In this paper I discuss the estimation of the process governing the structural shocks (or wedges) to a DSGE model, arguing that a well-specified model would satisfy certain sets of moment conditions. Based on tests for overidentifying restrictions, I compare three specifications of the Taylor...

This article outlines a simple regression-based method to decompose the variance of an aggregate time series into the variance of its components, which is then applied to measure the relative contributions of productivity, hours per worker and employment to cyclical output growth across a panel...

This paper estimates a multi-instrument fiscal Taylor Rule for the United States. Taxes and purchases both respond strongly to deficits, while transfers do not. Taxes are procyclical; purchases are acyclical; and transfers are countercyclical. These estimates appear stable over time.

The Ethiopian government initiated the Ethiopian Coffee Trademarking and Licensing Initiative in 2004 for three coffee origins: Sidama, Yirgacheffe and Harar. Following a court case between Starbucks and the Ethiopian government regarding this initiative, Oxfam organized a publicity campaign....