Publication Type

Working Paper

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

7-2016

Abstract

We explore the key mechanisms whereby uncertainty impacts the business cycle by exploring the interaction of uncertainty with growth in industries with di⁄erent technologies of production. We nd that uncertainty shocks are particularly detrimental to growth in industries with rapid capital depreciation or high investment adjustment costs. The ndings are consistent with real options theory: uncertainty leads rms to delay investment in new projects, but high depreciation and xed costs of investment make delay more costly. On the other hand, we do not nd evidence of a signicant role of nancial markets in the generation nor propagation of uncertainty shocks.

Keywords

Uncertainty, technology, industry growth, depreciation, capital adjustment costs, investment lumpiness, real options

Discipline

Economic Theory

Research Areas

Economic Theory

First Page

1

Last Page

44

Additional URL

https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/72787/1/MPRA_paper_72787.pdf

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