This working paper has been replaced by Working Paper No. 276 (Dec 2003)

Exchanges and other trading platforms are often vertically integrated to carry out trading and settlement as one operation. We show that these vertical silos can prevent the full realization of efficincy gains from horizontal consolidation of trading and settlement platforms. Independent of the...

This paper studies the demand for labour using a Q model in which labour and capital entail adjustment costs. The estimates are based on an unbalanced panel of Spanish firms over the period 1989-96. The corresponding Q variable for labour is significant in explaining hiring rates. Its estimated...

This paper reviews some of the main reasons found in the literature to explain the diversification decisions of firms and analyzes their relevance for firms located in emerging markets. This analysis is interesting because casual observation shows that large and diversified conglomerates still...

In the past, many countries have witnessed de-diversification waves. In this paper we illustrate that the same phenomenon can be observed in Germany. We discuss different theoretical explanations for the occurrence of de-diversification: the predominant agency theory approach and the less common...

We demonstrate a "preemptive merger mechanism" which may explain the empirical puzzle why mergers reduce profits, and raise share prices. A merger may confer strong negative externalities on the firms outside the merger. If being an "insider" is better than being an "outsider", firms may merge...

The banking industry is consolidating at an accelerating pace, yet not conclusive results have emerged on the benefits of mergers and acquisitions. We analyze the Italian market, which is similar to other main European countries.

This paper studies redeployment of resources between target and acquiring businesses following horizontal acquisitions. The analysis draws from perspectives that emphasize the strategic importance of resources that are subject to market failure. We define a five-part typology of R&D,...

We describe a plausible set of conditions under which the creation of a per-issue market for corporate cotes that is separate from the market for corporate shares can improve upon the way in which managerial adverse selection and moral hazard problems addresses via existing mechanisms for...

This paper examines the effect of regulatory regime changes on the attributes of acquired thrifts for periods of stringency in 1990 to 1993, and deregulation in 1994 to 2000, with the removal of significant impediments for bank takeovers of thrifts. We test a regime change hypothesis that...