COVID-19 Thought Leadership Digest 5-20

In today’s thought leadership digest, you’ll find faculty insights on whether incentives can actually encourage more people to get the COVID-19 vaccine, how the pandemic affected the debate over the role of corporations in society, and much more. You’ll also find new takeaways from the Rustandy Center’s virtual On Board conference, as well as highlights from this year’s Management Conference, which explored critical business issues in the era of COVID.

COVID-19 Research and Insights from Chicago Booth Review

When private equity takes over nursing homes, mortality rates jump
The incentives of PE-owned companies don't always encourage good patient outcomes—findings that are all the more urgent amid COVID-19, suggests Constantine Yannelis.

COVID-19 has left venture capitalists down but not out
The pandemic’s impact on venture capital has been far milder than might have been expected, according to an analysis of a VC survey by Steve Kaplan and other researchers.

A big risk for companies: Low public support
Emanuele Colonnelli and Niels Gormsen suggest businesses must convince voters they're playing a positive societal role in order to get support for business-friendly policies during times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entrepreneurs should know their options for investment
Ira Weiss explains why now is a great time to turn to angels or venture capital to help out your business despite COVID-19.

Follow CBR’s COVID-19 page and social channels for the latest insights from Booth faculty.

Select Thought Leadership in the Media

COVID probably India’s greatest challenge since independence
May 15 | The Times of India
The COVID-19 pandemic is probably India’s greatest challenge since independence, Raghuram Rajan said at a virtual event on Indian history, society, and politics at UChicago’s Center in Delhi.

How can more COVID-19 vaccines be made available?
May 15 | The Economist
If enough money to produce vaccines for the entire world had been provided up front, Eric Budish estimates it would have saved the global economy almost $5 trillion.

EXPLAINER: Ohio offers $1M weekly prize as vaccine incentive
May 13 | Associated Press
The lottery is unlikely to change the minds of those who question the vaccine’s safety or are adamantly against getting the shot, Jane Risen said of Ohio’s new vaccine incentive.

It’s true. Everyone IS multitasking on their video calls
May 13 | Wired
Michael Gibbs found that working from home has meant more meetings and coordination and less uninterrupted work time, coaching, networking, and one-on-one meetings.

People aren’t ‘addicted’ to wearing masks, they’re traumatized
May 11 | Vice
Personality traits never perfectly predict people's political leanings, says Thomas Talhelm. “Things like trauma, conscientiousness, or fastidiousness would play a role too.”

To stay up to date with media mentions, follow Booth’s In the News page and social channels.

COVID-19 Content Across Campus

COVID, cryptocurrency, big data and healthcare: Takeaways from Management Conference 2021
At Booth’s virtual Management Conference, faculty and industry experts explored critical business issues in the era of COVID.

What research says about giving habits during the pandemic and beyond
A new blog post from the Rustandy Center explores how nonprofits, board members, and others can increase donations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Twitter weakened India's information ecosystem
India’s COVID-19 crisis is a reminder that its democracy is also in a crisis, suggests Stigler Center junior fellow Prateek Raj.

IGM US panel: Vaccines for developing countries
Steven Kaplan, Richard Thaler, Marianne Bertrand, Austan Goolsbee, and other economic experts weigh in on whether the patents on COVID-19 vaccines should be waived.

IGM European panel: Vaccines for developing countries
Veronica Guerrieri, Christian Leuz, Lubos Pastor, Canice Prendergast, and others share their perspectives on COVID-19 vaccine patents and the challenges of vaccinating the world.

Work from home & productivity: Evidence from personnel & analytics data on IT professionals
A BFI working paper coauthored by Michael Gibbs found that during work from home, hours worked increased by 30 percent, but productivity fell by 20 percent.

Why working from home will stick
Steven Davis coauthored a BFI working paper that finds 20 percent of full workdays will be supplied from home after the pandemic ends, compared with just 5 percent before.

UChicago alum explains how Moderna helped launch a vaccine revolution
UChicago News shared a recap of Randall Kroszner’s conversation with David Meline, ’86, as part of the Road to Economic Recovery series.