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Markov-Chain Approximations for Life-Cycle Models

Author

Listed:
  • Giulio Fella

    (Queen Mary University of London)

  • Giovanni Gallipoli

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Jutong Pan

    (University of British Columbia)

Abstract

Non-stationary income processes are standard in quantitative life-cycle models, prompted by the observation that within-cohort income inequality increases with age. This paper generalizes Tauchen (1986) and Rouwenhorst's (1995) discretization methods to non-stationary AR(1) processes. We evaluate the performance of both methods in the context of a canonical finite-horizon, income-uctuation problem with a non-stationary income process. We find that the generalized Rouwenhorst's method performs extremely well even with a relatively small number of states.

Suggested Citation

  • Giulio Fella & Giovanni Gallipoli & Jutong Pan, 2017. "Markov-Chain Approximations for Life-Cycle Models," Working Papers 827, Queen Mary University of London, School of Economics and Finance.
    • Handle: RePEc:qmw:qmwecw:827
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    2. Pierri, Damian Rene & Montes Rojas, Gabriel & Mira, José, 2020. "Persistent current account deficits and balance of payments crises," UC3M Working papers. Economics 34239, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Departamento de Economía.
    3. Mariacristina De Nardi & Giulio Fella & Gonzalo Paz-Pardo, 2020. "Nonlinear Household Earnings Dynamics, Self-Insurance, and Welfare," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 18(2), pages 890-926.
    4. Hanno Foerster, 2019. "Untying the Knot: How Child Support and Alimony Affect Couples' Decisions and Welfare," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2019_115v2, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    5. Fabio Blasutto, 2020. "Cohabitation vs Marriage: Mating Strategies by Education in the USA," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2020023, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    6. Hanno Foerster, 2019. "The Impact of Post-Marital Maintenance on Dynamic Decisions and Welfare of Couples," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 982, Boston College Department of Economics.
    7. Robert Kirkby, 2023. "Quantitative Macroeconomics: Lessons Learned from Fourteen Replications," Computational Economics, Springer;Society for Computational Economics, vol. 61(2), pages 875-896, February.
    8. Hong, Seungki, 2023. "MPCs in an emerging economy: Evidence from Peru," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Numerical methods; finite state approximations;

    JEL classification:

    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques

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