Theoretical models predict that the value of a real option should be increasing in the volatility ofthe underlying asset. Thus, if real options are economically important, then firm values should bepositively related to volatility. Consistent with this prediction, we find evidence that stock...

This paper develops a tractable real options framework to analyze the eects of asym-metric information on investment and nancing decisions when rms require externalfunds to nance investment. Our analysis shows that corporate insiders can signal theirprivate information to outside investors using...

We consider a risky asset whose instantaneous rate of returntakes two dierent values and changes from one to the other one at randomtimes which are neither known, nor directly observable. We study the optimalallocation strategy of traders who, in the presence of cost of transactions, investin...

We propose an empirical approach to determine the various economic sourcesdriving the US yield curve. We allow the conditional dynamics of the yield at differ-ent maturities to change in reaction to past information coming from several relevantpredictor variables. We consider both endogenous,...

This paper suggests a factor model for carry trade strategies wherethe regression coeffcients are allowed to depend on market volatility and liquid-ity. Empirical results on daily data from 1995 to 2008 show that a typical carrytrade strategy has much higher exposure to the stock market and also...

The persistence of financial instability calls into question the adequacy of the current regulatory regime. Acritical review of the three pillars at the core of current financial regulation exposes some structural flaws.[...]

In an in‡uential series of contributions, Kraay and Ventura (2000, 2003) o¤er a“new rule” for the current account: in response to a temporary income shock, thechange in the current account is equal to the change in saving times the ratio of netforeign assets to wealth. We analyze the...

The recent real estate bubble was fuelled by non-risk adjusted lending policies, low interest rates and complex finance vehicles. Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) played a crucial role in the crisis. These vehicles were praised as liquid capital market instruments that allowed mortgage lenders...

Market frictions inhibit perfect replication of property derivatives and dene the property spreadas a price measure in the incomplete real estate market. We identify transaction costs, transactiontime and short sale constraints as the main frictions in this market. Based on these frictions,...

Changing noise levels have a severe impact on house prices and through the leveragein nancing on households wealth. This risk is essential for houses close to airportswith uncertain aircraft regimes. We design and calibrate real options based on aircraftnoise to hedge against noise risk. The...