Christopher Tang
UCLA Distinguished Professor; Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration; Senior Associate Dean, Global Initiatives; Faculty Director, Center for Global Management
About
Chris Tang’s early research focused on mainstream operations management problems, such as production planning and control, inventory models with yield uncertainties, design and control of flexible manufacturing lines, and capacity configuration problems. It now spans areas that include global supply chain management, retail operations and social business operations. His current interest focuses on social innovation for developing countries, looking at ways that companies can operate in the environment, doing good and doing well at the same time.
Topics
![Photo of Christopher Tang](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/chris-tang.jpg)
46 Articles
![A graphic with text above that reads, "World has entered a polycrisis era and SDG progress is threatened by" and underneath the text are a series of graphics](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/AR-thumb-ops-un-sdg.png)
How to Speed Progress on U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
Operations management research identifies synergies for more efficient action
![The skyline of Shenzhen, China, amid pollution.](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/AR-thumb-greenzones.png)
Strict Emissions Rules in China Spur Automotive Innovations
Tough standards led to an increase in auto-related patents
![Migrant workers in the field.](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/AR-thumb-forced-labor.png)
How to Reduce the Risk of Forced Labor in Agricultural Supply Chains
Improving the search for contractors that don’t use coercion
![Scotch barrels stacked inside a distillery](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AR-thumb-aged-products.png)
Distillers’ Dilemma: Sell Now or Let Whisky Age Further
Decision analysis for a firm considering adding a longer-aged product to its lineup
![Macro of silicon wafer semiconductor with neon color - integrated circuits to manufacture CPU and GPU.](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/AR-thumb-renewal-threat.png)
A Proposal To Improve Supplier Reliability in Tech Manufacturing
Withholding renewal of a supply agreement can be more powerful than other carrots and sticks
![Shopping cart on white background.](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AR-thumb-grocery-pricing.png)
When Surge Pricing Comes to the Supermarket
Charging more at peak times could reduce congestion and lift profits. Would customers revolt?
![This Climate TRACE map shows the greenhouse-gas emissions and the CO2 level created in China’s manufacturing sector.](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AR-thumb-voluntary-disclosure.png)
Carbon Disclosures: Unflattering Supply Chain Data Omitted
Companies that report emissions appear greener only in a narrow measure
![](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-logo-news-coverage-barrons.png)
The Dirty Secret Behind Companies’ Carbon-Emissions Disclosures
Are companies that choose to disclose their emissions greener?
![A food delivery driver in a green jacket riding a motorscooter squeezes between two vans on the street.](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/AR-thumb-food-deliveries.png)
How to Reduce Food-Delivery Collisions
Fining drivers hasn’t worked. A model suggests penalizing the delivery app companies
![A screenshot of an online selling tutorial on Amazon.](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AR-thumb-third-party-seller.png)
Amazon (and Other Platforms) vs. Third-Party Sellers: Complicated Debate
Some data shows competing against the platform can help sellers, if not consumers
![](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-logo-news-coverage-wsj.png)
Knowing Everyone’s Salaries Can Light a Fire Under Workers
Seeing a career path to advancement—and believing the process is fair—motivates employees, studies show
![An overhead view of shipping containers and semi trucks going through a gate](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AR-thumb-supply-chain-fairness.jpg)
Can Supply Chains — Global, Opaque, Ever-Changing — Be Made Fair?
Amid the pandemic, price gouging and stiffing of suppliers and workers surged
![An out of foucs image of a female in a conference room with windows](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AR-thumb-pay-transparency.jpg)
Do the Benefits of Pay Transparency Accrue Mostly to Employers?
Revealed compensation might motivate workers to do more, without a raise
![An electric charging station filled 2ith cars](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AR-thumb-charging-station.jpg)
Want More Charging Stations? Spur Purchases of More EVs
Governments needn’t subsidize charging networks
![An illustration of a woman pulling a suitcase as she walks toward her ride share.](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AR-thumb-surge-pricing.jpg)
Surge Pricing’s Benefits Go to a Subset of Ride-Hailing Drivers
Full-timers gain the least, part-time drivers the most
![A pile of glittery gold stars on the left of the frame and in the center a yellow star](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AR-thumb-online-reviews.jpg)
Online Reviews: Should Sellers Show All or a Subset Relevant to You?
Most sellers do one or the other, but giving shoppers both might lift sales
![A photo of a merge sign](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AR-thumb-merger-decisions.jpg)
Unvarnished Merger Talk: Will This Deal Help Us Raise Prices?
Customer loyalty, barriers to entry and other factors at play
![A young man wearing a blue shirt plays a game on his cellphone](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AR-thumb-mobile-games.jpg)
What Drives Engagement in $116 Billion Mobile Gaming Industry
Novelty and social connection boost time spent playing
![A man tests a phone from a display in a store](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/AR-thumb-upgrades.jpg)
Offering Free Upgrades Early to Manage Inventory and Boost Profit
Waiting until one product model runs out can be a costly mistake
![Rows of gantry cranes at a harbor on a hazy day](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/AR-Tarrifs-thumb-760x570.jpg)
Trump’s Tariffs Did, In Fact, Hurt U.S. Importers
Companies with Chinese suppliers suffered — those with more diversified supply chains suffered more
![A person sits in a wicker chair looking a white wall covered in multicolored sticky notes](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/AR-crowdfund-thumb-1-760x570.png)
On Kickstarter, Beware of ‘Feature Fatigue’
Backers like to offer suggestions to a not-quite-finished product
![A food bank worker is separating out fresh produce into bags for distribution](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/AR-food-banks-thumb-760x570.png)
Fixing a Food Bank’s Pandemic Logistics Problem
Enormous growth and a redrawn supply chain required a new system
![A masked person looks at their phone and sits behind a glass counter](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/AR-nanostores-thumb-760x570.png)
A Survival Plan for the Developing World’s Tiny Retailers
Technology and mobile finance needed as nanostores’ compete against online behemoths
![Produce section of a grocery store with people pushing carts in both aisles](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/AR-grocery-co-op-card.jpg)
How Grocery Co-Ops Fit into the Competitive Landscape
Do for-profit supermarket chains tolerate higher-priced co-ops?
![An overhead view of cars waiting in line for vaccine distribution](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/AR-vaccine-logistics-card-760x570.jpg)
In COVID-19, Should the Logistics Tail Have Wagged the Vaccine Dog?
Balancing vaccine efficacy against need to quickly inoculate more people
![Two reshore workers standing](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AR-reshoring-thumb-760x570.png)
Politicians and Labor Love Reshoring; Investor Reaction Is Mixed
Stock prices dip around some announcements of return of jobs
![Bright pink background with syringes lined up in diagonal rows](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/AR-flu-vaccine-hero-760x570.jpg)
A Proposal to Even Out Flu Vaccine Supplies
A system of manufacturer rewards and penalties, consumer taxes and subsidies could aid vaccination rates
![Stack of money in a brown envelope](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AR-bribe-contract-hero-760x570.jpg)
Bribery and the Motivation of Bidders on Foreign Contracts
Do bigger companies win even when they lose out on corrupt deals?
![Off white medicine pill capsules on a desk](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AR-orphan-drug-hero-760x570.jpg)
Orphan Drugs: An Expert Pricing Panel Could Bring Benefits
The goal is continued development of new drugs and reduction of often shocking prices
![Taxi driver waiting outside his car](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AR-ride-share-balance-hero-760x570.jpg)
Not All Disruption Is Welcome: Reducing Fallout from Ride-Share Companies
Municipalities address increased traffic, pollution, taxi company bankruptcies and driver poverty
![Food delivery in China](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AR-meal-delivery-hero-760x570.jpg)
Food Delivery Apps: Driver Experience Turns Out to Be Crucial
A model improves on-time performance and yields more repeat business
![Strawberry doughnut in a box](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-inventory-scarcity-hero-760x570.jpg)
Inventory Scarcity Messages in Online Retailing Can Backfire
If there are only six left, I guess I won’t be buying a dozen
![Person looking at billboard ads on a wall](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-luxury-licensing-hero-760x570.jpg)
Luxury Goods: The Perils and Profits in Lower-Priced Markets
A study uses game theory to suggest when designer companies should license their names for down-market goods
![Smokey factories in China](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-pollution-violation-hero-760x570.jpg)
94% of China’s Pollution Inspections Find No Violation
Researchers offer a model for more effectively targeting wrongdoers
![Censored pricing at a store - Sale Price](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-opaque-pricing-hero-760x570.jpg)
Opaque Pricing: How Sellers Can Gather Data and Boost Revenue
Websites peddle unnamed hotels and even cities; would you pay to omit one from the list?
![Female driver looking back to the rear of her car](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-uber-gender-hero-760x570.jpg)
Economics of Women-Driver Ride Hailing
Other safety measures are easier to implement, but research suggests how female driver pool could be increased
![Laptop computer with Transparent Pricing presentation](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-pricing-transparency-hero-760x570.jpg)
Should a Company Reveal Its Cost Structure to Customers?
In certain competitive situations, cost transparency can provide an edge
![Building in ruble while emergency workers recover a body](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-audit-suppliers-hero-1-760x570.jpg)
How Fashion Brands Can Best Ensure Worker Safety in Developing Nations
Collective action, rather than each brand working alone, appears more effective and costs less
![A man using a virtual headset](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-innovative-products-hero-760x570.jpg)
Attracting Early Adopters: Best Way to Overcome Consumer Resistance to Innovative Products
Chris Tang’s research suggests a two-step pricing strategy can maximize sales and profits
![Strawberry fields with a train in the background](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-crop-choices-hero-760x570.jpg)
Crop Choices: How Price Supports Can Contribute to Healthier Diets
Well-designed subsidies can help farmers and give consumers better food choices
![A woman with a lantern](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/AR-supply-chain-hero-760x570.jpg)
Shining a Light on the Development Supply Chain
Field researchers constructed a model to subsidize essential goods for low-income communities in crisis, and profit in recovery
![Vending machine](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-beyond-uber-surge-hero-760x570.jpg)
Beyond Uber: When Surge Pricing Makes Business Sense
Research seeks to predict how time-based price discrimination might spread
![Cars parked the side of a street](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/AR-uber-staffing-hero-760x570.jpg)
Uber-Like Services: Variable Driver-Company Revenue Split Improves Profit
A second lever, after “surge” pricing, adjusts the supply of drivers
![A city full of smog](https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AR-polluting-manufacturers-hero-760x570.jpg)
Your Chinese Supplier Pollutes – It Dents Your Stock Price?
The market penalizes customers’ shares more than those of the polluter