Drawing from the literature on the determinants of corruption, this article examines the relationship between corruption and the nature of state of fragility. Robust empirical evidence shows a correlation between the level of corruption and state fragility. In a further assessment with the...

The main question of this paper is to investigate if and how the voluntary sector – as an institutional agent of the third sector - matters for the local development path. By adopting a multimensional and relational approach to the development, the paper surveys, compares and overlaps three...

The article describes “the theory of value depreciation” developed by the author. In accordance with this theory, economic growth takes place using two inter-connected phenomena: (a) reduction in time necessary to produce “the set of goods currently consumed” (first form of value...

Undervaluation of the currency is generally believed to affect growth through two main transmission channels: the “capital accumulation channel” and the “total factor productivity (TFP) growth channel”. This paper carries out the first empirical investigation on the TFP growth channel....

European business services has witnessed about two decades of virtual productivity stagnation. The paper investigates whether this is caused by weak dynamic market selection. The time pattern of scale-related inefficiencies is used as an indicator for the effectiveness of market selection. We...

This paper discusses welfare costs of a decrease in productivity and argues that there are two important channels which cause a reduction in welfare: a decrease in output per firm (intensive margin) and a decrease in number of operating firms (extensive margin). Traditional Dixit-Stiglitz...

This article aims to highlight the first work of economist Nathan Nunn on slavery and colonization. Indeed, for the latter, these two historical facts, quantifiable consequences, have defined the path of economic development of African countries. Secondly, this paper discusses the findings of...

The paper shows how democratic elections in a bi-communal society with entrenched ethnic voting results in an elected oligarchy in which elites of one ethnic group control the allocation of scarce economic resources. Using a simple strategic game, the paper shows that the control of resources...

The competitiveness of a country, besides the quantity and quality of factors of production, is largely dependent on institutional factors. It is not surprising therefore that the alteration of formal institutions (e.g. laws, measures, policies etc.) is a hot topic nowadays. But it is important...

The paper discusses some theoretical-methodological basis for the institutional change analysis in transitional countries. First, the paper shows the specific approach of the Marxian school of economic thought to the analysis of social and economic institutions. Second, the most general features...