Clearing Up the Effective Lower Bound Morass

Abstract

Depending on the persistence of the underlying Markov chain shock, the standard New Keynesian model predicts starkly different conclusions at the Effective Lower Bound. We clear up this morass by using a truncated Markov chain. We prove that the expectations-driven trap \`a la Mertens & Ravn (2014) doesn't arise as an equilibrium outcome. In addition, the equilibrium under a truncated Markov chain is guaranteed to be unique, the effect of government spending is positive on consumption and does not switch signs but may grow unbounded \textemdash a puzzle.