Publications

March 2007 (Revised April 2007)
Case

Micro Insurance Agency: Helping the Poor Manage Risk

By: Michael Chu and Jean Hazell

The notable success of insurance products for low-income clients of its microfinance network leads Opportunity International to launch the first global specialized microinsurance company, the Micro Insurance Agency (MIA). Building on the experience in 10 countries... View Details

Keywords: Developing Countries and Economies; Cost Management; Microfinance; Globalization; Growth and Development Strategy; Risk Management; Infrastructure; Nonprofit Organizations; Competition; Financial Services Industry; Africa; Asia; Latin America

November 1983 (Revised May 1984)
Background Note

Note on the Export of Pesticides from the United States to Developing Countries

This is an issues-oriented note designed to stimulate discussion of the ethical aspects of the sale of pesticides which are not approved for any use or only for restricted use in the United States to less developed countries. It is organized as follows: the problem,... View Details

Keywords: Pollutants; Ethics; Health; Chemicals; Developing Countries and Economies; Chemical Industry; United States

09 Nov 2012
Working Paper Summaries

Securities Litigation Risk for Foreign Companies Listed in the US

Keywords: by Beiting Cheng, Suraj Srinivasan & Gwen Yu

Research Summary

International business and political risk in West Africa

This project, based on confidential corporate archives, explores the response of foreign companies to political decolonization and the threat of expropriation in Ghana and Nigeria. Foreign companies in Ghana and Nigeria, especially those from Britain, had a... View Details

March 1999 (Revised March 2000)
Case

Cross Country Group, The: A Piece of the Rock (A)

By: Robert L. Simons and Indra Reinbergs

A new MBA graduate joins a privately held family business and sets ambitious growth goals for the next five years. To enhance motivation, he proposes a new incentive plan that will grant him a share of the wealth he creates. However, the family owners have a more... View Details

Keywords: Family Business; Decisions; Motivation and Incentives; Business Strategy; Performance Efficiency; Risk and Uncertainty; Growth and Development; Planning; Accounting Industry; Employment Industry

September 2012
Teaching Note

Kaesong Industrial Complex (A) and (B) (TN)

By: Eric Werker and Dante Roscini

Keywords: Foreign Investment; Country Risk; Bilateral Trade; Special Economic Zones; Risk and Uncertainty; Trade; Foreign Direct Investment

10 Dec 2021
Research & Ideas

Truth Be Told: Unpacking the Risks of Whistleblowing

relying on whistleblowers to prevent and investigate fraud, the professors realized, there is little understanding about the real risks faced by an employee who steps forward. Dey and Heese set out to study the experiences of about 2,400... View Details

Keywords: by April White

October 2012
Supplement

Hill Country Snack Foods Co., Spreadsheet for Students (Brief Case) (CW)

By: W. Carl Kester and Craig Stephenson

Keywords: United States; Debt Management; Retail Trade; Risk Management; Food; Capital Structure; Borrowing and Debt; Financial Strategy; Retail Industry; United States

17 Oct 2024
Research & Ideas

The Reputation Risks of Sharing Fake News

Harvard Business School. “Even in this politicized, polarized environment that our country finds itself in, people value accuracy.” Ultimately, Jordan’s research casts doubt on the idea that reputational motivations, and in particular the... View Details

Keywords: by Avery Forman

30 Jun 2020
Book

Capitalism Is More at Risk Than Ever

The book Capitalism at Risk first appeared in 2011. The problems it identified with social inequality, global trade strife, and environmental degradation have only accelerated by 2020. The new edition of Capitalism at Risk, subtitled How Business Can Lead, is expanded... View Details

Keywords: by Martha Lagace

September 2023 (Revised October 2024)
Case

Forecasting Climate Risks: Aviva’s Climate Calculus

By: Mark Egan and Peter Tufano

In late 2021, Ben Carr, Director of Analytics and Capital Modeling at Aviva Plc (Aviva)—a leading insurer with core operations in the UK, Ireland and Canada,—was preparing for an upcoming presentation before the company's board which included its CEO, Amanda Blanc,... View Details

Keywords: Climate Risk; Climate Finance; Forecasting; Insurance; Risk Measurement; Climate Change; Risk Management; Forecasting and Prediction; Insurance Industry; United States

14 Mar 2018
Blog Post

The 2+2 Program: Finding the Freedom to Take Risks

what challenges I wanted to confront in my life and career. As an immigrant from a war-torn country and a student of business, I wanted to find ways to use my business skills to improve the lives of others, just as mine was improved when... View Details

25 Aug 2022
News

GOP Fury Over ESG Triggers Backlash With US Pensions at Risk

September 2012 (Revised September 2015)
Case

Doing Business in Argentina

By: Rawi Abdelal, Amy C. Edmondson, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, Gustavo A. Herrero and Regina Garcia-Cuellar

An imaginary oil company is invited to participate in a potentially lucrative investment in a large oil field just as the Argentine government is taking actions that seem to jeopardize private property rights within its borders. This case highlights the risks and... View Details

Keywords: Business Evaluation; Fieldwork; Emergent Countries; Emerging Market Finance; Emerging Markets; Business Ventures; Strategy; Argentina

01 Apr 2001
News

Big Deals: Project Finance Helps Mitigate Risk in Large-Scale Investments

careful allocation of risks and returns among the various parties so that they have incentives to manage efficiently. Also important is the possibility for adjustments in risk allocation and responsibilities... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; Motorola; Air Transportation; Transportation; Business Schools & Computer & Management Training; Educational Services; Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing; Manufacturing; Securities, Commodities, and Other Financial Investments; Finance; Telecommunications; Information

26 Nov 2018
News

New York Alumni Explore Risks and Opportunities in Climate Change

climate change and its impact on their industries. They want to talk about it.” Alumni explored investment risks and opportunities in climate change at HBS Club of New York panel discussion. To get the conversation started, Lassiter sent... View Details

Keywords: Margie Kelley; clubs; alumni clubs

Web

2018 Financial Risk and Regulation Survey - Behavioral Finance & Financial Stability

2018 Financial Risk and Regulation Survey 2018 Financial Risk and Regulation Survey 1. Survey Background In October of 2018, Harvard Business School hosted The Global Financial Crisis: What We Learned, Where... View Details

04 Mar 2016
Research & Ideas

Is E-commerce at Risk in Apple's Security Dispute with the FBI?

government investigations? Or what kind of obligation should it have? A: It is noteworthy that we’re in a country that allows us to talk about this openly in the first place. Imagine if we were in China. We wouldn’t even be having this... View Details

Keywords: Re: Sunil Gupta; Technology

2011
Other Unpublished Work

Military Ties, New Ventures, and Political Risk Management in Emerging Economies

By: Shon R. Hiatt and Wesley Sine

New ventures in emerging economies face a number of challenges such as political instability, corruption, and uncertain property rights that can severely hinder their ability to grow and survive, yet little is known about how startups can mitigate such risk. Using data... View Details

Keywords: Risk Management; Business Startups; Government and Politics; Developing Countries and Economies; Latin America