2019, Kondova, Galia, Nadig, Linhart

This case study aims to facilitate the conduct of an industry impact assessment of the blockchain technology in the case of Switzerland. The evaluation applies the strategic business value framework prosposed by McKinsey (2018). The work also provides an overview of the blockchain technology, its major advantages and disadvantages as well as the recent blockchain-related developments in Switzerland. The strong interest in the blockchain technology is discernable in the publicly announced “Blockchain Nation” vision of the country’s authorities.

2019, Kondova, Galia, Barba, Renato

This paper draws parallels between the OECD principle on disclosure and transparency and the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) governance on a blockchain. It provides an overview of the DAO concept based on self-executing smart contracts on a blockchain. The blockchain keeps a record of data and transactions in a decentralized and immutable form. The self-executing smart contracts on a blockchain ensure transparency and automation of the decision-making process in a DAO. The paper concludes that a DAO governance structure provides for transparency and enables shareholders to exercise their rights in an informed way. Considering the early stage of development of DAOs, however, caution is needed especially with regards to potential protocol vulnerabilities and legal uncertainties.

2019, Kondova, Galia, Bandyopadhyay, Trishit

This paper applies a data envelopment analysis (DEA) to study the effect of non-bank financial intermediation on bank efficiency in the eight EU jurisdictions individually monitored under the Financial Stability Board (FSB) Global Shadow Banking Monitoring Report in the period 2014-2016. The efficiency analysis is conducted by applying a profit-based input-oriented DEA variable returns-to-scale model in a two-stage procedure. In the first stage, the average DEA efficiency scores are calculated. We find evidence that the average aggregate technical efficiency increased on average from 2014 to 2016. In the second stage, the impact of environmental factors like the Financial Stability Board’s (FSB) narrow measure on non-bank financial intermediation as well as macroeconomic factors is analyzed by conducting a Tobit regression. The results provide evidence of a negative relationship between non-bank financial intermediation and average bank efficiency and a positive impact of GDP on average bank efficiency.

2019, Zbinden, Fabian, Kondova, Galia

This paper studies recent economic and political developments in Mexico and the potential role of blockchain technology in improving governance and fighting corruption in the country. Mexico badly needs innovative solutions to fight the persistent problems of corruption and inefficient governance. At the same time, blockchain, being a decentralized technology, promises to reduce administrative costs and ensure transparency in the public services. The paper takes stock of the current state of blockchain implementation in the economy and in the public administration of Mexico as well as studies the advantages and disadvantages related to the further outspread of the technology in the country. Moreover, the work aims at drawing policy recommendations as to the future role of blockchain in the public management and economic development in Mexico.

2019, Kondova, Galia

The self-sovereign identity (SSI) builds on the notion that the identity provider (the user) possesses full control of their data. In particular, the user could store identity data and decide how much data they share. The user could also decide with whom to share their personal data. The implementation of the SSI concept seems to be fully supported by the features of blockchain technology, in particular, decentralization, peer-to-peer interactions and data integrity. The Sovrin SSI and the uPort SSI present two blockchain-based SSI applications that are explained in the presentation.