In a simultaneous equations with error components framework, we analyze the institutions-growth relationship. We address individual heterogeneity in cross-country production functions, and endogeneize factor inputs in order to disentangle the direct and indirect effects of institutions on...

We present a discrete-time version of an otherwise standard Schumpeterian growth model. Discrete time exhibits two important differences from continuous time. First, the probability of successful innovation cannot be homogeneous of degree one in inputs. A natural R&D analogue to constant returns...

The paper refers to capacity utilisation, applying a short-cut that is sometimes used in business cycle research to yearly GDP and investment data from 1960 to the present for 22 countries. The basic idea is that the empirical short-run fluctuations of the capital output ratio v are mainly due...

I examine the relationship between trading blocs and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Firms in the model serve foreign markets either by exporting or by setting up plants abroad, which is FDI. I find that countries forming a bloc could attract FDI from non-member countries. However, I show by...

The one-to-one mapping between cross-country differences in capital returns and the direction of international capital flows is broken in a multisector world where international factor price differences are driven by technology differences. A technology-backward or low-return-to-capital country...

This paper shows how the institutional rules imposed on its signatories by the GATT created a strategic incentive for countries to liberalize gradually. Free trade can never be achieved if punishment for deviation from a trade agreement is limited to a 'withdrawal of equivalent concessions.'...

This paper investigates whether there is a link between financing costs and international trade patterns, and if so, whether this link is determined by the strength of trade and financial ties between trading partners. The potential importance of these considerations stems from the fact that...

Mezzeti and Dinopoulos (1991) show that a free trade agreement (trade liberalization) decreases wage rate. However, Naylor (1998) shows that trade liberalization increases wage rate. Both papers consider tariff as exogenously given. In this paper we show that these conflicting results can be...

We study empirically how close consumption-smoothing models employing present-value relationships fit data for Latin-American countries, either in an open-economy or closed-economy environment. Bivariate VARS are estimated using either individual-system or a joint-system techniques (OLS or GLS -...

The aim of the paper is to fulfill the gap for testing hypotheses on parameters of the log-normal stochastic volatility model, more precisely, to propose finite sample exact tests in the sense that the tests have correct levels in small samples. To do this, we examine method-of-moments-based...