The performance of the institutional structure protecting intellectual property is a matter of deep concern in determining economic well-being. Unfortunately, economic theory has been of little help in providing straightforward advice for policy-makers, the range of contradictory results...

In 1980 three Finnish companies established a research joint venture as a separate firm in order to develop semiconductors. This enterprise terminated in 1992 when the firm was sold. We study the RJV from the point of view of incomplete contacts, focusing on hold-up problems. Of particular...

Transparency regulation aims at reducing financial fragility by strengthening market discipline. There are however two elementary properties of banking that may render such regulation detrimental. First, an extensive financial safety net may eliminate the disciplinary effect of transparency...

This thesis consists of an introductory chapter and four essays. Each of the four essays utilises a quite different methodology. The first essay considers optimal patent policy when the innovator has the option of keeping the innovation secret. The analysis is conducted under the usual partial...

This paper uses the Kreps-Porteus-Selden non-expected utility approach to study the effects of biological uncertainty on harvesting behavior when forest owners have preferences over harvest revenue and amenity services of forest stands.

We consider a firm that is subject to employment protection laws that limit the firm's ability to fire labor. In particular, we suppose that though a firm which shuts down can fire all its workers, it may fire no fewer. Compared to a firm that is subject to no employment protection, a firm...