Are sunspots learnable? An experimental investigation in a simple macroeconomic model

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control
Year: 2020
Volume: 110
Issue: C

Authors (3)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We conduct experiments with human subjects in a model with a positive production externality in which productivity is a nondecreasing function of the average level of employment of other firms. The model has three steady states and a sunspot equilibrium that fluctuates between the high and low steady states. Steady states are payoff ranked: low values give lower profits than higher values. We investigate whether subjects can learn a sunspot equilibrium. We observe coordination on the extrinsic announcements in our experimental economies. Cases of apparent convergence to the low and high steady states are also observed.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:dyncon:v:110:y:2020:i:c:s0165188919301721
Journal Field
Macro
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-24