We develop a general model to assess the pros and cons of the iceberg approach compared to alternative ways of modelling transportation in international trade. The main contributions of the literature are encompassed as special cases. Since iceberg costs are introduced in the Heckscher- Ohlin...

In a Common Currency Area (CCA) the Common Central Bank sets a uniform rate of inflation across countries, taking into account the area's economic conditions. Suppose that countries in recession favor a more expansionary policy than countries in expansion, a conflict of interest between members...

We examine gender differences in financial literacy among high school students in Italy using data from the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Gender differences in financial literacy are large among the young in Italy. They are present in all regions and are...

Understanding the dynamics of the leverage ratio is at the heart of the empirical research about firms' capital structure, as they can be very different under alternative theoretical models. The pillars of almost all empirical applications are the maintained assumptions of poolability and...

We develop a theory' and empirical test of how the legal system affects the relationship between venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. The theory uses a double moral hazard framework to show how optimal contracts and investor actions depend on the quality of the legal system. The empirical...

Venture capital is considered to be the most appropriate form of financing for innovative firms in high-tech sectors. We provide an assessment of venture capital with some of Europe’s most innovative and successful companies: those listed on Europe’s “new” stock markets. Venture capital...

The creation of Europe’s ‘new’ stock markets represents a major experiment in market design with important implications for the ability to support innovative, fast-growing companies. We evaluate the success of these markets based on a large number of measures of firm performance and...