Wharton Stories: Business & Policy

Three students, two girls and one boy, smile and talk at a table in a classroom. They have computers, and one is red.
Learn about student programming with the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, with opportunities in impact investing, consulting, social entrepreneurship, research, community building, and more.

Welcome Back to Campus: 6 Social Impact Programs for Students

Mary-Hunter McDonnell gestures in front of a white board covered in blue writing. She wears a black long-sleeved dress.
Management professor Mary-Hunter McDonnell examines corporate strategies and responses to increased public scrutiny.

How Companies Engage with Social Activism

Steve Ballmer standing on a stage in front of an audience and talking. He is wearing a grey suit.
A summit of Penn Wharton Budget Model’s growing presence in D.C., the forum saw policymakers, business leaders, and academics examining the evolving tools that will make government more accessible to everyone.

Data for Government Transparency: Key Takeaways from Penn Wharton Budget Model’s First Policy Forum

Prof. Benjamin Keys standing in Steinberg-Dietrich. He has short hair and is wearing a grey collared shirt.
“I became interested in real estate because I was interested in households, and the house is the largest asset and the mortgage is the largest debt for most households’ portfolios.”

Prof. Benjamin Keys on the Intersection of Real Estate and Policy

Picture of a hand refueling a car at night.
Even though it’s phenomenal that some companies are doing so much more than what’s required, I think there’s still a strong need for a very aggressive government influence.

Prof. Arthur van Benthem Talks About the Intersection of Corporate Strategy and Government Energy Policy

Prof. Arthur van Benthem standing on Locust Walk. He has short, blonde hair and is wearing a light blue shirt
I get the ultimate chance to teach future business leaders about the need for sound economic policies, to actually tackle some of these environmental problems, and also explain that there are lots of opportunities to remedy them.

Prof. Arthur van Benthem Examines Energy and Environmental Markets Through an Economist’s Lens