BGS Faculty and Research

McCombs is among a select few business schools with a department dedicated to the study and research of business, government, and society. Our department brings together social scientists, legal scholars, and ethics scholars to focus scholarly and curricular attention on these subjects and their interconnections in the real world. McCombs’ faculty experts have appeared in journals such as Science, Nature Human Behaviour, and Organization Science, and their studies have helped shape our understanding of U.S. politics, human psychology, decision making, and international business.

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Ethics Unwrapped

McCombs faculty experts present a video series on the science of behavioral ethics, values, and ethical leadership. With 130+ videos, 80+ cases, plus teaching notes, Ethics Unwrapped supports instructors and students 1,500+ campuses worldwide.

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Areas of research

These are just a few of the areas of expertise that our faculty researchers specialize in. Get to know more of our instructors and their research insights by browsing the McCombs Faculty Directory.

Behavioral Science and Decision Making

This research examines how cognitive biases and societal context shape the judgments and choices of individuals and organizations. The goal of this research is to generate empirically grounded insights that improve managerial decisions, organizational design, and business outcomes.

U.S. Politics, Business, and the Economy

This research looks at how the political climate in the U.S. impacts individual businesses, industries, and markets as a whole through policymaking, regulation, and the shaping of public perceptions. Insights inform strategic decision-making by helping firms anticipate political risks, regulatory change, and shifts in market behavior driven by the U.S. policy environment.

International Business

This research studies how firms operate, compete, and coordinate across national borders, taking into account differences in cultures, regulations, and economic environments. International business research improves strategic, organizational, and policy decisions in a globally interconnected economy.

Social Impacts and Sustainability

This research examines how organizations can create long-term economic value while managing environmental and social impacts. It focuses on integrating sustainability into strategy, operations, governance, and markets to support resilient and responsible business models.

✪ Research Spotlight

Growth Mindset Teaching Helps Students Make the Grade

Research by associate professor of business, government, and society Christopher Bryanfinds that by focusing on potential to improve, teachers improve pass rates — especially for teens from low socioeconomic backgrounds.

America’s Political House Can Become Less Divided

Faculty research shows that a variety of social science interventions can make Democrats and Republicans feel less ire toward each other — at least for a while.

Democrat Investment Effect Spooks Corporate Raiders

A study from Timothy Werner found that having Democratic lawmakers as shareholders discourages financial activists from targeting a company.

In China, Property Rights Take Wrong Turn

Protecting property rights fueled an economic boom; eroding them risks long-term damage, says new study by Kishore Gawande.

Center for Global Business

CGB is empowering the global leaders of tomorrow with innovative programs that fuel academic and experiential learning, growing UT’s community of global alumni, and expanding students’ access to experience abroad.

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Global Sustainability Leadership Institute

The GSLI, in partnership with the Moody College of Communication, is dedicated to addressing the critical sustainability challenges of the 21st century through research, education, and industry collaboration.

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Center for Leadership and Ethics

The center shapes how future leaders learn, grow, and lead through life-changing educational experiences and transformative research insights.

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Center for Business, Technology & Law

The denter's faculty, affiliated students, and corporate sponsors build an equitable, ethical, and sustainable framework for expanding digital innovation in human society.

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