In this dissertation, I explore the origins and consequences of the dramatic rise in the size and importance of financial markets in the U.S. economy since the late 1970s. I focus on the impacts of this process of 'financialization' on the operations of the non-financial corporate sector....

This dissertation analyzes the relation between industrial organization, technological change and economic policy-making. The secrets to long-term growth are hidden in this complex relation, which explains the forces that enable and hinder learning in production. The recent changes in the...

This dissertation examines the effects of neoliberal economic policies in Latin America in 25 years (the 1970-1995 period), focusing especially on macroeconomic stabilization under IMF support and on IMF and World Bank structural adjustment lending, where the debate centers on the effect of...

For over one hundred years Marxian and non-Marxian theorists have wrestled with how demand conditions ought to be specified in the Marxian theory of value and price. Most often demand at best plays a secondary role to the conditions of supply. In other words, both proponents and critics have...

This dissertation develops a supply and demand based theory of equity price determination to investigate the unprecedented run-up in U.S. equity values during 1982-1999. The model draws insight from both fundamental valuation analysis, and various speculative market theories. It also...

The stylized facts of international trade suggest that intra-industry trade predominates precisely where quality enforcement is a serious problem. To explain this phenomenon, I rely on a model of product quality assurance. Intra-industry trade flows between two identical countries are explained,...

In view of the prevalence of information asymmetry and incentive incompatibility problems, the market for capital and the employment relationship are shown to be prey to pervasive agency problems that make economic transactions subject to enforcement costs. The presence of these costs subverts...

This dissertation explores in one essay the modeling of quality management systems and in two essays the estimation of market power exertion. The first essay models the impact of food quality management systems on competitiveness and markets considering specifically credence attributes. The...

This dissertation argues that the impetus, growth, and financial success of many North American high-tech companies--biotechnology, computer software development and design, as well as Internet startups--are partly due to their collective way of organizing the production and distribution of...

The purpose of this dissertation is twofold. First, an alternative microfoundation for mark-up pricing over the business cycle is developed. Second, the macroeconomic implications of this microfoundation are examined and an alternative theory of the relationship between mark-up pricing and...