Measuring Potential Output within a State-Space Framework Staff Working Paper 1999-9 Maral Kichian In this paper we measure potential output (and consequently the output gap) using state-space models. Given that the estimated output gap is used as an indicator to measure the extent of inflationary pressures in the economy, we evaluate the use of such models for the implementation of monetary policy. Our starting point is the Gerlach […] Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Potential output JEL Code(s): D, D2, D24
The Sale of Durable Goods by a Monopolist in a Stochastic Environment Staff Working Paper 1998-18 Gabriel Srour This paper examines the sale of durable goods by a monopolist in a stochastic partil equilibrium setting. It analyzes the responses of prices and output to various types of shocks and notes the differences with non-durable goods and competitive markets. It shows that behavior in this model with constant marginal costs of production is in […] Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Market structure and pricing JEL Code(s): D, D4
Consumer Attitudes, Uncertainty, and Consumer Spending Staff Working Paper 1998-16 Denise Côté, Marianne Johnson This study examines the link between consumer expenditures and the Conference Board's Index of Consumer Attitudes, an index highly regarded for some time as a useful leading indicator of consumer expenditures. However, the theory that identifies why it may be useful in an analysis of consumption is less well established. To explore this question, we […] Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Domestic demand and components, Economic models JEL Code(s): D, D1, D12, E, E2
Measurement of the Output Gap: A Discussion of Recent Research at the Bank of Canada Technical Report No. 79 Pierre St-Amant, Simon van Norden In this paper, we discuss some methodologies for estimating potential output and the output gap that have recently been studied at the Bank of Canada. The assumptions and econometric techniques used by the different methodologies are discussed in turn, and applications to Canadian data are presented. Content Type(s): Staff research, Technical reports Topic(s): Potential output JEL Code(s): D, D2, D24
Wealth, Disposable Income and Consumption: Some Evidence for Canada Technical Report No. 71 Tiff Macklem The author develops a measure of aggregate private sector wealth in Canada and examines its ability to explain aggregate consumption of non-durables and services. This wealth measure includes financial, physical and human wealth. The author measures human wealth as the expected present value of aggregate labour income, net of government expenditures, based on a discrete […] Content Type(s): Staff research, Technical reports Topic(s): Domestic demand and components JEL Code(s): D, D9, D91, E, E2, E21
The Slowdown in Productivity Growth in the 1975-83 Period: A Survey of Possible Explanations Technical Report No. 43 Gerald Stuber The growth rates of both aggregate factor and labour productivity in Canada fell substantially during the period 1975-83. This paper examines this phenomenon and reviews a number of possible explanations for it. First, the productivity growth slowdown is examined at various levels of industry disaggregation. It is apparent from this analysis that the slowdown varied […] Content Type(s): Staff research, Technical reports Topic(s): Productivity JEL Code(s): D, D2, D24