The Role of Models and Probabilities in the Monetary Policy Process
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
A Study of Paul A. Samuelson's Economics
Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. A Study of Paul A. Samuelson's Econol11ics: Making Economics Accessible to Students A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Economics at Massey University Palmerston North, New Zealand. Leanne Marie Smith July 2000 Abstract Paul A. Samuelson is the founder of the modem introductory economics textbook. His textbook Economics has become a classic, and the yardstick of introductory economics textbooks. What is said to distinguish economics from the other social sciences is the development of a textbook tradition. The textbook presents the fundamental paradigms of the discipline, these gradually evolve over time as puzzles emerge, and solutions are found or suggested. The textbook is central to the dissemination of the principles of a discipline. Economics has, and does contribute to the education of students, and advances economic literacy and understanding in society. It provided a common economic language for students. Systematic analysis and research into introductory textbooks is relatively recent. The contribution that textbooks play in portraying a discipline and its evolution has been undervalued and under-researched. Specifically, applying bibliographical and textual analysis to textbook writing in economics, examining a single introductory economics textbook and its successive editions through time is new. When it is considered that an economics textbook is more than a disseminator of information, but a physical object with specific content, presented in a particular way, it changes the way a researcher looks at that textbook. -
Estimating the Effects of Fiscal Policy in OECD Countries
Estimating the e®ects of ¯scal policy in OECD countries Roberto Perotti¤ This version: November 2004 Abstract This paper studies the e®ects of ¯scal policy on GDP, in°ation and interest rates in 5 OECD countries, using a structural Vector Autoregression approach. Its main results can be summarized as follows: 1) The e®ects of ¯scal policy on GDP tend to be small: government spending multipliers larger than 1 can be estimated only in the US in the pre-1980 period. 2) There is no evidence that tax cuts work faster or more e®ectively than spending increases. 3) The e®ects of government spending shocks and tax cuts on GDP and its components have become substantially weaker over time; in the post-1980 period these e®ects are mostly negative, particularly on private investment. 4) Only in the post-1980 period is there evidence of positive e®ects of government spending on long interest rates. In fact, when the real interest rate is held constant in the impulse responses, much of the decline in the response of GDP in the post-1980 period in the US and UK disappears. 5) Under plausible values of its price elasticity, government spending typically has small e®ects on in°ation. 6) Both the decline in the variance of the ¯scal shocks and the change in their transmission mechanism contribute to the decline in the variance of GDP after 1980. ¤IGIER - Universitµa Bocconi and Centre for Economic Policy Research. I thank Alberto Alesina, Olivier Blanchard, Fabio Canova, Zvi Eckstein, Jon Faust, Carlo Favero, Jordi Gal¶³, Daniel Gros, Bruce Hansen, Fumio Hayashi, Ilian Mihov, Chris Sims, Jim Stock and Mark Watson for helpful comments and suggestions. -
The Influence of Jan Tinbergen on Dutch Economic Policy
De Economist https://doi.org/10.1007/s10645-019-09333-1 The Infuence of Jan Tinbergen on Dutch Economic Policy F. J. H. Don1 © The Author(s) 2019 Abstract From the mid-1920s to the early 1960s, Jan Tinbergen was actively engaged in discussions about Dutch economic policy. He was the frst director of the Central Planning Bureau, from 1945 to 1955. It took quite some time and efort to fnd an efective role for this Bureau vis-à-vis the political decision makers in the REA, a subgroup of the Council of Ministers. Partly as a result of that, Tinbergen’s direct infuence on Dutch (macro)economic policy appears to have been rather small until 1950. In that year two new advisory bodies were established, the Social and Eco- nomic Council (SER) and the Central Economic Committee. Tinbergen was an infuential member of both, which efectively raised his impact on economic pol- icy. In the early ffties he played an important role in shaping the Dutch consen- sus economy. In addition, his indirect infuence has been substantial, as the methods and tools that he developed gained widespread acceptance in the Netherlands and in many other countries. Keywords Consensus economy · Macroeconomic policy · Planning · Policy advice · Tinbergen JEL Classifcation E600 · E610 · N140 The author is a former director of the CPB (1994–2006). He is grateful to Peter van den Berg, André de Jong, Kees van Paridon, Jarig van Sinderen and Bas ter Weel for their comments on earlier drafts. André de Jong also kindly granted access to several documents from his private archive, largely stemming from CPB sources. -
Prisoners of Reason Game Theory and Neoliberal Political Economy
C:/ITOOLS/WMS/CUP-NEW/6549131/WORKINGFOLDER/AMADAE/9781107064034PRE.3D iii [1–28] 11.8.2015 9:57PM Prisoners of Reason Game Theory and Neoliberal Political Economy S. M. AMADAE Massachusetts Institute of Technology C:/ITOOLS/WMS/CUP-NEW/6549131/WORKINGFOLDER/AMADAE/9781107064034PRE.3D iv [1–28] 11.8.2015 9:57PM 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, ny 10013-2473, usa Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University’s mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels of excellence. www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781107671195 © S. M. Amadae 2015 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 2015 Printed in the United States of America A catalog record for this publication is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Amadae, S. M., author. Prisoners of reason : game theory and neoliberal political economy / S.M. Amadae. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-1-107-06403-4 (hbk. : alk. paper) – isbn 978-1-107-67119-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Game theory – Political aspects. 2. International relations. 3. Neoliberalism. 4. Social choice – Political aspects. 5. Political science – Philosophy. I. Title. hb144.a43 2015 320.01′5193 – dc23 2015020954 isbn 978-1-107-06403-4 Hardback isbn 978-1-107-67119-5 Paperback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Web sites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Web sites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. -
Statistical Decision Theory: Concepts, Methods and Applications
Statistical Decision Theory: Concepts, Methods and Applications (Special topics in Probabilistic Graphical Models) FIRST COMPLETE DRAFT November 30, 2003 Supervisor: Professor J. Rosenthal STA4000Y Anjali Mazumder 950116380 Part I: Decision Theory – Concepts and Methods Part I: DECISION THEORY - Concepts and Methods Decision theory as the name would imply is concerned with the process of making decisions. The extension to statistical decision theory includes decision making in the presence of statistical knowledge which provides some information where there is uncertainty. The elements of decision theory are quite logical and even perhaps intuitive. The classical approach to decision theory facilitates the use of sample information in making inferences about the unknown quantities. Other relevant information includes that of the possible consequences which is quantified by loss and the prior information which arises from statistical investigation. The use of Bayesian analysis in statistical decision theory is natural. Their unification provides a foundational framework for building and solving decision problems. The basic ideas of decision theory and of decision theoretic methods lend themselves to a variety of applications and computational and analytic advances. This initial part of the report introduces the basic elements in (statistical) decision theory and reviews some of the basic concepts of both frequentist statistics and Bayesian analysis. This provides a foundational framework for developing the structure of decision problems. The second section presents the main concepts and key methods involved in decision theory. The last section of Part I extends this to statistical decision theory – that is, decision problems with some statistical knowledge about the unknown quantities. This provides a comprehensive overview of the decision theoretic framework. -
Rolling the DICE: William Nordhaus's Dubious Case for a Carbon
SUBSCRIBE NOW AND RECEIVE CRISIS AND LEVIATHAN* FREE! “The Independent Review does not accept “The Independent Review is pronouncements of government officials nor the excellent.” conventional wisdom at face value.” —GARY BECKER, Noble Laureate —JOHN R. MACARTHUR, Publisher, Harper’s in Economic Sciences Subscribe to The Independent Review and receive a free book of your choice* such as the 25th Anniversary Edition of Crisis and Leviathan: Critical Episodes in the Growth of American Government, by Founding Editor Robert Higgs. This quarterly journal, guided by co-editors Christopher J. Coyne, and Michael C. Munger, and Robert M. Whaples offers leading-edge insights on today’s most critical issues in economics, healthcare, education, law, history, political science, philosophy, and sociology. Thought-provoking and educational, The Independent Review is blazing the way toward informed debate! Student? Educator? Journalist? Business or civic leader? Engaged citizen? This journal is for YOU! *Order today for more FREE book options Perfect for students or anyone on the go! The Independent Review is available on mobile devices or tablets: iOS devices, Amazon Kindle Fire, or Android through Magzter. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE, 100 SWAN WAY, OAKLAND, CA 94621 • 800-927-8733 • [email protected] PROMO CODE IRA1703 Rolling the DICE William Nordhaus’s Dubious Case for a Carbon Tax F ROBERT P. M URPHY he 2007 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) underscores the public’s growing aware- T ness of and concern about anthropogenic (man-made) global warming. Many climatologists and other relevant scientists claim that emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from human activity will lead to increases in the earth’s temperature, which in turn will spell potentially catastrophic hardship for future generations. -
Richard Bradley, Decision Theory with a Human Face
Œconomia History, Methodology, Philosophy 9-1 | 2019 Varia Richard Bradley, Decision Theory with a Human Face Nicolas Gravel Electronic version URL: http://journals.openedition.org/oeconomia/5273 DOI: 10.4000/oeconomia.5273 ISSN: 2269-8450 Publisher Association Œconomia Printed version Date of publication: 1 March 2019 Number of pages: 149-160 ISSN: 2113-5207 Electronic reference Nicolas Gravel, « Richard Bradley, Decision Theory with a Human Face », Œconomia [Online], 9-1 | 2019, Online since 01 March 2019, connection on 29 December 2020. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/ oeconomia/5273 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/oeconomia.5273 Les contenus d’Œconomia sont mis à disposition selon les termes de la Licence Creative Commons Attribution - Pas d'Utilisation Commerciale - Pas de Modification 4.0 International. | Revue des livres/Book review 149 Comptes rendus / Reviews Richard Bradley, Decision Theory with a Human Face Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017, 335 pages, ISBN 978-110700321-7 Nicolas Gravel∗ The very title of this book, borrowed from Richard Jeffrey’s “Bayesianism with a human face” (Jeffrey, 1983a) is a clear in- dication of its content. Just like its spiritual cousin The Foun- dations of Causal Decision Theory by James M. Joyce(2000), De- cision Theory with a Human Face provides a thoughtful descrip- tion of the current state of development of the Bolker-Jeffrey (BJ) approach to decision-making. While a full-fledged presen- tation of the BJ approach is beyond the scope of this review, it is difficult to appraise the content of Decision Theory with a Hu- man Face without some acquaintance with both the basics of the BJ approach to decision-making and its fitting in the large cor- pus of “conventional” decision theories that have developed in economics, mathematics and psychology since at least the publication of Von von Neumann and Morgenstern(1947). -
Ten Nobel Laureates Say the Bush
Hundreds of economists across the nation agree. Henry Aaron, The Brookings Institution; Katharine Abraham, University of Maryland; Frank Ackerman, Global Development and Environment Institute; William James Adams, University of Michigan; Earl W. Adams, Allegheny College; Irma Adelman, University of California – Berkeley; Moshe Adler, Fiscal Policy Institute; Behrooz Afraslabi, Allegheny College; Randy Albelda, University of Massachusetts – Boston; Polly R. Allen, University of Connecticut; Gar Alperovitz, University of Maryland; Alice H. Amsden, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Robert M. Anderson, University of California; Ralph Andreano, University of Wisconsin; Laura M. Argys, University of Colorado – Denver; Robert K. Arnold, Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy; David Arsen, Michigan State University; Michael Ash, University of Massachusetts – Amherst; Alice Audie-Figueroa, International Union, UAW; Robert L. Axtell, The Brookings Institution; M.V. Lee Badgett, University of Massachusetts – Amherst; Ron Baiman, University of Illinois – Chicago; Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research; Drucilla K. Barker, Hollins University; David Barkin, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana – Unidad Xochimilco; William A. Barnett, University of Kansas and Washington University; Timothy J. Bartik, Upjohn Institute; Bradley W. Bateman, Grinnell College; Francis M. Bator, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government; Sandy Baum, Skidmore College; William J. Baumol, New York University; Randolph T. Beard, Auburn University; Michael Behr; Michael H. Belzer, Wayne State University; Arthur Benavie, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill; Peter Berg, Michigan State University; Alexandra Bernasek, Colorado State University; Michael A. Bernstein, University of California – San Diego; Jared Bernstein, Economic Policy Institute; Rari Bhandari, University of California – Berkeley; Melissa Binder, University of New Mexico; Peter Birckmayer, SUNY – Empire State College; L. -
Janet L Yellen: the Federal Reserve's Monetary Policy Toolkit
Janet L Yellen: The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy toolkit – past, present, and future Speech by Ms Janet L Yellen, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Economic Symposium “Designing resilient monetary policy frameworks for the future”, Jackson Hole, Wyoming, 26 August 2016. * * * The Global Financial Crisis and Great Recession posed daunting new challenges for central banks around the world and spurred innovations in the design, implementation, and communication of monetary policy. With the U.S. economy now nearing the Federal Reserve’s statutory goals of maximum employment and price stability, this conference provides a timely opportunity to consider how the lessons we learned are likely to influence the conduct of monetary policy in the future. The theme of the conference, “Designing Resilient Monetary Policy Frameworks for the Future,” encompasses many aspects of monetary policy, from the nitty-gritty details of implementing policy in financial markets to broader questions about how policy affects the economy. Within the operational realm, key choices include the selection of policy instruments, the specific markets in which the central bank participates, and the size and structure of the central bank’s balance sheet. These topics are of great importance to the Federal Reserve. As noted in the minutes of last month’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, we are studying many issues related to policy implementation, research which ultimately will inform the FOMC’s views on how to most effectively conduct monetary policy in the years ahead. I expect that the work discussed at this conference will make valuable contributions to the understanding of many of these important issues. -
Jan Tinbergen
Jan Tinbergen NOBEL LAUREATE JAN TINBERGEN was born in 1903 in The Hague, the Netherlands. He received his doctorate in physics from the University of Leiden in 1929, and since then has been honored with twenty other degrees in economics and the social sciences. He received the Erasmus Prize of the European Cultural Foundation in 1967, and he shared the first Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science in 1969. He was Professor of Development Planning, Erasmus University, Rot- terdam (previously Netherlands School of Economics), part time in 1933- 55, and full time in 1955-73; Director of the Central Planning Bureau, The Hague, 1945-55; and Professor of International Economic Coopera- tion, University of Leiden, 1973-75. Utilizing his early contributions to econometrics, he laid the founda- tions for modern short-term economic policies and emphasized empirical macroeconomics while Director of the Central Planning Bureau. Since the mid-1950s, Tinbergen bas concentrated on the methods and practice of planning for long-term development. His early work on development was published as The Design of Development (Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1958). Some of his other books, originally published or translated into English, include An Econometric Approach to Business Cycle Problems (Paris: Hermann, 1937); Statistical Testing of Business Cycle Theories, 2 vols. (Geneva: League of Nations, 1939); International Economic Cooperation (Amsterdam: Elsevier Economische Bibliotheek, 1945); Business Cycles in the United Kingdom, 1870-1914 (Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1951); On the Theory of Economic Policy (Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1952); Centralization and Decentralization in Economic Policy (Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1954); Economic Policy: Principles and Design (Amster- dam: North-Holland, 1956); Selected Papers, L. -
When John Maynard Keynes Likened Jan Tinbergen's Early Work in Econometrics to Black Magic and Alchemy, He Was Expressing a Widely Held View of a New Discipline
Cambridge University Press 0521553598 - Probability, Econometrics and Truth: The Methodology of Econometrics Hugo A. Keuzenkamp Frontmatter More information When John Maynard Keynes likened Jan Tinbergen's early work in econometrics to black magic and alchemy, he was expressing a widely held view of a new discipline. However, even after half a century of practical work and theorizing by some of the most accomplished social scientists, Keynes' comments are still repeated today. This book assesses the foundations and development of econometrics and sets out a basis for the reconstruction of the foundations of econo- metric inference by examining the various interpretations of probability theory which underlie econometrics. Keuzenkamp contends that the probabilistic foundations of econometrics are weak, and, although econometric inferences may yield interesting knowledge, claims to be able to falsify or verify economic theories are unwarranted. Methodological falsi®cationism in econometrics is an illusion. Instead, it is argued, econometrics should locate itself in the tradition of positi- vism. HUGO KEUZENKAMP is professor in applied economics at the University of Amsterdam and director of the Foundation for Economic Research in Amsterdam. Until recently he was the editor-in-chief of Economisch Statistische Berichten, a Dutch weekly periodical on economic policy. He has published widely in journals, including Economic Journal, Journal of Econometrics and Journal of Economic Surveys. © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 0521553598 - Probability, Econometrics and Truth: The Methodology of Econometrics Hugo A. Keuzenkamp Frontmatter More information Probability, Econometrics and Truth The methodology of econometrics Hugo A. Keuzenkamp © Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 0521553598 - Probability, Econometrics and Truth: The Methodology of Econometrics Hugo A. -
Testing for Cointegration When Some of The
EconometricTheory, 11, 1995, 984-1014. Printed in the United States of America. TESTINGFOR COINTEGRATION WHEN SOME OF THE COINTEGRATINGVECTORS ARE PRESPECIFIED MICHAELT.K. HORVATH Stanford University MARKW. WATSON Princeton University Manyeconomic models imply that ratios, simpledifferences, or "spreads"of variablesare I(O).In these models, cointegratingvectors are composedof l's, O's,and - l's and containno unknownparameters. In this paper,we develop tests for cointegrationthat can be appliedwhen some of the cointegratingvec- tors are prespecifiedunder the null or underthe alternativehypotheses. These tests are constructedin a vectorerror correction model and are motivatedas Waldtests from a Gaussianversion of the model. Whenall of the cointegrat- ing vectorsare prespecifiedunder the alternative,the tests correspondto the standardWald tests for the inclusionof errorcorrection terms in the VAR. Modificationsof this basictest are developedwhen a subsetof the cointegrat- ing vectorscontain unknown parameters. The asymptoticnull distributionsof the statisticsare derived,critical values are determined,and the local power propertiesof the test are studied.Finally, the test is appliedto data on for- eign exchangefuture and spot pricesto test the stabilityof the forward-spot premium. 1. INTRODUCTION Economic models often imply that variables are cointegrated with simple and known cointegrating vectors. Examples include the neoclassical growth model, which implies that income, consumption, investment, and the capi- tal stock will grow in a balanced way, so that any stochastic growth in one of the series must be matched by corresponding growth in the others. Asset This paper has benefited from helpful comments by Neil Ericsson, Gordon Kemp, Andrew Levin, Soren Johansen, John McDermott, Pierre Perron, Peter Phillips, James Stock, and three referees.