We study a class of utility functions that are defined recursively by an aggregator function. In single-agent economies it is known that a sufficient condition for the existence of a balanced growth path is that utility should be homogenous. In the context of a multi-agent economy we show that this restriction implies that either a balanced growth equilibrium fails to exist or all agents have the same constant discount factor. We suggest a generalization of recursive preferences wherein the intertemporal utility function is time dependent. Within this class we establish that there may exist a balanced growth equilibrium even if agents are different. We give an example of our approach in the international context in which time dependence occurs because countries care about their relative position in the world income distribution.
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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number
3949.
Find related papers by JEL classification: D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory F40 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - General
References listed on IDEAS Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
Swan, Trevor W, 2002.
"Economic Growth,"
The Economic Record,
The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 78(243), pages 375-80, December.
[Downloadable!] (restricted)
Robert E. Lucas Jr. & Nancy L. Stokey, 1982.
"Optimal Growth with Many Consumers,"
Discussion Papers
518, Northwestern University, Center for Mathematical Studies in Economics and Management Science.
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