Skip to main content
Log in

Multiple steady states, indeterminacy, and cycles in a basic model of endogenous growth

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to demonstrate that a basic model of endogenous growth with learning by doing may produce a rich array of outcomes. Starting point of our analysis is the Romer (1986a) approach. In contrast to Romer, however, we assume that one unit of investment shows different effects concerning the building up of physical and human capital, so that these variables cannot be merged into one single variable. With this assumption, it can be shown that multiple steady states, indeterminacy of equilibria, and persistent cycles may result in our model.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arrow, K. J. (1962): “The Economic Implications of Learning by Doing”.Review of Economic Studies 29: 155–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arthur, B. W. (1988): “Self-inforcing Mechanisms in Economics”. InThe Economy as an Evolving Complex System, edited by P. W. Anderson, K. J. Arrow, and D. Pines. Redwood City: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asada, T., Semmler, W., and Novak A. (1995): “Endogeneous Growth and the Balanced Growth Equilibrium”. Working paper, New School for Social Research, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Azariadis, C., and Drazen, A. (1990): “Threshold Externalities in Economic Development”.Quarterly Journal of Economics 105: 501–526.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benhabib, J., and Farmer, R. (1994): “Indeterminacy and Increasing Returns”.Journal of Economic Theory 63: 19–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benhabib, J., and Nishimura, K. (1979): “The Hopf Bifurcation and Stability of Closed Orbits in Multisector Models of Optimal Economic Growth”.Journal of Economic Theory 21: 421–444.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benhabib, J., and Perli, R. (1994): “Uniqueness and Indeterminacy: On the Dynamics of Endogenous Growth”.Journal of Economic Theory 63: 113–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benhabib, J., Perli, R., and Xie, D. (1994): “Monopolistic Competition, Indeterminacy and Growth”.Ricerche Economiche 48: 279–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bieshaar, H., and Kleinknecht, A. (1984): “Kondratieff Long Waves in Aggregate Output? An Econometric Test”.Konjunkturpolitik 30: 279–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boldrin, M., and Rustichini, A. (1994): “Growth and Indeterminacy in Dynamic Models with Externalities”.Econometrica 62: 323–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caballe, J., and Santos, M. S. (1993): “On Endogenous Growth with Physical Capital and Human Capital”.Journal of Political Economy 101: 1042–1067.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamley, C. (1993): “Externalities and Dynamics in Models of ‘Learning Or Doing’”.International Economic Review 34: 583–609.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feichtinger, G., and Sorger, G. (1988): “Periodic Research and Development”. InOptimal Control Theory and Economic Analysis 3, edited by G. Feichtinger. Amsterdam: North-Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Futagami, K., and Mino, K. (1993): “Threshold Externalities and Cyclical Growth in a Stylized Model of Capital Accumulation”.Economics Letters 41: 99–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1995): “Public Capital and Patterns of Growth”.Journal of Economics/Zeitschrift für Nationalökonomie 61: 123–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greiner, A., and Hanusch, H. (1994): “Schumpeter's Circular Flow, Learning by Doing and Cyclical Growth”.Journal of Evolutionary Economics 4: 261–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassard, B. D., Kazarinoff, N. D., and Wan, Y.-H. (1981):Theory and Applications of Hopf Bifurcation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, R. G., and Rebelo, S. T. (1993): “Transitional Dynamics and Economic Growth in the Neoclassical Model”.American Economic Review 83: 908–931.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleinknecht, A., and Bain, D. (Eds.) (1992):New Findings in Long-Wave Research. Houndsmills: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koch, K. J. (1995): “Local Stability in Models of Endogenous Growth”. Working paper, University of Konstanz, Konstanz.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levhari, D. (1966): “Extensions of Arrow's Learning by Doing”.Review of Economic Studies 33: 117–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, R. E. (1988): “On the Mechanics of Economic Development”.Journal of Monetary Economics 22: 3–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maddison, A. (1987): “Growth and Slowdown in Advanced Capitalist Economies: Techniques of Quantitative Assessment”.Journal of Economic Literature 25: 649–698.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan, C. B., and Sala-i-Martin, X. (1993): “Transitional Dynamics in Two-Sector Models of Endogenous Growth”.Quarterly Journal of Economics 108: 739–773.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romer, P. M. (1986a): “Increasing Returns and Long-Run Growth”.Journal of Political Economy 94: 1002–1037.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1986b): “Cake Eating, Chattering, and Jumps: Existence Results for Variational Problems”.Econometrica 54: 897–908.

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1987): “Crazy Explanations for the Productivity Slowdown”.NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2: 163–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, N., and Frischtak, C. R. (1983): “Long Waves and Economic Growth”.American Economic Review, Papers and Proceedings 73: 146–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryder, H. E., and Heal, G. M. (1973): “Optimal Growth with Intertemporally Dependent Preferences”.Review of Economic Studies 40: 1–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sala-i-Martin, X. (1990): “Lecture Notes on Economic Growth (II): Five Prototype Models of Endogenous Growth”. Working paper, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumpeter, J. A. (1935):Theorie der wirtschaflichen Entwicklung. München: Duncker & Humblot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shell, K. (1967): “A Model of Inventive Activity and Capital Accumulation”. InEssays on the Theory of Optimal Economic Growth, edited by K. Shell. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfram Research (1991):Mathematica-a System for Doing Mathematics by Computer, Version 2.0. Champaign, IL: Wolfram Research.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Greiner, A., Semmler, W. Multiple steady states, indeterminacy, and cycles in a basic model of endogenous growth. Zeitschrift für Nationalökonomie 63, 79–99 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01237247

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01237247

Keywords

JEL classification

Navigation