Government policy and the minimization of the social loss function Nissim Ben David Abstract The social loss function used in the paper is quadratic in deviations of actual from optimal values of the objectives. In order to activate an optimal policy suggested in this paper, the planner should estimate an econometric system of equations that relate between the values of exogenous policy variables and targeted endogenous variables. Minimizing social loss, subject to estimated equations constraints, the policy planner can determine the optimal level of policy exogenous variables. Assuming a policy planner in the U.S. is trying to minimize social damage, I estimated the optimal policy of relevant exogenous variables, according to the suggested model. Key Words: Government policy; social loss function Ben-David Nissim, Department of Economics and Management, Emek Yezreel Academic College, 19300 Emek Yezreel, Israel. Email: NissimB@yvc.ac.il Phone 972-4-6398847, Fax 972-4-6291452 1 I. Introduction The recent literature has seen a growth of interest in the interactions between fiscal and monetary policies, after a long period in which each had been analyzed in isolation as if there was only one policymaker who was able to act alone and in his/her own self-interest. The idea that policies might interact is an old one, going back to Tinbergen (1954), Mundell (1962) and Cooper (1969), as well as a recent one, for example, Dixit and Lambertini (2003), Persson et al. (2006), Hughes Hallett et al. (2005). Monetary policies cannot be committed if fiscal policies are not committed at the same time. However, the public must be aware that they are committed. This can be achieved through monitoring, or because the institutional structure locks the policymakers (see Hughes Hallett and Weymark (2007)). The literature on discretion and commitment since the works of Kydland and Prescott (1977) and Barro and Gordon (1983) assumes that policymakers have preferences over inflation and employment that correspond to a quadratic loss function. How do and should authorities minimize the loss function? Most of the literature discusses this in terms of a commitment to a simple reaction function, a simple “instrument rule”, where the central bank mechanically sets its instrument rate (usually a short interest rate like a one or two-week repurchase rate) as a given simple function of a small subset of the information available to the central bank. Although several different simple instrument rules have been discussed since the 1970s, the best known and most discussed is the Taylor (1993) rule, where the interest rate is 2 determined as a function of the gap between actual and optimal rate of inflation and the gap between actual and potential output. A large volume of research, for instance in Taylor (1999), has examined the properties of the Taylor (1993) rule and its variants in different models, with respect to determinacy of equilibria, performance measured by social loss, robustness of different models, etc. Several papers have also estimated empirical reaction functions of this type. Inflation targeting obviously involves an attempt to minimize deviations from the explicit inflation target. Whereas there may previously have been some controversy about whether inflation targeting involves concern about output gap variability, there is agreement in the literature that this is indeed the case, for instance, Fischer (1996), King (1996), Taylor (1996) and Svensson (1996) in Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (1996) all discuss inflation targeting with reference to a loss function. In practice, no central bank follows an instrument rule, either explicit or implicit. Every central bank uses more information than the suggested simple rules rely on, especially in open economies. In particular, no central bank responds in a prescribed mechanical way to a prescribed information set. As is known by every student of modern central banking, the bank's Board or Monetary Policy Committee reconsiders its monetary policy decisions more or less from scratch at frequent intervals, by taking all the relevant information into account. The bank frequently reconsiders (and, at best, re-optimizes); once and for all, and then simply applies the resulting reaction function forever after. This reconsideration of the bank's decisions means that the situation is best described as decision-making under 3 discretion rather than commitment; there will inevitably be reconsiderations and new decisions in the future, and, in practice, there is no commitment mechanism for preventing this. Therefore, the role of simple or complex instrument rules is, in practice, never to commit the banks. Instead, they serve as base-lines, that is, as comparisons and frames of reference, for the actual policy and its evaluation. In contrast, targeting rules have the potential to serve as a kind of commitment (namely a commitment to a loss function, although it is still minimized under discretion), and are potentially closer to the actual practice and decision framework of (at least) inflation targeting central banks. Under such policy circumstances, with the banks and fiscal authorities not committed to instrument rules, actual policy achievement should be compared to potential achievements, given that authorities would have been committed. Such a comparison can be made by calculating deviations from targets under discretion (actual deviations) and under commitment. In this paper, I present a model with a policy planner that tries to minimize a social loss function. The social loss is determined as a sum of square deviations of actual from optimal levels of targeted economic variables. In the first step, by using historical data, the social planner estimates a simultaneous system of equations that connect between endogenous (target) and exogenous (instrument) variables1. In the second step, the planner minimizes the social loss function subject to the constraints determined by the 1 What the literature has done instead is to obtain a set of equilibrium constraints which comes from theory. 4 simultaneous estimated equations. The optimization creates a set of equations that determine the optimal level of the exogenous variables (instruments). Given actual and optimal levels of the exogenous variables, the optimal and actual social loss are calculated. In each time period ,the gap between actual and optimal loss is calculated. The results point into times with bad economic policy and times with good economic policy. This paper is organized in the following manner: The model structure and an example are laid down in section II. Estimation of the model by using U.S. data is presented in Section III, and Section IV presents the summary. II. The model Let us assume that a social planner is trying to minimize social loss function by taking k optimal policy measures. The social loss function is of the form: Min (Y i 1 i Yi ) 2 * * , where Yi is the optimal value of economic variable i, while Yi is its actual value. Yi might be a macro economic variable such as inflation level, unemployment rate, production rate of growth etc. The planner can use N different economic policy measures, where X l l 1,2...., N is the amount of policy measure he can take. Notice that X l might be the quantity of money, or amount of government expenditure etc. 5 . There is a connection between policy measures taken and the value of targeted economic variables as well as simultaneous connections between the levels of the economic targets as presented by equation (1). (1) Yi f (Y j ,Y j 1 ..., Yk ..., X 1 , X 2 .... X N ) i 1,2,....k , j 1,2,... and i j Assuming a linear connection, we can define (1) as: (1a) N k l 1 j 1 Yi ail X l bijY j i j i i 1,2,....k If we can estimate (1a) as a simultaneous system of equations (by using a proper data set) and identify all k equations, each of the Yi variables can be defined as a function of the Xi exogenous variables. We would get: (1b) Yi F (ail , bij , X l , ei ) i 1,2,....k , l 1,2,...N , j 1,2,....k Where ei is estimation error. The planner problem can be defined as: k (2) Min X1 , X 2 ... X N (Y Y i 1 s.tYi F (ail , bij , X l , ei ) i i * 2 ) i 1,2,....k , l 1,2,...N , We should notice that estimation errors are included at the constraints and will affect policy instruments levels. Substituting the constraint into the minimization function we get: 6 j 1,2,....k k ( 2a ) ( F (a Min X 1 , X 2 ... X i 1 N , bij , X l , ei ) Yi ) 2 * il Differentiating (2a) in respect to Xi and equalizing to zero we get: X l G (ail , bij , ei ) (3) i 1,2,....k , l 1,2,...N , j 1,2,....k Example Let us assume that the social planner is trying to optimize the levels of two economic variables Y1 and Y2. Their optimal value is Y1* and Y2* , while the planners' loss (Y1 Y1 ) 2 (Y2 Y2 ) 2 . * function is: (4) * The following equations define the connection between policy measures and policy targets: Y1 12Y2 11 X 1 1 ( 4a ) Y2 21Y1 22 X 2 2 (We should notice that given a data set of Y1t, Y2t, X1t and X2t these two equations can be estimated as a simultaneous system with exact identification). The planner problem is: (4b) (Y1 Y1 ) 2 (Y2 Y2 ) 2 * Min ^ s.t * ^ Y1 12 Y2 11 X 1 e1 ^ ^ Y2 21 Y1 22 X 2 e2 Using (4a) we isolate Y1 and Y2 and get: ^ ' ( 4a ) 11 ^ ^ ^ 12 22 12 1 Y1 ( )X1 ( )X 2 ( )e1 ( )e 2 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 1 12 21 1 12 21 1 12 21 1 12 21 ^ ^ 21 11 Y2 ( )X1 ( ^ ^ 1 12 21 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 21 12 22 22 22 12 21 ^ ^ 1 12 21 Defining 7 ^ 21 )X 2 ( )e1 ( ^ ^ 1 12 21 ^ ^ ^ ^ 21 12 1 12 21 ^ ^ 1 12 21 )e1 ^ ^ 11 ^ ^ 1 12 21 ^ A11 , ^ ^ 1 12 21 A21 , ^ ^ ^ 1 12 21 ^ 21 11 ^ ^ 12 22 ^ ^ 1 A12 , ^ ^ 1 12 21 ^ ^ ^ A13 , ^ ^ 1 12 21 ^ 1 12 21 ^ 21 12 22 22 22 12 21 ^ 12 A14 ^ ^ 21 A22 , ^ ^ 1 12 21 A23 , ^ ^ ^ 21 12 1 12 21 ^ ^ 1 12 21 A24 We get: Y1 A11 X 1 A12 X 2 A13e1 A14 e2 (4a '' ) Y2 A21 X 1 A22 X 2 A23e1 A24 e2 Substituting (4a '' ) into ( 4) , we get: (4 ' ) Min X1 , X 2 ( A11 X 1 A12 X 2 A13e1 A14 e2 Y1 ) 2 ( A21 X 1 A22 X 2 A23e1 A24 e2 Y2 ) 2 * * Differentiating (4' ) in respect to X1 and X2 we get: (a) * * 2 A11 ( A11 X 1 A12 X 2 A13 e1 A14 e2 Y1 ) 2 A21 ( A21 X 1 A22 X 2 A23 e1 A24 e2 Y2 ) 0 X 1 * * 2 A12 ( A11 X 1 A12 X 2 A13 e1 A14 e2 Y1 ) 2 A22 ( A21 X 1 A22 X 2 A23 e1 A24 e2 Y2 ) 0 X 2 Isolating X1 and X2 from (a) and (b) we get X1 and X2 as function of the A's (b) * * parameters and of e1, e2, Y1 and Y2 . III. Optimal levels of inflation, unemployment and trade balance deficit in the U.S. Let us assume that policy planners in the U.S. are trying to achieve a certain optimal decrease in inflation rate, unemployment rate, and trade balance deficit. The optimal target can be defined by D(dcpi) * - targeted decrease of inflation rate, D(unemp) * - targeted decrease of unemployment rate and D(netexpor ts) * - targeted decrease in trade of balance deficit. The planner problem is: (5) Min (D(dcpi) D(dcpi) * ) 2 (D(unemp) D(unemp) * ) 2 (D(netexpor ts) D(netexpor ts) * ) 2 8 Estimation of constraints First, we should estimate a simultaneous system of equations that would define the connections between the above endogenous variables and exogenous economic policy measures. The exogenous variables are controlled by the planner and we assume them to be Dprime - the rate of change of prime interest rate, Dgovexp – rate of change in government expenses, Dgovreceipt – rate of change in government receipts, Dm2 - the rate of change in M2 stock of money and D1, D2 and D3 - quarterly dummy variables. Data I used U.S. quarterly data for the period 1990.1-2008.3 of the consumer price index, government expenses, government receipts, M2 – money supply, net exports, net government savings, prime rate and unemployment rate2. First, in Table 1 we examine the stationarity of various series by applying the Augmented Dickey-Fuller Test. 2 Sources of data are: U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics: U.S. Department of Labor and Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Some data were originally published as monthly series and were transformed into quarterly series. 9 Table 1 Augmented Dickey-Fuller Test Null Hypothesis: variable has a unit root Augmented DickeyProb.* Fuller test statistic D(dcpi) - (change in rate of inflation) -10.29375 0.0000 -3.522887 -2.901779 Dgovexp - (rate of change in government expenditure) Dgovreceipt - (rate of change in government receipts) Dm2 - (Rate of change in M2 money supply) D(dm2) - (Rate of change in of change in M2 money supply) D(netexports) - (Rate of change in net exports) Dnetgovsave - (rate of change in net government savings) Dprime - (rate of change in prime rate) -6.760044 0.0380 -3.522887 -2.901779 -4.124214 0.0017 -3.522887 -2.901779 -2.046790 0.2667 -3.522887 -2.901779 -10.74021 0.0001 -3.522887 -2.901779 -7.176561 0.0000 -3.522887 -2.901779 -8.266743 0.0000 -3.522887 -2.901779 -3.591650 0.0082 -3.522887 -2.901779 D(unemp) - (Change in unemployment -3.648787 rate) *MacKinnon (1996) one-sided p-values 0.0070 -3.522887 -2.901779 10 Test critical values: 1% level Test critical values: 5% level The only non-stationary series is Dm2. I replaced it by using the difference series D(dm2), which is stationary. Several simultaneous versions were estimated by using the following instrumental variables: d(dm2) , Dprime , Dgovexp, Dgovreceip t , Dnetgovsav e , d1, d2 , d3 . After removing non-significant variables, I arrived at the following system of forecasted equations (see regression results in appendix 1). ^ (5a) d(dcpi) 0.124585 * dgovexp - 0.480559 * d3 ^ d(unemp ) -0.019625dprime ^ dnetexport -30.11515 * d(unemp) 13.39481 * d2 As we can see, there is no simultaneous relations between d(dcpi) – the change in inflation rate and d(unemp) – the change in unemployment rate. The change in net export (dnetexport) is negatively effected by the change in unemployment rate. The endogenous variables are effected only by dgovexp and dprime, which are determined by the policy planner. At this stage, the planner should minimize the social damage subject to estimated constraints. The planner problem becomes: (5 ' ) s.t Min (D(dcpi) D(dcpi) * ) 2 (D(unemp) D(unemp) * ) 2 (D(netexpor ts) D(netexpor ts) * ) 2 (6a) d(dcpi) 0.124585 * dgovexp - 0.480559 * d3 e1 (6b) d(unemp) -0.019625dprime e2 (6c) dnetexport -30.11515 * d(unemp) 13.39481 * d2 e3 Substituting (6b) into (6c) we get: 11 (6c) ' dnetexport -30.11515 * [-0.019625dprime e2] 13.39481 * d2 e3 0.59101 * dprime 13.39481 * d2 - 30.11515 * e2 e3 Substituting (6a), (6b) and (6c)' into (5) we get: (5) '' Min (0.124585 * dgovexp - 0.480559 * d3 e1 D(dcpi) * ) 2 (-0.019625dprime e2 D(unemp) * ) 2 (0.59101* dprime 13.39481* d2 - 30.11515 * e2 e3 D(netexpor ts) * ) 2 Differentiating (5 ) '' in respect to dgovexp , and dprime we get: (a ' ) (b ' ) 2 * 0.124585(0.124585 * dgovexp - 0.480559 * d3 e 1 D(dcpi) * ) 0 dgovexp 2 * -0.019625(-0.019625dprime e2 D(unemp) * ) dprime 2 * 0.59101(0.59101* dprime 13.39481* d2 - 30.11515 * e2 e3 D(netexpor ts) * ) 0 Solving (a') and (b') we get: ( a '' ) dgovexp 3.857278d3 - 8.02665 * e1 8.026648 * D(dcpi) * (b '' ) dprime 35.63596 * e2 0.03925 * D(unemp) * -15.8329 * d 2 1.18202 * e3 1.18202 * D(net exp orts) * Given d3, e1, D(dcpi)*, D(unemp)*, d2, e3 and D(netexports)*, we get an optimal level of Dgovexp and dprime – which are determined exogenously by a planner (these optimal policy levels would minimize social damage presented in equation (5)). We should notice that the level of policy measures taken are defined as function of constants (parameters and targeted values for the objectives), and of the error terms of the objectives. The authority observes the estimation errors (e1, e2, e3) and then set policy instruments levels. Such a policy takes in consideration the fact that econometric models are not accurate. By using estimated errors the policy maker is improving his ability to reach closer to the targets and to minimize social loss. 12 Simulation Let us assume that the planner determines the following targeted levels: D(dcpi)*=-0.5%, D(unemp)*=-0.5% and D(netexports)*=+2%. Using (6a), (6b) and (6c) I calculated the errors e1, e2 and e3. Using (a'') and (b''), I calculated the optimal levels of dgovexp and dprime for the period 1990.1 – 2008.3. Figure 1 present actual and optimal levels of the rate of change in government expenditure. 13 Figure 1 actual and optimal rate of change in governemnt expenditure actual optimal 20 15 10 5 0 19 90 19 91 19 92 19 93 19 94 19 95 19 96 19 97 19 98 19 99 20 00 20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 -5 -10 -15 As we can see, actual change in government expenditure is much less volatile in comparison to the optimal desired change in government expenditure. 14 Figure 2 presents actual and optimal levels of the rate of change in the prime interest rate. Figure 2 actual and optimal rate of change in prime rate 20 15 actual optimal 10 5 0 19 90 19 .2 91 19 .2 92 19 .2 93 19 .2 94 19 .2 95 19 .2 96 19 .2 97 19 .2 98 19 .2 99 20 .2 00 20 .2 01 20 .2 02 20 .2 03 20 .2 04 20 .2 05 20 .2 06 20 .2 07 20 .2 08 .2 -5 -10 -15 -20 -25 As we can see, the actual rate of change in the prime rate is moving in the same direction as the optimal change of the prime rate. 15 Optimal forecasted levels of targeted economic variables versus actual levels Given that government authorities would have used the model, presented in this paper, to activated the optimal rate of change in government expenditures and prime rate during the period 1990.1 – 2008.3, I forecasted the rate of change in inflation rate, unemployment rate and trade balance deficit. Figures 3, 4, and 5 present actual versus optimal levels. 16 19 90 19 .2 91 19 .3 92 19 .4 94 19 .1 95 19 .2 96 19 .3 97 19 .4 99 20 .1 00 20 .2 01 20 .3 02 20 .4 04 20 .1 05 20 .2 06 20 .3 07 .4 19 90 19 .2 91 19 .2 92 19 .2 93 19 .2 94 19 .2 95 19 .2 96 19 .2 97 19 .2 98 19 .2 99 20 .2 00 20 .2 01 20 .2 02 20 .2 03 20 .2 04 20 .2 05 20 .2 06 20 .2 07 20 .2 08 .2 19 90 19 .3 91 19 .3 92 19 .3 93 19 .3 94 19 .3 95 19 .3 96 19 .3 97 19 .3 98 19 .3 99 20 .3 00 20 .3 01 20 .3 02 20 .3 03 20 .3 04 20 .3 05 20 .3 06 20 .3 07 20 .3 08 .3 Figure 3 actual versus forecasted optimal levels of inflation rate of change Dcpi dcpif 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 Figure 4 dunemp actual versus forecasted optimal levels of unemployment rate of change 15 dunempf 10 5 0 -5 -10 Figure 5 actual versus forecasted optimal levels of trade balance rate of change dnetexport dnetexportf 150 100 50 0 -50 -100 17 As we can see, the optimal forecasted level of inflation is lower than the actual level and the rate of change in unemployment and trade of balance is much more stable than the actual rate of change. Optimal versus actual social loss For each time period, we can calculate social loss as defined by (5') as well as the potential social loss given that government authorities would have activated the optimal rate of change in government expenditures and prime rate during the period 1990.1 – 2008.3. Figure 6 presents actual versus "optimal" social loss, while figure 7 presents the difference between actual and optimal social loss, excluding second quarter of 1992, where the actual deviates sharply from optimal policy (see also table in appendix 2). 18 19 90 19 .3 91 19 .4 93 . 19 1 94 19 .2 95 19 .3 96 19 .4 98 19 .1 99 20 .2 00 . 20 3 01 20 .4 03 20 .1 04 20 .2 05 20 .3 06 20 .4 08 .1 19 90 19 .3 92 19 .1 93 19 .3 95 19 .1 96 19 .3 98 19 .1 99 20 .3 01 20 .1 02 20 .3 04 20 .1 05 20 .3 07 20 .1 08 .3 Figure 6 Log of Actual Versus Optimal Social Loss 10000 1000 100 actual optimal 10 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 Figure 7 The Difference Between Actual and Optimal Social Loss 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 -500 19 IV. Summary This paper presents a theoretical frame that enables us to analyze the quality of government economic policy, and demonstrates its application by using U.S. quarterly data for the period 1990.1-2008.3. The government is trying to minimize a social loss function, where the loss is defined as a square of the deviation of actual from optimal levels of targeted economic variables. The minimization is done subject to constraints that determine the level of the targeted economic variables as a function of government economic measures taken by the government. In this paper, constraints are estimated as a simultaneous system of equations that connect between the targeted (endogenous) variables and the policy measures (exogenous variables). Minimization of the social loss subject to the system of constraints would determine each policy measure as a function of optimal levels of targeted variables, of estimated parameters and of the estimated error terms of the simultaneous system. Given the calculated optimal level of policy measures, the level of targeted economic variables and the optimal potential loss are defined. In the relevant literature, instead of empirically estimating the structural equations, the policy rules are obtained by a set of equilibrium constraints which comes from theory. Instead, empirically estimating the structural equations for the economy would enable us to use more accurate information including the use of estimated errors in order to improve policy. Using U.S. data, I estimated a system of simultaneous equations. The endogenous variables are the change in inflation rate, the change in unemployment rate and the change in trade balance deficit, while exogenous variables were economic policy measures controlled by the government. After removing non-significant variables, the 20 system of constraints was defined. Only the change in prime interest rate and the change in government expenses were found to be significant, while all other exogenous variables were not significant. Given the estimates’ simultaneous system of constraints, I present a simulation with a planner that tries to determine optimal levels of prime interest rate and government expenses. Assuming defined optimal levels of inflation, unemployment and trade balance deficit, the planner minimizes the loss function subject to constraints and determines the optimal change in the prime rate and in government expenses. Given government optimal policy, the change in the inflation rate, unemployment rate and trade balance deficit is determined, as well as the social loss. I compared the actual social loss in each quarter, calculated by using the actual change in inflation rate, unemployment rate and trade balance deficit, to optimal social loss calculated for optimal levels of government policy (according to the suggested model). We should notice that during the nineties, the actual social loss is much larger than the optimal social loss, while during the 2000's the gap is much smaller. We can also see that the actual change in government expenditure is much less volatile in comparison to the optimal desired change in government expenditure while the actual rate of change in the prime rate is moving in the same direction as the optimal rate of prime rate. I should emphasize that optimum levels of endogenous variables in the simulation are for demonstration purposes and not necessarily equal to real government optimum levels. 21 Appendix 1 System: SYS03 Estimation Method: Two-Stage Least Squares Sample: 1990:3 2008:2 Included observations: 72 Total system (balanced) observations 216 Prob. t-Statistic Std. Error Coefficient 0.0053 2.815335 0.0003 -3.654187 0.0000 -7.155182 0.0763 -1.781049 0.0069 2.728402 0.044252 0.124585 0.131509 -0.480559 0.002743 -0.019625 16.90865 -30.11515 4.909397 13.39481 C(1) C(2) C(3) C(4) C(5) 2.736980 Determinant residual covariance Equation: D(DCPI)=C(1)*DGOVEXP+C(2)*D3 Instruments: D(DM2) DPRIME DGOVEXP DGOVRECEIPT DNETGOVSAVE D1 D2 D3 C Observations: 72 0.016389 Mean dependent var 0.186141 R-squared 0.576056 S.D. dependent var 0.174514 Adjusted Rsquared 19.17510 Sum squared resid 0.523383 S.E. of regression 2.396311 Durbin-Watson stat Equation: D(UNEMP)=C(3)*DPRIME Instruments: D(DM2) DPRIME DGOVEXP DGOVRECEIPT DNETGOVSAVE D1 D2 D3 C Observations: 72 0.000000 Mean dependent var 0.418969 R-squared 0.212445 S.D. dependent var 0.418969 Adjusted Rsquared 1.861881 Sum squared resid 0.161937 S.E. of regression 1.350228 Durbin-Watson stat Equation: DNETEXPORT=C(4)*D(UNEMP)+C(5)*D2 Instruments: D(DM2) DPRIME DGOVEXP DGOVRECEIPT DNETGOVSAVE D1 D2 D3 C Observations: 72 5.064996 Mean dependent var 0.041472 R-squared 21.09676 S.D. dependent var 0.027778 Adjusted Rsquared 30289.68 Sum squared resid 20.80167 S.E. of regression 2.008938 Durbin-Watson stat 22 Appendix 2 actualoptimal 272.7139 35.00415 86.64828 6.981691 68.93788 41.00378 77.8414 122.8721 36.59608 138.796 20.9222 87.90471 23.06004 20.22669 -4.33913 25.2837 73.36688 126.1553 14.18991 39.24251 -4.5306 5.066887 32.72137 41.81961 19.4784 -0.36864 0.542032 161.082 20.27459 4.492652 43.25133 1.792252 -37.8394 7.898017 143.7977 optimal 2.321866 7.027815 1.374278 0.140818 12.64356 39.00222 19.26841 75.80888 13.9393 0.247766 0.106574 5.708692 4.842885 0.757846 6.109527 0.316046 0.388641 0.115518 18.49341 23.27112 17.41522 13.35796 12.35773 12.53663 7.451201 7.790248 4.173479 2.337129 2.732929 0.384922 1.972657 10.97517 45.0516 65.81326 1.318943 actual 275.0357 42.03197 88.02255 7.122509 81.58144 80.006 97.10981 198.681 50.53538 139.0437 21.02877 93.6134 27.90292 20.98454 1.770397 25.59974 73.75552 126.2708 32.68332 62.51363 12.88462 18.42484 45.0791 54.35624 26.9296 7.421608 4.715511 163.4191 23.00752 4.877574 45.22399 12.76742 7.21221 73.71128 145.1166 2000.1 2000.2 2000.3 2000.4 2001.1 2001.2 2001.3 2001.4 2002.1 2002.2 2002.3 2002.4 2003.1 2003.2 2003.3 2003.4 2004.1 2004.2 2004.3 2004.4 2005.1 2005.2 2005.3 2005.4 2006.1 2006.2 2006.3 2006.4 2007.1 2007.2 2007.3 2007.4 2008.1 2008.2 2008.3 actualoptimal 163.6351 60.70892 2303.134 1725.848 42.50045 32.02403 1106.633 18863.1 297.6822 233.9737 108.1156 924.3821 90.42925 25.36571 24.86998 475.3622 26.77915 33.03586 -3.14159 140.5861 997.838 105.7282 387.9561 231.5728 429.8938 646.4907 336.4326 222.6127 170.292 264.8409 145.4209 684.8842 61.83876 -2.98961 378.1906 462.5066 169.4422 31.45208 23 optimal 1.158359 0.174145 10.65569 6.450327 1.97958 13.15576 41.32788 0.002133 8.944282 0.084322 0.020403 0.018108 0.006864 0.037962 0.013405 35.21598 13.21965 11.69613 12.61992 0.743799 1.138836 0.059932 3.385642 0.253782 0.000685 0.00038 0.028696 1.636604 0.208046 0.005877 0.00793 0.001061 0.030759 7.972284 0.877543 0.164063 3.412016 1.926792 actual 164.7935 60.88306 2313.79 1732.298 44.48003 45.17979 1147.96 18863.11 306.6265 234.058 108.136 924.4002 90.43612 25.40367 24.88338 510.5782 39.9988 44.73198 9.478337 141.3298 998.9768 105.7882 391.3417 231.8266 429.8945 646.4911 336.4613 224.2493 170.5001 264.8468 145.4288 684.8853 61.86952 4.982672 379.0681 462.6707 172.8543 33.37888 1990.3 1990.4 1991.1 1991.2 1991.3 1991.4 1992.1 1992.2 1992.3 1992.4 1993.1 1993.2 1993.3 1993.4 1994.1 1994.2 1994.3 1994.4 1995.1 1995.2 1995.3 1995.4 1996.1 1996.2 1996.3 1996.4 1997.1 1997.2 1997.3 1997.4 1998.1 1998.2 1998.3 1998.4 1999.1 1999.2 1999.3 1999.4 Bibliography Barro, R.J., Gordon, D.B. 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