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Does Ricardian Equivalence Hold When Expectations are not Rational?

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  • Evans, George W.
  • Honkapohja, Seppo
  • Mitra, Kaushik

Abstract

This paper considers the Ricardian Equivalence proposition when expectations are not rational and are instead formed using adaptive learning rules. We show that Ricardian Equivalence continues to hold provided suitable additional conditions on learning dynamics are satisfied. However, new cases of failure can also emerge under learning. In particular, for Ricardian Equivalence to obtain, agents’ expectations must not depend on government’s financial variables under deficit financing.

Suggested Citation

  • Evans, George W. & Honkapohja, Seppo & Mitra, Kaushik, 2010. "Does Ricardian Equivalence Hold When Expectations are not Rational?," SIRE Discussion Papers 2010-73, Scottish Institute for Research in Economics (SIRE).
    • Handle: RePEc:edn:sirdps:202
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10943/202
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Taxation; Expectations; Ramsey Model; Ricardian Equivalence;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • D84 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Expectations; Speculations
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects

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