Recent studies estimate that the economic impact of U.S. patent litigation may be as large as $80 billion per year and that the overall rate of U.S. patent litigation has been growing rapidly over the past twenty years. And yet, the relationship of the macroeconomy to patent litigation rates has...

We argue that buyout waves form in response to fluctuations in aggregate discount rates. In our model, discount rates alter the present value of cash flow improvements and the illiquidity premium demanded by buyout investors. We confirm our predictions empirically. Overall deal activity varies...

Consolidation of banks is driven by the objective of leveraging the synergies of geographical diversification, increased efficiency, cost savings and economies of scale. Being banking is an important component of the financial system; these structural changes can potentially have public policy...

We argue that buyout waves form in response to fluctuations in aggregate discount rates. In our model, discount rates alter the present value of cash flow improvements and the illiquidity premium demanded by buyout investors. We confirm our predictions empirically. Overall deal activity varies...

Fluctuations in banks' due diligence are increasingly viewed as a force driving the buildup and unfolding of crises. In a dynamic general equilibrium model, we show that banksí access to retail and wholesale liquidity and the values of loan portfolios govern banks' incentives and effectiveness...

Buyout booms form in response to declines in the aggregate risk premium. We document that the equity risk premium is the primary determinant of buyout activity rather than credit-specific conditions. We articulate a simple explanation for this phenomenon: a low risk premium increases the present...