An organization will often use a specialized technical language that is un-derstood by its members but not by others. We develop a theory of optimalorganizational languages and identify a key trade-o¤ between facilitatinginternal communication and encouraging communication with other...

In this paper we analyze the effect of inequality in the distribution of endowments of privateinputs (like land, capital) on production efficiency through its effect on the voluntary provisionof collective inputs (like irrigation, public research) that are complementary in production withthose...

The 1990s were characterized by substantial financial sectorconsolidation across a large number of industrializedcountries...

Bank supervisors have long recognized two types of shortcomingsin the Basle Accord’s risk-based capital (RBC)framework. First, the regulatory measures of “capital” maynot represent a bank’s true capacity to absorb unexpectedlosses. Deficiencies in reported loan loss reserves, forexample,...

I am very pleased to be part of this forward-looking conferenceon developments in capital regulation. Because thepurpose of capital is to support risk, I decided to approachthis session from the viewpoint of someone leading aninstitution that depends, for its success or failure, on howwell it...