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January/February 2002

Posted 2002-01-01

The Controversy Over Free Trade: The Gap Between Economists and the General Public

by Cletus C. Coughlin

Despite economists’ nearly universal support of free trade, the general public in the United States has serious reservations about it. In this article, Cletus C. Coughlin examines the reasons for this difference of opinion and the primary suggestions for bridging this gap.

Posted 2002-01-01

Not Your Father's Pension Plan: The Rise of 401(k) and Other Defined Contribution Plans

by Leora Friedberg and Michael T. Owyang

The number of workers with a 401(k) plan grew from 7.1 million in 1983 to 38.9 million by 1993. The rapid diffusion of 401(k) and other portable defined contribution plans and the decline in defined benefit pensions represent a major change in pension structure.

Posted 2002-01-01

Voting Rights, Private Benefits, and Takeovers

by Frank A. Schmid

This article analyzes the effects that institutional design of the firm has on the allocation of control over the firm’s assets. The efficient allocation of control is a necessary condition for the optimal allocation of resources.

Posted 2002-01-01

Could a CAMELS Downgrade Model Improve Off-Site Surveillance?

by R. Alton Gilbert, Andrew P. Meyer, and Mark D. Vaughan

The Federal Reserve’s off-site surveillance system includes two econometric models that are collectively known as the System for Estimating Examination Ratings (SEER). One model, the SEER risk rank model, uses the latest financial statements to estimate the probability that each Fed-supervised bank will fail in the next two years.