Betsy Vereckey

What would a world without banks look like? That’s the premise of decentralized finance, a $77 billion market that has been touted as a more efficient alternative to traditional banking.
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In a DeFi world, cryptocurrency-backed transactions are executed automatically and blockchain-based smart contracts allow people to trade directly with each other without oversight of big b...

Everyone seems to have an opinion on Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency. Some say it has revolutionized financial access. Others call it a threat to financial stability, citing roller-coaster prices and illegal behavior. But no matter what you think of Bitcoin, interest in it is higher than ever.
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"Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency, and it’s still the biggest today, wit...

As states around the U.S. begin to open up for business, economists have been trying to predict what the economy will look like — literally. Will it be V-shaped, U-shaped, W-shaped, or none of the above?
Speaking on a panel as part of the recent EmTech Next conference, three economists discussed what the road ahead will look like — both in the U.S. and globally. From dismal unemployment to anemic consumer spending, they agreed that short-term prospects are grim, with full recovery at least a ...

As Americans continue to work from home in the wake of the pandemic, executives are trying to figure out the ramifications of the new normal. Does working in an office help boost innovation and creativity?
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New research from MIT says yes. David Atkin, an MIT professor of economics, quantified the impact of face-to-face meetings in the paper "The Returns to Face-to-Face Inter...

Beyond the protests currently roiling China over its “zero-COVID" policy, experts see an economy under pressure as President Xi Jinping begins his third term.
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With his autocratic style, Xi has broken the social contract between the Chinese Communist Party and its citizens, according to MIT Sloan’san internationally recognized authority on China and author of “Capitalism Wit...

While plenty of research has examined the plight of small businesses during COVID-19, a new study is the first of its kind to look at how small business owners spent — and didn't spend — their own money in the early days of the pandemic.
Could a more coordinated, national response have helped them better weather the economic uncertainty?
"We wanted to look at how different types of shocks filter through from the business to the owner, and how a shock to the owner themselves affects the busine...

It’s a challenge most entrepreneurs face at some point: access to capital.
Enter the initial coin offering, the latest trend in cryptocurrencies. Akin to crowdfunding, an ICO allows startup founders to raise money by creating and selling their own virtual currency, no venture capital required.
Despite a slow start, the industry exploded in 2017, mostly because of the fervor surrounding all things bitcoin, the largest virtual currency, with a market cap of more than $117 billion.
Initial coin ...

For years, the accounting industry has been viewed as a time-honored practice whose core responsibility is to help businesses maintain accurate and timely records of their finances.
But as a host of emerging technological and societal trends continue to have a bigger effect on the industry, accountants are playing new roles in helping companies track and report their finances.
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In recent years, the idea of investing with an environmental or social purpose has gained significant traction, especially among those who wish to invest in accordance with their values.
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People who put money in vehicles like ESG index funds expect that their money will be invested in alignment with values such as a commitment to renewable energy or equal pay for women. But ...

Change is afoot in the semiconductor industry. The Biden administration has provided new funding amid concerns that the U.S. has become too dependent on microchips made abroad. Tensions are also rising between China and Taiwan, where most chips are made. Will this lead to supply chain problems?
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Intel is hoping to even the playing field by building new factories in Arizona, ...

Climate change has contributed to dramatic weather events. With severe flooding and drought happening across the nation, the U.S. needs a national water strategy to manage outdated infrastructure and technology, according to a presentation at the most recent MIT Water Summit.
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“It’s very timely to create a new department that is responsible for water quantity and water quali...

It's taken blockchain — the decentralized recordkeeping technology underlying digital currencies — more than a decade to make significant headway in consumer finance.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency. Some say it has revolutionized financial access. Others call it a threat to financial stability, citing roller-coaster prices and illegal behavior. But no matter what you think of Bitcoin, interest in it is higher than ever.

Although it can be a smart idea to buy life insurance, some put it off or don't buy it at all, despite the fact that it can financially protect their loved ones in the event of an unexpected tragedy.

Charlotte Johnson T’19 remembers the first time her cousin-in-law, Pace Ralli T’09, showed her family how to play ShakaBall, a one-of-a-kind paddle game named after the Hawaiian hand gesture associated with surfing culture and good vibes.