic short-circuit in the future? On... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne; Financial Services

19 May 2009
First Look

First Look: May 19, 2009

California Public Employees' Retirement System (CaIPERS)—the largest public pension fund in the U.S.—had adopted a new principles-based approach to investing in emerging market equities in November 2007. Previously, CalPERS internal and... View Details

Keywords: Martha Lagace

2012
Working Paper

An Exploration of Luxury Hotels in Tanzania

By: Diego A. Comin

Tourism is a tradable service activity that could allow some African countries to generate significant growth. Tanzania, given its unique natural assets, is an ideal candidate. However, despite being so richly endowed in touristic resources, Tanzania receives very few... View Details

Keywords: Natural Environment; Business Ventures; Luxury; Revenue; Price; Developing Countries and Economies; Accommodations Industry; Tourism Industry; Tanzania