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Investigating the Costs of Religious Observance: Cross-Country Analysis of Islamic Banking

By Myla Swallow and Richard Vargo

This study regresses key variables that influence the profitability of Conventional and Islamic banks as measured by Return on Average Assets, to determine the impact of Islamicity on the profitability of the banks in a given country. The study compares 36564 banks in 77 countries belonging to both Islamic and non-Islamic countries. We  find that Islamic banks have higher operating costs and overall experience lower return on average assets.

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Advisors: Professor Kent Kimbrough, Professor Michelle Connolly | JEL Codes: F30; G21; Z12

The Hidden Costs of Central Bank Borrowing

By Shane Hunt

This paper explores a previously overlooked unintended consequence of a private bank accepting Central Bank loans as a lender of last resort. Applying the basic Markowitz Security Model, I explore the potential effect of a private bank accepting a Central Bank loan as a signal of increased risk of investment in that private bank to the private markets. Finding a possibility that private investors will charge a penalty risk premium for having sought Central Bank financing, I consider the effects of this premium in three different game theoretic scenarios, each with a different set of assumptions that could apply in different Economic settings. Depending on the specific environment, possible effects include dependence on Central Bank financing, bankruptcy, or an eventual return to the private financial markets for future funding.

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Advisor: Marjorie McElroy, Nir Jaimovich | JEL Codes: E58, G02, G21, G28, G32 | Tagged: Banking, Central Banking, Finance

A Further Exploration of Reverse Takeovers as an Alternative to Initial Public Offerings

By Matt LoSardo

In theory a reverse takeover (RTO) should be a viable alternative to initial public offerings (IPO) for private companies looking to access the public capital markets.  Since the IPO process can be very timely and include significant costs, both direct and indirect, we analyze reverse takeovers as an alternative method.  Recent papers have posed some similar questions, evaluating underpricing and market-timing, which we look to confirm.  However, our paper seeks to build on these analyses, with a particular focus on long-term returns for RTO stocks.  Overall we find that reverse takeovers can be successfully used instead of IPOs and should be sustainable long-term investments.

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Advisor: Edward Tower, Marjorie McElroy | JEL Codes: G12, G24, G32, G34 | Tagged: Finance, Initial Public Offering, Reverse Takeover

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