Following Blinder's (1997) suggestion, we examine the implications for the optimal interest rate rule following the relaxation of the assumption that the policymaker's loss function is quadratic. We investigate deviations from quadratics for both symmetric and asymmetric preferences for a single...

This paper analyses the properties of mutual encompassing and its relationship to the KLIC equivalence between statistical models. It is shown that models are KLIC equivalent if and only if they are mutually encompassing and mutually Cox-encompassing. Further, within the exponential family...

We examine the relative benefits of regulatory commitment and discretion arising from the incompleteness of contracts. Full commitment gives strong incentives for investment, but leaves the regulator unable to bring prices in line with costs or gives the firm large rents. Full discretion on the...

This chapter reviews recent developments in the study of individual employment contracts. It discusses three reasons for an employer and an employee to have a contract: (i) to allocate risk in a way different from a spot market; (2) to enhance the efficiency of investment decisions by protecting...