This paper analyzes the macroeconomic impact of structural oil shocks in four of the top oil-consuming Asian economies, using a VAR model. We identify three different structural oil shocks via sign restrictions: an oil supply shock, an oil demand shock driven by global economic activity and an oil-specific demand shock. The main results suggest that economic activity and prices respond very dif...

During the last few years there has been a renewed analysis in currency unions as form of monetary arrangement. This new interest largely triggered by Euro experience. Scholars and policy makers have asked about optimal number currencies world economy. They analyzed whether different countries satisfy traditional “optimal area” criteria. These include: (a) synchronization business cycle; (b) de...

In this paper, we use an anonymous and time-invariant progressive labor income tax system to implement the constrained social optimum in a setting where workers privately experience both persistent ability shocks and transient productivity shocks. We propose a framework to capture the interplay between welfare policies and firms’ contractual choices. In particular, we use the tax system to achi...

This paper studies conditions under which demand-side shocks can generate realistic business cycles in RBC models. Although highly persistent demand shocks are necessary for generating procyclical investment, variable capacity utilization and habit formation can reduce the required degree of persistence. Keywords: Demand Shocks; Hall’s Residual; Real Business Cycles; Crowding Out; Investment Dy...

I ran’s economy is suffering from sharp and persistent economic shocks and agriculture plays an undeniable role in its economic growth and development. The aim of this paper is to study the relative contributions of various macroeconomic shocks to generating fluctuations in Iran’s agriculture sector. To do so, a Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) model, emphasizing on the ...

All economies face “shocks” – unexpected events provoking some sort of response. Shocks affect households and firms at the micro level, and the path of economic growth and inflation at the macro level. For a small and open economy like New Zealand, many of the shocks shaping economic activity have an international dimension, and this turbulence is part and parcel of the economic landscape. New ...