IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/smu/ecowpa/2007.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Propensity to Consume and the Optimality of Ramsey-Euler Policies

Author

Listed:
  • Tapan Mitra

    (Cornell University)

  • Santanu Roy

    (Southern Methodist University)

Abstract

In a general one-sector optimal stochastic growth model where the production technology may be globally unproductive or may allow for unbounded growth, a policy function satisfying the Ramsey-Euler condition may not be optimal even if consumption and investment are continuous and increasing in output. We outline verifiable sufficient conditions for optimality that do not require checking the transversality condition. In addition to continuity (or monotonicity), these conditions impose lower bounds on the propensity to consume. In the case of production functions with multiplicative shocks, the consumption propensity needs to be bounded away from zero; a similar condition is sufficient for more general production functions if the utility function belongs to a restricted class.

Suggested Citation

  • Tapan Mitra & Santanu Roy, 2020. "Propensity to Consume and the Optimality of Ramsey-Euler Policies," Departmental Working Papers 2007, Southern Methodist University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:smu:ecowpa:2007
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: ftp://ftp1.economics.smu.edu/WorkingPapers/2020/ROY/ROY-2020-06.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zilcha, Itzhak, 1976. "Characterization by prices of optimal programs under uncertainty," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(2), pages 173-183, July.
    2. Kamihigashi, Takashi, 2005. "Necessity of the transversality condition for stochastic models with bounded or CRRA utility," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 1313-1329, August.
    3. William A. Brock & Mukul Majumdar, 2015. "On Characterizing Optimal Competitive Programs in Terms of Decentralizable Conditions," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Mukul Majumdar (ed.), Decentralization in Infinite Horizon Economies, chapter 3, pages 46-57, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    4. Takashi Kamihigashi, 2014. "Elementary results on solutions to the bellman equation of dynamic programming: existence, uniqueness, and convergence," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 56(2), pages 251-273, June.
    5. Kamihigashi, Takashi, 2003. "Necessity of transversality conditions for stochastic problems," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 109(1), pages 140-149, March.
    6. Larry E. Jones & Rodolfo E. Manuelli & Henry E. Siu, 2005. "Fluctuations in Convex Models of Endogenous Growth II: Business Cycle Properties," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 8(4), pages 805-828, October.
    7. Tapan Mitra & Gerhard Sorger, 2014. "Extinction in common property resource models: an analytically tractable example," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 57(1), pages 41-57, September.
    8. David Cass, 1965. "Optimum Growth in an Aggregative Model of Capital Accumulation," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 32(3), pages 233-240.
    9. William A. Brock & Leonard J. Mirman, 2001. "Optimal Economic Growth And Uncertainty: The Discounted Case," Chapters, in: W. D. Dechert (ed.), Growth Theory, Nonlinear Dynamics and Economic Modelling, chapter 1, pages 3-37, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    10. Janusz Matkowski & Andrzej Nowak, 2011. "On discounted dynamic programming with unbounded returns," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 46(3), pages 455-474, April.
    11. Yaw Nyarko, 2015. "On Characterizing Optimality of Stochastic Competitive Processes," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Mukul Majumdar (ed.), Decentralization in Infinite Horizon Economies, chapter 6, pages 100-113, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    12. Bezalel Peleg & Harl E. Ryder, 1972. "On Optimal Consumption Plans in a Multi-sector Economy," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 39(2), pages 159-169.
    13. Swapan Dasgupta & Tapan Mitra, 2015. "Characterization of lntertemporal Optimality in Terms of Decentralizable Conditions: The Discounted Case," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Mukul Majumdar (ed.), Decentralization in Infinite Horizon Economies, chapter 4, pages 58-71, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    14. Kamihigashi, Takashi, 2001. "Necessity of Transversality Conditions for Infinite Horizon Problems," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 69(4), pages 995-1012, July.
    15. Benhabib, Jess & Rustichini, Aldo, 1994. "A note on a new class of solutions to dynamic programming problems arising in economic growth," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 18(3-4), pages 807-813.
    16. Takashi Kamihigashi, 2003. "Necessity of the Transversality Condition for Stochastic Models with CRRA Utility," Discussion Paper Series 137, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University.
    17. Mirman, Leonard J. & Zilcha, Itzhak, 1975. "On optimal growth under uncertainty," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 329-339, December.
    18. Stachurski, John, 2002. "Stochastic Optimal Growth with Unbounded Shock," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 106(1), pages 40-65, September.
    19. Majumdar, Mukul & Zilcha, Itzhak, 1987. "Optimal growth in a stochastic environment: Some sensitivity and turnpike results," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 116-133, October.
    20. Larry E. Jones & Rodolfo E. Manuelli & Henry E. Siu & Ennio Stacchetti, 2005. "Fluctuations in Convex Models of Endogenous Growth I: Growth Effects," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 8(4), pages 780-804, October.
    21. Martin L. Weitzman, 1973. "Duality Theory for Infinite Horizon Convex Models," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(7), pages 783-789, March.
    22. de Hek, Paul A, 1999. "On Endogenous Growth under Uncertainty," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 40(3), pages 727-744, August.
    23. Kamihigashi, Takashi, 2007. "Stochastic optimal growth with bounded or unbounded utility and with bounded or unbounded shocks," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(3-4), pages 477-500, April.
    24. Larry E. Jones & Rodolfo Manuelli, 1990. "A Convex Model of Equilibrium Growth," NBER Working Papers 3241, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    25. Zilcha, Itzhak, 1978. "Transversality Condition in a Multi-Sector Economy under Uncertainty," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 46(3), pages 515-525, May.
    26. Jerusalem D. Levhari & T. N. Srinivasan, 1969. "Optimal Savings under Uncertainty," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 36(2), pages 153-163.
    27. Jones, Larry E & Manuelli, Rodolfo E, 1990. "A Convex Model of Equilibrium Growth: Theory and Policy Implications," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(5), pages 1008-1038, October.
    28. de Hek, Paul & Roy, Santanu, 2001. "On Sustained Growth under Uncertainty," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 42(3), pages 801-813, August.
    29. Kazuo Nishimura & John Stachurski, 2012. "Stability of Stochastic Optimal Growth Models: A New Approach," Springer Books, in: John Stachurski & Alain Venditti & Makoto Yano (ed.), Nonlinear Dynamics in Equilibrium Models, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 289-307, Springer.
    30. Olson, Lars J., 1989. "Stochastic growth with irreversible investment," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 101-129, February.
    31. Mitra, Tapan & Roy, Santanu, 2017. "Optimality of Ramsey–Euler policy in the stochastic growth model," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1-25.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Deng, Liuchun & Khan, M. Ali & Mitra, Tapan, 2022. "Continuous unimodal maps in economic dynamics: On easily verifiable conditions for topological chaos," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    2. Liuchun Deng & Minako Fujio & M. Ali Khan, 2023. "On optimal extinction in the matchbox two-sector model," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 76(2), pages 445-494, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mitra, Tapan & Roy, Santanu, 2017. "Optimality of Ramsey–Euler policy in the stochastic growth model," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1-25.
    2. Lars J. Olson & Santanu Roy, 2006. "Theory of Stochastic Optimal Economic Growth," Springer Books, in: Rose-Anne Dana & Cuong Le Van & Tapan Mitra & Kazuo Nishimura (ed.), Handbook on Optimal Growth 1, chapter 11, pages 297-335, Springer.
    3. Tapan Mitra & Santanu Roy, 2023. "Stochastic growth, conservation of capital and convergence to a positive steady state," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 76(1), pages 311-351, July.
    4. Juan Pablo Rinc'on-Zapatero, 2019. "Existence and Uniqueness of Solutions to the Stochastic Bellman Equation with Unbounded Shock," Papers 1907.07343, arXiv.org.
    5. repec:cte:werepe:35342 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Kamihigashi, Takashi, 2003. "Necessity of transversality conditions for stochastic problems," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 109(1), pages 140-149, March.
    7. Jones, Larry E. & Manuelli, Rodolfo E., 2005. "Neoclassical Models of Endogenous Growth: The Effects of Fiscal Policy, Innovation and Fluctuations," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 1, pages 13-65, Elsevier.
    8. Takashi Kamihigashi & John Stachurski, 2011. "Existence, Stability and Computation of Stationary Distributions: An Extension of the Hopenhayn-Prescott Theorem," Discussion Paper Series DP2011-32, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University.
    9. Zhang, Yuzhe, 2007. "Stochastic optimal growth with a non-compact state space," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 115-129, February.
    10. Kamihigashi, Takashi, 2005. "Necessity of the transversality condition for stochastic models with bounded or CRRA utility," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 29(8), pages 1313-1329, August.
    11. Takashi Kamihigashi & John Stachurski, 2014. "Stability Analysis for Random Dynamical Systems in Economics," Discussion Paper Series DP2014-35, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University.
    12. Santanu Roy & Itzhak Zilcha, 2012. "Stochastic growth with short-run prediction of shocks," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 51(3), pages 539-580, November.
    13. Takashi Kamihigashi & John Stachurski, 2011. "Stability of Stationary Distributions in Monotone Economies," ANU Working Papers in Economics and Econometrics 2011-561, Australian National University, College of Business and Economics, School of Economics.
    14. John Stachurski, 2009. "Economic Dynamics: Theory and Computation," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262012774, April.
    15. Takashi Kamihigashi, 2017. "Regime-Switching Sunspot Equilibria in a One-Sector Growth Model with Aggregate Decreasing Returns and Small Externalities," Studies in Economic Theory, in: Kazuo Nishimura & Alain Venditti & Nicholas C. Yannelis (ed.), Sunspots and Non-Linear Dynamics, chapter 0, pages 125-146, Springer.
    16. Cai, Yiyong & Kamihigashi, Takashi & Stachurski, John, 2014. "Stochastic optimal growth with risky labor supply," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 167-176.
    17. Gong, Liutang & Zhao, Xiaojun & Yang, Yunhong & Hengfu, Zou, 2010. "Stochastic growth with social-status concern: The existence of a unique stable distribution," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 505-518, July.
    18. Chatterjee, Partha & Shukayev, Malik, 2008. "Note on positive lower bound of capital in the stochastic growth model," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 32(7), pages 2137-2147, July.
    19. Takashi Kamihigashi, 2006. "Almost sure convergence to zero in stochastic growth models," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 29(1), pages 231-237, September.
    20. Kamihigashi, Takashi & Stachurski, John, 2016. "Seeking ergodicity in dynamic economies," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 900-924.
    21. Liuchun Deng & Minako Fujio & M. Ali Khan, 2023. "On optimal extinction in the matchbox two-sector model," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 76(2), pages 445-494, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Stochastic growth; optimal economic growth; uncertainty; unbounded growth; unproductive technology; transversality condition; optimality conditions; Euler equation.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C6 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling
    • D9 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics
    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:smu:ecowpa:2007. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Ömer Özak (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.smu.edu/economics .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.