The uncertainty multiplier and business cycles

Hikaru Saijo

Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 2017, vol. 78, issue C, 1-25

Abstract: I study a business cycle model where agents learn about the fundamentals by accumulating capital. During recessions, agents invest less, and this generates noisier estimates of macroeconomic conditions and an increase in uncertainty. The endogenous increase in aggregate uncertainty further reduces economic activity and thus gives rise to a multiplier effect that amplifies aggregate fluctuations. To discipline learning dynamics, I parametrize the model so that it matches not only standard business cycle moments but also survey data on macroeconomic forecasts. I find that the uncertainty multiplier amplifies output standard deviation by 16%.

Keywords: Uncertainty; Learning; Business cycles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Uncertainty Multiplier and Business Cycles (2014)
Working Paper: The Uncertainty Multiplier and Business Cycles (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:78:y:2017:i:c:p:1-25

DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2017.02.008

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