This paper examines why surges in capital flows to emerging market economies (EMEs) occur, and what determines the allocation of capital across countries during such surge episodes. We use two different methodologies to identify surges in EMEs over 1980-2009, differentiating between those mainly...

Many developing economies are heavily exposed to commodity markets, leaving them vulnerable to the vagaries of international commodity prices. This paper examines the use of commodity options-including plain vanilla, risk reversal, and barrier options-to hedge such risk. It then proposes the use...

This paper discusses possible strategies for developing countries in negotiations on trade in services in the ongoing WTO Doha Development Round (DR). The liberalization of service imports (including through direct investment) will generate benefits through higher quality, lower prices, and...

Aufgrund der durch Basel II veränderten Kreditvergabepraxis werden sich die Kreditkonditionen in erheblichem Maße stärker spreizen. Da insbesondere der Mittelstand diese Problematik nicht hinreichend erkannt hat, setzt in Sachsen eine Mittelstandsoffensive mit dem Ziel der Strategie- und...

Aufgrund der durch Basel II veränderten Kreditvergabepraxis werden sich die Kreditkonditionen in erheblichem Maße stärker spreizen. "Schlechte" Unternehmen müssen im Vergleich zu "guten" Unternehmen mit hohen Kreditzinsen rechnen. Die stärkere Spreizung ist in erster Linie auf die...

In recent years there has been substantial theoretical and empirical work on the role that financial markets play in fostering economic growth and development. This paper provides a selective review of the literature, as well as new empirical evidence on the relationship between financial...

Recoveries vary considerably across countries: our paper compares recoveries in bank-based and market-based economies and finds that market-based economies experience significantly and durably stronger rebounds than the bank-based ones (in particular the more bank-based economies of continental...

This paper evaluates the potential role of mandatory subordinated debt (MSD) in enhancing market discipline in emerging markets. The conceptual merits and key preconditions of MSD are first reviewed. Then, the extent to which emerging markets satisfy these preconditions—among them the...