Publications

9 AM – 9 AM EST, 07 Nov 2018

HBX Leading with Finance

Gain a deep understanding of the principles of finance a toolkit for making smart financial decisions and the confidence to communicate those decisions to key stakeholders. Program Dates: November 7, 2018 - December 19, 2018 View Details

Article

Financing Experiments

By: Ramana Nanda and Matthew Rhodes-Kropf

Find at Harvard

Read Now

2024
Article

Political Polarization and Finance

By: Elisabeth Kempf and Margarita Tsoutsoura

We review an empirical literature that studies how political polarization affects financial decisions. We first discuss the degree of partisan segregation in finance and corporate America, the mechanisms through which partisanship may influence financial decisions, and... View Details

Keywords: Government and Politics; Investment Portfolio; Decisions; Governance

Find at Harvard

Register to Read

12 Apr – 24 May 2017
HBS Online

HBX Leading with Finance

Leading with Finance helps you build an intuitive understanding of finance to better communicate with key stakeholders and grow your career. Target audience: HBS alumni and colleagues; recommend to someone from your professional or personal network. View Details

12 Oct 2017
News

Technology is revolutionising supply-chain finance

March 2011 (Revised June 2011)
Background Note

Government Policy and Clean-Energy Finance

By: Ramana Nanda, Sanjay Aggarwal and Nilam Ganenthiran

What leads to market failures in finance of clean energy startups? How do different governments approach this issue? View Details

Keywords: Government and Politics; Finance; Policy; Energy Industry

2000
Working Paper

Future Possibilities in Finance Theory and Finance Practice

By: Robert C. Merton

Read Now

May 2007 (Revised July 2007)
Case

JetBlue: Prepare for Financing

The CFO of JetBlue is trying to decide which of two financing proposals to pursue. A straight equity issue will dilute his principal shareholders' ownership, but seems like the safer alternative in an industry that is notorious for its high failure rate. On the other... View Details

Keywords: Decision Choices and Conditions; Private Equity; Public Equity; Financing and Loans; Air Transportation Industry; United States

A recap of the 2021 Climate Finance Short Intensive Program co-taught at HBS with George Serafeim. Spotlights which stakeholders must come together to alleviate “the tragedy of the commons” problem in climate finance solutions. View Details

2011
Chapter

Financing Constraints and Entrepreneurship

By: William R. Kerr and Ramana Nanda

Financing constraints are one of the biggest concerns impacting potential entrepreneurs around the world. Given the important role that entrepreneurship is believed to play in the process of economic growth, alleviating financing constraints for would-be entrepreneurs... View Details

Keywords: Economic Growth; Entrepreneurship; Financing and Loans; Investment; Policy; Research

Find at Harvard

Read Now

2018
Other Teaching and Training Material

Finance Reading: Corporate Governance

By: John Coates and Suraj Srinivasan

Core Curriculum Readings in Finance cover the fundamental concepts, theories, and frameworks in finance. This reading presents an overview of corporate governance, focusing on for-profit businesses that are privately owned by dispersed investors—that is, not owned by a... View Details

Keywords: Finance; Corporate Governance; For-Profit Firms; Private Ownership; Conflict of Interests

February 2024 (Revised February 2025)
Case

Financing Matillion's Scaleup (A)

By: Raymond Kluender, Emanuele Colonnelli and Ramana Nanda

In 2019, Matthew Scullion, founder and CEO of U.K. startup Matillion, faced a decision about which term sheet to accept for the lead investor in his company’s $35 million Series C financing round. Would the connections and opportunities offered by Silicon Valley-based... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Negotiation; Ownership; Business Startups; Decisions; Venture Capital; Financing and Loans; Valuation; Information Technology Industry; United Kingdom

December 2001 (Revised April 2003)
Case

Financing PPL Corporation's Growth Strategy

By: Benjamin C. Esty and Carrie Ferman

PPL Corp., an electric utility in Pennsylvania, needs to finance $1 billion of peaking plants as part of its new growth strategy. In February 2001, Steve May, director of finance for PPL's Global Division, is responsible for recommending a finance plan. After... View Details

Keywords: Financial Management; Financial Instruments; Project Finance; Financial Strategy; Corporate Finance; Leasing

September 2010 (Revised October 2010)
Background Note

Note on International Trade Finance

By: C. Fritz Foley, Matthew Johnson and David Lane

This note provides an introduction to the financing terms and payment arrangements that support international trade. It describes the principal instruments of trade finance, the limited evidence on their relative use, and the international trade dispute resolution... View Details

Keywords: Trade; Credit; Financial Instruments; Financing and Loans; International Finance; Conflict and Resolution