Benchmark indexes have become important in financial markets for portfolio investment. In this paper, we study how international equity and bond market indexes impact asset allocations, capital flows, asset prices, and exchange rates across countries. We use unique monthly micro-level data of...

This paper studies how credit guarantee and employment protection programs interact in assisting firms during crises times. The paper analyzes how these government programs influence credit allocation, indebtedness, and risk at both the micro and macro levels. The programs provide different...

This paper examines the empirical relationship between financial development and real per capita GDP growth, physical capital accumulation and total factor productivity growth. We use a panel data set of 78 countries over 35 years (1961-1995) using system GMM for dynamic panels. We correct the...

The fact that minimum wages seem specially binding for young workers has led some countries to adopt age-differentiated minimum wages. We develop a dynamic two sector labor market model where workers with heterogeneous endowments of natural skills gain productivity through experience. We compare...

The banking crisis in Chile in 1981-83 was widespread - representing about 60 percent of the banking system's total portfolio. The crisis arose because of macroeconomic problems and was exacerbated by unsound financial practices. The government was faced with two extreme solutions: to let...