Real Business Cycle Models: An Introduction

In this article we present a simple real business cycle (RBC) model, in order to show that these models capture many of the features of business cycles in the real economy. While these models are very abstract, we argue that they are a useful way of thinking about the macro-economy. RBC models have also been influential in refocusing attention on supply issues in macroeconomics, after a long postwar focus on aggregate demand management in Australia and most other western economies. Policies such as structural reform and labour market reform are clearly aimed at influencing the supply side of the economy and productivity, and can be understood within the framework of RBC theory. RBC models have developed rapidly recently, yet there remains a good deal of misunderstanding about the methods and aims of these models. In this article we present a review of the literature and examine a simple model, using graphical techniques, to clarify some issues. We also argue that these models, while having limitations, have caused a fruitful re-examination of supply issues in economics, after the almost exclusive focus on aggregate demand in macroeconomics until the late 1970s.     

实际经济周期理论及其对中国的启发

基德兰德与普雷斯科特共同开创的实际经济周期理论(RBC理论)获得2004年诺贝尔经济学奖.RBC理论无论其理论本身还是思想方法都对传统理论提出了严峻的挑战,不但改变了宏观经济学的发展方向,也影响了一些国家宏观经济政策的制定.在从经济波动的根源、传导机制、理论模型、政策含义及其所采用的分析方法等方面概述了该理论的主要内容,并在总需求总供给模型框架下将RBC理论与其他宏观经济理论做出了相应比较,最后指出RBC理论在经济周期研究和制定稳定经济政策等方面对我国的启发.     

Keynesian Economics, Monetary Policy and the Business Cycle - New and Old

After a brief review of the main differences between New andOld Keynesian economics from the sixties this paper focuseson a tension between traditional sluggish measures of potentialoutput commonly used by policymakers and the New Keynesian (NK)notion of this variable which conceptualizes it as the levelof output that would have been produced under perfect competitionhad all prices and wages been flexible. The paper shows that,under monopolistic competition, NK potential output is oftenmore volatile than the level of output produced under stickyprices and wages implying either of the following. Real lifepolicymakers mistakenly target smooth versions of output or(since actual economies are monopolistically rather than perfectlycompetitive) the flexible price and wage equilibrium does notnecessarily maximize welfare. The paper shows, that dependingon the shape of the utility function and of the distributionof productivity shocks either case is possible and proposesa criterion for discriminating between them. (JEL E3, E4, E5,E6)     

Argentina's Feeble Recovery: Insights from a Real Business Cycle Approach

Abstract

Argentina’s GDP increased 30% between 2002 and 2005, prompting optimistic assessments that the country had finally left behind its secular stagnation. However, this strong performance followed a sharp decline in economic activity and therefore could be the manifestation of a bounce‐back effect with no lasting impact on Argentina’s mediocre long‐term growth rates. The paper examines this conjecture with the quantitative discipline imposed by a Real Business Cycle methodology and concludes that the 2002–05 expansion was not only a rebound, but also considerably weaker than the model predicts, a finding not consistent with upbeat views about the country’s long‐term prospects.     

The Equivalence of Wage and Price Staggering in Monetary Business Cycle Models

This paper considers the persistence puzzle documented by V. Chari, P. Kehoe, and E. McGratten (2000, Econometrica68, 1151–1179). Specifically, it addresses a claim by T. Andersen (1998, European Economic Review42, 593–603) and K. Huang and Z. Liu (1999, “Staggered Contracts and Business Cycle, Persistence,” Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Discussion Paper 127) that staggered-wage models are better able to generate persistent real responses to monetary shocks than are staggered-price models. The paper argues that this result hinges on the assumption of homogeneous factor markets and shows that by assuming firm-specific factor inputs the staggered-price model is as capable as the staggered-wage model is of generating persistent real responses to monetary shocks. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: E24, E31, E32     

Let's Get Real: A Factor Analytical Approach to Disaggregated Business Cycle Dynamics

This paper develops a method for analysing the dynamics of large cross-sections based on a factor analytic model. We use "law of large numbers" arguments to show that the number of common factors can be determined by a principal components method, the economy-wide shocks can be identified by means of simple structural VAR techniques and that the parameters of the unobserved factor model can be estimated consistently by applying OLS equation by equation. We distinguish between a technological and a non-technological shock. Identification is obtained by minimizing the negative realizations of the technology shock. Empirical results on 4-digit industrial output and productivity for the U.S. economy from 1958 to 1986 show that: (1) at least two economy-wide shocks, both having a long-run effect on sectoral output, are needed to explain the common dynamics; (2) although the technological shock accounts for at least 50 per cent of the aggregate dynamics of output, it cannot by itself explain dynamics at business cycle frequencies; (3) sector-specific shocks explain the main bulk of total variance but generate mainly high frequency dynamics; (4) both the technological and the non-technological component of output show a peak for positive sectoral comovements of output at business cycle frequencies; (5) technological shocks are strongly correlated with the growth rates of the investment in machinery and equipment sectors and their inputs.     

第十一届中国经济增长与周期国际高峰论坛观点综述

当前,我国经济运行基本处于中高速增长区间,正逐步迈向中高端发展阶段,但经济发展也面临国内外诸多矛盾叠加、风险隐患交汇的严峻挑战。如何在经济结构转型的同时防范各类风险,是学术界迫切需要深入研究的问题。在第十一届中国经济增长与周期国际高峰论坛上,国内外专家学者围绕"加速中国经济增长转型与防范金融风险"的主题,针对新经济学理论紧缺、深化改革、防范风险等重大问题展开讨论,并提出了具有很强针对性的建议。     

Culture and Economics: On Values,Economics and International Business

In his Idea of Justice, Amartya Sen compares the two basic approaches to evaluating institutions, transcendental institutionalism and realization-focused comparisons. Referring to Adam Smith's Impartial Spectator, he argues in favor of the latter and proposes the principle of open impartiality. However, this cannot solve the tension between universalism and contextualization of values that Sen has inherited from Smith. Based on recent Hegel scholarship, we argue that some of the difficulties can be resolved, considering the role Smith played in the development of Hegel's thinking. Hegel's concept of recognition plays an essential role in establishing the possibility of impartiality both on the level of consciousness and on the level of institutional intersubjectivity. Hegel's critique of Kant's formalist ethics (also considered as transcendental institutionalism by Sen) and his analysis of the civil society in the Philosophy of Right, especially his focus on associations and Estates, can serve as a model for making Sen's focus on public discourse theoretically more concise and pragmatically feasible. Hegel shows that universalistic attitudes can only emerge in specific institutional contexts.     

偏向性技术变迁、习惯形成与中国经济周期特征——基于RBC模型的实证分析

本文构建了一个同时引入偏向性技术变迁与中性技术冲击的包含居民消费的习惯形成的随机动态一般均衡模型,并以此模型为基础,对1979-2009年间中国宏观经济进行实证检验。研究表明:模型的预测结果与中国的特征事实较一致;对中国宏观经济的解释力要强于未包含劳动的RBC模型、包含资本劳动的可分劳动RBC模型、引入居民消费的习惯形成的可分劳动RBC模型,说明这一模型更符合中国经济的特征事实;与正的中性技术冲击具有正财富效应相反,正的偏向性技术变迁冲击具有明显的负财富效应特征;我国1979-2007年间推行的降低劳动弹性的偏向性技术变迁工业化发展战略促进了我国居民消费的增加、资本积累与GDP产出的提高,故而认为,这个战略是成功的。     

Business Cycle Volatility in Germany

Abstract. Stylized facts suggest that output volatility in OECD countries has declined in recent years. The causes and the nature of this decline have so far been analyzed mainly for the United States. In this paper, we analyze whether structural changes in output volatility in Germany can be detected. We report evidence that output volatility has declined in Germany. It is difficult to answer the question whether this decline in output volatility reflects good economic and monetary policy or merely ‘good luck’.     

Fiscal Convergence, Business Cycle Volatility, and Growth

This paper analyzes the effects of fiscal convergence on business cycle volatility and growth. Using a panel of 11 EMU and 21 OECD countries and 40 years of data, we find that countries with similar government budget positions tend to have smoother business cycles. That is, fiscal convergence (in the form of persistently similar ratios of government surplus/deficit to GDP) is systematically associated with smoother business cycles. We also find evidence that reduced business cycle volatility through higher fiscal convergence stimulates growth. Our empirical results are economically and statistically significant, and robust.     

政府换届、经济政策与政治经济周期

在梳理政治经济周期理论的基础上,比较中西方国家该理论前提、内在逻辑的差异,并从实际出发提出相关命题,建立计量模型,运用中国1953年～2008年的年度数据进行实证研究.结果表明,"两会"召开周期 (中央政府换届)与经济波动周期之间存在较显著的相关性;中央政府换届导致地方政府交流周期,政绩考核晋升机制使地方政府产生纵向、横向上的竞争,并形成周期性的经济发展举措,进而加大了对经济周期的影响;中央政府政治周期使财政政策、货币政策具有一定的顺周期特征,地方政府通过财政项目竞争、软预算约束以及货币信贷倒逼机制,扩大了财政政策、货币政策的顺周期性;在受到国际经济危机异常冲击时,我国财政政策、货币政策表现出平稳经济波动的特征.     

房价变动、土地财政与中国经济波动

本文基于中国土地制度的特点,以及地方政府依赖土地财政的事实,构建了一个包含金融加速器效应的多部门DSGE模型,模型包括房地产和非房地产部门,同时嵌入了地方政府的土地出让行为和支出结构。通过这一模型本文分析了房价影响GDP的作用渠道和机制。我们发现,外部冲击带来的房价变动,导致了房地产部门投资和土地价格的波动,而土地价格的波动对地方政府财政收入产生了较大的影响。考虑到中国地方政府在基础设施上的支出偏向,地方财政收入的变化又会对投资和资产价格产生冲击,在金融加速器效应的作用下,这一冲击进一步放大,最终导致了总投资和GDP的剧烈波动。本文研究表明,地方政府的土地出让行为联结了房价变动与地方政府的收入,而地方政府在基础设施投资上的偏向和金融加速器效应放大了房价对投资和整个经济的影响,三者共同作用使得房地产部门成为中国经济波动的重要来源。     

Business Cycle Correspondence in the European Union

This paper examines whether there exists a close correspondence in the business cycles of the EU economies. We focus on the timing and magnitude of business cycles and propose criteria for defining close correspondence. We suggest that any correspondence that does exist is confined to the EU core and that, contrary to some of the existing literature, there exists a clear core-periphery distinction. This makes us less optimistic about the prospects for EMU if it is not accompanied by institutional arrangements that take into account the differences between EU economies.     

Research Productivity in Business Economics: A Reply

Abstract. We reply to a comment by Diamantopoulos and Wagner questioning the face validity of our research productivity ranking for the field 'Marketing and Sales'.     

商业秘密经济学及其在中国的应用

商业秘密作为企业和个人的一项特殊的财产权利,对其给予充分的法律保护符合效率原则。中国当前对商业秘密的法律保护有待加强,应该引入惩罚性赔偿制度,合理规定商业秘密的保护期限,在商业秘密侵权诉讼中采取举证责任倒置,从而实现效率目标,促进合作与安全,增进社会公共利益。