This paper focuses on the dynamics of yield spreads deducted from government bonds issued by member states of the European Monetary Union (EMU). A descriptive analysis shows that there is a substantial and volatile spread between government zero coupon yields of EMU member countries and German...

This paper focuses on the joint dynamics of yield spreads derived from government bonds issued by member states of the European Monetary Union (EMU). A descriptive analysis shows that there are substantial and volatile spreads between zero coupon yields of EMU member countries and German Bund...

Based on a unique data set of driving behavior we test whether private information in driving characteristics has significant effects on contract choice and risk in automobile insurance. We define a driving-factor based on overall distance driven, number of car rides, and speeding. Using local...

The objective of this paper is to estimate and test multifactor versions of the Cox-Ingersoll-Ross (CIR) model of the nominal term structure of interest rates. The proposed state-space approach integrates time-series and cross-sectional aspects of the CIR model, is consistent with the underlying...

In this paper, we propose multi-stage stochastic linear programming for asset-liability management under time-varying investment opportunities. We use a first-order unrestricted vector autoregressive process to model predictability in the asset returns and the state variables, where - additional...

In this paper, we propose multi-stage stochastic linear programming for asset-liability management under time-varying investment opportunities. We use a first-order unrestricted vector autoregressive process to model predictability in the asset returns and the state variables, where - additional...

Purpose: Hailstorms are a major risk in agriculture. In order to mitigate the negative consequences on farm revenues, in the present paper the authors analyse the choice between insurance contracts and anti-hail nets. Furthermore, the authors discuss the consequences of anti-hail nets adoption...

We analyze the relation between earnings forecast accuracy and the expected profitability of financial analysts. Modeling forecast errors with a multivariate normal distribution, a complete characterization of the payoff of each analyst is provided. In particular, closed-form expressions for the...

Earning forecasts disclosed by financial analysts are known to be overly optimistic. Since an investor relies on their expertise, the question arises whether he would take analyst recommendations at face value or instead structure consultation with differently upward-biased analysts in a way...