This dissertation advances research on the role of states in shaping the global financial network. The relationship between states and financial globalization is complex and multifaceted. States employ various economic tools, such as secondary sanctions, anti-money laundering (AML), and...

Financial intermediaries often provide guarantees that resemble out-of-the-money put options, exposing them to tail risk. Using the U.S. life insurance industry as a laboratory, we present a model in which variable annuity (VA) guarantees and associated hedging operate within the regulatory...