RIEB, Kobe University

Seeking Ergodicity in Dynamic Economies

In estimation and calibration studies, the convergence of time series sample averages plays a central role. At the same time, a significant number of economic models do not satisfy the classical ergodicity conditions. Motivated by existing work on asymptotics of stochastic economic models, we develop a new set of results on limits of sample moments and other sample averages using an ordertheoretic approach. Our results include a condition that is necessary and sufficient for convergence over a broad class of moment functions. We discuss implications, sufficient conditions and a range of economic applications.