Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Stimulus as multiple equilibria?

Mark Thoma, via Paul Krugman.
I think the stimulus package is like driving up an icy hill. If you don't have enough momentum from the start and fail to provide enough "stimulus" to get the car over the crest of the hill, you can slide all the way back to the bottom...perhaps you can hold your position if you don't make it to the top, and then start again from the higher level...Essentially I am arguing that there are crucial economic and psychological "tipping points" that must be reached in order for the economic recovery package to be effective.
Yes, but how do you know how much gas to put in if you can't see the top of the hill?

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