Catálogo de publicaciones - libros

In different fields data are presented under the form of Property Systems or Attribute Systems (i. e. Information Systems). In order to collect items linked together by attributes or properties we can use a number of techniques whose results range from exact classifications to different kinds of approximations. This range depends on the collecting operators and the characteristics of the Information System at hand. In this paper we discuss how to transform Information Systems in order to apply a well-funded set of operators and to improve their precision.

In January 1997, the U.S. Treasury began to issue inflation-indexed securities (TIIS). The new Treasury security protects investors from inflation by linking the principal and coupon payments to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This paper discusses the background of issuing TIIS and reviews their unique characteristics.

The entry reviews essential elements of market structure — the systems, procedures, and protocols that determine how orders are handled, translated into trades, and transaction prices determined. There are various contrasting alternatives, such as order-driven and quote-driven markets; consolidated vs fragmented markets; human intervention vs electronic trading; and continuous markets vs periodic call auctions. A major objective of market design noted in the discussion is to enhance the accuracy with which prices are discovered in a dynamic, uncertain environment. Lastly, the entry points out that market structures are rapidly changing, and that much remains to be learned about how best to structure a technologically sophisticated, hybrid market that efficiently services the varied needs of diverse participants.

Loan contract terms refer to the price and nonprice terms associated with a corporate loan deal between a borrower and a lender or a syndicate of lenders. The specification of loan contract terms differs across loans. These differences are attributable to the tradeoffs between values of loan contract terms that the borrower chooses when negotiating the loan contract, as well as the purpose of the loan and borrower and lending syndicate characteristics. Methodological issues that arise when investigating the relations between loan contract terms include allowing for loan contract terms that are determined simultaneously and accurately estimating credit risk.