An Obtrusive Remark on Capital and Comparative Statics

We present a simple comparative statics analysis of steady-state equilibria in overlapping generations economies with capital accumulation. We regard comparative statics as paradoxical whenever an exogenous increase in saving propensity induces a decrease (an increase) in consumption at the steady state when interest rate is positive (negative). It is shown that there is an exact relation between paradoxical comparative statics and a perverse intersection of properly identified curves of demand for and supply of capital in value. The demand curve for capital in value coincides with that of neo-Ricardian analysis. We relate our conclusions to some old and recent issues in capital theoryWe present a simple comparative statics analysis of steady-state equilibria in overlapping generations economies with capital accumulation. We regard comparative statics as paradoxical whenever an exogenous increase in saving propensity induces a decrease (an increase) in consumption at the steady state when interest rate is positive (negative). It is shown that there is an exact relation between paradoxical comparative statics and a perverse intersection of properly identified curves of demand for and supply of capital in value. The demand curve for capital in value coincides with that of neo-Ricardian analysis. We relate our conclusions to some old and recent issues in capital theoryRefereed Working Papers / of international relevanc