Vintage Capital, Optimal Investment and Technology Adoption

In this paper, we study a vintage capital model under a general equilibrium setting. In this model firms can invest not only on a new vintage capital goods, but also on existing ones. We show that the capital accumulation is a single hum-shape function, featuring slow technology diffusion.Embodiment; Technology adoption; Vintage capital

The Spatial Solow Model

In this paper, we solve a Solow model in continuous time and space. We prove the existence of a solution to the problem and its convergence to a stationary solution. The simulation of various scenarios in the last section of the paper illustrates the convergence issueSolow Model; Growth; Geographic economics

Catching-up with the "locomotive": a simple theory

This paper extends the standard neoclassical model by considering a technology sector through which an economy with limited human capital attempts to catch up with a given “locomotive” pushing exogenously technical progress. In periods of technological stagnation, economies close enough to the frontier may find it optimal to not catch up, which reinforces worldwide technological sclerosis. Under sustainable technological growth, all the other economies will sooner or later engage in imitation. Such a phase of technology adoption may be delayed depending on certain deep characteristics of the followers.

Brain drain and factor complementarity

In this paper we develop a neoclassical growth model that aggregates different types of labor skills from strict complementarity to perfect substitution. After having derived general balanced growth conditions and developed explicit growth paths for capital and aggregate labor force, the model serves to qualitatively study the effect of brain drain on income and wages of the source country.Brain drain, growth, complementary, migration

Catching-up with the "locomotive": a simple theory

This paper extends the standard neoclassical model by considering a technology sector through which an economy with limited human capital attempts to catch up with a given "locomotive" pushing exogenously technical progress. In periods of technological stagnation, economies close enough to the frontier may find it optimal to not catch up, which reinforces worldwide technological sclerosis. Under sustainable technological growth, all the other economies will sooner or later engage in imitation. Such a phase of technology adoption may be delayed depending on certain deep characteristics of the followers.

The spatial Solow model

In this paper, we solve a Solow model in continuous time and space. We prove the existence of a solution to the problem and its convergence to a stationary solution. The simulations of various scenario in the last section of the paper illustrates the convergence issue.Geographic economics

Pollution perception: An inquiry into intergenerational equity

In this article we extend the recent literature on overlapping generations with a pollution sector by allowing generations to have a certain pollution perception with regards to the stock of pollution. Pollution perception, assumed to be part of the generations' preferences, can be either a concern for the flow of pollution only, or for the stock, or anything in between. We analyse the different steady states for their implications on intergenerational equity. Our main result is that if generations are only partly concerned with the actual stock of pollution, then periodic cycling will occur. We use the concept of Intergenerational Moral Intuition to analyse this periodic cycling. Our main policy conclusion is that decision makers who would like to achieve intergenerational equitable outcomes must either use the maximin criterion or take decisions spanning several generations in order to avoid the period cycling effect.

An Extended Solow Growth Model with Emigration: Transitional Dynamics and Skills Complementarity

In this paper we develop an extended Solow growth model with skilled labor emigration which aggregates different labor types from strict complementarity to perfect substitution. Except in two particular cases, balanced growth paths can only be attained asymptotically. We therefore derive an analytical characterization of the transitional dynamics of the model. We are thus able to study the impact of labor elasticity of substitution on the time pattern of per capita income in the country that experiences brain drain. Simulations show that the shape of per capita trajectory depends crucially on the degree of complementarity (substitutability) between labor skills. Given that no income trajectory dominates the others, there is room for policy issues by influencing the elasticity of substitution (Klump and Preissler, 2000).Brain drain

Habit in Pollution. A Challenge for Intergenerational Equity

In this article we extend the recent literature on overlapping generations and pollution by allowing each generation’s utility to depend on past levels of pollution. To conform with the literature on habit in consumption we call this extension habit in pollution. Habit in pollution can visualize itself as either a concern for the flow of pollution only, or for the stock, or anything in between. We show that habit in pollution has not only significant consequences for the level of pollution and capital, but also for the evolution of utility over time. We observe that habit in pollution can lead to violations of two standard criteria of sustainability, which suggests that habit in pollution can be another source of intergenerational inequity.

Brain drain, remittances, and fertility model

How do high and low skilled migration affect fertility and human capital in migrants’ origin countries? This question is analyzed within an overlapping generations model where parents choose the number of high and low skilled children they would like to have. Individuals migrate with a certain probability and remit to their parents. It is shown that a brain drain induces parents to have more high and less low educated children. Under certain conditions fertility may either rise or decline due to a brain drain. Low skilled emigration leads to reversed results, while the overall impact on human capital of either type of migration remains ambiguous. Subsequently, the model is calibrated on a developing economy. It is found that increased high skilled emigration reduces fertility and fosters human capital accumulation, while low skilled emigration induces higher population growth and a lower level of education.Skilled emigration, remittances, fertility, human capital