The volatility of aggregate economic activity in the United States decreased markedly in the mid eighties. The decrease was diffused among several components of GDP and has been linked to a more stable economic environment, identified by smaller shocks and more effective policy, and a diverse...

Beginning in the 1990s, the growth of mortgage lending was associated with the growth of a new set of mortgage-backed securities. We study the evolution of initial mortgage rates as a function of characteristics of both the loan and the borrower. We find that credit risk historically was priced...

The volatility of aggregate economic activity in the United States decreased markedly in the mid eighties. The decrease involved several components of GDP and has been linked to a more stable economic environment, identified by smaller shocks and more effective policy, and a diverse set of...