scholarly journals New paths in Austrian Macroeconomics

2021 ◽  
pp. 91-114
Author(s):  
William Barnet II ◽  
Walter E. Block

This paper makes four points. First, interest rates are not prices; rather they are metrics. Second, there are no markets for «loanable funds» in reality, so attempts to use «the» market for loanable funds either to explain saving-induced growth (or growth induced in other ways) are misleading. Rather, the appropriate concept is markets for financial assets. Third, the primary and most important source of growth is not households’ low or reduced time preferences, but entrepreneurs high or increased profit expectations. Fourth, financial institutions may respond, in part, to a rise in the monetary base by accepting a higher default risk of their assets; i.e., by making riskier loans and buying riskier (financial) assets, in order to maintain nominal interest rates and net interest margins. Key words: Risk, Loanable funds, Financial assets, Austrian business cycle theory. JEL Classification: E32. Resumen: Este artículo desarrolla una versión modificada de la teoría austriaca del ciclo económico en la que el papel protagonista lo juegan las expectativas de beneficio de los empresarios (más que la reducción de la preferencia temporal de los agentes económicos) y la asunción de proyectos empresariales más arriesgado, como principal detonante de las malas inversiones. Palabras clave: Riesgo, Fondos prestables, Activos financieros, Teoría austriaca del ciclo económico. Clasificación JEL: E32.

2018 ◽  
pp. 75-94
Author(s):  
Rafael García Iborra

The Austrian Business Cycle Theory (ABCT) has traditionally been focused on the distortions created by monetary expansions on the productive structure of the economy. In this paper, I will try to show that, if central banks increase the monetary base and the agents’ preferences do not change, the dis- tortions will not be limited to the productive structure but will also affect the financial structure. This will lead to a series of financial cycles in which both bubbles and crashes, the financial counterparts of booms and crisis, will take place. Keywords: Bubbles, Business Cycles, Financial Assets, Financial Crisis. JEL Classification: E14, E32, E44, G01. Resumen: La Teoría Austriaca del Ciclo Económico (TACE) se ha centrado tra- dicionalmente en las distorsiones generadas por las expansiones monetarias en la estructura productiva de la economía. En este artículo, se intenta mostrar que, si los bancos centrales aumentan la base monetaria y las preferencias de los agentes se mantienen sin cambios, las distorsiones no se limitarán a la estructura productiva sino que también afectarán a la estructura financiera. Esto conducirá a una serie de ciclos financieros en los que burbujas y crashes, los equivalentes financieros de auges y crisis, tendrán lugar. Palabras clave: Burbujas, Ciclos Económicos, Activos Financieros, Crisis Finan- cieras. Clasificación JEL: E14, E32, E44, G01.


2021 ◽  
pp. 81-133
Author(s):  
Robyn Harte- Bunting

The Paper is an Overview of Austrian Business Cycle Theory (ABCT) phenomena it is intended to explain, economy wide crisis especially concentrated on the banking sector. A short examination of similarities and differences between Mises and Hayek, the main developers of ABCT, is then given. Finally, some policy recommendations are examined in the light of ABCT. Key words: Financial Crisis, Business Cycle, Inflation, Saving. JEL Classification: B53, E42, E44, E61, G01, G21, P10, P20. Resumen: El artículo es una visión general de la Teoría Austriaca del Ciclo Económico (TACE) basada en un primer contacto con la literatura. La TACE se presenta en términos de los fenómenos que intenta explicar: crisis eco-nómicas, concentradas en el sector bancario. Después se expone una breve investigación de las semejanzas y diferencias entre Mises y Hayek, los prin - cipales contribuyentes a la TACE. El trabajo concluye con unas recomenda-ciones de política económica que se analizan a la luz de la TACE. Palabras clave: Crisis Financiera, Ciclo Económico, Inflación, Ahorro. Clasificación JEL: B53, E42, E44, E61, G01, G21, P10, P20.


2021 ◽  
pp. 13-63
Author(s):  
Alejandro J. Zamora

Traditional expositions of the Austrian Business Cycle Theory (ABCT) rest on the reference to only one – equilibrium – interest rate. This paper, on the one hand, explores the theoretical validity of such a reference and, on the other hand, analyses whether it is essential to the ABCT. To address both issues, we depart from a defense of the recently-disputed Pure Time Preference Theory (PTPT), which purports to explain the cause of the phenomenon of interest and serves as a basis for the ABCT. In the light of our study, in the first place, we reject some of the formulations of the PTPT that lead to erroneous interpretations of this theory and we put forward an enunciation that avoids common confu-sions; secondly, we deny the validity of the reference to only one interest rate as well as its essentiality to the ABCT; finally, we point out the necessity of up-dating the exposition of the ABCT in consonance with the previous conclusions. Key words: Austrian Business Cycle Theory, Business Cycles, Pure Time Prefe-rence Theory, Interest Rates, Term Structure of Interest Rates. JEL Classification: E32, E40, E43, E50, B53. Resumen: Las exposiciones tradicionales de la Teoría Austriaca del Ciclo Eco-nómico (TACE) se apoyan en la referencia a un único tipo de interés de equili-brio. Este artículo, por un lado, explora la cuestión de la validez teórica de dicha referencia y, por otro, estudia si ésta es realmente esencial a la TACE. Para analizar dichas cuestiones, partimos de una defensa de la recientemente cuestionada Teoría de la Preferencia Temporal Pura (TPTP), teoría que preten-de explicar la causa del fenómeno del interés y que sirve de fundamento a la TACE. A la luz de nuestro estudio, en primer lugar, rechazamos ciertas formu-laciones de la TPTP que conducen a interpretaciones erróneas de la misma, proponiendo una enunciación de la teoría que evita confusiones comunes; se-gundo, negamos la validez de la referencia a un tipo de interés único y su carácter esencial a la TACE; por último, notamos la necesidad de actualizar la exposición de la TACE conforme a las conclusiones antedichas. Palabras clave: Teoría Austriaca del Ciclo Económico, Ciclos Económicos, Teo-ría de la Preferencia Temporal Pura, Tipos de Interés, Estructura de Tipos de Interés. Clasificación JEL: E32, E40, E43, E50, B53.


2018 ◽  
pp. 155-186
Author(s):  
Olga Peniaz

This article represents a detailed theoretical analysis, focusing on two heterodox theories: the Minsky’s Financial Instability Hypothesis and the Aus- trian Business Cycle Theory, particularly in the light of the 2008 crisis. It provi- des a theoretical comparative analysis of these theories and a review of the empirical studies of two approaches. Keywords: Economic crisis, interest rate, austrian business cycle theory, finan- cial instability hypothesis. JEL Classification: E32, E44, E52, E58. Resumen: Este artículo ofrece un análisis teórico detallado, centrado en dos teorías heterodoxas: la Hipótesis de la Inestabilidad Financiera de Minsky y la Teoría Austríaca del Ciclo Económico, especialmente en vista de la crisis de 2008. Este trabajo proporciona un análisis comparativo teórico de estas teo- rías y una revisión de los estudios empíricos de ambos enfoques. Palabras clave: Crisis económica, tipo de interés, teoría austriaca del ciclo eco- nómico, hipótesis de inestabilidad financiera. Clasificación JEL: E32, E44, E52, E58.


Author(s):  
Gunther Schnabl

This chapter analyzes the evolution and effects of central bank crisis management since the mid-1980s based on a Hayek-Mises-Wicksell overinvestment framework. It is shown that given that the traditional transmission mechanism between monetary policy and consumer price inflation has collapsed, asymmetric monetary policy crisis management implies a convergence of interest rates toward zero and a gradual expansion of central bank balance sheets. From a Wicksell-Hayek-Mises perspective, asymmetric central bank crisis management has contributed to financial market bubbles, decreasing marginal efficiency of investment, increasing income inequality, and declining growth dynamics. The economic policy implication is a slow but decisive exit from ultra-expansionary monetary policies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-113
Author(s):  
Brian P. Simpson

Abstract Shawn Ritenour provides a review of my two-volume book titled Money, Banking, and the Business Cycle in the winter 2016 issue of The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics. This paper constitutes a response to some of the criticisms of the book in his review. In this response, I discuss topics such as the nature of profits, the sustainability of changes in time preference, the role of changes in prices versus changes in spending in the business cycle, the relationship between interest rates and the rate of profit, the nature of fraud, and the nature of value. I also discuss whether the structure of production can be measured using the average period of production. I address other issues raised by Ritenour as well. This discussion sheds light on Austrian business cycle theory and the nature of the business cycle.


2020 ◽  
pp. 123-171
Author(s):  
William Hongson Wang ◽  
Antonio Vegas García

The importance of China’s economy and the instability of China’s fi-nancial system are in the spotlight recently. This paper uses Austrian Business Cycle Theory to gauge the potential risks of China’s economy. The approach of this paper is a sector analysis, focusing on China’s monetary and financial system, shipping industry, and real estate industry, especially the state-owned enterprises in those sectors. We conclude that China’s central banking system is hurting China’s economy and we also propose reforms to overhaul the system, according to the perspective of praxeology and Austrian School Econom-ics. Keywords: Austrian Business Cycle Theory, China’s banking system, China’s economy. JEL Classification: B53, D8, E310, E32, E52, H12, N15, N27, N45, N65, O53, P11, R3, R4, Y10. Resumen: La importancia de la economía china junto con la reciente inestabili-dad del sistema financiero de China, preocupan al resto del mundo. Este artí-culo usa la Teoría Austriaca del Ciclo Económico para identificar los riesgos potenciales de la economía de China. En este artículo realizaremos un análisis sectorial, enfocado en el sistema monetario y financiero de China, el sector de la construcción, la industria marítima y, en especial, las empresas estatales de dichos sectores. Concluimos que el actual sistema de banca central en China está dañando a su economía y proponemos soluciones desde la perspectiva de la praxeología y la Escuela Austriaca de Economía. Palabras clave: Teoría austriaca del ciclo económico, sistema bancario chino, economía china.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 348-359
Author(s):  
Thomas Hering ◽  
Michael Olbrich ◽  
David Rapp

In her paper “Corporate Risk Evaluation in the Context of Austrian Business Cycle Theory” recently published in this journal, Joanna Kruk aims to investigate how artificially low interest rates resulting from central bank intervention distort individual investment appraisals and ultimately result in both entrepreneurial misjudgment and resource-wasting malinvestment, fueling the business cycle. She identifies entrepreneurs’ net present value calculations, supposedly unadjusted for risk, as a major issue and suggests adjusting those calculations for risk via both the duration method and the Capital Asset Pricing Model to mitigate the distorting effects. Her argumentation is, however, trapped in neoclassical reasoning and is adversely affected by several misconceptions of the net present value criterion. This comment seeks to reveal those fallacies and explain how to address uncertainty when using net present value calculations to make those calculations part of the solution rather than part of the problem of entrepreneurial misjudgment. The findings are derived from German investment theory rooted in the Austrian school of thought, meaning that they differ compared to those of neoclassical finance theory.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Mayer ◽  
Gunther Schnabl

This article compares the Keynesian, neoclassical and Austrian expla-nations for low interest rates and sluggish growth. From a Keynesian and neoclassical perspective, low interest rates are attributed to aging societies, which save more for the future (global savings glut). Low growth is linked to slowing population growth and a declining marginal efficiency of investment as well as to declining fixed capital investment due to digitalization (secular stagnation). In contrast, from the perspective of Austrian business cycle theory, interest rates were decreased step by step by central banks to stimulate growth. This paralyzed investment and lowered growth in the long term. This study shows that the ability of banks to extend credit ex nihilo and the requirement of time to produce capital goods invalidates the permanent IS identity assumed in the Keynesian theory. Furthermore, it is found that there is no empirical evidence for the hypotheses of a global savings glut and secular stagnation. Instead, low growth can be explained by the emergence of quasi “soft budget constraints” as a result of low interest rates, which reduce the incentive for banks and enterprises to strive for efficiency.


2017 ◽  
pp. 345-364
Author(s):  
Rafael García Iborra

Hayekian trinagles are a device used by the Austrian school of eco-nomics, especially in the Austrian Business Cycle Theory (ABCT). The purpose of this paper is to show how they can also be used to analyze the fluctuation of the securities market, by adding financial assets to the model. Keywords: Austrian Economics, business cycle theory, financial assets, Hayeki-an triangles. Classification JEL: E14, E32, E51, G01. Resumen: Los triángulos Hayekianos son una herramienta utilizada por la es-cuela de economía austriaca, especialmente en la teoría del ciclo económico. El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar cómo también pueden ser empleados para analizar las fluctuaciones de los mercados de valores, añadiendo los activos financieros al modelo.


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