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Optimal Population Growth as an Endogenous Discounting Problem: The Ramsey Case

Author

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  • Raouf Boucekkine

    (IMéRA - Institute for Advanced Studies - Aix-Marseille University, GREQAM - Groupement de Recherche en Économie Quantitative d'Aix-Marseille - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - ECM - École Centrale de Marseille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Blanca Martínez

    (UCM - Universidad Complutense de Madrid = Complutense University of Madrid [Madrid], ICAE - Instituto Complutense de Analisis Economico)

  • José Ramón Ruiz-Tamarit

    (UV - Universitat de València = University of Valencia, UCL - Université Catholique de Louvain = Catholic University of Louvain)

Abstract

This paper revisits the optimal population size problem in a continuous time Ramsey setting with costly child rearing and both intergenerational and intertemporal altruism. The social welfare functions considered range from the Millian to the Benthamite. When population growth is endogenized, the associated optimal control problem involves an endogenous effective discount rate depending on past and current population growth rates, which makes preferences intertemporally dependent. We tackle this problem by using an appropriate maximum principle. Then we study the stationary solutions (balanced growth paths) and show the existence of two admissible solutions except in the Millian case. We prove that only one is optimal. Comparative statics and transitional dynamics are numerically derived in the general case.

Suggested Citation

  • Raouf Boucekkine & Blanca Martínez & José Ramón Ruiz-Tamarit, 2017. "Optimal Population Growth as an Endogenous Discounting Problem: The Ramsey Case," Working Papers halshs-01579155, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-01579155
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01579155v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Ziesemer, Thomas, 2018. "The serendipity theorem for an endogenous open economy growth model," MERIT Working Papers 2018-001, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    5. F. J. Escribá-Pérez & M. J. Murgui-García & J. R. Ruiz-Tamarit, 2017. "Economic and Statistical Measurement of Physical Capital with an Application to the Spanish Economy," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2017020, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    6. Escribá-Pérez, F.J. & Murgui-García, M.J. & Ruiz-Tamarit, J.R., 2018. "Economic and statistical measurement of physical capital: From theory to practice," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 246-255.

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    JEL classification:

    • C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
    • C62 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Existence and Stability Conditions of Equilibrium
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

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