IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cuf/journl/y2004v5i1p61-77.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multiple Equilibria and Interfirm Macro-Externality: An Analysis of Sluggish Real Adjustment

Author

Listed:
  • Yew-Kwang Ng

    (Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University)

  • Ying Wu

    (Department of Economics and Finance, Franklin P. Perdue School of Business Salisbury University)

Abstract

In an imperfectly competitive economy, a continuum of equilibria at the firm level exists under certain analytical conditions (Ng 1986). Extending the earlier analysis of a representative firm, this paper shows that even if the condition for a continuum of equilibria is not exactly satisfied, the factors of price-adjustment costs, interfirm heterogeneity, and macro-externality can cause the economy to be stuck at the quasi macroequilibria after aggregate demand experiences a contractionary shock. Although adjustment costs are small and gains from adjustment are potentially large, the adjustment tends to be sluggish due to the existence of interfirm macro-externality.

Suggested Citation

  • Yew-Kwang Ng & Ying Wu, 2004. "Multiple Equilibria and Interfirm Macro-Externality: An Analysis of Sluggish Real Adjustment," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 5(1), pages 61-77, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:cuf:journl:y:2004:v:5:i:1:p:61-77
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.aeconf.net/Articles/May2004/aef050104.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: http://down.aefweb.net/AefArticles/aef050104.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dixon, Huw, 1990. "Imperfect Competition, Unemployment Benefit and the Non-neutrality of Money: An Example," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 42(2), pages 402-413, April.
    2. Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W, 1988. "The Efficiency of Investment in the Presence of Aggregate Demand Spillovers," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 96(6), pages 1221-1231, December.
    3. Andersen, Torben M., 1994. "Price Rigidity: Causes and Macroeconomic Implications," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198287605.
    4. Oliver Hart, 1982. "A Model of Imperfect Competition with Keynesian Features," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 97(1), pages 109-138.
    5. Laurence Ball & David Romer, 1990. "Real Rigidities and the Non-Neutrality of Money," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 57(2), pages 183-203.
    6. Ng, Yew-Kwang, 1977. "Aggregate Demand, Business Expectation, and Economic Recovery without Aggravating Inflation," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(28), pages 130-140, June.
    7. Robin Marris, 1991. "Reconstructing Keynesian Economics With Imperfect Competition," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 300.
    8. Carlton, Dennis W, 1986. "The Rigidity of Prices," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 76(4), pages 637-658, September.
    9. Ng, Yew-Kwang, 1980. "Macroeconomics with Non-Perfect Competition," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 90(3593), pages 598-610, September.
    10. Snower, Dennis J, 1983. "Imperfect Competition, Underemployment and Crowding-Out," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 35(0), pages 245-270, Supplemen.
    11. Russell Cooper & Andrew John, 1988. "Coordinating Coordination Failures in Keynesian Models," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 103(3), pages 441-463.
    12. Ball, Laurence & Mankiw, N Gregory, 1994. "Asymmetric Price Adjustment and Economic Fluctuations," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 104(423), pages 247-261, March.
    13. Dixon, Huw David & Rankin, Neil, 1994. "Imperfect Competition and Macroeconomics: A Survey," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 46(2), pages 171-199, April.
    14. Bohn, Henning & Gorton, Gary, 1993. "Coordination Failure, Multiple Equilibria and Economic Institutions," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 60(239), pages 257-280, August.
    15. Dixon, Huw, 1987. "A Simple Model of Imperfect Competition with Walrasian Features," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 39(1), pages 134-160, March.
    16. Blanchard, Olivier Jean & Kiyotaki, Nobuhiro, 1987. "Monopolistic Competition and the Effects of Aggregate Demand," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 77(4), pages 647-666, September.
    17. Ng, Yew-Kwang, 1992. "Business Confidence and Depression Prevention: A Mesoeconomic Perspective," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 82(2), pages 365-371, May.
    18. Price, Simon, 1992. "Forward Looking Price Setting in UK Manufacturing," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 102(412), pages 497-505, May.
    19. Ng, Yew-Kwang, 1982. "A Micro-Macroeconomic Analysis Based on a Representative Firm," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 49(194), pages 121-139, May.
    20. Rankin, Neil, 1995. "Money in Hart's model of imperfect competition," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 557-575, September.
    21. Richard Startz, 1989. "Monopolistic Competition as a Foundation for Keynesian Macroeconomic Models," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 104(4), pages 737-752.
    22. Benassy, Jean-Pascal, 1987. "Imperfect competition, unemployment and policy," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(1-2), pages 417-426.
    23. Mankiw, N. Gregory, 1988. "Imperfect competition and the Keynesian cross," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 7-13.
    24. Ball, Laurence & Romer, David, 1991. "Sticky Prices as Coordination Failure," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 81(3), pages 539-552, June.
    25. McDonald, Ian M & Solow, Robert M, 1981. "Wage Bargaining and Employment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 71(5), pages 896-908, December.
    26. David Romer, 1993. "The New Keynesian Synthesis," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 7(1), pages 5-22, Winter.
    27. Naish, Howard F., 1993. "Imperfect competition as a micro foundation for keynesian macroeconomics: A graphical analysis," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 273-299.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Luís F. Costa & Huw Dixon, 2009. "Fiscal Policy under Imperfect Competition: A Survey," Working Papers Department of Economics 2009/25, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.
    2. Amedeo Panci, 1999. "Multiple equilibria: coordination failure and endogenous cycle," Working Papers in Public Economics 30, University of Rome La Sapienza, Department of Economics and Law.
    3. Partha Sen, 2009. "Fixed Costs, The Balanced Budget Multiplier And Welfare," The Japanese Economic Review, Japanese Economic Association, vol. 60(3), pages 395-404, September.
    4. Carlos Borondo, 1994. "La rigidez nominal de los precios de la Nueva Economía Keynesiana: una panorámica," Investigaciones Economicas, Fundación SEPI, vol. 18(2), pages 245-288, May.
    5. Shi, He-ling, 1992. "Continuum of Equilibria and Business Cycles: A Dynamic Model of Mesoeconomics," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 82(2), pages 372-378, May.
    6. Jim Malley & Hassan Molana, 2000. "Monopolistic Competition, Efficiency Wages and Perverse Effects of Demand Shock," Working Papers 2000_20, Business School - Economics, University of Glasgow, revised Feb 2001.
    7. Yin, Xriangkang, 1997. "A micro-macroeconomic analysis of the Chinese economy with imperfect competition," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 31-51.
    8. Frederick van der Ploeg, 2005. "Back to Keynes?," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 51(4), pages 777-822.
    9. Wen-Ya Chang & Ching-Chong Lai & Juin-Jen Chang, 1999. "Imperfect Competition and Tax Evasion," Public Finance Review, , vol. 27(3), pages 371-381, May.
    10. Luís F. Costa, "undated". "Fiscal Policy in a Small Open Economy With Cournot Competition in the Non-Tradable Good Sector," Discussion Papers 97/17, Department of Economics, University of York.
    11. Claus Thustrup Kreiner, 2002. "Do the New Keynesian Microfoundations Rationalise Stabilisation Policy?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 112(479), pages 384-401, April.
    12. Cheung, Kee-Nam, 1998. "Monopolistic Competition, Trading Externality, and the Multiplier," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 615-624, July.
    13. Coto-Martinez, Javier, 2006. "Public capital and imperfect competition," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(1-2), pages 349-378, January.
    14. Wang, Vey & Lai, Chung-Hui, 2011. "Franchise fee, competition and economic growth," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 2090-2099, September.
    15. Julien, Ludovic A., 2003. "Chômage d’équilibre, équilibres multiples et défauts de coordination," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 79(4), pages 523-562, Décembre.
    16. Tetsuya Nakajima, 2010. "A Simple Model Of Keynesian Unemployment," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(2), pages 239-256, May.
    17. Lai, Ching-chong & Chin, Chi-ting & Chang, Shu-hua, 2010. "Vertical separation versus vertical integration in a macroeconomic model with imperfect competition," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 590-602, October.
    18. Shu‐hua Chang & Juin‐jen Chang, 2015. "Optimal government spending in an economy with imperfectly competitive goods and labor markets," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 82(2), pages 385-407, October.
    19. Thierry Laurent & Hélène Zajdela, 1999. "Emploi, salaire et coordination des activités," Cahiers d'Économie Politique, Programme National Persée, vol. 34(1), pages 67-100.
    20. Levy, Daniel & Müller, Georg & Chen, Haipeng (Allan) & Bergen, Mark & Dutta, Shantanu, 2010. "Holiday Price Rigidity and Cost of Price Adjustment," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 77(305), pages 172-198.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Imperfect competition; Externality; Adjustment cost; Aggregate demand;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:cuf:journl:y:2004:v:5:i:1:p:61-77. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Qiang Gao (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/emcufcn.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.