The most striking difference in corporate-governance arrangements between rich andpoor countries is that the latter rely much more heavily on the dynastic family firm,where ownership and control are passed on from one generation to the other. We arguethat if the heir to the family firm has no...

In a model with heterogeneity in managerial talent, we compare the economicand political consequences of reforms aimed at reducing fixed costs of entry (deregulation)and improving the efficiency of financial markets (financial reform). Theeffects of these reforms depend on the market where...

[...]This paper studies a simple model of the talent-ownership mismatch — or failure ofmeritocracy — brought about by credit market imperfections that arise as a consequence ofagency problems in the borrower-lender relationship. Our model highlights the interactionbetween the market for...