Analysis

Coke vs. Pepsi: The Battle for University Soda Machines 

Coke vs. Pepsi: The Battle for University Soda Machines 

Nutthaseth Vanchaichana via iStockPhoto The age-old rivalry that has long divided the nation: Coke vs. Pepsi. Some claim they taste the same, while others say they are incomparable. Those with a strong preference for one of the two find themselves in unfortunate situations when the waiter replies, “sorry, we don’t carry [preferred cola drink], just [undesired cola drink].” For the consumer who enjoys both Coke and Pepsi alike, this poses no real inconvenience. But for consumers on either end of the spectrum, the lack of their favorite cola turns day into night. Now imagine a die hard Coke-lover coming to…
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We’re Going to Build a New Stadium, and You’re Going to Pay For It!

We’re Going to Build a New Stadium, and You’re Going to Pay For It!

Image generated by ChatGPT 4o The Tennessee Titans are building a new, $2.1 billion dollar home and you’re going to pay for it. No, Vanderbilt students are not going to have to take out their, or their parent’s check book and write out an eye watering figure, but Nashville and Tennessee taxpayers are going to bear a record breaking financial burden to the tune of $1.2 billion dollars, the largest ever stadium subsidy in the nation.  Large public subsidies for the stadiums of major sports teams have been somewhat of a trend in recent years, and with that has come…
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Natural Disasters: A Drain in the Most Crucial Regions of Economic Development

Natural Disasters: A Drain in the Most Crucial Regions of Economic Development

CHUYN via iStockPhoto As hurricane season approaches its end following historic destruction in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, it is more important than ever to pay attention to the economic disasters that can accompany them. Natural disasters have devastating effects, and with climate change exacerbating the strength and frequency of these tragic events, they become even more relevant in the discussion of local economies. The issue of disasters is especially relevant in the Southeast, as Texas, Florida and Louisiana lead the nation in the associated costs of weather events. Florida alone suffered a 7.5-10% hit to GDP as a result…
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GLP-1s: A Game Changer. But for Whom?

GLP-1s: A Game Changer. But for Whom?

PeopleImages via iStockPhoto What are GLP-1s? The emergence of GLP-1 drugs as effective treatments for obesity has dominated the recent news. Top headlines from Bloomberg, CNBC, The New York Times, People, and numerous other publications illustrate how this product has quickly become a mainstream part of our culture.  GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, is a peptide hormone antagonist that blocks glucagon secretion to prevent excess glucose from entering the bloodstream. Initially developed over 15 years ago for lowering blood sugar for Type 2 diabetics, GLP-1 drugs are now also clinically proven to reduce weight significantly. Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk led…
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How Nashville Businesses Market Themselves to College Students: Student Deals and Discounts

How Nashville Businesses Market Themselves to College Students: Student Deals and Discounts

csfotoimages via iStockPhoto When you ask someone about Nashville, “college town” will probably not be their chosen descriptor. With its incredible music scene, fabulous restaurants, and all sorts of attractions, Nashville is often known for its tourism, drawing people from all over to experience the city’s unique culture.  One might think that tourists are then the main focus of local businesses, but the greater Nashville area is also home to roughly 9 colleges, making college students an important market for Nashville businesses. But how do businesses attract these college kids? And, likely most important to you, which businesses do this? …
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The Consolidation of Online Streaming

The Consolidation of Online Streaming

mphillips007 via iStockPhoto The way we watch TV and movies is changing. Before the 1980s, people often relied on broadcast TV for their shows and movies. This free, ad-supported television broadcasted to homes and typically included three-to-four national and two-to-three local channels. Next, cable was invented, and for a monthly subscription, users could access hundreds of channels and additional content for a paid subscription.  The Shift to Streaming  As recently as 2016, almost 100 million homes had cable TV. Then, streaming emerged, significantly changing how we consume TV and movies. When streaming started to dominate, the first main platform was…
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What Business Should I Start? 2 Ways of Entrepreneurship

What Business Should I Start? 2 Ways of Entrepreneurship

miniseries via iStockPhoto After finishing their curriculum in university, students are offered multiple potential choices, such as joining a company, continuing their education as a graduate student, or pursuing one of the most popular and ambitious choices: embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship. With insights shared by a Kellogg alumnus/search fund owner from Nashville and profound visions from an accomplished consultant, this article will explore two avenues that lead to success in entrepreneurship, which are, respectively, making something new, and making something better. Making Something New Making something new sounds like an empty exercise without a well-formed idea. Here are…
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Realtor Compensation Gets Overhauled: How Does It Affect Nashville?

Realtor Compensation Gets Overhauled: How Does It Affect Nashville?

Feverpitched via iStockPhoto For decades, the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a trade association with over 1.3 million members, has established guidelines for structuring compensation for realtors representing homebuyers and sellers during most home sales in the United States, However, on August 17th, 2024, new NAR practices went into effect following a settlement between the NAR and a class of plaintiffs across the United States. In the antitrust lawsuit, plaintiffs asserted that the NAR’s guidelines for compensating realtors were anticompetitive and increased home prices through compensation structures that shared commissions between the realtors of homebuyers and home sellers.  How have…
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Is CAVA the next Chipotle?

Is CAVA the next Chipotle?

Photo taken by Jeremy Rosenkranz Background & History With Campus Dining receiving lots of backlash in the first few weeks of the 2024-2025 school year, many students are opting to dine at the multitude of popular chain restaurants surrounding the campus. The most notable of these chains are CAVA and Chipotle, restaurants which specialize in bringing quality ingredients to fast-casual dining. Although their respective cuisines are very different (Chipotle being Mexican while Cava is Mediterranean), the two restaurants have both developed cult-like fan bases, strong social media presences, and have investors throwing money at them. When Chipotle was founded in…
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