Rational forecasts or social opinion dynamics? Identification of interaction effects in a business climate survey

Arbeitspapier

This paper develops a methodology for estimating the parameters of dynamic opinion or expectation formation processes with social interactions. We study a simple stochastic framework of a collective process of opinion formation by a group of agents who face a binary decision problem. The aggregate dynamics of the individuals' decisions can be analyzed via the stochastic process governing the ensemble average of choices. Numerical approximations to the transient density for this ensemble average allow the evaluation of the likelihood function on the base of discrete observations of the social dynamics. This approach can be used to estimate the parameters of the opinion formation process from aggregate data on its average realization. Our application to a well-known business climate index provides strong indication of social interaction as an important element in respondents' assessment of the business climate.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Kiel Working Paper ; No. 1424

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Expectations; Speculations ; Classification Discontinued 2008. See C83. ; Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles: Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications ; Classification Discontinued 2008. See C83.
• Subject: Business cycle forecasts ; Opinion formation ; Social interactions ; Business climate ; Erwartungstheorie ; Meinung ; Soziale Beziehungen ; Geschäftsklima ; Konjunkturumfrage ; Theorie ; Deutschland

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Lux, Thomas
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW)
• (where): Kiel
• (when): 2008

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/4301
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET