The average unemployment rate in Europe has been consistently higher than in the United States since 1980. The main explanation offered by a rather large economics literature focuses on the interaction between institutions and shocks. The contribution of this paper is twofold: to assess whether...

This dissertation is a collection of four articles focused on the seeking of rents, which are rewards and prizes not earned or not consistent with competitive market returns. Each article explores a different aspect of the topic, focusing on the consequences, determinants or measurement of...

The average unemployment rate in Europe has been consistently higher than in the United States since 1980. The main explanation offered by a rather large economics literature focuses on the interaction between institutions and shocks. The contribution of this paper is twofold: to assess whether...