In this paper, we study the sensitivity of insurance companies' stock returns with respect to expected and unexpected changes in the Federal funds target rate over the period 1988-2007. We confirm Bernanke and Kuttner (2005) that, as stocks in general, insurance stock returns are only sensitive...

We provide firm-level evidence that a private firm may lower its financing costs by introducing a small (kitty) share of state ownership. However, if the state acquires the lion's share of the private firm, the firm may become inefficient. Therefore, the results show a non-linear relationship...

The power sector is both highly vulnerable to natural hazards and a priority for any country'srecovery and reconstruction. After Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, most of the power gridwas down. One year and tens of billions of dollars later some customers were yet to be reconnected to the...

This report surveys the brick kiln sector in three South Asian countries: Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, with particular focus on experiences and lessons learnt from Bangladesh, where data and information on the brick kiln industry and market conditions are most extensive, and where engagement of...