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The instability principle revisited: an essay in Harrodian dynamics

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  • Olivier Bruno
  • Muriel Dal-Pont Legrand

Abstract

Harrod's contribution to economic dynamics is very often reduced to the dynamic equation whose character is unstable. Growth theory and cycle theory based on Harrod's contributions aimed at reducing this instability. Following Harrod, who was strongly opposed to the 'knife-edge' interpretation, we define the warranted rate of growth as a 'moving equilibrium' and focus on its interaction with the effective rate of growth. Our simple Harrodian model generates various dynamics from stable path, to growth cycle and corridor of stability.

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  • Olivier Bruno & Muriel Dal-Pont Legrand, 2014. "The instability principle revisited: an essay in Harrodian dynamics," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 467-484, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:21:y:2014:i:3:p:467-484
    DOI: 10.1080/09672567.2012.683023
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert M. Solow, 1956. "A Contribution to the Theory of Economic Growth," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 70(1), pages 65-94.
    2. J. A. Kregel, 1980. "Economic Dynamics and the Theory of Steady Growth: An Historical Essay on Harrod's ‘Knife-edge'," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 12(1), pages 97-123, Spring.
    3. Luigi L. Pasinetti, 1962. "Rate of Profit and Income Distribution in Relation to the Rate of Economic Growth," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 29(4), pages 267-279.
    4. Mario Sportelli, 2000. "Dynamic complexity in a Keynesian growth-cycle model involving Harrod's instability," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 71(2), pages 167-198, June.
    5. Benhabib, Jess & Miyao, Takahiro, 1981. "Some New Results on the Dynamics of the Generalized Tobin Model," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 22(3), pages 589-596, October.
    6. Daniele Besomi, 1995. "From The Trade Cycle to the “Essay in Dynamic Theory”: The Harrod-Keynes Correspondence, 1937–1938," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 27(2), pages 309-343, Summer.
    7. Daniele Besomi, 2000. "On the Spread of an Idea: The Strange Case of Mr. Harrod and the Multiplier," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 32(2), pages 347-380, Summer.
    8. R. F. Harrod, 1934. "Doctrines of Imperfect Competition," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 48(3), pages 442-470.
    9. Howitt, Peter W, 1978. " The Limits to Stability of a Full-employment Equilibrium," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 80(3), pages 265-282.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michaël Assous & Muriel Dal Pont Legrand & Sonia Manseri, 2020. "Samuelson's Neoclassical Synthesis in the Context of Growth Economics, 1956-1967," GREDEG Working Papers 2020-12, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    2. Mauro BoianovskyBy, 2017. "Optimum saving and growth: Harrod on dynamic welfare economics," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 69(4), pages 1120-1137.
    3. Michaël Assous & Olivier Bruno & Muriel Dal-Pont Legrand, 2015. "The Law of Diminishing Elasticity of Demand in Harrod’s Trade Cycle (1936)," GREDEG Working Papers 2015-02, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    4. Michaël Assous & Muriel Dal Pont Legrand, 2020. "Growth Without Expectations: The Original Sin of Neoclassical Growth Models," Springer Studies in the History of Economic Thought, in: Arie Arnon & Warren Young & Karine van der Beek (ed.), Expectations, pages 121-130, Springer.
    5. Michaël Assous & Muriel Dal Pont Legrand & Harald Hagemann, 2016. "Business cycles and growth," Chapters, in: Gilbert Faccarello & Heinz D. Kurz (ed.), Handbook on the History of Economic Analysis Volume III, chapter 4, pages 27-39, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Jose Perez-Montiel & Carles Manera Erbina, 2019. "Investment Sustained by Consumption: A Linear and Nonlinear Time Series Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-15, August.

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