We enrich workhorse macroeconomic models with a mechanism that proxies strategic uncertainty and that manifests itself as waves of optimism and pessimism about the short-term economic outlook. We interpret this mechanism as variation in "confidence" and show that it helps account for many...

We study the Ramsey policy problem in an economy in which firms face a collateral constraint. Issuing more public debt alleviates this friction by increasing the aggregate quantity of collateral. In so doing, however, the issuance of more debt also raises interest rates, which in turn increases...

We develop a methodology that allows DSGE models to capture the empirical content of informational frictions while bypassing the computational challenges that come with conventional formalizations of such frictions. We apply this methodology in the context of an RBC model augmented with a type...

We enrich workhorse macroeconomic models with a mechanism that proxies strategic uncertainty and that manifests itself as waves of optimism and pessimism about the short-term economic outlook. We interpret this mechanism as variation in confidence and show that it helps account for many salient...

We study the properties of alternative central bank targeting procedures within the standard New Keynesian model. We find that Poole’s famous insights concerning the output stabilization properties of money and interest-rate targeting obtain when intertemporal substitution is low, and that...

We show that international trade in goods is the main determinant of international equity portfolios and it also offers a compelling - theoretically and empirically - resolution of the portfolio home bias puzzle. The model implies that investors can achieve full international risk...

We revisit the contribution of misperceived money to business cycles, and in particular to the inertial dynamics of inflation following a monetary policy shock. We establish three things. First, the difference between preliminary and revised money data captures monetary misperceptions well....

Imperfect information has played a prominent role in modern business cycle theory. We assess its importance by estimating the New Keynesian (NK) model under alternative informational assumptions. One version focuses on confusion between temporary and persistent disturbances. Another, on...

We revisit the contribution of misperceived money to business cycles and, in particular, to the inertial dynamics of inflation following a monetary policy shock. We establish three things. First, the difference between preliminary and revised money data captures monetary misperceptions well....