In the present paper we propose a method to infer on the different clusters potentially present in a panel data set that is data driven in the sense that the classification of each subject into a specific group is estimated along with the model parameters. The general model allows additionally for time-varying parameters, whereby the timing of the structural changes is also part of the model es...

JEL Classification Code(s): J 31, J 71) "Perceptions of Discrimination, Effort to Obtain Psychological Balance, and Relative Wages: Can We Infer a Happiness Gradient?" There is a substantial literature that finds a linkage between happiness and relative economic well being as measured by earnings or wages. There is also a well documented racial gap in wages. One explanation for this is disparat...

The magnitude and frequency of recent financial crises underscore the importance of understanding financial instability for the purpose of crisis prevention and crisis management. This paper brings together and adds structure to the theoretical literature on financial instability and the implications they carry for policy-makers. In addition to clarifying the theoretical underpinnings for study...

Although dealership government and equity securities have, on the surface, similar market structures, the author demonstrates that some subtle differences exist between them that are likely to significantly affect the way market-makers trade, and as such have an impact on the liquidity that they provide. The author reviews some of the concepts recently introduced in the literature, examining mu...

In order to protect the public's confidence in deposit money, governments usually guarantee bank deposits implicitly or through an explicit deposit insurance system. Thus bank insolvency does not induce immediate bank runs. In many episodes of banking crises, several years passed quietly after bank insolvency had occurred, with the insolvency continuing to develop under the surface, and the ras...

This paper empirically determines why, during the 1990s, inflation in Canada was consistently more stable than predicted by the fixed-coefficients Phillips curve. A time-varying-coefficient model, where all the parameters adjust simultaneously, shows that the behaviour of expectations was probably a major contributing factor. A decrease in the value of the coefficient on the first difference of...

This paper applies the hybrid dynamic general-equilibrium, vector autoregressive (DGE-VAR) model developed by Ireland (1999) to Canadian time series. It presents the first Canadian evidence that a hybrid DGE-VAR model may have better out-of-sample forecasting accuracy than a simple, structure-free VAR model. The evidence suggests that estimated DGE models have the potential to add good forecast...

following changes in economic fields, monetary transmission mechanism has been equipped with different approaches. for example, introducing and then applying the first draft of basel committee’s capital requirement has portrayed new horizon in the monetary transmission mechanism discussions. while as the first step, it has been emphasized on the static role of bank’s capital; as the second step...

In this paper we study dollarization as a commitment device that the Central Bank could use to avoid getting involved in an undesirable banking-sector bailout. We show how a political process could induce an equilibrium outcome that differs from the one that a benevolent Central Bank would want to implement. Dollarization then could be used to restore the economy to the benevolent outcome. In s...

The question of whether private investors can discriminate between the risk taken by banks is empirically investigated by testing the risk sensitivity of European banks’ subordinated notes and debentures (SND) spreads. A unique dataset of spreads, ratings, accounting and market measures of bank risk is used for a sample of SND issued during the 1991-2000:Q1 period. Moody’s Bank Financial Streng...