Learning the optimal buffer-stock consumption rule of Carroll

Murat Yildizoglu, Marc-Alexandre Senegas, Isabelle Salle and Martin Zumpe

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Abstract: This article questions the rather pessimistic conclusions of Allen and Carroll [Macroeconomic Dynamics 5 (2001), 255-271] about the ability of consumers to learn the optimal buffer-stock-based consumption rule. To this end, we develop an agent-based model in which alternative learning schemes can be compared in terms of the consumption behavior that they yield. We show that neither purely adaptive learning nor social learning based on imitation can ensure satisfactory consumption behavior. In contrast, if the agents can form adaptive expectations, based on an evolving individual mental model, their behavior becomes much more interesting in terms of its regularity and its ability to improve performance (which is a clear manifestation of learning). Our results indicate that assumptions on bounded rationality and on adaptive expectations are perfectly compatible with sound and realistic economic behavior, which, in some cases, can even converge to the optimal solution. This framework may therefore be used to develop macroeconomic models with adaptive dynamics.

Keywords: Expectations; Adaptive Behavior; Computational Economics; Consumption Decisions; Learning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published in Macroeconomic Dynamics, inPress, 18 (4), pp.727-752. ⟨10.1017/S1365100512000582⟩

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Related works:
Journal Article: LEARNING THE OPTIMAL BUFFER-STOCK CONSUMPTION RULE OF CARROLL (2014)
Working Paper: Learning the optimal buffer-stock consumption rule of Carroll (2011)
Working Paper: Learning the optimal buffer-stock consumption rule of Carroll (2011)
Working Paper: Learning the optimal buffer-stock consumption rule of Caroll (2011)
Working Paper: Learning the optimal buffer-stock consumption rule of Carroll (2011)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03026536

DOI: 10.1017/S1365100512000582

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