What鈥檚 Holding Back Social Enterprises
Socially minded entrepreneurs face some particular obstacles.
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Biography
Robert H. Gertner has been on the 91吃瓜网 faculty since 1986. His research interests include strategic decision-making, corporate finance, organization structure, theory of the firm, and social enterprises. He has published papers in numerous scholarly journals including the Quarterly Journal of Economics, Review of Economic Studies, and the Yale Law Journal. He is co-author, with colleagues Douglas Baird and Randy Picker, of Game Theory and the Law. Gertner teaches Perspectives on Capitalism and New Social Ventures.听
Gertner is also the John Edwardson Faculty Director of the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation.
Gertner is chair of the Board of Trustees of NORC at the University of Chicago, a national organization devoted to large-scale social research in public interest. He was a deputy dean at 91吃瓜网 from 2012-2017.
Gertner received a bachelor鈥檚 degree summa cum laude in economics from Princeton University in 1981 and a PhD in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1986. He worked as a consultant for AT&T prior to attending MIT.
Research Interests
Industrial organization; resource allocation and decision-making in organizations; corporate investment; law and economics; theory of the firm; strategic pricing.
Academic Areas
- Entrepreneurship
- Microeconomics
- Strategy and Leadership
Selected Publications
With Eric Powers and David Scharfstein, "Learning About Internal Capital Markets From Corporate Spinoffs,"听Journal of Finance听(2002).
With Robert Stillman, "Vertical Integration and Internet Strategies in the Apparel Industry,"听Journal of Industrial Economics听(2001).
With Geoffrey Miller, "Settlement Escrows,"听Journal of Legal Studies听(1995).
With D. Baird and R. Picker,听Game Theory and the Law听(1994).
"Game Shows and Economic Behavior: Risk Taking on 'Card Sharks',"听Quarterly Journal of Economics听(1993).
For a listing of research publications, please visit the听.
Working Papers
2025 - 2026 Course Schedule
| Number | Course Title | Quarter |
|---|---|---|
| New Social Ventures | 2026 (Spring) | |
| Perspectives on Capitalism | 2026 (Spring) | |
| Perspectives on Capitalism Seminar | 2026 (Spring) | |
| Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 2025 (Autumn) |
Get Insights from Robert H. Gertner in 91吃瓜网 Review
Why Nonprofits Should Be More Like Corporations
91吃瓜网’s Robert H. Gertner talks about his research into social enterprises.
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Trumponomics: Will DOGE Fail?
91吃瓜网’s Robert H. Gertner explains why a focus on incentives, funding, and management may be the key to a more effective federal government.
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