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Robert J. Gordon and the Introduction of the Natural Rate Hypothesis in the Keynesian Framework

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  • Aurélien Goutsmedt

    (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Goulven Rubin

    (PHARE - Philosophie, Histoire et Analyse des Représentations Économiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne)

Abstract

This article studies the dissemination of the Natural Rate of Unemployment Hypothesis (nrh) in macroeconomics during the 1970s, by studying the reaction of Robert J. Gordon to the argument of Friedman (1968). In the early 1970s, Gordon opposed the nrh, arguing that the estimated parameter on expected inflation was below one. Confronting to new data and to rising inflation, Gordon adopted the nrh after 1973. Nevertheless, the adoption anticipated any clear empirical proof. We explain that this conversion was due to Friedman's influence on Gordon, but also to the fact it did not prevent Gordon to support active stabilization policies.

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  • Aurélien Goutsmedt & Goulven Rubin, 2018. "Robert J. Gordon and the Introduction of the Natural Rate Hypothesis in the Keynesian Framework," Post-Print hal-02988080, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02988080
    DOI: 10.19272/201806103008
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-02988080
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    Cited by:

    1. Rancan, Antonella, 2022. "The "place of the Phillips curve" in macroeconometric models: The case of the first Federal Reserve Board's model (1966-1980s)," Economics & Statistics Discussion Papers esdp22080, University of Molise, Department of Economics.
    2. Aurélien Goutsmedt, 2022. "How the Phillips Curve Shaped Full Employment Policy in the 1970s: The Debates on the Humphrey-Hawkins Act," Post-Print hal-03878346, HAL.
    3. Aurélien Goutsmedt & Erich Pinzón-Fuchs & Matthieu Renault & Francesco Sergi, 2019. "Reacting to the Lucas Critique: The Keynesians' Replies," Post-Print hal-03878386, HAL.
    4. Rancan, Antonella, 2021. "The “Place Of The Phillips Curve” in Macroeconometric Models: The Case of the First Federal Reserve Board’s Model (1966-1980s)," OSF Preprints t5jrx, Center for Open Science.
    5. Matthieu Renault, 2018. "Edmond Malinvaud´s Criticisms of the New Classical Economics: Restoring the Nature and the Rationale of the Old Keynesians´ Opposition," Working Papers, Department of Economics 2018_21, University of São Paulo (FEA-USP).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • B22 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Macroeconomics
    • E12 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - Keynes; Keynesian; Post-Keynesian; Modern Monetary Theory
    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation

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