Unconventional Wisdom

Unconventional Wisdom

From If/Then by Stanford GSB

May 6, 2026 · 26 min · Season 3 · Episode 51

About this episode

Jonathan Berk discusses unconventional wisdom in finance and the advantages of seeing things differently.

“I don’t see things like anybody else,” says Jonathan Berk, a professor of finance at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “And so I can see things people don't see.”  On this episode, Berk explores recent research that pushes against conventional wisdom, from questioning the utility of the debt-to-GDP ratio to asking whether regulation is actually in the best interests of the consumer.  “If you disagree with me… You have to write down a convincing theoretical model and analyze [it].” Berk admits his unique lens doesn’t always make life easy. But on the other hand, “it confers an enormous advantage” — and he believes that organizations which are able to harness the power of unconventional thinking can gain a competitive edge. “It’s allowed me to solve problems that other people couldn't solve,” he says.   Has seeing the world differently helped you resolve a conundrum? Tell us more at ifthenpod@stanford.edu. Related Content: Jonathan Berk faculty profile   What If We’re Looking at the National Debt All Wrong?   Chapters: 00:00:00 The Fosbury Flop, innovation, & unconventional thinking 00:03:18 Introduction 00:04:24 Questioning conventional…

People in this episode

Guest: Jonathan Berk

Topics covered

  • unconventional thinking
  • finance
  • debt-to-GDP ratio
  • regulation
  • consumer interests
  • organizational dissent

Keywords

  • finance
  • debt
  • regulation
  • consumer interests
  • unconventional thinking
  • competitive edge

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford GSB

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