Applied Microeconomics Seminar: Giulia Brancaccio
Giulia Brancaccio
NYU Stern
“Search Frictions And Product Design
In The Municipal Bond Market“
Abstract: This paper shows that product attributes shape search frictions, and studies the incentives of intermediaries to leverage this channel to increase their rents in the context of the US municipal bond market. Municipal bonds may be designed via negotiations between a local government and its underwriter, and upon issuance, they are traded in an over-the-counter market. Exploiting variations in state regulations to limit government officials’ conflict of interests, we provide suggestive evidence that underwriters tend to increase their market share in the secondary market trades by including special provisions to a bond. This in turn decreases the bond’s liquidity as it increases search frictions. Motivated by these findings, we build and estimate a model of bond issuance and trades to quantify market inefficiency and discuss policy implications.
* The seminar will go for one hour, from 11:00 to 12:00, with another 15 minutes immediately afterward for more informal questions and discussion. The seminar will be held via Zoom.
Please use the following zoom link for the seminar: https://georgetown.zoom.us/j/92923896191.
If you wish to be added to the list or attend this particular seminar, please contact the organizer.