We use multivariate regime switching vector autoregressive models to characterize the time-varyinglinkages among the Irish stock market, one of the top world performers of the 1990s, and the US andUK stock markets. We ¯nd that two regimes, characterized as bear and bull states, are required...

Credit risk transition probabilities between aggregate portfolio classes constitute a very useful tool when individual transition data are not available. Jones (2005) estimates Markovian Credit Transition Matrices using an adjusted least squares method. Given the arguments of Judge and Takayama...

We use a unique dataset of bond downgrades from a niche rating company that has been found to be reacting faster to publicly available information than its competitors. Using regime-switching models we propose risk measures to quantify stock return disturbances (distress costs) associated with...

Pecuniary externalities are crucial in shaping the strategies to value the distinctivecompetences and the economic success of innovative firms. The analysis of conditions forlocalized knowledge appropriation and exploitation makes it possible to identify idiosyncratic production factors....

This paper explores the sources of agglomeration externalities in enhancing firmperformance, in particular, the pecuniary externality that supports firms’ bottom line.The fundamental argument on increasing returns leads to the premise that cluster sizehas beneficial influence to firm...