Kimberly Chong: What Do Management Consultants Do?

The video features a discussion with Kimberly, a research fellow at University College London, about her project on financialization in post-Mao China. She redefines financialization as the spread of financial principles to non-financial entities, focusing on cultural impacts. Her fieldwork in a global management consultancy highlights the ethic of shareholder value and its cultural transmission. The video also explores perceptions of Chinese enterprises and Kimberly's academic journey from economics to anthropology, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration in finance studies.

What unique perspective does Kimberly bring to the concept of financialization?

• It focuses on the size of the finance industry.

• It emphasizes the ratio of debt to GDP.

• It highlights the spread of financial principles to non-financial entities.

• It considers the impact of technology on finance.

What is the primary financial concept Kimberly focuses on in her fieldwork?

• Debt management

• Shareholder value

• Investment strategies

• Corporate social responsibility

How do management consultants create a sense of certainty in an uncertain world?

• By creating narratives of best practices

• By predicting future market trends

• By evaluating past performance

• By focusing on technological advancements

What was Kimberly's academic background before pursuing anthropology?

• Economics and Sociology

• Psychology

• Political Science

• Finance

What concern do investors have about Chinese state enterprises?

• They are overly competitive.

• They are too small.

• They are too modernized.

• They lack financialization.

What is the role of Western intermediaries in Chinese enterprises according to Kimberly?

• To introduce new technologies

• To reduce employment

• To shape the form of capitalism

• To increase exports

Why did Kimberly choose anthropology over economics?

• She found economics too theoretical.

• She was interested in cultural studies.

• She wanted to study human behavior in social contexts.

• She preferred qualitative research.

What is the focus of the cultures of finance group at NYU?

• Investment strategies

• Technological advancements in finance

• Economic policies and regulations

• Cultural and social aspects of finance

What interdisciplinary collaborations does Kimberly hope to pursue?

• With medical researchers

• With computer scientists and public policy experts

• With artists and musicians

• With historians and linguists

What is the goal of INET's new economic thinking?

• To encourage diverse perspectives on the economy

• To explore new economic theories by economists

• To focus solely on economic growth

• To prioritize technological innovation