Publications

April 2003
Article

The Role of Wages and Auditing during a Crackdown on Corruption in the City of Buenos Aires

By: Rafael Di Tella and Ernesto Schargrodsky

We study the prices paid for basic inputs during a crackdown on corruption in the public hospitals of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, during 1996 97. We find a well-defined, negative effect on the measures used to capture corruption. Prices paid by hospitals for... View Details

Keywords: Crime and Corruption; Compensation and Benefits; Accounting Audits; Buenos Aires

March 2003
Teaching Note

Bolivia: Globalization, Sovereignty, or Democracy?

By: Rafael M. Di Tella and Huw Pill

Teaching Note for (9-702-086). View Details

Keywords: Bolivia

November 2002 (Revised March 2006)
Case

Inequality and the "American Model"

By: Rafael M. Di Tella and Ingrid Vogel

Official data that suggest economic inequality has been mounting in the United States on various dimensions since 1979. Many causes of such inequality have been postulated: technological change, globalization, demographic factors, and changes in public policy (notably... View Details

Keywords: Equality and Inequality; Wealth and Poverty; Corporate Governance; Social Issues; Government Administration; United States

2002
Working Paper

'Plata o Plomo?': Bribe and Punishment in a Theory of Political Influence

By: Ernesto Dal Bó, Pedro Dal Bó and Rafael Di Tella

2002
Working Paper

Cost Reductions, Cost Padding and Stock Market Prices: The Chilean Experience with Price Cap Regulation

By: Rafael Di Tella and Alexander Dyck

2002
Chapter

Political and Economic Incentives during an Anti-Corruption Crackdown

By: Rafael Di Tella and Ernesto S. Schargrodsky

Keywords: Crime and Corruption; Motivation and Incentives; Government and Politics; Economics

June 2002 (Revised March 2003)
Case

Bolivia: Globalization, Sovereignty, or Democracy?

By: Rafael M. Di Tella, Huw Pill, Miguel Lopez de Silanes Gomez, Cinthia Fernholz Violand and Ingrid Vogel

Describes the economic stabilization program implemented by the Bolivian government in 1985 to 1986 and its impact on the development process in Bolivia. View Details

Keywords: History; Programs; Development Economics; Inflation and Deflation; Globalization; Government and Politics; Bolivia

2002
Working Paper

Inequality and Happiness: Are Europeans and Americans Different?

By: Alberto Alesina, Rafael Di Tella and Robert MacCulloch

2002
Working Paper

Partisan Social Happiness

By: Rafael Di Tella and Robert MacCulloch

April 2002
Article

The Determination of Unemployment Benefits

By: Rafael Di Tella and Robert J. MacCulloch

While much empirical research exists on labor market consequences of unemployment benefits, there is remarkably little evidence on the forces determining benefits. We present a simple model where workers desire insurance against unemployment risk and benefits increase... View Details

Keywords: Unemployment; Compensation and Benefits

March 2002
Teaching Note

Strategy of the Firm Under Regulatory Review: The Case of Chilectra TN

By: Rafael M. Di Tella and Alexander Dyck

Teaching Note for (9-702-025). View Details

Keywords: Utilities Industry; Chile

February 2002 (Revised February 2003)
Case

Argentina's Financial System: The Case of Banco de Galicia

By: Rafael M. Di Tella, Tarun Khanna, Huw Pill, Alexandra de Royere and Ingrid Vogel

Describes the development of Argentina's financial system after the "Tequila Crisis" that came about as a result of the speculative attack on the Mexican peso's peg to the U.S. dollar in December 1994. Although Argentina's banking system was strengthened overall due to... View Details

Keywords: Finance; Emerging Markets; Macroeconomics; Business Strategy; Banks and Banking; Financial Crisis; Family Business; Acquisition; Banking Industry; Argentina

February 2002
Case

Strategy of the Firm Under Regulatory Review: The Case of Chilectra

By: Rafael M. Di Tella and Alexander Dyck

Discusses the largest electric distribution company in Chile and one of the five largest private Chilean companies. Introduces the exercise of operating control in order to improve the profitability of the investments, privatization, and international expansions. View Details

Keywords: Corporate Governance; Corporate Accountability; Growth and Development Strategy; Privatization; Emerging Markets; Competitive Strategy; Expansion; Global Strategy; Governance Compliance; Utilities Industry; Chile

Article

Informal Family Insurance and the Design of the Welfare State

By: Rafael Di Tella and Robert MacCulloch

We study unemployment benefit provision when the family also provides social insurance. In the benchmark case, more generous State transfers crowd out family risk-sharing one-for-one. An extension gives the State an advantage in enforcing transfers through taxes... View Details

Keywords: Insurance; Design; Welfare

December 2001 (Revised February 2004)
Case

Argentina's Convertibility Plan

By: Rafael M. Di Tella and Ingrid Vogel

Describes the political and economic development in Argentina from 1989 to 1995, with a focus on the role of the currency board. Culminates in Argentine policy makers (Menem in particular) contemplating how to respond to the tequila crisis in the middle of 1995.... View Details

Keywords: Currency Exchange Rate; Government and Politics; Interest Rates; Balance and Stability; Developing Countries and Economies; Financial Crisis; Crisis Management; Policy; Currency; Macroeconomics; Argentina

December 2001 (Revised March 2004)
Case

Argentine Paradox: The, Economic Growth and the Populist Tradition

By: Rafael M. Di Tella and Ingrid Vogel

Describes the political and economic development in Argentina from 1900 to 1989, with a focus on the role of Peron and populism. A rewritten version of an earlier case. View Details

Keywords: History; Development Economics; Economic Growth; Government Administration; Argentina

2001
Working Paper

Using a Terrorist Attack to Estimate the Effect of Police on Crime

By: Rafael Di Tella and Ernesto Schargrodsky

April 2001
Case

Corruption in International Business (B)

By: Robert E. Kennedy and Rafael M. Di Tella

Focuses on efforts to combat corruption. Approaches include international laws, international agreements, efforts by international development organizations, and private efforts by firms and nongovernmental organizations. View Details

Keywords: Crime and Corruption; Emerging Markets; Policy; Globalization

2001
Chapter

Shining Light in Dark Corners

By: Rafael Di Tella and William D. Savedoff