We examine asset prices in a representative-agent model of general equilibrium. Assuming only that individuals are risk averse, we determine conditions on the changes in asset risk that are both necessary and sufficientfor the asset price to fall. We show that these conditions neither imply, nor...

We provide a comprehensive empirical characterization of the linkages between key macroeconomic and financial variables around business and financial cycles for 21 OECD countries over the period 1960–2007. In particular, we analyze the implications of 122 recessions, 112 (28) credit...

In a Tobin's q model with productivity and liquidity shocks, we study the mechanism through which strong creditor protection increases the level and lowers the volatility of stock market prices. There are two channels at work: (1) the Tobin's q value under a credit crunch regime increases with...

We analyze the time-varying nature of the price discovery process in the sovereign debt market over the sample period January 2006 – September 2015. In particular, we test whether the cointegration relationship that should tie bond and CDS spreads together holds over the entire sample. In...

Significant variation in the terms and volume of lending across classes of borrowers distinguished only by qualities independent of credit risk is often interpreted as evidence of inefficient or inequitable discrimination in credit markets. Increasing accuracy in the measure of credit risk...

The high-tech sector accounts for the majority of corporate innovation in modern economies. In a sample of 38 countries, we document a strong positive relation between the initial size of the country's high-tech sector and subsequent rates of GDP and total factor productivity growth. We also...