RIEB, Kobe University

Exact Sampling from the Stationary Distribution of Entry-Exit Models

In equilibrium models of firm dynamics, the stationary equilibrium distribution of firms summarizes the predictions of the model for a given set of primitives. Focusing on Hopenhayn's seminal model of firm dynamics with entry and exit (Econometrica, 60:5, 1992, p. 1127–1150), we provide an algorithm that samples exactly from the stationary distribution for any specified exit threshold. The algorithm is able to rapidly generate large numbers of exact and independent draws from this distribution, and can therefore be used to obtain unbiased estimates and confidence intervals for moments and distributions of interest.