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On the Recursive Saddle Point Method

Author

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  • Matthias Messner
  • Nicola Pavoni

Abstract

In this paper a simple dynamic optimization problem is solved with the help of the recursive saddle point method developed by Marcet and Marimon (1999). According to Marcet and Marimon, their technique should yield a full characterization of the set of solutions for this problem. We show though, that while their method allows us to calculate the true value of the optimization program, not all solutions which it admits are correct. Indeed, some of the policies which it generates as solutions to our problem, are either suboptimal or do not even satisfy feasibility. We identify the reasons underlying this failure and discuss its implications for the numerous existing applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthias Messner & Nicola Pavoni, 2004. "On the Recursive Saddle Point Method," Working Papers 255, IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), Bocconi University.
    • Handle: RePEc:igi:igierp:255
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    16. Thomas Cooley & Ramon Marimon & Vincenzo Quadrini, 2004. "Aggregate Consequences of Limited Contract Enforceability," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 112(4), pages 817-847, August.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Martin Bodenstein, 2008. "International Asset Markets and Real Exchange Rate Volatility," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 11(3), pages 688-705, July.
    2. Golosov, M. & Tsyvinski, A. & Werquin, N., 2016. "Recursive Contracts and Endogenously Incomplete Markets," Handbook of Macroeconomics, in: J. B. Taylor & Harald Uhlig (ed.), Handbook of Macroeconomics, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 725-841, Elsevier.
    3. Mele, Antonio, 2014. "Repeated moral hazard and recursive Lagrangeans," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 69-85.
    4. Matthias Messner & Nicola Pavoni & Christopher Sleet, "undated". "Contractive Dual Methods for Incentive Problems," GSIA Working Papers 2012-E26, Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business.
    5. Marimon, Ramon & Werner, Jan, 2021. "The envelope theorem, Euler and Bellman equations, without differentiability," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    6. Łukasz Balbus & Kevin Reffett & Łukasz Woźny, 2015. "Time consistent Markov policies in dynamic economies with quasi-hyperbolic consumers," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 44(1), pages 83-112, February.
    7. Balbus, Łukasz & Reffett, Kevin & Woźny, Łukasz, 2013. "A constructive geometrical approach to the uniqueness of Markov stationary equilibrium in stochastic games of intergenerational altruism," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 1019-1039.
    8. Messner Matthias & Pavoni Nicola & Sleet Christopher, "undated". "Recursive Methods for Dynamic Incentive Problems," GSIA Working Papers 2012-E13, Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business.
    9. Messner Matthias & Pavoni Nicola & Sleet Christopher, "undated". "On the Dual Approach to Recursive Optimization," GSIA Working Papers 2012-E12, Carnegie Mellon University, Tepper School of Business.
    10. Albert Marcet & Ramon Marimon, 2019. "Recursive Contracts," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 87(5), pages 1589-1631, September.
    11. Harold Cole & Felix Kubler, 2012. "Recursive Contracts, Lotteries and Weakly Concave Pareto Sets," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 15(4), pages 479-500, October.
    12. Matthias Messner & Nicola Pavoni & Christopher Sleet, 2012. "Recursive Methods for Incentive Problems," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 15(4), pages 501-525, October.

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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
    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques

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