This paper studies the role of the credit crunch in the severe contraction of economic activity during the 2008–09 global financial crisis, using firm-level data from six emerging Asian economies. After controlling for the effect of falling demand, we find that sales declined by less for firms...

The paper interprets the imposition in 1985 and removal in 1993 of the embargo on South Africa as financial autarky and financial integration 'natural experiments', and studies the effects on the economy. The aggregate data indicate a decrease in the levels and growth rates of investment,...