This paper proposes an asymmetric model within which consumer credit facilitates both consumption smoothing and rational habit modification. The model is applied to US data using a GMM approach. The evidence suggests that new credit can predict short-run changes in consumption and has assisted...

This paper considers the relationship between traded volume and volatility. We employ short sales data to discriminate between transactions that close existing long positions and transactions that establish new short positions. We test for, and where appropriate, incorporate non-linearity and...