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Research With Relevance

Research

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.

Hand holds a credit card to buy on an illustrated online store displayed on a laptop.

Adding sellers to online marketplaces can backfire

New research shows that adding suppliers increases transactions up to a point, but sales decline beyond that threshold.
An illustration of a global logistics network.

Restructuring supply chains for a turbulent future

Professor Vinayak Deshpande’s research shows actionable insights to prepare for major disruptions that are increasing in frequency and severity.
A person using a phone with a cartoon robot hovering above reading,

The secret to a better chatbot

Research by Professor Yuqian Xu shows that good bots don’t just listen, they anticipate why the customer called.
Computer with graphs on it.

Forecasting fails

Professor Eva Labro’s research shows that when firms with multiple locations miss their forecasts, productivity is hurt.
Amazon

When e-commerce platforms promote their own products

Professor Fei Long finds that e-commerce marketplaces are now competing with the sellers they host.
A cartoon of doctors and nurses taking care of patients.

Healthcare’s standardization solution

New research from UNC Kenan-Flagler finds that hospitals that deliver care more consistently tend to have better outcomes overall.
Bitcoin on top of a calculator and tax return.

Who reports cryptocurrency to the IRS?

What tax data reveals about cryptocurrency investors — and what it means for policy.
Many empty water bottles

Beyond recycling

Professor Kristopher Keller shows how bottle bills boost prices and change buying patterns.
A cartoon of four business professionals standing around a computer monitor displaying charts and a rocket launching.

When is the right time to launch a startup?

Founders’ work experience increases the chances for startup success, new research shows.
Delivery driver on a scooter to deliver food.

Uber eats itself

Research by Professor Christine Choi on Uber’s launch of Uber Eats shows the hidden costs of platform diversification and the implications for businesses that rely on third-party service providers.
A blurred large crowd at an airport.

Now boarding: Better ways to count airport crowds

Professor Adam Mersereau shows how a combination of smart sensors and algorithms can crack the passenger tracking challenge.
Illustration of two abstract human figures communicating.

Analysts notice when leaders say the future is … um, ah, bright

New research by UNC Kenan-Flagler finds that executives’ vocal hesitation and uncertainty leads to greater disagreement among analysts' forecasts.
A smiling young woman in a white blouse shakes hands with a man in a suit across a desk.

Boosting work performance with job security

New research suggests that permanent roles make workers—especially women—more productive by tapping into their intrinsic motivation rather than external incentives.
A smiling young nurse makes a video call on a tablet, gesturing with her hand while sitting at a desk.

Solving a shortage with virtual nurses

Researchers at UNC Kenan-Flagler explore if virtual nurses could provide a solution to a major healthcare problem.
Close up of a prescription bottle with white tablets falling out on top of a group of hundred dollar bills.

How disclosure laws really impact drug prices

Ginger Scanlon (PhD ’25) researches the effectiveness of disclosure regulation in reducing drug costs for patients and health plans.