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The Consumption Origins of Business Cycles: Lessons from Sectoral Dynamics

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  • Christian Matthes
  • Felipe Schwartzman

Abstract

We measure the impact of household consumption shocks on aggregate fluctuations. These shocks affect household consumption directly, and production and prices indirectly through their impact on aggregate consumption. We show how to identify such shocks using prior knowledge of their differential impact across sectoral variables. Shocks independently affecting household consumption demand have accounted for around 40 percent of business cycle fluctuations since the mid-1970s, playing a central role in recessions within that period. The inferred household consumption shock series correlates well with measures of changes in consumer confidence and household wealth.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Matthes & Felipe Schwartzman, 2025. "The Consumption Origins of Business Cycles: Lessons from Sectoral Dynamics," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 17(4), pages 82-123, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmac:v:17:y:2025:i:4:p:82-123
    DOI: 10.1257/mac.20210215
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth

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