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Understanding the Effects of Technology Shocks

Author

Listed:
  • Pengfei Wang

    (Hong Kong University of Science & Technology)

  • Yi Wen

    (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and Tsinghua University)

Abstract

The research led by Gali (AER 1999) and Basu, Fernald, and Kimball (AER 2006) raises two important questions regarding the validity of the RBC theory: (i) How important are technology shocks in explaining the business cycle? (ii) Do impulse responses to technology shocks found in the data reject the assumption of flexible prices? Using an RBC model, this paper argues that the conditional impulse responses of the U.S. economy to technology shocks are not grounds to reject the notion that technology shocks are the main driving force of the business cycle and the assumption of flexible prices, in contrast to the conclusions reached by the literature. (Copyright: Elsevier)

Suggested Citation

  • Pengfei Wang & Yi Wen, 2011. "Understanding the Effects of Technology Shocks," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 14(4), pages 705-724, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:issued:09-148
    DOI: 10.1016/j.red.2010.03.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Galí, Jordi & Rabanal, Pau, 2004. "Technology Shocks and Aggregate Fluctuations: How Well Does the RBC Model Fit Post-War US Data?," CEPR Discussion Papers 4522, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Canova, Fabio & Michelacci, Claudio & López-Salido, J David, 2007. "The Labour Market Effects of Technology Shocks," CEPR Discussion Papers 6365, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Robert J. Vigfusson, 2004. "The delayed response to a technology shock: a flexible price explanation," International Finance Discussion Papers 810, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    4. Lawrence J. Christiano & Martin Eichenbaum & Robert Vigfusson, 2007. "Assessing Structural VARs," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2006, Volume 21, pages 1-106, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Jonas D. M. Fisher, 2002. "Technology shocks matter," Working Paper Series WP-02-14, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Stephen McKnight & Laura Povoledo, 2022. "Endogenous fluctuations and international business cycles," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(1), pages 312-348, February.
    2. Choi, Yoonseok, 2020. "Macroeconomic implications of dynamically inconsistent preferences," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 267-279.
    3. Jouini, Nizar & Rebei, Nooman, 2012. "The Welfare Implications of Services Liberalization in a Developing Country," Conference papers 332271, Purdue University, Center for Global Trade Analysis, Global Trade Analysis Project.
    4. Fan, Haichao & Gao, Xiang & Xu, Juanyi & Xu, Zhiwei, 2016. "News shock, firm dynamics and business cycles: Evidence and theory," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 159-180.
    5. Marta Aloi & Huw Dixon & Anthony Savagar, 2021. "Labor Responses, Regulation, and Business Churn," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 53(1), pages 119-156, February.
    6. Hyeon-Seung Huh & David Kim, 2014. "Do SVAR Models Justify Discarding the Technology-Shock-Driven Real Business Cycle Hypothesis?," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 90(288), pages 98-118, March.
    7. Cantore, Cristiano & Ferroni, Filippo & León-Ledesma, Miguel A., 2017. "The dynamics of hours worked and technology," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 67-82.
    8. Mandelman, Federico S. & Zanetti, Francesco, 2014. "Flexible prices, labor market frictions and the response of employment to technology shocks," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 94-102.
    9. Rebei, Nooman, 2014. "What (really) accounts for the fall in hours after a technology shock?," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 330-352.
    10. Jouini, Nizar & Rebei, Nooman, 2014. "The welfare implications of services liberalization in a developing country," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 1-14.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    RBC; Technology shocks; Aggregate production function; Entry and exit; Sticky prices; Demand rigidity; Business cycle;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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