The "self-made" man is a familiar figure in nineteenth-century American history. But the relentless expansion of market relations that facilitated such stories of commercial success also ensured that individual bankruptcy would become a prominent feature in the nation's economic landscape. In...

The constraint on informal finance is commonly taken to be high costs and limited supply. But the majority of informal investors - family and friends - is often willing to supply funds at negative returns, and yet many borrowers tap family and friends only as a last resort. We explain this...

Erfolgreiche Neugründungen sind ein bedeutsamer Faktor für die gedeihliche Entwicklung einer Volkswirtschaft. Junge innovative Unternehmen spielen für die rasche Markteinführung und Verbreitung neuer Technologien und Produkte eine Schlüsselrolle. Da Gründer nur selten über genügend...

This report is a synthesis of the previous literature analyzing the role of different types of companies on economic growth and employment, and an overlook on the impacts of different policy measures on companies. The role of large companies in the economy is still significant, although...

Financial theory creates a puzzle. Some authors argue that high-risk entrepreneurs choose debt contracts instead of equity contracts since risky but high returns are of relatively more value for a loan-financed firm. Conversely, authors who focus explicitly on start-up finance predict that...