Parametric continuity of stationary distributions

For Markovian economic models, long-run equilibria are typically identified with the stationary (invariant) distributions generated by the model. In this paper weprovide new sufficient conditions for continuity in the map from parameters to these equilibria. Several existing results are shown to be special cases of our theorem.Markov processes, stochastic dynamics, parametric continuity

Equivalent Conditions for Irreducibility of Discrete Time Markov Chains

We consider discrete time Markov chains on general state space. It is shown that a certain property referred to here as nondecomposability is equivalent to irreducibility, and that a Markov chain with invariant distribution is irreducible if and only if the invariant distribution is unique and assigns positive probability to all absorbing sets.

Parametric Continuity of Stationary Distributions

The paper gives conditions under which stationary distributions of Markov models depend continuously on the parameters. It extends a well-known parametric continuity theorem for compact state space to the unbounded setting of standard econometrics and time series analysis. Applications to several theoretical and estimation problems are outlined.Parametric, Continuity, Stationary Distributions

Walras and Dividends Equilibrium with Possibly Satiated Consumers

The main contribution of the paper is to provide a weaker non-satiation assumption than the one commonly used in the literature to ensure the existence of competitive equilibrium. Our assumption allows for satiation points inside the set of individually feasible consumptions, provided that the consumer has satiation points available to him outside this set. As a result, we show the concept of equilibrium with dividends (See Aumann and Dreze (1986), Mas-Collel (1992)) is pertinent only when the set of satiation points is included in the set of individually feasible consumptions. Our economic motivation stems from the fact that in decentralized markets, increasing the incomes of consumers through dividends, if it is possible, is costly since it involves the intervention of a social planner. Then, we show, in particular, how in securities markets our weak nonsatiation assumption is satisfied by Werner's (1987) assumption.Satiation, Dividends, Equilibrium, Exchange Economy, Short-selling

Education, corruption and growth in developing countries

Education is key in explaining growth, as emphasized recently by Krueger and Lindahl (2001). But for a given level of education, what can explain the missing growth in developing countries ? Corruption, the poor enforcement of property rights, the government share of property rights, the government share of GDP, the regulations it imposes might influence the Total Factor Productivity (TFP thereafter) of a country's economic system. A number of empirical papers emphasize the consequences bad institutions have on growth, but few are examining the link between education, corruption (more generally bad institutions) and growth. Our model assumes that at low level of GDP per head and high level of corruption education spending has no impact on growth. The slope gets positive only at above critical size of corruption. The implications are tested using the data set of Xavier Sala-i-Martin, Gernot Doppelhofer and Ronald I. Miller (2004), which is extended with the aggregate governance indicators of Kaufman et ali.Public spending, education, corruption, endogeneous growth.