Agents compete to solve a problem. Each agent knows own computational capacityas private information and simultaneously chooses either a risky or a safe problemsolving method. This paper analyzes the optimal prize schemes from the perspectiveof the prize designer who wishes to …nd a solution as...

In this paper we develop the rst estimator of the covariance matrix that relies solely onforward-looking information. This estimator only uses price information from a cross-sectionof plain-vanilla options. In an out-of-sample study for US blue-chip stocks we show that aminimum-variance strategy...

The probability that actors in economic relationships break rules increases with the profits they thus expect to earn. It decreases with the probability and level of short - and long-term losses resulting from disclosure. It also decreases with the level of social context factors and intrinsic...

A small lie appears trivial but it obviously violates moral commandments. We analyze whetherthe preference for others’ truth telling is absolute or depends on the size of a lie. In a laboratoryexperiment we compare punishment for different sizes of lies controlling for the resultingeconomic...

An apology is a strong and cheap device to restore social or economic relationships thathave been disturbed. In a laboratory experiment we find that harmdoers use apologies inparticular if they fear punishment and when their intentions cannot be easily inferred. Afteroffenses with ambiguous...

While some of the modern performance measures used in managerial accounting rely on cash flow based figuresothers try to take advantage of the information content of accounting figures. However, whether the additionalinformation content in the accrual components of earnings improves the internal...

We develop a dynamic model of corporate investment and financing decisions in whichcorporate insiders have superior information about the firm's growth prospects. We show thatrms with positive private information can credibly signal their type to outside investors usingthe timing of corporate...

This note investigates the effects of introducing a transaction tax ondepth and bid-ask spread using a static model where a competitive market makerfaces informed and liquidity traders. When the degree of information asymmetryis low, an increase in the transaction tax can result into a smaller...

We develop a reputation model to study the concurrent use of trademarks and certification for foodproducts with a regional identity, known as geographical indications (GIs). The model extendsShapiro’s (1983) approach to modeling reputation to a situation in which two technologies for...

After controlling a variety of feeder cattle characteristics and market and sale conditions, weestimate the price premiums for preconditioning (vaccinations and minimum 30 days weaning)claims with and without third-party certification (TPC) as $6.15/cwt and $3.40/cwt, respectively,in Iowa feeder...