The decade of 1970s is generally known for its dramatic increases in the price of oil. What is less known, however, is the fact that U.S. industrial sector experienced a significant slow down in productivity growth during the 1970s and 1980s. While many studies have analyzed the economic impact...

The recent Great Recession has renewed interest in the role of financial markets and credit in the economy, as well as in the boundaries of monetary, macroprudential and fiscal policies that impact macroeconomic developments and may influence business cycles. In the first two chapters of this...