Catastrophe risk models are quantitative models used to estimate probabilistic loss distributions for a specified range of assets subject to a baseline level of disaster risk. While cat risk models are used extensively by the insurance and reinsurance industry to estimate expected losses to...

This paper explores two relationships, first between country characteristics and the quality of public financial management (' drivers'), and second between the quality of public financial management systems and expected outcomes (' effects'). On the influence of country characteristics, the...

The paper estimates the effect of product standards on firms? export decisions using two novel datasets. The first covers all exporting firms in 42 developing countries. The second covers pesticide standards for 243 agricultural and food products in 63 importing countries over 2006?12. The...

The authors argue that the academic literature, both qualitative and quantitative, has mislabeled most episodes of large-scale violence in Africa as civil war; these episodes better fit their concept of regional war complexes. The paper seeks to highlight the fundamental flaws in the conception...

Transport corridors to stimulate regional integration and trade have become a popular development tool. But when they fail to generate the expected wider economic benefits, they can become wasteful or unequitable investments. This paper evaluates the relative strengths and weaknesses of...

This paper studies the impact of deep agreements on United Kingdom-European Union trade relations. A standard gravity model is applied to assess the effect that European Union membership had on the United Kingdom's trade. The paper uses new information on the content of trade agreements to build...

Many developing countries display remarkably high degrees of urban concentration that are incommensurate with their levels of urbanization. The cost of excessively high levels of urban concentration can be very high in terms of overpopulation, congestion, and productivity growth. One strand of...

This study considers the role of demand-driven changes arising from population aging and how they affect the pattern of international trade as well as trade and immigration policy. An aging society can see a welfare-reducing reduction in its share of manufacturing output and this reduction is...

In recent years, international trade in creative goods and services has been expanding. But this upward march is not lifting all boats. Although many developing countries are endowed with vast cultural wealth, they still lag behind. In addition, women are not faring well. Much needs to be done...

International supply chains require the coordination of numerous activities across multiple countries and firms. This paper develops a theoretical model of supply chains in which the measure of tasks completed within a firm is determined by parameters that define transaction costs and the cost...