This paper shows that positive correlation between project outcomes may improve the efficiency of microfinance group lending contracts.

Statistical inference from truncated height data is often based on distributional assumptions. In this paper we analyze a data set of over 23,000 conscript height observations, covering nearly all conscripts in Drenthe, a province of the Netherlands, over the period 1826-1860. The data do not...

We test the efficiency of estimators proposed for truncated height samples with a new data set of over 23,000 height observations covering nearly all conscripts in Drenthe, a province of the Netherlands, over the period 1826-1860. We find that the `best' estimator, truncated ML, in its...

Chung and Cox (1994) provided an intuitively appealing stochastic model which indicates that superstars may exist regardless of talent and which gives rise to the Yule distribution. We adopt a different empirical approach and test its goodness-of-fit using a parametric bootstrap and several...

This paper is the first to analyze the price effects of equity trading by a pension fund. We find that, on average, these effects are nonðnegligible: 20 basis points for buys and 26 basis points for sells. Furðthermore, we show that (relative) trade size and market capitalization, commonly...

Inflation hedging is an important issue for long-term investors, even during prolonged periods of relatively low inflation. This study analyzes the inflation-hedging properties of US stocks, bonds, and T-bills at the subindex level during the years 1983–2012. Our analysis provides only partial...

type="main" xml:lang="en" <title type="main">Abstract</title> <p>This article proposes a new method for estimating claim liabilities. Our approach is based on the observation from contract theory that there is information asymmetry between the insurer and the policyholder about the risks incurred by the latter. We show that...</p>

Measurement error causes a downward bias when estimating a panel data linear regression model. The panel data context offers various opportunities to derive moment conditions that result in consistent GMM estimators. We consider three sources of moment conditions: (i) restrictions on the...

This paper emphasizes the importance of quantitative comparative research in the social sciences. For that purpose a great variety of modem classification methods is available. The paper aims to give a selective overview of major classes of these methods and highlights the advantages and...