Thought Leadership in Review

This year, faculty experts at Poole College of Management have captivated a diverse audience by sharing emerging research, exploring trending marketplace topics and addressing national issues and societal challenges. A wide array of local and national media outlets sought out Poole’s thought leaders for their insights. Explore the highlights below.

Top 10 Viewed Articles

1. An Unexpected Tax Burden: How North Carolina Will Tax Your Gambling Income Even if You Have Net Losses

April 24, 2024

On March 11, 2024, sports gambling became legalized in North Carolina. However, many taxpayers are going to be faced with an unexpected incremental tax burden. While many were expecting this burden if they make money — that is, have net winnings — off their sports gambling, taxpayers in North Carolina will likely owe additional taxes even if they end up with a net loss. Nathan Goldman and Christina Lewellen discuss the implications of North Carolinians being unable to itemize their gambling losses and what that means for them as they bet on sports in North Carolina.

2. Apple’s Planning a $110B Stock Buyback. Here’s Why.

May 15, 2024

Apple Inc. has announced a significant $110 billion share buyback plan, purchasing its own stock from investors. Richard Warr explains that buybacks, or repurchases, involve companies buying their own shares at the current market price. This strategy is often used to return value to shareholders, boost earnings per share, and signal confidence in the company’s future. By reducing the number of outstanding shares, Apple aims to enhance its stock’s value and potentially improve investor returns. This approach reflects a strategic financial decision to manage company resources and market perception.

3. National Accounting Leader Shares Real-World Insights

March 22, 2024 

Poole College of Management Master of Accounting (MAC) students welcomed George R. Botic to their Advanced Auditing class, where he shared his knowledge and insights through a lively Q&A session. Through his exchange with MAC students, Botic noted they are “the future of the profession” and covered topics ranging from the role of the PCAOB to the impact of new technology on the accounting profession.

4. When Giveaways Get Out of Hand

May 21, 2024

Red Lobster has declared bankruptcy, partly due to a highly unsuccessful $20 endless shrimp promotion. The situation is unusual because Red Lobster’s major investor, Thai Union, which supplies seafood, appointed a CEO who not only cut other shrimp suppliers but also made the bottomless shrimp offer a permanent menu item. Michael Stanko analyzed the impact of this shrimp promotion on Red Lobster’s financial troubles.

5. Machine Learning and the Future of Investing: A Q&A With Economist Mehmet Caner

March 24, 2024 

Mehmet Caner, Thurman-Raytheon Distinguished Professor of Economics at Poole College, explores how hedge funds and economists can leverage machine learning for smarter investment decisions and financial theory integration. His papers, published in the Journal of Econometrics, address Sharpe ratios in high dimensions and new machine learning methods. Caner recently shared his insights at panel discussions on big data and AI in economics and finance at Indiana University Bloomington and Erasmus University Rotterdam. His ongoing research focuses on the practical applications of machine learning in finance

6. What’s Next for Unionization in the South

May 9, 2024 

For decades, foreign automakers like BMW, Mercedes, and Toyota have established manufacturing plants in the South due to lower wages and minimal unionization. However, this dynamic is shifting. Recently, Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, TN plant employees voted decisively to join the United Auto Workers (UAW). Steven Allen provides insights into the implications of this unionization victory for future efforts in the region.

7. Rob Handfield Teams With U.S. Air Force To Host Inaugural Gameapalooza

March 19, 2024 

The Call of Duty series and similar combat games are popular, but games simulating battle logistics hold massive potential. Gameapalooza at Hunt Library, initiated by Robert Handfield and NC State colleagues, united researchers, developers, and military officials to explore gaming as a training tool, building on their 2022 study on gamifying defense acquisition training.

8. Whited, Burd Examine SEC Climate Disclosure Amendment

April 8, 2024 

On March 6, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, mandating climate-related disclosures in the annual report of public companies. Rob Whited and Carly Burd analyzed the implications of these new requirements, exploring how they will impact corporate reporting practices and advising businesses on compliance strategies.

9. Robert Clark and Lee Craig Examine North Carolina’s Public-School Teacher Retirement Benefits

January 26, 2024 

Over the past two decades, many U.S. states have cut retirement benefits for new public-school teachers due to rising pension costs. Robert Clarke and Lee Craig found that North Carolina’s public-school teacher retirement plan is relatively well-funded compared to many other state plans.

10. Do Tariffs Really Impact China’s Global Supply Chain?

March 7, 2024 

Robert Handfield collaborated with Clark Banach, program director at Aletheia Research Institution and Futures Fellow at MERICS, to discuss China’s growing control over global supply chains and the limited effectiveness of U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports. Their joint blog explores these issues and showcases other insights. 

In the Media

Rob Handfield Explains Cause, Impact of Reduced Traffic in Panama Canal

NPR | Jan. 30, 2024

Rob Handfield, Bank of America Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain Management at Poole College, talks to Steve Inskeep on NPR’s “Morning Edition” about the bottleneck caused by reduced traffic through the Panama Canal.

“As you know, there are really just two large canals that impact … really act as bottlenecks to global shipping, and that’s the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal,” Handfield says during the broadcast. “So when one of them has a 36% drop in capacity, from roughly 38 per day down to 24 ships per day, you get a backup.”

Patrick Flynn Weighs In on AI ‘Trust Gap’

CNBC | Feb. 15, 2024

While both rank-and-file workers and the C-suite see AI as a great opportunity for business transformation, both sides are skeptical over its deployment. Poole College’s Patrick Flynn, an assistant professor of human resource management, describes trust as “critical currency” in the workplace.

“From a subordinate, lower-level employee’s perspective, they have to trust two different actors, the leader and the AI,” Flynn said.

Nathan Goldman Examines Tax Credit Proposed by President Biden 

USA Today | March. 23, 2024

USA Today tapped Nathan Goldman, associate professors of accounting in the Poole College of Management, to help break down a tax-related proposal introduced by President Joe Biden in his March 7 State of the Union Address. 
Under the proposal, first-time homebuyers would receive tax credits worth $5,000 a year for two years. However, Goldman cautions, “Not everybody will get a $10,000 tax credit.”

Poole Researchers Reveal Tax Implications of Sports Betting in North Carolina 

WRAL News | April 28, 2024

WRAL News highlighted research by Poole College economists Nathan Goldman and Christina Lewellen that examines the implications of North Carolinians being unable to itemize their gambling losses — and what that means for them as they bet on sports in North Carolina.

“Once you exceed $600, you will receive a W-2G in the mail,” Goldman says. “This is gonna be just like any other document that you get from like your employer or from a brokerage if you have some investments.” 

Newsweek Features Poole Research on Daylight Savings Time

Newsweek | May 22, 2024

In a study of consumer data from two companies—one that makes snacks and one that runs fitness centers—Poole College marketing professor Ram Janakiraman and associate professor Rishika Rishika found that people work out less and eat more processed foods immediately after daylight savings time begins. 

“One big takeaway for consumers is that we need to be mindful about trying to maintain healthy habits after daylight saving time,” Rishika told Newsweek.

Steve Allen Explains Why Apple Paused Plans For RTP Campus

ABC-11 News | June 27, 2024

Apple has paused development of its $552 million RTP campus as it seeks to delay the construction timeline in the state by four years.Poole College Economics Professor Steve Allen pointed to the general trend in the tech industry which saw major hiring in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, a pattern which has largely dissipated. 

“The technology uncertainty is one thing that’s a driver. Another thing that’s a driver is regulatory uncertainty,” Allen said. “I think clearly the people who are in charge of the real estate part of this deal and the people who were counting on the employment projections are pretty upset. We’re not talking about a 60-day delay because permitting in Wake County is a little bit slow. As you said, we’re talking about a significant four-year delay.”