Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Financial Markets and Society

Murphy, Daniel

Case

Financial Markets and Society

Murphy, Daniel

GEM-0192 | Published September 9, 2021 | 12 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

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Product Details

This case follows Maxine Waters, chairwoman for the US House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, as she faces the stock market phenomenon in early 2021 surrounding GameStop. The morning of February 17, 2021, Waters was leading a hearing on allegations of manipulation in the market for GameStop stock. A few weeks prior, the company’s stock surged from around $40 a share to nearly $400 over the span of a few days. Then, on January 28, the stock plunged from nearly $500 to $120 in under 90 minutes. Given the importance of her role as chair of the Financial Services Committee, Waters wanted to carefully consider the trade-offs and potential unintended consequences of any new regulations. Financial oversight required a broad understanding of the social value of financial markets. With that understanding in hand, one could better assess the social implications of any new regulations.