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S&O Research
To promote the creation of a European way of thinking about enterprise and society
An Institute of Excellence for research
Founded in 2008 under the aegis of Rodolphe Durand, the S&O Institute brings together 60 professors, researchers and PhD students from HEC Paris. Our research approach combines a broad range of methods tailored to the studied phenomena. It also incorporates theoretical lenses from various disciplines including economics, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and history, which is then integrated with a management focus. The research is conducted in partnership with other leading academic institutions in Europe and North America.
Research that directly addresses the challenges of our time
The S&O Institute offers new ways of understanding the world, helping organizations reconcile economic priorities with a new series of imperatives. The research conducted by the Institute’s academics tackles concrete issues, yielding results that businesses can immediately put to use in these following areas: climatic constraints, responsible finance, impact investment, social inequality, ethical imperatives, implementation of CRS policies, renewable energy, circular economy, partnership between public and private sector, action of NGOs, incentives at work, diversity in the workplace, liberalization, regulation, and more.
Research of global significance
The S&O Institute has become a vibrant center of reflection recognized throughout Europe. Over the past five years, the Institute’s members have already produced more than 60 research papers, of which more than half have been published in leading academic journals. Through its publications, academic exchanges and partnerships, organization of international events (the Medici Summer School, the European Theory Development Workshop), and its doctoral scholarship scheme, the S&O Institute is proudly contributing to the development of an international research community concerned with key contemporary challenges.
We engage in the study of what forms the basis of responsible capitalism.
Rodolphe Durand
Latest Research
Activist Hedge Funds: Good for Some, Bad for Others?
Do activist hedge funds help or harm the companies they target? Mark DesJardine of Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business and Rodolphe Durand of HEC Paris (fondateur of the HEC’s Society & Organizations Institute) investigated the long-term effects of hedge fund activism on companies that get targeted by these activists. In their extensive research, they found the value of targeted companies spikes the first year after targeting but drops in later years relative to similar non-targeted companies. In addition, the authors found that being targeted by activist hedge funds put a halt to the broader investment portfolios and socially responsible efforts of companies.
Also featured in the Financial Times and the Institutional Investor
Full Press Review on the Hedge Fund and Impact on CSR Research
Labor Market Polarization and the New Geography of Jobs
The labor market is strongly polarized. What consequences on the society? Based on their latest research, professors of Economics Tomasz Michaslki and Eric Mengus explain this "Great Divergence", and give insights on how to find new ways to create added value, both in bigger and smaller cities.
Also featured in VOXeu
Optimizing Feed-In Tariffs to Boost Renewable Energy Production
Feed-in tariffs (FITs) are crucial tools to increase the adoption of renewable energy technologies. But setting them at the right level (price) is a balancing act. If they are poorly designed, they can backfire, stunting the industry and wasting public money. A duo of HEC researchers, along with a colleague from the University of Texas at Austin, have shown that, to set optimal FIT levels, regulators must take into account the behaviours all players affected, including technology manufacturers.
Walking the talk: why companies should be politically transparent
More and more companies flaunt their policies regarding social or environmental sustainability. However, these same companies may promote policies that contradict their stated CSR objectives through their political actions. Enough is enough, says a group of top researchers arguing for political transparency in a paper that won the California Management Review’s Best Article Award 2019.
Social Impact Assessment Strategy Report
Make the best of social impact measurement
Download the report
Accelerating Researcher-Practitioner Collaborations in Sustainability Research
Tackling societal challenges, including climate change and social inequality, requires the proactive engagement and leadership of business and academic communities.
Read and download the reportMedici Summer School
The Medici Summer School in Management Studies is a unique opportunity for doctoral students and young researchers to interact with thought leaders in the management field. The Summer School combines lectures and research seminars that contribute to the development of enlightened practice in the management of business.
Research Partnerships
The S&O Institute has cultivated various partnerships ranging from business schools to academic institutions in order to facilitate research on topics including, but not limited to, climactic constraints, social inequality, technological disruption, and corporate social responsibility.
