quilibrium in a Two-Period Endowment Economy with CRRA Utility he Constant Relative Risk Aversion (CRRA) utility function is a widely used pecification of preferences in economics that captures risk aversion and intertem onsumption smoothing. The CRRA utility function has the desirable property that

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Equilibrium in a Two-Period Endowment Economy with CRRA Utility
The Constant Relative Risk Aversion (CRRA) utility function is a widely used
specification of preferences in economics that captures risk aversion and intertemporal
consumption smoothing. The CRRA utility function has the desirable property that the
degree of risk aversion is constant and independent of the level of consumption. This
means that as a household's consumption grows, its willingness to take risks remains
the same. The coefficient of relative risk aversion (σ) measures the extent to which
households are risk averse and prefer a smooth consumption path over time. A higher
value of σ indicates a greater degree of risk aversion and a stronger preference for
consumption smoothing. Consider a two-period endowment economy with a large
number of identical households. Each household has the following lifetime utility
function:
U(j) =
Ct (j) ¹-0 -1
1-σ
8 (C4+1(1) 1-0-1)
+ B
where Ct(j) and C++1(j) are consumption in periods t and t + 1 for household j, re-
spectively, ẞ is the discount factor, and σ > 0 is the coefficient of relative risk aversion.
All households are endowed with an exogenous amount of income, Y, in period t and
Y++1 in period t + 1. Households can borrow or lend at a common real interest rate, r‍t.
a) Writing Down the Intertemporal Budget Constraint
Write down the household's intertemporal budget constraint.
b) Deriving the Euler Equation
Formulate the household's problem and derive the household's Euler equation
using the CRRA utility function.
c) Deriving the Optimal Consumption Function
Derive the household's optimal consumption function in each period (Ct and
Ct+1) as a function of Yt Yt+1, and rt .
d) Discussing the Equilibrium in the Endowment Economy
In the endowment economy, aggregate consumption must equal aggregate
endowment in each period. Using this condition and the optimal consumption
functions derived in (c), discuss how the equilibrium real interest rate rt is
determined in this economy. Explain the role of the real interest rate in ensuring
equilibrium in the lending market and why it is necessary for achieving this
equilibrium
e) Analyzing the Effect of Changes in Relative Risk Aversion
Given the consumption functions, discuss how changes in the coefficient of
relative risk aversion (σ) affect the household's consumption choices and the
sensitivity of these choices to changes in the real interest rate. Provide an
intuitive explanation for your findings.
Transcribed Image Text:Equilibrium in a Two-Period Endowment Economy with CRRA Utility The Constant Relative Risk Aversion (CRRA) utility function is a widely used specification of preferences in economics that captures risk aversion and intertemporal consumption smoothing. The CRRA utility function has the desirable property that the degree of risk aversion is constant and independent of the level of consumption. This means that as a household's consumption grows, its willingness to take risks remains the same. The coefficient of relative risk aversion (σ) measures the extent to which households are risk averse and prefer a smooth consumption path over time. A higher value of σ indicates a greater degree of risk aversion and a stronger preference for consumption smoothing. Consider a two-period endowment economy with a large number of identical households. Each household has the following lifetime utility function: U(j) = Ct (j) ¹-0 -1 1-σ 8 (C4+1(1) 1-0-1) + B where Ct(j) and C++1(j) are consumption in periods t and t + 1 for household j, re- spectively, ẞ is the discount factor, and σ > 0 is the coefficient of relative risk aversion. All households are endowed with an exogenous amount of income, Y, in period t and Y++1 in period t + 1. Households can borrow or lend at a common real interest rate, r‍t. a) Writing Down the Intertemporal Budget Constraint Write down the household's intertemporal budget constraint. b) Deriving the Euler Equation Formulate the household's problem and derive the household's Euler equation using the CRRA utility function. c) Deriving the Optimal Consumption Function Derive the household's optimal consumption function in each period (Ct and Ct+1) as a function of Yt Yt+1, and rt . d) Discussing the Equilibrium in the Endowment Economy In the endowment economy, aggregate consumption must equal aggregate endowment in each period. Using this condition and the optimal consumption functions derived in (c), discuss how the equilibrium real interest rate rt is determined in this economy. Explain the role of the real interest rate in ensuring equilibrium in the lending market and why it is necessary for achieving this equilibrium e) Analyzing the Effect of Changes in Relative Risk Aversion Given the consumption functions, discuss how changes in the coefficient of relative risk aversion (σ) affect the household's consumption choices and the sensitivity of these choices to changes in the real interest rate. Provide an intuitive explanation for your findings.
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