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Journal Article
Has the surge in computer spending fundamentally changed the economy?
The computer sector has been one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. economy over the past two decades. The dynamic nature of the computer sector and the sector's increased prominence in overall spending in the economy have led some analysts to suggest that the economy is entering a New Era, where the economy will return to the high-growth, low-inflation conditions of the 1950s and 1960s.> Although spending on computers is spread throughout all sectors of the economy, the key channel through which the economy might be transformed is investment spending on computers by businesses. ...
Journal Article
The longevity of expansions
As the current expansion nears its eighth anniversary, it becomes tempting to wonder whether the second-longest expansion in U.S. economic history is nearing an end. The only U.S expansion to last longer was a nearly nine-year expansion that occurred during the Vietnam War. Thus, the current expansion is heading into uncharted territory as the longest peacetime expansion in U.S. history. The length of the current expansion might be viewed by some analysts as worrisome.> Haimowitz examines whether there has been a systematic shift in the behavior and length of expansions in the post-World War ...
Working Paper
Monetary policy shocks and price stickiness: an analysis of price and output responses to policy in manufacturing industries
This paper uses annual data on 450 SIC four-digit manufacturing industries obtained from the NBER Manufacturing Productivity Database to examine how manufacturing industries respond to unanticipated changes in the federal funds rate. The analysis proceeds in three stages. First, industry price and output responses to unanticipated changes in the federal funds rate are examined. Second, the effect of industry characteristics on these responses is analyzed. Finally, the paper assesses whether particular industry characteristics are associated with price rigidity or interest rate sensitivity. ...