This paper reexamines whether or not the time series properties of aggregate consumption, real wages, and asset returns can be explained by a neoclassical model. Previous empirical rejections of the model have suggested that the optimal labor contract model might be appropriate for understanding...

The rate of time preference (RTP) and the intertemporal elasticity of substitution (IES) are two important factors shaping intertemporal consumption decisions. Models in which the RTP and/or the IES differ systematically between rich and poor households have different empirical and policy...

In this paper, we use long-run annual data to estimate the intertemporal elasticity of substitution while accounting for the intra-temporal substitution between nondurable consumption goods and durable consumption goods. We apply a two-step procedure that combines a cointegration approach to...

A time-series counterpart of Engel's law is that the expenditure share on food declines as the economy grows. The main purpose of this paper is to test whether Houthakker's addilog utility function can simultaneously explain this time-series observation and cross-sectional observations...

The rate of time preference (RTP) and the intertemporal elasticity of substitution (IES) are two important factors shaping intertemporal consumption decisions. Models in which the RTP and/or the IES differ systematically between rich and poor households have different empirical and policy...