The purpose of this paper is to present improved estimates of the intertemporal elasticity of substitution (IES) for Japan assuming a constant relative risk aversion (CRRA) utility function. The estimates of the IES we obtain range from 0.2 to 0.5 when we use quarterly consumption data and the...

The purpose of this paper is to test Abel's (1990, 1999) "Catching up with the Joneses" model with a consumption externality using Japanese financial data. It is found that the model is rejected in Japan when it is estimated using generalized empirical likelihood (GEL) estimators.

A non-Bayesian time-varying model is developed by introducing the concept of the degree of market efficiency that varies over time. This model may be seen as a reflection of the idea that continuous technological progress alters the trading environment over time. With new methodologies and a new...