"We propose and demonstrate a simple method for guiding researchers in developing quantitative models of economic fluctuations. We show that a large class of models are equivalent to a prototype growth model with time-varying wedges that resemble time-varying productivity, labor taxes, and...

"The data show that an increase in government provided old-age pensions is strongly correlated with a reduction in fertility. What type of model is consistent with this finding? We explore this question using two models of fertility: one by Barro and Becker (1989), and one inspired by Caldwell...