Understanding Equilibrium Models with a Small and a Large Number of Agents

Wouter J. Den Haan
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Wouter Denhaan ()

No 5792, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: In this paper, I compare a two-agent asset pricing model with the corresponding model with a continuum of agents. In a two-agent economy, interest rates respond to because each agent represents half of the population. These interest rate effects facilitate consumption smoothing. An agent in a two-agent economy, however, can never lend more than the other agent is allowed to borrow, which prevents him from building a buffer stock of assets. For most parameter values, the first effect is more important. For some parameter values, the interest rate effects in the two-agent economy are so strong that a relaxation of the borrowing constraint reduces an agent's utility. In contrast to these differences, I find that for most parameter values there are no large differences in average interest rates across the two types of economies. In addition, I analyze the business cycle behavior of interest rates in an incomplete markets economy with a continuum of agents. The dynamic response of interest rates to aggregate shocks is a lot more complicated than the response in a complete markets economy and the magnitude of the response is bigger.

JEL-codes: E21 E43 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1996-10
Note: EFG
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