The paper argues that when developing an explanatory model of the early-stage entrepreneurial activity level (measured by total index of early entrepreneurial activity - TEA) one should consider the "path dependency" of the "institutional matrix" of different societies. Otherwise one could...

We construct a money market pressure index based on central bank reserves and the short-term nominal interest rate to identify banking crises, thereby extending the index proposed by Von Hagen and Ho (2007). We compare the crises identified by both indices with banking crises according to the...

We construct a money market pressure index based on central bank reserves and the short-term nominal interest rate to identify banking crises, thereby extending the index proposed by Von Hagen and Ho (2007). We compare the crises identified by both indices with banking crises according to the...

Using a large, new dataset of agricultural prices and quantities for many countries and regions, we create five new international Geary-Khamis pounds – for 1870, 1845, 1775, 1705, and a superior chained series. We show that estimated levels and changes in output per worker look very different...

This paper leverages the IMF's Financial Access Survey (FAS) database to construct a new composite index of financial inclusion. The topic of financial inclusion has gathered significant attention in recent years. Various initiatives have been undertaken by central banks both in advanced and...

Using the KOF data at the annual level, we construct ten different composite indices for comparing the extent of globalization of 131 countries for eleven years, 1999-2009. We compare the different indices of globalization among themselves and also with the Dreher-KOF index of globalization and...

How do you measure the structural similarity (difference) between economies? We follow an axiomatic approach in the paper answering this question. Our characterization of the measurement of structural difference between economies leads to some difference (similarity) index which is practically...

This paper uses three types of analysis to investigate the drivers of energy productivity changes occurring in 39 countries during 1995-2009. We find that increases in sectoral energy productivity were the primary driver behind economy-wide energy productivity improvements between 1995 and 2009....