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US Tax Changes 2019: A Look Ahead
We're featuring a series this month called “2019: A Look Ahead” and continue with a look at impending changes to US tax law and policy. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into effect in 2018 and the majority of us will feel its impact when we file our taxes in the coming weeks or months. However it's already left a mark on the federal budget deficit. Although the Trump administration said the tax plan would "pay for itself," that has not happened, instead the deficit went up by 17 percent from the year before. The small boost it gave to the economy may be a temporary effect. In the meantime, the IRS is dealing with the partial government shutdown and it's unclear whether tax refunds will be sent out on time, even though the deadline to file remains the same. Host Dan Loney is joined by Michael Knoll, Co-Director of the Center for Tax Law and Policy as well as Law Professor at the Univ. of Pennsylvania Law School, and Daniel Hemel, Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago Law School, to discuss how these tax policies might play out in 2019.
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The Business Impact of Leadership Under Pressure
16:24|Nancy Rothbard, Deputy Dean and Professor of Management at the Wharton School, joins the show to examine how leaders respond to intensifying workplace disruption. The conversation covers decision bottlenecks, delegation, emotional regulation, and sustaining performance under pressure. Rothbard also discusses Wharton’s Owner/President and CEO Program, which helps executives strengthen strategy and succession planning. Learn more at: whartonopc.com
The Fed’s Payment Rails and Fintech Access
14:15|David Zaring, Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics at the Wharton School, joins the show to explain the Federal Reserve’s consideration of a “skinny” master account for nonbank financial firms. The conversation covers payment rails, regulatory oversight, competition with traditional banks, and the implications for community lenders and financial stability. They also examine potential litigation and legislative responses.
Zeke Emanuel on Medicare Payment and Innovation Reform
12:47|Zeke Emanuel, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the Wharton School, joins the show to discuss recent reforms at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The conversation covers site-neutral payments, strengthening primary care compensation, innovation models, and efforts to address waste and Medicare Advantage risk adjustment. They also examine the broader fiscal and policy implications for the $1.7 trillion agency.
The Economic Cost of Conflict with Iran
10:17|Kent Smetters, Faculty Director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model and Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School, breaks down the projected budgetary costs of conflict with Iran, estimates potential GDP losses driven by higher oil prices, and explains how supply shocks could influence inflation and Federal Reserve decision-making.
The Decline of the Cover Letter in the AI Era
11:36|Judd Kessler, Professor of Business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School and author of Lucky by Design, explains how artificial intelligence is eroding the signaling power of cover letters and elevating the importance of recommendations, networking, and real-world connections in the labor market.
From Hype to Impact: AI Reshapes Enterprise Software
13:13|Stefano Puntoni, Marketing Professor at the Wharton School and Co-Director of the Wharton Human-AI Research Program, explains how artificial intelligence is pressuring SaaS margins, lowering barriers to entry, reshaping pricing models, and marking a potential inflection point for enterprise software markets.
Fed Leadership, Rate Cuts, and Geopolitical Risks Ahead
10:39|Jeremy Siegel, Professor Emeritus of Finance at the Wharton School and Senior Economist at Wisdom Tree, analyzes the Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs, the market’s resilience amid policy uncertainty, the potential impact of Kevin Warsh as Fed chair, and how geopolitical tensions with Iran could influence interest rates and economic growth.
Understanding Crypto Sentiment and Market Signals
11:33|Dave Reibstein, Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, explains how the school’s Cryptocurrency Confidence Index tracks U.S. consumer sentiment, explores links between confidence and price volatility, and examines the role of regulation and public perception in shaping the future of digital assets.
How Geopolitics Is Hitting Local Gas Stations
12:36|Serguei Netessine, Wharton Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions, discusses how U.S. sanctions on Lukoil are disrupting franchise agreements, banking relationships, and customer perceptions for locally operated gas stations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.