In theory, trade intensity should positively affect the quality of domestic institutions and governance; the higher the economic openness, the lower the corruption. In practice, however, the growth of economic openness has not been accompanied by the expected improvements in corruption for 34...

This study empirically explores the following issue: Does corruption fuel conspicuous consumption? It examines the existence and magnitude of any potential corruption-effect on conspicuous consumption expenditure. Regression analyses of an unbalanced panel data for 20 OECD countries between 2004...

Assuming that wine markets are efficient, ultimately a bottle of wine's cost and therefore its price should reflect its vintage, grape variety as well as how it is vinified. Yet, being an experiential good, a wine's price is also closely related to its place of origin. If the designated...

Wine is an experience good and also (at least under certain circumstances and to a certain extent) a conspicuous consumption good. As such, wine buyers should be willing to pay a premium for regional reputation to avoid risk and to send signals about their wealth and social status. At the same...

The report presents the findings of a survey of public officials in Guyana, whose views were sought in a wide range of civil service issues - from personnel management, to rewards, and disciplinary actions, and, from budget environment to corruption. Answers were used to test some prior...

To perform well, public officials must be confident enough about the future, to be able to see a relationship between their efforts, and an eventual outcome. Their expectations are shaped by their institutional environment. If the rules are not credible, or are unlikely to be enforced, of if...

Categorization is essential to everyday cognition, aiding in the organization and comprehension of information and salient stimuli. In many cases, we partake in the process of "lumping" and "splitting," where similar items are lumped together, while dissimilar items are split apart in an...

We consider an economy (e.g., Chile 1973-83 or modern Turkey) with a minimum wage sector and a free sector and a tax on labor earnings. We ask can a minimum wage hike raise employment and economic efficiency?