Publications

Forthcoming
Gabaix X, Koijen RSJ. Granular Instrumental Variables. Journal of Political Economy. Forthcoming.Abstract

We develop a new method to construct instruments in a broad class of economic environments. In the economies we study, a few large firms, industries or countries account for an important share of economic activity. Idiosyncratic shocks to these large players significantly affect aggregate outcomes and are valid instruments. We provide a methodology to extract these idiosyncratic shocks to create ``granular instrumental variables'' (GIVs), which are size-weighted sums of idiosyncratic shocks. We show how GIVs enable us to estimate causal parameters, such as elasticities and multipliers, and are applicable in a broad range of empirically relevant settings.

2023
Gabaix X, Koijen RSJ, Yogo M, Richmond R. Asset Embeddings [Working Paper]. 2023.
Gabaix X, Graeber T. The Complexity of Economic Decisions [Working Paper]. 2023.
Gabaix X, Koijen RJ, Mainardi F, Oh S, Yogo M. Asset Demand of U.S. Households. SSRN. 2023. Publisher's Version
Gabaix X. Behavioral Macroeconomics Via Sparse Dynamic Programming. Journal of the European Economic Association. 2023;21 (6) :2327-2376. Publisher's Version PDF Online Appendix
2020
Gabaix X. A Behavioral New Keynesian Model. American Economic Review. 2020;110 (8) :2271-2327.Abstract

Code Replication Files for this Publication

This paper presents a framework for analyzing how bounded rationality affects monetary and fiscal policy. The model is a tractable and parsimonious enrichment of the widely-used New Keynesian model – with one main new “cognitive discounting” parameter, which quantifies how poorly agents understand future economic disturbances. That myopia parameter, in turn, affects the power of monetary and fiscal policy in a microfounded general equilibrium. A number of consequences emerge. (i) Fiscal stimulus or “helicopter drops of money” are powerful and, indeed, pull the economy out of the zero lower bound. More generally, the model allows for the joint analysis of optimal monetary and fiscal policy. (ii) The Taylor principle is strongly modified: even with passive monetary policy, equilibrium is determinate, whereas the traditional rational model yields multiple equilibria, which reduces its predictive power, and generates indeterminate economies at the zero lower bound (ZLB). (iii) The ZLB is much less costly than in the traditional model. (iv) The model brings a natural solution to the “forward guidance puzzle”: the fact that in the rational model, shocks to very distant rates have a very powerful impact on today's consumption and inflation; because agents are partially myopic, this effect is muted. (v) Optimal policy changes qualitatively: the optimal commitment policy with rational agents demands “nominal GDP targeting”; this is not the case with behavioral firms, as the benefits of commitment are less strong with myopic firms. (vi) The model is “neo-Fisherian” in the long run, but Keynesian in the short run: a permanent rise in the interest rate decreases inflation in the short run but increases it in the long run. The non-standard behavioral features of the model seem warranted by extant empirical evidence.

 

PDF Online Appendix
Farhi E, Gabaix X. Optimal Taxation with Behavioral Agents. American Economic Review. 2020;110 (1) :298-336.Abstract

Abstract This paper develops a theory of optimal taxation with behavioral agents. We use a general behavioral framework that encompasses a wide range of behavioral biases such as misperceptions and internalities. We revisit the three pillars of optimal taxation: Ramsey (linear commodity taxation to raise revenues and redistribute), Pigou (linear commodity taxation to correct externalities) and Mirrlees (nonlinear income taxation). We show how the canonical optimal tax formulas are modified and lead to a rich set of novel economic insights. We also show how to incorporate nudges in the optimal taxation frameworks, and jointly characterize optimal taxes and nudges.

PDF Online Appendix NBER WP Version Online Appendix to NBER WP Version
2019
Gabaix X. Behavioral Inattention. In: Handbook of Behavioral Economics, edited by D Bernheim, S DellaVigna and D Laibson. Vol. 2. Elsevier ; 2019. pp. 261-343. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Inattention is a central, unifying theme for much of behavioral economics. It permeates such disparate fields as microeconomics, macroeconomics, finance, public economics, and industrial organization. It enables us to think in a rather consistent way about behavioral biases, speculate about their origins, and trace out their implications for market outcomes.

This survey first discusses the most basic models of attention, using a fairly unified framework. Then, it discusses the methods used to measure attention, which present a number of challenges on which much progress has been done. It then examines the various theories of attention, both behavioral and more Bayesian. It finally discusses some applications. For instance, inattention offers a way to write a behavioral version of basic microeconomics, as in consumer theory, producer theory, and Arrow-Debreu. A last section is devoted to open questions in the attention literature.

This chapter is a pedagogical guide to the literature on attention. Derivations are self-contained.

handbook-attention-final.pdf
2017
Edmans A, Gabaix X, Jenter D. Executive Compensation: A Survey of Theory and Evidence. In: Handbook of the Economics of Corporate Governance, Chapter 9. ; 2017. pp. 383-539. Publisher's VersionAbstract

Survey paper on executive compensation, containing (1) Data on CEO and other top executive pay over time and across firms, including private firms and non-US firms. (2) Critical analysis of three explanations for the drivers of pay: shareholder value maximization (including a simple unifying model), rent extraction, institutional influences. (3) The “effects” of executive pay and challenges in causal identification. (4) Directions for future research.

2016
Edmans A, Gabaix X. Executive Compensation: A Modern Primer. Journal of Economic Literature. 2016;54 (4) :1232-1287. PDF
Gabaix X. Power Laws in Economics: An Introduction. Journal of Economic Perspectives. 2016;30 (1) :185-206.Abstract

An elementary piece, with many pictures.

PDF
Gabaix X, Laibson D, Li D, Li H, Resnick S, de Vries C. The Impact of Competition on Prices with Numerous Firms. Journal of Economic Theory. 2016;165 :1-24.Abstract

How the prices respond, or not, to the intensity of competition, particularly when consumers are confused.

PDF
Gabaix X, Lasry J-M, Lions P-L, Moll B. The Dynamics of Inequality. Econometrica. 2016;84 (6) :2071-2111. PDF Online Appendix
Farhi E, Gabaix X. Rare Disasters and Exchange Rates. Quarterly Journal of Economics. 2016;131 (1) :1-52.Abstract

A rare disasters model accounts for many puzzling features of the joint fluctuations in exchange rates, interest rates, options, and stock markets.

PDF Online Appendix
2015
Farhi E, Fraiberger S, Gabaix X, Ranciere R, Verdelhan A. Crash Risk in Currency Markets [Working Paper]. 2015.Abstract

We measure the importance of crash risk in currencies via new analytical results and options data.

PDF Online Appendix
Gabaix X, Maggiori M. International Liquidity and Exchange Rate Dynamics. Quarterly Journal of Economics. 2015;130 (3) :1369-1420.Abstract

A theory of exchange rates based on capital flows in imperfect financial markets.

PDF Online Appendix Slides
2014
Gabaix X, Landier A, Sauvagnat J. CEO Pay and Firm Size: An Update after the Crisis. Economic Journal. 2014;124 :F40-F59.Abstract

An update of "Why Has CEO Pay Increased So Much?" after the crisis; the theory holds well.

PDF
Gabaix X. A Sparsity-Based Model of Bounded Rationality. Quarterly Journal of Economics. 2014;129 (4) :1661-1710.Abstract

I propose a tractable behavioral "max" operator, the sparse max.  It yields a behavioral version of basic consumer theory (e.g., Marshallian demand, Slutsky matrix, nominal illusion) and equilibrium theory (e.g., Arrow-Debreu, Edgeworth boxes.)

PDF Online Appendix

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