Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5099723 | Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control | 2006 | 23 Pages |
Abstract
This paper studies a general equilibrium economy in which agents have the ability to invest in a risky technology. The investment risk cannot be fully insured with optimal contracts because shocks are private information. We show that the presence of investment risks lead to under-accumulation of capital relative to an economy where idiosyncratic shocks can be fully insured. We also show that the availability of state-contingent (optimal) contracts - compared to simple debt contracts - brings the aggregate stock of capital close to the complete markets level. Institutional reforms that make possible the use of these contracts have important welfare consequences.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Mathematics
Control and Optimization
Authors
Césaire A. Meh, Vincenzo Quadrini,