The Optimality of the US and Euro Area Taylor Rule

The purpose of this paper is to examine the optimality of the monetary authorities reaction function in the two-area medium size model MARCOS (US and euro areas). The parameters and the horizons of output gap and inflation expectations of the Taylor rule are computed in order to minimise a loss function of the monetary authorities. However, investigating the optimality of the Taylor rule in the context of a large scale macroeconomic model raises several difficulties: the model is non-linear and all the state variables potentially enter the optimal monetary policy rule. Furthermore, the optimality of the Taylor rule is assessed by the minimisation of the loss function under the constraint of a large forward-looking model. To overcome these problems, Black, Macklem and Rose [1998] propose a stochastic simulation based method which has been applied to single-country macroeconomic models. To study the optimality of the Taylor rule in the case of a two-area model, we suppose that the economy is stochastically hit by numerous shocks (supply, demand, monetary, exchange rate and world demand) in each area and simulate MARCOS stochastically.Monetary Policy, Computational Techniques, International Policy Transmission

Globalisation and the euro area: simulation based analysis using the New Area Wide Model

In this paper, we utilise the multi-country version of the NAWM to analyse the impact of globalisation on euro area macroeconomic aggregates. We provide alternative model-based definitions of globalisation associated with an increase in potential output in emerging Asia and its impact on total factor productivity in the euro area, and a shift in international specialisation patterns leading to changes in relative demand and import substitutions. The results indicate that globalisation has a positive impact on output, consumption, investment and real labour income in the long-run. This impact is driven by the improvement in the terms of trade and associated positive wealth effects, as well as by spillovers of higher potential output in emerging Asia on euro area total factor productivity. Additionally, we provide evidence that structural reforms in goods and labour markets would amplify the benefits associated with globalisation. JEL Classification: E32, E62DSGE modelling, euro area, Globalisation

The EAGLE. A model for policy analysis of macroeconomic interdependence in the euro area

Building on the New Area Wide Model, we develop a 4-region macroeconomic model of the euro area and the world economy. The model (EAGLE, Euro Area and GLobal Economy model) is microfounded and designed for conducting quantitative policy analysis of macroeconomic interdependence across regions belonging to the euro area and between euro area regions and the world economy. Simulation analysis shows the transmission mechanism of region-specific or common shocks, originating in the euro area and abroad.Open-economy macroeconomics, DSGE models, econometric models, policy analysis

Can we prevent boom-bust cycles during euro area accession?

Euro-area accession caused boom-bust cycles in several catching-up economies. Declining interest rates and easier financing conditions fuelled spending and worsened the current account balance. Over time inflation deteriorated external competitiveness and lowered domestic demand, turning the boom into a bust. We ask whether such a scenario can be avoided using macroeconomic tools that are available in the period of joining a monetary union: central parity revaluation, fiscal tightening or increased taxation. While all these policies can be used to cool down the output boom, exchange rate revaluation seems the most attractive option. It simultaneously trims the expansion of output and domestic demand, reduces the cost pressure and ranks first in terms of welfare. JEL Classification: E52, E58, E63Boom-bust cycles, dynamic general equilibrium models, euro area accession

Dynamique et hétérogénéité de l’emploi en déséquilibre

Pour rendre compte à un niveau macroéconomique des hétérogénéités qui caractérisent le marché du travail, la démarche la plus indiquée est l’agrégation par intégration des micromarchés en déséquilibre. Afin d’enrichir la structure dynamique de ce modèle d’équilibre avec rationnements quantitatifs, nous incluons des variables latentes retardées dans les équations d’offre ou de demande de travail ainsi que les rationnements passés dans l’équation de salaire. À la lumière des derniers développements proposés par Laroque et Salanié (1993), l’estimation de ce type de modèle est désormais envisageable. Leur méthode repose sur une extension du pseudo-maximum de vraisemblance simulé au cas dynamique.Notre objectif est, d’une part, d’étudier l’emploi en déséquilibre et la formation des salaires et d’autre part, de tester l’existence de micromarchés. L’application sur données macroéconomiques trimestrielles françaises met en évidence les résultats suivants. L’hypothèse d’existence de micromarchés ne semble pas rejetée. Néanmoins, depuis la fin des années 70, la contribution de l’imparfaite réallocation entre micromarchés à la montée du chômage se serait réduite. En outre, des effets de report dynamiques semblent affecter la demande de travail et les déséquilibres à la fois présents et passés pèseraient sur la croissance des salaires.The heterogeneity that caracterizes the labour market is taken into account by the aggregation of micro-markets disequilibria. In order to get a more realistic dynamic structure, lagged latent variables are included in labour demand, labour supply and wage equations. Such a model is estimated by the recent method proposed by Laroque and Salanié (1993). They suggest an extension of the simulated pseudo-maximum likelihood method to dynamic cases.Our aim is first, to study in a disequilibrium framework the unemployment and the wage setting process and second, to test the existence of micro-markets. The application of this model to French quarterly data gives the following results. The hypothesis of micro- markets could not be rejected. Nevertheless, since the end of the 70's, the contribution of the imperfect reallocation between micro-markets to the unemployment rise has decreased. Furthermore, intertemporal spillover effects seem to rather concern the labour demand whereas present and past disequilibria would affect the wage formation

Can we prevent boom-bust cycles during euro area accession?

Euro-area accession caused boom-bust cycles in several catching-up economies. Declining interest rates and easier financing conditions fuelled spending and worsened the current account balance. Over time inflation deteriorated external competitiveness and lowered domestic demand, turning the boom into a bust. We ask whether such a scenario can be avoided using macroeconomic tools that are available in the period of joining a monetary union: central parity revaluation, fiscal tightening or increased taxation. While all these policies can be used to cool down the output boom, exchange rate revaluation seems the most attractive option. It simultaneously trims the expansion of output and domestic demand, reduces the cost pressure and ranks first in terms of welfare.boom-bust cycles, euro area accession, dynamic general equilibrium models

Global policy at the zero lower bound in a large-scale DSGE model

The purpose of this paper is to analyse whether fiscal policies can alleviate the effects of the zero lower bound (ZLB) on interest rates and if they should be coordinated internationally. The analysis is carried out using EAGLE, a DSGE model of the global economy. We consider that the fiscal shocks are temporary and that fiscal policy retains full credibility at all times. In this setup we find significant non-linearities in a ZLB situation that amplify the effects of fiscal shocks compared to the non-ZLB case. International coordination is helpful but does not play a major role in the results. JEL Classification: E40, E62, E63, F42DSGE Models, Fiscal Moultipliers, monetary policy, zero lower bound

Structural reforms and macroeconomic performance in the euro area countries: a model-based assessment

We quantitatively assess the macroeconomic effects of country-specific supply-side reforms in the euro area by simulating EAGLE, a multi-country dynamic general equilibrium model. We consider reforms in the labor and services markets of Germany (or, alternatively, Portugal) and the rest of the euro area. Our main results are as follows. First, there are benefits from implementing unilateral structural reforms. A reduction of markup by 15 percentage points in the German (Portuguese) labor and services market would induce an increase in the long-run German (Portuguese) output equal to 8.8 (7.8) percent. As reforms are implemented gradually over a period of five years, output would smoothly reach its new long-run level in seven years. Second, cross-country coordination of reforms would add extra benefits to each region in the euro area, by limiting the deterioration of relative prices and purchasing power that a country faces when implementing reforms unilaterally. This is true in particular for a small and open economy such as Portugal. Specifically, in the long run German output would increase by 9.2 percent, Portuguese output by 8.6 percent. Third, cross-country coordination would make the macroeconomic performance of the different regions belonging to the euro area more homogeneous, both in terms of price competitiveness and real activity. Overall, our results suggest that reforms implemented apart by each country in the euro area produce positive effects, cross-country coordination produces larger and more evenly distributed (positive) effects. JEL Classification: C53, E52, F47competition, dynamic general equilibrium modeling, Economic policy, Markups, monetary policy, structural reforms

Structural reforms and macroeconomic performance in the euro area countries: a model-based assessment

We quantitatively assess the macroeconomic effects of country-specific supply-side reforms in the euro area by simulating EAGLE, a multi-country dynamic general equilibrium model. We consider reforms in the labor and services markets of Germany (or, alternatively, Portugal) and the rest of the euro area. Our main results are as follows. First, a unilateral markup reduction by 15 percentage points in the German (Portuguese) labor and services market would induce an increase in the long-run German (Portuguese) output equal to 8.8 (7.8) percent. Second, cross-country coordination of reforms would add extra benefits to each region, by limiting the deterioration of relative prices and purchasing power that a country faces when implementing reforms unilaterally. In the long run German (Portuguese) output would increase by 9.2 (8.6) percent. Third, cross-country coordination would make the macroeconomic performance of the different regions more homogeneous, in terms of price competitiveness and real activity. Overall, our results suggest that while reforms implemented individually by each country in the euro area will produce positive effects, cross-country coordination produces larger and more evenly distributed (positive) effects.economic policy, structural reforms, dynamic general equilibrium modeling, competition, markups.

Dynamique et hétérogénéité de l’emploi en déséquilibre

The heterogeneity that caracterizes the labour market is taken into account by the aggregation of micro-markets disequilibria. In order to get a more realistic dynamic structure, lagged latent variables are included in labour demand, labour supply and wage equations. Such a model is estimated by the recent method proposed by Laroque and Salanié (1993). They suggest an extension of the simulated pseudo-maximum likelihood method to dynamic cases. Pour rendre compte à un niveau macroéconomique des hétérogénéités qui caractérisent le marché du travail, la démarche la plus indiquée est l’agrégation par intégration des micromarchés en déséquilibre. Afin d’enrichir la structure dynamique de ce modèle d’équilibre avec rationnements quantitatifs, nous incluons des variables latentes retardées dans les équations d’offre ou de demande de travail ainsi que les rationnements passés dans l’équation de salaire. À la lumière des derniers développements proposés par Laroque et Salanié (1993), l’estimation de ce type de modèle est désormais envisageable. Leur méthode repose sur une extension du pseudo-maximum de vraisemblance simulé au cas dynamique.