Money lessons from Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens still ring true today
Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens is a riches to rags story. Its wealthy title character squanders his money on opportunistic ‘friends’ and grows jaded with the world.
Hamid Etemad earns global recognition
Hamid Etemad has been named a 2024 Top Scholar by Scholar GPS. Over a long and distinguished career, the Associate Professor of Marketing has been recognized for his excellence in teaching and research, Scholar GPS recognized Etemad as being in the top 0.5% of scholars in his field. Etemad’s research has probed the role of technology in business and its impact in emerging market economies.
Reparative consumption: The role of racial identity and white guilt in consumer preferences
Authors: Rishad Habib, Ekin Ok, Karl Aquino, Siddhanth Mookerjee and Yann Cornil
Nearly half of most recent MBA cohort are Quebec residents - but the program retains its international outlook
Desautels has one of the country’s top MBA programs, and its students come from all over the world. But nearly half of this year’s cohort are Quebec residents. “This allows us to offer an experience tailored to the Quebec market, all while keeping the program’s international perspective,” says Prof. Demetrios Vakratsas, the program’s academic director.
Got(oat) milk? Neighbourhood café can’t give it away for free, but they can be transparent about the costs
At Café Origine on Sherbrooke Street, oat milk costs extra—and there’s a reason for that. Non-dairy milk substitutes like oat milk cost more than cow’s milk does. Some large chains like Starbucks have stopped charging extra for milk substitutes, but independent cafes can struggle to absorb the costs.
For many restaurant diners, GST Holiday won’t amount to much
With inflation pinching household budgets, the Government of Canada has introduced a temporary two-month GST holiday on select goods and services.. While restaurant meals are included, diners are unlikely to notice much of a difference, says Yu Ma, Associate Professor of Marketing at McGill Desautels. On a $20 restaurant tab, the 5% GST amounts to only one dollar.
Donald Trump’s counterparts learned best practices during his first term
Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian steel before and also lifted them. And then imposed them again. The on-again, off-again tariff truce cycle has played out in multiple industries, and Canada can expect more incendiary rhetoric on trade in a second Trump term, writes Professor Vivek Astvansh in The Conversation Canada. So how should Canada engage with Trump’s theatrical approach to politics?
Prospect of new U.S. tariffs creates uncertainty for QC businesses
For Quebec businesses, Donald Trump’s planned tariffs are a source of significant uncertainty. The Federation of Quebec Chambers of Commerce nervously awaited the results of the U.S. election. With Trump proposing a 10 per cent tariff on all goods entering the United States, many Quebec businesses could be hit hard.
Quick-service restaurants like St-Hubert seek to deliver value to customers
Good gravy! Quebec’s rotisserie chicken chain St-Hubert has frozen prices for all main courses on its menu and reduced prices on appetizers–all while maintaining portion sizes. This is part of a broader trend toward value in quick-service restaurants. “Food price inflation has hit both grocery stores and restaurants, but it’s more noticeable in restaurants,” Associate Professor Yu Ma tells CTV News.
McGill Desautels professors and lecturers recognized at Faculty Awards
Across programs and subject areas, the McGill Desautels Faculty of Management recognizes the vital role that research, teaching, service and media engagement play in enriching the student experience and inspiring the next generation of leaders through the annual Faculty Awards. This year we recognize the following outstanding members of our faculty:
Research
Tata Consultancy Services to grow AI and analytics capabilities in Montreal
Headquartered in Mumbai, the Tata Group is a multibillion-dollar conglomerate with operations in more than 100 countries. Their information technology services arm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is expanding its operations in Montreal. They’re investing in a state-of-the-art IT services delivery facility that will provide TCS customers with a range of technology solutions, including AI, machine learning, cloud computing, and advanced analytics.
Dual Branding by National Brand Manufacturers: Drivers and Outcomes
Authors: Yu Ma, Kusum L. Ailawadi, Mercedes Martos-Partal and Óscar González-Benito
Tip creep and tip-flation leading to a review of tipping culture in Canada
Tipping has gotten out of control in Canada. Not only are restaurants’ automated payment systems prompting patrons for tips of up to 30%, there are even some tip prompts at self-serve kiosks. More than half of Canadians say they’d prefer a no-tip, service-included model that ensures higher base wages for employees.
Bargain hunters beware: online deals can come with unanticipated conditions
Scouring for holiday gifts at bargain prices is a savvy way to cut costs, but the allure of Black Friday deals sometimes masks potential pitfalls. In an article for BNN Bloomberg, Associate Professor Vivek Astvansh emphasizes the need for caution among bargain hunters to ensure they're fully informed about any unforeseen conditions.
