Special functions for the study of economic dynamics : The case of the Lucas-Uzawa model

The special functions are intensively used in mathematical physics to solve differential systems. We argue that their use should be most useful in economic dynamics, notably in the assessment of the transtion dynamics of endogenous growth models. We illustrate our argument on the Lucas-Uzawa model, which we solve by the means of Gaussian hypergeometric functions. We show how the use of Gaussian hypergeometric functions allows for an explicit representation of the equilibrium dynamics of the variables in level. In contrast to the preexisting approaches, our method is global and does not rely on dimension reductionSpecial functions; hypergeometric functions; optimal control; Lucas-Uzawa model; economic dynamics

Technological Progress, Employment and the Lifetime of Capital

We study the impact of technological progress on the level of employment in a vintage capital model where: i) capital and labor are gross complementary; ii) labor supply is endogenous and indivisible; iii) there is full employment, and iv) the rate of labor-saving technological progress is endogenous. We characterize the stationary distributions of vintage capital goods and the corresponding equilibrium values for employment and capital lifetime. It is shown that both variables are non-monotonic functions of technological progress indicators. Technological accelerations are found to increase employment provided innovations are not too radical

Global dynamics and imbalance effects in the Lucas Uzawa model : further results

In this paper we use a new analytical approach to the Lucas-Uzawa model (Boucekkine and Ruiz-Tamarit, 2007) to extend the existinc results on the dynamics and notably on the imbalance effects arising in the model. The approach does not only allow to extend the traditional analysis to any initial conditions for all variables in level, but it also permits a more general investigation of imbalance effectsLucas-Uzawa; hypergeometric functions; imbalance effects; global dynamics

Global dynamics and imbalance effects in the Lucas-Uzawa model: further results

In this paper we use a new analytical approach to the Lucas-Uzawa model (Boucekkine and Ruiz Tamarit, 2007) to extend the existing results on the dynamics, and notably on the imbalance effects arising in the model. The approach does not only allow to extend the traditional analysis to any initial conditions and for all variables in level, but it also permits a more general investigation of imbalance effects.Lucas-Uzawa, hypergeometric functions, imbalance effects, global dynamics

A note on global dynamics and imbalance effects in the Lucas-Uzawa model

In the traditional literature on the Lucas-Uzawa model, it is proved that in the neighborhood of the long-run balanced growth path, human capital stock grows at a rate greater than its long-run counterpart when the ratio physical to human capi- tal is above its long run value if and only if the capital share in the production of physical good is lower than the inverse of the elasticity of intertemporal substitution in consumption. We first prove that the claim is true outside the neighborhood of balanced growth paths. More importantly, we identify a crucial asymmetry: what- ever the position of the capital share with respect to the inverse of the elasticity of intertemporal substitution, physical capital stock always grows at a rate lower than its long-run counterpart when the ratio physical to human capital is above its long run value.Lucas-Uzawa, hypergeometric functions, imbalance e®ects, global dynamics.

Growth vs. level effect of population change on economic development: An inspection into human-capital-related mechanisms

This paper studies the different mechanisms and the dynamics through which demography is channelled to the economy. We analyze the role of demographic changes in the economic development process by studying the transitional and the long-run impact of both the rate of population growth and the initial population size on the levels of per capita human capital and income. We do that in an enlarged Lucas-Uzawa model with intergenerational altruism. In contrast to the existing theoretical literature, the long-run level effects of demographic changes, i.e. their impact on the levels of the variables along the balanced growth path, are deeply characterized in addition to the more standard long-run growth effects. We prove that the level effect of the population rate of growth is non-negative (positive in the empirically most relevant case) for the average level of human capital, but a priori ambiguous for the level of per capita income due to the interaction of three transmission mechanisms of demographic shocks, a standard one (dilution) and two non-standard (altruism and human capital accumulation). Overall, the sign of the level effects of population growth depend on preference and technology parameters, but numerically we show that the joint negative effect of dilution and altruism is always stronger than the finduced positive human capital effect. The growth effect of population growth depends basically on the attitude to intergenerational altruism and intertemporal substitution. Moreover, we also prove that the long-run level effects of population size on per capita human capital and income may be negative, nil, or positive, depending on the relationship between preferences and technology, while its growth effect is zero. Finally, we show that the model is able to replicate complicated time relationships between economic and demographic changes. In particular, it entails a negative effect of population growth on per capita income, which dominates in the initial periods, and a positive effect which restores a positive correlation between population growth and economic performance in the long term.Human Capital, Population Growth, Population Size, Endogenous Growth, Level Effect, Growth Effect

Vintage Capital and the Dynamics of the AK Model

This paper analyzes the equilibrium dynamics of an AK-type endogenous growth model with vintage capital. The inclusion of vintage capital leads to oscillatory dynamics governed by replacement echoes, which additionally influence the intercept of the balanced growth path. These features, which are in sharp contrast to those from the standard AK model, can contribute to explaining the short-run deviations observed between investment and growth rates time series. To characterize the convergence properties and the dynamics of the model we develop analytical and numerical methods that should be of interest for the general resolution of endogenous growth models with vintage capital.