Working Paper: NBER ID: w23494
Authors: Sehyoun Ahn; Greg Kaplan; Benjamin Moll; Thomas Winberry; Christian Wolf
Abstract: We develop an efficient and easy-to-use computational method for solving a wide class of general equilibrium heterogeneous agent models with aggregate shocks, together with an open source suite of codes that implement our algorithms in an easy-to-use toolbox. Our method extends standard linearization techniques and is designed to work in cases when inequality matters for the dynamics of macroeconomic aggregates. We present two applications that analyze a two-asset incomplete markets model parameterized to match the distribution of income, wealth, and marginal propensities to consume. First, we show that our model is consistent with two key features of aggregate consumption dynamics that are difficult to match with representative agent models: (i) the sensitivity of aggregate consumption to predictable changes in aggregate income and (ii) the relative smoothness of aggregate consumption. Second, we extend the model to feature capital-skill complementarity and show how factor-specific productivity shocks shape dynamics of income and consumption inequality.
Keywords: Inequality; Macroeconomics; Heterogeneous Agent Models; Aggregate Shocks
JEL Codes: A0; C0; E0; F0; G0; J0
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| inequality (D63) | macroeconomic aggregates (E10) |
| aggregate productivity shocks (O49) | aggregate consumption (E20) |
| macro shocks (E66) | income and consumption inequality (D31) |
| negative shock to unskilled labor productivity (F66) | inequality (D63) |
| positive shock to capital productivity (O49) | income gap (D31) |
| two-asset model (G19) | aggregate consumption dynamics (E21) |
| household portfolios (D14) | marginal propensities to consume (E21) |