one of the most important issues always facing banks and financial institutes is the issue of credit risk or the possibility of failure in the fulfillment of obligations by applicants who are receiving credit facilities. the considerable number of banks’ delayed loan payments all around the world shows the importance of this issue and the necessary consideration of this topic. accordingly, many...

In November 2014, OPEC announced a new strategy geared towards improving its market share. Oil-market analysts interpreted this as an attempt to squeeze higher-cost producers, notably US shale oil, out of the market. Over the next year, crude oil prices crashed, with large repercussions for the global economy. We present a simple equilibrium model that explains the fundamental market factors th...

Getting Started with Ecclesiastes: Coming to Grips with Mortality Dr. Elaine Phillips, © 2013 Introduction Ecclesiastes presents the reader with alternately disturbing and oddly reassuring realities. While scholars differ as to whether these views are a comfortable fit with “orthodoxy” and debate how to label and understand the various attitudes expressed, Ecclesiastes unquestionably speaks to ...

This 24-nation European–US study (1999–2000) of the democratic political values, attitudes, and behavior of adolescents uncovers a generally high level of self-predicted future political participation as adults. Four of five14-year-olds regard themselves as future voters, and 61% predict involvement in protest activities. Moreover, law breaking as an act of protest is almost as attractive in th...