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Labor Hoarding, Superior Information and Business Cycle Dynamics

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Abstract

In this paper, we test whether labor-hoarding environments with basic and augmented laws of motion provide an adequate explanation for observed business cycle dynamics. The basic law of motion assumes that the information set used by economic agents to forecast future forcing variables includes only the history of forcing variables. Augmented laws of motion assume that the information set is superior and include both forcing and hidden exogenous variables. We show that the labor-hoarding environment with the basic law of motion fails to replicate observed business cycle facts, while the environment with augmented laws of motion successfully matches these facts.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Boileau & Michel Normandin, 2001. "Labor Hoarding, Superior Information and Business Cycle Dynamics," Cahiers de recherche CREFE / CREFE Working Papers 129, CREFE, Université du Québec à Montréal.
    • Handle: RePEc:cre:crefwp:129
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    Cited by:

    1. Denis Larocque & Michel Normandin, 2004. "Econometric Inference, Cyclical Fluctuations, and Superior Information," Cahiers de recherche 0434, CIRPEE.
    2. Michel Normandin, 2006. "Fiscal Policies, External Deficits, and Budget Deficits," Cahiers de recherche 06-05, HEC Montréal, Institut d'économie appliquée.
    3. Boileau, Martin & Normandin, Michel, 2003. "Capacity utilization, superior information, and the business cycle," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 283-309, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    hidden variable; law of motion; trend-cycle decomposition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E32 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Business Fluctuations; Cycles
    • E37 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications

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