This note comments on a misconception that yield to maturity from holding a coupon bond until maturity is only promised, but not really received, unless coupon payments are reinvested at the same rate as the (original) yield to maturity. It shows that yield to maturity is always earned no matter...

The crisis is hitting the financial sector disproportionately and on a permanent basis, at least in some countries. This paper looks at the effects of the crisis on employment and earnings in the financial sector. It also considers how policies can help support adjustment in the sector, while...

The price determinants of gold are explained in this paper. Benefits from holding gold as an investment class asset in several forms, including ETFs are explored. Disadvantages of holding various gold investments are described, particularly in Contango markets. The gold prices are examined in...

As a selling mechanism, auctions have acquired a central position in the free market economy all over the globe. This development has deepened, broadened, and expanded the theory of auctions in new directions. This chapter is intended as a selective update of some of the developments and...

Following Furtuoso and Guilhoto (2003) the GDP of the Brazilian Agribusiness is estimated to be around 27% of the Brazilian GDP in 2000, and the latest numbers show that it could be reaching 30% of the Brazilian GDP in 2003. Despite its importance for the Brazilian economy as a whole, the size...

In recent years, several peer-to-peer carsharing systems have developed worldwide. They allow car owners to share their vehicles in exchange of a monetary compensation. The paper, starting from an online survey carried out in Milan in 2012, analyzes the potentiality of a possible peer-to-peer...

We investigate the efficiency of the Dickey-Fuller (DF) test as a tool to examine the convergence hypothesis. In doing so, we first describe two possible outcomes, overlooked in previous studies, namely Loose Catching-up and Loose Lagging-behind. Results suggest that this test is useful when the...

Abstract This paper discusses the effects of the real exchange rate (RER) on the structure of exports. Based on a North-South Ricardian model, two hypotheses are suggested and tested. The first one is that a higher RER allows for a higher diversification of exports. The second hypothesis is that...

Logistics is a backbone for the global supply chains. In Malaysia, logistics are now recognized as strategic industry that positively contribute to gross domestic product (GDP) and performance of logistics is foremost significant. Whereas most of the logistics performance has focused on...

We analyze a situation where an antitrust authority delegates to an audit inspector the mission of gathering the sufficient information to condemn a cartel. The authority has two instruments at her disposal: rewarding the inspector with a proportion of the collected fine or providing him with...