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Optimal allocations to heterogeneous agents with an application to stimulus checks

Author

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  • Sørensen, Bent E
  • Nygaard, Vegard M.
  • Wang, Fan
Abstract
A planner allocates discrete transfers of size D_g to N heterogeneous groups labeled g and has CES preferences over the resulting outcomes, H_g(D_g) . We derive a closed-form solution for optimally allocating a fixed budget subject to group-specific inequality constraints under the assumption that increments in the H_g functions are non-increasing. We illustrate our method by studying allocations of "support checks'' from the U.S. government to households during both the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. We compare the actual allocations to optimal ones under alternative constraints, assuming the government focused on stimulating aggregate consumption during the 2008-2009 crisis and focused on welfare during the 2020-2021 crisis. The inputs for this analysis are obtained from versions of a life-cycle model with heterogeneous households, which predicts household-type-specific consumption and welfare responses to tax rebates and cash transfers.

Suggested Citation

  • Sørensen, Bent E & Nygaard, Vegard M. & Wang, Fan, 2020. "Optimal allocations to heterogeneous agents with an application to stimulus checks," CEPR Discussion Papers 15283, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:15283
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    RePEc Biblio mentions

    As found on the RePEc Biblio, the curated bibliography for Economics:
    1. > Economics of Welfare > Health Economics > Economics of Pandemics > Specific pandemics > Covid-19 > Economic policy > Household support > Cash transfers

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    Cited by:

    1. Nygaard, Vegard M. & Sørensen, Bent E. & Wang, Fan, 2022. "Optimal allocations to heterogeneous agents with an application to stimulus checks," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    2. Kubota, So & Onishi, Koichiro & Toyama, Yuta, 2021. "Consumption responses to COVID-19 payments: Evidence from a natural experiment and bank account data," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 1-17.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Economic stimulus act; American rescue plan; Consumption inequality; Propensity to consume; Welfare inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • E21 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Consumption; Saving; Wealth
    • C6 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling

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