A sound financial regulatory framework is critical for minimizing the risk imposed by financial system fra­gility. In the world's emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), such regulation is also essential to support economic development and poverty reduc­tion. Meanwhile, it is...

We study the success and failure of 59 newly established (“nascent”) stock markets since 1975 in their first 40 years of activity. Nascent markets differ markedly in their success, as measured by number of listings, market capitalization, and trading activity. Long-term success is in part...

We study the success and failure of newly established stock markets, as measured by listings, market capitalization, and trading activity. Early success is a necessary but not sufficient condition for long-term success, while small population, high corruption, limited law and order, low...

"While substantial research finds that financial development boosts overall economic growth, we study whether financial development disproportionately raises the incomes of the poor and alleviates poverty. Using a broad cross-country sample, we distinguish among competing theoretical predictions...