Financial intermediation and the Great Depression: a multiple equilibrium interpretation

Russell Cooper, João Ejarque

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper explores the behavior of the U.S. economy during the interwar period from the perspective of a model in which the existence of nonconvexities in the intermediation process gives rise to a multiplicity of equilibria. The resulting indeterminacy is resolved through a sunspot process which leads to endogenous fluctuations in aggregate economic activity. From this perspective, the Depression period is represented as a regime shift associated with a financial crisis. Our model economy has properties which are broadly consistent with observations over the interwar period. Contrary to observation, the model predicts a negative correlation of consumption and investment as well as a highly volatile capital stock. Our model of financial crisis reproduces many aspects of the Great Depression, though the model predicts a much sharper fall in investment than is observed in the data. Modifications to our model (adding durable goods and a capacity utilization choice) do not overcome these deficiencies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)285-323
Number of pages39
JournalCarnegie-Rochester Confer. Series on Public Policy
Volume43
Issue numberC
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1995

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