Smith Brain Trust

Record-breaking summer air travel is underway, with U.S. airlines expected to carry 271 million passengers. Professor Suresh Acharya cites challenges like air traffic controller shortages and Boeing issues but believes airlines are reasonably prepared.

NPR's Marketplace spotlighted an accountant shortage, leading Professor Rebecca Hann to study its impact. The study highlights how prolonged vacancies increase financial reporting errors, stressing the critical role of accountants in maintaining robust internal controls.

University of Maryland research shows small businesses thrive with high social connections, critical for funding and growth. A study involving over 70 Baltimore small-business owners highlights social capital's importance, revealing it influences financing more than local bank presence or income…

The 21st Annual Summer Reading List for Business Leaders from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business offers diverse recommendations. Highlights include a memoir on AI advances, a book disputing free will, a Grover Cleveland biography, and a novel by Nobel Prize-winning…

Recent research by Pablo Slutzky from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business suggests that targeted credit rationing by banks, akin to Operation Choke Point, fails to significantly impact firms' operations, raising questions about the effectiveness of ESG strategies in…

Federal regulators are drafting new capital rules for banks, contested by industry experts like Clifford Rossi, Professor of the Practice and Director of SERC at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. Rossi argues against the rules as he warns of adverse economic impacts.

Spring brings baseball and taxes: Baltimore Orioles navigate $1.725 billion sale amid tax intricacies. David Rubenstein’s acquisition strategy aims to maximize tax benefits. IRS scrutiny looms over potential installment sale complications. Samuel Handwerger's expert insights reveal the complexities…

In September 2022, the proposed $24.6 billion merger of Krogers and Albertsons sparked controversy. The Federal Trade Commission intervened, citing concerns of reduced competition and higher prices. Amidst legal battles, a notable case study by Susan White at the University of Maryland explores the…

Roland Rust, Distinguished University Professor, highlights a concerning trend: Tech layoffs surpass 260,000 in 2023, persisting into 2024. He warns of a wider erosion of 'thinking' jobs due to AI advancements, emphasizing the emergence of 'feeling' roles. Rust urges a shift towards empathy and…

The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is leading the charge to understand how artificial intelligence is impacting jobs in the U.S. economy with the world’s first attempt to map the creation of AI-skilled jobs.