Abstract
In this paper we show the quantitative importance of the process that determines changes in family composition to determine the main macroeconomic magnitudes. We do so by modeling family type as a stochastic process that affects households in a way similar to shocks to earnings. Agents respond to these process by optimally choosing savings. We show that the size of savings differs dramatically depending on the details of the stochastic process. The model is quantitative: its fundamental parameters are estimated using U.S. data.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 671-682 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Journal of the European Economic Association |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 2-3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2003 |