Publications of Horváth, J.

Agent based model of a simple economy

This article proposes a model of a simple economy based on a set of agent-based modeling principles. The model is based on the “trust game” formulated by Berg et al. (Games Econ Behav 10:122–142, 1995), and anticipates a random matching of partners taking in to account adaptive agent behavior. Simulation in the NetLogo programming environment, using profile distributions obtained from empirical studies, has shown the most successful agents to posses low parameters of trust in the role of Sender and high parameters of trustworthiness in the role of Receiver.

National Identity and Money: Czech and Slovak Lands 1918-2008

An expanding literature on money and identity is built around the assumption that political elites deliberately use currency design to foster national identities. However, the empirical evidence in favor of this assumption has been fragmentary. Drawing on detailed primary sources we demonstrate nationalist intentions of political elites involved in currency design. We also examine how political elites use banknotes as official pronouncements on who is and who is not part of the nation and what the official attitude toward foreigners is. By tracing changes in the inclusive and exclusive messages directed at an intra-state or international audience we document that there is no connection between ingroup (national) love and outgroup (foreigners, minorities, opposition) hate. The amount of exclusive messages to outgroups culminated in conditions of perceived threat when political leaders tried to mobilize pre-existing identities to secure or maintain political power. In contrast, the officials deliberately tried to broaden ingroup boundaries in order to build international communities. Finally, we document that in the case of limited support for the new conception of identity, officials tried to depict the old and the new identity as complementary, embedding the new identity in existing discourses.

The border effect in small open economies

Abstract: This paper examines the importance of the national border in relative price variability in two neighboring, small open economies. Using monthly frequency price data of narrowly defined, homogenous consumer products, it finds that the time-series variation in within-country relative prices is about the same in the two countries. After controlling for distance, relative price variation is significantly higher across than within countries. The border is the dominant determinant of relative prices, even after accounting for nominal exchange rate variability and local culture as represented by language spoken. Our estimates of the border effect are largely immune to the bias identified in Gorodnichenko and Tesar [Gorodnichenko, Y., Tesar, L., 2006. Border effect or country effect? Seattle is 110miles from Vancouver after all. Unpublished manuscript]. Copyright 2008 ElsevierCopyright of Economic Systems is the property of Elsevier Science Publishing Company, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Návrat politickej ekonómie: ekonomická teória a politické problémy

Return of Political Economy: Economic Theory and Political Problems

Growth experience and prospects of Central and Eastern European countries: a synthesis

Prepared for the World Bank GDN Global Research Project on Explaining Growth, August 2005.

Shocks and monetary integration efforts. An empirical assessment of Slovakia

Proceedings from the Conference on the Anniversary of the 115th birthday of RobertSchuman in Bratislava, December 4-5, 2001

Rewriting the Rules: An Interview with Ivan Mikloš on Slovakia’s Economic Reform

Review of the book: Rewriting the Rules: An Interview with Ivan Mikloš on Slovakia’s Economic Reform (Hr´ıb, S., Žitˇnanský, R. (Eds.), Kalligram Publishing House, Bratislava, 2001, 127 pp.)

Small economies' adjustment to global tendencies

Reviews the book: Small economies' adjustment to global tendencies

EU enlargement and its macroeconomic effects in Eastern Europe

Reviews the book: "EU enlargement and its macroeconomic effects in Eastern Europe. Currencies, prices. Ivestment and competitiveness"

Stability of monetary unions: lessons from the break-up of Czechoslovakia

In 1993, Czechoslovakia experienced a two-step breakup. On January 1, the country disintegrated as a political union, while preserving an economic and monetary union. Then, the Czech–Slovak monetary union collapsed on February 8. This paper analyzes the economic background of the two breakups from the perspective of the optimum currency area literature. The main finding is that the Czech and Slovak economies were vulnerable to asymmetric economic shocks, such as those induced by the economic transition. In particular, the stability of Czechoslovakia was undermined by the low correlation of permanent output shocks, low labor mobility, and higher concentration of heavy and military industries in Slovakia. J. Comp. Econom., December 1999, 27(4), pp. 753–781. Center for European Integration Studies (ZEI), University of Bonn, Walter-Flex-Strasse 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany, and Center for Economic Research, Tilburg University, Netherlands; Academia Istropolitana Nova, Bratislava, Slovakia, Central European University, Nador u. 9, 1051 Budapest, Hungary, and Center for European Integration Studies (ZEI), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany; Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS), Stumpergasse 56, 1060 Vienna, Austria.

Core and periphery in the world economy: an empirical assessment of the integration of the developing countries into the world economy

In this paper a dynamic structural vector-autoregressive model is utilized to analyze the impact of shocks from the developed center (G-7) on the less developed periphery. Three possibilities emerge with less developed nations being negatively dependent on the center, positively integrated with the center, or independent of the center. A less developed country is classified as negatively dependent when shocks from the center have a negative impact and are relatively important in explaining variations in the output of the developing country. A less developed country is positively integrated if the shocks from the center have positive effects and explain a large share of the variation in output in the developing country. The results indicate that from the sample of eighty-six developed countries only five could be considered dependent, while the others are roughly equally divided into those positively integrated and those that are independent.

Stability of Monetary Unions: Lessons from the Break-up of Czechoslovakia

In 1993, Czechoslovakia experienced a two-fold break-up: On January 1, the country disintegrated as a political union, while preserving an economic and monetary union. Then, the Czech-Slovak monetary union collapsed on February 8. We analyze the economic background of the two break-ups, and discuss lessons for the stability of monetary unions in general. We argue that Czechoslovakia fulfilled some of the optimum currency area criteria, however, given the low correlation of permanent shocks, it appears it was relatively less integrated than some other existing unions. That, along with low labor mobility and a higher concentration of heavy and military industries in Slovakia, made the Czechoslovak economy vulnerable to asymmetric economic shocks-such as those induced by the economic transition. Furthermore, the Czech-Slovak monetary union was marred by low credibility, lack of political commitment, low exit costs, and the absence of fiscal transfers.

The Break-up of Czechoslovakia: an In-depth Economic Analysis

Reviews the book: “The Break-up of Czechoslovakia: an In-depth Economic Analysis,” by Dedek, Oldrich et al.,

On the European monetary system: the spillover effects of German shocks and disinflation

We analyse the disinflationary experience between 1979-93 for two traditionally inflationary countries of the European Monetary System: France and Italy. For each country, a vector autoregressive model is estimated. Shocks in the model combine domestic and foreign sources. The latter capture the world oil price shocks as well as nominal and real shocks originating in Germany. Under investigation is the hypothesis that shocks originating in Germany have a spillover disinflationary effect in France and Italy. The empirical evidence provides support to the validity of this hypothesis. Furthermore, German shocks account for an important share of the total price variance in France and Italy. These results indicate that the interaction between countries of the European Monetary System has contributed to the success of the disinflationary experiences of the 1980s. The evidence sheds, therefore, some light on potential benefits that may be further realized as countries of the European Monetary System move towards their objective of achieving a single currency under a united monetary system.

Optimum currency areas and European monetary unification

This paper examines the European experience from optimum currency areas perspective with a focus on the correlation of underlying aggregate shocks within a structural vector autoregression (VAR) framework. Appropriately identifying supply shacks, real fiscal shocks, and nominal shocks, the paper investigates the correlations of shocks and tries to evaluate the likely adjustment and other problems that may take place with the introduction of a single currency in Europe. Using data for 20 European market economies, the paper compares original members of the European Community to new members and non-members. Shocks are mostly country-specific, particularly for newer members anti non-members, suggesting the importance of alternative adjustment mechanisms other than national monetary policies after the introduction of a single currency.

Macroeconomic interdependence and integration in the Indian sub-continent

This study investigates macroeconomic interdependence of countries in the Indian subcontinent and discusses its implications on the possible integration schemes. Towards this goal, the interrelatedness, the degree of coherence and the long and short term movements in selected macroeconomic variables in seven countries of this region are explored. Moreover, in a dynamic structural vector autoregressive similar economic disturbances to satisfy one of the conditions for forming a currency area in the spirit of Mundell's theory. We observe that the degree of interdependence among countries of the Indian sub-continent is rather low. These countries should probably continue with liberalization efforts, which naturally lead to higher macro-interdependence among them, which would later create a solid ground for future integration efforts. Moreover, they should not experiment with pegging their exchange rates among each other, rather, in future, they should rely more on the floating rates.