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Macroeconomics Problem Set 7 Analysis

This document provides an introduction and guidelines for problem set 7 on modern macroeconomics. It involves analyzing a real business cycle (RBC) model where households own the capital stock rather than firms. Students are asked to: 1) Derive the household and firm problems, forming Lagrangians and first-order conditions to show equivalence to a model where firms own capital. 2) Calibrate key RBC parameters and use previous results to find steady state values. Conduct comparative statics by varying parameters and interpreting results. 3) Derive an expression for the Frisch elasticity of labor supply in terms of model parameters and conduct comparative statics on this measure. 4) Write a Dyn

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
7 views2 pages

Macroeconomics Problem Set 7 Analysis

This document provides an introduction and guidelines for problem set 7 on modern macroeconomics. It involves analyzing a real business cycle (RBC) model where households own the capital stock rather than firms. Students are asked to: 1) Derive the household and firm problems, forming Lagrangians and first-order conditions to show equivalence to a model where firms own capital. 2) Calibrate key RBC parameters and use previous results to find steady state values. Conduct comparative statics by varying parameters and interpreting results. 3) Derive an expression for the Frisch elasticity of labor supply in terms of model parameters and conduct comparative statics on this measure. 4) Write a Dyn

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masoud fahmideh
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Introduction to Modern Macroeconomics I

Problem Set 7
Hosein Joshaghani, Mahdi Mir
Due May 31, 2021

1 RBC: Households Own the Capital Stock


Now we consider a version of the decentralized problem in which the households own the
capital stock and rent it to firms. Otherwise the structure of the problem is the same. In this
problem set we want to show that this method ends up to similar results.

1.1 Household Problem


The household consumes and supplies labor. Now it also owns the capital stock. It earns a
rental rate for renting out the capital stock to
firms each period, Rt .
1. Write down the budget constraint for this problem.
2. Write down the HH problem.
3. Form the Lagrangian.
4. Write down the FOCs.
5. Form the Euler equation and the labor supply optimality condition and compare them
with similar equations in the model that firms own the capital not the households.

1.2 The Firm Problem


The firm problem is similar to before, but now it doesn’t choose investment. Rather, it
chooses capital today given the rental rate, Rt . Note that the
firm can vary capital today even though the household cannot given that capital is prede-
termined. The labor choice and debt choice are similar.
1. Write down the firm’s problem.
2. Form the Lagrangian.
3. Write down the FOCs.
4. Interpret the FOCs.

1.3 Equivalence to the Other Setup


Show that the two setup are identical. You need to show that all the
first order conditions are the same.

1
2 Quantitative Analysis of the RBC
For the RBC model that we have introduced in class and thoroughtly investigated in this
and the previous problem set, Here are the parameters of the model:

Θ = (α, β, δ, θ, ρA )

2.1 Steady State Analysis


1. Calibrate the model and justify your paramterization.

2. Use your results from the previous problem set to find the equilibrium (steady state)
levels of (K, N, I, Y, C, w, R, r) for the above calibration.

3. Comparative Statics: Now fix all the above parameters, except α. Change α from 0 to
1 and solve for the steady state level of K, N, I, Y, C, w, R, r. For each of these 7 state,
endogenous control and price variables depict a graph with α on the horizontal axis and
the variable of interest on the vertical axis. Interpret your results.

4. Now repeat the above excercise for each of the above paramters (β, δ, θ, ρA ) and interpret
your results.

2.1.1 The Frisch Elasticity of Labor Supply


In class we introduced the Frisch elasticity of labor supply with the interpretation of the
percentage change in employment for a percentage change in the real wage, holding the marginal
utility of wealth (i.e. the Lagrange multiplier from the household’s problem)
fixed, which with these preferences is like holding consumption fixed.

1. Write down the log linearized version of the labor supply equation and show that the
slope of this line in the (w, N ) space is 1/γ where

N∗
γ=
1 − N∗

2. Use the equations of the previous problem set to show that


1−α
γ= αβδ
θ(1 − 1−β(1−δ) )

3. Comparative Statics: For each of the parameters Θ = (α, β, δ, θ) depict a graph with γ
on the vertical axis and the parameter of interest on the horizontal axis.

4. Interpret the above comparative statics.

2.2 Dynamics of the Model


Here we want to write a Dynare program that simulates the path of the economy in response
to a productivity shock. Calibrate ρH L
A = 0.995 and ρA = 0.8. For each of these paramateriza-
tions, depict the path of the economy to the steady state and compare the results.

Common questions

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The equivalence in outcomes between household and firm ownership setups hinges on identical first-order conditions (FOCs) being satisfied. These conditions involve optimal marginal decisions regarding consumption, labor, and capital rental rates. For both setups to yield identical results, FOCs must equate the marginal utility of consumption to the discount rate adjusted returns on savings and the labor-leisure trade-off. By showing that FOCs derived from both setups are mathematically identical, one can prove the economic equivalence in model outcomes despite different ownership structures .

Changing the parameter α, which represents capital's share in income, affects the distribution between capital and labor in the production function. A higher α increases the marginal product of capital, leading to higher steady state levels of capital accumulation and output, while potentially reducing labor supply if wages decrease. The graphs depicting the variation in variables like K (capital), N (labor), I (investment), Y (output), C (consumption), w (wages), R (rental rate), and r (returns) against α help illustrate these dynamics .

The Frisch elasticity of labor supply measures the responsiveness of labor supply to changes in real wages, holding the marginal utility of wealth constant. This elasticity captures the substitution effect of wage changes, showing how labor supply adjusts when wages increase or decrease, assuming household wealth is unaffected. A higher Frisch elasticity indicates a more elastic labor supply, meaning workers adjust hours significantly in response to wage changes, impacting labor market volatility and policy implications .

Calibrating the RBC model is important to ensure that the model accurately reflects real economic data, allowing for meaningful simulation and analysis. The choice of parameters Θ = (α, β, δ, θ, ρA) is based on their theoretical significance: α represents capital's share of output, β is the household's time preference rate, δ reflects the depreciation rate of capital, θ gauges the elasticity of labor supply, and ρA indicates the persistence of productivity shocks. These parameters are typically chosen based on empirical observations or literature benchmarks to align the model with observed economic behavior .

Forming a Lagrangian in the household problem of an RBC model integrates constraints with the objective function, enabling the derivation of first-order conditions for optimization. Specifically, the Lagrangian combines the household's utility function, typically involving consumption and leisure, with the budget constraint that includes wage income and rental income from capital. The Lagrange multiplier represents the marginal utility of wealth, guiding optimal consumption and labor supply decisions in response to economic constraints .

Productivity shocks alter the trajectory of key economic variables, leading to deviations from the steady state. In simulations with Dynare, a positive productivity shock increases output and consumption temporarily as firms and households adjust to new income levels, whereas negative shocks depress the economy, resulting in lower output and investment. By calibrating parameters like ρH A = 0.995 and ρL A = 0.8, the simulations demonstrate varying persistence levels of shocks and the speed of return to equilibrium, providing insights into adjustment dynamics .

In the RBC model, when households own the capital stock, they earn a rental rate (R) by renting it out to firms, introducing a household income flow component directly linked to capital ownership. Households thus budget their consumption and labor supply decisions around this additional income source. In contrast, when firms own the capital stock, the firm's investment decisions directly impact the capital stock without the intermediary income effect for households. The setups are equivalent in terms of outcomes if all first-order conditions for labor and capital rental rates are satisfied .

Comparative statics in the RBC model are crucial for understanding how changes in economic parameters impact the model's equilibrium outcomes. By systematically varying parameters like α, β, δ, θ, and ρA, one can observe the resulting changes in capital, labor, output, and other economic variables. This evaluation helps interpret how sensitive an economy is to parameter changes, providing insights into policy impacts and guiding economic decision-making under different theoretical scenarios .

The log-linearized labor supply equation simplifies the analysis of labor market responses by expressing the relationship in percentage terms around an equilibrium. By taking logarithms, complex non-linear relationships become easier to interpret, particularly the slope of the labor supply curve, represented by 1/γ, where γ includes parameters like α, β, δ, and θ. This representation aids in quantifying the elasticity and understanding how sensitive labor supply is to wage changes, allowing for clearer insights into policy impacts and labor market dynamics .

In the RBC model, the Lagrange multiplier signifies the marginal utility of wealth, acting as a critical factor in optimal consumption decisions. It represents the shadow price of relaxing the budget constraint, guiding households in equalizing the trade-off between current and future consumption. The multiplier reflects how changes in income or interest rates affect consumption choices, making it pivotal for understanding household responses to economic shocks and policy changes .

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