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Some instability puzzles in Kaleckian models of growth and distribution: A critical survey

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Author Info

  • Eckhard Hein

    () (IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation and Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Germany)

  • Marc Lavoie

    () (University of Ottawa)

  • Till van Treeck

    () (IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation)

Abstract

We tackle the issue of the possible instability of the Kaleckian distribution and growth model and the consequences for the endogeneity of the equilibrium rate of capacity utilization and for the paradox of thrift and the paradox of costs. Distinguishing between Keynesian and Harrodian instability, we review various mechanisms that have been proposed to tame Harrodian instability while bringing back the rate of utilization to its normal rate. We find that the mechanisms that have been suggested are far from being convincing. We thus review some approaches arguing that the adjustment towards a predetermined normal rate should not be expected at all, either because the normal rate reacts to the actual rate, or because of other constraints on the behaviour of entrepreneurs. We conclude that Kaleckian models are more flexible than their Harrodian and Marxian critics suppose when attacking the simple textbook version.

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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute in its series IMK Working Paper with number 19-2008.

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Length: 48 pages
Date of creation: 2008
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:imk:wpaper:19-2008

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Keywords: Kaleckian models; distribution; investment function; stability; utilization rate.;

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References

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Citations

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Cited by:
  1. Mark Setterfield, 2012. "Exploring the Supply Side of Kaldorian Growth Models," Working Papers 1206, Trinity College, Department of Economics.
  2. Christian Schoder, 2012. "Instability, stationary utilization and effective demand: A synthesis of Harrodian and Kaleckian growth theory," IMK Working Paper 104-2012, IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute.
  3. Hein, Eckhard, 2011. "Distribution, 'financialisation' and the financial and economic crisis: Implications for post-crisis economic policies," IPE Working Papers 09/2011, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Institute for International Political Economy (IPE).
  4. Christian Schoder, 2012. "Endogenous capital productivity in the Kaleckian growth model. Theory and Evidence," IMK Working Paper 102-2012, IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute.
  5. Christian Schoder, 2012. "Effective demand, exogenous normal utilization and endogenous capacity in the long run. Evidence from a CVAR analysis for the US," IMK Working Paper 103-2012, IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute.
  6. Kronenberg, Tobias, 2010. "Finding common ground between ecological economics and post-Keynesian economics," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 1488-1494, May.
  7. Peter Skott, 2012. "Pluralism, the Lucas critique, and the integration of macro and micro," UMASS Amherst Economics Working Papers 2012-04, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Department of Economics.
  8. Hein, Eckhard & Schoder, Christian, 2009. "Interest rates, distribution and capital accumulation – A Post-Kaleckian perspective on the US and Germany," MPRA Paper 18223, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  9. Schoder, Christian, 2011. "Kaleckian vs. Marxian specifications of the investment function: Some empirical evidence for the US," MPRA Paper 29584, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  10. Sergio Cesaratto, 2012. "Neo-Kaleckian and Sraffian controversies on accumulation theory," Department of Economics University of Siena 650, Department of Economics, University of Siena.
  11. Eckhard Hein, 2013. "Finance-dominated Capitalism and Redistribution of Income: A Kaleckian Perspective," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_746, Levy Economics Institute, The.
  12. Thomas I. Palley, 2012. "A neo-Kaleckian - Goodwin model of capitalist economic growth: Monopoly power,managerial pay, labor market conflict, and endogenous technical progress," IMK Working Paper 105-2012, IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute.

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