Constructing the Optimal Solutions to the Undiscounted Continuous-Time Infinite Horizon Optimization Problems

We aim to construct the optimal solutions to the undiscounted continuous-time infinite horizon optimization problems, the objective functionals of which may be unbounded. We identify the condition under which the limit of the solutions to the finite horizon problems is optimal for the infinite horizon problems under the overtaking criterion

EXHAUSTIBLE RESOURCE ALLOCATION, INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY

An OLG model with exhaustible resources and solar energy is developed, and equilibrium time paths are characterized numerically using recursive methods. For the parameter values considered, resource prices increase over time, and extractions, output, and utility decline over time until a steady-state is reached. Decreasing the intertemporal elasticity of substitution or raising consumers' subjective discount rate hastens exhaustion of the resource stock. Market equilibrium can result in much quicker use of the stock than social optimality under a constant discount rate, with consequent higher utility for early generations and lower utility for future generations in contrast to social optimality.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Optimal growth and land preservation

A model of optimal economic growth with a constant population subject to a constraint on the availability of land is presented. It takes account of the dual character of land as a production factor and as a consumption good (environmental amenities) by determining the optimal intertemporal allocation of land between productive and recreational uses. An extension of the analysis for the case of a growing population with endogenous growth based on human capital accumulation shows that if the rate of discount is not very low then there exists a set of balanced growth paths compatible with a constant allocation of land. En este trabajo se presenta un modelo de crecimiento económico óptimo con una población constante sujeto a una restricción sobre la disponibilidad de tierra. En el modelo se tiene en cuenta el carácter dual de la tierra como factor productivo y como bien de consumo para usos recreacionales y se determina cual es la asignación intertemporal óptima de la tierra entre estos dos usos. En la segunda parte del trabajo, se presenta una extensión del análisis para el caso de una población creciente con crecimiento endógeno basado en la acumulación de capital humano y se demuestra que si la tasa de descuento no es muy pequeña existe un conjunto de sendas de crecimiento equilibrado compatibles con una asignación constante de la tierra.Crecimiento óptimo, asignación intertemporal de la tierra, preservación medioambiental, crecimiento de la población, crecimiento endógeno, capital humano Optimal growth, intertemporal land allocation, environmental preservation, population growth, endogenous growth, human capital

"Learning By Doing and the Choice of Technology."

This paper explores a one-agent Bayesian model of learning by doing and technological choice. To produce output, the agent can choose among various technologies. The beneficial effects of learning by doing are bounded on each technology, and so long-run growth in output can take place only if the agent repeatedly switches to better technologies. As the agent repeatedly uses a technology, he learns about its unknown parameters, and this accumulated expertise is a form of human capital. But when the agent switches technologies, part of this human capital is lost. It is this loss of human capital that may prevent the agent from moving up the quality ladder of technologies as quickly as he can, since the loss is greater the bigger is the technological leap. We analyze the global dynamics. We find that a human-capital- rich agent may find it optimal to avoid any switching of technologies, and therefore to experience no long-run growth. On the other hand, a human-capital-poor agent, who because of his lack of skill is not so attached to any particular technology, can find it optimal to switch technologies repeatedly, and therefore enjoy long-run growth in output. Thus the model can give rise to overtaking.

The First Conferences on the Theory of Economic Growth.

This paper presents the different conferences held around the subject of the theory of economic growth.ECONOMIC GROWTH ; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ; ECONOMIC THEORY

Environmental policy, education and growth: A reappraisal when lifetime is finite

This article demonstrates that when finite lifetime is introduced in a Lucas (1988) growth model where the source of pollution is physical capital, the environmental policy may enhance the growth rate of a market economy, while pollution does not influence educational activities, labor supply is not elastic and human capital does not enter the utility function. The result arises from the “generational turnover effect” due to finite lifetime. It remains valid under conditions when the education sector uses final output besides time to accumulate human capital. Nevertheless, it does no longer hold when the source of pollution is output. Furthermore, this article demonstrates that ageing reduces the positive influence of the environmental policy when growth is driven by human capital accumulation à la Lucas (1988) and lifetime is finite. It also confirms for finite lifetime the result found by Vellinga (1999) with a single representative agent: environmental care does not influence optimal growth when utility is additive and pollution does not influence the ability of agents to be educated.

A mean-field game economic growth model

Here, we examine a mean-field game (MFG) that models the economic growth of a population of non-cooperative rational agents. In this MFG, agents are described by two state variables - the capital and consumer goods they own. Each agent seeks to maximize their utility by taking into account statistical data of the total population. The individual actions drive the evolution of the players, and a market-clearing condition determines the relative price of capital and consumer goods. We study the existence and uniqueness of optimal strategies of the agents and develop numerical methods to compute these strategies and the equilibrium price

The effect of the government temporal horizon on the optimal tax structure

The government temporal horizon is shown to be a key determinant of the optimal tax structure in an endogenous growth model of the US economy. As the temporal horizon lengthens, wage taxation is gradually substituted by consumption taxation. The optimal tax mix depends notably on the leisure specification.Endogenous growth