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* Tom's Aug 19 edits of calvo_ml lecture

* Tom's Aug 20 edits of two lectures on calvo model

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Co-authored-by: thomassargent30 <ts43@nyu.edu>
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62 changes: 33 additions & 29 deletions lectures/calvo.md
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Expand Up @@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ In addition to what's in Anaconda, this lecture will need the following librarie
This lecture describes several linear-quadratic versions of a model that Guillermo Calvo {cite}`Calvo1978` used to illustrate the **time inconsistency** of optimal government
plans.

Like Chang {cite}`chang1998credible`, we use the models as a laboratory in which to explore consequences of timing protocols for government decision making.
Like Chang {cite}`chang1998credible`, we use these models as laboratories in which to explore consequences of timing protocols for government decision making.

The models focus attention on intertemporal tradeoffs between

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -71,7 +71,11 @@ We specify model fundamentals in ways that allow us to use
linear-quadratic discounted dynamic programming to compute an optimal government
plan under each of our timing protocols.

In addition to what's in Anaconda, this lecture will need the following libraries:
A sister lecture {doc}`calvo_machine_learn` studies some of the same models but does not use dynamic programming.

Instead it uses a **machine learning** approach that does not explicitly recognize the recursive structure structure of the Ramsey problem that Chang {cite}`chang1998credible` saw and that we exploit in this lecture.

In addition to what's in Anaconda, this lecture will use the following libraries:

```{code-cell} ipython3
:tags: [hide-output]
Expand All @@ -90,7 +94,7 @@ import pandas as pd
from IPython.display import display, Math
```

## Model components
## Model Components

There is no uncertainty.

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -224,7 +228,7 @@ $$ (eq_old5a)
The "bliss level" of real balances is $\frac{u_1}{u_2}$ and the inflation rate that attains
it is $-\frac{u_1}{u_2 \alpha}$.
## Friedman's optimal rate of deflation
## Friedman's Optimal Rate of Deflation
According to {eq}`eq_old5a`, the "bliss level" of real balances is $\frac{u_1}{u_2}$ and the inflation rate that attains it is
Expand All @@ -247,9 +251,9 @@ where $\theta^*$ is given by equation {eq}`eq:Friedmantheta`.
To deduce this recommendation, Milton Friedman assumed that the taxes that government must impose in order to acquire money at rate $\mu_t$ do not distort economic decisions.
- for example, the government imposes lump sum taxes that distort no decisions by private agents
- for example, perhaps the government can impose lump sum taxes that distort no decisions by private agents
## Calvo's perturbation of optimal deflation rate
## Calvo's Distortion of Friedman's optimal Deflation Rate
The starting point of Calvo {cite}`Calvo1978` and Chang {cite}`chang1998credible`
is that such lump sum taxes are not available.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -353,7 +357,7 @@ A theory of government
decisions will make $\vec \mu$ endogenous, i.e., a theoretical *output* instead of an *input*.
## Intertemporal structure
## Intertemporal Structure
Criterion function {eq}`eq_old7` and the constraint system {eq}`eq_old4` exhibit the following
structure:
Expand All @@ -374,7 +378,7 @@ We'll study outcomes under a Ramsey timing protocol.
We'll also study outcomes under other timing protocols.
## Four timing protocols
## Four Timing Protocols
We consider four models of government policy making that differ in
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -429,7 +433,7 @@ We'll discuss that topic later in this lecture.
We'll begin with the timing protocol associated with a Ramsey plan.
## A Ramsey planner
## A Ramsey Planner
Here we consider a Ramsey planner that chooses
$\{\mu_t, \theta_t\}_{t=0}^\infty$ to maximize {eq}`eq_old7`
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -592,7 +596,7 @@ $$
\theta_0 = \theta_0^R = - \frac{P_{21}}{P_{22}}
$$
### Representation of Ramsey plan
## Representation of Ramsey Plan
The preceding calculations indicate that we can represent a Ramsey plan
$\vec \mu$ recursively with the following system created in the spirit of Chang {cite}`chang1998credible`:
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -660,7 +664,7 @@ Variation of $ \vec \mu^R, \vec \theta^R, \vec v^R $ over time are symptoms o
equation {eq}`eq_old3`.
### Digression on timeless perspective
## Digression on Timeless Perspective
As our subsequent calculations will verify, $ \vec \mu^R, \vec \theta^R, \vec v^R $ are each monotone sequences that are bounded below and converge from above to limiting values.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -698,7 +702,7 @@ that, relative to a Ramsey plan, alter either
- the timing protocol and/or
- assumptions about how government decision makers think their decisions affect the representative agent's beliefs about future government decisions
## Constrained-to-constant-growth-rate Ramsey plan
## Constrained-to-Constant-Growth-Rate Ramsey Plan
We now describe a model in which we restrict the Ramsey planner's choice set.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -745,7 +749,7 @@ $$ (eq:vcrformula)
government in order eventually to highlight the time-variation of
$\mu_t$ that is a telltale sign of a Ramsey plan's **time inconsistency**.
## Markov perfect governments
## Markov Perfect Governments
We now describe yet another timing protocol.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -845,7 +849,7 @@ Under the Markov perfect timing protocol
* we equate $\mu_t = \mu$ only *after* we have computed a time $t$ government's first-order condition for $\mu_t$.
(compute_lq)=
## Outcomes under three timing protocols
## Outcomes under Three Timing Protocols
We want to compare outcome sequences $\{ \theta_t,\mu_t \}$ under three timing protocols associated with
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1148,7 +1152,7 @@ In the above graph, notice that $\theta^* < \theta_\infty^R < \theta^{CR} < \the
In some subsequent calculations, we'll use our Python code to study how gaps between
these outcome vary depending on parameters such as the cost parameter $c$ and the discount factor $\beta$.
### Ramsey planner's value function
### Ramsey Planner's Value Function
The next code plots the Ramsey Planner's value function $J(\theta)$ as well as the value function
of a constrained Ramsey planner who must choose a constant
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1493,7 +1497,7 @@ in interesting ways.
We leave it to the reader to explore consequences of other constellations of parameter values.
### Time inconsistency of Ramsey plan
### Time Inconsistency of Ramsey Plan
The variation over time in $\vec \mu$ chosen by the Ramsey planner
is a symptom of time inconsistency.
Expand All @@ -1511,7 +1515,7 @@ is a symptom of time inconsistency.
A constrained-to-constant-$\mu$ Ramsey plan is time consistent by construction. So is a Markov perfect plan.
```
### Implausibility of Ramsey plan
### Implausibility of Ramsey Plan
In settings in which governments actually choose sequentially, many economists
regard a time inconsistent plan as implausible because of the incentives to
Expand All @@ -1526,7 +1530,7 @@ economists.
The *no incentive to deviate from the plan* property is what makes the Markov perfect equilibrium concept attractive.
### Ramsey plan strikes back
### Ramsey Plan Strikes Back
Research by Abreu {cite}`Abreu`, Chari and Kehoe {cite}`chari1990sustainable`
{cite}`stokey1989reputation`, and Stokey {cite}`Stokey1991` discovered conditions under which a Ramsey plan can be rescued from the complaint that it is not credible.
Expand All @@ -1537,7 +1541,7 @@ it that can serve to deter deviations.
We turn to such theories of *sustainable plans* next.
## A fourth model of government decision making
## A Fourth Model of Government Decision Making
In this model
Expand All @@ -1554,7 +1558,7 @@ In this model
- at each $t$, the government chooses $\mu_t$ to maximize
a continuation discounted utility.
### Government decisions
### Government Decisions
$\vec \mu$ is chosen by a sequence of government
decision makers, one for each $t \geq 0$.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1584,7 +1588,7 @@ for each $t \geq 0$:
expect an associated $\theta_0^A$ for $t+1$. Here $\vec \mu^A = \{\mu_j^A \}_{j=0}^\infty$ is
an alternative government plan to be described below.
### Temptation to deviate from plan
### Temptation to Deviate from Plan
The government's one-period return function $s(\theta,\mu)$
described in equation {eq}`eq_old6` above has the property that for all
Expand All @@ -1610,7 +1614,7 @@ If the government at $t$ is to resist the temptation to raise its
current payoff, it is only because it forecasts adverse consequences that
its setting of $\mu_t$ would bring for continuation government payoffs via alterations in the private sector's expectations.
## Sustainable or credible plan
## Sustainable or Credible Plan
We call a plan $\vec \mu$ **sustainable** or **credible** if at
each $t \geq 0$ the government chooses to confirm private
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1645,7 +1649,7 @@ But Dilip Abreu showed how to render manageable the number of plans that must be
The key is an object called a **self-enforcing** plan.
### Abreu's self-enforcing plan
### Abreu's Self-Enforcing Plan
A plan $\vec \mu^A$ (here the superscipt $A$ is for Abreu) is said to be **self-enforcing** if
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1710,7 +1714,7 @@ agents' expectation.
We shall use a construction featured in Abreu ({cite}`Abreu`) to construct a
self-enforcing plan with low time $0$ value.
### Abreu's carrot-stick plan
### Abreu's Carrot-Stick Plan
Abreu ({cite}`Abreu`) invented a way to create a self-enforcing plan with a low
initial value.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1745,7 +1749,7 @@ $$
For an appropriate $T_A$, this plan can be verified to be self-enforcing and therefore credible.
### Example of self-enforcing plan
### Example of Self-Enforcing Plan
The following example implements an Abreu stick-and-carrot plan.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1861,7 +1865,7 @@ def check_ramsey(clq, T=1000):
check_ramsey(clq)
```
### Recursive representation of a sustainable plan
### Recursive Representation of a Sustainable Plan
We can represent a sustainable plan recursively by taking the
continuation value $v_t$ as a state variable.
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1892,7 +1896,7 @@ depends on whether the government at $t$ confirms the representative agent's
expectations by setting $\mu_t$ equal to the recommended value
$\hat \mu_t$, or whether it disappoints those expectations.
## Whose plan is it?
## Whose Plan is It?
A credible government plan $\vec \mu$ plays multiple roles.
Expand All @@ -1908,7 +1912,7 @@ the action that it wants.
An argument in favor of the *simply confirm* interpretation is gathered from staring at the key inequality {eq}`eq_old100a` that defines a credible policy.
## Comparison of equilibrium values
## Comparison of Equilibrium Values
We have computed plans for
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1946,7 +1950,7 @@ These include
- a better plan -- possibly one that attains values associated with
Ramsey plan -- that is not self-enforcing.
## Note on dynamic programming squared
## Note on Dynamic Programming Squared
The theory deployed in this lecture is an application of what we nickname **dynamic programming squared**.
Expand Down
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