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Thomas Kochan

Thomas Kochan is currently Professor of Management, MIT Sloan School of Management and teaches and studies Work and Employment Relations at the MIT Sloan School of Management. For the past 40 years I have applied my research by working intensively with leaders in business, labor, and government to update labor and employment policies and practices to catch up with changes in the workforce and the economy. I just published Shaping the Future of Work (Business Educators Press, 2016) that focuses on what workers, employers, government, and educators can do to meet the needs and aspirations of the "Next Generation" workforce.

I also teach a MIT "MOOC" on line course that addresses these issues. Information about the course can be found at: https://www.edx.org/course/american-dream-next-generation-mitx-15-662x#.VNuR5bDF9IU

Here's how workers would spend the corporate tax cut – if they had a voice

Jan 30, 2018 12:09 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Over 200 CEOs have said they will raise wages or give bonuses as a result of the large corporate income tax cut passed late last year by Congress. Some view their plans as simply a public relations move, others as a...

US Election Series

Election rage shows why America needs a new social contract to ensure the economy works for all

Nov 17, 2016 23:29 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The recent U.S. election exposed two major intersecting fault lines in America that, if left unchecked, could soon produce an era of social and economic upheaval unlike any in our history. First, it revealed deep...

It's time we reinvented labor for the 21st century

Sep 03, 2016 10:01 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

On Labor Day, politicians have traditionally paid lip service to the plight of the worker, whom the national holiday is meant to honor. With working-class struggles taking center stage in this years election, we will...

How to transform workers' campaign rage into better jobs and wages

Mar 25, 2016 02:12 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

The presidential campaigns deserve some credit for finally voicing some of the deep frustrations and anger felt by American workers who have lived for decades in an economy that works for those at the top but not for them...

How do we ensure the next generation of workers isn't worse off than the last?

Jan 14, 2016 04:09 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Discussions about the future of work are clearly in the air. This week, Secretary of Labor Tom Perez is convening a three-day symposium on the issue. Simultaneously, the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion about...

Attack on unions shows why we need a new social contract governing work

Jan 14, 2016 04:06 am UTC| Politics

The U.S. Supreme Court heard a case this week that may deal a significant blow to labor unions and shows why its vital, to my mind, to come up with a new social contract governing work. The case involves ten California...

Outlook for 2016: middle-class woes, hopeful on wages, the fear factor

Jan 04, 2016 13:35 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Editors note: We asked a few of our regular writers to weigh in on what will (or should) be the key economic themes and issues of 2016 or offer their predictions. Topping the list are the worsening plight of the middle...

Economy

Bank of Japan Unveils New Inflation Gauge to Support Case for Future Rate Hikes

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) introduced a new core consumer price index (CPI) on Thursday, revealing that inflation rose 2.2% in February when adjusted to exclude special institutional factors. This new measure, released...

ECB Eyes Rate Hike Amid Iran Conflict-Driven Energy Price Surge

The European Central Bank (ECB) is weighing potential interest rate hikes as escalating conflict in Iran sends energy prices soaring, triggering fresh inflationary concerns across the eurozone. Market participants are now...

WTO Reform Talks Begin in Cameroon Amid Global Trade Tensions

Trade ministers from around the world convened Thursday in Yaoundé, Cameroon, for a critical four-day summit focused on reforming the World Trade Organization. The high-stakes gathering comes at a turbulent moment...

Japan Eyes Oil Futures Intervention to Stabilize Yen Amid Middle East Crisis

Japan is exploring an unconventional strategy to halt the yens ongoing decline directly intervening in global crude oil futures markets. The proposal, first reported by Reuters, signals Tokyos growing frustration as...

Asian Currencies Stay Muted as Dollar Holds Firm Amid Iran Uncertainty

Asian currencies remained largely subdued on Thursday as the U.S. dollar maintained its strength, with investors navigating mixed signals surrounding ongoing Middle East peace efforts. The U.S. Dollar Index held steady...

Politics

Maduro Faces Rare Narcoterrorism Charges in U.S. Court

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appeared in a U.S. federal court Thursday, facing serious criminal charges that include narcoterrorism a rarely prosecuted statute with a complicated legal history....

Russia-Iran Military Alliance Deepens With Drone Shipments Amid Middle East Tensions

Moscow is moving closer to completing a multi-phase transfer of lethal drones, medicine, and food supplies to Tehran, according to Western intelligence sources cited by the Financial Times. The deliveries are designed to...

Trump Seeks Quick End to U.S.-Iran Conflict Amid Ongoing Middle East Tensions

President Donald Trump has privately told close advisers that he wants to avoid a drawn-out war with Iran and is pushing for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict, according to a Wall Street Journal report published...

Iran-U.S. Negotiations: Tehran Reviews American Peace Proposal Amid Ongoing Gulf Conflict

Irans foreign minister confirmed Wednesday that Tehran is examining a United States peace proposal aimed at ending the escalating Gulf war, though officials stressed this falls short of direct negotiations between the two...

FEMA Reinstates $1 Billion Disaster Prevention Grant Program After Court Order

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced the resumption of a key disaster prevention initiative after facing legal challenges that forced the reversal of its earlier cancellation. The agency is once again...

Science

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Technology

Google's TurboQuant Algorithm Sends Memory Chip Stocks Tumbling

Major memory chipmakers took a significant hit on Thursday after Google researchers introduced a groundbreaking compression algorithm that threatens to reduce artificial intelligence demand for memory chips. Samsung...

Reflection AI Eyes $25 Billion Valuation in Massive $2.5 Billion Funding Round

Nvidia-backed artificial intelligence startup Reflection AI is in advanced discussions to secure $2.5 billion in fresh funding, with negotiations pointing to a staggering pre-money valuation of $25 billion, according to a...

Nanya Technology Shares Surge 10% After $2.5 Billion Private Placement from Sandisk and Cisco

Shares of Taiwan-based memory chip manufacturer Nanya Technology soared to their daily limit of 10% on Thursday morning following the companys announcement of a major $2.5 billion private placement deal backed by prominent...

SK Hynix Eyes Up to $14 Billion U.S. IPO to Fund AI Chip Expansion

South Korean memory chip giant SK Hynix has submitted a confidential filing for a U.S. stock market listing in 2026, with sources indicating the move could raise as much as $14 billion. The company intends to offer...

Meta Ties Executive Pay to Aggressive Stock Price Targets in Major Retention Push

Meta Platforms made a significant move this week by granting restricted stock units and stock options to several of its most senior leaders, including Chief Financial Officer Susan Li and Chief Technology Officer Andrew...