The paper seeks to explain the huge cross country variation in private pension funding,shaped by historical choice made when universal pension systems were created after theGreat Depression. According to Perotti and von Thadden (2006), large inflationaryshocks due to war damage devastated middle...

In this paper, we show that too strong investor protection may harm small firms and, thus, entrepreneurial initiatives. This situation is particularly relevant in crowdinvesting, which refers to a recent financial innovation originating on the Internet. In general, securities regulation offers...

We examine the spread of UCITS funds around the world, and consider whether such mutual funds that adopt higher standards of voluntary investor protection expand their operations to other countries with higher or lower investor protection regimes. The data indicate equity funds spread to...

We examine the spread of Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) funds around the world and consider whether such mutual funds, which voluntarily adopt higher standards of investor protection, expand their operations to other countries with higher or lower...

We examine the spread of UCITS funds around the world, and consider whether such mutual funds that adopt higher standards of voluntary investor protection expand their operations to other countries with higher or lower investor protection regimes. The data indicate equity funds spread to...

We develop a model of endogenous lobby formation in which wealth inequalityand political accountability undermine entry and financial development. In-cumbents seek a low level of effective investor protection to prevent potentialentrants from raising capital. They succeed because they can...