While many studies document the influence of global liquidity and risk aversion on emerging markets spreads, less is known about their link with the US yield curve –a point that becomes more relevant at today´s historically low US rates. In this note, we examine the channels through which...

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...