Intangible Flow Theory

The intangible flow theory explains that flows of economic material elements (such as physical goods; or cash) are consummated by human related intangible flows (such as work flows; service flows; information flows; or communicational flows) that cannot be precisely appraised at an actual or approximate value, and have properties precluding them from being classified as assets or capitals. Thus, although mathematical/quantitative research methodologies are very relevant for science, they are insufficient to study economy and society. Due to its prejudice against non‐mathematical/quantitative scientific reasoning, neoclassical economics could not be technologically prepared to reach the intangible flow dynamics of economic phenomena. Furthermore, the neoclassical solution to call people human capital or assets, besides being ethically very questionable, offers performative non‐scientific metaphors that intervene in the production of the reality they claim to represent; and sabotages the study of well delimited research questions by scientific approaches outside the realm of neoclassical economics.     

Is Education Prejudiced by Country-Risk?

We consider country-risk as a determinant of education growth in a panel of countries. Applying cross-country dynamic panel data estimations, we show that among the different levels of education, the secondary is the most affected, followed by the tertiary. When different single measures of risk are considered one by one, the tertiary education is affected by more types of risk than any other level of education. This contributes to the literature on the educational production function, as it adds a robust determinant of that function and indicates that politicians should endeavour to decrease country-risk to enhance education.     

Financial Development,Credit, and Business Cycles

How does financial development affect the magnitude of the business cycles fluctuations? We examine this question in a general equilibrium model with heterogeneous agents and endogenous credit constraints based on Kiyotaki (1998). We show that there is a hump‐shaped relationship between the degree of financial frictions and the amplification of unexpected productivity shocks. This nonmonotonic relation is due to the fall in financial frictions having two opposite effects on the response of output. One effect is the reallocation of productive inputs between agent types, which, while active, increases with the fall in financial frictions. The other effect is the change in the demand of inputs, which decreases with the fall in financial frictions. At low levels of financial development, the reallocation effect dominates and a fall in financial frictions increases the amplification of productivity shocks. In contrast, at higher levels of financial development, a fall in financial frictions decreases the shock amplification because the reallocation effect disappears while the effect on the demand of inputs is still present.     

The Effect of Inflation on Wage Inequality: A North–South Monetary Model of Endogenous Growth with International Trade

This study analyzes the effects of inflation on intra- and intercounty wage inequality, specialization, and growth, using a North–South endogenous growth model with international trade and money. The relationship between inflation and intracountry wage inequality depends on firms' credit constraints and on the inflation levels. Our results indicate that inflation decreases specialization in skilled production and increases intracountry wage inequality. Moreover, increasing inflation in the South increases the wage inequality gap between countries. Theoretical results are confirmed through calibration and match with existing empirical evidence.