The European Union (EU) and India are currently negotiating a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) and investment framework. There is an ongoing debate as to whether the EU-India FTA will act as a building block for the trading partners. This article addresses the broader concerns about...

We analyze the formality benefits through productivity-enhancing public goods. We document that: benefits from formality matter for firms’ optimal decisions; there is a disconnect between the objectives of maximizing formality versus welfare; this disconnect is mitigated under higher formality...

In this paper, we provide a very simple model to shed light on the issue of managed competition in mixed quasi-markets (i.e. regulated markets in which social and for-profit firms coexist). In doing this, we consider the literature on mixed oligopolies as a reasonable reference point and try to...

In this paper we present a model of spatial competition that highlights firms’ customization strategies in an imperfect competitive environment. The nature of competition in markets with products designed according to consumer preferences is discussed both in a framework of exogenous and...

This paper investigates the environmental issues caused by the oil exploitations in the US India and in Africa. The paper deals with several questions. Who should be held accountable? What are the roles of the oil companies? What is the responsibility of regulators and governments? How should we...

Benchmarking of electricity networks has a key role in sharing the benefits of efficiency improvements with consumers and ensuring regulated companies earn a fair return on their investments. This paper analyses the theory and practice of international benchmarking of electricity transmission by...

The electricity systems have a central role to play in the transition towards a low carbon economy and integration of renewable energy sources in the European Union. However, the European electricity networks face a diverse set of existing and new risks that can hamper the energy security of...

The recent international financial crisis has shown that financial and banking problems of a country may have an impact worldwide. Governments have been faced the difficult decisions to save several major banks with taxpayers' money or accept their bankruptcy, which would have meant financial...