Drawing on recent research, this study elaborates on the role of the IMF in support of its lowincome members, pointing to the global character of the institution and to its superior ability-given its multilateral nature-to serve as a financial institution, an information provider, and a...

This study tests for the presence of real options effects induced by uncertainty and (partial) irreversibility on fixed capital investment using Italian company data. The approach recognizes that firm-level investment spending may, itself, be aggregated over multiple investment decisions in...

This study investigates the relationship between uncertainty and investment using U.K. data at different levels of aggregation. Motivated by a comparative econometric analysis using a firm-level panel and aggregate time-series data, we analyze the implications of aggregating nonlinear...

The World Bank is, from a financial standpoint, organised like a corporation. Using its top credit rating (AAA), it raises funds in the international capital markets like any other financial institution for on-lending to its borrowing clients. As of June 2006, almost half (US$ 100 billion) of...

This paper examines the question of how to design an optimal and sustainable exchange rate regime in a world economy of two interdependent countries. It develops a Barro-Gordon type two-country model and compares noncooperative equilibria under different assumptions of monetary policy...

The IMF is governed by a 24-member Executive Board, which represents 184 countries. Although often prized as a small and efficient decision-making body, the Board represents some countries more effectively than others. This is due to the institutional structure and incentives within which the...

The World Bank is, from a financial standpoint, organised like a corporation. Using its top credit rating (AAA), it raises funds in the international capital markets like any other financial institution for on-lending to its borrowing clients. As of June 2006, almost half (US$ 100 billion) of...