In this paper we test the existence of rational habit formation in a multivariate model for alcohol and tobacco consumption. The theoretical framework, based on a dynamic adjustment cost model with forward-looking behaviour, is enhanced to include the intertemporal interactions between the two...

The aim of the present study is to analyse the dynamics of regional consumption and income to explain two significant empirical evidences that have characterized Italian economy in the last two decades: (i) the fall in private saving rate; (ii) the persistence of a wide gap between consumption...

This paper addresses the impact of addiction and social interactions on cigarette demand, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors. A Box-Cox double-hurdle model for the simultaneous decisions of how much to smoke and whether to quit smoking is estimated on individual data from the...

This article extends the Blinder--Oaxaca decomposition to double-hurdle (DH) models. The proposed methodology focuses on a generalized non-Gaussian DH specification with correlated errors and allows decomposing the gaps in participation probabilities and outcome levels for a wide range of nested...

In this paper we use a Markov-switching vector autoregressive model to analyse the interest rate pass-through between interbank and retail bank interest rates in the Euro area. Empirical results, based on monthly data for the period 2003-2011, show that during periods of financial distress bank...

This paper investigates the main determinants of household delinquency on mortgage loans in Italy. Using a sample-selection ordered choice model, we assess the impact of socio-demographic factors, loan characteristics and institutional variables both on the probability of delinquency in mortgage...

The paper investigates the determinants of sovereign bond yield spreads in the Euro area and extends the models commonly used in empirical analyses by focusing on the impact of market expectations and behavioral factors.

In this paper we provide empirical evidence of the relationship between government purchases and private expenditure by adopting a microeconomic approach. Using UK quarterly data, a long-run demand system conditioned to the public sector is obtained by specifying a vector error correction model...

This paper analyses the determinants of tobacco expenditures for a sample of Italian households. A Box- Cox double-hurdle model adjusted for heteroscedasticity is estimated to account for separate individual decisions concerning smoking participation and tobacco consumption and to correct for...