Q&A: Were small down payments to blame for the housing bubble?
UVA economist W. Ben McCartney explains what 25 years of mortgage data reveal about borrowing, home prices and the risks facing today’s buyers.
The Conversation: Trump speculates on diesel fuel export ban as high prices ripple across US economy
Diesel prices hit record highs in 2026 amid supply disruptions from the U.S.-Iran conflict and Russia-Ukraine war, straining trucking, farming, food costs and public transit nationwide. Russia’s export suspension and proposed U.S. export bans could reshape prices further, though experts warn benefits may be uneven, shifting costs between regions and risking reduced refinery output.
Solutions Lab Puts UVA Students to Work on Real-World Environmental Challenges
UVA Environmental Institute launches the Energy and Infrastructure Solutions Lab, pairing undergraduates with partners like Elevance Health, Dominion Energy, and Glanris Biochar to tackle sustainability challenges. Interdisciplinary teams develop real-world solutions—from carbon storage community engagement to Sargassum seaweed conversion—receiving funding, mentorship, and specialized coursework before presenting business cases in spring 2027.
The AI Alignment Discussion Belongs in Every Company
As AI adoption accelerates, alignment concerns aren’t limited to frontier labs like Anthropic and OpenAI. Darden faculty argue every organization deploying AI agents must address alignment internally, using stakeholder theory, broad employee involvement, clear purpose, aligned incentives and psychological safety to guide responsible, human-centered AI integration into workplace decisions now.
Betting on Everything: Inside the Prediction Market Boom
PodcastPrediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are booming, letting people bet on everything from elections to reality TV winners. In this episode of Good Disruption, Yael and Mike talk with economist Robin Hanson about how these markets work, who shapes them, and the risks around gambling, insider trading, and incentives.
Your Thermostat Could Be Costing You More Than You Think
Extreme weather is straining the power grid, driven largely by residential heating and cooling habits. Darden professor Saed Alizamir analyzed granular smart thermostat data to reveal how automation and manual overrides affect energy use. His research suggests redesigning thermostats could cut costs, ease grid pressure, and help both consumers and the environment.
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Q&A: Can you trust online ratings in the age of ‘review bombing’?
A UVA expert explains how reviews can be manipulated and what consumers should know.
AI Is Changing the Rules of Customer Data. Here’s What Wins Now.
AI is transforming customer data from a competitive asset into a prediction engine, says Darden professor Raj Venkatesan. Owning data isn’t enough—companies must convert it into customer knowledge through analysis. Success requires patience, cross-business insight application, and understanding three pillars: customer data, analytical capability, and the knowledge that analysis creates.
The Tipping Paradox: Why Sending Extra Cash Directly to Global Farmers Can Backfire
New research from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business reveals that blockchain-enabled consumer tipping for farmers can backfire. While the technology promises to send money directly to growers, a game-theoretic model shows intermediary firms may exploit tips as subsidies, cutting wholesale prices instead. A beneficial outcome requires moderately attractive farmer alternatives and sufficiently socially conscious consumers.
Good Disruption: Inside Brain-Computer Interfaces
PodcastIn this episode of Good Disruption, UVA Professor Jack Van Horn joins hosts Yael Grushka-Cockayne and Mike Lenox to explore brain-computer interfaces, a rapidly advancing neurotechnology that translates brain signals into action. From restoring movement and communication to bypassing damaged neural pathways, BCIs hold remarkable promise — alongside significant challenges — as the field moves from science fiction to reality.
Want to AI-Proof Your Career? Buy a Boomer’s Blue-Collar Business.
MBA students are increasingly looking beyond tech startups to acquire “boring” blue-collar businesses like HVAC, plumbing, and landscaping firms. Darden professor Les Alexander explains why these businesses offer compelling fundamentals, AI disruption resistance, and strong growth potential — and how an unprecedented wave of Baby Boomer retirements is creating a rare window of opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs through acquisition.
Beyond Public-Private Partnerships: The Power of Social Enterprises
Darden researchers Vidya Mani and Maya Stephens argue that including social enterprises in public-private partnerships can strengthen efforts to meet global development goals by bringing local knowledge, community trust and sustainable, revenue-generating solutions. Their research highlights successful partnerships in countries such as Ghana and Bangladesh, showing how collaboration among government, business and social enterprises can create lasting social impact at scale.