Harlan Platt Professor of Finance h.platt@neu.edu 617.373.4740 Expertise corporate bankruptcy, crisis management, short-term equity price recoveries Harlan Platt in the Press Should discount carrier Norwegian Air fly to the U.S.? Here’s what passengers think. Northeastern University economist Harlan Platt says the debate reminds him of taxis fighting the inevitable spread of Uber. But the new, better way of running an airline — Norwegian Air is finding ways to reduce costs by breaking the old model of basing an airline in one country, employing people there and hiring its crew […] The Street There’s a 25% chance of a recession A recession is not likely to transpire, because the strength in the U.S. economy is being balanced by weakness in Europe, China and in the oil patch, said Harlan Platt, a finance professor at the D’Amore McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston. Instead of panicking, investors should look for strong companies whose […] Why are fliers avoiding the world’s largest airline? But industry-watchers aren’t impressed by its efforts. “American Airlines proves the adage that customers will only put up with so much rudeness and discourtesy before they respond,” says Harlan Platt, a finance professor at Northeastern University. Loyalty programs: Free perks or nefarious ploy? More passengers are beginning to think of themselves as prisoners of an airline rather than willing participants in a loyalty program. And more industry observers are seeing the toxic effects of these programs on a free market. “I believe there’s little question that the primary purpose of these programs is to put loyalty ahead of […] Economy class gets an upgrade…wait, make that a downgrade Harlan Platt, a finance professor at Northeastern University, says that, from a customer-experience point of view, the Delta remodeling is largely “cosmetic.” “They fail to touch on the big three concerns of most passengers: legroom, access to bins, and fair prices and fees,” he says. “Like most oligopolistic industries, this is what we can expect […] Alaska Airlines and Delta are unveiling new economy-class sections this spring Harlan Platt, a finance professor at Northeastern University, says that, from a customer-experience point of view, the Delta remodeling is largely “cosmetic.” “They fail to touch on the big three concerns of most passengers: legroom, access to bins, and fair prices and fees,” he says. “Like most oligopolistic industries, this is what we can expect […] U.S. News & World Report 6 bad financial habits you’re passing on to your kids Never comparison-shopping. Or, at least, never engaging your children in your search. Comparing products and prices is a good way to show kids how to think critically about what they’re buying, which will come in handy as they grow older and start shopping on their own. “You should shop at home using the Internet seeking […] Bogus travel deals, expired miles leave travelers fuming Insincere offers aren’t confined to airline loyalty programs, although they can be among the worst offenders. Another class of disingenuous deal is the postcard that says you’ve won a “free” cruise or vacation. Check your mail, there’s probably one there now. “The catch is that you have to stay at a time-share facility and agree […] How to cut your wireless bill down to size Cell phone carriers are battling for your business by cutting prices, ditching contracts, and offering to pay your fee to switch. Act fast to lock in your savings. If you’re unhappy with your cell phone service—and really, who isn’t?—now might be a unique time to either renegotiate your contract or move to a new carrier. […] Marketplace Microsoft’s great debate With 22 years under his belt, Satya Nadella is the consummate Microsoft insider. But don’t think that experience made him a shoo-in for the top job. One reason Microsoft went nearly six months without a CEO was because executives spent time looking for their new one outside the company. Microsoft is a case study of […] Harlan Platt for Northeastern Global News 3Qs: Taking stock of Walmart 3Qs: Taking stock of Walmart The New York Times recently published an in-depth report alleging that top officials at Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Ark., quashed an internal investigation into a suspected $24 million bribery scandal at the retailer’s Mexican subsidiary. We asked Harlan Platt, a finance professor in the College of Business Administration, to examine the scandal’s fallout. Walmart, which […] Faculty Reads, Volume 10 Faculty Reads, Volume 10 In the 10th edition of recent faculty books, we highlight works about the unintended consequences of our decision-making, a fiction piece about a grad student’s near death experience and a multi-disciplinary history of planet Earth. Taking stock in experiential learning Taking stock in experiential learning Graduate students in the College of Business Administration learn how to analyze the stock market and execute sound investment strategies through managing a portfolio. Faculty Reads, Volume Six Faculty Reads, Volume Six In the sixth edition of recent faculty books, we highlight works about the American Revolution, the complexity of human-animal relationships, and the importance of cash flow to corporate decision-making. 3Qs: You’ve got mail (for now) 3Qs: You’ve got mail (for now) As Americans’ daily correspondence continues shifting from mailboxes to inboxes, the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) financial woes have grown more severe. The agency may report a loss as high as $10 billion this fiscal year, and Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe is lobbying Congress for the authority to take drastic cost-cutting measures — laying off 120,000 employees, closing up to 3,700 branches and eliminating Saturday mail service. We asked finance professor Harlan Platt to explain how the USPS arrived here. 3Qs: News Corp. may still have a price to pay 3Qs: News Corp. may still have a price to pay News Corporation, the world’s second largest media conglomerate, and its CEO, Rupert Murdoch, have been plagued by scandal since it was revealed that journalists at the company’s British tabloid, News of the World, had hacked into voicemail accounts belonging to celebrities, politicians and other public figures. Harlan Platt, a finance professor in the College of Business Administration who specializes in crisis response, says a company needs to take immediate and deliberate action if it hopes to survive a major scandal.
Should discount carrier Norwegian Air fly to the U.S.? Here’s what passengers think. Northeastern University economist Harlan Platt says the debate reminds him of taxis fighting the inevitable spread of Uber. But the new, better way of running an airline — Norwegian Air is finding ways to reduce costs by breaking the old model of basing an airline in one country, employing people there and hiring its crew […]
The Street There’s a 25% chance of a recession A recession is not likely to transpire, because the strength in the U.S. economy is being balanced by weakness in Europe, China and in the oil patch, said Harlan Platt, a finance professor at the D’Amore McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston. Instead of panicking, investors should look for strong companies whose […]
Why are fliers avoiding the world’s largest airline? But industry-watchers aren’t impressed by its efforts. “American Airlines proves the adage that customers will only put up with so much rudeness and discourtesy before they respond,” says Harlan Platt, a finance professor at Northeastern University.
Loyalty programs: Free perks or nefarious ploy? More passengers are beginning to think of themselves as prisoners of an airline rather than willing participants in a loyalty program. And more industry observers are seeing the toxic effects of these programs on a free market. “I believe there’s little question that the primary purpose of these programs is to put loyalty ahead of […]
Economy class gets an upgrade…wait, make that a downgrade Harlan Platt, a finance professor at Northeastern University, says that, from a customer-experience point of view, the Delta remodeling is largely “cosmetic.” “They fail to touch on the big three concerns of most passengers: legroom, access to bins, and fair prices and fees,” he says. “Like most oligopolistic industries, this is what we can expect […]
Alaska Airlines and Delta are unveiling new economy-class sections this spring Harlan Platt, a finance professor at Northeastern University, says that, from a customer-experience point of view, the Delta remodeling is largely “cosmetic.” “They fail to touch on the big three concerns of most passengers: legroom, access to bins, and fair prices and fees,” he says. “Like most oligopolistic industries, this is what we can expect […]
U.S. News & World Report 6 bad financial habits you’re passing on to your kids Never comparison-shopping. Or, at least, never engaging your children in your search. Comparing products and prices is a good way to show kids how to think critically about what they’re buying, which will come in handy as they grow older and start shopping on their own. “You should shop at home using the Internet seeking […]
Bogus travel deals, expired miles leave travelers fuming Insincere offers aren’t confined to airline loyalty programs, although they can be among the worst offenders. Another class of disingenuous deal is the postcard that says you’ve won a “free” cruise or vacation. Check your mail, there’s probably one there now. “The catch is that you have to stay at a time-share facility and agree […]
How to cut your wireless bill down to size Cell phone carriers are battling for your business by cutting prices, ditching contracts, and offering to pay your fee to switch. Act fast to lock in your savings. If you’re unhappy with your cell phone service—and really, who isn’t?—now might be a unique time to either renegotiate your contract or move to a new carrier. […]
Marketplace Microsoft’s great debate With 22 years under his belt, Satya Nadella is the consummate Microsoft insider. But don’t think that experience made him a shoo-in for the top job. One reason Microsoft went nearly six months without a CEO was because executives spent time looking for their new one outside the company. Microsoft is a case study of […]