This paper considers the possible theoretical validity of the following "monetarist hypothesis": that a constant, positive government budget deficit can be maintained permanently and without inflation if it is financed by the issue of bonds rather than money. The question is studied in a discrete-time, perfect-foresight version of the competitive equilibrium model of Sidrauski, modified by the inclusion of government bonds as a third asset. It is shown that the monetarist hypothesis is invalid if the deficit is defined exclusive of interest payments, but that it is valid under the conventional definition. It is also shown that the stock of bonds can grow indefinitely at a rate in excess of the rate of output growth, provided that the difference is less than the rate of time preference. These formal conclusions do not take account of possible limitations on taxing capacity arising from default incentives that tend to grow with the stock of bonds.

Hours of work equations are derived from the constrained maximization of a utility function that is not separable over time and that varies with a household's demographic structure. These equations are fitted to observations on wage rates, nonlabor income, and other variables for husbands, wives, and unmarried women. The dependence of each household's current work and consumption behavior upon its work and consumption behavior in the past is examined closely and different interpretations of the relationship are confronted with the data.

Donald R. Chambers, Willard T. Carleton, Donald W. Waldman, A New Approach to Estimation of the Term Structure of Interest Rates, The Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Vol. 19, No. 3 (Sep., 1984), pp. 233-252

This paper presents an approach to inequality measurement based on an econometric model of aggregate consumer behaviour. The novel feature of this model is that systems of individual demand functions can be recovered uniquely from the system of aggregate demand functions. We present methods for evaluating social welfare based on an explicit social welfare function. This social welfare function incorporates measures of individual welfare based on indirect utility functions for all consumer units. We develop indexes of inequality based on actual and potential levels of social welfare.

We hypothesize that the substitution mechanism tends to break down in low income countries. As a result the input-output relationship in low income countries is largely explained by their X-inefficiency, while the same relationship in high income countries generally reflects their factor prices. This hypothesis is consistent with the empirical results calculated from Census data for eighteen countries at various stages of development.

This paper is an analysis of when it will be beneficial for agents engaged in the production of information to form coalitions. The model is cast in a financial market framework, thus leading to an identification of conditions sufficient for the existence of financial intermediaries. Intermediation is shown to improve welfare if informational asymmetries are present, and the information generated to rectify these asymmetries is potentially unreliable. The usual appeal to transactions costs to explain intermediation is not needed.

Reviews the book "The Capital Expenditure," by Arthur V. Corr.