Anecdotal evidence relates corruption with high levels of military spending. This paper tests empirically whether such a relationship exists. The empirical analysis is based on data from four different sources for up to 120 countries in the period 1985–98. The association between military...

This paper discusses the estimation of models of the term structure of interest rates. After reviewing the term structure models, specifically the Nelson-Siegel Model and Affine Term- Structure Model, this paper estimates the terms structure of Treasury bond yields for the United States with...

The United States has large, well-developed and complex securities and derivatives markets. These provide widespread benefits not only to the U.S. economy, but globally. The crisis and recent high profile failures have provided important lessons that have significantly impacted the regulation...

This staff report on United States 2013 Article IV Consultation highlights economic policies and development. The economy grew at an annual rate of 1.8 percent in the first quarter of 2013, held down by sharp cuts in public spending, and economic indicators suggest that growth has remained weak...

The U.S. federal banking agencies (FBAs1) have improved considerably in effectiveness since the previous FSAP. In response to global and domestic reforms, particularly the Dodd-Frank Act (DFA), the FBAs have stepped up their supervisory intensity, especially of large banking organizations,...

Focus. The 2014 Article IV Consultation focused on five broad themes to strengthen the recovery and improve the long-term outlook: raising productivity growth and labor force participation, confronting poverty, keeping public debt on a sustained downward path, smoothly managing the exit from...