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Book Translations as Idea Flows: The Effects of the Collapse of Communism on the Diffusion of Knowledge
Abramitzky, Ran; Sin, Isabelle - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2014
We use book translations as a new measure of international idea flows and study the effects of Communism's collapse in Eastern Europe on these flows. Using novel data on 800,000 translations and difference-in-differences approaches, we show that while translations between Communist languages...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10011207428
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Federal Institutions and the Democratic Transition: Learning from South Africa
Inman, Robert P.; Rubinfeld, Daniel L. - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2008
We present a model of a peaceful transition from autocracy to democracy using federal governance as a constitutional means to protect the economic interests of the once ruling elite. Under "democratic federalism" the constitution creates an annual policy game where the new majority and the elite...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005575696
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Offshoring and the Role of Trade Agreements
Antras, Pol; Staiger, Robert W. - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2008
The rise of offshoring of intermediate inputs raises important questions for commercial policy. Do the distinguishing features of offshoring introduce novel reasons for trade policy intervention? Does offshoring create new problems of global policy cooperation whose solutions require...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005777722
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Organizational Economics and Physician Practices
Rebitzer, James B.; Votruba, Mark E. - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2011
Economists seeking to improve the efficiency of health care delivery frequently emphasize two issues: the fragmented structure of physician practices and poorly designed physician incentives. This paper analyzes these issues from the perspective of organizational economics. We begin with a brief...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10009325536
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Trust and Social Collateral
Szeidl, Adam; Mobius, Markus - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2007
This paper builds a theory of informal contract enforcement in social networks. In our model, relationships between individuals generate social collateral that can be used to control moral hazard when agents interact in a borrowing relationship. We define trust between two agents as the maximum...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005774770
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Why Don't Inventors Patent?
Moser, Petra - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2007
This paper argues that the ability to keep innovations secret may be a key determinant of patenting. To test this hypothesis, the paper examines a newly-collected data set of more than 7,000 American and British innovations at four world's fairs between 1851 and 1915. Exhibition data show that...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005580487
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Tax Shelters or Efficient Tax Planning? A Theory of The Firm Perspective On the Economic Substance Doctrine
Hart, Oliver D.; Borek, T. Christopher; Frattarelli, Angelo - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2013
Courts have articulated a number of legal tests to distinguish corporate transactions that have a legitimate business or economic purpose from those carried out largely, if not solely, for favorable tax treatment. We outline an approach to analyzing the economic substance of corporate...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10010821949
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The Proper Scope of Government: Theory and an Application to Prisons
Hart, Oliver D.; Shleifer, Andrei; Vishny, Robert W. - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 1996
effect on non-contractible quality. The model is applied to understanding the costs and benefits of prison privatization. …
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005710435
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Contracting for Government Services: Theory and Evidence from U.S. Cities
Levin, Jonathan; Tadelis, Steven - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2007
Local governments can provide services with their own employees or by contracting with private or public sector providers. We develop a model of this "make-or-buy" choice that highlights the trade-off between productive efficiency and the costs of contract administration. We construct a dataset...
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005830392
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Privatizing the Privatized
Tornell, Aaron - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 1999
In the first part of this paper we argue that three reforms must be implemented if privatization is to increase … small window of opportunity? Either they privatize hastily today, or not at all. Should they go ahead with privatization and … clear cut. Privatization without prior implementation of the three reforms mentioned above will simply replace government …
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005778724