Contrary to what Martin Rufer, Director of the Swiss Farmers’ Union (SBC), wrote in his guest commentary for the NZZ on 4th September 2023, farmers and their families are not victims of a misguided fiscal policy. They are victims of Switzerland’s failed agricultural policy, that has been significantly shaped by the SBC in the last decades. Using farmers and their families What is at stake exactly? Rufer criticizes the federal…
Online shopping has become a staple of modern commerce, and with it comes the necessity for clear consumer protection laws. Here’s a comparison of the rights of consumers in Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK) when it comes to returning goods purchased online. Switzerland: 1. Right of Withdrawal: Switzerland does not have a statutory right for consumers to change their mind and return non-defective goods unless it’s stipulated by the…
Thanks to the proliferation of APIs1 and the advent of Open Banking2, these FinTechs have specialised first and foremost in collecting, refining and structuring business data, notably banking and financial data. They mass process information such as bank statements, customer and supplier billing histories and activity data from e-commerce and advertising platforms. All this data is then fed into proprietary algorithms that evaluate and score businesses seeking funding. Their core…
Amid heightened fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East, our focus must turn to deterring and punishing terrorist aggressors in the region, led by Iran, instead of trying to appease the terrorists by making dangerous concessions. Oil represents the best leverage over Iran, even though it has been overlooked by media commentators, and strengthening sanctions on Iranian oil can help preserve peace. Iran is driving the Middle East…
Today, more and more are prioritizing sleep as it relates to health. The growing interest in sleep is clear from recent trends observed with the Samsung Health app. Over the past two years, there has been a 182% increase1 in the number of users who actively tracked sleep2 at least once a week for a year. Yet despite this, the question remains: have we been sleeping well? Samsung set out…
Right after I wrapped up my university degree, I was super excited to dive into my career. But let me tell you, it was no walk in the park trying to land my very first job. Finding a job, especially in my hometown, was a real challenge. After a whole lot of searching, I finally scored a full time job at an optical clinic. I worked really hard and did…
Nearly all of our electricity is generated from heat powering a steam turbine. Historically, this energy conversion has been achieved through burning wood or fossil fuels. However, while these sorts of reactions release a large amount of chemical energy, they are nothing compared to the energy of a nuclear reaction. Here is the specific energy, or the amount of energy (megajoules) per kilogram, in common fuel types. As you can…
Marketing today looks nothing like it did in the 1960s, the start of “The Golden Age of Advertising,” when television gave brands new opportunities to connect with audiences. by Betsy Vereckey Technology has transformed the space, whether that’s machine learning algorithms that can pick the perfect image or curated social media accounts that can attract followers. New ways of collecting and using consumers’ data has marketing executives taking out some…
In a recent case against the high-end restaurant Tattu, based in Soho, London, the Employment Tribunal found that instructing female employees to wear makeup can constitute sexual harassment under the Equality Act 2010. In this particular case, Tattu’s deputy manager, Ms Joanne Huang told 24 year old waitress, Ms Jahnayde Henry that she looked ‘tired and unpresentable’ and suggested that she should wear makeup in the future. Sexual harassment is…
Doris Duke, the heiress to a huge tobacco fortune, did not name a trusted family member as the executor of her Will. Instead, she chose her personal butler, Bernard Lafferty, to manage her estate. Concerns about his intentions grew when Duke became ill, and Lafferty already had a hearse waiting outside the house while she was still alive. Those close to her tried to intervene when she was on her…
In a welcome surprise to employers, the Alberta Court of King's Bench dismissed an employee's claim of wrongful dismissal. In its dismissal, the Court remarkably awarded both compensatory and punitive damages to the employer as a result of the employee's misconduct. Amid a pro-employee legal landscape, this decision serves as a vital reminder to high-level employees of their duty to represent their employer honestly. Background The Plaintiff, Patrick Breen, was…
As the old adage says (and I quote Marshall Goldsmith), “What got you here won’t get you there.” In other words, later in your career, moving fast and having all the answers is actually detrimental to your executive presence and your ability to motivate and engage others. Let’s unpack this a bit. First, raise your hand if you identify with any of the following statements: I have a high capacity…
Maintaining an expert’s independence is of utmost importance. All participants in an arbitration or court proceedings know that a situation where an expert’s independence is being questioned should be avoided. However, what is a reasonable level of caution for legal advisors to hold when working with experts? Rebecca Ruthven Associate Director, Forensic Accounting and Commercial Damages RebeccaRuthven@hka.com The use of and interactions with experts can vary between litigation and…
As part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress on November 15, 2021, BABA established a domestic content preference for federal financial assistance obligated for infrastructure projects. The domestic content preference applies to three separate product categories: (i) iron or steel products, (ii) manufactured products, and (iii) construction materials.[1] Who Does BABA Apply to? BABA applies to non-federal entities (e.g., state governments, local governments, Indian tribes, institutes…
From software that once came in a box to phone apps that do simple tasks, more products and services are moving to a subscription model—and consumers are feeling it. The average US consumer last year spent $273 a month on 12 paid subscriptions. People were already used to paying for streaming content, cell phone service, and meal delivery, but now there are subscriptions for toothbrushes, razors, pet food, and apparel.…
The technical term for platforms like AirBnb and Task Rabbit is “peer-to-peer exchanges,” but most people know them as part of the sharing economy. The sharing economy, or that part of commerce where individuals share their resources with others for a fee, has been around for thousands of years. Tuck professor Nailya Ordabayeva teaches the core marketing course in the Tuck MBA program. She also teaches Marketing Principles for Creating…
Amidst a landscape of uncertainty and volatility, business leaders are increasingly recognising the paramount importance of ensuring business resilience. The Global Economy today is experiencing cross-cutting forces. On the one hand, exports are back on the rise, supply chain pressures are disappearing, AI-driven technological disruptions are accelerating and the post-pandemic recovery is well underway (1). At the same time, our globalised economy is facing significant headwinds from geopolitical tension, economic…
Did you know that every third week of October is Workplace Bullying Awareness Week? It is a week to be daring and bold. This week is all about breaking the silence and shame that often surround this problem. In a perfect work setting, it should be a place where every employee feels safe, respected, and empowered to do their best. However, reality often falls short of this ideal. Workplace bullying…
Bio/pharma patents are rarely targeted in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings because their technical vulnerabilities often relate to written description and/or enablement. IPR, of course, is restricted in scope to grounds of unpatentability that are based on patents and printed publications. Claims in the unpredictable arts, even when challenged in IPR, can be relatively tougher to invalidate as compared to patents in the predictable arts. Section 112 (written description) issues…
Boss's Day, observed on October 16th in the United States, is a day marked on the calendar for employees to express gratitude toward their bosses. Patricia Bays Haroski, who registered "National Boss' Day" with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1958, had a more idealistic aim: to bridge the emotional and professional gap between managers and their teams. Still, Hallmark did not capitalize on this newly created holiday until 1979.…
The theory has held for decades: give people a choice and you’re also giving them an illusory sense of control. For example, a much-cited 1975 study found that if people are allowed to pick the numbers on a lottery ticket rather than having them randomly assigned, they’re more likely to think their ticket will win—even though every ticket carries the same odds. “We didn’t start our project questioning this assumption,”…
The act of challenging a superior necessitates more than just raising one’s voice; it involves understanding, navigating, and engaging in the subtle yet complex dance of power dynamics, diplomacy, and mutual respect. Approaching someone above you in the professional hierarchy requires a delicate balance and a deep understanding of both the person and the situation. For those keen on maintaining professional decorum and growing in their roles, this guide…
The famous daredevil Evil Knievel once said: “Risk is good. Not properly managing your risk is a dangerous leap.” While he was talking about jumping a motorbike over a line of school buses, the sentiment still holds true when thinking about investments. Without exposing your wealth to some level of risk, you may not be able to achieve as much growth as you otherwise could. But, adopting too much risk…
When the world was a simpler place, most manufacturers did their work in-house and in their home country. This included product design and innovation; making inputs and assembling them; and sales, marketing, and distribution. In the early 1900s, for example, Ford made almost all of its 15 million Model Ts at its Highland Park plant, in Michigan. Tuck professor Teresa Fort teaches the core MBA microeconomics course and a seminar…
The European Commission’s Recommendation on critical technology areas for the EU’s economic security, issued on October 3, 2023, kick-started an urgent risk assessment by policymakers and private sector stakeholders across the European Union. While this work will be completed over the next few months, policymakers have already given a strong indication that four technology areas – advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and biotech – are critical for the EU’s…
A first-of-its-kind study by Stanford Medicine researchers lets patients practice letting go of treasured objects in simulations of their own homes. - By Nina Bai Many people who dream of an organized, uncluttered home à la Marie Kondo find it hard to decide what to keep and what to let go. But for those with hoarding disorder — a mental condition estimated to affect 2.5% of the U.S. population —…
Online shopping vs in-store experience - What if meaningful transformation actually felt ‘old school’ rather than new? Post pandemic, customers have expressed a returning desire for in-store experiences. As a result, we’ve seen major online brands like Amazon and Shein open bricks-and-mortar stores in response to changed customer expectations. Customers are now seeking a specific experience when they visit a store. Everything from the smell to the layout and staff…
This decision will be of interest to controllers who are processing children’s data as it illustrates the importance of carrying out comprehensive data processing impact assessments (“DPIAs”), implementing appropriate technical and organisational measures, as well as using clear language in customer communications, including clear directions on registration and in the terms and conditions governing the service. Inquiry and Response: The inquiry looked at three areas of data processing by TikTok:…
This past May, the New York Times reported that the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force changed the age at which it says women should start getting regular mammograms to detect breast cancer. Since 2009, the task force had recommended periodic breast cancer screenings for women 50 and over. The new recommendation lowered the age to 40. Tuck professor Raghav Singal’s research focuses on analytics in a mix of marketplaces, including…
Ontario recently amended its class proceedings legislation to include multi-jurisdictional provisions that are like provisions that already exist in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.1 Few courts have considered these provisions, but the decisions that are available provide insight into the circumstances when a court may, or may not, certify (or stay) a multi-jurisdictional class proceeding before it, and the timing for hearing such an application. To date, this analysis has turned…
The way businesses connect with customers has changed a lot in the digital age, offering new opportunities but also presenting new risks. To address this evolving landscape, the European Union (EU) has introduced the Digital Services Act (DSA), a pioneering regulatory framework aimed at governing digital platforms and services while establishing new rules to regulate these service providers. Although the DSA primarily focuses on EU Member States, its impact extends…
Good Estate planning will ensure that the assets you’ve built over your lifetime pass easily and tax-efficiently to your chosen beneficiaries. Yet there are a number of areas which frequently catch families out. Steve Wright, our Estates Director, takes a look at 10 of the most common mistakes when it comes to Estate planning. Estate planning is different for every family. You might be keen to share your wealth during…
The case Catherine Buhagiar u Frank Buhagiar (the “Plaintiffs”) vs. Claudio Caruana u Josephine Caruana għal kull interess li jista’ jkollha (the “Defendants”) was brought before the Court of Appeal (the “Court”) on the 12 July 2023, and was presided over by Prim Imhallef Mark Chetcuti, Imhallef Christian Falzon Scerri and Imhallef Josette Demicoli. This judgement examines the essential elements in order for fraudulent trading to subsist. Through the submission…
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) carried out a full review of the current shortage occupation list. What has the Migration Advisory Committee said? The committee is not convinced that the current shortage occupation list provides the answer to the UK’s labour shortages and has recommended that the shortage occupation (with a few exceptions) is abolished. The basis of this recommendation is that employers are using the route to pay migrants…
Bård Harstad tells his students that every environmental problem is, at its core, an inefficiency problem. “This inefficiency means that, overall, you’re losing something,” he explains. “It means that there is another way to make decisions so that we could potentially all be better off.” Harstad, a professor of political economy at Stanford Graduate School of Business, has spent much of his career as an economist trying to find more…
Drop a few simple conversational prompts into AI, and the results are pretty astonishing. But these tools also have a deeper potential to transform how work gets done for those who learn how to fully leverage it. Think of generative AI as a digital assistant that augments your own knowledge and capabilities. If you take a few seconds to give it context and explain your goals, you can create things…
As three longtime advocates for Mideast peace, from both Democratic and Republican presidential administrations, we believe that a silver lining could eventually emerge from the shocking invasion of Israel by Hamas and the tragic slaughter of over 1,300 civilians. Despite Hamas’ intention to prevent wider Mideast peace from emerging from the Biden Administration’s effort to broker normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and Saudi’s mixed signals on their willingness to…
As Mark Twain might say, reports of the death of G-7 Russian oil price cap have been greatly exaggerated. Devised by the U.S. Treasury Department and adopted by all the G-7 and European Union countries, the novel oil price cap was designed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to limit the price of Russian crude oil to $60 per barrel while simultaneously ensuring global market stability. Over the past several…
At Lenovo, our approach to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) is driven by our vision to provide smarter technology that builds a brighter, more sustainable future for our customers, colleagues, communities, and the planet. Our commitment to meeting our ESG goals and moving our efforts forward is dependent on learning from peers, being inspired by […]
In a lawsuit, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said Amazon used a secret algorithm to determine how much to raise prices in a way competitors would follow and that brought the company $1 billion in revenue. Amazon insists the project had a benign aim and was scrapped. In this context, a new study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University sheds light on the effectiveness of automated pricing strategies used in e-commerce and their interactions…