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Parental altruism, life expectancy and dynamically inefficient equilibria

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  • d'Albis, Hippolyte
  • Decreuse, Bruno

Abstract

This paper presents a continuous time overlapping-generation (OLG) model which generalizes the Blanchard-Buiter-Weil model and clarifies the relationships between dynastic altruism, the length of planning horizons, and dynamic inefficiency. Our main innovation relies on the introduction of parental altruism, whose intensity is variable. We first show that parental altruism and life expectancy do favor overaccumulation. Second, we give a condition that explains why the Ramsey model may only display dynamic efficiency. These theoretical results are illustrated by a parameterization from US data. Our numerical exercises suggest that the US economy is dynamically efficient, mainly because of the shortness of life expectancy.

Suggested Citation

  • d'Albis, Hippolyte & Decreuse, Bruno, 2009. "Parental altruism, life expectancy and dynamically inefficient equilibria," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 1897-1911, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:dyncon:v:33:y:2009:i:11:p:1897-1911
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    Cited by:

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    3. Pierre Pestieau & Gregory Ponthiere, 2012. "The Public Economics of Increasing Longevity," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 200(1), pages 41-74, March.
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    5. Orlando Gomes, 2022. "Human capital and growth in an OLG-life cycle model," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(1), pages 1-26, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Overlapping-generations models Productive capital Dynamic (in)efficiency Intergenerational altruism;

    JEL classification:

    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth

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