Skip to main content
Article
Macroeconomies as constructively rational games
Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control
  • Ekaterina Sinitskaya, Iowa State University
  • Leigh Tesfatsion, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Submitted Manuscript
Publication Date
1-1-2015
DOI
10.1016/j.jedc.2015.09.011
Abstract

Real-world decision-makers are forced to be locally constructive; that is, their decisions are necessarily constrained by their interaction networks, information, beliefs, and physical states. This study transforms an otherwise standard dynamic macroeconomic model into an open-ended dynamic game by requiring consumers and firms with intertemporal utility and profit objectives to be locally constructive. Tested locally constructive decision processes for the consumers and firms range from simple reactive reinforcement learning to adaptive dynamic programming (ADP). Computational experiments are used to explore macroeconomic performance under alternative decision-process combinations relative to a social planner benchmark solution. A key finding is that simpler decision processes can outperform more sophisticated decision processes such as ADP. However, memory length permitting some degree of adaptive foresight is critical for good performance.

Comments

This is a working paper of an article from Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Vol. 61 (2015), 152-182, doi:10.1016/j.jedc.2015.09.011.

Citation Information
Ekaterina Sinitskaya and Leigh Tesfatsion. "Macroeconomies as constructively rational games" Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control Vol. 61 (2015) p. 152 - 182
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/leigh-tesfatsion/12/