We present a general equilibrium model that encompasses the endogenous selection of a set of tradeable commodities. At its foundation we introduce the notion of a trade infrastructure as a set of social institutions describing the trade and production technologies available to the agents in the...

In this paper, we show that the shortcomings of the unanimity rule can be alleviated by complementing it with the following constitutional principles: broad packages with many public projects can only be proposed once in a legislative term, the agenda setter needs to pay the highest taxes he is...

The paper investigates whether and how performance of regional commercial courts has affected external credit of Russian enterprises between 1995 and 2002. The results show that more reliable courts lead to higher bank lending to firms. This occurs predominantly through expansion of the number...

In a presentation in November 2002 to the Annual Conference of the National Association for Gambling Studies in Melbourne, Productivity Commission Chairman Gary Banks provided an update on key developments in Australia’s gambling industries, three years after publication of the Commission’s...

In a presentation in November 2002 to the Annual Conference of the National Association for Gambling Studies in Melbourne, Productivity Commission Chairman Gary Banks provided an update on key developments in Australia’s gambling industries, three years after publication of the Commission’s...

In a presentation in November 2002 to the Annual Conference of the National Association for Gambling Studies in Melbourne, Productivity Commission Chairman Gary Banks provided an update on key developments in Australia’s gambling industries, three years after publication of the Commission’s...

We examine the relationship between casinos and crime using county-level data for the US between 1977 and 1996. Casinos were non-existent outside Nevada before 1978, and expanded to many other states during our sample period. Most factors that reduce crime occur before or shortly after a casino...

In a presentation in November 2002 to the Annual Conference of the National Association for Gambling Studies in Melbourne, Productivity Commission Chairman Gary Banks provided an update on key developments in Australia’s gambling industries, three years after publication of the Commission’s...

Casino gambling is a social issue, because in addition to the direct benefits to those who own and use casinos, positive and negative externalities are reaped and borne by those who do not gamble. To correctly assess the total economic impact of casinos, one must distinguish between business...