We analyse the Swedish central bank, the Riksbank’s, interest setting policy in a Taylor rule framework. In particular, we examine whether or not the Riksbank has reacted to fluctuations in asset prices during the period 1995:Q1 to 2016:Q2. This is done by estimating a forward-looking Taylor rule with interest rate smoothing, augmented with stock prices, house prices and the real exchange rate, using IV GMM. In general, we find that the Riksbank’s interest setting policy is well described by a forward-looking Taylor rule with interest rate smoothing and that the use of factors as instruments, derived from a PCA, serves to alleviate the weak-identification problem that tend to plague GMM. Moreover, apart from finding evidence that the Riksbank exhibit a substantial degree of policy rate inertia and has acted so as to stabilize inflation and the real economy, we also find evidence that the Riksbank has been reacting to fluctuations in stock prices, house prices, and the real exchange rate.

The constant increase in public sector spending in the advanced economies, increases pressure on the revenue side of public budgets. The primary sources of public budgets are taxes. This raises a question of what type of tax instrument to choose in respect to meet the high efficiency in sourcing public budgets restriction and at the same time, to minimize the negative impact on the private sector and households. As generally effective tax is considered a consumption tax. But what is the real effect of this tax in the short run and long run? The aim of this thesis is to analyze the influence of value -- added tax (VAT) on household expendictures in the short and long run. At first I provide empirical test of the short-term effect of VAT on household spending using quarter panel data for Visegrad fore countries, as I am focused mostly on the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Then construct a broader set of data for 14 EU countries, in purpose to test the long-term effect. For testing, I use several estimation techniques for panel data, taking into account the dynamic nature of these data sets.

El presente trabajo estudia el impacto de la educación de la madre sobre la desnutrición crónica infantil para los años 2002 al 2016 en Perú. Este estudio se realizó mediante un análisis por diversos métodos del modelo econométrico de Variables Instrumentales. Se presentan los resultados para Mínimos Cuadrados en dos Etapas y Método Generalizado del Momento. También se realizan los modelos econométricos de Inclusión Residual en Dos Etapas y Probit para datos de panel. En la presente investigación se utilizó la Base de Datos Niños del Milenio. Se obtiene como resultado principal que la educación de la madre tiene un impacto negativo sobre la desnutrición crónica infantil por cada modelo econométrico para los años 2002 al 2016 en Perú. Palabras clave: Mínimos Cuadrados en dos Etapas; Método Generalizado del Momento; Modelo de Inclusión Residual en Dos Etapas; Probit Panel; Salud; Desnutrición Crónica Infantil; Riqueza; Logro Educativo; Perú; Niños del Milenio. / The document studies the impact of maternal education on stunted children from 2002 to 2016 in Peru. It is analyzed by two different Instrumental Variables Methods, Two-Stage Least Squares and General Method of Moments. Also, the document uses Two-Stage Residual Inclusion Model, and Dynamic Probit Model for panel data. The present investigation uses the Young Lives data base. The main result is that the mother's education has a negative impact on stunted children for each model from 2002 to 2016 in Peru. Keywords: Two-Stage Least Squares; General Method of Moments; Two-Stage Residual Inclusion; Panel Probit; Health; Wealth; Stunting; Education Attainment; Young Lives; Peru / Tesis