Tag Archives: DSGE modeling

Jason Smith comments on J. W. Mason and Arun Jayadev on MMT and conventional economics from the point of view of scientific modeling in macro.Information Transfer EconomicsWhat do equations mean?Jason Smith

This article is an appendix to my earlier articles on dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model accounting (here and here). The problem with my understanding of DSGE appears to be that I assumed that the DSGE modellers were using mathematical notation in a standard fashion. I now realise that the secret sauce to DSGE modelling is a blatant disregard to mathematical notation. I had pointed out that I was missing something; my assumption that there were some super important theorems...

This article is the second part (of a planned trilogy) of articles on the accounting issues within Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models. I have deliberately chosen one of the simplest DSGE models I could find, a deterministic (non-random) Ramsey model from the text Recursive Macroeconomic Theory by Lars Ljungqvist and Thomas J. Sargent. I have the third edition; the text is referred to as [LS2012] herein. My previous article, "The Curious Profit Accounting of DSGE Models,"...

One of the more puzzling aspects of neo-classical economic theory is the assertion that profits are zero in equilibrium under the conditions that are assumed for many models. One should re-interpret this statement as "excess profits" are zero, but there are still some awkward aspects to the treatment of profits in standard macro models. This article works through the theory of profits for an example dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, and discusses the difficulties with the...

Quote by Silvia Merler/Bruegel mentioning Lars, with a shoutout to Brian Romanchuk.Lars P. Syll’s BlogThe DSGE quarrel Lars P. Syll | Professor, Malmo UniversityMore from LarsEconomic history — a victim of economics imperialism Empirical economics and statistical power

Here's a quote that would make Lars Syll retch: Because DSGE models start from microeconomic principles of constrained decision-making, rather than relying on historical correlations, they are more difficult to solve and analyze. However, because they are also based on the preferences of economic agents, DSGE models offer a natural benchmark for evaluating the effects of policy change.- MathWorks: Modeling the United States Economy "... based on the preferences of economic agents, DSGE...

As an outsider, one can only revise down one's opinion of the academic standards of mainstream economists. We have an intellectual debate in which one side refuses to admit the existence of the debate in the first place. I am not an expert on the scientific method, but it seems to me that is not how it is supposed to work. Bond Economics  How Not To Defend DSGE Macro Brian Romanchuk

No, inflation is not getting harder to "understand." Central banks are just using models that don't fit the case, for example, confusing special case model with general models, or using models that are mis-specified.  The message is to review the assumptions, including methodological ones, and revise them as appropriate. Then compare the model with the real world. What's so difficult to understand about that? This is what scientists do. Difficult, you say? That's what you are...

Although this sounds extremely harsh, it is the only way to describe aspects of DSGE macro such as the assumption that the level of interest rates is a key determinant of economic behaviour. In practice, this assumption is built into all mainstream models, and the empirical methodologies have no way of rejecting the assumption. It is not entirely an accident that the consensus has been shocked by the slow pace of recovery after modern recessions -- after all, it was believed that the level...

Just why is anyone still going to these people for policy advice, let alone putting some of them in charge of setting policy? The power of elite discourse to persuade is dangerous when an elite controls the frame and there is no accountability for results. Lars P. Syll’s Blog Stiglitz and the full force of Sonnenschein-Mantel-Debreu Lars P. Syll | Professor, Malmo University