This paper is a follow-on to our earlier paper, "Bifurcations in Continuous-Time Macroeconomic Systems." In this paper, we determine the stability properties of the UK continuous time macroeconometric model on its bifurcation boundaries and we test the null hypothesis that the model's parameters are inside the model's unstable region. We then attach to the model Bergstrom's recommended stabilization policy rule. We find that for most settings of his policy rule's parameters, the model's stable region becomes smaller. Hence the policy may be counter- productive. To the degree that "stabilization policy" is interesting, its intent must be to stabilize a system that is not stable. This is bifurcation. Hence stabilization policy only can be understood as bifurcation selection. We find that selection of a policy that will produce successful bifurcation from the model's unstable region to its stable region is much more difficult than previously believe. If in fact the economy is unstable without policy, the selection of successful stabilization policy is an exercise in a very difficult area of complex dynamics. Since Berstrom is one of the originators of the Bergstrom-Wymer-Nowman model, Bergstrom's choice of stabilization policy cannot be viewed as uninformed. We do find that a policy produced from optimal control theory is capable of bifurcating the system successfully from its unstable region to the stable region. But the form of the resulting policy rule is far too complicated to be of practical use. In addition, such a policy, even if implemented, cannot reasonably be viewed as robust to model specification error, since issues regarding the Lucas critique and time inconsistency (Kydland and Prescott) suggest the need for caution in any assumption of robustness to specification error, when such experiments condition upon a structural model.
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Paper provided by EconWPA in its series Macroeconomics with number
9901002.
Length: 29 pages Date of creation: 21 Jan 1999 Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpma:9901002
Note: Type of Document - pdf and ps zip; prepared on UNIX Sparc, pdf and ps; pages: 29 ; figures: included. Using the UK continuous time macroeconometric model, we explore its stability properties, its bifurcation boundaries, and its properties under stabilization policy. Earlier work by Grandmont and others has shown that complex dynamics of various forms can be produced by simple models that have no policy relevancy. We use the UK continuous time macroeconometric model to permit similar analysis with a model that has policy relevancy. Contact details of provider: Web page: http://129.3.20.41
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Find related papers by JEL classification: C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions E37 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Forecasting and Simulation E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
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