This paper analyzes the potential effect of a European Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) on banks' profitability. We use a large sample of EU banks that span the period from 2007 to 2021 to assess the sensitivity of banks' profits to the deposits. Using quantile regression, we estimate the...

This analysis explores the implications of technological shifts towards greener and sustainable innovations on acquisition propensity between firms with different technological capacities. Using a dataset of completed control acquisition deals over the period of 2009-2020 from 23 OECD countries,...

This paper evaluates the importance of middle class vulnerability to poverty for subjective well-being (happiness) in European countries. Using the special module of the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions micro-data on well-being and national aggregates from the World...

This paper analyzes the potential effect of a European Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) on banks' profitability. We use a large sample of EU banks that span the period from 2007 to 2021 to assess the sensitivity of banks' profits to the deposits. Using quantile regression, we estimate the...

We document that European banks charge higher interest rates on loans granted to small and medium-sized firms located in areas at high risk of flooding. At 6 basis points, the average risk premium does not adequately reflect the deterioration of loan performance in the aftermath of flood...

This paper uses a simulation model to evaluate the effects of river flooding events occurring within Germany on regional' banks. Under a 1.5℃ increase in temperature, the impact is overall rather small, even accounting for the devaluation of loans exposed to floods. However, under a 3℃...

When firm-level information is not available, the greenness of financial portfolios, in terms of alignment to the EU Taxonomy, and their exposure to climate-related transition risk need to be estimated with a top-down approach. We improve the accuracy of available estimates by providing...

Biodiversity loss can have direct economic impacts, as it limits the availability of natural resources and increases costs across various industries. When firms face significant risks due to biodiversity loss, their creditworthiness may be jeopardized. This raises concerns for lending...

Climate-related physical risks pose serious concerns for both public and private finances, and it is of utmost importance to contain economic losses when natural catastrophes occur. In this context, the paper models the potential economic impact of currently uninsured floods in the EU. It also...

In response to the two waves of Covid-19 in 2020, the Italian government implemented a general lockdown in March, but geographically targeted policies during fall. We exploit this natural experiment to compare the effects of the two policies in a difference-in-differences design, leveraging a...