We show analytically that the credibility problem which has affected the European Stability Pact originates from the insufficient distinction between two reasons for having binding fiscal constraints. The first reason deals with the governments' tendency to neglect the effects of their fiscal...

This paper shows that two societies differing because of the people's initial propensity to devote time and efforts to non-profit activities may never converge. This lack of convergence is interpreted as the tendency of the cultural values and attitudes dominant in each society to perpetuate...

We present a general equilibrium model where profit-maximizing firms and non-profit organizations coexist, and the people’s propensity to devote efforts to non-profit activities increases with the stock of social capital. In its turn, the formation of social capital is stimulated by an...

Previous papers modeling the interaction between the central bank and a monopoly union demonstrated that greater monetary policy uncertainty induces the union to reduce nominal wages. This paper shows that this result does not hold in general, since it depends on peculiar specifications of the...

There is a widespread consensus that China’s growth paradigm needs a rebalancing away from investment and external demand and towards consumption and domestic demand. This rebalancing process is supposed to be accompanied by the transition towards Renminbi’s full convertibility. In contrast,...

The first part of this paper describes some peculiar features of the German socio-economic model and argues that there is a widespread consent in Germany on preserving it in the face of global, European and national challenges. Essential components of this model are the export-oriented...

We develop a growth model distinguishing between a private sector that generates learning-by-doing and technological spillovers and a sector of technologically obsolete and subsidised state-owned enterprises. This distinction allows us to trace the inescapable dual-economy stage of development...