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On optimality, endogeneous discounting and wealth accumulation

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Author Info
Ingmar, SCHUMACHER (UNIVERSITE CATHOLIQUE DE LOUVAIN, Department of Economics)

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Abstract

We endogenize the discount rate via a broad measure of wealth and provide empirical evidence that wealth the discount rate negatively. We demonstrate that the Pontryagin conditions require positive felicity for intuitive results, whereas the concavity of the Hamiltonian requires negative felicity for optimality. This dilemna also holds for the endogenizations of Obstfeld (1990) and followers. We solve the model with positive felicity and resolve when optimality is possible. We discuss the impact on technological change, savings and convergence which are more in line with empirics. Finally, we discuss time consistency of a planner who cannot predict his preferences.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Université catholique de Louvain, Département des Sciences Economiques in its series Discussion Papers (ECON - Département des Sciences Economiques) with number 2006058.

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Length: 29
Date of creation: 15 Nov 2006
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Handle: RePEc:ctl:louvec:2006058

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Related research
Keywords: Endogenous time preference; Stability; Optimal growth; Recursive utility;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
D90 - Microeconomics - - Intertemporal Choice and Growth - - - General
C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods and Programming - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
O41 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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