This paper examines the real and nominal convergence between the Central and Eastern European countries and the EU, using fractional cointegration analysis for the period 1980-2003. Fractional cointegration analysis is a flexible methodology, which allows for more subtle forms of mean reversion....

This paper investigates the effect of technical change on the costs of banking firms operating in 11 Central and Eastern European countries using Fourier-flexible cost function specification for the period 1995-2002. A common cost frontier with country-specific variables is employed in order to...

This paper analyses cost and profit efficiencies in commercial banking in the eight Central and Eastern European countries that became new members to the European Union. Common stochastic cost and profit frontiers with country-specific variables are employed in order to take into account...

This paper investigates the validity of the Fisher hypothesis using data from thirtythree developed and developing countries. Conventional cointegration tests do not provide strong evidence for a relation between nominal interest rates and inflation. Therefore, we use fractional cointegration...

This paper examines capital buffer fluctuations over the business cycle and provides empirical evidence on determinants of capital buffers for the banking sectors of 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries for the period 2001–2012. Results indicate that there is a negative and significant...

Using a sample of 272 commercial banks from fifteen Latin American countries for the period 2001-2008, we estimate cost and revenue efficiency scores, financial stability scores (Z-scores) and competition scores (Lerner indexes and Boone indicators) at the bank level. The Granger causality...

This paper examines whether there has been convergence of cost and profit efficiency levels among all European Union (EU) member and candidate countries following the process of legislative harmonization, using dynamic panel data models. The test results indicate evidence of β-<i>convergence and</i>...

This paper investigates the causal relationship between energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, economic growth, trade openness and urbanization for a panel of new EU member and candidate countries over the period 1992–2010. Panel unit root tests, panel cointegration methods and panel...