@@ -112,11 +112,7 @@ the actual rate of inflation.
112112
113113(When there is no uncertainty, an assumption of ** rational expectations** simplifies to ** perfect foresight** ).
114114
115- <<<<<<< HEAD
116- (See {cite}` Sargent77hyper ` for a rational expectations version of the model when there is uncertainty.)
117- =======
118- (See {cite}` Sargent77hyper ` for a rational expectations version of the model in which there is uncertainty)
119- >>>>>>> 94d02b044c68ca2132cef7b27b5776ed63034e9c
115+ (See {cite}` Sargent77hyper ` for a rational expectations version of the model when there is uncertainty)
120116
121117Subtracting the demand function at time $t$ from the demand
122118function at $t+1$ gives:
194190x_{t+1} = A x_t + B \mu_t
195191```
196192
197- We write the model in the state-space form {eq}` eq_old4 ` even though $\theta_0$ is to be determined by our model and so is not an initial condition
193+ We write the model in the state-space form {eq}` eq_old4 ` even though $\theta_0$ is to be determined and so is not an initial condition
198194as it ordinarily would be in the state-space model described in [ Linear Quadratic Control] ( https://python-intro.quantecon.org/lqcontrol.html ) .
199195
200196We write the model in the form {eq}` eq_old4 ` because we want to apply an approach described in {doc}` Stackelberg problems <dyn_stack> ` .
201197
202- We assume that a benevolent government believes that a representative household's utility of real balances at
198+ Assume that a representative household's utility of real balances at
203199time $t$ is:
204200
205201``` {math}
@@ -222,7 +218,7 @@ both use to discount future utilities.
222218
223219(If we set parameters so that $\theta^* = \log(\beta)$, then we can
224220regard a recommendation to set $\theta_t = \theta^* $ as a "poor
225- man's Friedman rule" that attains Milton Friedman's ** optimal quantity of money** . )
221+ man's Friedman rule" that attains Milton Friedman's ** optimal quantity of money** )
226222
227223Via equation {eq}` eq_old3 ` , a government plan
228224$\vec \mu = \{ \mu_t \} _ {t=0}^\infty$ leads to an equilibrium
@@ -261,9 +257,8 @@ v_t = - s(\theta_t, \mu_t) + \beta v_{t+1}
261257## Structure
262258
263259The following structure is induced by private agents'
264- behavior as summarized by the demand function for money {eq}` eq_old1 ` that leads to equation {eq}` eq_old3 ` .
265-
266- It tells how future settings of $\mu$ affect the current value of $\theta$.
260+ behavior as summarized by the demand function for money {eq}` eq_old1 ` that leads to equation {eq}` eq_old3 ` that tells how future
261+ settings of $\mu$ affect the current value of $\theta$.
267262
268263Equation {eq}` eq_old3 ` maps a ** policy** sequence of money growth rates
269264$\vec \mu =\{ \mu_t\} _ {t=0}^\infty \in L^2$ into an inflation sequence
@@ -289,7 +284,7 @@ At this point $\vec \mu \in L^2$ is an arbitrary exogenous policy.
289284To make $\vec \mu$ endogenous, we require a theory of government
290285decisions.
291286
292- ## Intertemporal Structure
287+ ## Intertemporal Influences
293288
294289Criterion function {eq}` eq_old7 ` and the constraint system {eq}` eq_old4 ` exhibit the following
295290structure:
@@ -301,8 +296,8 @@ structure:
301296 household's one-period utilities at all dates
302297 $s = 0, 1, \ldots, t$.
303298
304-
305- This structure sets the stage for the emergence of a time-inconsistent
299+ That settings of $\mu$ at one date affect household utilities at
300+ earlier dates sets the stage for the emergence of a time-inconsistent
306301optimal government plan under a Ramsey (also called a Stackelberg) timing protocol.
307302
308303We'll study outcomes under a Ramsey timing protocol below.
@@ -313,9 +308,9 @@ But we'll also study the consequences of other timing protocols.
313308
314309We consider four models of policymakers that differ in
315310
316- - what a policymaker is allowed to choose, either a sequence
311+ - what a policymaker is allowed to choose, either a sequence
317312 $\vec \mu$ or just a single period $\mu_t$.
318- - when a policymaker chooses, either at time $0$ or at times
313+ - when a policymaker chooses, either at time $0$ or at times
319314 $t \geq 0$.
320315- what a policymaker assumes about how its choice of $\mu_t$
321316 affects private agents' expectations about earlier and later
@@ -460,9 +455,7 @@ $\vec \mu$ recursively with the following system created in the spirit of Chang
460455
461456To interpret this system, think of the sequence
462457$\{ \theta_t\} _ {t=0}^\infty$ as a sequence of
463- synthetic ** promised inflation rates** .
464-
465- These are just computational devices for
458+ synthetic ** promised inflation rates** that are just computational devices for
466459generating a sequence $\vec\mu$ of money growth rates that are to
467460be substituted into equation {eq}` eq_old3 ` to form actual rates of inflation.
468461
@@ -471,14 +464,15 @@ $\vec \mu = \{\mu_t\}_{t=0}^\infty$ that satisfies these equations
471464into equation {eq}` eq_old3 ` , we obtain the same sequence $\vec \theta$
472465generated by the system {eq}` eq_old9 ` .
473466
474- (Here an application of the Big $K$, little $k$ trick could once again be enlightening. )
467+ (Here an application of the Big $K$, little $k$ trick could once again be enlightening)
475468
476469Thus, our construction of a Ramsey plan guarantees that ** promised
477470inflation** equals ** actual inflation** .
478471
479472### Multiple roles of $\theta_t$
480473
481- The inflation rate $\theta_t$ plays three roles simultaneously:
474+ The inflation rate $\theta_t$ that appears in the system {eq}` eq_old9 ` and
475+ equation {eq}` eq_old3 ` plays three roles simultaneously:
482476
483477- In equation {eq}` eq_old3 ` , $\theta_t$ is the actual rate of inflation
484478 between $t$ and $t+1$.
@@ -501,7 +495,7 @@ that alter either
501495
502496## A Constrained-to-a-Constant-Growth-Rate Ramsey Government
503497
504- We now consider a peculiar model of optimal government behavior.
498+ We now consider the following peculiar model of optimal government behavior.
505499
506500We have created this model in order to highlight an aspect of an optimal government policy associated with its time inconsistency,
507501namely, the feature that optimal settings of the policy instrument vary over time.
@@ -531,14 +525,14 @@ $\mu_t$ as a telltale sign of time inconsistency of a Ramsey plan.
531525
532526## Markov Perfect Governments
533527
534- We now alter the timing protocol by considering a sequence of
528+ We now change the timing protocol by considering a sequence of
535529government policymakers, the time $t$ representative of which
536530chooses $\mu_t$ and expects all future governments to set
537531$\mu_ {t+j} = \bar \mu$.
538532
539533This assumption mirrors an assumption made in a different setting [ Markov Perfect Equilibrium] ( https://python-intro.quantecon.org/markov_perf.html ) .
540534
541- A government policymaker at $t$ believes that $\bar \mu$ is
535+ Further, a government policymaker at $t$ believes that $\bar \mu$ is
542536unaffected by its choice of $\mu_t$.
543537
544538The time $t$ rate of inflation is then:
590584\bar \mu = - \frac{\alpha a_1}{\alpha^2 a_2 + (1+\alpha)c}
591585$$
592586
593- ## Equilibrium Outcomes for Three Models
587+ ## Equilibrium Outcomes for Three Models of Government Policy Making
594588
595589Below we compute sequences $\{ \theta_t,\mu_t \} $ under a Ramsey
596590plan and compare these with the constant levels of $\theta$ and
@@ -918,8 +912,8 @@ $\check \mu$ and $\check \theta$ in the above graphs).
918912### Meaning of Time Inconsistency
919913
920914In settings in which governments actually choose sequentially, many economists
921- regard a time inconsistent plan as controversial because of the incentives to
922- deviate that are presented along the plan.
915+ regard a time inconsistent plan implausible because of the incentives to
916+ deviate that occur along the plan.
923917
924918A way to summarize this * defect* in a Ramsey plan is to say that it
925919is not credible because there endure incentives for policymakers
@@ -947,7 +941,7 @@ We turn to such theories of **sustainable plans** next.
947941
948942This is a model in which
949943
950- - the government chooses $\{ \mu_t\} _ {t=0}^\infty$ not once and
944+ - The government chooses $\{ \mu_t\} _ {t=0}^\infty$ not once and
951945 for all at $t=0$ but chooses to set $\mu_t$ at time $t$, not before.
952946- private agents' forecasts of
953947 $\{ \mu_ {t+j+1}, \theta_ {t+j+1}\} _ {j=0}^\infty$ respond to
0 commit comments