Investment decision-making is modeled by means of a Kohonen neural net, where neurons represent firms. This is done in order to model investments in novel fields of economic activity, that according to this model are carried out when firms recognize the emergence of a new technological pattern....

In this paper we develop tests of functional form that are consistent against a class of nonlinear "smooth transition" models of the conditional mean. Our method is an extension of the consistent model specification tests developed by Bierens (1990), de Jong (1996) and Bierens and Ploberger...

Freeman (1996) formulates a model in which payment arrangements based on intermediated debt that is settled using money can achieve higher welfare than direct money payment achieves. Freeman finds that a monetary authority can sometimes further improve welfare, and achieve efficiency, by...

Estas son las partes cuatro, cinco, seis y siete de una serie que forman una investigación más amplia titulada “La Estrategia de Citicorp en Chile: Un Intento de Investigación”. Aquí se realiza un análisis estratégico del sector financiero en Chile y se muestra un intento de...

This paper assesses financial sector development in Latin America, both in the banking system and in the capital markets. After a brief review of the explanatory factors and the definitions of financial development found in the literature, Latin American countries are classified in groups of...

This paper uses novel data on the performance of pools underlying asset- backed securities to estimate a competing risks model of default and prepayment on subprime automobile loans. We find that prepayment rates increase rapidly with loan age but are not affected by prevailing market interest...

CAPITAL ACCUMULATION HAS BEEN EMPHASISED AS THE MAJOR FACTOR GOVERING THE RATE OF DEVELOPMENT. THIS STUDY THEREFORE AIMS EXPLORING IN THE LIGHT OF PAST TRENDS, THE ROLE AND SCOPE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS AS FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES IN MOBILIZING DOMESTIC SAVINGS FOR DEVELOPMENT AND THE CONSTRAINTS IN...

The paper investigates the existence and extent of economies of scale in depository and settlement systems. Evidence from 16 settlement institutions across different regions for the years 1993–2000 indicates the existence of significant economies of scale. The degree of such economies,...

Professional experts offer advice with the objective of appearing well informed. Their ability is evaluated on the basis of the advice given and the realized state of the world. We model this situation as a reputational cheap-talk game with continuous signal, state, and ability type spaces....

This paper analyses the development of the banking sector in twelve transition countries. Foreign banks have become major players in the financial system of these countries. Still, foreign bank presence and financial development in general vary considerably between these economies. Distance from...