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Poverty Traps and Growth in a Model of Endogenous Time Preference

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  • Chakrabarty Debajyoti

    (The University of Sydney, Australia)

Abstract

We introduce endogenous probability of survival in the Keynes-Ramsey optimal growth model. An individual's probability of survival is assumed to be dependent on past levels of consumption. Endogenous probability of survival implies that the rate of time preference (or degree of patience) of an individual is endogenously determined. We solve the dynamic optimization problem facing an agent and provide a complete characterization of the steady states and their stability properties. We find that with endogenous rate of time preference an economy may have multiple steady state equilibria. The equilibrium an economy converges to depends on its initial conditions. The results are interpreted in light of the growth experiences of developing economies. The model can explain why two economies that have identical production technologies and identical preferences may converge to different levels of income depending on initial conditions. We estimate the relationship between adult probability of survival and lagged consumption for a cross section of countries. Our estimation results and subsequent simulations of the model suggest that if we interpret capital in our model broadly to include both physical and human capital, poverty traps are empirically plausible.

Suggested Citation

  • Chakrabarty Debajyoti, 2012. "Poverty Traps and Growth in a Model of Endogenous Time Preference," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 1-35, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejmac:v:12:y:2012:i:1:n:20
    DOI: 10.1515/1935-1690.1408
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    Cited by:

    1. Debajyoti Chakrabarty, 2023. "Relative deprivation, time preference, and economic growth," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 19(3), pages 489-525, September.
    2. Evangelos V. Dioikitopoulos & Sarantis Kalyvitis, 2015. "Optimal Fiscal Policy with Endogenous Time Preference," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 17(6), pages 848-873, December.
    3. Agénor, Pierre-Richard, 2008. "Health and infrastructure in a model of endogenous growth," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 1407-1422, December.
    4. Debajyoti Chakrabarty, 2022. "Taxation and human capital accumulation with endogenous mortality," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 73(4), pages 555-596, October.
    5. Meysonnat, Aline & Muysken, Joan & Zon, Adriaan van, 2015. "Poverty traps: the neglected role of vitality," MERIT Working Papers 2015-052, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    6. Chakrabarty, Debajyoti, 2002. "Growth and business cycles with imperfect credit markets," ZEI Working Papers B 29A-2002, University of Bonn, ZEI - Center for European Integration Studies.
    7. Pierre-Richard Agénor, 2006. "A Theory of Infrastructure-led Development," Economics Discussion Paper Series 0640, Economics, The University of Manchester.
    8. Michel, Philippe & Vidal, Jean-Pierre, 2003. "Self-control and savings," Working Paper Series 211, European Central Bank.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • C62 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Existence and Stability Conditions of Equilibrium
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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