Rational Expectations
(2nd edition)
Description
Economists have developed
models in which individuals form expectations of key variables in a 'rational' manner
such that these expectations are consistent with actual economic environments. Professor
Sheffrin first explores the logical foundation of the concept and the case for employing
it in economic analysis. Subsequent chapters investigate its use in macroeconomics,
financial markets, and microeconomics. A final chapter assesses its impact on theoretical
and empirical work in economics and policy arenas. The author argues that while rational
expectations are still central to macroeconomic policy debates, fully workable models have
not yet been devised, and offers reasons for the lack of practical and conceptual
progress. All chapters of the second edition have been revised or expanded. New sections
inter alia include material on learning, the rationality of reported expectations,
alternative recent developments explicitly or implicitly using rational expectations, new
tests of the Lucas critique, and models of noise trading. The book is written in a
non-technical fashion for beginning graduate students and non-specialists.
Chapter Contents
Preface to the second
edition; Preface to the first edition; 1. The concept of rational expectations; 2.
Inflation and unemployment; 3. Further topics in macroeconomics; 4. Efficient markets and
rational expectations; 5. Empirical microeconomic models; 6. Rational expectations in
practice; Bibliography.
380 pages