HEC in the press

The Guardian highlights Europe’s growing confrontation with Donald Trump over Greenland, as EU leaders weigh whether to abandon appeasement and use their strongest economic weapons. Alberto Alemanno, EU law professor at HEC Paris Business School, warns that a calibrated response would be a mistake, calling instead for decisive action to avoid lasting U.S. leverage over Europe.

In a letter published by The Financial Times, Alberto Alemanno, Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law at HEC Paris Business School, argues that Europe has weakened its negotiating position by voluntarily rolling back key regulatory powers. He criticises Brussels for softening digital, climate and AI rules under U.S. pressure, warning that the EU is surrendering one of its strongest sources of leverage without even testing its ability to push back.

German media Deutsche Welle examines how the European Union could respond to Donald Trump’s trade threats over Greenland, weighing options such as retaliatory tariffs, suspending the EU–U.S. trade deal, or activating the so-called “trade bazooka.” Alberto Alemanno, law professor at HEC Paris Business School, argues that Europe’s real leverage lies not in tariff escalation but in enforcing and exporting its regulatory standards — from data protection to AI governance and corporate accountability.

In an op-ed for Project Syndicate, professor of economics at HEC Paris Business School Antonin Bergeaud and co-authors André Loesekrug-Pietri and  Jean Tirole refute the idea that Europe’s innovation gap stems from a lack of capital. They explain that fragmented markets, regulation and incentives prevent startups from scaling up, and that injecting more funding without completing the single market will not produce global tech champions.

The Atlantic explores what it would mean to live without clocks in a Norwegian island above the Arctic Circle, using Sommarøy’s “time-free” experiment as a lens. The article draws on research by Anne-Laure Sellier, professor at HEC Paris Business School, which distinguishes between “clock-timers” and “event-timers” and shows how constant time awareness can shape motivation, performance and our sense of control over daily life.

Behind the noise of short sellers, banks act fast. In an op-ed published in Forbes, HEC Paris Business School professor Albert Mensah explains the results of his latest research showing how lenders raise loan costs when firms are most vulnerable.

In an op-ed published in The Financial Times, HEC Paris Business School professor Rodolphe Durand argues that leaders must learn to manage growing complexity rather than oversimplify it. He draws on recent research to show that effective leadership today requires nuance: balancing distinctiveness, purpose, multiple objectives and human–AI collaboration instead of relying on one-size-fits-all rules.

Bloomberg reports that France’s political turmoil is weakening its ability to shape European financial regulation, dimming hopes for a “massive regulatory pause” amid U.S. deregulation. Jean-Edouard Colliard, associate professor of finance at HEC Paris, notes that while France can no longer lead at this stage, it also cannot block reforms — potentially opening the door for other European actors to push new ideas forward.

In an op-ed for Forbes, HEC Paris Business School professor Thomas Åstebro shows that, when clarity fades, great leaders think and act like entrepreneurs—using ambiguity as a guide instead of chasing firm odds.

The Financial Times highlights how European business schools are benefiting from political uncertainty and tighter visa rules in the United States. The article cites Luis Dominguez, a Mexican former consultant who turned down MBA offers from US universities to enroll at HEC Paris Business School, saying he was deterred by the prospect of studying in the U.S. under Donald Trump. Deans describe this shift as a “Trump bump” redirecting talent toward Europe.