We explore the role of firms in insuring non-verifiable output. As a device that allows workers to commit to thedelivery of their output, the firm arises endogenously as an alternative to the market if workers are sufficiently riskaverse and the firm can base its incentive payments on good...

A politically realistic approach to environmental policy seems to require avoiding significant profit-losses in major pollution-related industries. The government can avoid such losses by freely allocating some emissions permits or by exempting some inframarginal emissions from a pollution tax....

Rising longevity and falling fertility threaten the sustainability of pay-as-you-go pension schemes. This paper shows that maintaining the intergenerational balance in the Dutch pay-as-you-go pension scheme in the face of increased longevity since the introduction of the scheme in 1957 would...