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Rational inattention and the dynamics of consumption and wealth in general equilibrium

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  • Luo, Yulei
  • Nie, Jun
  • Wang, Gaowang
  • Young, Eric R.

Abstract

We propose a recursive utility version of a basic Huggett (1993) model to study the implications of rational inattention (or RI, Sims, 2003, 2010) for the cross-sectional dispersion of consumption and wealth (relative to income) in general equilibrium. We find that incorporating RI can significantly improve the model's predictions in both dimensions in general equilibrium. In addition, we find that intertemporal substitution plays an important role in determining the two key dispersion moments via affecting the degree of optimal attention in equilibrium. Finally, we show that alternative models that rely on habit formation, incomplete information about current income, or borrowing constraints are not consistent with the facts we document.

Suggested Citation

  • Luo, Yulei & Nie, Jun & Wang, Gaowang & Young, Eric R., 2017. "Rational inattention and the dynamics of consumption and wealth in general equilibrium," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 55-87.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:172:y:2017:i:c:p:55-87
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2017.08.005
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    2. Mu, Congming & Yang, Jinqiang & Zhang, Yuhua, 2020. "Investment timing with information-processing constraints," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 32(C).
    3. Christopher D. Carroll & Edmund Crawley & Jiri Slacalek & Kiichi Tokuoka & Matthew N. White, 2020. "Sticky Expectations and Consumption Dynamics," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 12(3), pages 40-76, July.
    4. George-Marios Angeletos & Chen Lian, 2018. "Forward Guidance without Common Knowledge," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(9), pages 2477-2512, September.
    5. Wenting Song & Samuel Stern, 2022. "Firm Inattention and the Efficacy of Monetary Policy: A Text-Based Approach," Staff Working Papers 22-3, Bank of Canada.
    6. Yin, Penghui, 2021. "Optimal attention and heterogeneous precautionary saving behavior," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    7. Bartosz Maćkowiak & Filip Matějka & Mirko Wiederholt, 2023. "Rational Inattention: A Review," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 61(1), pages 226-273, March.
    8. Zhang, Yuhua & Niu, Yingjie & Wu, Ting, 2020. "Stochastic interest rates under rational inattention," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    9. Zhang, Yuhua & Mu, Congming, 2021. "Optimal ownership of entrepreneurial firms with rational inattention," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 209(C).
    10. Ellison, Martin & Macaulay, Alistair, 2021. "A rational inattention unemployment trap," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    11. Toda, Alexis Akira, 2017. "Huggett economies with multiple stationary equilibria," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 77-90.
    12. Yulei Luo & Jun Nie & Penghui Yin, 2022. "Attention Allocation and Heterogenous Consumption Responses," Research Working Paper RWP 22-07, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
    13. Penghui Yin, 2018. "Optimal Amount of Attention to Capital Income Risk and Heterogeneous Precautionary Saving Behavior," CESifo Working Paper Series 7413, CESifo.
    14. Yulei Luo & Jun Nie & Eric R Young, 2020. "Ambiguity, Low Risk-Free Rates and Consumption Inequality," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 130(632), pages 2649-2679.
    15. Duffy, John & Li, Yue, 2019. "Lifecycle consumption under different income profiles: Evidence and theory," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 74-94.
    16. Roc Armenter & Michèle Müller-Itten & Zachary Stangebye, 2020. "Rational Inattention via Ignorance Equivalence," Working Papers 20-24, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
    17. Jorge Miranda-Pino & Daniel Murphy & Kieran Walsh & Eric Young, 2020. "A Model of Expenditure Shocks," Working Papers 20-04, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.
    18. J r my Boccanfuso, 2022. "Consumption Response Heterogeneity and Dynamics with an Inattention Region," Working Papers wp1172, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Rational inattention; General equilibrium; Consumption and wealth dispersion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth

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