Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

In The Aftermath Of The Financial Crisis Of 2008: What Have We Learned?, Luisa Blanco, Michael Crouch

Luisa Blanco

In the aftermath of the financial crisis and economic recession of 2008, it is important to reflect not only on its causes, but also on specific policies that can help countries to move towards sustained economic growth. This publication provides a compendium of lectures that intend to do this. The focus of the discussion is around the U.S. (first two chapters) and Latin America (last chapter), which enhances our understanding of the forces at play and the necessary policies that need to be implemented in different regions of the world. Dr. Lee Ohanian points to the strange differences between the …

Is A Beautiful System Dying? A Possible Smithian Take On The Financial Crisis And Its Aftermath, Maria Pia Paganelli

Maria Pia Paganelli

Adam Smith is not an optimistic describer of a providential order moved by an always-successful invisible hand. I present some of the more pessimistic analysis of Smith, which, unfortunately, seems to be most appropriate to describe and analyze our current affairs. This reading of Smith may provide an explanation for the events started in the fall of 2008.

The ‘beautiful system of natural liberty’ that Smith describes is a system that may be achieved only under rare circumstances. Smith recognizes systematic biases in human behaviours, ranging from overestimation of probability of success to almost blind admiration for the rich. He …

Michigan's Fiscal Future, Timothy Bartik, George Erickcek

Timothy J. Bartik

No abstract provided.

The Financial Crisis Impact On Potential Output In Iran, Fatemeh Almasi, Reza Moosavi Mohseni Dr., Jalili Khodaparast Shirazi Dr.

Reza Moosavi Mohseni

In this study the quarterly data from 1996:1-2011:2 have been used to investigate the effect of financial crisis on potential output in Iran. For this purpose potential output, natural unemployment rate, spread between short-run and long-run interest rate and real money supply variables are used to estimate Auto Regressive Model and analyze Impulse-Response function and Variance Decomposition. The results show that financial crisis has a negative impact on potential output in Iran. Also, monetary shocks have negative impact on potential output in Iran. As regards, monetary policy has no effect on actual output in long-run, it seems that monetary policies …

The Universal Savings Credit, Christian Weller, Sam Ungar

Christian Weller

The financial crisis of 2007 to 2009 took a tremendous toll on household wealth and shattered the sense of financial security for millions of American families. American households lost more than $20 trillion in wealth (in 2012 dollars) in the Great Recession, and households still had $10 trillion less in wealth at the end of 2012 than they had before the crisis. This massive wealth decline contributed to a widespread loss of economic security, particularly among lower-income and moderate-income families, single women, and communities of color. This economic insecurity can have long-ranging adverse effects on U.S. economic growth as American …

E-Commerce Patterns In South Asia: A Look Beyond Economics, Nir Kshetri, Nikhilesh Dholakia

Nikhilesh Dholakia

Conflicting and complex forces are shaping the diffusion patterns of the Internet and e-commerce in South Asia. Drawing upon the literature on institutional theory, we explore the drivers and inhibitors of the Internet in South Asian countries. We examine the influence of the three pillars of institutions (Scott, 1995) on the digital world of South Asia. The paper discusses how regulatory, normative, and cognitive institution–such as laws, relationships, culture, and habit–have shaped the diffusion patterns of the Internet and e-commerce in South Asia.

China’S Tax Policy Response To The Global Financial Crisis, Wei Cui

Wei Cui

VAT reform constituted the most important tax policy action China took during the global financial crisis in 2008-9. If China had had a more typical tax structure, this specific policy instrument (as well as certain others) would not have been available. Conversely, because of the idiosyncrasies of China’s current tax structure, some of the policy measures commonly deployed in other countries also cannot be used. In comparing China and Europe in the tax policies adopted since 2008, therefore, major differences in prior tax structures must be taken into account. There are also two other potential determinants of China’s tax policy. …

What Is Going On With Our Economy, Tom Campbell

Tom Campbell

The financial crisis was caused by two factors. First was the abnormally easy money policy followed by the Federal Reserve for many years, keeping down interest rates, and creating a bubble in real estate. The second was the influence of the federal government, under both parties, and through both Congress and the President, to increase home ownership whether or not individuals were financially able to carry the mortgage. The first factor fed the second as higher real estate prices gave the impression that refinancing would be able to pay off mortgages even if a borrower's income could not. Solutions to …

Comments On Key Lessons From The Economic Crisis, Robert C. Shelburne

Robert C. Shelburne

Comments presented at the ILO Conference on the Key Lessons from the Economic Crisis

The Role Of Pension Funds In A Global Economy (In Italian), Paola Bongini, Gregorio Impavido

Paola Bongini

No abstract provided.

Economic Writing On The Pressing Problems Of The Day: The Roles Of Moral Intuition And Methodological Confusion, Julie A. Nelson

Julie A. Nelson

Economists are often called on to help address pressing problems of the day, yet many economists are uncomfortable about disclosing the values that they bring to this work. This essay explores how an inadequate understanding of the role of methodology, as related to ethics and human emotions of concern, underlies this reluctance and compromises the quality of economic advice. The tension between caring about the problems, on the one hand, and writing within the existing culture of the discipline, on the other, are illustrated with examples from U.S. policymaking, behavioral economics, and the economics of climate change and global poverty. …

Slides - Africa In The World Trade Network, Luca De Benedictis

Luca De Benedictis

Here you find the slides of the presentation of the paper Africa in the World Trade Network held in Lausanne University at ETSG 2010, September 10th 2010

Africa In The World Trade Network, Luca De Benedictis

Luca De Benedictis

The Global Financial Crisis And Its Impact On Trade: The World And The European Emerging Economies, Robert C. Shelburne

Robert C. Shelburne

Presentation at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy/UNCTAD on the key issues on the international agenda. Discusses the impact of the 2007-2010 global financial crisis on world trade with an emphasis on the European emerging economies. Includes a discussion of policies to reduce the impact of future trade shocks and how the international economic system may be reformed as a result of the crisis.

The State Of The World Economy, Robert C. Shelburne

Robert C. Shelburne

Keynote address to the UNWTO Resilience Committee in Berlin, Germany on the state of the world economy.

Do We Really Need To Start From Scratch?, Michal Gradzewicz, Krzysztof Makarski, Joanna Tyrowicz

Joanna Tyrowicz

This paper presents views and believes of the authors on the relevance of the current economic theory for the understanding of the complex world we live in. Has the crisis indeed demonstrated that as profession we are misled by the beauty of the mathematical models and the only useful, workable solutions at hand were provided in early 1930s? The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the current state-of-the-art literature from the perspective of its usefulness in the context of economic crises. We argue that although we might be unable to answer many questions or to “predict” …

The Government Shareholder: Regulating Public Ownership Of Private Enterprise, Benjamin A. Templin

Benjamin A. Templin

During the subprime financial crisis of 2007-2009, the U.S. transformed its policies from a focus on privatization and deregulation to one where the government plays an active role as a market participant. By the end of the 2009 fiscal year, the U.S. government became one of the largest shareholders in the world owning a portfolio of investments valued at $959 billion. Some pundits condemned the investments as socialism. The sudden increase in the government portfolio is better understood as a Keynesian response to market failure rather than a change in the political economy. However, the dramatic increase in the government …

Black Tuesday And Graying The Legitimacy Line For Governmental Intervention: When Tomorrow Is Just A Future Yesterday, Donald J. Kochan

Donald J. Kochan

Black Tuesday in October 1929 marked a major crisis in American history. As we face current economic woes, it is appropriate to recall not only the event but also reflect on how it altered the legal landscape and the change it precipitated in the acceptance of governmental intervention into the marketplace. Perceived or real crises can cause us to dance between free markets and regulatory power. Much like the events of 1929, current financial concerns have led to new, unprecedented governmental intervention into the private sector. This Article seeks caution, on the basis of history, arguing that fear and crisis …

The Global Economic And Financial Crisis: Regional Impacts, Responses, And Solutions: Europe, North America, And The Cis, Robert C. Shelburne

Robert C. Shelburne

An assessment of the economic impact of and policy response to the 2007-2010 economic and financial crisis in Europe, North America and the CIS.

A European Perspective On The Current Global Economic And Financial Crisis, Robert C. Shelburne

Robert C. Shelburne

The keynote address to the UNWTO Commission for Europe in Baku, Azerbaijan. Provides a European perspective on the global economic and financial crisis. The cause of the crisis is explained, current economic conditions are discussed, some forecasts are suggested, needed policy responses are outlined, and some possible implications for global and European institutions are explored.

A Two-Sided Auction For Legacy Loans, Peter Cramton

Peter Cramton

On Monday, 23 March 2009, Treasury Secretary Geithner presented the Public-Private Investment Program as a key instrument to resolve the financial crisis (www.financialstability.gov). The Treasury’s description still leaves many issues unanswered. We flesh out the auction design for legacy loans. A two-sided auction is required. Both banks and private investors must compete in a transparent and competitive process.

Financial Stability, Trade Openness And The Structure Of Banks’ Shareholders, Claudiu T. Albulescu

Claudiu T Albulescu

The adverse effect of financial crises upon the world’s economies represented the background for the development of a wide economic literature on financial stability. The assessment of this phenomenon stands for a complex exercise, as many techniques can be used for this purpose. Such a technique is the construction of an aggregate financial stability index which allows for a comparison between financial systems stability. Based on an aggregate index and on a panel of data, we show that, for several Eastern European Countries, the financial stability is largely influenced by the trade openness and by the quality of banks’ shareholders. …

The European Perspective And Experience In Promoting Regional Development, Robert C. Shelburne

Robert C. Shelburne

A presentation in Doha, Qatar at the UN Follow-up Conference on Financing for Development which provides a European perspective on the Doha and Monterrey documents regarding financing for development. The European approach to cooperation and integration is based upon a similar set of principles. New developmental issues that need more attention include remittances, climate change, and the implications of the financial crisis for the European development model and the design of the international monetary system.

The U.S. Mortgage Market: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, Warren Coats

Warren Coats

An early look at the mortgage crisis in the U.S.