According to the literature, historical episodes of local self-governing institutions can explain why differences in socio-economic performances among different territories can persist over centuries. Such assumption has been tested comparing free city-states (Communes) and feudal towns in...

Proposed changes to the conduct of Administrative State like those embodied in the changes proposed by the Office of Management and Budget to "Circular A-4" guidance on Regulatory Review accentuate a conflict of visions over the size and scope of government and its role in society; over...

The last step cannot be first; Congress, to the extent its substantial inquiry, oversight and appropriations authorities allow, should not permit a White House Office of Management and Budget "Circular A-4" rewrite of Regulatory Impact Analysis guidance to proceed without forcing OMB and OIRA to...

Early in their formation, modern nation-states face internal conflicts that impede their economic development. This paper examines the role of national identity in helping modern states overcome such conflicts to provide public goods and grow. We develop a model in which the population can...

This paper analyzes the effects of the revolving door, concentrating not only on the dynamics between regulators and firms but also on whether regulating the revolving door is optimal from the point of view of society. The study explores the trade-off between two interconnected aspects related...

In the latter half of the fourth millennium BC, our ancestors witnessed a remarkable transformation, progressing from simple agrarian villages to complex urban civilizations. In regions as far apart as the Nile Valley, Mesopotamia, Central Asia, and the Indus Valley, the first states appeared...

This paper investigates whether elite interconnections contribute to unethical behavior. It aims to present a clear explanation of how these connections are established, analyze the presence of unethical conduct within them, and assess their impact on the economy and societal welfare. This paper...

We explore the long run socio-economic impact of a medieval urban governance setting , the king-owned towns (KOTs). For a town the KOT status implies special fiscal, commercial and administrative prerogatives between the community and the Crown, where such as status could be renovated, modified...

The bipartisan 1996 Congressional Review Act requires agencies to submit rules and guidance documents to both houses of Congress and to the Government Accountability Office, to provide Congress opportunity to disapprove them before they become effective. Addional provisions apply to major...

The new paradigm in the field of International Cooperation is that institutions are the fundamental cause of long-run economic development. However, the lack of both a clear consensus on which are the specific institutions that promote development, and a theory that integrates economic,...