After conceptual clarification of "international business cycle" and a review of the literature, a new indicator is proposed. This indicator refers to two time series only and allows for an interna-tionally comparable quantification of a country's position in the business cycle. We then...

The finance-growth nexus is discussed, and a framework for empirical analysis is formulated. Based on data for 93 countries from 1960–1990, a growth equation is estimated. It includes the standard regressors as well as a new proxy for financial activity and interaction effects of the latter...

This article presents a multi-sectoral composite indicator for the Swiss GDP growth rate, targeting a lead of two quarters. The in-sample period ranges from 1991 to 2002 and 14 data points are reserved as out of sample to assess the forecasting performance. The results appear promising, in terms...

After conceptual clarification of international business cycle and a review of the literature, a new indicator is proposed. This indicator refers to two time series only and allows for an internationally comparable quantification of a country's position in the business cycle. We then calculate...

The "law and finance theory" predicts that the common law system provides the best basis for financial development and economic growth, followed by Scandinavian and German origin civil law and finally French origin civil law. Referring to a number of sceptical views, this paper argues that the...

The paper reconstructs the origins of the quantity theory of money and its applications. Against the background of the history of money, it is shown that the theory was flexible enough to adapt to institutional change and thus succeeded in maintaining its relevance. To this day, it is useful as...

Der multisektorale Sammelindikator für die Schweizer Gesamtkonjunktur weist gegenüber eine Reihe von methodischen Innovationen auf und berücksichtigt eine vergleichsweise grosse Anzahl von Indikatorreihen. Für den Stützbereich von 1991 bis 2002 erhalten wir auf Quartalsbasis einen stabilen...

The finance-growth nexus is discussed, and a framework for empirical analysis is formulated. Based on data for 93 countries from 1960-1990, a growth equation is estimated. It includes the standard regressors as well as a new proxy for financial activity and interaction effects of the latter with...