We use panel data for 50 states during the 1960--2000 period to examine the deterrent effect of capital punishment, using the moratorium as a "judicial experiment." We compare murder rates immediately before and after changes in states' death penalty laws, drawing on cross-state variations in...

A survey of several economic journals reveals that very often the Durbin-Watson and the portmanteau (Box-Pierce or Ljung-Box) tests are inappropriately applied to linear models with lagged dependent variables and exogenous regressors. Sampling experiments indicate that the Durbin-Watson performs...

A model of interbank rivalry is developed and tested in the context of a one period duopolistic game with stochastic variability in deposit and loan demand. A procedure involving two specification tests is used to examine model implications. Results confirm that banks change their lending rates...

The academic debate over the deterrent effect of capital punishment has intensified again with a major policy outcome at stake. About two dozen empirical studies have recently emerged that explore the issue. Donohue and Wolfers (2005) claim to have examined the recent studies and shown the...

We examine college affordability under the existing pricing and financial aid system that awards both non need-based and need-based aid. Using data of freshmen attending a large number of selective private and public colleges in the USA, we find that the prices students actually pay for college...