In this paper we develop the standard utility function of a Ramsey-type optimal growth model to account for a "market-time" vs. "free-time" trade-off. To do so, we introduce a free-time preference coefficient that measures the utility gained by deviating from a maximum labour supply defined as...

In this paper, we analyse Okun's law - a relation between the change in the unemployment rate and GDP growth - using data from Australia, the euro area, the United Kingdom and the United States. More specifically, we assess the relevance of non-Gaussianity when modelling the relation. This is...

Okun's law is one of the most widely-known stylized facts in the macroeconomic literature and policy. In this paper, we study several aspects of Okun's law in Macedonia between 2004 and 2014. Aggregate indicators show a link between output and unemployment that is in line with this empirical...

Economic policies are generally formulated on the basis of data available in real time, which might subsequently be revised. Implicitly, the possibility of data revisions creates an element of uncertainty around the very same data driving policy decisions. Given that such uncertainty could be...

Bank stability is an important aspect of financial stability, especially in bank-centric systems such as those in Southeast Europe. The financial crisis has shown that there is a particular need to monitor credit and other similar risks. Hence, it is important to analyse risks affecting the...