This paper analyzes the special features of electricity spot prices derived from the physics of this commodity and from the economics of supply and demand in a market pool. Besides mean-reversion, a property they share with other commodities, power prices exhibit the unique feature of spikes in...

The paper sets out to analyse the effects of the financial crisis on the international standard-setter in 2008 and the attempts made to shoot the messenger - to blame IAS 39 for creating the crisis for reporting unrealised losses, rather than the cause being bankers making bad investment...

Human capital is considered as one of the main inputs in economic growth. Human capital can generate endogenous growth thanks to a continuous process of knowledge and externalities accumulation (Aghion and Howitt, 1998). In that context, this paper explores the relationship between innovation...

This cross-country study examines the determinants of school attendance through household surveys conducted the same year in seven West African countries. The aim of this comparison, based on the relatively homogeneous population of urban households living in the capitals, is to look at national...

This article analyses an individual microcredit program developed in Rio’s shantytowns. We study its selection criteria and the determinants of borrowers’ repayment performance. More specifically, this work aims to study the link between informality and credit discipline. First, we question...

The multidimensionality of poverty is now widely acknowledged. Some recent studies in developed countries show that there is a weak correlation between the monetary poverty approach and the household's subjective perception of their well-being, suggesting that the subjective perception of...

Dans un contexte de vieillissement de la population, différents scenarii sont envisagés pour réformer l'organisation et le financement de la prise en charge des personnes âgées dépendantes. La place de la prévoyance individuelle dans le financement de la dépendance est à ce titre...

Complementary health insurance plays an increasing role in the French health care system. In this context, identifying individual preferences regarding complementary coverage is crucial to insurance companies as well as public authorities. This paper uses data provided by a major health...

The citizens of Madagascar, and especially the capital Antananarivo, display marked support for democracy: adoption of its principles, rejection of authoritarian regimes, etc. The poor populations are no different from the other social groups in this respect. Nevertheless, living in a poor...