Understanding the functioning of the financial sector--and the intermediary institutions comprising it--is of major importance in analyzing the allocational efficiency of modern economies, the sources of fluctuations within them, and the possible crises inherent in their structure of interlinkages. This collection of papers, substantial editorial, and discussions by eminent economists brings together some of the most important research in the area of financial theory from the past fifteen years.

Major themes in theoretical financial economics since 1973 are presented through reprinted articles, each followed by a substantial essay by a leading scholar in the field. These original papers were written expressly for these volumes and provide a critical discussion and overview of the topic. The books thus present a broad spectrum of viewpoints with an emphasis on the work on valuation, economics of uncertainty, and taxation which pertains to the problems of financial markets and corporations.

Presents a collection of papers in the field of theoretical financial economics published from 1973 to 1986, and original accompanying essays contributed by eminent researchers. This book also provides material for PhD-level courses covering valuation theory, and elective reading for advanced Master's and undergraduate courses.