COVID-19 Compliance Behaviors of Older People: The Role of Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Skills

in Economics Letters (2022), 210

This paper examines the empirical relationship between individuals’ cognitive and non-cognitive abilities and COVID-19 compliance behaviors using cross-country data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and ... [more ▼]

This paper examines the empirical relationship between individuals’ cognitive and non-cognitive abilities and COVID-19 compliance behaviors using cross-country data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We find that both cognitive and non-cognitive skills predict responsible health behaviors during the COVID-19 crisis. Episodic memory is the most important cognitive skill, while conscientiousness and neuroticism are the most significant personality traits. There is also some evidence of a role for an internal locus of control in compliance. [less ▲]

The Empirical Content of Marital Surplus in Matching Models

in Economics Letters (2019), 176

Market fragility and the paradox of the recent stock-bond dissonance

in Economics Letters (2018), 162

After the Lehman-Brothers collapse, the stock index has exceeded its pre-Lehman-Brothers peak by 36% in real terms. Seemingly, markets have been demanding more stocks instead of bonds. Yet, instead of ... [more ▼]

After the Lehman-Brothers collapse, the stock index has exceeded its pre-Lehman-Brothers peak by 36% in real terms. Seemingly, markets have been demanding more stocks instead of bonds. Yet, instead of observing higher bond rates, paradoxically, bond rates have been persistently negative after the Lehman-Brothers collapse. To explain this paradox, we suggest that, in the post-Lehman-Brothers period, investors changed their perceptions on disasters, thinking that disasters occur once every 30 years on average, instead of disasters occurring once every 60 years. In our asset-pricing calibration exercise, this rise in perceived market fragility alone can explain the drop in both bond rates and price–dividend ratios observed after the Lehman-Brothers collapse, which indicates that markets mostly demanded bonds instead of stocks. [less ▲]

Who Makes, Who Breaks: Which Scientists Stay in Academe?

in Economics Letters (2014), 122

Does size asymmetry exacerbate the inefficiency of tax competition?

in Economics Letters (2014), 122

Many authors demonstrate that the tax gap resulting from tax competition increases with the size asymmetry of the competing countries. Consequently, increasing country-size disparities exacerbates the ... [more ▼]

Many authors demonstrate that the tax gap resulting from tax competition increases with the size asymmetry of the competing countries. Consequently, increasing country-size disparities exacerbates the inefficiency of tax competition. The aim of this note is to show that this classical view has no general validity, if we consider that countries compete not only in taxes, but also in the provision of infrastructure. The simple model we develop for this purpose demonstrates that the effect of size disparity on efficiency depends crucially on the degree of international capital mobility. [less ▲]

Low-quality leadership in a vertically differentiated duopoly with Cournot competition

in Economics Letters (2012), 115

“Wacky” Patents Meet Economic Indicators

in Economics Letters (2011)

We investigate whether standard indicators can distinguish between ‘‘wacky’’ patents and a control group. Forward citations are good predictors of importance. However, ‘‘wacky’’ patents have higher ... [more ▼]

We investigate whether standard indicators can distinguish between ‘‘wacky’’ patents and a control group. Forward citations are good predictors of importance. However, ‘‘wacky’’ patents have higher originality, generality and citation lags, suggesting that these indicators should be interpreted carefully. [less ▲]

Income mobility profiles

in Economics Letters (2009), 102(2), 93-95

An `income mobility profile' is a graphical tool to portray income mobility and identify the association between individual movements and initial status which, despite its importance when assessing the ... [more ▼]

An `income mobility profile' is a graphical tool to portray income mobility and identify the association between individual movements and initial status which, despite its importance when assessing the social relevance of mobility, is often discounted by aggregate mobility indices. [less ▲]

Pre-empting Technology Competition through Firm Acquisition

in Economics Letters (2008)

This paper shows that firms engage in horizontal mergers and acquisitions to pre-empt competition in technology markets. Making use of the patent application procedure at the European Patent Office we ... [more ▼]

This paper shows that firms engage in horizontal mergers and acquisitions to pre-empt competition in technology markets. Making use of the patent application procedure at the European Patent Office we introduce a measure for potential entry barriers in technology markets. [less ▲]

National minimum wages, capital mobility, and global economic growth

in Economics Letters (2006), 90(2), 285-289

How do national minimum wages affect global economic growth? We address this question in a two-country endogenous growth model with capital mobility that emphasizes a link between wages, savings and ... [more ▼]

How do national minimum wages affect global economic growth? We address this question in a two-country endogenous growth model with capital mobility that emphasizes a link between wages, savings and growth. We identify the conditions on technology and national preferences that determine whether national minimum wages are a stimulus or an obstacle to growth. Technology matters because it determines the functional distribution of global income as well as output effects associated with the emergence of national unemployment due to minimum wages. Interestingly, differences in national savings propensities do not only affect the strength of the growth effect associated with minimum wages but may even determine its direction.<P>(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.) [less ▲]