Estimating the underground economy by using MIMIC models: A response to T. Breusch´s critique

Breusch (2005b) critically addresses an important and challenging question: Is it reliable to use the Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes model to estimate Shadow Economy? Breusch concludes that this approach is not suitable for the purpose. Breusch’s paper highlights the different procedures and hypotheses about the estimation of the size and development of the shadow economy in three papers: Giles and Tedds (2002a), Dell’Anno and Schneider (2003) and Bajada and Schneider (2005). In this paper, we will react and provide some answers to Breusch’s criticisms with special reference to the criticisms of the Dell’Anno and Schneider (2003) paper. According with us, the MIMIC model is still one of the best approaches to this purpose.shadow economy; MIMIC model; structural modelling.

Pricing of Equities in China: Evidence from the Shanghai Stock Exchange

In this paper we compare the performance of the traditional CAPM with the multifactor model of Fama and French (1996) for equities listed in the Shanghai Stock Exchange. We also investigate the explanatory power of idiosyncratic volatility and respond to the claim that multifactor model findings can be explained by the turn of the year effect. Our results show that firm size, book to market equity and idiosyncratic volatility are priced risk factors in addition to the theoretically well specified market factor. As far as the turn of the year effect is concerned we reject the claim that the findings are driven by seasonal factors. Our findings have implications for both academic researchers and practitioners. This is because we demonstrate that by following the investment strategies investigated in this paper superior returns could be generated – returns in addition to those offered by the market. Of course this is only applicable to those investors who are willing to take additional risks in order to generate additional returns. In summary, our results show that a broader asset pricing model such as the one investigated in this paper does a much better job than the single index CAPM.Asset Pricing, CAPM, China, Small Firm Effect, Turn of the Year Effect.