A utilização de modelos de equilíbrio-geral estocásticos e dinâmicos (DSGE) para o estudo detalhado das relações entre variáveis econômicas reais e nominais tem crescido substancialmente nos últimos anos. Avanços computacionais recentes contribuíram significativamente para este movimento, permitindo que a modelagem DSGE se torne cada vez mais precisa, superando técnicas menos restritivas de modelagem macroeconômica. Contudo, a estimação destes modelos, usualmente realizada através de métodos Bayesianos, apresenta problemas, como a alta dependência da distribuição a priori. A principal inovação desta tese é propor uma solução para estes problemas, ao apresentar e utilizar o método de datacloning para estimar uma versão simplificada do modelo DSGE de Gali e Monacelli (2005), com o objetivo de avaliar a condução da política monetária pelo Banco Central do Brasil (BCB). Os principais resultados encontrados indicam que o BCB segue uma política anti-inflacionária, reage ao produto e a variações cambiais, além de gerar uma trajetória suave para a taxa de juros ao longo do tempo. Foram encontrados indícios de que a alteração de estratégia do BCB a partir de 2010, com a introdução de uma série de medidas macroprudenciais, não configurou quebra na condução da política monetária. / The use of dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models for the detailed study of the relationship between real and nominal economic variables has grown substantially in recent years. Computational advances have contributed significantly to this movement, allowing DSGE modelling to become increasingly precise, surpassing less restrictive macroeconomic modelling techniques. However, the estimation of these models, usually performed with Bayesian methods, presents problems, such as high dependence on the prior distribution. The main innovation of this thesis is to propose a solution to these problems, presenting and using the data cloning method to estimate a simplified version of Gali and Monacelli (2005)’s DSGE model, in order to assess the conduct of monetary policy by the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB). The main findings of this thesis indicate that the BCB follows an anti-inflationary policy, responds to GDP and exchange rate changes, and chooses a smooth interest rate path over time. Evidence suggests that the change in BCB’s strategy from 2010 onwards, with the introduction of a series of macroprudential measures, is not a conclusive indication of a parameter break in its reaction function.

We build a fully microfounded dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, which is estimated employing Bayesian methods. The model captures the most salient features of Austria as a small open economy, the Euro Area (EA) and the United States (US). Further analysis is conducted through numerical simulations to examine how nominal and real shocks are propagated. Besides, welfare cost of nominal rigdities are calculated. We distinguish two sample periods "pre-EMU" and "EMU". In the former, we maintain the assumption of full commitment of respective (independent) Central Banks towards their monetary rules, whereas in the latter, the monetary policy of Austria is fully aligned with the European Central Bank. Main results are derived from Bayesian estimation and simulation of the estimated model. Welfare calculations from the estimated model suggest that in the pre-EMU period, the EA and Austria present welfare costs close to one percent of steady-state comsumption, whereas the U.S. welfare costs is slightly higher (-1.52 percent). As is would be expected, in the second subsample welfare costs in the EA decrease, indicating an improvement in the allocation during the EMU regime (similarly in the U.S.), whereas in Austria welfare costs go up. / Series: EI Working Papers / Europainstitut

Dynamic stochastic general equilibrium models are derived from microeconomic principles and they retain the hypothesis of rational expectations under policy changes. Thus they are resistant to the Lucas critique. The DSGE model has become associated with new Keynesian thinking. The basic New Keynesian model is studied in this thesis. The three equations of this model are dynamic IS curve, Phillips-curve and monetary policy rule. Blanchard and Kahn's approach is introduced as the solution strategy for linearized model. Two methods for evaluating DSGE models are presented -- calibration and Bayesian estimation. Calibrated parametres are used to fit the model to Czech economy. The results of numeric experiments are compared with empricial data from Czech republic. DSGE model's suitability for monetary policy analysis is evaluated.

The central bank is not able to further ease monetary conditions once it ex- hausts the space for managing short-term policy rate. Then it has to turn its attention to unconventional measures. The thesis provides a discussion about the suitability of different unconventional policy tools in the Czech situation while the foreign exchange (FX) interventions have proven to be the most appropriate choice. A New Keynesian small open economy DSGE model estimated for the Czech Republic is enhanced to model the FX interventions and to compare dif- ferent monetary policy rules at the zero lower bound (ZLB). The thesis provides three main findings. First, the volatility of the real and nominal macroeconomic variables is magnified in the response to the domestic demand shock, the for- eign financial shock and the foreign inflation shock. Second, the volatility of prices decreases significantly if the central bank adopts price-level or exchange rate targeting rule. Third, intervening to fix the nominal exchange rate on some particular target or to correct a misalignment of the real exchange rate from its fundamentals serves as a good stabilizer of prices while intervening to smooth the nominal exchange rate movements increases the overall macroeconomic volatility at the ZLB. 1

Diese Dissertation untersucht, wie sich die Ausgestaltung eines Steuersystems – bzw. dessen Änderungen – auf die Dynamik von makroökonomischen Variablen auswirken kann. Die Analyse wird mit Hilfe von allgemeinen Gleichgewichtsmodellen durchgeführt, die Keynesianische Eigenschaften haben und durch die Berücksichtigung von stochastischen Elementen dynamisch sind. Die Arbeit umfasst drei Essays, deren Hauptfokus auf der Eurozone liegt und die politikrelevanten Fragestellungen gewidmet sind. Die Arbeit deckt klassische Themen wie fiskalische Multiplikatoren und „Liability-Side Equivalence“ ab, aber sie beschäftigt sich auch mit dem aktuellen Thema der fiskalischen Abwertung. Das erste Essay untersucht die Auswirkungen von Änderungen in der Mehrwertsteuer auf die gesamt– wirtschaftliche Leistung einer Volkswirtschaft. Die Neuerung gegenüber bisherigen modellbasierten Publikationen über diese Fragestellung besteht in einer realistischen Modellierung des „tax pass-through“, also der Weitergabe von Steueränderung an Konsumenten durch Preisanpassungen. Die Untersuchung zeigt, dass eine empirisch plausible pass-through-Dynamik die kurzfristigen Mehrwertsteuer Multiplikatoren drastisch reduziert gegenüber denen in herkömmlichen Modellen. Die gewonnene Einsicht, dass Standard-Modelle der institutionellen und akademischen Forschung die kurzfristigen Multiplikatoren dramatisch überschätzen, kann potentiell zu einer Verbesserung von modellbasierten Politikempfehlungen beitragen. Das zweite Essay befasst sich mit fiskalischen Abwertungen. Diese Politik zielt auf eine Abwertung des realen Wechselkurses – und damit auf eine Verbesserung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit – ab, ohne dabei die Anpassung eines nominalen Wechselkurses zu erfordern. Sie sieht eine Senkung der Sozialabgaben vor, die durch eine Erhöhung der Mehrwertsteuer finanziert wird. Ein höherer Mehrwertsteuersatz macht importierte Güter teuer, während geminderte Sozialabgaben (und damit geminderte marginale Produktionskosten und Preise) inländische Güter im Ausland billiger machen. In dem Papier betrachten wir eine gemeinsame fiskalische Abwertung aller Peripherieländer der Eurozone. Die Neuerung gegenüber anderen Studien besteht darin, dass Lohnrigiditäten berücksichtigt werden – welche sich für die Effektivität der Reform als zentral erweisen –, und dass wir zwischen zwei Sorten von Abwertungen unterscheiden: Eine, in der Sozialabgaben der Arbeitgeber gesenkt werden, und eine, in der Sozialabgaben der Arbeitnehmer verringert werden. In unserem Modell ist die erstgenannte Form der Abwertung deutlich effektiver. Das dritte Essay untersucht „Liability-Side Equivalence“ im Zusammenhang von Sozialabgaben. Dieses Prinzip besagt, dass die gesetzlich festgelegte Aufteilung der Abgaben zwischen Arbeitgebern und Arbeitnehmern langfristig keinerlei Konsequenzen für die reale Allokation hat. Ich zeige hingegen, dass die Aufteilung der Abgaben Auswirkungen auf makroökonomische Fluktuationen, auf die Effizienz der Allokation, und damit auf die langfristige Produktivität hat. Die einzige nicht in der Literatur übliche Annahme, die für dieses Ergebnis benötigt wird, ist, dass das Sozialsystem ein ausgeglichenes Budget hat. / This thesis analyzes how the configuration of a country’s tax system – or a change to that system – can affect dynamics of macroeconomic aggregates in New-Keynesian Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium models. It contains three essays, each having a primary focus on the Euro Area and each addressing a policy-relevant question. The thesis covers classic topics like fiscal multipliers and Liability-Side Equivalence as well as the more recent subject of Fiscal Devaluations. The first essay analyzes the impact of changes in the value-added tax (VAT) on output. The innovation relative to previous theoretical contributions on this subject is that my model accounts for empirically observed tax pass-through dynamics. I find that the introduction of empirically plausible VAT pass-through dramatically lowers short-run multipliers relative to those obtained if tax pass-through is not rigorously modeled. By showing that workhorse models used in academic and institutional research overestimate the short-run impact of VAT changes, the work might help to improve model-based guidance on the design of discretionary fiscal policy packages. The second essay addresses Fiscal Devaluations, a policy that is aimed at deteriorating the real exchange rate – and thereby improving a country’s competitiveness – absent an adjustable nominal exchange rate. It prescribes a reduction in social security contributions financed by an increase in the VAT. The higher VAT increases the price for imported goods, while the reduction in social security contributions (which lowers marginal production costs and with it producer prices) makes domestic goods cheaper in the importing countries. In the co-authored paper, we analyze the impact of a Fiscal Devaluation jointly undertaken by Europe’s periphery countries. The novelty is that our model features nominal wage rigidity – which is shown to be crucial for the policy’s effectiveness – and that we compare two types of Fiscal Devaluations, one that reduces firms' social security contributions and one that lowers workers' contributions. We find that the former type is considerably more effective than the latter type. The third essay investigates Liability-Side Equivalence in the context of social security contributions. This principle implies that the statutory split of contributions between firms and workers does not matter for the real allocation in the long run. I contradict this notion by showing that it matters for macroeconomic fluctuations, for the efficiency of the allocation, and thereby for long-run productivity in my model. The only non-standard assumption required to generate this result is that the social security system runs a balanced budget.

A literatura sobre economia monetária vem despertando interesse crescente dentro da macroeconomia. Devido aos avanços computacionais, os modelos têm se tornado cada vez mais complexos e precisos, permitindo estudar detalhadamente as relações entre as variáveis reais da economia e as variáveis nominais. Dessa forma, através de um modelo de equilíbriogeral estocástico e dinâmico (DSGE) baseado em Gali e Monacelli (2005), é proposto e estimado um modelo para a economia brasileira através de métodos bayesianos, com o intuito de avaliar se o Banco Central do Brasil (BCB) considera variações cambiais na condução da política monetária. O resultado mais importante do presente trabalho é que não há evidências de que o BCB altere diretamente a trajetória dos juros devido a variações na taxa de câmbio. Um exercício de simulação também é realizado. Conclui-se que a economia acomoda rapidamente choques induzidos separadamente na taxa de câmbio, nos termos de troca, na taxa de juros e na inflação mundial. / The literature on monetary economy has aroused growing interest in macroeconomics. Due to computational advancements, models have been increasingly more complex and accurate, allowing for the in-depth analysis of the relationships between real economic variables and nominal variables. Therefore, using a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, based on Gali and Monacelli (2005), we propose and estimate a model for the Brazilian economy by employing Bayesian methods so as to assess whether the Central Bank of Brazil takes exchange rate fluctuations into account in the conduct of monetary policy. The most striking result of the present study is that the Central Bank of Brazil does not directly change the interest rate path due to exchange rate movements. A simulation exercise is also used. Our conclusion is that the economy quickly accommodates shocks induced separately on the exchange rate, on the terms of trade, on the interest rate, and on global inflation.

L'objet de cette thèse est d'appréhender les dynamiques du marché du travail. Afin d'éclairer sur les mécanismes à l'origine des variations des stocks, comme le taux de chômage, cette thèse étudie en profondeur les flux de travailleurs. En effet, les évolutions des stocks masquent un mouvement incessant de flux entre les états du marché du travail. Lorsque certains individus trouvent un emploi, d'autres perdent le leur, tandis que d'autres encore se retirent de l'activité. Dans le but d'envisager ces éventualités, la thèse propose des analyses appliquées, à partir de données d'enquête, mais aussi des analyses théoriques, basées sur des modèles macroéconomiques modernes. Les quatre essais composant cette thèse suggèrent que l'inactivité et l'accès à l'emploi ont un rôle prédominant dans l'explication du chômage français. Il apparait également que les expériences en matière de transition sur le marché du travail sont diversifiées et dépendent, dans bien des cas, des caractéristiques individuelles. Ainsi, les « moins qualifiés » subissent les trajectoires les moins favorables et les femmes voient leur probabilité de réintégrer le marché du travail se réduire en fonction du nombre d'enfants. Au niveau macroéconomique, il est montré que les flux de travailleurs ne répondent pas de la même manière aux chocs économiques. Qui plus est, l'environnement économique a un impact direct sur les flux. Les périodes d'incertitude, caractérisées par une forte imprévisibilité, modifient le comportement des agents. Les gains retirés des activités de recherche d'emploi étant réduits, moins d'individus souhaitent devenir actifs. / This thesis aims at understanding labor market dynamics. In order to shed light on the mechanisms at the origin of labor market stocks, e.g. the unemployment rate, this thesis studies flows of workers. Indeed, changes in stocks hide a perpetual movement of worker flows between labor market states. When some individuals are finding a job, some others are losing their, while others are withdrawing from participation. To take into account all these alternatives, this thesis proposes applied studies, based on survey data, but also theoretical analyses, based on modern macroeconomic models. The four essays of this thesis suggest that non-participation and return to job are dominant in explaining French unemployment variations. It is also shown that, in terms of worker flows, paths are multiples and depend on individual own characteristics: “unskilled” workers accumulate difficulties on the labor market; women have lower chances of participating when their family size increases. At a macroeconomic level, this thesis shows that worker flows responses to aggregate shocks differ according to their origin. Moreover, the economic environment has a direct impact on worker flows. Times of uncertainty, characterized by a high level of unpredictability, change the behavior of economic agents. As search activities have a lower probability to be successful, fewer individuals move from non-participation to participation.

Dans cette thèse nous examinons différents aspects des fluctuations dans les économies émergentes. Premièrement, afin d’établir les régularités empiriques de ces pays nous examinons le contexte économique des pays du Moyen Orient et d’Afrique du Nord. Ensuite, nous estimons un modèle des cycles réels pour essayer de reproduire les faits stylisés de ces pays, mais aussi pour évaluer la performance de ces modèles néoclassiques augmentés de deux types de chocs de productivité transitoire et permanent. Ceci fait l’objet du chapitre 2 dont le résultat est en faveur de l'hypothèse "Le cycle c'est la tendance" . Le deuxième aspect porte sur l’importance des frictions financières, il est traité dans le troisième chapitre qui introduit des chocs financiers au modèle de croissance stochastique. Nous identifions le rôle des frictions financières dans l’économie tunisienne comme étant un amplificateur de l’effet des chocs de productivité. Le quatrième chapitre porte sur l'analyse de la politique monétaire. Premièrement, nous examinons le régime de ciblage d’inflation où nos résultats empiriques supportent une implémentation de la stricte version du ciblage d’inflation avec une fonction de réaction basée sur des prévisions de l'inflation. Deuxièmement, nous exploitant les règles monétaires optimales en présence de la rigidité d l'information dans le cadre d’un modèle stochastique d’équilibre général (DSGE). Nos résultats, révèlent que les chocs du taux de marge de la force de travail jouent un rôle important dans les fluctuations de l’économie tunisienne, la règle de Taylor produit un taux satisfaisant de bien être, alors que les règles qui ciblent le niveau de prix ne sont pas efficaces. / This thesis investigates different aspects of the fluctuations in emerging economies. First, it examines the MENA countries’ context to establish the empirical regularities. Then, to replicate the MENA countries’ business cycle patterns observed in the annual data, we estimate a standard real business cycle (RBC) model to assess the performance of the neoclassical model with transitory and permanent shocks. This is the purpose of chapter 2 which results support the assumption "The cycle is the trend". The second aspect refers to the importance of financial frictions and is addressed in the third chapter which adds new financial shocks to the stochastic growth model. We determine the role of financial frictions in the Tunisian economy not as the source of business cycle fluctuations but as an amplifier of the effects of total factor of productivity shocks.The fourth chapter analyzes monetary policy in emerging economies. Firstly, we examine the inflation targeting regime under the lens of a New Keynesian forward-looking model. We also, estimate a Taylor rule and some other alternatives in order to determine which rule to adopt within this framework. Empirical results support the implementation of a strict inflation targeting regime, with an inflation forecast based rule as a reaction function. Secondly, we explore the optimal monetary policy rules using a New Keynesian DSGE model. In particular we assume that information stickiness as the only type of rigidity in the model. We find that Whereas, Taylor rule in its original version provides substantial welfare gains, price-level targeting regime was suboptimal.

La tesi è organizzata in tre parti. Ognuna delle quali tratta un aspetto cruciale per la trasmissione della politica monetaria. Nella prima parte si impiega un modello Neo Keynesiano per adattarlo all’economia Italiana. A tal fine, Si stimano le risposte dinamiche, sia simulando il modello e sia utilizzando le serie storiche, impiegando la metodologia SMM. Nella seconda parte sono riportate le nuove evidenze sulla persistenza dell’inflazione, attraverso l’utilizzo di una nuova tecnica di identificazione di un modello “Bayesian VAR”; con l’obiettivo di analizzare gli effetti di vari shock di policy sulle variabili macroeconomiche. La terza parte si propone di fornire le evidenze microeconomiche sull’eterogeneità nelle strategie di determinazione dei prezzi tra le imprese italiane sulla base di un nuovo database longitudinale predisposto dalla Banca d’Italia. L’analisi così articolata si propone di identificare le eterogeneità a livello settoriale e/o territoriale tra le imprese, per trarne importanti implicazioni di policy per l’autorità monetaria. / The thesis is structured in three parts. Each part deals with a crucial aspect for monetary policy transmission. In the first one, I set up a New Keynesian model with to Italian economy. To this end, I estimate the dynamic responses both for the theoretical model and for the data using the SMM technique. Chapter 2 presents new evidence about inflation persistence through a novel technique to identify a Bayesian VAR model, and it analyzes the effects of several policy shocks on the macroeconomic variables. Chapter 3 provides the new micro-evidence on price setting and heterogeneity among Italian companies by using a new longitudinal data provided by the Bank of Italy. This allowed an analysis that captures the regional and sectoral disparities among firms’ price setting. This micro-evidence has a very important policy implication for the monetary authority.

A literatura sobre economia monetária vem despertando interesse crescente dentro da macroeconomia. Devido aos avanços computacionais, os modelos têm se tornado cada vez mais complexos e precisos, permitindo estudar detalhadamente as relações entre as variáveis reais da economia e as variáveis nominais. Dessa forma, através de um modelo de equilíbriogeral estocástico e dinâmico (DSGE) baseado em Gali e Monacelli (2005), é proposto e estimado um modelo para a economia brasileira através de métodos bayesianos, com o intuito de avaliar se o Banco Central do Brasil (BCB) considera variações cambiais na condução da política monetária. O resultado mais importante do presente trabalho é que não há evidências de que o BCB altere diretamente a trajetória dos juros devido a variações na taxa de câmbio. Um exercício de simulação também é realizado. Conclui-se que a economia acomoda rapidamente choques induzidos separadamente na taxa de câmbio, nos termos de troca, na taxa de juros e na inflação mundial. / The literature on monetary economy has aroused growing interest in macroeconomics. Due to computational advancements, models have been increasingly more complex and accurate, allowing for the in-depth analysis of the relationships between real economic variables and nominal variables. Therefore, using a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model, based on Gali and Monacelli (2005), we propose and estimate a model for the Brazilian economy by employing Bayesian methods so as to assess whether the Central Bank of Brazil takes exchange rate fluctuations into account in the conduct of monetary policy. The most striking result of the present study is that the Central Bank of Brazil does not directly change the interest rate path due to exchange rate movements. A simulation exercise is also used. Our conclusion is that the economy quickly accommodates shocks induced separately on the exchange rate, on the terms of trade, on the interest rate, and on global inflation.