Graduate Students

Montreal retailer Frank and Oak files for creditor protection for second time

admin — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 17:25:58 +0000

In January 2025, the Montreal-based retailer Frank and Oak filed for creditor protection for the second time in recent years. A company statement said it was to protect employees, assets and operations from creditor claims while exploring options to restructure. “The brand is not standing out in an environment where other brands have done well,” said Bensadoun School of Retail Management Executive Director Charles de Brabant in an interview with the Montreal Gazette.

Keeping Christmas lights on to add ambiance can help set a shopping district apart

admin — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 20:07:13 +0000

Christmas lights that glow softly through long winter nights are part of what makes the holiday season so atmospheric—but they can add to the ambiance any time of year. Some shopping districts are leaving their lights up for exactly that reason.

Political pressure impacts Canada's top pension funds

admin — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 01:54:06 +0000

Canada’s Maple 8 pension funds are globally respected for strong returns and independence from government influence. However, recent political moves threaten this model. The federal government has encouraged more domestic investment, while Alberta’s government fired AIMCo’s board, raising fears of political interference. “When you start investing based on political objectives, you risk compromising returns,” warns Associate Professor of Finance Sebastien Betermier.

Political tensions between long-time allies fuelled ticket price spike for Canada-USA hockey game

admin — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:23:02 +0000

When Canada and the United States faced off in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament, the game held at the Bell Centre was the hottest ticket in Montreal, with some asking prices topping $10,000 a ticket on online ticket selling services. The intense demand was likely driven in part by the political tensions between the long-time allies.

How U.S.-Canada tariffs could hit New York’s economy

admin — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 19:08:13 +0000

As U.S.-Canada tariff disputes escalate, New York’s economy faces serious risks, with over $42 billion in trade at stake. 51�Թ�� professors Preetika Joshi and Vivek Astvansh warn that rising costs on goods like aluminum, barley, and auto parts could lead to inflation, job losses, and disruptions across key industries.

SUSANhub is a vast growing resource for collaboration in sustainability research

admin — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 17:51:33 +0000

Universities are typically organized into silos – engineering, business, medicine – but sustainability requires collaboration across these fields. “For example, solar energy involves policy, engineering, business,” says Juan Camilo Serpa, an Associate Professor at 51�Թ��Desautels.” To foster cross-disciplinary collaboration among sustainability researchers, Serpa created the Sustainability Action Network—or SUSAN for short.

Provost honours 31 51�Թ��professors for exceptional research achievements

admin — Thu, 01 May 2025 16:23:55 +0000

51�Թ��announces 2025 cohort of Distinguished James 51�Թ��Professors, James 51�Թ��Professors and William Dawson Scholars
Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Christopher Manfredi has named 31 51�Թ��professors as Distinguished James 51�Թ��Professors, James 51�Թ��Professors or William Dawson Scholars. The internal awards recognize exceptional research achievements.

Controversial slogans sell

admin — Thu, 15 May 2025 19:10:35 +0000

A Canadian clothing company has recently come under fire for using provocative slogans on some of its clothing. The company claims its target demo is now a confident shopper in their mid-twenties, but Professor of Marketing Vivek Astvansh argues that a company might use controversy to sell, even if their customers aren’t of age.

Got(oat) milk? Neighbourhood café can’t give it away for free, but they can be transparent about the costs

admin — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 19:04:46 +0000

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. “A local café doesn’t have the sales volume,” says Vivek Astvansh, Associate Professor of Quantitative Marketing and Analytics.

US steel and aluminum tariffs could stifle investment in Quebec aluminum sector

admin — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:36:53 +0000

Aluminum-producing towns in Quebec are bracing for the impact of new US tariffs imposed on steel and aluminum. Quebec accounts for about 90 per cent of Canada’s aluminum production, and the tariffs will affect more than just aluminum producers. “The tariffs may not lead to layoffs at aluminum plants,” said Professor of Operations Management Saibal Ray in an interview with Global News. “But tariffs could lead to companies making investments into the U.S.

Julius Alessandro Xanthoudakis (BCom'20, MMF’25) wins 2024 Peter Christoffersen Award

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 19:51:28 +0000

Julius Alessandro Xanthoudakis (BCom'20, MMF’25) has been named the 2024 Peter Christoffersen MMF Award recipient, recognizing his academic excellence and contributions to the 51�Թ��Master of Management in Finance (MMF) program.

A Montreal native with a background in finance and data science, Xanthoudakis honed his skills in market analysis and risk management as a strategist for Desautels Capital Management (DCM)’s SRI Fund. He credits the London networking trip and MMF’s collaborative learning environment as key to his growth.

Infrastructure banks can help address economic needs

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:46:12 +0000

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Tech products international supply chains make them especially vulnerable to tariffs

admin — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 17:47:56 +0000

When U.S. president Donald Trump announced a sweeping tariff policy in April 2020, stock markets plunged. Certain sectors were more affected than others, with large technology firms like Apple and NVIDIA among the biggest losers. “Sectors like tech that rely on international supply chains are going to be more heavily affected by tariffs,” Professor Sebastien Betermier told CBC News.

Spring Finance Workshop 2025

admin — Mon, 12 May 2025 16:30:37 +0000

The fourth edition of the Spring Finance Workshop took place from April 27 to 29, 2025, bringing together top scholars in the field of finance to explore emerging themes across banking, investor expectations, climate finance, asset pricing, and corporate decision-making. Co-organized by Professors Laurent Barras (University of Luxembourg), Mark Podolskij (University of Luxembourg), and Patrick Augustin (51�Թ��), the workshop continues to grow as a vibrant forum for academic exchange and collaboration.

Infrastructure banks can help get large infrastructure projects off the ground

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 19:31:22 +0000

In Canada, investment in infrastructure has lagged, but infrastructure banks are one way to provide financing for large-scale infrastructure projects that could take decades to pay off. “Canada needs new infrastructure – housing, energy, ports – it’s all critical to our future,” says Prof. Sebastien Betermier. “But there’s a catch-22: developers can’t move forward without financing, and investors are wary of early-stage risk.