In this paper we explore whether the changing composition of output in response to technology shocks can play a significant role in the propagation of shocks over time. For this purpose we study two multisector RBC models, with two and a three sectors. We find that, whereas the two sectors model...

This book provides an overview of the modern theory and empirics of business cycles. Written by one of the pioneering authors in this field, it examines the notion of a business cycle and discusses alternative approaches to modeling. Arguably, one of the most important debates in this literature...

Economic theory suggests that the degree of cyclical synchronisation is related to the degree of economic integration and structural similarity between countries. In gauging changes in the synchronisation of countries’ business cycles and the underlying driving factors, it is important to...

This dissertation consists of two essays in international macroeconomics. Thefirst essay shows that optimal fiscal and monetary policy is time consistent in astandard small open economy. Further, there exist many maturity structuresof public debt capable of rendering the optimal policy time...

DSGE models with generalized shock processes have been a major area of research in recent years. In this paper, I show that the structural parameters governing DSGE models are not identified when the driving process behind the model follows an unrestricted VAR. This finding implies that...

This paper challenges the conventional view according to which disinflations in LAC-even from low and moderate peaks-have been carried out at no cost to output. After suggesting a new methodology that allows for long-lived effects and inflation inertia when measuring costs of disinflations,...

Die vorliegende Arbeit analysiert die Fortschritte der Transformation hin zu sozialen Marktwirtschaften aus Sicht der Unternehmen, indem wir aufzeigen inwiefern es den betrachteten Ländern gelungen ist, ein nachhaltig stabiles Wirtschaftsumfeld zu generieren. Als besonders bedeutsam in diesem...

During the European sovereign debt crisis, most countries that ran into fiscal trouble had Catholic majorities, whereas countries with Protestant majorities were able to avoid fiscal problems. Survey data show that, within Germany, views on the euro crisis differ between Protestants and...

This paper examines several mainstream explanations of the financial crisis and stagnation and the role they attribute to income inequality. Those explanations are contrasted with a structural Keynesian explanation. The role of income inequality differs substantially, giving rise to different...