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  4. August 2020
  5. A Behavioral New Keynesian Model

American Economic Review

ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)

A Behavioral New Keynesian Model

  • Xavier Gabaix
American Economic Review
vol. 110, no. 8, August 2020
(pp. 2271–2327)
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Abstract

This paper analyzes how bounded rationality affects monetary and fiscal policy via an empirically relevant enrichment of the New Keynesian model. It models agents' partial myopia toward distant atypical events using a new microfounded "cognitive discounting" parameter. Compared to the rational model, (i) there is no forward guidance puzzle; (ii) the Taylor principle changes: with passive monetary policy but enough myopia equilibria are determinate and economies stable; (iii) the zero lower bound is much less costly; (iv) price-level targeting is not optimal; (v) fiscal stimulus is effective; (vi) the model is "neo-Fisherian" in the long run, Keynesian in the short run.

Citation

Gabaix, Xavier. 2020. "A Behavioral New Keynesian Model." American Economic Review, 110 (8): 2271–2327. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20162005

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • E12 General Aggregative Models: Keynes; Keynesian; Post-Keynesian
  • E31 Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
  • E43 Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
  • E52 Monetary Policy
  • E62 Fiscal Policy
  • E70 Macro-Based Behavioral Economics: General