Doctoral thesis
OA Policy
English

Dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models with heterogeneous agents: theory, computation and application

Defense date2018-06-26
Abstract

Dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models with ex-post heterogeneity due to idiosyncratic risk pose numerous challenges stemming from the cross-sectional distribution of endogenous variables which changes stochastically over time due to aggregate risk. In this thesis, I tackle various open questions. My first contribution is of a theoretical nature as I establish existence and uniqueness of the Aiyagari-Bewley growth model. The second challenge I address has a more practical concern. I propose a new numerical method to compute solutions to heterogeneous agent models. With the derived approximation error bounds, I ensure convergence to the rational expectations equilibrium. Equipped with this novel theoretically founded method, I show that even two standard economic models like the Aiyagari-Bewley growth model and the Huggett economy yield intriguing results. When agents progressively share idiosyncratic risk, heterogeneity increasingly amplifies aggregate risk. Furthermore, the volatility of the expected stationary cross-sectional distribution and of the stationary price distribution rises.

Keywords
  • Dynamic stochastic general equilibrium
  • Incomplete markets
  • Heterogeneous agents
  • Aggregate uncertainty
  • Existence
  • Convergence
  • Numerical solutions
  • Polynomial chaos
Citation (ISO format)
PROEHL, Elisabeth Rita. Dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models with heterogeneous agents: theory, computation and application. Doctoral Thesis, 2018. doi: 10.13097/archive-ouverte/unige:107034
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