This paper examines the determinants and convergence of bank profitability in eight European Union member countries, between 1992 and 2007, using a dynamic panel model. There is evidence of persistence of abnormal bank profit from one year to the next. Average profitability was higher in banks...

This article provides an account of the development of the financial crisis in western Europe, primarily from a country-level and banking sector perspective, from 2007 to the spring of 2009. Measures enacted by governments and central banks to deal with impaired bank assets, recapitalize or...

Fractal analysis is carried out on the stock market indices of seven European countries and the US. We find evidence of long-range dependence in the log return series of the Mibtel (Italy) and the PX-Glob (Czech Republic). Long-range dependence implies that predictable patterns in the log...

"Product standards can have a dual impact on production and trade costs. Standards may impose additional costs on exporters as it may be necessary to adapt products for specific markets (cost-effect). In contrast, standards can reduce exporters' information costs if they convey information on...