This paper shows that a strong comparative advantage is necessary for free trade and specialization in a 2 × 2 symmetric Ricardian model to be achieved in a Nash equilibrium. Governments strategically control labor distribution across industries, and representative agents maximize...

The transfer paradox describes the situation in which transfers of initial endowments within competitive market make the donor better off and (or) the recipient worse off. Advantageous redistribution, strong transfer paradox, and Chichilnisky paradox are the three cases of the transfer paradox...

Despite compelling rationale based on the theory of comparative advantage for free trade, many countries adopt restrictive trade practices. In this paper we investigate this puzzle in a stylized two-country two-good Ricardian model of international trade.Governments can offer protection to...

The notion of risk neutrality is a basic element in standard textbook treatments of the economics of risk. In the single variable case, it is well known that an Expected Utility maximizer will be risk neutral toward all distributions if and only if her NM (von Neumann Morgenstern) index is...

This paper investigates empirically the linkages between corporate debt overhang and investment activity at the firm level for a cross section of large-sized emerging market and developing economies. It analyzes the extent to which investment may be discouraged by high levels of debt that put at...

We analyze three related but distinct concepts concerning the renminbi's role in the global monetary system: (i) "internationalization" of the currency; (ii) currency convertibility; and (iii) reserve currency status. Their sequencing in relation to other policy goals such as financial sector...