Does Higher Firm Profit Dispersion Reflect Greater Micro Uncertainty?
10 Pages Posted: 19 Aug 2018 Last revised: 9 Jan 2019
Date Written: October 20, 2018
Abstract
Countercyclical dispersion of firm outcomes (micro dispersion) is commonly used as a proxy for micro uncertainty. In this paper, we characterize conditions under which micro dispersion and micro uncertainty co-move positively in the context of a large Cournot economy with dispersed information and a financial market that aggregates private information. We also show that the parameter region that supports the positive co-movement shrinks when (1) public signal is endogenous through financial asset prices or (2) strategic substitutability in firms' output decisions is weak. Our analysis raises a cautionary note on using micro dispersion as a measure of uncertainty shocks.
Keywords: Firm Profit Dispersion, Micro Uncertainty, Cournot Market, Dispersed Information, Endogenous Public Signal, Strategic Substitutability
JEL Classification: D82, D83, E32, G12, G14
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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