Business Review at Berkeley
2 articles · 21 graphics designed · since May 2019
Articles
The Weekly BluRB - October 20th, 2025
The Weekly BluRB Economics / InvestingThe US and Australia cut news deals while France and the UK are having a gloomy October. In our Story of the Week, diamonds might not be forever.
How Co-Working Spaces Can Help Startups Bloom
CommunityHow do you find a place to not only run your startup business but also meet your customers?
Graphics
The Search for Default: How Google Won the Web and Why AI Wants It Next
Economics / InvestingAfter years of nearly unchallenged dominance, Google’s assumption of default status is being contested by an entirely different conception of what a browser should be.
The 21st-Century Gold Rush: Why Bitcoin’s “Digital Gold” Narrative Is a Lie
Economics / InvestingBitcoin may have started as an alternative to Wall Street, but in 2025, it’s marching in lockstep with it.
Talk vs Action: How California’s High Speed Rail Faltered While the Private Sector Thrives
CommunityDespite years of promise and billions of dollars invested in developing a high-speed rail system that rivals Japan's, the California high-speed rail project stalls.
Buy, Return, Repeat: The Unsustainable Cycle of Modern Retail
CommunityBehind every easy return is a harder truth: discarded goods, rising emissions, and a retail system built on waste we’re never meant to see.
The Layoff Tsunami: What Happens When Governments Cut Their Own Workforce
Economics / InvestingThe federal government is undergoing its largest workforce reduction in modern history. Since the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency, mass layoffs, agency closures, and a prolonged shutdown have crippled essential services…
The Berkeley Space Project and Government Funding
CommunityWith research projects such as the Berkeley Space Project serving as vital drivers of innovation and discovery, the new Trump administration’s budget cuts threaten to limit these ambitions, potentially imposing serious consequences on our…
Berkeley’s Boba Bubble and the Surplus of Drink Spots
CommunityThe more matcha and boba shops open, the more each one struggles to survive. This oversaturation reflects more than just student demand, but a deeper set of economic, cultural, and aesthetic forces reshaping consumption habits and business…
The Sweetest Strategy: Girl Scouts 101
CommunityThe Girl Scouts, through innovations like the Digital Cookie app, drive-through booths, and diversity initiatives, have weathered pandemic disruptions and social controversies to remain a leading organization that empowers young women…
The Evolution and Future of Renewable Energy Credits in the United States
Economics / InvestingIn a world where energy policy shifts like the wind, is a market-based solution for clean power the answer? Renewable Energy Credits are rewriting the rules of the game.
Gentrification in Berkeley & Oakland: What It Means for Small Businesses and Communities
CommunityIn recent years, gentrification in the Bay Area has surged, leading to the closure of many small, locally owned businesses.
How AI Technology Is Transforming Current Marketing Roles and Future Jobs
TechnologyFind out how artificial intelligence is being utilized in relation to job automation and transforming current marketing roles.
Navigating the AI Regulatory Landscape: The Rise of Corporate Lobbying
Economics / InvestingLearn about the rapid growth of AI lobbying efforts by major tech companies in recent years. Explore how these developments not only steer policies towards favorable regulations but also shape the economic landscape of businesses in the…
The Online Education Boom: How Shifts Towards Online College Classes Fuel the Isolation Epidemic
CommunityShifts towards online education, despite potentially reducing university costs, have begun to have an adverse effect on academic outcomes, and have led to an increase in the isolation of college students.
Gamble All the Way: The Rise of Sports Betting in America
Economics / InvestingSports betting is experiencing a surge in popularity and promotion. Do people understand the risks of widespread gambling? Find out more about the damage gambling is inflicting on our sports and on the lives of everyday Americans.
Biohacking the Food Industry
TechnologyAs the global population is rapidly on the rise, the pressure to ensure a sufficient supply of food is now more urgent than ever. CRISPR, a gene-editing technology, might just be our way to redefine agriculture as we know it.
Defense and Response: How Defense Contractor Stock Prices Respond to War News
Economics / InvestingDefense contracting is a powerful and profitable industry… but certain times are more profitable than others. Of course, the market knows this, but do they know soon enough?
How OpenAI’s AI-Only Social App is Redefining Short-Form Video
TechnologyWith AI-generation advancing at an exponential pace, authenticating media has become a crucial part of content consumption.
The Price of Austerity: UC Berkeley Threatened by Impending Research Budget Cuts
CommunityProposed NIH budget cuts by the Trump Administration could have devastating effects on not only UC Berkeley’s campus, but on the greater Bay Area economy and the local Berkeley community.
Passive Income: Work Smarter, Not Harder
Financial LiteracyFor college students, A stable nine-to-five is not a viable option for finding financial freedom. With busy schedules and digital opportunities, young people are discovering and shifting towards passive income streams.
Can You Afford to Be Sick?
Financial LiteracyWhat makes US healthcare so expensive? Our neighbor in the north may serve some answers. While Canada and the US share similar backgrounds in culture, language, and economies, Canada's universal healthcare system cuts healthcare prices in…
Trump's Rollback on Eco-Funding: How It Could Impact Corporate ESG Strategies & Climate Careers
CommunityTrump’s climate-funding freeze sparks ESG shakeups, investor doubts, job risks, and fewer opportunities for students eyeing sustainability careers.
