The model presented in this paper juxtaposes two theories for why a firm might offer creditors a security interest to back up a loan. One theory holds that issuing secured debt allows the firm's owners to reduce expected payments in the event of bankruptcy to so-called "non-adjusting" creditors,...

Privatization and market liberalization are widely considered to be complementary reforms in transition economies. This paper challenges this view and the closely related "big bang" approach to economic reform. Our analysis suggests that when pursued simultaneously, privatization may actually...

Previous analysis of pollution presumes separation between pollutees and polluters. In the model developed here, all possible combinations of housing and industry locations are allowed. In the resulting world of nonconvexities and multiple local optimum, Pigouvian taxes are generally...