On Topic – VCU News Center

VCU experts on current events.

OnTopic: Economy

Key to emerging strong from the recession is innovation, according to VCU expert

Businesses that invest in innovation during the economic recession are most likely to emerge from the downturn the strongest, according to Kenneth Kahn, Ph.D., professor of marketing and director of the da Vinci Center for Innovation in Product Design and Development at VCU.

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VCU history professor considers Great Depression causes and lessons learned

This month marks the 80th anniversary of the stock market crash recognized as the start of the Great Depression. And while the Great Depression is best remembered for the economy misery caused worldwide in the 1930s, its root causes happened much earlier according to John T. Kneebone, associate professor, Department of History.

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Fashion retailers cutting costs and inventory amid the economy crisis

The economy has been in crisis for some time now, but Karen Videtic, chair of the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Virginia Commonwealth University, says that clothing retailers are just adjusting now, and consumers can expect big changes on the sales floor.

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VCU Chair Urges Retailers to Focus on Customer Service

Retail expert David Urban, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Marketing in the VCU School of Business, says that recessions tend to highlight every problem area that a retailer has – from operating inefficiencies to knowledge of their consumers.

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Economic Crisis Highlights Risk Management’s Importance to Lifespan of a Business

Risk management is not a flashy business topic – after all, making money is more exciting than saving it. Still, managing risk and avoiding problems is every bit as critical to the health of a business as creating revenue, according to a VCU professor.

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VCU Branding Expert Says Businesses Should Display Strength

The economy is limping badly, and many consumers are suffering. Kelly O’Keefe, a branding expert and the executive education director at the VCU Brandcenter, believes businesses have a responsibility to project strength and assume a leadership role in such an uncertain climate. However, most businesses are responding to the crisis with conspicuous trepidation, he says, thereby missing an opportunity to connect with customers.

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The Big Three and the Fate of the U.S. Auto Industry

“Things have just fallen apart,” says George Hoffer, professor of economics at VCU and an auto industry researcher for more than 40 years.

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Job Loss Jitters?

It’s hard not to worry when newspapers, TV newscasts and the Web are filled with stories about layoffs, the stock market, foreclosures and shrinking retirement accounts. Fears about losing a job and paying bills in a declining economy can lead to sleepless nights, but taking action before a potential job loss can help you stay calm and healthy, according to Micah McCreary, Ph.D., a professor in the VCU Department of Psychology.

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