My dissertation consists of empirical and theoretical essays on Microeconomic Theory and International Economics. The first chapter discusses the existence and characterization of a model that determines producer's optimal pricing and allocation rule as a preannounced markdown schedule. The mechanism focuses on pricing and operational implications of allotting scarce resources when customers are heterogeneous in their valuations and sensitivities towards availability of product. The proposed mechanism suggests that a carefully designed multistep markdown pricing could achieve optimal revenue when selling a single unit. However, to sell multiple units, monopolist should modify the implementation of markdown pricing by either hiding the number of available products or selling them via contingent contracts and upfront payments. In the second essay, we study the heterogeneity of finance and growth nexus across countries. Our paper contributes to the literature by investigating whether this impact differs across regions and types of economy. Using a rich dataset, cross-section and dynamic panel estimation results suggest that the beneficial effect of financial deepening on economic growth in fact displays measurable heterogeneity; it is generally smaller in oil exporting countries; in certain regions, such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); and in lower-income countries. Further analysis suggests that these differences might be driven by regulatory/supervisory characteristics and related to differing performance on financial access for a given level of depth. The third chapter analyzes contraction of exports in the aftermath of severe financial crises and tests for its heterogeneity across different industries and based on their credit conditions. It provides a theoretical framework to provide insight on why sectors are hit disproportionately during and in the aftermath of severe financial distresses, and confirms most of them with empirical estimations. The findings suggest that industries with greater reliance on outside financing and fewer shares of tangible assets experience greater contractions in export volumes in the years following a severe financial crisis. / text

nÃo hà / ItÂs the aim of this work to shed light on the mayors administration in Ceara concentrating on what they do e.g for social areas and/or building environments but also it analyzes the financial autonomy of the city and the town hall accounts concerning the period from 2006 to 2010. Four signs are sketched in order to combine statics exercises trough panel data to make sure the following: tax increasing contributes to improve the financial autonomy of the cities especially afterwards but also to reduce their dependence to the Federal Union and the States; the search for the tax increasing badly affects the future investments mainly in social areas (education and health), on the other hand it becomes the futures investments more realizable. / O trabalho avalia a gestÃo dos prefeitos cearenses a partir de seus investimentos em Ãreas sociais e de infraestrutura bem como no processo de autonomia financeira municipal considerando os balanÃos das prefeituras entre 2006 e 2010. Quatro indicadores sÃo elaborados e exercÃcios de estatÃstica descritiva combinados a estimaÃÃes em painel permitem constatar que: i) o superÃvit fiscal contribui com o aumento da autonomia financeira municipal nos perÃodos subseqÃentes e ainda com a reduÃÃo da dependÃncia municipal em relaÃÃo à transferÃncia de recursos da UniÃo e dos estados; ii) a busca pelo superÃvit fiscal afeta negativamente os investimentos futuros em Ãreas sociais como educaÃÃo e saÃde mas, por outro lado; iii) o superÃvit fiscal viabiliza os investimentos futuros em infraestrutura das prefeituras.

This study gives a platform to three old retired people who are constructed to be enjoying well-being and life satisfaction or going through life dissatisfaction after retirement. The epistemological framework was social constructionism. In-depth interviews with these three individuals were carried out. The premises of qualitative research were followed. The ‘case study approach’ was chosen as the most suitable method to gather information. Thematic content analysis was employed as a method of analysis of life stories of old retired people, which were reconstructed in terms of themes. Recurring themes in the life stories were then discussed and linked with the broader literature. The research allowed rich and informative information about life stories of three old retired people to emerge. Among the identified themes were financial status relating to adequate and appropriate sustenance after retirement; social networks and their effects on life satisfaction and dissatisfaction after retirement; health status; and cognitive functions in late adulthood. Everyone wishing to understand life in old age after retirement is encouraged to read this story. It is necessary to be sufficiently equipped in the event of an extended lifespan. / Psychology / M.A.(Psychology)