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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. Contributing to the breadth and depth of our thought leadership are our Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise and Centers.

Shimul Melwani and Angelica Leigh

Black employees matter

UNC Kenan-Flagler researchers examine how minority employees react at work to highly publicized police shootings of black Americans.
Thermometer

Heat waves don’t just take a toll on your health – they can hurt the economy, too

Rising temperatures, especially in the summer, can have a major impact on the future growth of the U.S. economy.
American flag with U.S. cut out and pills

The opioid crisis hurts firm growth

The toll of the U.S. opioid crisis extends to companies, UNC Kenan-Flagler researchers show.
Stormy weather with a sign that reads economic uncertainty ahead.

Economic uncertainty affects economic decisions

Economic uncertainty affects consumption, credit and investment choices – and varies significantly across American households.
Chalkboard sign that reads fair

When companies treat employees fairly, everyone wins

Professor Elad Sherf’s research helps answer why unfair treatment of employees persists.
Grocery shoppers

Even if you don’t shop at Lidl, you benefit from its lower prices

Professor Katrijn Gielens studied the effects of the retailer’s entry into U.S. markets.
Chris Bingham

Improve agility through simple rules

Why are some companies able to adapt and continuously evolve in a complex, dynamic environment while others struggle? A primary challenge that organization...
Tired retail associate

Better work schedules mean better sleep for retail associates

Improving schedule stability in the retail sector means better sleep for sales associates, according to a study on improving scheduling practices in hourly...
Coworkers working together

Stable scheduling in retail is good for business and workers

The plight of retail workers subject to unpredictable scheduling has caught the attention of both the media and lawmakers around the U.S. In some cases, wo...
Female and male colleagues

When compliments don’t work

“Your ideas were good — for an intern.” “You are good looking — for your size.” “For a young woman, your speech was great.” We’ve all heard backhanded comm...
Man walking into an office building

Audit firms benefit from PCAOB hires

Federal prosecutors made headlines when they charged six accountants with conspiracy and other charges in January 2018. They said five accountants conspire...
world markets

When brands suffer crises abroad, distance makes a difference

Bad things sometimes happen to brands. In 2010, for example, some Chinese drywall manufacturers received unpleasant news when U.S. testing showed their pro...

The disruption of the global grocery market is explored in book

The U.S. grocery market is the biggest in the world and it’s under competitive threat from “hard discounters” like Aldi, Trader Joe’s and Lidl. Hard discou...

PhD student researches diversity at work

UNC’s research magazine Endeavors featured Angelica Leigh (PhD candidate). Asked to define her research in just five words, she responded: “Diversity’s dyn...
Shimul Melwani

Finding light in the dark

Two days before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Shimul Melwani sat in her office with PhD student Angelica Leigh discussing the two paths diverging be...