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The impact of futures trading on the underlying asset volatility, and its characteristics, is still debated both in the economic literature and among practitioners. The aim of this study is to analyse the effect of the introduction of stock index futures on the volatility of the Italian Stock Exchange. This study mainly addresses two issues: first, the study analyses whether the reduction of stock market volatility showed in the post-futures period, already pointed out in previous research, is effectively due to the introduction of futures contract. Second, whether the 'futures effect', if confirmed, is immediate or delayed with respect to the moment of the futures trading onset is tested. The results show that the introduction of stock index futures per se has led to diminished stock market volatility and no other contingent cause seems to have systematically reduced it. Further, they also suggest that the impact of futures onset on the underlying market volatility is likely to be immediate. These findings are consistent with those theories stating that active and developed futures markets enhance the efficiency of the corresponding spot markets.

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The paper compares the efficiency of the European banking systems in view of the constitution of the European Monetary Union. Since competition among banks will increase, it is important to identify the most efficient banking system able to play a role in that market. A parametric approach is adopted, based on the estimation of a stochastic cost frontier. This methodology enables one to measure X-inefficiency and to model it as a function of environmental variables which may influence firms' efficiency. By means of this analysis it is possible to identify the most efficient banking systems and to focus on the determinants of deviations from cost minimizing. The analysis highlights significant efficiency gaps among the performances of banks in different countries and of different institutional types. In particular, it is found that the Mittel-European model is the one that operates closest to the efficient frontier. This may indicate that, compared with separated banks, the universal banking system allows for production plans which come closer to the optimal frontier. The analysis suggests that, at the beginning of European Monetary Union, national barriers and regulatory frameworks are still responsible for deviation from the efficient frontiers.Stochastic Cost Frontier, Productivity, Technical Efficiency, Cost Efficiency, Banking Systems,

These results provide the first robust data collected from family members of a preliminary clinically significant improvement, in some aspects, of quality of care after the implementation of the Italian version of Liverpool Care Pathway programme. The poor effect for symptom control suggests areas for further innovation and development.