Research at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

Research is key to how we make good on our promise to prepare students and executives for tomorrow’s business world. Our professors examine critical issues influencing 21st century business – you benefit from their insights in the classroom and the boardroom.

The push to reskill workers displaced by AI could backfire

Professor Seyed Emadi’s new research shows why expanding retraining programs in the wrong places can accelerate the very losses they’re meant to ease.

Person uses a smartphone next to a piggy bank.

The rise of mobile money fuels entrepreneurship

Professor Audra Wormald shows how unlikely startups transformed financial inclusion in the developing world.

Hands holding binoculars on a blue/orange background

Out of sight, out of mind

The farther people are from their jobs, the more likely they are to discount risk and treat the safety of others as someone else's problem.

Illustration of remote workers using laptops from different global locations.

Who benefits from remote work?

Research shows that remote work benefits startups — far more than established companies — boosting productivity and growth.

A 3D illustration of a single woman leading a group of people.

The best bosses are breaking gender stereotypes

Research by Professor Marie Mitchell finds employees are less stressed under women who lead with authority and men who lead with warmth. But female leaders pay a hidden price.

Close-up Of Robot Examining Financial Report With Calculator On Desk

AI and the accounting profession

New research shows accounting-related AI investment reduces demand for traditional accountants and their skills but doesn’t lead to worse accounting work outcomes.

A woman sits on a laptop at home while a child covers their eyes.

The motherhood penalty might be fading

A new study by Professor Christopher Petsko finds parents are rated more positively at work, but non-parents face potential discrimination and racial gaps remain.

A cyber visual of a lock with two sets of audiences on either side.

Fusing data assets without weakening privacy

Professor Longxiu Tian offers a solution for extracting value from sensitive data while ensuring individual confidentiality.

Cartoon of a tired worker with their head on their desk.

Your high-performance culture could be creating cheaters

Research shows how pressure, sleep deprivation and social dynamics drive employees from minor ethical lapses to major misconduct — and how to break the cycle.

Young boy walking hand in hand with his father while wearing a striped prisoner uniform on a beach at sunset.

Does financial wrongdoing run in the family?

Research shows that top executives are far more likely to engage in financial misconduct if their parents did.

A group of colleagues work on a project together in a boardroom.

Every founder needs a second-in-command. Here’s why.

Professor Brad Hendricks’ new research finds that founder-CEOs are more likely than hired executives to direct employees toward fraud, corruption and misconduct.