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This study examines the empirical performance of emission allowance option pricing models, concentrating on the EU-ETS markets. For option pricing, we use parameters estimated from option market data whereas few papers in the extant literature use parameters from underlying asset data. As results, it is shown that the most appropriate is the one-factor model in which the EUA logarithmic spot prices follow the mean-reverting process of Ornstein-Uhlenbeck type. Also, the addition of jumps is not shown to make any significant improvement in the model performance. These results are quite striking in the sense that existing papers report the addition of jumps is necessary to improve option pricing on the EU-ETS markets. In sum, this paper is meaningful in the sense that it extends the growing empirical literature on the behavior of emission allowance spot prices

When the Black-Scholes assumptions hold market is instantaneously complete and options are redundant securities. This paper tests whether options are needed for spanning of the pricing kernel in addition to the risk-free bond and underlying asset in Korean stock index options market. Using Hansen's GMM estimation method, we find that pricing kernel cannot be spanned with the risk-free bond and underlying asset. Options are needed for spanning to incorporate the additional risk factor. This result is consistent with previous results using American options market data.

The term structure of KTB (Korea Treasury Bond) is empirically implemented and forecasted by the extended 2-factor CIR model. Pearson and Sun model. MLE is applied to estimate parameters. Using KTB prices forecasted by the model, strategies of trading and hedge between KTB, KTF (Korea Treasury Futures) are established. In this article we can see that Pearson and Sun model appropriately explains the term structure of KTB but does not fit forecasting KTB prices. However, the model well forecasts the direction of interest rate moving up or down. Through such a forecast‘ profit via trading KTB and KTF can be realized.

In this paper, we examine the comparative advantage of Korea and China while focusing on their technology level. The three digit SITC (Standard International Trade Classification) data is classified by technology level and the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) is derived from 1992-2009 by using UN COMTRADE data. For careful interpretation of the comparative advantage and technology levels, we also examined intra-industry trade and unit values of bilateral Korea-China trade, and semi-conductor industry technology. We found that the revealed comparative advantage has moved from low technology products to high technology products in Korea. China still maintains a comparative advantage in low technology products such as textiles and clothing, but at the same time, China’s high and medium-high technology products have recently gained a comparative advantage. The perception that China only has a comparative advantage for labor intensive products with low technology should be changed based on our analysis. However, China’s advancement in technology should not be overestimated. When comparing the unit value of basic materials of Korea’s and China’s exports, we found that Korea’s export product prices are on average higher than that of China’s, although the gap is reducing. A wider technology gap between Korea and China still exists in the semi-conductor industry, which is one of the most advanced high technology industries throughout the world.

The economic success of East Asia was due to an export-led growth strategy, which was heavily dependent on the global trading system underpinned by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). In recent years, however; East Asian countries have shifted their trade policy focus to regional agreements and made Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) among themselves arid with other regions. Government organization has been restructured to increase FTA activities. Generally, the current literature predicts that FTA activities of East Asia would help to increase the welfare of the region. In this paper; we offer a critical assessment of East Asia FTAs. We note that East Asia FTAs provide incomplete coverage of sectors and are likely to lead to an inefficient resource allocation. FTA movements are not matched with actual trade flows. The benefits of East Asia FTAs are fairly limited and potential benefits, if any, would not likely be materialized in the near future. Our overall assessment is that the recent policy shift in East Asian countries from multilateral trade orientation or unilateral action to regionalism or a parallel multilateral and regional trade approach will not produce much gain. The governments should increase their efforts at economic reform and reduce barriers to trade and investment, rather than to allocate more resource and manpower to FTA activities.

The Hanbo (meaning Korean treasure) scandal or “Hanbogate” occurred on January 23, 1997, with the bankruptcy of Hanbo Iron and Steel Company, the second largest steel company and 14th largest conglomerate in South Korea, as its debt had accumulated to US$5.6 billion. Hanbo's bankruptcy triggered an investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office that resulted in the imprisonment for 15 years of Hanbo's founder, Chung Tae-Soo, for bribing politicians and bankers to pressure banks to extend hugh bank loans to Hanbo. Nine other persons were also convicted including Chung's son, who was jailed for three years for bribery and embezzlement, and Kim Hyun-Chol, the second son of President Kim Young-Sam, who was sentenced to three years jail and fined US$1.5 million (New York Times, 1997).

This paper examined the future prospects of China’s economic development and its impact on the East Asian Economy and the economic integration of the region. The key issue to China’s economic growth is the contradiction between the socialist political system and a market-based economy. The overall assessment is that China will be able to manage the transformation of the nation into a steadily growing market economy.

We also found that China is the key country forming a triangular trading block which has implemented the international division of labor in the North-East Asian region. China’s rapid export growth and increased market share in the world economy is not a threat but a new opportunity for the East Asian countries. The rise of China will certainly be accompanied by an expansion of a consumer market, which will also broaden business opportunities for East Asian.

Despite the interdependence between East Asian countries, a regional trading bloc embracing East Asia has not been created yet. The future prospects for realizing the vision of a regional free trade agreement in East Asia in the foreseeable future is not bright, either.