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The competition effect in business cycles

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  • Lewis, Vivien
  • Stevens, Arnoud

Abstract

How do changes in market structure affect the US business cycle? We estimate a monetary DSGE model with endogenous rm/product entry and a translog expenditure function by Bayesian methods. The dynamics of net business formation allow us to identify the 'competition effect', by which desired price markups and inflation decrease when entry rises. We find that a 1 percent increase in the number of competitors lowers desired markups by 0.18 percent. Most of the cyclical variability in inflation is driven by markup fluctuations due to sticky prices or exogenous shocks rather than endogenous changes in desired markups.

Suggested Citation

  • Lewis, Vivien & Stevens, Arnoud, 2012. "The competition effect in business cycles," IMFS Working Paper Series 51, Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Monetary and Financial Stability (IMFS).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:imfswp:51
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Offick, Sven & Winkler, Roland C., 2019. "Endogenous Firm Entry In An Estimated Model Of The U.S. Business Cycle," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(1), pages 284-321, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bayesian estimation; business cycles; competition; entry; markups;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • E23 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Production
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles

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