This paper examines why unsolicited ratings tend to be lower than solicited ratings. Bothself-selection among issuers and strategic conservatism of rating agencies may be reasonableexplanations. Analyses of default incidences of non-U.S. borrowers between January 1996and December 2006 show that...

China’s rise drives a growing impact of China on economics. So far, this mainly works via theforce of example, but there is also an emerging role of Chinese thinking in economics. Thispaper raises the question how far Chinese perspectives can affect certain foundational principlesin economics,...