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Confounding Dynamics

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Listed:
  • Todd Walker

    (Indiana University)

  • Giacomo Rondina

    (University of Colorado, Boulder)

Abstract

In the context of a dynamic model with incomplete information, we isolate a novel mechanism of shock propagation that results in waves of optimism and pessimism along a Rational Expectations equilibrium. We term the mechanism confounding dynamics because it arises from agents’ optimal signal extraction efforts on variables whose dynamics—as opposed to superimposed noise—prevents full revelation of information. Employing methods in the space of analytic functions, we are able to obtain analytical characterizations of the equilibria that generalize the celebrated Hansen-Sargent optimal prediction formula. We apply our results to a canonical real business cycle model and derive the analytic solution for output, consumption and capital. We show that, in response to a permanent positive productivity shock, confounding dynamics generate expansions and recessions that would not be present under complete information.

Suggested Citation

  • Todd Walker & Giacomo Rondina, 2017. "Confounding Dynamics," 2017 Meeting Papers 525, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed017:525
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    Cited by:

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    2. Chahrour, Ryan & Ulbricht, Robert, 2017. "Information-driven Business Cycles: A Primal Approach," TSE Working Papers 17-784, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE), revised Dec 2017.
    3. Falck, Elisabeth & Hoffmann, Mathias & Hürtgen, Patrick, 2017. "Disagreement and monetary policy," Discussion Papers 29/2017, Deutsche Bundesbank.
    4. Taub, B., 2023. "Signal-jamming in the frequency domain," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 896-930.
    5. Huo, Zhen & Pedroni, Marcelo, 2023. "Dynamic information aggregation: Learning from the past," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 107-124.
    6. Acharya, Sushant & Benhabib, Jess & Huo, Zhen, 2021. "The anatomy of sentiment-driven fluctuations," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    7. Kwangyong Park, 2023. "Central Bank Credibility and Monetary Policy," International Journal of Central Banking, International Journal of Central Banking, vol. 19(2), pages 145-197, June.
    8. Ryan Chahrour & Robert Ulbricht, 2023. "Robust Predictions for DSGE Models with Incomplete Information," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 15(1), pages 173-208, January.
    9. Eric M. Leeper, 2015. "Fiscal Analysis is Darned Hard," CAEPR Working Papers 2015-021, Center for Applied Economics and Policy Research, Department of Economics, Indiana University Bloomington.
    10. Yongok Choi & Giacomo Rondina & Todd B. Walker, 2023. "Information Aggregation Bias and Samuelson's Dictum," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 55(5), pages 1119-1145, August.
    11. Jonathan J Adams, 2021. "Firestorm: Multiplicity in Models with Full Information," Working Papers 001006, University of Florida, Department of Economics.
    12. Angeletos, G.-M. & Lian, C., 2016. "Incomplete Information in Macroeconomics," Handbook of Macroeconomics, in: J. B. Taylor & Harald Uhlig (ed.), Handbook of Macroeconomics, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 0, pages 1065-1240, Elsevier.
    13. Hoffmann, Mathias & Hürtgen, Patrick, 2016. "Inflation expectations, disagreement, and monetary policy," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 59-63.
    14. George-Marios Angeletos & Chen Lian, 2016. "Incomplete Information in Macroeconomics: Accommodating Frictions in Coordination," NBER Working Papers 22297, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    15. Paul Levine & Joseph Pearlman & Stephen Wright & Bo Yang, 2019. "Information, VARs and DSGE Models," School of Economics Discussion Papers 1619, School of Economics, University of Surrey.
    16. Jonathan J Adams, 2019. "Macroeconomic Models with Incomplete Information and Endogenous Signals," Working Papers 001004, University of Florida, Department of Economics.
    17. Paul Levine & Joseph Pearlman & Alessio Volpicella & Bo Yang, 2022. "The Use and Mis-Use of SVARs for Validating DSGE Models," School of Economics Discussion Papers 0522, School of Economics, University of Surrey.
    18. Paul Levine & Joseph Pearlman & Stephen Wright & Bo Yang, 2023. "Imperfect Information and Hidden Dynamics," School of Economics Discussion Papers 1223, School of Economics, University of Surrey.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • C62 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Existence and Stability Conditions of Equilibrium

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