A selection of my writing on business, education, and culture.

Business

When Social Networks Go Astray: Beware the fraudsters hiding in yours. (Chicago Booth Review)

Think You Live In a Globalized World? Think Again: Domestic infrastructure can be a drag on international trade. (Chicago Booth Review)

Do You Really Need Your Bank? Increasingly for small and mid-sized businesses, the answer is no. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Q&A: Advice from an Old, and Notorious, Pro: Former con-artist Frank Abagnale Jr. explains how companies can protect themselves from fraud. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Who Owns Your Great Idea? Don’t brainstorm on campus and other tips for student inventors in search of a patent. (The New York Times)

All for Love: A new shop owner moves with her spouse and restarts a dream. (The Wall Street Journal)

Q&A: A Hands-Off Approach: Burton Malkiel, the author of ‘A Random Walk Down Wall Street,’ is still convinced index funds are the way to go. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Follow the Money: Asset recovery specialist Rick Rein chases money from banks and hedge funds that has disappeared overseas — a surprisingly common problem. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Women to Watch: Susan Manske: The MacArthur Foundation’s Chief Investment Officer believes diverse teams drive high returns. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Burdens of Operating a Century-Old Brand: Hartmarx Corp.’s reputation for high-quality tailoring has helped it grow from a family-owned clothing store into the largest suit maker in America. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

How Do You Say ‘Profit’ In Chinese? Firetruck manufacturer W.S. Darley & Co. is putting out fires all over the world. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Crain’s Fast 50: Innovation drives revenues for slot-machine manufacturer WMS Industries. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Global Law: New Rules In a New Age: How U.S. businesses can avoid legal trouble abroad. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

The Price Families Pay: If your first love is your biz, is there room in your life for anything else? (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Ride It Out Or Get Out? Boomer age owners face a tough call: try to sell or work harder than ever. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Education

Time Management: One-Year M.B.As: The appeal of the one-year degree. (The New York Times)

Education: When Less Is Not More: The problem: Poor performance by Chicago public school students. The Solution: Lengthen the school day. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

R.O.I.: Following the Money: Calculating the net worth of a college degree. (The New York Times)

Where’s Hot, Where’s Not: Some states suffer brain drain, while others are magnets. Tuition, state policies and even skiing conditions factor into the state popularity contest. (The New York Times)

The Case of the Vanishing Full-Time Professor: Only 27 percent of are full-time and tenured. Here’s how to find them. (The New York Times)

How Can We Reform Science Education? The state of science education is troubling. (The Hechinger Report)

College Acceptances Piling Up? How to Choose: The colleges made their decisions. Now it’s your turn. (The New York Times)

Finding Help on Campus: Seek Out Good Counsel: College students struggling with mental health issues don’t have to do it alone. (U.S. News & World Report)

The Sophomore Slump: College can really drag the second year. What to do about the sophomore slump. (The New York Times)

Transferring? Get Schooled: You’re already at the back of the line. Here’s how to butt in. (The New York Times)

Strategy/Costs: Paying for College on Your Own: Getting financial aid on your own when parents won’t chip in. (The New York Times)

Postgrad: Up to Their Ears in Debt: Graduate school looks like a cozy place to hide out in times like these, but buyer beware. (The New York Times)

MBAs — 2nd Tier Degrees, 1st Rate Careers: It’s possible to build a first-rate career with a less-than-gilt-edged degree. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Chicago Teaches the World: Chicago business schools are setting up shop in other countries, hoping to bolster their brand internationally. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

The World is Their Classroom: Providing MBA students with international experiences is no longer a frill, but a necessity. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Ratio, Schmatio: As they say: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” (The New York Times)

Interview: Clothes-Minded: Researcher David Brunsma gives the public school uniform craze a dressing down. (Teacher Magazine)

What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding? Career pacifist and volunteer teacher Colman McCarthy could easily be written off as a holdover from the ’60s. But, in this uncertain time, his students think otherwise. (Teacher Magazine)

Culture

A Revolution on Stage: Reinventing Greek drama, an art form that has endured for centuries. (U.S. News & World Report)

Q&A: What Is Political Asylum? What you — and Edward Snowden — need to know about seeking protection in another country. (Globalpost.com)

Interview: Higher Ground: When children flee conflicts, they need food, shelter — and school, says the International Rescue Committee’s Wendy Smith. (Teacher Magazine)

Speeding Up to Relax: Auto racing is a popular postgraduate course for small-business owners. (The Wall Street Journal)

Tailgate [teyl-geht]: A peek into the world of extreme tailgating. (Food Network Magazine)

Get Out: Take Flamenco Classes: The intensity, the fiery footwork, the swirling polyester. Don’t be shy — live out those “Strictly Ballroom” fantasies. (The Washington Post)

Q&A: The Numbers Game: Marshall Field V discusses the art of fundraising during a donation drought. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Is Now a Good Time to Start a Private Foundation? Pros and cons to starting a family foundation. (Crain’s Chicago Business)

What Works as Play? For some travel-industry entrepreneurs, a taste of the familiar without the responsibility. (The Wall Street Journal)

Show and Tell: Wendy Ewald has spent more than 30 years putting cameras in the hands of children — with some stark and surprising results. Now she’s sharing her methods with teachers. (Teacher Magazine)

Nelson Mandela’s Greatest Speeches (VIDEO): Video highlights of the South African leader’s key speeches. (Globalpost.com)

Dancing With the Book Carts: What sport demands the precision of synchronized swimming and the book smarts of a librarian? (The New York Times)