SPOUDAI - Journal of Economics and Business

29-65

Authors: Stylianos X. Koufadakis

In this paper we examine how monetary announcements can explain US country funds premiums in international markets, taking into account monetary asymmetries relating to information news and directional actions of monetary policy. The monetary determinants which we have used to explore the closed-end fund puzzle emanate from the announcements of official rates of the countries of origin of NAVs. Our conclusions which reflect the investor sentiment as it varies in developing and emerged markets are supported by appropriate monetary assumptions concerning the role of monetary announcements. We find out that neither the expected nor the unexpected component of the monetary rate retains a dominant role in interpreting the fund premiums. In the case of developing funds the age has a negative influence on premium, while in developed funds the main fund’s benchmark index has a positive correlation with the fund premium. Moreover, the foreign exchange rate plays a significantly negative role in the CEFCs of developed countries and a positive role in those of developing markets. But the proxy for the US equity market seems to positively influence the whole range of funds. By examining the possible asymmetries we can see that premiums are negatively affected by unfavorable monetary news. We have also considered the case in which asymmetries on the funds premiums are based on the direction of the monetary policy, as shaped by the decisions of central banks in foreign countries. JEL Classification: G12, G23, E52 Keywords: Closed-end country funds; monetary policy; international markets; asymmetric information.

100-118

Authors: Dimitra Papadopoulou, Christos Nikolaos Tourkolias, Sevastianos Mirasgedis

This paper presents a framework for analyzing in quantitative and monetary terms the macroeconomic effects associated with the construction and operation of large energy investments, including the impact on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment and public revenues, by sector of economic activity. The proposed framework has been implemented for analyzing the macroeconomic implications associated with the construction and operation of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project in Greece. To this end, the input–output methodological framework has been used for estimating the macroeconomic implications of the project under consideration in conjunction with the adjusted earnings gain approach for monetizing the resulting employment effects. The results of the analysis clearly show that the construction activities will create significant direct, indirect and induced benefits to the Greek economy, growing the GDP by €931 million, creating employment benefits amounted to €197 million and contributing €359 million to the treasury. Furthermore, it was estimated that ongoing operation of the pipeline could increase the national GDP at about €17 million, the employment benefits of about €4.7 million and the tax revenues of approximately €6.8 million, on an annual basis and for a period of 50 years. JEL classification: D57, M14 Keywords: macroeconomic effects; input-output analysis; social return on investment; employment benefits; gas pipelines