Smith Brain Trust

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.

Companies have managed risk for years. Traditionally, each business unit evaluates and handles their own risk, then reports to the CEO. Now, conventionally, the practice is holistically evolving to “enterprise risk management” or “ERM.”

Pre-pandemic, healthy demand for office and retail spaces signaled a growing commercial real estate (CRE) market. Loans were readily available, often with favorable terms. But the COVID lockdowns shifted the landscape significantly with businesses shuttering and employees transitioning to…

Amid a sluggish holiday-season outlook for retailers – thanks to the likes of rising credit card debt and dwindling, post-pandemic savings, competition is intensified for shoppers who are looking to spend. Reflecting this, big retailers initiated their holiday-season discounts as early as October…