Dynamics of Open Economy Business Cycle Models: Understanding the Role of the Discount Factor

Abstract

This paper examines the dynamic implications of different preference formulations in open economy business cycle models with incomplete asset markets. In particular, we study two preference formulations: a time separable preference formulation with a fixed discount factor, and a time non-separable preference structure with an endogenous discount factor. We analyze the moment implications of two versions of an otherwise identical open economy model -- one with a fixed discount factor and the other with an endogenous discount factor -- and study impulse responses to productivity and world real interest rate shocks. Our results suggest that business cycle implications of the two models are quite similar under conventional parameter values. We also find the approximation errors associated with the solutions of these two models are of the same magnitude.

JEL Classification: E3, F4