Smith Brain Trust

Hurricane Ian is now a tropical storm, but estimates for the storm’s Florida landfall included a million-plus homes at risk for damage, with overall damages and losses expected to top $67 billion, according to Bloomberg.

We’re getting some relief at the gas pump, but having to dig deeper in our pockets to pay for groceries. The price of eggs is up about 40 percent since this time last year. We’re paying 20 percent more for milk, bread and a staple in many Americans’ diet - chicken.

Retailers have been working to reduce inventory to make room for holiday season items. Mishaps in planning dating back to last year are haunting them with excess stock of unwanted products, prompting tactics such as price-cutting, order cancellations and pack and hold.

Economic arguments for and against student loan forgiveness have streamed through the media since President Biden last week announced a three-part plan to cancel student debt for low- to middle-income borrowers. In responses to Brain Trust, Smith experts Michael Faulkender and David Kass give…

Last week’s student loan forgiveness announcement by the Biden Administration leads to the question: How do borrowers initiate action? The White House has indicated that application is likely to open in early October. But what about the meantime? Borrowers can prepare for the process, says Smith’s…

Facial recognition is the ability to scan, analyze, and recognize faces. It can come with complications – especially if you’re Black. That’s what Lauren Rhue, assistant professor of information systems at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business has found. Her research…

Negotiation at work is constant – whether with customers, colleagues or bosses. Professionals at all levels should be ready to “think on their feet” when the next situation arises to negotiate – whether in product pricing, partnership agreements or the next job offer, says Professor of Management…

It’s been about five years since Toys R Us filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and began liquidating its 700-plus big box stores in the United States. But a return to brick and mortar is under way – inside more than 400 Macy’s stores. Spaces, from 1,000 to 10,000 square feet, are combining…

More workers are returning to the office in person, but for job seekers, most initial interviews are still virtual. That’s not likely to change, says Maryland Smith’s Cynthia Velazquez O'Brien. And for many, the first-round interview might be conducted by artificial intelligence.

The Federal Reserve’s bank stress test is “capricious” and “arbitrary.” . . . “It’s inconsistent. It’s not transparent. It’s too volatile.” These descriptors came late last week from JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon during his bank’s quarterly earnings call. It was a response to results of the latest…