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Asymmetry And The Amplitude Of Business Cycle Fluctuations: A Quantitative Investigation Of The Role Of Financial Frictions

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  • Atolia, Manoj
  • Gibson, John
  • Marquis, Milton

Abstract

We examine the quantitative significance of financial frictions that reduce firms' access to credit in explaining asymmetric business cycles characterized by disproportionately severe downturns. Using rate spread data to calibrate the severity of these frictions, we successfully match several key features of U.S. data. Specifically, although output and consumption are relatively symmetric (with output being slightly more asymmetric), investment and hours worked display significant asymmetry over the business cycle. We also demonstrate that our financial frictions are capable of significantly amplifying adverse shocks during severe downturns. Although the data suggest that these frictions are only active occasionally, our results indicate that they are still a significant source of macroeconomic volatility over the business cycle.

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  • Atolia, Manoj & Gibson, John & Marquis, Milton, 2018. "Asymmetry And The Amplitude Of Business Cycle Fluctuations: A Quantitative Investigation Of The Role Of Financial Frictions," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 22(2), pages 279-306, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:macdyn:v:22:y:2018:i:02:p:279-306_00
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    1. Burkhard Heer & Alfred Maußner, 2024. "Dynamic General Equilibrium Modeling," Springer Texts in Business and Economics, Springer, edition 3, number 978-3-031-51681-8, April.
    2. Ryo Horii & Yoshiyasu Ono, 2022. "Financial crisis and slow recovery with Bayesian learning agents," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 18(4), pages 578-606, December.
    3. Manoj Atolia & John Gibson & Milton Marquis, 2019. "Moral Hazard in Lending and Labor Market Volatility," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 51(1), pages 79-109, February.
    4. Jean‐François Rouillard, 2023. "Credit Crunch and Downward Nominal Wage Rigidities," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 55(4), pages 889-914, June.

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