Considering the attention placed on SMEs in the new Basel Capital Accord, we propose a set of Bayesian and classical longitudinal models to predict SME default probability, taking unobservable firm and business sector heterogeneities as well as analysts recommendations into account. We compare...

We analyze rehabilitation investments in a regulated water industry with perfectly inelastic demand. We compare alternative organizational solutions for local provision (municipalization, corporatization and privatization), though subject to a common regulatory mechanism. We can then assess the...

We give an overview on the main properties of D-stable matrices, i.e. of those square matrices $A$ for which the product DA is stable for any choice of the diagonal matrix D, with all positive diagonal elements. These matrices, introduced in economic analysis by Arrow and Mc Manus (1958), have...

We use an integrated approach to analyze the reasons behind the discount on the balance-sheet fair value of illiquid financial instruments held by European banks and classified into the Level 3 Fair Value hierarchy under IFRS 7. We believe that the potential sources of misalignment are 1) the...

This paper considers estimation in a stationary heterogeneous panel model where common unknown factors are present. A two-stage estimator is proposed. This estimator is based on the CCE estimator (Pesaran, 2006) in the first stage and on a similar approach to the Interactive Effect estimator...

What are the effects of a higher inflation target on the determinacy properties under alternative monetary/fiscal policy mixes in New Keynesian models? Would it be more difficult for the central bank to stabilize inflation expectations if the inflation target is raised? What role for central...