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

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

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

On the existence of a Ramsey equilibrium with endogenous labor supply and borrowing constraints

In this paper, we study the existence of an intertemporal equilibrium in a Ramsey model with heterogenous discounting, elastic labor supply and borrowing constraints. Applying a fixed-point argument by Gale and Mas-Colell (1975), we prove the existence of an equilibrium in a truncated bounded economy. This equilibrium is also an equilibrium of any unbounded economy with the same fundamentals. Finally, we prove the existence of an equilibrium in an infinite-horizon economy as a limit of a sequence of truncated economies. On the one hand, our paper generalizes Becker et al. (1991) because of the elastic labor supply and, on the other hand, Bosi and Seegmuller (2010) because of a proof of global existence. Our methodology can be also applied to other Ramsey models with different market imperfections.Existence of equilibrium, Ramsey model, heterogeneous agents, endogenous labor supply, borrowing constraint.

Equilibrium on International Assets and Goods Markets

Most of the international asset pricing models are developed in the situation where purchasing power parity (PPP) is not respected. Investors of different countries do not agree on expected security returns. However, in this case, an equilibrium on the international assets market may exist but not on the international goods market. Our purpose in this paper is to give conditions under which we have equilibrium, not only on the international assets markets but also on the international good market. More precisely, we focus on the link between no-arbitrage, equilibrium and PPP. At equilibrium, assets markets must clear and international goods market balance. In particular, equilibrium goods prices respect the PPP.International assets and goods markets, exchange rates, securities returns, no-arbitrage, purchasing power parity, general equilibrium.

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.

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 in 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 social planner. Then, we show, in particular, how in securities markets our weak nonsatiation assumption is satisfied by Werner's (1987) assumption.Satiation; dividends; exchange economy; short-selling

A simple proof of existence of equilibrium in a one sector growth modelp with bounded or unbounded returns from below

We analyze a Ramsey economy when net investment is constrained to be non negative. We prove existence of a competitive equilibrium when utility need not be bounded from below and the Inada-type conditions need not hold. The analysis is carried out by means of a direct and technically standard strategy. This direct strategy (a) allows us to obtain detailed results concerning properties of competitive equilibria, and (b) is amenable to be easily adapted for the analysis of analogous models often found in macroeconomics.Ramsey model; one sector growth model; non negative net investment; competitive equilibrium