WashU Experts

While there are signs the economic conditions are improving, small businesses are more likely to feel the pinch of rising interest rates, a looming recession threat and persistent labor shortages in 2023, according to Olin Business School’s Peter Boumgarden.

If the historic five-day, 15-ballot floor fight to elect the House speaker is any indication, the next two years in American politics will be marked by unavoidable gridlock and vetoes, according to Arts & Sciences’ Steven Smith.

A proposed rule that would restrict minors’ access to public library books without parental consent “would make Missourians less free and less informed,” said Greg Magarian, a professor of law and a First Amendment expert.

Major advances in battery technologies will bring us a big step closer this year to large-scale renewable energy goals, international energy independence and a big reduction in greenhouse gases, according to Arts & Sciences’ Michael Wysession.

A proposed federal commercial surveillance rule would be an important and overdue change in U.S. consumer protection, said Neil Richards, a privacy law expert at the Washington University School of Law.

Recent Chinese protests over COVID-19 restrictions provided a blueprint for future activism to prevent government from infringing on civil liberties, says Zhao Ma, associate professor of modern Chinese history and culture in Arts & Sciences. That could spell trouble for President Xi’s administration.

With so much uncertainty, how can businesses gain a competitive edge going into the new year and beyond — better anticipating threats created by competitors, the economy, suppliers, politicians and more? One way is through the process of “war gaming,” says John Horn, a competitive strategy expert at Olin Business School.

In the rapidly changing conflict in Ukraine, Russian national narratives offer insight into President Vladimir Putin’s next move, says James Wertsch, an expert on Russia and international affairs.

If changes at Twitter conflict with businesses’ values, it’s time for companies to re-evaluate use of the social media platform, said Olin Business School marketing expert Michael Wall.

Steve Smith, a leading congressional politics scholar, discusses the factors making 2022 midterms difficult to predict, what’s ahead for the second half of President Joe Biden’s term and the impact the midterm election could have on the GOP’s future.