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Variety matters

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  • Pavlov, Oscar
  • Weder, Mark

Abstract

Countercyclical markups are a key transmission mechanism in many endogenous business cycle models. Yet, recent findings suggest that aggregate markups in the US are procyclical. The current model addresses this issue. It extends Galí's (1994) composition of aggregate demand model by endogenous entry and exit of firms and by product variety effects. Endogenous business cycles emerge with procyclical markups that are within empirically plausible ranges.

Suggested Citation

  • Pavlov, Oscar & Weder, Mark, 2012. "Variety matters," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 629-641.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:36:y:2012:i:4:p:629-641
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2011.12.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Pavlov, Oscar, 2016. "Can firm entry explain news-driven fluctuations?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 52(PB), pages 427-434.
    2. Pavlov, Oscar, 2021. "Multi-product firms and increasing marginal costs," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    3. Chang, Juin-Jen & Lai, Ching-Chong & Liao, Chih-Hsing, 2017. "Welfare Cost of Inflation: The Role of Price Markups and Increasing Returns to Production Specialization," MPRA Paper 77753, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Cheng-wei Chang & Ching-chong Lai, 2021. "Optimal fiscal policies and market structures with monopolistic competition," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 28(6), pages 1385-1411, December.
    5. Cheng-wei Chang & Ching-chong Lai & Ting-wei Lai, 2020. "Fiscal stimulus in a simple macroeconomic model of monopolistic competition with firm heterogeneity," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 71(3), pages 447-477, July.
    6. Oscar Pavlov & Mark Weder, 2013. "Countercyclical Markups and News-Driven Business Cycles," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 16(2), pages 371-382, April.
    7. Oscar Pavlov & Mark Weder, 2017. "Product Scope and Endogenous Fluctuations," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 24, pages 175-191, March.
    8. Cheng-Wei Chang & Ching-Chong Lai & Juin-Jen Chang, 2018. "Fiscal Stimulus and Endogenous Firm Entry in a Monopolistic Competition Macroeconomic Model," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 69(2), pages 207-225, June.
    9. Jiang, Dou, 2017. "Indeterminacy, capital maintenance expenditures and the business cycle," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 432-438.
    10. Chang Cheng-Wei & Lai Ching-Chong, 2017. "Macroeconomic (in)stability and endogenous market structure with productive government expenditure," Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics & Econometrics, De Gruyter, vol. 21(2), pages 1-16, April.
    11. Juin‐Jen Chang & Jang‐Ting Guo & Wei‐Neng Wang, 2021. "On Endogenous Business Cycles Under Increasing Returns To Variety And Sector‐Specific Externality," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 59(1), pages 532-548, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sunspot equilibria; Indeterminacy; Markups; Variety effects; Business cycles;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles

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