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Intertemporal Substitution in Consumption Revisited

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  • Zuliu Hu

Abstract

Some of the highly controversial questions in macroeconomics critically hinge on the value of a single parameter of consumer preference--the elasticity of intertemporal substitution. This paper provides new estimates of this parameter for individual G-7 and a panel of twenty OECD countries. We find that single equation GMM estimates are typically small and imprecise, consistent with Hall’s (1988) finding from the U.S. data. Estimation of a system of equations that takes into account the cross-equation restrictions implied by theory, however, generally gives larger and better determined values for the parameter. The panel procedure also yields relatively large estimates. Overall our multi-country results contradict the hypothesis of zero intertemporal substitution.

Suggested Citation

  • Zuliu Hu, 1993. "Intertemporal Substitution in Consumption Revisited," IMF Working Papers 1993/026, International Monetary Fund.
  • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:1993/026
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    Cited by:

    1. Mr. Paul Cashin & Mr. C. John McDermott, 1998. "Terms of Trade Shocks and the Current Account," IMF Working Papers 1998/177, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Paul Cashin & C. John McDermott, 2003. "Intertemporal Substitution and Terms‐of‐Trade Shocks," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(4), pages 604-618, September.

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