Consumption Externalities and Wealth Distribution in a Neoclassical Growth Model

This paper explores the distributional effect of consumption externalities in a neoclassical growth model with heterogeneous agents. The economy consists of two types of agents each of which perceives different degrees of intergroup as well as intragroup consumption external effects. It is shown that the stationary distribution and transitional dynamics are highly sensitive to the specification of preference structures of each type of agents.

On the Impact of Heterogeneity on Indeterminacy

Some recent research indicates that the occurrence of indeterminacy in mod- els with externalities may be overstated because these models ignore agents’ heterogene- ity. We consider a neoclassical two-sector growth model with technological externalities. Agents are heterogenous in respect to their shares of the initial stock of capital and in labor endowments. We find that the sign of the effect of inequality on indeterminacy is not pinned down by the standard properties of preferences. However, when the in- verse of absolute risk aversion is a convex (respectively concave) function homogeneity (heterogeneity) tends to neutralize the external effects and eliminate indeterminacy.endogenous growth, heterogeneity, indeterminacy, inequalities, income distribution.

The impact of heterogeneity on indeterminacy

The aim of the paper is to explore the link between agent's heterogeneity and indeterminacy in a general equilibrium economy. The framework is provided by the two-sector growth model with technological externalities of Boldrin and Rustichini (1994) in which heterogeneous agents are introduced. We first show that the occurrence of indeterminacy depends on the distribution in labor endowments and in shares on initial capital among the agents as well as on preferences and technology. We find that the sign of the effect of heterogeneity on indeterminacy is not pinned down by the standard properties of preferences, a fact that might be surprising in view of some recent results (as in Herrendorf et al. (2000)). However, when risk aversion is a concave or a slightly convex function, the heterogeneity is a factor that opposes the external effects in generating indeterminacy.Endogenous growth; Heterogeneity; Indeterminacy; Inequalities

Controlling externalities in the presence of rent seeking

Contests are a common method to describe the distribution of many different types of rents. Yet in many of these situations the utilisation of the prize plays an important role in determining agents payoffs and incentives. In this paper, we investigate the incentives to expend effort for a prize that produces consumption externalities and consider alternative regulatory policies. We find relatively more global consumption externalities will increase (decrease) rent seeking when con- sumption externalities are negative (positive). We show how introducing Pigouvian taxation (possibly with revenue transfer) and Coasean bargaining alters equilib- rium effort and payoffs. Pigouvian taxation tends to reduce both effort and payoffs whereas this is not always the case for Coasean bargaining. In the presence of suf- ficiently large consumption externalities, establishing Pigouvian taxation coupled with some element of lump-sum transfer may reduce costly rent seeking effort and improve the welfare of some agents compared to other approaches.externalities, contest, natural resources

Consumption Externalities and Equilibrium Dynamics with Heterogenous Agents

This paper explores the effect of consumption externalities on equilibrium dynamics of a standard neoclassical growth model in which there are two types of agents. To emphasize the presence of heterogenous agents, we distinguish intergroup consumption externalities from intragroup consumption externalities. We show that if the intragroup externalities dominates the intrergroup external effects, then the steady state equilibrium satisfies saddle-point stability and the equilibrium path of the economy is uniquely determined. In contrast, if the intergroup external effects of consumption are strong enough, the steady-state equilibrium is either unstable or locally indeterminate. Based on the analytical as well as numerical considerations, we give intuitive implications of stability conditions.Consumption externalities, Equilibrium determinacy, Heterogeneous agents, Progressive taxation

Can heterogeneous preferences stabilize endogenous fluctuations ?

While most of the literature concerned with indeterminacy and endogenous cycles is based on the questionable assumption of a representative consumer, some recent works have investigated the role of heterogeneous agents on dynamics. This paper adds a contribution to the debate, highlighting the effects of heterogeneity in consumers' preferences within an overlapping generations economy with capital accumulation, endogenous labor supply and consumption in both periods. Using a mean-preserving approach to heterogeneity, we show that increasing the dispersion of propensities to save turns out to stabilize the macroeconomic volatility, by reducing the range of parameters compatible with indeterminacy and ruling out expectations-driven fluctuations under a sufficiently large heterogeneity.Endogenous fluctuations, heterogeneous preferences, mean-preserving dispersion, overlapping generations.

Numerical Simulation of Nonoptimal Dynamic Equilibrium Models

In this paper we present a recursive method for the computation of dynamic competitive equilibria in models with heterogeneous agents and market frictions. This method is based upon a convergent operator over an expanded set of state variables. The fixed point of this operator defines the set of all Markovian equilibria. We study approximation properties of the operator as well as the convergence of the moments of simulated sample paths. We apply our numerical algorithm to two growth models, an overlapping generations economy with money, and an asset pricing model with financial frictions.Heterogeneous agents, taxes, externalities, financial frictions, competitive equilibrium, computation, simulation

Dynamics of externalities: a second-order perspective

First-order approximation methods are a standard technique for analyzing the local dynamics of dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models. Although linear methods yield quite accurate solutions for a broad class of DSGE models, some important economic issues (e.g., portfolio choice and welfare) cannot be adequately addressed by first-order methods. This paper provides yet another case when first-order methods may be inadequate for capturing the business cycle properties of a DSGE model. In particular, the authors show that increasing returns to scale (due to production externalities) may induce asymmetric business cycles and nonlinear income effects that are not fully captured by linear approximation methods. For example, hump-shaped output dynamics can emerge even when externalities are below the threshold level required for indeterminacy, and output expansion tends to be smoother and longer, whereas contraction tends to be deeper but shorter-lived, as observed in the U.S. economy.Econometric models ; Externalities (Economics)

Socially Responsible Investment in General Equilibrium

Socially responsible investment in analyzed in a general equilibrium context. This is important in order to understand the ultimate consequences of SRI on the decisions of economic agents. Building on models by Brock (1982) and Merton (1987), SRI is modelled as the choice to voluntarily give up investment in stocks and bonds issues by a firm producing an externality. The model is used to analyze the utility costs of SRI to the responsible investor and the impact on the price of the stock issued by the firm which is responsible for the externality. The results shed light on the factors which may magnify or reduce the impact of SRI, among which are crucial the wealth commended in relative terms by the responsible agents and the diversification possibilities offered by the firms which are excluded from the investment opportunity set. A set of firms targeted by SRI may be seriously affected by SRI only if the responsible investors command a large portion of overall wealth; moreover the same firms are more likely to be hit by SRI behavior if they do not represent important diversification instruments. Firms with unique characteristics from the point of view of overall diversification are less likely to be the target of SRI.General equilibrium, Redistributive effects, Public goods

Can Heterogeneous Preferences Stabilize Endogenous Fluctuations?

While most of the literature concerned with indeterminacy and endogenous cycles is based on the restrictive assumption of a representative consumer,some recent contributions have investigated the role of heterogeneous agents in dynamics. This paper adds to this latter strand of the literature by highlighting the effects of heterogeneity in consumers' preferences within an overlapping generations economy with capital accumulation, endogenous labor supply and consumption in both periods. Using a mean-preserving approach to heterogeneity, we show that increasing the dispersion of propensity to save decreases macroeconomic volatility, by narrowing down the range of parameter values compatible with indeterminacy and ruling out expectations-driven fluctuations under a sufficiently large heterogeneity.Endogenous fluctuations; heterogeneouspreferences; mean-preserving dispersion; overlapping generations.