Dynamics at an Intermediate-Macroeconomics Level: A Keynesian Macroeconomic Model with Inventory and Production-Consumption Delays

Abstract

We present a dynamic Keynesian model at an intermediate macroeconomic level, a la Metzler (1941) and Leslie (1993), where the utilized propagation mechanism is firms' inventory management, and producers following adaptive expectations in order to meet stochastic demand. In addition, there is a delay between production, and subsequent delivery and consumption from the shelves. The discrete-time model generates a second-order linear difference equation, which exhibits endogenous cycles, with fluctuations (oscillations), which - for a plausible range of model parameters – are stable, and die out over time. Pedagogically, this is the simplest model that is able to generate interesting non-linear dynamics, and thus of interest to both undergraduate economics students, and instructors teaching intermediate macroeconomics.

References

Blanchard, O., Amighini, A., & Giavazzi, F. (2021). Macroeconomics: A European perspective (4th ed.). Pearson.
Chiang, A. C., & Wainwright, K. (2005). Fundamental methods of mathematical economics (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Leslie, D. (1993). Advanced macroeconomics: Beyond IS-LM. McGraw-Hill.
Lucas, R. E., Jr. (1976). Econometric policy evaluation: A critique. Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, 1, 19–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-2231(76)80003-6
Metzler, L. A. (1941). The nature and stability of inventory cycles. The Review of Economics and Statistics, 23(3), 113–129. https://doi.org/10.2307/1927555
Nosal, E., & Rocheteau, G. (2011). Money, payments, and liquidity. MIT Press.
Prescott, E. C. (1986). Theory ahead of business-cycle measurement. Carnegie-Rochester Conference Series on Public Policy, 25(1), 11–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-2231(86)90002-9
Vasilev, A. Z. (2023). The role of inventories for the propagation of aggregate fluctuations: Lessons for Bulgaria (1999–2019). Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences, 39(1), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEAS-11-2020-0195
Published
2026-06-30
How to Cite
VASILEV, Aleksandar. Dynamics at an Intermediate-Macroeconomics Level: A Keynesian Macroeconomic Model with Inventory and Production-Consumption Delays. Theoretical and Practical Research in Economic Fields, [S.l.], v. 17, n. 2, p. 589 - 593, june 2026. ISSN 2068-7710. Available at: <https://journals.aserspublishing.eu/tpref/article/view/9527>. Date accessed: 02 july 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.14505/tpref.v17.2(38).20.