Media Coverage

Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta just said they’re spending $600 billion on AI infrastructure this year. Parul Jain, professor of economics and finance at Rutgers University, said investors are wondering how that’s going to affect profits.

“There were some over-optimistic expectations for the AI sector,” Jain said. “So there has been a little bit of a market rout. It’s basically the runup and then the rundown that we’re looking at.”

Unlike large corporate and national banks, credit unions are nonprofit cooperatives insured by the National Credit Union Administration that pool community resources for lending and more. “Banks are about profits. They may provide nice services, but they've become very technical in the way that they approach lending and other services, and then charge certain higher rates,” says Jeffrey Robinson, a professor at Rutgers Business School. “Credit unions have better rates, are not as concerned about making massive profits back to their shareholders, and can take input and feedback from the people who are also members.” It’s become a valuable alternative for people in an “anti-billionaire or anti-corporate mindset,” he says.

The report’s authors explained that January’s overall rate of expansion is largely due to a shift back towards milder restocking to start the year, adding that it is lower than last year because the rate of expansion for Inventory Levels is relatively mild compared to what typically occurs in January, when firms are engaged in restocking.

Companies are likely shifting resources to areas like data, automation and analytics amid the AI race, according to Zeki Pagda, an assistant professor at Rutgers Business School.

“Amazon cannot easily retrain a workforce built for manual logistics or legacy retail systems into one that builds generative AI agents,” Pagda said in an email to CNN.

“This hackathon reflects the kind of ecosystem New Jersey is building, where state leaders come together to give students meaningful challenges and modern tools. By learning to work with AI responsibly and collaborating across age groups, students aren’t just developing technical skills, they’re building networks, confidence, and a mindset for solving real problems that matter to our state’s future,” noted Prof. Mukesh Patel, Professor of Innovation and Tech-Entrepreneurship, Rutgers Business School.

New Jersey League of Conservation Voters is proud to announce that Rutgers University will receive this year’s Sustainability Award. This recognition is presented to an institution or business that is at the forefront of building a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for New Jersey.

Sustainability research and efforts occur across the State University of New Jersey in several labs, centers, and offices, including the Office of Climate Action, the Rutgers Institute for Corporate Social Innovation, the Rutgers EcoComplex/Clean Energy Innovation Center, and the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to use social media videos strategically, not just to gain followers, but to convert attention into trust and real business growth.

In this episode of Unapologetic Leadership, host Cory Dunham welcomes Francisco J. Quevedo to explore how experiential learning at Rutgers Business School bridges classroom theory with real‑world impact.

Quevedo, an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Marketing Department, shares how he brings hands‑on entrepreneurship, nonprofit projects, and real consulting work into student learning to benefit businesses, nonprofits, and government partners. His approach empowers students to learn by doing, builds measurable impact, and prepares future leaders to innovate with confidence.

Podcast

AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) announced today that its Board of Directors elected Dr. Morris Davis to the Board effective January 12, 2026. Dr. Davis previously served on AGNC's Board from May 2008 to March 2025, when he resigned from his position to join the Council of Economic Advisors to the President as Chief Housing Economist. AGNC's Board of Directors now consists of ten members, including eight independent directors. Dr. Morris will serve as an independent director on the Company's Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee.

One of the standout moments of AIB SAC 2026 was the plenary session by Prof. Farok J. Contractor, Distinguished Professor at Rutgers Business School, USA, and a globally renowned authority in international business. His address on “How India Can Cope and Thrive in the Current Turbulent International Business Environment with Flexibility and Ambidexterity” offered deep insights into how India can strategically navigate uncertainty in global trade through adaptive and innovative approaches.

The monthly LMI is a joint project among researchers from Arizona State University, Colorado State University, University of Nevada, Reno, Florida Atlantic University, and Rutgers University, and also receives support by Council of Supply Management Professionals (CSCMP). CSCMP. The LMI is written by Zac Rogers Ph.D., Steven Carnovale Ph.D., Shen Yeniyurt Ph.D., Ron Lembke Ph.D., and Dale Rogers Ph.D.

The report’s authors explained that the LMI score, or reading, is based on eight “unique components” within the logistics sector, including: inventory levels and costs, warehousing capacity, utilization and prices and transportation capacity, utilization, and prices.

The December LMI reading, at 54.2 (a reading above 50 indicates growth is occurring), falling 1.5% from November’s 55.7 reading, representing the lowest rate of LMI expansion going back to April 2024. This marks the 10th consecutive month that the LMI has trailed the all-time high 61.4 reading

"U.S. production is stable; there has been more government support for extraction. The greater the supply, with constant demand, the lower the price. In addition to this, the OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia and others, have also put in more constant production," said Arturo E. Osorio Fernandez.
(In Spanish)

"Blocking GenAI crawlers may backfire. About 80% of the top news publishers block LLM access using the robots.txt file standard. A staggered Difference-in-Differences analysis of the effect of blocking shows that traffic declined after blocking in both SimilarWeb traffic data (−23%) and Comscore data (−14%)," the study found.

However, results proved heterogeneous when extending analysis to lower-traffic websites. Publishers averaging more than 10 daily visits in the Comscore panel experienced negative effects consistent with primary findings, while mid-sized publishers averaging 1-10 visits per day saw positive effects from blocking.

We’re proud to support the Dow Jones Investing in Education program as a sponsor and partner with Barron’s and Rutgers Business School in expanding access to financial education and industry resources for students.

Thank you to Sohail Kohli and his team for recently welcoming our President, Michael Walliser, CIMA®, and Senior Financial Advisor, Tanya Walliser, CFP®, to Rutgers Business School for a special class session with Professor Ratika Gore, PhD.

Arturo Osorio, a professor at the Rutgers Business School in Newark, said in a story published in August that agriculture in the state will be profoundly affected.
"At the end of the season, fruits might get rotten in the field because nobody can pick them,” Osorio said.

“For decades, we have grown accustomed to ever quicker deliveries with increasing methods of tracking,” said David Dreyfus, Rutgers Business School supply chain management professor. “Two-day deliveries, free returns, and omni-channel retailing have become the norm.”
Dreyfus said the pandemic revealed the level of globalization and complexity of our modern supply chains—as well as the fragility.

“When I joined the Fed, the employment rate was considered the most important indicator, alongside the key interest rate. The fact that the consumer price index is now also so crucial is a new phenomenon,” says Samadi, who conducts research at Rutgers University.
The other finding of Londono and Samadi's study is that it clarifies which indicators are rather irrelevant for stock market investors. Specifically, these are primarily the gross domestic product and the employment rate in the Eurozone. Samadi, however, points out that the importance of statistics also depends on the current economic phase.
"The high importance of inflation is naturally also related to the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis," says the economist. Samadi suspects that the significance of inflation data may have been considerably lower during periods of more price stability.

Jerry Kim, an associate professor at the Rutgers University Business School, said the revolving door between regulators and regulated entities is fairly common at both the state and federal levels of government.

Rutgers Newark Provost Jeffrey Robinson, founder of the EPI program, and Jasmine Cordero, its director, said the event reflected both the program’s impact and the strength of Rutgers Newark’s partnership with Fiserv. Now in its 17th year, EPI has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs.

Cordero noted that the Back2Business grants can be a meaningful catalyst for business growth.

“Even a few thousand dollars can make a big difference,” she said. “It allows entrepreneurs to put resources toward marketing and operations and move their businesses forward.”

"I am thrilled to join Boxabl at this inflection point," Davis said in the press release statement. "Having advised the current administration on bold reforms to unleash housing supply, I’ve seen firsthand how innovation like Boxabl’s can solve the housing-affordability crisis."

“The product kind of sells itself,” said Chris Ribeiro, a marketing professor at Rutgers University.

“It’s a regional favorite,” he added, one that’s eponymous — like Kleenex is to tissues.

Abel having "final say" on how Berkshire invests its cash "may have been the impetus for Todd Combs to consider other career options," John Longo, a finance professor at Rutgers Business School and the author of "Buffett's Tips," told Business Insider.
He added that he's not concerned about Combs leaving, as Weschler is "very capable of managing the equity portfolio."

Noticiero Estrella TV with Abel Alvarez and Professor Arturo E. Osorio Fernandez.
(In Spanish)

Many candidates feel intimidated by the CPA Exam — this uncertainty may even deter some students from pursuing the CPA license itself. However, the Exam is something any qualified candidate can tackle with the right preparation.

The donation request is typically done in public and “anytime anything’s public, your social image is at the forefront of your brain — ‘how are people going to be perceiving me.’ You can gain compliance pretty easily,” said Kristina Durante, a marketing professor at Rutgers University in Newark who studies social behavior and decision-making. “People are going to do that little bit when it’s in public.”

Noticiero Estrella TV with Jose Armando Ronstadt; comment by Arturo E. Osorio Fernandez.
"In my personal opinion, this is a labor market adjustment, but we have to consider long-term indicators, right? There was a loss of jobs, and you have to consider where the jobs were lost."
(In Spanish)

Noticiero Estrella TV with Jose Armando Ronstadt speaks with Arturo E. Osorio Fernandez.
(In Spanish)

"When I go to the supermarket to buy a can, I am not only buying the contents of the can, I am also buying the can. And steel fees make packaging that can more expensive."
(In Spanish)

Farok Contractor, a distinguished professor of management and global business at Rutgers Business School, told The Associated Press that customers are paying 10 cents to 40 cents more per can when companies pass on the full cost of tariffs.

Along with Dean Jacqueline Mattis, the initiative is led by Rutgers-Newark Chancellor Tonya Smith-Jackson and the deans of each school: Dean Kaifeng Yang, of the School of Public Affairs and Administration, Dean Johanna Bond of Rutgers Law School, Dean Nancy La Vigne of the School of Criminal Justice, Dean Lei Lei of Rutgers Business School, and Interim Dean Gregg Van Ryzin of the Graduate School-Newark.

Trump’s tariffs on imported steel and aluminum are also raising prices. Farok Contractor, a distinguished professor of management and global business at the Rutgers Business School, said customers are paying 10 cents to 40 cents more per can when companies pass on the full cost of tariffs.

College friends Danish Shaik and Maunish Patel purchased Spins Laundromat in November of 2023 when they were on the hunt for their next endeavor. The space had previously been home to another laundromat for over 25 years, which was run down and up for sale. The two met at Rutgers Business School in Newark, where they were already dabbling in the entrepreneurial life. They were co-presidents of the Rutgers Student Managed Fund, where they taught underclassmen how to invest in securities of public companies, diving into the depths of research, pitching, and more.

John Longo, a finance professor, investment chief, and author of 'Buffett's Tips: A Guide to Financial Literacy and Life':

"By 'going quiet,' Buffett is giving Abel and the rest of the Berkshire management team the opportunity to paint their own painting without anyone second-guessing them. He will remain an important sounding board for the Berkshire executives, and if they are wise, they will continue to seek his invaluable counsel."

Arturo E. Osorio Fernandez comments in "Adios al “Pennie” on Noticiero Estrella TV with Jose Armando Ronstadt.

However, while the president defends his vision, the numbers from the New York Federal Reserve Bank reveal a different reality. The debt of households already exceeds $18.3 trillion.

“It means that it reflects people who have mortgages, people who have credit cards, people who have student debt, and people who have car debt,” said Arturo E. Osorio Fernandez.
(In Spanish)

The Federal Reserve is making a decision based on a trend and an expectation of indicators that do not really exist. Eh, this has consequences. One of them is that once the government reinitializes, there will possibly be an adjustment to complement the lack of information.
(In Spanish)

Parul Jain, associate professor of professional practice of finance and economics, Rutgers Business School, also cited the progress already made in gauging how big of a blow a termination of the project would be for the local economy.

After all, the work is creating jobs and will produce a more reliable transportation system with greater capacity. The economic impact is estimated in the billions of dollars.

“The 9 miles of new passenger trail track with a two-tube tunnel was set to be completed by 2035, and the old tunnel repaired by 2038,” Jain told NJBIZ. “The existing tunnels were damaged during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and any failure of even one tunnel could cost upwards of $16 billion over four years and about 33,000 jobs, according to the Regional Planning Association.

“President Trump recently declared this project to be ‘dead.’ However, the consensus is that Trump’s actions wouldn’t kill the project but would delay it, causing massive cost overruns. The funding cut likely means extra costs and potential job losses,” she said.

The hydration segment is no longer just about empowering athletes, said Stacy Schwartz, director of the master of science in digital marketing program at Rutgers Business School. It's now also about restoring people's balance, building immunity, or aiding relaxation.

"Whatever aspect of your body that you want to finetune," she said, "there’s a water for that.”

Professors Ronnee Ades and Farrokh Langdana comment during the "Economic, political anxieties drive record gold prices" segment of NJ Spotlight News, beginning at 17:18 into the broadcast.

We have short-term impact, construction, medium-term, wood engineering, and long-term, the revitalization of the forest.
(In Spanish)

Part of Warren Buffett’s genius is that the company is built to survive him with its strong culture, clear corporate principles and core growth strategy—always put long-term shareholders first…give each of the company’s operating subsidiaries autonomy…use the excess cash they generate to pursue acquisitions and public equity investments, increasing Berkshire Hathaway’s value year after year.

Buffett’s hand-picked successor, 63-year-old Greg Abel, a former accountant from the Canadian prairies, is head of the company’s energy and utility operations and has been with the company since 2000. In 2018, Buffett also appointed Abel as vice chairman of all non-insurance operations. Starting next year, Buffett will continue to serve as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and will be a sounding board for Abel.

Finally, Berkshire Hathaway isn’t in need of a radical overhaul because the company is doing just fine. According to its most recent quarterly report (second quarter 2025), Berkshire’s book value—the total value of its assets minus its liabilities—increased about 11% year over year. And while profits declined from last year due to a $1.1 billion loss in the insurance division related to the Southern California wildfires, the company’s balance sheet is pristine with cash reserves of nearly $345 billion (close to its record high the previous quarter).

My prediction: I don’t foresee any extreme changes at Berkshire Hathaway.

...Two Federal Reserve researchers take a look at the importance or otherwise of macro releases to stock traders. And it turns out that, yes, traders still care about releases. More interestingly, the researchers have been able to quantify how much they care.
Until now, the rationale for this work was some combination of common sense, experience, and maybe some regressions using data surprises against consensus expectations. But now that there is a lively options market for stock indices with daily equity option expirations across US and Euro area markets, Juan M. Londono and Mehrdad Samadi have sought to work out how much this stuff actually matters.

John Longo, a finance professor, investment chief, and author of "Buffett's Tips: A Guide to Financial Literacy and Life," said Buffett was likely studying the proposed merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern and, if he believes regulators will allow it, he might seek to merge Berkshire's BNSF Railway with another national railroad.

"A deal of that size may end his tenure as CEO with an exclamation point," Longo said.

Internships are an important part of career development, both for the intern and the employer.

The real-world experience provided by an internship plays a very important role in career development. Initial classroom learning is rich with foundational topics, and students do also experience experiential learning in school. For example, group projects provide experience working with others. However, the importance of putting knowledge to the test in a real-world environment is invaluable — providing a bridge to that next career step.

Federal agencies call the shots on approved and unapproved language, which is how the Trump administration has been able to direct the removal of language at federal institutions that it considers “diversity, equity and inclusion” or climate change initiatives. But rules enforced by the Office for Government Ethics still apply, according to Joanne B. Ciulla, a professor of ethics and the director of the Institute of Ethical Leadership at Rutgers Business School.

Ciulla doesn’t think there is “any ambiguity” in whether the HHS directive to use a specific out-of-office message runs afoul of the Hatch Act.

Why do store credit cards tend to have lower credit-standing requirements than general-purpose cards with equivalent terms?

Store credit cards are primarily used to drive customers; therefore, they are often willing to accept higher credit risk for more revenue. Also, since store credit cards are limited to usage within the retailers’ stores, the risk associated with high debt is limited.

Said Provost Jeffrey Robinson, “Rutgers University - Newark is a national leader in student success and for our students this is also a social mobility story. With so many being the first in their family to attend college, we take great care in cultivating them and then launching them into their future.”

For more freedom and flexibility, try “rough scheduling,” a concept developed from the research of Gabriela N. Tonietto, an assistant professor at Rutgers Business School, and Selin A. Malkoc, a professor at Ohio State University. Rough scheduling assigns a general range of time in a specific day but not a set hour, such as Sunday brunch. This approach to time has been known to preserve a feeling of spontaneity and freedom yet still bolster connection with a clear commitment.

We have a slowdown in the labor market, which means more people than expected are unemployed. Number two, tariffs. The pressure of tariffs is creating a lack of investment and capital, which creates economic stagnation. Number three, the real estate market. Uh, houses aren't moving, people aren't buying.

Over a decade’s worth of research from Rutgers University’s Daniel Levin finds it can be easier to get back in touch with these acquaintances than with weak ties because you had a close connection at one point; they may even be someone you’ve meant to call for a while because you genuinely want to be in touch.

Of course, you can’t just email everyone you’ve ever known for a reference out of the blue. Levin’s research finds you first need to refresh the level of trust between you and your dormant tie.

“Treating someone as a close buddy when you barely knew each other (or vice versa) destabilizes the reconnection, leading to a lack of trust,” Levin advised last year.